Archive: go for it

Spoilers: a little Noel

Feedback: pretty please!!!!

Rating: G

This is a response to the challenge of using the line "When was the last time
you were decently kissed? I mean, really honestly good and kissed?" from
That Thing You Do in a Josh and Donna story. This has a New Year's Eve
theme. I hope you like it.

At the Stroke of Midnight

By Carol McNamara

This story is told entirely from Josh's POV

Donna has been driving me crazy. Not crazy in a bad way, but in that good
way, so good it is almost painful.

See here's the thing, I think I might be in love with her. I'm not sure
when all of this started. Oh hell, yes I do. It started the first day she
walked into my office looking for a job. I mean she's gorgeous and she's
funny. I will admit she can be very annoying sometimes, spouting off useless
facts and ranting about subjects like carpal tunnel syndrome. But that's
just Donna. I find that when she's not here, I miss hearing about those
stupid things.

So I think I have been in love with her pretty much from the beginning.
But I actually realized I was in love with her about a week ago. It was the
fateful night with my new best friend Stanley. You see she waited for me to
get done with my appointment, and then she took me to the emergency room to
get my hand checked out.

Somewhere between that night and the next morning, I realized how much I
care for this woman and how much she seems to care for me. What assistant
would take their boss to the emergency room on Christmas Eve unless their job
depended on it? She put me in the car and drove me to the hospital. She sat
with me while the doctor cleaned my infected cut with a stinging cream. Then
she took me back to her apartment so I would have someone to spend Christmas
Eve with.

I remember walking into her living room and seeing her sitting on the couch.
There was a Christmas tree lit up next to her. The lights of the tree
glistened around her. It made her look like an angel. She looked up at me
and I realized I was staring at her. She gave me a reassuring smile and then
patted the couch next to her, motioning me to sit down.

I did as she wanted. I sat on the couch, and she took me in her arms and
held me. She held me like I've never been held before. We didn't say
anything to each other, we both just held on tight. I don't think that I
have ever felt that comforted in my entire life. It was then that I realized
that was where I belonged, with her.

But leave it to me, Josh Lyman to be a complete wuss. Of course I can't
tell her how I feel. What if she doesn't love me, what if she was just doing
all this to be nice. Who can tell when it comes to women?

Ever since that wonderful night I have been trying to act nonchalant,
like I wake up in Donna's arms every Christmas. She has been acting exactly
the same too. I guess it didn't mean anything her.

"Joshua, have I ever told you that you are a very handsome man. A very
powerful and handsome man," Donna asked me, interrupting my mind's little
journey.

"Yeah, actually last week when you wanted to see Yo Yo Ma," I replied,
putting forth my best smile, dimples showing. I've been told in the past
that women like dimples.

"Well see here's the thing. Uh, ok. See, uh," Donna just couldn't seem
to spit the words out.

"Donna just spit it out, you don't normally have this many problems with
the English language," I reply.

"Ok, well it is New Year's Eve tonight and I was kind of wondering if you
want to go to the White House party as my date," Donna asked, a look of
uncertainty crossing her face.

"Do you mean to tell me that you couldn't get a date," I ask, teasing her
with that winning smile again. Hey, I have to play a little hard to get.

"No Josh I couldn't, thanks for reminding me. Never mind, I will go
stag," Donna replied, seemingly very irritated. Whoops, I didn't mean to
make her mad.

"No, wait, Donnatella, I would love to be your date. It would be an
honor as a matter of fact. Why would you want to go with a schmuck like me
anyway," I ask, truly wondering the answer.

"Your not a schmuck, you are one of the funniest and sweetest guys I
know. Well, sweet may not be the word, but you have been known to be pretty
nice every once in awhile," she replies, a smiley glow coming over her face.

I think I actually blush when she says that. And I think she noticed it
too because she gives me a little giggle. I clear my throat and say, "I will
pick you up at 7:30 at your apartment ok?"

"I will be there with bells on," she says.