Apartment 206. It's unnerving to be back here. They've shared more than a few milestones here, but now she'll be sharing them with Thomas. He knocks on the door with one hand, holding a bottle of scotch in the other. It's Thomas who opens the door; in what he can only assume is a power move.
"Harvey, good to see you," the man says, smiling widely.
Harvey reaches out and firmly shakes his hand. "Yeah, you too."
Thomas steps aside, letting him into Donna's apartment. He offers Thomas the bottle of scotch.
"Wow, thanks. You shouldn't have, really."
"Don't mention it."
"Although it might just be you and I drinking it. Donna hates the stuff."
He bites back a smile. "Huh, I didn't know that."
"Come on, I'll get us two glasses," he says jovially, "Better check on Donna too."
They find Donna at the kitchen bench, pouring herself a generous portion of wine – it tells him all he needs to know.
"Going well?"
"I'm taking a break," she says, gesturing to her glass.
Harvey realises then that Thomas is staring at the both of them, waiting. Donna reacts first, approaching Harvey in a one-armed hug. Harvey reciprocates, albeit a little delayed, placing a kiss on her cheek. It's awkward.
"We don't really say hi at work," Donna explains.
Thomas laughs, "Clearly."
They both take a step back, Donna oddly flustered. She looks gorgeous tonight; wearing a white halter dress that flows freely from the waist, hair twisted to one side so that the nape of her neck is exposed. Seeing her outside of work is something he'll never tire of. And Thomas always sees her like this, he thinks bitterly.
"We were just going to have a drink," Thomas says, searching the cupboards.
"I'm sorry Donna, I didn't realise you don't drink scotch," Harvey comments, moving swiftly through her kitchen to get two tumblers from the cupboard above the fridge. He hands them to Thomas, who gives him a tight-lipped smile in return. Donna practically inhales her wine.
While Thomas pours, Harvey notes that her kitchen is almost spotless, except for a handful of vegetables and a chopping board. "What are you making?"
Donna points to the oven. "Roast chicken."
"You're roasting a whole chicken?" he says, genuinely impressed. He turns to Thomas, "Is this your doing?"
He shakes his head, handing Harvey a glass. "That would be Jamie Oliver."
"He understands me," Donna says with a dramatic sigh. "Not long until dinner boys."
Harvey had kind of hoped they'd be eating sooner. He has zero desire to witness Donna and Thomas' domestic life. The sooner they eat, the sooner the night will be over. He sips his scotch, looking around for subtle changes to her apartment since his last visit; bar Thomas' overcoat hanging by the door, there are none. Although the bedroom probably paints a different picture.
There's an extended period of silence. Harvey supposes he should make some effort.
"So, Thomas, how's business?"
Riveting.
"Great, actually. We've been expanding, so there's some teething problems, but can't complain."
Thomas walks with Donna to the sofa, hand lightly grazing her lower back. Harvey follows suit, occupying the adjacent single chair.
"And the firm?" Thomas obliges.
"Better with Donna running it," he says, smiling warmly at her. "But I'm sure you've already heard that from her."
"Actually, we don't really talk about work that much," Thomas says with a smile that Harvey interprets as a dig, "But I believe you." Thomas rests his hand on Donna's knee. Donna squeezes his hand. Harvey's been here five minutes and he's already had enough. At least at the engagement party there was an open bar to occupy him.
Donna polishes off her wine and Harvey seizes his opportunity for a brief reprieve.
"Let me get that for you," he says.
"Oh, thanks, Harvey."
He retreats to the kitchen, eyeing the time left on the oven. He refills Donna's glass and tops up his own. On his way back to the living room, he spots four place settings.
"Donna, are you expecting someone else?"
"Actually –"
A sharp, insistent knock interrupts them. Thomas stands to answer the door. "Impeccable timing, you two."
Harvey hears Louis before he seems him.
"I'm sorry, I didn't expect to have to bring her."
Harvey looks at Donna sharply. "You invited Louis?" he mouths.
"Why wouldn't I?" she mouths back.
"Why would you?" he mouths again.
Louis shuffles in quickly, pushing a stroller while wearing a baby wrap on his front, carrying his daughter.
"Hey guys how's it going?"
"What are you wearing?" Harvey laughs.
"It's a hug-a-bub."
"A what?" Donna asks, making him say it again.
"A hug-a-bub."
"It suits you," Harvey tells him.
"I know that. It flatters my curves."
Donna rushes over to him and the baby. Louis manoeuvres Lucy out of the wrap and hands her to Donna. She kisses Lucy gently on the forehead and Harvey tries not to stare.
"Not that I don't love a visit from my little niece, but what happened?"
"Sheila was going to stay home with her tonight, but she had a ton of applications to review, so rather than have her interrupted, I brought Lucy with me."
"Oh, Louis," Donna says, "You could have just stayed home with Sheila."
"I couldn't do that, you said you really wanted me here."
Harvey pointedly looks at Donna who averts her eyes and gazes back down at the baby. Thomas joins her side, touching her waist. "I can hold her if you want to check on dinner."
"Sure," she says, carefully handing the baby to Thomas.
"I'll help you," Harvey says, following Donna into the kitchen before she can rebuff his offer.
When they're alone, he corners her in the kitchen. "You invited Louis as a buffer."
"I wanted to see the baby."
"The baby wasn't supposed to be here."
Donna deflates. "Alright, fine." She sets her wine on the counter and fills the glass until it's just over half-full – her third glass since he arrived. The woman can drink, but her tongue gets a lot looser after a few. "The three of us in one room is…"
"Awkward as hell."
"Well, yeah," she admits with a laugh. "I thought Louis would help ease the tension."
"Donna. Louis is the source of most tension."
"Maybe a few years ago but he's evolved. Hell, he's more evolved than you," she says, playfully poking his chest. Harvey catches her fingers, holding her hand delicately in his. Donna's breath catches – and he feels it too; the electricity that hums between them.
"Why does Thomas think you hate scotch?"
"I don't drink it when he's around."
"That doesn't answer my question."
Donna pulls her hand free, rubbing it nervously on her dress.
"Scotch is our drink."
Harvey practically beams. It's been a long time since he's been able to think of anything as theirs.
The over timer goes off and they spring apart. Donna clears her throat. "I'll get that."
"Can I help?"
"Would you mind chopping the vegetables? They need to steam while the chicken rests."
"Well, look at you."
Donna slides the oven mittens on her hands. She looks adorable.
"What?"
"What inspired this newfound culinary prowess?"
Donna shrugs. She pulls the tray out of the oven and sets it on top of the stove. "I thought I should have some basic skills."
"Since when? You love going out to eat."
"Well, I can't always do that."
Harvey notices her tense up and at first he doesn't understand but then it clicks.
"You want to be able to cook for your family," he deduces.
"Well if that happens, yeah."
It's a punch to the gut, to say the least. Getting engaged is one thing, but having a family is permanent. He can't compete with that. He doesn't want to.
"Don't want that someday?" she asks gently, noticing his silence.
"Yeah," he says, thinking about her holding Lucy only moments ago. "With the right person."
Harvey picks up a knife and begins chopping carrots and broccoli, anything to keep his hands busy. Donna checks on the roast potatoes and closes the oven, satisfied.
"You don't have to do all of that, I can finish. Go mingle."
"It's okay," he says. "I'm exactly where I want to be."
They sit down to eat half an hour later, with Lucy asleep in her bassinet. Donna's circular table houses just enough room for the four of them.
"Donna this looks fantastic," Thomas says.
"There is nothing this woman can't do," Louis says, pointing his fork at Donna.
"I appreciate the support but hold your applause until after you actually taste it."
It is great, and after a few bites he says, "I'm proud of you Donna, the last dinner party you threw was a mess."
"And you were no help."
"What happened?" Thomas asks.
Donna and Harvey share a smile.
"Donna wanted to introduce her boyfriend at the time – what was his name?"
"Joshua."
"Right, Joshua. She wanted to introduce him to her mother but the poor guy felt the pressure so I got roped into joining them."
"Which was a terrible plan because Joshua was more intimidated by Harvey than my Mom."
"Because naturally she loved me."
"Until he spat a piece of shrimp in her hair."
"You made me laugh."
"What made it worse was that she was wearing a ton of hairspray."
"So, it stayed in there until dessert."
Donna and Harvey are almost in stitches by the time they finish, laughter bubbling up while they both try to sip their drinks. He glances over at Louis, who looks amused, while Thomas visibly forces a smile.
"I guess you had to be there," he says to Thomas, enjoying the way the man shifts in his seat.
"Well, I'm glad we could have dinner tonight," Thomas says. He squeezes Donna's hand and she rewards him with a smile.
"How's the wedding planning coming along?" Louis asks between mouthfuls.
"Really good," Donna answers. "I'm calling in just about every favour I'm owed."
"Yeah, it's great – Donna has this friend who's an event coordinator and she managed to get us this beautiful venue last minute."
"Last minute?" Harvey asks.
"Well there was a cancellation," Donna explains.
"So, we only have to wait four months."
Harvey's fork clatters against the plate. Donna locks eyes with him and he clears his throat.
Louis turns to Donna and asks in a hushed voice, "You're not…with child are you?"
"Louis," Harvey says through gritted teeth.
"Jeez, Louis it's not the fifties anymore."
Thomas laughs him off. "We just thought there's no point in waiting if we don't have to." He wraps an arm around Donna's shoulder and kisses her temple. Harvey wonders if the action is for his benefit. Thomas isn't stupid, and there's a reason he's suddenly itching to get to know Harvey.
"How about you and Sheila?" Donna asks Louis, diverting the subject away from her own nuptuals. "Have you thought any further about a wedding?"
"Honestly, not really. Now that Lucy's born, we'd rather wait a few years and have her be in the wedding."
Donna, Louis and Thomas chat amiably around him, but Harvey can't get the notion of four months out of his head. His entire relationship with Donna has been underpinned by the possibility of more. And sure, he didn't want to see it before, never wanted to examine his feelings or hers in the fear that he might lose her. Except now that reality is staring him in the face.
Four months. A family.
"And what about you, Harvey?"
Thomas pulls his focus.
"What's that?"
"Any special woman in your life?"
Yeah, yours.
"Not right now."
"And you've never been married?"
"Eternal bachelor," he answers shortly, finished with Thomas' line of enquiry.
"Well, there was Paula for a while."
Thank you, Louis.
"Oh, what happened?"
"Thomas, I don't think Harvey really wants to talk about it," Donna says, laying a hand on Thomas' forearm.
"She couldn't handle Donna being in my life."
Louis goes wide-eyed. Donna focuses her attention on her plate. Thomas places his elbows on the table, leaning forward.
"She was jealous?"
"I mean, we had other problems." Harvey takes a deliberate sip of scotch, then says, "But she was threatened by my relationship with Donna."
"A decade is a long time to be friends," Thomas offers.
"Fourteen years," Harvey says with a smirk. "But who's counting?"
"I'm guessing Donna's probably the only long-term relationship you've had with a woman," Thomas says, a hint of bite in his voice. "I can see how that might bother another woman."
"Well, Sheila's seen Donna and she's not even remotely threatened." Louis carves into his food and chuckles. "I mean, I guess she'd feel differently if we'd slept together."
Louis stops, suddenly conscious of his slip-up. Donna casts a nervous glance to Harvey. Thomas straightens in his chair.
"I mean –"
"I see," Thomas cuts him off.
"Thomas," Donna says.
Thomas stands up from the table. "I've got an early meeting tomorrow."
"Thomas, you don't have to leave."
"Actually, Donna I do. I'll call you tomorrow."
A hush of silence falls over the table until the front door closes.
"Louis I could kill you."
Louis puts his hands up defensively. "Donna, I'm sorry, it just slipped out. Can I help that you and Harvey have a sordid past?"
"It's hardly sordid, Louis," Harvey chimes in. "It's also none of your business. How did you even know?"
"Donna told me."
Harvey turns to her, surprised. "We're not allowed to talk about it but it's okay for you to tell Louis?"
"Why am I suddenly in the hotseat? Louis, I swear to god..."
"Donna, Thomas loves you," Louis tries to reason, "He'll get over it."
"He should have heard it from me, not you."
"You're marrying the man, why doesn't he already know?" Harvey asks pointedly.
Louis whips his head from Harvey to Donna, waiting for a response.
"Louis, I think I hear Lucy crying," Donna says.
"Lucy isn't crying."
"No, but in five minutes you're about to be."
"I better check on her," Louis says, squirming out of his chair and fleeing to Donna's bedroom.
Donna sighs, slumping in her chair. Harvey nudges her wine toward her.
"Look, I'm sorry."
"For what?" she asks. "Isn't this what you wanted? To assert some sort of weird claim that you think you have over me?"
Harvey softens. "Donna, I don't think that."
"You were baiting him."
"And he took the bait, hook, line and sinker."
"You shouldn't be baiting him in the first place."
"Donna, I know that hearing we slept together is going to drive him crazy. But it's maybe a fraction of what I feel having to watch the two of you play house."
"Uh, guys," Louis interrupts, Lucy nestled safely in his hug-a-bub. "I'm going to go."
"Louis, you don't have to," Donna protests weakly.
He nods quickly. "Yeah I do. I think I've done enough damage for one night." He holds Lucy gently against his chest as he kisses Donna's cheek.
Harvey helps him with the door and they say their goodbyes.
"What can I say, Harvey? It was a Freudian slip."
"Goodnight, Louis."
Harvey returns to Donna on the couch; heels kicked off and her feet tucked under her bottom. She sips her wine thoughtfully.
"Well, that could have gone worse," Harvey laughs.
"It still can if you'd like to call up my fiancée and also tell him we kissed last year."
Harvey sits down beside her. "If it's okay with you, I'd rather keep that between us."
She toys with the stem of her glass. "I should have told him about us."
"Maybe." Harvey snatches her glass from her and takes a sip. "But what would you have said?"
"Hm?"
"I can't even define our relationship to myself, let alone to other people."
"We're friends."
Harvey hands the glass back to her.
"Please, Donna. Even I'm not buying that line anymore."
He watches her shift, uncomfortable by his sudden bluntness. "Harvey, I think you should go."
"Is that really what you want?"
Her eyes find his. "No. Which is why I need you to go."
Harvey nods. "Donna, you know I would never put you in that position. I won't be that guy."
"Then where is all this suddenly coming from? We were hardly speaking before my engagement party."
"When we had that fight, the reason I was so angry was because you hit a nerve." He swallows. "I was trying so hard not to react that I…"
"Blew up?"
"Yeah."
"I'm sorry for making you come tonight," she says with a wince. "I think Thomas was looking for reassurance that he doesn't have to worry about our relationship."
"And does he?"
"Harvey, please," she breathes. "I can't do this now."
Harvey releases a sigh. But she's right, he doesn't want to do this now – whatever this is.
"Okay, I'll go."
"I'll walk you out."
Donna follows him barefoot to the door. There's a moment where they both hover by the entryway; Donna looking up at him without her heels to even their height, brown eyes boring into his, her cheeks flushed from the wine. He wants so badly to kiss her.
"I'll see you at the office?"
He nods, offering her a small smile. It's all he can hope for now; the promise of seeing her tomorrow. Without Thomas. Without the friction of her failed dinner.
"Goodnight, Donna."