.
This is the third in the "Taking Care" series. This and other stories are located at my fanfic site: 'Boulevard of Misdirection'.
"Hello Mr. and Mrs. Moss, obvious other relatives of Donna's... Donna.
Sorry I'm late," breezed Josh as he took up in the vacant seat beside Donna.
"Did you order for me?"
"Yes."
"What?" he smirked.
"Oh, you'll see," Donna, replied back with a smile.
"I'm like... about to be punished for being late aren't I?" he deadpanned,
tilting his head to one side.
"Yes."
"Donnnaaaa."
"Don't whine Joshua. Deal with it. We've had this discussion before."
"Was she like this as a child?" Josh asked, turning to Donna's mother.
"Oh no, not at all, she's mellowed since then," Mrs. Moss replied with a
smile.
"Mellowed? She was worse? Donna, I'm gonna have to look out when we
have... um... yeah well... I'm sorry I'm late. When I took my bags back to
the place..."
"The Arbor House," added Donna, helping him change the subject.
"That's what it's called? Okay, it's nice. We've taken over the whole
place I see, which the Secret Service guys would be happy about. Anyway,
Leo cornered me and I had to give him a breakdown of my meeting in Boston
with Guinett."
"But when you rang, you said it went well?" questioned Donna.
"It did."
"And it still took you three hours to tell this to Leo?"
"He wanted it blow by blow," Josh shrugged.
"Just as long as there weren't any actual blows, Joshua."
"No. It was a very civilized meeting. Guinett saw our point of view when I
put it all neatly in front of him. I was very persuasive and Leo was very
impressed."
"And after all that I'm surprised you have any room for dinner," Donna
mused.
"Why wouldn't I have room for dinner?" he quizzed.
"I don't know, after all those kegs of glory and bagels with Leo," she
chuckled.
"Ha, ha. She's a funny woman, your daughter," Josh nodded to Donna.
"Yes, she has her moments," Donna's father replied.
"Like the time she..."
"Otello!"
"Just teasing Sis... can't a guy tease?"
"You tease far too often. And remember if you and Cassandra want to come
and visit in the next holidays..." she smiled, nodding to her niece sitting
next to him.
"Yes Donna," he replied, pretending to be suitably chastised.
"Donna?" Josh whispered, his face showing great confusion. "I thought you
said your brother was Bill? Or is this another brother you haven't told me
about because he's usually locked in the cellar or something?"
"Otello is Bill," explained Donna, but this did nothing to alleviate Josh's
confusion.
"What am I?" he piped up, hearing his name.
"Josh was a little confused, and really that isn't something that surprises
me anymore," she grinned.
"Hey!" Josh complained.
"He's only heard me refer to you as Bill, so..."
"So, Otello confused him?"
"Yes."
"It would be less confusing," stated Donna's mother, "if you all still went
by the names you were given at birth."
"And like that was going to happen Mom... everyone gets nicknames."
"And you are obviously Fi, which I do know is short for Fioralba," Josh
stated, "but I'm still confused about 'Bill.'"
"Okay... listen closely Josh, I'm only going to explain once. Otello...
Tell... William Tell... Bill. Okay?" stated Donna.
Josh rattled Donna's words in his head and nodded. "Okay... Mrs. Moss, if
you don't mind me asking, because Donna has never given me a straight answer
or anyone else for that matter all these years..."
"Why our children have unique names for middle class America?"
"Yes."
"Mom..."
"Donna*tella* I don't know why you wouldn't have told Josh. It's not like
it's a big secret. Josh, when Frank and I got married, our parents loaned
us some money and we went to Italy. Our friends all told us we were crazy
to want to go overseas. They said we should not live outside our means that
we would have been better off buying a house and nice furniture. We weren't
rich by any means, and neither were our parents. But it was something we
all knew would only happen once in our lives. It wasn't a flashy honeymoon,
but it was beautiful. We went to Roma and Venice. We walked everywhere we
could, we... it was just beautiful."
"It was beautiful because you were there," said Frank reaching over and
taking his wife's hand.
"Now look what you started," Donna muttered to Josh quietly. "I have to
sleep in that house tonight. Their room is next to mine."
Josh nearly choked on his drink at the suggestion of her parents' nocturnal
activities, everyone turned to him.
"Sorry, went down the wrong way," he coughed as he shot a glare at a bemused
Donna.
"Anyway," continued Donna's mother, "not long after we arrived home we found
out I was pregnant. So we decided that any children we would have should
have Italian names."
"Donna was a honeymoon baby?" chuckled Josh. "Really?"
"Yes, really Josh. I don't happen to think there is anything wrong with
that either. Technically you can say that I have indeed been to Italy,"
defended Donna.
"Now that's a bit of a stretch Donna, even for you," Josh replied.
"Well Peter and I decided that one generation worth of Italian names would
do our family," added Fi.
"And you have?" questioned Josh.
"Merle, Monty and Martha," smiled Fi.
Josh felt Donna kick him under the table. He turned to her with a 'what the
hell was that for' expression. Unfortunately he actually knew what it was
for. Donna knew him too well, and it was a warning not to pass any
sarcastic comment on her sister and brother-in-law's choice in names for
their offspring.
"Ah, here's dinner," smiled Donna, giving Josh a smile as a plate over
loaded with salad was placed in front of him.
"This is good for me, right?"
"Yes Joshua, eat your dinner," she chuckled.
~*~
"So this is the Moss family home?" stated Josh as he cut the engine in the
driveway.
"Yep. See the second window up there? That's my old room."
Josh exited the car, walking around and meeting Donna on the other side.
"Was there a lock on the window to keep the boys out?" he smirked as he put
a protective arm around her waist and walked with her up to the porch.
"No," she laughed.
"Someone's waiting up for you," he joked as the porch light came on as they
approached.
"No, it's on a motion sensor," she replied. "Mom and Dad would be in bed
asleep by now, oh God I hope so anyway. You had to get them talking about
their honeymoon. Hey, come over here," she instructed as she grabbed hold
of his arm and dragged him up the step to the back left corner of the porch
under the light. She pulled him close and waited.
"Donna, what the... someone might see us under the...
"Shush... wait," she interrupted him.
Josh sighed and waited, and then the light went out. Donna flailed her arm
around in the darkness.
"See, we're under the sensor's range, the light won't come on," she smiled.
"And you know this because?" Josh questioned as his eyes adjusted to the
darkness.
"Hey do you think you're the first guy to ever walk me to the door," she
chuckled.
"I don't care if I'm not the first, as long as I'm the last," he replied
earnestly.
"I'll take that thought into consideration," she replied.
"Oh really?"
"Do you know how many times my father nearly caught me necking with a boy on
the porch out of the light," she whispered.
"And I wouldn't care if your father caught you necking on the front porch
tonight," he stated as he rested an arm across her shoulder before planting
one soft gentle kiss on her lips.
"Josh... we can't... if we start... I... I..."
"Yeah, yeah... I know. You have no idea how much I wish this was
different," he whispered.
"Hmm, I have some idea," Donna smirked.
"Yeah?"
"You're standing fairly close Josh, and there are some things a woman can
tell," she replied as she nudged her leg into him gently.
Josh groaned and jumped back at her movement, setting off the sensors.
"The light's back on Donna."
"So it is, Josh."
"I think that might be my cue to go."
"Do you think you can find your way back to the B & B?"
"I know this may come as a surprise to you, but I did take note of the way
here from the restaurant. And I can find my way back from there too."
"Very good Josh. And if you get lost, there is a map of Madison in the
rental."
"I noticed that too," he smiled.
"So, do you need me to phone you in the morning?" she asked has he begun
walking backwards down the path.
"Yeah. Six o'clock please. It's going to be a big day at the University
with the President's speech and everything. You looking forward to going
back to your old stomping ground."
"Yes, I am actually. It's going to be nice. Goodnight Josh."
"Night Donna. Sweet dreams."
"Oh they will be," she smiled before unlocking the door and disappearing
inside.
Josh sat in the car and waited until he saw the light go on in the second
upstairs window before pulling out of the driveway.
~*~
"Donna!" Josh called across the crowded backstage area, trying to get her
attention. It wasn't until he called a second time that she saw him waving
his arm in the air to her.
She smiled and made her way across to him. "Where's the emergency Josh?"
she laughed. The ceremony isn't due for another ten minutes."
"Where have you been?" he sighed. "We've been looking for you everywhere."
"I bumped into some people I knew. Why, what's wrong? Who's we?"
They were interrupted by Josh's cell phone and he grabbed Donna's arm,
pulling her over to a corner as he answered it.
"Josh Lyman... yeah, I found her... she's here with me. Where are you?...
no we're backstage already. Keep walking down to the door on the left,"
Josh instructed as he spun around to face the doorway. Donna leant on the
wall and waited for him to finish is conversation, with she assumed, Sam.
"No... okay... yeah, yes I can see you," he said waving his arm in the air
once again. "Over in the corner... I'm waving... yep that's us... he's not
letting you in?... Okay, point to me so he can see me... he has?... good,
yes I can see he's letting you in... okay." Josh clicked his phone closed,
and it was too late by the time Donna registered that it obviously wasn't
Sam he'd been talking, to see who it *had* been.
"Josh, what's going on?"
"Donna... where have you been?"
"Mom!" exclaimed Donna turning around, "what are you doing here? You're not
allowed back... oh it was you talking to Josh? Mom, what's wrong? Is
something wrong with Dad? Why did you need to find me because..."
"No, nothing is wrong with your father and everyone else is out the front
waiting."
"Waiting for what? Who?" she asked, mystified.
"You haven't told her yet?" Donna's mother questioned.
"I only found her the moment before you rang," replied Josh.
"Would someone *please* tell me what's going on!"
"This," stated Josh, taking a large flat box from Donna's mother.
Donna took the box from him and just stared at it. "What's this? It's a
long time until my birthday."
"Well open it and find out," he bounced. "You don't have much time."
"Much time for what?" she questioned as she flipped the lid open and stared
blankly at the black gown folded neatly inside. She ran her fingers along
the shiny dark blue satin edging. "I... I don't understand?" she questioned
looking up to Josh.
He leant into her and ran his hand down her face. "It's graduation day,
Donna," he whispered softly with a warm smile.
"But..." she stammered, shaking her head.
"When you told me you weren't going to go back to university after the
administration was over... well, we all know that you don't *need* a piece
of paper to tell you how smart you are. But, I look at my walls with my
certification from Harvard and Yale... they remind me how hard I worked all
those years. I don't need them, but they remind me of why I wanted *this*
so badly. Donna you're brilliant, intelligent, you've worked so hard and
learnt so much, but at the end of the administration there isn't a piece of
paper to remind you of all the things you've done. And I know you're going
to say you don't need one... but I... we... right up to the President
believe you deserve one. So, hurry up and put this on. There's a seat
waiting for you."
"Oh my God. This is real? I'm really going to get my degree?" she
faltered, tears gathering in the corners of her eyes.
"Well it's an honorary degree in Political science. With the units you'd
finished before you'd dropped out and the documentation we provided from the
work - you were a shoe in to be approved," he shrugged. "You deserve this
Donna. Don't ever think otherwise."
"Come here sweetheart," said Donna's mother as she took the gown from the
box and slipped it over Donna's head. "Now, don't start crying you'll ruin
your makeup and the photo's will look just awful."
"I can't believe this is happening to me," she said, her hands shaking.
"You did this Josh?"
"I had help," he replied, modestly.
"Yes, but it was his initial idea," stated the President, clamping his hand
on Josh's shoulder from behind them. The rest of the senior staff and the
black suits flanked him.
"Mr. President, I don't know what to say," she sniffed.
"That'll be a first. Come on Donna, hurry up... and you complain that I'm
always late!" Josh hustled, grabbing the cap and placing it on her head.
"Oh, someone get the woman a mirror so she can straighten her cap," said CJ
moving the dark blue tassel to the other side. "You have no idea do you
Josh?"
"Never said I did Claudia Jean," he tossed back. "Come on Donna, the
President isn't going to start until you are out there and the other
officials are about to start proceedings."
"True Donna. You don't want your fellow graduates to wait any longer to
hear the brilliant words I have for them do you?" the President groused.
"No, of course not Mr. President. I... everyone... just, thank you. I
don't know what else to say," she bubbled.
"Then don't. Get out there," added Toby in his usual monotone manner.
"Okay, I will. Mom?"
"I'm sitting with everyone else out there... Grandma's here too," she
smiled.
"Grandma? Really? You got her out of the nursing home just to..."
"To see her grand-daughter graduate yes. Now I have to get out there, I
don't want to miss this," she smiled and kissed Donna's cheek. "We're all
so proud of you darling."
"Love you Mom," Donna smiled, through unshed tears, as he mother headed out.
"Okay, come on Donna," grumbled Josh good-naturedly, fearing he would get
emotional if he had to witness anymore family bonding.
Donna took a deep breath to compose herself. "Okay, where do I need to go?"
"Fourth row, you'll see a vacant seat not quite half way along," offered CJ
pointed to the exit.
"Okay... ah..."
"Go!" stated Josh waving her away.
~*~
After waiting for the opening remarks from the University heads, the
President was introduced and amidst rowdy applause, he stepped purposely to
the podium. The university population had obviously maintained their
healthy Democrat following, Donna thought.
"Graduation day," the President began cheerfully, "you've reached the end of
one chapter of your life and you are about to embark on another. You passed
the tests, made it here. You endured long nights, parties... studying hard,
covering new territory. There were times of bewilderment when you wondered
why you ever thought this would be a good idea. But then you passed more
tests, and your enthusiasm was renewed with each achievement. Sitting with
your peers, you perhaps listened to argument which challenged your personal
beliefs, but you learnt to ask questions, raise your hand..."
Donna felt his gaze as he added the last comment, and she smiled as he
continued, "Some of you may have been shouted down, your ideas dismissed,
but you pushed forward and raised your hand again, continued to question...
and now the rewards are here for all to see. Yes, going to University is a
lot like being the President of the United States of America. Think if it
as being upsized, but without the fries."
Everyone laughed and applauded. Josh patted his hand on Sam's shoulder as
they stood side by side just out of view of the audience. "Nice," Josh
nodded.
"Thank you," Sam smiled.
"You flying out to see Joey after this?" whispered Josh.
"Nah... she has other plan's this weekend apparently. And we're taking
Donna out to celebrate aren't we?" he questioned back.
"Well we've organized dinner back at The Arbor House," replied Josh, as he
watched the President continue with his speech. "They decided going out on
the town with the President was too much of a thing."
"Well see, I couldn't miss that," nodded Sam, then he grinned. "You know
she's going to give us hell for keeping this secret from her all this time?"
"When she finally comes down to earth again," Josh replied with a mirrored
grin.
"Yeah."
They stood and listened to the President give his speech, and then with
great enthusiasm, presented the graduates with their diplomas. Donna,
although she more often than not saw the President on a daily basis, felt
just as honored, if not more so, to take her paper and shake the President's
hand.
She decided life surely couldn't get any better than this.
~*~
Josh stepped from the shadows of the doorway as Donna waved goodbye to the
last of her family members.
"Hey," she said with a wide grin, turning to face him.
"Hey yourself," he replied, matching her smile. "You're staying here
tonight? Not going back home?"
"We're leaving early in the morning, it's easier if I stay here. Sam is
staying over at the Concourse Hotel with Joey tonight, so they remade his
room up for me," she replied.
"Yeah, did you catch the look on his face when she turned up here tonight,"
grinned Josh.
"Yes I did, I think you could say he was pleasantly surprised," she replied.
"Funny how you happened to be organized to stay here tonight. You know,
considering there wasn't going to be a spare room before Joey turned up and
convinced Sam to stay with her," he pondered out loud.
"Yes, amazing how things turn out," she smiled.
"Hmm... well, I'm going for a walk," stated Josh.
"What? At this time of night? You'll get lost," she reprimanded.
"Guess that's why I'm taking you with me. You know your way around don't
you?" he grinned, shoving his hands in his jacket pockets.
"Well yes, but doesn't mean I know every inch of this city. Lucky for you
however, Lake Wingra is one of those areas I *do* know well. Once upon a
time I was part of an environmental and ecological group, and we monitored
the Lake," she offered as she linked an arm through his.
"Good, we're safe from wild animals then?" he joked.
"I think we should be alright. If we go down along here," she pointed,
"there's a park."
The pair silently strolled arm in arm until they reached an open parkland
area.
"Let's sit," suggested Josh, pulling at Donna's arm.
"The ground will be damp at this time of night Josh," she replied.
"Here then," he offered, taking is jacket off and spreading it out on the
ground. He sat down and pulled Donna down with him.
She sat between his legs, with her back resting against his chest. He
wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close and nuzzled his face in her
hair.
"I was so proud of you up there today, Donna."
"I still can't believe that in six weeks, I'll have an actual degree in
Political science," she mused.
"Well once they clear the check I wrote for 3 parking fines you clocked up
and were still on your record, all will be well. Your inability to read no
parking signs stretches back a bit, eh?" he chuckled.
"Hmm," she grinned, leaning back into him.
"I got you something," he announced after a reflective silence.
"You don't think you've done enough for me already Josh? Really this is..."
"Quiet! Close your eyes," he instructed as he rummaged through his jacket
pocket. "Closed?"
"Yes."
"Really?"
"Yes."
"Okay." He replied as he carefully tipped the contents of a small velvet
fabric pouch into his hand and draped a pendant on a delicate gold chain
around her neck. Thankful that she was wearing her hair up so that
struggling with the clasp wasn't anymore difficult in the moonlight than it
had to be. He kissed the back of her neck where the clasp sat when it was
joined. "There. Congratulations on your graduation."
Donna opened her eyes and felt down to the pendant, picking it up in her
fingers to look more closely at it in the moonlight. The large diamond
surrounded by smaller ones on the pendant danced in the moonlight. "Oh
Josh... this is beautiful. This is just... you've done so much for me,
why..."
"Because I love you," he offered in a casual whisper.
She turned and looked him, tears threatening to fall. It made the lump in
his chest rise to his throat as well.
"I know, we made a deal that we wouldn't actually say it, until... but, what
difference does it make?" he shrugged. "You know I feel it, I love you."
She reached up and ran the palm of her hand down his cheek before giving him
a gentle kiss.
"I love you too," she whispered, "but I think we'd better get back. It
won't look too good if we get carried away here in the middle of no where."
"And sitting here like this wouldn't cause enough talk?" he asked with a
smirk.
"If we stay here much longer," she started, pushing herself up off the
ground, "we'll end up doing a whole lot more than sitting."
"I could find that idea entertaining," he grinned as he clambered from the
ground, picking up his jacket and giving it a shake.
"I'm sure you could, but I'm not going to be the blonde bimbo that takes
you're lucrative political career away from you. You've worked too hard for
me to destroy it," she replied.
Josh was struck dumb for a moment, but reached out and grabbed her arm,
pulling her back to him. "Don't," he said, finding his voice. "Don't ever
talk about yourself like that, not even in jest let alone seriously. You're
not some 'blonde bimbo.' You're Donna Moss and you're intelligent and witty
and honest and.. and caring and passionate... you're just so many damn
things Donna, that most of the time I feel inadequate just standing near
you. I've told you before, all of this is nothing without you there to
share it. I'd give it all away tomorrow if there was a choice between the
job and you. I'd give it away in the blink of a second, and what'smore, I
wouldn't regret it."
"Josh I wouldn't let you..."
"In the blink of a second Donna," he reiterated, pulling her close. "What
do I have to do to prove it to you?"
"Nothing... nothing," she replied, searching his steadfast eyes, "I know you
mean it."
"Good. Come on, let's get back. We've got an early start in the morning,"
he stated, weaving his fingers through hers and pulling her around to his
side.
"Josh, what happens when the press find out you were behind organizing for
your assistant to receive an honorary degree in Political Science?" she
asked as they neared the historic building in which they were staying.
"Firstly you are not my assistant you are my Senior Advisor, remember?
Secondly, we play in the big league, Donna. You think my name is anywhere
on the recommendation submissions other than the fact that it states that
you work with me? Not a chance. This was too important... Leo and the
President himself signed off on everything. To be totally honest even the
check for those parking fines is not directly in my name. No one is going
to say you got this for any other reason than you deserve it. And that's
the truth anyway. You've worked hard all these years, and you deserve
this."
"Okay," she smiled. "Ah, Josh... we're nearly there," she stated trying to
wriggle her fingers from his, but he wasn't letting go of her hand.
"Josh... someone might..."
"Donna, we strolled only a short distance. The President is staying here.
There are Secret Service everywhere, ones we can see, and probably just as
many, if not more, we can't. I doubt we were 'totally' alone out in the
park either. I've got who knows how long before I can walk with you,
holding your hand in public again. They're not going to say anything, so
let's just enjoy it for a little longer?"
"Okay."
"Thank you," he replied, squeezing her fingers.
"Two years, eight months and three days."
"Huh?"
"Until then we're..."
"How long again?" quizzed Josh, realizing what she was telling him.
"Two years, eight months and three," she repeated.
"Okay, so are you counting today as Saturday or Sunday?" he mused.
"Umm... Saturday still," she replied.
"Well my crappy watch says it's after midnight so that's two days, right?"
She chuckled softly and leaned into him, "Okay, two days."
"And counting."
"Yes, and counting Joshua.
The End.
Chapters: 1 | 2 | 3 |
| << back |
| The National Library |