Harvey walked back to his place, but not before stopping at a gift shop to get gifts for his niece and nephew. Alexander was the eldest, about eight years old now, while Sophia was only six. He had a hard time deciding what to get, remembering how Donna had helped him the last time, finally settling on the latest baseball cards collection for Alex and a Barbie doll house for Sophia to go with the dolls they had brought her the last time.
He packed lightly as soon as he got home and decided to take the train to Marcus' house, about forty minutes outside New York. It was a long drive by car, and he had always secretly liked the train ride, the people, and the dynamics. He took a window seat, his brain flashing back to three years ago.
[Three years ago, Pearson Hardman]
"How's my favorite girl today?" a soothing voice said over the phone, making Donna grin.
"Be careful Marcus, Rose won't be happy to hear this" Donna joked, immediately recognizing Harvey's younger brother. He had a voice very much like his father's and an easy going approach to life as well.
"Oh she knows" Marcus joked back, making Donna laugh. "Is Harvey in?" he asked.
"Yes, let me transfer your call to him" she answered.
"Wait a second. I'm inviting him over for dinner this Saturday, we'd love for you to join us" Marcus said, extending her an invitation. Donna was a bit surprised by it, unsure how to answer.
"Euhm it's okay, I'm sure you haven't seen Harvey in a long time and you need to catch up" Donna mumbled.
"And you being there is an obstacle how? Come on Donna, you know the only way I'm getting anything out of him is you, and I'm sure you coming will stop him from being an ass. You haven't met the kids yet either" Marcus pushed.
Donna was not sure what he meant, only feeling her cheeks flush, as Harvey glanced over her, noticing her color.
"I'll think about it, how's that?" she asked.
"Much better" Marcus answered.
"Harvey, it's your brother" Donna said through the intercom, before transferring the call.
"That loser made you blush? He's only a smooth-talker you know" he teased, purposely saying those words for his brother to hear.
"Runs in the family" Donna teased back, before trying to focus back on work.
A few minutes later, Harvey walked out of his office, walking cockily towards Donna's cubicle.
"So, we're going for dinner at Marcus' on Saturday?" he asked casually
"We?" she asked as his eyebrows knotted.
"Yes, Marcus is inviting you too" Harvey said.
"I don't know Harvey, if we should do this" she was able to say.
"Why not?" he asked pouting, knowing exactly why not.
"Because we don't do this, we don't do non-business, we don't do families…" she explained slowly. Even she was tired of her own words, despite the fact that she hadn't used them for a while. For years they had managed to ignore whatever was between them, never mentioning it.
"Because you don't get involved with people you work with?" he asked, bitterness dripping from his words.
"Because it's for the best" she whispered back, while Jessica passed by. Her tone was soft, yet determined. She expected him to be mad at her, to sulk for days, but somehow he didn't.
"Donna" he said slowly. "I'm not telling you to sleep with me" he explained, before adding: "I'm not saying I don't want to, and I'm not saying that I do" he started mumbling, making her laugh.
"Wow, the best closer of New York City, out of words" she teased, making him roll his eyes.
"What's the date again? I wanna write it down" she continued.
"It's the 7th of kiss my ass" he said, before taking charge again. "All I'm saying is that I don't see the harm. Marcus loves you, you'll get to meet the kids and I…" he spoke softly before she cut him.
"Okay" she said, the surprise showing on his face.
"Okay?" he repeated unsure. He didn't know he'd convince her.
"Yes, now shoo, I have work" she said, flashing him her smile.
I what, she wondered. Part of her was mad for cutting him mid-sentence, the other too afraid to hear what he had to say.
They decided not to take the car, Harvey knowing he'd be drinking.
The train ride was silent, before Harvey finally said: "Thank you for coming Donna. You look great" he said.
"Wow a thank you and a compliment in one sentence, is the world ending today?" she mocked.
He rolled his eyes, the corner of his mouth tugging into a smile.
They arrived shortly, Marcus and Rose greeting them warmly, while a pair of kids ran towards Harvey. He bent down, as they ran into his arms and he lifted them both, each on one arm.
"Oh my God, you two are so big" he said, kissing their cheeks while they hugged him tight, before he let them down on the floor again. "Been good to your parents?" he asked, as they ran around, and the girl shouted: "Noo", making them laugh. The scene was so alien to Donna; she had never seen him with kids, and she didn't expect this at all.
"Come here, I want you to meet someone" Harvey said, calling them towards Donna."Donna this is Alex and Sophia" he said as she smiled down on them.
For some reason she was hoping they'd like her, as she waited anxiously for a reaction. Alex extended his arm, making her do the same, before he kissed his hand, making her giggle in surprise.
"This one is just like his uncle" Marcus said winking at Harvey.
Sophia took a step towards Donna, hugging her legs, as Donna felt her heart burst with emotions.
"We got you something" Harvey said cheerfully, holding the bags while the kids ran around him.
Dinner was full of stories, mainly Donna exposing Harvey as he threw at her his darkest glances. They teased each other all night, under Marcus' and Rose's looks, before Donna helped Rose clean up.
They stood in the kitchen, while Harvey sat on the floor of the living room, next to his niece and nephew. Donna stopped for a minute, leaning on the kitchen door, looking at Harvey staring startled at his niece who was playing with her brand new Ariel and Eric. She softly smiled at the sight, before she was cut off by Rose's words.
"Oh oh" she said. "I know this look"
"What look, there's no look" Donna said, turning hastily towards Rose.
"There is, it's the same one I had for this one" she said, pointing at Marcus who was sitting on the couch.
Donna's eyes filled with panic, trying to stay calm.
"Look I don't know what's the deal with you two" Rose continued, "but you have something. It's in your bickering, it's in your eyes, it's in his eyes" she said while cleaning a plate. "I refused to believe it too, at first. But when I finally came to terms with it, that was a year later by the way, I told him" she explained. "The next day I had this" she said, pointing to the ring on her finger. "Marcus told me Harvey can be difficult, but I think you should tell him" she finished.
"Tell me what?" Harvey walked in, having heard the end of that sentence, clearly cheery from the alcohol in his blood.
"That you look like an idiot when you're drunk" Donna flirted, saving herself while he stood too close to her.
"I resent that" he said, smiling at her. "You look beautiful" he said, standing nose to nose with her. Rose cleared her throat before walking into the living room. "Kids, to bed" she said, as they started whining and refusing to move.
Donna could feel herself blushing. "We'll take them to bed" she finally said, walking away from Harvey who followed her anyway. She sat facing Sophia, looking at her playing with Ariel.
"That's you" the girl said, pointing to Ariel. "And that's Uncle Harvey" she continued, pointing at Eric.
"And what's going to happen?" Donna asked curiously.
"He's going to save her because she can't swim and he loves her and then they will live happily ever after" the girl continued, Donna astonished at her fluent language.
"You do know she's a mermaid right? And a mermaid knows how to swim?" Donna asked delicately.
"Not in my story" Sophia answered, making Donna lean and kiss her forehead.
Harvey looked at Donna, seeing her bonding with his niece, a smile reaching his lips.
"Is she your girlfriend?" Alex asked curiously, Harvey clearly fazed by his question.
"No, and what do you know about girlfriends?" Harvey answered, looking at Alex.
"She should, she's pretty. And I have one, by the way" he huffed as if it was nothing.
"She is" he answered, glancing over her again, their eyes meeting this time, as she smiled at him, her hand playing with Sophia's hair.
"Come on, time for bed" Donna said, opening her arms for Sophia, lifting her and walking towards the bedroom, motioning for Harvey to follow.
They entered the bedroom, putting the kids to bed, before Donna leaned in to kiss Sophia, as Harvey did the same to Alex, and they switched.
For a few seconds, Harvey wondered what a life with Donna would be, with Donna and kids to be more accurate. Just when they were about to leave the room, they heard Alex's voice.
"You should ask her" he said, making Donna raise her eyebrows.
"Ask me what?" she said, as Harvey literally pushed her outside the room, closing the door.
"I don't know" he lied, while she eyed him suspiciously.
They sat with Marcus and Rose, talking and joking before Marcus got up and put one of his dad's records, and everyone stopped talking, enjoying the soothing music of the saxophone. Marcus got up, extending his hand to his wife, who accepted his invitation.
Harvey did the same, and tilted his head when he saw her hesitant face. She finally took his hand as he pulled her up, bringing her close to him. They had never done this; they had never danced together despite their many years. And now as he smelled her perfume and could feel her breath on his skin that he knows why. He wasn't sure he could resist her, pushing her away from her and spinning her around back to him, just like a boomerang. Their eyes for a few seconds, a current passing by as his gaze focused on her lips a bit too long, before the record stopped.
"Shit, it's late" Harvey said glancing at the clock that read 2 a.m.
"Stay over" Marcus reasoned.
"I have to work early in the morning, we can catch the last train back to New York" Harvey said, as Donna nodded.
Despite Marcus' and Rose's insistence, Harvey and Donna were on their way to the train station.
Harvey's hand held Donna's waist protectively at the sight of drunken men staring at her.
"I didn't think this through" he said, pissed at himself. "The train will be full of drunken people" he said.
"It's okay" she whispered, finding them an empty spot.
They sat down, Donna yawning immediately. Some guys walked in, looking at Donna in ways that made Harvey's blood boil.
His hand slid down to Donna's, their fingers intertwining, making Donna jump, looking at him with confusion.
"I'm sending a message nicely to these sons of bitches" he explained under his breath, his hand clenching hers even more. "Before I send my fist down their nose" he continued, Donna sensing his anger and nodding.
She soon relaxed back, enjoying how the spaces between her fingers seemed to be made just for his. It takes her a few seconds to fall asleep, her head resting on his shoulder.
[Today]
Harvey knocked on Marcus' door, his brother opening it with a shocked look on his face.
"Harvey, is everything ok?" he asked worried, as Harvey walked towards him.
"Yeah, I missed you" Harvey answered, hugging his brother.
"Me too, come in" Marcus said, a now taller Alex and Sophia walking towards their uncle to greet him.
"Are you sure you're ok?" Marcus asked again.
"I screwed up things with Donna" he admitted, as Marcus shut the door behind them.
I feel a boom and a bang
Beating in my broken heart,
Love just like a boomerang
Bouncing back to where it starts,
We belong like yin and yang
Even if you pull us apart
Thank you all for your continuous reviews and support. I hope you enjoyed this; next chapter should tackle the current issues with Donna and Harvey with Meg's help of course.
As usual, let me know what you think and your suggestions,
-G
