Chapter Six
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| All That Matters Chapter Six |
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| "...Claudia Jean and Toby were married!" No one says anything; no one even moves. They stare at the president in shock, then at Toby and CJ in shock. Josh is the first person to break the silence. "Congratulations, guys....I had no idea you two were even dating!" The look that passes between CJ and Toby gives away their secret, and for once, Josh picks up on it. "You guys weren't dating? What the hell!Toby did you get her pregnant? What the hell were you two thinking?!?!" Before Abbey can shut Josh up, CJ runs crying from the room. Toby glares at Josh."Thanks for your support, Joshua." He shoves Josh out of the way as he runs out to comfort his wife. Abbey crosses her arms and looks around at the group of people still in shock. I cannot believe you guys! I mean, Jed and I were shocked at first as well, but we're happy for them! Josh, you of all people should know what it feels like to realize that the person you've been waiting for is right in front of you! Look at you and Donna!" Josh raises his arms in frustration. "Yeah, but we're not married!" Donna glares at Josh. "That's really not a good thing, Joshua." | |||||||||||
| Abbey looks at Josh. "CJ and Toby didn't want to tell anyone. She said it was nobody's business, and from the looks of it, she was right. You guys are their friends, their co-workers, their family! They're happy, and the only thing they want is for you to be happy for them. I guess that's just too much to ask, though, isn't it?" Josh rubs his head as he speaks, "Man, Mrs. Bartlet. You're right. Toby and CJ were happy when they figured out that Donna and i patched things up. I should be happy for them. I am happy for them. I guess it was a bit of a shock to realize that they skipped over the 'getting to know you' part." | |||||||||||
| Abbey shakes her head and smiles at the group for the first time since CJ walked out. "They didn't *skip* the courtship... they courted each other for twenty years! They've been in love since the day they met, but neither one wanted to ruin a friendship by confessing their feelings. They've been friends for twenty years, and now they're married. They say that friends make the best lovers, and in this case, they're right. Did you see them together? I've never seen them so happy! Josh, go apologize to them and get them back in here. I can see by the smiles on everyone's face that the initial shock is passed. CJ and Toby need to see that they have the support of their friends." Josh nods and heads out of the room to find his friends and tell them just how wrong he was. | |||||||||||
| (Meanwhile, in the hallway) | |||||||||||
| Toby finds CJ leaning against the wall in tears, just a little ways from the East Room. He walks up and takes her in his arms, turning her so that she's crying on his shoulder. "Shh... it's okay, honey. They're just in shock. They'll come around." CJ pulls away from Toby to look him in the eyes. "Toby, I was so happy when we left the Residence last night. I thought that everything was going to be okay because we have the President and First Lady of the United States on our side. But the way they reacted in there...our friends weren't even happy for us! Josh accused you of getting me pregnant! I've loved you for twenty years, and everyone thinks we've rushed into this marriage for the wrong reasons!" Tears start streaming down her fave again as she realizes that no one will ever be happy for them because of the way they went about their relationship. He pulls her close and whispers in her ear, "But we didn't rush into the marriage for the wrong reasons. I love you, Claudia Jean, and I don't care if anyone else knows it! I have wanted to marry you since the day I met you, and I'm so happy that we're finally together! If they don't want to accept our relationship for what it is, that's their problem. The only person I want to know how much I love you, is you. Everyone else can go to hell." | |||||||||||