"Want some salmon?" David's soft voice exclaimed. Ginger looked at him
and smiled weakly, taking the plate he offered her. He smiled back and looked
at his feet. "I'm sorry, Ginger. I'm sorry I pushed you away, especially when
you were right."

"David, I was just worried about you." Ginger said softly.

"I know. I'm sorry." David repeated, his blue eyes coming up to meet
hers. "Will you dance with me?" He asked softly as music began to play behind
them. Ginger smiled and nodded. David took her hand and led her out on to the
floor where Charlie and Zoey were arriving themselves. David held her close
as they danced slowly to the music.

If I had castles built on high
I'd find a million ways
to write your name
Against the sky
Just to let you know,
you've caught my eye

"Mal, I have a question." Sam said softly as he took her in his arms and
held her close, both of them moving closely together across the hardwood
dance floor. Mallory rested her head against his chest and murmured.

"What question is that, Sam?" She asked softly.

"What are we?" He said softly. "I mean, I really like being here with
you, but you've never really made it clear to me what I mean to you." He
explained his question. Mallory thought quietly as they moved slowly to the
tune.

"Sam, I would like it very much if this became something real. I just
don't want to rush through it. I'm trying to deal with my parents
on-again-off-again relationship, and I just . . . I just need you to be
patient for me. Can you do that?" She said softly. Sam nodded and kissed her
forehead.

"Yes. I can. It'll be well-worth the wait, I know." He whispered. "And in
the meantime, I'm here if you need me." He assured her softly. Mallory smiled
inwardly and snuggled into him.

"Thank you, Sam." She murmured.


And if I had more than
wealth could buy
I'd sell it all and start again
for just a chance with you
Girl, I'd give my all
to win your love


"Donna, when do you think we'll have our chance?" Josh asked softly.

"Our chance?" Donna repeated as she looked into his eyes.

"Our engagement party." Josh replied as he looked back. She smiled at him
and leaned her head on his shoulder.

"Well, if that was your way of asking me to marry you, I'd say not for a
while yet." She replied. Josh laughed and dipped her a little. She laughed as
he pulled her back and kissed her gently.

"Mmm. You put garlic on your salmon didn't you?" Josh teased.

"I did not. For your information, I had a nice lean steak." She retorted.

"If it's lean, it's not worth my time." Josh replied with a smile. Then
his smile softened as he looked into her eyes. "Donna, seriously though, I do
see myself spending the rest of my life with you. Is it at all possible that
you see something similar?" Donna looked back and then moved her arms from
his shoulders to clasp around his neck.

"Yes, Josh. I do." She replied softly. He smiled and kissed her gently,
his hands finding a firm place in the small of her back.


And I would be rich
And I would build all
My world around you
Just to show you
How to take my breath away
And you would find love, sweet lady
Nobody else this side of heaven knows
How you take my breath away


"Margaret, would you mind sparing a dance to an old man?" Leo asked as he
offered his hand. Margaret laughed and took it, following him out on the
dance floor. Jed looked at his wife and slipped his arms around her.

"Shall we cut a rug, babe?" He said softly. She laughed and accepted his
gentle kiss before being led out on to the dance floor. He held her close as
they danced together. The people that filled the room watched fondly as the
long-lived couple. They'd been together for nearly thirty-four years and just
looking at them, one could see that the love was still vibrantly alive.

"Do you know how much you mean to me, Jed?" Abbey said softly as she let
him hold her close.

"I hope it's somewhere as close to the amount that you mean to me. I love
you so much, Abbey. I'm nothing without you." Jed replied as he gazed into
her eyes. "Running the risk of being cliched, you complete me." He said
softly. Abbey smiled at him with tears in her eyes.

"The feeling is mutual, Mr. Bartlet." She whispered.

"I thank God for that, Dr. Bartlet." He returned and kissed her gently.
She parted from him to rest her head on his chest. He rested his head on hers
and followed his gaze to the happy couple on the couch. Toby started laughing
as KD made faces with the ravioli. She picked up a piece and smashed it
against his nose. He laughed again and took the piece and put it in her
mouth. She ate it and started to clean his nose with a napkin.

"They're going to make it, aren't they, Jed?" She whispered.

"I think they are. They remind me of us when we were starting out." He
said softly. "Except we were lucking enough to start a little earlier." He
added as he gave her a little spin. She chuckled and nodded, hugging him
close and inhaling his presence.

"I'm glad they found each other." She whispered.

"I'm glad we found each other." He added.


If I could turn
the day to night
If I had faith
to walk on water
Maybe you would see,
The reason I thank God for miracles
Cause, baby when you walk into sight
You turned an ordinary man
like me into a king
I would do anything to win your love


"You know, I'm a very good dancer." A voice whispered into CJ's ear.

"I'm sure you are, Danny." She replied with a smirk, not looking at him.

"I'm just telling you, cause it's not something you can really see by
looking at me." Danny added as he faced her.

"No, I wouldn't think so." She replied.

"People shouldn't judge people by what they see." He said randomly. "May
I have this dance?" He asked.

"Took you long enough to ask." CJ teased.

"Is that a yes or a no? Cause if it's a no, I can stand here and be
really pesky and I know you don't like that, but I like-" He started.

"Just take me out on the dance floor before I hit you, fish boy." CJ
exclaimed and led Danny out on to the floor. He took her in his arms, and
smiled because she was something of a head taller than he was.

"You look very beautiful, CJ." He said softly as they danced together. CJ
smiled and shook her head.

"You've got a one-track mind." She said softly.

"You're not going to tell me I look good too?" Danny said with a sad
face. She laughed and fingered his ear gently as she pressed a little closer
to him. He smiled at the gesture.

"You look good too, Danny. I didn't want to encourage you though." She
said playfully. Danny grinned and pulled her closer until their noses
practically bumped against each other.

"I don't need encouraging." He whispered before kissing her gently.


I think there's something
here worth sayin'
I don't want to scare you
So let me make my wish
and hope that you believe
In simple love, like I do
Say that it's true, baby
Cause you've got me shakin'
My breath has now been taken
I've got to overcome this achin'
To win your love

"God, Toby, look at all this." KD whispered as she leaned into his side,
snuggling into him and kissing his neck.

"We really are lucky, aren't we?" He whispered. "I love you so much,
Katy." He whispered. She smiled and looked back into his eyes.

"I love you too, Toby. I really am lucky, not just because of them but
because I have you." She whispered to him before kissing his nose. "Hmmm.
Alfredo." She murmured. He laughed and pulled her lips to his own.

"You do have me, Katy. You always will, I promise you." He whispered to
her when they pulled apart. She nuzzled his neck.

"I'm gonna hold you to that." She whispered.

"Just you wait. Soon it's going to be Kathryn Dylan Ziegler, right?" Toby
asked playfully as he reached forward to stroke her cheek. She looked at him
and smiled.

"I thought it was going to be Tobias Brody." She teased. He smirked, a
devious twinkle in his eye before pulling her lips to his again and pressing
her close to his body.


And I would be rich
And I would build all
My world around you
Just to show you
How to take my breath away
And you would find love, sweet lady
Nobody else this side of heaven knows
How you take my breath away


To Be Continued . . .

Ch 9 New Character Stories Index Ch 11