Disclaimer: I don't own Suits.

A/N: I know it's been awhile since my last update, but life happened. Had to get a new computer and my work schedule has been crazy as of late. Anyways, enough excuses onto the show!

Like a Sucker Punch to the Gut-Chapter 8

Mike is busy viciously scrubbing the kitchen counter. After returning home from an awkward trip to the icecream shop, where Jamie virtually remained silent. His unusual silence was so unnerving that it alarmed both of his sisters. The typical territorial Aislin offered her older brother some of her strawberry icecream cone claiming that she wouldn't be able to finish it. The atypical behavior was only rewarded with a quiet muttering of "No, thanks" by Jamie. Katie was also aware that something was amiss. She asked if he was feeling okay and then tried to check his head to see if he had a fever. But, Jamie remained quiet and as soon as he came home he rushed to his room, despite Mike calling out to him.

And now that the girls are settled in front of the television and with Jamie still refusing to talk, Mike has decided to let his nesting impulse take over. So far he has washed, dried, and folded two loads of laundry. Another one is in the dryer. The kitchen has been swept. The refrigerator has been cleaned. He and the girls made some chocolate chip cookies. Tonight's dinner is already in the oven. At the rate he's going he's going to be able to tell Patricia, their cleaning lady, that her services won't be needed for the next several months.

The blonde is concentrating so hard on getting the dried chocolate from the chocolate cookies he and the girls made earlier off the counter top that he doesn't even hear his son walk into the kitchen.

"Dad?" Jamie asks quietly clearing his throat.

Mike looks up during mid-scrub. "Hey, bud."

"Can we….um talk?" Jamie asks as he sits down in one of the chairs at the island.

Mike throws down the sponge he's been using. Talking has got to be better than the silence. "Sure, bud." He walks over to where he can see that the girls are entertained for the time being. He really doesn't want to have to explain to an eight and a five year old about genetics, deadbeat fathers, and half siblings. As far as he is concerned in their family there are no such things as step-father and half-siblings. They're all family, plain and simple.

Knowing his father too well, Jamie says "I put in The Little Mermaid. You know how both of them are with that movie. I also checked, they both have juice so my guess is we have a good twenty minutes before one of them comes in here for something."

Mike can't help but smile. He and Jamie are so much alike, inside and out. That's why when Jamie said that he didn't want to talk, he let it slide. He's the same way. Has to let things settle and think things through before proceeding.

Mike pulled up a chair and sat down across from Jamie. "So…."

"Who was that guy at my game?" Jamie asks quickly cutting right to the chase.

"Wow," Mike mutters under his breath. He didn't think that Jamie would be jumping in head first like that.

Mike's lack of response only irritates the boy further. He huffs loudly. "Is he my father?"

Mike takes another few seconds to prepare for the conversation that's been elven plus years in the making. "His name is Trevor Evans. We were friends for as long as I can remember. Since before my parents died." Mike stops there for a second gauging his son's reaction. Jamie doesn't say anything, but his eyes plead with his father to tell him more. "Anyway, as we got older things changed." Mike rubs his face in frustration. Talking about the birds and the bees is awkward but doable. But, this. This is so much tougher. He can't very well tell his son the truth. How after years of just friendship turned into him and Trevor having meaningless sex after copious amounts of booze and drugs. He can't tell this perfect being in front of him that he was the product of what happens when there is plenty of booze involved and lowered inhibitions.

"Things changed. Our friendship changed into something more," Mike continues.

"So, he's my dad?" Jamie asks quietly.

Mike runs his hand through his hair. "Yeah, he is."

Jamie looks down at the tabletop, his voice breaking asks "He didn't want me?"

Damn Trevor! Damn him for not wanting anything to do with Jamie for the last eleven years! Damn him for showing up now making a mess out of their lives! Damn him for putting Mike in the position where he has to actually defend the deadbeat! Because no kid should ever hear that he was unwanted by his own father, especially not the boy who is sitting across from him with wet, wide eyes.

"You know how Pa and I told you how I wasn't the best example of a role model when I was younger. Well, Trevor was even worse. He couldn't be the father you deserved," Mike explained.

Jamie wipes his wet eyes with his arm.

And Mike curses Trevor silently for the millionth time. "It had nothing to do with you. Trevor wasn't ready. Everyone thought that it would be best if he stayed away." At least that last part wasn't a play on words. "

"So, then you got together with Pa?" Jamie asks.

Man, he feels like such an ass looking back. Him fucking around with Trevor while trying to avoid what was going on between him and Harvey. He definitely wasn't lying to Jamie when he told him how he was a far cry from the epitome of fatherhood. "Things were complicated back then. It took a while for me and Pa to get together, but we did. And we've never looked back," Mike says with a smile.

Jamie nods his head but remains silent for a couple of minutes. Mike is about to turn to check on dinner when Jamie asks timidly, "Why is he back now?"

That's the million dollar question. What does Trevor want? Does he want to be part of Jamie's life for real? Or is he just going to stick around until something better comes up in Trevor's eyes and he leaves again after breaking Jamie's heart?

"I guess he got his act together so he decided to come back."

"Does he want to….see me?" Jamie asks with wide eyes.

The combination of trepidation and yearning is clearly evident on his eleven year old's face. He can't lie to his son. "He would like to see you."

"He would?"

Mike nods his head. "But, it's up to you. There's no pressure. Whatever you want."

"Can I think about it?" Jamie asks biting his lip.

"Of course, bud. Take as much time as you need. I already told Trevor that I would come to him. That he is not to pay us any more surprise visits."

"Yeah, that was a little awkward." Jamie says standing up.

Tell me about it. "It won't happen again," Mike promises because he will do everything in his power to make sure that Jamie doesn't feel that uncomfortable ever again.

Jamie nods his head as he stands there awkwardly in the kitchen. Finally, after a while he asks "What's for dinner?"

Mike doesn't know if he should be alarmed at how quickly the conversation has changed, but sensing that at the moment Jamie needs to act 'normal' Mike goes with the flow. "Stuffed shells, garlic bread, and salad."

Jamie wrinkles his nose. "Thought with Pa out of town we were gonna get take out."

Mike shakes his head. "Nah. You know what a snitch Aislin is. She's probably gonna tell him that I took you guys for icecream before dinner. I need to do some damage patrol."

Jamie nods his head. "Dad?"

BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!

"Shit!" Mike curses as the timer for dinner goes off. He rushes to grab an oven mitt.

"Hold on, Dad," Jamie calls.

Mike turns around to ask what's going on, but before he can say anything he has an eleven year old in his arms. Mike sighs in relief as he rubs his son's back. "I love you, Jamie."

"Love you too, Dad." Jamie mutters into his chest.

Mike kisses the side of his son's head. Trevor is not gonna mess this up. He won't let him. Being an asshole to him all those years ago was awful, but Mike got over it. He won't let Jamie get hurt because Trevor has climbed out of the woodwork and wants to play father of the year. It's not going to happen. He won't let it.

"It's gonna be okay, Jamie. I won't let anything bad happen to you," Mike promises.

Jamie looks up at his father with trusting eyes. "I know you won't, dad." He then burrows his head deeper into his father's side.

Father and son stay in their embrace for several minutes as the smell of stuffed shells fills the kitchen and the timer continues to beep.

"What is all this racket?"

Father and son look up in alarm when they hear an annoyed voice. Jamie rolls his eyes and Mike can't help but laugh when he sees Aislin standing there in the doorway with her hands on her hips.

"Don't worry, everything's fine," Jamie says as he pulls away from his father.

Mike pats his son's shoulder. Jamie's right. Everything's going to be okay.

XXXXX

Dinner is eaten. The dishes are put in the dish washer. The girls are bathed and have heard several bed time stories and after talking to Harvey they are in bed and Mike can finally sit down. Jamie has talked to Harvey and is now parked on the couch to watch the Yankee game after handing Mike the phone. Mike is not ready to have this conversation with Harvey, but he knows he has to. Trevor made that perfectly clear by showing up at the ball field. Mike collapses into bed with his phone by his ear.

"Oh, my God. This feels so good," Mike says as he lays down.

Harvey laughs over the phone. "I hate the fact that I'm not there to help you with the kids. I know how draining they can be."

"It's okay. I told you to take care of the Ryan case."

"I still hate it though. Being away from you and the kids," Harvey says sadly. "Especially with you pregnant. How you feeling?"

Mike rubs his small bump. "Stuffing my face. Made chocolate chip cookies today. And you know how I don't bake."

"Heard you also made dinner. Thought for sure that with me out of town you guys would be eating pizza and Chinese."

"Nah, have to be the responsible parent sometimes," Mike says sadly. An awkward silence settles in.

"Everything okay, babe?" Harvey asks.

Mike rubs his eyes tiredly. This is it. Time to let the cat out of the bag. "Trevor showed up at Jamie's game today."

"Wh-what? How? Why didn't you call me?" Harvey says heatedly.

Mike sighs, "Because you needed to get the Ryan disposition and I knew that if I told you right away you would fly back here."

"Damn right I would have!" Harvey lets out a couple of curse words. "What did that piece of shit want?"

"He's not gonna go away, Harvey. He wants to see Jamie."

"The hell he is!"

"He has rights, Harvey." Mike closes his eyes. He feels a headache coming. "If he wants to he can drag us into court and draw this out for years."

"So let him! We have connections. By the time I get through with him he won't know what hit him."

"I told Jamie it's up to him. If he wants to see Trevor then I'll sit down with Trevor and work something out."

"You really think that Jamie will want to see him?"

Mike sighs. "I don't know…maybe. Maybe Trevor has changed. All I know is I don't want Jamie to hate us later if we say he can't have a relationship with Trevor. He's a smart kid he won't be fooled by Trevor."

"Yeah, but you're one of the smartest people I know and he fooled you time and time again."

"Harvey," Mike says. "Part of being a parent is letting your kid make decisions even if you don't agree with them. Who knows? Maybe Trevor has changed. And Jamie will have three parents who love him."

Harvey takes a few seconds to respond. "I don't think I have the same optimistic outlook as you do when it comes to Trevor's intentions. What if you're wrong? What if Trevor is only here to cause trouble?"

"Then you have permission to go balls to walls if he does," Mike says.

Harvey laughs. "I'm gonna remember you said that."

"I hope you won't have to," Mike replies sadly. His husband doesn't say anything for several long moments.

"So, anything else you have to tell me."

"Um….I took the kids out for icecream before dinner as a bribe to keep Aislin from whining at the game."

"What was she whining about? The heat, bugs, or Katie?"

"Take your pick." Mike says as he feels the familiar feel of butterflies in his stomach. Even in his fourth pregnancy this feeling doesn't get old. He wishes that Harvey was here to feel it. He gently places his hand on his stomach. "You're not mad that I took the kids for icecream?"

Harvey laughs. "Aislin already told me. I'm not mad."

"That little snitch," Mike mutters.

Harvey laughs again. "And she told me how you guys had Thai last night and then stopped at the bakery on the home to get cupcakes."

"Jesus, that kid is gonna have no friends because she's such a tattle tale."

"Hey, it makes up for the fact that she told you about that speeding ticket I got."

"Yeah, you were going 90 on the highway. I splurged on sweets and take out. Big difference there."

"Hey, look on the bright side. She'll be our informant when the kids get older. Jamie, Katie, and the little one won't be able to keep anything from us."

"I can't even think that far in advance. Not when this little bugger is pressing on my bladder and wants me to eat the hottest possible food possible. Hence the Thai food last night."

"Yeah, Jamie told me that you put hot sauce on your stuffed shells. How did that taste?"

"Great at the time."

"Now?"

"Already hit the Maalox." Mike sighs. He feels better now. Talking to Harvey about the kids. His crazy pregnancy eating habits. Like maybe the situation with Trevor will work out okay. "Harvey, are we good?"

With almost no hesitation Harvey answers. "Yeah, babe. We're good. We're good."

And for the first time that day, Mike can truly relax. He feels like everything is going to be okay.

Chapter 9 Preview: Mike and Trevor talk and Jamie visits Trevor for the first time...