HI Folks! I hope you are enjoying this as much as I am muddling my way through writing it. I just want to know that I intend no offense to anyone who lives or is familiar with Seattle. I have never been there so I do not know how sophisticated a place it is. All I do know is that there some great music that comes from that place. So, that being said. Please R & R. Hopefully we are getting to some meaty places soon. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your comments and wishes. Love - Carebearmaxi

Little One

Chapter 17

Donna sat on the couch with her feet up as she was instructed and had planned. She ventured to rise to get Rachel a new drink when Rachel jumped up and scolded.

"Donna, the doctor said bedrest and you're defying her sitting out here. I will get the drinks. By the way, anyone else, Charlotte? Annette? Jill? Tracy?

Charlotte who had only been half attending for the dressing down she received a few minutes previous from her brother-in-law quietly said, "Yes, thank you, Rachel." The other women also gave their answers.

Rachel smiled and tried to quell the tension in the air. Donna's outburst and Charlotte's rebuttal made the air way too thick with unsaid words and bad feeling. You could cut the invisible tension with a knife.

"Annette, how long did Andy work for his other firm before opening this one?" Donna asked trying hard to get comfortable. One of the babies must have been lying oddly. Although they were still small in size there were still two of them in a crowded space.

Annette Forsythe, a petite blonde woman in her mid-30's, said, "Andy worked for about 10 years and then he wanted to work on the pro-bonos and those hardship cases that no one wanted to take. He was absolutely in heaven when he got wind of Mike, Rachel."

Tracy who was also invited with her husband Charles said, "Andy asked me first to go to the new firm. I was his original secretary and I became his exclusive paralegal unofficially."

Rachel smiled at Donna and Donna smiled back. Rachel was asking a silent question with her eyes and Donna sighed and said, "Go ahead and tell them. They probably know already."

"Donna started out as Harvey's secretary when Harvey as an ADA in New York and then…"

"He asked me to follow him to the firm, and I did."

"A decision I can see you probably never regretted," Jill said sneering.

"It's not what you think, Jill," Donna said and then regretted that Rachel had wanted to say anything at all about it.

"I was not implying anything. I'm sorry," Jill said and took a gulp of her martini.

Rachel smiled as she came back to the group of women with the tray full of drinks including a glass of milk for herself and the other pregnant lady.

"Ugh, I am only five months along, but I can't wait until I can drink a martini again," complained Donna as she watched Jill take a long sip of hers.

"I know, but you will be happy for the sacrifice when your babies are healthy," Jill LaRoche said. Jill was trying to make up for the innocent faux pas for which her hostess had taken offense. Jill was Simon's wife, and they loved each other; but Simon had a roving eye and he was always sure to hold it up to his wife that she was not good enough in the looks department. Some would say how could a wife love a husband who did not esteem her or love her for who she was and not what she looked like. Jill asked herself the same question all the time.

"How many children do you have, Jill?" Rachel asked. Rachel felt sorry for Jill because she knew that Simon was such a bad flirt in the office. Donna had told Rachel what happened the day she accompanied Harvey into the office for her COO interview.

"We have four," Jill said and did not elaborate. "They range in age from 16 to 4."

"I have four, too. The youngest is a senior in high school and the oldest just graduated from medical school," Tracy said wanting to share and be a part of the group. She was flattered when Harvey invited her to the gathering. She was just a legal secretary/paralegal and the partners never had invited her to their private affairs for all the many years she had worked for them and knew their lives intimately. However, hearing that Harvey's wife was once his secretary and his everything in the office brought it home to her why she had been invited. She also knew that Rachel was once a paralegal, so it stemmed to reason that Harvey valued loyalty and service to himself and cared enough to show it.

"Donna, did you tell everyone here about your business venture?" Charlotte, slightly inebriated, sat up in her winged chair and swirled the liquor in her glass. After the flurry of conversation, the silence again took precedence and Charlotte could not stand it.

"I don't think anyone wants to hear about that now, Charlotte," Donna said glaring at her sister.

"Oh, come on, Donna. It's a great idea!" Charlotte gulped her martini and began to suck on the olive.

"I'm laying the foundation for a store that sells designer clothing for children," Donna said proudly.

Annette almost choked on her drink and Jill looked back and forth as if the whole idea was one big joke. Tracy smiled. On the whole, she did not care for Annette, nor Simon or his wife but she, Tracy, was finding that she really liked Mike and Rachel and now Harvey and especially, Donna.

"What's so funny?" Rachel asked smiling thinly at her other female companions. "I think it's great. I haven't seen anything quite like it here since Mike and I moved from New York over a year ago."

Donna had her head lowered and then sneaked a look to her right where Rachel sat next to her.

Charlotte then spoke her mind.

"What's wrong with it? If anyone knows anything about designer fashions and making a business work, it's my little sister!" Charlotte rose disgustedly and said, "If you don't mind, I'm going to rescue Troy from the guys." As she walked by the counter, Charlotte slammed her cup on the edge.

Annette spoke first. "We weren't laughing at you, Donna. We just feel that you're missing the sophistication of Manhattan by trying to manufacture a piece of it."

Jill said, "I wish you luck. Especially if you're planning to do it in the city limits. It's a steep process to get a business started let alone finding the right spot for it."

Donna looked around and said, "Oh, I know you weren't laughing at me because I have a nose for these things. Believe me it won't be an immediate development because I am still working on the business plan and procuring a storefront."

Tracy said raising her glass, "I say: here's to Donna's Designer Duds!". They all rose their glasses and then took a sip.

Conversation had broken out again until Charlie came out of the backroom to retrieve his wife because their middle child in his early twenties had a car accident. They were going to the hospital to pick him up. It seemed he had been in the backseat and had bump his head on the window on impact. Everyone gave them their best wishes, and Rachel fetched them their jackets.

While Jill and Annette made their second round at the food table, Rachel said to Donna, "I hope Charlotte is ok. She really was a big help."

Donna said, "Yes, I felt bad when Harvey let her have it."

"He's very worried about you and he took it out on her," Rachel said. "I remember when Harvey would do that to Louis."

Donna smiled. "I have to admit, though. Louis did do some real petty shit to Harvey at the beginning."

"Yes, Louis, knew how to get under your skin."

Annette and Jill were wondering who they were talking about, so Rachel and Donna filled them in about Louis, Sheila and new baby girl, Lucy, who was growing by the minute.

Meanwhile, Charlotte ventured into the gameroom/office/guest room and found all the men staring at the PS4 NBA Basketball game being played by Troy and Simon.

"I hate to break this up, but, Troy, we have to leave now."

"Mum, I'm winning. If I can finish one more playoff game I would have beat every one of these gentlemen in the room!" Troy could not help but brag.

"I want to go now!"

Harvey stood up from the chair on which he had been sitting.

"Look, Charlotte, you go on. I can bring him back when he's finished," Harvey tried to negotiate with his sister-in-law. He noticed the look on her face was steely.

"You know, Harvey, you have a nerve saying that after the dressing down you gave me about an hour ago. Telling me it was my fault that Donna was in the accident! No, that's ok. I don't want Troy to have any more bad influences." With this Charlotte ripped the controller from Troy's hand and dragged him into the living room to get his coat and say his goodbyes.

"Charlotte!" Harvey called feeling really bad now. He knew he was going to have discuss this whole blow up with Donna. She had not taken his side and he knew that Donna was right. It was not anyone's fault. It was an accident at that.

Donna had tried to rise again to say her goodbyes, but Charlotte preempted her with her hand making a stop sign.

"Stop! Save it! Come on Troy!"

Then she stormed out dragging Troy by the hand behind her.

After everyone had gone, Donna was finally allowed on her feet and started to put away some of the odds and ends. Rachel and Jill had done much of the cleaning, so Donna could rest.

"You know Rachel and Jill, didn't have to clean up. I would have done it," Harvey said.

"Yeah, I know. It helped distill the tension in the air. It was not too pleasant out here after you and I ganged up on Charlotte," Donna said. "If it hadn't been for Tracy coming to the rescue, I am sure the party would have ended earlier."

Harvey leaned on one side of the kitchen counter and Donna leaned on the other. Donna had her chin resting on her hand, and Harvey leaned on his crossed arms on the counter top. They were both eye-to-eye.

"I tried to apologize before she dragged Troy out of the bedroom, but she was not having any of it."

Donna said, "No you didn't. I'm sure you tried, Harvey, by offering to bring Troy back home when he was finished playing; but Charlotte is very stubborn. I have to admit you did go a little too far. Did Troy say anything?"

Harvey shook his head. "No, he didn't. He just kept very stoic and continued to beat all our asses as the Chicago Bulls."

"Let me guess: you let him be Michael Jordan," Donna said taking her hand from her chin and laughing.

Harvey smiled. "Yeah, I did. I never thought I would break my own rule."

Donna threw her head back and continued to laugh as she limped her way to their bedroom. She put her hand to the back of her back and then holding her belly she sat down on the bed.

Harvey had followed her with his own smile wide and as infectious as a bright sunny morning. Donna seemed to have forgiven him for his outburst at her as well.

"You know if I am this uncomfortable at 5 months you're in for it in by the time I get to nine," Donna said brushing her long red tresses away from her face. Harvey was smiling and as he looked at her one might have thought she was in her late twenties. Her face was already taking on a plumpness and when she smiled her eyes sparkled. Her skin was always pale and porcelain with those loveable freckles but now it was almost translucent with barely a brush of the freckles appearing.

Harvey escaped for a moment and ventured into the master bath. He started the water in the sunken tub. This was one of the selling points for them. Harvey's penthouse in Manhattan only had a wide shower and regular tub, but their new place had a sunken tub with sauna jets for those days when their long days took it out on their bodies. Harvey thought it would be nice for Donna to soak in the tub.

"Donna, how about a bath with me?" Harvey said as he came across the room. His shirt was unbuttoned at the top where a peak of his chest muscles could be scene. The sleeves were rolled up and he was drying his hands on a towel he had retrieved from the sink rack.

Harvey walked toward Donna and kneeled in front of her where she was sitting on the bed. She had not moved and was still rubbing her back. The water continued to pour into the tub noisily filling the tub with Donna's lavender bath salts which Harvey had sprinkled in there to entice her.

"Harvey, the doctor told me no baths until we know the babies are safe. However, there's no rule that I can't at least put my feet in the water and sit on the side."

"Donna," Harvey said looking up at her. "She said it was ok if you didn't soak too long. I promise I will have you out of there in 15 minutes flat. See?" He rose from his position and grabbed his phone and set the timer to 15 minutes.

Donna laughed and then nodded emphasizing Harvey's sweet gesture for her and the babies' safety.

"You really want me in the tub with you that badly?"

"Yes, I can't go in there alone now. I put your lavender bath salts in there. I can't be the only one coming out smelling like a flower!" Harvey reasoned.

Donna was giggling far too much and still holding her bump fell back onto the bed. She rose again and put her hand to her mouth. She stopped giggling when she saw that cute little pout and tilt of his head when he wanted his way. One eyebrow was raised. Donna had come to call it his "Donna" eyebrow because she only noticed it raised when he spoke or flirted with her.

"Donna, please?" Harvey said kneeling again and taking her hand.

She stopped laughing and touched his cheek. "Ok, if it means that much to you, but 15 minutes and 15 minutes only!"

Harvey kissed her and helped her limp her way to the bathroom.

Suddenly, Donna's desire for her husband overcame the levity of the moment. When they arrived in the bathroom, the scent of mild lavender seduced the atmosphere into one of love and desire.

Pulling him close to her and seeing that he was starting to do things himself decided things were to go a different way.

"Harvey," Donna whispered. "Let me finish undressing you." She took her deft hands and finished unbuttoning his white dress shirt. He did not fight her but let her do what she wanted. He missed her touch. Feather soft yet fiery, Donna's fingers lit little flames as she touched him with every unbuttoning. He rested his hands on her hips and massaged them as he watched her pull at his shirt untucking it from inside his trousers.

Donna kissed him softly on the lips. Her lips feather soft on his like her fingers. "I've missed you," she whispered and kissed him where his neck and shoulder join and Donna was gratified when he put his arms around her and leaned into it. She felt him quiver against her and she could feel his heart beating against her chest. His T-shirt was next, and Donna smoothed it over his head while their foreheads met, and their eyes looked into each other's souls

Harvey removed his own trousers and then gently turned Donna around unzipping her dress slowly and savoring the feel of her translucent moist skin under his fingertips. He noticed a shiver down her spine as she sucked in a ragged breath. He held her beautiful red mane in his hands and noticed the thickness of it. He rubbed his cheek with a few strands loving the softness and the scent of strawberry that was still left from washing her hair earlier.

She slid out of her dress and undid her bra and lost her panties and then stood in front of him, naked. He thought her beautiful always but now with her full breasts, darkening nipples, and her little swelled belly where she carried their children conceived in their love he thought her the most beautiful Madonna. She was plumping like a Botticelli painting's heroine. He smiled.

"Do you know how beautiful you are?" He whispered and turned her around, his front to her back, so he could place his arms around her naked belly.

Donna wiped away a tear that he could not see which fell on her cheek at his words. "I'm beautiful?" She asked hoping he would confirm it.

"Oh my God, yes!" He turned her around and held her as tight as he dared as he kissed her. He could feel her hands come to rest, seemingly, on her favorite spot. Donna cradled his head as he moved to her long neck.

He smiled as he tenderly held her into his arms. Sometimes he could not believe his luck. He knew for years she was the only one for him but the knowledge that he should have realized that he was the only one for her sometimes took his breath away.

"Can I pin up your hair?" He whispered. Donna thrilled that Harvey desired to treat her so tenderly and so preciously like she was a jewel nodded and handed him her two hair clips she always used when not needing to wash her hair. She had grabbed them on their way to the bathroom knowing she need not wash her hair again for a day or two. Donna's hairclips were silver and small and always allowed some strands to hang down curling in the heated moist air that emanated from the tub.

"There," Harvey whispered and kissed her again. He took her hand and guided her to the sunken tub. Harvey sat first. His lower half still showing how he wanted Donna. He stood hard and erect. Smiling seriously, he then guided Donna to sit between his legs where his knees encompassed her one on each side.

"Harvey, I feel you want me. It's stabbing me in the back, but I can't do that now."

"I know, Donna. I would never endanger our babies. Just rest here like this." Donna sat more comfortably against him, and his hands joined hers where they rested on her belly. He rubbed the bump gently hoping to get a reaction, and Donna could feel his wide smile as his face rested in her hair.

Then Donna took his hands and guided them to her breasts where Harvey gladly played with her nipples and massaged her breasts in round circles.

"Mmm…" Donna said as she started to sink further into the water. Before she could swim away from him, she turned and gave him the most seductive look with shining green eyes and an upturned lip.

"What can Donna do for you…or should I say….to you?" Donna whispered in his ear.

Harvey answered her by kissing her deeply and letting her do exactly what she wanted.

Fifteen to twenty minutes later, while Harvey lay with his arm surrounding Donna and his head nestled in his favorite spot on her shoulder, he was awakened by his thoughts of his behavior to his sister-in-law earlier in the evening.

"So, how can I help? I have the food all laid out and the wine is in the cooler along with a few milk packs for Rachel and Donna…" Charlotte said eagerly and willing to help.

"Charlotte, I would like it if you would just help serve and not say anything to anybody about how Donna wound up with her limp and why she's on bedrest."

"I know. Sometimes she can get sensitive when people tease her…."

"No, I meant whatever you two were talking about earlier today when she got hit by the car just don't bring it up. Especially not in front of company."

Charlotte shrugged feeling a big indignant said, "No, of course not, Harvey."

That was fine until later when Donna almost fell going to the kitchen resulting in everyone being sure Donna sat down or coercing her into bed on which the doctor had insisted.

"Damn it, Charlotte! I need you to help look after her. You know how she is!" Harvey had hurled at Charlotte who was doing her best to keep the drinks cool and the food hot.

"Harvey!" Donna had hurled at him. Then she turned to Charlotte and said, "It's ok, Charlotte. I really didn't want to bother you, but Harvey really thought I could use your help."

"Well, am I not being helpful?"

"Of course, you are!" Donna said reaching out rubbing her sister's upper arm.

"Donna, get back on the sofa or go to bed!" Harvey commanded Donna.

Donna then turned around and glared at him. "Excuse me, but I'm your wife not a lackey. I will go back to-"

"You know, Harvey, forget this shit! I thought we were really friends, but I know you blame me for Donna having to be careful. Got news for you, buddy. She miscarried once and it wasn't anything to do with her talking to me on the phone while she didn't watch where she was going!"

"I know that Charlotte. Why do you think I'm worried? I don't want anything to happen to Donna or my children, this time!"

"So, it was Harvey's baby you lost, wasn't it?"

"That doesn't matter now, Charlotte. Just serve and I promise I won't lift so much as a finger if you help me!" Donna whispered vehemently.

Donna had been as good as her word until he found her in the kitchen just washing the counter later in the evening after their guests had left.

"I need to apologize to your sister," Harvey said.

"Yeah, we both do," Donna responded sleepily.

The next morning before Harvey left for the office he presented his wife with breakfast in bed. When her morning sickness dissipated, Donna's appetite soared. So, in recompense for last night and the pressure he had exerted on her, he bore a large breakfast tray replete with a plate full of eggs, bacon, sausage patties, wheat toast with melted butter pouring down the piled slices. Donna reached for a slice of toast before Harvey sat the tray in her lap.

"Now, Tracy volunteered to come and take this away in about an hour."

"Harvey, how did you get Tracy to volunteer?"

"You know I have a way with women," Harvey said smugly patting himself on the shoulder.

Donna rolled her eyes and took a sip of coffee from the cup on the tray. He also had the pot on the tray and Donna's favorite coffee fixings as well.

She smiled and shook her head. "I can't believe you remembered all my favorites."

"You didn't think I paid attention all those years that we had breakfast together and you brought me coffee. I'm observant just as you. I just don't have your mystical empathic powers," Harvey joked and rose from the bed.

"Now your phone and your notebooks are on the bedside table. Your computer is sitting next to you. I tried to think of everything you would want to do while you're stuck in bed. Remember only go to the bathroom and back!" Harvey finished with a raised forefinger.

"I have to go or I'm going to be late," Harvey said bending to kiss her goodbye.

"Thank you, Harvey. This was so sweet of you."

"Yeah, that's me. Sweet," Harvey said kissing her one more time and then he left.

"I'm so sorry, Donna," Tracy said as she came and swept the breakfast tray away.

Donna called out to her, "Sorry for what?"

"I'm sorry I had to leave while it seemed Jill and Annette were ganging up on you," Tracy said as she came back and sat on the bed and talked with Donna.

"Oh that! I don't care if they were. I've had disappointments before and I have also lost a business before, so those two women don't scare me," Donna said smiling and placing a comforting hand on Tracy's arm.

In the short time that she had come to know Tracy, it seemed to Donna that she was more of a sister than Charlotte had ever been. It must have been that Tracy and she were kindred spirits. Both had lived to serve others for the most part.

"Harvey thinks the world of you since he came here to work," Donna mentioned.

"Oh, why is that?" Tracy asked.

"I know he never says too much to anyone. There are only a few people he really opens up to you and back a long time ago it was just me. I had to draw it out of him and draw him a picture before he would say anything. He's very different now. I guess, though, he still feels odd stating his feelings to near strangers."

"I was very flattered when he asked me to the party last night," Tracy said. "I had him pegged wrong. I thought he was just another arrogant partner who would want to take advantage of me."

"Why? Is that what Mike and Rachel have done?" Donna asked surprised because she knew Mike and Rachel inside out.

"No. They always treat me as an equal. No, it's more the other partners. The ones I've known since I started at the other firm."

"I know Harvey thinks the world of you. I also appreciate you volunteering to help me out. I just have to be here a couple of weeks and then the doctor said I should be ok to go about my business."

"It's no problem at all, Donna. I'm so glad Harvey and you moved here."

Two days later, Donna had unexpected visitors appear at her door. She was not allowed out of bed, so apparently Harvey had seen them ahead of time and had given them his key. She was going to have to do something about that. Although stuck in bed, Donna did have things to do which meant she did not need a mother hen constantly checking on her and driving her insane. She knew that Harvey was trying to help, but she was needing to find a way to tell him that maybe Tracy coming over a couple of hours every day was too much.

"Ta da!"

Donna sat up straighter, "Louis!"

"…and Sheila and look who's here to see her Godmother!" Louis sang.

"Lucy!" Donna was speechless. She reached out to take the chubby dark haired five-month-old from Sheila. Donna squeezed Lucy and could not get enough of her chubby cheeks. She thanked Sheila and sat Lucy on her lap, and then Donna was engulfed.