Waffles & Coffee Chapter 3 - Families
Author: Willow
Summary: Donna's parents aren't too impressed with her news. Set around a month after chapter two.
Spoilers/Episode: Anything up to season 3.
Characters: Josh/Donna, ensemble
Rating: PG-13
Friday Evening. Georgetown, Washington.
It was just starting to rain as Sam and Josh turned into Josh's street. Sam turned up his collar. "Why do you have to walk to and from work?" he complained. "You've got a perfectly good parking space."
"It's good exercise. You're the one that's always going on about how we should exercise more." Of course Josh knew that their ideas of exercise differed somewhat. Sam liked the gym, where it was warm and dry. Josh hated the gym. He preferred to jog and to play basketball. So he walked to work most days and ran with CJ on as many Sundays as work allowed.
"Yes," Sam agreed, "but I meant in the gym. It's pouring down."
"It's a bit of rain. You won't melt," Josh laughed. "Anyway, I don't stop you from driving."
"But then I'd feel guilty, driving off and leaving you."
"So you should," Josh agreed, as the rain suddenly turned heavy. They both ran up the stoop and through the front door. When they entered the apartment and Josh threw his wet coat and backpack on the couch and grabbed a towel to dry his hair. "I'll make coffee. You want some pasta?"
"Please," Sam replied as he picked up Josh's coat and hung it next to his in the hall. "I'm going for a shower."
Josh smiled at Sam's compulsive tidying, and started dinner. It wasn't often he was home before 9pm and had to cook, so the food in his kitchen consisted mainly of produce with long shelf lives. Tonight they were having pasta with a jar of pour over tomato and pepperoni sauce. He placed the dish in the oven, took his coffee into the lounge and turned the TV on. A couple of minutes later Sam emerged from the bathroom. "When's Donna back?" he asked
"Tomorrow, I'm picking her up at 8.30."
"Why didn't you go with her? You could have taken a couple of days off."
"It's a Christening, it's a family thing."
"You're her boyfriend," Sam pointed out.
"'Cept her family don't know that."
"Why? You've been together a month. Your mom knows doesn't she?"
"Yeah, course she does. She thinks it's great. You know she likes Donna better than me," Josh smiled. His mother had been over the moon to hear that he'd finally started dating someone who cared about him and who she considered good enough for him. She'd met Donna after he was shot and they'd got along straight away. Now they talked on the phone a couple of times a week and emailed constantly. Yes, his mother very happy about the two of them. It seemed though that Donna's family weren't going to be quite so pleased.
"So why hasn't Donna told her family?" Sam interrupted Josh's thoughts.
"It's complicated," Josh sighed. "I'm her boss, I'm older than her," he strongly suspected that there was more to it than that, but he hadn't wanted to upset her by asking.
"I suppose," Sam sounded doubtful. "So you want me to go out tomorrow night?" he smiled.
Josh laughed; the last time they had lived together he was the one who had to find places to go while Sam brought girls back to the apartment. "Nah, we're not going to kick you out to walk the streets."
"You sure? I can go to Toby's."
"Yeah, okay then," Josh agreed with a grin. He could just imagine Toby's face if Sam turned up at his apartment because he and Donna want privacy. "I'm kidding. 'Course you don't have to go out."
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Saturday
Donna made herself a coffee, walked into her parent's lounge and switched on the television. She kept the volume low, it was only 7.30 and she didn't want to wake her parents. She'd known she wasn't going to enjoy this visit, she never enjoyed going home. She'd made excuses not to go home for Christmas and Thanksgiving for the last two years. But she could hardly avoid her niece's Christening, not when she was the godmother. It was always the same though, as soon as she arrived the questions began. 'When was she leaving Washington and coming home?' 'Shouldn't she go back to college and get qualifications then she could get a proper job?' 'Hasn't she met a nice man yet?'
Her parents, life long Republicans, appeared embarrassed that their youngest daughter was working for a Democratic Administration. When she first joined the Bartlet for America campaign they had thought it was a rebellious act caused by the break up of her relationship with Mark. When she left the campaign after a few weeks and came home, they had thought they'd been proved right. But the more time she spent with Mark and her family, with their small town minds and attitudes, the more they dismissed her ideas and beliefs as passing fads, the more she'd missed the campaign and the staff.
Then one night, she had been sat with her parents and Mark watching a program about immigrants who had come to America in the 30s and 40s from Europe. The presenter was arguing that America shouldn't have taken the immigrants permanently, that they should have been sent back once the war was over. Donna had been disgusted by that argument and by the fact the Mark and her parents had appeared to agree with it. When she'd told them what she thought of the program, they'd looked at her like she'd lost her mind. A massive argument ensued, and that was the moment she knew she didn't want to stay in the house any longer. When she'd crashed her car the next day and waited three hours for Mark to collect her, she'd made her decision. She'd caught a cab home, packed her bags, called CJ and found out where the Bartlet campaign was. Then she emptied her savings account and bought a ticket to meet up with them. She'd hardly been home since.
The question now of course was this. How was she going to tell her parents about her and Josh? How could she tell the people who'd agreed with that documentary five years ago, that she was dating and very much in love with Josh Lyman. A man who's family had fled Eastern Europe sixty years earlier and settled in America. Not only that, but he was Jewish.
She knew that you shouldn't compare your family with other peoples. But she did wish her parents could be more like Clara Lyman? Donna had been worried that Josh's mother wouldn't approve. She didn't doubt that Clara liked her. But Josh was a lawyer and a graduate of Harvard and Yale, Donna was a college drop out. He was Deputy Chief Of Staff of the White House, she was his assistant. He was Jewish, she was Protestant. But none of that mattered to Clara. Josh was happy, that was all that mattered.
Donna sighed, she could hear movement upstairs. She knew she had to tell them today.
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Sam was sat watching television when Josh got up. "Morning, the coffee's just made. You okay. Sleep alright?" he asked.
"Yeah, fine," Josh yawned, although in truth he'd hardly slept at all. "What was going on last night?" he asked.
"Mrs Malpas said there was a car accident down the street. Someone ran into a wall apparently."
"That would explain the noise then." The sirens and flashing lights had started at about 3. After that Josh had trouble getting back to sleep. When he eventually did, he dreamt of Rosslyn, a nightmare he hadn't had for a long time. "Good job it's Saturday. What time are we suppose to be in?"
"You really are lost without Donna aren't you?" Sam laughed. "We've got senior staff at 10. It's still raining, so we're driving," he said and answered the ringing phone. "Hey, Donna, how you doing?......... Yeah I'm fine thanks, I'll get him for you." Sam handed the receiver to Josh. "You want any food?"
"No thanks," Josh replied. "Hey, Donnatella," he smiled. "how are you?"
"I'm fine. Are you okay? You sound tired," Donna asked.
"Yeah. We didn't get much sleep, there was a accident down the street in the early hours. How was the christening?"
"Parents argued and the baby cried," she smiled.
"Normal christening then," Josh replied. "Having a good time?"
"No. I can't wait to get back. What you doing today? Don't forget Senior Staff at 10."
Josh laughed. "Sam reminded me. I'm running with CJ this afternoon. She seemed to think I'd be busy tomorrow morning."
"You have plans for tomorrow," Donna smiled.
"Thought I might go round to Leo's and help him with the Cooper notes," Josh joked. "Sam's offered to go out tonight," he said glancing at Sam.
"Tell him not to be stupid."
"Donna says don't be stupid," Josh told Sam. "What time you leaving?" he asked Donna.
"About 2."
"Have you spoken to them?" Josh asked.
"I'm going to do it this morning."
"I should have come with you."
Donna saw her mother standing in the doorway. "I have to go. I'll call you from the airport. I love you," she smiled.
"Love you. Speak to you later," Josh hung up.
"Why hasn't she told her parents about the two of you?" Sam asked again.
"I told you."
"There more to it isn't there?"
"Maybe," Josh sighed. "I'm going to get dressed."
"Who was that?" Jane Moss asked when her daughter hung up the phone.
Donna considered lying, but she has to tell them sometime. "Josh," she said.
"And that's the correct way to address your boss is it. Or was that a different Josh?" Donna could hear the hostility in her mother's voice.
"It's the correct way to address your boyfriend, and it was the same Josh," Donna answered.
"You're dating your boss?" Jane asked. "How long has this been going on?"
"A month," Donna replied and waited for the fireworks to begin.
"I knew this sort of thing would happen if we let you stay in Washington with those people."
"By, 'those people,' I assume you mean the US Government," Donna answered calmly. "And what 'sort of thing' do you imagine has happened? I'm not a child, I'm 29 years old for God's sake." She could feel herself getting angry now. 'Stay calm,' Josh would tell her. She tried to imagine him facing down angry Republicans and smiled to herself. "I've met a man who makes me happy. You're supposed to be pleased for me."
"Pleased?"
"Yes."
"And what about his bosses, what do they think. I wouldn't imagine they're too pleased that he's dating his secretary."
"Do you even know who he is or what he does?" Donna asked, not giving her mother chance to answer. "His only bosses are Leo McGarry and The President, and they're both very happy for us."
"What's going on?" Donna's father asked from the doorway.
"Donna has a boyfriend."
"Really, who?" Bill Moss asked suspiciously. As he looked at his wife's face he had a bad feeling about this.
"Ask her," Jane replied.
"Donna?"
"Josh Lyman," Donna replied, wondering why she suddenly felt 10 years old again.
"Josh Lyman, your boss?"
"Yes."
"Do you love him?"
"Yes."
"Okay then." Bill replied.
"What?" his daughter and wife both said together. Donna in amazement, Jane in anger.
"You can't be serious." Jane demanded, turning on her husband.
"Jane. She's 29 and she lives hundreds of miles away. We can't control her life."
"So you're happy about her seeing this man?" Jane asked.
"I wouldn't say he was my ideal choice, no," Bill replied.
"Well I'm sorry to disappoint you, yet again," Donna said angrily. "Josh and I are happy. His mother's happy. Our friends and colleagues are happy. Why do you dislike him so much?"
"I don't dislike him, Donna. He's very different to us is all."
"Really, in what way?" Donna baited him.
"Where do you want us to start?" her mother asked.
"Look forget it, I don't want to hear this. I'm going to pack."
Her mother followed her out of the room. "Why?" she asked, "because you don't want to hear the truth."
Donna swung around. "What does that mean?"
Jane hesitated. "He's your boss."
"We've covered that. You know his mother would have more reason to not approve of me, than you have to disapprove of her son." Donna glared at her parents.
"I don't see how a......"
Donna interrupted her father, before he could finish that sentence. "Josh is a graduate of Harvard and Yale. I dropped out of college after two years. He's had a very successful career in politics and is well respected in Washington. He's now the Deputy Chief Of Staff of the White House, that effectively makes him the third most powerful man in the country. I'm an assistant. This is my first real job."
"Where's his family from?" Jane asked.
"Josh was born in Connecticut," Donna replied, though she knew that wasn't what her mother meant.
"And his parents?"
"I'm going to pack now and go to the airport." Donna walked up the stairs to her room. She'd always known what her parents would think of Josh, but that didn't mean she wanted to hear them actually say it.
"Don't walk away in the middle of a discussion, Donnatella. Is that what you've learnt from four years with Democrats," her father called after her.
Donna sighed. "His parents?" she turned to face her mother and father. "His mother was born in New York, her parents came here in the 30s from Czechoslovakia. His father was born in Cracow. He was smuggled out by family friends in 1941. His grandfather survived Birkenau, though his grandmother their eldest son died." She watched her parents, but they said nothing. "You did know he was Jewish?" she asked innocently.
"We knew."
"His family came here with nothing. His father worked his was through law school, while supporting a wife and daughter. Personally I think that's something to be proud of."
"We can't stop you seeing this man," her mother told her. "But you needn't think you're bringing him here."
"Oh no, and I really wanted to," Donna replied sarcastically. "I'm sure he'd love to stay in a house with people who dislike him simply because he's Jewish. You'd have got on well with the people who shot him."
"That was uncalled for," her father said. "They were ignorant racists."
"And what are you?" Donna asked before walking up to her room to pack. She sat on the bed as tears ran down her cheeks.
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Josh stood near the arrivals gate and waited for Donna. He'd been at the airport for 2 hours because the flight was delayed, but he'd forgotten to check before he set off. He couldn't believe he was this excited about seeing her, she'd only been gone since Wednesday evening. He'd been away without her for longer than that and not missed her. 'Yeah right,' he thought 'who am I trying to kid?' He looked at his watch, 10.15. The plane should have landed by now. He wondered what her parents had said. Maybe he should have gone with her and confronted them. He knew that him being Donna's boss and older than her wasn't her parents only problem. She hadn't told him that much about them, but reading between the lines of what she had said, he was sure they weren't going to like her dating a Jew. That wasn't going to change how he felt about her, what worried him was what she would do if forced to choose between him and her family. His ego wasn't a big as everyone thought it was.
Donna looked out of the window as the plane touched down and taxied to the terminal. It had been a bad flight with a lot of turbulence and she was tired. She'd got to the airport at 11, which was too early anyway. Then the flight was delayed for two hours. Now she just wanted to curl up in bed with Josh and sleep while he held her. She hadn't spoken to her parents after the argument. There was nothing to say. Now she was worried about Josh. He was bound to ask her what her parents had said when she told them. How could she answer that? What would he think of her, knowing that her parents were the kind of people he hated. Much as she was looking forward to seeing him, she was also dreading it. She stood, collected her hand luggage and walked off the plane.
Josh saw Donna as she walked through the gate. A grin spread across his face and he walked up to her. She smiled and threw her arms around him. They hugged and kissed. Then he took her bag from her and they went to collect her luggage from the carousel.
"How was the flight?" Josh asked.
"Bumpy," Donna asked. "The man next to me was airsick. It was lovely," she smiled.
"So you won't want any food then?" he asked, as they walked to his car.
"God no," she agreed. "Let's just go home."
"Mine or yours."
"Yours," she smiled.
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When Sam got up at 9 on Sunday morning, Donna and Josh were still in bed. He quietly made himself some breakfast, showered, dressed and wrote them a note telling them that he'd gone to Toby's and would be back later in the afternoon. No matter what they'd said last night, he suspected they needed to talk.
Donna lay looking up at the ceiling, she heard Sam leave and she turned to face Josh, who was still asleep. He looked so peaceful, she smiled and kissed him gently on the cheek. He smiled slightly and turned to face her. "Morning, Joshua."
"How are you this morning?"
"Fine," she replied and leaned over and kissed him passionately on the lips when his cell phone rang.
"Ignore it," he told her.
"No. It might be important," she sighed.
"Shit," he muttered. "Josh Lyman," he answered the phone. "When..... Yeah, I'll be there in half an hour..... I dunno, I think he's still in bed...... yeah okay, see you."
"What?"
"There's a hitch with Cooper's amendment. I need to go in and see Leo."
"You know there's times when I wish you worked in the private sector in some nice 9 to 5 job," Donna groaned. "You have to go now don't you?"
"Sorry. It's not like I planned it. I won't be that long I promise."
"Fine."
"Donna. You know how it works, I'm sorry."
"I know, I missed you. I wanted to spend the day with you. I'll go home and unpack and get some clean stuff for tomorrow. I'll meet you back here later."
"You're not coming into the office with me?" he asked.
Donna hit him with a pillow and he rolled on top of her. "I'll tell Leo the car wouldn't start."
"You always walk."
"Who cares."
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Josh walked into Leo's office, to a knowing smile from Sam and CJ. "That was the longest half hour in history, Josh," Leo commented.
"Yeah sorry 'bout that," Josh replied, sitting down and trying not to grin. "What's going on?"
Three hours later they'd done all they could and they headed off home. "What are you two doing now?" Sam asked CJ and Toby.
"Going to get something to eat. You want to come?"
"Yeah. I think Josh and Donna would appreciate some time alone."
"They've only been apart three days," Toby said.
"They have things to talk about," Sam replied.
"Like what?" Toby asked.
"Don't be so nosey," CJ told him. "Has he gone then?"
"Yeah, I've never seen him so keen to leave work," Sam laughed.
They left the building and argued for 5 minutes about where to eat, eventually settling on CJ's apartment and pizza.
"I'm out of milk," CJ told them as they walked into her apartment.
"We just drove past half a dozen stores," Toby complained. "I'll go and get some," he turned and walked back out of the apartment.
"Are Josh and Donna okay?" CJ asked Sam.
"They're fine as far as I know."
"Do you know whether Donna's told her parents yet?"
"I think that maybe what they need to discuss," Sam said. "I get the feeling that they weren't going to be too impressed."
"No. That's what Donna thought. She's was pretty upset about it. She's been putting off telling them and telling him why."
"So what's their problem with him?" Sam asked, ready to leap to Josh's defense.
"I don't really know. Maybe it's because he's her boss?"
"Or maybe it's because he's Jewish?" Sam suggested.
"Maybe," CJ agreed.
"He's going to be pretty pissed if that's what it is," Sam said.
"Yeah I know. But not at Donna."
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"Okay," Josh said as he sat on the couch. "We've eaten. We've washed the dishes. We've tidied the kitchen. Now are you going to tell me what they said, or shall we vacuum the apartment first?"
"They were a little surprised," Donna said.
"Surprised. Or shocked and horrified?" Josh asked.
"They weren't that bad."
"Then why are you delaying telling me?" Josh watched Donna, but she said nothing. "It's okay," he sighed, "I can guess what they said." Donna was still quiet. "They weren't overly happy about you dating a Democrat, who happens to be your boss and 11 years older than you?" he suggested.
"Something like that," Donna looked at him.
"But there's more?" Josh asked. Donna nodded. She stood up and walks to the window. "Let me guess," Josh continued, "me being Jewish didn't go down overly well either."
"No," Donna turned to face him. She had to tell him everything, she knew that. It just wasn't that easy. She drew a steadying breath. "But it's not just a religious thing," she saw the look of disbelief on his face. "It's not," she said before he had chance to interrupt. "It's worse than that."
"Worse? What could be worse?"
"They have a problem with immigration," she said quietly, hoping that that would suffice, that she wouldn't have to spell it out for him. By the look of anger that flashed across his face, he'd certainly understood.
"They don't like the fact that my father was born in Poland?" he asked incredulously.
"I'm sorry. Really I am," Donna said, sitting back down next to him. "They're basically good people, Josh. They've always done their best for me and my brother and sister. They just have old fashioned views and opinions," she tells him, wondering to herself why she's defending them.
Josh glared at her, his eyes suddenly hard. "You're defending them to me? They don't like you dating me because I'm a Polish Jew and you're defending them?" he asked angrily.
"No, I'm just trying to explain," Donna replied. This was going worse than she'd imagined. "I should probably go."
Josh watched her stand up and walk to the door. He knew that was exactly what her parents, and everyone else who didn't approve, wanted to happen. He also knew that it wasn't what he wanted. This wasn't Donna's fault, she was in an impossible situation, one that he was just making worse. He stood and walked over to her. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have shouted," he said and took her coat off her and hung it back up, then put his arms around her shoulders and hugged her. "You're not responsible for your parents."
"Of course I am," Donna pulled away from him. "They're my family. They all think the same. I knew what they were going to say, that's why I put off telling them. I just didn't know how to tell you."
This was the part he'd been dreading. "Are they making you choose?" he asked.
"No," she replied quickly. She turned back to him and saw the fear in his eyes, she gently touched his face. "No. Even if they were it wouldn't matter. If they can't accept us then that's their problem not ours." She looked up at him with tears in her eyes. "You still want to be with me, after what I just told you?"
"How can you ask that? Of course I do. I know their views aren't yours. Donna, I love you. It's you I want to be with, not them. But next time you go to visit them, I'm coming with you." He saw the look in her eyes, "No, not to fight with them. I don't want to do that. They upset you and I want to be there with you."
"I wish you'd been there this time. I really do love you, Josh, and I'm not going to let them spoil that. But we can't pretend that the problem isn't there."
"Why? It's not like we're going to have to see them."
"What about your mom?"
"She lives in Florida, they live in Wisconsin. I think the chances of them meeting are remote," he smiled.
"That's not the point. She's going to ask about my family. What am I going to tell her?"
Something suddenly made sense to Josh. "You've been avoiding talking to her for a couple of weeks haven't you?"
"What's she said?"
"She thinks I'm working you too hard, you never have time to talk anymore. By the way, I'm a little surprised you ever had time to talk," he smiled. The smile faded, "She's not stupid, Donna, she can tell when someone's avoiding her."
"I know," Donna sighed. "But she will ask me and then what do I say?"
"You could lie."
"I can't, not to your mom."
"You want me to talk to her?" Josh suggested.
"What the hell would you say? 'Hey mom, guess what. Donna's parents dislike you because you're Jewish.' She'd love me then wouldn't she."
"I was thinking of something a little more subtle," Josh said, but the anger had returned to eyes. Although Donna knew it was aimed at her parents and not her, it still made her feel uncomfortable. "I'll tell her that you and your parents don't get on. I don't have to say why."
"She'll ask me."
Josh sighed, he had no idea how to handle this. He knows he mother likes Donna though and there was one thing that he hadn't told Donna yet. Now was as bad a time as any. "My mom's in Connecticut a week on Friday."
"Is she coming here?"
"Yes, on Saturday. It's her friends golden wedding anniversary, they're having a party on Friday night, then she's coming here."
Donna would normally be happy to see Clara Lyman, but not now, not after what her parents had said. "Is she staying here?"
"Is that a problem?" Josh asked, trying not to sound annoyed.
"No," Donna said. She smiled, "It'll be great to see her. I'm not going to let my family spoil things for us. If they can't accept who and what you are, then tough."
"Tough?" Josh smiled
"Shut up," Donna grinned. "Hey, do you know her friends? Couldn't we take a day off and crash the party?"
"I do," he smiled, "we use to live next door to them." He was thoughtful for a minute, "I'll talk to Leo and I'll see if my assistant can clear my schedule for the day."
"Oh, I'm sure she can. I've heard she's very capable," Donna laughed. "Come on," she took his hand and lead him to the bedroom. "There's not much of the weekend left. Let's not waste it."
Chapter 4, Ivory lace Or Timeless? ........
