One Step at a Time

by: Ginny

Pairing(s): Josh/Donna
Rating: TEEN
Disclaimer: The usual, not mine etc.
Summary: Josh and Donna take tentative steps towards a relationship. Sequel to "Jumping to Conclusions".
Feedback:Feedback is appreciated.

Part 9

Josh rolled off both Donna and the couch. He took a deep breath and walked over to the window. Donna watched him for a minute while she caught her breath. Part of her was upset he had walked away from her and part was glad. She felt with her whole soul that they were meant to be together yet she was sure they weren't ready to sleep together. She had never been in a relationship quite like this before. It was all so new and exciting. She wanted to savor each minute.

She crossed the room and wrapped her arms around Josh from behind. She rested her chin on his shoulder and held him tight.

"Josh, you OK?" she whispered.

"Fine" he replied softly.

She unwrapped her arms and turned him around to face her. She reached up to kiss his forehead, then grabbed his hand and led him to her bedroom. She left him sitting on the bed and went to change in the bathroom. He let his eyes wander around the room. He stood up to look at the pictures on her dresser.

There were two taken the morning of election day, one of all of them and one of just himself and Donna sitting by the pond at the Bartlet family farm in New Hampshire. He had the same photos on his desk at home. There were a few of Donna and her family when she was younger. A picture of Donna, Sam and himself taken at the Christmas party, only an hour or so before he'd had his meltdown. He picked up the photo and stared at it. He looked pretty good in the photo considering it had been taken about an hour before he was to relive one of the two worst moments of his life. The white tie probably helped, he thought to himself. He sat down on the bed still staring at the photo. Donna had looked so beautiful that night and he had just pushed her away. He felt hot tears start to sting his eyes.

He heard the bedroom door and looked up to see Donna standing before him in pale pink pajamas, her face freshly scrubbed and her hair pulled back. She took the picture from him and wiped the couple of tears that had made their way down his cheeks. She undid his loosened tie and draped it on the chair. She bent down to take off his shoes and socks, placing them under the chair. He started to unbutton his dress shirt when she moved his hands out of the way and did it herself. He shrugged his shoulders out and held out his hands to Donna. She pulled him up and undid his belt and khaki pants. He sat back down and she pulled them off and folded them on the chair. Not once during all of this did they speak.

He sat on the edge of the bed wearing boxers and his white t-shirt. Donna stood between his knees and he wrapped his arms tightly around her waist. He rested his head on her chest and inhaled the scent of peppermint soap and fabric softener. After what seemed like an eternity he let her go with a quick kiss in the vicinity of her collar bone.

Donna went over to the wall and turned out the light. She came back to pull the pale pink comforter and blanket down. She motioned for Josh to crawl in the bed. She slipped in next to him and pulled the covers around both of them. They wrapped their arms and legs around each other.

For over half an hour neither made a move to pull away or move further ahead. Josh was the first to try and speak. He only got as far as to take a deep breath when Donna took his face in her hands and kissed him. The kisses were sweet, long and just what both of them were craving. When the kissing ended they found themselves breathless with tangled up limbs, blankets and clothing.

"Joshua, I know we said one step at a time but.." whispered Donna.

"What is it?" he murmured as he brush the hair back from her face.

"I love you, Johsua" she said she stared into his big brown eyes.

"I love you too" he whispered as he pulled her into his arms once again.

Breathless and utterly content they clung to each other until sleep came to their bodies just before dawn.

THE END

Chapters: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9

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