Prompt #30 by fmadchensgirl: "After Stephen, Donna struggles with dating, she seems to gravitate to guys she knows she won't have a future with. After several bad flings (the guys were even bad in bed) she ends up in Harvey's office where she drinks too much and tells him about it. It's shortly before Christmas so he decides to take her out on a "Christmas magic date". Possible kiss, cuddling while looking at the snowy landscape, getting together."
I -
"Oh, I'm sorry I have to take this call," she says to the guy in front of her who is holding a beer.
She moves away, pretending she is having a conversation. She's been doing this often lately. This has been her 'get away' move. When she is on a date that is not going well she pretends her cell phone is vibrating and takes the call, comes back and tells the guy that something work related happened and she needs to go.
At the very first moment when Jeramie showed up, today's date indicated that it would turn into something not enjoyable. She is Donna, after all, and her skills of reading people are still there.
"I'm sorry, my boss just called me. Something urgent came up and I need to go. I'm really sorry," she says, already taking her purse, waving goodbye to the guy and leaving the place.
It's the Christmas season and the city is entirely decorated with Christmas' lights. She always loved Christmas and today it's a perfect distraction to her feelings. She starts to walk down the street, unsure where to go. She does not want to be alone tonight but also does not have anyone to spend time with. Her friends are enjoying their dates the way she cannot.
Her friends keep saying 'for someone who has a high standard, your recent standards have been near to zero', and deep down she knows why. But she does not want to admit that Stephen damaged her in a way deeper than she thought.
After the whole situation with him, she has been going on dates that, in the first 5 minutes, she knows are not going to be good. She had dates where the sex was great and others where the sex was not good at all. In summary, she has been doing one night stands unintentionally. Not getting emotionally attached nor getting a second date.
She has not been acting like herself. She is someone with a high level of self confidence in every department of her life. Not that she does not feel insecure sometimes, only that this time. Her love life is affecting her more than she wanted to and she does not know how to stop it.
She also doesn't know how to stop the insecurities. How to stop feeling that every single person she is going on a date with will show some dark part of themself or that they are lying to her. She is not afraid of little lies like telling someone you like olives only to impress them or something like that. She is honest with the people she is trying to know better. She can handle these little lies. What she is afraid of is the bigger lies, those dark and deep lies someone can hide and carry.
But lately she does not seem open to really getting to know someone. She is getting bored in the middle of dates, she is not interested in what the other person has to say. Since Stephen she can not open herself to genuine connections. She is afraid that if she lets someone in, she will once again be hurt.
She is feeling lost, broken.
But she still has a lust. She still wants to date and flirt and have sex, so she proceeds with the already-know-it-will-be failure dates. But tonight she is tired of it. She wants something personal, smooth, easy, right, safe, comfortable. And the only place she knows she will feel this way is moreover complicated.
The alcohol is still running through her body, and she lets it take control, and without hesitation she makes her way to the office. Once in the hall, she moves to the elevator and presses the 50th floor.
It's a Friday night, almost eleven. There's no way someone would still be at the office, working. They would probably be enjoying their evening and their date, so it is a safe place for her to be in. She doesn't know what she is going to do, but she needs a place where she will not feel lonely. Even if there is no one there, she will not be alone because somehow he will be there with her.
She enters the place, no signal that someone is there, the only lights on are from computer screens. The ceiling lights turn on, detecting a human presence. She walks to her desk, stopping by, his office in front is empty and she can then spend some time there by herself, drinking his whiskey.
She's wearing a long beige coat, a pair of jeans and a black turtleneck blouse, black boots with no heels. Her hair is in a ponytail, minimum make up. Completely casual. She takes off her coat, placing it on her chair. She is still pondering if she will enter or not.
"Donna?" she hears Harvey's familiar voice.
"Oh, hey," she stares at him, surprised. He is in his usual white shirt, not wearing a three-piece suit. He is working alone, so he probably took it off.
"What are you doing here? I thought you had a date," Harvey says, a bit confused by her being there.
"I- I-," she breathes as if trying to organize her thoughts and what to tell him. When she thought about going to the firm, the last thing she considered was that he would be there. It is a Friday night, it is late, she knows his schedule by heart and there is no case so urgent that would justify him being late in the office. "What are you doing here? Some complication with the case?" she asks, ignoring his question.
"Oh, no. I just didn't even realize how late it was. But I was thinking of going home but since you're here, I can pour us a drink and then you can tell me all about your failed date?" he smirks.
He is trying to make her feel better, she can say that. He is not judging her or making fun of it. Harvey is just trying to change the mood to please her.
"I think it's a good idea," she says, not so sure if it is a good idea. Although, she does not try to object to the opportunity of having a drink with her boss. To be honest, this is what she was low key longing for when she decided to come over to the firm.
Harvey lets Donna go first to enters his office and the redhead, feeling completely comfortable and at home, sits on the couch, waiting for him to pour them the drink.
Harvey is pouring them a shot and after a good amount of the liquid is poured, he walks towards her and hands Donna one of the glasses, then takes the seat in front of the redhead. They stay silent for a moment, sipping the whiskey once in a while, then she finally breaks the silence.
"Do you mind if I put a record on?"
"Of course not. Feel free to put whatever you want," he answers.
"Really? Whatever I want?" She gets on her feet, walking to the shelf where the vinyls are laying, staring at him.
"Yes, whatever you want," he confirms, staring right back at her.
"So can I even put-"
"Donna, those are my vinyls. There's nothing there that I don't like," he interrupts her and points out the facts.
"Fair enough," Donna admits.
"Can I even." She is closer to the shelf now and is drawing her fingers on the vinyls, "You know, rearrange some of them?" She has a playful smile on her face as if she was a child getting ready to mess something up.
Harvey does not respond straightforwardly, he thinks for a second or two, pondering if he will allow her to touch and mess with the records. "As long as you promise me you will put everything in order after," he sips more of the liquid.
"I knew it!" she says, narrowing her eyes slightly before arching her right eyebrow, "you'd never let me mess up your vinyls. Unless you're trying to make me feel better because you think I had a bad date," she points out.
"I'm not doing that," He affirms.
"Save yourself, Harvey. I know you are." She takes one of Gordon's records and puts it on the record player and the music starts. She then takes steps back to the sofa in front of her boss. She sits, gets the glass again and tastes the amber liquid.
Both Harvey and Donna are enjoying the music. This is not something they wouldn't usually do. Actually it is the foundation of their relationship. They are friends, besides being boss and secretary. And since the DA's office they shared long nights talking about a case or just talking futilities and even some deep conversation. It's how she discovered a lot about his past and the story about his mother and father.
"So, do you wanna talk about your date?" He is staring at her, and there is kindness in his look.
She nods, indicating she is not going to say a thing about it.
"Oh, Donna, please. You can give me all the lectures you want but I cannot give you one for once?" The lawyer tilts his head.
"Exactly like that," she says, smirking and swallowing a bit more of the drink
"Are you sure? I can give some advice for how to get someone," he smirks, sipping the amber liquor.
"Can you?" She has cinism on her voice. "But for your information the dates haven't been bad not because of me," she lies, "it is because of them. You know I have my standards."
"Oh, I know! You being the problem never crossed my mind."
She does not want to talk about how lame her love life has been lately. But she is still tipsy from the drinks she had with her date and she truly needs someone to talk about it with, and then she just lets the words come from her mouth.
"I don't know but I just need to-" she pauses, pondering her words. "I guess I just need to move on."
"Move on from what exactly?" he questions, trying to not push her too hard.
Donna looks at him, holding her gaze for a hundredth of a second and then staring down on her feet.
"Stephen-" speaks sotto voce.
And with those words he understands what she is saying. He does not need anything else to understand that she is still struggling with Stephen's betrayal.
"Donna," Harvey says in a soft tone, genuinely worried by her. "It was not your fault what happened to Stephen."
"That I know," she says briskly, "but what is my fault is that I let him in and I losy my judgment." Her voice is now a tone low. "You know I can read people, you know how good I am at it and all of the sudden I put my skills in the trash and the worst happened." Donna is almost cracking, losing the wall she built when it comes to this matter. "I just need to be myself once again, Harvey," she proceeds, "I'm going out on dates with people that I don't even know if I am interested in or I just can't help ogling them. It's all too boring, all too 'i know it's not going anywhere'. I always find something to judge, to not be good enough. Always looking for something to be wrong, always looking for a flawless, a reason that I'll not stay. And I always find one."
Harvey is truly hearing her and gives her the space she needs to bluster. He really feels for the way she is feeling now and if he could he would beat once again this piece-of-shit Stephen, harder this time. It has been a couple of months since that guy left the firm and yet there are still things they need to clean up because of the mess he made.
Harvey closes his hands into a fist and before he starts to speak, he takes a breath. "Donna-"
"No Harvey, I said that I wouldn't talk to you about this matter and here I'm talking way too much. Let's change the subject," she demands.
Harvey nods in an unspoken agreement. They stay silent for a moment and in an attempt to change he introduces the new gossip about Norma and both of them engage in silly gossip from the office.
At some point late at night, the bottle is empty and they decide that it is time to go home. Considering the time, Ray is already charged and they take a taxi. Harvey insists for them to take the same car so he can be assured that Donna arrives at home safe.
When the car parks in front of Donna's building, she takes her wallet in an attempt to pay for the ride but Harvey puts his hands in front of the wallet, stopping her. "I'll pay for it."
She thanks him, leaving the car and before she enters the building she hears his voice again and turns back, facing him.
"If you have another lame date you can call me." Harvey is with his head out the car, the taxi still parked.
She frowns, not getting why she would call him.
"And I can rescue you," he explains.
"Oh, because now I'm the poor lady who needs a prince to rescue her from the jerk guy?"
"Something like that," he blinks.
"There's no way, Harvey!"
"No Donna, I'm serious. If you need help, I'm just a call away, okay?"
"Good night, Harvey!" She smiles.
"Good night, Donna." He smiles and waves to the driver indicating he can drive to his place.
II -
Donna excuses herself to pretend to go to the toilet. She takes her cell phone, does not know why she would text him. She has been faking calls other times but since the other night when he gave her a free pass to ask for his help she thought about and "Why not?" and she decides to do so.
Can I ask you a favor?
Sure. What can I do?
I'm at that bar we used to go to while we were working at the DA's office and...
I'm on a date.
Not good!
Could you call me in the next two minutes like four times until I finally answer it?
Sure.
Before she comes back to the table she opens his contact name and changes it to "Harvey 'da boss' Specter" and she turns off the silent mode. She leaves the toilet and once she is back, she puts her cellphone on the table with the screen up so this would make the other person see "da boss" calling her.
Harvey is taking too long to call her. Maybe he forgot or maybe he is on a date and things get heated and now he is laying in bed with someone else.
Donna barely listens to what the person in front of her is saying. She is looking at her screen, waiting for his call to save her. She laughs which makes her date, Daniel, happy because it seems like she is laughing at something he said. But actually the laugh is because she remembered the other night when Harvey said she could call him, she made a joke about her being a fragile princess waiting to be rescued. And here she is, literally waiting for him to save her.
For her sake, her cell phone starts to ring and is showing "Harvey 'da boss' Specter" screaming for her. She apologizes and turns off the cellphone. It rings again, and she turns it off again. Rings again, turns off again. On the fourth time she excuses herself, saying it is her boss and picks up the call.
"Hello Mr. Specter, Is there anything I can do for you?"
"I am calling to know if you have ever had a more handsome boss than me."
She contains a smile at his joke.
"Oh. I left the papers on your desk before I left, Mr. Specter." She pauses, waiting for him to say something which he does not. "Are you sure? Did you ask Norma about them?"
"Are you insane? You know that I don't talk with that woman. I am afraid of her." Harvey says on the other line.
"Are you serious? I can't believe it. I am so sorry, Mr. Specter. If this is really urgent I can go to the office and look for it. She was not supposed to do that." She fakes a worried face.
"Of course not. Those people could not do half of your job the same way. You're asking too much, Donna."
"That I can totally agree with. And once again: I'm sorry. I promise to you this will never happen again. I am on my way." The secretary ends the call with an apologetic smile, and looks at her date. "I'm sorry, my boss-" she is already on her feet in front of him, "I may have screwed up something and I need to fix it." She apologizes one more time and leaves the place.
Outside the bar she takes her cellphone and opens the "Da boss" conversation and before she could type something her screen shows his name calling again.
"Hey," she says.
"Did it work?" He is curious.
"Yeah, I'm out of the bar, making my way home."
"Are you up for a walk?" he questions.
"Oh no. I will take the subway to the nearest station at my place. It's too late to walk alone."
"Who said about walking alone?"
Ahead of her words she sees a guy waving to her and instantly recognizes Harvey.
"What?"
"I thought that maybe my calls wouldn't be enough and decided to pick you up."
They end the call and she speeds up the steps, positioning by his side.
"So, shall we take a walk?" Harvey points his hand forward, giving her passage to go first and they begin the walk.
"Seriously, you didn't need to do that."
"I was around, Donna. I thought a walk would do some good for you and me," he explains.
After a 20 minutes walk filled with jokes, conversations and laughs, they finally arrive at Donna's place. They stop, facing each other.
"Really Harvey, thank you."
"It was my pleasure. Just don't get used to it." he diverts her.
"Oh, I'm not expect that to happen more times." She tucks her hair behind her ear.
"But in case you need, you know that you can call me." He shoes his hands into his pockets.
"I appreciate it, Harvey. Thank you, again." She smiles.
"Anything, Donna." He smiles back.
"Good night, Harvey"
"Good night, Donna."
III -
She takes her cellphone, opens his conversation and texts "my date sucks". It doesn't take him long to text her back.
Their loss
I know, right? I'm awesome!
She sees the three points on the screens indicating he is texting, but suddenly stops, and up again and stops, two more times, two more stops. He is overthinking. She does not want to end the conversation so she types again.
How's your night?
Do you wanna slip away?
What do you have in mind?
I'll met you in 15 minutes
I'll send you my location
This time she does not have the balls to say an excuse to leave the place. She just runs when the guy is in the bathroom, leaving some dollars on the table to help pay the bills. It is a shitty thing to do but she doesn't care. She is longing for something easy and she knows that she will have that with Harvey.
"Can you believe the first thing he said was that he was late because his mom was questioning him where he would go and with whom he would go?"
"Oh, com'on, Donna. He's just an attentive son who does not want mummy to be worried." He makes fun of the situation.
She rolls her eyes. "The first impression is what lasts and what will last is the idea of us in the future living with his mom and being interrupted during sex because she needs to give her baby boy a soup."
They burst into laughter for two or three minutes.
"At least the food was good?"
The former actress embodies her acting skills and shows him her best miserable face.
"We didn't even get to that point," she groans, "after talking for minutes about his mother he decided it would be a good idea to start talking about dead bodies."
"He what?" Harveys is incredulous.
"For what I got he works in forensics or something like that." Donna tries to recall what she got from the conversation with the guy but she can't remember much more than that.
"Ugh." Harvey groans disgustingly.
"I know, right?"
"So, let's eat something" He accelerates their steps. "I don't know if there's any restaurant with that shitty thay around her but…" Harvey jumps on the curb doing some moves and walking on it and a few steps ahead points to a hot-dog' tent. "But I can guarantee that this hot dog is delicious." He smiles, waiting for her response.
"When a hot dog wouldn't be good?" she asks, trying to catch him, walking faster.
"Oh, I've done some trips around and I can assure you some tasty like shit." He makes a disgusted face.
They wait in line, order each one a hot dog and a coke to drink with. After the orders are in hand, they walk not far away from there to find a bench to sit and eat in peace.
"This is really good, Harvey. You were right," she says with some food in her mouth.
"I told you. I can give you a list of the best hot dogs in the city if you want to," he suggests.
"Really? That trip of yours covers the entire city?"
"Yep! I was really into discovering the best places to eat," he extenuates.
"Okay, okay. I agree that this hot dog is delicious but discovering the best places to eat? You really have a better taste than that Harvey. You're overrating this." Donna finishes her hot dog.
"When I was a mail guy this was the best to eat"
"And now you're a high level lawyer."
"Yeap! Keeping my roots," she blinks.
Harvey is already done with his hot dog before Donna and now that both of them are not eating, they decide to take the walk to Donna's place.
And one more night, they made the familiar road to her apartment. They enjoy the walk on a cool night
"Thank you, again, Harvey," she says.
"There's nothing to be thanks for,"
"Good night, Harvey"
"Good night, Donna"
IV -
It has been almost two weeks since Donna's last date and their walk on the streets eating hot dogs. It is Friday, almost 6 p.m. and Donna is sitting at her desk, waiting for her boss. About one hour ago she saw a notification on Harvey's schedule that she did not appoint and she wants to know what is so urgent.
"Harvey-" she says, standing on her feet .
"Not now, Donna-" he does not give her space to talk. "Take your coat and follow me." He points somewhere into his secretary's cubics, "NOW!" he orders, firmly.
Donna obeys Harvey and takes her overcoat and her purse, chasing him until they get to the elevators.
"Harvey, what happened? Which meeting in the last hour came up? And why you're not going to the meeting?" She is questioning in a pitch tone.
"Do you know that I am the boss here and I would be the one asking about this meeting, right?"
"And since when have you checked your schedule without asking me?"
They enter the elevators. Harvey is silent, not answering any of her questions.
"Harvey, are you serious? Are you not going to tell me what is happening?" The secretary is starting to get a little annoyed by the way he is acting. "If you don't tell me I won't go with you."
"Hey, calm down, lady. Do you trust me?"
"Of course I trust you but that's not the point."
The elevator opens the door, and Harvey gives Donna space to go first. "The point here is that you're too curious and you just need to relax and truste me."
They pass through the turnstiles placed on the hall and walk towards the door.
"And why would I do that?" She stops, getting on her overcoat. It is one week before Christmas and the night is freezing outside.
"Because today is your lucky day," Harvey is staring at her with a playful smile.
Donna reacts under his expectations. She is annoyed and getting mad and he wants to see the change on her face when she sees what he is doing.
"And that's for what?" she asks, bewildered.
"Because today is the day you get to have a perfect Christmas not-date date." He points to a carriage coming from them.
Her mouth is wide open. Her gaze goes from Harvey to the carriage.
"My last meeting is this. I tried to persuade the company to take us and they just confirmed it. I knew it if I put it on my schedule you wouldn't leave before confirming with me what it was and-" he pauses, "Here we are!" He has that Cheshire's cat smile that she likes so much.
"OMG, Harvey! You did not." She is still in disbelief.
"Oh, I did," he says, enjoying her amusement. "Shall we?" He points to the carriage that is parked in front of the building.
She smiles at him still not believing what he is doing. Harvey walks a few steps ahead and helps her to jump in, waiting for her to sit comfortably and following, sitting by her side.
"There's this blanket here to warm our legs." He takes the blanket and positions it on their legs. "Is it working for you?"
Donna nods. The guy is already riding, taking the scheduled road.
"I bought us a VIP ride and our first place to go is Central Park."
Donna is still in awe with all of it and just staring at him, hearing the road they will take. He is excited and proud of his job, she can read it all over his face.
"So our trip will last a short 15 minute in Central Park and will cover the Ice skating rink, the Carousel, the Chess & Checkers House, the Dairy, the Mall and the Zoo. The ride continues down toward world famous Fifth Avenue covering the most beautifully illuminated shops in New York City including the 4 top annual standouts: Saks Fifth Ave Henri Bendel, Bergdorf Goodman and Tiffany's. The Plaza and the Peninsula hotels also offer beautiful light displays." Harvey is impersonating a tour guide guy and on the last words he stutters which makes them both into laughs.
"Did you take class with Mike to decorate their ad or were you reading something?" she asks him, still laughing.
Harvey pulls up a brochure he is carrying and hides it from her.
"Of course, your memory is not that good," she teases him.
They enjoy the ride, taking pictures of the lights and making short videos from time to time taking digital memories from this moment.
"We save the most stunning for last: the Rockefeller Center. We have a couple of minutes to take a photo." Harvey says, watching her admiring and smiling at the lights.
"It is a sight for the eyes," Donna exclaims, appreciating the view.
Harvey takes the blanket off his legs and jumps off the carriage, giving one hand to Donna to be able to also jump off.
"Do you guys want me to take a photo of you?" The old guy asks and they agree.
Harvey gives the guy his cellphone, already open on the camera. Donna and Harvey position in front a spot where it is possible to see the lights and part of the tree besides them.
"Don't you wanna kiss the girl, man? I can take a picture of it!" he suggests.
Donna opens her mouth to correct the guy but she is surprised by Harvey who is placing one hand over her waist, without moving her to be face to face, he pulls the her close to him and proceeds to kiss her cheek. She freezes for a moment or so and then smiles at the picture, placing one arm up and placing the free hand on his waist.
"A lovely couple," the old man says, giving the cellphone back to the lawyer.
"Thank you," Harveys says, seeing the pictures and smiling. "I'll send it to you later." He puts the cell phone in his pocket. "Do you prefer Radio City or Bryant Park Winter Village?" he asks her.
"I thought that you had everything planned" She plays with him.
"Oh, I totally planned everything. But this last stop is up to you."
"Radio City it is then," she chooses.
"So in order to do it we have a ride to take, my lady," the lawyer walks again to the carriage. "The ride includes the final stop a few blocks away so we can be closest to Radio City."
They take the carriage again and on the final spot they thank the rider and start a walk through the place.
Donna is still in awe of everything he has done for her. Everything was simply perfect. As if taken from a rom-com movie. The area is the most magical as you walk towards Radio City and some magnificent Christmas decorations. The redhead is completely blowing her mind. And to complete the night they hear the famous "Parade of Wooden Soldiers" passing in front of them.
She is like a child at Disneyland facing the Princess Parade and Harvey can not be more happy for seeing her happy this way. Smiling smoothly, making jokes, relaxed.
"Do you wanna ski?" he suggests.
"Really?" she faces him, not truly believing that besides all he has done he is still doing more. Harvey would not be the type of guy who would ski ride in the middle of Radio City.
"I'm not," he says, looking down.
"What?" She asks.
"Pitting you," he confesses.
"Oh, I know you are," she says, laughing sarcastically.
"No, I'm not. I mean..." He pauses, reorganizing his thoughts and thinking of the best way to explain to her why he's doing this. "I want you to feel better, that's true. I know what happened with Stephen was hard on you, Donna. It was on all of us, but you were different, and I've seen how this is affecting you. Maybe on some level of confidence. I don't know." He struggles and looks away. "You're the most strong woman I have ever met and I'd hate to see that being somehow affected by a man like him, that isn't even half of the man you deserve," he pauses again, looking up at her. When their eyes meet, her beautiful hazel eyes glued to his face in an indecipherable way, he feels the urge to break that contact, to look away again. However, he fights it. "What I'm saying is that I want you to know that there's nothing wrong with you. It's them. Stephen, these other guys... You just need to be comfortable enough to enjoy it. In the end, it's all about being with the right person."
"So are you saying that you're the right person?" He panics. She can see it all over his face. He was not expecting that she would focus on this part of his lecture. "I'm kidding, Harvey. I get what you're trying to say and I appreciate your worries," she says, facing forward.
They walk for some time in silence, walking side by side in sync. The anwarkness still in the air. For the first time tonight she does not know what to say nor how to act. She does not want to keep going this way. She is enjoying the night with him way too much to ruin their night. For the very first time in a while she has done this 'dating thing' with someone that she is comfortable with. That there is no need to search in the depths of her mind for subjects to talk or things to comment on. They are just talking, chatting, laughing, and enjoying each other's company. For the first time in a while she is not thinking that the other person in front of her will disappoint her because she knows that Harvey will not do this.
Harvey can be a lot of things, he has a lot of flaws. But the one thing she knows for sure is that he will not let her down. He will always be there for her. He is loyal. He cares about her. And she loves him for it. Yes, she loves him. She knows it.
When Louis asked her if she loved him she could not answer his question. Not because she was unsure if she loved him. Because she loved Harvey. She loves Harvey. But because she did not know how to answer that question without a love connotation. There is a lot of gossip about them sleeping together and she did not need to add more gas to the fire.
"Oh, I have Chunky Monkey at home. How about it?" he suggests. They stop and he turns to face her with a shy smirk.
"Can we have popcorn as well?" she asks, almost begging him.
"Yes, Donna, we can," he succumbs, smiling.
"Yeh" Donna, indulges her arms on his and both of them walk the way to the next subway station.
"Wait, are you leading me to the subway?" he stops.
"Yes! We're too far away from your house to walk and it would be a long car ride in traffic," Donna explains to him as if it is rather obvious.
"Oh, okay. We can walk a few blocks to avoid the traffic and call for a taxi," he tries to bargain with her.
"Please, Harvey! It's just a few stations," she responds.
"Donna-"
"Harvey," she smiles, pulling his arm slightly, leading to the station.
"Urgh, okay," he relents.
After a very enjoyable trip Donna, mocking Harvey during most of the ride, they finally arrive at his penthouse.
"Make yourself at home," Specter says once they are in the house, taking off his coat, putting on the clothes rack.
Donna does the same: takes off her overcoat and puts on the clothes rack.
"Thank you. Can I make the popcorn?" she asks like a child.
"Oh, no need. Let me do it. You can go to the sofa and choose whatever you want to watch."
"Can I even choose Hamilton?"
"I know I will regret it but which part of 'choose whatever you want to watch' you didn't get it?" he says faking annoyance, "so yes, Donna. Even Hamilton."
They smile at each other.
Donna makes herself comfortable and takes the remote control for the TV, turns on and sits on the couch, waiting for him, while she searches for Hamilton and puts it on only when he is seated by her side.
It doesn't take much time for him to come over with a bowl full of popcorn and a pot of Chunky Monkey and two spoons. Harvey hands over the ice cream to Donna and sits by her side, already taking a full mouth of popcorn.
"You can play," he says, almost inaudibly due to the popcorn.
Before she does, she smiles, admiring him and thinking of all the effort he made to make her feel better.
"Who would have thought that you'd turn out to be the nice guy?" she says and turns to the TV, pressing play to start the movie.