Title: The Dance Is Over

Author: Lucy Mars

Disclaimer: No, not mine.

`~`~`~`~`~`~`

Chapter #7:

"Josh!" Abby grinned getting up and wrapping her arms around
him, "This is certainly a surprise."

"Hey you," Zoey laughed getting up too.

Watching as the table got up to greet Josh, Donna held Lola
as she tried to calm the raging bull in her stomach. She could do
this. He was a day early, but she could do this. Standing up with
Lola securely in her arms, Donna waited for the excitement to leave
the air. She certainly wasn't excited. Apprehensive and slightly
nauseous with the sudden situation, yes. Excited and happy about it?
Not so much, no.

Making his way through the crowd of friends, Josh finally
got down to Lola and Donna. Seeing the polite expression on her
face, Josh didn't know why he was so surprised to see how well
she
had mastered the mask that Toby had told him about. Maybe it was
because he couldn't believe it. Maybe it was because he
didn't want
to believe it. Most likely, it was probably because he'd always
remember Donna as the innocent among them. Well, it seemed she
wasn't so much anymore.

"Josh," Donna said coolly, as Lola squirmed in her arms and
reached out for Josh.

"Hey Donna," Josh said catching Lola waving arm. "Hi
Lola.
Hi there."

Giggling, Lola grabbed Josh's hand and tugged him closer to
herself and Donna.

Feeling her breath catch at the proximity of Josh, Donna
quickly took an automatic step back.

Trying to hide his disappointment, Josh didn't even notice
Jed and Leo enter the restaurant with their entourage.

"Joshua Lyman, is that you?"

Tearing his eyes away from Donna and her shocked expression,
Josh felt a grin split across his face at the picture before
him. "Hello Mr. President. Hey, Leo."

"Well look at you," Jed laughed wrapping his arms around
Josh.

"Look at you," Josh laughed, gesturing at the toys that the
two men were holding, "Where's a camera when you need one? I
mean,
how much does a picture of a former President holding a big teddy
bear go for these days?"

"These are for Lola," Jed laughed walking over to Dona and
Lola, "Hi Lola. This for you."

Giggling, Lola happily took the teddy bear and gave Jed a
big kiss.

"That's my girl." Jed laughed when Lola help up her held
it
up her new toy for her parents to see.

"Hey kid," Leo laughed giving Josh and brief hug, "you
look
like crap."

"Aww thanks, Leo." Josh replied, causing the entire table to
laugh, "Is that puppy for me?"

"You wish," Leo grinned leaning over to kiss Lola's
head, "Hi baby."

"Looolo," Lola babble reaching out and pulling Leo's
nose, "Lelo."

"LE-O," Leo corrected, "Le-o."

"She's just a kid," CJ laughed, "Leave my baby
alone."

"Sit, sit." Abby ordered.

"Okay," Sam said nervously leading Josh to the empty seats
beside Donna. Hesitating for a second, Sam immediately sat down in
the seat beside Donna when she glared up at him. "So," Sam
said
trying not to wither under Donna's look, "what's good
here?"


`~`~`~`

"And then," CJ laughed, "Toby almost fainted from
exhaustion
when they all left."

"Yes, laugh at my expense," Toby frowned feeding Lola, who
watched the table of people with fascination, "Go ahead. I
don't
mind."

"What I would have paid to see that," Leo laughed, "Toby
leading a play group of little girls. Did you guys play dress up?"

"Oh shut up," Toby growled.

"Did you drink tea?" Sam asked, "Did you do an English
accent for the little girls?"

"I still have those pictures, Sam." Toby reminded him.

"Shutting up." Sam said putting his hands up as a sign of
surrender.

"What pictures?" Zoey asked eagerly.

"Well," Toby started.

"Toby!" Sam yelped, his face flushing crimson.

Laughing, Toby bounced Lola on his knee. "I'm not saying
anything, relax."

"But you'll tell me later, right?" CJ asked in a stage
whisper.

"Totally," Toby grinned, kissing his wife.

"It's okay," Josh smile patting Sam's shoulder,
"We've all
seen those pictures."

"Josh!" Sam squeaked.

"Relax," Josh laughed, "I'm joking. I have no idea
what
pictures Toby's talking about."

Frowning at Josh, Sam sipped his coffee. Out of the corner
of his eye he could see Donna twisting her napkin in her lap.
She'd
been uncommonly quiet throughout the entire meal. Speaking when
spoken too, but not initiating any conversation. `Come to think
of
it,' Sam thought turning to look at his friend, `Josh had
been the
same. Not really talking much.' Before, these two would have been
the ones carrying the conversation. Now, they were trying to avoid
it. Bringing his hand down to cover Donna's hands, Sam gave her a
small smile when she looked up at him in surprise.

Returning Sam's smile, Donna let go of her hold on her
napkin.

"We need to get going," Zoey exclaimed looking down at her
watch.

"Where are you going?" Josh asked confused when Donna
immediately rose from her seat.

"One last fitting Joshua," Zoey grinned, "Bye
Charlie."

"Bye," Charlie blushed when Zoey kissed him quickly.

Slipping on her sunglasses, Donna studiously avoided making
eye contact with Josh as she picked Lola up and helped CJ with her
baby bag.

Catching Donna's arm before she could leave, Sam pulled her
close. "I'll call you later?" Sam asked, trying to keep
his voice
down.

"I'll be around." Donna shrugged keeping a tight hold on
Lola, and brushing a crumb off Sam's chin. "You're worse
than Lola."

"Yeah, yeah." Sam laughed, "Bye Lola."

"Say bye to Sam, Lola." Donna smiled waving her little arm
for her.

"Ba, ba!" Lola squealed, waving her teddy at her
father. "Dada, baba!"

"Bye baby." Toby laughed.

"Come on," Zoey urged ushering the ladies out of the
restaurant, "we can't be late."

Watching Donna disappear with Lola, Josh turned to
Sam. "What was that?"

"What was what?" Sam asked confused.

"'I'll call you later?'" Josh mimicked, "What was
that?"

"That was me telling Donna that I'd call her later." Sam
said, the poster boy of confusion, "Why?"

"Sam," Toby laughed, "Me thinks, Josh thinks, that you
and
Donna are, you know."

Looking at Toby with an expression of puzzlement, Sam
whipped his head to Josh when he got it. "What?!"

"What?" Josh asked, the confused one now.

"You think that Donna and I…are, that we're…" Sam
stuttered.

Shrugging, Josh pretended to be interested in his
drink. "What?"

"You're an idiot." Leo remarked, leaning back in his
seat.

"I second that." Jed grinned.

"What? Is that national gang up on Josh day?" Josh asked
frowning.

"You're being an idiot," Charlie shrugged,
"We're just
trying to knock some sense into you."

"For the record, I'd just like to state that I am not
sleeping with Donna." Sam said glaring at Josh, "Nor have I
ever
slept with Donna. I've never even thought about…"

"Sam!" Toby snapped, "We get the point."

"You can never too be clear for Josh." Sam grumbled.

"Why should you care who Donna sleeps with anyway?" Charlie
asked, "The word is that you're dating someone."

"Oh my god," Josh groaned, "Not that again. I'm not
seeing
Kathleen."

"But you're bringing her to my wedding?" Charlie asked
raising a disbelieving eyebrow.

"We're friends. FRIENDS." Josh enunciated.

"Uh huh," Leo said giving Jed a small smile, "Sure.
Whatever
you say."

"I'm serious!"

"You're ringing." Toby said dryly.

Snapping his phone open, Josh glared at the men sitting at
the table. "Hello?"

"Josh! Good. I need you to come now."

"Kathleen?" Josh asked confused.

"No, it's the tooth fairy. Yes it's me! I need you to
come,
now."

"Come where?" Josh asked ignoring the looks that he was
getting, "Okay. I'll be right there."

"Just friends, huh?" Toby asked as Josh got up.

"Shut up," Josh sighed, "I'll see you guys
later."


`~`~`~` ~`~`


"God," CJ frowned when Donna stepped out of her change
room, "I hate you."

"What?" Donna laughed, "Why?"

"You're boobs are still up there." CJ commented trying
to
keep Lola from ruining her dress.

Looking down at her chest, Donna shook her head. "You're
crazy, you know that?"

"She's right." Abby agreed, "I hate you."

"Okay, you two need to look away from my chest." Donna
smiled.

"Are you guys ready?" Zoey called out.

"Yes," Abby answered, "Now get out here!"

"Okay," Zoey laughed walking out in her wedding dress,
"So?
What do you think?"

"I think you look beautiful." Abby whispered.

"Don't," Zoey laughed, waving a finger at her mother,
"If
you cry, than I'll start."

"Okay," Abby laughed, "I'll stop."

"You look amazing," CJ and Donna agreed.

"Thanks." Zoey blushed, "I can't believe I'm
actually doing
this."

"Getting cold feet?" CJ teased holding Lola's hand.

"No," Zoey answered, "Never."

Watching the three women laugh and talk, Donna felt that
familiar tug in her chest. The one that had been sitting there since
Zoey and Charlie had announced their engagement. The one that
reminded her she wasn't getting any younger. The one that told
her
that she didn't have a prince. She didn't have a stable boy,
let
alone a prince.

"Da, dannn," Lola giggled tugging at Donna's dress.

Smiling down at the adorable child, Donna scooped her up
into her arms. "Hi Lola."

Yawning, Lola rested her head comfortably over Donna's
heart.

Feeling her heart skip a beat, Donna watched with amazement
as Lola melted into her embrace and slept without a care in the
world. Yup. There it was. That tugging was now an agonizing
yank. "Oh Lola," Donna whispered kissing the top of her head,
"I
want to be a mommy."

`~`~`~`

"Emergency?" Josh demanded, slightly breathless.

"Does this dress go with your suit?"

"What?!" Josh exclaimed, "That was your emergency?"

"The wedding is in two days," Kathleen pointed out calmly as
she pulled Josh in the direction of the change rooms, "and I need
a
dress."

"Kathleen," Josh groaned falling into a overstuffed
chair, "I don't care. You can wear whatever you want."

Frowning, Kathleen put her hands on her hips. "Listen
Joshua, I could always cop out of this pseudo date and let you be
fixed up with some second cousin."


"Go try it on," Josh sighed rubbing his eyes.

"Good boy," Kathleen smiled disappearing behind a door.

"What the hell have I gotten myself into?" Josh groaned
rubbing his face tiredly.

"Josh?"

His head snapping up in surprise, Josh couldn't help but
gape his mouth in surprise.

"Close your mouth," Abby ordered.

Snapping his mouth shut, Josh looked up nervously at Donna
cradling a sleeping Lola in her arms. "What are you guys doing
here?"

"Funny, I was just about to ask you the same thing." CJ
laughed, her arms full with dress bags.

"I'm…you see….I got a call, and …" Josh
stuttered nervously
running his hands through his hair.

"Tada!" Kathleen announced coming out of her change room in
a sleek and stunning black dress, "What do you think, Josh?"
Her
eyes bulging in surprise at her audience, Kathleen lowered her
arms. "Oh my god,"

"I second that." Zoey muttered looking at Donna and earning
a poke from her mother.

`This is not happening.' Josh thought watching something
quickly flicker over Donna's eyes.

"Abigail Bartlet," Abby introduced herself.

"Yes ma'am." Kathleen said excepting her hand,
"Kathleen
Piper, ma'am."

"It's nice to meet you." Abby smiled diplomatically.

Before Kathleen could reply, a cell phone started ringing
and a pager started beeping.

"Oh damn," Donna frowned looking down at Lola's sleeping
face.

"Here," Josh said taking Lola from Donna's arms when he
realized everyone else had their hands full.

"I thought you said that you turned them off," CJ frowned.

Smiling sheepishly, Donna shrugged her shoulders as she
grabbed her beeper off her belt and fished her cell phone out of her
bag. "I lied."

"Frank?" Zoey asked, amused by Donna's ability to juggle
her
cell phone and shut off her pager at the same time.

"Yeah," Donna nodded flipping open her phone, "Yeah
Frank?"

"Durbin needs to see you now."

"Now?" Donna sighed, clipping her pager back onto her belt
and grabbing her car keys.

"Now." Frank confirmed.

"I'll be right there." Donna promised. "I've got
to go."
Donna apologized.

"Go, go." Abby said waving her arms.

"Bye," Donna waved as she rushed out of the store.

"What was that?" Josh asked still holding Lola.

"Frank," Zoey said taking the sleeping child from Josh.

"Frank?" Josh asked confused.

"Frank." Zoey repeated, knowing full well that Josh was
getting the wrong idea.

"Who's…"

"We've got to go," Zoey said smiling innocently at
Josh, "Bye."

"B…bye." Josh said watching the four women walk out of
the
store.

"Well," Kathleen said running a hand over her dress,
"I'm
going to get this one."


`~`~`~`~`~`~`

Dumdumdum.................so, whatcha think?

-lucy
"http://lucy_mars.tripod.com"