I can't thank you guys enough for sticking with this story and the very sporadic updates but night shift is a giant pain in my ass. We're not quite finished yet, patiently waiting for the arrival of baby Specter. As always your comments and encouragement are always welcomed!
She couldn't believe it had got to this point. She never thought it would happen to her. But here she was, 36 weeks pregnant and she couldn't get out of bed. Not for want of trying of course, but over the last few weeks this baby had truly kicked it up a notch and Donna was massive, well that's what she felt like anyway. The fact that she had to wait for Harvey to get out of the shower to help her didn't assist in matters.
As fate would have it Harvey emerges from their ensuite freshly showered, wearing just a towel. She can't help but look him over and he notices too. Sending a grin her way he wanders over to her. She gets caught up in the scent of his aftershave as he leans in for a kiss.
"Good morning" he says as he gives her another kiss followed by a series of small pecks on her lips. "You're going to be late".
Donna throws him a sullen look and huffs "I can't get out of bed. Too fat".
He dismisses her comment immediately as he helps her up. "Don't be ridiculous. You look like you're hiding a basketball under my shirt. Everything else about you looks exactly the same. Well, except for your boobs, those are something else".
"Geez you really know how to make a girl feel special Specter" Donna says as she unbuttons the short she stole from him when everything of hers was getting too uncomfortable.
Now it's Harvey's turn to watch and be caught out. It earns him an eye roll from Donna as she makes her way to the shower. "You spend any longer checking me out Harvey and you'll be the one that's late" she laughs as she turns the water on.
Considering his options he turns back towards the shower, drops his towel and hops in with her. It catchers her by surprise as he wraps his arms around her from behind. Planting kisses up her neck she laughs as he says, grinning "It wouldn't make sense for us to take two cars into work. I guess we'll both have to be late".
Sitting in the back of the car as Ray navigated their way into work Harvey looks to his left, Donna wasn't wrong she had gotten bigger over the last few weeks, he had also noticed her looking exhausted by the end of the day, practically passing out by the time they got home in the evening. Despite all of this Donna insisted she was fine to keep working, something that had become a bone of contention between them in recent days.
"I'm fine Harvey, really. There's no need to be so overprotective" Donna insists. Continuing to finish up the file she's working on, keen to get home for the evening.
Harvey stares her down, wary that he's playing with fire he knows that he can't snap at her the way he used to.
"I'm just concerned that you're not going to have an opportunity to rest before the baby gets here. You're not the only one that notices things Donna, don't think I haven't seen you "rest your eyes" more than once this week. I know Gretchen had to wake you up yesterday when you fell asleep in the partners kitchen yesterday". It was true, she had fallen asleep sitting up at one of the tables. Thank God they were the only ones in there, Gretchen merely gave her a look of sympathy with a "Don't worry Red. Been there, done that".
Donna looked at him, guilty as charged.
"Just promise me that you've started delegating your some of your role to Louis and Gretchen. They're going to have to do it all when you finish up anyway". Harvey says as he walks around her desk, a softer expression on his face. Donna stops what she's doing, she always was a sucker for him when he looked at her like that. As they both leant against her desk looking out the window. Giving him a sideways glance she relents.
"I'll start tomorrow" she says as she reaches for his hand next to her's.
"Good" he says as the baby gives a big kick, taking Donna's breath away.
"Dammit! This kid will not stop with the shots in my kidneys". Donna rubs her side as Harvey reaches for her bag.
"Come on. Let's get you two home where she can kick you in peace" His joke earns him a slap on the shoulder as they make their way home.
"So I've been thinking" Donna says, still looking out the window. Turning to face Harvey she sees the expectant look on his face.
"Sounds ominous".
She doesn't look impressed.
"Sorry. What have you been thinking?
Donna takes a deep breath as she looks down at her fingers drumming on her belly.
"I think I need to finish up this week. I'm tired Harvey, and sore and these Braxton Hicks are driving up the wall. This kid is kicking my ass". She looks at him with red rimmed eyes, giving him a smile. Harvey leans across the car, cupping her cheek he kisses her soundly just as Ray pulls up outside the ZSLWW building. As he looks back at her he can't help but smile, something he has been doing a lot of lately.
"You're the boss, boss". His comment makes her giggle as he turns to get out out his side of the car. When her door opens she sees him holding out a hand to her. As she climbs out his other hand lands at the small of her back. By the time she is standing fully upright you could almost say they looked like they were dancing.
"You okay?" he says softly, barely heard amongst the morning traffic. She knows that he means more than just how she is physically feeling in that moment. He wants to know that she really is okay with her decision to finish work this week as well as every other life changing decision they have made in the last 6 months.
She smiles at him, her free hand landing on his bicep she gives it a squeeze as she steps back.
"Absolutely".
Harvey's hand remains at the small of her back as they walk towards the building. After most of the staff at ZSLWW had found out that they were officially a couple weeks ago Donna had eased up on her no PDA in the workplace rule.
"You sure? I mean, you'll struggle not seeing this face every few hours I know" He says sending her a wink.
She scoffs as they line up at the coffee cart.
"Oh you're funny. The only thing I'll struggle with is working out what I'm going to do with all this free time. You're face..." she says as she pats his cheek condescendingly "and keeping it in line has taken up most of my time for the better part of 13 years". Then she looks at him, as though she has had a brilliant notion. "Think for how many free hours I'll have for shopping!"
Pretending to take offence, Harvey "I'll take your odd response to my comment as a sign of your distress". As he pays for their coffee and has his first sip he looks at her, handing the other cup to her. Making their way into the building he continues their banter.
"Although, the shopping thing concerns me. I've seen you in action. You're deadly with a few spare hours up your sleeve, I'd hate to see you with a day to yourself" he raises a brow at her as they cross the lobby.
She looks at him, rolling her eyes, she knows Harvey is exactly the same as her when it came to shopping, an eye for detail and quality with a bank account to accommodate, "pot calling the kettle black don't you think? Besides, I'm shopping for two now" she gives him a cheeky wink while patting her belly and he can't help but laugh as he presses the button for the elevator.
"She's not even born yet and she already has a room full of stuff. What more do want to get for her?".
"A lady, even the little ones can never have too much "stuff" as you call it. And again, you're just as bad as me. Remember what you bought home last week? All those wraps with the matching hats?" she pokes fun at him.
Harvey looks at her incredulously "What? I thought they were cute. And as I recall you spent the next 10 minutes mooning over them".
"But you bought 5 sets Harvey, don't you think that's a little excessive?" She says as she glances above her coffee cup, taking a sip.
"Not for her" He whispers into her ear as they walk into the elevator surrounded by people.
She can help but smile at him, taking another sip she looks straight ahead as the doors close on them "They were pretty cute".
"Son of a bitch!" Harvey curses as he walks off the elevator.
"What is it" Donna inquires as they stop at the reception desk.
"The message was from Katrina, apparently Flint Industries has shuffled their legal counsel. They want to push the trial back a week. We've got a meeting with the judge at 11" Harvey's jaw clenches as he puts his phone back in his pocket.
"You think they're stalling, waiting for something?" Donna thinks it over.
Harvey shakes his head, definitely pissed off "Seems like it. I'll try to stop it, keep the start date for Wednesday. I gotta go, sort this shit out".
Donna turns away from him, taking a step towards her office but is stopped when Harvey grabs her wrist pulling her back. He gives her a quick peck on the cheek "I love you" he whispers. He can't help but smile as he takes in the shocked look on her face. "I'll be late tonight. Don't wait up" he says as he turns toward his office leaving Donna standing there. After a moment she collects herself, turning towards her own office muttering "Sneaky Bastard".
It's in the early hours of the morning when Harvey crawls into bed next to a sleeping Donna. Breathing in the scent of her hair as he wraps a hand over her belly she rouses slightly. Threading her hand through his, her voice is thick with sleep.
"What sort of hour do you call this Specter?
"Told you I'd be late" he kisses the back of her neck
"You going to change your strategy because the date got moved?"
Harvey grunts, unimpressed that he wasn't able to get the trial date kept at it's original date. Equally unimpressed about the new counsel and having to tell Donna about it.
"Not changing the strategy because of the date, just, adjusting the strategy because of the new counsel" he says kissing her again
His cryptic statement has her rolling over to face him. While it's never been a secret to her that Harvey always plays the man, his initial hesitation has her concerned.
"Harvey who's the new opposing counsel?"
"Scottie" he says looking at her expectantly. He watches her raise her brows, still half asleep. She takes a moment to think about how she will respond to news that she wasn't expecting and that Harvey was clearly nervous about telling her. She can't deny that the idea of Harvey and Scottie on a case together, even on opposing sides stung a little.
Until she stopped to think about where she was. In bed, with Harvey's arms around her and their daughter. She looks at him, runs her hands through his hair. Kissing him gently she smiles. Tapping his cheek it gives him cause to smile back at her.
"Better get your gloves on then Specter, you're in for a fight".