A/N: I keep repeating myself, but I can't thank everyone enough for the ongoing love for this story.

Warning: M-rated content.

When Harvey and Marcus walked back into the living room, they found Donna by herself.

"Where's Natalie?" Marcus asked, realizing he'd forgotten his beer in the kitchen.

"She went upstairs to take a call." The move had seemed a little extreme, but Donna hadn't thought more of it.

"Again?" He sighed, shaking his head. "Natalie is getting ready to go back to Los Angeles, to visit her sister. She's just been diagnosed with breast cancer," he said, taking a seat opposite the couch his brother and Donna were on.

"Charlotte has breast cancer?" Shock flashed across Harvey's features. He'd seen the woman mere weeks ago and she had been fine then. That goddamn disease was hitting close to home all over again. No wonder Marcus had looked pained. And him announcing he was leaving probably couldn't have come at a worse time for his little brother.

"Yeah, it's stage three, and she will have to undergo treatment starting next week."

"Wait, Natalie's sister's name is Charlotte? What is her last name?" Donna asked, feeling a chill run down her spine.

"Bowen. Why? Do you know her?" Marcus replied.

"I know a Charlotte Bowen. She used to be in my yoga class. When I told her I was looking to join a company, she was the one who told me to check out Bellevue Theater. She used to volunteer there, right?"

"Yes, I think so."

"Mary just told me that the Charlotte Bowen I know has breast cancer," Donna said, turning to Harvey.

Marcus pulled out his phone and scrolled through the photos and found one of his family and Charlotte's.

"That's her," he said, pointing to the screen at a blonde woman in her forties. "We took this the day we scattered Mom's ashes. I don't know where Harvey was, but yeah that's her."

Harvey shared a look with Donna. That day was forever imprinted in both their memories. The photo was taken on the morning Harvey had first seen Donna at Sleepy Joe's, it being the reason he wasn't in the shot.

Donna grasped the phone, eager to find out if the two Charlotte Bowens turned out to be one and the same. She didn't have to study the image for very long, before her mouth fell open. "Oh, my God. That's her."

Natalie walked in, and three pairs of eyes flashed in her direction. "What's going on here?"

"Did you know Donna knew Charlotte?" Marcus asked.

As her heart started hammering in her chest, Natalie looked at each of them. She dropped her gaze to the floor, shifting her weight nervously.

"Natalie?" Marcus went to his fiancé, sensing something was definitely off. "What's going on?"

"I… You guys might want to brace yourself for this."

Donna and Harvey shared an apprehensive look, unsure of what was unfolding.

"So, tell us," Harvey all but demanded, unmoving.

Natalie turned her attention to Marcus. "Remember when we took your mom and Bobby out to LA in May? Well, one morning we were all out for breakfast. It was just us girls and Charlotte was talking about the theater, showing pictures." She looked at Donna. "You were in one of them."

Donna's face drained of all color trying to remember everything that had led to this moment. One of her finer traits was that she never forgot a face. Therefore, she was certain she had never met Charlotte before she'd left New York. Hell, she'd only encountered Natalie twice before the move. Perhaps she'd seen a photograph at some point, but nothing defining enough to trigger a memory when Charlotte had introduced herself six months ago.

"Lily didn't say anything then and I hadn't even recognized you."

Natalie left the room for a moment, leaving the three of them stunned into silence. A few moments later, she returned with an envelope and handed it to Harvey, who studied the handwriting, running his fingers over the cursive letters spelling out his name.

"Right before Lily died, she explained everything and told me to give this to you."

Marcus looked at his big brother in anticipation, but Harvey seemed frozen. "Don't you wanna know what it says?" Because he sure as hell did.

Looking for encouragement, Harvey's eyes searched for Donna, who motioned for him to go ahead.

He gently tore open the side of the envelope, tearing the paper to reveal a handwritten letter he read in silence.

My dear Harvey,

If you're reading this, it means you and Donna have found your way back to each other again and my job is truly done. Natalie will answer all your questions, but for now know that I am watching over you.

I hope you live a long and healthy life together. You both deserve it.

I love you, sweet Harvey.

Love,

Mom

PS. Don't let her go this time. I'm not sure I can pull this off twice.

Harvey smiled through the tears that had fallen and handed the letter to Donna. "How?" he asked Natalie.

"I don't know exactly. Lily wanted to test if there was an afterlife. That's why she requested her ashes to be scattered in the Pacific. If we stayed with Charlotte and you," she pointed at Donna, "were also in LA, she hoped you might somehow happen upon her there. I was sworn to secrecy, Harvey. If you two hadn't met on that trip, I would have probably told you where Donna was. But then Marcus came home one night while we were still out there and told me about your encounter at some coffee place and I nearly broke down."

"You told me it was allergies," Marcus asserted, feeling stupid for having missed her true reaction.

"I can't believe it," Donna cried softly, moving closer to Harvey after handing the letter to Marcus. "All this time, I've been saying I don't believe in coincidences, but this is something else."

"It might still be a coincidence. Who knows," Natalie tried to reason. "But maybe it isn't."

"Maybe it isn't," Harvey echoed.

"Jesus Christ. Remember when we were scattering Mom's ashes?" Marcus handed Harvey the letter back. "You just told me you'd seen Donna again and I said that maybe it was Mom's plan all along and that's why she chose the Pacific. At the time, I was just trying to make you feel better, but I had no idea it was actually the truth." He shook his head, disbelief hitting him from all sides. "Man, I need a beer!"

"I could definitely use another," Harvey agreed.

"Don't you have anything stronger? Good lord," Donna sighed, wiping her own tears away.

"We sure do. Be right back."

Natalie followed her fiancé, knowing Marcus likely had a lot of questions of his own.

Reading the letter for the fifth time, Harvey shook his head. "You think it's real?" He was seeking any kind of confirmation this wasn't a dream.

Donna had linked her arm through his and stared up at his watery eyes. "I do. This sounds exactly like something your mom would do."

"Yeah, it does."

Donna watched as a new batch of tears rolled down Harvey's cheeks. "You okay?" she asked, moving in front of him while brushing her thumb over the moist skin of his cheek.

"Yeah, it's just a lot… I mean, I know it sounds stupid, but I had a feeling she was watching over me. I just never thought–"

"It's not stupid," she said with a smile, shaking her head. "I'm sure she's watching. And I'm sure your dad is right there with her."

.

That night, Donna woke in an otherwise empty bed. The first thing she noticed was the absence of Harvey's body heat, the east coast winter being particularly brutal this year. Scanning the room, she found him in front of the window, his big frame preventing any light from entering, even though the curtains were opened slightly; enough for him to look outside.

Climbing out of bed, she wrapped the extra blanket Natalie had left them around her and wandered over. The creaking of the floorboards shook him out of his reverie because his chin moved to the side somewhat in his otherwise unmoving stance and she noticed how the moonlight bathed him in a thousand different shadows.

Feeling restless, Harvey had given up on sleep a while ago. Too many memories were crowding his conscious, too many thoughts and questions. The east coast had been home since he was born. And now he was leaving everything behind for a second chance with Donna. And to think his mom had had a hand in it all was boggling his already muddled mind. So, he had meandered to the window, trying to make sense of everything that had happened as he'd looked up at the clear night sky; the stars Lily had told him she would be amongst once her body gave out.

Donna placed a kiss right between his muscular shoulder blades, feeling the coldness of his skin against her lips and wondered how long he'd been standing there. Placing the wool cover over his shoulders, she moved to stand before him. With her back to his front, he shrouded them both as big underarms locked over her chest and Harvey absentmindedly started rocking them in dull rhythm.

He didn't speak. Instead, he just stood there, staring out the window. The silk of her camisole drifted like a layer of her rapturous permanence against his bare skin. The warmth Donna engulfed him with gently eased him out of his thoughts. As her scent tickled his nose, he slowly lowered his head, burying his face in her neck until he could breathe her in.

"I'm glad you're here," he whispered.

"There's nowhere else I'd rather be."

There was no need for words, just a gentle silence surrounding them in the darkness, until Harvey finally spoke, withdrawing his face from the crook of her neck.

"I'm worried about Marcus," he said, his voice laden with concern. "He has a lot on his plate and now I'm leaving, too."

"You can't feel guilty for things working out in your life."

"I know. But it still feels like I'm abandoning him." Harvey pulled her even closer to him, because although she was right, he couldn't shake the sense of guilt haunting him since his announcement.

"Having second thoughts?" Donna murmured, a little wary of the answer, especially when Harvey took a moment to reply.

"I'm not. But I'm really gonna miss him."

"I would be more worried if you didn't," she smiled, turning in his arms.

"Who knows, we might move back someday," he said, covering them both as her arms folded around his bare waist.

There was a hint of hope in the way he expressed the words and it told Donna he clearly was in the process of letting go, but he wasn't there just yet.

"Ooh, I doubt that. Once you get used to never having to wear a winter coat again, you might change your mind," she nudged.

"And the earthquakes?"

With a small shrug of her shoulders, she stated, "They're not so bad."

He pulled back enough to get a good look at her face, bafflement adorning his. "You've had those?"

"Sure. But they sound worse than they are."

"Jesus. What have I gotten myself into now?" he mused.

"It might take some getting used to, but I'll be there to hold your hand, if you get scared," she only half-teased, smiling up at his handsome face. She'd be there for him all the way and he knew it, too.

"Good. 'Cause I'm gonna need it." Under the moonlight, her eyes glowed, and he lost himself in her loving gaze. Reaching to place his palm on her cheek, he let go of the blanket and dipped down to brush his mouth over hers. With her taste on his tongue, he wrapped her in his arms once more, his beacon of strength.

There was something vulnerable about the dead of night that tore away his concealed walls. To be exposed in the darkness, to share his fears in the sanctuary of her arms; it all came much easier than when daylight shone a light on his afflictions for the whole world to see.

"What do you say we get some sleep?" he finally uttered, feeling his body succumb to the time of night.

.

The next day, Marcus and Donna were in the kitchen, preparing their New Year's Eve meal. Harvey, Bobby and Haley were spending some quality time watching a movie while Natalie was busy on the phone to her two other sisters and her overbearing mom as they worked out a plan to visit Charlotte.

"So, how do you like my brother's new physique?" Marcus gave her the Specter smirk with a glint in his eye as he started putting silverware and glasses out to set the table.

"I was definitely surprised when I first saw him." Donna smiled to herself, removing the casserole from the oven and placing it on the counter to cool off for a minute. She had been more than surprised. Turned on was more like it, even though she had denied the sensation then.

"I'm really happy you guys are back together." He let a silence stretch between them. He was happy, truly. But there was a tiny voice inside his head reminding him about the last time the couple had gotten together and things hadn't worked out. Did she have any idea about the shape Harvey had been in after she'd left? "He was a real mess, you know."

Donna looked at Marcus and could tell there was more he wanted to share. Harvey was protective of his brother, but the sentiment went both ways and he was about to warn her. Nobody had told her anything about the aftermath for Harvey, except Harvey. There were snippets here and there, but she was aware that was only part of the story. Even Mike hadn't known the full extent of the situation. "How bad was it? I know Lily took care of him for a while."

"You wanna know the truth?" He measured her and swiftly deliberated how much to tell her.

"I do, Marcus."

"It was pretty bad. After he came to Boston, Mom sent him to a doctor who referred him to a psychiatrist, because he was spiraling. He was clinically depressed for a few months. One night, he had gone out, just to get wasted again, you know, numb the pain. He did that from time to time and we never said anything. I mean, he was a grown man, Mom and Bobby couldn't exactly tie him down. Next thing, my mom gets a call he was in the hospital because he'd wrapped his car around a telephone pole."

A loud clattering of porcelain breaking echoed through the kitchen as little pieces of cream colored debris scattered everywhere. Shaken to her core, Donna stood frozen in place, staring at the white wreckage at her feet.

"Are you okay?" Marcus asked, joining her side.

Marcus' voice startled her, the proximity a surprise, because time had stood still for a moment. "I'm fine," she grumbled, angry at more than just her own stupid actions. "Jeez, I'm so sorry, Marcus!" She bent down and started picking up the broken pieces one by one, astonished the three top plates were still intact.

Had Harvey really almost killed himself? And why hadn't he told her?

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have brought it up."

"No, I'm glad you did."

Getting down on his hunches, Marcus helped her clean up, a dustpan and broom in hand.

"What's going on? Are you okay? I heard a noise." Harvey's voice was loud in the silent kitchen as he walked in, concern contorting his face.

"We're fine. I just dropped these plates. Stupid me." Her gaze met Marcus' briefly. "Don't worry, dinner will be ready in a few minutes. We got this." She tried to get Harvey to leave as a thousand questions flooded her mind, questions she desperately needed an answer to.

When Harvey eventually left, she grilled Marcus on the entire incident, demanding to know everything.

"He walked away from the accident pretty much unscathed, except for a concussion, a black eye and a bruised collar bone from where the seat belt had done its job. He'd fallen asleep so his body hadn't resisted during impact."

"Oh my god." She could have lost him. They could have lost him.

"The crash signaled rock bottom for him and it was a wake-up call. After that he started going to the gym regularly. He dropped the anti-depressants and anti-anxiety meds soon after, against doctor's orders, but you know my brother. He told me he had resigned to feeling like shit and figured he didn't need any chemicals in his body to desensitize him any longer. Boxing took the edge off for him."

Donna had to sit down, overcome by too many emotions she couldn't distinguish. "I had no idea. I mean, he'd told me he was depressed, but I guess he left out how bad it was."

"He'll probably kill me for having told you, but I thought you should know."

"Well, he should have told me."

"He'll kill me for saying this, too, but I think he is ashamed of the episode."

"I get it. There are some things about the last two years I haven't been able to tell him, either. But I really appreciate you telling me this, Marcus." Now that the initial shock had worn off, Donna decided to not confront Harvey while they were in Boston. There'd be a time and place for it soon enough.

.

"Ten, nine, eight, seven, six…"

Everybody was on their feet as the countdown continued.

"Five, four, three, two, one. Happy New Year!" As the ball dropped in Times Square, Natalie and Marcus shared a kiss as Bobby and Haley shared a hug.

After a few moments, all eyes landed on the couple still locked in each other's arm, foreheads touching between breaths, apparently oblivious to where they were or with whom.

"I'd say 'get a room' but you have one upstairs and I'm not sure it's a good idea if you use it right now. There are children in the house, you know," Marcus teased.

Harvey and Donna finally broke their kiss, smiling at each other for not being sorry they were caught making out like teenagers. This year heralded a new chapter in their lives and relationship, and it merited a proper celebration.

"Happy New Year, Harvey."

"Happy New Year, Donna."

.

Just after lunch on New Year's Day, Harvey and Donna were ready to get on the road, not sure when they would all see each other again. The indefiniteness filled the moment with a sense of hollow gloom.

"Promise me you'll take care of him," Marcus demanded, hugging Donna tightly.

"I promise, Marcus. And you come visit soon, okay."

"I will. I love you, angel."

"I love you, too, Marcus."

With their suitcases already in the car, Donna left the two brothers to say their goodbyes.

"As soon as I'm settled, I want you to come visit, okay. We can rent a yacht, go out on the ocean..."

"Visit Mom?"

"Yeah." Harvey would have felt stupid saying it out loud and therefore had decided not to, but he was more than glad his brother got the gist.

"I'd like that, Harvey." He swallowed thickly. "Now, go on. Your girl is waiting."

Harvey tried to smile. Saying goodbye was harder than he had anticipated and the weight of this farewell fell heavy on his shoulders. "I love you, Marcus." Engulfing his little brother in his big arms, he drew the man to him, silently praying for him to be strong.

"I love you, too, Harvey."

.

Thirty minutes later, they were well underway to Hartford. Neither one of them had spoken much. The air between them was laden with the discomfort of too many ramifications, a result of their choice to be together.

"You're quiet. You okay?" Harvey looked over at Donna, staring out the window.

Donna fidgeted with the ring on her finger. "Marcus told me you were clinically depressed. Why didn't you tell me?" she asked tentatively.

Goddamn Marcus. "I told you I was depressed. I didn't think it was relevant." He acted unfazed, but below the surface a sense of annoyance smoldered.

"Not relevant? If you don't think that's relevant, what the hell else have you been keeping from me?" Out of nowhere, anger masked her fears, tainting the words she spat out.

"I haven't kept anything from you! I slipped into a depression and then I got out of it. That's it." He hadn't meant for the words to sound so harsh and they left a foul taste in his mouth, knowing there was something he had yet to tell her.

As if hit by a ton of bricks, Donna felt her chest constrict. In a way, she felt responsible, was responsible, even though she knew his actions were his own. "And the accident?" Trying to remain calm and non-judgemental was futile at the thought of him in danger. Perhaps if she had more details, it would hurt less.

He heaved a sigh, making a mental note to tell his brother to keep his big mouth shut next time. If there was one part of the past two years Harvey wished he could erase, it would be this. He felt shamefully embarrassed for what had happened. And being called out on it was not something he welcomed, regardless by whom. "What about it? I don't need a lecture on drunk driving and how you're not supposed to do it. I learned my lesson, Donna."

She reached for his arm, seeking his hand. "I'm not mad. I'm just… You could have been seriously injured." Tears welled in her eyes, realizing she could have lost him for good. "I'm so sorry." Although she wasn't sure exactly what for, she still felt the need to apologize.

"Yeah. Me too." He mostly felt like an asshole for how he'd snapped at her. So far, their vow to be honest had been put to the test from both sides. So, he held onto her hand until the hurt and anger subsided.

.

The closer they got to Seabury Meadows, the senior care facility where Donna's mom was staying, the more she felt like she was slowly being suffocated.

A squeeze to her knee took her out of her trance, away from the myriad of ways the upcoming hour could come to pass. The images she conjured spiraled out of control, leaving her with her insides constricted and her breathing shallow.

She had never been nervous about visiting her mom before. However, this time, the loss of the person who gave her life loomed over her, knowing that person no longer existed. Her mom was just a shell of the woman she once was. She still looked liked her and sounded like her, but all the elements that made up her mom's personality were gone.

And every visit might be the last.

"We're here," Harvey coaxed as he turned the engine off, waiting for her to meet his gaze. He needed to assess her state of mind and when she wouldn't look at him, Harvey stopped her before she could get out of the car. "Donna. Look at me. It's gonna be okay."

The way Donna looked at him reminded him of the dinner they had shared in Santa Monica before he went back to New York. Her hazel eyes had held so much anguish and sorrow, his heart hurt just looking at them, unsure if there was anything he could do to lessen the pain. But there was a resolution in them as well.

As if a switch had been turned, he watched her square her shoulders and throw open the car door.

The cold wind cut like a dagger on her skin as she made her way to the main entrance. With a determination in her step, she pushed herself forward and took a deep breath, shutting Harvey out for the time being. She had to remain strong right now and his compassionate eyes would pierce through her jarring emotions and make her lose her courage to walk in here at all.

"Hi, happy New Year. We're here to see Clara Paulsen," Donna said, attempting to sound undeterred.

"Right this way," the young orderly instructed, as they walked through a living area with elderly people spread left and right, some with families and some by themselves. It was a large space, with big floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking a garden.

Situated next to one of the windows, Clara was in a wheelchair with her back to the room. There were some chairs around her, a small table with an empty cup of coffee and a newspaper, like she entertained company on a regular basis. It hadn't snowed yet, but the sky was gray and there wasn't much to be seen. It probably didn't matter what was going on outside, because the frail woman stared into nothingness with a forlorn gaze.

Approaching her with caution, as not to startle her, Donna and Harvey took a seat on opposite sides of her. "Hi, Mom. It's me, Donna." Her voice was soft, cajoling her to get her attention.

Briefly, Clara's eyes landed on the redhead before her, but she resumed her focus on the window, not sure who the stranger was.

The pleading look Donna gave him made Harvey's stomach drop. Seeing her brave front falter was near impossible to witness. "Hello, Mrs. Paulsen. Remember me?"

Looking to her left at the origin of that low voice, Clara took a moment and scanned the man in front of her. "Richard? Is that you? Oh my, my dear Richard! It's so good to see you!" She reached for his hand, which Harvey allowed her to take even though he was taken aback by her reaction and wasn't sure how to respond. Nervous eyes searched for Donna's, desperate for instructions on what to do.

"Mom, that's Harvey. Remember Harvey?"

"Harvey, of course." She repeated the name but wasn't convinced she'd heard it before. So, she let go of him, confused about what was happening.

"Who's Richard?" Harvey mouthed.

Donna shrugged her shoulders.

Turning her attention back to her mother, Donna started explaining about what had happened since Thanksgiving, how Harvey had shown up and how he was now moving in with her.

Now and then, Clara would respond as if she was following the story, but there was a gaping divide, like she was merely listening out of courtesy.

Harvey watched Donna like a hawk. He hated how he had underestimated the situation, finding it hard to believe a parent could forget a child. And yet, seeing Donna and Clara sitting here like two strangers, proved he had been wrong. It broke his heart a bit more every time her eyes met his and he could tell she was fighting the tears.

Once Donna finished telling the tale, Clara took a minute to take in the information. Places like New York and Santa Monica meant little to her, nor did the names. On some level, she knew she'd heard it all before, but wrapping her head around a love story with characters she didn't know was an impossible feat for her.

Clara looked at the woman sitting nervously next to her and asked for clarity, hoping it would make more sense. "What's your name again?"

Biting down on her trembling lip, Donna blinked through the tears that had formed, choking on the words when she said, "It's Donna, Mom. I'm your daughter." She wanted nothing more than to take her hand but thought better of it halfway through the gesture. If her mom really didn't recognize her, a stranger holding her hand was the last thing she needed.

Dropping his gaze to his shoes, Harvey couldn't watch. He missed his own mom, but at least she'd been the same person right until the end. There was no way for him to imagine what Donna was going through and it scared him, knowing he would need to be here for her, regardless.

Their visit ended shortly after with Donna unable to stay there a minute longer. She left a kiss on her mother's forehead and tried to get her to look at her when she said, 'I love you'. But the words fell silent between the women, Clara unable to reciprocate them.

"Goodbye, Mrs. Paulsen," Harvey said, a sad smile on his lips.

"Goodbye…" Clara stopped herself from saying the name she thought belonged to him, incapable of remembering the name he wore.

On the way out, Clara's caretaker informed Donna that the Alzheimer's was progressing rapidly, and it'd be a matter of months before her brain would not only forget the people in her life, but it would forget to make her heart beat as well.

Donna had gripped Harvey hand tight on their way back to the car, forcing her tears to stay away.

.

As dusk settled, they had checked into their hotel for the night. The suite was spacious, with a separate bedroom, a bathroom with a hot tub, kitchen and sitting area, providing them luxury and comfort after an emotional day.

Donna hadn't said a word since they'd left Clara and her silence had unsettled Harvey. It reminded him too much of their situation right after her dad had fallen ill. Still, this was a new level of grief he was unfamiliar with; mourning someone while they were still alive. He didn't know how to handle it, afraid to push her away if he came too close and afraid of failing to support her if he didn't get close enough.

Leaning against the back of the sofa, Donna tried following whatever Harvey was saying as he unpacked his laptop bag on the dining table in front of her. The words didn't register, even though she was searching for a distraction, any distraction from the searing pain tearing her soul apart.

So far, she'd won the battle against the tears, afraid that once she started crying, really crying, there would be no stopping them. Ever. But the fight had worn her out and as Harvey moved to stand before her, all she saw was a safe haven in a raging storm, ready to provide shelter and protect her from a devastating shipwreck.

"What do you say I take you out to dinner, tonight?" His tone was light, not sure how she'd react, but needing to pull her out of this funk. He noticed how her lower lip quivered, holding back the words he knew she wanted to say.

Donna just stared at a spot below his jaw, like she was focusing her aim. As tears wetted her lashes, she stepped forward and buried her face in his neck, wrapping herself around his frame.

Strong arms caught her as she fell forward, sobbing heavily.

Harvey absorbed her cries as best he could, feeling her small body press against his, trusting him to keep her upright. He cradled her head, whispering it was okay while stroking her back until she ultimately calmed down.

With red-rimmed eyes, she looked up to meet Harvey's vigilant gaze, searching for answers to unspoken questions as her chest expanded with the love she felt for him. Standing on her toes, she kissed him. Once, twice, locking their lips until he responded. Curling her fingers into his hair, she pulled him to her in a desperate plea to focus on anything other than how she was feeling. "Make love to me, Harvey."

"Are you sure?"

"I need it to stop. The pain is…" She hoped she wouldn't have to explain. "Please?"

How could he possibly deny her? And after the emotional day they'd had, he was ready for some physical exertion.

Framing her face in both hands, he brought her lips to his and slowly walked them over to the bed, discarding their clothes along the way. By the time her back touched the mattress, Donna was only wearing her underwear and he was left in his boxer briefs. Draping himself over her, he kissed her passionately before starting his descent on her body.

If she needed a release, he would make sure she got one the best way he knew how.

Kissing his way south, one freckle at a time, he undid her bra and paid extra attention to her soft breast, suckling her nipple until he felt it harden in his mouth, while massaging the other between his fingers. He took his time, trying to prolong the distraction she had begged for.

Usually, Donna would coax him on, undulating under him as she drowned in the pleasure he provided. This time however, there wasn't much response and he knew she was still buried too deep in her own thoughts. So, he bit her nipple not so gently, trying to get her attention. Her eyes shot to his and he smiled against her skin. "Stay with me," he whispered, moving down her belly, leaving a trail of kisses until he reached the waistband of her panties.

Focusing hard to remain with the program, Donna loved him for what he was trying to do. Although she was fairly sure an orgasm wasn't in the cards for her, she didn't mind. Having Harvey between her legs would suffice, too. She'd fake one and hopefully fall asleep, forgetting the hellish afternoon she'd had, until daybreak would remind her all over again.

Busy kissing the inside of her thigh, Harvey moved his thumb over her panties and rubbed her through the silk which elicited a soft moan from Donna. At least her body was responding to his touch and he removed her underwear to further his actions. As expected, Harvey was unfazed when he traced a finger between her relatively dry lips, but he was on a mission to get her off, convinced he would be able to get her there.

Donna hissed when Harvey's mouth covered her core, his tongue lapping back and forth over the sensitive bundle of nerves. As her body betrayed her mind, her abdomen tightened and she tried to focus on the sensation he was providing, every so often meeting his lust-filled gaze.

Harvey knew what she liked. He'd given her a thousand orgasms before, but as he licked and sucked, sliding his fingers in and out of her, she didn't seem to be able to let go, her body too tense from the reality she was dealing with.

"Come here," she breathed, stretching her arm out. "You don't have to…"

He ignored her.

Giving up was not an option. Instead, he would wear her out until she had no choice but to surrender. So, he picked up the pace, arching his fingers further, thrusting harder and deeper, licking and sucking her relentlessly until he felt her brace against the mattress, the sheets bundled in her hands and she eventually exploded against his mouth.

With a smirk on his wet lips, he climbed up her body. "Better?"

Tired but grateful eyes met his. "Amazing." She panted, trying hard to get her breathing under control from the unexpected orgasm he had induced. "You're amazing."

"Hmm, I know," he joked, kissing her as his own arousal throbbed against her hip, a little afraid she was done for now. Especially when she pushed at his shoulders. But before he could worry about her leaving him high and dry, she climbed on top and removed his underwear to expose his more than ready erection. "You don't have to…" As he mirrored her words from before, he looked down at her face near his twitching member, still willing to sacrifice a release of his own. For her.

With a devilish smile she wrapped her fingers around him and licked him from base to top before swallowing him whole in one fluid motion.

The warmth of her mouth covering him and her agile tongue teasing his tender tip, made him want to scream her name. His eyes rolled back in his head and he slumped into his pillow on a growl, the sinful stimulation flooding his every nerve ending.

Soon enough, he warned her, too close to a climax if she didn't stop. Donna heeded his warning and positioned herself on top before slowly sinking down over him, welcoming the way he filled her up. It was the connection she craved, to be one with the man she loved, grateful for his presence and the tireless effort he had demonstrated to make her forget for a while.

Without warning, Harvey flipped them over while keeping their bodies linked.

Once he had her pinned under him, he stilled, staring into her darkened eyes. She'd yelped from surprise and was smiling now, caressing his face. In spite of her eyes still being a little puffy and her kiss being tainted with salt, there was a loosening in her gaze, a confidence projected onto him that together they could handle whatever the world threw at them. So, he touched his nose to hers and breathed against her mouth, "I'm here. Always."

Squeezing her eyes shut, Donna drew him to her, covering his mouth with her own as she felt a whole new wave of emotions crash into her. To get him moving, she pulled up one leg and wrapped it around his waist. Right away, he took her cue and began shifting his hips back and forth, grinding into her, filling her depth until he moaned her name and she coaxed him to come, raking her nails over his scalp and his back, meeting him thrust for thrust.

He climaxed shortly after. His whole body went rigid before Harvey dropped his weight on top of her, feeling spent but sated.

They almost fell asleep in each other's arms. Almost, because the growl of Harvey's stomach was so loud, it made them both burst out laughing.

Harvey's earlier proposal to go out to dinner wasn't appealing at all. Confronting the real world was last on her list right now. No. She wanted to stay in the cocoon of their bed, tangled together, where it was easy to imagine the world outside didn't exist. At least for tonight.

There'd be a whole new day with a new set of different challenges to face tomorrow.

"What do you say we order in?"

A/N: I had been toying with the idea of Lily having a hand in their reconciliation back when I first started writing this story. I just never knew how to do it until it came to me a few weeks ago. Thanks to Follow-ur-Shadow (Cassie_Ether) for the encouragement to go with it. :)