Donna arrived at the West Wing and Will met her with her guest pass. It'd been strange having to go through the screening to get into the building. It'd been so long since she'd been there that she didn't know any of the current agents on duty. Thank goodness for Will.
"Hey," he smiled, slipping the pass around her neck. "And how's my little Livvie today?" he asked, peaking into the blanket that was wrapped tightly around Olivia's body.
Donna smiled and relaxed a bit for the first time since she hung up with Josh. "She's good," Donna answered for her daughter. "We're both good."
"Good," Will smiled. "I have instructions," Will told her.
"And they would be?" Donna asked, following him inside.
"I need to get you in to see Sam and then we're taking you over to the Residence for lunch with the President and the First Lady and Josh and then you're gonna go around and see CJ and the assistants if you want...alone, so there are less questions," Will explained.
"Sounds like a plan," Donna said, taking a deep breath. "Why am I nervous?" she asked as they made there way to see Sam.
"Because this makes it all real, in a way. I mean...you're back here – for good. That's gotta be a big thing," Will offered. "And you're here and not with Josh – no one thought they'd see that ever happen. I mean even when you weren't together you were always together," he laughed. "You know what I mean?"
"Yeah," she sighed. "That's what it must be," she agreed as they entered Sam's hallway and found him leaning against a wall outside his office, fidgeting with his tie.
"I was wondering where the hell you guys were at," he said, ignoring Donna and Will and scooping Olivia out of Donna's arms and walking down the hallway. "How's my little angel doing?" he cooed as he kissed her cheek. "And how's her mother?
"We're both fine, thanks," Donna laughed as she and Will tried to keep up with Sam's pace. "Wait up," she begged. "My walking skills are a little rusty."
"We need to get up there," Sam said waiting for her to catch up. "The President's late afternoon meeting was bumped up and he needs to have an early lunch then originally anticipated."
"Oh," she sighed. "We could come back," she offered.
"Not on your life," Leo said coming up behind her and hugging her. "How're you doing?" he asked.
"Are you coming to lunch?" Donna asked, smiling hopefully as she placed a kiss on his cheek.
"You know what? I can't today – stuff happened. But I'll see you after – you'll stop by my office right?" he asked.
"Of course," she smiled.
"Donna!" Sam yelled. "Move it!"
"Coming," Donna sighed and jogged to catch up to Sam and Will.
They hurried over to the Residence where they met Josh who was clamoring for his daughter. Donna gave her to him immediately and she had to laugh at how silly he was with her. He was in full baby mode and it was too funny not to laugh.
"What?" he asked, when he noticed her giggles.
"You know, she probably thinks you have a speech impediment or something," Donna told him with a grin.
"Shut up," he said, shaking his head. "C'mon...the President and Dr. Bartlett are waiting inside," he said, gesturing to the dining room.
Donna, Josh and Olivia followed Sam and Will inside.
"Donna!" the President said, bounding over to her with his wife close in tow.
"Mr. President," she said shyly as she returned his hug, and then hugged his wife as well.
"You look marvelous, Donna," Dr. Bartlett told her. "Motherhood must agree with you."
"I think it does, Ma'am," Donna announced.
"Well, fatherhood agrees with this guy," the President said with a grin, pointing to Josh. "I've never seem him so happy."
"May I hold your daughter?" the First Lady asked Donna while stealing a glance at Josh.
"Yes, Ma'am," Donna said, nodding for Josh to relinquish the baby.
Dr. Bartlett cradled Olivia in her arms and showed her off to her husband. "She's adorable!" she told the proud parents.
"Poor thing has been afflicted with the Josh's hair," the President grimaced.
"She could grow out of that, dear," his wife answered and then they all laughed.
"Shall we eat?" the President asked his guests. "I don't have a lot of time, but I wanted to get a chance to see you, Donna and to meet Miss Olivia," he said fondly. "I am pleased to see you both doing so well."
"Thank you, Sir," Donna answered, taking her seat, decidedly in between Sam and Will.
They ate their lunch with comfortable conversation. Donna decided that moving back to DC was the right thing to do. She was comfortable with these people, save Lynne. She could learn to deal with the rest. She'd have to, because seeing Josh so happy with Olivia was enough to make her want to cry. And Olivia lit up when Josh entered a room. Josh had the uncanny ability to make her laugh even in the midst of her little tantrums.
After lunch they were standing around the room as the President was getting ready to go and stealing a few moments with Josh and Livvie and Dr. Bartlett approached Donna who was looking on from across the room. "Hey," she said, nudging the blond.
"Ma'am," Donna said, straightening up. "Thank you so much for lunch," Donna smiled.
"You're always welcome here, dear. I hope you know that," the First Lady said, squeezing her arm for emphasis.
"Thank you," Donna nodded.
"This is hard for you, isn't it?" Mrs. Bartlett asked.
"Ma'am?" Donna asked.
"Watching Josh with Olivia and feeling so attached and then going home at night and seeing Josh with Lynne," the First Lady replied.
"Ma'am, Lynne's going to be his wife," Donna said.
"So? I know you're not thrilled with that!" Abbey laughed.
"Not particularly, no," Donna admitted. "But Josh is happy, so that makes me happy."
"I've never seen that boy happier than when he's with you and Olivia – unless he's talking about you and Olivia," the First Lady laughed. "Think about it..." she trailed off as she went over to confirm with Will and Sam that it was time for the President to get going.
It was and President Bartlett said his goodbyes to everyone in the room. Olivia was last. The President held and spun her around. He kissed her on the cheek and then whispered, "You have a wonderful family. Don't let them get away." He gave Olivia back to Josh and then smiled at the man. "Cherish them," he commanded as he turned to leave.
"Yes, sir," Josh answered, not completely sure what he was agreeing to, but wanting to agree all the same.
"We're gonna head back to our offices, too," Sam said, after the President and First Lady were gone. "Will and I have some work to do. We'll see you when you hit the West Wing," he smiled and he and Will left Josh, Donna and Olivia alone.
"Hi," he smiled at her. "I'm glad you could come. I just wanted to...you know...show Olivia off a little bit. It's not often that I can do that, right now," Josh explained with a dim sadness in his voice.
"I'm glad I came, too," Donna told him, sitting down as Josh laid Olivia down in the baby carrier that Donna had had Will bring up.
"Good," Josh said, as he sat across from her. They didn't talk for a few minutes and the silence was deafening. "I think you should move out," Josh said quietly.
"What?" Donna asked. This was not what she was even mildly expecting from him.
"Relax," Josh told her. "I want to get you and Olivia a place. A place near me, but away from Lynne. I've noticed that the two of you don't really get along," he said carefully.
"She wants to take away my baby," Donna said with a firm voice.
"It's not going to happen – I told you that," Josh said, seriously.
"Okay," Donna said. "But you're tired of us living with you already?"
"No," Josh laughed. "That's not the case at all. I love having you and Livvie live with me – with us," he corrected himself. "It's just I don't know how fair this all is to you, ya know?"
"Okay," Donna said, confused.
"I talked to Leo and he thought that maybe it'd be better for me to like visit you everyday or something. Visit you and Livvie, I mean. This way I could get to be involved in Olivia's life and Lynne and you wouldn't have to deal with one another," Josh explained.
"This was Leo's idea?" Donna asked.
"In part," Josh admitted. "But don't you think it's a good idea?"
"Josh," she sighed. "I don't have any money...how could I afford a place?"
"I'll get you a place," Josh told her. "Don't worry about it."
"Josh – you're place now is huge and expensive!" she gasped.
"So your new place won't be quite as huge," he laughed. "I have money," he assured her. "Plenty to take care of my girls," he smiled at her and then turned to Olivia when he heard her gurgle. "She likes the idea," Josh told Donna.
"So you're not trying to get rid of me?" Donna asked.
"Just the opposite. I want to keep you and Olivia in my life. I think that this way might be the best way to do it, in fact," Josh said, sounding almost pleading.
"You have a good heart, Josh," Donna smiled at him. "A really good heart," she sighed as she leaned over and kissed his cheek. "C'mon," she laughed. "I want to go and say goodbye to everyone and then you could show me the place you had in mind? If you can get off for a bit, that is," she smiled hopefully.
"How did you know I had a place in mind?" he asked with a gleam in his eye.
"You wouldn't have offered it up otherwise," she smiled. "And of course we'd expect you to visit every day," she told him.
"Go on and visit your friends," Josh smiled. "The Press should be scarce about now," he assured her with a wink.
"You wanna come with?" she asked nodding to the door. "You hanging around with me wouldn't be that unheard of around these parts."
"I could stop by with you to Toby and CJ's offices," Josh told her. "Then I'll take a quick conference call while you finish up and we can go check out what I hope will be your new place." He stood up and picked up the carrier and handed Olivia to Donna. "Just for appearances sake," he told her when she looked at him questioningly. "Danny's been digging," he told her.
"Ah," she said, shaking her head knowingly. "Okay," she smiled, accepting the carrier with a nod. "We've come too far to get caught now."
"So true," he laughed as he followed her out of the room.
----The West Wing ----
"She's adorable," Margaret cooed as she tickled Livvie's belly. "Leo wants a chance to talk with you for a moment," she told her friend. "You mind if I take her down to see Charlie again? He's such a softie – he loves babies," she giggled.
"Yeah, just bring her back in one piece...and remember, she's mine," Donna stressed.
"I know the drill my friend," Margaret said as she trotted down the hall.
"Leo?" Donna asked, rounding the corner into his office.
"Hey kiddo," he smiled. "Where's the lovely Olivia?" he asked when he noticed she was alone.
"Margaret kidnapped her for a bit," Donna smiled. "She's down visiting Charlie."
"Oh," he said with a grin. "How're ya doing? With...you know...everything..." he asked seriously.
"I'm hanging in there. Josh wants to move me and Livvie into our own place so that might help, I suppose," she said.
"Really," Leo remarked.
"He said it was your idea," Donna told him.
"I just said that it was entirely ridiculous of him to force you and Livvie to live in a house with him and the ice princess," Leo told her. "He said he'd never hurt you and I pointed out that he did – day in and day out."
"Leo," Donna sighed. "He's happy with Lynne. Can't that just be enough? Don't you want to see him happy?" she asked.
"He misses you," Leo told her. "That's why he wants you in your own place. He misses you, Donna. He loves Lynne. She appeared in his life when he thought he'd lost everything that mattered to him. He loves that about her. He loves that she was able to help him. But he's never gotten over you. Just like you've never gotten over him," Leo told her. "You're inevitable."
"He's engaged," Donna told Leo, simply.
"Yeah, and you ran away," Leo answered. "You share a child and now you're back in the District with him. Who would've thought that was possible?"
"It's too late, Leo," Donna sighed. "I love him," she smiled through her teary eyes. "I do," she admitted. "Even when I hate him – I love him. But it's too late. I need to accept that," she sighed. "Maybe living away from him would be good for that. It would allow me space and time for closure," she convinced herself.
"Right," he laughed. "And as I told Josh – don't you think absence might make the heart grow fonder?"
"You're a hopeless romantic, Leo McGarry," she laughed.
"So...did he find a place for you yet?" Leo asked, knowing that that's what his Deputy spent the morning doing.
"Apparently," Donna smiled. "He's taking me to see it after I'm done here."
"Funny," Leo laughed. "He didn't ask for the afternoon off."
Just then Josh knocked on the door and let himself in. "Leo?" he asked. "Is it okay if I take the afternoon off? I wanted Donna to check out this great place I found earlier today."
Donna and Leo burst out laughing and Leo waved them to the door saying, "Go, on...go on."
"Where's my little angel?" Josh asked as they left Leo's office.
"Down with Charlie. Margaret said he's a sucker for babies," Donna explained as they made their way down the hall.
"Donna Moss," Danny called out to her as he saw them going down the hall.
CJ heard his voice and quickly joined Donna and Josh in the hallway. "Hi Danny," she smiled.
"CJ," he smiled. "Josh," he added nodding to his friend.
"Hi Danny," Donna smiled and hugged him.
"Sorry I didn't catch you guys last night," Danny said. "I got there late."
"With Michael the Moron in tow," CJ sighed, shaking her head.
"CJ hates my assistant," Danny explained. "If I talk more to him, I talk less to her."
"Ha ha," CJ responded.
"Good come back, CJ," Josh laughed.
"So...how's the baby?" Danny asked.
"She's great. Margaret has her at the moment. We're going to get her," Donna explained.
"Huh," Danny sighed, stroking his chin. "So you live with Josh and his fiancé. What's up with that?"
"I needed a place to stay and Josh offered. He's such a great guy, I couldn't say no," Donna explained. "We're actually headed right now to check out a place for Olivia and I."
"Great," Danny smiled. "Is the father in the picture?"
"Of what?" Donna asked.
"Do you have contact with the father of your baby?" he asked.
"Yes," Donna smiled. "He knows about his daughter and he agrees that I am the best person to raise her. I am thankful for his good judgment and one of these days, maybe he can be in the picture," Donna sighed. "But right now, I'm just thankful that I know so many wonderful people who are willing to help me out with this new era in my life."
"Donna!" Charlie called down the hall. "Take your munchkin back now," he told her. "Bye little Livvie," he whispered to Olivia. Then he looked back at Donna and winked. "I got a reputation to uphold," he said in a whisper.
"Okay, Miss Mosses," Josh smiled. "Let's get you to your new place of residence, shall we?" he asked with glee.
"It was nice to see you, Danny," Donna smiled at him.
Danny smiled and watched Josh and Donna go off down the hallway...bantering away about why Josh should've eaten more vegetable at lunchtime or something.
"I'm glad she's back," Danny mused.
"Yeah," CJ smiled, feeling exceptionally bad about how she'd been acting recently. They sight of Josh and Donna being Josh and Donna again was kind of heartwarming. As much as she loved Lynne, she knew that Lynne and Josh would never be that close. "Me, too."
"I'm gonna find out who the kid's father is CJ," Danny vowed.
"Whatever you say," she smiled and went back into her office.
----At the new house----
"I know it's not a mansion or anything," Josh told her as he led Donna into the foyer of what would be her new home. "But....it's cozy, I think," he offered.
"It's beautiful!" she squealed as she looked around the two-story condo, handing him Olivia.
"It's got four bedrooms and an office," Josh explained. "Two-full bathrooms, a full kitchen, dining room, living room, and family room."
"It's perfect for us," she smiled, looking at Josh and Olivia. "Absolutely perfect!"
"So it's a go?" asked the real estate agent who was tooling around in the kitchen. "Your family approves?" she asked Josh.
"Donna?" he asked with a grin.
"Yes," she smiled. "It's great, Josh. Daddy did good, didn't he, Livvie?" she said, smiling at her daughter.
"You'll be moving in shortly?" the agent asked Josh.
"They'll stay her tonight," Josh told her. "I'm having there things brought over as we speak," he explained.
Donna quirked her eyebrow and shook her head. "You always were cocky," she laughed.
"You'll not be moving in with the lovely ladies?" the agent asked.
"No," Josh smiled. "It's just for them," he said, shaking his head.
"Oh," the agent sighed. "I am sorry for the assumption."
"Not at all," Josh smiled and gave her her tip. "Thanks for your help again."
She left. Donna and Olivia dashed from room to room to see everything. "Josh it's too much," she sighed, when she stopped in front of him.
"Not at all," he whispered. "My girls deserve the world," he told her honestly. He leaned forward and kissed her forehead and she held her breath until he moved away. He tickled Olivia and smiled back at her mother. "I gotta go. Lynne's probable freaking out about the movers at the house," he said. "Can I come back later on tonight?" he asked.
Donna looked at him and closed her eyes for a moment. She wanted to say yes. Her body was begging her to say yes....just to have him be there. But she knew what she needed to do. It's like she said earlier. She needed to work on the whole closure thing. She cleared her throat and forced a smile. "You know what? Tonight might not work," she told him. "I wanted to look at a course book and I want to fiddle with things in Livvie's room so it's like she likes it. Is that okay?" she asked.
He was hurt – he wasn't sure the hurt was a good thing or not. He'd expected her to welcome him back with open arms. "Yeah," he said, shaking his head. "Absolutely. I'll stop by tomorrow," he told her. "I have a key for myself – just in case of emergencies. I just thought you should know that," he said.
"Okay," she smiled. "Thanks again, Josh."
"You deserve it, Donna," he whispered. "Good night, ladies."
"Hey," he smiled, slipping the pass around her neck. "And how's my little Livvie today?" he asked, peaking into the blanket that was wrapped tightly around Olivia's body.
Donna smiled and relaxed a bit for the first time since she hung up with Josh. "She's good," Donna answered for her daughter. "We're both good."
"Good," Will smiled. "I have instructions," Will told her.
"And they would be?" Donna asked, following him inside.
"I need to get you in to see Sam and then we're taking you over to the Residence for lunch with the President and the First Lady and Josh and then you're gonna go around and see CJ and the assistants if you want...alone, so there are less questions," Will explained.
"Sounds like a plan," Donna said, taking a deep breath. "Why am I nervous?" she asked as they made there way to see Sam.
"Because this makes it all real, in a way. I mean...you're back here – for good. That's gotta be a big thing," Will offered. "And you're here and not with Josh – no one thought they'd see that ever happen. I mean even when you weren't together you were always together," he laughed. "You know what I mean?"
"Yeah," she sighed. "That's what it must be," she agreed as they entered Sam's hallway and found him leaning against a wall outside his office, fidgeting with his tie.
"I was wondering where the hell you guys were at," he said, ignoring Donna and Will and scooping Olivia out of Donna's arms and walking down the hallway. "How's my little angel doing?" he cooed as he kissed her cheek. "And how's her mother?
"We're both fine, thanks," Donna laughed as she and Will tried to keep up with Sam's pace. "Wait up," she begged. "My walking skills are a little rusty."
"We need to get up there," Sam said waiting for her to catch up. "The President's late afternoon meeting was bumped up and he needs to have an early lunch then originally anticipated."
"Oh," she sighed. "We could come back," she offered.
"Not on your life," Leo said coming up behind her and hugging her. "How're you doing?" he asked.
"Are you coming to lunch?" Donna asked, smiling hopefully as she placed a kiss on his cheek.
"You know what? I can't today – stuff happened. But I'll see you after – you'll stop by my office right?" he asked.
"Of course," she smiled.
"Donna!" Sam yelled. "Move it!"
"Coming," Donna sighed and jogged to catch up to Sam and Will.
They hurried over to the Residence where they met Josh who was clamoring for his daughter. Donna gave her to him immediately and she had to laugh at how silly he was with her. He was in full baby mode and it was too funny not to laugh.
"What?" he asked, when he noticed her giggles.
"You know, she probably thinks you have a speech impediment or something," Donna told him with a grin.
"Shut up," he said, shaking his head. "C'mon...the President and Dr. Bartlett are waiting inside," he said, gesturing to the dining room.
Donna, Josh and Olivia followed Sam and Will inside.
"Donna!" the President said, bounding over to her with his wife close in tow.
"Mr. President," she said shyly as she returned his hug, and then hugged his wife as well.
"You look marvelous, Donna," Dr. Bartlett told her. "Motherhood must agree with you."
"I think it does, Ma'am," Donna announced.
"Well, fatherhood agrees with this guy," the President said with a grin, pointing to Josh. "I've never seem him so happy."
"May I hold your daughter?" the First Lady asked Donna while stealing a glance at Josh.
"Yes, Ma'am," Donna said, nodding for Josh to relinquish the baby.
Dr. Bartlett cradled Olivia in her arms and showed her off to her husband. "She's adorable!" she told the proud parents.
"Poor thing has been afflicted with the Josh's hair," the President grimaced.
"She could grow out of that, dear," his wife answered and then they all laughed.
"Shall we eat?" the President asked his guests. "I don't have a lot of time, but I wanted to get a chance to see you, Donna and to meet Miss Olivia," he said fondly. "I am pleased to see you both doing so well."
"Thank you, Sir," Donna answered, taking her seat, decidedly in between Sam and Will.
They ate their lunch with comfortable conversation. Donna decided that moving back to DC was the right thing to do. She was comfortable with these people, save Lynne. She could learn to deal with the rest. She'd have to, because seeing Josh so happy with Olivia was enough to make her want to cry. And Olivia lit up when Josh entered a room. Josh had the uncanny ability to make her laugh even in the midst of her little tantrums.
After lunch they were standing around the room as the President was getting ready to go and stealing a few moments with Josh and Livvie and Dr. Bartlett approached Donna who was looking on from across the room. "Hey," she said, nudging the blond.
"Ma'am," Donna said, straightening up. "Thank you so much for lunch," Donna smiled.
"You're always welcome here, dear. I hope you know that," the First Lady said, squeezing her arm for emphasis.
"Thank you," Donna nodded.
"This is hard for you, isn't it?" Mrs. Bartlett asked.
"Ma'am?" Donna asked.
"Watching Josh with Olivia and feeling so attached and then going home at night and seeing Josh with Lynne," the First Lady replied.
"Ma'am, Lynne's going to be his wife," Donna said.
"So? I know you're not thrilled with that!" Abbey laughed.
"Not particularly, no," Donna admitted. "But Josh is happy, so that makes me happy."
"I've never seen that boy happier than when he's with you and Olivia – unless he's talking about you and Olivia," the First Lady laughed. "Think about it..." she trailed off as she went over to confirm with Will and Sam that it was time for the President to get going.
It was and President Bartlett said his goodbyes to everyone in the room. Olivia was last. The President held and spun her around. He kissed her on the cheek and then whispered, "You have a wonderful family. Don't let them get away." He gave Olivia back to Josh and then smiled at the man. "Cherish them," he commanded as he turned to leave.
"Yes, sir," Josh answered, not completely sure what he was agreeing to, but wanting to agree all the same.
"We're gonna head back to our offices, too," Sam said, after the President and First Lady were gone. "Will and I have some work to do. We'll see you when you hit the West Wing," he smiled and he and Will left Josh, Donna and Olivia alone.
"Hi," he smiled at her. "I'm glad you could come. I just wanted to...you know...show Olivia off a little bit. It's not often that I can do that, right now," Josh explained with a dim sadness in his voice.
"I'm glad I came, too," Donna told him, sitting down as Josh laid Olivia down in the baby carrier that Donna had had Will bring up.
"Good," Josh said, as he sat across from her. They didn't talk for a few minutes and the silence was deafening. "I think you should move out," Josh said quietly.
"What?" Donna asked. This was not what she was even mildly expecting from him.
"Relax," Josh told her. "I want to get you and Olivia a place. A place near me, but away from Lynne. I've noticed that the two of you don't really get along," he said carefully.
"She wants to take away my baby," Donna said with a firm voice.
"It's not going to happen – I told you that," Josh said, seriously.
"Okay," Donna said. "But you're tired of us living with you already?"
"No," Josh laughed. "That's not the case at all. I love having you and Livvie live with me – with us," he corrected himself. "It's just I don't know how fair this all is to you, ya know?"
"Okay," Donna said, confused.
"I talked to Leo and he thought that maybe it'd be better for me to like visit you everyday or something. Visit you and Livvie, I mean. This way I could get to be involved in Olivia's life and Lynne and you wouldn't have to deal with one another," Josh explained.
"This was Leo's idea?" Donna asked.
"In part," Josh admitted. "But don't you think it's a good idea?"
"Josh," she sighed. "I don't have any money...how could I afford a place?"
"I'll get you a place," Josh told her. "Don't worry about it."
"Josh – you're place now is huge and expensive!" she gasped.
"So your new place won't be quite as huge," he laughed. "I have money," he assured her. "Plenty to take care of my girls," he smiled at her and then turned to Olivia when he heard her gurgle. "She likes the idea," Josh told Donna.
"So you're not trying to get rid of me?" Donna asked.
"Just the opposite. I want to keep you and Olivia in my life. I think that this way might be the best way to do it, in fact," Josh said, sounding almost pleading.
"You have a good heart, Josh," Donna smiled at him. "A really good heart," she sighed as she leaned over and kissed his cheek. "C'mon," she laughed. "I want to go and say goodbye to everyone and then you could show me the place you had in mind? If you can get off for a bit, that is," she smiled hopefully.
"How did you know I had a place in mind?" he asked with a gleam in his eye.
"You wouldn't have offered it up otherwise," she smiled. "And of course we'd expect you to visit every day," she told him.
"Go on and visit your friends," Josh smiled. "The Press should be scarce about now," he assured her with a wink.
"You wanna come with?" she asked nodding to the door. "You hanging around with me wouldn't be that unheard of around these parts."
"I could stop by with you to Toby and CJ's offices," Josh told her. "Then I'll take a quick conference call while you finish up and we can go check out what I hope will be your new place." He stood up and picked up the carrier and handed Olivia to Donna. "Just for appearances sake," he told her when she looked at him questioningly. "Danny's been digging," he told her.
"Ah," she said, shaking her head knowingly. "Okay," she smiled, accepting the carrier with a nod. "We've come too far to get caught now."
"So true," he laughed as he followed her out of the room.
----The West Wing ----
"She's adorable," Margaret cooed as she tickled Livvie's belly. "Leo wants a chance to talk with you for a moment," she told her friend. "You mind if I take her down to see Charlie again? He's such a softie – he loves babies," she giggled.
"Yeah, just bring her back in one piece...and remember, she's mine," Donna stressed.
"I know the drill my friend," Margaret said as she trotted down the hall.
"Leo?" Donna asked, rounding the corner into his office.
"Hey kiddo," he smiled. "Where's the lovely Olivia?" he asked when he noticed she was alone.
"Margaret kidnapped her for a bit," Donna smiled. "She's down visiting Charlie."
"Oh," he said with a grin. "How're ya doing? With...you know...everything..." he asked seriously.
"I'm hanging in there. Josh wants to move me and Livvie into our own place so that might help, I suppose," she said.
"Really," Leo remarked.
"He said it was your idea," Donna told him.
"I just said that it was entirely ridiculous of him to force you and Livvie to live in a house with him and the ice princess," Leo told her. "He said he'd never hurt you and I pointed out that he did – day in and day out."
"Leo," Donna sighed. "He's happy with Lynne. Can't that just be enough? Don't you want to see him happy?" she asked.
"He misses you," Leo told her. "That's why he wants you in your own place. He misses you, Donna. He loves Lynne. She appeared in his life when he thought he'd lost everything that mattered to him. He loves that about her. He loves that she was able to help him. But he's never gotten over you. Just like you've never gotten over him," Leo told her. "You're inevitable."
"He's engaged," Donna told Leo, simply.
"Yeah, and you ran away," Leo answered. "You share a child and now you're back in the District with him. Who would've thought that was possible?"
"It's too late, Leo," Donna sighed. "I love him," she smiled through her teary eyes. "I do," she admitted. "Even when I hate him – I love him. But it's too late. I need to accept that," she sighed. "Maybe living away from him would be good for that. It would allow me space and time for closure," she convinced herself.
"Right," he laughed. "And as I told Josh – don't you think absence might make the heart grow fonder?"
"You're a hopeless romantic, Leo McGarry," she laughed.
"So...did he find a place for you yet?" Leo asked, knowing that that's what his Deputy spent the morning doing.
"Apparently," Donna smiled. "He's taking me to see it after I'm done here."
"Funny," Leo laughed. "He didn't ask for the afternoon off."
Just then Josh knocked on the door and let himself in. "Leo?" he asked. "Is it okay if I take the afternoon off? I wanted Donna to check out this great place I found earlier today."
Donna and Leo burst out laughing and Leo waved them to the door saying, "Go, on...go on."
"Where's my little angel?" Josh asked as they left Leo's office.
"Down with Charlie. Margaret said he's a sucker for babies," Donna explained as they made their way down the hall.
"Donna Moss," Danny called out to her as he saw them going down the hall.
CJ heard his voice and quickly joined Donna and Josh in the hallway. "Hi Danny," she smiled.
"CJ," he smiled. "Josh," he added nodding to his friend.
"Hi Danny," Donna smiled and hugged him.
"Sorry I didn't catch you guys last night," Danny said. "I got there late."
"With Michael the Moron in tow," CJ sighed, shaking her head.
"CJ hates my assistant," Danny explained. "If I talk more to him, I talk less to her."
"Ha ha," CJ responded.
"Good come back, CJ," Josh laughed.
"So...how's the baby?" Danny asked.
"She's great. Margaret has her at the moment. We're going to get her," Donna explained.
"Huh," Danny sighed, stroking his chin. "So you live with Josh and his fiancé. What's up with that?"
"I needed a place to stay and Josh offered. He's such a great guy, I couldn't say no," Donna explained. "We're actually headed right now to check out a place for Olivia and I."
"Great," Danny smiled. "Is the father in the picture?"
"Of what?" Donna asked.
"Do you have contact with the father of your baby?" he asked.
"Yes," Donna smiled. "He knows about his daughter and he agrees that I am the best person to raise her. I am thankful for his good judgment and one of these days, maybe he can be in the picture," Donna sighed. "But right now, I'm just thankful that I know so many wonderful people who are willing to help me out with this new era in my life."
"Donna!" Charlie called down the hall. "Take your munchkin back now," he told her. "Bye little Livvie," he whispered to Olivia. Then he looked back at Donna and winked. "I got a reputation to uphold," he said in a whisper.
"Okay, Miss Mosses," Josh smiled. "Let's get you to your new place of residence, shall we?" he asked with glee.
"It was nice to see you, Danny," Donna smiled at him.
Danny smiled and watched Josh and Donna go off down the hallway...bantering away about why Josh should've eaten more vegetable at lunchtime or something.
"I'm glad she's back," Danny mused.
"Yeah," CJ smiled, feeling exceptionally bad about how she'd been acting recently. They sight of Josh and Donna being Josh and Donna again was kind of heartwarming. As much as she loved Lynne, she knew that Lynne and Josh would never be that close. "Me, too."
"I'm gonna find out who the kid's father is CJ," Danny vowed.
"Whatever you say," she smiled and went back into her office.
----At the new house----
"I know it's not a mansion or anything," Josh told her as he led Donna into the foyer of what would be her new home. "But....it's cozy, I think," he offered.
"It's beautiful!" she squealed as she looked around the two-story condo, handing him Olivia.
"It's got four bedrooms and an office," Josh explained. "Two-full bathrooms, a full kitchen, dining room, living room, and family room."
"It's perfect for us," she smiled, looking at Josh and Olivia. "Absolutely perfect!"
"So it's a go?" asked the real estate agent who was tooling around in the kitchen. "Your family approves?" she asked Josh.
"Donna?" he asked with a grin.
"Yes," she smiled. "It's great, Josh. Daddy did good, didn't he, Livvie?" she said, smiling at her daughter.
"You'll be moving in shortly?" the agent asked Josh.
"They'll stay her tonight," Josh told her. "I'm having there things brought over as we speak," he explained.
Donna quirked her eyebrow and shook her head. "You always were cocky," she laughed.
"You'll not be moving in with the lovely ladies?" the agent asked.
"No," Josh smiled. "It's just for them," he said, shaking his head.
"Oh," the agent sighed. "I am sorry for the assumption."
"Not at all," Josh smiled and gave her her tip. "Thanks for your help again."
She left. Donna and Olivia dashed from room to room to see everything. "Josh it's too much," she sighed, when she stopped in front of him.
"Not at all," he whispered. "My girls deserve the world," he told her honestly. He leaned forward and kissed her forehead and she held her breath until he moved away. He tickled Olivia and smiled back at her mother. "I gotta go. Lynne's probable freaking out about the movers at the house," he said. "Can I come back later on tonight?" he asked.
Donna looked at him and closed her eyes for a moment. She wanted to say yes. Her body was begging her to say yes....just to have him be there. But she knew what she needed to do. It's like she said earlier. She needed to work on the whole closure thing. She cleared her throat and forced a smile. "You know what? Tonight might not work," she told him. "I wanted to look at a course book and I want to fiddle with things in Livvie's room so it's like she likes it. Is that okay?" she asked.
He was hurt – he wasn't sure the hurt was a good thing or not. He'd expected her to welcome him back with open arms. "Yeah," he said, shaking his head. "Absolutely. I'll stop by tomorrow," he told her. "I have a key for myself – just in case of emergencies. I just thought you should know that," he said.
"Okay," she smiled. "Thanks again, Josh."
"You deserve it, Donna," he whispered. "Good night, ladies."
