Chapter 7: One Step Ahead.

A few days later…

The stall door swung closed behind Donna with a hollow thud that echoed around the seemingly empty restroom. She pressed the palms of her hands against the cool white marble surface of the sink, releasing a defeated sigh. Looking up, her own tired eyes stared back at her, the low lighting of the room cast dark shadows across her face, accentuating the grey bags under her eyes, her concealer fading away already.

She felt as if her body was punishing her, forcing her to starve, sending her into fits of staggering dizziness, usually accompanied by a cold sweat. Donna shook her head disapprovingly, digging through her purse for the touch-up make up kit she kept with her at all times.

The sound of a toilet flushing startled her, make up brush slipping through her fingers as she jumped, glancing at the mirror, only to see Gretchen emerge from the stall. She breathed a sigh of relief, steadying herself, before shooting her co-worker a bright smile.

"So," stated Gretchen, rinsing her hands beneath the tap, "how far along are you."

Donna froze, blusher brush hovering over her cheek bones, "excuse me?" She whispered.

"C'mon Donna, don't play dumb with me." Gretchen remarked, turning to face her, leaning an elbow on the ledge.

"I-" she paused, suddenly it all made sense, the most obvious explanation, yet somehow, it hadn't crossed her mind, "I'm pregnant," She breathed, a small smile growing across her lips as realisation swept through her body.

"I'm pregnant!" She all but yelled, throwing her arms around Gretchen's shoulders, pulling her into a hug.

"Well no shit Sherlock," she laughed, returning the embrace, "you're telling me that Donna Paulsen, the Donna Paulsen, had no idea?"

"I guess," Donna pulled back lips still spread in a wide smile, shaking her head in disbelief, "I guess I've just been distracted with everything that's been going, it never even crossed my mind."

"So then I'll take it Mr Specter has no idea-"

"Harvey!" She exclaimed, "oh my god how should I tell Harvey? He's going to be so excited, well I hope he will-"

"He will." Gretchen reassured her, "now come on, you best go get yourself a pregnancy test, just to be sure."

XXX

"Hey Donna, Gretchen said you were looking for me?" Rachel smiled, as she stood in the doorway of her best friend's office

later that day.

"Yeah Rach-" Donna replied, she was seated behind her desk, looking down at her lap as she examined something out of sight, "I want to show you something, come over here." She coaxed.

Rachel rounded the desk, shooting her friend a quizzical look, "What's going on-" she stopped, jaw dropping to the floor, "is that-?"

"Yes." Donna replied.

"And it's yours?" Rachel asked, her face breaking into a huge smile.

"It is."

"Oh my God!" Rachel shrieked, pulling her friend into a tight hug, "I can't believe this!"

"Well believe it," Donna laughed, "I'm guessing I'm about two months!"

"This is amazing," Rachel squealed, beaming at the positive pregnancy test, "have you told Harvey?"

"Not yet," she winked, "I'm planning on telling him tonight, at the rooftop Gala, this is just the icing on the cake. But you're the first to know, apart from Gretchen, she caught me hurling my guts up in the bathroom this morning."

"This is so exciting," she squeezed her friend's hands, "I'm so happy for you Donna."

"Thank you Rach," she bit her lip, attempting to tame her ecstatic smile, "I still have so much work to do for the party tonight, trying to keep it a secret from Harvey has been almost impossible, as far as he knows, we're going to dinner and then to the theatre to celebrate his one year anniversary as Managing Partner."

"He's going to be so shocked."

"Hopefully! It's so hard to catch him off guard, but tonight.." she exhaled slowly, her eyes dropping to the plastic test in her hands, "tonight is going to be perfect."

XXX

"Hey, Mike?" Harvey called, spotting his former associate turned junior partner as he passed by the Managing Partner's office.

He turned on his heel, waltzing into his friend's office, "What's up Harvey, I'm pretty swamped at the minute so if you need help on a case I might have to-"

"It's not about that," Harvey cut in, gesturing to the couch, the two men sat down, "I have some news and it's pretty exciting-"

"You're retiring? God, finally, so when do I move into your office?" Mike joked.

"Very funny," Harvey shot him a disapproving look, "but this is serious."

"Ok, what is it?"

"I'm proposing to Donna, tonight." He said, his eyes glowing.

"What! Harvey that's incredible- wait," Mike dropped his voice suddenly to low whisper, "are you sure she's not listening right now? Hasn't she always listened to your private conversations?"

"It's ok, she's out for lunch with Rachel, I saw her leave five minutes ago."

"Wow Harvey, I'm so proud of you. Never thought I'd see the day." Mike replied, shaking his head.

"What? The day when I proposed to Donna?" Harvey asked, confused.

"Oh, no, I saw that coming the first day I started working at this firm," he laughed, Harvey rolled his eyes, "no I meant the day where you were finally one step ahead of Donna."

XXX

Donna pressed her manicured finger into the small plastic button of the intercom, "you ready to head home?" She asked, glancing at the clock, it was almost five thirty, Donna had convinced him to return home early with her so they could get ready, for what he thought was a night on broadway.

"Yeah just about, you really need three hours to get ready?" He whined, she could hear shuffling on the other end of the connection.

"Count yourself lucky it isn't more," she quipped, placing her belongings in her purse, when she looked up, Harvey was standing in the doorway, a bouquet of pink peonies in hand, Cheshire Cat smile spread across his face, "Harvey! You shouldn't have!"

"What?" He titled his head to the side, giving her a fleeting wink, "can't a man buy flowers for his girlfriend?"

"He can," she replied, narrowing her eyes, "but twice in one week? Who are you and what have you done with my boyfriend?"

"What do you mean twice in one week-? I didn't-" his eyes landed on the large bouquet of blooming red roses that were perched on the window sill.

Donna's brow furrowed, "then who-?" She trailed off, as her mind worked, the pieces all falling into place as sudden realisation sent goosebumps traveling over her skin.

It couldn't be.

She reached for the note, which had accompanied the gift. "H" it was signed with a H, an initial she had presumed to be Harvey's. Instead, she realised with a sickening jolt, the initial belonged to Hunter, Nick Hunter. She should have known, even the colour of the flowers, red, the name he'd called her on multiple occasions. Donna's stomach tightened and for the first time in days, it had nothing to do with her pregnancy. Her face paled noticeably.

"Is everything ok?" Harvey asked, approaching her desk, "you've gone quiet."

Donna snapped out of her daze, clasping her hands together in her lap to stop them shaking, "yes, everything's fine, sorry, I just spaced out for a second there." She smiled up at him, trying to reassure him, she didn't want anything, not even him, to spoil the night ahead.

"Hey," he placed a finger under her chin, his thumb caressing her cheek softly, "if you don't feel like going out tonight it's ok, we can stay in if you want-?"

"No, really," she assured him, "I can't wait for tonight, it's going to be great."

"I love you." He replied, those three little words, she's heard so many times, that still ignite fireworks in her mind.

"I love you more."

"Impossible."

XXX

"Hello Handsome."

Harvey watched as his soon-to-be fiancé came into view behind him in the mirror, smirking as she watched him struggle with the bow tie of his tux. He turned to face her, admitting his defeat, the sight before him causing his heart to skip a beat.

Donna's hair fell over her bare shoulders in loose tendril curls, like red flames intertwining with one another. The deep emerald green of her dress seemed to give her hair and skin a goddess-like glow, the off the shoulder, sweet heart neck line leaving just enough to the imagination. The skirt of the gown grazed her ankles from behind, but the hemline grew shorter as it came to the front, stopping just in line with her knees, showing off her long cream legs, that just seemed to go on for ever.

But the detail that drew Harvey's attention, was the dainty chain that hung around her neck, a small emerald pendant resting on her chest. The necklace he'd bought her for Christmas.

"How is it possible, that you get more beautiful every time I see you."

She blushed, moving towards him, delicate fingers wrapping his bow tie into a perfect knot, she leaned forward, placing a soft kiss on his parted lips, "you are one whipped man."

"That I am." He replied, running a hand through her hair.

"C'mon," she took his hand, leading him out of the bedroom, "Ray's waiting downstairs."

... to be continued! New chapter coming soon, let me know what you think in the reviews section, any theories on what happens next..?

As always, thanks for reading and reviewing :) x