HI Folks! Hope you haven't forgot about this little fic I am still updating. This one may well turn into an epic! This update is a bit long, but we are seeing Charlotte's claws come out a little at a time. However, we also see new things happen in Seattle. Please R&R. Thank you so much. Your responses keep me inspired to continue. Love - Carebearmaxi.
Little One
Chapter 12
Harvey arrived in Seattle and met Mike at the airport. They clasped each other with brotherly love. Rachel was there at Mike's side looking a little more plump for the baby she carried. Harvey stepped forward and kissed and hugged Rachel as well.
"Harvey, was your flight a little rough?" Rachel asked. "We followed the clouds all the way to the airport."
"I would say it was a little choppy there for a bit. It was ok, though," Harvey responded smiling. "Let me call Donna and let her know I landed, ok?"
"Sure," Rachel said and taking Mike's arm they strode toward baggage claim. Harvey had packed only one suitcase because he needed his briefcase while on the five-hour flight. It was Sunday late afternoon at 5:30 pm. He was still on Eastern time and looking at his phone realized it was 9:30 pm back home.
"Donna?" Harvey said when she answered her phone.
"Harvey, you got there," Donna said relieved.
"Yes. Mike and Rachel send you their love. I wish you were here. I miss you already."
"I miss you, too, Harvey. Next time I'll be with you and it will be permanent," Donna responded. "I love you."
"Love you, too. Call you tomorrow," Harvey said and hung up.
"How's she doing?" Mike asked as he handed Harvey his suitcase and they proceeded to parking.
"Donna? She's good. So far the pregnancy is wreaking havoc on her hormones, but she's good. What about Rachel? She looks good."
"She's great! Baby is doing really well. So where do you want to eat?"
"Oh, I don't care. I just want a burger, maybe," Harvey said knowing that Rachel, being a foodie, would be sure to make the burger one of the most exotic burgers of all time.
"Good. Then we will take you to the best burger joint in Seattle," Rachel said as he got behind the wheel.
"Don't you have your driver's license by now?" Harvey began to tease.
"Yes, but this is Rachel's car. She doesn't let a newbie like me drive it," Mike said making a face like he was telling tales out of school.
Harvey smiled his Cheshire Cat smile. He was with his best friends in the world, but he missed his wife back home. Donna should be here.
"Say, can you drop me at my new place tonight? Donna had some of our furniture delivered and I want to stay there tonight."
"Of course, we can," Rachel said looking back at Harvey in the back seat. He misses her. Harvey no longer hides anything. It's all in his face.
Harvey let himself into he and Donna's new apartment. He immediately saw some of the furniture that was delivered the last time they were there together. He placed his keys on the half wall and made the right into the apartment. The shades over the large living room window were shut. They were on the top floor as they were in New York. Harvey turned on the lamp that stood on the one of the end tables and surveyed the new white plush couch. He plopped himself down, stomach pleasantly full, from his exotic cheeseburger. He held one hand to his stomach and the other to his mouth as he burped. Damn! I didn't know bean sprouts could make a man belch like that. Maybe it was the beer not the bean sprouts on second thought. I don't know what that other shit that Rachel insisted I try, but it was too exotic for me. Just give me some cheese and a pickle and I'm happy. I didn't want to offend her, but if I have bad gas all night I'll be glad Donna didn't come with me this time. Harvey smiled as he thought about that.
He looked around. At the thought of his wife, he imagined Donna coming out from the direction of the Master bedroom. She was only clad in his white dress shirt. This was his favorite picture of her in his mind's eye. She had yet to do it in reality.
He rose from the couch and took a turn down the hall where the other bedroom was located. He walked to the doorway and saw the light blue carpet that was installed. He need not have told Mike and Rachel that Donna was carrying twins because Rachel already knew. She said Donna had told her in their last telephone conversation. She briefly asked about Charlotte and Harvey declined to go into detail about the bargain he had struck with her.
As he leaned against the doorjamb, Harvey's mind went to perhaps a future picture.
He saw two beds side by side. One side of the room was feminine, and the other side was definitely masculine. Both his son and his daughter, Gordon and Lily, were both redheads like their mother.
"Daddy!" Lily cried as she would fly into his arms. Not to be outdone would be her brother clamoring at his leg to be picked up and swung about.
Harvey smiled. He could feel his wife's hand on his shoulder still dressed in her Valentino dress but with a dish towel over her shoulder.
"Dinner's done soon. So, everybody wash up!" Donna would kiss him then lightly on his lips. Then Lily and Gordon would pull him toward the bathroom shouting
"Come on daddy, wash hands! Can't eat 'til you wash hands!"
After washing their hands, Harvey could almost feel them pull him, one on each hand, toward their mother who was serving plates at the table in the humongous kitchen/dining room combination.
Just then as if she knew which she usually always did when he needed her, Donna's face appeared on Harvey's phone with the Caller. I.D. being "Donna" "Wife".
"Hey," Donna says in her quiet voice.
"Hey," Harvey responds. "Isn't it past your bedtime?"
"Yes, but I knew you needed me. So, I called as summoned. What's going on?"
"I was just walking around our new home here and picturing our future."
"Really, what did you picture?"
"You, dressed in my white shirt only."
"Your favorite view of me, I bet," Donna said smiling to herself. She was lying in bed stroking first Harvey's side of the bed longing for his body close to hers. Then stroking her baby bump and wondering herself about her babies.
"Well…almost. Do you know who else I saw?"
"What? Our children?"
"Yes," Harvey said wiping a tear away from his eye. He was so overwhelmed in missing her knowing she was carrying their children. Once Harvey would have abhorred this feeling of vulnerability and sentimentality, but now he revels in it. He knows he will be with her in a few days and the reunion will be spectacular.
"What did they look like?"
"I guess they must have been about three because I pictured twin beds. We had a boy and a girl, both redheads like you. They both couldn't wait for me to pick them up and hold them."
Harvey gulped and again wiped tears away from his eyes.
"I really love you, Donna. Forever."
"I really love you, too, Harvey. I'll talk to you tomorrow. Get some sleep."
Harvey bit the inside of his jaw and hung up his phone.
Mike knocked on Harvey's door next morning. Harvey had a hard time sleeping. Firstly, because he did not have his wife lying by his side. Ever since their second first time, he needed to feel her near him. That's why the first night they did not spend together after Faye started her crap had hit Harvey so hard. Secondly, he was still on east coast time, so his body clock had not adjusted yet. It was still five hours ahead. Harvey had been waiting for Mike to pick him up rather than rent a car because Mike wanted to make sure that Harvey understood the inner workings of this firm as opposed to the firm back in New York which focused on different cases. Harvey essentially knew, but Mike felt he should familiarize him with key partners.
They chitchatted about the previous night and their lives and how different they were only ten short years before. Back then they were both bachelors, and Harvey was such a womanizer he could not keep track of the women he slept with except for Scottie. She was his friends with benefit lover. Mike could barely keep himself above water when it came to doing Harvey's work. Mike was so raw. He had that incredible memory which got them out of more than one jam. As for Mike's love life, he had his own entanglements. He had been involved with Jenny, his best friend's girl, and then Tess, a married woman who had been his high school sweetheart met again at his Grandma's funeral. Then, finally, thinking he had lost everything he finally got the woman of his dreams -Rachel Zane.
It took Harvey a whole lot of introspection until on the spur of the moment after the loss of both parents and a whole lot of soul searching that Donna was his one true constant. He had always wanted her, too.
They both wore wedding bands now and were expectant fathers of all things. That was another good topic of conversation he and Mike could now share.
"So, Harvey Specter, soon the father of twins!" Mike exclaimed as he drove.
"Up top, man!" Mike said as he tried to high five Harvey in the car.
Harvey laughed hard. "What is that? Are we congratulating ourselves now that we know we can reproduce?"
"Aren't you happy?" Mike asked.
"Yes, I'm ecstatic-but-I think the high fives are a little over the top for this. Geez," Harvey said and took a sip of his coffee, still laughing.
"Oh, I don't know. I think you need high tens. You're the man having the twins. Rachel only has one bun in the oven."
Harvey sipped his coffee again and looked at Mike and could not help laughing. It was so funny what they found now to talk about. Normalcy, I guess, Harvey thought. It feels good.
Mike first took Harvey into see Andy Forsythe the managing partner of the firm. Andy was more than ecstatic to know that Mike's mentor, Harvey Specter, was eager for a partner position and to practice more for the little guy than the athletes and corporate raiders which had become Harvey's bread and butter.
"Nice to finally see you face to face, Harvey," Andy said as he shook Harvey's hand. "I hope you will enjoy being here. Mike and Rachel have been a wonderful addition to our firm, and I am sure you will be, too, with your vast experience with corporations and insurance companies."
"Thank you, Andy. I'm pleased to be here. I wanted to ask you. Did you receive the briefs on those cases Mike brought me?"
"Yes, I did. Until you're here to argue the points, Mike will be handling them for you. In the meantime, I wanted to talk to you about something Mike brought up to me recently."
Mike took a look at Harvey and Harvey looked at Mike questioningly.
"What's up?" Harvey asked with his focus back on Andy.
"Mike brought it to my attention that your wife was the COO of Specter Litt Wheeler Williams before you left. I was not aware of that and I don't have a COO here. However, when I looked into your firm as a whole I must admit her work is very impressive. I was wondering if you think your wife may like to work here as a COO. We've never had one, and I must say having one sounds like a great burden off my shoulder."
Harvey smiled and gave a sidelong glance to Mike. "So, this is why you wanted me out here?"
Mike said, "No, Harvey, that's not the only reason, but I was hoping Donna would be with you so we could ask her together."
Harvey looked at Mike and then he looked at Andy.
"Donna is pregnant with twins, Andy. I'm not really sure she wants to come to work in a law firm anymore. I think she would like it better if the offer came to her via you. Otherwise she may think some of us pulled strings just so we could have her work with us again. She's contemplated a few things coming to Seattle would actually give her time to do. Now that we're expecting I really don't want to speak for her."
"Ok, let me rephrase," Andy said. "Do you think she would consider it? I would be happy to extend her the offer personally and explain how impressed I am with what I have read of her work."
Harvey said, "Andy, I would like to see my desk and get things organized before my first official day here in a month. Do I have a secretary?"
Mike said, "Yes, you do. It's three partners for every one assistant. Rachel, you, and me will be sharing Tracy. You'll like her. She's a lot like Donna when it comes to working."
Harvey stopped Mike right there. "There's no one like Donna for me and there never will be."
Mike saw Andy's face sour when he heard Harvey's remark. "I'm sure Tracy is very capable. Mike and Rachel have had no qualms with her. She is also the one that can sub as a paralegal when needed."
Harvey closed his eyes, smiled, and shook his head.
"I'm sorry. Donna was my assistant for many, many years before I promoted her to COO."
"I didn't know that. It was not listed in her bio from your firm."
"She loosely refers to it for reasons I am sure you probably understand.
"Was this promotion before you were married or after?"
"Before, we've only been married a few months, Andy. You know that."
How come this meeting seems like an inquisition? Mike didn't expect all this about Donna, I can tell.
"Andy, if you really want Donna to truly consider an offer of employment here, you should do the same thing you would do for any other person you would be considering for a position. You can fly to New York and ask her yourself or give her a phone call and tell her why you would think she would be a good fit for the position besides the obvious."
"I see what you mean, Harvey. She does deserve that much respect."
"Now, can I see my office and greet Tracy?"
Harvey put in a full day's work at his new firm. He had Mike drop him home to his new house and declined another invitation to dinner. He pleaded that he had a headache. He was anxious to call Donna who had not contacted him all day. Although she said she would call him after work, Harvey could not wait to talk with her. She would know she was on his mind; she almost always did.
Harvey put the key in the hole and turned. The apartment was already starting to feel like a sanctuary. All it needed was Donna's touch and Donna's presence. He missed her so much. As he walked toward the living room, he got excited for a minute as he saw a red-haired woman sitting on his couch. He got excited until the woman turned around.
"Charlotte! What the hell are you doing here? How the hell did you get into my apartment?"
"I told the maintenance man that I was your wife. He remembered my red hair," Charlotte said with an amusing laugh.
"What are you doing in Seattle, Charlotte? I told you last week that if something came up then I would reach you."
Harvey looked around thinking he would see Troy lurking about. However, no one else was there.
"Troy's not here, Harvey. He's with his father, Archie, who decided he needed to see him before I whisked him away.
"Did you tell Archie that you're suing him also besides your current husband for full custody because of his lack of responsible care on his side?"
"No because I didn't know I was doing that. However, I know he won't give a crap."
"I figure since you got nothing from Archie in the way of child support when you divorced him and your current husband has no claim on Troy that we should kill two birds with one stone and see if you can at least get something out him."
Harvey was growing restless. He did not expect to see his sister-in-law here. She did not belong here. Charlotte sister, Harvey's wife belonged here.
"Look, Charlotte, I'm tired. I have a few briefs to settle and then I was going to call Donna or she will be calling me. We haven't talked all day," Harvey said pseudo abruptly.
"Harvey this will just take a minute. Besides I brought you some Chinese. The best in Seattle. I lived here a short time with one of my husbands, so I did get to know some of the best restaurants in town."
Suddenly the scent of Chinese Mooshu Pork wafted into Harvey's deprived nostrils. It was not his favorite, but he was very hungry. He had not had lunch which was his normal way when working. Harvey was so absorbed with his work that he had just as soon grab a sandwich from the Starbucks downstairs in the building and stay at his desk and get his work done while he was in Seattle.
Harvey smirked.
"Thank you, Charlotte. That wasn't necessary."
"Oh, nonsense, My sister wouldn't want me to see her husband starve when she wasn't here to keep an eye on him."
"Ok, I only have water to drink and a bottle of Scotch I bought on the way home last night."
"No, we have something else," Charlotte said as she pulled a bottle of wine out of her bag as they talked. "I brought some Chardonnay which I know goes well with Mooshu Pork."
"Very nice of you Charlotte," Harvey said. "I would rather be alone if you don't mind."
"I was hoping I could get to know you better with you all to myself."
Harvey smirked. Just because he was married did not mean that desperate women did not throw themselves at him, but Charlotte? Surely she knows I would never look at another woman now that I finally have the one I want.
"This is all fine, but I really would prefer to be alone. "
At that juncture, Charlotte rose from the white plush couch and sauntered off to the kitchen. She proceeded to take the cartons from the box and put them on the dining room table which somehow she had found their dishes and silverware and placemats. Harvey thought most of that stuff was still in New York as they still needed something there with which to eat.
Harvey pointed at the table and said, "Are these mine and Donna's or did you purposely bring the china, cutlery, and food to entice me to let you stay?"
Charlotte proceeded to sit down at one side of the table and began to dish food onto her plate.
"Come on, Harvey. I'm your sister-in-law. I won't bite you!"
Harvey decided to refrain from saying what he was thinking. Donna had warned him several times that Charlotte was a barracuda in sheep's clothing.
Harvey's stomach growled to remind him that he had not eaten in several hours. What can it hurt? I'm not getting seduced by her. I'm not that stupid.
Charlotte watched as Harvey came to the table and sat at the other end of the small rectangular table. He served himself some pork fried rice, a fried wonton, and then the Mooshu with a pancake. He found the hot mustard sauce for his egg roll and the soy sauce for the rice and pork. Charlotte watched as Harvey ate heartily. In the meantime, Charlotte had finished her meal and was drinking wine and examining him over the rim of her wineglass.
"Harvey, I don't mean to interrupt your feast, but were you planning to see my soon to be ex?"
"Yes, I was. I'm leaving on Wednesday and I thought I would fly down that night. I have an appointment with his attorney on Thursday. I have to be home by Friday."
"Why? What's Friday?"
"I promised Donna I would be home."
"So, I don't mean to change the subject, but what do you think about this food?"
"It's good. Thank you for bringing it. I didn't realize how hungry I was," Harvey said smiling at Charlotte.
After Charlotte poured them a couple more glasses of wine, she asked, "So, how long have you really been with my sister?"
"Let's just say a long time," Harvey said expanding the word "long". "I feel like we've always been together, but it just isn't so."
"I know you don't want to talk about your marriage to my sister, so let's talk about something else. Why don't you tell me why you and she wanted to move to Seattle all of a sudden?"
Harvey looked down and then rose from the table and took a seat on the plush white couch. Charlotte remained where she was and picked at her food with two fingers and took another sip of wine. She turned in her seat and faced Harvey and crossing her legs let her one leg swing loosening her high heel shoe which threatened to come off her foot.
"Because our best friends moved out here and we really miss them."
Charlotte sipped her wine again and gave Harvey a squinty look, "Are you sure that's the only reason?"
"It's the best reason. Why do you think?"
"I think something happened and you're running away from your home. Donna never likes to leave a home. I remember when we had to move from New York when she was 13. I was 19 and in college so it didn't bother me as much. But Donna! She never blamed dad for the loss of our money, but she blames me."
"I don't know anything about that. Donna doesn't like to talk about it, so I don't push it. It's all in the past anyway, so what difference does it make?"
"Oh, I just thought maybe you had a clue why she doesn't ever mention she has a sister. I know she blames me for embroiling our father in shady business deals and the losses he has endured, but what Donna doesn't seem to understand is that dad comes to the decisions himself. I have nothing to do with the final decision."
Harvey screwed up one side of his mouth, "I don't believe it. She would not feel so strongly unless she had grounds."
"Harvey, what you fail to notice about my sister is that she is fiercely protective of those she loves. She doesn't love me. She would rather believe the worst of me."
"No, I am a beneficiary of that protection. So, I am very familiar of her fierceness."
"Oh, what did she protect you from? Big bad corporate raiders that threatened to take your license!" Charlotte said with a laugh.
Harvey nodded. "Actually, something like that."
"Ok, since my sister is not here. Why don't you tell me about your day at the new firm?"
Harvey's face fell. "Charlotte, I think it's time for you to go. I have a lot of work to do and I want to call my wife."
"Ok, I'm staying down the street in the hotel. I won't be leaving until tomorrow night, so I still want to be with you when you visit my soon-to-be ex."
"Charlotte, I know you've been through this before. Divorce is never easy. I don't recommend you be there, but if you insist."
"I do. Thank you," Charlotte had taken the plates to the kitchen sink and then put on her coat and said, "Good night Harvey"
Harvey said, "Goodnight Charlotte. Thank you for the food."
He shut the door as he watched her take the elevator down.
Donna in the meantime was having dinner with her parents.
"How long will Harvey be gone?" James Paulsen asked. "He's neglecting you all ready?"
"Daddy, I thought you liked Harvey now," Donna said.
"I do. I am still a little leery. I know he loves you. I'm sorry," James stated.
"Yes, dear, enough of that now. So, do you have some news you want to impart?" Clara said nudging her daughter by squeezing her hand across the dinner table.
"I do," Donna said sipping water from her water goblet.
"Harvey and I will be parents to twins in the summer!" Donna announced proudly.
Clara broke into tears and James smiled. Clara rose and hugged her daughter.
"Let me look at you! Twins! I knew it! I just knew it when we last saw you. Oh, I can see the bump." Clara hugged Donna again who was relieved.
"How's Harvey taking becoming a father of twins?" James asked.
"He's very happy! He was in tears when he saw the ultrasound which I happen to have a copy of each baby for you and mom!" Donna said excitedly as she rushed to her purse and took out the little grainy pictures of the two new Specters that would be born in the end of July.
Clara took the pictures from Donna and looked at them. She broke into tears.
"Mom, what is it? I'm fine."
Clara looked at her youngest daughter and was so overwhelmed that she finally had everything she ever wanted.
"I'm just so happy for you and Harvey."
Donna smiled and said, "Aw, thank you mom." She went forward and hugged her mom tight as she could and almost broke into tears herself.
James Paulsen finally had it and rose, hugged his daughter, saying, "Ok, ladies, I'm happy too. First, though, can I please finish my dinner?"
Donna arrived back home. She checked the time. I'm a little late calling him. I know he must have a lot to tell me. Donna went to the refrigerator and pulled a bottle of chocolate milk. Now that she was pregnant she allowed to indulge a little bit in a healthy drink with some sugary benefits. She had kicked her high heels off at the door and put on her fuzzy slippers which were right in front of the couch where she had left them. She sat with her legs curled up to the side and hit Harvey's number. She got a kick out of seeing Harvey's handsome face with the contact name of "Harvey Specter" and then right below it, "Husband". She still had to pinch herself sometimes to remember that her situation was real and not a fantasy.
Harvey was sitting at the dining room table which was sufficing as a desk for right now until his desk arrived from New York. His phone buzzed and Donna's beautiful face appeared on the screen.
"Hey," Harvey said in his soft Donna voice. "How's the mother of my children?"
"Hey, I'm good, but I miss you. So, let me guess. Andy Forsythe is an asshole and doesn't know the first thing about being a managing partner?"
"Well, I wouldn't say he is an asshole…yet. He's just inexperienced running an entire firm of lawyers. He's no Harvey Specter." Harvey smiled.
"I'm sure he's not. Nobody is," Donna laughed.
Hearing Donna's laugh brightened Harvey's day.
"Of course not. Other than that, it was a somewhat normal day. I worked on some briefs, met my new assistant whom I share with Mike and Rachel. She also doubles as a paralegal."
Donna on the other end rolled her eyes at what Harvey stated.
"She must have no life."
"I guess not. Guess who I found waiting for me in our new apartment?"
"Who has authorization into our place except you and me? No one knows our friends and family that well yet."
"Charlotte." Harvey simply stated and waited for a barrage of questions that Harvey could not answer but his wife probably had a load of them.
"Charlotte? As in my sister, Charlotte?"
"That would be her. I was coming into the living room. I saw a redhead and got excited thinking you were surprising me and then when she turned around I saw her."
Donna was trying hard not to venture a call to her sister and spit in her ear. However, she remained calm while she asked her husband why her sister would be there in Washington state visiting her sister's husband.
"She wanted in when I see her ex on Thursday afternoon before I come home."
"Harvey, I know how you handle divorce cases. This one will not bode well if Charlotte's there. She's not a real good client if you know what I mean."
"I tried to explain to her that proceedings would be better if she weren't there, but she's insisting that since she's been through this before so…"
"So, you will just let her come to the meeting," Donna said stroking her baby bump.
Harvey listened to her silence for a moment and at peace because he was speaking with her. Through the years to calm his restlessness or to confirm that he was the doing the right thing, Donna's voice and her empathic connection with him could make him see reason or make him feel warm and secure. He preferred to be with her at those times, but a phone call with her would achieve mostly the same thing.
"Yes, I will let her come to the meeting," Harvey agreed as he rose to pour himself a glass of Macallan 18 from the bottle he had picked up on the way home. He put the phone down and put Donna on speaker while he poured. As soon as he was finished he picked up the phone and his drink and went back to his seat on the couch.
"So, I had dinner with my parents tonight and…I told them about the babies." Donna waited for Harvey's response.
Harvey was silent on the other end and then he smiled.
"How did they take knowing their favorite daughter was having two babies of Harvey Specter's?"
"Mom broke into tears and hugged me so hard I thought she broke a rib. Dad smiled, but I knew he would still be a little leery of the whole thing. He does like you a lot better than he used to. I think he actually shed a tear at the end of the night."
"Oh! So maybe I'm not the devil incarnate after all," Harvey joked.
"Never! You do know that I miss you next to me at night," Donna said in a very deep seductive voice.
"Careful, Mrs. Specter, I might think you want to talk dirty to me," Harvey teased loving the kittenish purr in her voice. He closed his eyes and started to see her. He pictured her dressed in his dress shirt and nothing else. He even pictured her as he made love to her Saturday night. She lie there underneath him writhing as he suckled at her tender breasts and very carefully drove himself into her.
"Ooo, I can do that…"
"On second thought just tell me you love me they way you did before I left."