Hi all, thanks for sticking with this story. More to come!

The weekend is an introspective one, to say the least. Whenever Harvey gets like this, his default move is to go to the office and bury himself in work. But he can hardly do that when the office is littered with reminders of Donna, ten years of their history built into the walls.

Saturday morning he goes for a run. It's been too long since he's done this and his muscles pull and ache from the lack of use. He's been spending most of his mornings with Paula, since his work hours tend to bleed well into the night. It had been surprisingly easy to fall into a routine with her. Sleeping, purely sleeping, with a woman had always felt far more personal than sex, but the transition with Paula had been such a smooth one, so unlike any of his previous relationships. With Scottie, everything felt so combative. Explosive and passionate, yes, but could never really shake the feeling that they weren't built to last. Things might have lasted with Zoe, had they been given half a chance, but they never had that same spark.

He likes it, he realises, waking up with someone. But the fact that it was so easy with Paula plays on his mind. He pushes himself faster, going from a jog to a full-on sprint. Running is one of the few things that still brings him clarity – scotch being the other, but more problematic option of the two.

He knows his relationship with Paula moved at warp speed. He'd scarcely seen her in a year and then he blinked and they were suddenly celebrating their two month anniversary. A serious, romantic relationship, for perhaps the first time in his life.

His breathing starts to labour and he slows back down to a jog. A nasty realisation begins to dawn on him – maybe he and Paula could only be so intimate because she had been his therapist. When he really thinks about it, he's probably always going to be at a disadvantage. He is never going to know her as intimately as she knows him. He suddenly feels a little sick at the thought that he shared some of his most private thoughts with her, his deepest insecurities, fears he had about his mother, dreams he had about Donna.

There's a reason therapists aren't allowed to date their patients.

He thinks about the night he kissed her for the first time, taking her in his arms and sweeping her off her feet, just like she'd fantasised about. He shudders, the moment taking on a whole new meaning. He had been happy at the time, satisfied and proud of himself for finally taking that leap of faith with someone. Now he wonders if he was doing it all for the wrong reasons, with the wrong person.

I always thought if you ever got serious with someone that it would be Donna.

Harvey comes to an abrupt stop. "Dammit Mike."

"Harvey? I didn't expect to see you."

"Can I come in?"

He watches her debate with herself for a moment before she relents. He follows her inside, feeling out of place in his sweatpants and t-shirt. He's only ever seen her home while wearing a suit, and the majority of those times had been as her patient. Still, he doesn't want to waste time on going home. If he buys himself time, he's going to talk himself out of this.

"Sorry I didn't call."

"It's fine," she says, folding her arms around herself. "I assume you're ready to talk." She sits on her couch and gestures for him to do the same. He can't shake the feeling that he's about to sit down for a therapy session.

"I handled yesterday badly," he admits.

"You were honest, at least. I suppose I can be grateful for that."

He shifts in his seat, anxious under her hard gaze. "And you were right."

"About?"

"All of it."

Paula sucks in a breath but he presses on, "I never wanted to hurt you like that but kissing Donna...is not something I can take back."

"Harvey, you know how my last relationship ended," she reminds him, voice wavering.

"I do."

Paula chews on the inside of her cheek, studying him. "I might have been able to get past this if it had been anyone else."

"If it were anyone else, I would have too," he confesses.

Paula gives him a sad smile. "You love her."

He opens his mouth to speak but she holds up a hand and the words die on his tongue. "No. I...I thought I'd be okay hearing it. I'd even prepared myself for it after yesterday morning but..."

"Paula, I really am sorry..." he pauses, knowing he owes her the truth. "I've just been ignoring it for so long and I have to find out if something is there."

"We can't help how we feel, Harvey. I just wish you had figured it out before you pursued me."

If anything, he feels most guilty for that. Even as his former therapist, Paula was the safer alternative to risking everything he had with Donna.

"I want you to be happy, Harvey, I do. I just thought I could be the woman to do that."

The words hang thickly between them. He wants to reassure her that she could have been, but the sentiment rings too hollow. It was always Donna who filled that role, even when he tried so adamantly to deny it.

Paula gets up from the couch and fetches her handbag from her desk. She takes out his key and holds it out to him.

"This never belonged to me."

He takes the key, squeezing her hand as he does so. He expected more anger from her, not such resigned sadness. God, he really was the only person without a clue.

"I'll let myself out."

She nods once, then places a quick kiss on his cheek. "Goodbye Harvey."

Since she is no longer Harvey's assistant, it also means not being confined to his six-days-a-week schedule, finally giving Donna her Saturdays back. She didn't mind so often when she was younger, but she has come to crave that extra day to decompress.

She sleeps in until eight, a concept nearly unheard of for her, takes a Pilates class at nine and grabs an early lunch with Rachel, who shares the news that she is finally ready to start planning her wedding. The two brainstorm back at Rachel's – Mike having made himself scarce – and their planning eventually devolves into a boozy afternoon.

Donna puts herself in a cab just before seven, more than a little lightheaded from the wine and takes herself home.

She's starved by the time she walks through the door, practically running on empty since the morning. She's about ready to give cooking a try when her phone rings, Harvey's name on the caller ID. She freezes, phone in her hand. She hadn't expected to hear from him all weekend, but takes solace in the fact that if he were going to break her heart he wouldn't be so cruel as to do it over the phone.

"Harvey?" she answers warily.

"Donna...hi," he stumbles, sounding surprised.

"Were you expecting someone else?" she teases.

"No, it's just that the phone rang for so long I didn't expect you to pick up."

"Oh, well, I'm here." She cringes at her own awkwardness. "Something you need?" she asks.

"I was hoping we could talk."

"Isn't that what we're doing?"

"Jeez, you're not making this easy, are you?"

Donna laughs at his frustration. "Yes, Harvey, we can talk."

"Can I come over?"

"You're already at the door aren't you?"

There's a pause on the line. "Maybe."

She rolls her eyes, hanging up the phone and walking to the door. Harvey stands on the other side, phone to his ear and a wide grin on his face. He's dressed down today, wearing slacks and a navy shirt rolled up to his elbows. She imagines it's about as casual as Harvey gets.

"Lame."

Harvey slides his phone into his pocket. "You going to let me in?"

Donna tilts her head playfully. "I haven't decided yet."

Harvey gives her an impatient look. "Come on then," she says, ushering him inside. She closes the door behind her but when she turns back to Harvey he presses her up against it. He kisses her urgently, one hand cupping her cheek, the other cradling her hip. It takes her a few seconds to respond, but then she kisses him back just as fervently, mouth opening under his. His hips grind against hers with intent, drawing a small whimper from her mouth. Harvey is the one to slow the kiss down, the first to finally pull away. She opens her eyes to find him watching her carefully.

"I guess I had to know too."

Her mouth falls open and Harvey smiles, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear. He kisses her softly on the mouth, then says, "I want to talk...about us."

Donna nods, not quite trusting herself to speak.

"Is now a good time?" he asks, voice soft and melodious, thumb stroking a small circle against her hip bone.

Donna braces her hands against his shoulders, trying to put some distance between them. "What about Paula?"

"It's over. I ended things."

"Then let's talk."

Get ready for the next one kids...