AN: Hey everyone, I'm happy to be back with my first multi chapter fic. I had originally planned to post this sometime before Christmas, but I didn't have the time to do so and I wanted to give it the proper attention it deserved. This story takes place after Harvey made up with his mother, but before he goes back to Paula/Donna tells him she wants something more.
I want to dedicate this story to Etty and Michelle, who were my biggest cheerleaders while I was writing this, and who continue to keep me sane and happy every single day. Life wouldn't be the same without our endless convos. I love you guys xoxox
And to the rest of the darvey fandom, you guys have been amazing with all of your endless support. I hope this story helps ease the pain of this never-ending hiatus. Enjoy! -ali
…
His finger hovers over the intercom, trepidation written all over him as he expels another sigh and he places his hand down. Harvey found himself in a rare predicament, one hardly seen by himself or anyone else for that matter. Harvey Specter was nervous and there was only one reason- one person- for his current state of anxiety.
"Don-" half of her name falls from his lips before he scares himself out of finishing his sentence, but it's too late before he realizes she heard him.
"You need something, Harvey?" Her voice is clipped and professional as it booms over his speaker, and he filters out another breath before replying.
It's now or never, Specter.
"Donna, could you come in here for a minute?"
Her form appears before him in less than ten seconds, burgundy dress hugging her close, loose copper waves cascading below her shoulders as she stands just inside of his office, like she's done countless times before. She gives him a warm smile and he tries to tamper the rapid beating of his heart as her gaze bores into his own.
"You need something?"
His smile slightly falters when he remembers what he has to ask her, and he wills himself to get it together lest he crumble under her stare. Clearing his throat, he swivels his chair around to pull himself up, walking around his desk to lean against it, needing something to ground him.
"Um, yeah, well, I actually, uh I need a… favor," she fixes him with an amused look, her head tilting to the side as she steps further inside his office, closing the door behind her.
"A favor…" Donna repeats his words, patiently waiting for him to finish his thought.
"Yeah, so, you know my brother?" He looks like he could very well pass out in that moment and she has to stifle a laugh at the rare sight of a flustered and nervous Harvey in front of her.
"Marcus, yeah, yeah I believe I do." She sends him another amused look, this time coupled with one of confusion. While she's never actually met his younger brother, she's heard more than her fair share of stories on the other Specter.
Harvey lets out another sigh, his demeanor deflating as he pushes himself off his desk, moving to stand a little closer to his secretary. "Okay, before I- say anything else, just know that I was caught off guard, and I know this is totally last minute, so I understand if you can't- do this, but…"
"Harvey what the hell is going on?" Her arms cross then, and as entertaining as it was to watch a fidgeting Harvey Specter, her patience was starting to wear thin.
"I need you to… come with me when I go to Boston next week."
Donna furrows her eyebrows, her confusion growing ten-fold at his words, "Boston?"
Harvey nods, "Yeah, uh, Marcus is throwing this- I don't know, little Christmas Eve shindig with his wife, and we'd uh, we'd stay until Christmas." He gives her a sheepish smile, hoping it would somehow ease the crease on her forehead.
"We?"
"Well, yeah, I'm inviting you."
"To your brother's Christmas shindig?" She echoes his words, trying to make clear of the situation.
Harvey nods.
"Oh, well, I-"
"I know this is totally last minute, and I understand if you already have plans, but genius that is my brother, only told me earlier today, and well…"
"You want me to go with you to your family's Christmas?" Her voice grows softer now, still trying to reign in some clarity out of his words, his very out of the blue invitation.
Harvey sends her a smile that doesn't quite reach his eyes and suddenly, she's tilting her head at him, hands splayed on her hips as she sends him a knowing look. "Okay, what's the catch?"
Harvey nearly stutters, "The- catch?"
She nods, both eyebrows raised as she takes a step closer to him, an intimidating tactic that seems to be working its magic.
"What makes you think there's a catch?" Harvey half scoffs, earning him another glare from his favorite redhead.
"I'm Donna, I know," she gives him her signature line, taking a beat before continuing, "And I know you, and you keep stuttering your words, which you never do, and your tie has been loosened which tells me you've been fidgeting with it since the last time we talked, so, spill it, Specter. Why do I really need to go with you to Boston next week?"
Harvey's mouth falls open, but no words come out. He knew he shouldn't be surprised with the way she could read him like an open book, especially not after twelve years of working together. And yet…
"I need you to pretend to be my girlfriend," he expels in one breath.
"You need me to do what?"
Her high screeched voice makes him wince, and he subconsciously takes a step back, "Wait, Donna listen-"
"What the hell kind of favor is this, Harvey?" Her eyes are wide as saucers as she stares at him, mouth agape and posture straight as her eyes shoot daggers his way.
"You have to understand," Harvey puts his hands up in near defense, "Marcus… he was baiting me, okay?" He grits his teeth at the memory. He loved his brother, he really did, but the younger jackass could really get a rise out of him whenever he wanted.
"Oh, this better be good," she demands on a dry laugh, standing her ground as she silently wills him to continue explaining, wills the sudden rapid beating of her heart to settle.
"He called to ask me to go to this little- party thing or whatever it is. I've never gone before, because well, my mom-" When Donna nods, her eyes softening just a bit at his words, he continues, "but this year, well, we're talking again and since she'll be there and we've- made up, he wants me to go."
Donna nods only in half understanding before shaking her head, "I still don't understand how I fit into this. Why we have to pretend to be-" Her voice trails off, somehow not being able to say together.
"Because," Harvey exhales, frustration boiling to the surface, "He kept messing with me, berating me about when I was going to settle down, bring a- date over, all that crap. And normally, it doesn't bother me, but this time…" he shakes his head at the memory, "And I just snapped, I told him he was being a dick for no reason because I did have a girlfriend. And now he's expecting me to bring someone," he finishes on a low tone, his eyes dropping to his feet before glancing up to see her own stare still on his.
"So… can't you take someone else?"
Harvey's shoulders slump at her words, "Someone else?"
"Yeah, don't you have a line of girls waiting for you to take and pretend to be your arm candy for a few days?" Donna shrugs nonchalantly.
"I- I don't want to take someone else," he tells her with a confidence that juxtaposes his earlier nerve-wracked words. Donna visibly deflates at his admission, and he takes advantage of her low defense to spew out his next confession, "Plus… I may have told him it was you."
He winces in anticipation for her screech of surprise, but it never comes. He takes his time to study her, arms now crossed over herself again, a mixture of emotions he can't quite decipher dancing in her eyes.
"Why?" She asks him instead, her voice surprisingly steady.
"Why-?"
"Why me?" She takes a step closer to him again, standing her ground as best she could with her heart currently in her throat, her palms growing sweaty for reasons she tries hard to sweep under the rug in her mind.
"I- you're Donna," he tells her by way of an answer, as if that was all the clarification she needed.
She tilts her head in that way that lets him know it wasn't a suffice explanation, "Is it because I'm sitting right there in front of you and naturally my name was the first to pop into your mind?" She points behind her to her desk, quirking an eyebrow at him as she waits for his answer.
Harvey shakes his head, "Even if you weren't sitting right in front of me, I still would've said your name," he tells her in an all-too soft tone that makes her hair stand on end and knees buckle, but she locks her legs in place, not once wavering under his gaze or words.
When she doesn't respond, he continues, "Donna, like you said, you know me. You know my history and all my personal shit with my family. You- helped mend what I now have with my mom, of course you were the first person to come to mind."
Donna chews on her lip then, weighing in the pros and cons of this situation, knowing full well they could be venturing into dangerous territory. "Pretend to be your girlfriend?" She inquires again, her eyebrows raised in half annoyance.
Harvey's lips twitch at the look she gives him, "Just for a few days. You come with me, we- pretend to be- a couple," he struggles to get out, "and then we're back to work on Monday. Same as before."
She continues to stare at him, trying to get a read on the way his demeanor keeps shifting to one of confidence to one riddled with anxiety as he waits for her answer. Finally, she lets out a sigh and rolls her eyes, "Fine, we both know I'm going to give in eventually. Might as well agree now," she mumbles.
Harvey gapes at her, "You're- serious? You'll do it?"
Donna nods, her lips twisting at his sudden surprise, "So help me God, but yeah, I'll do it."
Harvey sighs, letting his own lips curl up, "Thank you Donna, you-"
"On one condition," she puts her hand up, her eyes suddenly glinting and now he's fixing her with his own stare, somehow having anticipated this.
"What do you want, Donna?"
"I- you know, I haven't decided yet. I'm going to milk this for all it's worth," she smirks at him, turning around to head back to her cubicle, "but know that you owe me big time." She points a finger at him in a warning and a promise, waiting for him to nod in understanding before exiting his office.
Harvey lets out another sigh, trying to shake off as much pent up anxiety he had left. He watches his secretary sitting down on her chair, sending him another half-amused look before getting back to work. He shakes his head then, admiring her uncanny ability to dive right back into her work, and he walks over his desk to try and do the same.
But for all Harvey Specter thought he knew, he was completely unaware of the way his current secretary's own hands hovered over her keyboard- unable to render in a state of calm or focus, the idea of having to pretend to be her boss and best friend's girlfriend making her hair stand on end and heart stay in her throat.
…
"Would you stop fidgeting with that already?" He gives her a side glare, trying to keep his main focus on the road.
Donna huffs, switching the radio station one more time before shutting it off completely. "Your car has no good tunes," she berates as she slumps back against the leather seat, crossing her arms.
"I don't think my car is responsible for what tunes get played," Harvey offers with an amused curl of his lips. They remain in silence for a while, with Harvey switching his attention from the road again, to his slightly disgruntled friend sitting next to him, a thought suddenly coming to him, "Are you- nervous?"
Her eyes shoot wide open at his words, light red hair swinging to the side dramatically as she straightens, "Why would you say that?"
Harvey shrugs, "You haven't said much since leaving the city and you're never this quiet." When she doesn't respond, he glances to her again, his eyebrows furrowing in concern, "Hey, it's going to be fine. It's just three days of ridiculous Christmas festivities, even though you packed for like ten," he mumbles the last part.
"I'm not nervous," she defends at last, ignoring the jab he throws her way.
"Bullshit."
"I'm not, I'm just- pondering."
"Pondering…"
Donna nods, "Yeah, pondering how… okay, fine, I'm nervous."
Harvey smirks, watching her pouting in the corner of his eye. "I can't believe you're nervous about this."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means… I'm the one who should be nervous. You should be the one holding it together and telling me to suck it up and pull my shit together."
Donna stays quiet for a moment, watching him watching the road, his jaw set in concentration, or out of hidden anxiety. Finally, she heaves out a sigh, shifting in her seat, "For the first time- I don't know what to expect."
He glances at her for a second, "What do you mean?"
"It means, outside of your dad," she pauses for a beat, gauging how he blinks back a few times, "I never met anyone from your family. I know about them, but I don't know them."
Harvey lets out his own sigh, tightening his hands on the wheel, "You'll be fine," he reassures quietly, "Marcus… well he can be a dick, but he's harmless, mostly," they share a chuckle before he continues, "his wife is about as kind as you can imagine a person to be, and I don't really know her parents very well, but they're pretty nice, I guess. And their kids- Hailey and Jack, well, they're pretty great."
"Wow, uncle Harvey's popular with the kids, isn't he?" Donna teases, her heart warming at the thought of him interacting with his niece and nephew.
"I don't know about popular, I don't get to see them a lot, but, yeah, they seem to like me for some reason," he sends her a smile before his eyes shift forward again.
Donna hums in response, taking in his words before her mind shifts elsewhere, and her nerves seem to come back full force, "How about your mom?"
His smile falters just slightly, the mention of his mother still bringing on a reflexive response, "My mom… she's… I'm still trying to figure that one out," he confesses quietly.
Donna nods beside him, taking a moment to study him before speaking, "When was the last time you two talked? And by talk I don't mean her calling you to check in for five minutes, I mean, when was the last time you called her?"
He twiddles his thumbs against the steering wheel, "Uh, last week, I think." When she gives him a pointed look he ejects a tired sigh, "Okay, maybe three weeks ago."
"Harvey,"
"What? I- I'm getting accustomed to this. I don't know exactly what to say to the woman, just casually starting up a conversation with her."
"I get that," Donna starts softly, "but if you really want this relationship to work, you have to put in a little more effort than just picking up the phone the times she does call."
"I know," he whispers. And he did know, because she was right, she was always right. He knows it in his bones that if it weren't for her, he never would've gone to see his mother to mend things, no matter what she said. "And thank you, by the way, for helping me pick out her present."
Donna smirks, the memory of their back and forth earlier in the week coming back to her. After having asked her to come join him and his family at Christmas, Harvey had spent the day mulling over what that would entail, his nerves rising at the prospect of what it meant for her to pretend to be his girlfriend. It wasn't until day's end that realization hit him, and he scurried out of his office to stand before her cubicle, visible anxiety coursing through him.
.
"What do you need, Harvey," Donna asked without looking up.
"I need- a favor."
She stopped typing at his words, her eyebrow quirking, "I think you've maxed out your 'asking Donna for a favor' quota for the year."
"Donna, I'm serious, this is- kind of a big deal."
She fixed him with a look before resigning, "I'm listening."
"My mom… she uh, well I've never- so this would be a first…"
"Harvey,"
"I don't know what to get her for Christmas," he expelled in one breath.
Her eyes softened at his words, "Oh."
"Yeah," he tapped his hands on top of her cubicle before patience wore thin, "so, will you help me?"
Deciding to go easy on his growing apprehension, she gave him a reassuring smile, "Yeah, Harvey, I will."
His grin matched hers in an instant, "Thank you, Donna."
"Meet me at Hermes on Saturday at nine," she called out before he could enter his office.
Harvey paused, furrowing his eyebrows, "You want me to buy my mom a new handbag?"
She turned her head slowly toward him, giving him an annoyed look, "No, that'd be for me."
.
"I'm just impressed you came up with the final decision all on your own. I merely guided you."
Harvey chuckles at the way she waves her hand in his direction in a dramatic flair, "Yeah, well, thank you," he gives her a smile before his eyes focus on the road again, his voice having grown soft.
"You're welcome," Donna echoes in the same tone. "So," she clears her throat after a beat, "what'd you get me?"
Harvey snorts, "I already bought you two handbags the other day, what makes you think I got you something else?"
"Because you're you, and don't think I missed the way you wouldn't let me go anywhere near your suitcase."
"That doesn't mean-"
"Yes it does."
His lips thin at her words, watching from the corner of his eye how she fixes him with an amused grin, "You're ruthless, you know that?"
"I'm right, is what I am," she sasses.
"I'm sorry, by the way," Harvey adds after a moment of silence.
Donna furrows her brow, "For what?"
"I know you had plans to visit your dad this weekend." He gives her a sidelong glance, lips tightened in guilt and she felt her own heart stutter for him thinking about her.
"Harvey, it's fine. I mean, nothing was really set in stone and I'll see him sometime soon. Plus, he managed to make plans with one of his brothers, so he won't be spending it alone."
"Okay, but-"
"Shush now, I told you it was fine and it's fine," she gives him a reassuring smile, hoping to ease the wrinkle on his forehead. Harvey merely nods in response, still trying to wane the guilt away out of his system, despite her words. And it was fine… having called her dad to cancel their tentative plans hadn't wracked her with the guilt she knew Harvey was currently feeling. She'd realized a long time ago that she would do anything for the man that had become her best friend.
Donna turns back to look out her window then. The sky was now streaked gray, flakes of snow starting to paint the grass white, "How much longer until we get to your brother's?"
"Uh, about two hours, give or take."
Donna nods beside him, taking a beat before speaking again, "So, what exactly is our game plan here?"
"Game plan?"
"Yeah, we're supposed to be a couple. So, we're bound to get asked questions."
Harvey shrugs, "You already know all there is to know about me and I know you better than anyone."
"No you don't," Donna laughs.
"Oh yeah? Ask me anything," he challenges.
"What's my favorite color?"
"Easy. Red."
"No, that'd be yours, hot shot. Try again."
"I wasn't finished. Red used to be your favorite color when you were younger because you were fascinated by The Little Mermaid, but now it's teal. Or turquoise. One of those two."
Her mouth hangs open at his words, "How-"
"Contrary to popular belief, I do listen, you know," he gives her a smirk before facing forward again. "And how the hell did you know mine was red?"
Donna snorts, "Please, like we have to get into that right now."
Harvey continues driving in silence for a while, until her voice breaks free again, "Okay, so you know my favorite color, but that wasn't what I was getting at," when he gives her a quizzical look she rolls her eyes, "We're supposed to be together. Boyfriend and girlfriend. We're going to get bombarded with questions like 'how long have you two been dating?' 'Where'd you go for your first date?' 'Who hogs the sheets more at night?"
Harvey scoffs, "They won't ask that."
"They might, and what are they going to say when we give each other a confused look and we blow our cover?"
"I think we already know the answer to that question," he provides quietly after a moment.
Donna gapes at him, surprised he would bring up that time, "I-"
"You hogged the sheets, so, it'd be you," he states simply.
She purses her lips, "I object to that."
"We're not in court."
"I still object."
"You're impossible."
Donna gasps in faux hurt, placing a hand over her heart, "Is that any way to talk to your girlfriend?"
"Stop," he scolds, fighting to keep his lips from curling up.
"Oh, honey, now don't get mad at me," she fake cries then, dabbing at her eyes.
"As many Marni bags as you want to get you to stop right now."
Donna crosses her arms, "You're no fun."
Harvey hums in response, his lips twitching as she huffs beside him, "Okay, so what else?"
"How long have we been dating?"
His thumbs beat against the wheel, his mind trying to focus on the road whilst coming up with details to their fake relationship, "Uh, a couple of months?"
"Wow, and you're bringing me home to meet the family already. We must be pretty serious."
"What?" His head swivels in her direction, her words having caught him off guard.
"Well, we've only been dating for a couple of months, which a couple is like what? Four? Five months? We need to get specific here. If they ask you when our anniversary is, what are you going to say?"
"I-"
"Exactly. And these are the questions they're going to ask us. 'How long have you been dating? What? Four months and you're already bringing her home? Oh, it must be serious. When are you going to pop the question?'"
"Now, hold on-"
Donna continues, acting out her own dramatic interpretation of his family, "'And how many children are you going to have?' 'Have you started thinking about their possible names'?"
"Okay, wait just a second," Harvey sighs, shifting uncomfortably in his seat, "They're not really going to ask us those questions."
Donna snorts out a "ha!" making him purse his lips in annoyance, "Asking about our anniversary and simple dating questions is just the beginning, mister. Just you wait."
"I'm suddenly regretting this," he mumbles beside her.
His secretary smirks in response, watching his continued squirming, "Oh, this is going to be fun."
"You're feeling a lot better about this, aren't you?"
"Oh yeah," she grins, "Buckle up, Specter, it's gonna be a long ride."
Harvey groans, "Fun road trip, my ass."
…
"Remind me again why we had to leave the presents in the car?" Harvey grunts, trying to haul up his suitcase along with one of Donna's while she held her own bags.
"Because," Donna exhales once they reach the porch, "Your niece and nephew still believe in Santa Clause and we don't want to kill their Christmas spirit now do we, uncle Harvey?"
Harvey rolls his eyes, "Fine, we'll get them later, now, you ready?" He turns to face Donna, her auburn waves tainted with flecks of the snow that had fallen from their walk up the driveway. He watches her silently taking in the exterior of his brother's home- a simple two floor brick exterior with columns and a wrap-around porch.
"Yeah," she sighs, glancing at him, "How about you, pookie bear?"
"God, I so can't wait for this weekend to be over," he grunts, reaching forward to ring the doorbell. Not a full minute goes by before the mahogany door swings open, a slightly younger man appearing on the other side.
"Well, look what the cat dragged in!"
"Well, if it isn't my favorite jackass," Harvey grins, stepping up to give his brother a hug.
"Wow, he's never called me his favorite anything before, you feeling okay, big brother?"
Donna laughs beside him, watching Harvey roll his eyes as he steps back from the younger Specter. She steps inside then, the aroma of freshly baked cookies mixed in with sweet pine hitting her senses immediately.
"And you must be Donna, the girl that's got my brother whipped," Marcus replies, extending his hand to the redhead.
Donna lifts her eyebrows, glancing over at Harvey who now took interest in his shoes, "Whipped, huh?"
"Well, as soon as he mentioned you over the phone, telling me he finally landed a keeper,"
"Marcus,"
"-my boy here couldn't stop talking about you. It was 'Donna this' and 'Donna did that' and 'wait until you see how great my Donna is'."
Donna gapes at his words, "'My Donna?'"
Marcus shrugs, "Okay, I may have added that part, but the rest was true. Frankly, it started getting annoying, but I thought it was cute," he reaches over to pinch Harvey's cheek, laughing when his brother swats him away.
"Okay, where's everyone else? That way?" Marcus stops his brother with a hand to his chest, his smile fading slightly.
"Uh, before you go anywhere, you should know Bobby's here."
Donna glances at Harvey on reflex, her face contorting to one of worry, watching how his hands fist at his sides before relaxing again. She's standing next to him in a flash, leaving her bags by the door, "Harvey…"
"I'm okay," he reassures her with a smile before looking at his brother, "it's- it's fine, it'll be fine."
"It better be, man. Everyone should be in the kitchen, except the kids who are upstairs, but they've been looking forward to seeing their uncle and grandma on Christmas, so just behave."
Harvey tilts his head at his brother, watching him giving him a look in warning, "I'll be fine, and low blow, by the way, using those two against me."
Marcus smirks, turning to Donna, "Harvey's got a soft spot for kids, or at least mine. I've been nagging on him for years, asking when he's going to make me an uncle already," he claps his brother on the back, missing the way Donna's eyes widen at the words.
"So, uh," Harvey clears his throat, "where'd you say everyone was?"
Marcus chuckles, watching his brother squirming. "They're in the kitchen, why don't you two head on over there, mom's baking something with Katie, I think, and everyone else should be in the family room. I'll go take your stuff upstairs to the guest room while you go say hi to everyone." Marcus closes the door, taking hold of their suitcases and starts to head in the direction of the stairs when he pauses next to Harvey, "Play nice."
Harvey rolls his eyes at his brother's retreating form and turns back to Donna, his brows furrowing when he notices her smirking, "What?"
"So you talked about me?"
His face drops, "I, well- I had to, he asked if I was bringing anyone, so yeah, I talked about you. Told him who you were…"
"You're blushing," she peeks her tongue out at him, her eyes gleaming with amusement.
"Am not," he quickly defends.
"Oh, fifty different shades of red, my friend. Suits you, actually." Harvey shakes his head, turning to walk in the direction of the kitchen, just past the staircase directly in eye sight from the foyer, "Hey, whoa there, mister. What do you think you're doing?"
"I'm- going to say hi to everyone."
Donna merely shakes her head, hands on her hips in disappointment, "What now?" He sighs.
"You're really going to march in there without your girlfriend right by your side?"
"What the hell are you talking about?"
"I'm talking about playing the part, Harvey," she chides in a whisper, taking hold of his hand, "If you're not putting in the effort, then we might as just leave now because you already suck as a fake boyfriend."
Harvey rolls his eyes, "Fine, but I draw the line at cuddling in front of my family. And pet names. And-"
"Just go," instead of waiting for him to lead the way, however, Donna grabs hold of his hand tighter, ignoring the sudden sparks she feels at his touch alone, and marches her way toward the kitchen.
"You could loosen your grip, you know?" He whispers against her ear, letting out a low squeal in surprise when she pinches his side in retaliation.
"Shut up and pretend you're actually excited to be here," she hisses through a plastered grin, the two of them finally stepping into the large white kitchen. Two pairs of eyes immediately shoot up, their eyes landing on the new guests.
"Harvey!" A woman Donna quickly identifies to be his mother drops the spatula she was holding, plastering on a grin as she rushes to stand in front of him. She hesitates for a moment before leaning to wrap her arms around him, sighing when her son hugs back.
"Hi, mom," he greets quietly. Donna smiles at the exchange, her chest warming at the sight alone.
"Oh, it's so good to see you and, oh, you must be Donna," the redhead widens her eyes when the older woman turns to her suddenly, gathering her in her arms, and she shares a look with a slightly amused Harvey.
"It's nice to finally meet you, Lily," Donna warmly greets.
"And I should say the same thing. The smallest feather could've knocked me over when Marcus told me Harvey was coming, but then to learn he was bringing a girl home for Christmas, well, I think that was a surprise for everyone," she laughs.
"I certainly couldn't believe it," a petite brunette around Marcus' age rounds the large kitchen island, stepping to give Harvey a hug.
"Hey, Katie," Harvey smiles, hugging his sister-in-law, "I want you to meet Donna, Donna this is Katie, Marcus' better half."
"I heard that," his younger brother retorts, walking into the kitchen to slap his brother on the back before heading to the counter.
"Don't you dare pick up a cookie," his wife scolds, turning back to Donna with a smile, "I swear, he's worse than the kids sometimes," she rolls her eyes before extending her hand to Donna.
"Now who's whipped," Harvey mutters when he saunters up to his brother, smirking at him when he pops a cookie into his own mouth.
"I swear, it's like no time has passed. You two still acting like children," Lily shakes her head, smiling at the sudden memories that filter through her mind. The room grows quiet then, the adults exchanging awkward glances.
Donna decides to break the ice, noticing Harvey's sudden change in demeanor, "Uh, it's great to finally meet you, Katie. You have a beautiful home."
"Thank you, we bought it after Jack was born, we needed the space," the brunette walks over to the fridge to take out a bottle of white, "Wine?"
"Yeah, that'd be great, thank you," Donna accepts the glass when Katie walks back over, a smirk rising to her lips at Harvey's own exchange with his brother.
"Why didn't you ask me if I wanted a drink?"
Marcus rolls his eyes, opening up the fridge and grabbing two beers, "Here, I don't have any of that fancy crap you drink, so."
"See what I had to deal with?" Harvey turns to Donna, walking over to rest his hand on the small of her back. She nearly jumps at his touch, willing her heart rate to go down when his thumb starts a slow caress. It's just an act, she reminds herself.
"So, tell me, Donna, how long have you been seeing my son?" Lily asks after a beat, returning her attention to the cookies on the cooling rack.
Harvey exchanges a look with Donna, trying to decide who will take reign on the question. Donna takes initiative then, knowing Harvey would be likely to freeze. "Oh, uh, just under five months now," she looks up at her boyfriend, giving him a dreamy smile to keep up pretense.
"Five months?" Katie blurts out, stopping in her tracks before she went to help Lily. "It took Marcus, what? A whole year before he brought me home for the holidays?"
"Oh, well, we've known each other for twelve years, already, so," Harvey quickly explains, taking a swing of his beer.
"Yeah, Harvey told me these two go way back. Donna here even knew dad," Marcus explains to his wife, "What I don't get is, what the hell took you so long to ask her out?"
Harvey sends his brother a death glare, first for the mention of his father in front of their mother, and for asking a question he really didn't want to answer. He feels Donna's hands on his own back then, her slow caress bringing him back to earth and he glances down to see her giving him a look that calms his senses.
"Oh, yes, tell us everything. How did you guys meet?" Katie pleads, a too excited gleam in her eyes.
"And exactly how did my brother manage to sweep you off your feet because this, I gotta know," Marcus smirks, leaning against the counter.
Harvey internally groans, trying to mentally line up the answers to their questions.
"Hey, Lily, have you seen my- oh, Harvey."
Harvey's jaw clenches at the sight of his mother's husband entering the room, his right hand gripping his beer just a little tighter. He feels Donna squeezing his side ever so gently, the touch alone making him loosen up his hold. He wanes out a small smile then, placing his beer down on the counter just long enough to shake the older man's hand. "Bobby," he simply states.
"Harvey, wow, it's great to see you, oh, and who's this?" Bobby inquires, turning his attention to the redhead next to his stepson.
"I'm Donna," she greets him with her own handshake, "I'm Harvey's… girlfriend."
"Oh, well it's very nice to meet you."
"Harvey here was just about to tell us how they met," Lily excitedly points out, trying to move past the awkwardness that grew in the room.
The lawyer clears his throat, silently wishing the earth could swallow him whole in that moment, "Oh, well, it's not that interesting, we uh, well you see, she-"
"We worked at the DA's office together," Donna steps in, giving Harvey a subtle glare, diluted by the grin she wore for the sake of his family, "I was his secretary there, and then we moved on to what is now Pearson Specter Litt," she explains simply, leaving out all the gory details of them meeting at a bar, Harvey flirting with her, the other time….
"So, you guys have worked together for over a decade, and you only just got together? Bro, what gives?"
"Marcus, don't pry," their mother berates, "Though, I am curious, how did the two of you start a relationship? You clearly have a history. Oh, I bet it was romantic," Lily gushes.
"Oh, yeah, Harvey is the epitome of Mr. Romantic," Donna teases, biting back the laugh that bubbles up when Harvey sends her a horrifying look.
"Well, come on, share with the class," Marcus smirks behind his beer.
Harvey shifts in his spot, suddenly feeling like he was under a microscope and he silently curses his secretary and himself for getting them into this situation in the first place, "Oh, well, I just- I asked her out to dinner."
"That's it?" Katie frowns.
"No, well, see, it was our anniversary, for uh, for the time she went to work with me at the firm," Harvey tries to recover, glancing down at Donna who was looking on in intrigue, "And well, we always have this tradition where we go to this restaurant, but uh, this time I brought her her favorite flowers, and then I surprised her with tickets to see her favorite play. Donna's an actress, or well she was, I mean, she sometimes still does plays-"
"Harvey," Donna presses, willing him to move along.
"Right, well, so I surprised her to see her favorite play, and well, I don't really care for Shakespeare, but I care about her, so," Harvey shrugs, looking down to see her face softening at his words, "So then, after the play, I suggested we walk around the park for a bit, but then it started to rain, so we rushed to hail a cab, but it was impossible to get one at that time of night, so we just huddled under this little porch outside a store, and uh, I kissed her, and that was that."
The room is bathed in a moment of silence, not quite awkward, but heavy after Harvey's description of their supposed first date.
"Oh my goodness, that sounds beautiful. Oh, it must've been romantic, right, Donna?" Lily exclaims, a proud gleam in her eyes as she glances from her son to Donna.
"Huh? Oh," Donna clears her throat, trying to shake herself out of the haze in that moment. Her eyes were still on Harvey, her heart pounding having had to hang on to every word he spoke, "Yeah, it was… very romantic," she finishes softly, mustering up all the energy she could to give the older woman a beaming smile.
"So, I guess getting down on one knee is just right around the corner, isn't it?" Marcus playfully suggests. Harvey nearly chokes on his beer at his brother's words, a slight coughing fit following suit.
"You okay?" Donna bites back a laugh, patting Harvey's back to help ease his sputtering.
"Peachy," he retorts, his eyes sending daggers to Marcus before returning to Donna, "And don't even say it."
"I wasn't going to say anything," she hangs up her left hand in defense, an I told you so, on the tip of her tongue.
"You know, enough about me and my… romantic life, Katie, how are your parents?" Harvey deflects, willing the tightness in his chest to ease.
Katie chuckles, noticing the discomfort in her brother-in-law's eyes, "They're in the family room. I think dad fell asleep watching It's a Wonderful Life."
"Oh, well still, we should probably go say hi," he takes Donna's hand in his then, but before he could drag her out of the kitchen and into the family room, his brother's voice is halting their steps.
"Ah, not so fast, big brother, you two may want to look up before you go anywhere."
"What the hell are you- oh," Harvey swallows when his eyes look up, glancing down to mirror Donna's own stunned expression, "Marcus," he growls.
"What? It's tradition, and I don't see what the big deal is, she's your girlfriend. And don't tell me it's the PDA thing, he certainly didn't mind flaunting his girlfriends in high school," he whispers the last part to Donna.
"You really in the mood for sharing high school memories? Because I remember one time when you-"
"Okay okay, fine, geez. But this isn't about me, this is about you under a mistletoe with your girlfriend. What's the big deal?" Marcus shrugs, swinging back the beer in his hand, his lips curling with mischief.
"Come on, Harvey, don't be shy. It is tradition," his mother encourages, her own lips set in an anticipatory grin.
Harvey sighs, that uncomfortable feeling rising ten-fold when four sets of eyes train on him and his girlfriend, waiting for them to kiss. His eyes trail back up to the little twig hanging above them, and he swallows thickly before daring to look back down at the redhead next to him.
"It's okay," she whispers, and he knows it was more for his benefit, coming from Donna, the friend not fake girlfriend, letting him know he had her permission.
"You sure?" He mumbles next to her, searching her eyes for any reservations.
Donna smirks, setting their drinks on top of the counter before facing him again, displaying her best acting skills, "Come on, Specter, stop hesitating and just go for it. It's not like you haven't done so before."
Harvey shifts in his spot, turning to fully face her before clenching and unclenching his hands, feeling them clamming up, "Okay," he whispers. He hesitates for one moment before he leans down, giving a quick peck to her lips before pulling back again, turning to his brother, "Happy?"
"Man, that was pathetic, are you sure this is the same romantic guy you keep talking about?" Marcus asks Donna.
"I'm with Marcus on this one, son, don't be shy, give her a real kiss," his mother gently nudges.
Harvey mentally curses the universe for putting him in that position, his jaw clenching as he glances from one expectant gaze to another, "This is ridiculous," he mumbles under his breath, mustering up every ounce of courage before he's cupping Donna's cheek in his hand, slanting his lips over hers, eliciting her own squeal of surprise. She freezes at the contact, her eyebrows raised for a moment before she relaxes into him, into the kiss. Before her hands could come up to hold onto his arms, he's pulling back. Her mouth is agape, eyes half hooded as she gazes up at him, a mere two inches taller than her despite her boots. Donna swallows, watching Harvey's eyes blinking back the surprise of his own move.
"See, now that was a kiss," comes Marcus' smug grin, lifting his beer bottle at the pair in salute. Before Harvey can counter back, however, he hears the familiar twin yelps of his brother's kids.
"Uncle Harvey!" The two small feet hurdle into him in a flash, and he's meeting them half way when he crouches down to greet them in a hug.
"Hey, you two," Harvey grins, his voice slightly out of breath.
"You came!" The little boy exclaims, clutching onto his uncle tighter before letting go.
Harvey chuckles, "Of course I came, I had to see my favorite little Specters," he ruffles their hair playfully, evoking twin giggles.
"Who's that?" The girl asks as soon as Harvey stands, shifting in reflex next to Donna.
"Oh, this is Donna," Harvey replies, hesitating just a second before placing his hand on its earlier spot on her lower back. He feels her stiffening at the contact before relaxing once more, her eyes solely trained on the kids in front of them.
"Hey, you two, it's great to finally meet you," she grins, trying to ignore the tingling she still felt on her lips.
"Are you uncle Harvey's girlfriend?" The young girl tilts her head, her brown curls falling to the side.
Donna chuckles, the noise coming out more nervous than intended, "Uh, yeah," she sends Harvey a look before glancing back down, "I am. And you must be Hailey and Jack. You know, your uncle here couldn't stop raving about you on the way over here."
Hailey's blue eyes widen, "Really?"
"Oh, yeah, he couldn't wait to get here to play with you two," she bumps her elbow against Harvey, sending him a cheeky grin that only grows when he sends her a warning look.
"Oh, you have to help us build a snowman then!" Jack exclaims.
"Yes!" Hailey excitedly agrees, "You too aunt Donna, come on," her little hands grab onto the two surprised adults, stopping short when her father's voice interrupts her.
"Hold it there, little missy, let uncle Harvey and… aunt Donna get settled in their room before you two drag them out in the tundra. They just got here, and Harvey here can't afford to get his nice slacks dirty," Marcus chuckles.
"Fine," Hailey huffs at the same time her younger brother pouts.
"Five minutes here and you're already being summoned by my kids," Katie laughs, grabbing a couple of containers to help Lily place the cookies inside.
"Okay, you two, why don't you go start the snowman building process while I take Harvey and Donna to their room?" Twins sighs follow suit at their father's suggestion, their little bodies walking toward the door to put on their coats and boots.
"Don't take too long!" Jack's voice carries over, eliciting laughs from the adults. Marcus leads Donna and Harvey down the corridor and up the stairs then, the younger Specter explaining their plans for the following day, "It's not going to be anything major, just a Christmas Eve dinner with us, and Katie's sisters may swing by with their families as well," they reach the top of the stairs where Harvey and Donna silently follow Marcus until he reaches a door at the end of the hall. Marcus pauses just before opening it, "I know it's not ritzy like you, but it does have its own bathroom, so."
"It'll do just fine," Harvey retorts, his face falling as soon as they enter and he sees the single queen sized bed in the middle of the room, "Uh, one bed?"
Marcus sends him a quizzical look at the same time Donna pinches his side, making him send her a glare in question, "Uh dude, it's fine, this isn't Amish country, we all know you're not leading a celibate life," he claps his brother's back, "I'm gonna wait for you guys outside. Good luck."
"Thanks," Harvey mumbles.
"I was talking to Donna," Marcus smirks, closing the door behind him.
Harvey rolls his eyes, taking off his coat and setting it on a chair near the bed. When he goes to reach for his suit case, he stops short when he sees Donna standing before him, arms crossed and sending him a heightened version of a death glare, "What?"
"'One bed?'"
Harvey sighs, "Slip of the tongue."
"Or Freudian slip."
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" He straightens, taking a step toward her.
"It means you've been groaning and sighing and sending me looks ever since we got here," Donna rants.
"Yeah, well, I don't know what you want me to do when my family has a microscope over us, prying into our lives." He grumbles.
"Precisely that, Harvey. You keep up this- half-assed attitude and we're not going to convince them we're together."
"They bought my story about our… first date, and we kissed, what more do you want?" He seethes, throwing his hands up as agitation starts eating at him.
"For one, lower your voice unless you really want them to find out this is all a lie," she watches him deflating before continuing, "And you can suck it up and maybe pretend that being with me isn't such work for you."
"I don't know what the hell it is you want me to say, I let you hold my hand, I kissed you under that goddamn mistletoe I bet my brother strategically placed just to mess with me, and I've been buying into everything we planned to tell them before we got here."
Donna stays silent for a while, momentarily wondering if she shouldn't have gotten so riled up. He had kissed her, twice. But he wasn't putting in as much effort as she was, and frankly it was starting to sting. "Listen," she starts slowly, "I know being here, with your family, your mom… Bobby," she watches him clenching his jaw at the older man's name, "is probably setting you on edge, I get that, but need I remind you that you roped me into this in the first place? That this was your idea, so maybe start acting like you want to be here, otherwise I'll find my own damn way back home."
"I didn't force you into anything. I asked you, you could've said no."
"Well, I didn't!"
"And why the hell not then? If you're so hell bound over this, why didn't you just tell me 'sorry, Harvey, I can't' and that would've been that?"
"Because you're my friend!" She bellows, making him double back in surprise at her outburst, "you're my friend and you needed a favor, so now I'm here. And all I'm asking is that you don't make me do all the goddamn work." Harvey scoffs at her words, "What?"
"'Harvey here is Mr. Romantic'," he mocks, "you set me up to explain a date that never happened with the added pressure of it being romantic. You keep saying I'm letting you do all the work, but you keep putting me on the spot."
"Fine, you know what? I'll shut my mouth from now on, let you take the lead or whatever. Hold my hand, don't hold my hand, I don't give a shit. But I'm just reminding you that this was your idea, so either get it together, or let them figure out that I'm just your secretary and that's it," with her heated words hanging in the air, Donna grabs her bag and enters the ensuite in the bedroom, slamming the door shut.
"Donna," but her name is a meek reply as it falls from his lips, a sigh following suit as he stares at the closed door before him. What the hell just happened?
…
Hope to hear your thoughts :)