A Few Bumps in the Road

by: Evelyn

Disclaimer: Aaron Sorkin owns everything.

Category: Romance, Josh/Donna

Spoilers: Everything through Season 3

Rating: YTEEN

Author's Note: Special thanks to Shelley for her fabulous editing and insight into all things Sorkin. This follows 'Calling the Question' and 'Like a Bad Penny.' It helps if you've read those stories, but if not, please know that Josh and Donna are finally together and the Evil Amy is gone! Thanks.

"So, would you would like the poached salmon with cucumber sauce or perhaps filet mignon with bearnaise sauce?"

The restaurant manager waited patiently, then added,

"....Or both, you could offer your guests a choice."

He waited again for a reply. Then said, "Did you like the taste of the cucumber sauce or we could offer a hollandaise if you would prefer."

Donna looked at her watch for the fifth time. It was now 12:45. And unlike her fiancee, Donna Moss had a perfectly good timepiece. It was exactly 45 minutes after their appointment with the restaurant manager was scheduled to start. And still no Josh. Her fork was poised over the plate featuring the two selections, but her mind was elsewhere.

".....Ms. Moss?"

Donna's head snapped up to face the concerned restaurant manager seated across from her. "I'm sorry. I didn't really want to make the decision by myself. Something must have come up that my bo...er...my fiancee," Donna still stumbled over that word, "wasn't able to join us. Both dishes are delicious. I think we'll offer both, but then maybe we should just offer the salmon but offer both sauces? I'm just not sure. If it's okay, I'll call you tomorrow with the final menu or maybe we'll try and set up another appointment for my fian, er for Josh."

The restaurant manager looked confused, but nodded his agreement. And with that Donna gathered up her binder, labeled "The Wedding" and hurried back to the White House.

As she walked into the lobby, she ran into Margaret, who immediately asked, "So what are we going to eat?"

"What? I don't have time for lunch today. I had to meet with the restaurant manager..."

"I know that. I mean what are we going to eat at your wedding?" Margaret chided.

"Oh. Sorry. I didn't make a final decision because my fiancee didn't show up," Donna huffed.

"Maybe he got stuck in a meeting?" Margaret offered.

"I'm sure he did. Just like he got stuck when we were to meet with the florist, the pianist, and even the Rabbi and minister who are going to marry us," Donna said, her irritation growing as she ticked off each missed appointment. She paused at the door of her office, took a deep cleansing breath, and said firmly, "OK, here I'm Donnatella Moss, Executive Assistant to the President of the United States. And if Mr. Joshua Lyman, Deputy Chief of Staff, comes to see the leader of the free world, I'm a professional, I'll announce him. But....when we get out of these hallowed halls, I'm going to kick his butt from here to Madison, Wisconsin," and she gave Margaret one of her best Donna Moss smiles and walked into her office.

The afternoon was busy, as all afternoons in the West Wing are. Donna didn't hear from her fiancee, but she did get a call from Ginger confirming a 5:30 appointment that Toby and Josh had with the President. And at 5:25, the two of them breezed into the office.

Josh hustled over to Donna's desk, while Toby checked a few things with Charlie. Giving her his best dimpled grin, he leaned forward and whispered, "I'm starved. I haven't eaten anything except a hot dog all day. Once I'm done here, want to order some Chinese and we'll eat in my office until the evening meeting with Bruno and the campaign senior staff?"

Donna looked up at him, and in a low, icy voice asked, "Hungry? Did you say you were hungry?"

"Yeah," Josh answered, confused.

"As in you didn't eat anything for lunch today?"

"Well, I had a hot dog, but other than that...," Josh said cautiously.

"Nothing else, huh? Somehow I thought you told me this morning that you were going to have a fabulous lunch, a veritable gourmet's delight. You were going to sample, let me see if I can remember this, oh right, poached salmon with cucumber sauce and filet mignon with bearnaise sauce."

The lightbulb went on and the verbal fumbling began.

"Oh shit, I'm really sorry. The meeting with Claremont went late and then Sam asked if I wanted to grab a bite, so we got a hot dog from a vendor on the Mall as we walked back reviewing our strategy for the education reform bill...and I just totally forgot all about the appointment with the restaurant manager."

"Later Josh. Not here and not now." Donna insisted.

"OK, we'll talk over dinner," Josh replied.

"You bet we will," Donna glared.

"Go ahead and order. This shouldn't take more than 20 minutes," he said with a smile.

"So I should just handle it, right?"

"Well, yeah. Order the food and we'll eat when I'm done," Josh replied, somewhat confused.

"And I should just take care of it, right?" Donna said.

"Um, yes?" Josh said warily, almost as if he were contestant on a game show waiting for the buzzer that indicated he'd given the wrong answer.

"Like I always do," Donna added.

"Er, yes?" Josh said tentatively.

Just then the President opened the door. "Josh, Toby, come on in."

With a backward glance at his pissed fiancee, Josh walked toward the Oval Office.

"See you later," he whispered.

"Oh, you bet," came the reply. "You can count on it."

Chapters- 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

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