Waffles & Coffee Chapter 6 - Meet The Neighbors
Author:
Willow
Summary: Josh takes Donna to Connecticut.
Spoilers/Episode: Anything up to season 3
Characters: Josh/Donna, ensemble
Rating: PG-13


Thursday, The White House

Donna stood in the doorway to Josh's office, "Josh, it's 3.15, we've got to leave soon."

"We've got plenty time," Josh protested.

"If we don't leave soon, we'll get stuck in traffic."

"It's a four hour drive, Donna. I think we're gonna get stuck at some point. Anyway Leo wants to see me," Josh told her, as he stood and walked to the door.

"You're not trying to get out of this are you?" Donna asked.

"No," Josh insisted.

"Okay," Donna replied a little doubtfully.

Josh walked through the West Wing to Leo's office. The main door was closed so he walked to Margaret's office. "Hey, Margaret."

"Hey, Josh, I thought you and Donna were going to Connecticut?"

"We are," Josh said, "but Leo wanted me."

"Donna thinks you don't want to go," Margaret told him.

"Why would she think that?"

"Well, you were suppose to leave at 12 at the latest, and it's now nearly 3.30."

"But that's on time for round here," Josh pointed out, with a smile.

"Are you trying to get out of going?"

"Can I go in?" Josh asked, indicating Leo's door.

"Yes."

"Thank you," Josh knocked lightly on the door and entered. "Leo, you wanted me?"

Leo looked up at Josh, "No."

"CJ said you'd asked if I was still here."

"I asked if you were still here, 'cos you should have left three hours ago," Leo told him.

"Oh," Josh said. "Okay. I should probably go then."

"Yeah. What time are you expected?"

"Well, my mom's staying with Val and Joe, but Donna and I are staying at a hotel in Bridgeport, so it doesn't really matter."

"Isn't your mom expecting you for dinner?"

"My mom hasn't expected me to be on time for anything since I was ten," Josh smiled.

"Good point," Leo agreed. "What are you waiting for then?"

"I don't know," Josh sighed. "It's gonna be hell, Leo. My mom's told them we're coming, so you know what that'll mean?"

"Yes, every parents favorite thing," Leo smiled. "Photos, cute stories, embarrassing stories."

"Yes," Josh sighed.

"Donna's going to have a great time," Leo told him.

"That's what I'm afraid of."

"You don't want her to have a good time?" Leo asked, trying hard not to grin.

"At my expense?" Josh asked. "Yeah, I guess. I should go."

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Josh had forgotten his medication, so they had to go to his apartment and collect it. It was just after 4.30 before they were finally driving out of Washington.

"Will you stop that," Josh said.

"What?" Donna asked.

"Glaring at me."

"You said you had everything."

"I know, I forgot them."

"You always carry them with you. You've been taking them for nearly two years."

"Will you leave me alone," Josh complained. "Who are you phoning?"

"Your mom, to let her know we've finally set off."

"Fine."

Donna put the phone down. "Why don't you want to go?" she asked.

"I do. I want to see my mom and it'll be nice to be in Connecticut again, it's just.... Joe and Val Jennings have known me since I was two."

"And they're going to embarrass you," Donna smiled.

"Yes."

"It'll be fun."

"It really won't," Josh sighed. "I'll tell you what though. If we're spending tonight and tomorrow with my mom and her friends, then that means we have to go to Wisconsin soon."

"I don't know."

"Hey, if I've got to be embarrassed...."

"It's not the same."

"I've got to meet them sometime," Josh pointed out.

"Why?"

"'Cos I'm your boyfriend."

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Somewhere on the I-95, 10.15pm

"Where are you going?" Donna asked.

"I'm taking the exit."

Donna watched the road sign go by and then stared at Josh. "Why have you taken exit 17?"

"Oh shit," he muttered.

"Yes."

"It's automatic."

"Not to read road signs?" Donna asked.

"I thought I was going to Westport. It doesn't matter, I'll turn round and rejoin."

"Do you know where you're going?"

"I forgot I was going to Bridgeport," Josh insisted.

"Yes," Donna replied. "Just like you forgot to buy gas."

"Yes, I'm an idiot. You're dating an imbecile. Does that make you feel better?" Josh snapped.

They rejoined the freeway and drove in silence for a few minutes, before Donna asked, "You know this reminds me of?"

"What?"

"Road trips when I was a kid," she sighed. "We'd sit in the back, while our parents argued over directions. I must be turning into my mother."

"Never," Josh smiled. "Although my dad did have a habit of forgetting to buy gas."

"We're our parents," Donna sighed.

"Why don't you want me to meet yours?" Josh asked.

"You know why."

"Because you never introduce your boyfriends to your family?" Josh asked. "Or because you don't introduce your Democrat, Jewish, immigrant boyfriends to your family?"

"I thought we'd discussed this."

"Yeah."

"Josh."

"I'm sorry." he said. "It's just, if I've got to suffer.... " he gamely attempted a smile.

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Holiday Inn, Bridgeport - 10.45PM

"I'll check us in, you phone your mom and tell her we've got here."

"It's nearly 11 o'clock."

"So?"

"She might be in bed."

"Phone her."

"Okay." Josh took out his cell phone and called his mother. "Hey mom."

"I almost hate to ask," Clara smiled. "Where are you?"

"We're just checking into the hotel," Josh replied.

"Is that the hotel in Bridgeport, or did you give up and stop en-route?"

"Very funny," Josh smiled. "We're going to go and have something to eat. I'll see you in the morning."

"See you tomorrow."

Josh hung up the phone and walked to the reception desk.

"Come on," Donna said. "Room service is 24 hours, we'll order some food from the room."

"This wasn't my fault," Josh protested, following Donna to the elevator.

Donna pushed the button and ignored Josh.

"Donna."

"You coming?" she asked, climbing in and pushing their floor.

"Yeah," Josh sighed.

They got out on the third floor and found their room. Donna took the key off Josh and opened the door. "What?" she asked. "I wasn't going to stand here for 10 minutes, while you decided you couldn't get it to work."

Josh smiled and followed Donna inside.

"Why are you smiling?" Donna asked.

"You know me too well," he replied.

Donna hid a smile. "Order some food," she told him. "I'm going for a shower."

"Akay," Josh grinned, throwing his bag on the bed and picking up the menu.

Thirty minutes later they were sat eating supper and watching the news. "I'm sorry," Josh said. "I didn't plan to run out of gas and get lost."

"I know."

"Good," Josh smiled. "Can we go to bed now."

"It's not even midnight yet, are you ill?"

"No. But then I don't plan on sleeping."

"Got a good book to read?" Donna smiled.

"Couple of reports," Josh replied, with a straight face.

"Okay, I'm going to watch the late movie," Donna says.

"I was kidding," Josh panicked.

"Idiot," Donna laughed. "Get undressed."

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Friday Morning, Holiday Inn, Bridgeport

The next morning they ate breakfast in their room and read the papers. "What time are we meeting my mom?" Josh asked Donna

"11."

"It's only 9.15, what do you want to do now?" he asked with a cheeky smile.

"No," Donna laughed. "Housekeeping'll be here soon."

"Yeah," he sighed. "Okay. You want to go to Westport now and have a walk round."

"Okay," Donna agreed. "You sure you can find the way?"

"Yeah, it's daylight, I'll be fine," he grinned.

An hour later they were walking along the beach near Westport. "You never struck me as a beach person," Donna smiled.

"Just this one."

"Childhood memories?"

"Yeah." He looked at his watch, "God, 12 hours from now and I'll be in hell," he muttered.

"It won't be that bad."

"Really?"

"You don't think I'm nervous."

"Why are you nervous?"

"Josh. Most of these people have known you your entire life. It's like, you're bringing a girl home for their approval."

"I don't need their approval," he said turning to face her. "Anyway, they'll love you."

"Really?"

"Are you fishing for compliments?" Josh asked.

"A little," Donna smiled. "Can I ask you a serious question?"

"Yeah," Josh sounded nervous.

"Does it..... I mean, will it matter that I'm not Jewish?"

"Who to?"

"Anyone."

"Well, I very much doubt that Joe and Val have invited Rabbi Glasman tonight, but you never know," he smiled.

"I'm serious."

"Donna. The only person with any right to care what religion you are is you."

"I know that. But, what about your mom?"

Josh looked a little puzzled, "Why would my mom care? Has she said something?"

"No."

"Then why'd you ask?"

"I just thought.... I don't know."

"My mom's not very religious, Donna. I don't think she's been to temple since my dad died."

"Yeah she has."

Josh looked surprised, "When?"

"When you were in the hospital. She went with Toby."

"I didn't know that."

"I know."

Josh was quiet for a minute. He didn't remember his mother ever being very religious. In fact he didn't remember either of his parents being. "She hardly ever attends temple."

"You were very ill," Donna reminded him. Then she surprised him further by saying, "I went with them."

"To Toby's temple?" Josh asked.

"Which is also your temple, but anyway, yes I did."

Josh smiled and took her hand, "Thank." He looks out across the water. "My mom really doesn't care what religion you are," he told her.

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Early Saturday Morning, Westport

"I've got to say that you made a very cute cub scout," Donna smiled, as they sat in the back of a taxi.

"What?" Josh asked nervously.

"Val was showing me a picture of you and her youngest in your uniforms."

Josh looked toward his mother, who was sat in the front trying very hard not to laugh. "I can't believe you told them all that I was coming and I was bringing Donna," he said.

"They always ask about you," Clara protested, with a smile. "I just happened to mention.... "

"Yes, thank you," Josh said, but he was smiling. "Still, there was no need for them to tell her stories about the things me, Tom and Mike got up to."

"Val was telling Donna stories about Tom, you just happened to be with him."

"Yes, and I could see that Tom was as thrilled by those stories as I was," Josh said.

"You were quite the rebel weren't you?" Donna smiled.

"Was I?" Josh asked suspiciously.

"Oh yeah, the things you did," Donna grinned. "Throwing snow balls at Mrs Rogerson's front door 'cos she wouldn't give you your ball back."

"Hey," Josh protested, "I was ten. Anyway, she wasn't some frail little old lady. She use to puncture the balls with scissors and then give us lectures on being responsible."

"So you thought the best way to show her you were, was to pelt her front door with snow balls?" Donna asked.

"I was ten," Josh repeated.

"Yet she always caught you and Tom. Funny how Mike got away every time," Clara commented.

"Well that'll be why he made it into the FBI," Josh replied.

Donna turned and looked at him. "Mike, is Mike?" she asked. "As in Mike Casper?"

"Yeah," Josh replied.

"Special Agent Mike Casper is the same Mike who fell out of a tree and broke both his arms trying to get your ball down?"

"Mrs Rogerson had threatened to call the police if we didn't stop throwing sticks up at it. Anyway, we didn't make him climb up," Josh protested. "You know, I knew tonight was going to be hell."

"You enjoyed yourself," Donna told him.

Josh grinned, "Yeah I did. Did you?"

"Yeah. I especially liked the story of you, Tom and Mike racing on your bikes along the lanes," Donna smiled. "You know, Josh, if you turn the handle bars of the bike it'll go round the corner, there's no need to ride straight through the hedge and into the ditch."

"My brakes wouldn't work."

"Of course," Donna smiled indulgently as they arrive at Jennings house and pulled up behind another taxi.

"I'll see you both in the morning," Clara told them as she opened the taxi door.

"Night," Donna said. "Thank you for letting me come, it was very informative," she grinned.

Clara smiled, "Oh there's plenty more to learn yet."

"No there isn't," Josh insisted. He followed his mother out of the taxi. "What time do you want us to pick you up?"

"About 11 o'clock?" Clara suggested.

"See you then," he replied, giving her a quick hug. "Night guys," he called to the Jennings, as they wait on their front path for Clara. "And thanks."

"Anytime, Josh," Joe laughed.

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Saturday 9am, Holiday Inn, Bridgeport

"I didn't realize who they were," Donna said, as they eat breakfast in the hotel room.

"Who?" Josh asked.

"The Jennings."

"Okay."

"They were your neighbors."

"Yeah, I told you."

"When you were a kid."

"That's right."

"They were..... during the fire, it was their house you went to."

"Yeah, it was," Josh agreed quietly. "What time do we have to check out?"

"By 10. Are we picking your mom up at Val and Joe's?"

Josh looked at Donna and smiled. "Yes we are, but I'm not letting you in the house."

"I can't not go in, that'd be rude."

Josh grinned, "You just want to swap stories."

"But I've so much to tell them," Donna protested with a smile. "You and Sam getting lost in Boston and having to sleep in a park, the time you fell off your chair.... "

"I didn't fall of it, it wasn't there."

"And you think that puts you in a better light?" Donna laughed.

"You know, all I had was a chair with a squeaky wheel and you nearly put me in the hospital," he grinned, but he saw Donna's smile fade. "Hey," he said, "what's wrong?"

"Nothing, it's just, that was August 7th 2000."

"I know." He was quiet for a few seconds while he drank his coffee, then he smiled, "Anyway, I could tell them stories about you."

"You couldn't tell them anything to rival the yellow all weather gear."

"You go your arm stuck in a letter box," Josh reminded her.

"At least I've never forgotten where my mother lives," Donna replied with a grin.

"You know, there really was no reason to tell her about that."

Chapter 7 - Spike..........