CJ was rushing very fast towards the women's restroom. Her early morning press briefing had run much longer than anticipated and she was regretting the amount of coffee she drank on the way into the office. With a sigh of relief, she pushed through the door to the bathroom. Her moment was short lived. Almost immediately after she had walked in, she heard the distinct sound of someone retching in one of the stalls. CJ pulled a face and turned on her heel to leave, but paused when she heard a groan from what she could have sworn was Donna. She stopped and waited until eventually the stall door swung open very slowly and CJ saw an entirely miserable looking Donna shuffle out.

"Donna," CJ said worriedly, keeping her distance. "You doing okay?" Donna looked up and her face started to grow slightly pink.

"Sorry," she muttered as she moved over to the sink and began splashing water on her face. CJ walked over and started to rub circles on Donna's back as she hunched over the sink.

"I'm okay," Donna said quietly, closing her eyes for a moment.

"You going to head home?" CJ asked her. "I can tell Josh if you-"

"No, CJ, I'm fine. Really," Donna insisted as she began washing her hands. "I've been like this for a few days, it'll pass." At that, CJ froze. She waited to see if Donna would continue and when she didn't, she felt a sense of dread beginning to bubble up in her stomach.

"You've been throwing up in the morning for a few days?" CJ asked her, trying not to let her sudden panic seep into her words.

"Yeah, I gotta go, CJ," Donna said, flustered now. She quickly dried her hands on a paper towel and tossed it in the garbage before brushing past CJ towards the door.

"Wait, Donna-" CJ called out, but Donna was gone and down the hallway before CJ had a chance to stop her. She looked around the bathroom before muttering a frustrated "damn it" to herself. Surely Donna knew what was happening? CJ knew Donna was too smart to not realize, so did that mean Donna was in denial? With a deep sigh, CJ left the bathroom, deeply worried for her friend.

Being a few years older than Donna and being one of the few other women on the campaign trail, CJ had taken to being a guide of sorts to Donna, an older sister. She would often check in on Josh's assistant to see how she was doing, both on the campaign and now. The two had struck up a solid bond and now more than ever CJ knew Donna needed a friend. This wasn't the kind of thing Donna could take to Josh.

That's why the next morning, CJ watched Donna's desk closely from her office. She was working on some notes for prep with the President later and when she saw Donna rush away towards the women's restroom again as predicted, CJ grabbed a box from her bottom drawer. She slipped it into her purse and discreetly began following Donna to the bathrooms. She let a few seconds pass as Donna made her way in and then CJ slipped through the door. She tried to tune out the sound of Donna throwing up as she searched for feet under the stalls. They were empty all but for Donna and so CJ made her way back to the door and locked it. She waited about 10 minutes. Luckily the women's bathrooms came equipped with decent chairs in the corner. Finally, Donna made her way out of the stall, looking as miserable as yesterday, her face pale and drawn. She jumped out of her skin when she saw CJ seated in the corner of the room.

"Jesus, CJ," Donna exclaimed, a hand over her heart. "What the hell are you doing?"

Without answering, CJ unzipped her purse and pulled out the box full of pregnancy tests. She waved the box briefly before standing up. The knowing look in Donna's eyes answered yesterday's question. She knew Donna suspected this too. The younger woman was keeping it together, but CJ could see the intense emotion flickering in Donna's eyes.

"I know you're not naive enough not to suspect this, Donna," CJ said gently. "Have you taken one?" Donna shook her head, not trying to argue CJ's words. For a split second, CJ saw Donna's face crumple in tears before she regained her composure.

"No," Donna whispered. CJ was close enough now to rest a comforting hand on Donna's forearm.

"Why not?"

"I don't want it to be true," Donna said miserably. Which was mostly the truth, Donna didn't tell CJ about the tiny part of her that truly did want it to be true. Donna was trying with all her might to squash that emotion. She couldn't allow herself to get attached to the idea.

"Come on," CJ said imploringly as she opened the box. "You have to find out either way. Maybe it's just some bad sushi that you ate."

Donna looked up with a watery smile, appreciating CJ's attempt at levity. They both knew it wasn't likely. Ten minutes later they stood shoulder to shoulder in front of the sinks, staring down at the three sets of pregnancy tests set in a row. Donna had both hands clutched together in front of her mouth while CJ kept an eye on her watch.

"Okay, it's time." They both leaned forward together and the truth was undeniably there. All three pregnancy tests had a thick blue plus sign in the middle of the screen. All three were positive. Without a word, CJ pulled Donna into a tight side hug as tears silently streamed down Donna's face.

There was a harsh knock at the door with a woman behind it complaining about having to use the restroom. CJ glared at the door and gave Donna's arm a squeeze.

"Let's go to my office." They put the pregnancy tests back in the box; not risking them being found in the trash and Donna tried her best to compose herself. They quickly made their way back to CJ's office without attracting too much attention. Neither noticed Josh's head pick up as they entered the office.

"Carol, nobody comes in," CJ said sternly as she shuffled Donna into the room. Carol stood up and watched them enter with worry etched on her face.

CJ locked the door behind her and Donna collapsed on the sofa, her head in her hands. With a sigh, CJ leaned against the edge of her desk and placed a box of tissues next to Donna who immediately scooped them up.

"Do you wanna talk about it?" CJ asked kindly after the sniffles slowed. Donna shook her head as she dabbed at the corner of her eye with a tissue.

"No," she whispered.

"Okay," CJ agreed. Donna blew her nose a few times as the tears had seemingly come to a stop.

"I know it's scary, Donna," CJ began carefully. "But this doesn't have to be the end of the world."

Donna looked up at her.

"Babies can be kind of cute, right?" CJ said with a small smile. She didn't really have any experience about babies, nor did she know how to talk about them. At her words though, a smile did come to Donna's face. Her smile grew ever so slightly before a fresh wave of tears cascaded down Donna's cheeks. The warmth that had come to Donna's face in that moment had set off a small alarm bell in CJ's head. One that hadn't been used in a while. A feeling of dread filled her stomach again.

"Donna?" Donna looked up at her, looking slightly more happy than she had a few minutes ago despite the tears. "I-" CJ stopped and regained her composure. "Josh isn't the-"

She was cut off by a loud thud from the door, followed by an even louder "ow!"

"CJ, what the hell?" came Josh's muffled voice from behind the door. CJ looked at Donna and had every answer she needed. The look of guilt on Donna's face was a complete giveaway. The way she was now watching the door with something akin to terror on her face, only assured CJ of the truth.

"Oh, Donna," CJ practically groaned as she put her head in her right hand. The pounding at the door became more frantic.

"CJ!"

"Go AWAY, Joshua," CJ said with surprising force, her mind was spinning frantically at the news she'd just received. She was running a million different scenarios through her head of how they would handle this situation, at how the press would eat them alive over it when they found out. And they would find out. The pounding at the door stopped.

"I just. Is Donna in there? Someone said she was sick." CJ didn't miss the softness in Josh's voice as he asked after Donna. CJ glanced over and saw Donna put her head back into her hands.

"Go away, Josh," CJ repeated. There was silence from behind the door for a few moments. "Is she okay?"

CJ didn't answer and Josh seemed to take the hint.

"Are you coming in to help prep the President?" CJ started to rub at her forehead in frustration.

"Yes."

"Okay then," Josh said, there was a curious mixture of emotions in his voice. CJ could tell how worried he was worried about Donna. They waited a while til they were sure Josh was gone before CJ spoke up again. "I swear to god I'm going to kill that idiot boy with my own two hands."

CJ stood and started pacing. "How the hell could he be so stupid? We ALL warned him about being THIS stupid. Why won't he ever listen to us?" Donna watched her pace with growing anxiety, she wasn't sure CJ even realized she was still there.

"CJ," she said quietly. CJ stopped pacing. "I was there too you know. Josh isn't the only one at fault."

"He's your boss, Donna," CJ said seriously, her hands on her hips.

"It wasn't like that though," Donna said defensively, honestly. CJ sighed and let her hands fall.

"I know," she replied, some of the anger seeping out of her. "I think that almost makes it worse."

Donna said nothing to this.

"When are you going to tell him?"

"Not yet," Donna said immediately, panicked. "Please, CJ, I can't tell him yet." CJ sighed but nodded. "You have to tell him soon, Donna."

There was another knock at the door, softer this time.

"CJ, prep starts in five," came Carol's voice.

"Thanks, Carol," CJ called back. She turned her focus back to Donna who looked so young and vulnerable on the sofa. She face was gleaming with tear tracks, her make-up smudged.

"Oh, Donna," CJ sighed, feeling so much pity for her friend. "We'll get you through this."

Donna nodded, drawing in on herself. CJ reached behind her desk to grab a binder.

"I have to go to prep the President for Rosslyn tonight," CJ said gently. "You can stay in here as long as you need."

And with that CJ left the office and headed to the Roosevelt Room.

As soon as she entered the room, Josh closed in on her.

"CJ-"

"Not now, Josh," she practically growled back at him. Josh recoiled at the hostility.

"What the hell did I do?" CJ simply glared at him, it was taking all of her willpower not to unleash all of her fury at him right now in front of everybody. Logically she knew Donna was equally at fault too, but it was much easier to focus her anger on Josh. Besides, at the end of the day, Josh truly should have known better. Though CJ knew deep down that both parties had been more than willing participants.

"Is Donna okay?" he asked, a little desperately. CJ relented for just a moment.

"She'll be fine," she said quietly. She could see Josh wanting to ask her more questions, practically bouncing up and down on the balls of his feet, but he resisted the urge.

"Fine," he muttered back and moved away from her. CJ noticed how he sat himself practically on the other side of the room. It was for the best; every time CJ looked at the Deputy Chief of Staff she felt a mixture of rage and pity boil in the pit of her stomach.

Had they not all taken Josh aside at some point and warned him about this? Everyone could see the strong, almost unbreakable bond between Josh and Donna. It had been immediate and it scared the hell out of everyone. Eventually though after nothing happened between them for over a year, the rest of the staff had relaxed. If nothing had happened between them after a full year, surely they were in the clear? How wrong they had been.

The President walked in soon thereafter and they got underway with prep. Try as she might, CJ couldn't stop her mind from drifting. Josh was stood up near the front of the room and excitedly explaining something to the group as to why the President should use a particular set of stats and CJ train of thought finally landed on the most pressing fact. Josh Lyman, the man she had come to know so well over these past few years, was going to be a father.

She pictured Josh holding a baby bundled up in blankets and she couldn't help the warm smile that came to her face. Josh was actually surprisingly good with babies. They had come across their fair share of them on the campaign trail and while Toby would grumble and complain, Josh often went out of his way to interact with the babies and young kids they met on their travels. He'd play with them and entertain them when the staffers had a bit of downtime.

"Gotta get them excited about the democratic process, CJ! I don't want Toby to be their picture of democracy," Josh had told her excitedly. He'd ignored her when CJ pointed out that a five-month-old baby wasn't going to remember this lesson in democracy. CJ wondered if Donna was remembering those moments right now too. She remembered the time Josh had actually stepped in to help a struggling young mom who had her hands full with her three young kids. The older two had been throwing simultaneous tantrums and Josh had rushed over to take the baby from the mother's arms so she could attend to the other kids. They were all amazed at how quickly at ease the baby was in Josh's arms. The whole exchange only lasted around five minutes, but CJ had been impressed.

She thought of that warm smile that had graced Donna's lips and began to think of things from a PR standpoint. Would it be better if her and Josh presented a united front? If the press knew they were together at least it would stop any rumors from taking off before they started.

CJ considered what the press would do with photos of the Deputy Chief of Staff's increasingly pregnant assistant spending more and more time at her boss's house. She cringed.

"What's wrong?" Toby had walked up to her without preamble, taking the empty seat next to her while the rest of the room still had their full attention on Josh.

CJ smiled sadly. "You'll find out eventually."

"You're not going to tell me?" Toby grumbled. CJ simply nodded.

"Is it something I need to know?"

"It will be." Toby suddenly looked furious.

"CJ!"

"There's nothing I can do, Toby," CJ told him, agitation seeping into her own words now. Toby followed her line of sight and saw it landed on Josh, who had stopped talking now and was sitting down next to Sam.

"Does it have to do with Josh?" Toby asked her, his voice dangerously low. CJ sighed.

"Yes." Toby threw his pencil down onto the table with a smack, causing most of the room to turn and stare at him. Josh caught the angry looks coming his way from both CJ and Toby now and went slightly pale. He busied himself talking to Sam and pretended not to notice.

"How bad is it, CJ?" Toby asked after the meeting picked up again.

CJ took a deep breath and sighed. "It's bad."