By Paris

Summary: Moments before her wedding, friends of the Bartlet staff, help CJ recall her unexpected love story.

Author's Note: Feedback of any kind is always grand!


"Are you nervous?" Abbey Bartlet asked a pacing CJ Cregg, as they stood outside of the White House's East Room.

"I wasn't until you asked me the sixteenth time," CJ said sounding anxious.

"Abbey, leave the poor girl alone!" Josiah Bartlet intervened. "CJ, have I told you how gorgeous you look?"

"About as many times as Abbey has questioned my nerves," CJ, in a beautiful sleeveless wedding gown smiled. "Thank you Mr. President."

"CJ, I just talked to Sam, and he says that the groom is as nervous as you are," Donna Moss in the identical bridesmaid dress as Abbey Bartlet informed the group.

CJ smiled. "You know this is a nice change from the West Wing."

After a nerving pause, the nerd in the President came out, "You know, Grover Cleveland was the only president to marry in the White House. Although, it was in the Blue Room not the East Room. I am unsure of the number of press secretaries who married in the White House, though."

"No Jed!" Abbey said in a mocking tone.

"Although I doubt that there were many to marry in the White House due to a religious conflict between the bride and groom. I mean, the groom being Jewish and the bride being Catholic. Or a press secretary who married another member of the staff. Or one that had the President give her away," Jed Bartlet shook his head. "I am sure not many."

"No, sir," CJ agreed.

Breaking a silence again, the President said, "You know you're really good for him, CJ."

"He makes you glow!" Abbey remarked.

"I guess he does," CJ blushed.

"I'll never forget the look on the staffs' faces when we found out!" President Bartlet laughed.


The night of Bartlet's reelection, one year earlier


"Here we go folks," CJ smiled to the Bartlet staff and family. "The polls have been closed. The votes counted, checked, and counted again. The word has just been given to the White House that Josiah Bartlet had been re-elected!"

Cheers filled the room. President Bartlet popped a bottle of champagne.

"Congratulations Mr. President," Leo McGarry hugged his best friend.

"Thank you Leo," The President smiled. "Thank you all for your hard work, and not deciding to pack up after four years."

His staff was hugging and kissing each other proudly, but the celebration ceased when the attention turned to the passionate lip lock of the Press Secretary.

"Somebody want to tell me how long that has been going on?" Sam Seaborn asked.

"About three minutes," Donna Moss answered.

"I know that, but the relationship," Sam considered himself in the loop of gossip, but had totally missed news of this. "I mean I knew that they were close friends, but I never thought."

"They've been spending a lot of time together since Danny dumped her," Donna commented.

"That was like six months ago!" Sam said in disbelief.

"Well then, I guess six months," Donna smiled.

"Did you know about this?" Sam asked.

"Nope," Donna answered truthfully.

"I mean he hasn't been as whiney," Sam pointed out. "But."

"You two want to tell us about this office romance that seems to be in full swing?" President and Abbey Bartlet walked over to Sam and Donna.

"If we knew," Sam said, "we would tell you."

"We do think it has been going on for sometime, though," Donna offered some information.

"I think it's cute," Abbey commented.

When CJ's kiss ended, the room applauded. Her face turned a shade of bright crimson.

"What was that about?" Abbey Bartlet questioned CJ later that night.

"Ahh," CJ stuttered. "I guess being overjoyed about reelection doesn't count as an answer, huh?"

Abbey shook her head. "No, I don't think so."

"He's cute, isn't he?" CJ tried shifting the attention.

"Sure, he's no Jed Bartlet, but that's not answering my question."

"We've been together for awhile," CJ answered. "There was no reason to announce or flaunt is, what with both of our exes in politics roaming in and out of the White House. So we kept it quiet."

"Since you and Danny broke up?" Abbey asked.

"Well, yeah," CJ answered. "Here's how it happened.


About six months before reelection


"CJ," Danny Concanon started. This was going to be hard for him. "It's not going to work out. You were right. We can't do this anymore. It isn't just because you are the press secretary and I am a reporter, either. We can't talk about how are day went, because I can't know what you and the President talk about. And since Gail is dead, we have no obligation to her," he spoke of the dead goldfish as if it were a child. "I still love you CJ, but maybe it would work better if we just stay friends."

"Danny?" CJ's cheeks were streaked with tears. Her eyes welled up again. "Do you really mean this?"

"Yes, I am afraid I do," Danny told her.

"Why? Why the change of heart?" CJ asked.

"It's just not working. You can never be completely honest with me, and I want and need that," Danny said and turned to leave her office.

"What about what I want and need?" CJ asked, but he had already left. She buried her head in her hands and continued to cry. Danny was her first serious relationship since she started working for Josiah Bartlet. He seemed to understand her dedication to her job, until that moment. He even had her thinking about settling down and starting a family. She now had a strong desire for children, which was something that had always seemed down the road, but down the road had come.

"Hey," a friend popped his head in her office. Passing by her had heard her tears. "CJ, what's wrong?"

She looked up at him and forced a smile on her face despite the steady stream of tears running down her face. "I'm okay."

"If that's okay," he said, "I hate to see what bad looks like." He entered the room uninvited, but knew she wouldn't object, and he took a seat at the edge of her desk.

"What is it? Claudia Jean, tell me," his voice was comforting.

"Danny and I broke up," CJ cried even harder.

"Oh CJ," he opened his arms to offer his comfort. She fell into them and continued to cry. "He wasn't good enough for you anyway."

"Thanks," CJ forced another smile on her face.

"I'll tell you what," he had an idea, CJ could tell by the gleam in his eye. "We'll have the President wait to execute Danny Concanon for a little bit to make him nervous, because he knows if he messes with the West Wing's number one girl there'll be hell to pay."

His comment made her laugh.

"And I am coming over tonight with a six pack and a horrible low budget film, and we'll celebrate your independence." It was less of an offer and more of a demand.
"I don't know," CJ said. "I think I want to be alone."

"Ahh no," he smiled mischievously. "You forced a celebration on me during my break up, and I had years invested in that one. It made me feel better if only for that night. Consider it returning the favor."

"I have no choice in this matter, do I?" CJ asked.

"No, no not really," he smiled. "I'll be around at seven."

"Okay," CJ agreed.

"Come here," he said as he stood up, and pulled her in his arms again. "It'll be okay." He wiped the still lingering tear from her face and left the room.

CJ went back to work feeling a little better. It was his doping. No matter how bad life got, she could always trust in their friendship.

It was a little after seven when he arrived at her apartment, clad in a pair of blue jeans and a black polo shirt. He had a six pack in one hand and a video in the other.

"Never fear, I am here," he announced. "You feeling better?"

"Now I am," CJ replied. "Did you have dinner? I am making popcorn, but if you haven't eaten."

"Dinner? What's dinner?" He asked with a hint of sarcasm. "If I don't eat in the office, I don't eat."

"What Chinese?" CJ asked.

"You read my mind," he flashed a smiled.

Half an hour later, they were in CJ's living room. Cartons of Chinese food were sprawled all over the room.

"I brought a slasher movie," he gave a boyish grin. "Can't get much lower budget than that."

"I guess not," CJ said. Her depressed mood still lingered from the events of earlier that day.

"Hey, hey," he said catching on to her mood. "Look be happy you're rid of him. Not attached. You're free."

"I don't know if I wanted that," CJ answered. "I think I am ready to settle down, and start a family, I want kids before I am too old to have them. You wouldn't understand!"

"You know, that's not true," he said to her looking hurt. "I want kids too, CJ, really I do. It's something that I that I seriously think about. Who am I fooling, though? I am not getting any younger or any closer to a family. I'm lonely."

"I am too, but I don't think the feeling started when Danny broke up with me this morning, but its been going on for sometime. I mean we were never close. Politics was in the way of our relationship getting off the ground," CJ admitted to the far from content relationship she had with Danny Concanon.

He was drawn to her. To her honesty of the situation. Unlike him, she would not mask her feelings with a low-budget horror flick. She said it like it was, and opened his eyes to something more.

There was no doubt in his mind at that moment, the woman sitting next on the couch next to him was the woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with.

"You know, this'll sound funny," his voice cracked with nerves. "No, nevermind," he stopped.

"What?" CJ looked into his familiar eyes and sensed his anxiety. "Even if it is funny, I could sure use a laugh right now."

"What if, I mean down the road," he stumbled over words trying to verbalize exactly what he wanted to say. He started over, "You, know, I'd love to have six foot tall Jewish kids," he smiled at himself proud for getting something out.

"You mean us?" CJ asked with a hint of sarcasm.

"Sure, why not?" He asked. "I mean, after awhile, you know?"

"Are you asking me out?" CJ Cregg asked astonished.

He thought a moment. "Yeah, yes, I guess I am. I mean, we are already close friends and we both work insane Bartlet hours and-,"

"Yes, I'd like that," CJ cut his rambling off.


Present Day


"CJ," Leo McGarry said joining the awaiting group. "I just spoke to Justice Mendoza. He's delayed in traffic, but he'll be here don't worry." Leo spoke of the Supreme Court Justice, who was to officiate the ceremony.

"Thanks, Leo," CJ smiled.

"You do look beautiful," Leo complemented. "You'll drive the groom wild."

"Thank you Leo," CJ kissed the man on the cheek.

"You know, I don't think I will ever forget the look on your face when the press caught on to your engagement," Leo chuckled.


Press Room, Six months earlier


"Despite the military movement in the Middle East," CJ reported to the press corps, "President Bartlet has no plans of action, because no treaties are being broken. More about that later. Any other questions?"

"CJ, CJ," the room echoed and hands shot.

"Danny?" CJ called on the redhead. It had been a year since the two had broken up and they had remained very friendly and fairly close."

"CJ, I have a source that claims the President's press secretary recently got engaged to another member of the Bartlet staff. How do you comment."

CJ smiled and looked at the glimmering diamond on her left ring finger, and then looked shocked out into the sea of reporters. He had only proposed the night before. "Yes, Danny, your source gave you correct information. As you all know, we have been dating for about a year, and have had a friendship of over five. My fiancé and I couldn't be happier."

"CJ?" Connie, a fairly new reporter started, "How did it happen?" She seemed to be a complete romantic.

"He took me to my favorite restaurant and got down on one knee," CJ beamed. "It was totally by the book. Enough of this, get back to writing some real news."


Present Day


"You liked that face?" Donna asked Leo, "Did you see the look on the groom-to-be's face during the press conference yesterday?"

"I don't think he ever expected to be half of America's favorite couple," Abbey Bartlet said in the man's defense. It was true. The two had been on the over of most magazines at one time or another during their courtship.

"Second to Zoey and Charlie, that is," CJ said trying to tone down the media frenzy.


Press Room, the day before


By request of the press, CJ was summoned to give details of her wedding plans for the next day. The groom-to-be, although finding the pressroom a bit overwhelming offered to be there.

Holding CJ's hand tightly he walked up to the podium. At first the couple was blinded by flashing lights of the cameras, something that both became accustomed to.

"We'll go over a few details," CJ started to explain. "There will a be a brief question period and then we need to get back to running the nation."

There were more flashes from the photographer.

"Supreme Court Justice Roberto Mendoza will be officiating the ceremony, which will take place in the White House's East Room," CJ noted.

"The ceremony will have no religious connotations, due to my Jewish background and CJ's Catholic upbringing," the groom added. "Sam Seaborn the Deputy Chief of Communications, a friend and college of mine is going to serve as my best man."

"The first lady, Abbey Bartlet and White House Secretary to the Deputy Chief of Staff, Donnatella Moss will be my bridesmaids. Both will be wearing red sleeveless Donna Karen gowns. I too will be wearing a full length, sleeveless Donna Karen gown of white taffeta," CJ said knowing from experience to be specific on the details of the wardrobe. "President Bartlet has graciously offered to give me away, due to the death of my father seven years ago."


Present Day


"He's here. Everything's ready," Leo McGarry announced and went in to sit down.

The music began to play and Abbey entered the East Room with Donna steps behind.

"Are you ready?" Josiah Bartlet asked the woman who had over the years become like an additional daughter to him.

"Yes," CJ smiled.

"I am certainly going to miss two of my best, when they go off on their honeymoon," the President said.

He kissed her cheek and then straightened her veil. "Here we go. No turning back now," President Bartlet smiled and offered his arm as the wedding march began.

CJ looked down the isle to the handsome, brilliant man she was in love with. He was totally taken by her beauty and gave her a goofy grin, which relaxed her nerves.

"Dearly beloved," Roberto Mendoza began. "We are gathered here today to witness the union of these two people. If there are any objections, speak now or forever hold your peace."

The room full of the couple's family, friends and others from the West Wing staff was quiet. Many smiled contently knowing that this was what the couple had both wanted more than anything. Danny Concanon had the urge to sneeze or cough at that moment, but kept quiet knowing CJ was in a loving relationship that she fully deserved to be in.

The road that the two people had taken was the road less traveled. The stress of helping rim the country had often taken a toll on them and everything they did especially their relationships. That is until they found each other.

"I am proud to pronounce you man and wife," Justice Mendoza announced at the conclusion of the ceremony. "May I be the first to introduce to you Mr. and Mrs. Joshua Lyman."