On the way to the hospital Josh was quiet. Too quiet for Lynne's liking. "What's wrong?" she asked after a few minutes of silence.
"Nothing," Josh smiled at her trying to get himself together. "I just haven't seen Donna in a while and now she's having a baby! It's a lot to take in all at once, I guess."
"We don't have to see her," Lynne reminded him. "This was obviously a fool's errand put together by your screwball friends. We should just get the hell out of here. Who wants to be in Wisconsin anyway?"
"Come on," Josh pressed. "She was my assistant for over six years. She used to be one of my best friends," he left carefully left out that they were once a great deal more than simply friends.
"Fine," Lynne huffed. "We'll go – we'll see her and the kid and whatever. Then promise me we'll go enjoy the rest of out weekend – away from all things Wisconsin."
He reached across the console and grabbed her hand and squeezed it before bringing it to his lips for a kiss. "Kay," he smiled at her.
It was a relatively short labor and by the time everyone made it to the hospital, Donna and her sisters were cooing over her 7 and a half pound bundle of joy. Josh and Lynne opted to stay in the lobby and wait for Mrs. Moss to meet her granddaughter before they barged in.
"I'll tell her you're here, dear," Mrs. Moss smiled at Josh as she disappeared into the hospital room with her girls.
"Mom," Donna whispered when she saw her mother. "I have a little girl!"
"So I see," her mother beamed. "I'm sorry I was late."
"No worries," Donna sighed and pushed her hair out of her face. "Celeste and Francesca were with me," she nodded to her two sisters who were busy cooing over their new niece.
"I ran into some company at home and a couple of phone calls," Donna's mother said clearing her throat.
"Hmmm?" Donna asked.
"That nice Congressman Seaborn called," her mother smiled. "He said congratulations and that he'd be checking on you soon."
"I'll call Sam and Will tomorrow maybe," Donna said with a tired smile.
"And your boss..." Mrs. Moss trailed off.
"Josh called?" Donna asked, sitting up a little straighter.
"No," her mother sighed taking her daughter's hand.
"Ahhh," Donna sighed. "I was gonna say," she smirked.
"He stopped by, actually," Mrs. Moss said, quietly.
"He did what?" Donna asked carefully as her sisters turned to listen as well.
"He didn't seem to know where he was, exactly, but he figured it out eventually," her mother explained. "He's with some woman – Lynne or something."
"What did you tell him?" Donna asked, with a touch of fear in her voice.
"I told him that you were here having a baby and he came along to see you," Mrs. Moss rambled all at once and then looked at her daughter's face for a minute. "It's him, isn't it?" she asked.
Donna just stared at her mother and then her sisters as they handed her her daughter back. "He's here?" she asked quietly.
"Right outside," her mother nodded to the door.
"Could you give us a minute?" she asked her family. "Maybe take Lynne to get some coffee?"
"Sure thing, sweetie," her mother smiled as she looked at her granddaughter. "What's her name?"
"I haven't decided yet," Donna said.
"You will," her mother nodded knowingly. "Come on girls," she gathered her other daughters and left the room. Once outside the door she smiled at Josh and Lynne. "These are my other daughters, Celeste and Francesca," she told them. "Girls, this is Josh and Lynne. Donna used to work for Josh at the White House," she reminded them.
"Nice to meet you," they all mumbled at once.
"Lynne," Mrs. Moss smiled. "Come with us to get some coffee," she told the girl. "Let Josh visit with Donna for a minute."
Josh smiled at the older woman and then at Lynne. "I won't be long," he said to them all.
"We'll be back," Mrs. Moss smiled and led the girls down the hall.
----
Josh closed his eyes and took a deep couple of breaths before he knocked on Donna's door.
"Come in," she said.
He smiled. She sounded tired, but happy. "Hey," he whispered as he walked in Donna's hospital room. She was lying on her bed with her daughter curled up in her arms fast asleep. "Congratulations," he said as he pulled up a chair and sat by her bed.
Her eyes welled up with tears. "Josh," she whispered. "I'm so sorry," she told him.
He smiled at her and the skin around his eyes crinkled up just like she remembered and his hand went to her hair and stroked it off of her face. "Shhh," he told her. "Look at you – you're a mother."
"I know," she sniffed.
"You're going to be an amazing mother," he predicted.
"How do you know?" she asked.
"There's not another option," he told her. "You're an amazing person and you won't be able to help but be an amazing mother."
"I'm sorry," she said again. "I should have told you or something – I just, I just didn't know what to say or to do or anything," she rambled shaking her head.
"I didn't know you were seeing anyone," he said, recalling their prior conversations. "You never indicated that you had a boyfriend or anything."
"I'm not – I don't," she said.
"Not together anymore, huh?" he asked.
"No," she whispered.
"And you're okay with that?" he asked.
Her eyes filled again with tears and she shook her head no.
"Shh," he whispered again. "It's okay." He smiled for a minute and nodded to the baby, "What's her name?"
"I'm gonna be a horrible mother," she gushed. "I didn't even name my baby yet."
"It's okay," he said with a grin. "You'll come up with something."
"Wanna help me?" she asked him.
"You're sure?" he asked. "You wouldn't rather do this with the baby's father or your mother or sisters or something?"
"You'll do," she smiled genuinely at him and her smile grew as she saw him reciprocate.
"Kay," he whispered and took her free hand in his. "Remember when we used to talk about baby names?" he asked.
"Like it was yesterday," she admitted.
"I'm still fond of Olivia," he confessed.
"You're sure? It's your favorite baby name. You really want to waste it on my daughter?" she joked.
"She looks like a Livvie," he said glancing at the baby.
"Olivia Joan," she smiled remembering the name they had picked out from before.
"Donna," he cut her off. "You don't have to do that – naming your daughter after Joanie."
"It's perfect," she smiled at him.
"You're sure?" he asked.
"Mmmhmmm," she yawned. "You want to hold her for a bit?" she asked.
"I'd be honored," he said, clearing his throat to fight back the tears that were welling up.
"Hi Olivia Joan," he whispered as Donna looked on and smiled. "I'm Josh. I used to be very good friends with your mommy, here," he told her. "You're a lucky kid," he continued. "Everyone is going to just adore you," he predicted.
"I think she likes you," Donna smiled as Olivia snuggled into Josh's arm.
"What's not to like?" he asked with a grin that she had missed all of these months.
"I missed you," she whispered.
"Me, too," Josh smiled at her.
"Josh," she said a little out of breath. "I have to tell you..."
"Hey," Lynne said loudly as she burst through the door. "I brought you some coffee, Josh," she said ignoring Donna.
"Thanks, babe," he said. "Lynne – this is Donna," he told her. "Donna – Lynne, my fiancé.
"Congrats," Lynne told Donna, nodding to the baby in Josh's arms. "Cute kid."
"Thanks," Donna smiled. "Congratulations to the two of you, as well. On your engagement and all."
"Thanks," Lynne smiled.
"Thank you," Josh said quietly.
"You're a lucky girl," Donna told Lynne. "He's a great guy."
Lynne smiled and nodded. "He's a keeper, I guess – that's what everyone keeps tellin' me."
Donna nodded. "I'm tired," she said to no one in particular.
"I'll get a nurse," Lynne offered.
"It was great to see you," Josh said as he gave her back Olivia and leaned over her to press a soft kiss on her forehead.
"You're leaving?" Donna asked.
"Lynne hates Wisconsin," he confessed.
"I sympathize," she smirked.
He laughed a little. "We'll probably leave in the morning," he predicted.
"You could come back tonight, maybe," she offered.
"To say goodbye," he smiled at her sadly.
"Yeah," she agreed.
"Okay," he sighed and kissed her forehead again.
"Okay."
"C'mon Josh!" Lynne called from the doorway as the nurse came in to take Olivia to the nursery.
"I'll see you later," he whispered to Donna and then dutifully went to the door.
After he left, Donna's mother came back in her room.
"I'm gonna take a nap, Mom," Donna said with her eyes closed.
"Celeste and Francesca went home, Donnatella," her mother told her. "As did Josh and Lynne."
"Okay," Donna murmured.
"Did you tell him?" Mary asked her daughter quietly.
"No," Donna sighed.
"Are you going to?"
"I don't know," Donna sighed. "I want to now that I've seen him again."
"It's hard, honey," Mary said stroking her hair. "Did you think of a name?" she asked changing the subject.
Donna smiled softly. "Olivia Joan," she breathed.
"That's lovely," her mother beamed. "Where did you come up with it?"
"Josh," Donna murmured. "When we were together – we picked out our favorite baby names. He loved Olivia – liked Liv or Livvie for nicknames. And Joan is for his sister. She died when he was a kid," Donna explained. "Olivia Joan Lyman," Donna murmured as her eyes fluttered.
"Olivia Joan Moss," her mother corrected her as Donna drifted off to sleep.
----
"Why do we have to stay here?" Lynne whined when they checked into their hotel.
"Because it's too late to go anywhere else," Josh said. "Relax. We'll leave tomorrow."
"Fine," she sighed. "I'm tired anyway. I'm taking a hot bath, a sleeping pill and going to bed."
"Whatever you want, darling," he told her. "I'm gonna call Sam and let him know what's going on," he told her. "I'll be back in a bit."
"Whatever," she sighed as she meandered to the bathroom.
Josh left the room and went down to the bar and grabbed a beer and settled into a quiet booth in the corner.
"Sam?" he said into his phone.
"Josh – what's going on, man?" Sam asked.
"We just checked into the hotel here," Josh reported.
"You're still there, huh?" Sam smiled a bit.
"Yeah," Josh sighed. "We're getting out of here in the morning. Donna had a girl," Josh said.
"She did? She wanted a girl," Sam smiled happily. "I'll have to call Will later. What'd she name her?"
"Olivia Joan," Josh said softly. "It was...It was one of the names that we...that we talked about when we were together," he laughed a bit.
"Wow," Sam sighed. "She picked that out, huh?"
"I actually helped," he smiled. "She wanted my help."
"Yeah," Sam sighed. "So...how was it – seeing her and all?"
"It was good," Josh smiled. "It felt really good."
"Good," Sam said. "That's good."
"Yeah," Josh murmured. "So – once Lynne passes out from her sleeping pills I'm going to go back to the hospital to see her."
"Okay," Sam said, unsure of what to say to that.
"Yeah," Josh said. "Why am I going to do that?" he asked his best friend, desperate for guidance.
"To say goodbye?" Sam offered.
"That's what I said earlier," Josh sighed. "But that's a lie – it'll never really by goodbye for me and Donna."
"Okay," Sam sighed.
"She's got a freaking kid, Sam. And I've got a damn fiancé!" Josh exploded.
"Very true," Sam agreed slowly.
"Am I crazy?" he asked.
"I don't think so," Sam said slowly.
"I gotta go, Sam," Josh said as he signaled for another beer to be brought over.
"Call me tomorrow, Josh," Sam said as he hung up.
"Yeah," Josh sighed and disconnected.
Josh sipped his second beer – briefly smiling at Donna's usual two-beer limit for his 'sensitive system.' "It's gonna be a long night," he said quietly to himself.
"Nothing," Josh smiled at her trying to get himself together. "I just haven't seen Donna in a while and now she's having a baby! It's a lot to take in all at once, I guess."
"We don't have to see her," Lynne reminded him. "This was obviously a fool's errand put together by your screwball friends. We should just get the hell out of here. Who wants to be in Wisconsin anyway?"
"Come on," Josh pressed. "She was my assistant for over six years. She used to be one of my best friends," he left carefully left out that they were once a great deal more than simply friends.
"Fine," Lynne huffed. "We'll go – we'll see her and the kid and whatever. Then promise me we'll go enjoy the rest of out weekend – away from all things Wisconsin."
He reached across the console and grabbed her hand and squeezed it before bringing it to his lips for a kiss. "Kay," he smiled at her.
It was a relatively short labor and by the time everyone made it to the hospital, Donna and her sisters were cooing over her 7 and a half pound bundle of joy. Josh and Lynne opted to stay in the lobby and wait for Mrs. Moss to meet her granddaughter before they barged in.
"I'll tell her you're here, dear," Mrs. Moss smiled at Josh as she disappeared into the hospital room with her girls.
"Mom," Donna whispered when she saw her mother. "I have a little girl!"
"So I see," her mother beamed. "I'm sorry I was late."
"No worries," Donna sighed and pushed her hair out of her face. "Celeste and Francesca were with me," she nodded to her two sisters who were busy cooing over their new niece.
"I ran into some company at home and a couple of phone calls," Donna's mother said clearing her throat.
"Hmmm?" Donna asked.
"That nice Congressman Seaborn called," her mother smiled. "He said congratulations and that he'd be checking on you soon."
"I'll call Sam and Will tomorrow maybe," Donna said with a tired smile.
"And your boss..." Mrs. Moss trailed off.
"Josh called?" Donna asked, sitting up a little straighter.
"No," her mother sighed taking her daughter's hand.
"Ahhh," Donna sighed. "I was gonna say," she smirked.
"He stopped by, actually," Mrs. Moss said, quietly.
"He did what?" Donna asked carefully as her sisters turned to listen as well.
"He didn't seem to know where he was, exactly, but he figured it out eventually," her mother explained. "He's with some woman – Lynne or something."
"What did you tell him?" Donna asked, with a touch of fear in her voice.
"I told him that you were here having a baby and he came along to see you," Mrs. Moss rambled all at once and then looked at her daughter's face for a minute. "It's him, isn't it?" she asked.
Donna just stared at her mother and then her sisters as they handed her her daughter back. "He's here?" she asked quietly.
"Right outside," her mother nodded to the door.
"Could you give us a minute?" she asked her family. "Maybe take Lynne to get some coffee?"
"Sure thing, sweetie," her mother smiled as she looked at her granddaughter. "What's her name?"
"I haven't decided yet," Donna said.
"You will," her mother nodded knowingly. "Come on girls," she gathered her other daughters and left the room. Once outside the door she smiled at Josh and Lynne. "These are my other daughters, Celeste and Francesca," she told them. "Girls, this is Josh and Lynne. Donna used to work for Josh at the White House," she reminded them.
"Nice to meet you," they all mumbled at once.
"Lynne," Mrs. Moss smiled. "Come with us to get some coffee," she told the girl. "Let Josh visit with Donna for a minute."
Josh smiled at the older woman and then at Lynne. "I won't be long," he said to them all.
"We'll be back," Mrs. Moss smiled and led the girls down the hall.
----
Josh closed his eyes and took a deep couple of breaths before he knocked on Donna's door.
"Come in," she said.
He smiled. She sounded tired, but happy. "Hey," he whispered as he walked in Donna's hospital room. She was lying on her bed with her daughter curled up in her arms fast asleep. "Congratulations," he said as he pulled up a chair and sat by her bed.
Her eyes welled up with tears. "Josh," she whispered. "I'm so sorry," she told him.
He smiled at her and the skin around his eyes crinkled up just like she remembered and his hand went to her hair and stroked it off of her face. "Shhh," he told her. "Look at you – you're a mother."
"I know," she sniffed.
"You're going to be an amazing mother," he predicted.
"How do you know?" she asked.
"There's not another option," he told her. "You're an amazing person and you won't be able to help but be an amazing mother."
"I'm sorry," she said again. "I should have told you or something – I just, I just didn't know what to say or to do or anything," she rambled shaking her head.
"I didn't know you were seeing anyone," he said, recalling their prior conversations. "You never indicated that you had a boyfriend or anything."
"I'm not – I don't," she said.
"Not together anymore, huh?" he asked.
"No," she whispered.
"And you're okay with that?" he asked.
Her eyes filled again with tears and she shook her head no.
"Shh," he whispered again. "It's okay." He smiled for a minute and nodded to the baby, "What's her name?"
"I'm gonna be a horrible mother," she gushed. "I didn't even name my baby yet."
"It's okay," he said with a grin. "You'll come up with something."
"Wanna help me?" she asked him.
"You're sure?" he asked. "You wouldn't rather do this with the baby's father or your mother or sisters or something?"
"You'll do," she smiled genuinely at him and her smile grew as she saw him reciprocate.
"Kay," he whispered and took her free hand in his. "Remember when we used to talk about baby names?" he asked.
"Like it was yesterday," she admitted.
"I'm still fond of Olivia," he confessed.
"You're sure? It's your favorite baby name. You really want to waste it on my daughter?" she joked.
"She looks like a Livvie," he said glancing at the baby.
"Olivia Joan," she smiled remembering the name they had picked out from before.
"Donna," he cut her off. "You don't have to do that – naming your daughter after Joanie."
"It's perfect," she smiled at him.
"You're sure?" he asked.
"Mmmhmmm," she yawned. "You want to hold her for a bit?" she asked.
"I'd be honored," he said, clearing his throat to fight back the tears that were welling up.
"Hi Olivia Joan," he whispered as Donna looked on and smiled. "I'm Josh. I used to be very good friends with your mommy, here," he told her. "You're a lucky kid," he continued. "Everyone is going to just adore you," he predicted.
"I think she likes you," Donna smiled as Olivia snuggled into Josh's arm.
"What's not to like?" he asked with a grin that she had missed all of these months.
"I missed you," she whispered.
"Me, too," Josh smiled at her.
"Josh," she said a little out of breath. "I have to tell you..."
"Hey," Lynne said loudly as she burst through the door. "I brought you some coffee, Josh," she said ignoring Donna.
"Thanks, babe," he said. "Lynne – this is Donna," he told her. "Donna – Lynne, my fiancé.
"Congrats," Lynne told Donna, nodding to the baby in Josh's arms. "Cute kid."
"Thanks," Donna smiled. "Congratulations to the two of you, as well. On your engagement and all."
"Thanks," Lynne smiled.
"Thank you," Josh said quietly.
"You're a lucky girl," Donna told Lynne. "He's a great guy."
Lynne smiled and nodded. "He's a keeper, I guess – that's what everyone keeps tellin' me."
Donna nodded. "I'm tired," she said to no one in particular.
"I'll get a nurse," Lynne offered.
"It was great to see you," Josh said as he gave her back Olivia and leaned over her to press a soft kiss on her forehead.
"You're leaving?" Donna asked.
"Lynne hates Wisconsin," he confessed.
"I sympathize," she smirked.
He laughed a little. "We'll probably leave in the morning," he predicted.
"You could come back tonight, maybe," she offered.
"To say goodbye," he smiled at her sadly.
"Yeah," she agreed.
"Okay," he sighed and kissed her forehead again.
"Okay."
"C'mon Josh!" Lynne called from the doorway as the nurse came in to take Olivia to the nursery.
"I'll see you later," he whispered to Donna and then dutifully went to the door.
After he left, Donna's mother came back in her room.
"I'm gonna take a nap, Mom," Donna said with her eyes closed.
"Celeste and Francesca went home, Donnatella," her mother told her. "As did Josh and Lynne."
"Okay," Donna murmured.
"Did you tell him?" Mary asked her daughter quietly.
"No," Donna sighed.
"Are you going to?"
"I don't know," Donna sighed. "I want to now that I've seen him again."
"It's hard, honey," Mary said stroking her hair. "Did you think of a name?" she asked changing the subject.
Donna smiled softly. "Olivia Joan," she breathed.
"That's lovely," her mother beamed. "Where did you come up with it?"
"Josh," Donna murmured. "When we were together – we picked out our favorite baby names. He loved Olivia – liked Liv or Livvie for nicknames. And Joan is for his sister. She died when he was a kid," Donna explained. "Olivia Joan Lyman," Donna murmured as her eyes fluttered.
"Olivia Joan Moss," her mother corrected her as Donna drifted off to sleep.
----
"Why do we have to stay here?" Lynne whined when they checked into their hotel.
"Because it's too late to go anywhere else," Josh said. "Relax. We'll leave tomorrow."
"Fine," she sighed. "I'm tired anyway. I'm taking a hot bath, a sleeping pill and going to bed."
"Whatever you want, darling," he told her. "I'm gonna call Sam and let him know what's going on," he told her. "I'll be back in a bit."
"Whatever," she sighed as she meandered to the bathroom.
Josh left the room and went down to the bar and grabbed a beer and settled into a quiet booth in the corner.
"Sam?" he said into his phone.
"Josh – what's going on, man?" Sam asked.
"We just checked into the hotel here," Josh reported.
"You're still there, huh?" Sam smiled a bit.
"Yeah," Josh sighed. "We're getting out of here in the morning. Donna had a girl," Josh said.
"She did? She wanted a girl," Sam smiled happily. "I'll have to call Will later. What'd she name her?"
"Olivia Joan," Josh said softly. "It was...It was one of the names that we...that we talked about when we were together," he laughed a bit.
"Wow," Sam sighed. "She picked that out, huh?"
"I actually helped," he smiled. "She wanted my help."
"Yeah," Sam sighed. "So...how was it – seeing her and all?"
"It was good," Josh smiled. "It felt really good."
"Good," Sam said. "That's good."
"Yeah," Josh murmured. "So – once Lynne passes out from her sleeping pills I'm going to go back to the hospital to see her."
"Okay," Sam said, unsure of what to say to that.
"Yeah," Josh said. "Why am I going to do that?" he asked his best friend, desperate for guidance.
"To say goodbye?" Sam offered.
"That's what I said earlier," Josh sighed. "But that's a lie – it'll never really by goodbye for me and Donna."
"Okay," Sam sighed.
"She's got a freaking kid, Sam. And I've got a damn fiancé!" Josh exploded.
"Very true," Sam agreed slowly.
"Am I crazy?" he asked.
"I don't think so," Sam said slowly.
"I gotta go, Sam," Josh said as he signaled for another beer to be brought over.
"Call me tomorrow, Josh," Sam said as he hung up.
"Yeah," Josh sighed and disconnected.
Josh sipped his second beer – briefly smiling at Donna's usual two-beer limit for his 'sensitive system.' "It's gonna be a long night," he said quietly to himself.
