"Josh, hurry up! We're gonna be late," Donna called over her shoulder. "We'll stop at Starbucks and pick something up on the way."

Josh came hopping out of the bedroom on one foot, hands trying to tie one shoe while he held onto his cell phone between his teeth.

"I'm coming," he muttered through clenched teeth.

It was mid November now. Josh was in his second week back at the office. He had enjoyed a hero's welcome of sorts upon his return from his co-workers that Josh felt genuinely touched by. He found his desk covered in cards, notes, and presents with a "welcome home" banner over the door. (Donna's work). On doctor's orders, Josh was to take it slow for the first two weeks, which meant half days and a reduced workload. Donna had corned the senior staff into a room and made them promise they would stick together on making sure Josh abide by these rules.

The first few days were rocky. Josh was taken aback by just how exhausted he felt within hours of being at work. To everyone's surprise, it wasn't difficult to get him to stick to a half day schedule. Still, despite Josh's obvious exhaustion, the office felt rejuvenated at his return. It was as though the sun had finally emerged from the clouds and they were able to find their way back to the status quo. Josh didn't miss the looks his coworkers gave him when they thought he wasn't looking.

"What?" Josh had asked CJ as they were walking out of Leo's office. CJ had looked at him with shining eyes and pulled him into a quick side hug as they walked.

"We missed you."

Being back had made him realize how hard this time had been on everybody else too. Maybe not physically, but his co-workers had added many of Josh's responsibilities onto their own plates to try and get the staff through Josh's recovery. Josh knew this was no small feat. He worked from home sporadically, but largely the burden fell on his office and the senior staff. It had been a team effort by everybody to get him back into his own office working.

Now though, Josh had regained stamina and was pushing his luck. He was into week two and had stayed until 4 on Monday, and 5 on Tuesday, but Donna was prepared to get him home by 3 today. Jake the new assistant was great at keeping Josh's office running, but had yet to find the confidence to keep Josh himself in line. Donna was more than happy to step in for Jake in those situations. Jake had been drilled intensely by Donna to prepare him for Josh's arrival and Josh didn't hate him, which was certainly something.

It helped that Josh enjoyed seeing Donna thrive in her new role in Toby's office. Seeing Donna gain a new sense of confidence was all Josh needed to suck it up and accept Jake. Though Josh hated not being as close to her in the office anymore, nobody seemed to mind when he would visit with her at her new desk.

Donna was doing well with her position in Toby's office. Her place as a researcher had a different flow to it, but she had picked it up quite easily. She understood the kind of work that Toby needed to be successful and she benefited from knowing what Toby was like going in. Donna was surprised that her new position had spawned a new found friendship with Toby. Toby could be grumpy and grumbly, but Donna expected that and Toby had quickly begun to rely on Donna's organization and intelligence. While she knew there was still some lingering resentment from Toby towards Josh, Toby for some reason had no problems with her. He'd even ask about the baby every now and then.

Now getting close to the end of her pregnancy, Donna felt like a small refrigerator walking around the office. They still hadn't found out the sex of the baby, deciding instead to be surprised, but Donna could feel he or she kicking strongly now. It never grew old to see the way Josh's face would light up when he got to feel the baby kick.

The people around the office still didn't know Josh was the father. They kept it low key around each other with their coworkers around and tried their best not to give themselves away. Luckily their normal relationship that everyone was used to meant they got away with quite a lot. Nobody seemed surprised when Josh asked to feel the baby kick. That didn't mean there weren't rumors around the office. Both of them had heard whisperings from others about the two of them, but they paid it no mind.

Standing in line at Starbucks, Donna was getting antsy. The pair of them were both engrossed in the newspaper today, eyes hungrily eating up the words on the page.

"Why is this line so long, I just want a muffin," she whined. There was an impatient hand drumming against her belly. Josh smirked at her but didn't reply; instead he focused on reading his paper. Donna was always hungry these days.

"Josh!" Josh's head picked up to see Danny Concannon waving at him near the door.

"Be right back," he muttered to Donna, who didn't look up from her paper.

"Kay," she answered distractedly.

"Hey, Danny," Josh said happily. He hadn't seen his friend in months. Danny looked relieved to see Josh doing so well.

"How ya doin?" Danny asked him genuinely, grasping his friend's upper arm as they shook hands. "You look great. -Well you don't look like you're not knockin' on death's door anymore."

Josh smirked and rolled his eyes. "I'm good, Danny. I'm good."

Danny smiled back, happy to see his old friend overcome such odds.

"I'm glad, Josh. Really glad."

"Thanks," Josh said, a little shy.

"Hey, this is Harry Jenkins," Danny said suddenly. He was gesturing to the man stood a few steps behind him. He had blonde hair and glasses and looked to be on the young side.

"He's pretty new here, just moved to Washington as a reporter. I knew his uncle back in the day so I agreed to show him around a little bit."

"Nice to meet you," Josh said, shaking the man's hand.

"Likewise," Harry replied.

"How are you finding DC so far?"

"Pretty expensive," Harry said with a laugh. Josh returned the laugh and nodded.

Donna was walking over to them now, her right hand holding the drink carrier and her left holding out the paper. Still absorbed in the paper, she didn't notice Josh was talking to anyone.

"Hey, they didn't have any banana nut muffins left, but I think we have blueberry muffins at home. I put something blueberry into the pantry yesterday anyway and besides you like blueberries better than bananas," she said all while her eyes never left the newspaper. Josh froze and he stared at the ground, terrified to look at the two journalists in front of him.

"Donna," Josh said quietly. Donna's head snapped up and she realized in horror who had just overheard her words. She was wearing a long black jacket today, but it wasn't fastened so her protruding belly dressed all in red was extremely visible. She saw Danny's eyes dart between the two of them and downwards toward her stomach. It was clear he was connecting the dots here. Josh watched in horror as Harry did the same.

"Do you two live together?" Harry asked, hardly masking the eagerness in his voice.

"I- no- we," Josh began stuttering.

"Didn't she used to be your assistant?" Harry asked, cutting Josh off. Josh looked panicked at Donna. It'd been a while since he had dealt with nosy reporters. He was out of practice and it was showing.

"I don't think-"

"Are you-" Harry began asking.

"Harry," Danny said sharply, cutting across the younger man. He looked at Danny in surprise and then without another word, he turned away.

"Hey, I gotta go," he said as he pulled out his cell phone. "It was nice meeting you!"

"Harry-" Danny tried to stop him but he was already gone.

Danny turned back to Josh and Donna who were standing there in shock, faces pale.

"Guys," Danny began quietly. He didn't have to say it. A brand new reporter looking to make a good impression at his new paper? Josh and Donna didn't stand a chance of him not contacting his editor about what he just witnessed.

"Had to be today you showed him around town, huh," Josh said miserably. He wiped a hand down his mouth. Danny didn't know what to say.

"We should go," Josh said a moment. He looked at Donna, who just nodded miserably. Danny nodded.

"Hey," he said as Josh and Donna began walking away. They turned to look at him. "Congratulations."

Donna gave a small smile back while Josh's eyes immediately shot sideways to make sure nobody else overheard. With one last look at Danny, he left the coffee shop.

-

Josh closed the door behind him as Donna stepped into his office. He leaned back against it with his eyes closed as Donna sat down miserably in one of his visitors' chairs.

"I didn't see them," she whispered. "I didn't realize you were talking to anybody."

"I know," Josh answered simply. "We need to talk to CJ before her briefing."

He wasn't angry, just terrified. The situation they feared most was about to rear its head at them. Donna nodded and out of old habit, grabbed the phone and dialed CJ's office before Josh could say anything else. She exchanged a few words and hung up. The two just stared at each other, fearing what was about to come. Minutes of silence passed before they heard a knock at the door and Josh opened it with a resigned sigh.

"What's going on?" CJ asked as she stepped inside. She looked to be in a good mood, there was a spring in her step. Her smile faded as she saw the miserable looks on Josh and Donna's faces.

"Who knows?" CJ asked.

"Some twerp reporter Danny knows."

"That Danny knows!?" CJ demanded, her hackles immediately up to know Danny was involved with this.

"It's not his fault, CJ," Donna told her.

"How sure is he?"

"Sure enough."

"So that's all we got huh, barely even a week."

Neither Josh nor Donna answered.

"You know, Josh," CJ said, her voice dripping with agitation. "It was a lot quieter around here when you were stuck in your apartment. It goes without saying that I need you two to keep your mouths shut." Josh looked away, his eyes fixated on the wall. "We were expecting this to happen eventually. We have to play our cards right." She checked her watch. "I need to get going for the briefing. You two may want to lay low here for the day."

Donna leaned forward to run a hand across his arm, but Josh kept his eyes on the wall.

-

Standing behind the door to the press briefing room, CJ took a moment to compose herself. She straightened her shirt, her skirt. Taking a deep breath, she rehearsed one more time in her head how to reply to any reporters' comments.

"CJ?" Carol asked, standing by with her hand on the door handle. CJ opened her eyes and nodded.

"Good morning", she greeted the crowd. She scanned the seating arrangement quickly trying to figure out who was new. Danny caught her eye and nodded slowly at her. CJ didn't miss the significance in Danny's gaze. She nodded back and tried to prepare herself.

The briefing started off normal enough. CJ deflected and joked and tried her best to answer serious questions. Then she saw it. She saw the unfamiliar face that had blended in with the crowd. For a moment she considered not calling on him, considered ignoring the situation all together, but she knew that if this news was going to get out, some basic facts should be established as opposed to wild speculation.

"Yes-"

"Ms. Cregg," began the young man, overeager and cutting her off. CJ blinked at the formal use of her name.

"You can call me-"

"Is Josh Lyman in a relationship with his pregnant assistant?"

CJ watched as the reporters as a whole sat up straighter, their interests peaked and their minds racing. Danny sunk down a little deeper into his chair.

"Excuse me?"

"Josh Lyman. Is the Deputy Chief of Staff in a relationship with his pregnant assistant? Is he the father?"

CJ let out a small laugh, trying her hardest to play this cool.

"You mean Jake? He's pregnant?"

Chuckles escaped from several reporters.

"Donna Moss," the reporter insisted. "I have-"

"Donna Moss moved departments and hasn't been working for Josh Lyman for some time now," CJ said calmly. She looked around the room for more questions, praying they would allow her to move on.

Of course she wasn't that lucky.

"CJ," another reporter questioned. "Was she moved because she's pregn-"

"We don't comment on the personal lives of our staffers," CJ said shortly. She called on someone else.

"Is Josh Lyman in a relationship with Donna Moss?"

CJ sighed, frustrated and rubbed at her forehead.

"We do not comment on the personal lives of our staffers."

She would try one more question.

"Does the White House think it's appropriate for a senior White House official to have a relationship with somebody who works under him?" And with that, CJ closed her notes with a snap and left the briefing room defeated. There was nothing else she could do. They would have to ride out the storm and pray they all lasted til morning.

She made a beeline straight for Josh's office and entered without knocking. Donna was sat in Josh's chair, hands resting on her belly while Josh sat on his desk. They were staring towards the TV. Josh had the remote up to his mouth. CJ could tell they had hardly spoken a word since she had left them here.

They turned to look at her and the look on CJ's face said it all.

"Yeah," Josh muttered, defeated. He turned off the television.