fadeouttowhispers

[fadeouttowhispers]

Fandom: The West Wing Relationship(s): CJ/Danny, CJ & Jed, CJ & Leo, CJ & Toby, CJ & Abbey, CJ & Carol, CJ & Josh, Danny & Josh, Everyone & Everyone Chapter Word Count: 15,655 words | Total: 167,500 words  Fic Rating: M Some Tags: Other Additional Tags to Be Added, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Friendship, Season 5, Romance, Longing, Unplanned Pregnancy, Idiots in Love, Minor Original Character(s), Found Family, Light Angst Summary: First week at home, and C.J. was still sleep-walking through a fog of exhaustion. Whenever she closed her eyes, she heard Nora’s cries — which weren’t always real, but felt like it. Adapting to her new reality had taken her a second, but she had spent the better part of seven months getting used to the idea, preparing herself for it. Originally Posted: 01 June 2025 (Chapter 20) (Complete!)

Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 | Chapter 9 | Chapter 10 | Chapter 11 | Chapter 12 | Chapter 13 | Chapter 14 | Chapter 15 | Chapter 16 | Chapter 17 | Chapter 18 | Chapter 19 | Chapter 20

[fadeouttowhispers]

Fandom: The West Wing Relationship(s): CJ/Danny, CJ & Jed, CJ & Leo, CJ & Toby, CJ & Abbey, CJ & Carol, CJ & Josh, Danny & Josh, Everyone & Everyone Chapter Word Count: 12,191 words | Total so far: 151,845 words Fic Rating: M Some Tags: Other Additional Tags to Be Added, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Friendship, Season 5, Romance, Longing, Unplanned Pregnancy, Idiots in Love, Minor Original Character(s), Found Family, Light Angst Summary: She really did want to make this Christmas special. Something meaningful. Something personal. She just had to find a jeweler who either made custom designs or was willing to try to help her find something interesting. Maybe even someone who might maybe have something vaguely goldfish-like. Originally Posted: 23 May 2025 (Chapter 19)

Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 | Chapter 9 | Chapter 10 | Chapter 11 | Chapter 12 | Chapter 13 | Chapter 14 | Chapter 15 | Chapter 16 | Chapter 17 | Chapter 18 | Chapter 19

[fadeouttowhispers]

Fandom: The West Wing Relationship(s): CJ/Danny, CJ & Jed, CJ & Leo, CJ & Toby, CJ & Abbey, CJ & Carol, CJ & Josh, Danny & Josh, Everyone & Everyone Chapter Word Count: 10,107 words | Total so far: 139,654 words Fic Rating: M Some Tags: Other Additional Tags to Be Added, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Friendship, Season 5, Romance, Longing, Unplanned Pregnancy, Idiots in Love, Minor Original Character(s), Found Family, Light Angst Summary: “Are you calling me dumb?” she deadpanned, already planning her retort. It was much more fun to play obtuse and tease him. “And to think I had missed you while you were gone…” Originally Posted: 16 May 2025 (Chapter 18)

Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 | Chapter 9 | Chapter 10 | Chapter 11 | Chapter 12 | Chapter 13 | Chapter 14 | Chapter 15 | Chapter 16 | Chapter 17 | Chapter 18

[fadeouttowhispers]

Fandom: The West Wing Relationship(s): CJ/Danny, CJ & Jed, CJ & Leo, CJ & Toby, CJ & Abbey, CJ & Carol, CJ & Josh, Danny & Josh, Everyone & Everyone Chapter Word Count: 9018 words | Total so far: 129,547 words Fic Rating: M Some Tags: Other Additional Tags to Be Added, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Friendship, Season 5, Romance, Longing, Unplanned Pregnancy, Idiots in Love, Minor Original Character(s), Found Family, Light Angst Summary: “There’s something I want you to see, boss.” Carol poked her head in with an apologetic smile. Whatever she was about to say, C.J. already felt her anxiety spike. Was it about their weekend away? Another anonymous tip to a gossip blog? But this time, someone had overheard Danny’s name? But Carol, being excellent at her job, was also excellent at reading the room, and reading her. Originally Posted: 09 May 2025 (Chapter 17)

Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 | Chapter 9 | Chapter 10 | Chapter 11 | Chapter 12 | Chapter 13 | Chapter 14 | Chapter 15 | Chapter 16 | Chapter 17

[fadeouttowhispers]

Fandom: The West Wing Relationship(s): CJ/Danny, CJ & Jed, CJ & Leo, CJ & Toby, CJ & Abbey, CJ & Carol, CJ & Josh, Danny & Josh, Everyone & Everyone Chapter Word Count: 8380 words | Total so far: 120,529 words Fic Rating: M Some Tags: Other Additional Tags to Be Added, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Friendship, Season 5, Romance, Longing, Unplanned Pregnancy, Idiots in Love, Minor Original Character(s), Found Family, Light Angst Summary: Her Thanksgiving Press Secretary duties had become her favorite thing. She might’ve been bewildered the first time, but since then, she’d grown to adore them. Especially this year. Originally Posted: 02 May 2025 (Chapter 16)

Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 | Chapter 9 | Chapter 10 | Chapter 11 | Chapter 12 | Chapter 13 | Chapter 14 | Chapter 15 | Chapter 16

[fadeouttowhispers]

Fandom: The West Wing Relationship(s): CJ/Danny, CJ & Jed, CJ & Leo, CJ & Toby, CJ & Abbey, CJ & Carol, CJ & Josh, Danny & Josh, Everyone & Everyone Chapter Word Count: 8067 words | Total so far: 105,779 words Fic Rating: M Some Tags: Other Additional Tags to Be Added, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Friendship, Season 5, Romance, Longing, Unplanned Pregnancy, Idiots in Love, Minor Original Character(s), Found Family, Light Angst Summary: “Hannah Banana sounds fun. Or… Is Sarah Banana a thing?” “Are we really considering Banana as a middle name?” Originally Posted: 25 April 2025 (Chapter 15)

Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 | Chapter 9 | Chapter 10 | Chapter 11 | Chapter 12 | Chapter 13 | Chapter 14 | Chapter 15

[fadeouttowhispers]

Fandom: The West Wing Relationship(s): CJ/Danny, CJ & Jed, CJ & Leo, CJ & Toby, CJ & Abbey, CJ & Carol, CJ & Josh, Danny & Josh, Everyone & Everyone Chapter Word Count: 8067 words | Total so far: 105,779 words Fic Rating: M Some Tags: Other Additional Tags to Be Added, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Friendship, Season 5, Romance, Longing, Unplanned Pregnancy, Idiots in Love, Minor Original Character(s), Found Family, Light Angst Summary: C.J. stood in front of the mirror, half-dressed, just like she had months ago, trying to spot changes in her body after their forbidden tryst (oh, little had she known…). She looked at herself differently now. Everything had changed so much since. Originally Posted: 18 April 2025 (Chapter 14)

Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 | Chapter 9 | Chapter 10 | Chapter 11 | Chapter 12 | Chapter 13 | Chapter 14 

[fadeouttowhispers]

Fandom: The West Wing Relationship(s): CJ/Danny, CJ & Jed, CJ & Leo, CJ & Toby, CJ & Abbey, CJ & Carol, CJ & Josh, Danny & Josh, Everyone & Everyone Chapter Word Count: 7,264 words | Total so far: 97,712 words Fic Rating: M Some Tags: Other Additional Tags to Be Added, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Friendship, Season 5, Romance, Longing, Unplanned Pregnancy, Idiots in Love, Minor Original Character(s), Found Family, Light Angst Summary: “I wouldn’t even call it a craving, per se. This is the kid who made me throw up goldfish crackers. I’d disown her, but I think that’s considered dramatic.” Originally Posted: 11 April 2025 (Chapter 13)

Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 | Chapter 9 | Chapter 10 | Chapter 11 | Chapter 12 |  Chapter 13 

[fadeouttowhispers]

Fandom: The West Wing Relationship(s): CJ/Danny, CJ & Jed, CJ & Leo, CJ & Toby, CJ & Abbey, CJ & Carol, CJ & Josh, Danny & Josh, Everyone & Everyone Chapter Word Count: 10,656 words | Total so far: 90,488 words Rating: M Some Tags: Other Additional Tags to Be Added, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Friendship, Season 5, Romance, Longing, Unplanned Pregnancy, Idiots in Love, Minor Original Character(s), Found Family, Light Angst Summary: “You’re going to kill me,” he murmured, low and teasing. “I mean it. I’m not going to survive you.” Originally Posted: 4 April 2025 (Chapter 12)

Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 | Chapter 9 | Chapter 10 | Chapter 11 | Chapter 12

[fadeouttowhispers]

Fandom: The West Wing Relationship(s): CJ/Danny, CJ & Jed, CJ & Leo, CJ & Toby, CJ & Abbey, CJ & Carol, CJ & Josh, Danny & Josh, Everyone & Everyone Chapter Word Count: 11,820 words |Total so far: 79,832 words Rating: T Some Tags: Other Additional Tags to Be Added, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Friendship, Season 5, Romance, Longing, Unplanned Pregnancy, Idiots in Love, Minor Original Character(s), Found Family, Light Angst Summary: So when Danny arrived at her apartment, holding a couple of bags — no doubt with dinner ingredients and plans to tackle the nursery —, C.J. did the only reasonable thing. She shut the door in his face. Only for a second. As if he had to pay for the sins of his peers. But it was enough for him to blink, startled. Originally Posted: 27 March 2025 (Chapter 11)

Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 | Chapter 9 | Chapter 10 | Chapter 11

[fadeouttowhispers]

Fandom: The West Wing Relationship(s): CJ & Josh, with mentions of CJ/Danny and Josh/Donna Chapter Word Count: 5,620 words Rating: G Some Tags: Prompt Fill, Humor, Light Angst, Season/Series 04, Existential Crisis with a Side of Whiskey, Slow Burn but the Fire is Right There, Unresolved Romantic Tension, Male-Female Friendship Summary: “Ah, just in time. There’s a Christmas party happening in my office. Very exclusive.” “Think I can get an invite?” CJ motioned for him to enter with her head. Josh stepped inside, “Good, because I need a reason to drink.” CJ and Josh share a drink (or several) on Christmas Eve. Teasing, banter, and whiskey ensue… Until the conversation gets just contemplative enough to make them both wish they’d stopped at one drink. Originally Posted: 17 March 2025

In response to a prompt in the TWW_Tropes_Fest_2025 collection: Drunken confession/in vino veritas

[fadeouttowhispers]

Fandom: The West Wing Relationship(s): CJ/Danny, CJ & Jed, CJ & Leo, CJ & Toby, CJ & Abbey, CJ & Carol, CJ & Josh, Danny & Josh, Everyone & Everyone Chapter Word Count: 9,966 words |Total so far: 68,012 words Rating: T Some Tags: Other Additional Tags to Be Added, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Friendship, Season 5, Romance, Longing, Unplanned Pregnancy, Idiots in Love, Minor Original Character(s), Found Family, Light Angst Summary: C.J. couldn’t help but laugh heartily at the ridiculousness of their argument as she sat by the foot of her bed, ignoring how his words reminded her of their separation. “My daughter knows I didn’t want to throw her in the trash, but the only way out was through. You suggested it!” Originally Posted: 20 March 2025 (Chapter 10)

Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 | Chapter 9 | Chapter 10

[fadeouttowhispers]

Fandom: The West Wing Relationship(s): CJ/Danny, CJ & Jed, CJ & Leo, CJ & Toby, CJ & Abbey, Everyone & Everyone Chapter Word Count: 7,938 words | Total so far: 58,046 words Rating: T Some Tags: Other Additional Tags to Be Added, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Friendship, Season 5, Romance, Longing, Unplanned Pregnancy, Idiots in Love, Minor Original Character(s), Found Family, Light Angst Summary: She didn’t need saving; she never had. But dammit, how he wished he could help her and be let in. He felt powerless, but how much of that came from seeing his dreams of a happy family evaporate before him? Originally Posted: 13 March 2025 (Chapter 9)

Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 | Chapter 9

[fadeouttowhispers]

Fic Self-Rec

The incredible @unseenacademic tagged me in this ten or so days ago, but I'm only sitting down to do it. Spoiler alert: I end up cheating a little.

Rules: Fic authors self rec! When you get this, reply with your favorite five fics that you've written, then pass on to five other writers! 💗

If you know me, you know I don't do well with picking – even if it's my fic! I am surprisingly protective of my stories. So expect a few honorary mentions/alternatives. A common thing in these is that I think they have a lot of heart, and have either made me emotional or just warmed my heart.

nobody knows how to get back home · Surprisingly the first one that came to mind! It's a missing scene from ITSOTG, because CJ needs a hug, badly. If I also explore a possible reason why Danny was so cold towards her, the better. As its A/N says, it's a story I wrote c. 2020, but then tweaked and rewrote. I'm pleasantly surprised by its stats, which I only seem to check when I do these memes.

don't want you to go but I'll be okay · I keep talking about this one but I just have fond memories of its writing process, and how proud I was after the first draft was done I might have also cried… This list could be comprised of fics I cried while writing. I was in the middle of changing jobs for the first time, and finishing up my first multichapter, whose ending was taking me forever. (I'm proud of it, even if I've never posted it for many reasons.) I wanted to write something that felt like it could slot into the show, preferably stretch a few angsty muscles. I love most Portland Trip stories because of the potential, and I love how this one comes together.

oh, and I will be with you to feel the California sun · a take on Jan 21st, 2007 might have been like. I reread it this morning and was all 🥺 about it — to me, this story is joyful, freedom, and sunshine. This story was born out of realizing my 2007 vignette should have been the airport reunion and deciding to write yet another version (not that I had posted any). This story grew into being about the day and the new beginnings, and I honestly think it's a good representation of what my stories are like.

maybe everything's just turning out how it should be · A story set during Big Block of Cheese Day in 2008. I feel like this will always be my most popular story, and maybe shouldn't even be here, but I'm not mad about that fact. I've said it a million times – ever since I wrote it, I wanted to share it. Took me a few years to gather the courage to post at all. I just liked the sneaky surprise of it all, which was a plot bunny I had for the longest time.

your love is a secret I'm hoping, dreaming, dying to keep · Picking a fifth one was hard, but I went with this one because I like thinking that Taylor herself read it and said, “You know what, I'm singing KOMH in its entirety in Madrid(*), just so Elena gets to hear that second verse.” And then, obviously, did it again in London just for me. Like with most of my stories, the difference between the initial drafts and what's posted is striking, but the silly “running into the press in late S7” premise was always there. (So much of this story got rewritten and expanded on.) I love the gift giving and the gloves, and I love the ups and downs in those months of secret relationship.

(* FWIW, international dates were not announced when this was posted, and I didn't even get tickets for Madrid that July, lmao.)

I'm leaving a few extra, rapidfire picks under the cut but seriously – I could make the case for any of them. I don't post anything unless I really like it, because I don't like posting just 'cause.

still you never took your hand from mine · I wrote a bunch of memoir-related stories (three!) in the span of ten days and I'm always amused this one got posted first. I just adored the snippets and vignettes, and reminiscing. This could've been even longer, somehow, but I love the journey and I adore how the ending came out. I definitely get emotional when reading it. This is another one that kept getting bits and pieces added over the years, as I realized what it was missing.

(The aforementioned multichapter is one of the three, but despite how insanely quickly I was finishing chapters, it still lives on my drive.)

what if the way you hold me is actually what's holy · Cannot believe I'm recommending my smutty story but you know what? I am proud of it, and there is more to it than smut. I still can't believe I posted it, but it seems to be well liked by those who commented it! I just wanted to challenge myself to write something out of my comfort zone, and also do good on the implicit promise of what a one bed fic does – unlike the other two. Kat's beta work truly made this one what it is.

haunted by the notion somewhere there's a love in flames · maybe an underrated pick? my take on the Christmas business dinner CJ and Danny shared in 1999. I just loved writing about CJ's walls crumbling a little, and her crush deepening, bridging this and HSFTTT. The second chapter was a late addition. I also consider this a sibling to Portland fic since they were written in the same fortnight(ish)!

we could be the way forward and I know I'll pay for it · My St. Augustine campaign story. Even if some memories are now tainted for reasons (I could say this with a few others), it forever holds a special place in my heart because of how much love it received, getting even a rec from someone on tumblr?

And to end this cheating round, I feel like I have to mention my last two posted stories as of writing this: all the things yet to come are the things that have passed (the S5 pregnancy AU, which is so silly but every chapter has a line or a moment that I can't believe I wrote) and if you feel like fallin', catch me on the way down (so silly and ridiculous, but hopefully fun – it's about Danny slowly finding objects that hint at CJ having feelings for him throughout the years).

Dammit, there are so many others I wanted to include but it wasn't their time, I guess.

[fadeouttowhispers]

Fandom: The West Wing Relationship(s): CJ/Danny, CJ & Jed, CJ & Leo, CJ & Toby, CJ & Abbey, Everyone & Everyone Chapter Word Count: 9,513 words | Total so far: 50,108 words Rating: T Some Tags: Other Additional Tags to Be Added, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Friendship, Season 5, Romance, Longing, Unplanned Pregnancy, Idiots in Love, Minor Original Character(s), Found Family, Light Angst Summary: C.J. slipped into her nightgown and sprinted to the bathroom, pointedly avoiding the time on her alarm clock — no need to confirm how few minutes she likely had before it went off. Her baby girl was funny like that, and C.J. still wasn’t sure whose sense of humor she’d inherited. Originally Posted: 6 March 2025 (Chapter 8)

Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8

[fadeouttowhispers]

Fandom: The West Wing Relationship(s): CJ/Danny, CJ & Jed, CJ & Leo, CJ & Toby, CJ & Abbey, Everyone & Everyone Chapter Word Count: 8,610 words | Total so far: 40,515 words Rating: T Some Tags: Other Additional Tags to Be Added, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Friendship, Season 5, Romance, Longing, Unplanned Pregnancy, Idiots in Love, Minor Original Character(s), Found Family, Light Angst Summary: His bosses might be puzzled, maybe even concerned, that he was dropping such a successful career, but whether he and C.J. were together or not, that baby was his. And he would do anything for family. Originally Posted: 28 February 2025 (Chapter 7)

Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7

[fadeouttowhispers]

Fandom: The West Wing Chapters:5/5 Relationship(s): CJ/Danny Word Count: 9,795 words Rating: T Summary: Slow Burn, Mutual Pining, Idiots in Love, Fluff, Fluff and Humor, Banter, banter as a love language, Feelings Realization Summary: Danny finds something —actually, several things— that hint at CJ’s feelings for him… even if he’s a little slow on the uptake. In response to a prompt in the TWW_Tropes_Fest_2025 collection: Character A finds something that reveals character B's feelings for them

Originally Posted: 1 March 2025

Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5