The Fourth of July...
It had been months since she'd last seen Josh, Donna pondered as she pinned up her hair. But being his friend helped. It was hesitant at first. Neither one of them would know what to say when the other one called...just basic stuff like that. But with patience and practice, they made it work. Donna Moss once again knew all of the intricacies of Josh Lyman's life and she couldn't have been happier. Josh would call her when he was "da man" at the office and she'd call him for help on a paper. It was odd...yet comfortable.
Life seemed to get easier for both of them too. Josh was less agitated and Donna more outgoing. It was an odd relationship, of course. Amy couldn't really deal with it. She had known that things were not right for a while. And once they got back to DC in March, she suggested they go back to being friends and make their relationship entirely platonic. A blow like that would have normally sent Josh into an uncontrollable tailspin. But he'd begun seeing Stanley weekly, as per Toby's insistence, and he had an outlet in Donna. Instead, he told Amy that he appreciated her honesty and ability to see them for what they were. They still saw each other because of work and functions, but that was that and Josh couldn't have been more pleased.
Michael had some adjustments to make as well. He had, in fact, encouraged Donna to keep in touch with her old friends and he knew that Josh was part of that package. He didn't realize that her friends kept such horrid hours, of course, when the original suggestion was made. It was commonplace for Donna's phone to be ringing at 3 or 4 o'clock in the morning - and the call was either a good night or a good morning one. She would talk to CJ and Mallory and Margaret at least once a week. Then, of course, there was the occasional chat with Toby or Sam. And last but not least, the constant banter with Josh. Michael had to laugh sometimes because it seemed that Josh would call to get Donna to sing his praises more often than not. But Michael couldn't complain. The last few months had been great. Donna was happy almost all of the time. She was involved in the campaign - albeit for the wrong party he often told her - but still involved. She had one summer class and her and Zoey had been hanging out at Zoey's parents' farmhouse more often recently because of the lake on the property. He and Donna had also become closer. He loved her and he could definitely envision sharing his life with her. Before she had always been a little hesitant around him and now she wasn't at all. She was comfortable and that made him smile. And later, when he asked her to marry him and she accepted, he thought, all would be right with the world.
"Almost ready, babe?" Michael asked her as he stuck his head into her room while she was inspecting herself in the full length mirror.
"Uh huh," she smiled at him and threw her arms around him for a tight hug. "Are you sure you can't come to the picnic tonight?"
"Yeah, baby," he said with a sigh. "But I want you to go...all your friends will be there."
"But...you won't be," she pouted as her cell phone rang. "What?" she said into it.
"We'll be at the hotel in like an hour," Josh told her. "Don't be late. We like to be greeted."
"We'll be there," she smiled. "Michael's coming this afternoon, then he's off to see his mother in Vermont for a couple of weeks," she whined. "Thank goodness you guys'll be here for like a week or so...I think I'd drive Zoey crazy," she laughed as Michael kissed her head and drug her outside.
"Well...you and Michael get your asses down here," Josh commanded with a grin.
"You called him Michael," Donna said astounded.
"I am a quick learner," Josh supplied as he hung up.
"He's an idiot," Donna laughed.
"But he makes you laugh, so I like him," Michael told her with a grin.
"I love you," Donna told him as she climbed in his car.
"And I adore you," he told her getting in on the drivers' side.
She leaned over and kissed him soundly on the mouth and he melted into the kiss.
"Donna," he whispered as he pulled back a little for air. "Marry me."
"What?" she asked, thinking she heard wrong. "Are you serious?"
"I love you, Donna Moss. I think you're the most amazing woman in the world and I want to spend my life with you and only you," he told her. "Would you please do me the honor of becoming my wife?" he asked, presenting her with a ring.
Donna looked from the ring to the Michael and back again. She looked up into his eyes and smiled at him with tears glistening down her cheeks. "When?" she asked simply holding out her left hand in anticipation of the ring.
"I love you," he told her as he wrapped his arms around her.
"I love you, too," she smiled.
Donna was happy, she decided. Michael was a good man. He loved her. She loved him. They got along. He learned to appreciate her friends and her beliefs. She could depend on him. When he said he'd be there - he was. He kept to a strict schedule and he was predictable. He was the anti-Josh, she thought with a smile. Wait, she wondered, why the hell she was thinking in terms of Josh...anti or otherwise. This can't be good, she pondered. Then she relaxed when she thought that it must be because he's in town or whatever. That's all. No worries.
Josh made it to the hotel quickly, in anticipation of Donna's arrival. He missed her and couldn't wait to put his arms around her once again. He made it up to his suite and was confused. "Zoey?" he asked when he walked in and saw cake and balloons everywhere. "Did I miss a birthday?"
"No silly. Donna and Michael got engaged this morning," Zoey explained. "I am throwing them a "yay party," she told him, like it was obvious.
"So this is a good thing?" Josh asked.
"Joshua," Zoey warned. "Don't do this to her."
"Don't do what?" Josh asked.
"Don't make her feel bad about this," Zoey told him. "She's been happy these last few months. And Michael really does love her."
"I know," Josh said. "I get that, Zoe. I just want her happy, too. If this makes her happy...then great. I'll dance at their wedding."
"You really won't," Zoey laughed.
"I am thinking, no," Josh conceded.
"Cause you're still..." Zoey hedged.
"Cause I'm still?" Josh asked.
"You still love her," Zoey smiled sadly.
"When did you become so perceptive, Ms Bartlet?" he asked.
"Charlie brings it out in me," she giggled. "Now...don't leave...I'm bringing everyone back here for Donna and Michael's party," she informed him.
Donna and Michael made it up to Josh's room before Zoey and her gang returned. So they found Josh alone in the room with balloons and cake. He was running his index finger around the side of the cake to taste some of the frosting. "Josh?" Donna asked, startling him.
Josh turned around and quickly licked the icing off his finger. "Um...surprise? Congrats? Zoey said it was a 'yay' party so I am not really sure what to say...yay, maybe?"
Donna looked at Josh and noticed that his smiled didn't quite reach his eyes. He knows, she concluded. "How did you find out already?" she asked, trying to seem upbeat.
"Um...Zoey told me," he admitted.
"I called Zoey earlier and told her today would be the day," Michael told her. "I was going to call and let her know if you said no, of course."
"Congratulations, Donnatella," Josh smiled softly at her and reached to hug her.
"Thanks, Josh," Donna whispered, suddenly realizing that the reason the proposal wasn't pure perfection was because Michael called her Donna and not Donnatella.
Josh pulled back and shook Michael's hand. "Congrats, man," he said. "Donna's a good girl. You're a lucky man."
"Don't I know it," Michael smiled warmly at Donna as the rest of the crew burst through the door.
"Oh! You've beaten us," Zoey shrieked upon seeing them.
"Congratulations," was chorused throughout CJ, Danny, Toby, Sam, Mal, Magaret, Leo, Will, Bonnie, Ginger, Zoey and Charlie. Then hugs and kisses and tears were exchanged.
Donna showed off her ring and laughed with her friends and they all gorged themselves with cake.
Michael smiled at her. "I am so happy you said yes," he confessed.
"Me too," she smiled back.
"I have to go tell my mother now," he lamented.
"I wish I could meet her," she nodded.
"I know, babe. Soon - I promise," he told her.
"Okay. Be careful, have fun and come home soon," she ordered.
"I will. I'll see you in a couple of weeks. I'll call all the time," he promised and bid his goodbyes to everyone else and then left for the airport.
"Hey," CJ and Mallory said coming to sit by Donna. "You're getting married!" Mal smiled.
"You're getting big," Donna countered touching Mal's belly.
"September can't come soon enough," Mallory confessed. "I feel like a house."
CJ laughed and put her arm around her friend. "You're carrying our little Sparky, Jr, young lady. No complaints," she ordered. Turning to Donna, "Let's see the rock," she said.
Donna obliged them and they fawned over it for a reasonable amount of time. Then, the party started to dissipate. Everyone had to go and change for the barbeque at the Bartlet Farm later that evening.
Josh remained on the couch watching Donna and Zoey hug goodbye - like they weren't going to see each other in like two hours, he laughed.
When Zoey left Donna turned to Josh and smiled, "So..."
"You went off and got engaged," he said.
Blunt and to the point. That's Josh.
"It wasn't like that," Donna sighed and sat down next to him. "I had no idea he was going to propose."
"And you love him?" Josh asked.
"Yes, I do," she told him.
"Does he love you?" he asked, looking at her intently.
"Yes," she confirmed.
"More than I love you?" he asked.
"Joshua," she sighed. "Please don't," she begged.
He smiled and his eyes got all crinkly and her heart damn near melted it.
"Donna," he whispered, as his face drew closer to her.
"Mmm?" she asked, afraid to talk.
"I am going to kiss you in like ten seconds," he warned. "So if you'd rather I not...I suggest you get up now."
She stared at him and her eyes filled with tears but she did not move. She didn't even dare to breathe.
He moved closer and captured her lips between his. Her hands remained in her lap and his one came up to cup her cheek. His mouth left her's for a moment so he could move the angle and deepen their kiss and she allowed herself to be led. His tongue dueled with her's and she felt like she was floating through the air.
As she moaned into his mouth she remembered what she was doing. She was engaged and kissing her FRIEND in his room while her fiancé just left her to visit his mother. She pulled away quickly and her hand went immediately to her mouth. Her cheeks were flushed with heat. "I...I'm s-s-sorry," she sputtered. "I don't know what came over me," she told him.
"Donna," he tried. "I didn't mean to upset you...I just...I missed you," he said simply.
"We're friends, Josh," she told him.
"I love you," he retorted.
"And I...Josh, no. We decided to be friends. Be my friend, Josh," she whispered harshly.
"It won't happen again unless you want it to," Josh promised her.
"Good. So it won't happen again," she predicted.
"I'm sorry," Josh sighed. "I don't know what the hell I was thinking."
"It's okay...we both got a little nostalgic I guess," he admitted.
"Friends?" she asked looking hopeful at him.
"Friends," he smiled and hugged her tightly.
Her eyes fell closed and she squeezed him with all her might. He held on tightly and breathed in the smell of her strawberries and cream shampoo and smiled at the memories that it brought back.
"I am still gonna love you," she smiled as he began to stroke her hair.
"Okay," she smiled.
She left his room to go and visit with Sam and Josh sighed and took a shower.
They arrived at the barbeque separately but managed to get into the swing of things easily. The President and the First Lady were fabulous hosts as usual and they had a perfect blend of fun and work.
Sam was set to win the Party's nomination the next week and Will was going to be on his ticket. Mallory was due in like three months. Donna was engaged. Josh was miserable. Toby sighed. All was right with the world, he thought.
Danny Concannon and CJ wandered around to the back deck and sat down on one of the picnic tables' benches. "So...Donna's engaged," Danny said raising his eyebrows.
"Yeah," CJ sighed. "I have to say, I didn't see that one coming," CJ said honestly.
"How's Josh handling it?" Danny asked, concerned.
"He...he didn't really say much on the ride over," CJ told him. "And he's a little mopey right now," CJ said. "But I guess that's to be expected...right? I mean...I'm sure it wasn't what he was expecting coming up here."
"Yeah...that's gotta suck. Poor guy," Danny agreed. Then they continued to eat their dinners.
Charlie and Zoey were sitting on the front steps after eating. "So," Charlie started. "Donna and Michael, huh?"
"Yeah," Zoey smiled. "I'm happy for her," she told him.
"I don't get it," he said. "She loves Josh...Josh loves her. What the hell is the problem?"
"Sometimes love isn't enough?" Zoey offered. "Besides...her and Josh would always equal scandal. Dad doesn't need it. Sam doesn't want it. Josh can't afford it."
"It's always about work, isn't it?" Charlie said shaking his head.
"You're almost done with this gig, baby," Zoey smiled. "Then...you're all mine," she giggled and kissed his cheek before running inside.
"I want to go home," Donna whispered to Mallory mid-way through her fifth or sixth drink.
"Why honey?" Mal asked. "Aren't you having fun?"
"No," she sighed. "I need to get out of here. I'll be back," Donna sighed as she ran through the house to the front stairs. She ran past Charlie and didn't look back. She situated herself on the driveway, on the trunk of a limo. She was drunk. She was upset. She was engaged. Josh was here. All of these things were bad separately, she thought. But no...tonight they were together. Josh found his way through the house and sat on the front steps with Charlie.
"Drunk yet?" Charlie asked.
"Not enough," Josh sighed. "She looks good," Josh said nodding to Donna ahead of them. "Don't you think?"
"Yeah," Charlie agreed. "I am liking the hair," Charlie told him honestly.
"Yeah," Josh agreed. "It's not usually up like that. It's kinda hot," he slurred.
"You're not handling this too well," Charlie deduced.
"Not at all," Josh sighed and took another gulp of his beer. "Wish me luck," Josh said and went off to where Donna was.
He sat next to her and offered her the remains of his beer. She took it. She drank it. She handed it back. "You're a gorgeous drunk," he smiled at her through his own glassy eyes.
"I want you, Josh," Donna told him honestly.
"Donna...you're engaged. You're also drunk. I can't...I mean...we shouldn't do this. You'll regret it," he told her, trying to focus on her eyes.
"Fuck it," she said. "Get in the car. We're leaving," she ordered and got off the trunk and entered the vehicle followed closely by Josh.
He got in, told the guy to take them back to his room, and moved the privacy blocker in place.
"Donna," he whispered. "Let's just talk later, maybe," he suggested.
It was in vain, though. She moved forward and kissed him square on the mouth. Her hands ran through his wavy brown hair and his went to the pins in her hair to remove them.
"We shouldn't be doing this," Josh tried to tell her as her hands found their way to his shirt buttons. "Donna," he warned.
"I can be quiet," Donna promised as her cool fingers tortured his warm flesh. "I just...I need to do this now," Donna breathed. "I need you now or...I don't know...I might never get the opportunity to do this again."
"Donna," he sighed as his mouth blazed a trail down her neck. "If we do this...it can't be just this one time," Josh told her. "I won't be able to do it just once. I know what it's like to miss you."
"Josh," she breathed. "Make love to me. Right now," she told him as her hands found their way to his pants.
His hands moved to remove her shirt and she shifted her legs around his middle. Her skirt hitched up and his hands moved down to her legs. Her breathing got heavier and she moaned as he rocked her hips against his. Her hand freed his erection from his boxers and she squirmed out of her panties. "You're sure?" he asked.
"Now, Josh," she ordered. "Now."
He did. They did. It was more than he could have wanted in his drunken state. The limo driver had left them alone once he made it back to the hotel. After they made love, Donna curled herself into his body and fell asleep. She woke up later to the sound of her ringing cell phone.
"Mmmm," she whined. "Hello?"
"Hey, babe," Michael called into the phone.
"Michael," she cleared her throat and gave Josh a look. "Everything okay? How's your mother?"
"It's all good," Michael told her. "How's the picnic?"
"It's good," she smiled. "I'm having a great time," she said looking Josh in the eye.
"Good, baby," Michael said. "I'll talk to you tomorrow," he promised. "Goodnight. I love you."
Donna smiled. "I love you, too."
Then she hung up and looked at Josh. "I think this...this could work."
"What?" Josh looked at her like she was nuts.
"Did you not have fun?" Donna asked. "What he knows...it won't hurt him right now."
"You want me to carry on an affair with you?" he asked.
"If you don't want to be with me, I'd understand," Donna reasoned. "I just...I don't know what to do right now. I love you and I love Michael. Maybe we can just...you know...do the friends thing...but add the sexual benefits a bit?" she asked.
"You're still drunk," he accused.
"Maybe," she smiled. "But God, I've missed you Josh."
"Me too," he said, kissing her forehead.
"So...it'll be like before?" she asked.
"A secret?" he asked. "I think that's best...don't you?"
"Yeah...our friends tend to gossip," she smiled.
"These next couple of days you'll work with me?" he asked hopefully.
She smiled. "Of course."
"And if you get...horny...you'll sleep with me?" he asked with a smirk.
She kissed him in response.
This was not a good thing, he thought. But still...he was going to go with it, he decided as he led her upstairs as the fireworks lit up the night sky.
It had been months since she'd last seen Josh, Donna pondered as she pinned up her hair. But being his friend helped. It was hesitant at first. Neither one of them would know what to say when the other one called...just basic stuff like that. But with patience and practice, they made it work. Donna Moss once again knew all of the intricacies of Josh Lyman's life and she couldn't have been happier. Josh would call her when he was "da man" at the office and she'd call him for help on a paper. It was odd...yet comfortable.
Life seemed to get easier for both of them too. Josh was less agitated and Donna more outgoing. It was an odd relationship, of course. Amy couldn't really deal with it. She had known that things were not right for a while. And once they got back to DC in March, she suggested they go back to being friends and make their relationship entirely platonic. A blow like that would have normally sent Josh into an uncontrollable tailspin. But he'd begun seeing Stanley weekly, as per Toby's insistence, and he had an outlet in Donna. Instead, he told Amy that he appreciated her honesty and ability to see them for what they were. They still saw each other because of work and functions, but that was that and Josh couldn't have been more pleased.
Michael had some adjustments to make as well. He had, in fact, encouraged Donna to keep in touch with her old friends and he knew that Josh was part of that package. He didn't realize that her friends kept such horrid hours, of course, when the original suggestion was made. It was commonplace for Donna's phone to be ringing at 3 or 4 o'clock in the morning - and the call was either a good night or a good morning one. She would talk to CJ and Mallory and Margaret at least once a week. Then, of course, there was the occasional chat with Toby or Sam. And last but not least, the constant banter with Josh. Michael had to laugh sometimes because it seemed that Josh would call to get Donna to sing his praises more often than not. But Michael couldn't complain. The last few months had been great. Donna was happy almost all of the time. She was involved in the campaign - albeit for the wrong party he often told her - but still involved. She had one summer class and her and Zoey had been hanging out at Zoey's parents' farmhouse more often recently because of the lake on the property. He and Donna had also become closer. He loved her and he could definitely envision sharing his life with her. Before she had always been a little hesitant around him and now she wasn't at all. She was comfortable and that made him smile. And later, when he asked her to marry him and she accepted, he thought, all would be right with the world.
"Almost ready, babe?" Michael asked her as he stuck his head into her room while she was inspecting herself in the full length mirror.
"Uh huh," she smiled at him and threw her arms around him for a tight hug. "Are you sure you can't come to the picnic tonight?"
"Yeah, baby," he said with a sigh. "But I want you to go...all your friends will be there."
"But...you won't be," she pouted as her cell phone rang. "What?" she said into it.
"We'll be at the hotel in like an hour," Josh told her. "Don't be late. We like to be greeted."
"We'll be there," she smiled. "Michael's coming this afternoon, then he's off to see his mother in Vermont for a couple of weeks," she whined. "Thank goodness you guys'll be here for like a week or so...I think I'd drive Zoey crazy," she laughed as Michael kissed her head and drug her outside.
"Well...you and Michael get your asses down here," Josh commanded with a grin.
"You called him Michael," Donna said astounded.
"I am a quick learner," Josh supplied as he hung up.
"He's an idiot," Donna laughed.
"But he makes you laugh, so I like him," Michael told her with a grin.
"I love you," Donna told him as she climbed in his car.
"And I adore you," he told her getting in on the drivers' side.
She leaned over and kissed him soundly on the mouth and he melted into the kiss.
"Donna," he whispered as he pulled back a little for air. "Marry me."
"What?" she asked, thinking she heard wrong. "Are you serious?"
"I love you, Donna Moss. I think you're the most amazing woman in the world and I want to spend my life with you and only you," he told her. "Would you please do me the honor of becoming my wife?" he asked, presenting her with a ring.
Donna looked from the ring to the Michael and back again. She looked up into his eyes and smiled at him with tears glistening down her cheeks. "When?" she asked simply holding out her left hand in anticipation of the ring.
"I love you," he told her as he wrapped his arms around her.
"I love you, too," she smiled.
Donna was happy, she decided. Michael was a good man. He loved her. She loved him. They got along. He learned to appreciate her friends and her beliefs. She could depend on him. When he said he'd be there - he was. He kept to a strict schedule and he was predictable. He was the anti-Josh, she thought with a smile. Wait, she wondered, why the hell she was thinking in terms of Josh...anti or otherwise. This can't be good, she pondered. Then she relaxed when she thought that it must be because he's in town or whatever. That's all. No worries.
Josh made it to the hotel quickly, in anticipation of Donna's arrival. He missed her and couldn't wait to put his arms around her once again. He made it up to his suite and was confused. "Zoey?" he asked when he walked in and saw cake and balloons everywhere. "Did I miss a birthday?"
"No silly. Donna and Michael got engaged this morning," Zoey explained. "I am throwing them a "yay party," she told him, like it was obvious.
"So this is a good thing?" Josh asked.
"Joshua," Zoey warned. "Don't do this to her."
"Don't do what?" Josh asked.
"Don't make her feel bad about this," Zoey told him. "She's been happy these last few months. And Michael really does love her."
"I know," Josh said. "I get that, Zoe. I just want her happy, too. If this makes her happy...then great. I'll dance at their wedding."
"You really won't," Zoey laughed.
"I am thinking, no," Josh conceded.
"Cause you're still..." Zoey hedged.
"Cause I'm still?" Josh asked.
"You still love her," Zoey smiled sadly.
"When did you become so perceptive, Ms Bartlet?" he asked.
"Charlie brings it out in me," she giggled. "Now...don't leave...I'm bringing everyone back here for Donna and Michael's party," she informed him.
Donna and Michael made it up to Josh's room before Zoey and her gang returned. So they found Josh alone in the room with balloons and cake. He was running his index finger around the side of the cake to taste some of the frosting. "Josh?" Donna asked, startling him.
Josh turned around and quickly licked the icing off his finger. "Um...surprise? Congrats? Zoey said it was a 'yay' party so I am not really sure what to say...yay, maybe?"
Donna looked at Josh and noticed that his smiled didn't quite reach his eyes. He knows, she concluded. "How did you find out already?" she asked, trying to seem upbeat.
"Um...Zoey told me," he admitted.
"I called Zoey earlier and told her today would be the day," Michael told her. "I was going to call and let her know if you said no, of course."
"Congratulations, Donnatella," Josh smiled softly at her and reached to hug her.
"Thanks, Josh," Donna whispered, suddenly realizing that the reason the proposal wasn't pure perfection was because Michael called her Donna and not Donnatella.
Josh pulled back and shook Michael's hand. "Congrats, man," he said. "Donna's a good girl. You're a lucky man."
"Don't I know it," Michael smiled warmly at Donna as the rest of the crew burst through the door.
"Oh! You've beaten us," Zoey shrieked upon seeing them.
"Congratulations," was chorused throughout CJ, Danny, Toby, Sam, Mal, Magaret, Leo, Will, Bonnie, Ginger, Zoey and Charlie. Then hugs and kisses and tears were exchanged.
Donna showed off her ring and laughed with her friends and they all gorged themselves with cake.
Michael smiled at her. "I am so happy you said yes," he confessed.
"Me too," she smiled back.
"I have to go tell my mother now," he lamented.
"I wish I could meet her," she nodded.
"I know, babe. Soon - I promise," he told her.
"Okay. Be careful, have fun and come home soon," she ordered.
"I will. I'll see you in a couple of weeks. I'll call all the time," he promised and bid his goodbyes to everyone else and then left for the airport.
"Hey," CJ and Mallory said coming to sit by Donna. "You're getting married!" Mal smiled.
"You're getting big," Donna countered touching Mal's belly.
"September can't come soon enough," Mallory confessed. "I feel like a house."
CJ laughed and put her arm around her friend. "You're carrying our little Sparky, Jr, young lady. No complaints," she ordered. Turning to Donna, "Let's see the rock," she said.
Donna obliged them and they fawned over it for a reasonable amount of time. Then, the party started to dissipate. Everyone had to go and change for the barbeque at the Bartlet Farm later that evening.
Josh remained on the couch watching Donna and Zoey hug goodbye - like they weren't going to see each other in like two hours, he laughed.
When Zoey left Donna turned to Josh and smiled, "So..."
"You went off and got engaged," he said.
Blunt and to the point. That's Josh.
"It wasn't like that," Donna sighed and sat down next to him. "I had no idea he was going to propose."
"And you love him?" Josh asked.
"Yes, I do," she told him.
"Does he love you?" he asked, looking at her intently.
"Yes," she confirmed.
"More than I love you?" he asked.
"Joshua," she sighed. "Please don't," she begged.
He smiled and his eyes got all crinkly and her heart damn near melted it.
"Donna," he whispered, as his face drew closer to her.
"Mmm?" she asked, afraid to talk.
"I am going to kiss you in like ten seconds," he warned. "So if you'd rather I not...I suggest you get up now."
She stared at him and her eyes filled with tears but she did not move. She didn't even dare to breathe.
He moved closer and captured her lips between his. Her hands remained in her lap and his one came up to cup her cheek. His mouth left her's for a moment so he could move the angle and deepen their kiss and she allowed herself to be led. His tongue dueled with her's and she felt like she was floating through the air.
As she moaned into his mouth she remembered what she was doing. She was engaged and kissing her FRIEND in his room while her fiancé just left her to visit his mother. She pulled away quickly and her hand went immediately to her mouth. Her cheeks were flushed with heat. "I...I'm s-s-sorry," she sputtered. "I don't know what came over me," she told him.
"Donna," he tried. "I didn't mean to upset you...I just...I missed you," he said simply.
"We're friends, Josh," she told him.
"I love you," he retorted.
"And I...Josh, no. We decided to be friends. Be my friend, Josh," she whispered harshly.
"It won't happen again unless you want it to," Josh promised her.
"Good. So it won't happen again," she predicted.
"I'm sorry," Josh sighed. "I don't know what the hell I was thinking."
"It's okay...we both got a little nostalgic I guess," he admitted.
"Friends?" she asked looking hopeful at him.
"Friends," he smiled and hugged her tightly.
Her eyes fell closed and she squeezed him with all her might. He held on tightly and breathed in the smell of her strawberries and cream shampoo and smiled at the memories that it brought back.
"I am still gonna love you," she smiled as he began to stroke her hair.
"Okay," she smiled.
She left his room to go and visit with Sam and Josh sighed and took a shower.
They arrived at the barbeque separately but managed to get into the swing of things easily. The President and the First Lady were fabulous hosts as usual and they had a perfect blend of fun and work.
Sam was set to win the Party's nomination the next week and Will was going to be on his ticket. Mallory was due in like three months. Donna was engaged. Josh was miserable. Toby sighed. All was right with the world, he thought.
Danny Concannon and CJ wandered around to the back deck and sat down on one of the picnic tables' benches. "So...Donna's engaged," Danny said raising his eyebrows.
"Yeah," CJ sighed. "I have to say, I didn't see that one coming," CJ said honestly.
"How's Josh handling it?" Danny asked, concerned.
"He...he didn't really say much on the ride over," CJ told him. "And he's a little mopey right now," CJ said. "But I guess that's to be expected...right? I mean...I'm sure it wasn't what he was expecting coming up here."
"Yeah...that's gotta suck. Poor guy," Danny agreed. Then they continued to eat their dinners.
Charlie and Zoey were sitting on the front steps after eating. "So," Charlie started. "Donna and Michael, huh?"
"Yeah," Zoey smiled. "I'm happy for her," she told him.
"I don't get it," he said. "She loves Josh...Josh loves her. What the hell is the problem?"
"Sometimes love isn't enough?" Zoey offered. "Besides...her and Josh would always equal scandal. Dad doesn't need it. Sam doesn't want it. Josh can't afford it."
"It's always about work, isn't it?" Charlie said shaking his head.
"You're almost done with this gig, baby," Zoey smiled. "Then...you're all mine," she giggled and kissed his cheek before running inside.
"I want to go home," Donna whispered to Mallory mid-way through her fifth or sixth drink.
"Why honey?" Mal asked. "Aren't you having fun?"
"No," she sighed. "I need to get out of here. I'll be back," Donna sighed as she ran through the house to the front stairs. She ran past Charlie and didn't look back. She situated herself on the driveway, on the trunk of a limo. She was drunk. She was upset. She was engaged. Josh was here. All of these things were bad separately, she thought. But no...tonight they were together. Josh found his way through the house and sat on the front steps with Charlie.
"Drunk yet?" Charlie asked.
"Not enough," Josh sighed. "She looks good," Josh said nodding to Donna ahead of them. "Don't you think?"
"Yeah," Charlie agreed. "I am liking the hair," Charlie told him honestly.
"Yeah," Josh agreed. "It's not usually up like that. It's kinda hot," he slurred.
"You're not handling this too well," Charlie deduced.
"Not at all," Josh sighed and took another gulp of his beer. "Wish me luck," Josh said and went off to where Donna was.
He sat next to her and offered her the remains of his beer. She took it. She drank it. She handed it back. "You're a gorgeous drunk," he smiled at her through his own glassy eyes.
"I want you, Josh," Donna told him honestly.
"Donna...you're engaged. You're also drunk. I can't...I mean...we shouldn't do this. You'll regret it," he told her, trying to focus on her eyes.
"Fuck it," she said. "Get in the car. We're leaving," she ordered and got off the trunk and entered the vehicle followed closely by Josh.
He got in, told the guy to take them back to his room, and moved the privacy blocker in place.
"Donna," he whispered. "Let's just talk later, maybe," he suggested.
It was in vain, though. She moved forward and kissed him square on the mouth. Her hands ran through his wavy brown hair and his went to the pins in her hair to remove them.
"We shouldn't be doing this," Josh tried to tell her as her hands found their way to his shirt buttons. "Donna," he warned.
"I can be quiet," Donna promised as her cool fingers tortured his warm flesh. "I just...I need to do this now," Donna breathed. "I need you now or...I don't know...I might never get the opportunity to do this again."
"Donna," he sighed as his mouth blazed a trail down her neck. "If we do this...it can't be just this one time," Josh told her. "I won't be able to do it just once. I know what it's like to miss you."
"Josh," she breathed. "Make love to me. Right now," she told him as her hands found their way to his pants.
His hands moved to remove her shirt and she shifted her legs around his middle. Her skirt hitched up and his hands moved down to her legs. Her breathing got heavier and she moaned as he rocked her hips against his. Her hand freed his erection from his boxers and she squirmed out of her panties. "You're sure?" he asked.
"Now, Josh," she ordered. "Now."
He did. They did. It was more than he could have wanted in his drunken state. The limo driver had left them alone once he made it back to the hotel. After they made love, Donna curled herself into his body and fell asleep. She woke up later to the sound of her ringing cell phone.
"Mmmm," she whined. "Hello?"
"Hey, babe," Michael called into the phone.
"Michael," she cleared her throat and gave Josh a look. "Everything okay? How's your mother?"
"It's all good," Michael told her. "How's the picnic?"
"It's good," she smiled. "I'm having a great time," she said looking Josh in the eye.
"Good, baby," Michael said. "I'll talk to you tomorrow," he promised. "Goodnight. I love you."
Donna smiled. "I love you, too."
Then she hung up and looked at Josh. "I think this...this could work."
"What?" Josh looked at her like she was nuts.
"Did you not have fun?" Donna asked. "What he knows...it won't hurt him right now."
"You want me to carry on an affair with you?" he asked.
"If you don't want to be with me, I'd understand," Donna reasoned. "I just...I don't know what to do right now. I love you and I love Michael. Maybe we can just...you know...do the friends thing...but add the sexual benefits a bit?" she asked.
"You're still drunk," he accused.
"Maybe," she smiled. "But God, I've missed you Josh."
"Me too," he said, kissing her forehead.
"So...it'll be like before?" she asked.
"A secret?" he asked. "I think that's best...don't you?"
"Yeah...our friends tend to gossip," she smiled.
"These next couple of days you'll work with me?" he asked hopefully.
She smiled. "Of course."
"And if you get...horny...you'll sleep with me?" he asked with a smirk.
She kissed him in response.
This was not a good thing, he thought. But still...he was going to go with it, he decided as he led her upstairs as the fireworks lit up the night sky.
