His and Hers
Title: His and Hers
Subject: Josh/Donna
Time frame: Post-admin
Rating: PG
Author's Note: My first, meep!
He should have known she’d hire a man.
She understood, he thought, that the marriage would never work if he was also her boss. She understood, he thought, that he couldn’t do his job as well if his assistant was also his wife. He hadn’t meant to be chauvinistic and condescending when he’d suggested she’d have more time to plan the wedding, but he knew it had come off that way.
Maybe the engagement had been too sudden. They had finished out the term in the White House with her as both his fiancé and assistant, and it had worked surprisingly well. The stakes had been so high, in both aspects, that they didn’t have much choice. There was no way he would have fired her. It would have hurt her too much, and he would have been lost trying to serve the President without her. And there was no way she wasn’t coming to work everyday, unless security had escorted her from the building. But things were different now.
Having her hire his new assistant was in part to get her involved again, and in part because she was only one who knew what it took to be at his beck and call, to read his mind at times, to keep him on track and to always, always be there. He knew no one could ever really replace her, but he needed someone to try.
He should have known she’d hire a man. His questioning look was enough to make her defend the choice. He’d graduated from the University of Minnesota and had just spent a year assisting in the Governor’s office. “And his girlfriend just dumped him. I know he can do this.”
“So basically you hired the male you, but with actual qualifications?”
With that, she whispered in his ear, “Just don’t switch teams on me now,” winking as she turned and walked away.
It’s not that he can’t give orders to guy; he can give orders to anybody. But “Trevor!” just doesn’t have the same ring to it.
At least he still has her every night at home, as he walks through that door.
“Donna!”
“Don’t shout.”
************************************************
He knew, she hoped, she was kidding about not switching teams.
It wasn’t that she didn’t like having more time to plan the wedding. But then what? CJ had given her information about several job openings she could consider, but what about kids? She knew he wanted them and she could tell he’d be a wonderful father, but they’d never discussed when. She certainly wasn’t getting any younger, and neither was he for that matter. She admired women who could do both, particularly in the demanding line of politics, but she didn’t know if she could be one of them.
She missed the feeling of accomplishment that came with public office, even as an assistant. She had always liked that they were doing something important, particularly when they were actually successful. She wasn’t the type to sit on her hands at home and compare flowers to bridesmaid fabrics. Sure, she enjoyed it to an extent, and she was certainly good at arranging all the details, but she was growing restless.
When he asked her to find his new assistant, she was excited to be doing something again, particularly with and for him. But he’d probably never know how much it also pained her to be hiring her own replacement. She’d interviewed dozens, wanting to find someone perfect for him. When that person also happened to be a man, it seemed perfect for everyone. It wasn’t that she thought he would stray, he was much too loyal. But he’d also never had a healthy relationship (not that hers had been real winners either) so why tempt fate with someone who had fallen in love with his assistant once. Her heart went out to Trevor, and she wanted to give him the opportunity she’d been given.
She knew he wasn’t expecting it to be a man simply because he’d never even thought about it, and a raised eyebrow was the only confirmation she needed. His real hesitation, she hoped, wasn’t that it would be hard getting used to a guy, but getting used to anyone but her. That was hard for her too.
But at least he’d still come home to her every night, and since he was working shorter hours with the DNC than either of them had at the White House, he was walking through the door earlier.
“Donna!”
With a coy smile, there was only one reply, “Don’t shout.”
Subject: Josh/Donna
Time frame: Post-admin
Rating: PG
Author's Note: My first, meep!
He should have known she’d hire a man.
She understood, he thought, that the marriage would never work if he was also her boss. She understood, he thought, that he couldn’t do his job as well if his assistant was also his wife. He hadn’t meant to be chauvinistic and condescending when he’d suggested she’d have more time to plan the wedding, but he knew it had come off that way.
Maybe the engagement had been too sudden. They had finished out the term in the White House with her as both his fiancé and assistant, and it had worked surprisingly well. The stakes had been so high, in both aspects, that they didn’t have much choice. There was no way he would have fired her. It would have hurt her too much, and he would have been lost trying to serve the President without her. And there was no way she wasn’t coming to work everyday, unless security had escorted her from the building. But things were different now.
Having her hire his new assistant was in part to get her involved again, and in part because she was only one who knew what it took to be at his beck and call, to read his mind at times, to keep him on track and to always, always be there. He knew no one could ever really replace her, but he needed someone to try.
He should have known she’d hire a man. His questioning look was enough to make her defend the choice. He’d graduated from the University of Minnesota and had just spent a year assisting in the Governor’s office. “And his girlfriend just dumped him. I know he can do this.”
“So basically you hired the male you, but with actual qualifications?”
With that, she whispered in his ear, “Just don’t switch teams on me now,” winking as she turned and walked away.
It’s not that he can’t give orders to guy; he can give orders to anybody. But “Trevor!” just doesn’t have the same ring to it.
At least he still has her every night at home, as he walks through that door.
“Donna!”
“Don’t shout.”
************************************************
He knew, she hoped, she was kidding about not switching teams.
It wasn’t that she didn’t like having more time to plan the wedding. But then what? CJ had given her information about several job openings she could consider, but what about kids? She knew he wanted them and she could tell he’d be a wonderful father, but they’d never discussed when. She certainly wasn’t getting any younger, and neither was he for that matter. She admired women who could do both, particularly in the demanding line of politics, but she didn’t know if she could be one of them.
She missed the feeling of accomplishment that came with public office, even as an assistant. She had always liked that they were doing something important, particularly when they were actually successful. She wasn’t the type to sit on her hands at home and compare flowers to bridesmaid fabrics. Sure, she enjoyed it to an extent, and she was certainly good at arranging all the details, but she was growing restless.
When he asked her to find his new assistant, she was excited to be doing something again, particularly with and for him. But he’d probably never know how much it also pained her to be hiring her own replacement. She’d interviewed dozens, wanting to find someone perfect for him. When that person also happened to be a man, it seemed perfect for everyone. It wasn’t that she thought he would stray, he was much too loyal. But he’d also never had a healthy relationship (not that hers had been real winners either) so why tempt fate with someone who had fallen in love with his assistant once. Her heart went out to Trevor, and she wanted to give him the opportunity she’d been given.
She knew he wasn’t expecting it to be a man simply because he’d never even thought about it, and a raised eyebrow was the only confirmation she needed. His real hesitation, she hoped, wasn’t that it would be hard getting used to a guy, but getting used to anyone but her. That was hard for her too.
But at least he’d still come home to her every night, and since he was working shorter hours with the DNC than either of them had at the White House, he was walking through the door earlier.
“Donna!”
With a coy smile, there was only one reply, “Don’t shout.”