A/N: I thought I'd give you two chapters to start, to get you invested :)
(Thankfully, it would appear you're already invested enough to click on Chapter Two)
Love you all! Hope you're enjoying this so far!
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"How long have you two been broken up?"
Donna ignores me.
"Donna?"
"Yes, Alan?"
"I asked you a question."
"I didn't hear you."
"How long have you and Josh been broken up?"
Silence.
"Donna?"
"Yes, Alan?"
"This is very immature."
"What's immature?" The congresswoman swings into the office from her committee meeting.
"Nothing." Donna says quickly. "How was the meeting?"
"Not great. They're trying to swallow the bill so it never makes it onto the floor."
"It's not like we didn't expect it." Donna sighs.
"So what were you guys talking about?" Andy persists.
"I was asking her about-"
"Wouldn't you rather strategize pushing the bill?" Donna interrupts.
Andy considers this. "I'd really rather talk about anything that isn't the bill."
"I was asking about her ex-boyfriend, because we ran into him this morning." I say in one breath before Donna can stop me. I ignore the piercing glare she sends my way. "And sparks flew."
"I'd ask which one, but something tells me it's Josh."
"Yeah, him."
"Oh, hon." Andy says sympathetically. "Don't you know we're not allowed to talk about that?"
"Why not?"
"Because. This is a safe space. I don't mention the J word, and Donna doesn't mention the T word unless absolutely necessary. It's a pact we've had for a long time. It's between women, you wouldn't understand."
Donna looks up at me smugly, as if we were siblings and Mom had just ruled in her favor.
"I don't understand."
"We stick together. We hate them together. It works for us."
"And you can't just saunter in and upend the safe space." Donna adds.
"How long has this pact been in place?"
"Since the great breakup of November 2002." Andy says somberly. "God, that was a wreck."
"Damn it." Donna mutters.
"What?"
"You've just answered his question."
"Damn it."
"So you've been broken up for almost a year?"
"The pact wasn't really official until this summer, though, when somebody went and refused the house their ex-husband bought them." Donna says, hoping to seek revenge and deflect attention from herself in the same breath.
"Donna! Safe space!"
"Sorry."
"How did you two meet?"
"Who, Donna and I?" The congresswoman asks.
"Donna, c'mon. You and Josh. He works at the White House, you used to work at the White House. You said that Toby was both of your coworkers."
"You just mentioned both of the words banned from this office." Donna says tightly, not looking at me.
"Did you work together?"
Andy looks between the two of us in surprise. "Oh, you don't know?"
"Don't know what?"
"It's not my place to say."
"Drop it, Alan."
"Donna, you should tell him."
"Why?"
"Because you should."
"That's not a reason." Donna grumbles, though obviously the Congresswoman's words have affected her. Looking down at her keyboard, she says softly, "I told you I was an assistant, right?"
"Yeah."
"Well." She shrugs. "I was his assistant."
I gape at her. "You what?"
"It's really not a big deal."
"You dated your boss?"
"I did not date my boss." She says tersely. "As soon as we knew something was happening between us, I transferred to Communications. And a few months later, the Congresswoman hired me."
"Ah. Those were simpler times."
"I can't believe this. You guys were like, forbidden love."
"We weren't."
"You came together, against the odds."
"We didn't."
"Were you in love, all those years?"
"No. It doesn't matter."
"When did you finally realize it?"
"Alan, that's enough. I've answered enough questions, okay? Now I'd like to get back to work."
"Agreed." Andy says firmly. "Safe space reestablished."
"Thank you."
They'd broken up almost a year ago, and she still couldn't bear to talk about him. I had to get to the bottom of this.
"One last thing. Why'd you guys break up?"
"We just... Grew apart."
That settles it. I'm obviously not going to get anything out of her. I'll have to consult outside sources.
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February, 2002
"Hey." Donna enters the darkened office, holding drinks in one hand and two plates in the other. "I brought you something."
He looks up at her from his computer screen. "How do you do that?"
"Do what?"
"Carry so many things at once."
"You're forgetting that I was a waitress for a year."
"Right."
She sets her spoils on his desk. "I brought you a drink, and a sugar cookie. Aren't they cute? Zoey made them."
"It's shaped like a heart."
"Everything at the party is shaped like a heart."
"Has Charlie been trying to win her over all night?"
"You'd know if you came out to the party."
"I'll be out soon. I want to finish this email."
"It's a great party, Josh."
"I don't want to talk to Bruno. He's been trying to sway me on this one line all day."
"Bruno's tipsy, he'll be nice to you."
"What is this? It's a weird color." He holds his drink up to the light curiously.
"I don't know. But it was pink and fruity, so I figured you'd like it."
"Ha, ha." He takes a sip. It was pretty good. "That's quite the outfit you've got there."
"Thank you for noticing." She'd worn a red sweater, pink jewelry and lipstick, and a heart-shaped necklace. She'd always been one to embrace the holidays - any holiday. She'd been refuting his argument (that Valentine's day was manufactured by greeting card companies) with anecdotes and historical facts about St. Valentine all week.
"Who gave you that necklace?"
"What does it matter?"
"It doesn't. I'm just asking."
"You really should come out to the party. The decorations are something to behold."
"I've got decorations enough in here." He gestures out the door, which is framed with pink and red tinsel, to the bullpen illuminated by glowing red lights.
"Josh."
"What's with the kitsch this year, anyway? Normally we don't go so overboard with this one. Christmas, sure, but Valentine's Day? This is just ridiculous."
"The President and First Lady celebrated their thirtieth anniversary last week."
"Oh. Right."
"Josh. C'mon."
"I've just gotta finish this email."
"Why aren't you with Amy?"
"Why would I be?"
"It's Valentine's Day."
"We had plans. I cancelled them this morning."
"Why?"
"I told her I was busy."
"You're not that busy."
"I know. I was hoping she'd call me on it and break up with me."
"She didn't?"
"Not yet."
Donna sighs. "Another one bites the dust."
"Don't start with me."
"No, I'm proud of you. Lasted longer than most of them."
"I don't need this right now."
"Come out to the party. I'll get you drunk."
"I don't want to get drunk."
"And I'll dance with you."
"Huh."
"In a way that CJ deems inappropriate."
He grins. "Now I'm tempted." He stands, and walks around his desk.
She looks at him curiously. "Why do you think it never works out with you?"
"Donna."
"I'm just asking."
"Why does it never work out between you and your gomers?"
"I don't know."
"There you go."
"Let's go to the party." She grabs his hand, but he pauses in the doorway, staring up at the tinsel heart above them. She stops when he tightens his grip on her hand, and steps back under the doorway with him. His expression is unfocused, dreamy. She waits for him to speak.
"Wanna pretend this is Mistletoe?"
She stares at him. "I can't tell if you're kidding." She could always tell that he was kidding.
"I can't either." He intertwines their fingers.
She leans back against the doorframe. "Are we really doing this now?"
"Tell me you don't feel it."
"Of course I do."
"You're the reason. You're the reason it never works out."
"Don't blame all your failed relationships on me, now."
"I'm not."
She smiles softly. "You're the reason, too."
"Wanna pretend this is Mistletoe?"
"Okay."
They never make it to the party.
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So, do you guys like Alan? I think he comes off as annoying to start, but you'll like him more later. Trust me.
Thanks for reading! Reviews are much appreciated!