Chapter 7: Will You?

Josh stared into Donna's eyes. She smiled back.

"Donna, I'm going to need some help, I don't know anything about babies," Josh admitted.

"What are you asking me Josh?" Donna asked simply.

"Will you help me learn how to be a parent; would you be this child's mom?" Josh couldn't believe that came out.

Donna's POV:
Wait, he just asked me if I wanted to be a mom. So we would be Donna and Josh, mom and dad. Wow, this is amazing.

"Josh, you're sure?" I can hardly believe he wants me in his life.

"Yeah, I'm sure," he meets my eyes and I can see his hope.

"Yes, yes I will," I hadn't imagined that I would be so involved with this, but here I am, Mommy Donna.

He tucks my hair behind my ear and grins, "Thank you," he looks so grateful.

"Josh," I want him to kiss me, this time I really do.

"Yeah," he studies me.

"What does this mean?" I don't know if this is supposed to change our relationship in an understood way or not.

"What?" he looks confused.

"What are we going to tell people, if I'm going to be the mom here, we have to have some story," I wait for him to give me feedback.

Josh's POV:
It's a valid question; I suppose I hadn't really thought of it that way. The press would have a field day.
"We'll figure something out," I reassure her.

"Really?" she looks hopeful.

"Yeah, right now we've got work to do," I turn and walk away.
Suddenly I stop, wait a minute, this is Donna. This is my Donna, who cares that we're in the middle of a campaign. Struck by a sudden boldness I didn't know I had, I turn back around intent on sweeping her up in my arms and kissing her passionately, but she's gone. Shaking my head I make my way back to the office.

Amy's POV:

It's going to be a long hard haul to the end. The doctors give me a year tops that means I might have a chance to get to know my child. Then I consider it and realize that that' the optimistic outlook. Josh sounded nervous but then once I suggested Donna's involvement he had sounded less so. Well, I guess the thought of broaching that topic with her didn't sound like a walk in the park. I know how Donna Moss thinks though; I knew she loved Josh all those years ago when Josh and I were together. I knew that she watched out for him in a way I never could. I suppose she considered that her job, but I never appreciated the way he would go to her if something went really wrong. They had been a good team and still are, but things have changed between them yet again. For the early days of the campaign when I worked briefly with Santos, I would watch Josh. He was afraid of me then, but we were over and I think he eventually took comfort in the fact that I saw the truth in that as well. Then I knew something had changed Donna wasn't there. Donna wasn't around keeping him together, and without her, Josh was barely holding his own life up around him. He's happier now, I can see it in his eyes and I wouldn't change that.

Leo's POV:

I watch Josh stop in the hallway after walking away from Donna and turn. She's not still there, I saw her face as he walked away, and it held an expression of hope and regret. Would he ever act on his feelings for her? I shake my head and look back down at the electoral map. Josh walks up to me looking stressed, "Can we talk?"

"Sure," I gesture towards the empty seat.

"Leo, I'm going to be a dad," he looks up at me.

I don't know how I manage not to react; I take a moment to compose myself.

"I see," I tilt my head studying the young man.

"Is it Donna's?" I couldn't resist, it does make sense.
Josh's eyebrows almost rise off his forehead, "What!"

"Well?" I smirk at him.

"NO Leo," he takes a breathe, "I'm the godfather to Amy Gardener's child."
I have so many questions I don't know where to start, but after years of working and subtly guiding Josh I've learned that he'll take his own time.

"She's sick Leo," his face saddens and I know that even though they've been over for a long time, he's still afraid of losing someone else.

"She's also pregnant and she came to me asking if I'd adopt her baby, or raise it," Josh sighed deeply.

"Josh, you said yes?" I can't keep my voice level at that explanation.

"Yes I did, she told me I was someone who really treated her right, that she could trust with her baby," Josh cracked a small smile, "interesting isn't it considering our actual relationship?"

I didn't respond to that, he doesn't need my opinion on him and Amy. That is something that's best left in the closet so to speak.

"Where does Donna come into this," I almost hate to ask.

"Donna is going to help me, she's going to be a mom," Josh looks truly content when he says that and I realize yet again that Donna Moss truly has Josh Lyman wrapped around her heart. He'll never let her go, nor will he easily admit that he can't afford to.

"Josh, I don't need to tell you that this is going to make headlines," I don't know if he actually cares.

"It won't be until after the election Leo," he hesitates, "She's only about two months along and the doctors are giving her about a year."

"Okay Josh, what's really going on with Donna," I prod; this kid is hopeless, seriously.

He drops his eyes, "Leo I don't know what you're talking about," he resists.

"Oh please," even I don't have enough patience for this.

"It's complicated," he flubs.

"No Josh, it's simple, it's only in your head now that it's complicated. She doesn't work for you, she works for Santos." Surely he knows this by now.

He lifts his head, "But Leo, it'll still…"

"Don't keep doing this to yourself Josh, it's not fair to her," I'll not soon forget the look of longing on Donna's face as he walked away from her.
"Leo I'm not even sure she feels the…" he protests again.

"Joshua Lyman, you are blind to Donna's feelings, do you trust me?"
"Of course I do," he looks surprised.

"Donna loves you," I watch his face; he has to understand that I'm not kidding with him anymore.