A/N – Here's the next chappie, it's amazingly long! I knew where I wanted to end it and it did end there, almost 1800 words later. I hope u guys will enjoy it!! Thanks to Sydney, allybd and Em for ur reviews, they mean a lot to me. Please keep reviewing!!
Disclaimer – I don't own any of the West Wing characters but I do own Donna's family.
The car ride was so far amazingly long and painful for Josh. He felt like a complete idiot for blowing it with Donna's father and now wanted nothing better than to go home. Andrea seemed very nice though, he could tell Donna got her kind nature from her mother. Definitely not from her father.
As he thought this Mr. Moss briefly turned around and glared at Josh, as if reading his mind. Josh gulped, and decided to say something. Maybe it would make his stomach stop churning.
"Well, this is a beautiful city. How long have you lived here, Mr. Moss?" Josh asked, making a small attempt at conversation.
"Since Donnatella was born, actually." he replied, and Josh thought that Mr. Moss might be smiling.
Josh smiled back, "Wow, that's a long time."
Mr. Moss' smile disappeared, "Yes, well, not that long of a time. She's not that old, young man."
Josh inwardly groaned. Twice now. What next?!
"I didn't mean it that way, Mr. Moss, I assure you." Josh said, trying to fix the situation as fast as possible.
Donna put her head on Josh's shoulder and sighed.
"Come now, Thomas. I'm sure Josh is well aware of Donna's age, he was just trying to talk with you. He's making some sort of an effort!" Andrea scolded from the passenger seat.
Josh's eyes widened slightly. He could also see where Donna got her methods from…the two women were very alike.
Mr. Moss sighed, "Yes, I'm sorry dear."
When she didn't reply and stared at him, he sighed again.
"I'm sorry Josh." he said reluctantly.
"No problem, sir." Josh said nervously.
What else could he say? No, I don't accept your apology, Mr. Moss but I'd like to ask your permission to marry your daughter? He wasn't that much of an idiot.
There was a short silence before Donna spoke up.
"So Mama, who's at the house waiting?" she asked cheerfully, sitting up.
"Well, Clare and the rascals are there at the moment, Tony's coming later on; Fiona's making dinner for us and Anne and Bobby are stopping by later." Andrea smiled, counting her children off on her fingers.
Donna grinned, "Oh, I'm so excited! I haven't seen them for so long!"
Josh looked back and forth between the two women and had to smile. If anything, his visit would be eventful.
"I can't wait for you to meet them, Josh!" Donna exclaimed, grinning at him.
"Me too! It sounds like you have a wonderful family. And judging from the two members I've already met, I most certainly can't wait." Josh grinned back, trying his charm. Hey, it had worked on Donna.
Sure enough, Andrea beamed.
"Why, thank you Joshua! Aren't you sweet!" she replied, smiling.
He noticed Donna rolling her eyes and grinned. He put her arm around her and she gave him a quick peck on the cheek.
"We're almost there," Donna said, looking out the window.
Donna and her mother started to talk about the neighbours and who was still living in the area. Josh tried to listen intently but was also trying to figure out how to phone Sam when he got there. He finally decided that he would excuse himself and go to the washroom, bringing his cell phone with him and then phone from there. Josh grinned to himself. He was always up for some 007!
The slam of a car door brought him back to reality, and he was startled to realize that they were there.
Donna was smiling at him and he dangerously leaned in for a quick kiss. Wow, this James Bond stuff was certainly affecting him. Astonishingly, neither of her parents noticed and Josh grinned.
"Don't even think it, Joshua." Donna said, as she got out of the car.
"Think what?" Josh replied innocently, grinning.
She looked at him pointedly, "You are not, nor will ever be, James Bond."
He stared at her, amazed, then started to protest.
"That's not true!" he whined, "Come on Donna! I'm almost exactly like him!"
"You know, Josh," she said, chuckling as she handed him one of their suitcases, "I'm not even going to try to argue you."
Josh smirked, "Thank you."
As they walked towards the house, her parents a little ahead of them, he heard her mutter something under her breath.
"What?" he asked, knowing she had said something about James Bond.
She grinned up at him, "Nothing, sweetheart."
When she batted her eyelashes at him, he laughed.
"You know, Donnatella," he grinned back, "I'm not even going to ask."
"Good Joshua." Donna laughed, "You're learning."
"I try, Donna, I try," he replied, as they reached the front door.
Andrea turned around to face them, and smiled at Josh.
"Now don't you worry about anything my children say to you, they're just out for some good fun most times. They don't mean it." she told Josh, her eyes sparkling, "And if it ever gets out of hand, you just let me know."
Josh laughed nervously, "Ok, Andrea, I will."
Andrea nodded in satisfaction and opened the door, her husband right behind her.
"We're home!" she called, putting a suitcase down.
Josh followed suit and waited, glancing around the house.
It seemed like a large house, not as big as a mansion but certainly big enough to raise four children comfortably. As he stood in the front hall, he took note that the kitchen was off to the right, living room to the left and the stairs were straight ahead. There were numerous paintings on the wall, and it looked like the same author did them all.
He didn't have a chance to reflect on this further as suddenly three children came running down the stairs in front of him, nearly crashing into him.
The oldest was a brown-haired girl, who looked about seven. She stared up at Josh and then grinned.
"Sorry, mister. I'm Anabelle!" she stuck out her hand to shake Josh's with a smile on her face.
Josh smiled back and shook her hand, "Hi Anabelle, I'm Josh."
The girl smiled at him for a moment and then turned to Donna.
"I like him, Aunt Donna. You have my approval." Anabelle stated.
She gave her aunt a quick hug and then skipped into the kitchen. Donna just chuckled, and then turned her gaze on the other two kids who had been standing in the corner shyly, watching the encounter. They looked to Josh like they were no more than four years old. Donna stepped forward and smiled at them.
"Hey there Kaylie, Pat. Do you remember me?" she asked softly.
The young girl searched Donna's face and then a smile brightened her face as she nodded. She whispered something in her brother's ear and he too grinned.
"Aun' Don!" Kaylie squealed, rushing to Donna and giving her a hug.
Pat wasn't far behind and Donna picked them both up, laughing. Josh smiled as he watched Donna with the children. She seemed so at ease with them, and suddenly he could picture her with their children.
Woah, he thought, let's stick to engaged for now.
A woman hurriedly came down the stairs, and then relaxed when she saw Donna with the children. Donna looked up the woman and grinned.
"Clare!" she exclaimed, putting her nephew and niece down and giving her older sister a hug, "It's been so long!"
"I know, sis, it really has." Clare pulled back and looked at Donna, then turned to Josh, "And this must be Josh. Good to finally meet you!"
Surprising Josh, she gave him a huge and then smirked at him.
"You know, we've heard a lot about you." she said slyly, but Donna glared at her sister.
"Now, don't start." she warned, glancing at Josh.
Josh laughed, "As much as I'd love to hear about what Donna's told you about me, I have to use the bathroom."
Donna sighed in relief, "Up the stairs and first door on the right."
"Thanks," he replied, giving her a kiss on the cheek.
As he walked up the stairs, he made sure he had his cell phone in his back pocket. He grinned, yep, still there. Wow, this was too easy. His walk developed into a strut as he reached the bathroom and he casually shut the bathroom door, locked it and pulled out his cell phone.
Josh dialled Sam's office number and waited while Ginger put him through.
"Josh, buddy!" Sam exclaimed.
"Hey there. I'm in a bathroom at Donna's house, so I can't talk loudly." Josh whispered, sitting down on the edge of the bathtub.
"O-kay, anything wrong?" Sam asked slowly.
"Well…Sam, what was I thinking?!" Josh said, running his hands through his hair, "I can't do this! Her father already hates me!"
He heard Sam chuckle on the other line, "Wow, Josh, that must be a record. But remember – you love Donna? You can do this…unless you don't want to marry her anymore…"
Josh shook his head violently, even though Sam couldn't see him.
"No, no! Of course not! I love her so much and I want nothing else!" he answered, getting louder.
"Okay then. Go for it!" Sam advised calmly.
There was a knock on the door and Josh jumped.
"Just a sec," he whispered into the phone, "Someone's at the door."
"Okay," Sam whispered back, laughing.
Josh fought the urge to tell him to shut up as he left the cell phone on the floor and went to open the door.
Donna stood there, grinning at him.
"You alright?" she asked, "We heard you yelling from downstairs."
"Um, yeah." he replied, "I'll be down in a sec, I promise."
Donna nodded, "Okay. Tell Sam I say hi."
He stood bewildered and then cried after her, "How do you do that?!"
"It comes with the territory of loving you." Donna laughed as she went down the stairs.
Josh shook his head and closed the door.
"Gotta go, Sam. That was Donna, she says hi." he said after he'd picked up the phone.
"I know," Sam sounded like he was laughing really hard on the other end, "I heard every word…ah, Josh…you certainly provide entertainment around here. Have fun!"
"Ha ha, thanks. Talk to you soon!" Josh quickly hung up and went back downstairs.
Time to go back into the ring.