Growth
(Set post 9x10 - Donna shares some news with Harvey)
The painting was the final item they unpacked, having waited until the rest of the house was set up to determine the perfect place to hang it. Eventually they settled on the bedroom they had decided to use as an office, the painting hanging in pride of place above the desk.
It was there that Donna found him, sitting in a chair staring at his mother's painting, lost to thought. She could feel the veil of sadness seeping over him, as always occurred whenever Harvey's thoughts turned to his mother. The lost time and regrets and all the missed moments they hadn't shared and now wouldn't be able too.
She knew Harvey had not initially allowed himself to grieve properly, instead throwing himself into the plan to rid the firm of Faye. So the grieving had occurred gradually, bit by bit, as Harvey slowly allowed himself to feel her loss.
Donna called his name softly as she entered the room not wanting to startle him, Harvey looking up with a slightly sad smile on his face. She nestled herself on his lap, his arms encircling her immediately in a welcoming hug, and they sat for a time in comfortable silence admiring the ever so meaningful piece of artwork.
"Missing her?" She asked quietly, despite already knowing the answer.
"Yes." One simple little three letter word, but it spoke volumes on just how far Harvey had come, now freely admitting to missing and caring and loving someone.
"I feel like my family is disappearing, I know I still have Marcus but I just feel…."
As his words trailed off Donna's hand drifted from his shoulder up into the fine strands of hair at the back of his neck, stroking absentmindedly, grounding Harvey in a reminder that despite all he had lost this year, they had also gained each other. And now something more as well, something much more.
And maybe this wasn't the moment she had planned, but she knew in her heart it was the right one.
She slipped her fingers between his, moving his hand to rest against her stomach, the warmth of his palm soaking through the fabric of her shirt and spreading across her abdomen.
"Your family isn't disappearing Harvey, it's growing."
He looked up at her, eyes wide and she knew he got it, understood what she was telling him, but she also knew he needed her to confirm it.
So nodding her head Donna did just that.
"Yes Harvey, I am." And her voice was thick with unshed tears and emotion, her lip trembling.
Joy broke across Harvey's face, his grin growing wide as he looked at her with wonder and Donna let the tears flow, trickling down her cheeks as Harvey took her face in his hands and kissed her with more love than she had once thought could possibly exist in the world.
He pulled back, forehead resting against hers as his thumbs gently swiped at streaks of tears. Donna saw that his own eyes were watery, the beginnings of a tear slipping from the corner of one eye.
"You're happy?"
"I'm beyond happy. I love you Donna."
"I love you too Harvey."
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Nine months later with the office now a nursery the painting still hung in pride of place, however now it was located above the crib belonging to their precious newborn baby.