They did it. They'd won the democratic nomination. Josh's initial reaction had been to scoop up Donna and spin her around. The music blasted and the staffers all began to let loose.

After the initial celebration had subsided they'd moved to Josh's room, all camping out on his balcony with a leftover bottle of champagne CJ had swiped and Toby's scotch. They'd sat up until the early hours of the morning laughing, strategizing, drinking and smoking Toby's cigars.

Eventuality they others filtered back to their rooms leaving Josh and Donna alone. "Oh, I almost forgot," she hopped up and ran inside, letting herself into her adjoining room. He could hear her rooting around for something, retuning a moment later with a small wrapped package.

"Congratulations," she told him. "You did a great thing today."

He smiled at her praise. "So did you."

She handed him the package and stood there as he opened it, pulling out a tiny onesie with the Bartlet for America logo on it and a tiny American flag patterned bow.

"This is amazing!" He shot her a full dimpled grin, truly excited for the gift. "Thank you," he reached in and wrapped her in a genuine hug, lingering a bit. It was safe to say she didn't mind.

"Hey, do you want to go with me next time I head to Westport," he asked somewhat tentatively.

"Yeah, I'd like that," she told him. "I know you miss her, Josh," she placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.

He nodded his head. After the moment had passed Josh stood and announced he was headed to bed. "Now that the nomination is officially ours they're going to need us in DC a couple days next week," he told her, returning to business as usual. "Book us tickets into National for the day after tomorrow," he told her. "Sam too. Leo will meet us there.

"Okay. Where do you want to stay?"

"Won't need a hotel. We can just crash at my place. If, uh, if you're okay with that."

She smiled. "Kay."

She'd only known Josh Lyman for a few months but their comfort level with each other would indicate otherwise.

OooooooooO

It occurred to her, only after she had turned off the light in Josh's guest bedroom, that perhaps this arrangement could be misconstrued. Though she and Josh were just friends and he was kind enough to offer her a place to stay, she didn't want to be on Mandy's bad side.

Donna slept for a few hours but work up early. Due to the campaign schedule she was used to getting very little sleep. She wandered quietly around Josh's apartment after turning on the copy.

"What are you doing up," he shuffled into the room behind her, hair wild with bedhead.

"I think you should make this room the nursery," she stated. It has that great nook and the window.

He looked around a bit, considering it. "Kay."

She giggled. "Kay? It was that easy? You're agreeing?"

He shrugged his shoulders, still groggy. "Whatever you say."

Josh went about his day, returning to his apartment with take out for Donna and Sam, whom he'd been informed would meet him there. He walked into the entryway of his apartment, which was now filled to the top with boxes.

"Donna," he called out, wondering what in the hell had happened in the 4 hours he'd been out.

"I'm in here," she yelled from down the hallway.

He stepped into the room she'd earlier in the day declared to be a nursery to see Donna on a small ladder, hanging curtains, a smudge of lavender paint that matched the freshly coated walls smeared across her cheek.

"Uhhh... Donna? Something you want to run by me?"

"What?" She turned to look at him. "You said this was the nursery."

He just shook his head. "And I'm beginning to see just how right I was about that," he laughed.

She climbed down from the ladder. "Give me a hand with the rug," she told him, walking up to the large pile of things in the foyer. "And then you and Sam can start to assemble the furniture after dinner."

Josh groaned. "Wasn't there an option to have it delivered in one piece?"

"Yes. But we passed on that."

"You're getting a little fast and loose with the definition of the word 'we' aren't you, Donna?"

"Yeah, yeah," she smiled. "Where's dinner?"

He laughed procuring the Chinese take our and 6 pack and dropping onto the floor to eat.

Sam had arrived and they'd put the nursery together completely, though, Donna though, the crib assembly had taken significantly longer than the man in the store had suggested. But now the room was all put together and Sam had said his goodbyes.

Josh and Donna, both exhausted, were sprawled out on the rug in Audrey's new room.

"You did a great job on this," Josh offered, staring at the ceiling. "Thank you."

"You're welcome. I hope she likes it. She just... I really love that sweet little girl, Josh."

"I know you do," he told her. "And we're lucky to have you."

Donna didn't say much in response for a moment, eventually finding her voice. "Josh? Why do you stay with Mandy?"

That was the last thing he had expected to hear.

He sighed. "It's not... we're not..." That was the thing. They weren't together. She'd made if very clear that she wasn't looking to be tied down and she had no ideas about putting her career on hold and raising Audrey with him. So, it was just... actually it wasn't even physical for them at this point. Josh knew that above anything else he was politically advantageous for her to associate with.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked. It's none of my business."

"I'm bad at relationships, Donna," he admitted into the dimly lit room.

"I could guess," she laughed at him. "But you're a good man, Joshua, and when it's the right woman none of that will matter."

"Yeah," he hoped she was right. "What about you though?"

"What about me?"

"Are you seeing anyone? A local republican homer, perhaps?"

"Yes, Josh. In all of my spare time I'm dating the hair of the RNC and it's just never come up."

"Sarcasm?"

"You're very intuitive tonight, Lyman."

He laughed. It felt good to laugh. Why was everything so easy with her and so hard with everyone else?

"What happened with Freeride?"

She didn't respond immediately.

"You don't have to answer that," he said. "I shouldn't have..."

She took a deep breath and started at the beginning. It felt good to get it off of her chest, honestly. Most of the story she'd never even told her closest friends or her mother. About his refusal to let her go back to school, about the way he spoke to her, about the infidelity. About everything but the car accident.

"You deserve better, Donna. Much better," the level of disgust in Josh's voice was evident.

Donna laughed. "They're not exactly lining up."

"Well then they're crazy," Josh told her, daring to glance over at her and show his sincerity.

"You'll find the right woman too, you know. And I'm sure she'll be incredible."

"Yeah, a workaholic single father. What a catch," he chuckled defeatedly. "I'm not exactly what women are looking for."

"Well then they're crazy," Donna echoed his words, giving him a little poke in the arm.

How had this woman already become his best friend? His other half.

OoooooooooO

When the election was officially called for Bartlet, the first person Josh looked for was Donna. He quickly wrapped her in a hug and spun her around.

"You did it," she told him grinning widely, a celebration breaking out all around them. "You really did it."

At that moment he should have been thinking of a million things. But all he could focus on was her smile. He'd made Donna proud.

He kissed her on the cheek and pulled her to the dance floor. Logistics could come later.

OoooooooooO

Josh, Donna, Sam, Toby and CJ sat with in a row on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. They'd all moved to DC, transition now fully under way. Their lives were becoming busier and more stressful by the hour.

Donna has never been sightseeing in DC and it had been ages since CJ had played tourist so they'd all ended up on an impromptu trip to the Mall.

Sam had played tour guide while Toby and Josh discussed strategy and staffing, CJ and Donna content just to be out of the office.

They'd had dinner and a few drinks and were now rehashing some of their favorite stories about each other from the campaign.

"It's incredible," Donna finally stated. "This," she gestured towards the national mall. "I can't believe I'm here- with you guys."

"Well we wouldn't be here without you," Josh offered.

"That's for sure," CJ noted. "Nobody else could reign that one in."

Toby and Sam laughed while Josh and Donna exchanged a look. They did make an excellent team.

"Hawk and Dove?" Sam suggested what was quickly becoming their favorite spot.

"I can get behind that," Toby stood and they began to descend the steps, CJ right behind them.

"Right behind you," Josh called but didn't move from where he sat beside Donna.

"Hard to believe I'm going to work in the White House," Donna stated, still marveling at where she was. "I don't think I've ever really thanked you," she began.

"Nothing to thank me for," he cut her off. "You're not here as a favor, Donna. You've proven yourself. You've earned your seat at the table."

"But you took a chance on me, Josh. And that's not lost on me. You had no reason to hire me, and no reason to take me back, or ask Leo to give me a permanent job."

"Whoa. Slow down. Leo had every reason to give you a permanent job, Donna. And that was his call. But I don't succeed without you. Don't sell yourself short. And for the record, Donna, I'll always take you back but please, I'm begging you not to leave again." He stared across the darkening city.

"I'm not going anywhere, Josh," she told him, resting her head on his shoulder. "I'm in this for the long run. And I'm all in."

They sat for a moment, enjoying a peaceful moment in their otherwise frantic world.

"It's going to get so much harder," he finally admitted. "And I don't know if I can juggle it all."

She knew what he meant, and she just let him get it all out, not interested in interrupting him.

"I'm already burning the candle at both ends here and we aren't even governing yet. And she'll be here tomorrow. I just don't know how I can make it all work."

"You'll find a way," she told him, all the confidence in the world in her voice. "You always do. You have a knack for it, you know. Making the difficult into an easy reality. Look at the President Elect. You found a way."

Josh didn't say anything to that.

"And you're not alone in this, Josh. Don't forget that. There are so many people who care about you, and care about Audrey. You're never going to be all by yourself. And you can always ask for help, okay."

He leaned over and kissed the top of her head. "Thanks," he offered sincerely, knowing Donna would be right by his side through all of this. He was somehow greatly comforted by that. By her.

They'd morphed into this easy companionship and more than anything he hoped the White House wouldn't change that.

"Let's go," she told him. "They'll be waiting for us, and it's the last time you wont need a babysitter. Better live it up, Lyman," she told him with a wink.

OoooooooooO

Two mornings later found Josh on the couch with Audrey snuggled against his chest. There was no better way, he thought, to start his day. He halfway listened to the morning news, glad he had a late start to the day, and watched her sleep peacefully. She'd arrived with his mother, who was staying with him for the time being, last night.

He was startled by a knock at the door, wondering who could possibly be here this early.

His mother answered it, greeting Donna with a warm hug.

"Sorry, I know it's early but I was on the way in to the office and... I wanted to see her," she almost blushed.

Josh laughed from the living room, getting up to meet her. "She's right here," he handed Audrey to Donna, both of their faces lighting up. "And I'd say she wanted to see you too."

Donna kissed the baby's chunky little cheeks and pulled her close, absolutely fawning over her.

"You two catch up, I'll get dressed and you can ride in with me," Josh told her, loving Donna's adoration of his daughter.

She was right last night, he thought. He wasn't all alone. He wasn't alone at all.

XxxxxxxxxxxX

Ok so I guess I can't pull off the two stories at once thing. My brain can't focus on what should be happening in both of them. Sorry for the delays in this... the updates will become more regular once I finish I'll Be Waiting. Thanks for sticking with me! :)