“I know. It’s great. It’s hard though when I’m trying to get them to work and
all their heads are in the clouds. Leo won’t even give me any details about this
Jeri Logan woman. She seems very nice though.” Jed said absentmindedly as he
gazed at his best friend. Abbey chuckled and forced his gaze back on to her. He
smiled and stared into her eyes.

“I’m sure he’ll tell you something when there’s something to say.” She said
softly. He smiled a little wider and nodded.

“I’m sure he will.” He whispered. “In the mean time. . .” He cooed before
kissing her gently on the lips. She kissed back, trying not to laugh through his
lips.

“No discretion.” She teased.

“No, ma’am.” He replied before kissing her again.


I wanna stand with you on a mountain
I wanna bathe with you in the sea
I want to lay like this forever
Until the sky falls down on me


“I feel so out of place here.” Jeri murmured as she peered around over
Leo’s shoulder. He smiled at her.

“Why? What do you mean?” He asked softly.

“I’m in the White House, dancing at the wedding reception of a political
aide who happens to be the surrogate daughter of the White House chief of staff,
who also happens to be the man I met in a jazz bar and have been seeing almost
every night since.” Jeri explained playfully. “It’s not exactly something that I was
planning to happen in my life two weeks ago. I’m just a nice, innocent freelance
writer and yet here I am.”

“Well, you’re here for a reason.” Leo said softly.

“What might that be?” She asked honestly.

“Because I want you to be.” He replied softly. She looked him in the eye
and smiled.

“Good reason.” She whispered. He nodded and held her closer as they
danced some more.

And when the stars are shining brightly
In the velvet sky
I'll make a wish
To send to heaven
Then make you want to cry
Tears of joy for all the pleasure and the certainty
That we're surrounded by
The comfort and protection
Of the highest powers
In the lonely hours
The tears devour you

“Josh, this is all so beautiful. Is this what it’s going to be like for us?”
Donna asked softly as she clung to him. Josh twirled her slightly and then held
her closer.

“Yeah, but it’s going to be better. The bride is going to be the most
beautiful woman in the world.” He whispered. Donna blushed and buried her face
into his shoulder.

“I think Toby would pick a fight with you about that one.” She murmured.

“Let him.” Josh retorted playfully and kissed her cheek. “I still know that I
am right. You’re the most beautiful woman, Donna. You’re beautiful, intelligent,
witty, dynamic . . . You’re so many wonderful things and I’m sorry that it took me
so long to realize how much I loved you.”

“Josh, you’re gonna drive me crazy here.” Donna whispered. “And you’re
all those things as well. You’re smart, funny, kind, and you care so much about
the people around you. I’m so lucky that I can hold you in my arms and say that
you’re mine.”

“Do that, Donna, because I don’t want to be anyone else’s.” Josh
whispered softly before kissing her gently.

I wanna stand with you on a mountain
I wanna bathe with you in the sea
I want to lay like this forever
Until the sky falls down on me
Oh can you see it baby
You don't have to close your eyes
Just standing right before you
All that you need will surely come

“Mallory, do you want to talk about anything?” Sam asked softly as he held
her close to his chest. “I mean, do you want to talk about anything specific? I
know you keep saying you’re fine, but there’s a look in your eyes. Something’s
bothering you and I’d like to help if I can.” Sam whispered. Mallory looked across
the floor to where her father danced with the strange women he met little more
than a week ago and then in another direction to where her mother was talking
softly with a male colleague that she’d been seeing for nearly two months. Then
she looked back at Sam and sighed.

“It all just feels so strange. My mother is spending all her time with this
lawyer from Maryland that I don’t like and my father has spent almost every night
this week with a woman I barely know.” She said softly. “I see the way my father
looks at her, and I see the way he looks at Katy, and I wonder if he cares more
about them than he does about me. I’m scared that he doesn’t love me because I
remind him of my mother and he doesn’t want to think of her.” She said weakly,
holding back tears. Sam sighed as he felt the pain in her voice and held her
closer.

“You know that’s not true. Leo’s just trying to move on from his on-again-
off-again with your mother and he’ll always love you. KD means a lot to him, but
she’ll never mean more to him than you, his true flesh-and-blood daughter. He’ll
never stop loving you, no matter what’s going on with him and your mother.” He
assured her.

“How can you be sure? I mean, maybe it’s something in his unconscious
and he doesn’t even know about it.” Mal tried to insist, but Sam shook his head
and stared into her eyes.

“I’m sure of it, Mal. Your father wouldn’t give me such a hard time about
dating you if he didn’t love you more than life itself.” He whispered. She smiled
and then laughed. Sam grinned and held her close again. “Besides, how could he
not love such a wonderful person?” He murmured.

I'll be your dream
I'll be your wish
I'll be your fantasy
I'll be your hope
I'll be your love
Be everything that you need
I'll love you more with every breath
Truly, madly, deeply do

“CJ?” Danny asked softly.

“Yes, Danny?” CJ replied softly as she rested her head on his shoulder.

“I love you.” He said quietly. CJ smiled and nuzzled his neck.

“I love you too.” She replied.

“No, I mean I love you.” He whispered. She looked into his eyes. “CJ, you
make me feel complete. You don’t know how happy it made me when you agreed
to go out with me, and these past few months have been pure bliss. I need you to
know that I love you, that I’m in love with you.” He said softly. She smiled at him
and kissed him gently.

“Danny, I love you too. When you first started flirting with me, I was scared
because it felt so good and I hadn’t had a personal life in ages. I was afraid of the
conflict in our careers, and I didn’t know how I felt.” She whispered. “But now,
when I look at you, I can’t stand to think of a moment when I’m not in your arms,
feeling your touch. I love you too, Danny. I’m sorry I made you wait so long, but I
want you, and I’m here.” She replied softly.

“CJ, will you marry me?” Danny asked softly as he stared into her eyes.
She stared at him for a moment and then nodded.

“Yes, Danny.” She whispered before he kissed her gently, pulling her close
to his chest.

I wanna stand with you on a mountain
I wanna bathe with you in the sea
I want to lay like this forever
Until the sky falls down on me
I wanna stand with you on a mountain
I wanna bathe with you in the sea
I want to lay like this forever
Until the sky falls down on me

“I wish I could dance away with you right now. Dance into the clouds and
hold you in my arms forever.” KD whispered into Toby’s ear as she rested her
head on his shoulder.

“You can.” He promised her. “You and I, forever, Katy.” He added as he
pressed his left hand to hers. She smiled at him and kissed his hand. He smiled
back and returned the gesture. As the music ended, he took her in her arms and
pressed his lips to hers.