A/N: Hope you enjoy this chapter! Please read and review!

Chapter 4: Letters Home/A White Christmas

Fall turned to winter, and Donna's days in the Army began to blend together. Wake-up, inspection, calisthenics, breakfast, training with her platoon, lunch, more specialized training, end-of-day formation, and then off for the rest of the day. Evenings in the barracks consisted of time spent in the common room or the dorm room, either spending time reading training manuals, chatting with Carol or Charlie-or writing letters.

She spent at least an hour a week, writing to either her parents or to the Bartlets:

September 18, 1998

Dear Mom and Dad,

Well, here I am: Fort Belvoir, Virginia, a commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Army. You asked for it, so here's a typical day in the Army: Wake up at five, report for inspection by our CO (that's Army talk for Commanding Officer), calisthenics, and spend the rest of the day working with my own small platoon. Off for the day by four, and evenings free. I usually end up studying or talking to people.

I've met a lot of really interesting people here. Charlie and Carol from West Point, they're in the unit with me, and I'm rooming with Carol. My CO, CJ Cregg, is really nice. A West Point graduate just like me. A tough exterior, but a heart of gold to match. The guys here are really nice, too (but don't go getting any ideas, Mom; most of them are too old for me, and I outrank them, anyway). Toby Ziegler, Sam Seaborn, and Will Bailey-they've all been really nice, just helping me and the other second lieutenants get our feet wet in the Army. They've taken us out with them, helping us balance civilian life with military life, and I have loved every second of it. There is this one guy, Josh Lyman, who I thought was way too arrogant at the beginning, but I guess you can say I've learned to tolerate him. He may turn out to be a nice guy after all.

My platoon's working out great, too. Ten soldiers, all who fall in line as soon as I say. The guys I know have said not to get used to having an easy platoon to work with, so I'm learning not to take this for granted.

I miss you more than I can say. How's everything going at home? I'll try and get home to Madison for Christmas, but that'll depend whether or not I can get a holiday furlough. Give my best to the extended family, and be sure to tell everyone that I'm doing great.

All my love,

Donna

October 1, 1998

Dear Donna,

It's Mom writing. Your father's at work, but he sends his love, too. He knows I'm writing to you today. We both think about you by day and pray for you by night. Things in Madison are going well, we're both just trying to keep busy and not miss you as much. Everyone asks about you, and I'm so proud to tell them what my daughter does for a living.

My, it sounds like the Army's certainly something exciting! Have you gotten a promotion yet? I'm sure you would've written if you had, but I felt like I should ask.

Your new friends sound great. I'm glad you're getting a chance to see some of your old friends from West Point, I'm sure that's wonderful to see them again! I'm glad you've found people to look up to as well-it's always important to have friends with pull, especially in someplace like the Army. Although I'm sure you could get yourself promoted to a General without any help from anyone!

Now, about this Mr. Lyman-is he single? Because I know you kind of dislike him, but if he's growing on you... Well, I suppose all I'm trying to say is that I thought your father was a bit of a hothead when I first met him, and I married him. Never too late to change your mind about someone, even when you think your mind's already made up.

Hope to see you at Christmas, but of course we understand if you can't get away. I've sent your love to the family, and they all send it back.

Sleep well, sweetheart.

Love,

Mom

And her letters to Officer Bartlet would go something like this:

October 5, 1998

Dear Officer and Mrs. Bartlet,

It's Donna, but I'm sure you already knew that from the return address. I'm currently stationed in Virginia with the 29th Infantry. It's a tough unit, but we're all getting through. All the long-time soldiers say that Fort Belvoir is one of the better installations. If that's true, well then, I'm in for quite a ride, aren't I?

I've quickly learned my first lessons as a soldier: the days are long, and the nights are short, and sooner or later they all blend together. You eat when you can, where you can, and what you can. It's not all that uncommon around here to see people grabbing food from the fancy new vending machines in the halls (which I don't think we ever had at the Mess in West Point, by the way). Soda pop and chips for lunch, anyone?

The best thing I can say about the Army so far are the people I've met. CJ Cregg has been so kind to me, Carol, and Charlie, and she's made sure all the guys she hangs out with are nice to us, too. We often hang out off-post, too. There's this local tavern, and I've taken to going with them to shoot pool. Believe it or not, I'm actually getting pretty good at it. I'm still no match for the guys, but I'm holding my own.

How is the rest of your family holding up? How's Ellie doing out there in Afghanistan? If you ever hear from her, please tell her I think of her often and pray she returns home safe. I'm sure you both are counting down the days until your daughters are all safe in one continent.

How's Zoey at West Point? I bet she's itching to get out of there. Tell her we're all planning to be there for her graduation in May (assuming we can all get off).

I miss you both. Hope to hear from you soon!

All my best,

Second Lieutenant Donna Moss, US Army

October 11, 1998

Donnatella,

I'm so happy to hear that you're doing well. The Army can be a tough place for a new Officer, but then I guess West Point's prepared you well for that, huh?

CJ Cregg joined us for dinner the other night. She talked about you, what an absolute delight you and the other Lieutenants are. I have to say I think you and her have a lot in common. Both of you are driven, determined, and ready to serve your country for as long as it takes.

Pool, huh? I remember that being an old pastime when I was in Vietnam. They had it at the VA morale tent, and I used to be pretty good at it. Some advice, if I may, from an old pro: You want to angle for as many balls as possible on one shot, even when you're only aiming for one pocket.

Ellie's doing well, thank you for asking. We hear from her on a semi-regular basis, and she hopes to be home sometime next year, although probably not in time for Zoey's graduation. By the way, we would love to see you all. As a Professor, I can usually spring for extra tickets. Come out early for the parade if you can: soldiers usually get a four-day weekend for Memorial Day.

Hope to hear from you again soon. I always enjoy hearing from my former students. Abbey says hello.

Take care,

Officer Josiah Bartlet

The months passed, and soon it was Christmas. Donna had hoped that she would be able to get a Christmas furlough, but so far she hadn't heard anything.

It was two days before Christmas. Donna and Carol were in the common room chatting, while Josh and Sam were playing checkers.

Suddenly, there was a tap on the door, and CJ entered, her arms full of envelopes.

Everyone stood. "Major Cregg." Donna greeted. "To what do we owe this pleasure?"

CJ, against her work standards, smiled. "Just a little Christmas present for you all. Orders of Colonel Santos."

Donna opened her envelope as it was handed to her. Inside was a printed notice giving her Christmas Eve and Christmas Day off. She should be thrilled. She had wanted more than anything to go home and see her parents, but there was no way she could get a flight now.

Carol took notice of her friend's face. "Donna, aren't you excited? This is what you wanted, right? To be home for Christmas?"

Donna tried to smile. "Well, yes, but...my car's never going to last all the way to Wisconsin. And I can't get a flight this soon."

"I'll take you." Josh said from across the room.

Donna turned around. "You're kidding, right?"

"No, I'm dead serious." Josh stood up, crossing the room.

"You would drive me all the way to Wisconsin on Christmas Eve to spend the holidays with my parents?"

"Why not? My car's been refurbished recently; I have time off now, too."

"But don't you want to go be with your mother or something?"

"Josh doesn't celebrate Christmas." Sam supplied from across the room. "He's Jewish."

"Ah." Donna said, suddenly understanding.

"What do you say, Moss? You, me, and a 13-hour road trip in a 1990 Buick Electra."

Donna chewed it over. It was a nice offer. And then maybe, just maybe, it would be enough to get Josh off her back once and for all.

"All right, you're on."

…

They left early the next morning. Josh pulled around his Buick, and the first thing Donna thought of was whether or not the car would make it to Wisconsin.

"Don't worry, this car handles great!" Josh assured her.

"It better." Donna replied. "Because I'm not getting stuck on a backwoods road on Christmas Eve."

"Have a little faith, huh?" Donna sighed, then threw her bag into the trunk. This was going to be a long day.

Josh's car, as it turned out, wasn't equipped with GPS, so they really were relying on maps.

"Okay, Josh," Donna called out. She had lost track of where they were, but according to the signs, they were somewhere outside of Cleveland, Ohio. "You're going to pull onto the on-ramp at this exit up here." She had a roadmap on her lap in the passenger's seat. She had shrugged off her Army jacket, but was still in uniform pants and a pink shirt underneath.

"I see it." Josh said, putting on his accelerator and sliding onto the on-ramp too quickly for Donna's comfort.

"Josh, you really don't need to speed."

"And who are you to criticize my driving?"

"Um, the person who'd like to get to Wisconsin in one piece?" Donna sighed. This had been a bad idea, she was sure of it. After all, they had been bickering for the better part of seven hours, and they were only halfway there.

"So, am I going to have a whole tribe to meet when I get down there?" Josh said, smirking. "Brothers, perhaps?"

"No, I'm an only child." Donna said.

Josh turned his head. "Really? Parents only wanted one?"

"Apparently, they tried and tried after I was born for another one, but then just decided one was plenty."

"Hmm. I guess you know how I feel. Wanting a whole bunch of siblings."

"You mean what's it like to be an only child?"

"I wasn't always an only child." Josh reminded her, his voice softening as the memories of his older sister Joanie clouded his brain.

Donna was quiet. "What do you mean, you weren't always an only child?"

"I had a sister." His voice was quiet, pained, even.

"What happened?" He didn't respond right away, so she quickly added, "If it's too personal, you don't have to-"

"No, no, I want to." Somehow, something about this woman's sensitivity and endearing nature made him feel comfortable opening up to her. "Um...there was a fire. My parents were at some banquet right after my dad left the Army, she was babysitting me, and there was a mishap with some popcorn maker. Something electrical, I guess. She told me to get out, and I ran. I kept waiting for her, but she never-she never came out." The emotion of the night that Josh had long since buried was now starting to show on his face.

"I'm really sorry, Josh." Donna told him, and she truly was. She couldn't imagine having a close sibling, let alone losing them so tragically. "What-what was her name?"

"Joanie. She was only 14 when she died."

Donna sat silently, letting this new information sink in. "Were you two close?"

"Not in the way that some siblings are, because she was much older. She was more like a mother hen around me, trying to tell me what to do and teach me things."

Donna laughed, then sobered. "How long has it been?"

"Since we lost her? Probably about-oh, wow, this year is 30 years since she died, I never realized."

"Maybe that means you're healing. If you're not mourning her loss every second of every day, then you're healing from her death."

"Maybe I am. I never thought of it like that before. Thanks, Donna." And he sounded like he meant it, too.

They fell into another awkward silence. Then, just as they approached the Indiana-Wisconsin border-the last leg of their journey-Josh asked, "So what kind of a name is Donnatella, anyway?"

Donna was puzzled. "How did you know my full name?" The only people who ever really knew it and used it besides her parents was Officer Bartlet, and she wanted to keep it that way.

"Military ID."

"Huh?"

"When we stopped in Indianapolis for gas, I caught a glimpse of your ID when you paid."

"You looked at my wallet?"

"Just for a second. It's not like I tore it apart, wanting to know every last thing about you."

"All right." she said in defeat.

"So, Donnatella?"

"What can I say? My mother's Italian, and she has a thing for unusual names. Plus, when I was born, my parents had a pact: my dad could name a boy, and my mom could name a girl."

"So, if you were a boy, your name would've been…"

"Sean."

"Isn't that Irish?"

"That would be my dad."

"I have to a lot to learn about you, don't I?"

"You certainly do."

They had passed the city limits into Madison, and Donna began directing him on how to navigate through the dead-end streets to her parents' house in suburbia. And as they were reaching the house, Donna said-

"Listen, Josh, I really appreciate this. I know I didn't act like it before, but I really appreciate this."

"It was no trouble, really. I was happy to do it." They turned onto the street of Donna's childhood home. "Which one?"

"Second house on the right." Donna replied. "Are you gonna stay at a hotel tonight?"

"Probably, but why don't let me help you with your bags?" They were pulling into the driveway.

"You don't mind?"

"No, of course not."

Donna pulled on her Army jacket, then looked outside and gasped as she climbed out. "Oh!" she cried. "A white Christmas!"

"You would've had that in Virginia." Josh pointed out.

"But this is different. This is a Midwestern white Christmas. This is what the Hallmark cards are made from."

Josh snickered a little as he pulled Donna's bag from the trunk. "Don't laugh, it's true!" she told him.

Donna climbed the steps ahead of him and rang the doorbell. Josh hung back, not wanting to spoil the reunion.

The door opened, and Roberta's mouth dropped open.

Finally, after a long moment, she gasped out, "Donna?!"

"Merry Christmas, Mom." Donna said, unable to contain her grin.

"Oh, sweetheart!" her mother cried, throwing her arms around her daughter. "Welcome home! Are you here for long?"

"Just today and tomorrow. But I couldn't pass up an opportunity to come home and see you guys."

"Well, I'm so glad you did." Roberta told her. "Daniel, look who's here!" she called into the house.

Daniel joined his wife on the porch. "Well, aren't you a sight for sore eyes!" he said, embracing Donna and kissing her cheek.

Suddenly, he noticed that his daughter wasn't alone on the porch. "And who might you be?"

"Staff Sergeant Joshua Lyman, sir."

"He offered to drive me here from Virginia, Dad."

"The arrogant Staff Sergeant?" her mother said incredulously.

"He's actually not that bad once you get to know him, Mom." Donna responded.

"Well, Staff Sergeant Lyman, would you like to stay for our Christmas Eve dinner? It's the least we could do after you drove our little girl all this way." Roberta offered.

"You really don't have to do that, Mom." Donna told her. Josh concurred. He was already nervous meeting Donna's parents.

"No, no, I insist." Roberta said with a wave of her hand.

"Well, if you insist…" Josh said.

"Wonderful! We'll just set two extra plates."

"Well, for heaven's sake!" Daniel said. "Look at us, standing out here in 30 degree weather. Let's all go in and get warm."

Donna sighed as she took her bag from Josh and headed into the house ahead of him. It was shaping up to be quite an interesting evening.

A/N: And there's chapter 4! Next will be dinner with the parents, and then a bit of a time jump. Please leave a review if you enjoyed this chapter!