Disclaimers: I do not own these characters they belong to NBC and John Wells...

I would like to say a special thank you to Jenni for taking on the task of Beta...

Just as Donna was about to open the door to go in, she saw a figure standing on the inside of the doorway.

"Donnatella, what are you doing here?" The anger in her sister's tone told her all she needed to know. "We don't want you here."

"You need to leave, mom doesn't need the stress of having to deal with your lies and accusations."

Just as Donna was about to reply she heard her mothers voice.

"Isabella, who's at the door?" Her mother walked up looking older than her years. Standing face to face with her youngest child, Peggy Moss turned and walked away.

"Leave Donnatella, we don't want you here." slamming the in Donna's face. The disgust in her sister's voice told her what she already knew - that she wasn't welcomed there.

Walking down the steps, she wondered if coming back to Madison was a mistake. Did her brothers, grandparents and other family members feel the same way? Maybe she truly was an outcast to her family, the black sheep.

Holding back threatening tears, she made her way to her rental car and started driving. Unsure of her destination, she felt like she was going around in circles. Without even noticing, Donna ended up in a familiar small park. She had come here a lot when she was young and considered it a safe place. Sitting down on the swings, she still questioned why she came back to Madison. Deep in thought, she was startled when someone taped her on the shoulder. Before turning around she said a prayer that Josh standing there.

"I thought you would come here, Tella" Shocked she turned around to she her brother Scott.

He was the only one allowed to call her that; after all, he gave it to her when she was born. Trying to hide her disappointment, she stood up and gave her big brother a hug.

"Wow, your disappointment hurts" Scott said, trying to sound wounded. "Not who you were expecting?"

"How did you know I was here?"

"I saw you when you walked up on the porch at the house, through the upstairs window." In an attempt to keep the conversation light, "We used to have a lot of fun at this park." He smiled "We spent many summer days and nights here. This is where David Keller kissed you for the first time, isn't it?"

He loved teasing his sister about that, remembering the day she came home with that dreamy look in her eyes.

"This is where you lost your virginity to Sarah," she teased back. "Didn't you propose to her here?"

He shook his head yes, remembering the good times he and Donna had together. He also knew that this is where his sister would come when things got bad at home.

"Do you remember the very last time we were at this park?" he gently asked.

"Oh, how could I forget?" the smile fell from her face. "I had just had a big fight with mom and dad, and they called you to come and talk some sense into me."

She had tried so hard to forget that day five years ago. "That was the day I left and joined the campaign." When she quit the campaign and came back to Brian, she never called her parents and told them she was back.

"They don't want me here Scott." her voice full of hurt.

"I know kiddo, but you have to understand they're hurting too." He spoke softly, "They don't know what they are saying."

"Why did you even call me? Scott."

"I thought you had a right to know, to be here, and say good-bye."

"How's Washington?" he tried to distract by talking about other things. "How's Josh?"

He was her noisy big brother too, the one who still cared about what went on in her life. He was the one she called when things went right in her life. He was the person from Madison and her family that she had kept in contact.

"Washington's great, and Josh is wonderful." Her Washington family and Josh were all she had now, and that seemed unsure. Well, she still had Scott but figured Michael would stick by mom - he was always a momma's boy.

"Did Josh come with you?"

A quiet "No," was Donna's answer.

"I guess he couldn't get away from Washington." Her brother was sensing trouble in paradise. "The president probably could spare him for a couple of days."

Donna's head fell in shame; she had never lied to her brother. Why start now?

"Tella," Scott prodded gently. "What's going on?"

"Josh is still in Washington, because I left him there," tears welling up in her eyes. "Oh Scott, I didn't give him a chance to come." She told him the story of how she left before Josh ever got up, leaving him just a note. She explained that she was afraid of what would happen if Josh knew her secret.

Pulling his sister into a tight hug, he held on to her, letting the tears fall. He knew this was going to be hard on her, but he didn't realize how hard.

"Tella, have you called him since you got here?" Scott asked, always the big brother. "You should at least let him know you are okay, he's probably going out of his mind with worry."

"I can't, not yet." Donna wiped quickly at her tears. "He's probably angry at me anyway. I will just take my punishment when I get back to D.C."

"Well think you should call him, he loves you and will understand." He encouraged her to call Josh. "You do what you think is right, just think about it okay?"

"Don't you have get back to mom, and the family?" she asked, desperately trying to change the subject. "They are probably wondering where you went."

"Don't worry kiddo, Sarah's covering for me. She sends her love and wants to see you while you are here You should see the kids they are so big, can you believe that Matthew is going to be six in two weeks? And, Megan just turned two! Sarah wanted me to tell you that you are welcome to stay at the house with us."

"Thanks but I'll just stay at the hotel. I'll be more comfortable there."

"Okay, suit yourself, but you're welcome at our house and I don't care what mom says. What hotel are you staying at?"

"I'm at the Crown Plaza and still need to check in. In fact I should probably get going." She needed sometime by herself.

"Yeah, I probably get back. More than likely, they're looking for me now." He knew she was hurting, and he didn't want to let her go just yet. She needed him right now. "Do me a favor okay?"

"What?" A small smile appeared on her face, he always knew how to make the hard times better.

"Come over for dinner one night okay? Spend some time with your niece and nephew."

"I'll call you, just let me get settled okay?" She knew he would be mad if she didn't.

"Okay deal." He smiled back at her.

Going their separate ways, Donna turned around and called his name.

"Did I make a mistake coming here?" She needed an answer and knew he would be truthful with her.

"No, I wouldn't have called if I thought it would have been." was his reply.

"Love you." Donna called out as she got into her car.

"Love you too Tella." He doubted she heard him, but it felt good to say.

Driving to the hotel Donna gave some thought to what Scott had said about Josh. Before long, she was at the hotel. She grabbed her bags and headed inside. As she walked through the lobby, she looked up to see a man who looked a lot like Josh standing at the counter. "No," she thought to herself "that can't be Josh." As she got closer, the man turned around, and Donna got the shock of her life.

"Josh?"

Without speaking another word, he pulled her into a hug and held on to her.