"Good morning." Josh stood behind the island in the kitchen, pouring her a cup of coffee.

Donna let out at grin at the sight of him. His hair was sticking up in a million directions, and he was still clad in a pair of flannel pajama pants and a shirt that appeared to have a glob of Audrey's orange toothpaste on it. Audrey, however, was dressed and ready to go.

"Good morning," she beamed at him. "Audrey, you're up and ready!"

"Uh huh!" She nodded enthusiastically, taking a break from the book she was paging through. "Daddy fixed my hair." She pointed to the red bow in her loose auburn curls.

"I see that." Donna stopped at the table, bending down to kiss her cheek. "You look nice today, Sweet Pea," she noted, taking in white long sleeve shirt that Josh had paired with her denim overalls.

"Red, white and blue," Audrey announced with a grin. "And I even ate my oatmeal with strawberries and blueberries. It was red, white and blue, too!"

"It sounds like Daddy made you a very special breakfast." Donna gave her approval. "Did Lucy Dog eat breakfast yet?"

"No." Audrey shook her head before hopping up and calling for her trusty companion.

Donna made her way over to stand next to Josh, who handed her a warm mug.

"Daddy, do you want to help me?" Audrey questioned as Lucy ran small circles around her, knowing what was to come.

"I want you to show me how you can do it," Josh answered with enthusiasm. "I'll watch from here."

Audrey disappeared around the corner of the first floor, the little beagle trotting behind her.

Donna wasted no time pressing herself into Josh, kissing the air out of his lungs as soon as they were alone. The feeling of her soft lips on his temporarily shocked Josh, but he quickly recovered and enthusiastically returned her kiss, the two of them moving towards a frantic energy in their moment alone. Donna, though her mind was blurry, managed to hear a tiny squeak on the rolling kickstool and knew Audrey would be rounding the corner in only a second.

She abruptly stepped away from him, breathing hard, her face flushed and grinning wildly.

Josh blinked at the sudden loss of contact. He wasn't sure if he'd ever get used to the new dynamic between them, but he liked where things were heading. He'd certainly never felt this way before, and he certainly couldn't get enough of her. For a split second he wasn't sure why Donna had ended their kiss so abruptly but he quickly put two and two together as Audrey rounded the corner talking to Lucy.

"Well good morning, indeed, Donnatella." Josh smirked at Donna, who flirtatiously bit her lip. Instantaneously, he felt more confident than he had since the moment he'd been released from jail. He and Donna had been building up to this for years, and they certainly still had their rhythm down. They'd always been able to redirect an underlying current of sexual tension, but there was no delaying or denying either of their feelings now. Up until now they had been taking things slow, but there was no denying that the feelings inside both of them were reaching a boiling point. Josh just hoped things wouldn't fall apart now that this was becoming a reality.

"So," Donna began, trying to pull herself together together. "Why are you two up and at em so early?"

Josh blushed slightly. "I, uh, hoped you'd take her with you this morning," he admitted.

Donna's face softened immediately. "When I go to vote?"

"Yeah." Josh cleared his throat. "I want her to grow up knowing it's important."

"Of course I'll take her. But she knows, Josh. You've always instilled a strong set of morals for her. She sees the sacrifices you make and how hard you work to change the world. You know that, right?"

He looked away, shrugging his shoulders.

"Josh?"

"Later," he croaked out, composing himself once again.

She nodded her head once in understanding. She knew he'd been talking to Stanley, and trying to work through all of the guilt he felt, but she could see he was still occasionally struggling.

"Alright." She ran her hand through his hair, needing to physically touch him in some way. "I'll get my things and I'll get going."

He nodded once. "Come here, Audrey. Let's get your coat."

Donna and Audrey said goodbye to Josh and headed to the polling place, crunching through the freshly fallen snow to reach the doors.

Audrey quietly held Donna's hand, taking in all that was going on around them as Donna explained each step of the process. When she was finished, Donna took an I Voted sticker from an election worker and excited once again.

"Stand by the sign so I can take your picture," Donna requested of Audrey, who stood next to the sign indicating they were at at their polling place, a cheeseburger grin across her face.

Donna snapped the picture and took Audrey's hand again, leading her back to the car.

"Did you vote for Daddy and Papa Leo?" Audrey asked innocently.

Donna paused for a moment, considering explaining the confidentiality of a vote, but she'd already covered that when they were inside the polls. And in Donna's gut, she didn't think that was what Audrey was asking.

"I voted for President Bartlet, yes," Donna told her, glancing in the rear view mirror.

"Why?" Audrey asked.

"Well, because I believe in what he stands for. And I know he's a good man."

"Cause he's a Democrat?" Audrey questioned.

Donna grinned. What other preschool besides Josh Lyman's daughter would question someone on voting party lines?

"Well, that's part of it. But I also voted for him because I agree with the plans he has for our country in the next 4 years. Like making sure everyone can see a doctor if they're sick and making sure that kids like you can go to a good school where they can be safe and learn."

"Oh." Audrey thought about it for a second. "Okay. I would have voted for him too, if I was an adult. He gives good hugs and always remembers my birthday."

"Well that's very true," Donna nodded her agreement as she pulled into a parking spot outside the school. Unbuckling, she turned around in her seat.

"Audrey? Daddy's going to pick you up from school today."

"Okay." She went about what she was doing, pressing firmly on her restraint to unbuckle her seat.

"Audrey, listen closely, please."

The little girl stopped what she was doing, wide eyes staring intently at Donna.

"When Daddy picks you up this afternoon he might… he's probably going to have a lot on his mind today, okay?"

"Like he's sad? Or angry?" Audrey asked, worried.

"No, Sweet Pea. He's just thinking about a lot of things. And I want you to be extra good for him today, okay? And maybe give him an extra hug."

"And one from you, too?"

"Sure," Donna smiled, knowing Audrey was channeling all of the nights she'd tucked the little girl in, assuring her of her father's unwavering love while he was away. "Give him an extra hug from me, too."

Audrey unbuckled her seat and grabbed her backpack, Donna taking her hand and toting her lunch box along to store in the cubby with her name on it.

"I'll be home for dinner," she promised. "I love you, kiddo."

"Love you too," Audrey shouted, running off to meet up with her friends.

Donna headed back to her car, sending Josh a copy of the photo she'd snapped and a quick text before she headed into work.

She's proud of you. I am too.

OoOoOoO

Josh picked Audrey up from school at noon, feeling somewhat awkward as he stood in the corner of the lobby with the other parents. They were shooting him sideways glances, he could tell. He was an unfamiliar face, which he supposed he could appreciate as a parent himself. He made himself busy standing at Audrey's cubby, pretending to be looking at something. He hadn't been recognized since his release from prison, but he certainly didn't want that to start to occur here.

One by one, the kids from the adjoining classroom were released, finding their parent and gathering their things. Each stopped in the doorway to move a clothespin from one side of a clipboard to another, indicating they'd taken the art projects that were waiting for them.

"Audrey. You're going to have to sit back down with the class. There's no one here to pick you up." Josh could overhear the conversation and was about to step in when Audrey took care of things herself.

"But that's my Daddy," she stated, waving excitedly at Josh.

Josh gave Audrey a smile and nodded towards the teacher. "Hello."

The woman looked at him skeptically.

"Audrey, why don't you go sit next to Rachel S. while I step out and meet your dad, okay?"

Audrey furrowed her brow but did what she was told.

"I'm sorry," the teacher closed the door behind her. "The only adults authorized to pick Audrey up are her listed guardians."

"But I'm her father," Josh protested.

"I'm sure you are," the teacher placated. "But school policy states that we can only release a student to an authorized individual. Now, we can walk to the office and check Audrey's forms if you'll follow me."

Josh did so, and after showing his drivers license, was soon met with an apology from the teacher.

"It's just that you never know," she nervously explained. "Custody disputes and such. So we have the kids information written down. And, oh-." She pulled the license back for a moment. "You're from out of state. Explains why we haven't seen you before."

"Yeah. Well, no harm done. Better to be safe," Josh assured, pleased to know the list of people eligible to pick his daughter up was so short.

"We just love Audrey," the teacher gushed. "She's very advanced

"Carole," the teacher shouted across the foyer. "This is Audrey's dad, Josh Lyman! He's in from Washington DC!"

Josh swallowed, scanning the room for signs of recognition at the announcement of his name.

Audrey came bolting out the door as soon as the teacher released her.

"Hi, Daddy!" She threw herself around his legs.

"Hi, Shortcake," he greeted her quietly, smoothing her hair as his eyes remained trained on a group of 3 parents in the corner. "Go get your coat, okay?"

She skipped over to retrieve her belongings, and Josh followed behind, helping her into her winter jacket and zipping it up for her.

Carrying her backpack for her, he took her hand and headed for the door

"They shoulda let you sit in jail," one of the parents sneered as Josh walked by, but Josh didn't acknowledge the comment.

He grasp Audrey's hand a little tighter and quickened their pace.

"Coward." Another man muttered.

Josh stopped and turned, snapping directly into Bulldog mode for the first time in almost a year. Her stared intently at the men until he was sure he'd made them nervous under his gaze.

"If you have something to say to me, fine. But be a man and say it to me. Don't stand there and wait for my daughter to hear it."

Without waiting for a response, he headed for the door, Audrey softly protesting on the way.

"My purple folder, Daddy," she tugged on his arm as she whispered. "You forgot my purple folder."

"What?" It took a moment to register what she was saying as he lead her out the front door and into the parking lot. "We'll get it tomorrow."

"But...but…" Audrey turned around, craning her neck to look back towards the school.

"No, Audrey." Josh didn't mean to snap at her, but he knew if he went inside and things escalated at all between the other parents it wouldn't end well for Audrey. He didn't want her to lose any friends because he insulted the moral fiber of the parents group.

"Mr. Lyman! Mr. Lyman!" Josh clenched his jaw at the sound of the woman's voice, but when he turned around to see Audrey's teacher, he'd already plastered a smile on his face.

"She forgot her artwork," Carole offered.

"My purple folder!" Audrey beamed.

"See you tomorrow, Miss Audrey," the woman smiled and waved, turning back to rush inside the school again.

Josh, hating how he'd reacted, carefully helped Audrey into her seat in his mother's car, kissing the top of her head.

"What did you do today at school?" He asked, navigating the streets out of town and towards the cabin.

"Played and colored," Audrey answered absentmindedly, as she looked out the window. "Is it going to snow more tonight?"

"I don't know," Josh remarked, glancing up at the graying skies.

"I'm hungry," Audrey remarked, changing topics.

"I thought you had lunch at school," Josh questioned.

"No. Bubbe makes me lunch."

"But you took a lunchbox this morning. And I saw Donna packing something."

"That's Donna's lunch," Audrey said knowingly. "And my snack. I ate Goldfishies and raisins as my snack."

"Ah." Josh nodded in understanding as he pulled into the driveway. "Well, how about Daddy makes you his famous grilled cheese for lunch and then we pick a movie.

"Okay!" Audrey happily agreed.

Josh led her inside and got to work in the kitchen. It wasn't long until she was tugging on his shirt sleeve once again.

Josh glanced down, meeting Audrey's gaze. It would hit him, at certain odd moments, how lucky he was to be her father. This was one of those moments. She looked at him like he hung the moon, all the adoration in the world grinning up at him with a tiny dimpled smile.

She handing him a piece of paper, and Josh took it, squatting down to eye level with her when he saw it was a picture she'd drawn at school and toted home in her purple folder.

"Wow! This is really nice!" He beamed, studying the crayon scribbles.

"It's you and me and Donna and Lucy!" She beamed.

"It's perfect," he told her. "Thank you, Shortcake."

Audrey threw her arms around his neck, remembering what Donna said to her before school and giving him a big hug. "I love you."

Josh felt his heart swell.

"And Donna loves you too," Audrey added.

That caught Josh's attention.

"I love you too, Audrey Joan."

"AND you love Donna." Audrey smiled, resting her head on his shoulder.

"Well…" Josh tried to act nonchalant. "Why do you think that?"

"Because… because… she's nice to us and she makes us soup when we're sick and she's pretty."

"All excellent points," Josh grinned, understanding that Audrey's comment had been, for the most part, benign.

"Daddy?"

"Yes?" Josh hoisted her up to sit on the counter as he buttered the bread for their grilled cheese and carefully peeled a mandarin orange.

"Can we all live here now?"

"What?" Audrey's question caught Josh off guard, and didn't immediately make much sense to him.

"I don't want Donna to leave," Audrey whispered, her chin beginning to quiver slightly.

Josh stopped what he was doing, sitting the sandwiches down and turning his full focus to Audrey.

"I don't want her to leave, either. Why would you think that Donna's leaving?" The very thought made him feel sick inside, too.

"But you said! You said you weren't going away! You promised!" Audrey burst into tears.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa." Josh scooped her up to soothe her. "I'm not going anywhere, Audrey."

He swayed her back and forth, gently rubbing her back and speaking calming words to her.

"I'm right here," he assured. "I'm not going anywhere, baby girl. It's okay. Donna's just at work. She'll be home tonight."

"Do you promise?" Audrey's voice was still shaky, huge tears spilling out of her eyes.

"I promise," Josh soothed. As he continued to rub Audrey's back, he tried to work out what had her so upset. At first it seemed like it was about Donna, but his reassurance that Donna was just at work had set Audrey off worrying about him. When he realized what was truly wrong, it hit him like a bolt of lightning. "Audrey? Is this what's been bothering you for the last few days? Are you worried that Donna's going to leave now that I'm home again?"

Audrey looked shyly at Josh for a moment before nodding her head in confirmation.

"Oh, Audrey," he squeezed her close. "Donna loves you so much. That's not going to change."

He hated to deflect when Audrey so clearly wanted reassurance that Donna would live with them forever, but the truth was that he didn't know what to say. He too hoped that their living situation would include Donna for the rest of his life, but he couldn't speak to Donna's thoughts.

Audrey continued to sob wordlessly, clinging tightly to Josh and occasionally crying Donna's name.

Josh fished around in his pocket, pulling his cell out and flipping it open before quickly pressing 1 on speed dial.

"Let's call Donna, okay?" He suggested, knowing that Audrey would feel a gentle reassurance from just hearing Donna's voice.

"Hello?" Donna picked up on the second ring, but could hear Audrey's muffled cries in the background. "Josh? Audrey? What's wrong?"

"Someone's missing you," he told Donna, not wishing to have what could be a life changing conversation over the phone. "And she wants to talk to you. Do you have time?"

"Of course," Donna assured.

Josh handed Audrey the phone and she held it to her ear, blinking slowly as she listened to whatever Donna was saying without interrupting.

"Come home?" Audrey requested in what Josh was sure sounded like the most pathetic voice he'd ever heard. "Please, Donna?"

Josh couldn't specifically hear what was happening on the phone, but whatever Donna said alleviated Audrey's fears for the time being.

"Love you too," Audrey eventually whispered, handing the phone back to Josh and returning to her previous activity of holding onto him, though she used considerably less force.

"You there?" Josh asked, wondering if Donna was still on the line.

"Yeah. I am." Even Donna's voice was shaky. "What happened?"

"Ahh…" Josh sighed. "It's a long story but we'll talk about it later. It's nothing you need to fixate on while you're at work. She's not hurt or anything."

"I'm coming home early," Donna stated, and Josh could hear the rustling of papers through the phone.

"You don't have to do that," Josh assured. "We're just going to have some lunch and watch a movie."

"I'm coming home," Donna repeated, effectively ending the conversation.

She walked through the door less than an hour later, and Audrey immediately ran over to greet her. After a thorough hello, Donna sent Audrey upstairs to pick out a book for all of them to read together.

As soon as she was out of earshot, Donna turned to Josh.

"What happened?" She asked him in a low tone.

"She's afraid that you're going to leave."

"What?" Donna's confusion was written all over her face.

"Now that I'm back," Josh continued, "she's terrified that you're going to move out or that something is going to take you away from her."

The pain washed over Donna's face."What did you tell her."

Josh started at his feet. "I didn't know what to say. I wasn't sure."

"You weren't sure about what?"

"If you'd want to stay. I mean, I know you'll always be part of her life and I'm grateful for that but… I wasn't sure what to tell her."

"What do you want, Josh?" She asked softly. "Do you want me here? I mean, in this house. Under your roof. We haven't really discussed it and I don't want you to think-"

"Of course I want you here." He didn't even let her finish. He simply stared at her as though it was the most obvious statement in the world.

She gave him an easy smile. "Then of course, I'll stay. It's right where I want to be."

"Really?" He was certain he had a stupid looking grin on his face.

"Really," she stepped forward and kissed him, just as they heard the pitter patter of Audrey's feet descending the staircase.

"I picked a book," Audrey announced, holding it out to show Josh. "It's about a little mouse."

"Ah, excellent choice," Donna commended, sitting down on the stairs. "But before Daddy reads it to you, can we talk please, Audrey?"

Audrey climbed onto Donna's lap as Josh leaned against the wall in front of them.

"Audrey, are you worried that I'm going to move away and not see you anymore?"

Audrey's shoulders slumped at the mere mention of the topic that had been plaguing her for the better part of a week.

"Oh, Sweet Pea. I'm not going to move away. And I'll never leave you. I'll be part of your life as long as you'll let me, even when you're all grown up. You'll always be my best girl."

"Audrey," Josh chimed in. "You know you can talk to Donna if you're worried about something. Why didn't you ask her?"

"Because I thought I had to pick," Audrey explained. "Like Brandon at my school. He only lives with his Mommy or his Daddy. And before at our old house I lived with you but then I lived here with Donna."

"You don't have to pick, Audrey." Josh sat down next to them on the step. "You'll never have to choose between me and Donna. I promise."

"So," Donna hedged, glancing at Josh. "Does that mean you like that we all live in the cabin together? You're happy here?"

"Yes." Audrey gave a toothy little grin.

Donna matched her smile and squeezed her close. "Me too."

"Me three," Josh added, tickling Audrey's side.

The rest of the afternoon floated along easily. They'd played go fish and watched a movie. Donna and Audrey painted with watercolors while Josh was on the phone with Stanley, a call that took longer than anticipated.

They started dinner, Donna chopping veggies for a hearty soup, and kneading dough from her bread starter. Audrey sat at the kitchen island and continued to paint various renditions of houses and Lucy, occasionally stopping to munch on a carrot that Donna would hand her. The radio played soft classical music, and Donna made it a point to keep the TV off. Though she and Josh were certainly both interested in the outcome of the election, there was really nothing to know yet. Besides, they didn't want to scare or confuse Audrey even more with the media coverage.

"It smells great in here," Josh grinned, tossing his phone down on the end table by the couch.

"Donna's making chicken and noodles," Audrey announced. "And I helped measure 2 cups of carrots."

Josh and Audrey set the table and the three enjoyed dinner, Audrey sitting happily between them.

Josh's phone rang twice during the meal, and though that wouldn't have surprised either of them a year ago, tonight it gave Donna pause.

"Do you want to get that?" She asked both times.

"No." Josh was certain. "They'll leave a message if it's important. I'll call back after dinner."

Donna smiled softly. It was nice to get to enjoy this lifestyle with Josh. No one was having to jump when the phone rang or cut dinner short to rush into work.

They finished dinner and cleared the table, playing a round of Candyland and enjoying the apple cake that Donna had baked earlier in the day.

"Did you return your call?" Donna asked nonchalantly.

"No," Josh pulled a card and moved his gingerbread man to the next green space. "It was Sam. He said he wanted to talk to me about something. I'll call him back later tonight."

"I won!" Audrey cheered as she drew a card and moved her game piece.

"Alright," Donna nodded her head. "Well, I'll get Audrey ready for bed. Why don't you give Sam a call back, okay?"

"I don't want to go to bed," Audrey pouted. "I'm having fun."

"And so am I," Donna assured, gathering the pieces and placing them back in the box. "So much fun, in fact, that I want to play another game tomorrow. But we can only do that if we listen to what we're told and go to bed on time."

Audrey began to protest but thought better of it. "Can we read two stories before bed," she asked, yawning.

"Sure," Donna agreed, following her upstairs.

But after her bath, Audrey was fast asleep before Donna even finished the first book. She kissed Audrey's forehead and tucked the covers in closely around her. Donna could hear the tv softly reporting the news as she walked down the stairs, but what really caught her attention was Josh's voice, speaking with reassurance to Sam.

He gave her a full dimpled grin when she rounded the corner on the landing, opening his arm to her from where he sat on the couch. She wasted no time curling in next to him as he sat back and continued his phone call.

"She's asleep," Donna told him softly, not wishing to interrupt but letting him know nonetheless.

Josh nodded his understanding, his hand gently running up and down his arm as he studied her face, forgetting for a moment that he was on the phone.

"Hmm?" He said into the speaker. "Yeah, Sam. I'm here."

Donna heard him mutter a few halfhearted words of agreement into the phone, but she could tell he www growing distracted.

"Alright. Well thanks for calling, man," Josh finally said. "Keep me posted but I'll call you tomorrow either way."

He snapped the phone closed and placed it back on the end table.

"Sam says hi," he told her. "And to let you know he's running for Congress."

"What?!" She sat up and stared at Josh who was smirking at her reaction

"He made a promise to a widow in the California 47th," Josh told her, turning the volume on the tv back up a bit to hear the latest exit poll results. "Thought he'd never have to make good on it, but it looks like there's going to be a special election."

Donna watched Josh intently as he explained his phone call with Sam and everything going on in Southern California. It felt, to her, like he was slipping back into his old self. The Josh with a passion for politics, teaching her everything he knew.

"Do you miss it?" She asked, lacing their fingers together. "Do you wish you were there tonight?"

He leaned down and gave her a soft kiss on the lips. "I'm pretty happy right here," he told her.

Donna gave him a soft smile. "I'm glad. But you don't have to choose, you know. It's okay to miss DC. That was the biggest part of your life for so many years. It's alright to want to be involved. It's alright to admit there's somewhere else you'd rather be."

"There's nowhere else I'd rather be," he told her honestly. "Even tonight, with everything that's going on, I'm exactly where I want to be, Donnatella. And I hope you really know that."

This time she took the lead, cupping his face, somewhat scratchy from his 5 o'clock shadow, and initiating the kiss. It was still quite novel to her, she thought. Kissing Josh Lyman and feeling him respond to her touch the way that he did. She'd always wondered if it would be this way with him, but there were so many nights she was afraid she'd never find out. That she'd never be the one he wanted or that life would take him away from her. She was tired of letting the outside world come between them.

She slowly pulled away from him and stood, taking his hand and pulling him up from the couch and towards the bedroom.

He looked at her quizzically, trying to find the words to confirm that they were both on the same page.

"Come to bed with me?" She asked before he spoke.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes." She gave his hand a squeeze. "I've loved you for a long time. I'm going to love you forever, and I'm not going to try to hide it anymore. If you need more time, I'll be patient. But I don't need more time. I'm absolutely sure."

Josh didn't need any more encouragement, picking her up in an instant and heading for bed. Donna was fairly certain that she heard, in the background, the TV news analysts call the election for President Bartlet. Josh, for his part, wasn't listening to the pundits. He was focused on something more important: his future with Donna.