A/N: I can't change the current state of the world but I can write. And my wonderful beta can whisper wonderful ideas in my ear. Merry Christmas everyone! I hope you get to spend it with all those that are dear to you. Stay safe, stay healthy. See you all next year.
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On a snowy Christmas night
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"Goddamnit, stupid fucking machine"
Harvey strolled into the file room. "You'll end up on the naughty list with so much swearing, you know."
Donna shot him a dirty look. "Oh please, Santa hasn't even heard them. They got lost in the expletives you throw around."
"What did I do? I'm nice."
"You're a good man, Harvey. But nice is not the word that comes to mind," she scoffed. "Motherfucker!" She slammed one of the printer doors shut.
Harvey barely raised his brows when she pointed at him. "Not ONE word from you. You spout more goddamns before breakfast than I do in an entire year."
She peeled a piece of paper from the depths of the machine and slammed another door. Pushing some buttons, the printer roared to life for a second but then shut down again, beeping a paper jam error.
"Christ on a bike. I swear I'm gonna smash you to pieces with a baseball bat," she yelled at the device.
"I thought you were the fax whisperer, the printer wizard, the copier magician," Harvey said nonchalantly.
Donna's nostrils flared, with gritted teeth she growled, "Fucking copier ate my report and I don't have time to peel the scraps out of the belly of this godforsaken contraption!"
Harvey opened the lowest side door, pulled out a few crumpled papers, shut the door and the copier sprang to life, spitting out three perfect copies of her report.
Donna crossed her arms, harrumphed a bit, and then managed a "thank you" in a small voice. "Maybe I'll make my flight after all."
She looked at Harvey's relaxed posture. "It's your first family Christmas in forever. Why are you so relaxed?"
He shrugged. "It's just that. I used to spend these days alone. I'm not expecting anything. I'll just let it wash over me. Worst case scenario it's just as bad as being alone at Christmas."
She had a lot to say about his confession on hating being alone at Christmas but when she opened her mouth she caught sight of the time on her watch. "Shit shit shit. I'm sorry Harvey, I need to go NOW. There is a cab waiting to take me to the airport." She pulled an apologetic face.
Harvey held up his hands. "Don't let me be the reason you miss your flight." His eyes softened. "Have a wonderful time with your family Donna. Merry Christmas."
A big smile formed on her lips. "Merry Christmas, Harvey," she replied softly. "I hope Christmas in Boston will be a lovely family affair to be repeated for years to come."
….
"No, no, no, no!" Donna had to fight the urge to stamp her feet in frustration.
The board was flipping all flight statuses to delayed. She had arrived just in the nick of time for boarding and now this.
She dragged her suitcase along to the airline counter, only to find herself joining a long line. With a big sigh, she resigned to her faith of standing there queuing. It's not like she had anything else to do.
Just as she was making headway in the line and the chance to speak to airline personnel, there was a collective gasp going around in the terminal. Her head turned to the flight status board and everyone's worst fears were there prominently displayed in bold red letters. All flights canceled.
The crowds seemed to storm forward in a massive surge and she was swept along.
Airline attendants all repeated the same message over the intercom system. Due to a snowstorm passing over the state of New York all airplanes were grounded and subsequently all flights were canceled.
She moved away from the counter towards the massive windows and there it was. The little flocks of snow that were dancing in the air when she got into the cab, were now as big as golf balls and so rapidly forming a vast layer on the ground that the snow plowers had a hard time keeping up. Fog was coming in and visibility was getting less by the minute.
Why did she book a flight and not a rental car? It was only a four and half hour drive to Concord.
Rental car! Why didn't she think of that earlier instead of joining that endless line of moaning people?
She hauled herself and her suitcase to the other side of the terminal where the rental companies all had their own little shop.
"Holy crappers," escaped her mouth when she saw throngs and throngs of people pushing and shouting, elbowing each other out of the way to get to the desks. There was no way there'd be a car left by the time all these people had their turn. And she was pretty sure it was not worth risking her life for by joining the stampede.
So she stepped to the side and sank down on a seat. Relinquishing, she fished her cell phone out of her pocket to call her parents.
Her suitcase was half in the aisle and a man was pushing his way through the crowd in the opposite direction. He kicked her suitcase, stumbled but managed to stay upright. "Lady, get your suitcase out of the way when a herd of people is passing through."
"Sorry," Donna said while rolling it closer to her seat. "Wait, Harvey?!" She glanced up from underneath her cap.
The man turned around. Was that really? Sure enough, it was his COO and her suitcase that almost had him nose-diving to the ground. Her red locks peeked out from under a Breton cap as she looked at him. "Donna?"
She nodded as she stopped typing on her cellphone. "It's me, stuck here at the airport, with half the population of New York. I was just about to inform my parents," she waved her cell, "that Christmas is ruined."
He could hear the emotion in her voice. Christmas with her family was a big deal for her. And before he really could think about the implications he opened his mouth. "Maybe it isn't ruined."
She furrowed her brows in confusion so he jangled some keys in front of her. "Are those?" Her eyes grew wide.
It was his turn to nod. "Uh-huh. Keys to a rental car in the parking lot of Hertz."
"How did you manage that?"
"Does it matter? It's a ticket out of here." And he set off in the direction of the parking area.
Donna sat rooted in her seat, watching the back of his retreating form. After a few yards, he noticed she wasn't following him. "Well, are you coming or not?" he yelled over his shoulder.
She rolled her eyes at his typical Harvey antics but quickly scrambled to her feet. Getting out of here? Hell to the yeah.
….
They had been in the car for over an hour and were moving at a terribly slow pace. Holiday traffic and a steady stream of snowflakes. The roads surrounding the city were hell.
Donna was humming along to some eighties tune on the radio. They had bickered a good 15 minutes about the music. She wanted a mainstream station that was playing Christmas songs. Harvey had argued that there would be enough time for missing front teeth and grandmas run over by reindeer's when they reached their respective destinations and he needed to keep his sanity. So after a lot of vetoing from both sides, they settled on a golden oldies station.
"I'm going to skip the I-95 and the I-84," Harvey announced and steered the car on a road in the Western direction.
"So basically every freeway that is going East then? Not sure what you learned at school but last time I checked Boston was still at the Atlantic Ocean and not the Pacific."
Harvey used his right hand to swipe and zoom on the car navigation screen. "I can join that if you like." He pointed at the long dark red lines on said interstates. "But I thought we left the airport to avoid queuing up without getting anywhere."
Donna scrunched her nose. He had a point.
"Besides the storm is coming in from the Atlantic so I wouldn't be surprised if they'll close up the roads altogether."
"What?!" she shrieked. "But we'll have to turn East eventually."
"I know that," Harvey replied calmly. "But I'm taking the I-87 northbound. It looks relatively clear so I'm gonna floor it and hope we can get ahead of the storm." He checked the rearview mirror before switching lanes. "That way when we need to turn east near Albany, it hopefully won't have passed the I-90 yet and we'll reach our destinations without hiccups."
"I thought a canceled flight, getting a rental car with you, speeding to stay ahead of a snowstorm was already a hiccup," Donna stated with a dry tone. "Also there is enough snow on the road and I would like to arrive in one piece." She turned her head to meet his gaze to emphasize her words.
"I want to get there but I'm not gonna take major risks to do so," he promised her.
"Yeah, because you're known to take none to reach your goal, right," she mocked, stretching her legs as much as the confined space would allow her.
"Not with you, no." His eyes firmly fixed on the road but his voice low and deep.
Another hour on the I-87 and they were now moving at a snail's pace. The road was packed with snow, giving the car not much traction despite its winter tires. And visibility was about 200ft at the best. It was a dark gray world around them and neither said a word.
Donna fiddled with her phone, anxious about the current conditions. The radio that had been turned down, sprang to life as a traffic bulletin came on.
According to the radio, the storm had turned into a blizzard and they hadn't managed to stay in front of it. Instead, it would soon pass over their heads in full strength.
Harvey blew out his cheeks and turned down the volume. "We need to get off this road. We don't have any provisions, water, blankets and we'll end up snowed in for sure." His voice was firm with no room for arguing.
Donna just nodded meekly. Reaching home for Christmas was forgotten. Finding shelter was their only goal now.
An exit sign doomed up quicker than expected and Harvey immediately steered the car away from the interstate. They drove a road parallel to the freeway until they reached a T-junction. The road on their right-hand side was closed due to weather conditions, according to the sign. Their only option was turning left.
Harvey stopped the car at the side of the road. "Does your cell have reception?"
"Uhm yeah, a few bars, why?" she replied confused.
He rubbed the side of his face, not meeting her eyes. "We should call our families and let them know we won't be able to make it." He pointed at the GPS. "When we go left we enter this woodland area and maybe encounter some elevation."
It dawned on Donna, he wasn't sure if they would have reception or where they'd get stranded. She had known that ever since the world had been closing in on them at that freeway but she was with Harvey and he always had 146 ways out of everything so she hadn't allowed her mind to go there just yet.
She swiped on the navigation screen to establish he was right when suddenly he grabbed her hand and squeezed it. She looked up and saw him swallow an enormous lump. "Let's call," she nodded in agreement.
Both of them leaned against their side windows while they spoke to their families in hushed tones.
"I'm not alone," they both said at the same time. Their heads pivoted and their eyes met. A soft smile formed on his lips and she returned the gesture. They'd be okay, together.
….
Taking that left turn, they were now on a very snowy road. It was pitch dark as the evening had fallen in and the snowstorm was still blazing overhead.
Donna was silently thanking Harvey for beating the crowds at the car rental counter, picking out a 4 wheel drive SUV.
They had just promised their families to check in to the first inn or hotel in sight. But the navigation showed no village coming up soon and even a single house along their route to maybe find shelter proved a challenge.
Donna chewed on a cuticle, Harvey steering their car deeper into the woods on a winding mountain road with less visibility than on a dense foggy night.
His tight jaw told her he was just as worried as she was but neither of them spoke. Not willing to voice their thoughts afraid to somehow jinx this whole exercise.
They drove past a sign Slide Mountain Wilderness, cell phone reception had gone a while ago already and Donna was about to freak out when the headlights of the car illuminated a sign saying Slide Mountain Forest House - Chalet Rentals.
Harvey cocked his head and she shrugged back. They didn't have much to lose at this point. So he made a sharp turn to the right and drove higher up the mountain, snow-covered trees surrounding them.
Suddenly there was a light in the distance. "There!" Donna shouted. But the light disappeared before Harvey could reply. He turned on the big lights of the car and they could make out a man walking to his vehicle. Harvey rolled down his window.
"Hey! Hey!" He stuck his arm outside to wave but his words were swallowed up by the wind. So he honked. Real loud. It made the man turn around and Harvey rolled closer. The man pulled up the hood of his jacket and approached their window.
"Are you the Rowlands?"
"No, no, we're not," Harvey replied truthfully.
This earned him a smack on the arm from Donna. He ignored her while she was making all kinds of faces. The man bent his knees a bit to see inside and Donna quickly put on her most angelic smile.
"We're from New York on our way to Boston but the weather conditions forced us to leave the interstate. We were hoping to find some shelter. Your house is the first building we're passing actually."
The man struggled to keep upright with the storm blazing at full speed and his reply wasn't audible. He turned around to his car and for a moment Harvey's heart sank and Donna's plummeted to the floor but the man beckoned to follow him.
Harvey parked the car behind the one already on the driveway. When he opened the door, Donna grabbed his arm. "Where are you going?"
The man had switched on a porch light again so Harvey pointed in the direction of the house.
"In there?" she asked with a high-pitched voice.
"Wasn't the whole point to find shelter from this blizzard?"
"Well yeah but," she scrunched her nose, "you're going into a large dark house with an unknown man, leaving me alone in a car in the middle of the woods."
He chuckled. "You going all Cabin in the Woods on me? I'm sure there won't be any zombies dragging you from the car or any rituals that need to save humanity."
Judging from her blank expression, his joke was lost on her. "Join me inside?" he offered.
She accepted immediately, grabbing her coat and hopping out.
The wind was roaring, snow still coming down in big flocks. They both held on to their hood with their hands, a bone-piercing cold wind attacking every bit of exposed skin. The wind came in their direction so strong, Donna struggled to keep her balance. Harvey grabbed her hand, catching her before she fell, pulling her quickly inside.
They stomped their feet while taking in their surroundings. The man had turned on a small light on a counter. "You're lucky you caught me just before I went home." He rummaged around out of their sight. "There is nothing around in this area except our rental cabins. We promote them as very remote, you know. No wifi, cable, or cell reception."
Harvey glanced at Donna. He knew she had been relying on him to get them out of their dire situation but the man had just confirmed his worst fears. They would have been stuck in their car for sure.
"Now, I only have one cabin that is actually rented out but I haven't heard from them. Since it's 9 pm with a blizzard passing overhead, I'm going to assume they won't be arriving tonight. So," he handed Harvey a key, "Alpine cabin is yours for the night."
"Sir, thank you for your kindness." Both Donna and Harvey expressed many platitudes to thank the man but he held up his hands.
"No need. Just glad I have something to offer you instead of a night in a car in this weather." He switched off the light and ushered them to the door. "You'll find a small basket with provisions inside and there is dry wood at the back for the stove."
….
It had taken all of Harvey's driving skills to maneuver the car along the mountain road. Within minutes their track had been covered up behind them by the large amounts of snow coming down. But they made it.
Harvey had dumped their suitcases inside and ran off to the back to find the wood that had been mentioned.
He came back in, covered in snow, face, and hands red from the cutting cold, dumping the pile of logs unceremoniously next to the wood-burning stove.
"There is no way in hell I'm going back out there," he announced, flexing his fingers to get the blood flowing again.
"Actually—" Donna started. "My makeup bag is not here. It must be in the car somewhere"
The apologetic look on her face told him she was not joking. "Oh come on."
"Sorry, but I really need it."
"No you don't," he mumbled.
She raised her eyebrows. "How would you know?"
"There's this thing called the other time and you—"
"Made you promise to never speak of it again." She pushed him to the door to shut him up.
He grumbled on the doorstep. "Sending me out in that bloody freezer for some lipstick. If I freeze to death I'm going to stalk you forever."
"I'll take my chances." Rolling her eyes she gave him a shove into the cold.
"I'm going to redivide the assets in my will," he called over his shoulder. "You're out."
Minutes later Harvey stomped in with the small bag in his hand, throwing it on the coffee table. He peeled off his coat, snow swirling to the ground. He took off his fancy shoes that were not made for wading around in a foot of snow and were now effectively ruined. "Goddamn thing rolled under your seat. Had to crawl around to find it." He scowled, blowing in his fists to warm his hands.
"Thank you, Harvey." Donna handed him a cup of hot cocoa which he gratefully accepted.
"How did you manage to whip up that?" He looked around and his eyes grew wide. "And get the stove burning?"
She shrugged. "There's a basket with provisions like the guy said."
"And the stove?" Harvey crouched down in front of it. Warming his hands, he peered inside. "Solid fire building skills," he said, impressed. "Didn't know you had those." He glanced up at her.
She sat down on the couch with her own cup of cocoa. "I've got many skills you don't know about, Specter." She winked at him and suddenly he wasn't feeling cold anymore.
He cleared his throat. "So what was in that basket?" He poked the burning logs around with a fire iron. "Anything edible by any chance? I'm starving."
"Milk, eggs, packets of cocoa, tea and coffee, Christmas cookies," she summed up. "Oh and a bottle of bubbly."
Harvey's eyes gleamed. "Now we're talking." And he rubbed his hands. "Maybe that'll warm me up because this fire doesn't." He let his eyes travel around the room. It was a small cabin designed for no more than two persons. A couch, coffee table, and stove on the left. On the far right a kitchen and dinner table and in the middle of the room a four-poster bed. Tucked away in the corner was also an old-fashioned wooden ladder. "What's up there?" He gave a nod to the ceiling.
"The bathroom with a huge jacuzzi."
"Yeah, right." Skepticism visible in his eyes.
Donna stretched out her arm in the direction of the ladder. "Have a look, my doubtful friend."
He stretched, taking a large sip of his cup, before striding over to the ladder. He threw one more look in her direction but she didn't bat an eyelid so up he went on the mezzanine. His eyebrows raised past his hairline when he found indeed a very luxurious jacuzzi in front of a small window.
He leaned on the banister when addressing her again. "So only one bed?"
Her head shot up in his direction. "One bed, my friend." A hint of deviousness appeared in her eyes. "But there is always the couch."
Harvey chose to ignore her last comment. He opted to turn on the jacuzzi instead. He still felt chilly and the small stove had a hard time warming up the cabin with a storm raging around the house.
He was back to leaning over the banister. "Did you bring a bathing suit?"
"A bathing suit?" She frowned.
"This one piece of fabric that you use in a pool. Apparently, they are hip again."
"How would you know?" She sipped her cocoa. "Wait, don't tell me. Probably something with models or morning meetings. I don't wanna know."
He crossed his arms in front of his chest. "When was the last time you saw me come in late?"
Donna inclined her head. "Can't remember," she pondered.
"Exactly." His jaw set. "Hailey asked for one for Christmas. I had the audacity to ask if she meant a bikini and she gave me a lecture on current day swimwear fashion."
She chuckled. "I wouldn't be fashionable in Hailey's eyes either. I only own a bikini."
"But did you bring it?"
A snort escaped her. "I wasn't planning on a Finnish sauna and rolling around in the snow afterward."
"So that's a no?"
"Yes Harvey, that's a no." She huffed. "I was flying home to a place with a foot of snow."
"Yeah, I didn't bring anything either." He pulled out his dress shirt, unbuttoning the collar. "But my boxershorts will do."
Donna tucked her feet underneath, staring at him above her head. "You're going into the jacuzzi?"
He bobbed his head and she bit her lip. "The tub is large enough for two if you're cold as well," he offered. "Women's underwear is kinda like a bikini anyway."
Donna's eyes grew wide and then he added, "Or we could opt for skinny dipping." He winked at her before turning around.
"Harvey Specter, I'm not skinny dipping with you in that tub." Donna squealed, rubbing her arms. Was she cold or?
He looked over his shoulder. "It's not like I haven't seen it all before anyway." And his form disappeared out of sight.
Donna busied herself by storing away their suitcases, inventorying their provisions, and seeing if by some miracle her cell phone showed a reception bar anyway. It didn't.
She poked the fire and threw some extra logs on there but she had to admit, she was cold as well.
"Does that offer of joining you still stand?" she hollered upstairs.
Harvey didn't answer straight away.
"You know what? Never mind," she retracted her question and headed to the kitchen.
Donna found a whisk and a bowl and cracked some eggs. Together with milk and flour, she found in a cupboard with some kitchen staples, she whipped up a pancake batter.
Harvey arrived pink and rosey from floating in the bathtub. Dressed in a Harvard sweatshirt and sweatpants, Donna did a double-take.
"What?"
"Nothing." Donna shook her head. "It's just usually your casual is what other people wear to church. Pleased to see you can be a couch potato just like us plebs."
Harvey broke into a laugh.
"You are no pleb with your Roland Mouret dresses, ma'am."
Donna raised her eyebrows, spooning batter into the oiled pan. "How do you know it's Roland Mouret?"
Harvey's rosey face flushed a deeper shade of pink. "I may or may not have looked up that red dress with the cape?" He ran a hand through his wet, tousled hair.
"Uh-huh," Donna murmured, flipping the pancake. "I pondered a long time about buying it. I wasn't sure if the amount of cleavage shown is appropriate for a COO."
Harvey cleared his throat loudly. "No comment."
Donna let the pancake glide onto the stack. "Dinner is served but let's play a game of truth or dare later."
Her eyes twinkled as Harvey groaned.
They ate a stack of pancakes with some sugar that previous tenants left behind. Harvey cleaned up while Donna made tea afterward.
They plopped onto the couch, on a side each, facing each other. The wind was howling and raging around the house. The chalet seemed sturdy enough. The parts Harvey saw of it anyway. He had nipped outside for some more logs but came back as a snowman. The blizzard had arrived at this side of the mountain and snow was drifting in the air.
"So…" Donna announced.
"So…" Harvey repeated.
"How about that game of truth or dare?"
Harvey grunted. He looked Donna in the eye. She was sitting with her back against the armrest, hands wrapped around her mug, her feet buried in some ridiculously fluffy socks with reindeers on them. Suddenly he realized it was Christmas Eve, tomorrow would be Christmas. He had been looking forward to being with his family but at the same time, he had been worried about cramping their style. They had managed many years without him. He'd only be meddling with traditions.
Donna on the other hand loved everything Christmas, of course. She was probably gutted about missing it. The cabin was lovely but it didn't have one inch of Christmas decoration. And it creaked heavily with the strong wind. From time to time a snow bomb would drop on the roof from the pine trees surrounding them and it made her antsy, he could tell.
So he decided to indulge her. "Fine but let's make this more interesting." He pulled his suitcase from underneath the bed, pulling out a present. "This was supposed to be for Marcus but he isn't here so." Harvey unwrapped a bottle of Goldschläger.
"Dares are pretty thin inside a small cabin with just the two of us and I don't really feel like running butt naked into a blizzard to make a snow angel, catching hypothermia along the way."
Donna rolled her eyes at him.
"I suggest Truth or Shots." Harvey passed the bottle to Donna, going to the kitchen to find some glasses.
"A Swiss cinnamon schnapps with tiny flakes of gold," Donna read out loud. "Of course, you wouldn't just buy a Bailey's."
"That's a chick drink," Harvey replied, rummaging through the cupboards.
"I drink it. It's goo-hood."
"Proofing my point."
Harvey placed shot glasses on the table.
"43.5% alcohol!" Donna shrieked a bit too loud.
"We could just go to bed. It's 11 pm."
"No, no, we'll play but we follow this list of questions." Donna dug up a magazine from her handbag and passed it along.
"The best truth or dare questions. A definitive list." Harvey read out loud. "By Cosmopolitan." He stared at her. "Seriously?"
Donna's eyes glimmered.
"Fine," he sighed. "First question. Do you have a hidden talent?"
"I sure do. I can touch my nose with my tongue." A slow grin quirked Donna's mouth.
"Proof it."
Donna raised her eyebrows. "I thought we skipped the dares?" But she stuck out her tongue anyway and proved she spoke the truth.
"Ready for the circus," Harvey said dryly.
Donna pulled the magazine from his hands.
"If you were going to be on a reality TV show, which would it be?"
"Survivor."
Donna frowned, giving him a look. "Of all the choices…"
"It's an underrated show!"
"You eat a 14-ounce steak for lunch. You would not hold up well."
"Like you would," Harvey scoffed.
"I did."
Harvey opened his mouth.
"No, no, no follow-up questions anymore." Donna held up her hand.
Harvey took the magazine with a scowl.
"What's the best intimate experience you've ever had?"
Donna opened her mouth, closed it, grabbed one of the shot glasses, and downed it with a shudder.
"Interesting choice," Harvey commented with a smirk.
"Next question," Donna said as she tucked her legs underneath her. "Why did—" Her cheeks flushed pink. "Your last relationship break down?" she muttered the words at warp speed.
Harvey rubbed his jaw. "Can't let you drink alone," he said sheepishly and downed a glass as well.
"Jeez," he shook his head. "Do we have anything to eat? To absorb the alcohol." He took off to the kitchen to scour the cupboards.
"Crackers and jam but we better save those for breakfast tomorrow." Donna let out a hollow laugh. "What a wonderful Christmas meal that will be."
He didn't feel like bringing down the mood right now. Plenty of time for that tomorrow so Harvey quickly read the next question.
"What's the strangest rumor you've heard about yourself?"
"Oh that's easy," Donna said, turning her head in Harvey's direction. "You and I have a love child stashed away together."
"Excuse me?!" Harvey screeched. A devilish grin formed on Donna's lips. It was the truth but perfectly timed.
Harvey started coughing loudly. He had found an open bag of peanuts and tried one just as Donna gave her answer. The peanut had been stale but it definitely shot down his airpipe the wrong way.
Donna gave him a few hard slaps between his shoulder blades and drew a glass of water. "It's not true," she said, handing him the glass.
"Haha," Harvey's tone was annoyed. "Where is this coming from?"
Donna shrugged. "The bullpen. It is so far-fetched that it would be funny if they wouldn't admire you for it and see me as the tramp in the story."
Harvey sat down, facing Donna again. "I'm sorry. I know it's something you've been struggling with for years. I've said it before and I will say it again. I owe my career to you. We know better and that's all that matters."
Donna waved a dismissal with her hand. "Their line of thinking is nothing new under the sun so moving on." She traced the page for the next question.
"It's not that far-fetched though is it?" Harvey debated. "I mean that night could totally have led to—" He searched her face with his eyes.
"Harvey, shut up," Donna growled. He looked a bit taken aback by her reaction but closed his mouth anyway.
"Where's the weirdest place you peed?"
"That's a tie between Louis' and Hardman's office."
Donna's eyes grew wide. "No way!"
"Way," he said with an indulgent laugh.
"That's why his Bonsai died!" she exclaimed. It suddenly all made sense.
"Probably," Harvey smirked.
"I don't even want to know more details of this story."
"Mike, coffee cart, gatorades, peeing orange," Harvey summed up.
Donna rolled her eyes. "Some days I can't decide if Mike is the best or worst thing that ever happened to you." She thrust the magazine into his hands.
"You are the best, so he's definitely the worst," Harvey commented carelessly. "What's your biggest insecurity?"
Donna drank a shot. Harvey looked disappointed.
"What's the worst thing you ever said to anybody?"
Harvey reached his hand out to the table but retracted at the last second.
"Saying I only said it to make you feel better."
Donna blinked once, twice, opened her mouth before pursing her lips in the end. Harvey just seemed pleased he managed to make her at a loss for words several times now.
"What's your biggest regret?"
Donna eyed him carefully, biting her lip. He was very open but he just admitted to being a jerk when she pushed him so she opted for a shot.
"What's the strangest dream you've ever had?"
Harvey drank his second shot of the night.
"Which lie had the biggest consequences?"
Donna scrunched up her nose, closed her eyes, and slammed back another shot.
"What's one thing you only do when you're alone?"
Amusement glinted in Harvey's eyes. "Not sure if I should tell."
"Oh, gross Harvey." Donna's face wrinkled with contempt. She kicked him in the shin.
He erupted into a laugh. "Like you do it in public?" He guffawed.
"You will never know. Now read the next question," she demanded.
"What's your biggest lie?"
A shot disappeared into Donna's mouth as Harvey tutted his disapproval.
She snatched the paper back from him. "What's your biggest turn on?"
Harvey swept his eyes up and down her body as he replied slowly. "Strawberries and whipped cream." He licked his lips for good measure.
Donna's face and neck turned pink. "I need water." She attempted to stand up but the whole world swayed as she tried to steady herself.
"I'll get it." Harvey pushed her gently back onto the sofa.
Donna slumped back against the armrest. "Hey, Harvey," she yelled, bending backward. She was hanging upside down now. "We should go forage for some strawberries outside." She gave him a big wink. She failed in trying to sit back up and erupted into a fit of giggles.
Harvey helped her back up, handing her a glass of water. "Drink this and then off to bed."
"Spoilsport." Donna pouted. "I have a few more questions to ask now that you are so open."
"Trust me, you'll thank me tomorrow."
…
The sky was clear, the sun shining brightly. It was as if yesterday never happened when Harvey stepped outside. Except for a lot of debris everywhere. Branches and even whole trees had snapped. He followed the road down to the check-in cabin. Now that his vision wasn't obscured by darkness and snow he saw that it doubled as a general store as well.
Please be open and have something Christmassy left, he prayed.
The deities were in his favor. The owner was moving about inside. A bell tingled as he came in.
"Ah the man from the Rowland cabin, that isn't a Rowland. Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas, Sir," Harvey replied, looking around the store. His heart sank when he noticed the shelves were mostly empty. "I was hoping to stock our cupboards a bit. Crackers and jam aren't exactly what the Misses hoped for at Christmas. That is if we can stay?"
"You've got no choice, son," the older man said. "Some huge pine trees snapped near the bottom of the mountain. There is no up and down this road."
"I see." Harvey didn't mind all too much but he wasn't sure if Donna would feel the same.
"Come with me." The man led Harvey to his vehicle outside.
"The Rowlands ordered a tree to decorate themselves. Now last night was not the time to drive back and forth on this mountain road, mind you but I have everything here now." He opened his large trunk and Harvey was met with a netted tree and several boxes.
"You must have wondered why that cabin looked so bare. Martha, my wife, was not pleased about it but the tenants had insisted on doing it as part of their family tradition. I'm afraid you'll have to hang it yourself."
Harvey was all smiles. "That's okay. I'm just so pleased you have any decorations at all. Donna will be so happy," he beamed.
They hauled everything to Harvey's rental where he folded down the backseat to fit it all in.
"Now about a Christmas dinner. I can't guarantee your regular feast but if you will follow me to the main house... We're pretty far into the wilderness so my wife has a cellar stocked to the brim to last us all winter if needed."
…
The door fell shut, just when Harvey was on his last trip to the car.
Donna woke with a jolt, groaning, grabbing her head. The nightstand revealed an aspirin and a glass of water. How thoughtful.
"Good morning, sleeping beauty. Or should I say good afternoon?" Harvey called out when he returned inside.
"You tell me," Donna mumbled.
Harvey checked his watch. "It's just two minutes away from midday." He walked over to the window and opened the curtains. "You'll be pleased to know it's a beautiful day outside. The blizzard blew over."
"You trying to torture me?" Donna winced, blinking at the sudden rays of light shining in her eyes.
"Far from it." Harvey sat down on his side of the bed. "Take that aspirin," he commanded. "And sit up."
Donna did as told. Her mouth fell open as she saw a bare tree in its stand, towering proudly in the corner of the cabin.
"Something is waiting for you to work your Christmas magic, Paulsen," Harvey beamed.
Donna's face was a mixture of concern and eagerness. "So we're staying here?" she asked.
Harvey poked his tongue in his cheek. "Uhm, yeah that's the less fortunate news of the day. The blizzard snapped a lot of trees and the road up the mountain is closed."
Donna sighed. "I guess we should be grateful we have a place to stay. Decorating again is no punishment either."
"Once is already too many." Harvey shuddered.
"Oh Grinch, embrace the Christmas spirit." Donna smacked him with a pillow.
"Oomph," Harvey groaned. "Don't bite the hand that is about to feed you."
Donna frowned. She got up and inspected the boxes. She saw baubles and tinsel, garlands, and a star. But the last box made her eyes twinkle. She turned around. "No crackers and jam?" she asked hopefully.
"No crackers and jam," Harvey repeated. "Now, get dressed. If we want to actually celebrate Christmas, we need to get to work. The day is half over already." Harvey rolled up his sleeves and took the food box to the tiny kitchen.
A few hours later the tree was done. Harvey had scored the ham, brushed it with a cola glaze, and had it baking away in the oven. He had slaughtered an acorn squash, ready to roast at dinner time and he was now pressing a ready-made pie crust into an oven dish due to a lack of pie pan. He was whistling to the tune of Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree.
When Donna had dug up a downloaded Spotify list of Christmas songs on her phone, he had protested weakly but gave in to her pleading eyes.
Wrapping a garland around the banister of the mezzanine stairs, Donna took Harvey in. He was embracing Christmas and she was pretty sure she was the sole reason he tried so hard.
"What?" he asked her when he looked up.
"Nothing."
Harvey opened a bag of pretzels and pecans and unwrapped a chocolate bar.
"Wait!" Donna made him halt. "Those were my after-dinner treats. You know to eat away my
emotional Christmas sorrows."
"What sorrows?" Harvey stirred the pecans into the bowl. "I'm making you a Christmas dinner and a dessert with pretzels and chocolate, woman."
Donna heaved a sigh. "Really, Harvey? You don't understand that I am sad to miss Christmas with my family?" Donna re-tied the bun on top of her head. "I have an ugly sweater and a white elephant gift in my suitcase. There are traditions and loved ones to be missed. We are not all a Scrooge-like you." She bit her lip. Her emotional outburst was justified given the situation but Harvey bearing the brunt while he was making them dinner was not.
Wiping his hands on a towel, Harvey nodded to Donna's coat. "Zip up, time to go outside."
Donna wanted to protest but Harvey's stern look made her change her mind. She supposed she should be glad he didn't storm out by himself.
Wrapped up in warm layers, the snow crackled underneath their feet as their footprints left a trail in the fresh snow. They walked silently for a few minutes when they reached a clearing in the woods. A prepped path was visible going through the forest, around the bend. There was a small wooden shed with people standing around.
"What's this?" Donna asked, confused.
"This is a natural toboggan run," Harvey pointed out. He turned around to face her. His face softened. "This is probably our one and only Christmas together so I can't give you traditions but we can make memories."
A grimace formed on Donna's lips. "By plunging ourselves into a canyon? I mean I'm all for making memories," she said gently. "But I'm not sure that deathtrap is the way to do it." She pointed at the device the owner of the cabins was handing out to several families.
Harvey chuckled. "It's a traditional wooden sled."
"Right," Donna said unconvinced. "That changes exactly nothing."
"You can brake with your feet. How about we go together and I promise to not steer into the canyon?"
"Just crack our skull open by hitting a tree?"
"Come on, it'll be fun." Harvey rubbed his hands together. He fetched a sled and positioned it at the beginning of the run. He patted the space in front of him. "This seat has your name all over it."
Donna looked at families with kids lining up their sleds as well and sat down reluctantly. Harvey wrapped one arm around her, pulling her close. Before she could protest, he kicked off and because of the slight slope in the trail, they immediately gained speed.
Around them, others whooped and cheered but Donna grabbed Harvey's hand and held on for dear life. "This is going to be the death of me," she muttered under her breath.
"At least we'll go together," Harvey told her breezily as he skidded them through a curve.
It was a two-mile run, bringing them halfway down the mountain. It took 'till about a mile before Donna could relax a bit. She could feel Harvey's warmth radiating at her back and the fact he seemed to expertly steer them down the trail.
He felt the tension seep out of her body, the hold on his hand loosen. And he was pretty sure speeding down a long straight part of the run, evoked a small whoop.
There was a strategically placed pile of snow at the end of the track which they hit in full force when Harvey had been surprised by the sudden end around the bend and failed to brake in time.
Donna erupted into a fit of giggles, Harvey eyeing her with amusement.
"Should I say I told you so?" he queried, his brown orbs twinkling, his warm breath tickling her ear as he leaned in.
"You could." Donna looked over her shoulder. "But that would make you a belligerent Grinch."
Harvey looked her in the eyes. "I thought I was a scrooge," he said seriously.
"I think I said both," Donna admitted, standing up. She took off her beanie, shaking off any excess snow. Repositioning it back on her head, Harvey came to stand in front of her.
"I know," he replied slowly, his eyes evading hers, "this isn't how you pictured Christmas." He adjusted her beanie with both hands. "But I want you to know for me this is shaping up to be one of my favorites. And do you understand why?"
Donna quietly shook her head, her eyes searching his face. Her arms limp against her body, mesmerized by his touch.
"Because this feels like us again. So much has been said and done in the last few years and COO is what you were always meant to be but I'd be lying if I said I don't miss how it used to be. And I don't mean you being my secretary. I mean us being a big part of each other 's life."
Small puffs of air rose up from Harvey's mouth as he spoke. His fingers gently brushed away the little specs of snow that were stranded in the locks of hair framing her face. His eyes dwelt on her lips as they parted to form a reply.
"Do you want a ride or you walking back up the mountain?" The owner interrupted them.
Harvey looked around. Everyone else had gathered in the back of the truck. Sunlight was fading rapidly. "We'll catch a ride please," he said with regret.
They climbed in to be whisked back to their warm cabin in no time.
…
"Dinner is served, ma'am." Harvey placed the oven tray which held the ham on the table.
Donna sat down while Harvey lit a candle.
He carved the ham, the acorn squash was divided between them and Donna poured a glass of wine for them both.
They ate in companionable silence until Donna raised her glass. "I want to thank you, Harvey. This is a wonderful Christmas dinner." They clinked their glasses and resumed eating.
"I can't believe we shared a bed together after 13 years and I didn't even notice it," Donna said casually, taking a bite out of the pecan, pretzel, chocolate pie. "This is delicious!"
"She said flabbergasted," Harvey mocked. "But I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that and circle back to the bed thing." He paused and inclined his head. "What were you hoping for when we shared a bed?"
Donna stuffed a large piece of pie in her mouth. Color rushed to her cheeks as his eyes swept over her. He waited patiently as she chewed and eventually swallowed.
"This just isn't the way I expected it to ever happen again," she tried breezily.
"So you did expect it to happen again?"
Donna put down her fork. She studied his face for a long moment, then she said, "Yes, eventually."
"What about your rule?"
Her hands crept together in her lap. She twisted her ring nervously.
"I assumed you'd break it when you were ready. I mean you already knew I was willing to bend the rules." She lifted her eyes to meet his, feeling her heart beating with apprehension. "But you ran somewhere else." The hurt was palpable in her voice.
Harvey's throat had suddenly gone dry. "I'm a work in progress."
"What does that mean?"
"Every decision I have made in the past thirteen years has been about having you, wanting you in my life."
A deep frown emerged across Donna's forehead.
Harvey stood up, taking the empty dishes over to the kitchen area. He placed them down and paused. His hands on the flat surface of the counter supported him as he drew a deep audible breath.
He turned around, leaning against the cabinets, folding his arms.
"It was never about loving you how. I love you. I love you like Mike loves Rachel. That's a fact." He saw Donna's eyes going wide. "But it was never about sex either." Donna's eyebrows shot up. "It was about being us. All this time we have been together in all the ways that matter to me, Donna."
He rubbed his jaw. "I failed with Scottie. My dad failed with my mum. I didn't want that to be us. When I felt like I was losing you anyway, even though I fought so hard to keep being us, I ran to the person that made my feelings make sense. Very much like you always do."
Donna sat silently at the table. Her gaze fixed on his mouth, soaking up every word he uttered.
"Of course, that failed. I realize now that while you weren't to blame you were the reason with her, with Scottie." Harvey rubbed an imaginary spot with his foot. "Does that mean I'm ready? That I won't screw this up?"
Donna pushed back her chair. Emotion stirred through her body. Her heart beating fast from a combination of fear and excitement.
Within a few steps she reached him and threw her arms around his neck, her lips crashed into his. Very much like a few months ago in her office, only this time he kissed her back. He hungrily opened his mouth and slipped his tongue inside hers, his hands moving up and down the length of her back, the need to touch her was all-consuming now that they seemed to cross that bridge.
Donna wound her fingers in his hair, molding herself against him. His heart thrummed in his chest and he felt his knees going weak. Thankfully he was still pressed against the counter. Donna would never let him live it down if he collapsed from the intensity of her kisses.
Donna pulled back slightly. "I'd say you're ready," she said hoarsely, her warm breath fanning his skin. He nuzzled her neck with his nose before kissing her repeatedly up to her ear, where he whispered, "I'm going to share the bed with you in exactly the way you expected it to happen."
He lifted her up, as she squealed and giggled, wrapping her legs around him. He stumbled over to the bed and laid her down carefully. He hovered over her when he said, "I like to change my words. This is my favorite Christmas."
"I might answer that best intimate experience question after tonight," Donna whispered back.
"Like it wasn't me up until now anyway." Harvey brushed her shirt out of the way, caressing her abdomen, bending down to leave a trail of featherlight kisses. "There is no can of whipped cream this time but there is a jacuzzi and after I rocked your world here, I plan to rock your world up there."
"How about that snow angel outside?"
He looked up at her, halting his movements of sliding down her pants. "Are you negotiating a dare with me, half-naked, while I'm trying to have sex with you?"
Her eyes twinkled. "Isn't that what makes us, us?"
"Fine, but if I die of hypothermia, I'm still stalking you forever. Butt naked."
"It's time for you to get butt naked right now." Donna wriggled her hands down his pants and squeezed his butt cheeks.
Harvey trapped her lips before she could make any more comments and she hummed softly.
Much later, with Donna's body wrapped around him in the jacuzzi, staring out of the window dusted with a light layer of snow, he'd ask her "What is Christmas?" and she would reply, "It is tenderness for the past, courage for the present, hope for the future."