By Lacy

The next morning I awake earlier than usual, with Josh's strong arms encasing me in a human blanket of security. I don't want to move. I want to stay right where I am, but duty calls -- and duty is the theme of the day.

I successfully untangle myself from his embrace without waking him, and head for the shower. I finish my shower by the time Sleeping Beauty wakes up, and he joins me in the bathroom just as I begin to blow dry my hair. I'm wearing his bathrobe and I can tell that he finds this incredibly sexy.

He steps into the shower and manages to wash himself with what little hot water I left for him. We dry and dress and watch each other like domestic partners that have been together for years. I'm in awe of just how easy it is to be with him in this way.

He's ready before I am, and I check the clock. 6 a.m. On a normal a day he'd probably still be sleeping. I complete the last of my toilette -- carefully placing a pair of pearl earrings on my earlobes, and applying a subtle shade of wine lipstick.

In the kitchen, Josh has made breakfast for me. Isn't that so incredibly sweet? Admittedly, he hasn't gone to much trouble, but it's the thought that counts. A glass of milk, a piece of dry toast, and few slivers of melon. Just the meal for a recovering ulcer patient.

We opt not to drive to work together -- no reason to give anybody not in the know a heads up. My car is still parked down the street where I left it the night we went to the Thai place. I arrive at work first. I'm not sure, but I think he's driving aimlessly around for a while, so that everything will appear 'business as usual' when he finally does show up.

I'm not at my desk long when Toby shows up. He smiles uncomfortably and I reciprocate.

"Hi, Donna," he says.

"Hi, Toby. Is there something I can do for you?"

"I just wanted to...." his voice trails off. "How are you doing today?" he asks. I think he was ready to dive into business before realizing that it might show an advance of social skills were he to inquire after my health first.

"I'm fine, Toby." I respond. "Thank you for asking." He shifts uncomfortably at my consideration.

"Good," he says. "I just wanted to talk to you for a moment about the thing."

"Yes?"

"After the smoke clears, you're probably going to be getting a lot of phone calls."

"You think?"

"It would probably be best if all requests for interviews and the like were filtered through CJ's office."

"Right," I say. "Okay."

"So, at your desk, your answer should simply be 'no comment'."

"Got it," I nod my head.

"Good," he responds. He stands there for another second, as though deciding what to do next.

"Toby?" I ask. "Is there something, else?"

"I just wanted to say....That is....that," it's amazing how inarticulate this man can be sometimes. "I just wanted to offer my congratulations," he finally spits out.

"Thank you, Toby." He nods and turns to go. I call after him. "That was very sweet of you, Toby."

"I have no idea what you're talking about," he calls back over his shoulder.

I turn to see Josh as he enters the bullpen.

Have you ever had one of those moments when the entire world becomes like a slow motion movie montage? Well, I'm having one of those moments right now, and let me tell you, it's disconcerting. Well, nice, too -- but disconcerting. Everything slows down as he approaches with his overcoat on and his backpack slung over one shoulder. He's aware of me, I know, but waiting until the last second before making eye contact. All I can do is wait for it as he approaches with agonizing sluggishness.

Just as he passes my desk, it happens. He turns his head at the slightest angle and our eyes meet. He doesn't smile, but I know what his eyes are telling me. Josh is telling me he loves me. He's telling me that making love to me, like he did last night, will never get old. He's telling me that he can't wait for the rest of our lives to begin.

He disappears into his office and the sound of my phone ringing brings the world back into its normal focus.

"Josh Lyman's office," I answer.

I get busy taking the requisite Monday morning phone calls from Senator's aides and Cabinet assistants. I am feverishly writing down phone messages when I realize my handwriting has gone back to my usual 'distinctive' style, rather than the technique-laden print of the last six weeks. I wonder if Josh will able to handle that.

"Donna," Josh shouts as he sticks his head out of his office door. How can people think we can't be professional just because we're dating?

"Yes, Josh."

"I need you to set up a meeting with somebody from the SEC."

"Just anybody? Because I'm pretty sure Dewey Lewis' secretary might have a lunch free."

"Somebody a little more high level than Dewey Lewis' secretary, please."

"Okay. Oh, and you have a four o'clock with John Abbott from the DOA."

"Why am I meeting with someone from the Department of Agriculture?"

"Something to do with next years' projected corn yield."

"Are we going to be corn-handicapped?"

"Maybe."

"Okay." Josh bounces back into his office.

I ask you. Was that not professional?

Sam Seaborn rushes by and although he doesn't have time to stop, he does give me a thumbs up. I give him a thumbs up right back. There's a palpable excitement in the air -- especially in our bullpen. I sense that everyone has been informed that an announcement is due today, even though they may not know specifics. As the clocks on the wall inch towards 8 o'clock the excitement reaches a fevered pitch. The televisions in the bullpen, and over the rest of the building switch over to the White House's closed channel.

Josh pokes his head out of his office door and crooks a finger at me. Showtime. I follow him into his office and he closes the door behind me. The television across from his desk shows the press room and a number of reporters milling about and taking their seats. Just as we lean against his desk, CJ enters the press room and takes her place at the podium.

"Good morning, my little chickadees." CJ greets the Press Corp, but before she has a chance to shuffle her notes, reporters begin hailing inquiries at her.

"We had a good weekend, folks. I have a few announcements to make and then I'll take questions."

"CJ! There've been rumors floating around--" A familiar voice shouts from the Corps -- Danny Concannon.

"Danny! Didn't I just say I would take questions after my announcements?"

"But, CJ--"

"I don't do rumors, Danny. Okay," CJ takes a breath, "First up. Josh Lyman and his assistant Donna Moss would like to officially announce that they are dating."

I hold my breath. I can tell that Josh wants to put his arm around me, but he can't because this is the White House.

The press room explodes into thunderous applause. We can hear various choruses of "That's twenty bucks you owe me", "I was betting for after reelection", and the perennial favorite, "It's about time!" Also, there are several variations on the dog call.

A wide grin spreads across Josh's face. "I guess everybody knew but us."

"Speak for yourself, Joshua. I'm with them." I point to the television screen.

A trio of squeals cuts off Josh's laughter, as I turn to see Ginger, Bonnie, and Cathy at the threshold to the office.

"Is it true?" Bonnie asks, bouncing up and down. "Is it an early Aprils Fools?"

"It's true," I answer. The next thing I know I'm surrounded by three pairs of arms as I'm swept into a group hug. Ginger has tears in her eyes. I know that she's been worried about me for the last few weeks. Josh can do nothing but watch this female bonding ritual and try to protect his ears from the bombardment of happy shrieking.

"There'll be a reception in the Mural Room following the briefing," CJ's voice from the television brings the squealing to a halt. "So, you might want to save any of your questions for the actual couple. I would merely be a poor, but delightfully charming, substitute."

"CJ? CJ?" A voice from the pool shouts.

"Yes, Steve?" CJ looks into the crowd over the rim of her reading glasses.

"Who won the pool?"

"I believe that was the President, Steve."

"So, the President has okay'd this relationship?" another reporter shouted from the seats.

"Well, you might want to wait until the reception, Shelly, but I will say this: Would I be telling you this right now, if he hadn't?"

"Is Donna being reassigned?"

"Not at this time," CJ responded. "Of course, it goes without saying that if their personal relationship begins to interfere with their professional one, then that's subject to change. But it looks like I just said it anyway."

A chorus of chuckles could be heard from the Corps. I look worriedly over to Josh, who responds with a nod and a wink.

"Did the shooting at Rosslyn have anything to do with their getting together?"

This question grabs everyone's attention, and I can feel Bonnie, Ginger, and Cathy stiffen beside me. I hold my breath as I await CJ's response.

"I really can't answer that, Jill, since I'm not inside their heads. On the other hand, life threatening incidents have a tendency to cause people to reevaluate their priorities."

"Very nice, CJ," Josh responds, which allows me to smile and the release the breath I'm holding.

"On a more personal note, I would like to say that Josh and Donna are two people I care about very deeply. They are both my friends, as well as coworkers. To see them finally discover what we have known all along, truly warms my heart. And that's all the sentimental sap you're getting out of me. Are we through on this subject?" CJ asks. When she receives no further questioning, she skims down her notes to the next announcement. "President Bartlet will be meeting this afternoon with Thomas Laden, the Commissioner of the Securities and Exchange Commission...."

Our attention is drawn away from the television set as CJ moves on to the next subject. The trio of communications assistants each hug me and Josh in turn. I can't help but laugh at look of polite discomfort on Josh's face as he accepts their congratulations. They ask if it would be all right for them to attend the reception (press conference), and Josh defers to my wishes on this one. I tell them it would make me feel better knowing they were there to offer moral support.

Excitedly, they file out of the office, presumably to ask their boss' permission to adjourn to the Mural Room.

"I'm just going to run to the ladies room and reapply my lipstick before we go, okay?"

"Sure," he responds, "but you look beautiful."

"Thank you." I swing by my desk to grab my purse and then walk hurriedly to the bathroom.

I brush my hair, trying to decide if I want to part my hair in the middle or on the right. I opt for the middle since it seems to be working best that way today. I dig through my purse to locate my lipstick and painstakingly reapply and blot.

Once completed I step back and check my reflection in the mirror.

"Okay, Donnatella Moss," I say to my own reflection. "You can do this. You are in love and you want to tell the whole world about it. Here's your chance. Try not to freak out."

God, please don't let me freak out.

"Josh is going to be with you the whole time," I say to the mirror. "All of your friends are behind you on this. Even the Leader of the Free World is behind you on this." I nod sharply at myself and take a deep breath. There are butterflies on my stomach and nervous energy to burn "And whatever you do, don't make Josh look stupid."

With one last glance in the mirror, I stiffen my spine and leave the bathroom, making sure I hold my head high. After all, I have reason to, don't I? I'm Josh Lyman's girlfriend.

Josh is standing outside his office door, receiving last minute bolstering from Sam, when I return from the bathroom. The expression on his face is slightly pained, until he catches sight of me and smiles.

"Are you ready," he asks.

"I'm ready."

"Then let's go."

"Joshua?" He stops at my question, his chin dropping slightly to his chest. His forehead goes into wrinkle mode. Isn't it the cutest thing when he does that? I think he afraid that I'm going to back out in the eleventh hour.

"Yes?" he asks.

"Are you going to the Mural Room like that? You wore a really nice suit today. Don't you think you should at least wear the jacket?" He looks down at himself and smiles.

"Right. Thank you, Donna."

I follow him into his office where he locates his jacket on the back of his chair. I reach for the jacket, taking it from him, and hold it out so that he can slide his arms into the sleeves. This is something I've done a thousand times before, but this time there's something special about it. This time it's more...intimate. He turns to face me and I adjust the front of his jacket. I also straighten his tie, before buttoning the top button.

Then it strikes me why these actions that I have performed so many times before have suddenly become more personal. I have a sudden memory of my mother doing the same for my father time and time again. I look into his eyes and, even though we know we shouldn't, I know that he's going to kiss me. His lips settle gently on mine for an instant that's just long enough for my legs to turn into rubber.

"For luck," he whispers, when he pulls away.

We turn to see Sam Seaborn standing at the doorway, watching our latest byplay. But this time, he's not looking at us with amusement. This time, his smile is wistful -- and if I didn't know any better, I'd swear that his eyes are slightly misty.

He clears his throat, perhaps to banish the frog he suddenly found inhabiting it. "Are you ready?" he asks.

"Ready," we answer in union. Josh takes my elbow and escorts me out of the office.

TBC

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