Chapter XXI

Maybe Baby

Amanda's sweet, contagious laughter filled the air.

She dropped her bunny plush to the floor and curled herself into a ball of giggles on the carpet by the chimney. Harvey couldn't help but laugh too. It was hard not to when he had been making the most stupid signals for their charade game.

Donna watched them from her comfortable spot on the sofa. Her legs were wrapped in a warm duvet while her back rested on the back of the couch. She was supposed to be playing with them, but her mind drifted off from time to time.

She studied the happy moment for a few seconds. Soon, a baby would be joining them and things would inevitably change. They were going to be a family of four ―with one kid and a baby. It was hard for Donna not to worry when hers and Harvey's lives had always been so frantic and immersed in his work.

Raising a child in the city was already complicated, but raising two was a completely different challenge. Their lifestyle was going to change, and so many changes at once worried her. She was concerned about Harvey's reaction to the news too. Donna knew she had to find a way to tell him soon.

Unexpectedly, he threw a cushion to her. Donna caught it and threw it back at him with a playful chuckle.

"Your mind is somewhere else," Harvey approached her.

"Yes," Donna answered softly. "It's in I'm-going-to-go-to-work-tomorrow." She touched the subject they had been discussing all day.

"No, you're not." He sat by her side.

Donna had been released from the hospital early that morning and Harvey was being a pain in the ass by not letting her do anything that required a minimum effort, anything like working, walking, or even getting a snack from the fridge.

"I'm not asking for permission," she was determined to go to work.

"Good, because you're not going to the goddamn firm," he was very clear.

"You said a bad word again." Amanda's voice interrupted the exchange.

Harvey ducked his lips, Donna smiled shyly. Harvey had promised not to say bad words at home, if he did, he'd have to pay 50 dollars to Amanda per bad word. Donna made the same promise.

"You aren't going to last ten minutes at work without me," Donna continued the conversation.

"I don't want you to pass out in the middle of the firm," he insisted, taking his wallet out of the pocket of his sweat pants to pay Amanda. The little girl was already holding her hand out to receive the money.

"Shit," Donna pushed away the duvet, suddenly recalling. "I forgot to take my meds."

"If you two keep saying bad words, I'm going to be a millionaire by the end of the week," Amanda pointed out.

"I'll get your meds," Harvey raised from the sofa.

"No, it's fine―" Donna hurried to stand up.

"No. I'll do it, you stay here." Harvey left, before Donna could stop him. "I don't want to have to call an ambulance― Where are them?" His voice echoed across the place.

"In the bathroom, by the sink! In a ziploc!"

Donna remained on the sofa even though she wanted to run after Harvey. Her meds included bottles of prenatal vitamins and supplements she didn't want him to see. But then, following Harvey and snatch the meds away from him would make suspicious, so she waited hoping he wouldn't notice.

Donna leaned back into the cushions of the sofa, wrapping an arm around Amanda, who moved closer to snuggle against her.

"I'm happy you're okay, mom."

The little girl had to spend the night with Rachel while Donna was in the hospital, she had been so worried.

"I'm happy to be with you, sweetie." Donna caressed her daughter's hair with tenderness.

"I worried,"

"It was nothing, baby." Donna smiled softly, knowing that Amanda was going to be thrilled to learn the reason why she had to stay the night at the hospital. She was going to be a very happy child.

Donna lifted her eyes to see Harvey coming closer with a glass of water and the large ziploc with her meds. The package practically screamed: pregnant!

However, Harvey gave the impression of being completely unaware.

"See? Piece of cake!" He smiled, handing her the bag and the glass of water.

"Thanks," Donna faked a super chill mood.

"I'm hungry," Amanda left her mom's side.

"Me too. Want to cook something with me?" Harvey raised his eyebrows up and down.

"Yes!" Amanda nodded with enthusiasm.

"It's almost midnight," Donna pointed out.

"So?" Harvey shrugged his shoulders. "Since when midnight has been obstacle to eat? I'm craving pasta."

"Me too!" Amanda rushed to the kitchenette. "I'm getting the pots and pans!"

"Easy, super girl!" Donna shook her head smiling.

She wasn't aware that Harvey's eyes were on her.

"What are you craving, Donna?" He gave her a special smile.

"Me?" Donna twisted her face. The word craving made her uncomfortable. "Nothing."

"Nothing?" Harvey lifted an eyebrow. "You sure?"

"Yes, I'm fine." She pushed the Ziploc bag aside, as if it was the incriminating evidence of a murder.

"Okay. Pasta for two then." Harvey shrugged his shoulders. "I just—" He sat by her side, moving closer to her, close enough to leave a kiss on her lips.

He didn't kiss her, though. Instead, Harvey spoke softly.

"Aren't you going to take your meds?"

Donna's attention landed on his lips.

"Maybe," she hesitated. His lips were luring her into temptation.

"Maybe, baby?" he planted a quick kiss on her lips.

"What?" Donna was puzzled. Was he teasing her? Could he already know?

His phone buzzed on the glass coffee table, interrupting the moment.

"Hello," Harvey answered the call. He remained quiet, listening to the voice on the other side of the line. Donna saw how his face dropped.

"I'll be right there," he hung up. "I just got a call from the firm. Security says someone stole my balls."

The moment he said it aloud, Harvey realized he had been pranked.

"Really?" Donna rolled her eyes.

"Louis," he breathed aloud. "I swear I'm going to give him a taste of his own―"

"Come on, Dad!" Amanda ran to them with a large cooking apron on. "Let's cook!"

"I'm going to look after you from the kitchen," he winked at Donna

"Harvey," Donna wanted to see if he suspected anything.

"Yes?"

But Harvey looked completely clueless.

Nah, Donna thought. The man had no idea.

"I'd like a little bit of pasta too," she smiled.

"Great!" he turned around. "Cheff Amanda! Pasta for four!"

"What?" Donna looked at him in shock.

He pointed to Amanda's bunny. "He's invited too."

xox

Donna ran the palms of her hands on the desk as she sat in her cubicle. She loved her job, but more than anything, she loved to be there for Harvey.

Donna couldn't simply leave him solo at work. She wasn't sure how things would be after the baby was born, but was aware that Harvey needed her at work as much as he needed her at home.

She turned to look into his empty office.

Harvey allowed her to come to work with him, but not before making Donna promise that she would have a healthy snack every couple of hours.

That was the reason why he wasn't in his office. He went out to get her something to eat.

The hysterical part was that it was eight thirty in the morning, and they had just arrived to the firm.

Harvey was being considerate and caring. Donna wanted to find a way to tell him that he was going to be a dad again without ruining anything. She wanted it to be different from the first time, Donna wanted it to be special.

Taking a deep breath hoping to avoid the usual dizziness, she stood from her desk.

Morning sickness was a bitch.

"Hey!" Mike approached her desk carrying a white baby gift basket filled with goodies. The cute basket had a jumbo foil balloon with the word Baby! printed.

Everything was adorable enough to put a smile on Donna's face.

"This is from Rachel and I," he put the basket on her desk

"Aw, thanks Mike." Donna opened a drawer of her desk to get a couple of scissors and in the blink of an eye, she stabbed the balloon.

It burst in the air with a horrible sound.

"Whoa! I knew you were hormonal but―" Mike's eyes widened.

"Harvey doesn't know yet," she grabbed the basket and hid it in the lowest drawer of her desk.

"You didn't tell him?" Mike looked at Harvey's office. "Are you kidding me? Everyone knows!"

"What do you mean by everyone knows?" Donna spoke quickly, gripping the scissors in her hand.

"I…" Mike stepped back just in case. "I might have told a couple of people so they wouldn't put too much work…on you."

Mike eyed the scissors in Donna's hand already picturing himself lying in a pool of blood.

"Who?" Donna didn't even flinch.

"Jessica, Louis…" He hesitated before continuing.

It was luck to Mike that Harvey was approaching them.

"Louis knows?" Donna asked in a quick whisper aware that Harvey was coming closer with her snack.

"I had to tell him," Mike tried to explain.

"Morning," Harvey reached Donna's desk carrying two large paper bags. "What's up?"

She and Mike smiled broadly. It was so obvious they were up to something that Harvey decided to move on into his office, but not before leaving Donna with her healthy morning snack.

"Nevermind, keep it to yourselves." Harvey placed the bags on her desk. "Here, consider it a brunch."

"Did you buy food for an army?" Mike snorted.

"Harvey, is this Thai?" Donna peeked into the bags with a frown. "It's eight in the morning."

"Yeah, eat. Mike, we've got to pay a visit to a client in the suburbs." He gestured him to follow him into the office.

"Tell him," Mike mouthed, before leaving Donna standing alone in her cubicle.

Subconsciously, one of her hands went to her stomach.

It was time to tell him.

xox

"How did you do it the first time?" Rachel leaned against countertop in the partners' kitchen with a cup of coffee in her hand.

"I just slapped him with the news. It was different then, you know." Donna took out the Thai containers out of the paper bags. "Maybe I should just send him a memo."

"You know what?" Rachel left her cup on the table to approach Donna. "You are Donna, you can do anything. So, you're going to walk into his office and you're going to tell him."

Donna stared at Rachel for a long moment.

"It's like ripping a band aid off," Rachel told her friend. "Fast and effective."

Rachel's reminder was exactly what Donna needed.

"Yes," she lifted an eyebrow. "I'm Donna."

"You are," Rachel assented. "Go!" she urged her.

Determined, Donna walked out of the kitchen headed for Harvey's office.

She strutted past her desk, as if owning the place.

Nothing was going to stop her.

As soon as she stepped into the office, Donna realized that she had two options: either ran away and never come back, or tell Harvey that he was going to be a dad again.

Neither option felt right in that moment.

Harvey was on the phone with a client. He winked an eye at her, acknowledging her presence walking towards her.

That's when she got a better idea.

"You can count on us, absolutely." Harvey continued talking. "Excellent, see you next Monday." He hung up. "Is everything okay?" He studied her

"Yep," she moved closer to fix the lapels of his suit jacket. "I was wondering," her hands went to fix his tie. "If you'd like to go out with me tonight."

Harvey's hands cupped her hands on his chest.

"Are you asking me out?" He pretended to be shocked.

"Yes." Donna smiled.

"On a date?" Harvey pretended to be even more shocked.

"Harvey," she tilted her head to a side, smiling even more.

"I'm sorry, I can't." He brushed a strand of red hair behind her shoulder with apologetic eyes. "I already have a meeting tonight."

"Oh," Donna was suddenly disappointed. "Wait. I didn't schedule anything―"

"You didn't, I did." He explained. "I'm going out with an old girlfriend. I already made reservations." Harvey's attention turned to his phone. He pressed the speed dial and held the phone up to his ear.

An old girlfriend? She trusted Harvey but not the women he'd been with. And why the hell would he had that woman on speed dial?

Suddenly, her phone began to buzz outside, on her desk.

"Weird," Harvey stared at her with the phone still against the ear. "My girlfriend isn't answering."

His words pulled a smile from her. She was the girlfriend.

"You made reservations for us?" Donna was stunned. "All by yourself?"

"Surprised?" Harvey beamed.

"You have no idea," Donna felt his hands around her waist. She put her arms around his neck. "And you got me on speed dial?"

"You're my #1 speed dial," he looked into her eyes, and she felt like melting.

Harvey had turned into a box full of surprises.

"But Harvey," Donna paused, thinking. "Who's going to look after Amanda?"

"I got it all covered," he assured her. "Plus, she isn't a baby anymore. We can elope for the night."

Donna's smile faded a little. They would not be able to elope with a baby at home in the future, not anymore. What would he have to say about it? Would he be disappointed? Donna feared Harvey wouldn't be happy with the news.

"Hey, don't put that face," he spoke softly. "She's going to a Broadway show with Mike and Rachel. We can go out with her on the weekend."

Donna tried to put a happy face.

Harvey was making a big effort for them, for her.

"I love you," she said deep from the heart.

Harvey's phone buzzed, but he ignored it. He looked at her with so much love in the eyes.

"I love you too," he leaned in to kiss her. "I promise you, this will be a night you won't forget."

Donna closed her eyes.

It was going to be a night Harvey wasn't going to forget either.

It's going to be a night to remember...

Thanks so much for taking the time to read this, thank you for your comments, and your support. I'll be updating the week of the season finale; the update is going to be the "finale" to this fic too.

Have a great week and may all your goals and dreams come true!