By Lacy

Out of the corner of my eye I see CJ check her watch. She steps forward and takes control of the crowd. "All right, everyone. That's about all the time we can afford to give you. I'm sure that Josh and Donna have work to get back to."

The Press Corps thanks us and a few more flashes go off in a last ditch effort to capture the moment for posterity. Charlie and Carol hold the Mural Room doors open as the Corps files out. CJ's assistant corrals the group and leads them, like a mama duck, back to their section of the building. When the crowd is out of the room, Charlie closes the doors behind them.

When the doors are securely shut, Josh swings me into his arms. "You were great," he says again, into my ear. He kisses me on the forehead. A chaste kiss for the eyes of the others still in the room.

When we break apart, the members of the staff descend upon us offering congratulations for a job well done.

"That went well," Josh says. "I thought that went well."

I'm blushing at the attention Margaret, Leo and Ginger are showering upon me.

"Boston?" Sam asks Josh. "You're quoting Boston in a White House press conference? I mean, of all the things to quote, you have to pick Boston?"

"Let it go, Sam," Josh grabs his friend by the shoulders.

"I'm just saying. Boston?"

"I was inspired."

"Inspired by Boston?"

"You're just jealous because you didn't think of it."

"No, well, I mean, I would have gone with the Beatles or Abba, even."

"Somebody, please kill me," sighs Toby.

The President, enjoying the free moment with the rest of his staff, approaches me again to offer his good wishes.

"Oh, Mr. President," I begin. "Your speech, I mean, the way you delivered...everything. You were amazing. You brought me to tears. I'm ferklumpt."

"Oh, for the love of God, Donna," Toby interrupts, "pack the Yiddesh in a box and bury it."

"Thank you, Donna." The President responds. "You know, for once, I meant every word."

The congratulations, back slapping, and hand shaking go on for a few more minutes before the President finally interrupts. "Okay, everyone. Let's consider this a success, and move on. It's time to get back to running a country."

A chorus of 'yes, sirs' fills the air as we file out of the Mural Room and into the hallway across from the Oval Office. The senior staffers and their assistants depart for their respective offices, leaving me and Josh alone with the President.

"I just wanted to say, again, Mr. President, how much your approval means to me...well, us. " Josh reaches out to shake the President's hand.

"Take care of her, Josh," the President demands.

"I will, sir." He looks at me and the fluttering in my stomach this time comes from the look in his eyes.

"Get back to work," the President says. "Both of you."

"Yes, sir," we respond in unison, but we watch as the President enters the Oval Office and closes the door behind him. Josh takes his hand out of mine, signaling that it's time to go back to work.

"Josh." A familiar voice stops us as we head back to the bullpen. We turn to see Mrs. Landingham at her desk, staring at Josh over the rim of her glasses.

"Yes, Mrs. Landingham?" he responds. His shoulders droop just a bit as he approaches her desk, like a little boy facing his elementary school principal.

She reaches over and removes the lid from the cookie jar perched on her desk. "Would you like a cookie, dear?"

The patented Josh Lyman grin with full-on dimples explodes on his face. "Yes, ma'am," he says. "I certainly would." He reaches into the sacred cookie jar and, careful not to push his luck, removes a single treat.

Watching this from a slight distance, I would swear upon my life that Mrs. Landingham -- the White House's resident warhorse -- did the most amazing thing.

She winked at my boyfriend.

The End

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