A/N: Here's the second-to-last chapter! I hope you enjoy, please read and review!
Chapter 17: Coming Home; I'm Pregnant
A week after the beautifully intimate wedding ceremony for Josh and Donna, they were on their way home from their week-long honeymoon in Hawaii.
Donna glanced over at her new husband, who was driving the car home from the airport with a content smile on his face. The past week had been wonderful, but she was looking forward to getting home to her new life.
Josh looked over at her while still keeping an eye on the road. "What's going on in that head of yours?"
"This week has been the best week of my life," Donna told him. "And I will cherish it forever. But, right now, all I want to do is go home to my girl."
"Our girls." Josh said with a smile.
"Our girls." She repeated. Just then, they pulled into the driveway of Josh's-now their-house, where Donna could see Ellie and Abbie Jean engaged in a water fight that looked like it had originated when the pair were washing Ellie's car together. Because they had been close ever since Abbie Jean had been born, they had connected much more quickly than most step-siblings did.
Ellie grabbed Abbie Jean from behind. "I got you now, peanut!"
Abbie Jean shrieked with delighted laughter. She loved having a big sister. Suddenly, her eyes lit up even brighter when she saw Donna and Josh emerging from their car.
"Mommy!" she cried, running straight for Donna.
"Hey, baby!" Donna replied, sweeping her into her arms for a hug. "I missed you."
"I missed you too, Mommy." Abbie Jean turned to Josh. "Are you my daddy now?"
Josh and Donna looked at each other in surprise, then Josh looked at Abbie Jean. "If you want me to be." He answered her.
She nodded once. "Good. I want you to be my daddy."
Josh got a look of pride and hope on his face. "You know, I'm so happy to hear you say that."
"Come on." Donna gently urged. "Let's go inside and get something to eat, okay?"
After lunch that afternoon, the pair were unpacking in their bedroom when Donna asked, "Did you mean what you said before? That you would be Abbie Jean's dad if she wanted you to be?"
Josh stopped packing. He walked over, took her hands in his, and said, "I would adopt her right here, right now if I could."
Donna smiled softly. "You mean that?"
"Why not? I mean, her father's gone. There's nothing standing in our way." His face grew even more serious than it had been. "I want to be her father. In some ways, I already feel like her father. I'm the only father figure that she's ever known. So let's make it official."
Donna nodded, trying to keep from crying as she hugged Josh. "Okay. Let's do this."
"Let's do it," Josh repeated, a wide smile on his face as he gently kissed her forehead. Things were falling into place.
They were interrupted by the doorbell ringing. Josh went to answer the door and was surprised to find Ellie's boyfriend Leighton on the other side.
"Leighton." He greeted, opening the door wide. "This is a surprise. Does Ellie know you're coming?"
"No," he replied. "I was actually hoping I could talk to you, Mr. Lyman."
"Me?" Josh repeated. "Well, come on into the living room." The pair walked into the living room and sat down.
"So, what can I do for you?" Josh greeted casually. Though he had a feeling from the young man's expression that this would be anything but casual.
"Well, sir," Leighton said, clasping his hands together. "You know I've been seeing Ellie now for a couple of years. And I think our relationship could become something more. So, I've come here tonight in the hopes that I could ask for your daughter's hand in marriage."
Josh froze in shock. His mouth dropped open.
"Mr. Lyman? Mr. Lyman?"
…
It was the next day. While her father and new stepmother had gone to Hanover to see Oliver Babish about drawing up the paperwork for Josh to adopt Abbie Jean, Leighton and Ellie were out walking in the town square. Ellie had no idea what was in store for her afternoon, but she was determined to at least try.
Actually, the truth of the matter was, she had grown apart from Leighton. Leighton had been, in her mind, a rebellion, a way to let off steam after so many years of having what she felt were unreasonable expectations placed upon her. Of course, now she knew that absolutely nothing could be further from the truth. And deep down, she knew that a kid like Leighton was good for a few months, but was in no way mature enough to handle a real long-term relationship. And that's what she would tell him.
She had to break it off with him. But unbeknownst to her, Leighton had other plans.
They sat down on a bench, and Leighton began talking.
"So...it's been a great couple of years, hasn't it?"
"Yeah, it has," Ellie replied. Maybe this segue would make it easier for her. "And I wanted to talk about that, actually."
"Well, so did I."
"Well, you go first."
"Okay." Leighton agreed. "It's been a great couple of years, and...I think that we're ready to be more."
It was then that Ellie began to realize just how far off base she was. Leighton wasn't breaking up with her. He was asking her to marry him.
And sure enough, Leighton knelt down on one knee next to the bench. "Elizabeth Amelia Lyman, will you marry me?"
Ellie sat there in shock. Automatically, her first impulse was to tell him no. Then, she contemplated asking if she could think about it, but then she realized that the answer would still be the same. Better to let him down gently now than to lead him on.
She shook her head, feebly at first, but then her resolve became stronger.
Leighton's face took on a look of shock. "Wait, what?"
"I'm sorry, Leighton. I can't marry you."
"Do you mean you can't marry me right now, or…"
"Leighton…" Ellie trailed off, gathering her thoughts. "You're a great guy, and I'm sure you'll make someone very happy one day. But, we were never going to work. Not long term."
"What do you mean?" Leighton asked, his voice rising with every word.
"Well, you're not...mature enough. You're not what I'm looking for."
Leighton was quiet for a minute, taking it all in. Then, suddenly, Ellie felt a hard slap across her cheek.
She put her hand up, unbelieving what had just happened. Apparently, neither could Leighton.
"Oh, God." He said, putting a hand up to his mouth. "Ellie, I am, so, so sorry. It'll never-"
"Never what?" Ellie interrupted coldly. "It'll never happen again? That's what Abbie Jean's father told Donna every time he hit her, that it would get better. And it never did." Flashes of the few times she had been witness to Brian's abuse, as well Donna's horrid description during her trial, went through her head and made her even angrier. "You really think I'm gonna marry you now?" She handed him back the ring. "Go home, Leighton."
Leighton opened his mouth. "Ellie-"
"Go home," Ellie repeated firmly. "It's over. We're done." She walked out of the square and went straight home. She barged through her fence, collapsed on the step, and started to cry.
Just then, she heard a familiar voice, one she had heard for the first time nearly six years earlier. "Ellie? Are you OK?" She looked up to see Charlie looking at her worriedly.
"Charlie." She said, her face awash with relief. She pulled him into a hug. "Boy, am I glad to see you."
"Are you OK? What happened?" He noticed the bruise on her face before she could say anything, and he knew. "I'll kill him."
"Charlie-"
"No, I assume it was that O'Connor guy. I'll kill him."
"Charlie, I broke up with him, okay? And I told him never to come near me again. Besides, he's not worth it."
"Not worth it?" Charlie repeated.
"He has way more money and power than you do. Trust me, it's not worth getting into it with him."
That thought seemed to calm Charlie down slightly. "Okay."
Suddenly, it occurred to Ellie that she hadn't seen Charlie around town in a while. "What are you doing here, anyway? Shouldn't you be at school?"
"I'm gonna live at home for my senior year." Charlie explained.
"But...how?" Ellie asked, surprised and flabbergasted. "UNH is, like, two hours away from here."
"I'm taking my classes online and doing an internship with the Hanover Police Department."
"Wow. That...sounds great, Charlie. It really does." She swallowed; maybe it was the fact that she had just broken off a two-year relationship, but she was beginning to realize that she had missed Charlie over the last few years. She had really missed him. "So, I'll be seeing you around a lot?"
Charlie nodded. "Probably."
Ellie took a breath. It was time to bite the bullet. "Do you think we could meet for coffee sometime?"
A slow smile crossed Charlie's face. "I'd like that."
"Okay." Ellie said finally.
Charlie seemed to sense the conversation was over, and he began to walk back toward the diner, where he was heading in the first place. Ellie watched him leave, a confused and hopeful look on her face. Maybe, just maybe...he really was the one for her.
Meanwhile, Charlie was having similar thoughts as he got lunch from CJ and went home. While he didn't relish the idea of being somebody's "rebound", the truth was, he hadn't stopped thinking about her since he left Liberty. Maybe, just maybe...they still had a chance.
But little did he know that pretty soon, he would be hit by exciting news.
Jed and Abbey were home on a beautiful Saturday when they got an unexpected call from Debbie Fiderer, asking them to take in another foster placement. She had been moved around a couple of times, but nothing as dramatic as Charlie. Still, she was 17, about to age out of the foster care system, and Debbie wanted her to have some sort of support system in place when she inevitably aged out, as Charlie did.
An hour later, a car pulled up outside, and Jed and Abbey went out onto the porch to meet Debbie and their new foster child. Charlie also came outside and hung around the porch, waiting.
To everyone's great shock, but great delight, Debbie stepped out of the car, an arm protectively around Deanna Young.
Charlie's eyes bugged out, and his face lit up. "Deanna?" Though the Bartlets had made sure that he didn't lose touch with his little sister, he hadn't seen her in a couple of years.
Deanna broke free of Debbie and ran to her big brother. "Charlie!"
They embraced tightly, holding onto each other for dear life. Charlie had Deanna back in his life-hopefully for good this time-and he was never letting her go again.
…
Over the next several months, the Bartlets began to adjust to their new normal. Deanna began attending Hanover High School, where her brother attended, and quickly proved herself to be quite unlike her brother in many different ways. For one, her previous foster parents had encouraged her artistic side, so she immediately signed up for the drama club in her senior year. She also enjoyed debating with Jed. But what she enjoyed the most was reconnecting with her older brother.
Charlie also jumped into his senior year with both feet, as did Ellie, who had also gotten an internship under Sam at the town paper. Living at home and working at the police department when he wasn't in class left little time for a social life, but when he did, he and Ellie were beginning to spend more time together. Jed and Abbey watched the developing relationship with interest. It was clear that they were in love with each other, but would they see it in time, before they went their separate ways after college?
But Abbey also had another problem on her hands. After announcing her engagement, Millie had shocked everyone in town by eloping with old family friend Leo McGarry and moving to Washington DC shortly thereafter. The move was planned, but the elopement was not. Abbey missed Millie like crazy, but the bigger issue at hand was that Abbey had found herself without a partner at her busy medical practice. She had searched for a few months now, but nobody seemed right. Until fate, with an assist from Millie Griffith McGarry, threw the perfect person her way.
She was working in her office one day in October when there was a knock on her door.
"Come in!" she called.
The door opened, and a well-dressed military officer poked his head in.
"May I help you?" Abbey asked him.
"Actually," he said, "I was hoping that I could help you."
She raised her eyebrows. "Have we met?"
"No." He admitted. "But Millie-that is, Dr. Griffith-sent me. She knew I was moving to New Hampshire and needed a job, and, well, here I am."
Abbey stood up. "Let me get this straight. Millie sent you up here because you needed a job and she knew I needed someone?"
"Yes, ma'am. I'm getting out of the military, and she heard that it's hard to find a civilian job."
"I'm confused. How do you know her?"
"I met her when I was working at Walter Reed, ma'am."
"And stop with the ma'am."
"Sorry, force of habit."
"I don't even know your name."
"Oh, my apologies." He stuck his hand out and handed her a piece of paper with the other. "I'm Dr. Jack Reese. Here's my resume."
Abbey took the resume and looked it over critically. She was quiet for a few minutes, while Jack waited nervously. Then, she looked up. "You're hired."
Jack was flabbergasted. "Just like that?"
"Just like that." Abbey confirmed. "You need a job, I need an associate, you have the experience. I don't need to see anything else. How soon can you start?"
"Um...I could start today or tomorrow, whenever you needed me."
Abbey smiled. This would work out just fine. "How about I show you around today, and you can work a shift tomorrow. How would that be?"
"That would be fine." Jack replied. "Just one more thing. What should I call you?"
"Dr. Bartlet or Abbey is fine. We're not very formal around here."
"Okay, then. Thank you, Abbey." And just like that, another person arrived in Liberty to open arms.
…
While nobody could ever replicate the relationship between Abbey and Millie, Jack and Abbey quickly fell into a rhythm. They worked alternate days and sometimes worked at the same time if they were really busy. Jack was only on his second day on the job, however, when he was witness to some exciting news given to a longtime resident.
He was in the office when a woman in her early thirties with blonde hair poked her head in. "Excuse me, do you know where Dr. Bartlet is?"
"Um, she's not working today." Jack replied, "but I am. How can I help you?"
A look of understanding and recognition passed over the woman's features. "Oh, you must be her new associate." She stuck her hand out. "I've heard about you. I'm Donna Lyman."
"Dr. Jack Reese." He greeted. He immediately took note of the decently sized wedding ring on her finger and moved on from that line of thinking. "So, what can I do for you today, Mrs. Lyman?"
"Well…" Donna said with a shy smile on her face. "I think I might be pregnant."
"Congratulations." He said with a sincere smile. "Is this a planned pregnancy?"
"I assume so." She said. "I mean, I've been married for a few months, and we've been trying, so...yeah, you could say that."
"Well, let's take a look." Jack said and gestured for her to lay back. "Is this your first pregnancy?"
"No, actually, I have a six-year-old daughter from a previous relationship."
"And your pregnancy with your other child was normal? No complications?"
"No, none at all. In fact, Dr. Bartlet was my physician for most of that pregnancy, so you can ask her."
"Very good. Any symptoms so far-nausea, fatigue, missed period?"
"All three." Donna said with a grin. "Though to be honest, I thought it was stress. We actually have a court hearing this afternoon so that Josh-that's my husband-can legally adopt my daughter."
Jack looked up from his stethoscope with a grin. "Well, there's definitely a baby with a beating heart in there."
Donna's face lit up. "Really?"
"Yep. I'm not an obstetrician, but it sounds like a strong heartbeat. Do you remember when your last period was?"
Donna counted on her fingers. "Maybe July?"
"Well, why don't we do an ultrasound just to see if the baby's developing correctly." Since the early 2000s, they had increased their financial budget and bought a full-time ultrasound machine. They were growing into a real medical clinic but still had all the small-town feelings.
After a few minutes, Jack had set up the machine, apologizing for the coldness of the gel as he squirted it on. Donna watched with wonder as the picture flickered on the screen. It was her baby. Her and Josh's baby.
Tears began to appear on the corners of her eyes. "Can you tell whether it's a boy or a girl?"
"Probably not for a couple more months, ma'am." Jack said, almost apologetic. "Again, I don't have a ton of experience reading ultrasounds, but from the looks of it, I'd say you're measuring about 10 weeks." He hit a button and got a printout. "Congratulations again."
"Thank you, Dr. Reese." Donna said, looking at the tiny sonogram picture with such love in her eyes that Jack almost had to hold back tears. "Thank you so much."
Two hours later, Donna and Abbie Jean met Josh and Ellie at the Hanover courthouse where the adoption would be finalized. Ellie had taken the afternoon off so that she would not miss this important event in her family's life.
"Hi, Daddy! Hi, Ellie!" Abbie Jean called as they walked up. Ever since they had put the plans in place for the adoption, the little girl had taken to calling Josh "Daddy", and he loved hearing it every time.
"Hey, kiddo." Josh said, picking her up for a hug. "Are you ready for this?"
Abbie Jean nodded eagerly.
Ellie ruffled her hair fondly. "Come on, let's go inside." As they walked in, Donna reflected that it would be the last time they would not legally be a family of three
Judge Gail Blume was the presiding judge in the proceedings, and Oliver Babish had come to act as the family's attorney.
"Mrs. Lyman, you are the biological mother of this child, Abigail Moss?"
"Yes, Your Honor." Donna replied, squeezing Abbie Jean's hand.
"The biological father is deceased?"
"That's correct, Your Honor." Oliver said, standing up from his seat. "Prior to that, he had no contact with Abigail following her birth nearly a month before his passing."
"And the biological mother consents to the adoption of her child by the petitioning party?"
"Yes, I do." Donna told her.
"Will Mr. Lyman please step forward?" Josh came forward from where he was seated in the front row.
"Mr. Lyman, I see in these papers that you are the petitioner for this adoption?"
"Yes, ma'am." He said.
"Do you agree to treat this child in all aspects as your lawful child?"
"I do." He said in a soft, serious voice. He looked at Donna and Abbie Jean with a smile.
"Will Abigail Jean Moss step forward?" With gentle urging from her mother, Abbie Jean stepped forward.
"Abigail, would you like this man to be your dad?"
She looked at Josh with a smile. "Yes, ma'am, I would."
"Okay, then." Judge Blume smiled at the family before continuing. "Everything appears to be in order, and I am hereby signing this adoption decree and declaring that Abigail Jean Moss is legally the daughter of Joshua Lyman, and will take his last name accordingly. Does that sound good to you, young lady?"
Abbie Jean smiled brightly and nodded. "Yes, ma'am."
"All right, Abigail Jean Lyman, you may go home with your mom and...dad."
"Thank you!" They all said. As soon as they left, Josh swept Abbie Jean up off her feet.
"I love you, kiddo," Josh murmured. "So, so much."
"I love you too, Daddy." She replied.
…
It was a few hours later, during the celebratory dinner celebrating the adoption at the Lyman house when Josh noticed that something was up with Donna. She seemed distracted by something, even when she was spending her time focused on Abbie Jean and on the gathering, which included CJ, the Seaborns, the Bartlets, and Charlie.
He was also eyeing Charlie and Ellie with interest. They seemed closer in the months since Charlie moved back to Liberty. After the mess with Leighton, Josh preferred Charlie to date his daughter if he wanted. If she came to him and told him that Charlie wanted to pursue a serious relationship, he would bless the relationship wholeheartedly.
So, what was going on with them?
He was interrupted in his thought process by Donna coming up to him and saying, "Hey, can I talk to you for a few minutes?"
"Sure." He was a little taken aback as he followed her outside. What could she have to talk to him about?
Once they were out on the porch, Donna said to him, "I wanted to tell you before, but I didn't want to take away from Abbie Jean's big day, and…"
"Donna, baby, what's wrong?" Josh asked. He was concerned. What was going on?
Suddenly, he was quieted by Donna handing him a printout. He looked at it as what she was saying suddenly hit him.
He held up the ultrasound picture. Shock, awe, and excitement raced like shadows across his face. "A baby? We're gonna have a baby?" His voice squeaked. Donna couldn't be sure, but there may have been tears in her husband's eyes.
Donna nodded. "Ten weeks today."
His grin lit up his face. "Oh, my God! We're gonna have a baby!" He hugged her tight before kissing her on the lips.
"You're happy about this?" Donna confirmed.
"Are you kidding? I couldn't be happier." Josh replied. "Wait, come on." He took her arm and led her back into the house. "Everyone, listen up!" He called out.
Everyone quieted down. Josh looked at Donna, who smiled and nodded to assure him that she was okay with him sharing the news.
"Donna and I just wanted to thank you for coming out to celebrate this day with us. It's a day we've been looking forward to for a long time, and we're looking forward to our next steps as a family. And speaking of family...we wanted you to be among the first to know that Donna and I are gonna have a baby!"
"What?!" Jed and Ellie both said. Gasps and cheers broke out in the room as Donna was nearly tackled in a three-way hug by Abbey and CJ, and Sam and Jed clapped Josh on the back in celebration. Ellie shrieked and pulled Donna into a hug next. Meanwhile, Abbie Jean was trying to figure out what it all meant.
"You're gonna have a baby, Mommy?" she asked quietly.
Donna crouched down to her daughter's level. She was beginning to feel a twinge of guilt for not telling the kids first before they told everyone else. "Yeah, baby. In about six months, you and Ellie are gonna have a baby brother or a baby sister."
"I'm gonna be a big sister?!" She said, her voice rising in excitement.
"Yeah," Josh told her, joining his wife. "You are."
Her face betrayed her utter joy. "Thank you, Mommy! Thank you, Daddy!" She said as she hugged them both.
They laughed aloud, as everyone around them talked excitedly of the coming addition to the town's family-and the changes soon to come.
A/N: Hope you liked this chapter and the way I'm starting to wrap things up! Stay tuned for the final chapter, which has a very appropriate West Wing-esque title!
