The Mistletoe Series
A/N: Hey there! So I decided to write a little Christmas series. It will be a total of three chapters: Chapter One- Christmas Eve 2006, Chapter Two- Christmas Eve 2007, and Chapter Three- Christmas Eve 2008. It is pure J/D lovey dovey fluff! Also, it's kind of steamy, so please don't read this if you are under 18 years-old.
I hope you enjoy the story, and happy holidays! :)
Chapter One: Christmas Eve 2006
Josh Lyman finally made it home from the Transition office around 6:00 on Christmas Eve. It was their first Christmas together as a couple and Josh didn't want to miss a minute of it. He had been anxious to leave work all day and the moment he opened the door he immediately felt at peace. Josh loved coming home to her; it was their apartment now, his and Donna's, and sharing his life with her gave him a sense of belonging and completion that he never knew existed.
They had worked out about 90% of their issues in Hawaii on the second night, while sitting on the beach together. "The Talk" went much easier than he had ever imagined, and that is solely because they told each other the most important thing first:
That he was in love with her.
And she was in love with him.
The other 10% of their issues had been resolved after the trip, by agreeing to have a nightly 10 minute conversation to work through whatever they needed to work through. It usually happened after they had made love, and were holding each other. "The Moss-Lyman Pillow Talk" as Donna had affectionately called it one night.
Needless to say, Josh had the Lyman family engagement ring hidden in his nightstand and he was planning to propose in February, on their nine year anniversary.
Setting his backpack down on the bench and tossing his coat on the hanger, Josh took in his surroundings: the brightly lit Christmas tree, the nutcrackers on the window sill, the faint sounds of a Christmas movie, two bright red stockings hanging on the mantle, the delicious aroma of something coming from the kitchen, and of course Donna. She made this place something more than an apartment, she made it a home. He took a moment to watch her, she was busying herself in the kitchen and when she stopped to look at the recipe book and trace her finger along the page, it absolutely took his breath away. It was a simple thing, really, but the way her hair fell to the side, the way her eyes fixated on the page, and the way she bit her lip as she read did him in. He loved her more with each passing moment.
"Hi" She smiled at him as he walked into the kitchen.
"Hi yourself," he smiled back as he wrapped his arm around her and kissed her temple, then met her lips with his own.
"You were stealthy coming in here, I didn't even hear you open the door."
"I dunno' you were pretty fascinated by something in that book," he shrugged and smiled again as he brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. "But stealthy works too."
"Yeah I was just trying to figure out when I should take the tinfoil off the roast. Mystery solved, I do it when it's done cooking."
"Well, thank God we solved that one," he joked, bringing a little banter to get the night started.
"Someone's a little snarky tonight."
"Just a little."
"Careful Joshua, that might put you on the naughty list."
"Oh no, I'm on the nice list. I helped get Matthew Santos elected President!"
"Oh that can only take you so far . . ."
"I need to learn about these rules . . . Hey Donna, what's that flower thingy hanging in the hallway?" He glanced over her shoulder to try and get a better look.
"It's mistletoe, Josh. I picked it up today at the store when I bought fresh flowers."
"Ah-kay ... Again, what's that?"
"Come here Pumpkin Patch, I'll show you EXACTLY what mistletoe is..." She grabbed his hand and he followed her to the mistletoe, watching as her hips swayed back and forth. Donna stopped abruptly under the hallway arch, wrapping her arms around Josh and pulling him towards her, giving him a deep kiss, allowing her hands to drift through his curls at the base of his neck, and parting her lips for him. Josh responded instantly, pulling her flush against his body, his hands wandering from her hips to her backside.
"That's mistletoe, Joshua," she said breathlessly, kissing his cheek.
"Wait, so you're telling me, that people do that under mistletoe?"
"Well, maybe not exactly like that, usually like this," she said with a smile and gave him a light kiss. "So the mistletoe stays here and anytime we are under it, we get to kiss!"
"Ahhh-kay. I like this magical kissing flower. I think it's my favorite Christmas tradition." He wiggled his eyebrows at her.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o
Donna checked on the roast in the oven, it was cooking nicely. She went back to the potatoes, adding some chives and whisking them a little more. She felt a light tap on her shoulder and turned around to meet Josh. He was holding the mistletoe up between his fingers, a large dimpled grin plastered across his face.
"Josh! That's not how it works! You don't take it down and bring it everywhere."
"Oh that's how it works in the Moss-Lyman house! Besides, I'm making up for seven Christmas seasons!" Before she could come up with some quick-witted comment, he had his lips on hers, hands wandering.
"Josh . . ." she whispered breathlessly as he began kissing her neck.
"Mmmmm?"
"Josh, you're distracting me from dinner," he heard the laughter in her voice.
"I can't help it. The mistletoe found its way over here, so I have to kiss you. It's the rules. Sorry." He nipped at the hollow of her collar bone.
"Josh, You're making up mistletoe rules, mmmm okay that feels really good."
"Well, I have an excuse. I didn't know mistletoe had to stay in one spot, cuz ya know, I'm Jewish . ."
"Joshua Lyman, I just told you not ten minutes ago, after I kissed you under the mistletoe that it stays in one spot. And then I told you again like 30 second ago."
"Oh yeah? Well, I forgot."
"No you didn't," fake exasperation filled Donna's voice.
"Fine, I'm just trying to make up for nine years of wanting . . ." his lips traveled back to hers, the potatoes and rules of mistletoe forgotten. Josh pulled Donna towards him and gently spun them so she was up against the counter. He carefully lifted her up, running his hands up the inside of his boxer shorts that she was wearing, resting his hands on her hips, continuing to kiss her. Donna wrapped her legs around his waist, melting into his kiss, his touch.
"I love you Donna," he said with a smile, nuzzling his nose against hers."
"Josh," her voice filled with emotion as their eyes met. Although Donna knew Josh was tactile, she never expected him to be so affectionate with his words. It had been a welcomed surprise, one that still catches her off guard. "I love you too."
He kissed her softly on the lips and moved his hands under her shirt and started rubbing her back.
"I still have to finish dinner . . ." Her hands betraying her words as she started to run them up his chest.
"We'll be quick . . ."
"I might burn the roast . . ."
"It's okay. I'm willing to take the risk if you are . . ." His hands were at the hem of her t-shirt, and he gently started to lift the fabric up. It hastily found its way to the kitchen floor, just like so many other nights since coming home from Hawaii. "I still can't get over how beautiful you are Donnatella," he said as he reverently placed light kisses across her chest, admiring her flawless skin. Everything about her was perfect.
"Okay, forget the roast. It will beep anyway when it's done," her words were breathy as she grabbed fistfuls of his shirt, kissing him fiercely.
"Where do you want to . . ." He asked with a smile, quickly coming up for air and lifting her off the counter, her legs still wrapped around his waist. In the six weeks since coming home from Hawaii, they had done a good job of making love in every room of their apartment. They both looked over at the Christmas tree.
"You wanna . . "
"It's been a little while since we did this on the floor," she gave him that smile.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o
"It burned . . ."
"Christmas hamburgers?"
"Josh, I burned it."
"Ahhh-kay, well . . . Christmas Chinese Food?"
"I cannot believe I actually burned . . ."
"Christmas pizza?"
"I mean, I set the timer, how did I NOT hear it?"
"Well . . . we were uhhh, ya know, pretty vocal . . ." His chest puffed out, a slight smirk on his face.
Donna couldn't help but roll her eyes and laugh, "You're pretty proud of yourself there Mr. Lyman." He couldn't help but grin even more. The thought of making her climax twice during their spontaneous love making was better than any delicious Christmas roast, any political victory . . . better than anything. Josh of course, had put the mistletoe on the Christmas tree on a branch hanging above them.
"Wipe that smirk off your face Josh, now we have to get dressed and get takeout." He knew she wasn't really mad, he could hear the laughter hidden behind her words. Just like him, she couldn't care less about burning the roast if it meant they could be intimate.
"Nah, I don't want to get dressed. Let's just stay like this."
"Joshua, you are so on the naughty list."
"Fine by me Donnatella, as long as it means we get to do that again . . ."
"You are insatiable," she couldn't help but giggle.
He reached for her and pulled her close, kissing her forehead, "That's because I have you. I will never get enough of you Donna," Josh whispered as he gave her a soft kiss on the lips, causing Donna to smile and lovingly brush his hair back. "So what else did ya make? Potatoes, green beans, and rolls? That works. Ya know, President Bartlet wouldn't approve of the green beans though . . ."
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o
They decided on "Christmas Chinese Food" and agreed to freeze the rolls, green beans, and potatoes to eat on New Years Day with a chicken or roast. Donna sat on Josh's lap, clad in his dress shirt and boxers eating beef and vegetables, while Josh sat wearing only his sweatpants eating his sesame chicken. They of course shared, and by shared, Donna snuck pieces of his chicken.
"Donnnnna, you're stealing all my chicken."
"Relax Pumpkin Patch, here have some beef," she offered him a piece on the end of her chopsticks.
"Thanks. Ya know, Donna, maybe you should take my dress shirt off. You wouldn't want to spill anything on it while you eat. I'm not so confident in your chopstick skills . . ." He bit his lip, wiggling his eyebrows ever so slightly.
"Joshua, Josh, Josh. My chopstick skills are superior to yours. You just want to see me topless," she gave him a look.
"Maybe . . ."
"Another reason to put you on the naughty list."
"This is my first Christmas EVER, Donna. You can't put me on the naughty list."
"Watch me Joshua, watch me . . ." She gave him a coy smile.
"Game on baby!" He took the carton and chopsticks from her and placed the food on the coffee table, then quickly captured her lips with his and pushed his dress shirt off her shoulders. His hands found her bare breasts and gently cupped them.
"Oh this definitely puts you on the naughty list," she giggled as he guided her down onto the couch.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o
"Donna look it's snowing." Josh nodded his head and pointed towards the window. They were curled up on the couch under a blanket, watching "Love Actually" and eating the Chocolate Cream Pie that Donna had made. The room was dark, except for the light from the television, Christmas tree, and the small fire they had going, so it was easy to see the beautiful white flakes falling through the sky. It usually didn't snow this early in DC, but for some reason, it did that night.
"Aww Josh, it's a white Christmas. That's kind of rare around here."
"Yeah, I called in a few favors," he said playfully as he kissed the top of her head.
"Okay, now that puts you back on the nice list."
"I figured I was already back on it, since ya know you let me eat pie and we ummm . . . got to have fun on the couch."
"Oh no, the couch activities kept you on the naughty list, and I gave you pie because Christmas is about giving, but the snow . . . yeah that puts you back on the nice list," she looked up and smiled at him, getting a kiss in return.
"Here let's get up and look out the window . . . see if the snow is sticking." Donna quickly got up and grabbed Josh's hand, excited about his suggestion. Together they stood at the window sill, Josh wrapped his arms around Donna under the blanket and rested his chin on her shoulder, gently swaying them back and forth as they looked out the window in a comfortable silence. The snow was in fact sticking to the ground.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o
"How about a Peppermint Kahlua Hot Cocoa and we each open one gift?" Donna asked as she snuggled closer to Josh as the credits started to roll on the TV.
"Ahh-kay. Is that how you do it on Christmas? One gift each on Christmas Eve and then the rest on Christmas morning? That kinda' sounds like two days of Hanukkah, just with more gifts."
"Every family has their own traditions Josh. We can make ours whatever we want them to be. In my family, we each opened up one gift from our parents on Christmas Eve and the rest on Christmas."
"I like that. I say we stick with that tradition. Only, let's not open up a gift from your parents tonight, maybe we open up one gift from each other?"
"Okay," she smiled as she kissed his cheek and got up to make their drinks. He was right behind her.
"I wanna help. You made the burnt roast and the pie, I wanna help with this and learn how to make these Christmas drinks. Lemme' help."
"Nice list . . ." Donna teased him and gave him a quick peck on the lips. "Okay, so it's really easy. First, we make hot cocoa . . ."
"Do we need to get those little hot cocoa packages?"
"Nope. Those are good in a pinch or when you're at the office and really want hot cocoa. We're making this from scratch. First, we take the milk and pour it in the sauce pain, I would say medium-low heat. Then add in equal parts chocolate syrup and semi-sweet chocolate chips. See, now it's starting to boil, so we can whisk it and turn the heat off.
"Hey," Josh said affectionately, as he brushed Donna's hair behind her shoulders and wrapped his arms around her from behind. "I really love this, Donna. I love you and I love the traditions we're starting. Thank you for giving me an amazing Christmas, and . . . thank you for loving me," he whispered the last part and gave her a featherlight kiss on her ear.
Donna couldn't hide the tear that escaped as she turned around in his arms and held him. "Oh Josh, I love you . . . I love you so much. And I'm incredibly happy to be doing all this with you . . . sharing our lives with one another like this. I've wanted it for so long . . ." she told him softly.
"Me too baby. Me too. I'm glad we're finally here," he wiped that one tear of hers off her cheek with his thumb and then kissed the very same spot, before affectionately cupping her face and gently kissing her lips. "Now, what's next with this cocoa? I want some!" They beamed at one another and Donna handed him the nutmeg and cinnamon.
"You need about a pinch of nutmeg and three pinches of cinnamon. Go ahead and toss it in, it doesn't have to be perfect."
He followed her instructions, then poured the hot cocoa into two mugs, adding in a few pumps of peppermint syrup, the kahlua, and then topping it with whipped cream, crushed peppermint, a couple of mini-marshmallows, and drizzling some chocolate sauce on top.
"Pretty damn delicious babe!" Donna gave her thumbs up of approval to Josh.
"Thanks, I had a good teacher," he winked at her as he took a sip. "Wow this is good. You think Mrs. B. would let us have this?"
"For Christmas, sure. For any other time, absolutely not. Especially you Josh."
"Yeah, but my blood pressure has ya know, been much better since Hawaii . . . I found a great way to de-stress."
"Oh God Josh, you didn't tell Dr. Bartlet that did you?" Donna couldn't help but blush.
"I think she figured it out on her own."
"That explains the flowers she sent me! I thought they were a congratulations for being Helen's CoS, but now I'm thinking . . ."
"Maybe she sent you a congrats on the CoS position and congrats on lowering Josh's BP!" They both laughed at that as they got cozy near the tree.
"Okay, since this is your first Christmas Eve present, I'm going to let you go first. Merry Christmas, Josh," Donna said as she handed him his present and gave him a quick peck on the lips.
"Mmm, you taste like peppermint, Donna; now what on Earth did you get me . . ." Josh opened the nicely wrapped box to reveal a signed picture from game three of the 1969 World Series of Mets relief pitcher Nolan Ryan. "Oh my God, Donna! This is amazing! I was at this game with my Dad and Grandfather! He saved the game by pitching just over two shutout innings and they won 2-1 against the Orioles! They went on to win the World Series that year! Thank you!" Josh's boyish enthusiasm and happiness warmed Donna's heart. She loved seeing him excited and happy.
"You're welcome," she said as he enveloped her in a hug, burying his face into her shoulder and neck, inhaling her scent. "I knew you were there, you told me about it throughout the years and I thought you might like it for your office."
"It's going right next to my baseball. Okay now for your gift. Your getting your fun gift tonight . . ." The look he gave her said it all.
"Oh Josh, does this match a certain Hanukkah present you gave me?" her voice dripping with seduction as she moved closer to him.
"Mmmhmm, only that one was blue and this one is red . . . and has bows . . ." He said as he brushed her hair to the side and started kissing her neck.
"If you keep doing that I won't be able to open my present . . ."
"K, you have five second before I start with my ministrations again," he sucked gently at her neck before letting go and retrieving her present, which was located right next to the neatly wrapped rare book he had purchased for her, a rather old copy of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, perfect for Christmas. "Here ya go."
Donna carefully removed the red tissue paper from the candy cane striped bag, revealing a gorgeous and incredibly sexy pair of deep-red satin panties and bra. The front of the bra was kept together by a bow, same with the back of the panties.
"You got to tie my bowtie all these years . . . So now it's my turn," Josh's voice was husky with desire. Only, instead of tying your bows, I'm untying them . . ."
"Mmmm, I love my present Josh. Maybe I can be the first present you unwrap in the morning . . . ?"
"Oh I was hoping maybe now . . ." His hands started rubbing up and down her sides, and gently over her breasts.
"Mmmm, sorry Pumpkin Patch," only one gift each on Christmas Eve."
"But Donnnnnna . . . Look the mistletoe is right above us . . ."
"Mistletoe is just for kissing Josh."
"Not in our home, remember? It's for ya know, other stuff too."
"That may be true, but it doesn't mean you get to unwrap another present."
"Donnnnnna . . ."
And of course, she let him groan and gripe, because unbeknownst to Josh, it was 11:55, almost Christmas, but Donna wasn't about to tell him that, she was having too much fun.
"Can you at least try it on?"
"I don't think so, someone might not be able to resist the bows . . ."
"I promise, I will sit on the couch. We can uhh ya know, "wrap" you up in your new outfit, and ummm "unwrap" you tomorrow?"
"Oh back to the naughty list, Mr. Lyman."
"What?! Again? No fair. I just want to see my beautiful girlfriend try on her new gift . . ."
"In two minutes."
"What?"
"In two minutes."
"In two minutes what? What the hell is happening in two minutes?" He was confused and excited, it radiated off his body.
"In two minutes Joshua, it will be Christmas, and you can unwrap any present of your choosing . . ."
"Oh my God, Donna it's Christmas in two minutes!?"
"One now."
"One minute!?"
"Mmmhmm."
"C'mere. Let's watch the snow fall. As much as I want to untie your bows, I'm more excited to look at the snow and wish you a merry Christmas," he said with a smile as he offered Donna his hand to help her up. Together they walked back to the window sill, both looking at Donna's watch."
"5. . .4 . . .3 . . 2 . . 1, Merry Christmas!" They said together as they watched the seconds-hand pass the "12" on Donna's watch. Josh held Donna as they looked out the window at the white Christmas in front of them.
"Merry Christmas, Donna."
"Merry Christmas, Josh."
Their lips met in an all-consuming, yet tender kiss. Josh reverently cupped Donna's face, as his thumbs stroked her cheeks. Donna's hands found the soft curls at the base of his neck, as she lightly ran her fingers through his hair.
"I love you Josh," Donna gently broke the kiss and looked into Josh's eyes, seeing the love in his eyes for her that matched the love in her eyes for him.
"I love you too Donna."
"And so now that it's Christmas, Joshua . . ."
"Mmmhmm," he encouraged her as he started to sway them gently.
"Let's see how well you do with untying bows . . ." she whispered enticingly. Both of them smiling at the implication.
"I'll bring the mistletoe."