A/N: I wrote what I thought was a standalone fic titled 'with you, i am home', and got hit by some inspiration of other conversations we didn't hear/topics I personally wanted discussed. I've got a few more ideas written down (and even more popping up in my head every day!) so please let me know what you think! Hope you enjoy!

let's have conversations in the dark

It's been six months since Harvey had walked the streets of New York City, he and Donna finally having found the time to leave Seattle and return to spend a long weekend with the Litt's. He hadn't questioned it when Lucy had immediately taken to Donna and his wife had almost forgotten he existed with the little girl in her arms. With Donna's assurances that she and Harvey would be very happy to watch Lucy for the day, Louis and Sheila had snuck off for some quiet time together, doing what, Harvey hadn't wanted to ask.

He finds himself now, entering a grocery store having been deployed by Donna to fetch the remaining ingredients for their dinner that evening - another thing she had promised Louis and Sheila. He'd been reluctant to leave, more than happy to watch Donna and Lucy play together, but the former had threatened that he either go and get the shopping or they'd be forced to treat their friends to a Thai. And at the mention of Thai, Harvey had pressed a kiss to her lips and was out of the door before she had a chance to say anything else.

He's studying the choice of chips and dips in front of him, when he feels someone walk by and pause beside him.

"Harvey?"

Harvey freezes at the soft sounds of that familiar British accent, one he had not thought he'd hear again.

"Paula… hey…" He doesn't know what to do with himself, standing awkwardly staring at her. Do they shake hands, do nothing but continue to stare at each other? They both seem to settle on a gentle, but awkward hug, which is more like them leaning closely and tapping each other lightly on the back.

"I heard you left the city…" Paula begins, eyes sweeping over him. She can't help but admit he looks good, standing before her in casual clothes. He looks so much lighter and happier than when she last saw him.

Her eyes settle on his hand holding the basket, the one with the shiny gold ring on the fourth finger.

Ah, she thinks in her head, the source of his happiness.

"Donna?" She nods her head towards the ring and Harvey, like a reflex, covers it with his other hand, tracing the band with his fingers. He doesn't do it out of shame, because he's never going to be ashamed of him and Donna, but it's the way her calculating eyes are fixated, he can almost see the wheels churning in her head. But above that, he touches it to ground himself, Donna having the power to keep him calm and sane without even being there.

"Yeah…"

Harvey takes in the look she has on her face. One that screams 'I knew it' or 'I told you so', and he can't quell the anger that builds in him when she snickers to herself.

"I guess it ended how I thought it would…"

"What do you mean?" He asks quietly but it's fierce, causing a passing shopper to glance over at them. Both Paula and Harvey nod that everything is fine, and the shopper leaves them.

"That she would make a move as soon as I was out of the picture…" Paula pauses before muttering under her breath, "Not like that stopped her before."

Harvey breathes in deeply, nostrils flaring as he clenches the basket in his hand, having indeed heard the latter part of the sentence. He hasn't even had time to fully comprehend the first part, having no desire to spend more time with her to ask what she means.

"Not that it's any of your business, Paula, but I'm the one who made the move." Having had enough of the conversation, Harvey grabs a couple of the bags of chips before him and excuses himself, "It's good to see you well, have a good day."

Harvey sidesteps her as he journeys towards the checkouts, not bothering to look back.

.

.

When Harvey returns to his friend's home, he's in a mood, soured by his encounter with Paula and wondering what she had meant about Donna making the first move. Offloading the shopping in the kitchen, Harvey grabs a beer before starting his search for Donna. The sounds of her laughing compel him to the living room, where upon entering, he immediately softens at the sight of Donna playing with Lucy on the floor.

Neither of them seem to notice him come in, or if Donna does, she doesn't make any signal. Coming up behind the pair, Harvey places a hand on her shoulder as he settles down on the floor beside them. Donna, mid peek-a-booing the baby, turns and gives him a dazzling smile that makes him momentarily forget about all of his worries.

"Hi." She smiles softly as he leans in, pressing a kiss to her cheek as he reaches out to tickle Lucy.

"Everything alright?" Donna turns to look at him, taking in his uncharacteristically quiet demeanour. It's not uncommon for her to find him staring at her sometimes, when they're in bed and she wakes up to find him, eyes wide, taking in her form, or when they're chilling on the sofa watching tv, him in awe of her and them together. But she has a feeling this isn't one of those times.

Harvey doesn't say anything, just sighs deeply as he looks between her and the small child. He tickles Lucy's stomach before running the same hand along Donna's back.

"We'll talk about it later, okay?"

Donna's about to say something in response when Lucy, who'd been oddly quiet for such a small child during their exchange, makes herself known and the two adults refocus their attention on the small girl between them.

.

.

After enjoying dinner with Louis and Sheila, the two bid the family goodnight before returning to their hotel, with the promise they'll be back in the morning for brunch.

Donna doesn't probe Harvey, sensing that something has indeed perturbed him and knowing that he will eventually tell her. As soon as the enter their suite, she announces she's drawing them a relaxing bath and is happy when Harvey puts up no fight at the suggestion.

Tying her hair in a messy bun, Donna gets in the tub after Harvey, her back to his front as the two sink into the bubbles.

"We should do this more…"

"Bathe? Well yes, they do say you should at least a few times a week…"

Harvey's fingers dance up and down her sides and he lets out a laugh that Donna not only hears, but also feels given their position.

"I mean, come back to New York. I can't believe it's been six months, how much Lucy has grown…"

Donna cranes her neck, lifting her head to look up at him.

"Not if you're going to be in this weird mood every time…"

"I'm not in a weird mood." Harvey pouts slightly, linking their hands together in the water.

"Oh really?" Donna asks gently.

Harvey's quiet for a few moments, before finally telling her what's on his mind.

"When I was at the store earlier, I ran into Paula…" He says as if that explains everything, and in some ways it does. Donna would also feel off if she were to run into Thomas, or anyone else, so she turns in his arms, leaving his embrace so she can look directly at him.

"And?"

"She just said something that bothered me…"

Harvey takes one of her hand in his, her left, and examines the finger her rings would traditionally sit. With her other hand, Donna gently cups his face, gently stroking his cheek until he's ready to look up at her. She's more than happy to wait until he feels safe and ready to discuss whatever it that's bothering him. Even though they're married, it's still new and sometimes hard for them to freely share their feelings with each other, especially having spent over a decade keeping things to themselves.

"Did she… did you ever…" Harvey huffs, not knowing how to ask the question. Not knowing what he even wants to ask.

"I did go to see her." Donna says softly, certain the only thing her husband could be worried about was the meeting between his former lover and her that neither had told him about. "After you made Stu Buzzini offer me that job instead of firing me."

"What? Why didn't you say anything?"

"Because you'd made a choice then Harvey, to pick her over me."

"Donna…"

"I went to see her to apologise, for the kiss… for everything."

Harvey is quiet as she continues her story, "She was going to drop it, to not ask you to choose…"

"What changed her mind?"

It's Donna turn to be silent now and Harvey, sensing her apprehension, squeezes her hand.

"I couldn't promise her that something like that wouldn't happen again." She looks up at him and he can see the hurt still in her eyes. "Because a part of me always wanted to believe it could. And I wasn't ready to let you - us - go."

They stare at each other, both unpacking her words as the soft sounds of the bubbles and water around them ripple through the room.

"She said she thought you'd be the one who made the first move and it bothered me."

"Hm.." Donna plays with his hand in hers. "Why?"

He shrugs a shoulder, not sure how to answer. "I just don't like the implication that I couldn't act on my own, that I didn't have a choice. Donna, I know it took me some time but I mean what I said, when I realised we should be together, it felt like we always had been and it was on me to do something about it. You'd told me so many times..."

"I love you Harvey." She leans forward, water sloshing around them, as she kisses him soundly.

"I love you too Donna, in case that wasn't obvious."

Donna grins against his lips. "I'll never get tired of hearing it."

They spend some more time together, holding each other and lazily stroking and kissing until the water becomes too lukewarm and Harvey can feel Donna dozing off in his arms.

"Thank you…" Harvey whispers, pressing a kiss into Donna's hair as she clambers into bed beside him, tucking herself into his side. He brings an arm around her small form, as the other finds her hand.

"For what?" She murmurs, half asleep and Harvey tightens his grip on her as her warm breath meets the skin on his chest.

"For always holding onto hope that we were still possible."

"I told you Harvey," Donna snuggles closer into his chest and Harvey can tell she's almost asleep, "I've always believed in you."

Thanks for reading :)