Donna awoke to the smell of pancakes and coffee in a room wholly unfamiliar. There was a slight panic as she struggled to remember where she was until memories of the previous day drifted into her mind.
'Shit,' she thought leaping out of bed. 'It didn't happen, please God it didn't happen,' she begged silently as she ran to the mirror.
Turning away from the mirror and lowering her pyjama bottoms an inch, Donna looked at the reflection of her lower back over her shoulder and moaned, not at the bruise that had formed when she fell but at the realization that yesterday had actually happened.
"No," she gasped in shock.
- - - -
Ainsley had ensured Donna stayed in the guest bedroom directly above the kitchen just so she and Sam could hear this exact scene.
"I think she might be up," Sam commented over his mug of coffee at the sound of running steps above them.
"Mm-hmm," Ainsley agreed, swallowing a mouthful of pancakes. "And full of energy apparently, that's just wrong."
Sam smiled at her knowingly; she was not a morning person, not until her fill of pancakes anyway. Overhead were the sounds of moving once more and a door closing.
"She's coming," Sam said unnecessarily, reaching for a pancake off Ainsley's plate.
Ainsley, in return, slapped his hand in an attempt to swat it away. "Get your own, they're on the counter."
"But you still have seven there," he protested unhappily.
"And you know I'm eating every one of them."
Sam mumbled something but was spared from having to repeat it louder when Donna came into the room.
"Morning," Ainsley greeted cheerfully to the dishevelled looking woman currently helping herself to pancakes off the counter, an act which earned Sam a smug look off Ainsley.
"Hi," Donna replied quietly.
She sat at the table and ran a hand through her limp hair in a distracted way as she did.
"Sleep well?" Sam enquired.
"Yes, thanks. And thank you for putting me up, I don't think I could even afford a motel room."
Ainsley shook her head firmly. "It's not a problem, we nearly had Josh here too but by the time Sam offered he already had a room at his hotel."
"Right," was all Donna said.
She didn't like small talk until she'd had a shower, as though the act of cleaning washed away an unfriendly layer revealing the charming, witty, talkative person they normally dealt with.
"And if you want to return the favour then you and Josh can always put us up when you start living together."
Sam shot Ainsley a look at her lack of tact but Donna didn't see it, she was too busy choking on a bite of pancake. Ainsley poured her a drink as Sam tapped her back soothingly.
"Are you okay?"
Donna nodded at the woman in response. "What do you mean when Josh and I start living together?"
"Well it's going to happen sometime soon, right? Now that you and he are working together again, something's bound to happen."
"It's because we're working together that nothing will happen and anyway, he works for the President, I work for the First Lady. We'll hardly see each other."
"Amy was around a lot when she was Chief of Staff," Ainsley pointed out making Donna shoot Sam, who was hiding behind his newspaper, a dark look. Just how much had he told this woman?
"Amy," Donna replied coldly. "Was trying to make sure Josh didn't get involved with anyone else by reminding him she was around. Josh doesn't even know I work there and I'm not going to tell him."
"Why not?" Ainsley asked in a very lawyer-like fashion; stern and to the point.
"Because…" Donna trailed off, trying to think of a valid excuse. "It would complicate things," she finished lamely.
"How?"
After a moment pause Donna spoke even more pathetically. "It just would." Another pause and she snapped childishly, "Can we drop it please?"
"Fine," Ainsley answered, hurt.
There was an uncomfortable silence until Sam folded his newspaper. "What are you two doing today?" He asked as though he hadn't just witnessed the event or felt the change in mood.
"I was going to look for something to wear at you wedding," Donna admitted sheepishly, embarrassed that she hadn't done so already.
"Well I was going to treat me and the girls to a bit of beauty treatment. Why don't you join us Donna?" Ainsley asked as though she too had forgotten about the last 5 minutes. "We'll be shopping, too," she added, seeing the doubt on Donna's face.
"I don't know –" she began.
"Go, it'll be good for you to have a little r and r," Sam commented as he stood. "I have to go, I'll see you both later." And with that he left, leaving the two blondes alone.
"Well?" Ainsley asked a mix of hope and excitement in her voice.
"I guess so," Donna answered wearily.
"Great!" Ainsley declared, clapping her hands together in glee.
- - - -
'Why did I agree to this?' Donna thought miserably and not for the first time. Ainsley had dragged her to meet some of her friends, the bridesmaids and maid of honour. There were three of them all together; The Maid of Honour, Danielle, was Donna's height and figure but with dull hazel eyes and long black hair. She was friendly enough, they all were, she was just very loud and bubbly. Her daughter, a smaller, 13 year-old version of herself, was called Faith and one of the bridesmaids along with Ainsley's niece, Jessica. Jessica was a little shorter than Faith with ash-blonde hair and startling blue eyes. The four of them may as well have been talking in code as far as Donna was concerned. They spoke of things Donna had not witnessed and she was slowly starting to feel more and more like an outsider.
All through the beauty therapy portion of the day, which consisted of facials, manicures, pedicures and massages, the adults had talked about the disastrous dates Danielle had had that month as her ex, Faith's father, continued to hound her for another chance. Faith and Jessica, who were thoroughly enjoying the treatment they received, giggled over a boy they looked forward to seeing over the holidays. It was all perfectly innocent chatter but Donna, who didn't know anyone they were talking about, didn't join in, thinking it would be rude to interrupt. Instead she stayed out of the conversations, busying herself with the mind-numbing conversation from her beautician.
There had been an embarrassing moment as they prepared to leave the expensive salon and Donna realised she couldn't afford the treatment she'd received. She discreetly informed Ainsley of this but got as much tact as she'd received before as way of response.
Ainsley laughed loudly and showed Donna a plastic card. "Don't worry, its Sam's treat." She then paid for their treatment before facing the others. "Anyone for lunch? I'm starving."
Lunch, also Sam's treat, was at an expensive restaurant. The conversation here was lighter and Donna even found herself joining in a few times but never with as much enthusiasm as the other. Ainsley seemed to pick up on Donna's discomfort for her next suggested activity was one the five of them could be involved in with no one left out, the activity of all women's dreams; shopping.
Still, as much as the idea was appreciated on Donna's part, it only served to worsen her uncomfortableness for there was nothing worse than trying to choose a dress that will captivate the man of your dreams without showing up the bride with a group of women you barely know in shops that are way over your budget. Especially when none of them can agree.
"You know," Ainsley's twang rang throughout the boutique. "I'm not sure this dress would work well on you." She was holding a lilac dress up against herself and admiring it in the mirror.
Danielle looked over at her. "Just because it doesn't suit you don't mean it won't her."
"But they look alike, the same skin and hair," Jessica pointed out in support of her aunt.
Donna, in an attempt to silence them, put the dress she'd been looking at back on the rack, even faster when she caught sight of the price tag. She gave the dress a quick once over before taking it from Ainsley for closer inspection. Once more she casually noted the almost quadruple-figure price tag before handing it back.
"Ainsley's right and besides, these dresses are a little…" She thought for a suitable word to cover up the one she really believed it was, expensive. "Dressy," she finished. "They're more like ball gowns. Maybe we could try the mall."
All her shopping was done in the mall in DC. It was over-priced there too but it was a little more in her price range at least.
"Sounds good to me," Faith piped up. Apparently she'd only inherited her mothers' looks and not personality because this was the first time Donna had heard her speak with enthusiasm since they'd left the salon that morning.
"Me too," Jessica agreed.
The older women agreed too and they left the shop, passing many others as they headed to Ainsley's car (one a lot more road-worthy than Sam's).
"Oh my God," Donna gasped as something caught her eye. "Can we just make a quick detour?" She asked this as she was already headed into a shop.
The other shared puzzled glances before following her in. They found her staring at a dress on a mannequin intently.
Danielle examined her with curiosity. "Does she even have a boyfriend?" She asked critically.
"Not exactly," Ainsley answered awkwardly, it wasn't her place to tell the story.
"It would look beautiful on you," Faith told the teary-eyed Donna.
Donna nodded numbly. She would look beautiful in it and she would love to wear it, for Josh to see her in it, but unfortunately the time had passed for that. As she admired the white gown, a gown so similar to the one she had always imagined as her wedding dress, startling realisations hit her. She had told Josh they had to wait for a time when a relationship between them wouldn't be damaging to anyone but now, after a culmination of the last 24 hours events, not to mention the past 2 years, she realised how wrong she'd been.
They loved each other, hadn't they proved that on that night? She'd experienced something so unlike anything she'd ever felt before and it had scared her so she ran, giving Josh a very real but very fake and lame excuse about his job. Ainsley was right, her reasons were bull. If they weren't then surely something would have happened by now.
That first year nothing happened, and according to her reasons that was fair enough. High ranking staff for competing potential Presidential nominees dating wouldn't have gone down well but what about that second year? She'd pretty much dropped off the political radar, something could have happened then. Or maybe that was the problem? Maybe she'd hidden herself so well that Josh couldn't find her. Yeah, maybe that was it, but no, she knew that if Josh wanted to find her he wouldn't have stopped until he'd found her. He was persistent like that so maybe the problem was that she'd become too reclusive, too unknown. The appeal had gone for Josh, the thrill of it.
She knew that wasn't true either. She'd seen the look in his eyes when they fell, their bodies so close. That aching need and desire they'd been deprived of for so long hanging in the air. He still wanted her, loved her. Her eyes were filling with tears but she didn't care, she'd just realised what was probably the saddest thing about this whole sorry affair. Josh was ready and waiting for her to make a move but she, being the gutless wonder she was when it came to Josh, was too afraid to make it. She'd domed them once, she was dooming them now and she would, no doubt, continue to do so. She just couldn't tell him.
"Donna?"
Her name jarred her thoughts and she saw four sets of worried eyes on her.
"Are you alright?" Ainsley asked.
"Fine," Donna answered, her eyes drifting back to the dress.
"Try it on," Ainsley prodded.
Donna shook her head in response. "I'm never going to wear it, am I? And besides, I can't afford it."
"No one's saying buy it," Danielle responded. "Just try it on, see how it feel. If it fits then you can deal with the particulars," she spoke like she would to a close friend.
"Like money?" Donna questioned wryly.
"Exactly," Danielle smiled, pushing Donna and her dress to the changing rooms. As Donna changed she could hear the conversation going on outside.
"You shouldn't have done that," Faith was telling her mother.
"Why not?" She asked, genuinely confused. Donna could hardly blame her, she didn't know the situation.
"Because she obviously didn't want to and she obviously got out of the last shop because she couldn't afford it this one's just as bad."
"How do you know?"
"Because no one prefers to shop in the mall when they can afford these prices."
"Oh," Danielle sounded uncomfortable. "Well she doesn't have to buy it does she, Ainse?" Obviously she was eager for support in the conversation.
Ainsley didn't answer though, she gasped because Donna took that moment to step out of the changing room.
Jessica stared, in admiration or shock Donna couldn't tell.
"Oh my God," Faith breathed.
"You look –" Danielle offered, unable to describe.
"Amazing," a passing shop assistant finished.
Donna studied herself in a full-length mirror; a stray tear escaped her brimming eyes. "I do," she agreed. She wasn't being egotistical; sometimes a person just had to be honest. She fingered the soft material gently and sighed. "But this is the only time I'll be looking it."
She began to head back to the changing room but was stopped by simultaneous cried of "Buy it."
"What?"
"Buy it," Ainsley said softly. "It looks good on you so at least if you and Josh don't get yourselves sorted you can wear it somewhere else…With a little customising, obviously."
"I can't," Donna choked out. "It'd just be a painful reminder."
Ainsley studied her a moment then began giggling.
"My life amuses you?" Donna asked with a glare.
Ainsley shook her head. "Just your stupidity. Now buy the damn dress. Wear it or don't wear it but every now and then a girl needs to treat herself."
Donna looked at her dumbly and would possibly have argued had Jessica not pushed her back in the cubicle. This urging seemed to do the trick as Donna forced her bag into Jessica's hands before closing the door. "Get my card out of my purse," she shouted through, making Ainsley smile.
As Donna changed she heard a little squeal from the other side of the door but left her questioning about it until she exited the cubicle five minutes later dressed this time in her jeans and blouse. However, she didn't need to question because Ainsley spoke immediately.
"You have Josh's card," she informed a bemused Donna in a sing-song voice.
"Excuse me?"
Ainsley waved a debit card at Donna. "You still have Josh's card."
"Oh…" Donna said a mix of embarrassment, confusion and surprise. "I forgot I had that, I meant to give it back before I left but, well, you know…"
"Yeah," Ainsley said. "Here, if you forgot so did he. Buy the dress."
Donna stared at the card being offered to her. "No, I can't. That's stealing and fraud and you should know better."
"No, it's not," Ainsley argued her lawyer voice back. "He gave you the card to buy things with and what better thing to buy than that?" She smiled. "You never know, when he gets his bank statement and sees it, it might kick him into action."
Donna shifted uncomfortably; she was torn that was obvious. "I doubt it and he gave me the card nine years ago, I've been gone for two, what are the chances I'm still a card holder?"
Ainsley looked at her in disbelief. "It's Josh, Donna. If it were anyone else I'd agree with you but it's not." Still Donna shook her head making Ainsley sigh. She snatched the dress off Donna. "Let's see shall we?"
She went to the counter and handed the dress over, the others followed after her, Donna crying "Ainsley, don't!" after her. Her fear was more that Josh had taken her off the card than being caught using a card she really shouldn't be because if he had then it meant he'd given up on them and that thought was killing her inside slowly already, she didn't need proof.
Ainsley handed over the debit card.
"Very good Miss Moss, just sign here." The store clerk told Ainsley.
"Oh, no…Donna, you need to sign now," Ainsley told her smugly.
"I can't believe you did that," she muttered darkly a she stepped forward to sign the paper.
"That all seems to be in order," the clerk said as she compared signatures. "Thank you ma'am," the clerk said brightly handing over the bag and card. "Enjoy your special day."
Donna gave a forced smile before quickly leaving the shop, the others in tow. Quick to change the subject before Donna could say anything, and feeling pangs of hunger, Ainsley was the first to speak.
"Does anyone else want a muffin? I really want a muffin. Jess, what's that muffin place by the mall since Donna still wants to go look for a dress."
"Uh…Millie's?"
"Yeah, we'll make a quick stop there before the mall, alright?" She was talking at quick speed to everyone and they knew better than to argue.
So off they went and 3 hours later arrived back at Ainsley's house with various items and accessories. Donna had one handbag and two dresses; one to be worn on Sunday at Sam and Ainsley's wedding, the other at her own non-existent wedding that she knew would never happen.
A/N: My poor hand. I've wrote over 8 pages there so you better all like it. To respond to a few reviews just to fill up this ninth page…
JDfanatic Here's your update, I'm glad you're liking the story so far and the battle wasn't really as good as it could have been but I'm getting tired from typing now so it'll have to do :D
kursk I'm sure there'd still be PR problems for what I've got planned but they'd definitely be a little less bothersome than before. There'll be a lot more of devil Ainsley throughout just keep reading.
Nicole10 Glad to hear it!
uwprincess Sometimes you need to be if you're ever going to get anywhere in life.
Caia Glad you like them, I hope you're not having to wait too long!
WithanN DC and CA are working together more than you realise. Glad I picked the right couple to make you happy. That's exactly how I remember Ainsley being when she was still around although I haven't watched those seasons in about a year but still, I seem to be doing well.
AgtDanaM lol, Ainsley is much better. She won't be doing it alone though as you'll see later on.
MissNebraska2007 Glad you like it!
Auntie Theo There's a little bit of reaction in here and the next chapter but it'll mostly be in chapter 5 when they kind of end up on a date.
StacyWW12 Glad I surprised you; let's see if I can keep it up.
((I'm now officially on page 10 and there's still another review to respond to!))
miss jasadin Yeah, the wrestling was a bit predictable but I wanted to write it. I think, if Josh and Donna ever really got together, they would need everyone to conspire against them; they'd just never make it on their own. And the rest of the senior staff will be making an appearance in chapter 6. And this story won't be that long I'm afraid. 10 chapters like The Reason was and I still can't decide if J&D do end up getting together or if I pull a sneaky stunt like last time. Who knows, there might still be room for another sequel!
Ok, hands sore, I need the toilet, I still haven't eaten my tea, I want a drink and my monitor turned blue about 2 and a half hours ago but I was too busy writing this to care and now it's starting to worry me so I best try and fix it. Thanks to everyone who reviewed and for those who haven't, why not? Oh, and I needed to say some kind of disclaimer, oh yeah, I don't own Millie's, mores the pity I like everything they sell. Millie's Cookies is a chain ran by people older and cleverer than me, I just used their name because I couldn't be bothered thinking one up myself. Bye now!