Several years ago, President Bartlet told Sam that he would be President one day. At the time, Sam shrugged it off while appreciating the compliment, but after Matt Santos's eight years in office he found himself recalling that brief conversation in the West Wing thirteen years earlier.

They had been playing chess in Sam's office. Leo brought the President an update, about what exactly Sam couldn't recall- something about China. He remembers he had correctly guessed the outcome, and the President's stance on it. He could still picture the look of fondness and pride on the President's face. He had said, "Sam, you're gonna run for President one day. Don't be scared. You can do it. I believe in you."

Sam began by running for Senate. He'd learned a lot over the years in the White House, as well as his time on the campaign for Congress in Orange County. He won his Senate seat handily and served one term before the DNC approached him about a run at the Presidency.

It was sooner than he expected, but he was tempted. So much so that he found himself the following evening standing on the porch of the Bartlet farmhouse in New Hampshire.

Jed opened the door, and greeted him with a seemingly knowing glance, like he'd expected him: like he had been waiting his whole life for this moment. The two spoke long into the night, debating pros and cons. When Sam left just before dawn, he had made a decision.

…

Josh often joked that he would spend the rest of his career in the West Wing. The Democratic Party had maintained control of the White House since the Bartlet administration- an unprecedented feat. And Josh had served as Chief of Staff for Santos as well as his successor.

When Sam told him that he was running for President, Josh was thrilled. Beyond thrilled, really. He couldn't have chosen a better candidate, and was selfishly grateful for the implied opportunity to continue to serve his country. Not to mention that he thoroughly enjoyed being right and had long ago planted seeds with the DNC that Sam would make a great candidate.

…

On Election Night, Josh, Donna, and Sam paced the small room in shifts, passing one another every few steps. The exit polls were promising. Actually all of the polling had been in their favor for months, but in typical Toby fashion, they were cautious to not temp the wrath of the whatever from atop the high thing.

Around 11pm Eastern Time, all major media outlets had called the election for Sam. Sam Seaborn would be the next President of the United States, and Josh Lyman would delay cleaning out his desk for another 4-8 years.

…

Donna couldn't believe it. She felt like a broken record each time she acknowledged the surreal nature of her life. Sam Seaborn, the lawyer from Orange County, whom she met on the Bartlet for America campaign, was the President-elect.

Sam. Her dear friend. The one who taught her about the importance and value of speechwriting. The one who prepared Josh's living will for him. The one who held her hand while Josh was in surgery. The one who had claimed dibs on her second dance as a married woman. Her son's godfather. She was so supremely proud of him, and thrilled to embark on her newest endeavor as his White House Press Secretary.

…

Transition was the easiest one Josh and Sam had experienced, though they thoroughly realized that if you do anything often enough, it becomes old hat pretty quickly. Will Bailey wrote his Inaugural Address, and Sam delivered it impeccably.

Donna and Josh watched from the first row of the crowd as Sam took the oath of office. At one point, she turned to her right to watch Josh's face as he saw his best friend become President. Josh's only regret was that Jed Bartlett lived long enough to cast his vote for Sam, but not to see this day, succumbing to MS. His gaze fell past Donna to Abbey Bartlet a few rows away, sitting with Zoey and Charlie. She looked proud and forlorn; her husband would have so enjoyed this day.

Josh leaned into the little boy he held against his right side, "You see Uncle Sam, buddy? He's going to be the President in a few minutes."

Three-year-old Leo Lyman pointed ahead of him and exclaimed, "Uncle Sam!" an accidental pun made obvious by anyone in the vicinity.

Josh laughed quietly, tugging Leo's hat down over his ears to protect him from the January cold. He knew Sam hadn't heard Leo's outburst, but would lie and tell the child that he had, which would delight the child- Leo adored his Uncle Sam.

Donna looped her arm through Josh's free one and sighed contentedly as the crowd cheered for President Seaborn. They'd made a lovely life together, she realized. She had a loving husband, an adorable son, great friends who supported them, and an incredibly fulfilling career in which she served the President, and her country.

It wasn't long after Sam retreated from the podium that Josh left to join him in the car to the White House. Donna held Leo close to her, relishing in her son's first Inauguration, so glad that the three of them had snapped a photo earlier in the day.

She was jarred from her thoughts when a member of her detail spoke, "Mrs. Lyman?"

She turned her attention to John- the one Secret Service agent who had refused reassignment to another detail over the years. He had hardly left her side since Josh was shot in the Oval all those years ago.

"Are you ready to go?"

Donna smiled, "Of course. We have work to do, don't we Leo?"

The toddler grinned at his mother as she followed John to the car and hopped in. Within a few minutes, they had arrived at the White House. Donna was the epitome of the working mother. Leo spent most of his days in the West Wing. He had a nanny, that much was inevitable given the inconsistency in the hours they kept, but Donna and Josh spent as much time with him as possible. They knew their lives were unconventional and strived to give their son as much normalcy as they could.

Upon arrival at the West Wing, Donna got out of the car with Leo and started towards the door.

"Mrs. Lyman," a staffer began before Donna interrupted her.

"It's Donna." Her detail may refuse to call her by her first name, but she was not ready to accept the same from her staff.

"Right. Donna. Sorry. We need to go over the President's message. Mr. Lyman issued a memo that he would be signing three Executive Orders today and the press will need to be briefed on their contents."

"Of course. I can handle that. What else?" They were walking through the West Wing now, towards the press room.

"An article is coming out today about the President's lack of a First Lady."

"Is that so?"

"They're saying that it's a sign that he's unstable."

Donna laughed, "You're joking."

"I'm afraid I'm not ma'am."

"It's Donna."

"I'm sorry."

"It's nonsense. Don't worry, I can handle that." Donna justified flippantly. Sure it was a first, but if it was that serious of a concern, how did Sam manage to win the election with a 12-point margin? Besides, Sam and the Lymans were a team. Donna and Josh would happily pick up any slack on ceremonial or unofficial duties of the executive office.

Donna glanced at Leo, smiling as his familiarity with the West Wing. These halls had become his second home. She kissed his temple before looking back at the staffer before her, "What's next?"

-That's all she wrote, folks! I hope you enjoyed this story! Thanks to all who have followed and reviewed. The current administration has me wistfully re-watching The West Wing on repeat- who knows what I'll be inspired to write next!