Sam and Josh approached the brownstone cautiously, both absorbed in their own thoughts, knowing that what they were about to do was risky, but necessary.

A woman in a white robe opened the door at Sam's knock. Josh was struck by how normal she looked. For some reason, he had assumed that because of her profession, she would look and act more like a back street hooker; that assumption had allowed his conscience to set up this meeting. The reality of the woman standing in front of him made him realize instantly that this trip had been a mistake. Unfortunately, it was too late to back out now.

Sam made introductions and then started to explain the reason for their visit to Laurie. She cut him off mid-explanation. 
"You thought I could give you the name of an influential Republican who likes kinky sex, so you could scare Lillienfield into shutting up?" she asked.

Sam started to stutter an answer when Josh cut him off.  "A man has left himself open to the kind of attack from which men in my business do not recover. Now, if our tactics seem less than civilized, it's because so are our attackers." He realized he was getting irrational, but anger made him continue, "In any event, I don't feel like standing here taking a Civics lesson from a hooker!"

Laurie’s voice rose above his. "You think only Republicans pay for sex? I suppose Democrats are above having illicit affairs."

“Excuse me?” Josh was furious at what she was implying.

"You know what I’m talking about,” Laurie scoffed. "You, of all people, a man who's sleeping with his assistant, for God's sake, lecturing me on morality!"

"Don't. Do not go there," Josh warned her. "My personal life is not your concern."

"Laurie..." Sam tried to break into the heated conversation.

She spoke right over him. "It is my concern! And every other taxpayer's concern. What if someone wanted internal personnel files? And they went to your girlfriend to get them. She has to have *some* influence. Are you telling me you wouldn’t be offended? Outraged? Concerned?”

"She would never use our relationship for that," Josh stated with certainty.  He trusted Donna. She would never put him in the position where he doubted her loyalty to him or to the administration. Donna was a good person.  She loved him and wouldn’t use him or his position for political gain. If she even guessed that he was here pressuring Sam’s friend for names, she'd most likely kick his ass. His relationship with Donna was more than just a cheap office affair, and after tonight, the whole country would know that. But until then, he realized what it appeared like to the public. His anger deflated a little and he sighed heavily. "I was rude. I apologize."

His apology calmed her somewhat. "It's just like the problems your friend is having. I don’t happen to agree with Lillienfield, but neither do I think you have a right to bully me for information. You're the good guys. You should act like it." She opened the front door and gestured to the steps. "I think it's time you left now."

Josh nodded brusquely, then turned and walked out of the apartment; Sam remained behind. Josh could hear him murmuring apologies. "That went well," Sam commented ironically when he finally emerged from the building.

"I just wanted to help Leo out. I'm sorry for getting you involved in this," Josh told him, a touch of regret in his voice.

"We had to try." Sam waved away his apology. "So, I'm gonna go do that thing now. I'll meet you back at the office later."

"Ok. Let me know how it goes," Josh replied as he took off down the sidewalk and headed back to the White House.

**********
 

“I got you a gift while I was out shopping with the President,” Josh announced later as he walked into the bullpen.

Donna looked up at him eagerly. “What did you get me? Skis?”

“No,” he retorted. He handed her a slim package, which she slowly unwrapped.

“Heimlich Beckengruber on The Art and Artistry of Alpine Skiing?” She looked at him quizzically.

”It's got a molted calf cover and original drab boards,” he proudly explained. 

”I don't know what to say.”

“I wrote a note inside,” he added. He watched with undisguised pleasure as she opened the cover and read the words he had written.  

               My Dearest Donnatella, 

               Thank you for being the kindest, sweetest, most beautiful person I have ever known.  

               You have brought love and laughter into my life. Without you, I would be lost. 

               Always, 

               Your Joshua 

Josh noticed the look in her eyes and the slight quaver of her lip. ”Don't get emotional,” he pleaded. “Donna…don't get...you know… let’s try and maintain some kind of..." His words were cut off as Donna stood up and wrapped her arms around him. He inhaled her light floral scent, felt her body press against his, and couldn’t help but think that this feeling was something he would cherish forever.

"You spend most of your time being...you know – you - and then you write something like this to me. Thank you," she said as she pressed a small kiss against his ear.

"I meant it," he whispered as he broke their embrace.

They stared at one another, their eyes conveying everything they couldn’t say in the office. Donna finally looked away and broke the tension by teasing, "Skis would have killed you?”

"Yeah," he replied with a slight smile. He sauntered back into his office, but peeked his head around the door and watched her as she re-read the inscription. A huge smile spread across his face as he thought about the plans he had for later. He was jolted out of his musings when a voice behind him spoke.

“So I guess she liked the book,” Sam commented as he watched Josh watch Donna.

Josh whirled around and his hand flew up to his chest. “Geez, Sam! Are you trying to give me a heart attack?” Josh exclaimed as he finally noticed his friend lounging in the visitor’s chair in his office.

“Sorry, but if you weren’t so busy watching Donna, you might have noticed me sitting here,” he laughed. “Does she have any idea about her real gift?”

“None,” Josh replied confidently, as he looked out at her again. "Did you get the thing done?"

"Yes. Everything's ready." Sam stood up and headed for the door. He slapped Josh on the shoulder as he passed. “Good luck, buddy.”

“Yeah,” Josh answered absentmindedly. His attention was once again focused on the woman outside his office.

**********

Donna sat back in the visitor’s chair and let her gaze rest on Josh’s profile as he worked at the computer. She had officially declared herself ‘done for the day’ and was relaxing as she waited for Josh to finish up so that they could attend the Christmas festivities in the lobby. 

“Big day to day,” she mused aloud. “Santa, Christmas shopping with the President, visits to call girls…” She let her voice trail off as Josh absorbed her words. 

He turned his head and looked at her. “You heard about that, huh?”

“Yup.” 

“I was hoping you would somehow miss it.” 

“Josh, no one in the White House missed that story. What were you thinking?” she gently scolded him. 

”I was thinking I wanted to help Leo. It’s Christmastime, he shouldn’t be raked across the coals by Lillienfield and his thugs.” 

“So threatening a poor law student was going to help?” 

“She’s more than just a law student, Donna, and you know it,” he snorted. 

“Yes, she’s also a woman who’s trying to earn enough money to put herself through law school. You know better than that.” 

Josh knew she was disappointed in his behavior and tried to redeem himself. “If it makes you feel any better, I knew what I was doing was wrong as soon as she opened the door.” 

“But that didn’t stop you from confronting her, did it?” 

“No,” he mumbled. “I just wanted to help Leo.” 

Donna’s expression softened. “I know you did. He’s like a second father to you and you wanted to save him from potential disaster. I can understand that; he’s done a lot for the two of us these past few months. You wanted to re-pay the favor. But you could’ve found a better way, Josh.” 

“I know,” he conceded. “And I did apologize.”

She nodded in acknowledgement of his contrition, then her mood suddenly shifted as a thought occurred to her. She looked askance at him. “Sam was gone a lot longer than you,” she observed.

“He… um… had some errands he needed to run,” Josh ad-libbed. He started to play around on the computer keyboard and then abruptly shut the monitor off. “Ya know what? I think it’s time for the Christmas Carols,” he announced as he got up and came around the desk. He grabbed Donna’s elbow and steered her out of the office and towards the lobby.

She hesitated a bit, but then fell into step beside him. “Josh, what are you up to?”

“Nothing! Why would you think I was up to something?” he squeaked.

“You got all panicky and started to fidget when I mentioned Sam.” She narrowed her eyes and stopped mid-stride. “He didn’t stay at the call girl’s apartment after you left, did he?” she asked suspiciously.

“No! No, he just had some things to do.”

“Christmas things?”

“Maybe,” Josh answered cryptically as they took their places among the other White House staffers. Josh was grateful when the conversation ended and the choir began to sing the first notes of “Little Drummer Boy.”

He silently reached for Donna’s hand and curled his fingers around hers. She gifted him with a beautiful smile that lit up her entire face and he squeezed her hand just a little bit tighter as he returned the smile. The choir was in the midst of singing “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing,” when he bent his head and whispered in her ear, “Let’s get out of here.” 

“But the President… they’re not done with the Christmas celebration yet,” she whispered back. 

“It’s ok. I got permission from Leo to leave early.” He gently guided her back towards his office, never once letting go of her hand. “C’mon, Donna. We have a holiday to celebrate.”  

“Josh, it’s not even your holiday,” she laughed. “Hanukah was over a week ago. Why are you so excited?” 

“I can’t get excited about spending a festive Christmas Eve with my lovely girlfriend?” he asked with a twinkle in his eye. 

“Yes. But you’re up to something. I know you are,” she said warily. “First, you avoided my questions about Sam and now you’re insisting that we leave during the concert. Does this have something to do with my Christmas present?” 

“Nope, no hints until we get home.” He was grinning outrageously, the dimples appearing in full force. She allowed him to bundle her into her coat and usher her to the car.  

“Joshua Lyman – what are you planning?” 

”You’ll just have to wait and see.” 

********** 

“Close your eyes,” he commanded, as he fit the key into the apartment door. A mischievous smile played about his lips.

“Josh? What in the world?” 

“Just close them. Please?” he asked.

She did as requested and waited patiently by the door as she listened to him moving around the apartment. She heard the strains of Mannheim Steamroller’s “Stille Nacht” begin to play as he came back to the foyer. He placed his hands on her shoulders and guided her into the living room. “Open your eyes.” 

“Oh! You did all this?” she breathed, as she took in the appearance of the room. 

“Yeah. A little piece of winter wonderland, right here in Georgetown.” Delicate paper snowflakes hung from the ceiling amidst dozens of twinkling lights. In the corner of the room sat a miniature balsam fir, perfectly decorated for Christmas. And propped beneath the tree was a brand new pair of skis. 

“Oh, Joshua… you got me skis.” 

“See, you think that I don’t listen, but I do,” he scolded affectionately. “Merry Christmas, Donnatella,” he whispered into her hair as he pulled her into his arms. 

“I can’t believe you did all this.” 

“Well, I had some help,” he admitted.

“Oh…” she breathed again as realization hit. She turned and gave him a huge hug. “Remind me to thank Sam tomorrow.”

“C’mon. Let’s open your presents,” he urged as he pulled away from her embrace and led her to the tree.  

“Josh?” she said as she got a closer look. “These ornaments look just like the ones we used when I was growing up.” 

“I know. Your mom sent them to me.” 

“MY mom?” she asked incredulously. 

“Yeah.” 

“MY mother? The one who hates you?” 

“I asked nicely,” he shrugged. “I can be very persuasive when I want to be. And she wanted to make you feel like you were at home since you were missing yet another holiday in Wisconsin – something she blames entirely on me. Plus, you took the time to learn all the customs and foods for Chanukah; it meant a lot to me. I wanted to return the favor by making it feel like a real Christmas for you. Now are you going to open your presents or am I going to have to do it for you?” Josh sat on the floor in front of the tree and pulled her into position in front of him. He reached around her and pulled a small flat box from beneath the skis. He placed it in her hands. 

“What is it?” 

“Open it and find out,” he laughed. 

Her fingers tore at the wrapping until a plain white box was revealed. She gingerly lifted the lid. Inside were two plane tickets. She turned her head and looked at him quizzically. 

“The tickets are for Banff, in Alberta, Canada,” he eagerly explained. “For February. It’ll be slow enough after the State of the Union that we should be able to get away for a few days. I understand we have a couple of anniversaries to celebrate. And someone I know keeps insisting that she wants to learn how to ski.” 

The look in hers eyes took his breath away. He wrapped his arms tight around her. “I’ve got one more gift for you.” He got up and retrieved something from the bedroom and then came to sit down in front of her. 

“I’m not very good with words. In fact, I usually open my mouth and say the first thing that comes to mind. And it frequently gets me in trouble,” he started self-deprecatingly. “I once told you that I wasn’t good at relationships; I didn’t know how to be in one. I was wrong. Being with you has taught me that it’s not the relationship – it’s the woman. Donnatella Moss, you are the most important thing in the world to me – more important than my job, than the White House, than anything. Marry me.” 

He opened his hands to reveal a silver ring box. Inside was a beautiful diamond set in a white gold band. Two small square diamonds rested on either side. She gasped when she saw it and started to cry. “Mom had it sent down from Connecticut. It belonged to my grandmother and she wanted her grandkids to have it, and… I want you to have it.” She continued to cry and Josh became concerned. “Donna? Say something.” He lifted her chin so that he could look into her eyes. “Please?” 

“Yes,” she whispered. 

“What?” 

“YES!” she shouted as she launched herself into his arms. The momentum sent them tumbling to the floor, where Josh wrapped his arms around her and kissed her soundly. He smoothed his hands along her back, burrowing beneath her shirt to touch her bare skin. She leveraged her body away from his, and pulled the top off completely, before peering down at his dimpled grin.

“You really want to marry me?” she asked, excitement and surprise equally evident in her voice.

“Yes, I really want to marry you,” he told her laughingly as he looked up into her beautiful face. “You, Donnatella Moss, are the woman I want to spend my life with. Are you sure you want to be stuck with me? I’m not the easiest person in the world to deal with – I can get a little irrational sometimes.”

“You think?” she asked him jokingly. Seeing the uncertainty in his eyes, she rushed to reassure him. “Yes, yes, yes! I want to marry you.”

“Then, my future wife, I need to tell you that I don't think my back can take this hard floor for much longer," he added. “Perhaps we can move somewhere a little more conducive to more romantic activities?” He gently rolled her to the side and got to his feet, extending his hand to help pull her up. 

As soon as she was on her feet, she headed toward the bedroom, her hips swaying seductively with every step. A quick backward glance reveled that Josh was eagerly following her, shedding his clothes as he went.

His t-shirt was halfway over his head when he heard Donna begin to giggle. “What’s so funny?” came his muffled voice as he finished pulling the shirt way.

"That,” Donna laughed as she pointed to the bedroom window. “They were pretty sure of us, weren't they?" 

"Huh?" Peering over her shoulder, Josh noticed the short message spelt out on the window in fake snow. It simply said, "Congratulations - finally!” A few signatures were scrawled in the dusting of snow beneath it.

“Just how many people did you tell about this proposal?” she questioned him. 

“I don’t know,” he hedged, ticking names off in his head. “Sam, CJ, Ginger, maybe a few other assistants. I was excited and I couldn’t tell the one person I most wanted to because it was a surprise.”

“Oh, Joshua, that is so sweet.”

"That,” he grumbled, indicating the window, “was not part of my decoration theme.” He pulled her close and buried his face against her neck. 

"Oh, don't be such a spoil-sport," she chided him, a smile still lurking on her face. "It's cute." 

"I wanted tonight to be romantic... and sexy," he complained. 

"And this isn't sexy?" she asked as she turned and leaned forward, catching his earlobe between her lips. 

"This," he said, indicating her current state of partial undress by sweeping his hands across her bare back, "is incredibly sexy. *You* are incredibly sexy. That? Not so much." 

"Then don't look at it. Look at me," Donna urged as she stepped slightly away from him and removed the rest of her clothing. The sight of her lithe, naked body mesmerized Josh. 

"Donnatella, you take my breath away," he confessed. "Not just now, but every time we're together." He gathered her close to him once more and kissed her with all the passion he held inside. 

He cupped her face in his hands. “I love you,” he vowed as he placed gentle kisses along her nose and cheeks and jaw. “You are the most precious thing in the world to me.” She looked up into his face and saw all the love and tenderness shining in his eyes. A small tear escaped from her eye and he kissed it away.

“You are the most precious thing in the world to me,” she repeated.

They made love slowly, tenderly. His fingers traced every curve of her body, explored every crevice. His lips followed along the hills and valleys of her skin, tasting, teasing. She writhed beneath him as he brought her to the brink of ecstasy, only to ease away at the final moment, promising more to come. 

Her eager hands explored him, pausing to tweak his nipple, or stroke satiny hard skin. She touched all of him, her body sliding against his, little fissions of pleasure assaulting each nerve ending. Her mouth joined with his and their tongues dueled.

Finally, he joined his body with hers. With their eyes locked, he slowly stroked in and out, each thrust bringing them closer together. He felt her start to quiver and saw her eyelids start to flutter shut. Slowing the rhythm of his movements to a mere rocking of his hips, he forced her to meet his gaze. “Look at me, Donnatella. I want to see your eyes as I make love to you.”

She opened her eyes and stared up into his deep brown ones. He resumed his smooth, fluid thrusts, until both of them tumbled into an abyss of pleasure.

**********

She awoke several hours later to find the bed empty. Hastily donning an old Wisconsin sweatshirt and pants to ward of the night’s chill, she wandered into the living room. Bathed in the soft glow of the twinkle lights, Josh stood looking out the window.

Without turning, he held out his arm to her. “C’mere.”

She padded across the room and nestled into his side. “It’s snowing,” he told her in a hushed voice. “A Christmas snow.”

“My grandmother used to say that if you wished on a Christmas snow, your wishes would come true.”

“What are you going to wish for?”

“I can’t think of a single thing. All my dreams have already come true. With you.”

And they held each other close as they watched the snow fall and dreamed of their future.

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And for more information on Banff, Canada, click here. (and, no, I’ve never been there!)