Hi Folks! Thought I would update this one. I tried to make this fic fluffy, but in view of the statements that there might or might not be a death I thought I would just do an example of one myself. Don't worry, though, things will brighten shortly. Thank you for R&R - Carebearmaxi

Loving Each Other Out Loud

Chapter 10 - Down to Earth

The flight home was not so nearly interesting as the way to Seattle. Harvey and Donna decided that although it might be cool to test the waters of the Mile High Club again their better judgment prevailed. Donna kept twirling around her little faux engagement ring on her finger while she watched the flight out the window. Although she had her files in front of her again and her reading glasses on her head prepared to do some real damage this time so her little weekend excursion with Harvey did not keep her derelict in her duties as COO, she just could not focus.

Harvey on the other hand was writing and examining and had not two words to her since they had taken their seats. His reading glasses were perched on his face and every once in a while he would stop scratching in his portfolio's notebook, reach out, and squeeze Donna's shoulder or arm. He stopped her fingers this time from twirling the little ring.

"Can't focus?" Harvey asked.

"Yes, I don't know why. I had a wonderful time, and I can't stop looking at my "ring"," she remarked with air quotes.

"Are you worried? Because don't be, I have the situation in New York under control. Louis didn't call and neither did anyone else, so I am certain that everything is just the way it was when we left Friday afternoon," Harvey comforted. Donna touched his face and then leaned over and kissed him.

"I hope so," Donna said clasping Harvey's hand for a minute before releasing it and resuming her look out the window.

"Harvey," Donna said removing her glasses from her head and placing them back in her bag. She left the folder in front of her but closed it.

"What is it?" He asked without looking up .

"Did you hear from your mom at all?"

"No, I guess I should have checked on her," Harvey said feeling guilty for not even thinking of his mother and her predicament.

"That's not what I meant. Lily doesn't seem to be the type to want be coddled."

"Mmm..." Harvey responded.

"What was that sound for?" Donna said physically pullling back.

"Nothing."

"First thing we should do is call her to see if she's still in New York," Donna said. "Then I'm calling Louis."

"Why don't we just go straight to the office?"

"Because it will be 8 pm by the time we get there and I need to go home," Donna said.

"With me?" Harvey asked hoping she decided to spend the night with him. There were few nights where they did not spend the night together. One night recently Harvey had told Donna to go home, and she had wanted him to come home to her place. Instead Harvey left so late that he told her to go to get some sleep, and he would see her at the office in the morning.

"I'll miss you," Harvey said.

"No, you won't. You're already calling me a blanket hog," Donna said.

"Donna..."

"I know. I'll miss you, too. Goodnight, love," Donna said.

"Goodnight."

Later that night, Harvey had forgotten in his subconscious that Donna was not next to him. He reached out for her and woke up with a start. He needed to hear her voice, so he looked at the time on his cell which sat on the night table next to him. He did not think she would mind because, hopefully, she had been in the same state as he.

However, before he could hit her number, his phone rang and her picture came up.

"Couldn't sleep?" Donna said.

"How did you know that I was going to call you?" Harvey asked. She had felt he needed her across town.

"Because I can't sleep either. I reached out for you and I missed not feeling your arms around me."

"I reached out for you, too."

Then Harvey remembered they both laughed out loud.

"Well, this has to stop because we are both going to be falling asleep on the job. I don't know about you, but I have never fallen asleep on the job," Donna said primly.

"Yeah, you did. I caught you when I walked into your office the day after our second "first" time," Harvey teased.

"If I remember you were nodding off too when I checked on you. Your assistant gave the "shh..."sign," Donna teased back.

"You finished?" Harvey asked feeling a sudden umbrage that she would know that he had fallen asleep on the job.

"Yes, I'm finished. Can you sleep now? We only have to manage a couple of hours now," Donna asked.

"How about I come over and finish sleeping with you?" Harvey invited.

"It's up to you, hotshot, but I think that if you come over here the last thing we will be doing is sleeping..." Donna purred.

Harvey yawned. "On second thought, as much as I want to come over there and jump in your bed with you I am in no condition to drive. Besides you're right, I see you the last thing I am going to do is sleep."

"Goodnight, Harvey. I love you," Donna said before hanging up.

"Goodnight, Donna. I love you, too. See you in the morning," Harvey then hung up.

"Where were you?" Donna asked seeing Harvey just sitting there looking into space.

"Oh? Oh, I was just thinking.

When they arrived in New York, Ray was waiting in the baggage claim area for them.

"Hi Ray!" Donna said warmly. Harvey sounding relieved said that he was glad Ray was there to meet them.

Ray and Harvey carried the luggage to the car and when they were situated in it, Ray asked, "Where to?"

"Home!" Harvey and Donna said together.

Ray laughed. "Which one?"

"Mine!" They both said again simultaneously.

This time and Harvey and Donna were giggling as well.

"Hers!" Harvey said point to Donna.

"His!" Donna exclaimed simultaneously pointing at Harvey. Again they were in hysterics because they spoke at the same time in the same way with the same gestures.

After all three were finished with their hysterics, Harvey calmed first and stated, "Take Donna home first to her place and then take me home, Ray. You can have the rest of the night off after that. I'll drive to Donna's myself later." The last sentence Harvey said never removing his eyes from Donna.

"Sounds good," Donna said. She then motioned for Harvey to move closer so she could whisper in his ear.

"If you're planning to leave for the firm from my place in the morning, bring your clothes. If not, clothes are optional.." Donna purred like a tiger and then kissed him.

Harvey with fire in his veins stared at his woman and realized again what he had been missing all those years. He kissed her quickly and then settled with her leaning against his chest with her head on his shoulder.

Later, Donna heard Harvey come into her apartment using the key she had given him a few weeks earlier.

"Harvey?" Donna called.

"Donna, where are you?" Harvey asked looking in the kitchen. She was not there. He then looked in her bedroom and did not find her.

"I'm in the bathtub," Donna called as Harvey opened the door and found her in candlelight and bubbles which covered her to her breasts.

"What are those for?" Donna pointed as she asked. She smiled because she noticed Harvey could no take his eyes off her as he stood in the doorway to her bathroom holding a plastic bag with stalks of celery sticking out.

"I thought I might cook us some dinner since we didn't eat before or after the trip back."

"You're going to cook in my kitchen?"

"Sure, why not?"

"You told me my kitchen was inferior to yours, you said that..." Donna kept teasing smiling the whole time.

"Yeah, I know what I said and I am wrong," Harvey said still holding the bag and enjoying his view.

Donna pretending to be coy and covered the tops of her ample breasts with her hands.

"You don't mean that. You're just hungry and can't stand being away from me," Donna continued to tease and then she rose out of the tub completely naked bubbles covering her in various strategic places.

Harvey's eyes widened and his voice softened as a wet naked Donna in front of him gave him goosebumps all over. He had had her body so recently, but he wanted her again. He would never tire of that. He swallowed noticing that he had the bags still clutched in his fingers.

"Be right back. Don't move."

Donna loved seeing that look in his eyes. That look of love and desire that said, "I want you." Donna had always felt the same way when she looked at Harvey. For too many years she had had to quell those feelings and compartmentalize them using her desire for him in fantasies and transferred to other men. Not now, however, he was now everything he promised to be when she first fell in love with him so long ago.

Soon Harvey was back having deposited the groceries in her kitchen. He picked up a large beige towel from where it lay on the rack and started patting Donna's back gently. He took her long red locks and gently wrung them out. He then wrapped her in the towel and turned her around in his arms.

"Hey, I'm not dry yet," Donna murmured kissing him letting her their tongues intertwine.

"I know," Harvey whispered deeply as he began to undo his now wet white dress shirt baring his tone chest. The resumed kissing. Soon the towel dropped to the floor. He engulfed her half slippery fragrant body. Their hands roaming now familiar territory. She cradled his head as he nibbled her scented neck and played with her breasts. She ran her hands under his shirt feeling his deliciously muscled back as it worked her body. She again ran her nails down his back as she the thrills coursed through her body. She would never tire of this. She would never tire of feeeling his weight upon her.

Harvey was heady with her scented body smelling of lavendar which combined with the vanilla scent of the candles lining the tub. She was pliant, soft... so soft. He could feel Donna working with the button of his jeans. He sighed heavily as her hands worked their magic on his body. He could feel her hardened nipples against his bare chest and his desire was unmistakeable as Donna furthered her journey with her hands...

"...Mom..." Harvey's phone startled them both as it named the caller on his phone which sat in the back pocket of his jeans.

He kissed her lovingly and said, "It's mom. I tried to reach her earlier, so she's calling back."

"Go ahead. I'll be getting dressed, so you can cook."

"Nothing too complicated.." Harvey called back. Donna smirked as she left the bathroom.

Harvey put the phone to his ear and said, "Hi Mom."

"Hi Harvey..." Lily greeted back sadly.

Harvey could hear sniffing and then a little sob. The alarms went off in his head that something had happened to his mother. Harvey remained completely subdued as he listened to his mother on the phone.

Finally, after many minutes, Donna listened to Harvey's voice as he responded to his mom.

"Mom, are you ok?" Harvey asked as he came into Donna's kitchen and pulling out a chair sat down. He looked up at Donna who was now dressed in simple silk pajamas. She stood at the counter and had begun sorting the groceries that Harvey had brought, but she turned around when she heard the panic in Harvey's voice.

"Oh, no, mom! How are you holding up? Where are you by the way?"

"I'm holding up. I'm still at my apartment here in NY. I need to go back to Boston soon for arrangements. I know you may not want to, but would you come back with me? I know you and he never got along, but Bobby knew how much I loved you. Oh nevermind, Marcus can help..."

"Of course, I will come with you. Would you like Donna to come as well?"

"She doesn't have to. She never knew Bobby" Lily sniffled trying to sound calm and not wanting to really have intruded on their relationship more than she already had. She was so grateful to Donna for having had the sense to make Harvey come back to her. Lily needed her son now. Lily had always had Marcus, but since his divorce from Katie he had been truly depressed and almost impossible to be with. She looked up to Harvey because Lily knew she could depend on his strength. He had always been the real rock between her two sons.

Donna stopped sorting groceries having put them away until they were need. She came to sit at the table placing a comforting hand on Harvey's arm resting on the table. She knew something bad had happened because Harvey was talking to his mother in such hushed tones. Donna slowly stroked Harvey's arm and looked to him to see if what she was thinking had, in fact, happened. Donna nodded her head when Harvey had asked Lily if she had wanted her to come to Boston to help with arrangements.

"We can come be with you right now if you need company?" Harvey asked. Not an unsympathetic man, Harvey was working on instinct. He wanted to be there for his mother in her time of need, but if she would prefer to be alone then he wanted to make sure he did not push. Lily, sometimes could erect walls with her emotions, just like her eldest son.

"No, I'm fine. You just got back today. You and Donna need to spend as much time alone together as possible. One never knows what is around the corner..." Lily sobbed.

"Ok, mom. We'll be over in the morning then. I love you, mom. Call me if you need anything."

"Thank you, Harvey. I love you son. Give Donna my love. See you in the morning," Lily said comforted by Harvey's caring voice as she hung up.

Harvey stared at his phone quietly and placed the phone on the table. He folded his hands in front of him and looked at his beautiful fiancee. His hand came over on top of hers as it still lay on his arm. Joining her fingers with his, he had suddenly remembered that he had to make good on that engagement ring as he noticed Donna's left hand bereft of her makeshift bauble.

"I have to get you your ring..." Harvey said quietly absently.

"Harvey, what happened to Bobby?" Donna asked as she shook his arm a tad to bring him back to the present and not let him get sidetracked about items that could be saved for another day.

Harvey swallowed and looking at Donna began, "Ah...he was in an accident at the shop. A car was on a lift and it slipped. He was crushed under the weight of the front end of the car as it fell. He was alive, but died on his way to the hospital. Marcus called mom yesterday," Harvey said with tears in his big brown eyes.

"Oh I am so sorry. I didn't know him, but I know your mom must have loved him. They were together a long time," Donna said.

"Well, yeah, Bobby was the last guy my mom cheated with and stayed with when she left my father," Harvey said sitting there in shock. He rose from the table and ran his hand through his hair and paced.

"Donna, my mom would like us to accompany her back to Boston while she makes arrangements. I know Marcus is there..." Harvey said quickly taking a seat on the couch. He felt helpless. Harvey was suddenly feeling cold. As he sat on the couch he started to rebutton his shirt. He wanted to comfort his mother, but at the same time he wanted to stay away from the sadness. Harvey was afraid of anything that would burst the happy bubble he and Donna had been living in since they came together. Harvey thought work would be the first thing to intrude. He never expected anything like this to happen.

"No question. I can come. I will contact Louis now and let him know what happened," Donna said as she picked up her own phone which had been next to Harvey's on the table.

"Donna... you don't have to," Harvey said reaching out a hand from the distance of the couch. "Besides Louis is going to hit the roof if one of us is not there tomorrow," Harvey said as he rose and returned to the kitchen.

However, Donna had already gotten through.

"Louis. It's Donna...no, I know. Louis, listen. There's been a death in Harvey's family and...no...his stepfather. You're sure. Thank you for understanding. I'll be back by Friday. I will. Thanks, Louis."

"It's settled. Louis understands. He sends his condolences. He gave us both clearance to be there for your mother. I will have to be back by Friday, but understandably if you need longer."

"Donna..." Harvey said as Donna had come into the living room. He took her in his arms and held her. "You don't have to..." he murmured into her hair.

Pulling out of his embrace far enough to look at him. "I am going to be your wife and we have always shared these things together. Right, Harvey?" Donna asked because she knew how he used to be. He had never wanted to share what he was feeling or accept a person's sympathy for himself. Donna knew he had never had a great relationship with his stepfather, but now that he had been reconciled with his mom Donna needed him to know that that relationship was as important to her as it was to him. He was such a changed man since he had accepted his mother back into his life.

"I love you," Harvey said as he pulled her into his embrace again. Harvey realized now just how special Donna was to him. He needed her and never wanted to be without her. He understood his mother's relationship with Bobby after all these years. Bobby had been good to her and she had been good to him. His mother had sounded distraught. Harvey could never imagine if Donna was taken away suddenly. The times she had almost left him professionally had been bad enough because those times were not just professionally. He was so attached to her personally and had been since the minute he had met her.

"Harvey, are you still hungry?" Donna asked.

"No," Harvey said pulling back and looking into her watery hazel eyes.

He swallowed hard and said, "Can we just go to bed?"

"Absolutely."

Donna pulled away from him and shut the light out in her kitchen. She then took his hands and they walked to her bedroom where they shed each other clothes and slipped underneath the sheets gently loving one another in the dark.

After they were completed, Harvey held Donna in his arms trying to sleep but not being successful. Neither could she actually. Donna just held Harvey knowing he needed support as he had been affected by the situation. Not necessarily the death of Bobby, but what it did to his mother who was now to be without the companion she kmew was the one for her.

In the dark with the silence deafening him, Harvey held Donna tightly to himself. Her head lay on his chest. He felt the wonderful heaviness of Donna's arm holding him securely.

"Donna?" Harvey spoke quietly. His sound coalescing with the darkness and silence.

"Yes, Harvey," Donna answered quietly feeling his bristled chin against her forehead.

"Don't ever leave me. I couldn't bear it."

"Oh Harvey. No one could tear me away from you if I can help it." She held him tighter and kissed his cheek.

Now was not the time for a reality check that death may eventually separate them. The times she had left him took every ounce of strength in her to say goodbye. She left him professionally once because she was fired. He came to get her back. She left him professionally once to go work for Louis thinking that, perhaps, if she could leave him professionally the personal emotions would eventually dissipate. The last time she physically left him was when he was with Paula. Donna thought if she resigned the position that she loved that Harvey would find his personal happiness with Paula. Donna was very glad that he realized that Paula definitely was not for him.

The very last time she separated from him was an emotional leaving. She could not bear to see him be stripped of his license to practice law knowing she was the cause. It had finally taken Robert's sacrifice and the dodging of a professional bullet to wake him up and finally realize how much she had always loved him and how much he loved and needed her. This final time cemented that they would be together unless something like death separated them. Donna did not need to stand in front of a minister to vow this to Harvey. She was his until death did them part.