A/N: This has been in my documents for ages and I really don't love it and after rereading it for the hundredth time, I borderline hate it. However, I'm in a huge writing slump and figured, recycling old material is a great way to get out of it... right? This fic was meant to be a glimpse of Darvey through Donna's dad's eyes, However, realistically speaking he has had little to no contact with Darvey irl.

So, this is more of a Donna background fic, through the point of view of her dad. I hope you at least somewhat enjoy reading this? Sorry for the delayed update to this fic!

Dad's Little Girl

Jim Paulsen had been smitten with Donna since day one. Contrary to her being his second daughter, (Sarah would always, of course, be his first), he felt like he was falling in love for the very first time ever since she first entered the world, testing out her small yet mighty lungs with a wail that somehow sounded beautiful in the fluorescent lighting of a hospital. She had withered around, unhappy with the manhandling she was given by the nurses cleaning her off hastily, while they averted their attention once again to the new mother who had had a troubling delivery her heartbeat skyrocketing as she passed out for three whole minutes (the longest three of Jim Paulsen's life) till her pulse went down to normal and she giant stable vitals. The minute she was conscious she demanded to be handed her baby, and as soon as all attention was on the little bundle of red, she seemed to be soothed to a gentle murmur rather than whiney noises of distrust.

Donna first blinked her eyes open to the world when she was cuddled securely in the hospital pink blankie, surrounded by her mother's loving hold and cooing noises coming from the hospital staff, admiring her cute baby button nose, and newly wrinkled pink skin. Donna was calmed down as she established herself as the center of attention in the room.

The very first sign of her tastes for the stage, as well as her empathy. To this day Jim would happily rib his daughter over how she didn't calm down because she could sense the distress of the room. "My sensitive little girl" he'd murmur to her as he palmed her cheek softly before tucking her into her crib, her Big Girl bed, her first hungover-passed-out sleep in her room as a teenager, and eventually as he was sending her off to college with the same parting words before he hugged her fiercely and let her run back to her dorm.

The nickname was fitting for a girl like Donna. He didn't associate sensitive with weak like most men do. In fact Donna herself had nipped that idea in the bud when she first got suspended from first grade for two days straight because a boy called her carrot top one too many times and she'd slugged him hard in the nose.

—-

Jim Paulsen frantically ran to the school's principal office, cursing the school's long maze-like hallways that caused his shoes to squeak against the marble tiling. Maybe they should've just sent the little rugrat to public school instead of private. He finally made it to the front door, catching his breath and trying to calm his mind from jumping to the worst case scenario. He hadn't gotten the call himself, as he was busy in a meeting with potential new investors for his client's property. Clara had simply called him asking if he could go pick their daughter up and talk to the principal as she was still busy at school teaching.

Perks of being an executive at his business meant having the luxury of hauling ass to his baby girl.

He barged into the door and found Donna there, sitting on a wooden chair that amplified her small frame as she sat sullenly in it, her feet swaying in the air not touching the ground yet, her entire body slumped to the side as she rest her head on her fisted right arm. Her hair was in messy two plaits, with her baby hairs mused on the sides of her forehead or frizzing out completely. She was wearing the school's uniform black dress over a white button up- but Jim could see hints of a darker matter splattered on her chest area- blood.

"Donna-Bear!"

Donna quickly turned around to catch her dad entering the office. "Daddy!" She lurched out of the chair, practically climbing down and launching herself into her dad's steady arms. He embraced her immediately, letting her rest her head in the crook of his neck for exactly one minute before he pushed her slightly backwards to examine her. "Are you alright? What happened?"

Donna's big hazel eyes blinked once at him before shyly looking down at her maryjanes. "I'm alright." she mumbled quietly. Except Jim saw the blood stains on her uniform, and he saw up close Donna's nose tinged red like she had spent some time sniffling tears up.

Before he could question his little girl further, Principal Linney spoke up. "Mr. Paulsen, I assure you things are far from alright. Your daughter here chose to use her hands over her words today when she had an altercation with another student here, Presely Abrams."

"You fought someone?" Jim sternly asked, bewildered with the image of Donna who still asked for his help opening her juice bottles, smacking down a boy at recess.

"I tried using my words first! He wouldn't stop calling me names-" Principal Linney raised her hand up in a gesture for Donna to stop talking.

"I've heard enough. We don't use violence to solve problems ever, Donna. If we have a problem with someone we tell them in a calm manner what the issue is, then we try and find solutions, be it with them, or an adult that can help."

Donna bit her lip as she sniffled once more, trying not to cry in front of her headmaster.

"Yes, Miss Linney."

Jim went over the specifications of her suspension and the other boy's parents' info so he could formally apologize for the altercation.

As Jim clasped his hand in Donna's guiding her to where he had parked the car, he cast a glance at the little girl who still seemed distraught with the whole ordeal. He knew they had to have a serious discussion with her at home about actions and consequences, but his heart broke a little at her missing out on seeing her friends and teachers for the next two days.

He frowned as he suddenly realized something.

"What was he calling you that made you so mad?"

"He called me pippy long stocking. And Carrot Top. He was mean. I told him to stop. I asked him every day to stop teasing me but he kept going. I didn't like it. Other people started saying it too. So I just punched him to stop him talking." Her voice was embarrassed yet resound, like she felt slightly right with her choice.

Jim had to bite his lip very aggressively to stop himself from laughing at the imagine of his little girl punching a boy hard enough to cause his nose to bleed. He felt a swell of pride and amusement mix in his chest as he hugged her to his side.

"Ok slugger, your Knock Out days are over. But I get why you did it. Boys can be very mean."

"He was!" Donna wailed in reply. "I don't like being the only girl with red hair, it makes me feel weird. He made me feel weird." she added hastily.

"Hey! Don't talk about my Donna-bear like that." he paused their walk as they reached the car. He perched himself down on his legs, making himself as tall as his little girl.

"You're beautiful, Donna. Your hair is the prettiest shade of all the colors! Would you wanna have boring old brown poopy hair, or yellow hair like Great Aunt Gertrude?" Jim feigned a look of disgust at the comparison, and Donna giggled softly at his words. "No." she shook her head firmly smiling at him with her two front teeth growing in.

"Exactly. Your hair is special, and don't you like mommy's hair?" He asked calmly as he tugged on one of her braids affectionately.

"Mommy's hair is darker." It was true, Clara's red hair was more of a dark auburn than Donna's strawberry fiery hair. She had his blonde hair to thank for that.

"I'm gonna let you in on a little secret. You're right, your hair isn't common, but isn't it cool you're one of the few people who gets to have such a pretty color? Weird isn't a bad thing, It's just another word for unique. And that's what you are."

Donna hesitated, still unsure if she believed her dad's version of what weird meant, until a thought occurred to her.

"Like how the little mermaid is unique? And Prince Eric never met someone like her and loved her?"

Jim smiled at her explanation. "Exactly. Now c'mon into the car, my sensitive little girl." Jim teased.

….

Jim still remembered his little girl's first heartbreak, not from a boy, but from her own estranged sister, thirteen years her senior, and living with her mother, Patty. Jim had tried multiple times to get the girl to visit every weekend, or every other weekend, but she didn't stick around long after Donna was born. Jim tried to understand, a teen who was finally gaining some freedom didn't want to spend her free weekends around a crying baby. By the time Donna had reached a fun age, Sarah was fifteen turning sixteen. They had had a few good interactions, even semi bonded over Sarah's old barbie dolls she brought for Donna. But Sarah was still rarely around, opting to spend more time with her birth mom and stepdad. When Sarah was 19 and Donna was 6, they had begun bickering a little, as sisters usually did. However with less fun interactions between them, Sarah and Donna's bickering was more catastrophic than in other households. One night Sarah was supposed to babysit Donna for the weekend, but ended up travelling to the Hamptons with her friends instead. Jim let it slide, knowing she was starting a grueling internship soon and this was her last chance for a vacation.

However he completely forgot everything Sarah was going through as he padded softly into Donna's bedroom, glancing at her wide eager eyes and smile as she set up her Barbie's dollhouse for playtime.

"Is Sarah almost here Daddy?"

Jim swallowed down his discomfort, trying to hide his sadness so Donna wouldn't catch on.

"No babygirl." He bent down so he was right on her level, "Something came up with Sarah, she can't come over anymore. I'm sorry." He waited a beat as he ran a comforting hand over Donna's shoulder, coaxing her into understanding.

"Oh." Donna blinked at him sadly, before she let out a sigh.

"But hey, maybe we can go to the movies instead? Get some buttery popcorn and watch that new Disney movie that's out?"

Donna shook her head and scrunched up her nose, a tell-tale sign she was trying not to cry.

"Why does Sarah not like me?" Jim's heart broke for his little girl as her wide hazel eyes filled with tears.

"Sarah's your sister Donna-bear she loves you!" Jim exclaimed.

"Half-sister!" Donna clarified, stomping her foot slightly.

Jim sighed, knowing she picked that term up from Sarah, who always clarified the distance between them. "No she doesn't! She hates me! She never comes over to play, or see you! And I can feel it all the time! She's always mad when she's here, I can tell she's always trying not to fight with me or you or mom!" Donna had tears streaming down her face, her voice high and croaky like a kid's voice usually is during distress.

Donna hiccuped once, before sobbing once more "I don't like when she's here and I feel all her madness, and I don't like this now. We were supposed to play together, make Ashley and Sydney get married to Ken 1 and Ken 2."

Jim frowned at the random play details. "We can do that together! We can get them married right now." He tried appeasing her, wanting her to calm down.

"No! I don't wanna play with them ever again. Sarah can keep her stupid dolls, with her stupid friends. If she doesn't wanna play then I don't either." Donna turned around abruptly, clearly trying to hide her sadness from him.

As a father, Jim's heart broke for his little girl at the amount of emotions she was carrying around right now. Anger, abandonment, and so much sadness. It wasn't lost on him that she was smart enough to pick up on Sarah's resentment for his family, but it shocked him to hear her empathy and aptitude had run this deep, that she felt Sarah's anger within her every time she came over. It broke him to know that Donna was experiencing abandonment from her one and only sister right now, and that she had felt this way for some time.

"I know it's hard for you Donna. And I promise you I'm going to talk to Sarah about all this. But I don't want you to ever feel like you have to hide your feelings from me ever, or how others make you feel, even me, my sensitive little girl."

Donna didn't turn around, instead she slowly walked over to where her dolls were, gathered them in both hands, looked at them for one split second, before handing them over to him.

"Here. Give them to someone who likes playing with dolls."

Jim sighed, leaving the dolls in the storage closet in the hope she'd change her mind. Later on that week Donna would discover a play for her grade and realized playing pretend with herself was more fun than plastic dolls.

From that day on, Jim vowed to try his hardest to never let anyone or anything break his sensitive little girl's heart, nor take advantage of her kind empathetic soul.

And sometimes, he fell short of that promise spectacularly. His and Clara's relationship ran into tumultuous problems, they lost their money at Donna's first age of independence and fun, swapping her security and stability in life with fear and broken dreams. But Jim always tried his hardest to shield his daughter from the heartbreak of it all.

And he succeeded in some ways. He scrambled enough money to support Donna and Clara with their own prospective jobs as well. Managed to keep an amicable relationship with Clara, visited Donna around the clock, took her to trips to New York's latest playbills whenever he got enough money saved up, and eventually, supported her dreams of going to Yale.

Jim Paulsen wasn't a flaw free dad by any means. But his alarm bells rang high when he first caught a glimpse of Harvey Specter.

Glimpse, wasn't the right word. He'd heard of him first and foremost through Clara. She'd cited some stories Donna had told her about her new boss at the D.A's office she was working at, and he didn't care for the one two many jokes Clara made about how great this boss sounded.

"He seems to keep our daughter on her toes, in a sense." Causing Jim to grumble she didn't need that.

He didn't care for Clara's alluding of a flirtatious relationship between them, and he definitely didn't care for his daughter's boss taking away most if not all of her time up.

"When was the last time you auditioned for a play?"

Donna sighed into the phone. "Not that long ago."

"When Donna?"

"Two weeks ago."

"Shouldn't you be going on auditions more often, to get a better chance at-"

"Dad I don't want to talk about this anymore I just called to wish you a happy birthday."

"So you're definitely not coming up to see me this week?" Jim hesitantly asked, not wanting her to hear his disappointment.

"I'm sorry Dad, I'm swamped at work. Harvey has a huge case this week defending a girl from her sexual assaulter, and it's…a pretty intense workload." Jim frowned, not liking the sound of how serious and traumatizing the case sounded.

"But, I sent you your gift already, mom is wrapping it up as we speak and I think you're gonna love it."

Jim smiled at her change of topic, seeing through her distracting topic of gifts, which Donna, unsurprisingly, always killed.

"I'm gonna be in town next April and I'm expecting dinner with my daughter as a belated birthday gift as well."

Donna agreed, plans were made, and one more wish of a happy birthday was given before she hung up.

—

"It's challenging work. He's challenging me honestly, it feels good. Using my mind like that, exploring different tactics. Feels rewarding." Donna swallowed a sip of red wine as they sat at their family table, finally alone on Thanksgiving day, having sent away their extended family an hour ago.

"He made you almost miss Thanksgiving." Jim sourly commented, still not over her last minute entrance into their house, missing her mother's fretting emotional state over her daughter not joining their festivities for the first time in her life. Of course, Clara didn't want her daughter knowing that, not wanting Donna to feel guilty over living her life.

"He didn't make me do anything Dad, I told you I was working till I caught the last train out here. I found a crucial piece of evidence for this case we were working on and had to track him down to give it to him. He wasn't even working, he was with his dad and brother celebrating."

Jim huffed, still not like the explanation.

"So he gets to take a break but you don't?"

"Jim- she's here. That's all that matters. Are you happy Donna-bear?" Clara asked her daughter, who nodded in reply.

Jim swallowed a gulp of his jack soda to avoid raking his daughter's life choices over the coals anymore.

—-

Jim decided to officially hate Harvey Specter, no pleasantries or politeness at all to exchange with the guy, the first time he was ambushed by him at the golf course after years of secretly despising the guy from a distance. Apparently he and Harvey Specter were both harboring feelings of hatred towards one another.

Harvey had some nerve, attacking him over financial mistakes he's made and acting like that was enough to write him off as a bad father, on the first time they'd ever crossed paths.

Jim couldn't see what Donna saw in the guy at all. He was glad that so far Clara's predictions of their romantic relationship had been wrong, although Jim still hated the fact Donna clearly must love something about the guy to be in a partnership with him career-wise for the past six years.

He didn't care for his suave attitude, his smug holier than thou attitude, and he absolutely hated his overpriced suit on the backdrop of a golf course.

Jim didn't wait too long to tattle on Harvey's misgivings, calling Donna and letting her know her ass of an boss had not only embarrassed him on the golf course, but degraded him as well as herself by going over her head and behind her back to come at him.

He'd gotten an update not soon after, about how she had it out with Harvey and was sorry it had happened at all.

"My sweet, sensitive little girl. It's ok. I'm… I'm sorry too, for-"

"Don't apologize Dad. It's in the past. I don't blame you."

Still, despite the apology and her sincerity, and how Jim knew Harvey was in the wrong- he didn't ask Donna for access to her funds. Harvey's words nagging on him for the rest of the day, that two glasses of scotch still couldn't quiet down.

That night Jim looked back on all his actions, wondering if perhaps he was to blame for more than he realized when it came to his family's shortcomings, as well as his own relationship.

—

Harvey's name was mentioned a few more times to him over the years, never from Donna if she could avoid it, knowing her father would hear her complaints smugly and ignore her praise willingly. But that didn't stop him from getting an earful from Clara, who always updated him on his daughter's life- more so after their reconciliation as well.

Jim couldn't see the good in Harvey Specter, all he saw was a reckless man who put his daughter in trouble more than once. The most triggering of all was when he was hauled to jail and he knew his daughter was in the vicinity as well. It was only the second time they'd been face to face, and it was just as hostile as the first.

There was only one thing that made Jim hesitate slightly with his smugness directed at Specter for having been a huge hypocrite over his business decisions- it was the fear he could clearly read all over Specter's face.

The minute Jim mentioned Donna and how she was in trouble, how she'd react to her father being put behind bars because of the lawyer's ass landing in hot water because of some bullshit issue with his own career- he could see Harvey swallow down his panic and a tinge of anguish began coloring his eyes. It made Jim doubt Harvey's lack of heart for just one second…

—

Now, Harvey sat across from him, sans suit for once in his life, in a cashmere sweater and dark jeans instead. Jim was grateful he'd been offered a glass of neat scotch immediately. He couldn't handle how awkward this entire thing was, Harvey showing his vulnerability to him, his bachelor-pad encased in a warm lit fire making Jim think of how he must've used the place to his advantage with girls- and how Donna was one of them now.

He'd heard of the new relationship between him and his daughter a few days ago and to say it wasn't received well was an understatement. He thought back to his daughter's upset face and their fight at the end of their catch-up lunch.

"I'm sorry Donna, but you're my baby. My sweet, sen-"

"-Sitive little girl, yeah I know dad. That doesn't make it ok for you to hate the guy I'm in love with."

Jim winced at the phrase in love, flashing back to her being 14 declaring her love for Stewart Bendson, "I'm just trying to prot-"

"Protect me? Dad, you know I can take care of myself, I have been since I actually was little." Jim swallowed and shook his head. She may remember all the times she successfully shielded herself from more pain but all Jim could remember was her initial reactions to said pain. Stifled tears, broken heart, and fragile state of mind…

"Not from Harvey. He's been a blind spot for you for years Donna."

Donna frowned and pursed her lips together. "I need you to like who I'm seeing Dad, because this is it. This isn't like past relationships- he's it for me. And I can't be in a relationship and expect it to not fail if you can't get along with him. Because you two are the most important men in my life."

Those parting words are what got him to accept the invite Harvey had deployed to him.

He had to remember he was doing this for Donna, otherwise, Jim was going to throw in a few more cutting words towards Harvey in the next hour.

Harvey cleared his throat, trying to get Jim's attention back at him.

"Look, Mr. Paulsen, I know we've had a rough start to this relationship years ago, mostly because of me."

"No arguments here." Jim mumbled with a sideways glance as he took a sip of scotch.

The mannerism was so similar to Donna that Harvey had to blink in rapid succession to clear his mental image of how much Donna was like her father. It strangely made his heart flutter at the notion he was discovering more about her after all these years.

"-But I think we both know I came at it from a protective angle over Donna. Now I know I was wrong to judge you so cruelly over your past, but I also think you could relate." Jim frowned at that, not following his train of thought.

"I mean you hated me for the same reason right? To protect Donna from me." Jim hesitated before begrudgingly nodding his head.

"I don't blame you for that. Half the reason I didn't date your daughter years ago was because I thought the same thing. I know I'm punching above my weight with your daughter sir. She is," Harvey shook his head at a loss for words as his eyes got a far away look in them. "She's close to completely perfect. I'll be the first to admit she deserves better than me- tenfold. But I love her. And I can't help being in love with her, I have been for years."

Jim squirmed in his seat slightly, shifting his weight from one leg to another feeling uncomfortable slightly as he saw the mighty Harvey Specter confess his love and vulnerability so easily to him.

"And I know how important you are to her, and your opinion means a great deal to her. And I want you to know that I respect you. I know it may not seem like it, given our past interactions, but I do. How could I not? You raised one of the best people I know, and you get credit for that."

Jim narrowed his eyes at Specter, trying to channel his inner Clarie or Donna to gauge if he was being sincere or putting on a front to fool him. But he knew it was unnecessary, the entire night a waving white flag ushering in a new leaf between the two men.

Jim sighed out loud. "I hate to say this Harvey, but I believe you." A begrudging smile graced Jim's face.

"I see how much you care for Donna. I'll admit over the years, from a distance, I couldn't. I assumed you were taking advantage of her. And I still have reservations."

Harvey nodded solemnly in reply, a tense look passing his face. "But I'm sure we can squander those away with a few more drinks in the foreseeable future."

Harvey's eyebrows raised in surprise at Jim's words. "What, you're actually surprised you got me to cave? Maybe you're not the cockiest lawyer I've met in my life." Harvey chuckled in disbelief at the light rib.

"I believe you sincerely love my daughter Harvey. And I see how you've always tried to protect her albeit by making many mistakes along the way-" Jim narrowed his eyes in distaste remembering one too many calls from a distraught or irritated Donna about Harvey, "but I'm all too familiar with the notion of failing your loved one in the name of…well, love." Jim and Harvey chuckled at his fumbling explanation.

"I'm not good with the words as much as Donna is. You'll come to learn she got that from her mother."

Harvey chuckled once more, relief etched on his face at Jim making plans for the future with him involved.

"Harvey, I'd also like to thank you. Despite everything, I know you'll always try and protect Donna in your own way."

"She doesn't really need protecting sir, as I've come to find out the hard way," Harvey winced slightly to himself, and Jim wondered what situation had occurred that caused Donna's stubbornness to clearly clash with Specter's intentions. "But I'll always be there for her."

Jim chuckled softly to himself in disbelief, the staggering realization dawning over him that Harvey had cracked the code that took him years to realize with his own daughter- and wife.

They didn't want someone to protect them from the harsh realities of the world, they wanted someone to act as a safe landing for them when it all became too much. Flashes of Donna with tear stained cheeks confused as to why her dad was deflecting her from her own sister's shortcomings, a look of perplexion, annoyance, and disbelief on her face when he hid their money problems from her, and the hundredth time he'd tried to persuade her to quit working for Harvey entered his mind all at once.

Jim took a sip of scotch, mulling over his relationship with his daughter. "She'll always be my sensitive little girl. But you're right, she doesn't need protecting. Just you being there is half the job, and from the looks of the past god damn decade or so, I suppose you're not going anywhere."

Harvey grinned at Jim's sarcastic wording. "No sir, you're pretty much stuck with me."

Jim sent him a wry half smile, relieved that his daughter would never have to deal with the heartbreak of an unsecured relationship again. She had had that already in her life. Her sister, her parents' relationship at times, their precarious finances, even her own acting career.

Jim used to think her relationship with Harvey was similar- shaky, imbalanced and ready to implode, a sick obsession she had curated from insecurities that Jim was half responsible for. But when Jim really studied his daughter's relationship, he realized at the core of it all, Harvey was a cornerstone in Donna's life that she could rely on- a reassurance she didn't always have growing up.

"Call me Jim Harvey. And get us a refill, to celebrate 'us not pissing all over each other in an act of dominance'. Those are lovely Donna's words by the way." Surprise colored Harvey's face before he let out a laugh.

"She does have a way with words." Harvey joked as he made his way over to his decanter.

"Did she ever tell you about the time she wrote a speech for her third grade graduation? Plagiarizing Cyndi Lauper was involved."

Harvey laughed, a cheshire like grin gracing his face as he passed Jim the glass of refilled scotch, at the thought of getting ammo on a young Donna.

"Please tell me more."