Thanks guys, again for the amazing reviews :) And about the order of the chapters - there is none. Like I said; if this one were to be a college-age Mike (which it's not) then it doesn't mean I'll never have another toddler one. It's just how I'm feeling and what scenario I want to write. Okay? So don't panic if there is grown up!Mike because the majority of them will no doubt be toddler cause I find it too adorable :P
Mostly because I can do adorable falling asleep exchanges that are too cute to pass up XD
Warning: this chapter has no relevance at all to any patch in mini!Mike's life and is simply here to make teeth fall out.
Harvey eased off his jacket and hung it up as he came into the apartment. It wasn't quite late; a dusky hue was starting to appear in the city and filter through the windows of his balcony but to Harvey's now permanent parent clock; it was quite late. He heard muffled giggles from somewhere and couldn't help but frown and feel slightly wary.
His brother Nick had been commissioned to babysit while Harvey had a heavy workload - as much as Donna tried to get him to either take the work home or hire a professional, Harvey bristled at both the ideas. If he brought work home he wouldn't be able to pay any attention to Mike and the kid practically needed eyes on him 24-7. And Harvey wouldn't trust someone he'd never met to look after Mike - and he knew Mike would take a while to build up trust with someone neither of them knew.
So he had called Nick down - who was only too happy to stay in his brother's very nice condo when in return all he had to do was make sure Mike was fed and occupied.
And apparently he had done this very well.
Harvey walked into the main living area and found what was effectively a fort set up. He had no idea where they had gotten the sticks necessary to prop the sheets up but he could just make out the silhouettes of his brother and son as they giggled about whatever the hell it was they were doing.
Harvey placed his briefcase down on a chair and knelt to open the flaps of the sheets. "Permission to enter the fort?"
He was barrelled over by Mike as the toddler leapt at him excitedly, happy to have him home. "Harvey! You're back! I missed you! How was work? Have you finished now? Does that mean you can stay here?"
Harvey managed to pull himself back to his feet whilst holding the cuddly boy and glared at Nick. "What?" His brother asked.
"How much sugar have you given him?"
"Not that much!" Nick protested, even as Mike was practically shaking in Harvey's arms. "Well... not as much as you wouldn't want him to have."
"I wouldn't want him to have any," Harvey reminded him. "You know how hard it'll be to get him to sleep?"
"That's why it's better to be an Uncle," Nick reminded him with an innocent beam. "You can do whatever and then just give the kid back afterwards. Speaking of, I should really go - "
"Nope," Harvey said, clapping a spare hand on Nick's shoulder as he gave a predatory smile. "You can help me calm him down and get ready for bed."
"No, I should probably leave soon, I have to be - " Nick's words were cut off as Harvey placed Mike in his arms.
"I'm going to get changed," he told Nick sternly. "When I get back, that fort is to be gone and that kid," Mike giggled and chewed on his own fist, "is to be calm. Got it?"
"Harvey, I don't know how to calm kids down!" Nick said in a panicked voice.
"Well then you'd better learn quickly shouldn't you?" Harvey replied.
"Where are you going?" Mike gave a wail.
"I'm just going to get changed out of my suit," he promised Mike.
"And brush your hair?"
"And brush my hair," Harvey agreed, chucking Mike under the chin.
"Why does he want you to brush your hair?" Nick asked, struggling to keep Mike in his arms as Harvey got further away from them.
"He doesn't like it when my hair's styled," Harvey explained, taking his tie off. "Doesn't look like me, apparently."
"Doesn't look like Daddy," Mike agreed, nodding seriously before wiggling out of Nick's arms.
"Hey!" Nick cried out, going to grab for him but missed. He watched as Mike scampered into Harvey's room, crashing into the now jeans clad legs as Harvey was pulling a black woollen shirt on. Nick winced, getting ready for the explosion, but all that happened was that Harvey sighed and waited until he had gotten his shirt on before picking Mike up, rubbing at his back as the kid wiggled in his arms. Nick gave Harvey an innocent grin as he came back out frowning.
"Didn't I say that the tent had to come down?" Harvey asked, raising an eyebrow at Nick who quickly moved towards his and Mike's fort.
"No!" Mike whined in protest. "Please?"
"Please what?" Harvey asked, making sure that Mike always spoke in coherent sentences.
"Please can I keep it up?" He asked, looking up at Harvey with large, dewy eyes. Harvey sighed but nodded at Nick, ignoring the smug grin on his little brother's face.
"C'mon, sport," Harvey muttered. "Let's try and get rid of whatever the hell it was that Uncle Nick fed you. You hungry?" Mike nodded eagerly. "Good. I'll make pasta - how about you have a drink?"
"Juice?" Mike questioned happily.
"Nope, but I hear that water's nice," Harvey replied, grabbing a plastic cup and pouring some water into it.
"I don't want water," Mike whined, paddling his little hands on Harvey's chest uselessly. Harvey caught them effortlessly and glared more at Nick.
"Hey, I wasn't the one to teach your kid to hit - that's just bad parenting right there," Nick smirked at Harvey. "But, uh - " He hastily started clearing away some of the mess from around the fort as Harvey continued to glare, "you need to drink water, Mike - it keeps you hydrated. Although not too much," Nick said, looking pensive. "Then you might pee the bed."
Mike blushed bright red and turned his head away from Nick, pushing his face into Harvey's neck.
"Thank you. So much," Harvey deadpanned to his brother. "Now he probably won't drink anything."
"Hey, I'm being helpful," Nick argued. "Now you won't have to change the sheets if he does!"
"I don't anyway," Mike mumbled, causing Harvey to rub his back soothingly.
"I know... Uncle Nick's just trying and failing to be funny," Harvey reassured him. "He might find himself being in charge of a bath tonight if he doesn't watch out."
"Come on, Harvey - I've been talking to the kid all day like this and he didn't mind!"
"Because he was hopped up on sugar," Harvey reminded him, bringing some pasta to the boil effortlessly as he held Mike on his hip and stirred with one hand. "And now he's slowly coming down."
"Well at least he's coming down," Nick reminded him, grinning.
Harvey hummed in agreement before he was forced to put Mike down in order to prepare the food. And at that moment in time his cell rang as well. Cursing his bad luck he flipped his middle finger to his little brother as he laughed at Harvey trying to answer his phone whilst holding a boiling hot pan and trying to keep Mike away by gently pushing him with his leg.
Donna was just finishing working out Harvey's schedule for the next day. Just because he got to go home early because he had the excuse of a child didn't mean she could do the same. She had just stood up when she realised she had to call him and tell him about a change to his meeting times. Hoping he wasn't trying to do anything important, she dialled and waited.
"Hello?"
Huh. He sounded weird. Sort of out of breath.
"Harvey?" Donna questioned, because it wasn't like her boss to sound flustered.
"Donna... what do you - dammit - what's up?"
"Are you okay?" She heard a small splash.
"I'm fine, just trying to - no, Mikey, don't stand in that puddle, it's hot - go over to Uncle Nick, okay? I'm just trying to do three things at once."
"And you can't do that?" She asked, preening that she could - although she was wondering what was happening down the other end of the phone.
"Of course I can but when it involves making pasta, trying to calm a hyper toddler down and answer a phone - it's a little harder than it should - Nick, do not wind him up again!"
She now desperately wished she could be watching the carnage of the scene unfolding at the other end. "I was just calling to tell you - "
"Yeah, Mike, I can see it from here - yeah, I'll look at it properly in a minute, okay? Sorry, Donna - what were you saying?"
"One of your meetings tomorrow - "
"Mike, wait, okay? I'm trying to - well yeah, you might want to talk to Daddy, but Daddy's trying to talk to Donna, okay? I'll be finished in a minute. Sorry, Donna."
"I've had to reschedule with - "
"Mike, come get your food - what? No, you can't talk to Donna... Because I am. No. Now eat. Which meeting?"
"Mr Charleston had to - "
"No, Mikey you just... Nick will you make sure he doesn't spill anything else? Because I said so! Thank you. What's wrong with Mr Charleston?"
"He's had to go visit his sister - "
"Mike if I see any more of that go on the floor purposefully - no, Nick that's not exactly helping. Is his sister alright?"
"She slipped at home and broke her - "
"You've finished? All of it? Good boy. No, you still can't talk to her... Go get your pyjamas on. What did she break?"
"Her leg, so she needs someone to look after her kids - "
A small crash resounded on the other end of the phone. "It's alright, kiddo - you just tripped. It's okay," there was a scrabbling at the other end and a bit of wailing. Harvey sighed. "Donna, can I call you back?"
Harvey sounded so frazzled that Donna almost took pity on him.
But then she remembered how much he interrupted her over the phone.
"I'll come round," she said brightly. "You sound like you need some help."
Harvey groaned and she hung up, quickly packing up her things so she could go over to Harvey's.
He should be thanking her - it sounded as if he had needed back up for a lot of that conversation and Nick hadn't exactly been the best help. But she knew he would secretly count it as a curse. She didn't know what he was expecting - it wasn't as if she would look down on him as being a bad father. Completely the opposite, she thought he was a wonderful father. But - like in most aspects of his life - he would be well and truly lost without her.
She simply walked through the door when she got there. She had been expecting to see carnage - fires, blood, Harvey having a mental breakdown - instead it was somewhat calm. Except there was a scuffle ensuing in the living room. She walked in and raised an eyebrow. Mike was sucking his thumb tiredly and watching as Harvey and Nick were trying to pin each other down on the floor. Donna pulled Mike into her arms and rocked him gently.
"Hey, sweetie," she said in a calm voice. "What's happening?"
"Nick taped over one of Harvey's baseball games," Mike explained tiredly. "And then he stole a signed ball and wouldn't give it back."
"Children," she tutted, nudging at a leg with her shoe. The leg instantly froze and both men turned to look at her.
"Donna!" Nick leapt up, pushing Harvey aside so he could smile flirtatiously at her. "How's my favourite goddess been?"
"She's been fine," Donna replied. "Although I haven't had an offering from you in a while - you don't want your crops to die, do you?"
"I'm sorry," he said humbly. "I'll give you one first thing in the morning - my brother won't let me leave till the munchkin's asleep."
Mike gave a whine in response and Harvey quickly took him from Donna's arms, shushing him. "Donna - why did you come round?"
"Well I thought you'd need a hand - and clearly I was right... But then, when aren't I?" She smiled at him and held her hand out to Nick. "Ball. Now." Nick wilted but shyly handed over the baseball he had stolen from Harvey. "Do I really need to issue time outs?"
Mike giggled happily. "Yes! Please, please give Harvey a time out!"
"Careful, kiddo," Harvey said. "You might find yourself in a time out. Now - are you ready for bed?" Mike shook his head. "No?" He asked. "That's strange - because I seem to remember setting now as your bedtime. And it can't be because you didn't listen to me..."
Mike giggled slightly and gazed up at Harvey with wide eyes. "Is Nick staying over?" Both brothers quickly replied in the negative at the same time. "Oh..." Mike whined.
"C'mon, champ," Nick said, pulling Mike from Harvey's arms. "How about we go see what destruction we can bring onto your room while Donna talks to your dad," he whisked Mike into his room before he could protest.
"Wow, super uncle," Donna smiled.
"Yeah - he has his moments," Harvey agreed gruffly. He started to clear up the living room, moving toys and books into baskets that slotted neatly underneath the coffee table.
"Hey, can I ask you something?" Donna piped up as she was tidying inside the fort.
"Whenever I've said 'no', that's never stopped you before," Harvey pointed out, raising an eyebrow at a broken toy and putting it to one side to fix.
Donna gave a small smile. "Right. How often does he call you 'Harvey'?" She asked.
Harvey turned around, an unreadable expression on his face. "What do you mean?"
"Well, it's just - sometimes I've heard the word 'daddy'. But most of the time it's Harvey. He's been your son for nearly a year now. Why is he still calling you by your name?"
"Because I've told him to just call me whatever he feels comfortable with," Harvey said in a way that made it sound like it should be obvious. "Sometimes it's 'daddy'... Sometimes it's not."
"Don't you mind?" Donna prodded. "That he sometimes swaps from being so familiar and close?"
"Donna, where is this coming from?" Harvey asked, confused, just as a small boy ran back out from his room.
"Daddy - Nick's trying to put me to bed!" Mike said in a tattle-tail kind of voice.
Harvey gave a small smile. "Is he? What's wrong with that?"
"Harvey!" Mike whined. He pulled at Harvey's arms impatiently. "You're supposed to put me to bed. Not Nick!"
"Hey!" Nick huffed, affronted as he ambled back out of Mike's room. "I was trying to do you a favour!"
"I know you were, Nicky," Harvey gave him a smile. "But someone can be a brat if things aren't done the way he wants," Mike pouted at him and started sucking his thumb. "Come on," Harvey said. "Say good night to Donna. It's bedtime."
"I don't want to go to bed," Mike frowned, his lip wobbling.
"Yes you do," Harvey replied. "Donna?"
She instantly took over, sliding Mike out of Harvey's arms and starting to rock him gently. "Good night, sweetie," she whispered.
Mike laid his head on her shoulder tiredly. "You're not putting me to bed," he said in a small voice, trying half heartedly to get back to Harvey.
She jogged him up slightly. "Hey, I'll get you back to your daddy in a second - can't I say goodnight?"
"Night, Donna," he whispered from around his thumb. Donna knew this was as good as she was going to get and passed him back to Harvey.
"Now Uncle Nick," Harvey said, turning towards his brother. Mike's eyes were closing but he managed to open them and gave a tired smile from behind his thumb and wiggled a few fingers as a goodbye. He closed his eyes again and let his head loll on Harvey's shoulder. "Okay," Harvey said in a hushed voice, rubbing at Mike's back. "Let's get you to bed. I'll be out in a second," he said to the other two, before turning and going into Mike's room, wondering how one child could get the room so messy.
He placed Mike on the bed and tucked him in, ruffling his hair and kissing his forehead before leaving the room, keeping the door open slightly.
"Well, Harv, as nice as this has been - it's past my bedtime too," Nick told him, yawning.
"You're not driving back, are you?" Harvey asked.
"No I thought I'd get my magic carpet out of the garage," Nick said, putting his jacket on. "You saw my bike out there by your fancy building didn't you?"
"You're not motorbiking back to yours if you're tired," Harvey decreed, pulling out some money. "Get a cab."
"Harvey that'll cost way too much," Nick protested even as Harvey shoved money into his fist.
"Think of it as payment for looking after Mike for me," Harvey told him.
"Harv, you know I'd do that for free," Nick told him seriously. "How about I just camp out here for the night? You got some spare blankets?"
"I might have some somewhere," Harvey replied. "Although be ready for a four year old to jump on you at about... half past four in the morning."
"I'll just pretend to be dead, that'll get him off quickly," Nick mused, taking his jacket back off.
"You're not scarring my son beyond belief," Harvey told him sternly.
"Boys," Donna said in her motherly voice. "Enough. You don't want to wake Mike up. Harvey - don't forget about your meeting tomorrow."
"I won't," he promised.
"Will you be bringing Mike in with you?" She asked.
"I've suddenly acquired a babysitter for an extra day apparently," Harvey said, pointing to Nick who was trying to get comfortable on the couch.
Donna smiled. "Alright. See you tomorrow, Harvey."
"Bye."
She let herself out and Harvey turned to his brother. "Comfortable?"
"No."
"Shame."
Harvey got up from where he had been quickly finishing some paperwork at the table. "Nicky, I'm going to bed. You okay?" He got a grunt in reply and smiled, shaking his head. He went to do his usual routine of checking on Mike before going to bed and looked into his son's room.
Mike was curled up, clutching and drooling on Harvey-bear as he slept. Harvey went in just to turn the night light on but accidentally stood on something that was hard and sharp and now probably either broken or permanently embedded in his foot. He bit back a curse but managed to stumble, making a small thump as he held himself up on a chest of drawers.
Harvey bit his lip and glanced over at Mike - who unfortunately got woken up, and looked confused and slightly scared. "Hey, hey," Harvey shushed, quickly going over to him and sitting on the side of the bed, carding his fingers through Mike's hair. "It's okay."
"Go 'way..." Mike whined with a small sob.
"It's just me," Harvey said quickly, hoping to avert a sleepless night. It didn't seem like Mike had been having a bad dream - he was more than likely just confused and scared by the sudden noise. "It's just Daddy - go back to sleep, kiddo." Mike gave a whimper and rubbed at his eyes tiredly. "That's right; sleepy boy, huh?" He said in a hushed, calming voice. "Sleepy boy... Go to sleep," Harvey said softly.
"No," Mike whined, although Harvey had an idea that Mike had no idea what was going on. "Daddy... I want... Daddy?"
"It's alright," Harvey shushed him again, letting him crawl in to his arms and lap. "It's okay - Daddy's right here... Go back to sleep." Mike gave another whimper and clutched onto Harvey, burying his face in Harvey's neck. "Shh, shh," Harvey rubbed Mike's back. "Come on, Mikey," he said, jogging Mike up and down in a slightly desperate manner. "Daddies need sleep too."
Thankfully, Mike started to fall asleep again, and Harvey didn't dare move from his spot for another five minutes until he was sure that Mike was dead to the world. He blew out a breath in relief and very slowly placed Mike back down on his bed. He pulled the covers around him and just sat on the corner of the bed, running his hands softly through Mike's hair. The toddler moved slightly and Harvey froze, hoping he wasn't going to wake up again. However, he just moved his thumb to his mouth and gave a small sigh as he started sucking.
Harvey shook his head but made no attempts to pull the thumb away. It was things like this he secretly loved. He was getting better at the whole being outwardly caring thing. He had once even admitted to Donna he thought that Mike was somewhat endearing whilst asleep - Harvey Specter speak for 'My son is the most adorable thing ever when he's sleeping'.
It was also things like this that reminded Harvey just how young Mike was. It was so easy to forget, whenever Mike glanced through the papers he brought back from work or argued with Harvey for an hour straight regarding a clause in a contract like most kids would argue over bath time. But when Mike did things like this; like cry if he was woken suddenly - however frustrating it was - or suck his thumb; Harvey secretly enjoyed the knowledge that Mike would still look to him for affection for a few years still.
And he secretly liked being a Daddy too.
So yeah - like I said at the start; apologies if teeth fell out. Oh, and just to clarify - these won't be in chronological order. I hope you liked this one - please review? And if you have anything you want to see, don't hesitate to ask :)