Author's Note: This is me being inspired by another song, but only the title this time. So here I am. Reviews are always welcomed :D

Thank you Adrift_writter for being my beta in this one and for all the lessons you're teatching me. I appreciate so much, love you.


- i -

"Because that would be a mistake and you know it."

It was what he yelled at her the day she confronted him, demanding to know how he loved her. She certainly knew it would be a mistake, but this didn't cause her to feel less bitter towards him for not speaking clearly. And she was sick of it. Sick of him acting like she was different and then acting as if nothing had ever happened between them, as if they didn't flirt on every moment possible. As if Harvey's eyes didn't reveal his desire and affection for her.

Harvey remained keeping her at arm's length, and she kept her feelings inside and carried on. And a lot has changed since that fateful day. Donna said she loved him right before saying she was moving to Louis' desk and leaving the room without looking back, just like he did the night before.

They went through hell because of it. He didn't talk to her; he treated her like a stranger and the way he did, hurt her more than she could describe. It seemed someone kept stabbing her heart with a knife and twisting it. But they made peace and things were gradually going back to the way it was before. They were learning again to feel comfortable and act as the best friends they were.

Until the day Mike was arrested and everybody's world turned into chaos once again. One day before Mike's hearing, she heard a very familiar knock on her door. Is it odd to recognize someone's knocking? If so, she was the odd one because she recognized every damn time it was him on the other side. And her being right, he was there, on her door, looking for help.

"Harvey, it's the middle of the night. What are you doing here?"

"I had to see you. I know you said I couldn't do this anymore, but I need to talk to you."

She knew he usually showed some level of weakness only to her, but the way he seemed desperate hit her. When she told him he couldn't come knocking on her door whenever he felt like it, it did not apply on an occasion like this one. What they're going through is different and she would never not be there for him. In fact, she only said that because she was feeling hurt by the way Harvey was treating her, making clear he didn't even want a friendship with her.

"Talk about what?"

"About what I have to do."

"You're gonna turn yourself in, aren't you?"

Donna's heart stopped beating for what felt like a second or two, a physical pain with the idea he would do something like that. He couldn't be serious, he just could not.

The redhead let him in and they talked about what Harvey was thinking about doing. The conversation ended with Donna saying "and I don't wanna lose you," and Harvey taking his coat to go away.

"Harvey‒" She called him before he was too far down the corridor. He turned so they could stare at each other and she leant on the door.

"Go to the courthouse in the morning, sit with Mike until that verdict comes in, and show him that you have faith in him‒" she took a breath. "Like I have faith in you." She was almost crying again. Dealing with the bare idea he could turn himself in and take all the blame, made her want to throw up. Her body was physically aching and she understood better what Rachel was feeling.

Harvey made a silent nod, turning his back to make his way to the lift and before she could completely close the door, her name on his lips stopped her and she opened the door again.

Harvey was placed again a few steps away from her. Donna was standing at the threshold glancing at him whilst waiting for what more he could possibly say.

"Can I stay?" His raspy voice caught her by surprise.

Of all the things, she'd never thought he would invite himself to stay more. Nevertheless every fiber of her being wanted to say yes and let him to stay and do whatever he had in mind the words that came to her mouth were a lot different.

"It'd be a mistake." She didn't mean to say out of spite, using his words against him. But once Donna realized, the words were already out and there was no coming back after this.

He nodded again in silence and this time he went away without looking back.

-ii-

The last few days were insane for everyone, personally and professionally speaking. In fact, things have been a mess since Mike went to prison and the firm's prestige was profoundly undermined.

Although all of them had to win back clients and reassure those that remained at the firm that everything was going to be okay, neither of them could focus on it. Jessica was very busy working on Leonard Bailey's case with Rachel. Louis was lost in Tara's pregnancy with another man, and Harvey and Donna focused on getting Mike out of the jail.

However, after all their struggle, Jessica told everyone that she decided to leave the firm for real. She was moving to Chicago to play on the good side for once, something she remembered was what she wanted to do in the first place when she chose to be a lawyer.

Her decision deeply affected everyone, especially Harvey. The man had Jessica as his mentor for his entire career as a lawyer and despite whether or not he admits it, he didn't like it when things changed..

Donna interrupted a discussion between Jessica, Harvey and Louis, saying hard truths and admitting their heads weren't in the right place to deal with the firm's future. But in the end, they all understood why Jessica was leaving, had a drink or two and the secretary left the three named partners so they could have their time together and say goodbye.

Although Donna left them, she stayed at the firm because she wanted to make sure that after Jessica leaving, Harvey would be okay and to check on him. Louis was the first one to leave, followed by Jessica, letting Harvey with his glass of scotch.

She took a few steps into his office. "You gonna be okay?" She asked.

"She was my mentor," he said. Even though Harvey was looking at the city's lights through his window, when Donna popped up on his door, he could get her reflection. "But yeah, I'm gonna be okay," he concluded.

"You want to be alone?" Donna asked.

Normally, when this kind of thing happened, the lawyer preferred to spend some time alone, organizing his thoughts and handling his emotions with no one around.

"No," he said, much to her surprise.

Reading his needs, the redhead entered the room and walked towards him until she stopped by his side. Donna locked her eyes with him through the window, and without glancing at him or a word, she let her left hand intertwine with his right one.

He, following her movement through the window reflection, moved his hand to catch hers mid way. A physical contact was not normal to them, nevertheless, as usual, there's a certain level of connection between them that is hard to explain, but Donna squeezed Harvey's hand, showing him she was there, and he felt a huge weight being lifted off his shoulder.

Her act showed him that even with Jessica's absence, he would be able to handle everything. There's no surprise in his feelings. His abandonment issues were always a thing, and he understood how deeply were his fears to be left alone, especially after Donna went to work for Louis. The woman only went to another desk in the same firm, yet he had panic attacks and went to therapy because of it. So, having Donna, the person who was by his side every day for more than a decade, was a kind reminder that he was not alone.

The lawyer and secretary stayed silent for some minutes until he offered her a drink and they let go of each other's hands, going to the sofa to talk. After long hours of conversation and an empty bottle of whiskey, they decided to call it a night.

"Hey, I think I should go. We still have work tomorrow," she said, looking at her cellphone.

"It's a good idea. Take your things and we can share a cab. Please, we've had too much to drink and I'd rather be sure you got home safely," he said, indicating he wouldn't get a no as an answer and taking the last remaining dose in his glass and putting it on the center table.

The drive to Donna's place was quiet. The secretary was sleepy and most of the way was fighting to not fall asleep. At some point, she gave up, and let her head rest on Harvey's shoulder. She didn't sleep, but didn't engage in any conversation, only answering him with mutters.

"Can I come in?" Harvey offered as soon as the taxi pulled over in front of her place.

She stared at him deeply, biting her lower lip, then diverted her eyes to her hands close to his knees.

"It'd be a mistake, Harvey," she said. "I-" she paused, thinking about what to say.

"I get it, Donna." He nodded.

Donna raised her eyes, with a shy smile on her lips, and before she got off the taxi, she gave him a kiss on his cheek. This being the most touchy day they had had for years.

-iii-

It was already late at night and Harvey was supposed to drive directly to his condo, but he wanted to be there and took the opportunity to share details with her. He arrived less than 10 minutes ago at the firm and went straight to his office.

He knew the trip to Boston would start a change inside him and before he was there, talking to his mom and working things out, he never thought he could actually do it. If it wasn't for Donna he would keep things the way they were, maybe for the rest of his life.

The lawyer also recognized he had just taken the first step so the healing process could actually begin. He would need more time to feel whole, but he was already feeling good and that he was capable of doing anything he wanted with this weight off his shoulders.

Harvey was sitting by his desk, checking something on his laptop. Whereas his eyes were on the screen, his thoughts were recalling the events from the last two days in Boston and how at ease he was feeling with himself. It didn't take him long to see with his peripheral vision the shape he was longing for, so before she was inside his office, he raised his gase to look at Donna.

"Harvey, what are you doing here?" She stopped by and leant over the glass door. "When did you go back?"

She asked and by her tone he felt she was worried about him.

"Ten minutes ago." He answered sotto voce.

"How'd it go?" The worry he caught in her voice was now all over her face. Despite her strained stance, he also could see a glimpse of excitement. Not as if she was about to hear some gossip, but in the way children get excited when they feel they will get good news.

"It went good." He smirked.

Donna relaxed her shoulders and smiled back at him, relieved he was in fact giving her good news.

"I'm glad."

Their eyes locked for a moment, and Harvey, still with a smile on his face, broke their eye contact.

"As a matter of fact, I need your help with something."

"Anything. But there's something you have to do first."

He understood what she was saying. He needed to speak with Louis and apologize for his behavior from the other night.

He got up on his feet, leaving the secretary there, while he ran to Louis' office.

The talk with Louis didn't take much time and he was already back and she was there now seated at his couch, waiting for him.

"So?" she questioned.

"Everything went good as well."

"Good!" Her lips parted in a smile and again he could see pride all over her face.

Donna was famous for her reading skills and liked to brag about that every once in a while, but Harvey was good at reading people too, albeit not as good as her, so everytime he got something on reading Donna, he felt very proud of it.

"You can say it," he teased her.

"What?" Just as good a mind-reader, she was also a good actress and embodied a convincing confused face.

He didn't answer her, furrowing his eyebrows.

"It's just not my place to say anything about this matter, Harvey." Her tone and face were back to seriousness.

"Where was this thought last night when you talked about how I needed to fly to Boston and make peace with my mom?" He asked in faux annoyance, while he walked to his desk, getting a package that was leaning on the floor at the right side of his desk.

"That was different," she explained but didn't finish when she saw Harvey putting a big package on his desk.

"Is that what I think it is?"

Donna's eyes changed to his desk and to the place on his wall where used to display an important painting of Harvey's mom.

"Sorta," he answered. "Are you gonna be there with your mouth open staring or you're gonna actually help me?" he faked an annoyed tone.

Without hesitation, she stepped fast towards him and both unpacked the new painting. When the whole package was gone, Donna could finally see what it was and emotion flooded her.

"Harvey, it's beautiful," she exclaimed.

She was facing a version of the old painting Harvey had, and she couldn't help tearing up. This painting being as meaningful as the other one, meant that he finally was in a good place with his first family and would be forever reminded of it on the wall of his second home.

In silence, he took the painting, walked to the wall and with her guidance, positioned the painting on the wall. He stepped away by her side and for him, it was everything perfect, but she didn't agree on it. Donna went towards the wall and in a gentle move, straightened the painting.

Now everything was perfect. Donna was there by his side, his wall was more familiar than ever and the feeling of hope was growing inside him.

"What do you say we celebrate with a glass of scotch?" She offered.

Donna slightly turned her head to face him and he recognized something on her eyes. Something he saw on the other time, indicating that that offer could go into another direction. And now it was his time to fight with every fiber of his body to answer that question. He wanted it, he really wanted it, but he was not ready yet.

As he thought before, making things right with Lily was just the first step. He was relieved , but he still felt broken and damaged inside. He was not willing to risk something with Donna, only to end up hurting her.

Despite that, he wanted to say yes to that question, but only when he was feeling whole, with no baggage, no traumas to deal with. Not in a moment when he was vulnerable and his head was not in the right place to make smart decisions.

"It would be a mistake, Donna," he finally answered.

He saw the glow on her eyes fading out and Donna, knowing him as good as she knew, understood he wouldn't explain a thing. So she just nodded and turned to leave his office.

"I asked Ray to come and take me home. He's already waiting for me, but please take him instead. I'll not take no as an answer," he said before she was out of earshot.

- v -

When Harvey Specter hired a fraud, he knew the implications of doing so, but he cared little about the consequences at that moment. To be honest, even if he liked the kid, it never crossed his mind that the guy would last much ‒let alone that he would end up caring about the young lawyer. Yet, years later, he was there, facing another fight to give Mike what he deserved and never had.

In some ways, he faced the situation with Mike as if it was a new version of his case with Jessica. When, years ago, she saw something on that inexperienced mail boy and gave him the opportunity of a lifetime, he fought to be the best. Because of that woman, he could pay for his law fees and take the first step to his successful career.

So, because the case was too close to his heart, he used every damn resource to 1) take Mike out of the prison and 2) help him get into the bar and finally became a lawyer without fear of being caught. Clearly, things weren't easy, but to his luck, he had a strong village to support him: Louis, Donna and Jessica.

Harvey called his mentor to back him, so she flew to New York and pulled an ace in the hole to convince Anita Gibbs to vote in favor of his pupil. To everyone's delight, her move actually worked and Mike was accepted into the bar with nothing to worry about, he was free to practice law.

After a long period of things being so chaotic, they finally had something to celebrate. After a few glasses of champagne and laughing like none of them had done lately, one by one they went home in peace, hoping better days were coming. Harvey was the last remaining and before he took his way home, he went to the bathroom.

The name-partner washed his face and looked in the mirror and all he saw was tiredness. He was so fucking tired. His head aching as a reminder of the weight he had to carry in the last months. He hadn't dealt with everything; in fact, there was one more thing he needed to think of.

Since last night, Donna's statement was echoing inside his head "I want more" which he did not know what she was actually aiming for. She wanted more in her career? So that could mean she would leave the firm? She was asking for more from him? He was clueless and tired of her voice echoing in his mind.

After drying his face, he walked right to the lift and, to his surprise; she was in front of the lift. In an unconscious move, he stopped, figuring if he should approach her, but he had already reached her peripheral vision as the smile on her lips showed him, so there was no coming back.

"Hey," he greeted her, stopping by her side.

"Hey!" she answered him in the same low tone.

There was a silence between them until the lift pinged, and they popped in. They were locked in the same place, a few feet apart, but he felt like she was too far from him‒oceans between them. However, he didn't know if she felt the same way, because he was to blame.

Soon they were at the hall, they could see the black Lexus parked in front of the building. Ray was waiting for Harvey to take him home.

"Do you wanna ride?" He pointed his head to the car.

Without speaking, she ran her eyes from Harvey, to the car and back to Harvey.

"It's late. There's enough space in the Lexus, anyway." He teased her, before she could say no.

What could a drive do? It was not like they didn't do this every now and then. They shared a cab. He carpooled her sometimes. Nothing was strange in his suggestion. Nothing, but the mood around them.

In the car, Donna focused her chat with Ray, asking him how things were and she suggested to him a new Broadway production to go see.

When the driver arrived at her place, Harvey quickly got out of the car and opened her door. On her feet, they stayed face-to-face, Harvey with one hand on the door and the other inside his pocket. They locked their gaze and something there led her to ask him.

"What would you say to a nightcap?" Donna said softly with mischief behind her gaze.

Harvey downed his eyes to his feet, putting the other hand in his pocket. He was not ready. He was not ready to give her more.

"I get it, it would be a mistake." She was brave enough to say the words he couldn't. Sarcasm dripped from her words.

Harvey nodded, his head still down. He was a coward. A coward for not letting her in, a coward for not saying yes when he wanted it. A coward for not having the balls to risk a new step in their relationship.

He was slowly upping his head, and she was already too far from his reach again. Their distance now was even bigger. The first thing he did in the next morning was to visit his former therapist in an attempt to fill the void in his relationship with Donna. If there was someone between them, it was a perfect excuse to not give her more, only to let it all crumble due to his emotional ineptness.

- v -

"What do you say?" Harvey said, outstretching his hand as an invitation.

"I don't mind if I do." Donna linked her palm with his and the minute her fingers touched his, it was the first shiver they had during that night.

As she guided him through the crowd trying to find an empty space for them to dance, he couldn't help but beam at her bare back. She was wearing a damn black dress with a spaghetti strap and a greatly appealing exposed skin on the back.

The slow dance started as a play, swaying here and there. Both of them were apprehensive to be too close. Afraid of what the closeness could mean. Maybe the sparkle would eventually burn and they wouldn't know how to move on from that. But rapidly the upbeat waltz got slower, and they finally set their bodies together and it was then that the second shiver ran down their spines.

Harvey tenderly positioned his hand on her back. Donna's hand was on his shoulder and their free hands joined, while they synched their movements with the rhythm of the song. Their faces were close enough for them to feel the warmth emanating from their proximity‒cheeks almost touching. She was intoxicated by his wooden scent as he was with her lavender and fruity perfume.

It was a rare pleasure to have her in his arms. They didn't use touch; they averted every situation where they needed to touch much so she had never hugged him to show support, the bare presence of her a few inches away was enough for him to know she would ever be there for him, no matter what.

They had withdrawn so much from each other. Years ago, Donna ended a relationship because she couldn't cut Harvey out of her . A few days ago he did the same because even though he didn't fight for her like she fought for him, when he read her letter, putting him once more over herself and over her career he knew he should have chosen her without a second thought.

How could he ever doubt that his ultimate choice would be Donna? The woman who was by his side for the past decade and her presence next to him was not but a walking sunshine who he enjoyed working by her side.

"Would you like to be my mistake tonight?" The words flipped out of his mouth low enough for her, and only her, to listen.

Donna widened her eyes, scanning for any sign of a joke on his face, but he was not joking. He was actually asking her for something more. Trying to not call any attention to them, she smiled at him and his face brightened over the possibility she would say yes. Instead of an answer, she gently pushed his body from hers and walked away from the dance floor. And he followed gladly.

In the short way to the bar, the words that came from his mouth were in a loop in her mind. You have to promise me that what you did, won't ever happen again. Following this request, she promised she wouldn't kiss him again.

When they found a quiet and empty place across the bar to have a proper talk, she leant against the balcony, and he stood beside her.

"I want you to be here," she said.

She wanted him to be there for her, for what she wanted, for what they could be as a couple. She didn't want that night to be a mistake.

"So, I'm here!" He answered her, trying to reach her hand to intertwine their fingers, but she detached it.

He clearly didn't understand what her words meant. He was indeed physically there, but the fact he was asking her for that night to be a mistake said a lot.

"But, I don't want this to be-"

Before she could finish, the sound of spoons hitting the glasses interrupted them. It was time for them to make a speech as a best man and maid of honor.

- vi -

After losing Mike to Seattle and breaking up with his girlfriend, his personal life seemed to be finally calm after a hell of a year. On the other hand, since Mike and Rachel's wedding, the firm has been in complete chaos.

Harvey had to fight Robert to maintain his position as manager partner, even though deep down he didn't want to keep the title. He missed the old days of cracking new cases and closing clients, but the bureaucracy of the managing partner kept him away from what he most liked about the law. Harvey was the kind of lawyer who was rather good with people, that is until he had to deal with their bullshit.

To help on his fruitless dispute with Robert, he asked for Alex`s help on a case, making a promise that if he won, Alex's name would be next one on the wall.

In the end, after the mess they all found themselves in, Alex won, but they decided both, his contestant, Wheeler, and Williams would be name partners. Also, Louis claimed the position as manager partner and considering how both Harvey and Robert were acting, they agreed to let him have the title.

Not as a surprise, Louis facing them was Donna's idea, and Harvey was proud of her. She was indeed a hell of a COO. He never doubted her but every time she reinforced she deserved her position, a smile full of pride and joy came to his lips.

"Drinks are on you, pretty," she said, intertwining their arms, giving him two playfull slaps on his shoulder.

The group formed by Harvey, Donna, Alex, Robert and Samantha, let their differences in the office for the night and enjoyed a conversation filled with laughs and jokes.

As usual, by the end of the night, Donna and Harvey were the last ones left and they drank a few more. None of them was actually thinking straight with alcohol flooding their system.

Since the wedding, the touches were more often, the banter hitting at every opportunity. So after everyone left, they allowed themselves to be more touchy without holding back .

An hour later, they called it a night. They shared a cab and, to make sure she would be at her home safely, Harvey accompanied her to her apartment.

Donna opened the door, and before closing it, turned to face Harvey.

"Would you like to be my mistake tonight?" she asked him in a soft tone, leaning her head on the door, smiling.

The familiar door of apartment 206 was open to him. But this time, it was he who got bothered by the word mistake. She was drunk, which was for itself a red flag on whether her invitation was genuine or the alcohol speaking. Did he want to? For sure he did. He wanted to touch, to kiss, to bite every inch of her alabaster skin. Everything she let him do, he would oblige gladly . But he didn't want to take advantage of her less than sober state.

Even being drunk as she was, his silence was enough for her to understand that he didn't want to. The smile on her face was gone, and she moved to step into her apartment. Again, before closing the door, she asked him.

"Harvey," she paused, catching his presence with her peripheral view to make sure he was listening to her, but not daring to look him in the eye. "Did you think the other time was a mistake?"

"No," he answered with such conviction that even after being rejected, it warmed her heart.

"Good." She nodded, closing the door, letting him go.

- vii -

"Donna," he paused, fixing his body over hers. "You know this it's not a mistake, right?" He pointed to the space between them back and forth. "I looked around and you weren't there and I felt empty."

His mind went to that time when he thought he needed to be whole to be with Donna, to finally say yes to that question, to finally be with her. But it's funny how life change. He understood he didn't need to be whole or perfect to be with the woman he loved. He only needed to be ready to fight to make things work between them. So he was there, facing the woman he met more than a decade ago, feeling more complete than he has ever been.

"Yeah. The only way this night would be a mistake is if you thought we were going to this only one time tonight."

And that night it was the first of the rest of their lives. Everything was changing, but he was not afraid because he knew she was there and once she was by his side, his chips were always up.