Josh sat in the hotel bar for a good long while. He drank more than he should have, but his tolerance had increased greatly since Donna had left him – so at least he wasn't drunk. It was after 11 when he got up and called a cab to take him to the hospital.
It was past visiting hours when he got there, but he managed to sweet talk a nurse so at 11:30 PM he stood in front of Donna's door. He contemplated knocking, but since he figured she'd be asleep, he instead decided to let himself in. He stood quietly by the door inside her room and he could barely make her out through the room's shadowy light.
"I thought you weren't coming," her voice pierced through the silence.
"Sorry," he said, clearing his throat. "I...I was talking to Sam and I guess I just lost track of time or something. Did...did I wake you?" he asked.
"Not really," Donna sighed. "I'm glad you came."
"I wasn't sure I was going to," he admitted.
"Yeah," Donna sighed.
"How's Olivia?" he asked with a smile.
"She's' perfect – she's sleeping now, she'll be up soon I guess," Donna sighed. "So – where's Lynne?" she asked.
"She's sleeping I guess – she was tired," Josh said. "Sam's happy for ya," Josh smiled. "He couldn't wait to tell Will about Olivia."
"Sam's sweet – Will, too," she smiled. "I'm glad you were here – today I mean."
He smiled as he pulled a chair up to her bed and sat down. "Yeah," he smiled warmly. "Me too, Donna," he whispered. "Although," he smirked. "I have to admit I was shocked to find out that all this was happening," he told her.
"Yeah," she sighed. "I didn't know how to tell you," she admitted. "I didn't know what you'd say."
"Donna," he sighed. "How could you think I'd be anything but happy for you?"
"I guess...I don't know...I didn't handle things very well when I left, if you recall," she said with a hint of smirk.
"I seem to recall that, yes," he laughed and reached for her hand. "But hey," he smiled. "It's all water under the bridge right? You're happy and you have a beautiful little girl..." he trailed off.
"And you've got yourself a fiancé," she said dryly. "What could be better, right?"
He laughed a little bit and shook his head. "A few things, I suppose," he sighed. "A few things."
"Like what?" she prodded.
"I would rather not come to Wisconsin to visit you," he admitted.
"So you'd rather not visit me?" she asked, shocked.
"Listen, blondie," he laughed. "I said I'd rather not come to Wisconsin – I mean I'll do it, but I'd rather you be the ten minutes away that you used to be from me."
"Ah...so I could be once again at your beckon call," she laughed. "I think not."
"No," he said sincerely. "It's been – I mean...I've gotten along alright," he said with a hint of sadness in his voice. "I honestly didn't think I was going to do as well as I have been," he admitted. "When you left – I had to be self reliant again," he laughed. "It was a bit of a shock – I mean, you practically did everything for me."
"Preaching to the choir, Josh," she smirked.
"Thank you – for all that you did, seriously. You managed my life better than I ever could – as evidenced by the chaos my life has become in recent months," he admitted.
"Josh," she said softly. "You're doing okay, thought, right?"
"Yeah," he said softly. "I guess."
"You've got a decent assistant now," she told him.
"Everyone I piss off misses your fruit and flower baskets, though," he told her.
"I was good," she chuckled.
"Work's okay, but Lynne has zero interest in it and she thinks I'm weird when I yell at the television or radio," he said.
"I never said you weren't weird."
"I miss your face," he said in a whisper. "I just miss seeing your face around...around the office, around the street, around the condo. I just miss seeing your face sometimes," he confessed. "What does that mean?" he asked.
"I miss you too, Josh," she said as her eyes welled up at his revelation. "It's just because we were so wrapped up in each other's lives for years, though. The missing is normal."
"Yeah?" he asked.
"That's what they tell me," she forced a smile.
"I'm jealous," he admitted.
"Of what?" she laughed.
"You have an Olivia Joan," he told her. "I wanted us to have an Olivia Joan and you went ahead and had one without me. And I know that makes me weird, but I'm jealous because of it."
That did her in. She cried uncontrollably and he didn't do anything to comfort her. He sat next to her, holding her hand like before and listened to her tears. He didn't know why she was crying and what's more is he didn't know how to stop her from crying. So he let her cry out whatever was cooped up inside of her and he hoped that that would be enough.
She cried for at least a half hour – maybe more, Josh thought when the hospital room door opened.
"Ms. Moss?" the nurse asked. "She's ready for her feeding – you up for it?"
Donna pulled her hand from Josh's grasp and wiped the tears from her face rapidly. "Yes," she said composing herself. "All set," she smiled.
"You want me to go?" Josh asked as the nurse helped Donna situate the baby on her breast.
"You don't have to leave," Donna said softly.
"Do you want me to stay?" he asked.
Donna's eyes strayed from her daughter to him for a brief moment and she showed him a slight grin.
"I'll leave you all alone," the nurse said quietly. "Congratulations to you both."
Josh was about to correct her mistake but thought better of it and did not. Donna smiled at his unease and then looked up at the nurse. "Thank you," she said.
"I'll be back in a while," the nurse said as she left the room.
"She thought we were a family," Josh told Donna.
"Well – it's late and you're here drooling over my baby and all," Donna quipped.
"I can go," Josh shook his head. "I'm sorry I stayed so long."
"I'm glad you're here, though," Donna told him.
"Me too," he smiled. "God, Donna," he sighed. "Why the hell am I here?"
"You're wife passed out and you don't have any other friends in Wisconsin?" Donna asked with a grin.
"That works," he laughed.
"You're going home tomorrow," she said – a statement, not a question.
"I am," he said.
"I'm glad I got to see you – even for such a short time," she told him. "It means a lot to me – and to Olivia. I've told her all about you," she admitted.
"Yeah?" he laughed. "All lies, Olivia," he said as he leaned down toward the baby and whispered in her ear.
"Hardly," Donna scoffed.
"Are you happy here?" Josh asked.
"I guess," she sighed.
"Why don't you come back to Washington? You have friends there who care about you," he explained.
"And here I have family who let me stay rent free and will take care of my baby when I decide to go back to school," she sighed.
"You're going back to school?" he asked. "That's amazing."
"I can't let Olivia here think of her mother as a college drop-out, now can I?" she asked.
"I've never thought of you as one," he told her seriously. "You're just Donna – amazing Donna."
"Stop it," she told him. "You'll make me get all mushy," she giggled.
"If you come back – I'll help you with everything," he found himself saying. "Whatever you need."
"Josh," she gasped. "Don't..."
"What?" he asked. "I'm just offering you help. You know I'll always take care of you, Donna. It's the least I could do after everything you've done for me," he told her
"Josh...I mean...I can't get a job right now or anything – because of the baby. I can't afford a place to live or anything right now," she sighed.
"Donna – do you miss Washington?" he asked.
"Everyday," she said without hesitation.
"Then let me take care of you and Olivia," he said sincerely. "Let me help you for once."
"What about Lynne?" she asked seriously.
"I'll tell her about it tomorrow on our way home. She'll be fine with the idea. She knows that you're my friend," he said, knowing that it was a slight fabrication.
"Josh," she sighed. "I shouldn't."
"Or you won't..." he surmised.
"Maybe both," she said in a small voice echoing words she'd said months before.
"I just...I just miss seeing you. And now I have to go through Donna withdrawal all over again with a twist," he told her.
"A twist?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Now I'll miss you and Olivia Joan," he murmured giving the baby and her mother a dimpled grin.
Donna smiled through her tears and whispered, "You'll have to come and visit us, then."
"Every chance I get," he promised. "She looks like she's asleep," he said nodding to Olivia who had been lying on Donna's shoulder after eating. "I'll go get her nurse."
"No," she whispered, scooting over on her bed and patting the empty space.
"What?" he asked skeptically.
"Come give us a hug and stay till we fall asleep," Donna whispered. "I want you to leave while I'm having happy thoughts...and I miss falling asleep peacefully. The only time I perfected that was with you," she admitted.
"You're sure?" he asked, already climbing up and wrapping an arm around Donna and her daughter.
Donna glanced at Olivia and then back at Josh. "Of course we are."
Donna lay close to Josh and she fell fast asleep to the sound of his steady heartbeat. Josh had to fight to stay awake so that he could leave before dawn. Lynne would be up early no doubt in order to leave quicker.
Around 4:30 AM he glanced at the clock by the bed and then back at Donna and her baby. He pressed soft kisses on both of their foreheads. "Ladies," he whispered. "I gotta go now. I'll call in a few days and I'll be back before you can even miss me," he told them. "I love you – both – still," he laughed in spite of himself. "I don't know what all of that means," he confessed. "But that's how it is. I love you and I'll miss you more than you'll ever know. See you later, girls," he said sadly as he got up. He pressed kisses on their cheeks now and smiled at them in the dim light. He took a deep breath before leaving the room – but he left all the same.
"We love you too," Donna whispered once he had left the room. She sighed softly. "That went as well as could be expected," she whispered to Olivia. "At least Daddy loves us," she smirked. "He'll always love you," she promised. "Maybe not me so much when he figures this all out, but he'll always love you."
Josh made it to the hotel before Lynne stirred and managed to pack their things so they could leave when she wanted. The spent the night in New York and then made it back to DC by Sunday afternoon. Sam and Will met them at the airport.
"Is she okay?" Will asked when he saw Josh and Lynn coming toward them.
"I'm fine," Lynne huffed. "I hate Wisconsin, but I'm fine," she answered.
"That's nice," Will smirked. "Josh?"
"Donna's perfect. Here and the baby are perfect," he beamed.
"Thank goodness," Will smiled. "Sam told she had a girl?"
"Olivia Joan," Josh smiled when he said the name. "She's the most beautiful little girl in all the world."
"You sound smitten," Sam said as the group made it to the cabs out front.
"Baby," Lynne sighed. "I'll see you later. I want to go home and unpack and you are going to work, I'm sure," she said as she kissed his cheek and smiled at the others. "See you boys later," she said as she got into the waiting cab.
The trio waved goodbye to Lynne and got in their own car. "I asked her to move here – to move in with me," Josh said.
"Who?" Will asked.
"Donna?" Sam questioned.
"She misses DC. She hates her mother's house. She hates Wisconsin! She'd rather be here – she just can't afford to support herself right now. And she wants to go back to school!" Josh reported.
"What did she say?" Will asked.
"She said thanks but no thanks," Josh smirked sadly. "Just as well – Lynne would have killed me if she agreed, ya know?"
"Yeah," Will and Sam agreed.
"I'm going to visit in a couple of months – you guys game?" Josh asked, hoping for the support.
"Of course," Sam smiled at his friend.
"You couldn't keep me away," Will laughed.
It was past visiting hours when he got there, but he managed to sweet talk a nurse so at 11:30 PM he stood in front of Donna's door. He contemplated knocking, but since he figured she'd be asleep, he instead decided to let himself in. He stood quietly by the door inside her room and he could barely make her out through the room's shadowy light.
"I thought you weren't coming," her voice pierced through the silence.
"Sorry," he said, clearing his throat. "I...I was talking to Sam and I guess I just lost track of time or something. Did...did I wake you?" he asked.
"Not really," Donna sighed. "I'm glad you came."
"I wasn't sure I was going to," he admitted.
"Yeah," Donna sighed.
"How's Olivia?" he asked with a smile.
"She's' perfect – she's sleeping now, she'll be up soon I guess," Donna sighed. "So – where's Lynne?" she asked.
"She's sleeping I guess – she was tired," Josh said. "Sam's happy for ya," Josh smiled. "He couldn't wait to tell Will about Olivia."
"Sam's sweet – Will, too," she smiled. "I'm glad you were here – today I mean."
He smiled as he pulled a chair up to her bed and sat down. "Yeah," he smiled warmly. "Me too, Donna," he whispered. "Although," he smirked. "I have to admit I was shocked to find out that all this was happening," he told her.
"Yeah," she sighed. "I didn't know how to tell you," she admitted. "I didn't know what you'd say."
"Donna," he sighed. "How could you think I'd be anything but happy for you?"
"I guess...I don't know...I didn't handle things very well when I left, if you recall," she said with a hint of smirk.
"I seem to recall that, yes," he laughed and reached for her hand. "But hey," he smiled. "It's all water under the bridge right? You're happy and you have a beautiful little girl..." he trailed off.
"And you've got yourself a fiancé," she said dryly. "What could be better, right?"
He laughed a little bit and shook his head. "A few things, I suppose," he sighed. "A few things."
"Like what?" she prodded.
"I would rather not come to Wisconsin to visit you," he admitted.
"So you'd rather not visit me?" she asked, shocked.
"Listen, blondie," he laughed. "I said I'd rather not come to Wisconsin – I mean I'll do it, but I'd rather you be the ten minutes away that you used to be from me."
"Ah...so I could be once again at your beckon call," she laughed. "I think not."
"No," he said sincerely. "It's been – I mean...I've gotten along alright," he said with a hint of sadness in his voice. "I honestly didn't think I was going to do as well as I have been," he admitted. "When you left – I had to be self reliant again," he laughed. "It was a bit of a shock – I mean, you practically did everything for me."
"Preaching to the choir, Josh," she smirked.
"Thank you – for all that you did, seriously. You managed my life better than I ever could – as evidenced by the chaos my life has become in recent months," he admitted.
"Josh," she said softly. "You're doing okay, thought, right?"
"Yeah," he said softly. "I guess."
"You've got a decent assistant now," she told him.
"Everyone I piss off misses your fruit and flower baskets, though," he told her.
"I was good," she chuckled.
"Work's okay, but Lynne has zero interest in it and she thinks I'm weird when I yell at the television or radio," he said.
"I never said you weren't weird."
"I miss your face," he said in a whisper. "I just miss seeing your face around...around the office, around the street, around the condo. I just miss seeing your face sometimes," he confessed. "What does that mean?" he asked.
"I miss you too, Josh," she said as her eyes welled up at his revelation. "It's just because we were so wrapped up in each other's lives for years, though. The missing is normal."
"Yeah?" he asked.
"That's what they tell me," she forced a smile.
"I'm jealous," he admitted.
"Of what?" she laughed.
"You have an Olivia Joan," he told her. "I wanted us to have an Olivia Joan and you went ahead and had one without me. And I know that makes me weird, but I'm jealous because of it."
That did her in. She cried uncontrollably and he didn't do anything to comfort her. He sat next to her, holding her hand like before and listened to her tears. He didn't know why she was crying and what's more is he didn't know how to stop her from crying. So he let her cry out whatever was cooped up inside of her and he hoped that that would be enough.
She cried for at least a half hour – maybe more, Josh thought when the hospital room door opened.
"Ms. Moss?" the nurse asked. "She's ready for her feeding – you up for it?"
Donna pulled her hand from Josh's grasp and wiped the tears from her face rapidly. "Yes," she said composing herself. "All set," she smiled.
"You want me to go?" Josh asked as the nurse helped Donna situate the baby on her breast.
"You don't have to leave," Donna said softly.
"Do you want me to stay?" he asked.
Donna's eyes strayed from her daughter to him for a brief moment and she showed him a slight grin.
"I'll leave you all alone," the nurse said quietly. "Congratulations to you both."
Josh was about to correct her mistake but thought better of it and did not. Donna smiled at his unease and then looked up at the nurse. "Thank you," she said.
"I'll be back in a while," the nurse said as she left the room.
"She thought we were a family," Josh told Donna.
"Well – it's late and you're here drooling over my baby and all," Donna quipped.
"I can go," Josh shook his head. "I'm sorry I stayed so long."
"I'm glad you're here, though," Donna told him.
"Me too," he smiled. "God, Donna," he sighed. "Why the hell am I here?"
"You're wife passed out and you don't have any other friends in Wisconsin?" Donna asked with a grin.
"That works," he laughed.
"You're going home tomorrow," she said – a statement, not a question.
"I am," he said.
"I'm glad I got to see you – even for such a short time," she told him. "It means a lot to me – and to Olivia. I've told her all about you," she admitted.
"Yeah?" he laughed. "All lies, Olivia," he said as he leaned down toward the baby and whispered in her ear.
"Hardly," Donna scoffed.
"Are you happy here?" Josh asked.
"I guess," she sighed.
"Why don't you come back to Washington? You have friends there who care about you," he explained.
"And here I have family who let me stay rent free and will take care of my baby when I decide to go back to school," she sighed.
"You're going back to school?" he asked. "That's amazing."
"I can't let Olivia here think of her mother as a college drop-out, now can I?" she asked.
"I've never thought of you as one," he told her seriously. "You're just Donna – amazing Donna."
"Stop it," she told him. "You'll make me get all mushy," she giggled.
"If you come back – I'll help you with everything," he found himself saying. "Whatever you need."
"Josh," she gasped. "Don't..."
"What?" he asked. "I'm just offering you help. You know I'll always take care of you, Donna. It's the least I could do after everything you've done for me," he told her
"Josh...I mean...I can't get a job right now or anything – because of the baby. I can't afford a place to live or anything right now," she sighed.
"Donna – do you miss Washington?" he asked.
"Everyday," she said without hesitation.
"Then let me take care of you and Olivia," he said sincerely. "Let me help you for once."
"What about Lynne?" she asked seriously.
"I'll tell her about it tomorrow on our way home. She'll be fine with the idea. She knows that you're my friend," he said, knowing that it was a slight fabrication.
"Josh," she sighed. "I shouldn't."
"Or you won't..." he surmised.
"Maybe both," she said in a small voice echoing words she'd said months before.
"I just...I just miss seeing you. And now I have to go through Donna withdrawal all over again with a twist," he told her.
"A twist?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Now I'll miss you and Olivia Joan," he murmured giving the baby and her mother a dimpled grin.
Donna smiled through her tears and whispered, "You'll have to come and visit us, then."
"Every chance I get," he promised. "She looks like she's asleep," he said nodding to Olivia who had been lying on Donna's shoulder after eating. "I'll go get her nurse."
"No," she whispered, scooting over on her bed and patting the empty space.
"What?" he asked skeptically.
"Come give us a hug and stay till we fall asleep," Donna whispered. "I want you to leave while I'm having happy thoughts...and I miss falling asleep peacefully. The only time I perfected that was with you," she admitted.
"You're sure?" he asked, already climbing up and wrapping an arm around Donna and her daughter.
Donna glanced at Olivia and then back at Josh. "Of course we are."
Donna lay close to Josh and she fell fast asleep to the sound of his steady heartbeat. Josh had to fight to stay awake so that he could leave before dawn. Lynne would be up early no doubt in order to leave quicker.
Around 4:30 AM he glanced at the clock by the bed and then back at Donna and her baby. He pressed soft kisses on both of their foreheads. "Ladies," he whispered. "I gotta go now. I'll call in a few days and I'll be back before you can even miss me," he told them. "I love you – both – still," he laughed in spite of himself. "I don't know what all of that means," he confessed. "But that's how it is. I love you and I'll miss you more than you'll ever know. See you later, girls," he said sadly as he got up. He pressed kisses on their cheeks now and smiled at them in the dim light. He took a deep breath before leaving the room – but he left all the same.
"We love you too," Donna whispered once he had left the room. She sighed softly. "That went as well as could be expected," she whispered to Olivia. "At least Daddy loves us," she smirked. "He'll always love you," she promised. "Maybe not me so much when he figures this all out, but he'll always love you."
Josh made it to the hotel before Lynne stirred and managed to pack their things so they could leave when she wanted. The spent the night in New York and then made it back to DC by Sunday afternoon. Sam and Will met them at the airport.
"Is she okay?" Will asked when he saw Josh and Lynn coming toward them.
"I'm fine," Lynne huffed. "I hate Wisconsin, but I'm fine," she answered.
"That's nice," Will smirked. "Josh?"
"Donna's perfect. Here and the baby are perfect," he beamed.
"Thank goodness," Will smiled. "Sam told she had a girl?"
"Olivia Joan," Josh smiled when he said the name. "She's the most beautiful little girl in all the world."
"You sound smitten," Sam said as the group made it to the cabs out front.
"Baby," Lynne sighed. "I'll see you later. I want to go home and unpack and you are going to work, I'm sure," she said as she kissed his cheek and smiled at the others. "See you boys later," she said as she got into the waiting cab.
The trio waved goodbye to Lynne and got in their own car. "I asked her to move here – to move in with me," Josh said.
"Who?" Will asked.
"Donna?" Sam questioned.
"She misses DC. She hates her mother's house. She hates Wisconsin! She'd rather be here – she just can't afford to support herself right now. And she wants to go back to school!" Josh reported.
"What did she say?" Will asked.
"She said thanks but no thanks," Josh smirked sadly. "Just as well – Lynne would have killed me if she agreed, ya know?"
"Yeah," Will and Sam agreed.
"I'm going to visit in a couple of months – you guys game?" Josh asked, hoping for the support.
"Of course," Sam smiled at his friend.
"You couldn't keep me away," Will laughed.
