Harvey rushes out of the firm the moment he could. He glanced at his watch a hundred times already just within the last hour. He went straight to Four Seasons and jogged until he reached the ballroom of the hotel. He knows he's already too late but he promised Donna he'll be there. She told him she would understand if he wouldn't show up tonight. How can he not show up for her after all the years of her being there for him?
The reception for the wedding has already started so he made sure no one noticed him when he walked in. Everyone at the ballroom has roles to play for the wedding reception except for him. Tonight he's here to just be for Donna.
"Harvey!" He turned around to see who called his name. Though he already knew who it was. It's Donna, in a long white gown. Her eyes are twinkling, as she wears her full on smile while she walks swiftly towards him. Behind the smile, he knows she's tired but at the same time he also knows that this is what she really wants. Donna found him just minutes after he stepped foot inside the hotel's ballroom. The venue itself screams rich already.
"Look at you, you look beautiful!" He flattered her whole appearance. He wanted to kiss her as soon as he saw her but he knows he can't. He couldn't hug her either, so they stood inches apart from one another.
"I thought you're not coming anymore"
"How can I not be here for you?"
"Thank you" He could see her blushing.
"Sorry I was late. Client." He said hoping she would understand. She nodded, cuing him that she does.
"Do you want anything? I could ask someone to bring you a drink or something?" Even tonight, she thinks about him being taken care of.
"I'll be fine. Don't worry about me. What about you? How are you feeling?" He asked. He wanted to tuck a strand behind her ear but he's scared her hair might be ruined. So he crossed his arms on his chest instead to stop himself from doing so.
Before she could answer, someone called her name.
"Donna there you are!" The guy in a black tux approached them. Harvey already knows who he was.
"Oh hey Harvey! Nice to see you!" The guy shook his hands.
"Jake, nice to see you again" Harvey has met the guy several times already. He could already tell from the first time he met Jake that he's a nice guy. Donna told him the same thing, that he's a gentleman and is a little bit of old school.
"Yeah! Let's catch up later? We're being called on the dance floor now"
"I'll come find you later," Donna said to Harvey.
She gave his arm a light squeeze before she walked to the dancefloor hand in hand with Jake. Harvey noticed the silver wedding band on her ring finger, it matches with Jake.
I can see you standin', honey
With his arms around your body
Laughin' but the joke's not funny at all
He stayed on the sidelines as he watched Donna and Jake in the middle of the dance floor swaying gracefully to a slow music. The dance floor is situated in the middle of the ballroom. The tables and chairs for the guest are lined up perfectly on both sides of the dance floor. He scans the ballroom that has been transformed beautifully for the wedding reception. He noticed that the motif is blue and grey which he knows Donna didn't choose.
Guests occupy the tables but there's also a good amount of people on the dance floor, some of them he recognizes. Everyone who's part of the wedding reception is dressed up so elegantly. He remembers Donna telling him that the groom is a hotel magnate who owns a chain of hotels all over North America. So it's just fitting that the guests look like they're rich businessmen and women.
Though he knows this isn't what Donna would've wanted for a wedding. This is too lavish and pretentious which is very un-Donna unless it's a party for another occasion. He knows she would've wanted an intimate wedding with only close friends and families and she wouldn't invite hundreds of people she doesn't even care about, neither would he.
He eyes Donna and Jake on the dance floor again. He could see that she's lost in the presence of Jake. He watches her eyes glisten and her smile is as wide as it could be. She looked so deeply in love with him which he could tell because she looks at him the same way too. He's genuinely happy for her but he couldn't avoid and feel a little bit jealous.
He thought he wouldn't feel a pang of jealousy but he does. He played with his wedding band to remind himself why his jealousy is so out of place. He shouldn't be jealous because he just got married not too long ago to a woman he met at a bar. A woman who understands him and gets him.
He couldn't take his eyes off of Donna. She looks so beautiful and radiant in the wedding dress that hugs her curve and compliments her red curls. He watched as Jake tucked some of Donna's hair behind her ears, something that he wanted to do earlier. They smiled at each other as if they're the only two people in the room. He swirled her around, pulled her closer and he leaned in for a kiss. It was just a smooch but Harvey couldn't help but roll his eyes.
He shouldn't even be affected by it but he is, because he knows he's the love of her life and not Jake.
They were even together this morning and the night before.
Earlier this morning…
They're both lying side by side facing each other, naked in bed. She laid on his arm while his other arm was wrapped around her waist.
"Hey" She saw Harvey already awake and is staring back at her.
"Good morning. Big day today" He replied before he captured her lips and kissed her passionately as if there's no more tomorrow between them.
"Harvey" she warned him in between their kiss."As much as I would love to keep doing this..."
He grunts. "I know, we have to stop doing this. Two minutes Donna, then I'll go" She gave in at his request as usual. He kept his word and after two minutes he got ready for work and left her so she could get ready for her big day.
But before Harvey left he wished her good luck for tonight.
"Good luck today and best wishes" He teased.
She just shook her head at his silly comment, while she walked with him towards the front door.
He turned around to face her. "Donna... if you get cold feet would you let me know? Because Donna, I'll run away with you."
She exhaled and rolled her eyes at his joke.
"Harvey" She warned him with her index finger. "Just go to work and I'll understand if you can't come tonight"
"I'll be there, I promise"
And now, here he is watching the love of his life be a bride to someone else.
Donna catches Harvey staring at her, she holds his gaze and they give each other that look they've been giving each other for over 15 years.
If anyone saw how they stared at one another during that moment, they would already know that there's something more between them. The 15 years of being together left a permanent mark on their gaze.
And it took you five whole minutes
To pack us up and leave me with it
Holdin' all this love out here in the hall
She leaned on Jake's shoulders and faced his neck instead. She acted as if Harvey wasn't even there. She's really good at acting as if there's nothing going on between them, as if Harvey's not the love of her life.
Harvey on the other hand, wished he could act and hide his feelings because he is already on the verge of bursting out of pure jealousy that's running through his veins.
His thoughts were distracted when a lady wearing a headset and a clipboard secured under her arms appeared beside him. She's the one who makes sure everything is running smoothly, the one behind the scenes. "Bride's?"
He smiled and nodded as a response.
"I saw how you looked at her"
He changed the subject and introduced himself. "Harvey-"
"Specter" The lady knows who he is even though he never saw her before. "Anna. I'm just standing in for tonight. The bride wanted to make sure you're okay and if there's anything you need. So are you okay?"
"I am" He said with conviction, not for the lady but for himself.
The lady left him right after. The dance isn't done yet so he distracted himself by texting Mike instead telling him that he's already at the venue. Mike and Rachel couldn't attend tonight because of an ongoing case. Louis wanted to go so badly but he has Lucy and Sheila now so he couldn't just go so easily. So it's just him for her tonight.
'I think I've seen this film before—'
He thought Donna would've ended up with Thomas. He remembered how he felt when he met Thomas at the elevator with Donna, when he was about to ask her about what Scottie said. They didn't workout. Thomas saw what everyone saw between them.
"Cut!" The director called out. "That's all for today! Good job everyone!"
He snapped back to reality and diminished his thoughts about what happened in the past and his jealousy has halted. He's married for real to the bride for goodness sake. He's at the set of the film to support Donna's career.
Donna got scouted by an agent while they were strolling along 5th ave in Seattle. The agent was looking for a red head around her age so she was a perfect choice. The agent got more excited after learning that Donna has a degree in theatre. She hesitated at first but Harvey told her to audition anyways.
"What's there to lose Donna?" He asked.
"You're right"
He has faith in her just as how she has faith in him.
Donna told Rachel about her audition. If it went well she has to leave the firm for a few months because the director wants to start filming right away. Rachel was nothing but very supportive of her.
She originally auditioned for the sister of the lead but they gave her the lead role instead.
"Hey" Donna approached him right after the scene.
"You were so great there!" He pulled her for a hug and gave her a kiss. Now he can hug and kiss her and not ruin her makeup. The first time he was on set with her, the make up artist got pissed off because he smudged her lipstick.
"Oh my god you're jealous"
"No I'm not" he avoided her gaze.
"Fine I was'' He admitted his jealousy. There's no point in hiding it because she knows him too well.
She's amused at her husband's reaction and lets out a laugh. "I knew it!" She smacked his chest playfully "I told you it's okay for you not to be here tonight" She knows he's helping Mike on an ongoing case against a famous fortune 500 company. Mike saw the time and he knew Harvey should be somewhere else by now so he told him to go and will text him of any updates.
Harvey visits her on set every night after his work at the firm so they would go home together. Sometimes he would bring his work there so he had something to do. If he doesn't have an ongoing case he lets Donna practice lines with him, as if he's the groom. He's already a familiar face to the cast and crew.
"Oh by the way I've met Anna" He said casually while handing her a bottle of water.
"Yeah Janet got a bad flu and couldn't be here so Anna's standing in for her" Donna said with worry. Janet's one of the assistant directors of the film.
"I see"
"Anyways, stay put. I'm gonna go get changed so you can take me home"
He might've gotten jealous earlier, but it's him who takes her home at the end of the day. That's what matters the most.
He's the real thing.
The film was about a couple who just got married. It took them forever to find their way to each other. Only to find out months later that the bride has leukemia.
'— and I didn't like the ending'
Tomorrow they'll start filming the hospital scene.
Donna's back and changed to her casual outfit. This time she's wearing her real wedding ring. He reaches out his hand for her before walking out of the set.
End.