A/N I had to put this story to bed. It didn't want to go. I had many second thoughts.. And many second drafts! If anyone would like to jump all over any of the million stories I have started in the attempt to end this one.. Feel free to use my characters! I just ask that you be true to the persona's I've given them.
Hope this ending does the story justice.. I love this story.
Into The West
Lay down
Your sweet and weary head
Night is falling
You've come to journey's end
(Present)
"This is how Mom wanted it." Nick breathed leaning back against the pew, rubbing his forehead with his thumb and index finger. "She said people used to worry about how Dad would do with out her, but she didn't want to know what she would do with out Dad."
"I know." Noah Lyman swallowed hard before turning to face his brother. "Still , he used to joke about her finally getting a life once he was gone. Getting a life.. Like they didn't have more than-.."
"Yeah."
"The motorcade wants to start moving towards the cemetery." Sam clapped a hand down on each of the boys shoulders. "We should get the kids in the car."
Nick nudged his older brother towards the sidewalk.
"She wanted more time with them." He whispered.
Sam smiled sadly at him before glancing around at the small crowd the Lyman Seaborn family made. "Where's Josh?"
"He was in the back." Joanie huffed tilting her head towards the rear of the cathedral. Sam laid his hand on her arm.
"I'll get him."
Sleep now
And dream of the ones who came before
They are calling
From across the distant shore
(Two years ago)
"Johanna I'm telling you your missing a whole demographic if you don't comment on this."
"Daddy I'm telling you I'll loose a whole county if I do!"
"PFFFFT!"
"Dad your wrong about this."
"I'm-. I'm wrong! Donnatella your daughter just told me I was-."
"Dad! I appreciate it. I really do. I value your opinions but I have to make my own-."
"I'm serious Donna! My whole life devoted to getting people elected to office, ruling the country, and raising incredibly brilliant but pig headed children and your daughter tells me that I'm-."
"Daddy!"
"Yeah?"
"I have to do this my way. I have to make a name for myself, just like Mom did when-."
"Okay. No need to-."
"Daddy It's been thirty seven years can you get over that already?"
"Probably not."
"Dad?"
"Joanie?"
"You do under-."
"I understand. I'm proud of you. Sweetheart."
"Thanks Daddy."
Why do you weep?
What are these tears upon your face?
Soon you will see
All of your fears will pass away
Safe in my arms
You're only sleeping
(Before they left for New Hampshire)
"Mrs. Lyman?"
"Donna?" Josh ran his hand down his wife's arm.
"Humm?"
"He asked if you had any questions."
"Questions?"
"About the procedure.." Josh raised and eyebrow at her.
"Oh.. " She took his hand loosely in hers. "No I um did some research.."
"Okay then. I just need you both to sign-." He gestured towards the clip board Josh was holding.
"Josh?" Her other arm jet across her body and she clamped down on his forearm.
"Yeah?" He turned to face her.
"Don't sign it." She said breathlessly still starring straight ahead.
"Seriously?" He quirked his face up, pointing the pen at the paper.
"Don't." Her face turned until her eyes finally found his.
"Okay." The word slipped out in a breathless sigh. He looked at the doctor. "Sorry.."
"It's okay. It's not the first canceled vasectomy in the world." The man smiled shaking his head back and forth slowly, as he walked towards the door of the exam room. "Mr. Lyman.. Ma'am."
"You want a baby?" His voice got all high at the end.
"I may.. in fact.. want a baby." She squeaked biting her lip firmly.
"I'm fifty five years old."
"Yes." She nodded.
"That's old."
"Yes." She nodded again.
"We have four children…" She slowly extended each of her fingers. "and Leo."
"Yes." Donna flicked up a fifth finger
"You're the.."
"First Lady..- yes I know.."
"And I'm-."
"Just some guy.." She grinned a little. "I'm aware."
"And you still want to have my baby?" Again with the voice thing.
"Apparently so."
"God I love you."
What can you see
On the horizon?
Why do the white gulls call?
Across the sea
A pale moon rises
The ships have come to carry you home
(Present)
"Josh?" Sam looked a the rumpled mess of brown hair leaned back against the pew. "Josh it's time to go." Joshua Samuel Seaborn's head dropped slightly to the left before he craned back and blinked at his grandfather. "It's time to go."
"He was going to help me run for class President."
"I can help you. I was you know.. President.." The ten year old looked at him dubiously. "I watched your Pop work.. Learned a lot.."
"Nana was going to make cookie pops that said 'Vote Josh'." He sniffed wiping a tear from his cheek. "You can't make cookie pops."
"No.. but your aunt AJ can. She's good at that stuff." He moved around the pew and settled next to his grandson. "Nana taught her."
"I have to live in DC now." He said softly.
"Josh, that hasn't been worked out yet-."
"My Mom's the Jr. Senator from New Hampshire."
"You could come to California with me during the session."
"I'd miss New Hampshire."
"We don't have to figure it out now." He took the boys hand a gave it a soft tug. "Right now we have to get in the car."
"To put them in the ground."
"To say goodbye."
"I don't want to."
"Me either." Sam blew a puff of air out of his lips.
"Josh?" Congressmen Johanna Seaborn's heals clicked across the marble floor. "Uncle Sam? It's time to go."
"We're coming."
And all will turn
To silver glass
A light on the water
All souls pass
(The start of Sam's second term)
"Excuse me!" Josh Lyman wrapped firmly on the desk. "My wife's in labor."
"If you'd fill this out some one will be with you-." It was only when she looked up to hand him the clip board that she saw the secret service agents.
"Yeah.. We're way past that."
"Mr. Lyman." She said in mild alarm.
"Yes." He smiled his most charming smile. "Josh Lyman.."
"JOSH!" Donna growled from the chair he'd dropped her in.
"Yeah. So. Unless you want the Former First Lady to have give birth on the floor of your waiting room.." He moved back towards her, sinking down to her side. She grabbed his shirt.
"Right this way." The woman said quickly.
"No." Donna cried pushing against the armrest of the chair.
"Wheelchair?" The nurse asked sounding almost hopefully.
"Joooshhh!"
"Blankets." Josh said knowingly, coaxing Donna until she was on her feet beside him. Someone had gotten a gurny in the small room. One of the secret service agents lifted her onto it.
"I need a doctor out here! Don't push Mrs. Lyman."
Donna's moans became amused for a second before she bore down again.
"Too late." Josh muttered as his wife grit her teeth and screamed through them. "Catch."
"Huh?" The nurse looked at him dazed.
"Move." Josh muttered in experienced exasperation. And there was Ainsley Beth Lyman, silent and pink, studying her father with squinting blue eyes like he knew the mysteries of life. Josh Lyman was once again instantly in love.
Hope fades
Into the world of night
Through shadows falling
Out of memory and time
(Present)
"Bethie?" AJ settled down next to her little sister, readjusting her sleeping two year old around her.
"Hi."
"You okay?"
"Yeah." She shook her head with a smile. "I'm fine."
"Really?"
"Yeah.. I.. Age?"
"Yeah."
"Joshie's worried." She stopped gazing across the room where her sister and brother in law stood. She watched Leo run his hands through his son's hair. "About having to come live here.."
"To DC?"
"Yeah." She swallowed hard. "I was thinking. About him staying in New Hampshire.. With me."
"Beth you're twenty two years old. The last thing you need is a ten year old." AJ watched as her sister studied their nephew with a familiar intensity. "Oh God you have Dad's face on."
"Yeah.." The youngest Lyman child huffed pulling herself to her feet. "He's gonna stay with me."
AJ's face twitched slightly before breaking into a grin.
"Like father like daughter." She whispered raising her eyes towards the ceiling.
"What's up sis?"
"Bethie's as much Dad as you are mom." AJ sighed turning her eyes up to her twin.
"Yes."
"She should be President."
"She will be." They sat in silence, contemplating the weight of that statement.
"What about you? What are you gonna be when you grow up little brother?"
"Three minutes and I'm forever younger?"
"Hey if you get to claim my getting stuck in the birth canal as an assassination attempt-."
"Fair enough." He took a deep breath before turning to his twin. "I have no idea what I'm gonna do now."
"Yeah?"
"I think Noah needs me to stay in DC." Nick huffed, letting his eyes slip to the sky. "He's not taking this well. Someone's going to have to push him through the primaries, honestly.."
"God you really are Mom."
"Why?"
"Honestly? I ask you what your going to do and you start talking about Noah."
"He's my brother."
"And your mine." She countered.
"Age I'm fine." He shook his head. "Noah's the Chairman of the DNC!"
"So that makes him-?"
"AJ, Joanie and Leo have each other. You and I have each other. Beth has Joshie to worry about.."
"Noah has Marcie." She nodded her head towards her sister in law.
"It's not the same." He smiled at his sister. "It's one thing to have known Mom and Dad after DC…"
"Yeah."
"He's gotta work in DC.."
"I get it."
"And now.. Being compared to Dad everyday for the next thirty years.."
"Okay I get it."
"So." He looked at her for a few seconds. "Since my other plans didn't work out. I'm gonna pull a Mom and stay here and be Noah's right hand."
Don't say: 'We have come now to the end'
White shores are calling
You and I will meet again
(Fifteen years earlier)
"Ma?"
"I'm in Daddy's office."
"You know Dad hasn't used it in like ten years. I think you can safely call it your office now." Noah Lyman kissed his mothers cheek.
"I only do that when he's around." She grinned.
"Uncle Sam says your writing?"
"I'm writing." Donna blew a strand of hair away from her face. "Is Johanna here yet?"
"No." Noah looked away.
"She's not bringing someone to the wedding?" He heard the lilt in his mothers voice. "Cause the way she and AJ have been eating up cell phone minutes I was pretty sure there was a new guy."
"Yeah I don't know." Noah lied. "I'm gonna go find the kids."
"Noe?" Her first born turned back towards her. "Everything okay?"
"Yeah." He told her making his way back out the door.
She watched him push past Sam in the hall way.
"What's going on?"
"He's got side kick syndrome."
"Huh?"
"God Donna are you the last person that doesn't know?"
"Know what?"
"That our children are dating."
"What?"
"Leo and Joanie are dating."
"When did this..?"
"A few months ago."
"Months?" Sam nodded. "And Noah has Sidekick syndrome?"
"Yes."
"Sidekick syndrome?"
"Donna, you know that Josh and I were friends forever before he met you right?"
"Yes."
"And you know that in the beginning, at least on the surface? The three of us were buddies right?"
"Of course."
"Then you two evolved."
"We evolved."
"Yes." He sighed. "Your and Josh's relationship evolved beyond ours. And it didn't mean we wouldn't all still jump in front of us a bus for each other-."
"What does that mean."
"Donna.."
"Sorry.."
"But.. You know it's hard when you realize your getting left behind."
"You didn't get.." Her voice trailed off and she looked at him sadly. "Sam.."
"Honestly Donna.. I'm over it."
"So Noah will get over it?"
"He'll be fine."
"Leo and Joanie.." She looked up just in time to see Josh wander through the door. "Did you know about Leo and Joanie?"
"What about them?" He asked absently, a small smile slipped over her lips.
"Maybe you should let your side kick tell you."
And you'll be here in my arms
Just sleeping
(Present)
"I've been looking all over for you." Leo Seaborn sighed coming to a hault in front of his childhood bedroom.
"Ella wanted to sleep with Marcie. I got booted. " Noah Lyman rolled onto his side on the twin bed.
"The sisters are all camped out in there now. " Josh flipped over on the top bunk. Leo stopped to examine his son's sleeping form for a few seconds.
"Bethie says my son wants to stay here."
"We did didn't we?"
"I guess so." He rolled his eyes. "It's hard to remember not wanting to be in Washington. Can you remember when this was Nanna's?"
"Sure."
"Yeah?"
"I remember before Dad got shot." Noah slipped onto his back and studied the bunk above him . "I remember your mom."
"Do you really remember her or just that she was there?"
"The difference is?" Noah watched Leo step gingerly over his niece and son before sitting beside him on the bed.
"Josh.. He.." Leo swallowed before turning to his surrogate father. "He knew his grandfather. What made him laugh. What he smelled like. What he sounded like.."
Noah nodded in understanding.
"I don't remember any of that do you?"
"No." Noah looked down at the kids on the floor.
"They'll know about them. But they won't know them.." Leo took a breath.
"The won't remember." Noah breathed.
"I will." The small voice startled both of them. Leo craned his head back and looked at his son. "I'll remember Dad. I promise."
"Hey. We thought you were asleep." Leo pulled his son off the top bunk and onto his lap.
"I'll remember."
Noah put his hand on his nephews leg.
"Sure you will buddy." He huffed. "We'll help you. "
What can you see
On the horizon?
Why do the white gulls call?
(Twenty two years ago)
Josh could hear them coming before the Agents even swept the room.
"We're crazy." He grinned, looking towards Donna propped up on the pillows. "Listen to that."
"That Joshua Lyman is the future generation of Democratic Leadership." Donna grinned.
"What if they want to be plumbers or something?"
"Probably not."
"Which room is it?"
"Do I get to hold her?"
"I need to go potty!"
"I want ten eyes on me!" Ana's voice broke through the children. "Thank you! Johanna please take your sister to the bathroom. Wash her hands so that you both can have a turn holding your sister in room… Noah?"
"314" "Thank you."
"The future looks good." Josh told his wife as the mass of Lyman's busted through the door.
Across the sea
A pale moon rises
The ships have come to carry you home
(Somewhere)
"Josh.."
"Sir."
"Josh."
"Leo!"
"You did good, Son."
"It's time this time." Jed told him nodding his head slowly.
"Wait.."
"Josh come on.. I know you planned on being late for your own funeral…" Leo sighed.
"No.. wait I.."
"She's right behind you son." Jed said softly.
"Joshua.." Donna smiled softly at her husband extending her hand to him. "Sir. Leo."
"Hello Sweetheart."
"Donna, you ready?"
She felt Josh squeeze her hand.
"Let's do this thing."
And all will turn
To silver glass
A light on the water
Grey ships pass
Into the West
"And in other news tonight, Presidential Advisor Joshua Lyman and his wife former First Lady Donnatella Lyman were laid to rest to day in our nations capital. The Lyman's were killed in a single car accident last Tuesday while returning to New Hampshire from South Carolina where they were vacationing.
The Lyman's are survived by their five children, four grandchildren and many close friends.
President Young appeared to day with his wife Zoey at his side to make this statement.
"The Lyman's were family to us, and true patriots for there country. While we will miss them, we take comfort in the knowledge that they have found peace at the end of there journey in the same manor that they lived their life.. Together."