Hello everyone and thank you so much for the reviews. I really loved them and I would have updated earlier, but gosh writing hasn't been easy since that premiere. I don't want to say much about it as you probably already know how I feel (or saw my reactions on twitter).. anyway. Harvey's evil twin is obviously not in this fic, I do still believe in Darvey 100% and eventhough it wasn't easy to write, I did want to keep this going and update. So I do hope you'll still enjoy this fic and I'd love to read your reviews. X - M


CHICAGO

CHAPTER 9: WHAT HAPPENS IN CHICAGO ...


[Monday]

Her room is darker than his, the windows smaller and the shades keep out more sunlight than he's used to but he wakes up before her alarm anyway. He yawns once, his body still tired and his left arm feels numb. He slowly opens his eyes, his head turning to the left. He watches her sleep for a moment, her breathing a regular warm touch against his skin and he now realises she's holding onto his hand as well. He smiles softly, eyes closing again and turns on his side, trying his best not to wake her. He curls up closer to her and brings his right arm around her waist as he holds her inside his embrace, lips planting a kiss on the tip of her shoulder.

It's only a couple of minutes later when the sound of her alarm does echo through her room and he feels her stir in his embrace first, it soon followed by some incoherent sounds he can't decipher. He feels her stretch, upper body leaning away from him, he wants to pull her back but he doesn't. One arm now slipping out from underneath the sheets, she reaches for her phone and turns off the alarm. A soft sigh escaping her own lips she rolls around in his embrace to face him and she presses a kiss against his cheek.

He groans once. "Your alarm is way too early," he announces with a husky voice, he keeps his eyes shut in the hope she gets his hint.

She chuckles once, a grin settling on her lip and she moves closer. Her fingertips tapping against his chest. "You were already awake, mister," she counters now, the palm of her hand falling flat against his chest, she tries to push herself up into a sitting position but he sneaks his arms tighter around her waist, holding her against his chest.

"Stay," he mumbles now. "It's too early..."

"Harvey -"

"We can stay in bed a little longer," he pleads.

She swallows, rolls her eyes at the smile he's sporting and she curses herself for feeling so helpless by just one look on his face, even with his eyes barely open, she tries to reason with him anyway. "We have to go to work."

"No," he mutters with a shake of his head. "No, we don't. Didn't you hear me give everyone the morning off yesterday at the airport?"

She shakes her head, now softly poking his chest until his grip loosens and she pushes herself up as she speaks. "But you didn't say that," she reminds him now rolling away from him to her side of the bed, pulling the sheets with her in the process.

He pouts now realising she'll never let him win or get away with something and he pulls on the sheets in one last attempt to make her stay, but it only exposes her freckled skin as she sits on the edge of the bed. He grins then, taking his current sight as a win.

She lets her feet dangle over the side, a shiver now running down her exposed spine and she can practically feel his hand on her hip. She draws her bottom lip between her teeth and bites down, but instead of giving in she leans forward. Arms stretched out, she reaches for the sweater he was wearing the day before and got discarded on the floor last night.

Bringing the dark blue piece of clothing towards her, she lets her arms slide through the long sleeves and she turns just a little for him to get a glance of her side boob before she pulls the sweater over her head.

He swallows, his gaze not having left the redhead since she rolled out of his embrace and he knows she's doing this on purpose. This little show and he watches her pull the knitted fabric down her frame while she gets out of the bed.

She hears him swallow once more and grins triumphantly. Realising his shirt is long enough for it not to show anything, she decides on making her way over to the kitchen just like that. Stalling in the doorframe of her bedroom, she looks over her shoulder in his direction one last time before she winks and leaves him be.

He only snaps out of his trance when he hears the sound of kitchen cabinets open and close again and he swallows thickly now, it definitely not having gone unnoticed that she was only wearing his shirt. He shifts in bed, stretching himself out and he brings his hand to his head, fingers slipping through his hair. He slowly counts to ten, hoping she'd change her mind and just come back to bed but when she doesn't all he can do is grunt once more.

It takes another minute of trying to compose himself from the state she left him in before he rolls himself to the edge of the bed on his side. Feet resting on the cold floor, he lets his elbows lean on his knees for a moment and his shoulders slump when he sighs again. He really doesn't want to leave her bed. Fishing his boxer briefs from the floor, he slips them on and he bites his own lip when the fabric runs over his arousal. The motion only reminding him again that she wasn't wearing anything and the thought isn't helping him in any shape, way or form.

Letting his hand run over his face, he yawns once more and quietly makes his way through her apartment, from her bedroom back to the living room. He walks past the light blue couch, his gaze dropping on it for just a moment before he faces her dining room table. He realises her apartment is a collection of very significant moments between them, his containing just one and he thinks about evening the score as he rounds the corner.

Coming to a halt again when he spots her, he takes a step to the right and now leans against the wall. His gaze following her every move while she tiptoes through her kitchen, humming a tune he remembers her singing before but he doesn't know the song. He watches her open a cabinet on her right, now lifting herself on her toes as she tries to reach for something from the highest shelve. The blue sweater she's wearing creeping up just a little and thereby partially exposing her behind.

She nearly jumps on her spot when she picks up on the guttural sound leaving his lips, it sending a shiver down her spine and she swallows when she turns on her spot. Her hands dropping back to the counter, she feels her stomach flutter at the mere sight of him. Her gaze slowly trailing over him, she spots his bare feet first. Her gaze continues its path over his legs, calves to knees, thighs, the blue boxer briefs. From his abs to his shoulders, the way he moves his hand through his hair, the sleepy look in his eyes and a yawn leaving his lips, followed by another greeting. "Morning."

A nervous chuckle echoes through the small kitchen and her eyes widen now she watches him brush his hand further through his hair, pushing himself off the wall and taking a few steps towards her. "Ooh god."

"What?" He mutters, a frown forming on his face as he wonders what her reaction is about. Taking another step towards her, he stalls right in front of her and steals one of the cups of coffee she'd poured only seconds earlier. He takes a large sip and licks his lips in appreciation.

"Nothing."

He lets the cup rest against his lips, gaze still resting on her, he takes her in for a moment before he places her cup aside again. "Not nothing," he counters, letting his free hand brush over her side and settle on her hip, fingers curling around his own shirt. "Was that a good ooh god or a bad ooh god?"

She draws her bottom lip between her teeth, thinking for a moment while she looks at him again and her lips twitch into a shy smile, already forming an answer to his question before she speaks. "We're really doing this," she whispers, her hand signalling up and down in the limit space between them. "Us. It's real."

He grins and laughs softly, her words surprising him. He's not entirely sure why this assessment came now, she's usually the one who's one step ahead of everything. Them being the exception, he should remember that. He brings his other hand to her hip as well and holds her in place. "The last two and a half days were real too, Paulsen."

"Yeah. I know… It's just..." she pauses, biting her lip. She brings her hands to his chest, fingertips tracing every muscle, a warmth radiates between her hand and his skin and she can feel the slightest increase in his heartbeat. "I think it only just really sunk in," she admits in a whisper, only looking back up at him after. "Now we're here back in New York. And you're here. In my kitchen in the morning."

He grins and bobs his head up and down.

"And I don't know…" She shakes her head now, finding her own thoughts ridiculous but she pronounces them regardless. "It's not what happened in Chicago -"

He laughs now, shoulders raising in the progress and his grip on her waist increases ever so slightly, he calls her name to get her attention. "That's Las Vegas," he objects to her statement when her eyes lock with his again. "And even if we had been in Las Vegas, this..." he pauses to signal between them with his right hand. "This wouldn't have stayed just there. We might have gotten back hitched though."

Her eyes widen a little and one somewhat nervous chuckles escapes her lips at the almost absurdity of his words yet somehow it doesn't feel strange at all. Her gaze roams over his face for a moment before meeting his eyes again and although his words may have been a joke for him too there's something serious about the look in his eyes. She lets out a small breath before she answers. "I don't want to get married in Vegas."

"Me neither."

They look at each other for a moment, both not really saying anything else but the way their bodies react to the conversation the exact same. From the sparkle in his eyes that captivates her gaze to the smile on her lips that makes him swallow, both experiencing the same almost nauseating feeling of butterflies in their stomachs.

He's the one to break the tension first, his left hand leaving her waist to reach for the cup of coffee again but he's only able to take one sip of the coffee as he feels her gaze burning his skin. His lips twitch back up in a smirk as he now almost struggles with the cup, he places it aside when she smirks in return. He raises his eyebrow, questioning her smile but she only looks up at him from under her lashes and not a word is spoken when his hands have found their place on her waist again.

He lifts her up and places her on the kitchen counter, her hands on his chest pulling him closer he steps between her legs. He leans forward, capturing her lips with his and his right hand moves to the small of her back first to bring her even closer before it drops back to her hip. Now trailing over her thigh to the back of her knee he hooks her leg around his waist.

She brings her hand to the back of his neck, letting her fingers slip through his hair as she answers his kiss. Lips parting beneath his, she's giving him access and his tongue darts out against hers. It's slow, passionate and combined with the way his hands move back up over her thighs again, everything they don't have time for. Her eyes still closed, she reluctantly pulls back resting her forehead against his. She sucks in one deep breath.

"We should go to work."

He tries to suppress a sigh and shakes his head as he leans forward again. Lips ghosting over the corner of her mouth, tip of his nose moving over hers. His hands continue their path, now disappearing under his own sweater. She whimpers before his sultry voice fills the limited space between them.

"Or we play hooky for a few more hours."

She runs her hands over his chest and she has to take a deep breath when continues his teasing, eventually biting on her bottom lip to stop herself from moaning. "Harv."

"Please," he almost begs now and her eyes widen a little because it's the word on the tip of her tongue, but he said it. "Give me one day."

She crooks her head a little, brings her hand to his jaw to make him look at her, not entirely sure what he means with that request.

"Just one day," he starts, now searching for his words, he briefly looks down. "One day where I'll actually be able to convince you that you don't have to get into work yet because I'm not going yet..." He looks back up at her now, knows he's treading dangerous waters with their new relationship, her rule and her search for more. "I just want one day so I can get you the office you deserve and –"

She presses her index finger against his lips. "How about two weeks?"

His brows slowly knit together in a frown and he waits for her to place her hand back on his shoulder before he asks. "What?"

"Two weeks' notice," she answers sitting a little taller and she offers him a smile.

His lips twitch into a small smile and it takes him two seconds to realise she isn't just quoting a movie (one he'll never admit to having seen), but seriously offering him two more weeks. "But you didn't resign," he answers, fingers of his left hand dipping into her skin. "I fired you."

"Not really," she answers using his words from last Friday, but she knows it doesn't really matter whether it was him firing her or her stepping down. In the end it was just both of them agreeing and getting the same thing they wanted all along; each other. She lets her hands slide around his neck and she brings her chest closer to his, her fingers slipping through his hair as his head tilts to lean against her chest for a moment.

She presses a kiss on top of his head, her hands now returning to his neck then and she waits for him to look back up at her before she continues. "If we want this… Us to work at work, we need arrange it properly," she reasons and he swallows once at her words but nods. "So let's give ourselves two weeks to adjust to the changes ahead. We need to get you a new secretary…"

He wants to tell her he'll manage without one, but doesn't. Not wanting her to think he's keeping her spot open in hope for her to return, because he really does understand that that part of their relationship is coming to an end. He hums then and leans forward to give her a quick kiss, but when neither of them pulls away and her body angles towards him again, he grins.

Leaving a trail of kisses behind from her lips down her jaw and up, softly nibbling on her earlobe. "Two weeks of getting into work late."

"Just this morning," she counters with a laugh but her sentence turns into a long moan as his hands come in motion again, one now slipping further down between her legs. The other moving up under the thick fabric of his shirt over her side to cup her breast.

Another moan rolls of her tongue, her mouth still parted as her head lurches forward. Lips pressed against his neck she tries to muffle the sounds that escape her all too easily and she can only bring her arm around his shoulder again, drawing him closer.

He focusses on her neck now, tongue darting out against her flushed skin followed by another kiss. A small bite and a peck just under her chin as her head moves back before his lips brush against hers again. Her moans now directly breathed against his mouth, it's the way her hands roam over his chest leaving moon shaped dents behind with every move he makes that her words from before are just a formality. Not wanting to let him win, he thinks he's winning anyway.

She pants, needs to break his kiss to catch her breath and she doesn't think it's fair how her body betrays her and reacts to him so willingly. How a simple look from him can get her heart to pound and her head feel hazy, how the simplest of moves make her knees buckle and ache for his touch even more.

She leans back forward, capturing his bottom lip between hers. Carefully biting down just to get that smirk off his face, using her hands now too because she needs to get to him too but he's standing too close to the counter for her to do anything in return. The smirk on his face returns at that realisation and she can only sigh heavily against his skin because she's Donna and she doesn't beg but she can't stop the words from being pronounced either. "Specter. Please."

.

.

He lets out a soft sigh and supresses a smile when he steps into the elevator, not entirely sure how she does it. Get into the elevator before him while arriving at the firm together. He now realises the head of security exchanging just a handful of words with him wasn't a coincidence at all as that was the exact moment she slipped away from him and continued her path down the lobby. He crooks his head, stopping himself from shaking it when he notices another person in the small metal box with her. He nods at the man and then takes another two steps towards the redhead.

"Morning, Mr. Specter."

Her voice is soft, playful and definitely not even remotely close to the tone she usually uses in the office and it does more to him than he likes to admit and is able to acknowledge. He swallows, wants to greet her in return using her last name but it's still her first name that echoes through the room.

"Donna."

He notices a sparkle in her eyes then, her lips curling up into a confident smirk and he thinks she will be the end of him. Maybe he should have taken her comment about taking separate rides to the firm more seriously. He draws his bottom lip between his teeth, jaw clenching and he turns around on his spot, right shoulder now behind her left arm.

It's when the doors close that he finally allows himself to reach for her, maybe he can't use words but he can use touch to tease her in return. He wasn't planning to, he really wasn't. Wanted to prove to her that he could keep things professional, but she started it and if anything he's only responding. His fingers circle around her wrist, coming to a halt on top of her pulse point and his thumb draws circles on the back of her hand. She doesn't comment, doesn't even flinch and he has to give her that but it doesn't matter because she's the only person he doesn't mind losing to.

He now silently counts along with the display above the door that indicates the floors they pass. Twenty. Twenty-one. Twenty-two. His gaze drifts to the other man on his left back to the highlighted buttons, only five more floors to go, and at last to the woman right next to him. Just studying her for a moment while she reads something on her phone.

She scrolls through her messages, answers a cheeky text from Rachel with an even wittier reply and she only turns to look at him when the burning sensation his gaze leaves behind becomes too much. She places her phone back in her purse, flashes him a soft smile and chuckles when he visibly lets out a breath at the other man exiting the elevator.

"You did that on purpose, didn't you?"

"Maybe?" She shrugs once, smile now more devilish than before. His gaze narrows in on her and she answers truthfully then. "Yep," she changes her tune now, the word leaving her lips with a plopping sound.

"Shit," he sighs, tearing his gaze away from her lips, his jaw clenching and he swallows. Gaze first landing on the floor, he then looks back up at the display to check how many floors there are left.

"What?"

"Nothing... I…" He closes his eyes, trying to push the images away. "It's just…" He turns to look at her again, his gaze meeting her questioning hazel eyes staring up at him, he shakes his head slowly. "I was thinking about last Saturday. In the car and you –"

"Ooh," she whispers, her mouth remaining slightly agape for a moment before she turns away again, taking in the atmosphere. "Because of the …" she swallows in the word elevator but signals the metal box around them.

"Geez. Donna," he grits his teeth.

"Cause this one didn't breakdown," she counters with a smirk, remembering what he told her that one night over a decade ago. He sighs so loudly then it makes her bite her tongue and he steps aside, hand now trying to reach for the emergency button but before he can press it, the doors slide open on the fiftieth floor.

"Saved by the bell," she mumbles, winking at him before she steps out of the metal box and into the hallway of the law firm, leaving him speechless for a moment. It takes a few seconds for the lawyer to come to his senses again and with slight increase in his pace he walks right up next to her. His right hand finding its place on the small of her back.

"You're going to be the end of me. Maybe we should have taken separate rides."

It aren't his words, but his hand on her back that makes her stall and turn her head to look at him. One eyebrow quirked, she gives him this look that only results in him looking even more confused. "We didn't touch at work," she simply states.

He opens his mouth to comment but just presses his hand a little firmer against the small of her back, making her step forward again. Walking beside her, he now does pull his own hand back. Just in case it wasn't only her stating the difference, but reminding him they decided to keep things professional at work. He fishes his phone out the pocket of his pants to busy his hands. "This is almost worse than all those years I didn't get to touch you."

She purses her lips together, feeling a blush creep up on her cheeks. She increases her step, now walking out in front of him as they round the corner to his office. She turns on her heel and makes her way into the cubicle she won't call hers for much longer.

His gaze follows her every move and he lingers next to her cubicle. His hand resting on the glass plating of the partition, he leans half in to kiss her but she's out of his reach. She smiles then, shakes her head and challenges him with this look at the same time. As much as she wants him to kiss her, they set some new rules.

He fakes a pout but even that doesn't result in her giving in. He taps on the edge of her desk instead and just nods. "Meet for lunch?"

She smiles first, only then remembering plan she already made before they happened. "I would," she answers truthfully. "But I promised Mike and Rachel I'd meet them because of their wedding."

He bobs his head up and down, trying to hide the slight disappointment he felt. He turns around and enters his office, placing the files she handed him seconds ago on his desk, he rounds the object and lets himself fall down in his desk chair.

She watches him settle in and now pushes her own chair back in order for her to return to her work. Firing up her computer she notices the little green light on the intercom turn on and it's followed by his voice.

"I'll join."

.

.

He holds the door to the executives' kitchen open, letting her slip inside first. He watches her walk straight over to the kitchen island, placing the binder she brought along for the soon to be married couple down on top of it and now turning around to help herself to something to drink. He smiles, taking the few steps towards her, he stalls right behind her.

"Harv," she whispers, slowly turning to look over her shoulder. He hums, gaze dropping to her shoulder and now up to her lips, but he doesn't act.

"What?" he mumbles. He lifts his right hand to the cabinet next to them, opening it, he reaches for two cups and places them on the counter in front of her. "I was just getting cups."

She swallows and slowly turns around on her spot. Still being boxed in by his body and the counter, she looks up at him and curses herself for doing so. His smile making her swallow. She notices him grin brighter now, before taking a step to his right. "In that case," she starts, sneaking away from him. "How about you make me a cup of coffee."

He grins and shakes his head, hands moving on with the task as he looks over his shoulder in her direction. He watches her reach for the binder again and now moving over the small table on the side. Sitting down on one of the chairs there.

Mike smiles at his fiancée as he follows her to the executives' kitchen, both slipping through the door it's the way Rachel almost instantly stalls that he bumps into her, hands falling to her waist to stop her from tumbling forward. He mutters her name in confusion, gaze now finding the redhead at one of the tables on his left, he only understands her movement when he hears his boss's name leave the brunette's lips.

"Harvey?"

Harvey turns around with the two cups of coffee in hand. He smiles and nods at the two young lawyers. "Mike. Rachel." He continues his path to the table, placing one cup in front of the redhead before pulling the chair next to her aside and sits himself down.

It takes a few seconds for Rachel to remove the frown off her face, she shakes her head. Not thinking too much of the man's presence, she figures now he's probably just there to share a drink while Donna helps them. She nudges Mike's arm now, urging him to move to the table too and she follows him, making them sit down at the table opposite of their friends.

"So." Donna smiles, pushing the binder over the small table towards her friends. "Did you make a final decision about the catering?"

Harvey takes another sip from his cup of coffee, now just watching and listening to the redhead and their friends. Amazed at how much she's done for the wedding, he looks down at a checklist from the binder now. Gaze going over the different lines on the page, most crossed off until one particular line catches his eye.

Flowers

He remembers now how he promised he'd take care of this particular task and he downs the remainder of his coffee. Placing the cup back on the table, he silently reaches for the binder and flips through it until he finds the folders he's looking for. Lifting up the papers he reaches for his phone from the pocket of his suit pants and pushes his chair back, already dialling the number of the florist.

Rachel frowns again, now glancing to the right to check if she really did see this happen and indeed she can hear the lawyer converse about flowers. When she turns back to face the redhead she finds her fiancé observing the situation with an equally confused look on his face, it's Donna's face though that speaks volumes. She's seen a proud look in her friend's eyes more than once, but this trumps everything.

.

.

The amicable chatter in the kitchen is interrupted by the sound of a phone going off. Donna looks down at her phone on the table. "I'm sorry," she apologises, now turning it over she reads the three letter word on her screen. Mom. It taking her off guard she hesitates for a moment.

He looks at the phone in her hand and back up to the redhead, waiting for her to answer but when she doesn't instantly do so he speaks. "If you're not going to answer I will."

She raises an eyebrow in return, questioning his statement.

"Your mom loves me."

She rolls her eyes now, pressing answer with her thumb and bringing her phone to her ear. "Hi mom," she speaks, trying to ignore the smile he gives her. "I'm having lunch, so you have five minutes," she adds, knowing her mother it could take forever to end the call otherwise.

"Are you having lunch with your boyfriend?"

"Alice… Geez," Donna mutters under her breath, whishing her sister could have kept something to herself for once.

Harvey's brows draw together at her reaction and he shifts on his chair to get a better look at the redhead. His face relaxing again when Donna smiles at him. "Tell your mom I say hi."

"Is that Harvey?"

Donna bites her tongue, trying to hold back a sigh. She loves being able to read people and it was her mom from whom she got this gift, she just isn't used to that very gift being used on her. Over the phone even. "Yes mom," she answers. "He's here and so is Rachel and Mike," she adds now eyeing the two others. "And they also say hi," she improvises, causing the young couple to mumble their greeting in return.

"Can you give the phone to Harvey?"

"What?" she stutters now. "Why?"

"Because I never got to thank him for what he did for your father."

"Mom..."

"Honey."

Donna swallows then, giving in. Her gaze flickers up to meet Harvey's. "She wants to talk to you."

He grins triumphantly as he takes the phone from her hand. "Mrs. Paulsen. How are you?"

"I'm fine, Harvey. Thank you for asking, but you know you should call me Martha, son."

"Martha," he repeats now, his signature smirk gracing his mouth when Donna gives him another pointed look. He'd always been right about her mother liking him.

Mike lets his gaze drift from Donna to Harvey, studying them both for a moment before he glances back at his fiancée who looks equally confused and amused at the scenario playing out in front of them. They might have known their friends for a few years now, but neither of them had ever seen this side.

"So I didn't have a chance to thank you in person for what you did for Jim."

"Just doing my job," he answers truthfully, even though everyone involved knew that not to be all it was. He frowns then, hearing his future mother-in-law mumble something he can't quite make out. He looks at the redhead next to him again, one eyebrow raised as he's trying to make sense of the words. "But there is a reason you're calling, so is there something you –"

Donna's eyes widen now, her hand tapping his arm as she mouths "No, you shouldn't have said that."

"Well... You know my daughter."

Harvey chuckles now. "I do. Yes," he answers, now covering the redhead's hand that previously slapped his arm with his own, a gesture to let her know everything is okay.

"And you know she can be very private when it comes to certain things but I heard she's seeing someone."

"Seeing someone," he repeats, glancing at Donna again and he notices her eyes widen again. He ignores the redhead's warning though. "Yes, she is."

"So you know him?"

"I could say that I do."

"What's he like?"

"Uhm…" Harvey mumbles now, trying to search for the words. "Well…" He starts now. "He's… He's Uhm... He's funny -"

"I'd thought you'd be better at describing yourself, son."

He swallows now, staying quiet for a moment and he notices that familiar all-knowing smile return on the redhead's face, followed by the words she rarely pronounced but did this time around. "Told you."

"But I'm really happy for you two and you better come along next family day."

He chuckles now, her mother really an older version of the woman he fell in love with. Just as intuitive as her daughter. "I will," he agrees to Martha's request. "Here's Donna."

Donna smiles and shakes her head at the lawyer's behaviour, now taking her phone from his hand again and bringing it back to her ear. "Mom," she greets her again. "How about I'll call you tonight. Okay?"

"Yes. Right, you two love birds are having lunch of course. Okay, talk to you later honey. Love you."

.

.

The brunette turns around just outside of the executive's kitchen, eyeing her friend again. "Donna?"

"Yeah?" she looks up again, now lingering in the door opening as the managing partner stalls behind her.

"Are we still on for tonight? Dinner?"

It takes a few seconds for the redhead to remember what the young lawyer is referring to. "Yes," she answers then. "Of course we are." Rachel smiles brightly in return and continues her path down the fiftieth floor.

He presses his lips together in a thin line, not commenting on his associate's request. He merely brings his hand to the small of the redhead's back, guiding her back to his office. He gives her a small smile when she turns to look at him.

She automatically smiles in return, but she notices the look on his face and studies him for a moment. It not taking long for her to connect the dots, she stalls in front of her cubicle. "I promised Rachel to meet tonight before Chicago."

His lips twitch when she accurately reads him. "Okay," he nods now, stepping closer to her again. He turns to look left and right, finding the hallway empty besides the two of them, he reaches for her arm. "Maybe I'll get drinks with Mike first and then -"

She rocks back and forth on her spot, a shiver running down at his touch. She brings her hands to his chest, fingers tracing over the lapels of his suit till she reaches his tie. She crooks her head and smiles. "I don't know how long it will take tonight."

"Okay," he fakes a pout, bringing his hands to her waist. "Well, you can call me after if you want to. Or you could just come by," he smiles now. "I know you have a key somewhere."

She grins, fingers slipping around the silk fabric. She fixes the knot.

"And if you don't manage to come over," he whispers looking her in the eye. He draws his bottom lip between his teeth and just looks at her for a moment. "I'll survive."

"You'll survive?"

He nods, trying to ignore her mocking tone. "Just one night though," he admits.

She laughs now, giving in to his words. She leans closer and presses a kiss against his lips. "See you tomorrow, Mr. Specter."

He pulls back the slightest and she takes a step back, but his hand keeps holding her at her elbow. A frown now forming on his face as he repeats her words in his mind and he looks at the clock on her desk. "It's two thirty."

"Ooh well," she shrugs, letting her fingers tap against his chest one last time. She now steps out of his embrace and rounds the partition of her cubicle. "I guess that means you get to kiss me goodbye twice today," she announces now sitting down on her desk chair. She winks at him. "Lucky you."

.

.

Harvey looks over the settlement proposal Mike typed up earlier that day, it not being something that actually needed to be done. Mike had always been more than a competent lawyer, even before that became legal, but with the current and upcoming changes ahead they decided to do one last case together.

"Looks good," he states then, closing the folder again. He throws it back on the coffee table and reaches for the crystal tumbler filled with scotch. Pouring both of them a glass, he slides one over the table to the junior partner. "To our last case."

Donna crooks her head, trying to hold in a chuckle but his eyes flicker up to meet hers instantly. Finding her linger in the door opening to what's now Mike's office, he pushes himself out of the chair and walks over to the redhead. The junior partner's gaze now following his boss' movement.

"Ooh come on," Donna shifts on her place, signalling the drinks on the table. "Last case?" she repeats now with a laugh. "You two might not work every case together, but you still did cases with Jessica after she made managing partner and it will be the same now."

Harvey smiles, crooking his head he now looks at her.

"Anyway," she continues tearing her gaze from the table and looking back up at Harvey. "I was coming to say goodbye." Her gaze meeting his in that exact moment, reminding him of her words earlier that afternoon. "To have dinner with your fiancée," she adds briefly smiling at Mike before she looks at Harvey again.

"Have fun," he counters, taking one last step towards her and he gives her a quick kiss as a goodbye.

Mike grins at the scene playing out in front of him. This afternoon before the phone call the two had kept themselves from touching so much he momentarily wondered if they were even together. He reaches for his glass of scotch now, taking a big sip and he can't help but smile when the older lawyer returns.

Harvey rolls his eyes at the look on the younger man's face. "What's wrong with you?"

"You two are cute."

The older man doesn't comment, just looks down because even though he agreed to the junior partner's statement he's not going to admit that. He walks back to the chair before sitting down. Now finally reaching for his own glass, he swirls the glass around and looks at the auburn liquid.

"Harvey."

The managing partner hums and eyes the younger man.

"That phone call today, during lunch. With Donna's mom…"

Harvey shifts in his chair now, eyebrows knitting together as he waits for Mike to continue his sentence.

"I'm just wondering how you did it."

Harvey frowns, bringing his hand up to the bridge of his nose. Pinching it. "I'm about a thousand percent sure I'm going to regret asking this but what?"

"You two have been together for a weekend," Mike starts shifting in his chair, he places his empty glass back on the table. Now going for a refill. "And you already have a better relationship with Donna's parents than I do with Rachel's and we're weeks away from getting married –"

"Yeah," Harvey mutters, placing his empty glass down too. He slides it over the glass table towards the younger man. "But then again, I'm not an ex-fraud."

Mike fakes a laugh now, throwing the managing partner a pointed look along with it.

Harvey swallows, picking up the newly filled glass tumbler again and he leans back in his chair, not missing the almost serious look of concern on Mike's face. "Look," he starts then. "I've known Donna's mother almost as long as I've known Donna herself and she might have always been on team Harvey but her dad can literally shoot me..."

Mike takes a sip from the auburn liquid, letting out a sigh.

"So," Harvey continues, letting the glass rest on the armrest of his chair. "If you're worried about Robert or Laura. It doesn't matter, Mike. Rachel loves you and in the end, all they want is for her to be happy. They'll come around."

"Wow," Mike mutters, slowly nodding as he takes in Harvey's words and he can't help but agree. "Donna's really rubbed off on you."

.

.

Finalising some files after Mike left the office, Harvey goes through the stack of papers on his desk again. Moving papers from left to right his gaze lands on one of the binders he used the week before to get Donna to consider options. He reaches for it now, hand resting on top of it for a moment and he smiles softly. Happy she found what she was looking for, happy he was able to help her make this decision.

Slowly lifting his gaze he looks at the empty cubicle outside of his office, the sight now not scaring him anymore. He remembers their conversation from that morning then, promising Donna he would arrange her an office and make her new position official. Lifting up the binder, he makes his way down to his fellow name partner's office. Hoping the man is in the office at last.

"Louis?" he knocks on the glass door, waiting for the other lawyer to look up at him before he enters the office. "Do you have a minute?"

Louis sighs loudly and shifts on his place. Actually having been wrapping up for the day himself, he takes a look at the binder in the other man's hand. He recognises it as the item Harvey asked for two weeks ago. "Harvey," the older lawyer starts. "If this is about the open positions. Can we do this tomorrow?"

"Actually," Harvey pushes through, taking the final step towards the man's desk. He places the binder down again. "It's for Donna."

"Okay," Louis bobs his head up and down. "What is it, Harvey?"

"When I asked you for this," Harvey taps on the binder. "It was because of Donna. She uhm.. Before we got Mike into the bar, she told me she wanted to do more. Something else and I needed this so I could give her an idea of the options the firm has to offer."

Louis glances at the binder on his desk and back up to Harvey, a nearly inaudible 'and' leaving his lips.

"I want to give Donna the position as head of HR."

Louis slowly takes in the managing partner's words. "Head of Human Resources," he repeats now. "That's a seat at the table," he adds now, a slight hint of hesitation clear in his voice but just because the redhead is his friend too and he only has her best interest at heart.

"It is," Harvey admits, smiling softly at the idea.

Louis narrows his gaze in on Harvey then, another sudden thought coming to mind. The question pronounced before he can think it over. "Are you doing this just to keep her at the firm?"

"Louis."

"I know you two are together," Louis continues, for the first time acknowledging the situation between his two friends. "But are you?"

"No," Harvey shakes his head. "Yes we are together, but I love her and I would support her no matter what." He pauses for a moment, placing his hand on the binder again. "But she likes this," he taps on the stack of paper again. "She's good at this and she wants to stay here and I know that technically I could decide this on my own, but I promised to make decisions like this with you. That's why I'm coming to you now. To inform you on the chances ahead."

Louis nods slowly but still doesn't speak as he recalls an earlier moment.

"Come on this is Donna," Harvey pleads now. "When she worked for me, she had my back and would kill anyone coming for me. When she worked for you, she did the same exact thing. You and I both know that if she left tomorrow, this firm would fall apart in a heartbeat."

"I know," Louis comments then. "And I'm on board with the plan but that we got an application a few days back for that exact position. Someone who's resume seems to be perfect…" He lets out a breath. His head slowly starting to shake as he watches Harvey. "I already set a date for an interview."