Couples Therapy

by AnonymousDH

WIP! - "Donna, I need the -" She handed him the files. "Oh, also I didn't have a chance to -" She handed him his coffee. "Marry me?" "I took care of that too. We've been married for the last seven years." Donna recalled the conversation they had two years ago. It was the last time they spoke about it, she thought as she looked at the ring in her hand. It had been a ridiculous plan.

37. Chapter 37 - Gordon

Hi everyone! HOW WAS THAT ENDING! OMG, I'm stil akhfkahfs over it when I see it! As always THANK YOU for the reviews, they make me smile so much.. I LOVE reading them. Dee, the poster I had in mind was one of Grease, because it's an old enough musical that went into revival and you of course have the movie.. But, yeah that was the one I had in mind..

I said it last time, but oooops this chapter is even longer (I'm pretty sure the next won't be though :P).. BUT, I do have to say that this chapter is not 100% new and let me explain WHY. This chapter is for the largest part a flashback chapter (everything in Italic is flashback from pre Donna working for Harvey till when they were in therapy with Agard), and as you can see in the title, you'll know about who this chapter will be.. So in order for you to get an idea when these flashback scenes I came up with happened I tried to write in scenes from the show (5.10 / 3.06 and 2.08).. on top of that I repeated some parts of flashbacks I wrote in earlier chapters, because I'd rather have a long not 100% new chapter than having to add *one year later* or *flashback from chapter 33* etc above each part.. I hope you understand my decision in that and don't worry the biggest part is NEW..

So, I hope you'll like it and as always I'd love to read your reviews. x

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Chapter 37: Gordon

"Well, it is official, Harvey," Gordon started as he let his fingers fall around the glass of scotch. "My fingers are way too old," the man laughed, but the sadness was clearly visible in his voice.

"Like hell," the young man exclaimed, giving his old man a slap on the shoulder, "you can still outplay anyone."

Gordon laughed, shaking his head before he took a sip of his drink. "You're a terrible liar," he laughed, "but I got to admit, I do love seeing my boy in the crowd."

Harvey swallowed, eyeing his drink as he heard his father talk. He hadn't seen him in a while. "Actually, Dad," he started, "there's something I wanted to talk to you about."

"I've got something for you too. It's important," his father beat him to it. "The band is splitting up," he confessed.

"What?" Harvey asked in surprise.

The old man nodded as he raised his shoulders, "Lenny says he wants to spend his golden years with Marge and Dave wrist isn't getting any better so –""

"Well, what about Harry?" the young man asked, still trying to figure out why this was happening.

"Harry's already got an offer from another group," Gordon answered.

"Well, if they'll take him, they'll take you," Harvey added enthusiastically.

His father let out another laugh, taking off his glasses. "You're not listening, Harvey," he explained. "I don't want them to take me. I want to come home.""

"Dad," Harvey sighed, shaking his head. "Music is your life."

"Look, Harvey. I'm the same age your grandfather was when he died and I've already spent way too much of my life away from my family," he answered with an apologetic look.

"Don't start that," Harvey shook his head, "You've been ... you're a great father."

Gordon closed his eyes for a second. "Maybe a cool father," Gordon shook his head, the glass of scotch resting in his hand. "But not a great one, Harvey. And I know it's too late to make that up to you… I'm... I'm just hoping it's not too late to make it up to Marcus," the old man tried to explain. "Anyway... that's my news. What... What did you want to talk about?" he asked.

Harvey let out a breath, thinking of the reason he came to see his father in the first place. "Nothing... it's not important," Harvey mumbled, at last, not being able to bring up the news of his mother now. Not after his dad said he wanted to come home, to them. To her. Already seeing how his father wouldn't buy that comment, he added something else. "I met a girl."

Gordon raised his eyebrows in surprise. "Great," Gordon smiled. "What's her name?" he asked, as his son didn't elaborate further.

"Scottie," Harvey answered his jaw clenching, as he seemed deep in thought. "I'm just trying to figure out the long distance thing."

"All I can tell you there is," Gordon spoke, "if she's the one, you'll know. Just like with me and your mother," Gordon added taking a sip from his glass of scotch.

Harvey sighed, looking down.

.

.

His head popped up the second she marched inside his tiny office, her hips swaying from left to right as she closed the door behind her with them and he can't help but let his gaze trace her curves. Over her charcoal coloured pencil skirt and the pink turtleneck top, a combination he remembered her wearing only the second time he met her.

His eyes met hers at last. She has this smirk plastered on her lips. Like she knew this top secret she'd learned about and is contemplating on whether or not she's going to share it with him. That's why she bites her lower lip. So much he has learned about her in the six months she has worked for him, but deep down he also knew that he might never get to know everything about the mystery that is called Donna Paulsen.

"What?" he asked, his lips twitching a little as his head crooked to the left. She stepped closer, handing him the cup of coffee she held in her hands, he could already smell the vanilla.

"Congratulations," she added when he took it from her hands.

His brows slowly turned into a frown, words questioning her statement on the tip of his tongue, but she reads him like a book and is way faster.

"With your father's birthday," she explained smugly.

He nodded his form of a thank you as the only thing he was able to mumble was, "how?"

She rolled her eyes, a chuckle almost escaping her lips. It's a game, one in which she's near the finish line and he's still reading the guidelines. "I'm Donna," she answered, "I know."

He kept staring at her, slowly bringing the cup of coffee to his lips, he questioned her statement.

She pressed her lips together, trying not to smile at his still flustered face as she walked around his desk. "Your calendar, smart ass," she spoke tapping her hand against the object on his desk as she leaned against it.

He closed his eyes, almost chuckling as he shook his head. The cup of coffee landing on the table as he stood up. He froze then, his jaw clenching as he swallowed. Her hand brushing against his chest, he could see the slightest hint of amusement in her eyes knowing she caught him off guard. Her other hand slipped to his tie too.

"Can't let you go to your father looking like that," she smirked as she fixed his tie. Her fingers brushing against his skin as she folded the collar of his dress shirt back.

"Who says I'm going to meet him now?" he countered, his head crooked as he buried his hands in the pocket of his pants.

"Please," she scoffed her grip on his tie a little tighter. She smirked. "You call your father every week and I so happen to have cleared the rest of the afternoon for you. Of course, you're meeting him."

He smiled, biting his lip as he watched her. "You should come," he spoke then, her eyes widening for the slightest of seconds before she resorted to her witty self.

"Just because your calendar is empty for the rest of the day, doesn't mean mine is," she answered, leaning back against his desk.

"If I'm not here, you don't have to be here either," he countered. "Come on, it will be fun," he put up his best smile.

"Harvey," she whispered, unsure. "It's your father's birthday. That's for family and friends."

He rolled his eyes at her comment, "I am allowed to bring friends."

She looked up at him, her eyes locking with his again. "Are we? Friends?" she could barely pronounce the words, they were boss and secretary, but not really that. Friends? Maybe, but there was this constant tension between them too.

He swallowed, taking in her words before he nodded. "I don't know if you noticed," he started looking at her again. "But I haven't exactly made a lot of friends here, except for you."

She swallowed, looking away as she tried to formulate a reply. "I don't know if you're trying to make me feel sorry for you or if you're being honest," she answered.

"Why can't it be both?" he countered, a smirk forming on his face as she sighed, mouthing a 'fine, I'll join' to him.

Her lips curling up in a smile afterwards too. She leaned back over his desk, her hand reaching for the calendar.

"What are you doing?" he frowned as he studied her.

She looked up over the object in her hands. "If we're friends, you better start remembering my birthday," she countered, flipping back through his calendar. Her mouth dropping a little as she saw her own name there. In what she had learned to recognise in his handwriting. "The flowers," she spoke then, thinking back to her birthday a few months ago. She'd only been working for him for little over two months. "Those were from you?" she asked unsure, because how couldn't she have known?

"See," he smirked at her, "told you I'm an excellent boss."

"I thought you said we were friends," she countered, getting back on her feet. Trying to hide how his newfound information made her blush.

"Yeah, that too," he laughed, his right hand moving to her arm, they walked outside his office.

.

She let out a laugh, looking away as they climbed the stairs to the red brick house. "So this is where the great Harvey Specter grew up?" she smiled.

"I'm great, yes," he nodded, as he took the final step, his hand reaching for the doorbell.

She shook her head at his words. "You're impossible," she sighed looking at him, her mouth dropping again as she noticed his tie. "What do you do with these things," she argued her hand sliding over the red piece of fabric to his neck. Fixing it for the second time that day.

Her actions still making him swallow, his head popping to the right as he heard the door open. Entirely uncharacteristic for him he felt his own cheeks redden, as her hand was still attached to his tie.

"There," she smiled, slapping him on his chest as he looked at the way his father crooked his head.

"Dad," Harvey spoke stepping forward.

"Harvey," the old man greeted him with a hug. "Who's this?" Gordon asked as he stepped aside again.

"Donna," she answered extending her hand before Harvey could introduce her himself.

"I didn't know you were seeing someone," Gordon directed his comment towards his oldest son as he stepped aside, letting the two enter the house.

"Ooh," Donna laughed looking over her shoulder at Harvey. "He isn't. I'm his secretary," she smiled and Gordon nodded taking of her coat before he cornered his oldest son in the hallway.

"Secretary?" he mumbled shaking his head.

"Yeah, uhm," he mumbled, now not even sure why he invited her along for his father's birthday. They'd only been working together for six months, but somehow it seemed logical.

"You're missing out," he teased him, causing Harvey to let out a sigh.

"Yeah, Happy Birthday to you too," he mumbled quickly following the redhead inside as he remembered his brother might actually already be there.

.

He looked to his right, his lips slightly curling up as he saw the redhead talking to his old man. Both of them in the kitchen, talking about things he couldn't possibly hear over the music his father's old band members where making but just seeing her smile made him smile.

"She's hot," Marcus teased his older brother as he punched Harvey's arm.

He frowned faking pain and swallowing the rest of the 'yeah' that left his lips without noticing.

"Does she have a sister?" Marcus mumbled, his eyes falling on the redhead again.

"What?" the young lawyer shook his head, not fully registering the words of his brother.

"A sister," the younger one repeated, "for me," slapping his brother's chest again to get his attention. "Or just her," Marcus continued, "or is she your girlfriend..." he teased him emphasising the last word.

Harvey swallowed, his thoughts going back to the first time he got asked that that afternoon.

"Are you two dating?"

Harvey snapped out of his thoughts then. "We work together, Marcus," Harvey sighed annoyed. "That's it," his eyes falling on the redhead again. A movement that did not go unnoticed to his younger brother.

"Yeah right," Marcus laughed, "that explains why you spend all your time at the D.A.'s office."

Harvey rolled his eyes, ignoring his brother's statement as he downed the rest of his beer.

"So can I ask her out then?" Marcus smirked, provoking his brother even more.

"Don't even think about it," Harvey snarled back, his eyes landing on Donna once more as he placed the empty bottle on the coffee table in front of them. Getting back on his feet, he made his way over to her as he heard someone else call for his dad.

"Hey," she mumbled as he smiled at her, his hand opening the fridge she pushed herself to her feet and walked towards him.

"Do you want another drink?" he asked as he opened his new bottle of beer.

"This will do," she smirked as she took it from his hand, taking a large sip.

"Hey," he pouted faking annoyance.

"You still have to drive me home," she explained a smirk smile plastered on her lips. "And you already had two beers."

"I do and I did," he answered staring at her. "Were you watching me?" he teased stepping closer.

"It's my job to watch you," she countered bringing the bottle to her lips, but he stole it back.

"This isn't work," he answered after taking a sip.

"And yet we're here," she countered taking the bottle back from him, drinking from it again.

"You know," he smirked leaning onto the counter next to her. "Indirectly we just kissed."

She let out a laugh, her eyes closing at how such a goofy statement could make her blush, but maybe it was more about who made the comment than the comment itself. She rolled her eyes then, looking back up. "What are you? Twelve?"

"I could make it directly if you want," he smirked, making her laugh even louder this time. The way they flirted becoming bolder, more direct especially when they spend time outside of the office together. The words she had used to describe him to her sisters only a week ago coming to mind again. Arrogant, funny. He could make her laugh, but he was also a womaniser and if she wasn't careful, she could be in some serious trouble.

"You're impossible." Her hand falling against his arm as she pushed him away.

"An impossibly good kisser," he crooked his head as he leaned back against the counter. His eyes locking with hers again and she shook her head looking down.

"I'll just have to take your word for it, Specter."

"One day, Paulsen. One day."

.

.

"So," Gordon started as he sat himself down at the kitchen table next to his son.

"So what?" Harvey mumbled in return as he reached for his coffee.

"Donna," Gordon answered with a smile as he studied his son's expression.

"What about her?" Harvey asked, pretty sure, his father would soon start asking the same questions his brother did the other night.

"You like her," Gordon spoke, his words sounding more like a statement than a question and the older man could see his son's jaw clench.

He did, he did like her, he just didn't like talking about whatever it was that was going on. "Doesn't mean I want a relationship," Harvey countered, not even dismissing his father's statement.

"You do realise she's the only girl you ever brought home since you moved out? Not even that girl you had that... uhm... long distance thing with. What was her name?"

"Scottie," Harvey sighed and Gordon nodded in return.

"Donna's good for you. She keeps you in check. I like her and I like the way you act around her. Like I have my boy back," the older man explained as Harvey rolled his eyes. Bringing the cup to his lips, he couldn't help but miss the hint of vanilla he'd gotten used to drinking in his coffee.

His jaw still clenched he looked at his father, already knowing the latter wasn't anywhere near with his remarks.

"You like her," Gordon stated again. "And I think she likes you too."

.

.

She swirled around in her desk chair, the phone pressed between her ear and her shoulder. "Yes. He's here. I'll put you through," she answered as she pressed the button of the intercom. "Harvey, your father is on line one."

He looked up, frowning at first before he reached for the phone. Nodding in her direction as he greeted his old man. She smiled watching him for a few seconds before she put the phone down herself. Having met the man on the other end of the line, she understood better now why the man she worked for was always in such a good mood after he had talked to his father.

A couple of minutes later the phone call was transferred back to the redhead. "Mr. Specter," she smiled, rolling her eyes at Harvey who raised his eyebrows at the tone she used.

"Donna, could you please remind my son he promised to grab lunch with me in half an hour."

"I will," she answered.

"Nice talking to you again, Donna."

"Same to you, Mr. Specter," Donna answered as she scribbled something down on the notepad in front of her.

"It's Gordon, you know that," his words making her smirk.

"I'll make sure he'll be there, Gordon," she emphasized his name this time.

"Thank you, Donna," she heard his say just before the call got ended. Placing the phone back, she turned her chair around again. Her eyes landing on the young lawyer, she smirked as she made her way into his office.

He looked up, observing the smile painted on her lips. "What?" he mumbled, studying her face.

"You're having lunch with your father. That's sweet," she commented, making him laugh at her words.

"Why's that sweet?" he countered.

"Nothing," she shook her head, dismissing his words. "I just hadn't pictured you to be such a family man, that's all. Weekly phone calls, lunches," she summarized, counting on her fingers.

He laughed, shaking his head. "Well, I am, Miss. Paulsen," he answered, using the same tone she had used with his father. "Guess there's more to me than meets the eye."

"Harvey," Cameron Dennis spoke as she barged into the tiny office with them, making Donna step back. "If you stop flirting with your secretary, I need you on the Campbell case."

Harvey sighed, his eyes flickering up to Donna before he looked at his boss again, nodding once in understanding. "Donna," he spoke as Cameron had left him with a stack of papers, "could you call Gordon and tell him I can't make it."

She looked down at her watch. "Harvey you're supposed to meet him in ten minutes, you can't cancel on him now," Donna reasoned.

"You heard Cameron. I can't leave," Harvey argued.

"Harvey, it's your dad," she mumbled.

"He'll understand, Donna," Harvey countered exhaling loudly as he took in her disapproving look. "But if you have such a big problem with it, why don't you have lunch with him. Since you two call each other now too."

She sighed, her jaw clenching as he refused to look at her. "He calls me first," she shot back, pointing at herself, "because you're so busy these days and he doesn't want to keep you from your job," she added. Turning around, she pulled the door of his office closed behind her.

He sighed once more, his eyes closing as he saw her reach for her purse before she stormed off.

.

.

"And one with vanilla," Gordon smiled as he handed the redhead her cup of coffee.

"Thank you," Donna mumbled as she took the cup from his hand, walking next to Harvey's father. "You wanted to ask me something?" she spoke taking a sip from her cup as the older man nodded.

"I do, but first I wanted to show you something," he crooked his head to the right.

She turned around, following his lead as they walked two more blocks across the city. His hand on her arm bringing her to a halt, she looked up. Exanimating the red brick building, with the large windows at the front. Her eyes widening a little as she realised where he'd brought her. "Marcus' restaurant?" she asked for confirmation.

"Yes," Gordon nodded as he held the door open for her. "Ready to open next week," Gordon spoke proudly.

"What's next week?" Marcus commented from the back as he heard the two familiar voices discuss something.

"The opening," Gordon answered as they made their way to Marcus. "It looks great," the older man commented proudly as he hugged his youngest son.

"Thanks, dad," Marcus smiled as he pulled back, kissing the redhead on her cheek. "Hi Donna," he added before he continued showing the little restaurant around to his two guests, seating them at the bar near the entrance again.

"So," Gordon started as he looked at Donna. "What I wanted to ask was if you'd want to perform with me on the opening. It's a little small for a reunion of the band and... " he paused looking at Donna's shocked expression. "You sing too, right? I mean only if you'd want to," the old man added with that Specter smile she got to see almost every day.

"Uhm..." she swallowed, still a bit flustered by the request. "Yeah... uhm, of course, I will," she answered then, trying to produce a smile on her face that would match her words.

"Awesome," Marcus smiled at her. "And if you could bring all your friends to the opening that would be nice," he added.

"I will," she nodded looking at the younger man, "but you should also – "

"Ask Harvey?" Marcus commented shaking his head. "We all know the only person he'd bring is you, besides he already helped me with the money for this place, so –"

"I'll ask him," Donna promised.

"Thanks, Donna," Marcus smirked as his father got up to walk through the place again. Marcus sat himself down next to the redhead.

"What?" Donna whispered as she looked at the youngest Specter man.

"I get why you said no to me," Marcus pointed at himself, "but I really thought you'd be dating Harvey by now. Not my dad," he added.

Donna laughed her head shaking as she closed her eyes. Bringing her hand to her chest as she giggled once more. "I'm not dating your father," she reassured Marcus with a smile. "Or your brother," she added quickly, with a slight raise of her hand.

"But you'd want to," Marcus shot back crooking his head as he looked at her. If his own brother wasn't going to enlighten him on what was going on, he would have to ask the man's counterpart.

Her mind briefly drifted off to the brunette named Melanie she'd seen him hang out with recently. "What I want," Donna spoke slowly as she leaned forward to reach for a menu card next to the younger man, "is for you to make me the best thing on here," she tapped the plasticised piece of paper against his arm. "Got to make sure there's something decent to eat if I'm bringing my friends to your opening."

.

.

She jumped off the small improvised stage. Her hand landing on Marcus's shoulder, he turned to face her with a smile. "I promised my friends they'd meet the owner of the new best place in town," she smiled as she walked them over to the group. Marcus laughed, thanking her again as they moved to the crowd. "So, this is my theatre group," she told him as she pointed at them, "the ones I don't get to see that often anymore because of your brother," she added faking annoyance as he nodded in understanding.

"I'm sorry about that," he smirked at the group of seven.

"So, Marcus," she continued, "from left to right. Melissa, Jennifer, Tom, Valerie, Brian, Rebecca and Katie," Donna pointed at each of the group as Marcus greeted all of them.

"Katie," he spoke slowly as his hand shook hers.

She linked her arm with her old roommate's Melissa, as she guided her way through the crowd. The rest following them as Marcus excused him from the group. "You're doing this for his brother, aren't you," Melissa commented, knowing all too well that just a job wouldn't keep her friend away from something she used to be so passionate about.

"No," Donna shook her head. "I'm doing this for Marcus, he's my friend too," she added trying to sound as convincing as possible. She bit her tongue as she saw her friend raise her eyebrows at her. "Shut up," Donna mumbled looking away, making Melissa laugh.

"So where's prince charming?"

.

He let his hand slip through his hair, cursing himself for being late the very first time Donna took the afternoon off. Pushing the door of the little restaurant open, he made his way through the crowd as he followed the sound of what he knew to be his father's saxophone. His head popping up once more as he heard a familiar voice coming through the speakers, stepping aside the redhead came into his vision. His mouth slowly dropping he could feel a current run through his body as he moved closer to the improvised stage. Her lips curling up as she saw him appear in the crowd. She winked at him when he mouthed a 'why didn't you tell me?' in her direction. His eyes still wide of admiration she looked down, breaking their eye contact.

Marcus walked up to his other brother, his hand slapping against his brother's shoulder. "Aren't they great?"

"She is," Harvey answered softly."They are," he corrected himself louder this time as his brother stared at him.

"God, I can't believe you haven't asked her out yet," Marcus spoke looking back at the stage, missing how his brother's gaze firmly remained on the redhead as he nodded, because he had been close to doing so more than he could count this past half year.

.

.

He placed a cup of her favourite coffee on her desk. His gesture making her look up at him, his gaze roaming over her white blouse for a second before his eyes met hers. "Coffee for this amazing singer," he smirked as he saw her blush ever so slightly. He leaned against her desk. "Why didn't you tell me?" he asked again, he'd never gotten the answer to that question the other night.

"Wanted it to be a surprise," she answered truthfully, she reached for the cup, her eyes closing in appreciation when she tasted the vanilla.

"Why?" he mumbled. "You trying to impress me?" he smirked leaning towards her

She chuckled at his words. "I wouldn't have to sing for that," she countered with a smile. "You were already impressed by me the moment we met."

"Was I?" he frowned, not wanting to give in.

"I wasn't the one asking for sex within five minutes," she countered, bringing the cup back to her lips. Her eyebrows raised she kept looking at him as she took another sip.

"It would take longer now," he answered burying his hands in the pocket of his suit pants.

"Would it?' she challenged him, leaning forward to place her cup back on her desk. Giving him a generous view of her cleavage, she had to bite her tongue to stop herself from smiling as she saw him swallow.

"Only because I'd have to wait for everyone else to leave the office first," he smirked.

She shook her head, rolling her eyes in return. "You've not once stayed here longer than Big Bertha," she countered pointing across the room.

He pushed himself back up on his feet, turning around he spotted the woman that was sitting at the desk across the room shaking her head at him. Frowningly he looked back to Donna. "I ... I have," he argued, "I could."

.

.

"You've had too much coffee," she commented as he signed some documents.

His head popped up at her remark. "What are you talking about?" he asked, his hands leaning on her desk as he continued looking at her.

"After two cups, your signature slants. After three it scrawls and after four, it's chicken scratch," she explained signalling the paper on her desk with both her hands. "They're not going to accept these," she added, pointing at them with her right hand.

"You're crazy," he answered.

"How many cups have you had today?" she countered, looking at him.

"Five," he answered, his word making her crook her head, her eyebrow raised. "How do you do that?" he frowned, not wanting to admit she was right, but she was and she knew it as a smirk appeared on her lips.

"It's what I do," she countered, her left hand reaching for the file. "I read, I analyse, I fix," she spoke emphasising the last word after she threw it away and she placed a new paper for him on the table.

"Bullshit," he countered, bending down to sign it again.

She stared at him with her mouth left agape for a few seconds before she almost rolled her eyes. "You're wearing a blue shirt," she started, his lips twitching a little because he already knew this kind of response was coming. "Which means you won big in poker last night," she added.

Her words now making him frown because they were spot on. He looked back up at her.

"You missed a spot shaving," he left index finger briefly tapping against his jaw, "which means you had less than five hours of sleep last night," she continued as he stood back up. "And your left wrist," she looked down pointing at it with her right hand, "which you claim you sprained playing basketball," she teased him with a smile. "Still hasn't healed, because your loud tie is hanging ever so slightly to the left," she mimicked the movement with both her hands before she dropped them again. "Loud by the way," she repeated, "because you won big in poker last night," she chirped slapping his arm with her hand, a confident smile on her lips as she finished her analysis of him.

"For your information," he lied shaking his head because he didn't want her to win this one. "I didn't lose sleep just because of poker –"

"Yeah, you did," she nodded, staring at him. "Melanie is not in the picture anymore," she added shaking her head as she leaned forward.

"You knew about Melanie?" he repeated sort of in shock, not that it had been a secret but her knowing about it was another thing, as his face fell into a frown.

"And Charlotte," she nodded. "And Nadiaaaa," she added, a hint of disgust clear in her voice as she made a cringing face.

"I don't want you working for me anymore," he half lied, his words making her eyes widen just the briefest of seconds.

"Harvey," Cameron Dennis' voice interrupting them both, he turned away from her, "stop playing footsie with your secretary. The Mackenzie brothers are here. We need these assholes to cave," Cameron spoke as he fixed his jacket.

"I had an idea," Harvey answered. "Night Owl Murders," he added.

"We're not using an idea you got from L.A. confidential," Cameron spoke using his hands, pulling on his jacket.

"How's that different from you shooting a dead guy just because Sean Connery did it in the untouchables?" the young lawyer commented, making Donna smirk as she listened to their conversation.

"What are you prepared to do?" Cameron shot back in a low voice.

"Is that supposed to be Sean Connery?" Harvey stared at his boss.

"Don't even think that you can do Connery better than me," Cameron spoke raising his hand. "Junior," Cameron added in the same accent, before he walked off.

Harvey turned around slowly to face the redhead again. "He's a lying member of a no good race," he spoke copying the accent as he walked back towards her, seeing her smile at his impression.

"Ease up, James Bond," she commented her hand reaching for his jacket as she stepped closer, her left hand immediately reaching up for his tie again as he came to a halt right in front of her.

"So," he started moving from left to right on his feet. "You gonna come out and say it?" he asked biting his lip as he looked at her.

"Say what?" she answered, her gaze resting on the tie her hands were trying to fix. "All those observations," he spoke moving his head to underline his statement. He leaned towards her, his head beside hers. "You're into me," he whispered in her ear before he moved back, looking at her for a reply, as she continued with his tie.

Her eyes locking with his as she looked up then. "I'm not into you," she lied. "I'm Donna," she added as clarification.

"What's that supposed to mean?" he countered, having heard her say 'I'm Donna' more than once now, his gaze still fixated on her face, as she did everything she could to avoid it.

"It means I can do the same thing with Bertha," she spoke looking at the other secretary across the room. "As I did with you."

"All that means is that you're into Bertha too," he countered raising his shoulders, as he challenged her. Not dropping the subject this time.

"Ooh," she purged her lips looking down at his, "what if I am?" she teased him, looking back up to meet his eye.

"We could have a threesome," he answered raising his eyebrows as he kept looking into her eyes.

"Trust me," she smirked. "If you were ever lucky enough to have me," she paused, her eyes locking with his once more. "You wouldn't want to share," she raised her shoulders, before she stepped away. Her head briefly turning over her shoulder as she looked at him.

.

He poured two glasses of scotch, one for him and one for her. "Compliments of Cameron Dennis," he commented, letting the glass in his hand cling against hers.

She took a sip, her face cringing a little because she never really liked the taste of scotch, but she wasn't going to tell him that. "Harvey," she spoke as she put down her glass again, "this isn't just winning a case, this is head litigator," she emphasized with her hands. "Scotch isn't good enough," she signalled at the bottle. "We need like a ritual or something," she thought aloud, leaning back in her chair.

"What did you have in mind?" a hint of his Sean Connery impression slipping through as he spoke.

She laughed, her eyes closing as she turned her head away from him. "I don't know," she answered, still shaking her head.

He let out a breath, still looking at her as she turned to face him again. "I have an idea," he spoke calmly, seeing her question the expression on his face.

"I'm listening," she countered.

His hands still buried in the pocket of his pants, he raised his shoulder to defend the words that were about to leave his lips. "It's not something a gentleman should say out loud."

"Ooh," she breathed, throwing her head back before she reached for a piece of paper and a pen. "Well then I'm willing to pretend you're a gentleman," she smirked as she held up both items for him.

His brows raising once as he took the pen from her hand, he looked down at the post-it in his hand. Scribbling down what he had in mind, he already smirked at his own creation before he handed it back to her.

"Okay," she laughed before she had even seen it. The look on his face enough for her to know. "You're definitely not a gentleman," she added taking in his sketch. Her hand reaching for the pen he handed her, without letting her eyes slip from the drawing. Still looking at the little piece of yellow paper, she crooked her head. "What would we even do it with?" she commented.

"Whipped cream," he answered, raising his shoulders. It was the first thing that came to mind.

She rolled her eyes, crumbling the post it before she threw it away, not looking at him this time.

"Enough about this conversation," he started sitting down on her desk, letting his arm rest on his leg. "I want to revisit our earlier one," he added leaning towards her.

"This is our earlier one," she countered looking into his eyes as she mirrored his move, leaning on her left elbow.

"Come on," he spoke, bringing his head even closer. "You know you thought about it," he nodded, his words more of a statement than a question.

"Yeah, I think about a lot of things," she answered without breaking their eye contact.

"And," he nodded his head, "you would," he challenged her, his lips twitching a little. She felt her lips curl up at his expression.

Shaking her head, she bit her bottom lip, remembering herself of what she told her sisters. "But I won't," she spoke.

He narrowed his gaze on her. "You're afraid you'd fall for me."

She looked away, reaching for her glass of scotch. "Ooh please. If anybody is falling for anybody," she looked back up to him, before she took a sip of her drink. "It would be you for me," she added her eyes locking with his once more.

"Sounds like a challenge," he countered smirking, making her look away again.

She placed down her glass. "One you are never going to get to take," she spoke facing him again at her last word.

He frowned, moving back up a little. "Why not?" he asked, his voice sounding more serious this time.

"Because I don't get involved with men that I work with," she spoke, for the first time pronouncing the words she had been doubting about. Yet in a way, she couldn't make them sound completely true and the way she looked at him was anything but in line with those words either.

Okay, then you're fired."

.

.

"We're. Forgetting. The. Whipped. Cream," Harvey mumbled in between kisses.

She sucked on his bottom lip as her hand reached for the bottle that had been on her nightstand. "No, we're not," she replied as she removed the cap from the can.

Harvey frowned at her, wondering how she had gotten that bottle in the room without him noticing. He was sure he had placed it somewhere in her living room the second he held her in his arms.

"What, you didn't think we would only go for one round," she teased him as sprayed some whipped cream on his lip before she licked it off. Kissing him again.

"God, woman," he moaned as he pulled her closer, his hand fighting hers for the bottle.

"It's Donna, actually," she smirked and he laughed, his eyes locking with hers as he let his hands move over her sides. She moved the can in the limited space between them.

His eyes stern but challenging, she didn't speak. Merely biting on her lip as she pressed the nozzle again. The cold creamy substance sticking to his chin, she bit her tongue trying to stop herself from laughing. He shook his head, making it difficult for her fingers to remove the whipped cream again. "You didn't," he breathed as she let her index finger trace over his bottom lip. Opening his mouth, he sucked on her finger before letting it go with a small pop. "Delicious," he mumbled, making her blush she wrapped her arms around his neck.

"The whipped cream or me?" she asked her breath warm on his lips.

He leaned in then, his lips meeting hers in a deep kiss as he turned both of them around on her bed. The need becoming too much. He positioned himself between her legs. "You," he answered, his lips finding hers again as he thrust inside her.

.

Biting her lip, she threw her head back, her entire body arching. She buried her fingers in his hair. She knew he could talk his way in and out of everything, he was a lawyer after all and she saw him practice nearly every day. She just hadn't imagined he was this good with his mouth. Or tongue to be precise.

"Harveeey," she moaned, pulling his head up from between her legs as she gasped for air. Rolling her eyes at his confident smirk, she dropped herself back on her bed.

He kissed the inside of her thigh, moving his way up he let his hand remove some remainders of whipped cream from her stomach. Pressing his lips in the crook of her next, just above her collarbone she squirmed under him. "Yeah," he mumbled against her lips as he kissed her again. Their legs still entangled his hand warm on her waist as he pulled back. His head dropping to her shoulder, he just lay there. His body draped over hers.

She smirked tiredly then, letting her fingers play with the hair in the back of his neck, as his thumb drew patterns over her skin. "Who would have known that the great Harvey Specter cuddles," she teased in a whisper, in a way expression her own surprising observation aloud.

"Just you," he mumbled lazily against her neck as she felt her cheeks redden by his words.

"Bet that's what –"

"Shut up," he mumbled, pressing his lips against hers again, making her arms fall around his shoulder.

.

.

Harvey woke up the next morning, a naked Donna still sleeping in his arms. He watched her for a couple of seconds, suddenly finding it difficult to breathe. A feeling he couldn't place creeping up on him, all he knew was that he had to get away. Now. He had never actually spent the night when he was at a women's place and letting someone stay was rare too. The fact that he had woken up next to not just anyone, but her, scared him to his core.

He carefully lifted his fingers from her stomach, letting his fingers trace her skin one last time before he got out of the bed. Reaching for his clothes he quietly dressed, before he made his way back through her living room. The bottle of whipped cream on the cabinet near her door the last reminder of everything that had happened, only really being able to breathe again once he closed the door of her apartment behind him.

.

"Come clean, Harvey," Jessica continued. "What changed your mind?" she asked.

"Instead of thinking about what I want to be doing in ten years, I started thinking about who I want to be doing it with," he replied, his mind also drifting off to the woman whose bed he had just left.

"Me over him," the name partner replied letting out a breath. "Terms are non-negotiable. You get what I give you," Jessica spoke.

"Fine by me," Harvey replied, "but I'm getting my own secretary."

"Associates don't get their own secretaries," Jessica shot back.

"This isn't about the associate," Harvey reasoned, "it's about the secretary. And I'm not coming here without her."

Jessica smiled at her protégé. "She must be very special," she teased him.

"She is."

.

.

Harvey watched her settle in. Decorating the desk outside his office. Her desk. He smiled and looked at his calendar. Monday, August 5th. He was going to remember this day. The day Donna came to his desk. That much he knew. He got out of his chair and walked towards her cubicle.

"Harvey," she chirped as she sensed him near her. She knew he was standing behind her inside her cubicle.

"Donna," Harvey replied with an enthusiasm in his voice that matched hers, his hand resting on her arm for a second before he pulled back again. "How about we go to that shitty Thai place you like tonight?" he asked as he recalled how she had told him about it a couple of months ago, but she shook her head. Settling on ordering in at last.

They stepped outside the elevator together on the ground floor two hours later. "So," she started as she looked around the large hall, still taking in the firm, the building, the people, "this is where you used to work before going to Harvard?"

Harvey looked at her and nodded. "Yes," he replied, "this is where we will be working. Let's go, I'll walk you home."

Donna looked at him, his smirk smile still on his face. She knew he would still try, even after she reinforced the rule. "Harvey, no," she answered as she held a cab. "I'll see you tomorrow," she added before she got in the cab.

Harvey let out a breath as he watched the cab drive away.

.

.

She looked around the little bistro, her eyes falling on the man across the table from her again. Harvey. Her boss, her friend, her one-time lover. Her boss, she reminded herself as her hand tapped against the table. "Why are we here Harvey?" she whispered, looking down again. Yesterday he'd been so stand offish for her scratching that record and now, now, he'd insisted she'd join him for dinner.

"You don't know which day it is?" he looked at her confused, surely if he remembered, she should know too, right? She was Donna after all.

"It's August fifth," she smiled, rolling her eyes and shaking her head. Reminding herself once more that he was just her boss. Her eyes meeting his again as he pushed her glass towards her. She took it in her hand before his fingers got too close and he mirrored her move.

Raising his own glass, "To us. One year," he smirked, leaving out any mention of work.

"And many more," she played along, her glass clinging against his before she took a sip of her red wine. Her eyes still locked with his as she looked up through her lashes. It wasn't on purpose, but she could see him swallow when her tongue removed a droplet from her lip.

"I need to ask you something."

She frowned, the way his fingers were fidgeting with his glass making her nervous. More nervous than usual, he's just her boss. She closed this chapter.

"Okay," he sighed looking up again, "so there's this restauranteur that's trying to start a franchise here in the city and Jessica wants to sign him as a client."

"So?" she whispered, not really understanding.

"Well, the thing is... the guy is from Tuscany and Jessica somehow assumed I spoke Italian –"

Her eyebrows rose as she noticed him looking away. "Assumed?" she interrupted him. "You flat out told her," she's shaking her head now, he didn't respond but she knew enough. "What do you need?"

"For you to come to the meeting with me?" his eyes met hers again.

She frowned a little. This was new, but under the circumstances understandable. "You need me to be there in the conference room, okay."

He shook his head, giving her his puppy eyes this time. "Actually, I need you to go to Italy with me."

.

.

Donna let out a breath she didn't know she was holding as she briefly looked in his direction, her fingers fumbling with the edge of the cotton shirt. "What happened to your mother?" she whispered, "you never talk about her." She could hear him sigh loudly, already knowing there must have been a reason for him to never mention her. She swallowed, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have –"

"I caught her cheating on my dad," he whispered, "not just once."

"Harvey," she tilted her head to look at him, her hand covering his for just a second. "I'm sorry," she whispered.

"Me too," he answered, his hand clenching as soon as she pulled her hand back again, "I believed her when she said she wouldn't do it again, but she did. And I... I couldn't not tell him. I was the one who ruined the family…" he swallowed, "I told my dad what she did... in the worst possible way there is. I made her leave the house and I left... I left them behind. My dad miserable, my brother alone..."

"It's not your fault," she whispered both of them remaining silent, and even though she couldn't see it in the dark, she knew he shook his head. Disagreeing with her words.

.

.

"Harvey," Gordon greeted his son as he handed him a bottle of beer. "You up for the baseball game next week? Your brother is in," the older man nodded his head in the direction of the birthday boy.

"Marcus throws like shit," Harvey commented, getting a look from his father that read 'that's why I asked.' "Yeah," he sighed. "I'll be there. Can't let Marcus be the reason you lose," he added drinking his beer.

"Good," Gordon smiled, "How are things at the firm?"

Harvey brought his bottle back to the table as he smiled. "Busy," he laughed. "Jessica throws me a lot of cases, more pro bono ones than I'd like, but it is work. Louis is still jealous and Hardman... well, he's still a pain in the ass like always."

"Where's Donna anyway?" Gordon asked as he looked around the room filled with people.

"What?" Harvey shot back, frowning at his father.

"Didn't you bring her?" Gordon asked as he signalled the room.

"Why would I bring her?" the young lawyer countered, shaking his head. Bringing the bottle back to his mouth, taking a sip to hopefully end the topic there.

"Well," Gordon almost laughed. "I don't know, you brought her last year and she was at my birthday again and the two of you just went on that business trip..." the older man paused as he started connecting the dots in his mind. "Something happened," he stated then.

Harvey sighed, looking away as he couldn't help but think about every little bizarre thing that had happened and how much he had wanted something to happen. "Nothing happened," he answered then. "We work together. That's it, nothing more." The words not only an explanation but also a reminder of what he told himself on the airplane back from Italy. He had to stop caring about her.

.

.

He walked around his new penthouse, his eyes fixating on the empty spot in front of the fireplace one more time before the doorbell rang. Images of her red hair spread out across the rug and the dress she wore coming to mind he made his way over to the door. Nodding once at the delivery guys he stepped aside. Letting them carry the black leather couch she picked out inside. "There," he pointed at the location she'd determined and he shook his head thinking about how she managed his life in and out of the office.

For a split second, he contemplated redoing the entire arrangement of his living room. Just to prove to himself that he could, but he also knew that this option, her option, would trump anything else. "Thank you," he spoke as the two men carefully removed the plastic packaging before they made their way outside again.

Walking back to his living room, he clapped his hands once as he took in the final result. Sitting down in the right corner he slowly lifted his feet to let them land on the glass coffee table. He smiled letting out a breath, the words of the redhead coming to mind again.

"Has Gordon seen this place yet? You've got to get a couch first though, you can't let him sit on the floor."

He opened his eyes again. Pulling out his phone, his thumb hovering above the third speed dial. He pressed once, bringing the phone to his ear. "Hey dad," he answered, letting his head lean against the backrest. "Yeah, everything is okay... I just, you know I got a new apartment, right? I thought... We haven't talked in a while, maybe you could stop by and we could have dinner?"

.

.

"Good to see you, Harvey," Gordon spoke as he hugged his oldest son in the door opening, his gaze landing on the door sign. "What's this? You two together now?" he asked, making Harvey look up.

He rolled his eyes at the little plate, he really should remove it. "Dad," he sighed as he let his father enter his new apartment. "She just helped me get this place. That's all, it's a joke of the real estate agent," Harvey explained as truthfully as he could.

Gordon laughed, looking back at Harvey. "Well I like the sound it," he stated. "How's Donna?"

Harvey shook his head. If it weren't for the constant hinting at his own relationship with the redhead in particular, he would have thought his old man had a crush on her. But then again who didn't? He shook his head again, pushing away those thoughts. "She's in the Bahama's. So I assume she's doing great," Harvey commented as he walked back to his kitchen, checking the pasta.

"The Bahama's? Harvey," Gordon countered, looking at his son as if he was serious.

"As a thank you for all this," Harvey raised his hand pointing at his apartment again.

"Shouldn't you have been there with her?" Gordon fired back.

"Will you ever stop questioning me about her?" the lawyer countered as he walked the dish he'd prepared over to the dining table.

"If you pull your head out of your ass and make a move I might."

"Who says I didn't."

Gordon frowned, turning around to look at his son. The slightest hint of his lips twitching betraying the younger man and Gordon knew enough. "She said no?" he asked, confused, in disbelief even maybe because he'd only always commented on it since he honestly believed the two of them were just blind to what was right in front of them.

"She doesn't get involved with men that she works with. It's a rule."

.

.

He pulled on his bowtie, making his way to the bar as he downed the remainder of his glass. In need of another one after that encounter with his mother.

"Harvey," she called for him as she walked after him to the bar, her eyes searching for his as she saw the tired look on his face. "I know you have issues with your mother, but it's Marcus' wedding, maybe it's –"

"I haven't spoken to her since she left, Donna," Harvey sighed signalling the bartender to refill his glass before he looked at her again. "And I'm not going to pretend everything is okay now, just because of Marcus. So stop -"

She raised her hand before he could finish that sentence. "I'm going to walk away now," she spoke as she pointed back to the dancefloor. "Before you say something I will not be able to forget," she added walking away.

"Donna," Harvey called for her.

Her hand in the air, signalling she didn't want to hear whatever else he had to say as she walked off. Shaking her head as she crossed the room she ran into Gordon, whose hand caught hers and swayed her around on the dancefloor.

"Whatever he said," Gordon spoke, "I'm sure he didn't mean it."

Donna chuckled softly letting herself be turned around the dancefloor. "It was about your ex-wife," Donna confessed then, knowing all too well it wasn't her place to comment. "I shouldn't have ..."

"He never forgave her," Gordon spoke softly. "But he's also never wanted to see the bigger picture and I'm not trying to talk things right...but I wasn't around much," Gordon stated. "I chose my career over her, over them more than once. She had to do most of it on her own...and when I was there I was the one who took them to games and stuff," he explained. "I was the fun parent."

Donna swallowed, nodding. "Yeah, I get that," she whispered, thinking about her own life as a kid.

"I just hope," Gordon spoke looking in the lawyer's direction, "that he doesn't go down that path. That he will be able to choose his family. I hope, I or... Lil and I didn't ruin that."

.

He spun the glass with auburn liquid around in his hand. Already regretting the words he'd just spoken to her. His gaze landing on the redhead again. Seeing her being swirled around the room in his father's arms, he let out a tired sigh, before his lips fell into a smile. Spotting his brother and now official sister in law, Katie, dance next to them. He let out a breath once more as he thought back to all the comments both Specter men had made in his direction recently. His feet betraying his mind, he found himself walking towards her.

His father looked up as he spotted his oldest son walking over. "Harvey," Gordon greeted as he nodded at Donna, excusing himself from the dancefloor.

Harvey held his hand up for Donna who stared at it, her lips pursed together she waited a few seconds before she spoke.

"Harvey, you don't have to. I know how much you hate dancing."

He crooked his head in return as he stared back at her. His hand fell around her wrist, spinning her around, he made her land in his arms.

"Even if you're quite good at it," she added avoiding his eyes, as her left hand rested on his shoulder.

"I'm sorry," he whispered slowly until his eyes met hers. "For earlier... it's just... I –"

"I'm sorry too," she whispered back. "I shouldn't have said anything," she added as they moved over the dancefloor together.

His left hand slowly dropping over her back as they gradually moved closer to the other. Their entangled hands pressed against his chest, she looked up at him again.

Eyes locking once more, she gave him a small smile. A gesture he returned before she let her head rest against his shoulder. His head crooking a little towards her, his lips almost touching the top of her head.

"Thank you for joining me," he whispered then, "for helping me ignore my mother even if you think I should talk to her."

She chuckled softly. Afraid to pull back and look up to him, she stayed in her current position. "Well you said you needed me here," she half joked, but it were the words he'd used.

"Yeah I did," he whispered with a sigh, not saying anything else.

"Anytime," she added.

Gordon smirked as he brought the glass from his hand back to his lip. Seeing both of his sons dance. Knowing all too well that the one that just got married wasn't the only one holding the woman he loved in his arms. Even if said women were off limits.

.

.

Her fingers frantically typing away on her keyboard she was working on some files she needed to catch up on. Hearing her name her head shot up instantly to face the man that just called for her. "Hi," she mumbled as she noticed Gordon standing there at Harvey's desk.

"Donna," the old man smiled at her, as he pointed at his son's office.

"He's in court," she answered before he could even pronounce his question.

Gordon pressed his lips together in a thin line as he nodded. Sitting down across the wooden desk from her. "They still didn't make him partner?" he rather stated than asked and Donna shook her head. His gaze dropped to the can opener that was still on Harvey's desk; reaching for it, he studied it for a second as he took in his son's office.

Donna swallowed, redirecting her gaze from the metal object to the lawyer's laptop right in front of her. Closing the monitor she contemplated if she should tell about the object the older man was holding, but before she could he laughed placing it down.

"He's got one just like this at his new place," Gordon added, "except it's engraved. It reads something like –"

"Going for the record," she whispered.

Her words making Gordon look at her again. "Yeah," he mumbled, almost laughing to himself as he should have known she already knew.

"I gave it to him," she explained and he smiled, wondering about the meaning behind it.

"I just hope it doesn't stand for the time it's going to take before you two realise what you could have together," Gordon mumbled as he shifted in his chair.

Donna merely swallowed not sure how to respond to that after everything that happened in the past few months.

The lack of the common witty response not going unnoticed to Gordon, he leaned forward. His hand resting on her wrist for a few seconds before he spoke. "He might not say it, but he does love you, you know."

Donna swallowed a small smile on her lips as she looked down. It's the first time her signature phrase doesn't leave her lips.

Gordon turned around then, staring at the painting hanging above the record player. He let out a tired sigh before he asked: "Did you know Lily made that?"

.

.

Harvey smiled, turning to face his father as he walked through the living room. "He signed with me," he beamed about how he now represented the basketball player. "Michael -"

"Jordan?" Gordon interrupted him, frowning because as much as he knew how good a lawyer his son was. He didn't expect this.

"Well," Harvey mumbled, burying his hands in the pocket of his pants. "Technically he signed with Donna, but I'm the lawyer so... yeah," he smiled again, proud of what they had accomplished.

"How's she doing?" Gordon asked then.

"Donna?" Harvey countered, not sure why his dad wanted to know, but then again they had this special bond. "There uhm," he paused for a second looking down. "Was this mess with her father," he confessed then. "She asked me to invest in his business, but she's so blind when it comes to him."

"Harvey, the man's alright," Gordon countered before Harvey could continue the rest of his story.

"What..." Harvey frowned, wondering how his father could make a statement like that. He'd only really spoken to the man once, last week when he met him at the golf course. Not even haven talked to him when he picked up Donna during the holidays years before. "I just met him like a week ago, how –"

"Harvey," the old man sighed, "what I'm trying to say is … Donna's an amazing woman, the man raised her. He can't be that bad." Gordon offered his son a smile as he studied the way his son's face changed into a smile and back into a frown.

"Yeah, I'm awesome too, that doesn't mean –"

"Harvey, she's still you're mother," his father stopped him.

Harvey sighed, looking away because he wasn't about to have a conversation about his mother. "Anyway we," the younger lawyer started again as his father laughed this time. "What?" Harvey asked slightly annoyed now at how many times the older man could interrupt his sentence.

"You do realize you're always talking about us and we?" Gordon smiled, not even having to mention her name as he saw his son's jaw clench just a little.

"Donna is my secretary and I might be her boss," Harvey answered with a sigh. "But we work together, we are a team. So no I'm not going to say I and take all the credit when it was her who made this happen."

"Right," Gordon shook his head as he reached for two bottles of beer from the kitchen. "I'd like to live to see the day my red-headed grandkids are born," Gordon spoke as he placed the bottle in front of the lawyer. "So just marry her already."

.

.

His phone pressed against his ear as he walked across the busy floor with associates. "How do I know the Patriots aren't going 19-0?" he spoke, his left shoulder hitting a fellow lawyer. He raised his hand as an apology. "Because no team from Boston is going undefeated when the road goes through New York," he continued as he walked over to his cubicle.

"You got that right," she spoke, not even looking up from the newspaper she was semi-reading.

"Goddamn Patriots," he answered putting away his phone as he snatched the folded newspaper from her hand, making her turn towards him.

"Your dad called," she spoke bringing her now empty hand back to her cup with vanilla flavoured coffee. "

I'll call him later," he answered briefly looking up at the redhead.

"He always asks why the idiots in charge haven't made you partner yet," she recapped a part of their earlier conversation. "He's so proud. It's sweet," she smiled her head crooked as she looked at him.

"He's right," Harvey nodded regarding the 'not made partner yet' comment as he studied her face. The way she bit her lip to stop herself from smiling but smiled regardless. The way her left eyebrow briefly raised the moment their eyes locked. "You have that look on your face," he nodded, his right hand reaching for her arm as he guided both of them back to her cubicle.

She chuckled at his response, following his lead as she turned to face him again. "Louis is getting a secretary," she whispered leaning towards him. "Her name Is Norma."

"What is she, 100 years old?" he frowned.

"She won't last a week," Donna laughed as she turned to walk around her desk. "You heard it here first," she added as he smirked, turning around himself. "Oh, and Jessica's on her way down," she added then.

He stopped in the door opening, turning around to face her again. "So," he crooked his head looking at her as he stepped closer. "You buried the Jessica news to lead with the Louis news?" he confronted her until she gave him a funny face.

"I'm not apologizing for who I am," she countered, shaking her head.

.

.

Harvey walked back to his office form the elevators. A wait lifted of his shoulders as he was finally able to give Jessica the name of the one that was embezzling money. "It's done," he spoke his eyes briefly falling on Donna who was standing in front of her cubicle before he entered his office. "Hardman is gone."

She followed him inside. "Harvey," his name leaving her lips as calmly as possible.

He looked at her. His own face immediately falling as he noticed the look on hers. "What is it?" he asked stepping towards her, taking in her watery eyes.

She opened her mouth, struggling with the words. "I don't know how to say this," she started, which for her was practically a first. She let out a breath looking at him as his mouth dropped a little.

"Just say it, Donna, What?" he asked as calmly as possible.

"Your dad," she spoke pausing briefly, "he had a heart attack."

Seeing the words slowly register in his head as his breath faltered and his body froze for a second before his face fell back into a questioning frown. Not daring to pronounce the question that was on the tip of his tongue.

She pressed her lips together, swallowing as she nodded her head. Not being able to speak the words either, her eyes tearing up just like his.

He nodded in understanding and so did she in return. In a way, conveying the message without either of them forcing the other to say it. He swallowed, his gaze breaking from hers. He looked away as his mouth slowly parted. Briefly gasping for air, he took two steps towards his record collection. The one thing in his office that reminded him of his old man, their shared passion for music.

Her head turned to follow him as he stepped away from her. Unsure of what to say or what to do she shook her head. "Harvey, I'm so sorry," she whispered then as she stood behind him, her hand lingering in the space between him.

"It's okay," he spoke letting out a breath before she got the change to reach for him. He let out another breath, not able to face her either. An, "ooh my god," leaving his lips in a nearly inaudible whisper as he stood there.

.

.

Harvey smirked as he listened to his mentor telling how bad Daniel's aim was when he threw a phone at her the night before. "You needed me?" he asked then.

"I wanted you to be the first to know," the new managing partner spoke, "we have a new partner."

"Andrew McCutcheon," Harvey mumbled, not giving anything a way as what he hoped for. "Solid candidate," he added, making Jessica shake her head.

"A simple thank you would suffice," she countered emphasizing the thank you part.

"Me?" Harvey frowned. "Thank you? " He shook his head, already smiling. "Never."

"Well, I have a partners meeting in five minutes," Jessica continued as she moved towards the door. "I'm gonna break the news that I'm taking Daniel's office," she whispered as she walked by Harvey, who turned around with her movement.

"Who's taking yours?" he asked as Jessica turned on her heel in the door opening.

"I'm looking at him," she answered, as she eyed him. His mouth still left agape she continued, "He'd be proud."

.

.

Her black heel tapping against the floor of the elevator she called his number once more. Mumbling his name in frustration as it went straight to voice mail yet again, she now waited to reach his floor. Searching for the key to his apartment on her keychain she mentally prepared herself for what was to come. The state in which she would find him, that is if he was even there. She turned the lock, letting the door fall shut behind her with a bang as some sort of warning, but there was no response. Making her way to his living room, she swallowed as she saw the first thing she had predicted.

An empty bottle of scotch resting on the coffee table between a few records she knew to be of his father. She let out a breath as she walked closer. Dropping her purse on his couch she made her way to his bedroom, abruptly coming to a halt as she saw his bare back coming out of the sheets. Automatically closing her eyes, she counted her options, but she had to do this. Sighing she opened her eyes again, her gaze roaming over him to the other side of the bed. She knew him well enough to know that she could have found any blonde or brunette there.

She kept telling herself it would be no big deal, but seeing the sheets on the other side of the bed were untouched made her feel slightly more at ease. She looked up then, thinking that pulling the curtains open would wake him up, but she could have known the man barely owned a pair.

"Harvey," she spoke then, too soft for it to result in anything resembling him waking up. She looked at her watch, knowing she had to do this rather quickly would they be on time for his father's funeral. "Harvey," she spoke again louder this time as she walked towards him, her hand stretched out, she balled it into a fist before she could reach for him. "Harv," she mumbled again, her hand touching his shoulder as she stirred him around.

His eyes flickering open instantly, he froze on the spot as she pulled her hand back at his reaction. "Don...na?" he groaned, bringing his hand to his head as a he now noticed how his head was pounding.

"I'm sorry," she whispered as she saw him turn around, trying to sit up straight in his bed.

He turned to sit on the edge of his bed. His elbows leaning on his arms, his head resting in his arms. "Wh...hy?" he pronounced, trying to keep his eyes open.

"Harvey," she stuttered, kicking off her shoes as she noticed he was still mostly unresponsive. She kneeled down on the floor in front of him, bringing herself on eye level, she called his name again. Her hand touching his wrist she waited for him to look at her.

"It's the day of your father's funeral," she whispered softly seeing him nod, his eyes closing again as he couldn't look at her. "You should get ready, or we're going to miss it," she added, hearing him sigh in return as she got back up on her feet. "You should take a shower and I'll make you some breakfast," she reasoned as she made her way to his bathroom. Turning on the tab she quickly made her way back but instantly coming to a halt as she nearly ran into him. Slowly lifting her head, her eyes trailed over his toned chest, swallowing she stepped back as she watched him bring his hand through his hair. The 'sorry' he mumbled in his raspy voice making her look away. "

I... uhm... I'll pick you a suit," she spoke as she got herself out of the way. Biting her lip and letting out a breath as she could hear him move under the shower. She shook her head, making her way to his closest as she searched for a suitable outfit. Gently laying down the suit on his bed, she bends down for her shoes again. Slipping them on as she heard the tab being closed, she turned on her heel. Her head briefly tilting to the left she made her way over to the kitchen.

Fixing him a coffee and two slices of toast, she paced down the room until he appeared. Sitting himself down on one of the bar stools, she gently pushed the plate towards him. Handing him the coffee with her other hand. She studied him for a second, a small smile on her lips as he looked at her again. The tiniest hint of her showing she was there for him.

.

She shifted on the red faux leather seat of the cabin they were in. Her gaze falling onto him for the umpteenth time this train ride. She studied him again, the way his head was resting against the window. His hair far from the jelled up version she saw every day, his chin graced with something more than a five o' clock stubble. The tired dreamy look in his eyes as he seemed lost in thought, made him look more like his father than ever before.

Silently she walked next to him as they got off the train. Meeting up with Marcus, Katie and the young Matt at the gates of the cemetery. She watched how the two brothers merely nodded, hugging each other for the just a moment before they parted again. His hand shaking that of Katie's as he tried to smile at the little boy. Her own heart breaking as she felt the younger man's arms embracing her, she realised that he, the one of the two she knew so much better and spend nearly every waking second of her life with couldn't let her in. Like the younger man had just done.

She stayed on the side as she watched the small family stand together behind an arrangement of flowers. Briefly looking around she saw a handful of faces she recognized from the birthdays she witnessed, but all in all, she had to conclude it was a small and sad gathering. Not even the man's ex-wife was present and she was sure it hadn't been his mother's call. She watched him then again as he stood there. Almost stoic compared to the emotional younger brother, but she could see by the glassiness of his eyes that he was just as deeply affected, if not more. He only didn't allow himself to shed the tears that would match this moment.

He remained calm during his speech. It was short, but thoughtful and she could hear how he meant every word of what he was saying. Even if it was just the result of a moment of clarity. She was sure he wouldn't be able to explain let alone recognize the meaning of the words he'd just spoken. A record played softly in the background as the five of them stayed behind, watching the casket being lowered. She noticed how he was standing there, still on his own as Marcus held onto his pregnant wife and their eighteen-month-year-old son.

Letting out a breath she wiped away the remainders of the tears caused by his words as she stepped forward. Her hand brushing over his shoulder, she briefly squeezed to let him know she was there for him. Preparing the faintest of smiles on her lips in case he'd turn to face her. She just stood there as he didn't. Shut off from the world. From her. He didn't budge by her touch, he didn't look and he didn't speak. She swallowed, realising there was nothing more she could do. She squeezed his shoulder again before she let go. Taking a few steps back to give him his space. The words "I'm here for you," never leaving her lips, she just hoped he knew.

.

.

She leaned down, smiling at the little girl in his arms. Her index finger moving over the girl's stomach as she looked back up at Marcus. "She's beautiful," she smiled, "Congratulations. How's Katie?"

Marcus smiled, nodding at the redhead. "Upstairs, sleeping," he answered as he smiled at his daughter. "Do you want to hold her?" he asked, making the redhead frown a little.

"Can I?" she beamed as he nodded, signalling for her to sit down she took place on the chair.

Holding her arms up, Marcus placed the little girl in her embrace. Sitting back he looked the redhead who was making funny faces at Emily, who held on to one of her fingers with her tiny he hands. He smiled, remembering how his brother had done the exact same thing when Matt was born. They hadn't been in touch much after their father's death. The older brother fully focussing himself on his job. Donna being the one that updated him on his brother's whereabouts. The amount of details becoming less each time, telling him he wasn't the only one Harvey closed himself off from.

"You know what dad would have said if he'd seen you like this?" Marcus commented as he pulled his little boy on his knee. Rocking him back and forth, he watched Donna raise her eyebrow. Not sure what to expect. "Well not to Aunt Donna's face," Marcus commented as he fixed his son's shirt, looking back at the redhead again. "He'd have said something along the lines of wanting to meet his redheaded grandchildren."

Donna swallowed then, her gaze dropping to the little girl in her arms once before she closed her eyes. Trying to stop the tears from forming. "I... uhm..." she mumbled biting her lip as she shortly gasped for air. "I… uhm...should go," she spoke as she lifted herself up. Handing the little girl back to her father.

"Everything okay?" Marcus asked.

She tried to smile at him. "Yeah... uhm I just... remembered something... I need to do," she nodded, her hand brushing over the two-year-old's head who was sitting next to his father. "Have a great day, say hi to Katie for me," she mumbled bringing her purse to her arm as she walked away. Still fighting the tears, she covered her mouth with her hand before she managed to step outside. Her arm falling around her stomach as she gasped for air when the cold winter breeze hit her skin, but it didn't stop her from crying tears she hadn't allowed herself to shed in over half a decade.

.

.

"It was my dad," Harvey said after a couple of minutes.

Donna looked at him, not sure what he was referring at.

Harvey sighed, "You wanted to know why," he said bringing up the fight they had in his office earlier that day. When he let it slip that he didn't forget to annul their wedding, but couldn't do it. He leaned forward with his elbows on his knees, turning his head to face Donna. "The reason I couldn't do it, was because of him. The last time I spoke to him, before he … uh … before he passed away." Harvey paused for a second. "He teased me about marrying you."

.

.

She stood there waiting, her hand resting on her stomach. Silently behind him as the view matched that of years ago. Harvey on the left with next to him Marcus holding his wife and two children this time. The younger man stepped back then, his own family following him as he nodded in the redhead's direction. Just like her, he knew how his brother dealt with loss and grief.

Alone and in silence.

She gave Marcus a small smile as he whispered a sorry on his brother's behalf to her. That after all these years he still stood there alone, with the bottle of scotch and two small glasses resting on the gravestone. She swallowed then, switching her weight on her other leg as she wondered about her options. Even though it was only her second time visiting his father's grave, it was the first time she broke the silence this day was spend in over the years.

"Do you want to be alone?" she whispered softly.

His eyes closing the second her voice reached his ears. A soft chuckle escaping his lips as he took a breath, as if he was wondering how she could even think that. He shook his head then. "No," was all he said.

She walked towards him. Standing right beside him, the back of her left hand merely brushing against his he reached for her hand. Intertwining their fingers, he held her close. Both of them remaining silent as they looked at his father's grave in the comfort of the other's presence.

.

He stared at his glass of scotch on the table in front of him, his thumb moving over the edge. "I miss him," he mumbled then looking up at his brother who nodded.

"Me too," Marcus answered, raising his glass as the younger man waited for Harvey to cling his glass against his.

"To Gordon," Harvey spoke.

"To dad," Marcus nodded, both downing the rest of their glass. "You know he would have loved this," Marcus spoke, "you and Donna. Finally together," the younger man added emphasizing the 'finally.'

Harvey chuckled softly looking down as he remembered how their old man was always asking him about his relationship with the redhead. "He was actually part of why we got together," Harvey commented, making Marcus frown.

"Really?" he mumbled and Harvey nodded, repeating the word. "You know what he would say then right," Marcus continued as Harvey crooked his head. Already knowing what would be next. "Marry her already," Marcus chirped in the tone their father used, as he signalled to the waiter for a refill.

"I did," Harvey spoke then making Marcus look back up, his mouth left agape he stared at his older brother. "We're married," Harvey confessed then looking at his glass again.

"Wait... what?" Marcus mumbled, when he finally found his words again. "When?"

"We got married so I could buy my apartment," Harvey swallowed then. The words making Marcus frown in disbelief. "I know, I know..." Harvey spoke, "it was a ridiculous plan…" he recalled. "She'd marry me, I'd buy the penthouse and we'd..." He paused, shaking his head. "No, I'd annul the wedding, but … I couldn't."

"You couldn't?" Marcus repeated, raising his eyebrows because it must have been the first time he heard his brother say he couldn't do something.

"Didn't want to," Harvey confessed. "And this will probably ... no, it will sound selfish, but I'm glad I didn't. Look at everything we have now."

Marcus shook his head, still in shock. "He'd make you ask her again, if he found out," Marcus commented referring to their father.

His words making Harvey nod in agreement. "I know," Harvey muttered, thinking about the little black box he'd been trying to hide from her for a very long time now.

.

She stirred around in his embrace. A smile forming on her lips as his hand drew patterns over her stomach, his lips placing kisses in the crook of her neck. "Harv," she whispered, her hand running over his arm as she tried to look over her shoulder.

"Morning beautiful," he whispered, his voice still husky as he looked at her. Admiring her. Noticing how she was going to object to his words, he pressed his lips against hers. Kissing her slowly. "You are," he whispered as he looked her in the eye. Leaning on his left elbow, he let her roll around on her back. His hand moving over her stomach, he could feel the baby kick. "And this one here agrees," he whispered kissing her chest as his hand caressed her baby bump.

"Right, little one?" he continued letting his head rest on her breasts, he kissed the bump. She smiled, closing her eyes as she let her hands run through his hair as he continued talking to their baby. "I can't wait to meet you, see who you look like more."

"He'll look like you," she whispered and he smirked.

"I hope you look like your mommy," he countered, feeling her fingers stir his hair. "I love you," he mumbled pulling her shirt up until he pressed his lips against her skin.

She laughed, shaking her head at his actions. "You're so cheesy," she teased him as he pushed himself back to sit up right.

"I'm not," he argued as he helped her sit up.

"You are," she reasoned as she stood up, turning around in front of him, kissing the top of his head. "But I love you," she added smiling as she stepped back, making her way over to the kitchen.

He shook his head, laughing at himself, them. "Who is cheesy now," he called after her as he made his way to the bathroom. Rubbing his hand through his hair on his way back, he followed her to the kitchen then. Admiring her for a while before he sat himself down on one of the barstools.

"Not me," she countered with a smirk as she reached for a mug.

He eyed the counter with a frown spread across his face. "Hey, where's the –"

"Here," she turned around before he finished his sentence. Handing him yesterday's newspaper she had been reading.

He took it from her hand with a smile. "Donna, could you – "

She turned around again, placing a mug with hot coffee in front of him.

"Already done," she answered, making him smirk even more.

"Marry me?"