Timeframe: Crackpots and These Women
Josh sat back in his leather desk chair and stared out his office window, his mind stuck on the small yellow card he'd been handed earlier in the day.
He couldn't bring his staff. Or his family.
After a therapy session he was still not feeling much better but at least now he knew what he needed to do.
He picked up the phone and called his father's firm, requesting that guardianship paperwork be drawn up. A full power of attorney and an amendment to his will.
OoooooooooO
Donna waved as she approached the front gate, immediately spotting Edith Lyman and Audrey waiting for her. Security had called to let her know they were here.
Edie embraced Donna as the two exchanged pleasantries. "Josh is in with Leo," Donna explained, sitting down on the bench where they'd been waiting for her. "Hi, Miss Audrey, you look so pretty today," she turned her attention to the baby for a moment.
"You always find the cutest little outfits for her," Edie commented, noting that Donna had purchased the tiny dress and matching headband that Audrey was currently sporting.
The two visited for a moment longer, commenting mostly on Audrey's rapidly growing hair and the somewhat wild baby curls that were beginning to form. There were no two ways about it, she was a miniature Josh Lyman.
Donna inviting Edie to brunch the following weekend when her mother would be visiting from Wisconsin. Edie gladly accepted, looking forward to it. She'd grown very close to Donna, and was very fond of her as well. The role that The younger woman had effortlessly slipped into was not lost on her, but above that, Edie saw the way her son looked at Donna. And the way the Donna saw him as well.
Though they may not have it all figured out for themselves yet, Edith Lyman knew true love when she saw it.
OoooooooooO
Donna fed and changed Audrey in Josh's office while she finished reading over the notes she'd typed over the afternoon. Josh was still in his last meeting but the baby was finally dozing off. News that she was in the building spread quickly and Ginger, Carol and CJ had all stopped in for a small dose of happiness.
"He's ready for us," Charlie peeked through the doorway. "Need a hand with some of that?"
Donna slipped a now sleeping Audrey into her carrier and handed her to Charlie, scribbling Josh a note telling him where they were and grabbing her bag. They made their way to the residence and said their hellos, everyone swooning over sweet little Audrey.
"Donna?" Ed peeked around the corner. "Josh needs you for a minute."
She looked around the room as Mrs. Landingham stepped in, as if she read Donna's mind. "Go ahead, dear. We'll watch out for the little one."
"Thanks," she whispered. "I'm sure I'll be right back."
Donna slipped out of the gathering, hurrying down to the Roosevelt room to see what Josh needed.
She pulled a few files and grabbed him the information he was looking for as quickly as possible, handing it off to him.
"Your mom dropped the baby off for the party," she told him. "We're in the residence when you're done."
Josh looked at his watch and then back at her.
"She's already eaten and she dozed off," she told him, knowing what he was thinking. "See you in a minute?"
"Kay," he gave her a simple smile, knowing that his previous worries were unfounded as long as Donna was in their lives.
OoooooooooO
Donna climbed the steps to the residence once more, quickening her pace when she heard Audrey's cries from the hallway.
Peeking through the door she was met with the sobs of a very upset baby and several distressed senior staffers.
"Donna's back," Toby announced and a flustered CJ rounded the corner. As soon as Audrey saw Donna the crying stopped.
"Audrey Joan," Donna stated with mock surprise, "why are you crying?" She took the baby from CJ and wiped her teary face. Donna situated herself on the end of the couch with Audrey on her lap, reaching to her bag and handing the little girl a floppy eared stuffed rabbit.
The gentle interaction between the two was not lost on anyone in the room, though it had become somewhat commonplace. Audrey was content on Donna's lap as the staffers visited and mingled. The President served his chili and Donna ate quickly while the baby was preoccupied by Sam. Audrey was content as long as Donna was within her line of sight.
OoooooooooO
Josh drug himself up the stairs to the residence after a hellaciously long day. He wasn't in an overly social mood but he knew the lack of his presence would be noted.
He wove through his colleagues until he reached Donna, who was holding Audrey and listening CJ speak intently about... wolves?
He shook his head, not wishing to open that can of worms.
"Hi, shortcake," he greeted Audrey, placing a gentle hand on her back but leaving her in Donna's arms.
"Go get something to eat, I've got her," Donna told him, a temporary aside from her conversation with CJ. "She's going to get cranky soon so if you still need to talk to Leo you better do it quickly."
"Yeah," Josh sighed. "It's close to bed time."
Josh walked over to the President and Leo, listening to them as they watched the staff members mingle with one another.
"What's on your mind, Josh?" He could easily read his surrogate son.
Josh explains what had been bothering him all day regarding the card. The white flag of surrender, as he thought of it.
"Leo, it's not for me. I want to be with my friends, my family, and these women," Josh looked over to where Donna was holding Audrey and smiled, handing the card back.
Eventually the President wandered over to Zoey and left Leo and Josh to chat. They spoke about the house appropriations bill before Leo changed the conversation to a more causal topic. He'd asked Josh how his mother was going in her new apartment, and teased him about he story he'd heard from Edie about Josh's first night alone in the apartment with Audrey.
He'd been hellbent not to call his mother, instead frantically ringing Donna, sure that something was horribly wrong with Audrey. Donna had come over to see that the baby was just fussy from teething. She'd handed Audrey the chilled teething ring from the freezer, put the baby to sleep and poured Josh a glass of scotch before leaving, never even teasing Josh about it. The only reason Leo knew is because Josh told Edith, amazed by Donna's instinct when it came to caring for them.
"You know she cries when she can't see Donna."
Josh's eyebrows shot up. "You mean Audrey?" He cleared his throat, not waiting for the response Leo wasn't offering. "Yeah, I know."
"And Mandy doesn't know how to take care of her. Has no interest in her."
"I'm aware," he sighed.
"Just as long as you know."
Josh looked at a spot on the carpet. "They don't really know each other. Mandy doesn't really hang around. She doesn't want- it's just physical. Casual." Josh mumbles.
"Josh let me make one thing very clear to you," Leo told him. "I don't want to know about your..." he made a face. "Extracurricular activities."
Josh would have preferred to spontaneously combust rather than continue on the current route the conversation was taking.
"But," Leo continued. "I do want to make it clear that it would be one hell of a mess in the press if you date your assistant."
"Leo!" Josh was startled by the older mans statement.
"And don't you dare do that to Donna, either."
Josh gulped, leaning his head on the wall behind him.
"They're good girls, Josh," Leo said, patting his shoulder just as Audrey began to get fussy. "And I know you'll do right by them both."
Donna peeked around the corner at that moment, eyeing him as if to let him know it was time to make their exit before Audrey warmed up her vocal chords. After all, the girl was a Lyman. She could certainly yell.
Josh quickly said his goodbyes, grabbing his backpack, Audrey's bag and the carrier while Donna kept the baby relatively quiet.
"I'll give you a ride home," Josh told her and Donna followed him out to the car. Audrey had held it together very well all night, only letting out a wail when they'd already reached the parking lot.
Josh threw the bags in his trunk and clipped Audrey's car seat in, taking the already unhappy baby from Donna and buckling her in, much to Audrey's displeasure. Josh comforted her as the infant went into a full on meltdown.
"Come on," Donna told him. "She always falls asleep when the car starts moving. I'll sit with her while you drive. Donna slipped in, cupping Audrey's face with her hand and soothing the baby as Josh grabbed his keys.
It was only a few blocks when Audrey calmed herself and fell asleep.
"She's out," Donna announced, settling back to watch her sleep. "How was your meeting," she asked, changing subjects.
Josh told her about his day, leaving out the portions regarding the small pox threat and the NSC card. He loved Donna's perspective and he appreciated having someone to talk to. To share things with.
She told him about her big block of cheese crazies, giving him a good, much needed, laugh.
He pulled the car into a spot at the curb, Audrey now sleeping soundly after the being lulled into a peaceful slumber by the movement of the car.
She unbuckled her seatbelt, and gathered her purse, reaching for her keys. Leaning over she kissed Audrey's forehead and lightly stroked the baby's cheek.
"See you in the morning," she told Josh.
"Wait."
She looked back at him, surprised by the hint of anxiety in his voice.
"There's something I want to talk to you about."
"Okay..." rarely did Josh beat around the bush, so she was becoming a little worried.
He sighed, scrubbing his hand over his face. "Today I-" he stopped mid thought, looking away. He didn't want to get into it with Donna about the card. "I've just been thinking. What if something happened?"
"What are you talking about, Josh?" Donna was focused on what he was saying, leaning against the back of the front seat as she perched near Audrey's carrier, one hand protectively on her tiny foot.
"If something happens to me, what would happen to Audrey. Or if something happened to my Mom while I was out of town or god forbid they just couldn't reach us..."
"Nothing is going to happen to you or your mother," she reassured him, well aware that his mind had the tendency to kick into overdrive and run away with worst case scenarios in his head.
"But if it did," he interrupted her. "I- I'd want you to raise Audrey." He watched her face for a reaction. "Would you? You can think about it as long as you'd like, I know it's an incredibly huge thing to ask of you," he told her.
"Oh Josh, of course I would." Donna immediately became emotional. "I'd do anything for her," she looked back at the baby, still dreaming happily. "Are you sure, though? Sure you want me?"
"Donna, I'm positive. You're so good with her. I trust you implicitly and you love her. Not to mention she adores you. There's nothing that makes you a better choice than that."
Donna wiped her eyes, trying not to get overly emotional but she couldn't help it. She leaned up through the seats and gave Josh a makeshift hug. "Thank you for letting me be part of her life," she whispered in his ear, leaning back to tuck Audrey's blanket in around her. "And thank you, little one, for being so sweet."
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Yay! Another chapter! Hope you're enjoying this one because I'm having a lot of fun writing it! Just a little fluffy to accompany cannon ((for now)).
Let me know what you think!