Chapter 8: Surprises

Donna watched absentmindedly as the twinkling lights of New York City passed her in a whirl of gold and white, her head rested in its favourite spot, on Harvey shoulder. His arm wrapped around her waist, giving her a reassuring sense of protection, that no one else could provide. Their fingers intertwined, thumbs tracing lazy circles on the others skin, as they watched the world slip past out side their window, content, as always, to imagine that they were the only two people in the world, the only two that mattered.

She closed her eyes, breathing in the scent of him, as she snuggled closer, her free hand coming to rest on her stomach, as the realisation washed over her that now there was someone in the world that mattered more than both of them combined, the little life that grew inside her, simultaneously filling her with joy and fear, excitement and worry. The past didn't matter any more, all the hurt and pain, confusion and anxiety, it all seemed to melt away in the face of something so small yet so powerful.

Nothing would harm this little miracle, their little miracle. It was only now that she realised she hadn't understood true love until she had laid eyes on that little pink cross, confirming her suspicions. Since that moment, her love for both Harvey, and their baby had been increasing tenfold by the second, rolling over her in powerful waves of endorphins, treating her to a sense of euphoria she had never quite felt before. There was no sensation to compare to what she was currently feeling, and she couldn't wait to share it with the man who's heart beat currently thumped soothingly in her ear, a lullaby to her restless mind.

She felt him shift slightly beneath her, sitting up straight and glancing out the window, his brow creased into a small frown.

He clears his throat, "Em- Ray? You took the wrong turn, the restaurant's in the other direction- we're not going to the firm."

"Sorry Mr Specter," Ray replied, "I'm under direct orders from the boss."

"Who-?" And then it hit him, he sat back, turning to face the woman seated next to him, who now wore a cunning smile, batting her eyelashes at him with a slight tilt of her head, in feigned innocence.

"What are you up to Paulsen?"

"Me? Up to something?" She shook her head, placing a hand on her chest and widening her eyes, apparently insulted, "I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about."

He raised an eyebrow, rolling his eyes in half annoyance, half amusement, "come on Donna, please?" He pouted, shooting her his infamous puppy-dog eyes.

It took all the strength and reserve she had not to melt under his gaze. Their was something spectacular about the way he looked at her. A simple glance was enough to make her feel as though she would be eternally happy. Far too often she found herself falling into the warmth of his chestnut brown irises, it was like they omitted a shine, designed especially for her, she just couldn't resist the urge to follow it.

She had to bite her lip to resist spilling it all there and then, the fake dinner plans, the party, the baby. With more difficulty then she'd care to admit, Donna tore her eyes away from his, relieved to be free of the trance, she settled her self against him once more.

"You'll just have to wait and see Specter."

XXX

The seconds passed like hours as they stood, rigid in the elevator, both eyeing the monitor as the numbers climbed at an agonisingly slow pace.

She could sense the complaint forming before the words had a chance to leave his mouth.

"Donna –"

She winced, letting out an agitated sigh at his lack of cooperation, it had taken ten minutes of negotiations to even get him into the elevator. Harvey insisting point blank that she tell him why they were here before he would set foot inside the building.

An attempt he knew to be futile, he knew just as well as she did that Donna had him wrapped around her little finger. What she says goes, "how does that saying go?" he thought, His mind wandering "Mr Right and Mrs Always Right"

A relatively new sensation had struck him in that moment, "MrMrs" in a matter of hours they would be on their way to becoming Mr and Mrs Specter. The sole thought alone was enough to make him follow her, blindly, towards the elevator doors.

"Donna, it's not a big ask, I just want to know what we're doing here, why can't you just-"

"Shut up." She bit back a laugh at his childishness, "I knew him were impatient but God."

She took his hand, her hazel eyes finding his, watching how his hardened expression softened under her gaze, "Don't you trust me?" She whispered.

"Of course I do."

They were gravitating towards each other, that unexplainable magnetic force which tied them pulling their lips closer until-

*ding*

They leaned back, turning their sights to the metal doors, as they opened, the scene before them leaving Donna almost as winded as Harvey.

Crowds of friends, family, co workers, and clients stood facing them, hundreds of familiar faces smiled down on them, the shining New York skyline acting as the stunning back drop for this picture perfect moment.

"Surprise!" The crowd chorused, raising their sparkling champagne flutes in a toast, to the Managing Partner.

"Surprise." Donna breathed, resting a hand on his shoulder, drawing his attention back to her.

She did this, she did all of this, for him. Even with all the stress she's been going through, she had done this, organised the party of the year, making yet another one of his dreams come true. The ghost of a memory, lost to time, crossed his mind, almost ten years ago now;

"When we make managing partner," the young associate bragged, as if the title were his birth right, "they'll throw me a party, a rooftop gala-"

"Hold your horses mister," the red head chuckled, "we haven't even made partner yet, baby steps."

"It'll be the party of the century, just you wait and see."

"Who says I'll still be working for you by then?"She joked, knowing that no matter how hard she tried, she could never grow tired of him.

"We'll see about that Paulsen."

"I'm sure we will Specter."

He loved her, not a new revelation, no, but one that seemed to strike him at any given moment, rendering him awestruck at the very notion of her. He fell in love with her strength, her sincerity, her ability to read his mind, her courage to stand up to him, to guide him through every mistake. She was his haven, the only place he felt truly safe. And it was this realisation that prompted his next move.

Without a second thought he pulled her closer, crashing his lips down onto hers in the spur of the moment, leaning so far into the kiss that he felt her spine arch backwards on the palm of his hand, her hands gripping his biceps, pulling him in further. Cameras flashed like fire works in the background as every moment seemed to pass in slow motion.

The sound of cheering and wolf whistles broke the pair from their daze, lingering slightly as they begrudgingly pulled apart.

The crowd erupted in applause, the loudest of the cheers coming from none other then Mr and Mrs Ross.

In sync, as always, Donna and Harvey gave a mock bow and curtsy, grinning at each other like a couple of crushing teenagers as the guests began to filter back into the party, the band swinging back into action, smooth jazz filling the space, the playlist, hand picked by Donna, featured all of Gordon Specter's greatest hits.

The party roared on, Donna and Harvey finding themselves swept apart by hosting duties as a couple of hours crawled past.

Harvey was receiving his umpteenth congratulations from a colleague who's name he could hardly recall, when Mike suddenly swooped in to save the day.

"So sorry Carl, I just need to steal Harvey for a moment." He took him by the elbow, pulling him away.

"Thank God." Harvey scoffed.

"When are you planning on popping the question?" Mike asked, handing him another glass of champagne.

"Well it doesn't help that I haven't so much as seen Donna in the last two hours-"

"We're here!" Rachel exclaimed, pulling Donna along behind her, having just rescued her from a similar, boring conversation.

"Hey." He smiled, taking in her beauty for the hundredth time that evening.

"Hi." She blushed, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

"We'll leave you two kids alone." Mike smirked, taking Rachel's hand as they faded back into the crowds, just as the music mellowed to a slower pulse, a familiar song, that Harvey immediately recognised as the very one they had danced too on the night of Mike and Rachel's wedding.

He extended his hand, "what do you say?" He titled his head towards the almost empty dance floor.

She placed her soft hand in his, "Don't mind if I do."

She led him towards the centre of the floor, placing her hands on his shoulders as his came to rest on her waist. They swayed in silence to the music, their cheeks coming to rest side by side as the tip of her nose teased his jaw. Cherishing the peace in each other's presence. Their world moved so fast, and lately, with all the heartache and chaos they'd been through, these stolen moments of quiet had become even more precious, like a breath of fresh air after years trapped under ground.

"I have something to tell you." They both breathed, giggling at their synchronicity.

"You first." Donna whispered, leaning back ever so slightly so that her forehead kissed his.

He took a breath composing himself, the reality of what he was about to do striking him square in the chest "I've always known," he began, "I think I've always known that I loved you. I can't remember a time when I didn't feel this way about you, every time I see you, touch you, it hits me all over again, I can't escape it – I don't want to."

He hears her breath catch in her throat, as she absorbs his words. He's about to move his hand to his pocket, to reveal the dainty velvet box, but stops short, a sudden realisation flowing over him. He doesn't want to do it now, not like this, not with an audience. He'll wait, until it's just the two of them, the way it should be. But that doesn't stop the flood words that continue to fall from his lips.

"I want you to know, that whatever your past and whatever our future, I'm always going to love you the way I do tonight, unconditionally, wholeheartedly, no matter what has happened or will happened, I want you to remember this moment, this night, the way I couldn't keep my eyes off you, the way you consumed like you always do."

She felt hot tears burning in her eyes as the beauty of his sentiment washed over her, "every time," she choked, smiling, "every time I think I couldn't love you anymore than I already do, you manage to prove me wrong Harvey."

"Long may it last." He breathed.

She laid her head on top of his shoulder "Long may it last."

They continued to sway for a few more moments, lost in each other, letting the crowds slip away as they always did, until it was only the two together, until Harvey finally spoke, "what is it you wanted to tell me?"

"Oh I-"

"Excuse me, Ms Paulsen?" They were awoken from their trance to find a young man standing behind Donna, looking slightly intimidated.

"Yes?" Donna replied, faking a polite smile, although ready to strangle the man for his interruption.

"So sorry to intrude, but I just ran into Mr Litt on his way to the elevators, he was very upset, absolutely distraught, and well, he was asking for you-"

She sighed, closing her eyes in both sympathy and annoyance, she turned to Harvey, "I should probably go check on him."

"It's ok," he squeezed her hand, "go, we'll talk when you get back."

"Give me ten minutes," she shot him an apologetic smile, before returning her gaze to the young man, "where did you say he was heading..?"

XXX

"Louis?" Donna called as she roamed the empty halls of the firm, dimly lit by the city night sky, "Louis, where are you?"

She had already checked the restroom and Louis's office, as well as Harvey's and her own, the man was no where to be found. The clicking of her heels against the marble floor echoed loudly around the deserted corridors, as she searched room after room, passing by her old desk, running her fingers along the surface as she smiled at the memories.

She turned the corner to the bull pen, half expecting to find him sobbing at his old desk, she hoped to God he and Sheila hadn't had another fight, shes not sure how much longer she can play at couples counsellor. But the bull pen was as bare as the rest of the firm had been.

"C'mon Louis," she called out, "I'm just trying to help, where are – ah ha."

Her eyes landed on the double doors at the end of the hall way, one of them slightly ajar, she should have known he'd be there, how many times had he taken refuge in that very spot over the past few years.

The file room. How did she not think of it sooner.

She reached for the handle of the door, and for the first time in weeks, she forgot about the dread that this room instilled in her.

Pushing the door open further she slipped in, scanning the darkness for her friend, "damn it Louis," she huffed, "you could've at least turned the lights on."

She fumbled around in the pitch black, cursing the placement of the light switch on the far wall.

She heard movement behind her, the door seemed to have drifted closed of its own accord, leaving her utterly enveloped in darkness, "Louis, you're gonna have to come to me, I can't see a thing-"

She jumped as she felt a hand on her shoulder, body turning to stone, the bitter taste of panic rose in her throat, her veins flushed with ice as she felt a breath on her neck.

Her sixth sense seemed to screamed, run.

"Surprise Red."