Hi everyone. I wrote this second chapter ages ago of what was originally a one-shot, but hadn't had time to type it up (yes, I still hand write everything first). I still think my writing of angsty chapters is better, but when I thought of this chapter I had to write it. I'd love to hear what you think.

...

Chapter Two

Harvey unlocked the door to the apartment and held it open for Donna, who stepped inside, her arms cradling their sleeping daughter, bundled up against the snowy New York weather. After a couple of days in the hospital, she was glad to be home.

Harvey took a moment to simply take in the sight before him. He still sometimes couldn't quite believe how much his life had changed. The days when this apartment was just his seemed so long ago.

Donna wandered through to their bedroom and placed a sleeping Abigail in the bassinet by their bed. She mewled briefly, as Donna put her down, but didn't wake.

Harvey wrapped his arms around her waist. "Doesn't feel real, does it?" She shook her head in agreement and smiled.

"You hungry?"

"Not really. I might lie down for a while." She proceeded to sit on their bed, swinging her legs up on to it, her back against the backboard. Harvey wordlessly moved to the other side of the bed and made himself comfortable next to her, as she moved closer, allowing herself to lean in to his side, as his arm moved around her. "A nap sounds great actually," he murmured.

"I think naps are about to become our new normal," she replied, her eyes already closing, as she rested her head against Harvey's chest.

…

The piercing cries of a baby woke Donna from what had been a deep sleep. It took her a few moments to register that it wasn't just any baby, but hers. Harvey was suddenly awake too, rubbing his eyes. "Well, we don't need an alarm clock any more."

Swinging her legs over the bed, Donna stood up and leaned over the bassinet. Abigail was very much awake; her cries growing louder with every moment, as her little arms reached up, searching for comfort. The love she felt for this little person still astonished Donna; she already knew she'd do anything for her, as she reached down and lifted her daughter in to her arms. "Come here, sweetie. It's alright."

Settling herself back against the headboard, she gently rocked her, as her eyes met Harvey's. "I think it's meal time."

He smiled, still a little in awe of the fact Donna had brought this new little person in to the world. "I'll go and make some tea," he murmured, as he moved from the bed, pausing by the sliding door to look back at the sight of his wife feeding their child.

When he returned with two mugs of tea, Abigail was feeding peacefully. He placed a mug on the bedside table next to Donna, before sitting back on the bed next to her, where they sat in peaceful silence. Once she'd had their fill, Donna looked to Harvey. "Care to take over, Daddy?"

He grinned and took Abigail from her and once she was starting to close her eyes again some time later, he positioned her in the crook of his arm, gazing down at her; the fact that he helped make her seeming unreal to him. They stayed there side-by-side until Abigail was sleeping before Harvey placed her gently back down in the bassinet.

"You okay?" He caught Donna's questioning look and nodded. "I think it's starting to hit me."

"What? That we're parents? That she is totally dependent on us?"

He could hear the playful tone in her voice and raised an eyebrow. "Very funny." Looking between Donna and his daughter, he perched on the side of the bed. "And I thought running the firm was a big responsibility!"

Donna reached out her hand and ran it up and down his back soothingly, moving herself closer to him. "As if we won't be able to handle this. We can handle anything."

He smiled. They had always been a team. "I can watch her if you want to sleep some more."

Donna considered the offer for a few moments. "I'd actually love a soak in a warm bath. The hospital said it should be fine."

With that, she slipped off the bed, leaving him with a quick kiss, before disappearing in to the bathroom. He smiled, resting his head atop his folded arms, which he'd rested on the side of the bassinet. Abigail was sleeping soundly, not a care in the world. "Just you and me for a little while," he whispered to her, his eyes never leaving her.

…

"Where is she?!"

Louis's overly excited tone the following afternoon when Harvey opened the front door, made him roll his eyes. "Good to see you too Louis."

His friend chuckled. "You know you are now third on the list of importance for residents of your home, don't you Harvey?"

Harvey was too tired to think of a witty comeback, something not lost on the young lawyer who followed Louis inside. "Gee, your brain is already slowing down on the witty retorts, huh? And it's only Day 3!"

Raising his hands in the air, Harvey shook his head. "So much for supportive friends."

Rachel smiled, squeezing his arm as she passed, a sympathetic look on her face. "Welcome to the world of sleep deprivation. The good news is that you get used to it!"

He returned her smile, following them in to the living area of the apartment. Donna was just emerging from the bedroom, the sliding door open just a little between the two spaces. "You didn't bring James?" she asked Rachel, as she greeted her with a big hug.

"No. He's enjoying some quality time with his grandparents. How are you? I couldn't believe it when Louis called us. Certainly an unforgettable New Years!"

Donna chuckled. "It came as quite a surprise to all of us, Rach." She smiled at Rachel's eager expression. "You want to meet her?"

"Yesssss!" Rachel's giddy excitement made Mike laugh, as he kissed Donna on the cheek. "I had to keep her from rushing down to the hospital by reminding her how exhausted she felt after James was born!"

The comment earned him a playful shove from his wife. "Please! You know you're as excited as me!"

Donna laughed and extended her arm to the bedroom. "She's asleep, but feel free." The young couple practically ran in to the other room, much to Donna's amusement.

Harvey walked over to the kitchen to pour some coffee. It was fast becoming his favourite thing and was the main reason he was even still awake. Mike may have a point; this was only day three. He needed to get a grip. It wasn't as though he hadn't done all-nighters before.

Louis leaned against the kitchen island. "You okay, Harvey?" He had a smile on his face, trying to make up for his earlier jibe. "Yeah, Louis. I'm good. You want some coffee?"

His fellow named partner nodded and helped him carry the mugs to the couch area. "Gretchen says she'll pop by when the rest of us have stopped driving you both nuts."

Harvey laughed. "You're welcome anytime, Louis." He surprised himself that he actually meant it. They may drive one another crazy, but Louis was still family.

They all sat and talked for a couple of hours, before the crying began and Donna excused herself to go and tend to her little girl.

It was after Abigail had been fed and changed and was somewhat calmer, Donna thought it was time for her to meet her extended family properly, before she fell asleep again.

Harvey smiled as Donna reappeared in the room, carrying their daughter. "Look who's up," he commented, his grin growing wider with every second.

Rachel beamed at the sight of a fidgeting little Abigail, her little head resting on Donna's shoulder, as she held her to her chest. Before Rachel had a chance to ask, Louis beat her to it, making a beeline for Donna. "You want to say hi to Uncle Louis?" she whispered to her.

Harvey was certain he'd never seen Louis more excited as he was right now, as Donna passed little Abigail in to his arms. It was like watching an iceberg melt, as Louis cooed at her, causing Harvey to raise an eyebrow in amusement. Donna perched on the side of his chair, her arm slipping easily around his neck, as his arms went around her waist. "Do you think he'll give her back?" Harvey whispered, to which Donna gave him one of her "behave" looks.

Louis grinned. "She's going to be a heartbreaker." Donna smiled, while a frown crossed Harvey's face. "Not until she's at least 25 and maybe not even then."

Donna squeezed his shoulder gently. "I'm afraid that will not be in your control Harvey."

"We'll see," he muttered.

Louis passed Abigail to Rachel, who beamed down at her. "Hi there, Abigail. Welcome to the family." She looked up at Donna and smiled, happy to be sharing in her friend's joy.

Mike turned to Harvey. "It's cool that our kids will grow up together! They can have their own little dramas, just like us!"

Before Harvey could comment, Donna interjected. "You never know, they may end up having their own little romance, just like you two as well!"

Harvey noticeably paled, before glancing from Mike to his daughter, seemingly picturing a grown up James chasing after her. "No. Way. Not a chance."

Mike pouted. "Hey! What's wrong with my son, Harvey? Not good enough for you?"

Harvey stood up to pour himself more coffee. "I'm too tired for this bullshit."

The others began to laugh and eventually even Harvey had to release a chuckle at the absurdity of the conversation, before moving to Rachel and taking Abigail in his arms. He was not thinking any further ahead than right now, as her little fingers curled around his thumb.

…

The group stayed for a few more hours, enjoying their time holding the latest member of the family, with Mike promising to tell her all about how her daddy couldn't function without him.

"Please. I have plenty of material at my disposal, Mike. I already know I'll have to help your kid learn how to hit a baseball. I've seen you. You can't hit for shit. What type of example is that for the poor kid?!"

After much banter and easy chatter, the apartment started to empty, until Donna and Harvey were alone once again, with Harvey moving to the kitchen to make dinner, while Donna walked around the living room, gently rocking Abigail in to sleep. "I'll go and put her down," she whispered an hour later, as Harvey served up his signature pasta dish.

Donna murmured her approval at the meal, realising how much she'd missed a home-cooked meal while in hospital. "God, this is good, Harvey." He smirked, enjoying her enthusiastic reaction to his cooking.

"You know my mom will probably appear this week?" Donna smiled at him. "Well, if mine wasn't still across the country for New Years, we'd have both of them and my dad." Harvey smiled. They both knew that he was happy to have his mother back in his life and introducing her to her granddaughter was going to be truly special for him.

…

The night was one of broken sleep that all new parents are all too familiar with, as Abigail woke needing to be fed and changed at regular intervals.

As her cries pierced the room for the third time that night, Donna groaned a little as she woke. This was even more tiring then she'd ever imagined. Harvey was ahead of her, knowing how exhausted she still was following the birth and the constant feeds. "She can't be hungry this soon. Go back to sleep. I'll get her."

Donna's eyes were already drifting closed again, as he kissed her temple, before slipping out of bed, the slight chill to the winter night hitting his bare torso.

Padding around the bed, he lifted Abigail from the bassinet and realised she needed changing again. He carried her to the nursery and changed her while she continued to wail. "Ssh. Come on Abi. It's alright."

Deciding to try and calm her before trying to put on a new babygrow, he picked her up and held her against his chest, his head against the top of hers. "It's all okay. Ssshh."

As her cries continued, despite him rocking her soothingly against him, he let out a yawn. This was definitely harder then he'd thought it would be. "Daddy would really love some more sleep. What do you say?"

After another ten minutes with no success, he sighed. "Time for some back-up." He walked across the room, holding her wailing form against his chest. "Time for grandpa's help. What do you think?"

With that, he moved through to the living room and having selected a record, set it on the record player he'd bought for the nursery. There was nothing quite like hearing the sound coming from a vinyl close-by.

The familiar sound of his father's sax filled the room and he smiled, starting to sway in time with the music. After a minute or so, Abigail started to calm down and he smiled. "See, grandpa to the rescue. He's pretty good isn't he?" Moving closer to the turntable, he moved his daughter from his shoulder to his arms, rocking her gently, as her eyes started to close. Harvey felt the tears stinging his eyes. "I wish he could have met you. He'd have loved you so very much."

He hadn't realised Donna was there until her hand ran down his back in the way that always reassured him. "We keep you up?" Putting her arms around his waist from behind, she shook her head. "No. I just missed both of you." Dropping a kiss on his shoulder, she smiled. "I see we have a new secret weapon."

"Well, he always calms me, so I was hoping it'd run in the family."

Donna smiled, moving to his side to watch as their daughter finally settled, before kissing him softly. "Let's put her down while she's quiet. We might get a couple of hours if we're really lucky."

Harvey nodded. "After this track."

Donna nodded and put her arms fully around him, enjoying the simple pleasure of the three of them together. "We'll tell her all about him, Harvey. He'll always be here with us." His emotion-filled eyes met hers and he smiled. "I know."

Her hand traced his jawline softly, as she kissed him again and Harvey knew with absolute certainty that it was the happiest moment of his life; holding his family while his father's music filled the silence.

As they curled up in bed not long afterwards, Harvey stroked his hand up and down Donna's arm as his two girls slept, revelling in the peaceful quiet of the room, which he knew wouldn't last long and yet he wouldn't change for the world. He couldn't remember falling asleep, but when he did, he had a smile on his face.

…

Thanks, as always, for reading. If I think of anything scenario for my Specter family, I'll continue this story. Do let me know what you think. :)