Title: Happy Birthday, Donnatella Part 2
Rating: R
Summary: Josh and Donna admit their feelings over breakfast
Archive: Sure, let me know where so I can visit!
Feedback: It's delicious, as always...
Disclaimer: I realized I didn't post them in Part 1, so for the record, I don't own
them... I just like to play...
Notes: This part has some pretty serious inuendoes in it... so if that's the kind of thing
you're not into - then.. they're close to the end... you'll have to skip over them!
********
I don't know if you have ever tried to do this, but what I had to do about an hour ago
was
very difficult. See, I woke up at my usual time, about 5:30, and Donna's right arm and her
right leg were kinda draped across my chest and legs; the arm being across my chest of
course, not the other way around, much to my dismay. Before you say anything, I need you
to believe me. I am NOT complaining about the afore mentioned draping of said limbs across
my person. However, seeing as this is Donna's birthday, I wanted everything to be perfect
for her; and if that doesn't include draping herself across me intentionally, then I,
Joshua Lyman, will gladly suck it up for the sake of her happiness.
I had this whole morning planned out perfectly; had it not been for her nightmare and my
inability to sleep, things may have gone off without a hitch. But you see, I am the master
of removing myself from difficult situations. That being the case, I carefully removed
myself from her clutches, damn it all to hell, and replaced my body with a bunch of
pillows. I know she's gonna wonder about that when she wakes up.
When is she going to wake up? It's 9:30 already.
"Geez, Donna!"
I carefully walk up the stairs, carrying what I know will either make her think I am the
most wonderful person in the world... or that Josh Lyman has been kidnapped by aliens
and I am actually an android or something. I'll go with the first response; it's better.
I'm at the top of the stairs, and I'm kinda wondering how I should open the door with my
hands full. I worked as a waiter while I was in high school, I can do this. I'm the Deputy
Chief of Staff for crying out loud; I can do anything!
So I eventually decided to put the tray on the table in the hall and open the door before
I spill everything and wake Donna up with a crash. I open the door and peek in; she's
still sleeping. Geez, she really was tired. Poor thing, she's had such a rough night. I
slowly and quietly make my way over to the bed, and place the tray on the nightstand.
"Should I try and slip back into bed or should I wake her up like this?" I
quietly ask myself.
I nod my head, I've decided what to do. As I sit on the edge of the bed, I gently run my
fingers along her face, brushing away the hair that has flopped across her forehead.
There; that's much better. She looks so peaceful. She kinda has a smile on her face, and
she looks SO rested.
"Donna." I'm cautious not to talk too loudly; harsh noises could really startle
her. Besides, this has the potential for...
"Donna, it's time to wake up."
She starts stirring, I think she can hear me.
"Donnatella, wake up."
She opens her eyes half way, and she has this weird look on her face.
"Who are you?"
"Funny girl. It's time to wake up, Donna."
"I smell coffee. Are you trying to kill me or something?"
"And a fine good morning to you too, Donnatella."
I can't help but laugh as her smirk appears after her last question.
"What time is it?"
She props herself up in the bed and tries to rub the sleep from her eyes; yes, using my
shirt.
"It's 9:43. Happy Birthday, Donnatella."
"Thanks Josh."
She attempts a smile, but I know she's still half asleep. I reach for the tray and present
it to her. I can tell she wakes up a little more when I place it in front of her.
"What is all this?"
She has a look of wonder on her face. I think it may be the second of my previous possible
conclusions.
"Well, it's your birthday and you deserve to eat a good breakfast at least once a
year."
"As do you, Josh."
"I never eat breakfast, Donna. You know that."
"You should. Have breakfast with me."
"Kay." I reach for a piece of fruit that is on the plate.
"Josh, if I get breakfast in bed then so do you. Come 'ere."
She lifts the sheets up beside her and I am, yet again, being invited into Donna's bed.
Old White Republican Men.
"Kay. You sure? I mean, you're not sleep eating are you?"
I've managed to slip under the covers and am now sitting in bed beside Donna, eating
fruit.
"No, I am not sleep eating."
She laughs at me, and I know it's going to be a great day.
*********
"So how did you manage to plan all this and not have me find out?"
I have been dying to ask him that question ever since I found out it was him.
"Well, slicing fruit is not that difficult, you know."
I give him a good smack on the arm for that one. He deserved it.
"I don't mean that, Josh. I mean all this. The cabin, the weekend, everything."
"Well, Sam is my best friend."
"Yes, Joshua. I am very well aware of that."
"May I continue?"
I nod my head as I take a bite of my jam covered croissant.
"Good. Sam is my best friend. He told me about this place that night we all took him
to the bar to get drunk. You remember, after he found out about his dad and the
thing?"
"Ya. He was pretty shaken up about that. I'm glad that he and his dad are starting to
get things back on track."
I take a sip from my coffee mug and continue eating and listening intently as Josh speaks.
"Well, when we dropped you off at your place that night after the bar, Sam and I
talked about some stuff. He told me about this cabin that he and his parents had, and how
they hardly ever used it. He said that he didn't think that he would get up to the place
very much, with it bring back memories of his parents and all. Long story
short,..."
I raise my eyebrows at him and give him 'The Look'. He smiles and the dimples make an
appearance.
"Okay smart ass. Long story longer than it actually is, he said that if I ever wanted
to use the cabin for a get-away weekend or something then all I would have to do is to ask
him for the keys. So, I thought that I would whisk you away for a weekend; to get away
from work and the White House, from politics, from everything. I asked Leo about the
Friday thing, and he said as long as the country didn't collapse on itself, and if there
were a major, major crisis that we would promise to come back asap, then he said that
would be okay. So, here we are. As far as the plane tickets and stuff go, well, that's
thanks to Carol."
He's so cute when he smiles. Those dimples are the best. I lean my head against him and
sigh.
"I still can't believe you went to all this trouble for me, Josh."
He leans over to me and kisses me on the forehead.
"It was worth expending the energy, Donna. Very much so."
Awwww. He is so sweet! I do my hanging my head down thing 'cause I can feel the blush
coming on. I grab a piece of fruit from the plate and ask the other question I really want
to know as I bite into my strawberry.
"So, why now Josh? I mean, why not six months ago?"
I look at him with wide eyes, and he knows I expect the honest truth.
"Well, Donna. To be perfectly honest, I don't know why I didn't do something like
this for you six months ago. It was probably because we were going into the summer
sessions, things were kinda freaky around the White House this past summer."
"They sure were."
I know. I had to deal with him and all the chaos that is Joshua Lyman.
"I thought that your birthday would be the perfect opportunity to do something, oh
how should I put it. Something... very un-me."
I smile a big smile, and nod my head as he continues.
"Last year, you didn't go home for Christmas, because you stayed with me to make sure
I was okay. Which you really didn't have to do, you know."
I know, Josh. I know.
"And besides. Life at the White House, espeically over the holidays is an
exceptionally chaotic sequence of events. Actually, that's just like every other day. You
deserved to have your list of gifts, and I thought that I would tie the two special
occasions together. I knew you would be shocked. I guess I was right because you haven't
said two words in the past ten minutes. Donna, give me some feedback! Are you okay?"
"Yes, Josh. I am okay. And you were right; this is VERY un-you."
I lower my head.
"I like it."
That was very quiet; almost a whisper.
"What was that?"
"I said, I like it."
"Thanks. It took me hours to cut that fruit you know."
Someone is getting a little uncomfortable. He has that look on his face like he is trying
to figure me out.
"I don't mean the food."
He looks at me with a scared look.
"Oh! Don't get me wrong, I love the food. It's absolutely delicious."
He relaxes the muscles in his face and smiles. Good. I calmed that storm.
"I meant I like the fact that you aren't being, you know. You."
"Oh. I see." He nods his head, recognizing that I may have possibly said
something significant that I may live to regret.
We sit in bed picking at that fruit for the longest time; neither of us saying a word. I
know I was trying to figure out what he was thinking, and I think he was doing the same.
It's hard to dance around an issue for so long, and then, in one weekend, come face to
face with it so many times. He breaks the deafening silence.
"Donna."
He looks over at me.
"Yes."
I look at him. I put my hand flat on the bed beside him, to steady my sitting position.
"Would it be okay if..."
"Yes."
"Would it be okay if I, you know."
"Yes."
"Donna, let me finish."
"Yes."
"Would it be ok if I..."
Enough of this. I take my hand that was supporting my still kinda sleepy body and put it
around his neck. I pull him towards me. If he isn't going to say it, then I'm gonna do it.
This is a new place for us. Even though we kissed yesterday, and might I add he does it
VERY well, I think there is going to be something different about this one. Last night's
kiss was about thanks. It was about comfort and relieving my anxiety. Now, my anxiety has
re-emerged, but in completely different circumstances. I just had breakfast in bed with
Joshua Lyman, a very delicious breakfast, and I really, really want desert.
******
Well, this is a surprise. A nice surprise. A very welcome surprise.
"Ummm. Donna?"
I really hated to do that.
"Yeah?"
"Ummm. This is gonna seem like a really stupid question, but I have to ask you
this."
"Kay."
"What do you want?"
"Josh, I think you should move the tray off the bed."
She's using the seductress voice. Old White Republican...
"And I don't think that you should be repeating your focus mantra in your head.
Unless of course you change the words to 'Donna wants me.' "
OH MY GOD!!! I reach across the bed and lift up the breakfast tray. Let's face it, we're
done eating. Well, food that is.
"So, you mean you want your real birthday present?"
I can't help but smile as I say that.
"You're not getting the skis back, you know."
She has this defiant smile on her face that is driving me crazy.
"Come 'ere."
I wrap my arm around her and pull her close.
"Donnatella."
*******
God, he has a sexy voice.
"Jos..."
I can't finish saying his name, because he has placed his mouth right over mine. His right
hand is brushing through my hair, and is now at the back of my head, pulling me closer to
him. I didn't think it would be possible, seeing as we are so close already; but he
managed to bring me to him just a little more. His tongue is one of my favourite things
about him; especially when it's dancing slowly with mine. So Josh and I are seriously
involved in a huge make-out session right now, and that's just fine with me. His hands are
running up and down my back, very slowly, and very gently. I can tell he's trying to make
me all tingly. It's working, Josh. Believe me, it's working.
********
"Donna."
"Yes, Josh."
"I, I mean, we don't have to..."
"Yes we do, Josh."
"Really?"
She pushes me away from her a little. I think it's so I can really see her expression.
Let's face it, I haven't really been able to look at her eyes for the past few minutes.
I've been otherwise occupied.
"Joshua. You are the most stubborn man I know, and don't get that macho grin on your
face, just listen to me."
I nod my head.
"Before you start saying what you're going to say, I have to tell you I am not in the
most comfortable of positions here, Donna."
"Well, get comfortable then. It might take a while."
Really. Hmmm, that is an interesting choice of words. I look at her for a moment, then
decide on this position. I roll over on top of her, and place my arms under her shoulders
and put my hands behind her head. See, I can run my fingers through her hair as she's
talking to me, and that could shut her up when I just can't take any more. Hopefully she
won't notice how incredibly turned on I am. Wait; she just did a thing with her face.
"What was that look for?"
I can't help but ask.
"Well, I think that Senator Johnson has made a very prominent public appearance,
wouldn't you agree?"
Damn her. She's got this grin on her face that spreads from ear to ear. Time to break out
the charming and sensitive voice. Josh's bedside manner is now in full effect.
"Enough about members of the Senate, Donnatella. What were you going to say?"
"Firstly, are you comfortable?"
"Not as comfortable as I'd like to be, but that's ok."
Smart ass grin is here to stay. Score one for Joshua. She wraps her arms around me and
starts to play with the hair at the base of my neck as she talks to me in a very delicious
tone.
"You're funny, Josh. Seriously. I was going to say that I don't need you to put up
barriers. I think that it's obvious now that we are both supposed to be here, now, in this
moment. Josh, this is the one thing that I have wanted more than anything in the past four
years. Ever since I walked into that campaign office and saw the chaos that was your life,
I knew that you needed me. It took me a while to realize how much you did. But it only
took me a few minutes to realize how much I needed you."
I'm looking at the most beautiful woman in the world right now. Donna is bearing her
deepest feelings to me, and I know I shouldn't be smiling my dumb ass grin, but I really
can't help it. My chest is swelling with pride, among other things, and I can't help but
look at her tenderly; that's what she wants. That's what she needs.
"I didn't do anything about this before because, you know, you were with Mandy, and
then there was the Joey Lucas thing..."
"Hold it right there Miss Moss."
I have to stop this, right now.
"What?"
She is getting tears in her eyes, I can see them coming. Don't cry Donna. Please.
"I don't want to talk about anything that has to do with the Media Director from
Hell, or the statistician that comes to torment me on a bi-monthly basis; regardless of
the role that those women played in my life. Donna, I hope that you realize that despite
the fact that I was, yes, with Mandy, and for a while I thought I wanted to be with Joey,
I only was because I didn't think I had a snowballs chance in hell of being with
you."
"Really? I never knew..."
Niagra falls is literally pouring from Donna's eyes.
"Donna, don't you realize that you mean the world to me? You are one of the, if not
THE most important person in my life; and that includes the President and everything that
has to do with work. If you were not such an important person to me, do you really think
that I would enlist the help of the Chief of Staff of the United States of America to
whisk my assistant away for a romantic get-away weekend in Vermont?"
She smiles and shakes her head.
"No, I don't think you would."
"Donna, you're precious. You deserve someone so much better than, say, Dr. Freeride,
and only in my most wonderful dreams did I ever contemplate that that person could
possibly be me."
Donna's face just got really close to mine, really, really fast. Her kiss is out of what I
would think is necessity; but I know Donna all too well. She probably just wants to shut
me up. She pulls her head away from mine, and looks at me with a curious face.
"When did you know?"
"When did I know? God, I think right before the thing in Rosslyn. All I could think
about when I was, you know, was that you weren't there and thank god you weren't. I wanted
to see you, I needed to see you, and I wanted to make sure you were ok. All I remember was
waking up in the hospital and my first coherent thought was 'I need to see Donna.' Do you
remember when Sam went out and got you?"
She nods her head, and I can tell she is becoming overcome with emotion. I lay her head
back down on the pillow so she can rest her head and take this all in. I'm totally NOT
being me, and I am telling her everything. It's my time. No wait. It's OUR time.
"Donna, I don't really know why I'm telling you all this now, but it feels like the
right moment. Besides which, it's your birthday, and you should have me be not me for as
long as you can."
That enlists a smile.
"Sam told me you were on the way in, and that you were just splashing some water on
your face to freshen up. I remember telling him that I was so glad you weren't there, that
you didn't need to see that kind of thing happen, and to run the risk of it being you
instead of me. He told me that he had never seen me so much in serious like with someone
before, and that he knew I was going to be fine. I looked at him and told him point blank
that I loved you, but that I couldn't do anything about it; you were, and are, my
assistant, and that would not look good on the administration if I were to ask out my
assistant. He smiled, and the door opened. You walked in. I have never felt so happy in
all my life. Donna, you were the medicine that I needed. Even though you told me that you
looked like hell, and that you wished you had more time to pick out something decent to
wear. I remember it made me laugh, because I know that you look beautiful in anything;
especially my sweats and Harvard t-shirts."
I made sure to make note of this, because that is exactly what she has on right now. She
has tears falling down her face, which I am quickly wiping up with my finger.
"Josh, I never knew. You never told me..."
She closes her eyes and lets her tears fall freely, which kills me. I never like it when
she cries, even if it's a good thing.
"Donna, I never told you because I could never find the right moment. We would always
get interrupted by someone, or something, and the one second that I needed to tell you
would never return. I have to admit, that I was hoping that this weekend would serve a
purpose, for me. I was kinda being selfish, but thinking of you at the same time."
She gets a little grin on her face, in between sniffles.
"You mean, you were almost multi-tasking?"
"Brat. Yes, but in a good way. Donna, I can't say this any other way, and if I don't
say it now I probably never will."
She looks up at me, directly into my eyes. I close my eyes, exhale, then open my mouth to
speak.
"Donna, I love you. I know now that I always have, and I definitely know that I
always will. I can only hope and pray that you feel the same."
*******
"Oh Josh."
He loves me. Joshua Lyman loves me. The room is spinning, I can't think clearly, but it's
okay, because Josh Lyman loves me.
"What?" He silences me with his touch, as his finger is over my lips. He kisses
me on the forehead, then on the nose, then...
"Josh. I love you."
"What do you want, Donna?"
"Josh, I..." He kisses the side of my face, and is slowly working his way
towards my ear.
"Uh huh?" I don't think he knows what this is doing to me. He is driving me
crazy. I tighten my fingers slightly in his hair, so he knows that I am completely
enjoying what he is doing. I bring my mouth to his ear and speak to him in a voice that is
just above a whisper.
"You."
*******
TBC
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