A/N: Again many many thanks to all who have reviewed this. Nataliarose9, eccentric and all of the others who though not mentioned I appreciate just as much are so appreciated. I cherish every review.
Quick thanks to Angel Marie- since you first IMed me, we have had some really fun chats. And thanks for that parody that you did of Pandora. That was wonderful.
And lastly a big shout out to Holly. No one but us know that most of the things that happen in here are the little things we cat about when sitting around your den or driving around in Bugger.
And to all the Buffy and Angel fans out there. Holly has been nominated for some awards. All can cast their votes for her at the Spuffy Awards website. (Sorry no link available...ff.net is mean.)She's up for Best Author, multiple best fics and my favorite, Best Original Character for Zack Wright.
On that note of bragging, I will let you read this now and I hope that you enjoy!!!
Chapter Sixteen
"Donna!"
She arched her brows in anticipation for the next bellow as she sat at her desk sipping on her milk. She was aching for a mocha latte.
"Donna!" This time he was closer and she could hear him approaching. As she turned her desk chair, she could see him looking at her from the doorway.
"May I inquire as to why you scream my name?"
He gave her him egotistic smirk. "Do I have to have a reason?" She put her mouth to her straw and took another sip.
"Will you come here for a minute?" Six days had passed since he had talked to Sam. It had taken that long to calm his system down. He was a proud man for not taking it out on Donna as much as he wanted to. He was scorned. Bitterly scorned.
Donna gracefully followed as she continued to drink her milk. An amused expression befell her face as she saw him close the door.
"I have a fool-proof plan about the Daddy Thing." That was the playful name he pegged for discovering the father of her child. He pretended that he was making a cute little joke about it by endlessly prodding her, but in honesty he was ready to call a private detective.
"You have to fool part down," she retorted in between calcium intakes.
He smiled and gave her a look. "Please close your ears, Miss Moss. This conversation is between me and the baby." He didn't notice that she stopped swallowing. Also breathing. With a sigh he bent down toward her abdomen. Then ever so softly he whispered.
"Josh?" She didn't know whether to be amused or depressed to tears.
"Shhh!" The look he gave her was priceless. He was truly annoyed at her for talking.
"I doubt that he or she can hear you through the amniotic fluid."
"Donna," he whined before turning back to her stomach once more. "She just won't give me a chance now."
"Me or the baby?"
"You!" He groaned and turned his head down a final time. "Who's your daddy?"
"Josh?"
His tone became much more playful. "Who's your daddy? C'mon, c'mon, who's your daddy?"
Donna was almost reduced to tears and the pain in her stomach was almost crying out you are, but she didn't relent. "Josh, you are talking to my abs there."
"Like you don't talk to the baby?"
"I do…since it's in my stomach." She smiled. "Do you expect him or her to talk back to you?"
He shrugged, obviously having more fun now that chastising was involved. "Who's you daddy?"
Donna had to put a stop to it. Her emotions were haywire and she wasn't quite sure if she wanted to slap him, cry, or pull him up and kiss him. "Can I go back to work now?"
"Yeah," he moped. "Guess that didn't work."
"If it's any consolation it was a better ploy than yesterday when you bribed me with M&Ms."
As she went back to her desk, both were resigned to the fact that things were strained. Each of them had things that they wanted desperately to say, but could not. Each had things that they thought that put the slightest bit of distance between them.
But they would push those away for the meantime. They were good at that.
Donna's head was reeling as she walked out of CJ's office. She had never wanted to do that, but knew that she had no choice if everyone just looked at her medical files. Or her stomach. Or just listened to Josh nowadays.
Though she remained adamant on her 'the father shall remain anonymous', she felt entirely too guilty. CJ had always been a wonderful friend and she wished that she could tell, but alas she was too afraid about so many people holding the knowledge. The last thing that she wanted was for Josh to find out.
And the whole world knew how Sam Seaborn could keep a secret. She didn't need to add another to the list.
So as she went past her desk to collect her purse for lunch, she realized that there was another conversation that she dreaded having. Her parents were going to have to find out one way or another. She was just worried about what to tell. Did she want to risk the chance that they would slip up and tell that a big politician had fathered their grandchild, or did she want to live with being called a whore for the rest of her life?
The answer was harder than it should be.
"Going out for lunch?" Carol asked. Donna figured that she would know soon as well since she made it clear that CJ was free to spread the word.
"Yup. Nothing like a good sandwich. Josh and Toby will be on the Hill all afternoon, so I have a chance to get away."
"Have fun," she called as briefing memos filled her arms.
After brief deliberation, Donna decided that the air was warm enough to walk through the streets to get where she was going and made a workout of it. She had every intention of going to the deli, and as she walked by her favorite cappuccino stand, she was proud that she could resist temptation.
Then the Starbucks caught her eye.
She stopped in the street and looked around as if there would be someone there to hold her willpower back. As she noted there was no one to help her, she began to edge her way toward the entrance. "Will this hurt my baby? It's just one."
She got in line behind a cute young businessman who looked to be on a short break as well. "That's probably what the crack whore said the first time around."
"Excuse me?" He said turning to face her.
The words she muttered were apparently louder than she thought. As her cheeks went crimson she shook her head. "No, no. I was just talking to myself." Then she blushed again at the nutcase she sounded like.
The man in turn smiled. "Don't worry. It's a habit we all have. But did you just call yourself a crack whore?"
She gave a weak smile. "I-I'm pregnant and I am getting a coffee. I feel horrible."
The man laughed and for a moment she was feeling quite offended. "My girlfriend was that way when she was pregnant too. I assure you that she drank coffee and the baby turned out just fine."
"Really?" That assured Donna that one, one wouldn't be too bad. She secretly admitted that she might have to do this once a month, but the baby would understand. "Thanks."
"No problem," he stated as he turned back to the front.
Now her talk motor was revving. "That was just another thing that I didn't need to worry about. With all else on my mind."
"Yeah, that happens. Glad to help."
"Well, see there is this problem with the baby's father. I can't tell him that he's the father cause it would be problematic."
The guy gave her a look. "Problematic?"
"Yeah. He kinda happens to be my boss who was too drunk to remember that we slept together." She caught the man's eye. "I know what you must think because that sounds trashy, but I swear that neither of us had done anything near that before. Hell, he doesn't even like me half the time. But after that and I got pregnant I couldn't tell Josh because that would hurt our careers and then our personal lives-we are quite good friends."
Donna went on, not noticing the fact that the man in front of her was completely horrified out of his mind with regret for ever opening his mouth. "So I told him I was pregnant and he was angry that I wouldn't tell him who the father is. Then I just told CJ, but I didn't tell her about Josh either. That was okay, but I felt bad about it. Now I have the predicament of whether or not to tell my parents that Josh is the father or to let them think that I'm a whore that can't remember. And trust me, with my lack of love life, I know who that father is." There was a long dramatic pause. "I'm sure you understand where I'm coming from."
The man gave her a blank stare. "Can I take your order?" The woman behind the counter replied. As she spoke, the man turned to her as though she was the Messiah.
Donna fidgeted and kept on talking. "I guess that I should be honest with them. They are my parents and they should have a right to know the whole truth. I will just explain the situation and hope that they understand why they can't tell a soul about Josh. Does that sound like a good plan to you?"
The lady behind the counter spoke again. "And what for the lady?"
"I don't know her," the man replied with a shrug.
That's when Donna took her cue and shut up.
Josh knew that he needed to be concentrating on what the man in front of him was saying. If Toby was paying attention, then it must mean something. Not that he made regular procedure of ignoring the Senate Leadership. Well he did, but he tried not to zone out when his own party was talking. Ergo, he felt a small twinge of guilt for letting his mind wonder.
But who is that baby's father?
He couldn't get over that question. If he knew the father it would seem to be a much easier puzzle to piece together. But Sam's words haunted him and seemed to make the process of discovering the Ultimate Gomer an even bigger challenge.
"I think that the demands are reasonable," the Minority Leader stated. "What does the White House think?"
"I think that it's more of Josh's call than mine," Toby admitted.
I know that I can figure this out. Evan if I have to hire a private investigator.
"Josh?"
Now Toby was chiming in. "Josh!"
He looked like he just awoke. "W--Huh?"
After catching up, he slowly drifted away again.
Donna felt exhausted as she made her way back through the West Wing. The conversation she had just gone through with her parents was one of the most trying of her life. But she was pleased as she said her adieus and hung up the phone.
She talked to her mother and promised that she would talk to her dad that night. She was completely, completely honest with her and said to be the same with her father. Then she explained why she was keeping it all a secret and asked if she would do it with her siblings and the rest of her family. Her mother was disappointed that things had to come to that but agreed. Mrs. Moss only wanted to do what would help make this pregnancy easier for her daughter to grasp.
So her day was made. CJ knew and now her family knew. This was exactly how she had planned on it going. But as she glanced over at Josh's empty office, a pain of regret lodged itself in her gut.
"Donna."
With a blink, she glanced up to see the Press Secretary in front of her. "Yup."
"I was wondering, how is Sam doing? We haven't talked in a while and I saw that he was with you the night of the disaster relief vote."
Donna was grinning now. "He and Dawn are a thing."
"Really?" A smile bestowed her face.
The blonde woman nodded with glee. "A big thing."
"That is terrific!" Then a pause. "How are they handling it?"
"They aren't going to hide it, but they don't want to make hay out of it either. They kinda assumed that people might pick up on it over here. They flirted a lot that night, but then again Sam can flirt with about everyone."
"That's so adorable."
"You should call him. He would love to brag."
"So I guess that you get to see him often?"
She rolled her eyes at the redhead. "Every day." Then she smiled. "But it's really great. Not only for Dawnie, but for me. He has really been helping me through the pregnancy."
CJ's gaze soften a bit more. "That is good to hear, Donna." She took her hand and gave it a light squeeze. "You know that we will all help you through."
"Thank you."
Yes, all was going well in Donna's world.
