A/N: I just discovered Suits over the summer and binge watched the entire series until I caught up to the current episodes. I just fell in love with Mike and Rachel's story, and would have liked to see more of them in the finale. This will cover the moments we didn't see in the summer finale. Hope you enjoy!
When Rachel sees him standing there outside of the prison, a free man once more, her heart swells. It is as if a weight has been lifted, a weight that has been present since they first met. The secret is out now, and she no longer has to worry about him being caught. He pulls her into his arms and in that moment, all is right in her world. When their lips meet, she feels that familiar surge of electricity that she always feels when she is near him, and she smiles into the kiss. He lifts her and spins her around, smiling and laughing the whole time. He kisses her passionately, his arms wrapping around her tightly, and she forgets where she is for a moment. She forgets that Harvey is standing there, watching them, and that they are standing outside of a prison.
When Mike finally pulls away, she notices the faint traces of tears in his eyes, and she realizes she's crying too. She's can't even put into words how happy and relieved she is, and they briefly touch foreheads again before Mike turns to look at Harvey.
"Ready to go?" Harvey questions, and Mike nods. He grips her hand tightly, leading her back to the waiting car. Harvey gets in front with the driver, something he never does, and she knows it's to give them as much privacy as possible within the confines of the car. She and Mike climb in, sitting on opposite sides of the backseat. He reaches for her hand, his thumb tracing random patterns over her skin as they drive. He's joking around with Harvey about movies and music, and she's only half listening as she stares at his face. Realizing she's not nearly close enough to him, she unfastens her seatbelt and slides into the middle seat, her side pressing into his body as she snuggles into him. He smiles and kisses the top of her head as she leans into his shoulder, both of her hands now gripping his. She catches the driver glancing at them and smiling, and she gazes out the window, just wanting to be home. She still hasn't said a word, unable to voice her feelings. She squeezes Mike's hands and he squeezes back, and she knows he's feeling the same way.
After what seems like forever, the car pulls up in front of Mike and Rachel's apartment building, and she, Mike, and Harvey all get out and stand on the sidewalk. She watches as Mike shakes Harvey's hand, thanking him. She gives Harvey a hug, whispering a thank you in his ear as she retreats. Then, taking Mike's hand, she turns and they walk silently into their apartment, her hand still clutching his tightly.
It isn't until the door closes behind them and she hears the sound of the lock clicking into place that she allows herself to feel. These past few months with him in prison she felt like she was living in a state of suspended animation, just going through the motions of her day without feeling. Working on Leonard Bailey's case was the only thing keeping her going in Mike's absence, and now that he's here standing in front of her, it's almost too much for her to handle. The tears begin to flow now steadily down her cheeks as she reaches for him. He closes the space between them and presses his lips to hers, urgently now that they don't have Harvey as an audience.
"I missed you so much," he breathes into her ear between kisses, and she cups his face in her hands, looking up at him through teary eyes.
"I don't even have the words," she replies, and he nods his understanding as he kisses her once more, his tongue delving into her mouth. She pours every feeling she has into that kiss, and he backs her up, pressing her into the entryway of their apartment. Her hands slide to his shoulders, removing the tuxedo jacket that he was supposed to become her husband in, and it falls to the floor in a resounding heap. She removes his white shirt as he unzips her skirt. She pauses and in her surprise looks up at him, because she expected this moment to be frenzied and quick after so long apart, but he is taking his time.
"I love you," he whispers into her skin as they stand there in nothing but their underwear, and she runs her hands down the planes of his chest. He closes his eyes briefly as if to savor the moment, and pulls her to him, crashing his lips against hers as he lifts her and she wraps her legs around his waist. "God, Rachel," he moans at the feeling of her skin against his, "I want you so much. I just, I feel…" he says before he is cut off by her kiss.
"Then show me," she replies breathily as their eyes lock. He lowers her to the bed and they quickly remove the rest of their clothing. He takes his time reacquainting himself with her body, kissing her and caressing her everywhere he can reach, and it isn't long before she is squirming beneath him, eager to feel all of him.
"Mike, please," she begs, nibbling on the shell of his ear and she hears his breath hitch before he enters her. She wraps her legs around him, pulling him deeper inside of her, filling her with so much emotion that her tears begin to flow again. He pauses in his movements and opens his eyes, his face inches from hers.
"Are you ok? Am I hurting you?" he asks worriedly and she shakes her head.
"I'm fine," she responds, "It's just," her voice cracks with emotion, "I need you so much closer."
He smiles at her, the shine in his eyes almost undetectable in the darkness of their bedroom. He moves off of her and sits on the edge of the bed before reaching for here, "C'mere" he whispers, and she crawls across the mattress to straddle his lap. She lowers herself onto him, and both of them gasp as he fills her. He kisses her deeply, his hands threading through her hair and holding her tightly pressed against him as they begin to move together, their whispered "I love you's" the only thing breaking the silence.
They make love until they are both spent and exhausted, and she drapes her body over his, her head lying on his chest as they try to regain their breaths. He feels the dampness of her tears on his chest and leans up slightly to look at her.
"Hey, hey, what's the matter?" he asks gently, and she sniffs.
"I'm just so happy you're home. I was so worried about you. Every night I would come home and I would just lie awake, looking at your empty side of the bed and wondering what you were doing, and if you were ok, and what you were thinking about."
"You, always you," he replies. He takes a breath, "You know when Harvey first told me that Cahill wanted to make a deal to get me out, I told him no."
She leans up to look at him, her eyes blinking in confusion, "Why?"
"Because I was guilty. I am guilty. And I said that I went to prison to protect Harvey and the firm, and that's true, but I also wanted to be punished for what I've done," he explains. "And I'm out now, and I can't help but feel like…I don't know."
She frowns, cupping his cheek with her hand, "You don't deserve to be in prison. I know you never went to law school, but you helped so many people. You are the best damn lawyer I've ever seen."
He smiles, "Well you have to say that because you love me."
"No, I'm saying that because it's true. And it's the real reason that Harvey, Jessica, and Louis never said anything. And neither did any of the others who knew, because they knew that you were brilliant. The boy wonder."
"Yes but being special doesn't mean that I get to do something illegal and not have to pay the price for it," he counters.
"Don't you think you have already?" she responds. "This lie, this secret has been hanging over your head since the day we met. You've always been afraid. We've always been afraid. And now, everyone knows. You don't have to hide anymore. The day Harvey hired you he saw something unique in you, the same thing that it took me only seconds to see. That what's up here," she points to his head, "And what's in here," she places her hand over his heart, "Is amazing."
He kisses her softly, "I guess I thought I'd have two years to figure everything out," he admits, "And now I'm out and I'm here and I'm so grateful. But I also don't know what to do with the rest of my life."
"Well if you could do anything, what would it be?" she asks him.
"Marry you," he whispers, and soon he's pressing her back into the mattress once more.
Later, they fall asleep wrapped around each other. His restlessness wakes her, and he's mumbling in his sleep. "No," he says, then "No! Don't!" before he abruptly sits up in bed, clearly shaken.
"What is it?" she asks, "Mike, I'm right here," she assures him, taking his hand as he realizes his surroundings. He gazes at her, unmoving for a moment before he glances down at their joined hands.
"I had a nightmare," he explains. "Gallo said he was going to get revenge. On you. And there was nothing I could do to stop it."
"I'm right here," she soothes, stroking his cheek with her free hand.
"I know," he whispers before looking away.
"What is it?" she questions again, knowing there is something he's not telling her.
"He tried to kill me in there," Mike admits. "Twice."
"What?" she is stunned. "But Harvey never, you never…"
"I told Harvey not to tell you," he clarifies, "I didn't want you to worry. Kevin saved me the first time, which was why I resisted informing on him, and then the second time I planned it out myself for Gallo to attack me so that Harvey and I could keep him in prison where he belongs."
"But Mike, what if something had happened to you?" her eyes fill with tears. "What if somehow he gets out and he comes after you?"
"It didn't, and he won't," he replies. She's crying now in earnest. "Rachel," he says, "Shh, it's ok. Look at me, I'm right here. I'm not going anywhere ever again."
She lets his presence soothe her and eventually they fall asleep once more with her draped over his body, wanting to make sure that he couldn't go anywhere even if he tried.
She wakes before him the next morning, and after a minute of watching him sleep, she quietly climbs out of bed, slips into Mike's discarded white dress shirt, and heads into the kitchen to make some coffee. She doesn't want to go into work today but she needs to continue working on Leonard's case. She texts Jessica to let her know she'll be a little late this morning, then sips her coffee as she peruses her laptop and begins work on a paper that is due the following week. She's startled when she hears a knock on the door.
She opens the door to reveal her mother, Laura. "Mom, what are you doing here?" she asks as her mother brushes past her into the apartment.
"I heard that Mike got out," her mother explains, glancing around the apartment before her eyes land on her daughter, giving her a quick once-over. "I see he's already back here," she remarks, gesturing to Rachel's attire.
"Yes he is," Rachel says, narrowing her eyes and crossing her arms over her chest. "Not that it's any of your business."
"Excuse me? I'm your mother," Laura snaps.
"Yes, and you've made it very clear that you don't want Mike in my life," Rachel snaps back.
"Look, your father and I want what's best for you, and we know that a convicted felon isn't what's best. And out of prison or not, he is ruining your life," Laura replies.
Rachel closes her eyes, steeling herself for battle. She looks directly at her mother, "Mike is what's best for me. I love him. He makes me happy. And what would ruin my life is not having him in it."
Laura sighs, frowning at her daughter, "Your father and I are trying to understand. Of course we know what it means to be in love, and we acknowledge your feelings, but we just don't think you've thought this completely through. We don't want you to do anything rash. You mean the world to us."
Rachel blinks at her before taking a breath, "Mom, you know when I first met Mike I knew immediately that he was unlike anyone I'd ever known. He is brilliant, and sweet, and romantic, and kind. He has the purest heart," she turns away from her mother, running her fingers along the mantle. "He's the kind of man who would buy an apartment for his ailing grandmother just to be closer to her. He's handsome, passionate, and incredibly sexy, and we have this amazing connection I can't explain. And when I look at him, I'm home. I see my future. I feel everything. And when we touch…" she trails off.
"That's sweet, honey, but—" Laura begins.
"No but," Rachel interrupts, "That's it."
"You talk about his pure heart. How can you say that about a fraud? A man who was willing to lie to everyone in order to get ahead?" Laura counters.
"It wasn't to get ahead," Rachel corrects, "It was to make something of himself, to help others. And it was the only way he knew how. Not everyone has wealthy parents who can afford to send them to top schools. Not everyone has opportunities handed to them on a silver platter."
Laura shakes her head. "It sounds like you think he's worth whatever risks you have to take to stay with him."
"Mom," Rachel says, her voice softening, "He is. I can't even put into words what it's like to have him home with me now. All I know for sure is, I could search for the rest of my life, and I'm never going to find another man who loves me as much as Mike does. And I'm never going to love anyone else the way I love him. And that's not something I willing to give up, no matter what the risks are."
Laura gives her daughter a hug. "Honey, I just want you to know that we support you. And ultimately all we really want as your parents is your happiness. It's our job to challenge you to always make the right choices. But we also know that the right choices for us are not always the right ones for you. I'll talk to your father. He'll come around."
"Thank you Mom," Rachel says, hugging her mother before walking with her to the door. When the door closes behind her, Rachel turns to see Mike standing in the doorway of their bedroom. "So how much of that did you hear?" she asks him.
"Every word," he answers, his smile not quite reaching his eyes.
"What is it?" she asks.
"I simultaneously love and hate that you know me so well," he replies, pecking her lips and pulling her into a hug. "Rachel you know why we didn't get married before I left. It's for all the reasons your mother just said now. I didn't want to prevent you from achieving your dreams. I don't want to be the reason you aren't with your family."
"What if I told you that you are both my dream and my family?" Rachel replies, trying to pull him in for a kiss but he backs away.
"I'm being serious," he frowns. "Our whole relationship I always felt this guilt, knowing I wasn't good enough for you. Knowing that being with me was a huge risk, and still is. Do you know what it's like to live with that?" He pauses, contemplative, "I almost thought being away from you would give you the fresh start that you deserve," he finally admits.
She flinches, "Are you kidding me? After all this, how can you say that to me?"
"Rachel, you know I love you more than anything. You are my everything. You're my heart. And my being a fraud hurt you, I know that it did. I just don't want to hurt you anymore, even if it means I can't be with you," he turns away from her. "You deserve so much more."
She moves to stand in front of him, forcing him to look at her. "Don't you get it? You once told me that the real nightmare wouldn't be getting caught, it would be if I didn't want to be with you. Don't you know that I feel the same way? That I gave you my whole heart? That you are the love of my life? My future that you keep saying you're taking from me…Mike…the only way you're going to take it from me is if you aren't with me to share it."
He kisses her softly, the familiar sparkle returning to his bright blue eyes. "You really think I'm incredibly sexy, huh?" he teases.
"You know I do," she smiles back, wrapping her arms around his waist. "Now can we stop this circular argument about who doesn't deserve who more once and for all? I love you. I want to marry you. And I don't care about anything else."
"Ditto," he whispers, pressing his lips to hers before scooping her up and carrying her back to the bedroom. "You look amazing in my clothes," he says, kissing a path from her neck to her collarbone. She shivers at his touch, and pulls away slightly to look him in the eyes. "Mike," she whispers, "I mean it. When we touch…it's…electric. Don't you feel it? I've never felt that with anyone else."
"Do you really mean that?" he questions, a flash of pain crossing his handsome features. She pulls back more to study his face.
"Of course I do, who else could I have…" she trails off, understanding his train of thought.
"Logan," he says, not meeting her gaze.
"Logan," she acknowledges quietly, tilting his head up and forcing him to look at her. "Mike, you know I believed I had chemistry with Logan, that I pursued him because I thought it was love at the time. But I knew that I didn't want to marry him. He would always look down on me because as he put it I was 'just a paralegal'. He didn't have your heart. We didn't connect the way you and I do."
"Do you know why I was so mad when you kissed him?" Mike says after a moment. She studies him, unmoving, "Because I was afraid that you thought he was better for you than me. He was handsome, and rich, and legitimate. He didn't have this horrible, looming secret following him everywhere he went. He was uncomplicated. And I was afraid because a part of me knew that he would be better for you than me."
She moves away from him and stands at their bedroom window, gazing out into the city. "You never told me that before."
"I never understood it before," he admits. "When you first told me I was jealous, of course. I couldn't stand the thought of you being with another man. I just kept picturing it in my head over and over again. But then I realized it wasn't even just about that. Being in prison gives you a lot of chance for self-reflection. Hours upon hours alone with only your thoughts to keep you company."
"I'd be lying if I said I never thought of it before. Like when I had to choose between Columbia or Stanford. Or when I realized I wouldn't be getting my dream wedding. Or yes, when Logan was clearly after me I had moments where I had doubts. But I'm only human," she turns to face him.
"I never had doubts about you," he responds, sitting on the edge of their bed. "Even when you kissed Logan, I blamed me."
"Don't," she tells him. "It's all over now."
"But what if it isn't?" he wonders.
She takes a deep breath and places her hands on his shoulders. "Mike," she begins, "You are and will always be the man I choose." She straddles his lap, cupping his face in her hands and pulling him in for a passionate kiss. "Do you feel this?" she asks him, her voice breathy with desire.
"God, yes," he moans into her mouth, his hands sliding up under her shirt onto her bare back.
She places his hand on her breast, "Do you feel that?" she asks as she arches into his touch. He looks at her in amazement, his eyes clouded with lust.
He buries his face in her neck, trailing wet kisses in his path. "I love you so much," he breathes. He stills her movement, placing his hands on either side of her face and looks into her eyes. "Will you still marry me?"
"Yes of course!" she tells him, before attaching her lips to his once more.
"Good, because we are never leaving this bed again," he grins, flipping her onto her back and covering her body with his own.
She taps him playfully on the tip of his nose with her index finger, "Now enough of this self-doubt. I am in love with you. I want only you. All of that is in the past now. No more secrets or lies or doubts. Now get over here," she smiles brightly, and he kisses her passionately.
He pulls away, his eyes twinkling mischievously. "I saw something in a movie, and we're trying it!"
"What movie?" she starts to ask, but soon the apartment is filled with the sounds of her laughter as he disappears under the comforter.
She never makes it into work that day, finally content to be reunited with the man she loves.