Hi everyone! So sorry for the late update, sometimes life just gets in the way, you know? Nonetheless, I hope you guys enjoy this shorter (yet neeeded) Harvey centric chapter! Sorry for any grammatical / spelling errors you come across.
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Parent Pursuit
VIII.
He had one week. A week to decide whether or not he was going to move on and continue a new life with a new woman. Harvey Specter was one who was never indecisive, knew exactly what he wanted in life, but with everything hitting him at the moment, he didn't know what to think. Flashes of both Donna and Paula flooded his mind. He ignored the fact that Donna's face lingered a moment too long than Paula's.
Three nights ago, when he stood inside of LE Paulsen and the old man had asked if he was Donna's fiancé, he had to admit, it had struck a nerve when he had said no. He knew it was wrong, him being an engaged man pining over another woman, mind you, the woman was his ex wife. When he had locked eyes with Donna that night, he did what Harvey Specter could only do— run.
So now there he was, looking out into the quiet lake, his mind overflowing with the right thing to do. The lake house was a shared between him and Marcus, and as of three days ago, he had informed Marcus that he was going to use it. What he told others was different, he was going to go on a week business trip, not disclosing the exact location of where he was going to be. He didn't have to worry about where Emma would stay, because Donna eagerly wanted to spend some time with the girls.
There has only been a handful of people that have been to the lake house, it was after all, a secret, a hideaway from the hustle and bustle of the city. Despite the accusations of Marcus that the lake house was where "Harvey takes all his ladies..." Only one woman had step foot into the Specter Lake House. It was a special place, a sacred place to the Specters, filled with so much memories, and Donna had been one to partake in it.
His first day at the lake house, Harvey lingered in the openess of the house. Its high windows overlooking the lake, paralleled to the dock where he had dived off of many times. He thought about bringing the twins there soon.
His second day at the lake house, he decided to take a swim. As he waded through the water, he remembers Donna and the red (skimpy) bikini she wore once.
-
One summer night.
It was almost quarter to midnight when Harvey and Donna had arrived at the lake house. It was the weekend, and the two best friends decided to go on a spontaneous road trip. Donna had insisted that they should go somewhere she has never gone to before and Harvey knew exactly where to take her. Harvey had turned off his ignition when he glanced down at Donna.
Sometime during the drive, she had unbuckled her seatbelt and scooted closer to Harvey where she had leaned her head on his shoulder.
"You should buckle back up." Harvey had said, and Donna had stifled a yawn.
"Yeah, but the window isn't as comfortable as you." Donna said, leaning on Harvey as she closed her eyes.
It was moments like those where Harvey wasn't surprised that everyone around them asked if the two of them were finally together. Before Harvey decided to shake Donna awake, he had pressed a kiss on her head, thankful for his best friend.
"Hey Don, we're here." Harvey whispered quietly. Donna stirred and rubbed her eyes open, slowly straightening her position in the passenger seat.
When they reached the lake house, Donna seemed so serene. It was nearing thirty minutes passed midnight when Harvey and Donna both got settled and sat outside the chairs by the dock. The warm light of the house and the string of lights reflected on the water.
"I'm gonna go swim." Donna smiled as she got up from the chair.
"At this hour?" Harvey asked.
"Yes, Harvey, at this hour. After all, that drive was exhausting." Donna snarkily comments.
"Mhm, because sleeping the whole way through is exhausting." Harvey joins her, Donna was a little further ahead towards the end of the dock while Harvey trailed a couple feet behind.
"You do make a comfortable pillow." Donna smiles, as she turned towards Harvey. She reaches the hem of her shirt and lifted it up, also casually unbuttoning her shorts and stepping out of them.
Donna was clad with a red bikini and Harvey stopped in his tracks, trying to stop himself from lingering his eyes on Donna too long.
"Did I just leave Harvey Specter speechless?" Donna giggles. Harvey was brought back to reality, a smile lingering on his face as he watched his favorite redhead laugh.
"No." Harvey lies.
"It doesn't hurt if you admitted me hot, Harvey," Donna jokes, oblivious with the fact that that was exactly what Harvey thought, "Come swim with me."
"I'll just sit on the dock." Harvey says, as he approached closer.
"Come on, Harvey, don't be such a party pooper."
"I'm good, Donna. Enjoy yourself." Harvey smiles.
"Suit yourself." Donna responds, as she jumped excitedly in the warm water of the lake.
Harvey wipes the splash of water that had got on him when Donna took a dive. He glanced around the nature than surrounded him, enjoying the peaceful night, the quietness. That's what brought him back, it was too quiet. He glanced at the water, realizing that it had stilled, calm, despite the fact that Donna should have been in it. He looked around frantically.
"Donna?" With no response, Harvey quickly stands up, preparing for the worst? "God damn it." Harvey takes off his white t-shirt and jumped quickly in the lake. He dove, looking for Donna, when all of a sudden something had hugged him from the back. He hears his favorite giggle again.
"Gotcha." Harvey turns around and watches Donna's hair drenched, her face lighting up with amusement. It quickly dropped when she realized Harvey was not at all laughing with her, "Hey, what's wrong?"
"Don't do that again." Harvey says sincerely, a small hurt reflecting in his brown eyes. Donna moves along the water closer to Harvey, where she looked at him.
"I'm sorry." Donna offers, her lips tugging a little.
"I don't want to lose you." Harvey explains.
"Oh." Donna wraps her arms over his large frame and hugs him, her chin resting on the dip of his shoulder, "I don't want to lose you too."
-
His third day at the lake house, he gets a visitor.
"Harvey."
"Dad?" Harvey turns around and spots Gordon emerging from the woods, the older man walking towards his direction, "What are you doing here?"
"Marcus called and said you'd be here, figured something was up. So I'm here to ask what's bothering you." Gordon sits down next to Harvey and looks out into the lake, waiting for his son to reply.
It's true. Harvey has rarely visited the lake house because he would rather be surrounded with the concrete jungle of New York, than go out into the more natural part of the city. When he did decide to go out to the lake house, it usually came with a baggage. He'd go there to clear his mind, after his divorce with Donna, everyone was convinced he'd live in the lake house.
"Paula." Harvey finally manages, he watches his father look at him a bemused look on his face— waiting for Harvey to say more, "and Donna."
"I heard my favorite red head was back, with my grand daughter too." Gordon chuckles, he was supposed to be on a business trip in Europe but decided to come home when he heard the news.
"I don't know what to do, Dad." Harvey says.
The older Specter watches his son, as he stands up and pats Harvey's shoulder. Gordon enters the house and brings back two shot glasses and a Macallan 18. As Gordon pours the drink into the cup he says, "You don't know what to do or you don know what to do and you're just scared to admit it?"
"I'm engaged with Paula, Dad. I can't hurt her."
"You're gonna hurt her more if you keep pining over Donna, besides, Harvey, do you really love Paula?"
"Of course I do." Harvey responds, taking a glass that Gordon had offered.
"You're lying."
"I'm not." Harvey said, trying to defend himself.
"Have you thought about her once since you came here?"
That question had him thinking, and the older Specter couldn't help but chuckle. Harvey had realized that his father was right, all this time he had collecting his thoughts there had only been one thing in common for each one. The fiery redhead that had his emotions entangled.
"If it makes you feel any better, Paula doesn't seem like your right fit."
"You've met her twice."
"That was enough to tell me that you two aren't a match," Gordon gets back up on his seat again to refill his now empty glass, "besides, you know that I'm always rooting for my daughter in law."
After years of divorce, Gordon refused to strip Donna away of the title of being his daughter in law. Afterall, the Specters were wrapped tightly around the readhead's finger.
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His fourth day at the lake house, he gets his first phone call from Paula, telling him that she was coming home the following day because the wedding dress wasn't a fit.
He took that as a sign.
-
His fifth day at the lake house, he planned how to tell Paula. He packed up his things, turned off all the same string of lights that illuminated the waters when he told Donna that he didn't want to lose her. He drove back to the city.
He didn't wait for Paula to come to his house, but instead, he went over to her apartment, where she was unpacking her things. Paula approached Harvey with a smile, and before she could press her lips on Harvey's, he had said it.
"I can't be with you."
Paula had stepped back, not knowing wether or not it was her jet lag talking or it was actually Harvey saying those words. Her fiancé.
"What are you talking about?" Paula says, her voice quivering.
"I can't marry you. I'm sorry. I thought that maybe this is my second chance, but I can't... Paula, I'm so sorry."
"It's Donna, isn't it?" Paula responds, her tears now visible.
Harvey fucking hated himself for it. He didn't want to break her heart, but it was the only way.
"You deserve better." Harvey tried to smile.
"Damn right I do. Fuck you, Harvey." Paula says, her therapist instincts kicking in when she noticed how Harvey deflected her statement about Donna. Denial. Of course it was about Donna.
"I'm so sorry."
"Get out." Paula says, throwing out the ring that once rested on her finger.
And that was that. An engagement was over.
-
On the sixth day, he tells the twins what happened. As much as he wanted to dwell with the failed engagement, it didn't feel like a loss. It felt like a relief, and the good man in him hated it, but a part of him was glad.
He asked his girls to help him with something, and they were more than eager to.
-
On the seventh day of his so called "business trip" he reflected once again.
His second chance wasn't moving on with a different woman, it was getting the woman who he shouldn't have let go— back.
He allowed himself to finally admit it.
He was in love with Donna Paulsen, and he was ready to get her back.
He lost her once, he wasn't going to lose her again.
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I was hesitant about this chapter, but as I kept writing, I thought that it was finally time to get rid of Paula and I thought that this was somewhat of a realistic way for Harvey to deal with his feelings for her. I hope you guys enjoyed! As for where this is going (because I read a review regarding it) I'm thinking that there might only be 2 chapters left, because I don't see the need to drag it on, you know? The last chapters will most likely be longer than usual. I might do an epilogue if you guys end up wanting it! Thank you to everyone who had reviewed and liked this story, btw! I'd love to hear your thoughts.