Chapter Text
Donna is tired of being pregnant.
She can put up with the fact that she’s had a developing human inside of her for 41 weeks now (if anyone’s keeping track, which Donna is, that’s a week too long). She can bear the back pain, she can deal with with the kicking, she can even handle the fact that she literally cannot see her feet anymore. What she can’t stand is the way that Josh is driving her nuts.
He started his paternity leave three weeks ago, after Donna had told him that Moss babies tended to come early. “So do Lymans,” he had said, with an odd hint of pride in his voice.
“Because you’re impatient?” Donna had shot back. Josh doesn’t have a response.
So Josh has been home with her for the past three weeks. He had made it very clear to the White House that he didn’t want to work at all while on leave, but Donna almost wishes he was working, because without work to distract him, Josh is driving her up the walls.
He asks her at least once an hour if she’s had any contractions yet. “You’ll know the minute I do,” she tells him, for the fourteenth time this week. But despite family history, baby Moss-Lyman seems to be taking his sweet time.
“This can’t possibly be our child, not if he’s going to wait this long,” Josh says one point, as Donna leans against him on the couch. He’s taken to staying close to her at all times; his hands rest on her bump more often than not.
“Well, I’ll tell you one thing; he, like you, is incapable of sitting still,” Donna replies, as she feels a foot press into her bladder yet again. “I’ve got to go to the bathroom.”
“Again?” Josh asks. “You went fifteen minutes ago. Is that healthy?”
“I wouldn’t have to go so often if your son would refrain from kicking me,” Donna replies sharply. “I’m fine.”
“Are you sure? Because I know they said sometimes babies are late, but it’s been a week and if there’s something wrong you might want to…”
Donna turns around to face him, furrowing his brow. “Josh. Stop. I appreciate that you’re taking time off, but your hovering is driving me crazy.”
He looks slightly stricken. “Donna I…” He rubs his hand gently over her bump. “I’m just… not good with anticipation. And this one’s making it a little hard.”
“I know,” she says softly. “But I… I think I need a little space. Why don’t you go pick up some lunch for us? I’m kind of craving burgers from the place on G.” And she’s not really that hungry, but she knows that Josh loves that place. She sits up and begins the process of standing up, sliding her legs down to the floor with a grunt.
“Are you sure you’re going to be okay alone?” he asks, frowning.
“Of course I am,” Donna replies. “I’m just going to go spend some quality time with the toilet since your son is kicking my bladder again, and then we can have a nice, quiet lunch that might distract us from the wait. Okay?”
Josh gives her a tight smile. “Okay. What kind of burger do you want?”
“Surprise me,” she replies, pushing herself up and walking the few steps towards the bathroom. He stands up too, grabbing the car keys. She smiles at the close of the door behind him.
When she goes to the bathroom, however, her eyes widen. She cleans herself up, grabs her cell phone, and gives Josh a call. “Forget the burgers,” she says. “That thing we’ve been anticipating? It’s happening. My water broke.”
Josh is back to their apartment within three minutes, and Donna can’t help but think he might have run a few red lights.