Notes:

Hello All! Muchos Thankos for the reviews. Great to read some in depth ones.

Now, Someone correctly pointed out that the timeline is vague.

With this Fic I didn't want to write the whole thing, otherwise it would all seem to be happening a little fast or take too long to get to events. So far we're up to four months. Perhaps I should have included David in a bit more to this point, as he's been around in the background tentatively meeting Cass since their first meeting.

My bad guys, that's the problem with a huge gap between writing. I'll amend that!

As for Donna making bad choices with regards to Cassie etc. Nothing is set in stone guys! I said it would be ride and that i would pull people about a bit. :evil smiley face:

It's been a rather productive one day off! A ~

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CHAPTER EIGHT

The first two months back in the city had been filled with gears changes, and moves and re-calibrating into a life she'd thought she'd left behind long a go. It had taken two months after that for things to settle; and she'd done everything in her power to juggle casual visits with David at the house; against Harvey and Cassie's flourishing father-daughter relationship, working for a silently disapproving Mike and occasionally have time to drink solo with a pregnant lady in tow.

Life wasn't perfect, but there was progress. And she never thought it would be easy for a second.

In fact, she had thought that with the rocky start and blurred lines that an improved state of affairs was far, far ahead of them. But minus the obvious indiscretions on her part - a not so subtle drop backwards that could still bite her in the ass with vigour - a build to a much more harmonious future seemed nearer around the corner.

Trouble was, the moment you looked farther than the first few feet, something was always going to rear it's ugly head…

If she was honest with herself, she was waiting for her to bring it up first.

"Why is David always here?" Cassie asks, a small yet deliberate frown as her large eyes look at her Mother's over the breakfast table.

"You don't like him?" She asks, and apologetic frown on her face as she perches on a bar stool next to her daughter.

"It's not that, just…he's not going to be my new Dad, is he?" She asks.

Donna smiles, trying to not to seem too patronising in front of such an honest observation. Her daughter has always been a worrier.

"Sweetie. You're father is...your father. That's never going to change. Not ever." She says.

"But if another man lives here,"

"Well. We would have to talk about that. Now, wouldn't we?"

"Okay." She nods, looking down for a moment. "Can we...talk about it?" She asks her Mother.

"Sure. Ask me anything." She agrees, picking up her mug of coffee.

"Why doesn't he hang out with us?"

"Well...here's the thing. I didn't want to force you into having to spend time with him. If he were to move in, and live here, then we would be a family of sorts, but not like you have with your Dad. That would be a choice that you have to make." She explains.

"I don't get it." She says, ruffling her brow.

"Well. Let's say...if your Dad and I...were to get together again. We would automatically be a family, because I'm your Mom and your Dad is your Dad. But if say...David and I got married,"

"You're getting married?" She asks, her eyes wide at the whiff of new information.

"Wait a sec, lemme finish." She tells her daughter. "If we were, say, to get married, then it's your choice if you want us to be a family. I would be married to David, I would be his wife, but I wouldn't expect you to treat us as a family if you didn't want. Because the family would be...you and me. And you and your Dad. If you did want to spend time with David, and you felt comfortable enough with that, then that's a choice for you to make. But the most important thing to me is that you and your father are the closest that you can be. Does any of that make sense?"

She waits, her breath on a knife edge as she watches her daughter struggle with the information.

"Do you want to marry David, Mom?"

"I'm thinking about it. He has asked. I was just...thinking on it."

"Do you love him?"

"I do." She nods.

"Do you love Dad?" She asks then.

It's that kick in the gut that she thinks will always remain there. She puts on the best smile she can muster. "Of course sweetheart. He gave me you." She says, leaning over the counter top to ruffle her hair.

It's time, she realises.

Time for movement. Like troops on a bridge waiting for the signal to be let off down the hill.

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She catches him in his office. She's checked with Winnie. The day has been steady. No emergencies, no alarm bells.

It's the perfect opportunity. Considering that Dinner is out of the question.

"Harvey?" She asks, knocking on the door frame as his eyes flick up from his desk. He gives her a blanket look; light and easy.

He's in a good mood. "Hey? Is everything okay?" He asks, his tone immediately turning to concerned.

If it were a more appropriate time she'd be chiding him for his over reaction and the possible images of Cassie in turmoil fleeting about his head.

"Fine." She insists, shutting the door before she glides towards him.

She picked her outfit out especially for this moment. Electric blue. Panelled. And just a little cleavage. She's not leaving anything to chance.

She glides to the couch, taking a seat, before patting the one beside her. "Sit down. I need to talk to you."

He looks at her then, catching on. "I'm already sat down." He counters.

She gives him a look and he frowns in defeat, sighing heavily to a stand as he wanders to the couch, slowly sitting next to her as he watches the seriousness creep into her face.

"What is it?" He asks, his head tilting to look at her.

"I am...getting married, Harvey." She says.

"What?" He blinks, the words washing far over his head.

"I know it's early, but I really like the guy and...I'm engaged." She says.

"Right. What is this like...the...eleventh time? Save for me." He half jokes, unperturbed by the information.

"No Harvey." She corrects, her voice careful. "This is the...second proper, time."

His face changes in a flash.

"Does Cassie know?" He asks.

"Yes." She nods.

"And…"

"I told her what I'm going to tell you. The most important thing is that your and Cassie's relationship doesn't change. You are her father and no man is going to replace that. That's not what this is about."

"What is it about, Donna? Don't tell me you're in love with the guy?" He argues, a slice in his words.

"I...am. I need a partner, Harvey. It's been three years. I need that somebody in my life now." She says, calmly standing her ground.

"I haven't even met the guy." He says then, his eyes flashing.

"Do you really think that's the best course of action? Considering what's happened?"

"Another reason to wonder why you would do this." He says, his nerve fraying slightly. "I don't even know the guy that's going to be around my daughter twenty four seven?"

"I know. That's why I'm telling you now, Harvey. First her. Then you. Then everybody."

He does something then.

Something she doesn't think he's ever done before.

Reason with her.

"Can't you just...take a sec. Take a year? See how it goes?" He asks, his voice tender against the frustration etching at his suddenly tired features.

"I found someone, Harvey. It's not off the bat. It's been a…" She wills herself to swallow. "Few months, and he's good guy. He's Lecturer. He's caring. He's good with Cass." She skips her words, interrupting him when she sees his mouth begin to open. "I've made it clear that the priority is not to replace you in any way in this. This is just about me. And having someone who's there. Who doesn't work at the firm. Who can help out with Cassie when we're both swamped at work and Mike and Rachel are tied up."

"I...I think it's...too early, Donna." He says, a lecture about his tone.

"It's not for you to judge that." She says then, her words hardening like candle wax. "I told you as a courtesy. So that you'll still be permanent in Cassie's life. For her." She tells him, trying to pushing reason into that stonewalled look painted on his face.

"Fine. Congratulations, then." He says, stalking out of the room.

She curses his ability to have a delayed feeling as he leaves there, watching his form disappear down the hall.

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He heads straight for the Boxing ring. No amount of Alcohol can temper the frustration baring down with the weight that it had the moment she'd emptied out her picket fence life plan into his lap.

For a perceptive individual, she was sure as hell, tunnel vision selfish when she wanted to be.

And as always, it was hop on or hop off. No care or concern for those who didn't agree with her decision. And if you weren't involved then that was that.

He laughed, a bitter edge on his lip that he hoped would be replaced by blood, soon enough.

He was supposed to be the Boss. I guess the backlashed rumours were true, he thinks to himself, bashing his gloves together as his shoulders tighten.

He's like a shark. An eyeline straight for the guy now sliding into the ring.

He's going to enjoy this.

He's going to win.

And then he's going out tonight, and he's picking up the most beautiful woman that the city has to offer, and give her the night of her life…

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Donna shuffles on the sidewalk; her hand held in David's as he looks down at her.

"You're nervous." He observes, a concerned look on his face.

"No," She defends. "Just...cold." She lies.

She's extremely nervous.

These are the most important friends - save for her high school friend, and fellow Thespian Cathy Catrolla - in her entire life. Add to that, that they're also Harvey's friends, and their friends, and that makes for one unavoidably convoluted little dinner party.

She remembers when she had suggested it, over the phone to Rachel. She almost heard the sound of Mike objecting in the background.

And she knew that Mike was holding back his feelings. He had seemingly been his old self at work; joking and horsing around with her as usual in between the much more important role of Partner. But she could feel it in the air, whenever Harvey came to grab a file or touch base. That look Mike would give her when his back was turned.

She thanks her lucky stars that he wasn't invited tonight. And she knew that for a fact, because she'd single handedly dropped their daughter off at the condo no less than an hour ago.

The buzzer goes, and they make their ascent to the apartment. When the door opens, Rachel is all smiles and carefully protruding bump.

"Hi!" She says, pulling Donna into a hug, before catching a flash of her shoes. "Oh my god, those are amazing!" She exclaims, pointing to Donna's bronze peep toes.

"They're not too much?" She asks, wincing slightly. She knows they're far too much for a dinner party, but she couldn't resist.

"Of course not." Rachel assures her, before turning pointedly - and much to Donna's concealed humour - rather robotically towards David. "And you must be...David. I'm Rachel!" She says warmly, moving forward to kiss him on the cheek. "It seems weird that I...got you two together and yet… I never met you!" She says, sheepishly.

He smiles coolly. "Of course, through uh…"

"Jenna!" They say in unison.

"Of course, Yeah. Wow...long time."

Rachel looks to Donna, perception flying about. "That means you've been dating longer than…"

Donna immediately feels the alarm bells ringing in her head, giving Rachel a quick look.

Rachel's words trail off when she catches it. "Nice to meet you anyway." She smiles

"Likewise. I've heard great things. I bought you a token...as a thank you. For tonight as well." He explains, shrugging slightly

"That's," She looks to Donna; a thankful smile falling onto her lips. "That's, very kind of you, David." She says.

She can tell in a second that Rachel's first impression of her fiancé is a good one; besides the rather clunky slip on information.

Her...fiancé...

The use of the title, even in her head makes her stomach flip over twice and land with a splodge.

Rachel shakes her head suddenly. That bashfulness that Donna loves so much; now only amplified more by the tiny human growing inside of her. "Of course...come in, guys! Mike's in the...kitchen." She says, beckoning them over the threshold.

They move into the living room; David casually looking about the place. "This is a beautiful place you have here." He says, examining the clean white lines and striking photographs on the walls, with little trinket touches.

"Thank you. We're going to have to move soon." She says, indicating her stomach.

"Of course, I can't believe I missed it. Congratulations," David says, with a bashful smile, completely unaware of his own blunder.

For a second, Rachel's eyes stare wildly at them both, before Donna erupts into awkward laughter.

"I told him, Rach! He's not...saying you're fat." She says, squeezing her arm, as she too joins in a chuckle.

David interrupts, a slight splutter about him as he tries to pick up his words. "She told me...earlier. Honestly...you look radiant. Not...you know." He says sincerely, hearing Donna stifle the awkward laugh in her throat.

Rachel laughs, her nose pinkering then. "It's fine, honestly. It's obvious." She assures them, a slight giggle still lingering. "I just...haven't asked anybody yet...I was too scared to find out that I really am fat." She jokes.

"Rachel, you are half the size I was." Donna cuts in. "Do you remember Cassie? She weighed nearly nine pounds!" Donna adds, looking between the two them.

"Oh my god. Yes! We used to joke that you were the wine cooler! You remember?" She adds, pointing to the wine, as Donna nods, laughing again.

She's missed this. These kind of nights. They were few and far in between even when she and Harvey were together. Mike and Harvey were always at work, trying to get to Partner, or close a deal, or running the front line of some takeover whilst Rachel was juggling the beginnings of school and work.

And she was left literally holding the baby.

It all got so muddled in the end...

Rachel places them both at the family dining table; an ornate glass and steel-looking design, with a pretty assortment of thick pink roses in a gold leaf bowl.

It's so very Rachel…

Mike arrives then, noticing Donna with a relaxed smile. "Hey," He says, bending over the chair to kiss her on the cheek as she turns to him.

"Hey You. What's cookin?" Donna asks, deliberately sniffing the air with a wry smile. "Nice apron, Martha Stewart." She jokes at him.

"You're gonna regret that when you find out what I'm cooking for you," Mike sings at her.

"What? What are you-What?" She says, her eyes wide as the rest of the table laugh.

"Your favourite." He divulges.

She mulls over the information, before the answer finds her. "No! You didn't!"

"Beef Wellington." He answers. "With spiced cabbage, sweet potato parcels and a cranberry jiu."

"Oh….you are such a good son." She says, giving him an admiring look.

David frowns next to her, not quite catching on. She lays a hand on his arm. "Mike lost his parents when he was young, so when he came to the firm… we took care of him. And then his Grammy passed, so I became kind of like his surrogate Mom."

She omits the part about Harvey being the father in that scenario...

"Right." He nods, a small smile of understanding on his lips.

"A young mother, who sometimes acts like an older sister." Donna adds with a smirk.

"And some days, a younger sister." Rachel jokes with a smile as she pours the wine.

Mike steps towards David, a careful eye about him and a hand outstretched. "And Hi, by the way. I'm Mike. Mike Ross."

"Nice to meet you." He smiles back, shaking Mike's hand before a look of confusion and bashfulness escapes his face. "When we get married...I don't have call you son or anything do I?" He asks, a half joke but awkward about it.

The table laughs, as does Mike. "No, we're good here." He winks wandering into the kitchen again. "I'll be back. Get drunk!" He orders, walking back into the kitchen.

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Meanwhile, a tired Father is roasting marshmallows on a barbecue he's never so much as unwrapped in well over ten years.

A little Red headed girl, expectant and swinging her legs under the chair waits, not sure impatiently for the 'magic' to happen…

"This is taking a while." She remarks, hugging her blanket around her.

"It's heating up. Patience." He says.

"Is the fire on?" She asks, looking back into the apartment.

"Just give it a second, Cass." He encourages, nudging her shoulder.

She sighs dramatically, her mouth forming into a pout. "Okay." She says, looking about herself.

"Hey," He nudges her one more. "What's up kid?"

Her eyes flick up to his for a moment, and then up to the sky, her shoulders rising and falling.

"Mom is getting married." She says, very matter of factly.

He feels heavy at the thought. He should have expected this.

She is his kid after all. He should have known he wasn't the only one to be against the idea. "I know." He says rather quietly, poking at the fire once more.

Every day, his job as father is getting harder and more fraught with obstacles.

"Do you not...want your Mom to get married?" He asks then.

"It's not that...I suppose. I want her to be happy though."

"Well that's very adult of you. I'm impressed." He says, turning the marshmallows.

"What did you tell her?" She asks him.

"Me?" He asks, pointing to himself.

He never used to be put on the spot by a five year old. Now it feels like common occurrence.

What do you tell an acutely smart five year old?

Most people would tell their children one of two things:

What they want to hear. Or what's best for them to hear.

But she isn't most children.

So on this eve of more new moments between them...he does something he would least be prone to doing, out in the real world.

He tells her the truth.

"I told your Mother...that I thought it was too soon."

He watches, as his little daughter's eyes light up at the information. "Now," He begins to backtrack; the whiff of a an obscure coup coming to the fore as he points at her for emphasis. "That's not to say that I don't respect your Mother's decision. Whether I agree with it or not, it's not my place to interfere. I have to support her decision."

"Do you love Mom?" She asks then.

He's never been as lacking in a defence as he is around her. It's unnerving. Like she's this strange little Buddha and confidant; a private little honesty in his life.

"I do. Very much. But when you love someone, as much as it can hurt you; you have to honour their decisions on things."

"Why'd you break up?"

"Because...I let her down."

He didn't fight for her. That...was the truth. He let her call the shots. Like always.

"Can't you make up for it?" She asks, hope clear and twanging in her little voice.

"Not now. It's been three years, Cass. Your Mom...deserves to be happy now. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

"I guess." She says, chewing her lip.

His eyes connect with hers, his arm lifting and gesturing towards her. "Come here." He says gently.

She lingers back for a moment, before walking towards him and nudging his side as he wraps an arm around her shoulder.

"Dad. You're burning them." She observes, leaning towards the barbecue with interested eyes and toes stretching.

"Crap," He mutters gruffly, grabbing the tongs.

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The moment they leave the dinner, it's the first moment that Donna can really relax, as she hugs herself to David's side against the cool air of Manhattan as they walk the block.

It's a good night, all things considered. Both Rachel and Mike got along with David. David was his usual pleasant self. She wasn't really sure what she expected really. They always were the cordial type of couple, even when they were their previous foursome. It was only when you divide and conquered them that the walls started to break down and their individual selves started to show.

"So...what did you think of them?" Donna asks, a keen eye trained on the face of the man beside her.

"Rachel is charming. I like her. And Mike is..."

She can see by the way his face becomes even more polite, that there is a slight reservation there.

"Mike and Harvey are Best Friends." She explains. "It's not the easiest situation there." She adds.

"Oh. Right." He says, looking down. "So what do your friends think of you bringing another man into their life?"

"They understand that the situation is complicated. But they want me to be happy." She says.

It's about as true an answer as it will ever be.

"If this is all moving too fast we can-"

She interrupts him before he can finish. "Eventually. things are going to have to change, David." She says pulling on his arm gently until he pauses mid stride. "I left Harvey three years ago for a reason. A good reason. Now it's time for me to move on." She says, her hand sliding up to plant a kiss on his lips.

It's chaste, and their lips are cool from the chilly slight wind whipping around them. His eyes examine her expression, his unruly dark blonde eyebrows knitting together before a decision fleets across his face.

"I think it's time...that I met your ex husband." He says.

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Thought I would leave it there for the chapter! A~