Work Text:
You Are The Best Thing That’s Ever Been Mine
Donna
She had been feeling off for a couple of days. Nothing definite, just an underlying sense of uneasiness she perceived enough to feel off.
As Donna figured, it could very well be the rush of putting together a collection and the launch party, even though Kelly was flawlessly checking PR items off the miles-long to-do list.
Stress was a work tool, after all; just like a needle, measuring tape and thread.
She continued to gather her materials needed for the opening when a wave of nausea came over her. This time it was so strong she had to sit down and take a few steady breaths.
Something was certainly off.
She just didn’t know what.
Donna tried to think. Had she eaten something that had gone rotten without noticing? She had woken up feeling fine, David had dashed out at full speed for work. Shouldn't they both have sympto—oh.
They would probably. Unless she was lat—even thinking that word made her stop short.
Could she be?
Donna hopped up off the couch and rushed over to her calendar on the desk. She flipped through the pages until she got to her last period. Oh. My. God.
She dropped her calendar before sitting down on the chair. She had thought it might be a mild case of food poisoning. She never thought she might be…pregnant?
The idea made her dizzier. It wasn’t something she and David had never discussed at all, but still—fantasizing was one thing; seeing it become real was a different beast altogether.
She had to calm down before doing anything else. And she wasn’t even sure about buying the test or calling David before taking it. Donna bit her lip. Maybe she should call Kelly—no wait, she’d freak out. That left… Gina? Her mother? She could go to Janet. Or Andrea. After all, they’d been where she was once before.
***
Donna sat on the edge of the bathtub as she waited for the timer to run out. Everything hinged on that small test sitting on the counter. Their entire world was hanging on whether that second line appeared or not. Would everything be different now?
Having a baby was something she had always wanted. A family with David had been her dream since high school, but sitting here and waiting to find out if their world was going to change was truly exhausting. The dream felt real now in a way she never truly anticipated.
And if she were honest with herself, there was something else bubbling alongside anticipation. Something that didn't feel as clear-cut, but equally heavy. Would she be ready for whatever parenthood brought?
She had no time to wonder and twist herself more. The timer dinged, and it echoed so loudly in the bathroom she almost jumped off the tub.
Her gaze darted back to the box first. She was so nervous she was sure she'd forgotten what the instructions signaled.
Two lines meant pregnant, she reminded herself as she reached for the test. She couldn’t even look at it for what felt like a full minute. She paused, took a few deep breaths, and tried to steady herself.
Two lines stared up at her.
Pregnant.
Donna gulped. Even with the lines so stark against the plastic it didn’t feel real. She kept thinking she’d blink and wake up and find out it was a dream. But—two lines, right there.
Should she tell David and then go to the doctor? Or vice versa? Would he freak out?
***
David
“Donna, I’m home.”
David closed the door behind him before he dropped his keys on the table. The house was quieter than usual, and it made him uneasy. Normally Donna was chatting on the phone with Kelly by the time he got home, but the silence made it feel like nobody was home at all.
“Donna?” He called out again. He tried to keep his voice even. She might just be upstairs for some reason. And yet, his own worries rang out loud and clear when he added, “Are you okay, babe?”
Her response wasn't immediate, but it wasn't rushed either. It almost felt like she'd truly just missed him coming in.
“Oh, David,” she trilled as she came down the stairs, “hi! Sorry, I barely heard you.”
David approached Donna with a big grin as he gently pulled her into a hug, “That’s alright. I just expected you and Kelly to be on your fifth story of the day by the time I walked in.” He laughed softly as he kissed her on the forehead.
“Are you feeling okay?” David asked. He knew she had a bit of a stomach bug the last few days, and was hopeful that she was finally on the mend.
Donna was grinning a little. “I’ve felt better,” she admitted, sheepish. “But I think I figured out why.”
She drummed her hand on the stairwell.
David frowned. “Okay, Riddle Woman. Spell it out for me?”
Donna pouted. “Spoilsport. I was trying to build anticipation. I mean, we’ve been a whirlwind with everything else and I—”
Everything else?
“David, I took a test this morning, and it came back positive.” Donna paused for a moment before she continued, “We’re having a baby.”
Oh my god. David’s brain was spiraling as he tried to process the words Donna was saying. They were having a baby. They had just gotten married. They were still adjusting to life as newlyweds, and now here they were, starting another new chapter.
He tried his hardest to articulate a response that made some sort of sense and didn't broadcast how sudden it all felt. Keyword being tried.
All that actually came out was, “You—I—we are?”
He wished he could shake himself. Really, Silver?
Unperturbed, his wife nodded and grinned. “We are. Are you,” she stopped, her gaze slipping down. Was she scared? Was he scaring her? “—happy about it?”
David nodded as he gently pulled Donna toward him. He was absolutely terrified, of course, but deep down inside he was also…happy? His dream had always been to start a family with Donna. It was just happening sooner than either of them anticipated.
“I would be lying if I said I wasn't and if I said I was.” He pressed his forehead against hers and his nose wrinkled. Donna chuckled into his shoulder as he added, “It's all jumbled.”
“Truer words were never spoken,” she agreed softly.
***
Donna
Donna and David were cuddled together on the couch. They had spent most of the day processing the news, and now they were ready to start the next part of their lives together as a family.
David’s arms wrapped around her tightly as he whispered, “I can’t believe we’re going to have a little Donna running around this time next year.”
“Or a little David.” Donna chimed in softly.
“Oh, I hope not.” David laughed as he kissed her gently on the cheek. “The world needs more Donna Martins in it.”
Donna crossed her arms as far as she could. “I happen to think more David Silvers would be nice, actually. God, I can't wait to tell everyone.” She sighed, and her voice turned wistful. “I am a little worried about Kelly, though.”
David squeezed her gently and said, “I think Kelly will be happy for us…” His words didn’t quite match the look on his face. It was like he was trying to calm her jitters even though he had some of his own.
“I know.” Donna smiled at him, “Pregnancy is just a rough subject for her since the miscarriage.” She almost whispered the words as if she didn’t want to say them too loudly for the world to hear.
“Of course, and it may be a little difficult for her at first, but she’ll be alright.” David’s voice was comforting, and it was clear he actually believed what he said this time.
“Oh, for sure.” She caught David frowning as she teased, “our closet space on the other hand—” her laugh was so loud she felt the couch rocking beneath her. “I know, you’d rather do the horror movie marathon, I just couldn’t resist.”
“I didn’t even think about how much stuff a baby needs.” David laughed lightly, but it was clear he was cycling back to freaking out territory.
“We’ll be okay. That’s what baby showers are for!” She laughed as she reached for his hand and squeezed it tightly.
Silence.
“David, are you—did you just go pale over a baby shower?”
David shook his head. “I’m sorry,” he muttered. “You went through nine months in five seconds, Don.”
“Look at it this way,” she reasoned, “you’ll have time to adjust and less symptoms.”
David grimaced. “It’s truly that awful already? Do you need to see a doctor? Like right now? What’s the name of Janet’s OB?”
Donna laughed lightly as she placed her hand gently on David’s face. “I’m okay.” She paused for a moment before continuing, “Janet went to Dr. Long, and I’ve already scheduled an appointment for us tomorrow.”
David let out a sigh, allowing the tension to finally leave his body. “Tomorrow,” he said softly. "I can't wait.”
Donna curled into him and rested her head on his chest, “Me neither.”
***
November 16, 2000
According to Dr. Long Donna's pregnancy was progressing nicely.
Her nausea was refusing to stick to a schedule, but other than that—
She bit into her toast, before telling David, “I think we should tell everyone. Since we're hosting and everything.”
David was sitting next to her at the table, shoveling his own breakfast into his mouth. He turned when he heard her comment.
“I kinda like being the only two people in the world who know.” David laughed lightly before continuing, “But yes, I think we should tell them.”
“Maybe at Thanksgiving?” Donna asked. She’d been keeping this secret for so long now and she was about to burst with excitement.
“You're excited, huh? I couldn't tell,” David joked. “You're all in on celebrating. Thanksgiving announcement it is, Mrs. Silver.”
Donna grinned. “Can't really wait.”
David tipped his coffee cup at her, and even though she was starting to hate the smell, it made her giddier. “You and me both, Don.”