Happy Valentine's Day! I wrote this one kind of last minute, but I couldn't help myself after I found the picture of pregnant "Donna" sitting on the floor in overalls lol… Thanks to Jess, Elle, and Em for scanning over this! I hope y'all enjoy. Please leave a review and let me know what you thought! :)
Prompts: Fake dating, mixed with a twitter prompt from Pegatastic – Donna discovers she's pregnant but it freaks her out, it's the unknown to her and she's frightened about being a parent & the change to come and/or the health of the baby – Harvey is the voice of calm and reason.
{***************************}
No Other Way:
Harvey props himself against the door jam, smiling as he watches her, eyes scrunched as she leans in closer to the computer screen, mouth moving as she silently reads the words. It's probably another article on pregnancy, most likely freaking her out far more than she needs to.
That's become the normal now, every day, whether it's at work or when he's over at her place, she's always researching something, freaking out, then researching some more.
"What are you reading this time, Donna?" he asks, joining her in the living room.
He sits down on her cream colored couch, peering over her shoulder at the screen. She's perched on the floor, laptop on her thighs, rounded belly bump in between. Her head falls back to the cushion behind her with a groan. "This article about Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, and all these moms giving their opinion on the best way for the baby to sleep, or lay, pillows to use, ways to swaddle them…" Her hand reaches up, resting against her stomach as she sighs.
Harvey leans down, gripping her shoulder in comfort. "Why don't you put that away for a while, hm?" he suggests, "Or, you know, look at something else. Try looking for that rug you want in your nursery. You still haven't found it, right?"
She shakes her head, a look of defeat on her face. "No, and thanks for the reminder." She smirks up at him, eyelashes fluttering as her head tilts back to look at him.
Laughing, he shakes his head, settling back into the couch. He flicks through the channels on the television, giving his input on certain baby items when asked.
Her phone pings with the sound of a message, and she picks it up, huffing in annoyance as she tosses it onto the coffee table.
"Everything alright?"
He watches as her shoulder shrug, and he sits up, glancing down at her. Her lips are twisted and he can see tears in the corner of her eyes. "Was it… was it John?"
"No," she says with a shake of her head. "It's stupid, really," she chuckles wetly, wiping at her eye. "I don't know why I'm upset." She explains that Big Bertha wants to throw her a baby shower, but they can't get the dates worked out now that she and Harvey are working at Pearson Hardman. Their hours are a bit different from Big Bertha's, and it's just not lining up.
He sighs, glad it wasn't that douche of an ex contacting her. When Donna found out she was pregnant at ten weeks, she'd been shocked but excited… until she told her boyfriend the news and he took off, saying he wasn't ready, never wanted this, and up and moved to Boston. Fucking dick.
Donna had come to him that night in tears, apologizing and saying she had nowhere else to go. She was too embarrassed to tell her mom, couldn't even bring herself to tell her parents she was pregnant now, and she just needed someone to cry to.
"I'm sorry, Harvey," she hiccups as she sits down on his leather sofa. He sinks down beside her, a hand resting on her back as he comforts her. "I'm so stupid. I shouldn't have come here, we don't even work together anymore as of this afternoon."
He's stunned for a second, confused as to how she knows he quit the DA's office, but shrugs it off, knowing she was Donna and she knew everything.
"You have nothing to apologize for," he promises, running his hand up to her shoulders and squeezing soothingly, "and I don't ever want to hear you say that again."
Truth is, he was just gearing up to go to her apartment, wanting to tell her about his quitting, but he knew she was with John, knew she'd never let him into her apartment and finally give in to one another like they both desperately have wanted. Despite that, though, she was his friend more than anything, and she was clearly in need of comfort, so that is what he would give her.
"How are you feeling?"
Donna scoffs, rolling her eyes to the ceiling. "How am I feeling?" she grumbles to herself, slouching into the cushions as she brings his black and white throw pillow into her lap. She raises the pillow up to her face, sinking her chin into it in the cutest way. He grins, but clears his throat, not wanting her to see him smile. "I'm feeling… angry." She says it as a scowl grows on her face, sitting up more now. "I'm fucking angry!" she yells, tossing the pillow away from her and across the room. It lands against the chair on the opposite side of the coffee table with a firm thud, bounces on the cushion, then falls, landing on the hardwood floor beneath it.
She stands, hands tearing through her long, red hair as she screams in frustration. He sympathizes with her, knows what it feels like to think your life is one way just to be blindsided with the truth in the worst way possible.
"I hate him," she seethes, breaths growing heavy. He can see the tears threatening to fall, can hear the hitch in her voice as she breathes. "I fucking hate him. How dare he leave me!"
The tears she's been trying to contain fall free as she sinks back into the couch next to him, a sob escaping her lips. "How am I supposed to do this on my own? Raise a baby, I mean, my god, this is so… so much!"
She leans into his shoulder, his arm coming to wrap around her as he shushes into her hair. Her bangs tickle his nose, but he presses a kiss to her forehead anyway. "It will all be okay, Donna."
She sniffles, asking, "How do you know?"
Donna bites her lip, nervous eyes gazing into his own as a new wave of tears come. "I'm…" she sighs, shoulders slumping, "I'm scared, Harvey."
"Why are you scared?"
She huffs, shrugging as she confesses, "A million reasons. Can I do this on my own? What if something happens to the baby? My sister had a miscarriage a few years ago, and I don't know if I could handle that by myself, you know?" She wipes the tears from under her eyes and gives him a dejected pout, continuing her ramble, "I don't know how to be a mom, what if I suck at it? I'm just scared of all of it!"
"Hey," he asserts, pulling her closer. "Donna, you don't ever have to be afraid. Not as long as I'm around, okay?" He ducks his head down, trying to get a better look at her. "And I'm not going anywhere. You're going to be an amazing mom, there's nothing to fear."
She cries some more, nodding as she accepts his soothing consolation. They spend the next few hours there, wrapped together on his couch as she lets all of her emotions out. She cries, and he does his best not to feel emotional as well. He's never been very good at the comfort thing, but she needs him, and he'll be damned if he lets her down.
She'd eventually calmed down, then cried some more, falling asleep against his shoulder, apologizing in the morning for her behavior. Harvey had waved her off with a gentle smile, knowing deep down that he would always be there for her no matter what. Donna was his best friend, sure, he'd tried to sleep with her the first six months they knew one another, but once she told him of her rule, he'd backed off right away and gotten to know her as a person. He went to her plays, they went to dinners regularly, and spent time together. It was the best relationship he'd had with someone in his adult life, and he wouldn't trade her friendship for anything in the world.
He'd promised her once again that next morning that he would always be there, John or no John, for her and the baby. "You don't ever have to worry," were his words to her, and true to them, he'd been by her side every step of the way.
He's been over at her apartment a lot the last few weeks, trying to help set up the nursery and clean out the spare room, making room for all the baby items that would start piling in over the next few months. She's five months pregnant now, a little over half way, and she still hasn't been able to tell her parents, so he's been helping more than usual. She just keeps saying that she isn't ready, can't bring herself to admit that she fell for the bad boy and thought she could tame him.
She's embarrassed, but she doesn't need to be. She's the strongest woman he knows, along with Jessica, and he knows she could get through this with or without him helping.
They spend the next twenty minutes looking at nursery ideas, discussing certain bath items she wants to get, and once again, going through her baby name list, attempting to find the name that fits.
"She's going to be here before you decide on a name," he chuckles, and she slaps his knee, scoffing in mock-offense.
"Maybe I'm just waiting to see what she looks like." She grins, adding with a quirked brow, "I don't appreciate limitations like a due date being placed on naming my child. It will come to me when it comes to me." She folds her fingers like a person meditating and working on their chi, closing her eyes and tilting her head back.
Harvey chuckles and she opens her eyes, grinning brightly with a giggle of her own. He just shakes his head, knowing that waiting to see her little girl is not the reason. She's been so indecisive lately, it's getting worse the more anxious she becomes waiting for her daughter to arrive, but he simply holds his tongue, nodding in agreement.
"I know you don't agree," she laughs, turning back to her laptop. She scrolls down the page, stopping and asking, "What about Ophelia?"
His nose scrunches from behind her, but he tries to hide it when she looks over her shoulder at him with innocent doe eyes. "You don't like it?"
Shrugging, he says, "I mean… it's a bit," he waves his hand in the air, unable to find the words, "old fashioned."
She giggles, and he bites his lip, loving the way her laughter makes him feel (though, he won't actually admit that outloud, barely even lets the thought register to himself in his own mind). "It's from Shakespeare," she explains, trying to think of nicknames they could call the little girl.
"I think Louis would love it," he snickers.
Donna's lip curls, a sound of disapproval coming from her as she mutters, "That guy…"
Harvey smirks, nodding his agreement. "What a douche," they say in sync, laughing at the thought of the jealous weasel of a man parading around the office with his ridiculous memos about pointless office regulations that no one else cares about and drinking his precious prunies.
"I can't believe people actually like him," Harvey says with a laugh.
"Like who?"
Sniggering, they shake their heads, Harvey looking back to the laptop screen. Her eyes follow, and she sighs, admitting that, while she loves Ophelia, it doesn't quite fit.
"There's always Harriett," he teases, sliding down the ground next to her.
She rolls her eyes, snorting. "Yeah, as if I'd ever use the name Harriett for anything."
His mouth falls agape, looking at her in fake horror. He brings a hand to his chest, saying, "I'll have you know, that is a very respectable name."
Chuckling, Donna shakes her head, looking back toward the laptop. She scrolls down the page, listing off a few other names, her nose scrunching adorably at other, very terrible ones. "Who comes up with some of these?" she asks, pointing to the screen. "Rocket? Roze? That's just Rose spelled wrong!"
He snorts, bumping his shoulder into hers before taking control, scrolling the page to the E section. "There's always something classic like Elizabeth, Emily, Eloise."
Her face twists at that last one as he laughs, "Okay, maybe not Eloise."
They chuckle, her eyes going soft as she looks at him, and he can't help but wonder sometimes if she feels the same way for him as he does for her. It's a new feeling, one he only just admitted to himself within the last few months, but one he wants to explore… eventually.
There's a knock on the door suddenly, and Harvey looks to Donna. "Were you expecting someone?"
With a shake of her head, she says she wasn't, so he hands her the laptop back, standing and saying he'll get the door. "It'll be tomorrow by time you can get up anyway, preggo."
"Ha, ha," she deadpans, and he chuckles, walking to her entryway.
Looking through the peephole, Harvey's stomach drops. Shit.
The woman behind the door knocks again, and he can see her shifting from one foot to the other, checking her watch.
"Harvey?" Donna chuckles from where she's still, he assumes, attempting to stand, and he can just imagine her pressing her palms against the coffee table to assist her like she so often does. "Remind me to never sit on the floor again… at least until the baby is born," she laughs, a grunt echoing down the hall.
Fuck, this is not good. This is a disaster waiting to happen… Harvey looks around, for what, he isn't sure, something to avoid opening the door. "Harvey, who is it?"
He doesn't reply, and by time she makes it over to him at the front door, he must be too late in masking the look of panic in his eyes because her face falls, brows cinching together in confusion as she shakes her head. "Harvey?"
He clears his throat, hand gripping the door handle. "It's, uh, it's your mom."
Fuck.
{**************************}
"My… my mom?" Her eyes widen in panic as Harvey confirms his words with a grimace and a nod.
Shit. Fuck. No, this can't be happening.
Donna brings a hand to her forehead, then sweeps it down her long red tresses, stopping to rest against her belly. With a sigh, her shoulders sag, a defeated, "Let her in," tumbling out as they hear Clara's voice through the wood of the door, a muffled Donna? and a bang of her palm to the surface.
Licking her lips, she nods, taking a step toward Harvey. "Just a second," she calls, placing her hand to Harvey's shoulder. "I got this."
He looks at her, clearly checking one more time that she's okay, before giving her a small smile and a peck to her forehead (an action that makes her heart skip a beat, but she doesn't think about that). His hand falls from the door handle, stepping to the side and allowing her to take his place.
Her stomach is in knots, twisting and gnawing it's way through her gut. She hasn't told Clara about the baby, was still trying to find the right way to say Surprise! I got knocked up and the guy wants nothing to do with me!
Huffing, she opens the door, digging deep into her acting roots to plaster her most award-winning smile on her face. "Mom!" she greets cheerfully, reaching out to hug Clara and pull her inside before she can make a scene.
Her mother hugs her back, a surprised Oomph spilling out as they tumble back through the doorway. Clara grips Donna's hips, pulling back with a laugh. "Donna, darling," she chuckles, pressing a kiss to her cheek.
Clara takes a step back, eyes widening as she finally takes note of the baby bump resting sweetly on Donna's midsection. Her mother isn't a prude, isn't some uptight socialite who will disown her for being pregnant out of wedlock, but not telling her? She can see now that it was a mistake, and she instantly regrets her decision.
"Donna, you're pregnant?"
She nods, eyes watering as she confirms the news.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you," she mumbles, hands wringing together over the bump. "Things have just been kind of crazy, and," her eyes flick over to Harvey, still standing off to the side with an unsure look on his face.
"And who is the father?" Clara asks, face crinkling in bewilderment. "I didn't even know you were–"
"–Me!" Donna's head whips to the side at the fumbled confession. "I… it's me. I'm that," he points at her stomach, then to himself, a hand reaching up to rub at his neck, "Uh, I'm the, um, the father. Yep."
Horror must cross her face for the briefest of moments, must match the terror and confusion she feels inside, because Harvey nods in her direction, giving her a reassuring smile. Donna glances over to her mother, consciously forcing her mouth that has fallen agape shut again, and sees the look on her face that Donna hasn't seen in years, not since she was first starting out in the big city, getting her first role on a small stage.
Pride.
Her mother actually looks proud of her, and it makes Donna's heart ache knowing that years of failed plays and having to take a job as a secretary have disappointed her mom and dad. Her shoulders slump, just slightly, as she looks back to Harvey. He takes the few steps separating them all, looping his arm around Donna's shoulders and murmuring a, "Just go with it," into her hair before straightening up, offering to take Clara's jacket, and hanging it on the hook by the door.
The next half hour is filled with awkward glances, and one too many personal questions from Clara toward Harvey while they wait on their take out to be delivered. It was the fastest option since she didn't know her mom was coming, and like hell she was going to take the time to prepare a home cooked meal that her mother would just turn her nose up at anyway (cooking never really was Donna's strong suit, the only other time her mother has met Harvey, they'd had a god awful dinner party made even worse by her terrible attempt at shrimp scampi).
"I'll get some wine for you two," Donna announces, standing from the couch. She turns to look at Harvey, giving in an unquestionable look. "Harvey," she grits firmly through her teeth, nodding toward the kitchen. "Will you help me?"
"You need help getting wine?" Clara chuckles, shaking her head as she pops a chip into her mouth.
Giving her mom a forced smile, she mumbles something about it being hard to reach before scurrying into the kitchen, Harvey following dutifully behind.
{********************************}
"What the hell?" she asks as soon as they're away from prying eyes and ears.
Harvey glances over his shoulder, placing a finger to his lips, motioning for her to be quiet. "You want your mom to hear?"
Donna shakes her head, obviously frustrated. "No, Harvey, I don't. But what I really didn't want was for you to claim to be the father of my child!"
He looks down sheepishly, a bit hurt, actually, at the insinuation that him being the father would be so terrible. He pushes that thought down, knowing she didn't mean it and getting angry, losing his cool right now, wouldn't help anything. So he scratches at his stubble he forgot to shave this morning before looking back up at her. "I'm sorry."
Donna's steps toward the refrigerator falter, and she turns back around, a hand coming up to cup her ear. "I'm sorry, you're what?" she asks sarcastically, leaning in closer to him. "I didn't quite catch that."
Smirking, he waves her off. "I was just trying to help. I could see the look in her eye, wondering who got you pregnant, why you hadn't told her, and a million other questions, and… I don't know, Donna," he sighs, "It just kind of slipped out."
"Slipped out," she scoffs, rolling her eyes. Her arms cross over her chest, and he can't help but to smile at how cute she looks–barefoot, denim overalls, and that thick, long hair hanging down to her belly–she's adorable, especially when she's angry. Though he does miss those bangs, they'd been one of the first things to go in her attempt to rid herself of John. She'd grown them out, a task made easier from the prenatal vitamins she was taking, and cut it into long (gorgeous, makes him want to run his fingers through them) layers after the dick had left town.
She seems to contemplate her options for a moment, hazel eyes flitting up to the ceiling, before falling back to his with a defeated sigh. "Fine," she shrugs, admitting, "This honestly will go over better having a baby daddy with me. She may not be conservative, but I could see her starting to freak out in there earlier before you stepped in."
"You see," he grins, "you need me!"
She rolls her eyes again, playfully this time, thank God, and swats at his chest. "So what do we tell her when she asks about us?"
He thinks for a moment, coming up with a cover story for them–dating for the last seven months, found out she was pregnant four months into being together– "I freaked out at first, naturally," he chuckles, stepping in to wrap his arms around her waist before saying lowly, "But I wouldn't change any of it for the world."
"So you basically got me pregnant one of our first nights together?" She smirks, giving him an I don't think so look. "Harvey, I was two months along when I found out. That'd be like… what, a month or two after you claim we started dating?"
"Hey, when you're good, you're good."
"And you're an idiot."
"But I'm your idiot. For tonight, anyway."
He watches as her eyes close and a faint smile crosses over her lips. She inhales deeply, her chest pressing against his; it's the closest they've stood since he was trying to get her to sleep with him the night they met in the bar, and he knows he's pushing the limits tonight, fake dating and all, but he can't help it. He's wanted this, wanted them for over a year, longer if he's honest with himself (but he doesn't let himself think about that). He was just waiting for her to dump that asshole before telling her how he truly felt, pleading his case with her as to why she should break her rule for them. But then everything with the pregnancy and John skipping town happened, and he just knew it wasn't the right time. Not all those months ago anyway, too many things needed to get worked out. Now, though…
"Come on," he whispers, reaching around her to grab the bottle of wine, "let's get back out there. It's showtime!"
She giggles, and he smiles as he takes her hand, walking back to the living room.
{*************************}
The doorbell rings, and Harvey stands to go retrieve the food while Donna and Clara make their way into the dining room. "He's so handsome," Clara whispers with a giggle, causing Donna to smile and shake her head, as if she hadn't noticed that fact over the last two years of knowing him.
They sit down at the table, Harvey pouring another glass of wine for Clara as Donna dishes out the food. She has to admit, he's being a great fake boyfriend, even if it is just for tonight, just long enough to convince her mother that she still has her life together and does not, in any way, shape or form, need to move back to Connecticut with her parents to raise her child. She may just be fresh into her thirties, but she refuses to be like those people she knew in high school who tried to make it on their own but eventually landed back in their mom's basement, never to leave again.
"So how's the DA's office?" Clara asks, picking up her first bite of food.
Donna huffs, knowing she's told her mom several times over the last few months that she and Harvey no longer worked there. She remembers, in fact, because it was something she kept bringing up to distract herself from telling her parents about her pregnancy. "We work at a major law firm now, Mom, remember?"
"Oh, yes, yes, that's right," Clara waves off, smiling across the table at them.
Harvey reaches out, then, taking her free hand in his, as he confirms, "It's a great office, we love being there." He smiles over at her, that Cheshire Cat grin plastered to his face, and she rolls her eyes before breaking out into a grin.
Her stomach does flip flops inside of itself, butterflies tumbling around at the mere contact of his skin against hers, but she pushes that feeling down, knowing that it's just hormones and anxiety over tonight's dinner party. She also ignores how nice his use of the pronoun we sounds coming from him, despite her use of it not even thirty seconds ago.
She shakes her head, pulling herself from those thoughts. Thoughts like that will get her nowhere, except in a cold shower once everyone is gone tonight.
Donna catches her mother's gaze, a smile and a lift of her brows silently communicating to Donna that her mother highly approves of Harvey.
Her mind swirls, wondering what she's going to tell her parents in a few weeks when her mother inevitably asks about Harvey on one of their many phone calls. How will she explain that they broke up? Fuck, this is so messy and complicated. They should have come up with a better plan while in the kitchen, damn it.
"So exactly how far along are you?" Clara asks, and shit, is she trying to do the math? Donna wracks her brain, trying to remember the last time she mentioned John to her.
"About five months, the doctors say I'm around seventeen weeks."
Clara smiles, tilting her head to the side and saying, "I thought you were with that other guy, what was his name, John? A few months ago."
Donna's gaze flicks to Harvey's and he squeezes her hand, giving her a reassuring smile. He'd agreed during their clandestine meeting earlier to let her do most of the talking, since he'd already gotten them into this mess, so she sighs, looking back to her mom. "Yeah, w-we were, but, uh,"
"Say no more!" Clara announces, holding her hands up in the air. "True love knows no bounds," she winks. "I get it!"
Donna's eyes fall closed as she breathes in and out, before looking back to her mom. All she can really do is shrug and allow Clara's mind to fill in the missing blanks. Playing aloof, like she doesn't want to give too much away, seems to be her best bet at this point.
Harvey changes the subject, thankfully, asking Clara her opinion on nursery color schemes and names. It distracts her mother long enough, giving Donna's stomach time to calm down so she can eat. She's been craving this thai food all afternoon, and her stomach rumbles, reminding her that she needs to actually eat something tonight.
She happily munches on her pad thai, listening as Harvey speaks with her mom, schmoozing Clara the way he does any high society client, truly convincing her mother that he is the father. He sounds like it, oddly enough, knowing what birthing plans she's considering, the type of crib she has set up, and names she's considering.
But, if she thinks about it, it's not so strange. Harvey has been there for her every step of the way, stepping in to be her support more than she ever thought the man was capable of.
She smiles to herself, thinking how nice it would be to actually have Harvey in her life like that – helping raise her daughter, take her to doctor's appointments, help decorate the nursery… which, she supposes, he is doing already, but it would be different if they were actually together, right? But they won't be, can't be. He's not ready for that kind of commitment, especially not with a baby on the way. And is she even ready for that? She knows she is, deep down, but admitting that opens up too many raw emotions, especially being halfway to giving birth...
Her mind is going a mile a minute, so much so, that she misses her mom's question. Harvey reaches under the table, affectionately squeezing her knee and bringing her back to reality. "Sorry," she chuckles lightly, "what was that?"
"I asked what the two of you were going to do once the baby is born," Clara says, looking between them. She waves her fork in the air, pointing at each of them. "I mean, it's obvious Harvey doesn't live here now, but what about when the baby comes? Is there a nursery set up at his apartment, too?"
"Yes," Harvey claims.
"No," Donna answers simultaneously.
Her eyes widen as she looks to him, silently murdering him with her eyes as she chuckles nervously. "No, there isn't, but, but… but there will be," she fumbles through an explanation. "I just haven't gotten around to it, you know," she stuffs a piece of food into her mouth, adding around the lump, "been too busy trying to get this nursery set up."
Clara's eyes narrow, looking at both her and Harvey, before picking up her wine and taking a sip. "Well you better get on it, Donna," she states, "You only have a few more months left."
"Don't remind me," Donna mumbles, stuffing her last bite of pad thai into her mouth.
Harvey clears his throat, adding, "I could always hire someone to set one up over there."
The grunt he lets slip as Donna kicks him under the table really isn't her fault. He's being an idiot, getting too loose lipped and comfortable in this scenario. He's fucking brilliant at this whole acting thing, though, maybe she should convince him to join her summer production company.
Clara beams, agreeing that it is a wonderful idea.
Donna laughs nervously, chewing on her food, trying to make it last so she doesn't have to say anything else. Her guilt is overwhelming her, and she wants to be honest so desperately, but they've come this far, and her mother would be beyond disappointed in the truth. So, she takes Harvey's hand, ignoring how perfectly they fit together, and stands from the table.
Harvey and Clara help clear the dishes before they all walk to the front door.
Handing the older redhead the jacket she'd worn over here, Harvey kisses Clara's cheek, promising to keep her updated on the progress of the nursery.
Clara turns to Donna, then, giving her a warm hug, her eyes watering as she admits she's excited to get home and tell Jim the good news, so excited that they're becoming grandparents. Donna looks to Harvey over her mother's shoulder, guilt written across both of their faces.
As her mom pulls out of the hug, Donna gives her a sad smile, kissing her cheek and vowing to call her tomorrow.
With that, Clara makes her exit, and as Harvey closes the door, Donna leans against it with a sigh. "That was really hard," she confesses, looking over at him.
He gives her a sympathetic smile, taking her hand and leading her over to the couch. She struggles to sit down, lowering herself down slowly and cursing these tight denim overalls. They fit all day until she stuffed herself full of thai food.
"Am I a horrible person?" she asks after awhile.
Harvey's head tilts as he sets his cup of water down on the coffee table. "You are many things, Donna," he starts, voice deep and gravely, making those stomach butterflies from earlier swarm again, making their descent down south, "but horrible is not one of them."
He takes her hand, intertwining their fingers as he smiles softly in her direction. "I put you in a bad spot tonight, and for that, I'm truly sorry."
Shaking her head, she assures him it's fine. "I was the one who hadn't told her yet about being pregnant. I was just so embarrassed by it all, with John skipping town, and everything." She shrugs, adding, "Honestly, you being my fake boyfriend was the best solution to her showing up tonight."
They both chuckle, Donna leaning her head against her bent arm that's resting on the back cushion of the couch as she looks into his brown eyes. There's so much written on his face right now, so many emotions swirling through those soulful eyes of his. He's like an open book that she can't quite figure out how to read just yet.
"What is it?" she asks, sitting up straighter.
Harvey shakes his head, ducking it down to his chest briefly. She sees a small grin blossom on his lips as he looks back up to her. He's got that sheepish gleam in his eye, the one he gets when he's being vulnerable and open; she loves that look.
"Tonight was kind of… nice," he shrugs, that lopsided smile making her bite her lip as she tries to tamp down a knowing smile of her own.
"It… sort of was," she chuckles, twirling her thick hair around her hand and bringing it all to one side.
Harvey takes a scoot closer, his knee now touching hers as he picks up her hand once again, something he can't seem to stop doing tonight (not that she's complaining).
He weaves their fingers together, placing their hands against their knees. "I mean," he starts, sighing out as he seems to not be able to get his words straight. "I liked how… normal it all was, you know?"
She nods, because she does. She's liked how natural the last few months have been with him. He's been attentive at work, but also at home, whether they were at his place or hers. It's just been nice seeing him outside of the office, the calmer side of him, the more relaxed version of Harvey Specter that no one else gets to see. She's lucky to be considered his friend, his only one at times according to him; it makes her love (like) him even more.
"What would you say to… I don't know… not ending this fake dating?" He shakes his head, almost as if he's trying to give himself a look that says That sounded dumb. "What I mean, Donna, is that I really like you, you know? I like being with you, and I know that you're pregnant, and dealing with a lot, but if you want, I'd love to, I don't know," he smiles, and she gives him one in return as he finishes with, "take you out to dinner or a movie, or, I don't know..."
He's rambling, and it's adorable, so cute that she doesn't want to stop him, but she giggles despite herself, squeezing his fingers. "Harvey."
Shaking his head again, he continues, saying something about willing to wait if she needs time, just wanting her to be happy, and her face melts, softening around the edges as she tugs on their hands. "Hey," she calls again, "I would love that."
This may be stupid. This could all just be her pregnancy hormones playing tricks on her, but she has to believe it's something more, knows in her gut that it is, and her gut is never wrong. They've always been something more. Always flirted and had chemistry, a connection. Hell, she'd made up that stupid rule about not dating people she worked with just so they could continue being together each day. She knew back then that if they dated, it would've blown up in their faces, and then she would've been out of a job. But now, now things are different. They're at the firm, he's making a name for himself, he's more mature, she's actually ready… Holy shit, "Are we really doing this?"
He snorts, nodding as his hand reaches up to cup the back of her head. Her breath hitches in her throat as he says, "My chips are always up when it comes to you, Donna," and she giggles at that, knowing the gambler in him couldn't be helped, "so if you're ready, I'm ready."
She can't contain the smile on her face any longer, so she nods, draping her hand across the back of his neck. "I'm ready."
"Good."
"Good."
They both grin, leaning in at the same time. Harvey presses his forehead against hers, breathing her in before cocking his head and pressing his lips to hers.
It's the best kiss she's ever experienced, and she knows that is not simply from the hormones. She's wanted this, wanted him, for so long, and it's finally happening. She smiles into the embrace, tilting her head to the side as he deepens the kiss.
Donna moans into their lips, tugging Harvey as close as he can get with her baby bump in between them.
They break apart, breathless, and he smiles at her, the corners of his eyes crinkling in that boyish way they do. "Seems tonight was just what we needed."
She exhales a breathy chuckle, shaking her head as she bites down on her bottom lip. "Seems so," she says with a raise of her eyebrow.
Harvey leans back in, planting kisses to her lips, over and over again for the next few minutes. They break apart, both agreeing it shouldn't go any further tonight (despite how desperately she wants it to).
He leaves later, another peck to her lips and a rub of her belly. "I'll see you tomorrow," he whispers before he exits the building.
{***************************}
Over the last few months leading to the birth of her baby girl, Donna and Harvey truly became a family. She decided that no matter if they stay together or not, Harvey is the father of her child. He's been there for her since the beginning, always taking care of her, and that's exactly the kind of dad she wants in her baby's life.
On a cold February morning, Donna and Harvey welcome their daughter into the world, all pink cheeked and loud cries. Harvey cries right along with the baby, kissing Donna and thanking her for giving him the greatest gift ever.
"Happy Valentine's Day," he whispers into her hair.
She smiles, still not believing that her little girl came two weeks early, making her a Valentine's Day baby, but knowing it's perfect. She brought her and Harvey together, and now she was their celebration of love for the rest of their lives.
Hours later, as their baby sleeps against Harvey's chest, Donna smiles. She can't fully grasp how quickly her life has changed over the last four months, but as she watches them, her family, snuggled together while Harvey places feather like kisses to the top of the little girl's head, whispering sweet somethings to their littlest Valentine, she decides she wouldn't have it any other way.
{*************************}
Thoughts? :)
