I guess you're wondering where it all went wrong. It was probably around two weeks ago. When Josh stopped wearing his ring, and we stopped speaking. We just stumble through the door and have sex - we don't make love anymore. Then, I fall asleep, and when I wake up, he's gone. It's like back in the old days when we were both scared kids. Something has rattled him, something has made him push me away. I don't know what it is, but it hurts. It's like we've gone from married to just some guys getting their kicks.

I'm leaning against my door, when I hear a knock. It's not Josh, I can sense that much.

"Sam? Are you alright in there?"

Donna. She was the first person to know about Josh and me - she knew before we got together again. She told me it was her who prompted Josh to talk to me in the Sculpture Garden, way back when we were on the dawn of our second year. She let me see Josh all the time he was recovering, regardless of the rules. For her, I would open the door.

She looks at me, and pouts. She hugs me, before shutting the door to the office. I sit in my chair, and she leans against the desk.

"He won't tell you, but I'm going to. You have a right to know why he's acting like this."

I listen. She's obviously distressed, she's uncomfortable betraying Josh. I rest my hand on her arm.

"Hoynes did some private polling. He asked several Republican districts what would encourage them to vote Democrat. 60% said if you and Josh broke up."

I can't believe it - Josh has stopped us because of Republicans! Donna follows my chain of thought, and smiles sadly.

"It's more than just a few votes, Sam. These are the swing districts. I'm not defending him, because I think he's wrong, but I can see why."

So can I. And it scares me. It puts us back to the beginning, where politics was more important to him than me. I thought we'd got past that. Obviously not.

I get up and I walk out. I'm at my car in a few minutes and I drive towards the karaoke bar we used to frequent, back in the old days. I don't know what draws me to it, but it seems appropriate. Donna insists on coming, but it doesn't matter. I just have to find him.

We arrive, and I storm in, just in time to see him start to sing. I stop, and I listen, because he needs to tell me.

"You don't know how you met me, you don't know why,

You can’t turn around and say good-bye

All you know is when I’m with you I make you free

And swim through your veins like a fish in the sea

I'm singing....

Follow me, and everything is alright

I'll be the one to tuck you in at night

And if you want to leave, I can guarantee

You won't find nobody else like me."

I can't move, I'm barely breathing. I can feel Donna's hand on my shoulder, but it's just a shadow. The words, they say...

"I’m not worried 'bout the ring you wear

Cause as long as no one knows then nobody can care

You’re feeling guilty and I'm well aware

But you don't look ashamed and baby I'm not scared

I’m singing...

Follow me, and everything is alright

I'll be the one to tuck you in at night

And if you want to leave, I can guarantee

You won't find nobody else like me."

Now, he sees me. Our eyes lock and I can see that he's been crying. It shouldn't be here, in this place, these things...no, I can't...he continues to sing, unaware of my crumbling heart.

"Won't give you money, I can't give you the sky

You’re better off if you don't ask why

I'm not the reason that you go astray

And we'll be alright if you don't ask me to stay

Follow me, and everything is alright

I'll be the one to tuck you in at night

And if you want to leave, I can guarantee

You won't find nobody else like me."

He stops then, ignoring the music, and works his way towards me. He stands in front of me, and shrugs.

"So, this is it then?"

No way - I'm not going to make this easy for him.

"The hell it is! I love you, Josh Lyman, I married you!" he winces, "So, some Republicans think we shouldn't be together? What a shocker! We don't want their vote! They can stuff it!"

Something changes in his face, and I know I've gotten through. He can be so stupid sometimes. He looks at me in a different way, the old Josh - my Josh - returning to his usual self. I take him in my arms, and kiss him. In this predominately Republican bar, where people know us. I don't care! Josh is mine, and I don't give a damn who knows!

"Sam, about all this, I didn't mean it...I don't..."

"Where's your ring?"

He looks puzzled, but he pulls it out of his pocket. I slide it on to his ring finger, lingering there. I make him look at me.

"This is us - our rings, our marriage. We're better than them, we have something they can never have. I'm asking you to stay, I'm telling you that I will stay *forever*. Can you say the same?"

I'm testing here. I'm seeing if he's back. He doesn't seem to realise, he's stuttering a little.

"I love you, Sam...I'm just not strong...I don't know...I..."

I kiss him again, effectively shutting him up. I realise that the whole bar is watching us. Donna is still lurking - I think she's crying. This seems like some kind of pseudo-wedding.

"Josh? What do we do now?"

He smiles, hesitating for a second, before giving me a full-dimpled grin.

"Let's go home," he says.

I won't say no again.

And as we talk for hours into the night, I settle into his chest. This is where we're meant to be, no matter how we got here.