I may have had this sitting finished in its doc for a month now... sorry!

They've been in Seattle for a couple weeks now, having packed up their apartments and life in New York in almost no time at all. Before they'd left the city, Harvey had applied to be admitted to the bar in Washington, wanting to be raring to go as soon as they landed. It's how and why Donna and Harvey find themselves at a bar with Rachel and Mike, celebrating Harvey's admittance and his upcoming start date at their friends' firm.

"So, you guys good to come in at 9 on Monday?" Mike says, distractedly gesturing to a waiter and signalling another round of drinks. "We've got the offices set up already, well… we've allocated them. Just need to move some stuff around and-"

He pauses as Donna let's out of a cough and the redhead finds three pairs of eyes on her.

"Just went down the wrong way…" Donna explains, gesturing to the near empty cocktail glass in her hand.

Mike seems to be the only one to accept her answer as he continues his previous train of thought, rattling off a list of things they have to get through on Monday, induction, introductions and the like. Harvey, who had previously been nodding along to Mike, has turned his entire focus on his wife. She quietly shakes her head and his eyebrows meet in confusion, and Harvey's just about to open his mouth to say something when he feels Donna's hand squeeze his thigh under the table. He shoots her one last glance before he turns his attention back to Mike, whilst Rachel keeps her eyes on Donna, having witnessed the whole exchange.

"9? If I knew you guys kept such slack hours, we would've flown out here ages ago.." Harvey laughs, taking a sip of his whisky as Mike teases him.

With the men suitably distracted, Rachel tilts her head towards the ladies and Donna nods in response.

"Excuse us gentlemen…" Rachel says as the two are halfway out of their seats, sending Harvey a quick nod before kissing Mike.

The two women end up walking outside of the bar, finding a quiet spot under the canopy.

"Well this isn't the restroom…"

"What was that look Donna?"

"Straight to the point…" Donna mutters, looking down and picking off imaginary lint from her blouse.

"Donna…"

"You know I love you Rach…"

"Uh-huh…"

"But…" Donna pauses, taking a deep breath. "I just don't think I… your firm… I don't…"

Rachel, who'd kept a serious face until this point, bursts out laughing and Donna stops her rambling immediately.

"I never thought I would be one of the few people in the world to make you so tongue-tied…"

Donna's head tilts asking a silent question.

"Alongside Harvey of course, but now isn't the time to discuss those things." Rachel smiles as that elicits a smirk and eye-roll from Donna.

"I just want to find myself outside of Harvey." She says, it's something Donna has been thinking about for weeks now. Ever since Harvey had told her of Mike's offer and they decided they would leave New York for Seattle.

Rachel nods, silently encouraging her friend to continue.

"I loved being COO…. being Harvey's secretary for all those years taught me so much. But…"

"But now it's time for you to do something you love, not something Harvey loves."

"Exactly…"

"Have you told Harvey?"

Donna's silence is enough to answer that question and Rachel can't help but think her friends have so much more to discuss between them.

"That's a no then…"

"It just hasn't really come up…"

"Want to try that again?"

Donna sighs, "He's just been so happy lately, the wedding, moving out here… everything is falling into place for him after the year he's had with his mom passing, stepping down from the firm…"

She trails off, thinking of all the things Harvey had lost in the last year and the happiness he'd found in them, in this new job and the move.

"Donna," Rachel lets out an exasperated sigh, placing a hand on her friend's arm, "You need to start putting yourself first, Harvey's been through a lot - yes - but so have you…"

Donna looks off into the distance, collecting herself and attempting to will the tears forming in her eyes to not fall.

"You're right…" She leans forward to hug the other woman, "You're not mad?"

"No! Donna… come on, I'm just so happy you and Harvey are here. We'll have weekly drinks.."

"Of course.."

"And brunches, dinners…just because we won't work together, it doesn't mean we won't see each other all the time."

"Thanks Rach."

"Tell Harvey though…"

Donna nods in response as the two make their way back to the table, as Donna sits down, she presses a kiss to Harvey's cheek and his arm finds itself around the back of her chair, fingers dancing along her back.

The four spend a couple more hours at the bar before they find themselves outside, waving the younger couple off as their taxi departs. Harvey, closer to the curb than Donna, silently asks her if she's ready to head back too, or if she wants to walk off whatever's on her mind. She decides quickly, placing her hand in his as they begin walking down the street and to the waterfront.

"Want to tell me what you and Rachel talking about earlier?" Harvey asks, glancing at his wife. Ever since she'd made that awkward cough, he'd been wanting to ask her and when the two women had disappeared, in the opposite direction of the bathroom, his curiosity peaked.

"I suppose…" Donna murmurs, holding onto his hand a bit tighter as they come to a stop under a streetlight, him leaning against the railing beside it and her standing in his arms in front.

"Donna…"

"It's about Monday…and every day actually, well every workday that is…"

Donna knows she's rambling, and if he asks she'll blame it on the alcohol running through her veins and hope he won't challenge her on it, because they both know it's nerves. She thinks she's just about figured the sentence out in her head, but Harvey opens his mouth and says it for him.

"You don't want to work at the firm?" He poses it as a question but he knows it's a statement.

She tilts her head, "How did you know?"

Harvey gives her his 'I know you look' and tightens his arms around her waist, thumb gently stroking her sides.

"I loved working my way up to COO but…"

"But it's not you anymore…"

"No.. yes.. I mean, it could be. Just, not at another law firm."

Harvey nods and Donna's about to begin to reassure him that she'll of course try, before he takes her by surprise.

"You found somewhere already?"

Donna nods timidly.

"Tell me about it…"

She takes a deep breath, her eyes shining. "It's this nonprofit, they've been established for some time now and they're focused on bringing arts into schools and youth clubs. They have two arms, one focusing on lobbying the city and state for increased funding, acknowledgement of the importance of the arts for kids. And the other, going into schools and encouraging this children to explore their creative sides. Theatre, performing… encouraging collaboration…"

Donna knows she could go on, there's so much more to the organisation than that but she's distracted by Harvey's loving gaze that suddenly she gets so shy and stops herself. He's beaming at her and she doesn't know it, but what's running through his mind is how he thought his love for her couldn't grow but now Harvey thinks his capacity to love her is without limits. And he's in love with this idea, that his love for her can grow and grow and he'll never get tired of it. He also thinks that he once again gets to see her happy, throwing herself into something she loves and is so perfect for.

"I'm sorry… I…" Donna stops, looking at his expression curiously.

"No, don't apologise. I was just thinking about how much I love you."

She smiles and playfully slaps his chest, "You're such a sap."

"I'm in love with your happiness and enthusiasm, I'm so proud of you.." He whispers as she presses her lips to his.

"You won't miss me too much?"

"Well," He puffs out his chest, "I wouldn't say that. But unlike ten years ago, we'll be waking up and coming back to each other every day and night."

"Well, I sure hope so mister…"

He laughs at her goofiness, pulling her closer again for another soft kiss.

"Let's promise each other, even if we're not in the same office, we won't be one of those couples who don't talk throughout the day…"

"We can exchange texts…"

"And calls when we're not busy…"

"Maybe we can get away for a work lunch every so often."

"Did I tell you the nonprofit's office is just a couple blocks from the firm?"

Harvey just grins, "No, you did not…"

Her smile falls ever so slightly as she grows pensive, thinking about starting this new chapter of her life without working beside, or even in the same building, as Harvey. Sensing her wariness, Harvey tightens his grip on her.

"Hey," He says seriously, "We'll be okay Donna, we've never needed work to be us…"

She arches an eyebrow, tilting her head.

"We may have needed work before, but we don't anymore. Not to be connected…" He says tapping his finger on her ring. "This is forever."

Thanks for reading!