Hey! This scenario has kinda been stuck on my mind for awhile so I figured it was time to write it down. Hope you enjoy :)

She goes home alone.

It doesn't feel right, not when she's spent the last couple nights wrapt up in Harvey's arms with them both snuggling as close as two people can possible be, drawn to each other like magnets. And Donna's never really been one to cuddle, her preference was not the clingy type, and she's had relationships in the past proving that point, since she ended those before they barley begun.

Come to think of it, Mitchell was an exception. Donna dated him for way longer than she should have, causing her to feel suffocated by his love. Him suggesting they move in together had made her realize instantly that their relationship was in fact one-sided. And she didn't miss Mitchell when no one was holding her at night. Instead she was longing for that other missing piece in her life, the one she earlier saw leave the firm, probably still waiting for her at his condo.

Of course it's Harvey, she really shouldn't be surprised that everything's different with him. Because Donna adores the way he causally sneaks an arms around her waist when they're laying spent in bed, his breath warm against her neck. They fit like two lost pieces of a puzzle and yeah, she already misses him, body, heart and mind. She feels ridiculous, Donna Paulsen doesn't depend on anyone, she should damn well be able to survive one night without him when she's done just that for fifteen long years.

Donna never thought that Harvey siding with her would be upsetting, but knowing he did it without actually agreeing with her, that's not how their relationship works. They have a balance, that Donna loves, meaning that they can challenge each other and yet have each other's backs when it truly matters.

She doesn't understand why Harvey had lied, and rather than just asking him, she ran, afraid that a heartfelt conversation could change what they have just gained, the more she's always wanted.

Is it though?

They are dating but it's not like they have actually expressed their feelings towards the other, at least not with words. Donna knows he tried to, that first night when he showed up at her apartment, kissing her with more intent than anything she's ever felt from him. But as soon as he begun talking, Donna'd quickly cut him off, whispering that she already knew. When in reality, she was just too afraid to hear it, considering how the world fell apart around them the last time love confessions was being made. And they may have changed- a lot, from all those years ago, but it's still terrifying, the path they once went down haunting over them like a dark cloud.

They have that talk left too, about her going to work for Louis and the consequences they both suffered from breaking each other's hearts.

Donna'd hoped this was enough, that they could keep loving each other without voicing it, that ignoring the past was possible. It's not, and there's clearly wounds that haven't healed yet, some more sensitive than others, the Paula situation for example, and- "Oh, my god." Donna mumbles, rubbing her forehead and sighing at the realization.

They're doing the exact same thing. Harvey's scared she'll be mad at him if they come to a disagreement, in case it'll change their newfound relationship, and she's running from confronting him, for the exact same reason.

Her coat is back on in seconds. Because yes, she can survive one night without him, but she doesn't want to, not anymore. She just about to swing the door open when she's met by three careful knocks. She knows it's him, and Harvey rarely does things carefully, which is telling her that their miscommunication affected him as well.

He looks lost, Donna thinks when the door falls open, but also hurt, and she unsuccessfully attempts to swallow down the guilt building in her throat.

"Can I come in?"

The fact that he's asking, seemingly unsure that she'd actually let him in, does nothing to ease the pit in her stomach.

"Harvey..."

Uncommonly, Donna doesn't find the right words, instead she's silently pleading that saying his name, in that tone, will lead him to understand that they're past that stage. But Harvey's not moving until she steps aside, creating enough room for him to enter while keeping his distance. It stings.

Donna removes her coat and heels for the second time that night, following him into the living room of her apartment. She's just about to start explaining when he spins around, causing her to stop dead in her tracks. Because it's not anger she reads on his face, just concern, and it hits her right then that shit, she hadn't even thought about what conclusions he may have drawn from her absence.

"Are you okay?" He asks, eyes flickering.

She should have checked her phone, let him know that she got home safe and Donna mentally curses herself for not thinking about any of this before. But it's all so new, and even though her heart is aware that everything's changed and that they're finally where they're supposed to be, her mind sometimes have trouble catching up. Because not too long ago, she was so sure they could never have this and now that it's real-

Donna nods, moving closer to where he's currently leaning against the back of her couch. "I was just on my way to see you. I'm sorry I didn't come over right away, I didn't mean to worry you."

Harvey immediately relaxes a bit, she's okay and that's all he wanted. But he hadn't been able to control his anxiety tonight, it's been quite awhile since he felt that tightening in his chest, the fear of losing her always too goddamn close to the surface, now more than ever.

He feels the need to open up, her eyes willing him to speak his mind. "Of course it worried me Donna. You didn't text or call, and I was terrified that something'd happened to you. A heads up would have been nice."

He's not angry, maybe a little irritated, and Donna doesn't blame him. She knows that Harvey is good at overthinking and it's necessarily not a bad thing, it has helped him as a lawyer, forced him to catch things that no one else saw coming, made him dig deeper into cases that smelled bad, it has helped him win. But whenever it concerns his worry for the people he love, his mind goes into overdrive and he so often chooses distance as a way to cope with that.

Yet here he was, laying out his fears for her to see. He has grown, so much, and Donna can't help but love him even more because of it. She's closing her arms around him a second later, she can do that now without being afraid of all the it doesn't mean- that may or may not follow. He holds her tight, one hand buried in her hair, the other wrapt around her lower back as her face rests in the crook of his neck, nose tickling his skin there, just breathing each other in.

They eventually pull away, Donna's hand automatically coming up to his cheek. She gives him a weak smile that disappears as quickly, her lips forming a thin line instead. "I'm so sorry Harvey. That wasn't my intention at all."

He swallows, thumbs stroking over her hipbones. "I know, or I know that now. But you were planning on not coming over at all, weren't you?"

There had to be a reason she went home alone, and she may have been on the way to go see him before he beat her to the punch, but he still wants to know what happened, what caused her to hesitate about seeing him.

Confirming his suspicions, Donna slowly nods. "Yes, I was. I didn't know how to make sense of you taking my side with Louis when you didn't agree with me. I don't want you saying things that you don't believe, and it took me some time to figure out why you did it."

It clicks then, and he lightly squeezes her waist, the fabric of her black sweater feeling soft against his palms. And Harvey gets it, because he didn't like doing it either, and it's not something he'll ever consciously do again.

"You're right, I shouldn't have done that. I was afraid you'd be mad at me, I guess." He admits, secretly proud that they're able to have this conversation, it's progress for him to say the least, to be completely open and honest. Vulnerable, even.

Donna locks his eyes then, ready to share what's been bugging her as well. "I know, and the reason I didn't call you out like I normally do, was because I was scared too Harvey."

The confession takes him by surprise, brows knitting together in a confused frown. "You were?"

She nods again, tracing the moles over his eyebrow with her fingertips until his face relaxes. She likes to believe that he enjoys it when she does that. (He does.)

"I think we need to talk- discuss some things if we want this to work. And I really do, want this, us." She tells him, her voice a tiny bit shaky at first, unsure of whether he'll agree with her on the former part.

"Me too, Donna." He responds, the corners of his mouth twitching. Because she's right, of course, there's still too much left in the unsaid, but Harvey is also sure they'll work through it, together.

Donna knows then, there's no excuse to be holding back anymore, and she exhales a deep breath, fingers still gently brushing his face. "I love you, Harvey." She says, her eyes never leaving his.

She's only ever told him that once before, Harvey remembers, and they've been showing each other exactly how every night since he knocked on her door, taking those three steps towards everything. But hearing her say it out loud makes his heart swell and if he's grinning like an idiot, she doesn't comment.

Harvey kisses her then, slowly but purposefully, closing the small distance between them by pressing her body towards his. Donna responds immediately, hands curling in dark brown hair as she sucks on his lower lip, he tastes like home and she can't imagine how they could go so many years without doing this.

It swiftly becomes messy, Harvey's bigger hands finding their way under her sweater and she's just about to suggest they move to the bedroom when he breaks their kiss. Donna lets out a low whine of protest, annoyed he stopped, that until she sees the look of seriousness washing over his face.

Harvey's forehead rests against her own as he speaks. "I love you. We're not gonna screw this up, okay?"

It's reassurance for them both, and he needed her to hear him say it before they get carried away.

Donna smiles at him. "Okay."

"Good."

"Good." She echoes.

He walks them to the bedroom a moment later, whispering something dirty in her ear and she playfully smacks his chest, giggling like a teenager. They'll talk, but right now they just need to be together, to make up for all the years they've spent being apart.