Sam, Josh, CJ, Donna and Toby sat around two tables brought together in their favourite quiet corner of the mess, each individual enjoying their respective lunches.

Josh took the opportunity to tell Sam and Donna about his morning meeting while CJ and Toby discussed G8 remarks – all three observing how intimate they were with each other.

"You said CJ went to Belatinis?" he first asked Donna.

"Yeah." She nodded. "Why?"

"Congresswoman Turner saw Toby there on Saturday night, but Caldwell came back from his call before I could ask with whom he'd gone." Josh explained.

"Oh my god, that's so cute taking her out to a posh restaurant like that. I wouldn't have taken him for a romantic." Donna gushed quietly, glad at yet another revelation in their favour.

"Oh and when I went to fetch him for the meeting, she was sitting all relaxed on his couch but you should've seen the way he was checking her out when she left!"

"Seriously, how have we not noticed any of these things before?" Sam wondered in disbelief, taking a bite of his sandwich.

"Look at them." Josh said softly; the pair were engrossed in a quiet debate over the ways the new G8 remarks could be construed and the fire in their eyes was all their audience needed.

They then eased off and Donna took the opportunity to raise the topic of CJ's date with Mark the next evening.

"So CJ, did you find a dress for tomorrow night?" she wondered, sipping her water.

"Yeah, I didn't want to be too dressed up so I found this nice deep purple sundress." She smiled.

"Oh that'll look lovely." Donna replied happily and they continued to discuss how CJ would accessorise.

The group was oblivious at that point to the twinge of guilt Toby began to feel: even though they were happy having kept their relationship a secret, CJ hadn't had the opportunity to be this way over it with Donna or her other friends. She seemed so happy about the date and while he knew it was a case of keeping up appearances, a part of him suspected genuine excitement was creeping up on her with all the fuss surrounding it.

"Where's he taking you, CJ?" Josh wondered, repressing the urge to make a comment about Belatinis.

"Apparently it's a surprise." CJ made a point to glare at Donna and Sam, who feigned similar looks of innocence.

"Are you gonna put out?" Josh joked, earning a slap on the hand from Donna.

"Joshua!" she scolded – even though she was curious to see how CJ and Toby would react, it was still out of line.

CJ didn't answer which prompted Toby to speak up.

"Well come on, are you?" he asked nonchalantly, eliciting gaping stares from everyone. He drummed his fingers against the table, watching her and the others began to feel slightly uncomfortable being so close within their radiating chemistry.

CJ's eyes flashed at him playfully, her lips curved into a smirk. "Wouldn't you like to know, Tobus."

"Oh jeez." Josh muttered once seated in Sam's office after lunch. The lunch had left them feeling awkward but excited and anxious to see how the run-up to CJ's date would continue to affect CJ and Toby.

"I know, can you believe them? Exchanging all those smouldering looks and you know, the blatant flirting?" Sam added, filing through a folder of notes.

Josh sighed as he handed Sam some papers from his briefcase. "They don't know we know though, so they won't even consider it blatant."

"Imagine if Donna hadn't brought this up? I mean how long do you think it would've taken us to figure it out?" he replied.

"There have been some obvious signs since, what with the restaurant and all." Sam reminded him, a smile on his face.

"They wouldn't have been so obvious if we didn't have all this though." Josh gestured as if the information was surrounding them.

"I just can't wait to see how Toby's going to end up reacting to the date." Sam grinned smugly.

"Oh, me too." Josh agreed enthusiastically before they began working on further G8 preparations.

The afternoon saw the group spend several hours working alongside Leo and the President on the G8 summit which was only a couple of weeks away. Nothing was mentioned in relation to CJ's date, for which she was thankful, but the topic still played on everybody's minds – especially Toby's.

That night the pair headed home after the President had practically ordered everyone to get some rest; they were planning to work over the weekend too to ensure maximum productivity on the latest round of work.

CJ rushed into the apartment almost immediately after Toby had opened the door; collapsing on the couch while he unpacked their Chinese takeout and found bottles of accompanying beer.

"This stuff's going to kill me." She moaned between bites of Kung Pao chicken.

Toby took a swig of his beer and settled back in his spot beside her, "I know, the President's still so determined to change the wording of the economic responses. These leaders are pernickety, how he words those speeches is vital! So much as one sentence out of line could cause someone to go into an uproar! Remember last year when the Prime Minister got baited for his phrasing of the environmental comment? That was casual but this is for a serious commerce speech. I wish he'd listen to me and Sam on this one. He's driving me up the wall." He had grown agitated, gesticulating at her ferociously as his voice grew in irritation.

"Toby, honey, let's calm down and forget about work." She soothed teasingly, observing as he downed his beer and picked up chopsticks. He opted to grab some chicken out of her box as opposed to his half empty one on the table.

"You know that's impossible." He replied sarcastically and CJ nudged him along the couch so that she could lay down with her head on his lap, her food now abandoned.

"Are you excited for your date then?" he asked her, and chuckled when she groaned at him momentarily placing his box of take out on her head.

"It'll be nice," she murmured as he stroked her hair absentmindedly.

"Yeah well you're going to have that guy right in the palm of your hand." He moaned and CJ was surprised at his voice.

She turned so her face was looking up at him. "You're bothered by this aren't you?"

"No, CJ. I'm completely fine with my girlfriend going out on a date with a supposedly hot lawyer." Toby sounded completely wound up as he looked down at her.

"You're a hot lawyer." She smiled and his face barely softened.

"I still can cancel on him you know." She continued as he didn't respond.

"No, Donna went through the trouble." He replied.

CJ shifted her body so she was staring up at the ceiling again. "You know you have absolutely nothing to worry about, don't you? I'm in love with you and only you and one petty little date for Donna's sake won't change a thing. I don't care if he's hot or smart or funny because he's not you."

"Sometimes I wish I could just show you off to the world as being mine." Toby shrugged, caressing her face gently.

"You and me both." She sat up and kissed him on the mouth before resuming her position.

The next day – CJ's date day – rolled around and the senior staffers found themselves enjoying their Saturday in the West Wing.

"So CJ, the day has finally arrived!" Josh sang as he entered the Roosevelt Room where the group were meeting.

"Yes it has, Joshua. You guys are far too interested in my love life."

Josh smirked with a hint of 'if only you knew' that was shared by both Sam and Donna.

Donna, who was sitting making notes, watched as Toby made an effort to ignore the conversation CJ and Josh were then having over her date.

"Toby, do you want to come over and watch the game with me and Josh tonight?" Sam wondered as he paused from scribbling on a report.

"How do you know I don't have plans tonight?" Toby looked at him across the table.

Josh and Donna exchanged amused glances as Sam replied. "Well do you?"

"No." he replied curtly.

"Then come over, game starts at 8." Josh piped up.

Toby sighed. "Sure, I'll bring beer."

The rest of the day went smoothly, G8 prep flowing and Toby even convincing the President to ease back with his commerce speech. By 6 o'clock, CJ remained with the others despite Sam and Josh's urging her to go home and prepare herself for the date.

"Shouldn't you be going?" Donna asked her curiously while the guys talked across the room.

"Date's not until 7:30." CJ shrugged. "It's been so long since I've been on a date; I don't know how long I should be giving myself."

Donna knew that deep down she probably didn't care how she looked for Mark, Toby being the only object of her affection, but found it strange that she was reluctant to leave.

Toby caught CJ's eyes from across the room, narrowing his own suspiciously. "You not going home to get ready yet?"

"Jeez, everyone wants me rushing off don't they?" she exclaimed. "Toby can I speak to you in my office before I go?"

He nodded and followed her out, leaving the other three grinning like Cheshire cats.

CJ and Toby reached her office and she shut the door behind him before pulling him into a deep, sultry kiss. He pushed her against the wall in response, moaning as their bodies met and their arms wrapped around each other passionately. Both breathless as they pulled away minutes later, CJ rested her forehead on his.

"Remember, Ziegler. No one but you." She whispered against his lips.

"You're far too cutesy sometimes." He smirked back at her.

"Don't get up to too much trouble with the boys." She warned as she moved out of his arms to reach for her coat off the stand.

"I won't." he muttered and then pulled her into his arms again, lips quirked as he read her face. "And you behave yourself too. I don't want you out too late, got it?"

"Yes, Pokey." She hummed before kissing him again, arms winding around his neck.

"You're gonna be late if you don't go now." He reminded her and pulled out of her grip, opening the door and leading them out.

CJ headed out to exit the White House and Toby returned to the Roosevelt Room, both with a grin plastered across their face; he made sure of its absence as he walked back in.

"CJ left." He told them and sat back down, luckily for him, without question.

CJ quickly drove home to get ready for her date, a part of her slightly excited about it. Even though she was guilty over Toby's expressed displeasure about her being out with another man, it was only for appearances sake and at least she was getting a nice meal out of it.

She showered before changing into the new purple sundress. Hair tied in a loose knot, tendrils framing her face; minimal make-up save for the dark grey eyeshadow upon her lids and thick lashings of mascara.

A spray of perfume and a pair of sandals later, CJ grabbed her cell phone and purse and headed out.

The drive to the restaurant of which Donna had given her the address was quick; this mostly being down to how she wanted to call Toby before she headed in to meet Mark. As she parked in the parking lot nearby, she checked her watch and found she was 10 minutes early. That being the case, she pulled out her phone and dialled Toby's number.

"Hello." He answered plainly.

"It's me."

"You not there yet?"

"I'm in the car outside."

"Why?"

"I wanted to call you."

"I saw you an hour ago."

"So I need a reason to call now?"

"No, but there is one."

CJ didn't have the energy to oppose. "Ugh, you know me too well you know that?"

"I do. What's up?"

"Hold on, are you with the others?"

"I'm walking to my car."

"Okay."

"So what's up?"

"I'm scared. I know I shouldn't be because it's not a real date…"

"But you like people to like you."

"Exactly."

"And you're scared he won't? Although his opinion doesn't matter?"

"Yes."

"Don't be, you're amazing. One of the things getting me through this is the idea that he may completely fall in love with you on this date but there's nothing he can do about it."

She could hear the smugness through the phone and felt her stomach sink with butterflies just the tiniest bit.

"I better go in now. I love you."

"Good luck, I love you too."

While CJ and Toby were absent, Josh decided to do what he'd thought all day would be one of the best plans of action for the night.

"Donna, you fancy coming to Sam's too?" he wondered.

"If Sam doesn't mind me being there…" she answered anxiously, seeking a sign of approval.

"Of course, Donna! I was going to ask you anyway, we need you with us to observe Toby. Tonight of all nights especially!" Sam beamed back.

"Yeah, thanks. I was worried you boys would screw it up without me." She chuckled.

"Jeez, thanks for the vote of the confidence." Sam mumbled.

"No Sammy, she's probably right." Josh ignored Donna's smug grin. "He's going to be extra on edge tonight, right? She'll be perfect picking up all the little signs, even though I imagine he'll give us a lot to work with anyway."

"Exactly." Donna agreed.

"I've never been this excited for a football game in a long time." Sam declared. "And who knew it would be because of Toby?"

"I hear ya." Donna said before their subject walked back in.

"CJ left." He told them and sat down, instantly writing again.

The group worked for a while before Toby began packing up his things. "I'm heading off, I'll be over for 8." he spoke up and they watched as he left the room.

"Right, so we'll come by at 7:45." Donna told Sam, motioning to Josh who was engrossed in his reading.

"Will we?" Josh asked, not looking up.

"Yes, last minute prep." She told the pair before standing up. "I'm gonna get going too, see you soon."

Donna walked out of the West Wing, having already collected her belongings, and observed Toby on the phone. She increased her pace in order to hear his words, knowing it would be CJ on the other line.

She found herself hearing him mutter as he walked along. "Don't be, you're amazing. One of the things getting me through this is the idea that he may completely fall in love with you on this date but there's nothing he can do about it."

Donna grinned to herself: she'd heard an exclamation of Toby's feelings on the date before it had even occurred and this quote could be used as perfect ammunition later, be it with Toby or to relate to the guys.

A sudden speaking of "Good luck, I love you too," snapped her out of her thoughts and she quickly dashed to her car in hope that Toby hadn't heard her eavesdropping. Everything was in place for the night.