A Life Story: Once upon a Valentines
By Sunny
Disclaimer: I don't own them. I'm just playing with them.
Archive: Sure. Just tell me where.
Spoilers: Everything! Cause you never know.
Summary: Toby and Donna, the beginning.
~Summer 2017~
~Manchester residence~
"Daddy," young Abigail Emily screeched as she watched her father play football with her five older brothers. She clapped her hands and jumped up and down every time he did anything, even when he fell down. Moving quickly she headed towards the field where the big kids were playing.
"Abigail," her mother said sternly. "You stay here."
The little girl turned around and looked at the ground while shuffling her feet. "But I want to play with Daddy," she said.
"Daddy's playing with the boys right now," her mother reminded her. "You know you can't play with the boys."
"Abbey, why don't you come and sit with me," the former President offered.
The little girl smiled brightly her large brown eyes lighting up as she scampered over and up on the man's lap. "Ok, Grandpa." He hugged her close and kissed the top of her curly brown hair.
The older Abbey looked at Donna and smiled. "She's so much like her father."
"Yes. She is," Donna smiled back. "She is such a blessing."
"So are they," Abbey nodded at the herd of boys who had piled on top of their father. "I can't believe you have six kids!"
Donna laughed. "Sometimes I wonder what got into my head."
"Your husband," Abbey suggested. Donna smiled widely and shrugged. "I tried to talk to him about birth control. But you know how men are when it comes to that kind of talk. I thought after the fifth boy you guys were done."
"What did you tell him?" Donna asked.
"No matter what men think, women are not baby mills. We're not built to pop babies out at will. I couldn't believe that he got you pregnant five years in a row," Abbey said.
"It wasn't Toby's decision to have the baby's all at once," Donna defended. "I wanted a large family."
"I can't believe you didn't space them out a bit."
"Are you kidding," Donna asked. "Toby is 60 now. If we would've waited any longer we would still be having babies when he was almost 70. At least this way, he may get to meet some of his grandkids."
"The way he's out there playing with the boys, you would think he was 20 years younger," Abbey mused.
"The kids have made him younger," Donna said wryly.
"I think you did too," Abbey agreed. "Did you ever think, 20 years ago when you joined the campaign that you would find the love of your life?"
"Yeah," Donna smiled wistfully. "But I thought at the time that it would be Josh."
"We all did," Abbey said.
"Who would have thought that grouchy old Toby Ziegler would capture so pure a young heart," Jed broke in.
"Not very many of us," Abbey said as she turned to her husband. The little girl on his lap had fallen asleep and he looked like he was not far behind.
"Toby definitely surprised all of us," Donna said quietly as she watched her husband chasing their youngest son towards the barn that served as the far end zone.
~February 2002~
~Toby's office~
"I need your help," Josh said as he stood nervously in the doorway.
"With what," Toby asked without looking up from the draft he was working on..
"Valentines day," Josh replied.
Toby peered at the younger man over the top of his glasses. "Is it that time of year already?"
"Yeah," Josh said as he now sauntered into the room. "I want to get Amy something special."
"How about flowers," Toby suggested.
"Too easy," Josh brushed off.
"Candy?"
"Too obvious."
"Cause you're a straight shooter," Toby smirked.
"Yeah," Josh agreed. "Any other ideas?"
"Nope. Those always worked for me," Toby said as he went back to work.
"That is so old school," Josh teased.
Toby looked back up. "It still works."
"I bet you it doesn't," Josh replied.
"How much," Toby asked.
"What?"
"How much do you want to bet," Toby asked.
"A hundred dollars," Josh offered.
"You're on," Toby agreed.
"So what did I just bet on," Josh asked slowly.
"I bet you that my way gets me a date for Valentines Day faster than your way does," Toby said.
"You're on," Josh said as he stuck out his hand. Toby stood and shook his hand.
"I'm not going to regret taking your money," Toby sighed.
"One rule," Josh broke in. Toby raised an eyebrow at him. "You have to pick someone other than CJ."
"Well, there goes my sure thing," Toby said sarcastically. "You pick the woman."
"Any woman I want," Josh asked.
"Name her."
"Donna."
Toby frowned. "She's a little young for me. Don't you think?"
"Scared," Josh asked.
Toby smiled, looking at his desk. He then looked up at the younger man. "Your hundred dollars is going to provide Donna with a wonderful date."
"You going to hire someone to take her out," Josh asked.
"Very funny. Get out of here. I have work to do," Toby ordered. Josh turned around and walked out of the office slapping the top of the doorframe as he went.
Toby sat down and picked up the phone, he dialed a number after locating it in his Rolodex.
"Violets Place," the lady on the other end said.
"I'd like to order some flowers," Toby said.
"Are they for Valentines day sir?"
"No. Today," Toby said. "Something exotic and unusual."
"We have a special supply of orchids," she said. "Will that do?"
"That sounds perfect," he smiled. Toby finished the order giving the clerk his credit card number, the message wanted written on the note, Donnas' name and the address where to deliver the flowers.
"They'll be there by four o'clock," the woman said before hanging up. Toby put the receiver on the cradle, smiled to himself and went back to work.
~Josh's office~
~1pm~
Returning from lunch, Donna approached her desk, still talking to Ginger, Bonnie, Carol and Margaret. She stopped short as Carol whistled and they all stopped to stare at the flowers sitting on her desk.
"Those are gorgeous," Bonnie gushed.
"And expensive," Margaret stated. "Orchids are hard to find."
"Read the card," Ginger prompted as she gave Donna a shove. Donna stepped to her desk and stared at the flowers dumbfounded. She reached out and plucked the card from the vase. Her hands were trembling as she opened the card. She read it to herself, and then
gasped aloud as she read the name.
"What does it say," Margaret asked as all of them tried to read over
her shoulder.
"It says," Donna began as she turned around. "Like the exotic orchid, you are a rare and beautiful flower."
"Aww," the others said in unison.
"Who are they from," Carol asked.
"Someone," Donna stalled.
"Come on," Ginger and Bonnie said together.
"Josh," Carol mused.
"Hah," Donna replied. "It's someone unexpected."
"Come on Donna," Margaret urged. "We never get any good info. Who
sent the flowers?"
"You guys are not going to believe this," Donna said. She looked at
their expectant faces. "They're from Toby."
"Toby," Margaret repeated.
"Our Toby," Ginger and Bonnie asked in unison.
"That's what the card says," she replied waving the card at them. Ginger snatched the card out of her hand and peered at it closely. Bonnie looked as well.
"Why would Toby send you flowers," Margaret asked.
Donna shrugged. Carol started to laugh.
"What's so funny," Donna asked.
"Toby has a crush on you," Carol replied.
"And this is funny," Donna quipped.
"I guess not," Carol said as she sobered up. She looked at the others and they all started laughing.
"Give me that," Donna said angrily as she grabbed the card from Ginger. "Go to work!"
She sat at her desk and admired the flowers as the others left. She sighed wistfully and wondered why the flowers had been sent to her and if they were really from Toby. She moved the vase to a nearby filing cabinet then sat back down and went to work.
A few minutes later, her phone rang. She picked it up.
"Josh Lyman's office," she said into the receiver.
"Hey Donna. Its Toby."
"Hi," she said startled.
"I heard you got the flowers I sent," he said.
"Yes I did," she smiled. "They're beautiful. Thank you."
"You're welcome," he said quietly. "I know its kind of late to ask but are you free tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow," she repeated confused.
"Yeah," he said softly. "Tomorrow is Valentines Day."
"It is? I forgot," she replied.
"Me too, or I would have asked sooner. So what do you think? Would you like to have dinner with me?"
She paused and looked at the vase of flowers. "I would love to have dinner with you tomorrow."
"Great," he smiled. "I'll come by your place at 8? Is that all right?"
"Perfect," she smiled back. "I'm looking forward to it."
"Ok. I'll talk with you later," he said before hanging up the phone. Donna put her phone down and giggled like a schoolgirl. It was then that Josh wandered out of his office.
"What's so funny," he asked.
"Nothing," she replied soberly.
"Nice flowers," he quipped.
"Aren't they," she smiled.
He shrugged. "I guess. If you're into flowers."
"I am," she told him. "Did you send Amy flowers?"
"No," he replied shortly.
"Are you going to?"
"I doubt it," he said with a shrug. "I have other plans."
She stared at him hard. "Girls like flowers, Josh. Nothing says `I like you' like flowers."
"Nothing says `dork' like flowers," he mocked.
"Says you," she replied.
"Who sent you flowers," he asked as a diversion.
"Toby," she replied.
"Really," he smiled. "Why?"
"Cause he likes me," she told him.
"He said this?"
"Yes."
"When?"
"A few minutes ago," she bragged. "When he asked me out to dinner for tomorrow."
"Are you going," he asked.
"Yes I am," she said.
"Damn," he cursed. He began to wander off. "I need to get some
flowers."
Donna shook her head as she watched him walk away.
~Toby's office~
"You're a dog," Josh said as he entered Toby's office. He pulled a wad of bills out of his pocket and dropped them on Toby's desk. Toby grabbed the money and quickly pocketed it. He sat back and smirked at the younger man.
"When are you going to learn to trust me," he asked.
"When I am old and wise," Josh replied.
"Never happen," Toby teased.
Josh flopped on a chair. "So where are you taking her?"
Toby frowned. "I don't know yet. I tried a couple of places but they are all booked. I have Ginger calling around right now trying to find something."
"Good luck," Josh said as he stood up. He started to walk out then turned and came back. "Look Toby. Earlier, when I said Donna, I really thought she would say no. Be careful with her, ok?"
"Its one date Dad. It's not like we're getting married or something," Toby joked. "I'm sure we will be fine."
"Yeah," Josh said lightly. "Ok."
~Valentines Day 2002~
~8pm Donna's apartment~
Toby looked down at his clothes and shook his head ruefully. He was the only one he knew that had to dress down for a date. He knocked twice on the door, shifting the gifts under his left arm. The door opened and Donna smiled at him from inside. She was wearing a very tight, red dress that made Toby blink rapidly.
"Hi," she said. As she stepped back and let him enter the room.
"I brought you some things," Toby said as he handed her a large brown teddy bear and a box of chocolates. Donna hugged the bear tightly as she studied the box of candy.
"Thank you," she said.
"You're welcome," he replied.
"I'm going to put these away and grab my jacket," she told him.
Toby stood in the doorway and wondered what in the hell he was doing. It had been years since he had been on a date. Hell, it had been years since he wanted to go on a date. He spotted a pair of cats, which were sitting on the back of the couch staring at him. He stuck
his hands in his pockets and continued to scan the room. Donna came out of her room pulling on a jacket.
"I'm ready," she announced.
"Ok. Lets go," he said as he opened the door.
Donna locked the door behind them then let him lead her down the hall.
~a place across town~
~9pm~
"This is a nice place," Donna said as she looked around the room.
"Sorry it took so long to get here," Toby apologized. "It was the only place taking reservations, except McDonalds. I didn't think you would want to go to McDonalds."
She smiled. "This is great."
"Are you ready to order," the waitress asked as she approached the table. Toby looked at Donna who nodded.
"What would you like," Toby asked.
"I'll have the grilled salmon with a baked potato, butter and sour cream," Donna ordered.
The waitress wrote it down then turned to Toby. "And you sir?"
"I'll have the same," Toby said as he closed his menu and smiled at Donna. "And a bottle of Merlot."
"Ok," the waitress said as she gathered up the menus and left.
"So," Donna began. "Why did you ask me out?"
"The truth," he asked as he looked quickly around the room.
"Yes," she said hesitantly.
"To be honest, this started as a bet," he began.
"A bet," Donna broke in.
"Let me finish," Toby pleaded. She nodded. "Josh came to me for advice about today. I told him to send flowers or candy. He said that it wouldn't work any more. I said it would. So Josh bet me that it wouldn't work. Obviously it did."
Donna looked down at her hands, which were nervously gripping her napkin. Toby reached across the table and lifted her chin. Seeing the tears in her eyes he instantly regretted his words.
"I'm sorry Donna," he apologized. "I shouldn't have said anything."
She shook her head. "I'm glad you did."
"If it helps, I'm really glad that I'm here now," Toby said. "It's been a long time since I have been on a date or even wanted to date. I'm glad that you're the person I'm with tonight."
"I've wanted to go out with you for a long time," she admitted. "You made my dreams come true tonight."
Toby smiled, which made Donna smile as well.
~Donna's apartment~
~11pm~
"I had a great time," Donna said as she stood outside the door.
"So did I," Toby replied. "Want to do it again?"
"I was hoping you would ask," she said.
"Is that a yes?"
"Definitely."
"Good," Toby said as he leaned over and softly kissed her lips. "Good
night."
"Good night, Toby."
~Manchester residence~
~Summer 2017~
Toby groaned as he sat in the chair next to Donna. "I'm getting too old for this."
Donna smiled and grabbed his hand. "But not too old to go upstairs and take a shower with your wife."
"Never," he smiled. "Now?"
"In a few minutes," she said indulgently. "What did you do with the boys?"
"Sam and CJ arrived," he said. "They went to help unload the van."
"Yeah," Abbey cheered. "More kids."
"Just three more, for now," Toby said.
"What does that mean," Abbey asked as she stared at him.
"Isn't Josh coming with his kids," Toby asked nervously.
Abbey let out a breath. "I thought you were going to tell me you guys were having another one."
"We're done," Toby and Donna said together.
"Done with what," CJ asked from behind them.
"Having kids," Toby said as he stood up to hug her.
"I'm glad to hear that," she laughed. "I'm having a hard enough time convincing Sam that we don't need any more ourselves."
"Any more what," Sam asked as he joined them. He shook hands with Toby before hugging the women.
"Kids," CJ replied. "No more kids."
"That's too bad," Toby teased. "Having lots of kids is fun."
"You mean making lots of kids is fun," his wife revised.
"That too," Toby smiled.
"Everybody settle into a chair," Abbey ordered. "It's time to relax."