When I get off the treadmill, I walk into the kitchen and drink a large glass of water. I double check the coffee machine and realize the light isn't on. I'm looking it all over trying to figure out what the problem is when Mom walks in the room.

"I unplugged it."

"Why?!" Doesn't she know that I'm highly addicted? I'm not going to be functional with out it.

She gives me the 'you're smarter than this, Joshua' look. "Because, the smell of it makes your wife throw up, darling."

"Oh!" I am stupid.

"I assume you have coffee at work, or some poor intern you can send out to get you some?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"Good. While you are in the shower, I'll make some tea for Donna. The peppermint might soothe her stomach. Do you want some?"

"No, thank you."

Poor Donna. She must be going through hell. She's pretty much addicted to the coffee too. The OB had said she could have one cup a day, but she can't keep it down. Basically, she's had to cut it out cold turkey. No wonder she's tired all the time. And if even just the smell makes her throw up on top of it, that's like adding insult to injury. It's a good thing I'm not the one that has to carry this baby. We'd be one and done for sure.

When I get out of the shower at 6:00, Donna is still sleeping. I hate to wake her but at least she got a solid 8 hours. Hopefully that will help. And hopefully the fact that there is no coffee smell will help too.

Once I'm dressed I head back into the kitchen. I give my mother a kiss. "Thank you for everything Ima. I'm really glad you were here this weekend."

"I'm glad I could be here too, darling. Here's the tea, and some crackers. Have her try to drink a little and eat a little and then wait 10 minutes and see what happens."

"Okay." I glance at my watch. This is going to throw a kink in the morning routine, but if it keeps Donna from throwing up, it's worth it.

At 6:15 things are looking good so far. Donna's in the shower and she hasn't thrown up yet. Outstanding.

I put some more tea in a to-go cup and put a bagel and cream cheese for me and a lemon muffin for Donna in a bag. Ready to go when she is, and I hope it's soon. I really need a cup of coffee. I might need to start having some delivered.

Once Donna is ready to go we give Mom more goodbye hugs. Donna gets a little teary. But Mom just pats her on the back.

"I'm only a phone call away. I can come back whenever you need me."

I think Mom enjoyed this. I've been independent for so long, she probably hasn't felt needed. But this weekend we really counted on her. Maybe she'd consider moving closer when the baby arrives. I don't know how she'll feel about that, she's pretty independent herself. She'll get a cab to the airport and be gone before we are home tonight. I'm going to miss her.

When we get to the office, Donna still heads right to the bathroom.

"Damn." I mutter. Phil and Jackie exchange an amused look. "Either of you got kids?"

"No, Sir." Jackie quickly responds.

"I have two." Phil answers.

"Is this normal?"

"How far along?"

"9 weeks" Going to the OB had been enlightening. Turns out they count from the date of her last cycle not the day we think we conceived. Who knew?

"With the boy, my wife was sick like clock work every morning for exactly 12 weeks, with the girl there was no rhyme or reason and it lasted the whole pregnancy. She actually threw up in the delivery room."

"Oh my god." I mutter softly. Phil chuckles.

"Mrs. Lyman's a pretty tough cookie. I think she can handle it either way."

A few seconds later Mrs. Lyman comes out of the bathroom smiling and we are on our way.

When we get to the office, Margaret's waiting. "I was starting to get worried." It's 7:15. Definitely not a PR but we aren't exactly late. I rub my eye.

"Margaret, is there an intern that can go to Starbucks?" I see Donna's lip start to stick out.

"I'm sorry, baby, I'm dying here." She gives me a dirty look and I quickly backtrack.

"I'm not complaining. Really. I'm sure this is just a fraction of what you are feeling." I'm not handling this well at all.

"Margaret!" She pops back in. "Forget about the coffee." I'm just going to have to tough this out. I don't want Donna to feel like she has to suffer alone. Margaret shrugs and heads back out the door.

Suddenly, Donna yells- "Margaret!"

"Yeah?"

"Get someone to bring him the damn coffee."

Margaret smiles and turns away again. Donna sighs and gives me a light kiss. "There's really no point in us both being miserable."

We're half way through my staff meeting when the Intern brings my coffee in. I watch Donna carefully sipping her water. She doesn't react. I think the lid is containing the smell. This may just work.

A few minutes later, Donna interrupts me in the middle of a sentence.

"Can I please have a drink of that?"

"Absolutely not."

Everyone looks shocked. I don't think they've ever seen me deny her anything.

"Pretty please?"

"No."

Sam gives me a glare. "Here Donna, you can have the rest of mine."

"NO!" I thunder at him. Donna's lip starts to quiver. Oh my god. How can she possibly want this? She hasn't keep coffee down in weeks. And just yesterday the smell of it made her vomit. Why did we jump through the hoops this morning if she's going to drink it now? She's not answering any of my mental questions. She's just staring at me with that little pout that I can't resist.

"Here." I hand her my cup and she give me a genuinely happy smile. Not the I just beat you at a game smile, one that says she's really happy with life. Well I do live for that smile. So I guess I made the right choice. I'll send an intern back out for her own cup. She takes a long drink and hands it back.

"Okay then. Getting back back to the confirmations, now that Baker and Vinick are done, we just have a few undersecretaries and . . . "

Suddenly Donna stands up and bolts from the room with her hand over her mouth.

"What the hell?" Lou mutters.

I look around the room at my staff. Should I just make an announcement? Bram, Edie and Sam look very confused. But Amy has a sly smile. Ah yes, she has nephews.

We've just finished working through the status of the remaining nominations when Donna comes back into the room, looking kind of sheepish. I'm torn between wanting to give her a "what-were-you-thinking" look and taking her over to the couch to cuddle her until she feels better.

"Everything okay, Donna?" Amy calls out.

"Just peachy." Donna responds brightly. I don't know if she's faking it but I'd rather see her like this than gloomy. She takes her seat and we finish the meeting without further incident.

As everyone else heads into the Oval for Senior Staff, Donna holds back. "I'm going to head up to my office. I don't really have anything new to report."

"Are you okay?" I take her in my arms.

"Yeah, just all of a sudden, I really wanted coffee. But the minute I drank some I knew it was a bad idea."

"Those bodies you women live with are really something else."

"You seem to like it just fine."

"Well, yeah. . . .Listen, I gotta get in there. If I get a direct question about why you left?"

"Yep, it's fine. I'm probably going to make an official announcement at my staff meeting too. After last week, I think they all suspect anyway."

"Okay, love you."

"Love you too." I just keep holding her. I don't really want to let go.

"Josh. . ."

"Yeah?"

"The President of the United States is waiting for you."

"Right. Listen. Try to drink some water, okay? Slowly."

I give her another kiss and let her go. I get to go make the best announcement ever made in the oval office.

As soon as I walk through the door all eyes are on me.

"Nice of you to join us, Josh." The President starts in. He looks like he's going to enjoy this. I'm glad it's a light day. I take my customary seat across from him.

"Let's start with the status of our nominations." I walk him through our list fairly quickly. It's really just an update, at this point it's just all process.

"Anything else recently confirmed?" He quirks an eyebrow at me and smiles to himself at his little pun. Everyone else looks between us, sensing the under current but smart enough not to jump into whatever is going on between their bosses.

I look at my list. We don't have that much more to cover. Will we get through any of it if I make this announcement now? I guess it doesn't really matter. The Staff knows what to do and I can always fill POTUS in later.

"As a matter of fact, Donna's OB confirmed that she's 9 weeks pregnant."

I can't help the grin on my face as I look around the room at my friends. There is a chorus of congratulations.

"It's the greatest thing you'll ever do." The President says.

"God help us." Lou mutters, but she's smiling. I think she really likes Donna.

"How is Donna feeling?" Sam asks.

"Well you got to witness that for yourselves. She's not doing so hot with the morning sickness. It's really been more like all-day sickness."

"They, um, Vitamin C drops. They make Vitamin C drops. My sister swore by them." Amy is smiling at me and offering practical advice? I guess we really have grown up.

"Any chance I'm going to get any more work out of you people in the next hour?" I grumble at them without any heat.

"Are we issuing a Press Release about your baby?" Bram asks. Well I guess that does qualify as "work" even though it's a stupid question.

"No. We are not. First of all, we do not comment on the personal life of staffers. Second, after what we just went through, I'd like to keep Donna out of the press as much as possible. And Third, we haven't told her Mother yet. You've never had the priviledge of meeting Mrs. Moss, but I promise you, you do not want to be the one to spoil this for her."

I look around the room and smile. "We're only telling family right now." Edie gives me a smile. Yes, we are a family here.

We cover the last few things on our agenda, before the President sends everyone out of the room.

"So, Josh, how are you doing?" It's Matt asking me, not POTUS, but I still can't help but be formal in this room.

"I'm fine, sir."

"Has it hit you yet that your life will never be the same?"

"Yes, it's alternately terrifying and exhilarating."

"That sounds about right. Just remember, I'm right next door."