Disclaimer - I still don't own these characters. They are still the property of Josh Wells, NBC and the fabulous Aaron Sorkin.
Rating - PG.
Pairings - Josh/Ellie, Ellie/OC
Spoilers – None
Summary - Josh Lyman meets Eleanor Bartlet during the campaign and falls in love with the young, married medical student. For the purposes of my story, Ellie is several years older in this story and very different than she is on the show.
A/N – Well, after fifty chapters it's finally time to end this little story. My thanks again to everyone who read and, especially, reviewed this story for me. Your encouraging words and thoughts have been truly inspirational to me.
Josh fumbled with his bow tie, frowning as he attempted to tie it for the fifth time. The slick black satin slipped out of his fingers again and he let out a frustrated groan. "ELLIE!" he yelled.
"Shhh!" she hissed, running around the corner, holding the hem of her formal dress up so that she wouldn't trip on it. "Emma's sleeping."
"I can't tie this damn thing," he complained, holding it out to her. Ellie rolled her eyes and slipped the tie around his neck. "Why does my daughter's first birthday require a tuxedo and a bow tie, anyway?" he complained.
"Because your daughter is also the granddaughter of the leader of the free world," she reminded him, tugging the satin securely around his neck. She laced her hands behind his neck and kissed him gently.
"She's not even going to be awake for half of this party, you do realize that?" he asked irritably.
"That's all you have to say to me?" she pouted playfully, taking a step back from him. "Have you seen this dress?" she asked, waving her hand over the emerald green fabric.
"I have," he answered with a nod, visibly admiring her figure, "and I am fighting with every fiber of my being not to rip it off you."
Ellie beamed. "So, you're going to bitch about your bow tie instead?"
"Whatever works," he responded with a grin, pulling her close to him again and kissing her.
Josh cradled Emma in his arms, one arm beneath her legs and another wrapped around her tiny waist so that she could face her adoring crowd. A steward began rolling in Emma's huge pink birthday cake to the strains of "Happy Birthday". Emma bounced happily in her father's arms, her tiny white patent leather slippers beating in time to the music, delighting in all the attention and off-key singing.
Jed Bartlet stepped up to the cake and raised his champagne glass. "To my granddaughter, Emma Joan Lyman, may all of your wishes always come true." He leaned over and kissed her on the head. "Make a wish, my little angel."
Josh held Emma over her birthday cake and, with Ellie, leaned over to blow out her candle for her. The guests erupted in applause and took sips of their champagne. Emma yawned her approval.
"Okay, time for presents before the little Princess retires for the evening," Abbey announced, motioning for everyone to gather around the two chairs that had been set up in the middle of a circle. Ellie and Josh took the places of honor and Josh settled Emma onto his lap, trying not to wrinkle the pink taffeta of her dress.
Ellie picked up the first present and sat it on her lap, taking the card off and opening it. "This is from," she said as she read, "Grandma and Grandpa." She nodded to her parents and ripped the paper off, revealing a pint-size lap top computer. "Okay, guys, she's one year old," she said, frowning and laughing as she examined the gift.
"She's already the most brilliant one year old in the entire world," Jed answered, "I'm just trying to encourage it."
"She's going to be the first woman President," Leo chimed in. "We're all counting on it."
"Yeah, no pressure there," Josh responded with an eye roll.
Ellie stood to open a large present. "This one is from Poppy and Jordan," she said, grinning at Leo. She pulled the soft pink and white paper away to reveal the box for a red metal tricycle.
"I had one of those as a kid," he explained excitedly. "I thought she ought to have a tricycle just like Poppy's."
"It's wonderful, Leo, thank you," Ellie said, crossing over to kiss him on the cheek.
"Open Sam's," Josh gently commanded, "He's been way too quiet about it."
Ellie sifted through the mountain of packages until she found a card with Emma's name scrawled in Sam's penmanship. She opened the card and pulled it out, frowning as she read the inside. "Hope you can find a use for this, Emma. Love, Sam and Donna."
Josh glanced over to where the couple sat hand in hand, awaiting the opening of the package. Ellie gingerly removed the bow and placed it to the side. Josh fought the urge to grab the package away from her and rip it open. She slid the top of the box off and moved the tissue paper away, reaching in and pulling out a beautiful, long white gown.
"What the?" Josh questioned, taking the dress away from Ellie and examining it.
"It's a flower girl dress," Donna said quietly. "Sam and I were kind of hoping...."
"You're getting married?" Josh shrieked.
"Yes," Donna answered with a nod. Sam was still silent, beaming with pride as Donna held out her left hand, revealing a diamond engagement ring.
Josh handed Emma to Ellie and stood, crossing over to where Sam and Donna were sitting. Donna rose up and was immediately enveloped into Josh's arms.
"This calls for more champagne!" the President bellowed, waving his hand animatedly while Josh held his assistant.
"You're okay with this?" she asked tentatively.
"I'm a little hacked off that I was left out of the loop, but yeah, I'm great with it," he answered with a small shrug. He released her and latched on to Sam, pulling his best friend into a bear hug. "You hurt her, I'll kill you," Josh warned.
"If I hurt her, I'll kill myself," Sam responded, eliciting a huge grin from Josh.
Josh sat down again and took a quick swipe at his eyes. Ellie reached down and picked up another present. She handed it to Josh, while she held Emma. The present was small, but beautifully wrapped, with no card. Josh raised an eyebrow playfully. "One year old and she's already got secret admirers?" he teased.
A small gasp escaped his lips as he ripped the paper away from the gift – it was a book entitled "I'm the Big Sister." Josh scratched his head and looked at his wife, who was grinning from ear to ear with tears in her eyes. "You're..." he stammered, "We're..."
Ellie nodded. "Eight weeks," she responded. He shook his head in shock and reached his hand behind hers, crushing his lips down on hers.
"Aw, hell," Jed responded with a frown. "He knocked my daughter up AGAIN!"
"There ought to be a law," Leo said with a grin, slapping his best friend on the shoulder.
"Yeah, maybe I oughta run for President or something," Jed teased.
Ellie and Josh broke apart for air while the crowd around them applauded their approval. He kissed Ellie's forehead and then reached for his daughter, standing her on his legs. "You're going to be a big sister, Emma," he said in a sing-song voice. "What do you think about that?"
Emma bounced on Josh's legs and said, "ba, ba, ba, ba, ba." Josh kissed her on the cheek and turned to Jed, who was doing his absolute best to frown and glare at his son-in-law.
"What was that about not sticking around for the long haul?" Josh joked.
The President dismissed the comment with a wave of his hand. "A year and a half and two kids do not equal the long haul," he answered. "You still have a long way to go, Joshua."
"I can't wait," he answered honestly, kissing Ellie again.
The End.