Disclaimer: I don't own The West Wing, just a random Joshatella lover. I know I already did a chapter about them, but I can't seem to get enough. "Hi, I'm ShawnLassiter56, and I'm a Joshatella addict." Sorry, back to the topic at hand: I'm running low on couples. Pretty pretty please with the finest muffins and bagels on top, give me suggestions!

Donnatella Moss and Joshua Lyman

Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder

3 days. Donna's been gone for three whole days.

It's not that I miss her, I mean; I just spent a whole day without hearing a prominent part of the government compared to a diet plan. I'm happy, of course. Why wouldn't I be? She's my assistant. She's good at her job but the world won't end because she's visiting her parents for a week. It's just that, you know, she's good with scheduling and stuff like that. I don't miss her; I just miss her debatable knack for...I don't know, Donna stuff.

Day 4 of what Sam has dubbed "the Drought of Donnatella."

It was nice having her here. She's a familiar, friendly-ish face. Her sub is starting get to me. She has this crazy red hair, and she always seems high. She keeps telling me to "be myself, no matter what the man says." I don't know who the man is, I don't know what he says, but damn, does this girl dig it. I miss having my occasionally down to earth blonde assistant. I don't miss her, I miss her presence. That's all.

Day 5, compadre.

CJ says I miss her. Toby does, too. So do the President and the First Lady. Sam agrees, but they've all read Lady Chatterley's Lover one too many times. Donna and I aren't "star-crossed, secret lovers, entangled in a steamy affair" as CJ loves to put it. I'm her boss, she's my assistant. Nothing romantic about it. Her sub, Lana, has now made herself comfortable. She's been playing Kumbayah on repeat for the last 2 hours. I don't miss Donna; I just miss her relative, limited sanity. Nothing more.

Here we are. Day 6.

My computer's broken. The same thing happens to it once a week and Donna always fixes it. Lana is beyond clueless in the mystical, far out world of electronics. I'm waiting for the maintenance guys to get here. It's taking too long. If Donna were here, I could be working. Working, I tell you! She comes home tomorrow. Sam says I should get her a gift, but she would get ideas, and we all know what happens when women get ideas. I mean, I would imply that I really missed her. I only miss her a little. Just a tad.

The 7th day has come.

I'm starting to seriously wonder how Lana got this job. I mean, she's fine with the work and everything, but she's certifiable. However, I will be free of her by tomorrow. Donna touches down at 5:30, and she's gonna come in at 6 to start catching up. I'm sort of hap—no, happy's not the right word. I guess I'm just relieved. Back to as normal as we get around here. It's going to be weird when she gets back. We're gonna hug, and I'm gonna ask how it was, and she'll say that it was good and tell a long-winded story about cheese. Then we'll be awkward for a few seconds, then life will resume like she never left. I always feel bad when that happens, like, I feel like it should be acknowledged more, but I sure as hell won't be the one to do it.

"Hi, are you Lana?" I hear familiar voice outside my office. "I'm Donna Moss. Did Josh verbally abuse you?" Yeah, that's her.

I walk out of my office, careful not to look too excited. "Donna! You're back!" I reach out and hug her. She smells like flowers and...barf bags.

"Yeah, I am! What did I miss?"

"Well, CJ is on a short sabbatical due to press room trauma, Toby and Andy got remarried on Wednesday and Sam and Zoey eloped."

"You're kidding."

"Yes, I am. Welcome home, Donnatella. How was the trip?" Okay, a little humor. That's good. Very normal, not clingy at all.

"It was long. The weather's been abysmal back home, and my aunt's got the flu. Did you miss me?"

"I don't know, Lana has such a gift, I hardly noticed you were gone." Lana blushes profusely under her sunhat. Skillfully dodged, Lyman.

"I should be leaving. Nice to meet you, Donna. Remember what I said, Joshua." Lana makes her long-awaited exit.

Donna smiles. "It's so good to be home. I missed you guys!" She gives me an expectant look, like she wants me to say it back.

"Well, I have a stack of paperwork that's got your name on it." She gives me a little bit of a look, but then she nods her head.

"Alright."

Later that night...

Donna's outside my office, pulling her coat on and wielding her purse.

"Leaving so early?" I call from my desk.

She rolls eyes. "Joshua, it's 1:30. Some of us need sleep."

Damn, it is. I have this strange urge to keep her hear, but she might kill me if I don't let her go. Dilemmas, dilemmas. "Sleep is for the weak."

"No, sleep is for the human. Oh, Josh?"

"Yeah?"

"You dodged my question earlier."

"What question?"

"Did you miss me?"

"Um, well—"

"Josh." She glares at me sternly.

I sigh. "Yes, I missed you." Might as well. Bad things will happen if I say no. Not that I mean it or anything.

She grins. "I missed you, too. G'night, Josh."

"Goodnight, Donnatella."

I watch her turn her back and leave, and slowly disappear from my sight. I feel something. I think it's—no, couldn't be. This is Donna. Donnatella Moss, queen of the lunatics. I don't like Donna. That would be crazy. I mean, yes, she's an attractive woman, I guess, and she's smart but—oh, damnit. I like Donna.