Chapter One, Day One:

The look her gives her could not come at a better time. She's run ragged. The day before she had been packing up her apartment in Miami and spending half the day flying to New York City. Today, she ran up and down Manhattan helping her sister with last minute wedding arrangements. Her feet are killing her. Her knees are on fire. She wants out of her jeans and boots and bra. She wants her hair off her neck. But she keeps going because she needs to see him.

She finds his face on the other side of a thick glass door, frowning at a table covered in papers. His eyebrows nearly meet in the middle and his teeth are gritted. Occasionally, he runs his tongue along his lower lip. He sets a sheet of paper down and begins to read another, rubbing his palms together as he does so.

Turning another page, he glances up. On the double take he meets her eyes. Where there had been tension before, his face goes a little slack. His eyes are wide, relieving the lines that surround them. His lips are parted, his hands rest on the edge of the glass table. But he holds her eyes for a good ten, fifteen seconds, with the most intense, deep expression of surprise she's ever seen.

He blinks and stares at her again. A smile spreads slowly across her lips as she realizes he isn't sure he can actually see her. Grinning now, she waves. Understanding dawns on his face and one corner of his mouth lifts into a smirk. It's the most twisted kind of happy she's ever seen. Tossing her head back in laughter, she starts forward and swings the door open.

"What the hell are you doing here? I wasn't expecting you until tomorrow," he says, standing and opening his arms to hug her. She laughs again, throwing her arms around his neck. He lifts her into the air, spinning her in a circle before depositing her back on the floor.

The sweetest smile is stretched from ear to ear on her face. He hasn't seen that smile in nearly six months. Her dark blond hair is long, spilling over her shoulders and into her face. Her skin is a deep bronze, the freckles across her nose and cheeks more pronounced than ever. He doesn't even know what to say, so he hugs her again. She laughs against his shoulder, wrapping her arms tight around his waist.

"I got my flight switched," she murmurs, laying her palms on his upper back. "Actually, I got here yesterday but I couldn't get up to see you until today."

"What?"She laughs, pulling away.

"I know, I'm sorry. But I wanted to see you in person, first, and I was so busy today, I just couldn't work it out. I'm sorry, I know, Harvey," she says, seeing the look of incredulity and devastation on his handsome face. "But seriously, how much better was this than a text?" He laughs, the grin returning to his lips.

"Okay, that's true." He shakes his head, bending his arm around her neck and pulling her back in.

"Jesus, Danni," he murmurs, kissing the top of her head. "I thought I saw a fucking ghost out there." She shakes with laughter, nodding.

"I know," she chokes, looking up at him.

"You scared the hell out of me for a second there."

"I know." Her green eyes are sparkling, dancing with the kind of happiness she only derives from knowing something Harvey doesn't. He cocks and eyebrow, taking a small step away from her. She can see he's onto her, that he's figured something out. The only person she knows that can read people like she can is Harvey.

"What's going on…?" Danni grins, smoothing his tie with the palm of her hand.

"I can't get anything by you, can I?" He gives her a stern look.

"No. Now spill."

"I may or may not be moving back to New York after this week, like officially." Silence follows her words. She looks up, licking her lips. The look in his eyes now could almost dethrone the way he looked at her when she first showed up. There's a deep kind of happiness that she only has the pleasure of seeing occasionally.

"Are you serious?" She nods.

"I was offered a coaching job, at a public high school in Tribeca. I wasn't sure I wanted to do it but Miami was really grinding my nerves and the second I landed here I made up my mind." Harvey smiles. The pride on his face makes her happier than almost anything else has.

"That's incredible, Danni. Really." She gives a humble kind of smile.

"Thank you."

"Danni?" She turns around.

"Donna!" Grinning, she throws her arms around Harvey's secretary. Donna hugs her tightly, smiling at Harvey over her shoulder.

"What are you doing here?"

"Harvey didn't tell you? My sister's getting married this weekend. He's supposed to be coming to the wedding with me," she adds, throwing him a glance. Donna smirks.

"Harvey at a wedding?" she asks, eyebrows raised.

"Why is that so surprising? I've been to weddings. I was my brother's best man."

"Wanna know the best news?" Danni asks, ignoring him. "I'm moving back here." Donna's eyes widen.

"Really?" She nods.

"Yep. I was offered a coaching job and I'm gonna take it."

"That's great! Is it a done deal or-?"

"No, not yet, but I do know that I'm their first choice, all I have to do is agree, so it should be a done deal pretty soon." She smirks. "'Cause I mean, who wouldn't want me as their first choice?" Donna's eyes widen slightly as she looks from one of them to the other.

"Okay, well, there is way too much ego in here for me, so I think that's my cue." Danni laughs. "I came in here first because Mike is asking for you, if you have a minute," Donna says, pointing to the guy standing out by her desk. "Should I-?" Harvey nods.

"Send him in." She nods, turning to Danni.

"It was great to see you, hun. I'm glad your back. Don't tell anyone," she says in an exaggerated whisper, "but Harvey's been a real mess without you." Danni laughs and Harvey makes a disbelieving noise from the other side of the room.

"Oh, I can only imagine. Good thing I came back when I did. Someone needs to be here to hold him together." She turns to grin at him and he merely rolls his eyes. "It was great to see you, too. We should get lunch soon and catch up." Donna nods.

"Definitely."

"Do I need to go? We can talk later if you're busy." He nods slowly as Mike opens the door behind her.

"Yeah, I have a lot of work to finish tonight. What are you doing the rest of the night?" She shrugs.

"No plans. I'm staying at Jessie's but I could hang around down here until you're done. Swing by your place later?" He nods, gesturing for Mike to take a seat on the couch.

"Sounds good. I'll call you when I finish." She smiles and steps forward to kiss his cheek, giving him a brief hug.

"Great. See you later." She offers Mike a smile as she turns to leave. He nods, throwing Harvey a look as he sits back down in his chair.

"You got a girlfriend you didn't tell me about?" Harvey cuts his eyes at him.

"Danni's not my girlfriend," he snaps. "I've known her for a long time and she's been out of town for a while." Mike nods, his hands in the air in front of his chest.

"Sorry I asked." Harvey sighs and shakes his head, his gaze wandering through the glass door. Christ. How the hell am I supposed to concentrate now?

"She's pretty. She seeing anyone?"

"Oh, because you need one more woman causing you problems." Mike immediately shuts up and Harvey smiles, feeling a little more focused.

"What did you need?"


"Look, Dan, I don't mind doing this with you but you have to promise me you're not going to get all jealous and start freaking out about how you need to get married." Danni laughs, her eyes on his as she sips her wine. She likes the way he's looking at her now, through heavy, tired eyes, with an exhausted but ever present smirk.

"Don't worry, I won't. I'm thrilled for my sister but I wouldn't wanna be in her position right now." Harvey smiles, turning his head to meet her eyes.

"Good to hear." She rolls her eyes, grinning.

"It's gonna be fun, Harvey, I promise. I'm really glad you're coming with me."

"You'd better be. You owe me, Danni."

"Oh, I do not. Jessie invited you and I didn't exactly have to beg you to accept." He laughs. She readjusts her legs over his lap and lays the side of her head on the back of the couch. Harvey meets her eyes, briefly brushing his hand over her knee.

"You're wearing your necklace." She smiles, reaching up to take the rock crystal star between her thumb and forefinger. It was a Christmas present from Harvey years ago.

"I always wear it." He smirks. That smirk of his-that perfect, teasing half smile-makes her want to slap him most of the time. It's usually followed by some kind of smart comment, which usually also makes her want to hit him.

"I know. I just like pointing it out." She rolls her eyes again and he laughs.

"I think I'm mostly just excited to wear the dress Jessie picked out for me," she says, tipping her wine glass to her lips. "It's bright pink, but it's gorgeous."

"You look good in pink. And this purple," he adds, tugging on the sleeve over her large sweater. Danni smiles.

"Thanks. You're sweet. I picked this up like a week ago, to bring up here, 'cause at the time I didn't think I was staying but I haven't been able to take it off." Harvey nods.

"I like it. Just…do me a favor?" She raises her eyebrows. "Next time you come to the office, could you do it in a shirt you're not busting out of? I do have to work with those guys, you know." She laughs loudly, tossing back her head and leaning so far she nearly falls over.

"Yeah, I'm sorry," she chokes, trying to recover. "This shirt is kind of small, isn't it." He glances at the cream colored Henley stretched across her chest.

"Yeah. Kind of." She smiles.

"Sorry. I have to switch back to New York fashion now. I've been living in the land of short and tight for a year." Harvey just looks at her and she laughs. "I'm really happy to be back, though. I missed it."

"I missed you." She reaches up to brush her fingers through the back of his hair.

"I missed you, too." She covers a yawn with her hand and Harvey's eyes wander across the room. Danni watches him for a minute, carefully studying his features. He looks tired. The lines around his eyes look a little bit deeper. She continues to work her fingers through his hair, pulling it loose. If she had to choose, she'd prefer he not slick it back, but she's always liked the contrast between this look and his relaxed, natural hair, and contrast calls for both styles.

"So you've really got a coaching job, huh?" he asks, turning to look at her after a long pause. She smiles softly, and he can see the excitement in her eyes.

"Yeah. A good one. Their Spanish teacher isn't leaving until the end of the school year, so I won't start teaching until next fall, but tryouts start in November."

"That's really great, Danni. You're gonna be great."

"You think so? I'm kind of nervous. All I have is that one year coaching rec league and that was like, ten years ago." Harvey smiles.

"You'll be fine. That team almost won the championship, did it not?" A small, humble kind of smile spreads across her lips.

"Yeah."

"See? You'll be great." She grins.

"Thanks. I've gotta go play some, between now and tryouts. It's been a while." Harvey laughs.

"Like you need practice." She shrugs.

"You never know. You should come play with me one day." She starts to laugh as his expression becomes hesitant. "Oh, come on, I'm pretty rusty. I might not beat you too badly."

"I didn't say you were gonna beat me."

"You didn't, but precedent does." He shoots her a rather dark look and she merely smiles. On the surface, her ability to brutally beat him at basketball is probably the only sore spot in their relationship, but she knows better.

"Let me know when you're gonna go play and I'll come with you. You could use the competition." She laughs.

"Yes, I most certainly could." She yawns again. "God, I'm tired. This damn wedding is gonna kill me, Harvey. And it's not even my wedding."

"Doesn't she have a wedding planner?" Danni rolls her eyes.

"Yes, but she hates her, so I get to do all the work anyway. And Jessie's being a control freak about it all. I think I'm gonna elope when I get married. If I get married. It seems so much easier." Harvey laughs.

"Sounds like a good idea to me." She finishes her wine and yawns again.

"What time is it?"

"Eleven-thirty."

"Mm, I should go. I have to be up bright and early for Jessie's last dress fitting," she says with an eye roll, swinging her legs over his lap.

"Are you staying with her?" She nods, standing up.

"Yeah. I'm gonna start looking for my own place as soon as possible, though, because she's moving out after the honeymoon and the lease on her apartment will be up."

"That's not a lot of time." She shrugs.

"I'll find something."

"You can stay here if you need to." She smiles.

"Thanks. I'll keep that in mind. I might see if I can get something down this way, if I can afford it. I like this area, but we'll see. Okay, I will see you sometime this week, if I have time to stop by," she says, turning to him.

"Well let me walk you out. You just gonna get a cab?" She nods, taking her phone from the table and heading for the door where her shoes are waiting.

They walk down in silence. When a cab pulls up in front of them, Danni turns to Harvey, takes his hands in hers, and smiles. Being here again feels so good. She was really beginning to miss him the last month or so. It's nice just to see his face again.

"It's really great to be back," she says. "I really missed you. If I have time this week, I'll come hang out again."

"Don't kill yourself. I'll see you Saturday." She smiles as he kisses her forehead.

"I know."

"Let me know you made it back?" She nods, wrapping her arms briefly around his waist.

"Of course. Good night." He smiles.

"Good night." He watches her get in the cab and she waves as it pulls away. His eyes follow the car until he can't see it anymore and he lets out a long breath. It's like she never left. No matter how long she's gone, they always manage to pick up exactly where they left off. Harvey smiles to himself a little as he starts back inside. Finally, someone to bring a little clarity back to his life. Danni's always the one with the stupid joke at the end of a bad day, the fresh perspective he needs when everyone at work is so…boring.

It's not like she didn't try her best via phone, but it wasn't the same as seeing her face. He couldn't even remember the last time they played basketball together. Sure, she was merciless and impossible to beat, but that didn't mean he didn't have a blast trying. He could honestly care less about the wedding. He'd go since she asked, but it was a possible trip to the gym that he was most looking forward to.