Spoilers: ITSoTG mostly, but anything could pop up.

Archive: Thanks to Jenny and Ruth for giving my stories a permanent home at 'Jenny's West Wing Fan Fiction Archive' and 'Banana Bars and Broken Chairs: A West Wing Love Story', respectively.

Rating: PG

Synopsis: Josh and Donna go public. Donna's POV

Series: This story is ninth in the 'Rocky Path' series. .

Series So Far:

Following King Henry 1/4

By Lacy

By mid-day on Sunday afternoon, I'm chomping at the bit to get out of this place. I've been given my first dose of lorazepam, and my concerns over tomorrow's reception (a less scary word for 'press conference') have melted away. Dr. Attwater drops by to give me a pamphlet on how best to keep my ulcer under control.

I accept it, gratefully, because I have no intention of ending up back in this place. He wishes me luck and signs my chart with a flourish, releasing me back into the big, bad world.

Josh arrives, with unusually impeccable timing, to take me home. A nurse is standing outside the door waiting with my chariot. I feel great and the last thing I want is to be wheeled out of this place like an invalid.

I look from the wheelchair to Josh, and I know there's no way I'm getting out of this. Paybacks are hell. He smiles, and we both remember the temper tantrum he threw when he was released from GW. I slide into the chair as I direct a look of self-righteousness in Josh's direction.

It's not until about fifteen minutes after driving away from the hospital that I realize we aren't headed towards Georgetown.

"Josh?" I ask. "Why are you taking me to my place?"

"CJ doesn't think it would be wise--"

"CJ? What does CJ have to do with this? Josh," I sigh, "tomorrow, we go public, and after that they're going watch us like hawks. Tonight is the last night we can be together without having to answer to anybody. I want to spend it with you. I'll go back to my place tomorrow night."

"Okay," he agrees easily. "We'll just swing by your place so you can pick up some things. You'll want to pick out something to wear tomorrow."

"Oh, right."

He parks in front of my building and follows me up the stairs. I glance over my shoulder at him and catch the expression of concern on his face. He thinks I'm going to faint at any moment. He's preparing himself to rush me back to the hospital. He opens the door with the keys from my purse, and allows me to pass over the threshold.

"Donna!" Karen returned early from her trip overseas, to discover that I was in the hospital. "Why didn't you call me? I could've picked you up."

"It was covered," I say, directing my gaze to Josh.

"Josh." Karen acknowledges his presence, but her eyes narrow and the tone of her voice is less than friendly.

"Karen." Josh is at loss to explain to Karen's sudden and unexpected hostility.

"Down girl," I say. "We're taking care of business."

"You are?" she asks. "Does this mean what I think it means? Are you telling me what I think you're telling me?"

"I am," I reply.

Josh's eyes light up as his brain suddenly deciphers the code that Karen and I have been speaking in. "Yes, she is," he chimes in.

"Good," Karen smiles. "Because, you know, I was this close to calling you and giving you a piece of my mind."

We chat with Karen for a while and catch her up on everything that happened while she was away. Josh and I explain that we've decided to go public with our relationship. It occurs to me that this might have no small affect on Karen's life. I question her about it but, like the great friend she is, she offers her unswerving support.

She helps me choose a dress to wear for tomorrow's reception. I've explained that 'reception' is really just a nice word for 'press conference', right? Anyway, Karen thinks I should go with my royal blue executive suit. Her advice, as a member of the soon-to-be viewing public, is that I should still maintain an air of professionalism for the reception. I agree with her.

I gather the rest of the things I'll need and, after receiving a bear hug from Karen, Josh holds the door open for me as we leave.

"Are you nervous?" Josh asks, once we're back in the car. I consider this. I know that what we're doing is the right thing, but I also can't predict how it will affect our relationship in the long run.

"A little," I reply.

"We're going to be fine," he reminds me. "Just remember that we've been through too much to let anything tear us apart now."

"Right," I say.

Back at his place -- the place I've considered my home for the last few weeks -- I hang up my dress for tomorrow, and Josh offers to fix me a drink. He brings me a tall glass of milk, with an enormous and amazingly adorable grin on his face. Milk is one of the few things I'm allowed to drink for now. Being the loving boyfriend that he is, he took the liberty of requesting a list of 'do's and don'ts' from Dr. Attwater.

He pulls a document out of his backpack and sits down on the couch, reading each page slowly then flipping to the next.

"What's that?" I ask.

"A list."

"A list of what?"

"Questions CJ dreamed up," he responds. "She's trying to anticipate what we'll be asked tomorrow."

I sink next to him on the couch and smile as he unconsciously puts his arm around me and pulls me closer. He smells of that wonderful aftershave again, and I close my eyes for a moment as I rest my head on his shoulder. It amazes me how easily we slip into this realm of domesticity.

I read some of the questions from the papers in his hand, and a few of them catch my attention.

"They're going to ask me that?"

"They might," he chuckles.

"Well, how detailed do I have to be?"

"They don't have to know everything, Donna. Just enough to keep them satisfied. If all else fails, just say 'no comment'."

We go through each of the questions, laughing at some but offended by others. One question in particular raises my ire, and Josh watches with astonishment as I rant on about the inappropriateness of it. He laughs and tells me that he thinks CJ added that question just to get to us.

I tell him that CJ just made my hit list.

"You're beautiful when you're indignant," he says, with almost an accusing tone.

I look into his eyes and I'm struck by the depth of emotion there. I kiss him because I can't help it. I kiss him because it's something I want to spend the rest of my life doing. He just leans back and enjoys the ride as my lips and tongue ravage his. I've missed him. Even two nights without him in my bed is two nights too long. How can I allow the press or the public to keep us separated?

I pull back and snicker at the disappointment that crosses his face. "I guess I can answer a resounding 'hell, yeah' to question number forty-two."

"People are going to think I've gone soft," he half-heartedly complains.

"Oh, I think I can attest to the fact that you haven't," I say seductively. I'm seducing Joshua Lyman. This is something I hope I never get used to.

"Donna," he sighs.

Josh is hesitant about making love to me. Well, not his body, but his mind. You know what I mean, right? He's afraid that I'm still physically unwell. I think he's resigned himself to spending a chaste evening with me.

I am not likewise resigned.

I've been without him for two days, and in the beginning of a relationship that's a heck of a long time. I want him. I want him now, tonight, and always. I launch myself into the proving this to him. With every kiss I tell him that I'm fine and raring to go. With every taste of his flesh I break down his resignation. I've discovered that I'm good at this. I guess there's something to be said for farm girls, after all.

Poor guy. His intentions were good, and sweet, and honorable, and totally misplaced. He never stood a chance. I take both of his hands in mine, and with as seductive a walk as I can muster, I lead him into the bedroom.

TBC

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