I couldn't wait to post this chapter, because it's Donna and Harvey centric. Anyway, I hope you guys enjoy. So sorry for the grammar and spelling mistakes! Thank you to those who have reviewed the previous chapters by the way :)

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Parent Pursuit

VI.

There are pros and cons marrying your (once) best friend. Number one, you get to be with them forever and to start a life with them. Number two, the transition from being fiancés to husband and wife is easier. Number three, you get know who they are wholeheartedly. The cons about being married to your best friend that no one talks about is reality. The reality that the marriage won't work. As human beings, we are programmed to root for what seems, feels right. That's how it was with Harvey and Donna. Everyone surrounding them knew they were it. They were the couple you hear about during the twentieth reunion of your class. The one who's living the American Dream.

"Who would have thought, huh?" Harvey broke the silence.

The two were still seated next to eachother, Donna focused on the view out the window, while Harvey continues to take a swig from the bottle. With the question hanging in the air, Donna snaps back into reality and looks over at Harvey.

"That we'd come across each other again?" Donna asks, eyes twinkling. Harvey lowers his head as he chuckles silently. He raises it back up to look at Donna, who's hair was now more astray than it was before. Strands of red framing her delicate face. They were both focused, either because of the alcohol or because of the history that was slowly catching up with them.

"No,"

"Then what?"

"That we wouldn't be together."

"All the girls in college that were jealous of me being your girlfriend." Donna says, trying to lighten the mood. Harvey doesn't react and that's when Donna purses her lips. She knew Harvey would've laughed at the jab if it wasn't a serious conversation. Though by the looks of it, Donna could sense that this was far from being a laughing matter.

"I don't know, Harvey, people fall out of love." Donna says, adjusting her position from the couch. She watches as Harvey carefully set the bottle down on the glass table.

"Did you?"

"Did I what?" Donna asks quickly, before realizing the words behind his question. Did you fall out of love, with me? Donna hears Harvey's voice in her head. That was the question he meant to ask. Harvey kept his eyes on her, clearly waiting for an answer.

"It's getting late." Donna says, smiling a little. She gets up from the couch and walks over by the window.

"It's only 10."

"It's too late to talk about this, Harvey." Donna turns around, looking at Harvey, who was now standing across from her, the only thing separating them was the glass coffee table. There was silence.

"Let's talk about the kids."

Donna sighs, one of relief. She nods her head. She walks back to her place on the couch, with Harvey sitting down alongside her.

"Well," Donna starts, "Lily got your stubbornness, I'll give you that." That made Harvey smile.

"You're telling me you're not stubborn?"

"Harvey Reginald Specter, I gave birth to your children. So I get to use their personalities against you." Donna smiles, and Harvey couldn't help but think about how he missed her smile.

"They both love art." Harvey points out, remembering that the two had met because of an art camp for their school. Donna and Harvey figured that it was because of Harvey's mother that the twins had an artistic eye.

Donna agrees. Donna continues to tell Harvey about Lily. How she was a shy kid, but once you get to know her, she was the most outspoken kid. She tells Harvey that Lily has his smile, Harvey points out that so does Emma. Harvey then comments about how he's glad they got Donna's beautiful hair, keeping the comment about how he missed stroking Donna's— to himself. They take turns comparing and contrasting both of the twins. How they were both so similar yet unique at the same time.

It was one of those moments in a movie when a person talks and the other character watches them as if the whole world had stopped. That moment when it pans to the character watching with set with intent eyes. Harvey Specter was doing just that, marveling at the woman in front of him. There was a different glow to Donna's face when it comes to talking about their children. Harvey is aware it's wrong, he's engaged, except there's a nagging voice inside of him that wants to take a look at the what if.

What if they were still together?

What if they worked things out?

What if Harvey never let her go?

"Harvey?" Donna says, snapping her fingers in front of him.

"Sorry, I was just thinking..." Harvey replies quietly.

"About what?" Donna says softly.

"How things would be different if I had fought for you and the kids." Harvey says sincerely. Donna gives him a small smile.

"Some things are inevitable, Harvey. We can't keep dwelling on the what if's. You didn't have to fight—"

Harvey interrupts, "I didn't have to, but I should have."

"Then why didn't you?" Donna asks.

Harvey kept quiet. There was a sigh from Donna, Harvey was slouched on the couch, twiddling his thumbs, eyes focused on the floor.

"Harvey..," Donna scoots closer, her hands almost lifting to smooth his back. Donna decides to keep her hands to herself, "You have a second chance at love."

Paula.

"Yeah, I guess I do." Harvey says, and Donna could see a small smile appear on his face. Donna pats him on the back, before standing up.

"I'm cold, I'll be right back."

Their talks before the divorce were never like this, they never got a chance to thoroughly lay out the facts. It always ended up with an argument, with Harvey deciding it was better to sleep on the couch than their once shared bedroom. It was devastating because they were only starting out their future, with kids, but that's when everything had to be rocky.

Donna enters her bedroom, softly closing the door. She approached her bed and grabbed a robe to put around her body. It wasn't that cold, but the presence of Harvey being there made her realize how much she has missed his warmth, except that warmth could no longer envelope her. That warmth belonged to someone else now, a blonde, in particular.

Donna walks over her bathroom and looks at herself in the mirror, wiping away the tears that had crept out of her eyes. The sadness that came from the divorce years ago, the way her heart clenched with anxiety everytime she thought about Emma (and Harvey.) She had deemed herself to be a terrible mother because of the plan she and Harvey had constructed when it came to the twins. Lily, however, quickly squashed that thought every time Mother's Day came around the corner, always telling Donna that she was the best mom ever.

They both knew that soon enough their worlds would once again collide, but neither expected that the consequences would hurt as much as it did. They missed a part of their children's lives, though they were eternally grateful for the twin's resilience and capability of understanding so quickly- a trait both Harvey and Donna had, though they also had denial overpowering that particular trait.

Donna let the water run, quickly sniffling before Harvey could hear her.

-

Harvey stayed silent on the couch, eyes wandering over the new decor that replaced old items that he was once so familiar with. This was the apartment where Harvey witnessed Donna on her down time, where Harvey would help her memorize her lines, where Harvey would sneak a kiss to her cheek (when they were only friends.)

When they became lovers, they had made love in every corner they could find. Harvey laughs to himself, remembering how they would once go at it like bunnies. They both had that drive when it came to sex, maybe because it was something they denied, though secretly craved during their relationship. This was the apartment where they would lay on the couch, with Donna tucked away in the safety of his arms. It's where he would whisper sweet nothings in her ears.

Harvey got up from his seat and walked towards the window, overlooking some buildings in the city. He remembers the way he would come over, with the key she had given him back in the day. Sometimes Donna would just stand there, watching as the sun would set. He remembers the way he could see her relfection smile when he walked closer to her, his arms enveloping around her waist while he kissed her shoulder. Soft was an adjective Harvey Specter rarely ever was, but when it came to Donna he was exactly that.

Harvey thinks about the fact that he has shared majority of his life with Donna, how he found himself because of her. He allowed himself to be vulnerable because of her. Then he thinks about the times they ended up acting like strangers, how work had come in between them (and the twins), how he has seen her eyes brimming with tears, and he hated the fact that he had caused that. The divorce was mutual, but the love was still there, and maybe that's why it hurt more.

He let Donna go, yes.

But Donna was always going to be the love of his life.

He shuts his eyes. Fuck.

-

Donna turns off the faucet and takes down her hair from the bun. The effects of the alcohol had worn off, considering that she and Harvey both didn't consume that much.

She opens her door, except he's there. Standing in front of her.

The last time he was at the very same spot was when they were still in college.

He has a look in his eyes and for the first time, Donna Paulsen can't read him. They play a quick game of staring contest, while Donna tightens the robe around her body.

"Harvey..." Donna says, almost inaudibley.

That's when Harvey decides to close the gap.

Soft lips crashing against each other.

Donna loosens her grip around her robe, her arms snaking around his neck— an action that she forgot she remembered. Harvey's hands finds her hair, running his fingers carefully through it.

The overwhelming sense of familiarity consuming both of them. Their eyes, both closed, hands touching every inch they could find. There was another feeling that decided to creep in, strangeness (guilt? hesitance?) They couldn't decide, but they both felt it.

It was when Donna's legs hit the back of the bed that she pulled back.

"Harvey, we can't." Donna says, her hand on Harvey's cheeks, upon realizing that fact, she drops it. She shakes her head, and almost laughs at their situation.

Both of their breathing ragged, Harvey steps back, looking at the woman he had kissed. It felt wrong, but felt so right at the same time. That's when he notices her eyes, they were slightly red, a clear indication that she had been crying.

"Donna." Was all Harvey could offer. He takes a step closer, but Donna holds her hands up, silently telling him to not come closer.

They were adults, respectable ones, mind you. Harvey doesn't know what had succumbed him, but he remembers his legs absentmindedly telling him to walk to her door, his arms telling him that he should hold her tightly, his lips telling him that that was all he needed to communicate. Harvey Specter would never cheat. He was once a womanizer, he'd admit that, but cheating was off limits. He wanted to be sorry, he truly did, but part of him wasn't sorry he had just kissed Donna.

It wasn't the alcohol.

It was the unresolved feelings that never left.

"You should sleep, uh," Donna says, turning around from Harvey, grabbing a spare blanket and pillow. He watches her life her hand to wipe away a tear. She doesn't turn around, just offers the blanket and pillow. He approaches closer, grabbing the blanket and pillow from her hand.

She doesn't mention what just happened, neither does he. He shuts the door behind her as he heads for the couch. He swore he heard her small sob.

He silently curses himself, because he knew he was the cause of it. (Harvey once told Donna, when they were in college that if any of her boyfriends made her cry, he would personally take care of it.)

At this moment, he wanted to punch himself.

He set the pillow and blanket down on the bed and then turns the lights off the living room. He rolls up his sleeves, takes off his shoes and lays down on the couch. He tosses and turns. He notices the way the pillow didn't smell like the strawberry shampoo he had familiarized himself with. It now smelled like lavender and coconut, as stupid as it may seem, he realizes that things have in fact changed, and they didn't leave off to where they once were.

He wasn't going to get any sleep.

-

It was almost three a.m. when Donna rolls over to check the digital clock on her nightstand. She hadn't slept, she tried, but just about four hours ago Harvey had just kissed her. Not a peck on the cheek, but truly kisses her, and she had kissed him back. She had spent the last few hours quietly crying over everything.

The memories... everything that made them once Harvey and Donna.

Donna Paulsen was not the other woman and she refuses to have that title. It was in the moment that everything felt right.

She didn't fail to notice the fact that her body still molded against his— perfectly.

It was all too familiar and strange at the same time.

Donna's throat was dry and she realizes that she had to get up to get some water. She begrudgingly gets up from her bed, hating the way her eyes were puffy. She hopes that Harvey was asleep, but like two souls cut in half, she knew he wasn't.

She exits her room anyway, walking slowly behind the couch to get to the kitchen. She breathes when she reached the cupboard.

"I tried."

So he was still awake, Donna says, as she grabs a glass.

Donna turns back, she could see the city lights illuminating Harvey's form. He was sitting up now, though his attention was focused ahead of him, not daring to look at Donna. She doesn't respond, but he continues.

"I tried fighting for you. A year after you left, I just... I harassed everyone to give me your address, until I finally got what I wanted. My intention was never to go, because I just needed to know you and Lily were okay, and I wanted to respect your wishes. But then I had a business meeting in Seattle. I was at a small cafe when I caught a glimpse of red hair. I thought to myself, maybe it was just another woman with red hair," Harvey recounted.

Donna had set the glass her water down, both knowing that she was listening to his narrative.

"And then I heard the laugh. Your laugh. I turned around and there you were, holding Lily. There was a guy with you, and he had kissed you," Harvey laughs sadly, "I thought you moved on. You looked happy, I didn't wanna ruin it."

It was Mark Harvey was referring to, and Donna suddenly recalls the memory. Mark and Donna were going steady for a few months, and Donna knew that if she was to enter a relationship she needed a guy who knew she had a kid. Mark understood that. Donna suddenly remembers why she felt a surge of anxiousness that day, but dismissed it.

"I drove to your house, I was prepared to knock, but then next think I know, I went back to my car and drove back to the hotel."

She also now realizes that the birthday card addressed to Lily that year was probably from Harvey. She had come home that day, and there was a small card with a handwritten Happy Birthday, Lily with a small heart accompanying it. No sender, no name.

"Why didn't you say anything?" Donna says, her voice shaking.

"I tried, Donna." Harvey responds, finally looking at her direction.

Even in the dark, they could feel the strong glance of the each other.

"That's not enough."

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So, that happened. Let me know what you guys think and I hope you enjoyed!