Hello! In these wildly uncertain times, I decided I wanted to post this snippet of story.

I have to admit, I've missed Harvey and Emilie. After finally watching the final season of the series, I have had a lot of feelings (I think we all have!) about how it ended and I've been thinking a lot about what I want to do next with this small fragment of the universe I've created.

So, I have a semblance of a plot for a new story, a second story for Emilie and Harvey and Mike and Donna. But it's not entirely completed yet. Frankly, I'm flipping back and forth on some plot ideas. But, I wrote *this* and wanted to share it with someone. So, here I am posting it as a bonus to In The Cross Fire.

I can't promise this will lead into another story anytime soon. But it will likely lead to something in the future. I am ironing out how I think Emilie might fit into the ending of the show, with a few blurry timelines and skipped sequences. It's very likely that if this comes to fruition, it will be a post series story and a bit canon divergent. But if you read this, it will likely lead to some question marks and possible leads into what the story might be about.

And honestly, I'm being a bit flexible with the concept here. But someone had to help Harvey pull this wedding thing together. So, I figure if there was anyone Harvey was going to irritate to assist him… it was his little sister.

Anyway, read if you want. Let me know if you like it or hate it or frankly could care less.

But in these uncertain times with buzzwords like pandemic and social distance and scary numbers about scary things around the world, I wanted to post something. So, consider this a tiny escape from the world for a tiny fragment of time.

Much love, S.

xoxoxo

Emilie travelled from Boston back to the city begrudgingly. She told her dad she could stay and help him deal with the rest of her mom's things but he insisted she go back to her life in Manhattan and return to a routine. It had only been a few weeks and she didn't know if he was ready to be alone, but Emilie was comforted in knowing his sisters were there to help out, too.

As much as she loved her aunties, they were suffocating.

Marcus was the one who took her to the train station and hugged her twice before letting her go. She was worried about him too.

Returning to her apartment in the city, a still version of the life she put on pause to deal with her grief, had been overwhelming.

She went through the motions - she went to the cafe, served coffee, occasionally went for a run. But there was a dark cloud above her. Of course, that was expected but she closed herself off.

Marcus didn't keep in touch. Harvey didn't really reach out. Bobby called her once a day. She could easily convince him she was doing okay, because she knew he needed to hear that.

But Emilie needed her mom. And that wasn't possible anymore.

One drunken night, alone in her apartment, she called Jon Finnegan. She was lost and sad and desperate. He didn't answer his phone, which may have been a blessing. But she left him a very sad, crying voicemail then fell asleep.

The next morning, she was shocked to see a message from him checking in. But her guard was back up. She bailed on meeting him for coffee and brushed it off. Then he stopped trying.

It was a warm Saturday when the sun started to shine again for Emilie.

And it came in a phone call from her brother.

"What's up, old man?"

She was surprised to hear him laugh on the other end of the phone. "You know, I'm not even going to be bothered by that. Not today." Harvey paused. "I need a huge favour from you. The biggest thing I could ask you."

"Are we burying a body?"

"This is serious, Em."

Emilie sat up on the couch and moved the phone to her other ear. "What do you need?"

"Donna and I are getting married and I need your help."

"Oh my god! Are you serious? This is incredible. Harvey, I'm so happy. Wait. Aren't you at Louis' wedding today? It's tacky to propose at a wedding."

"It's a long story. Louis is taking Shelia to Labour and Delivery as we speak."

"Wow, big day in the Litt household. That's awesome. Wow, I can't wait until -

"Em, focus." Harvey was chuckling. "I need you to go get me a ring."

"Didn't you have mom's ring? I know she sent it to you."

"No, a ring for me."

"Today? You're not one to plan ahead like this."

"Emilie, I want to marry Donna tonight."

Emilie nearly dropped her phone. This was insane. Her brother was insane.

Well, their last few weeks had been insane. Maybe this made sense.

"Okay. This is nuts. But okay. What do I need to do?"

"I'm going to send Ray to pick you up in like half an hour - you need a dress and maybe drag a brush through your hair-

"Harvey."

"Then one stop at a jeweller and Ray will bring you out to this estate."

"Okay. I can manage this, I guess." She let out a breath and glanced around her messy apartment. "Harvey, I'm really happy you've come to your senses with Donna."

"Me too, Em. Thank you. I'll see you soon."

Emilie picked out a basic black floral dress, with long sheer sleeves and a bow at the back. Before her mother's funeral, she hadn't worn a dress in months. But, it was the least she could do for her brother.

When she got to the estate, she was happy to see Mike there, too. She hadn't considered he had still been in town. She knew there was a lot going on at the firm and it had been a pleasant surprise to see him at Lily's funeral. But she had no idea what she was getting into at this wedding full of Louis and Sheila's family and friends, so Mike was a safe recluse.

Emilie and Mike Ross had really struck up an unlikely friendship. He had connected her with some friends he had in San Francisco when she moved and that had led her to a job and a huge social circle. But Mike had remained a confidant when she was really struggling - through things she just couldn't talk to her brothers about. She trusted him with the small details and he always offered honest advice to her.

"Emilie, hey!" Mike said as he caught her at the front entrance. He wrapped her in a hug and Emilie was so grateful. She knew things had been messy with whatever was bringing Mike back to the city but he still checked in on her through all the dramatics and hardship. She was the current resident of his old apartment, afterall.

"Can you believe this is actually happening?" Emilie asked him as they headed into the event.

"I can't." He tilted his head as a soft smirk appeared across his face. "But at the same time, it makes a lot of sense."

Emilie nodded her head in agreement. They paused before heading outside and Mike pointed to a small room to their left. "Harvey's been waiting for you." He gave her arm a quick squeeze and left her to walk through a set of French doors to find her brother.

The small parlour was lit with a chandelier and large windows, showing off the crowd enjoying the evening outside. Emilie walked in to find Harvey seated at a plush armchair, scribbling onto a small notebook. Just the sight of him writing his vows almost made her tear up.

"Do you need me to proofread that for you?" She joked as she pulled his attention away.

"Hey," Harvey replied, standing up quickly. "I'm so glad you're here." He pulled her into a tight hug.

Emilie wanted to be shocked by the action but she relaxed in his arms for a moment. It was nice.

Harvey pulled away, leaving his hands resting on her shoulders at an arm's length. "I can't thank you enough."

"Let's hope this fits," she replied to him with a smile, handing over a small velvet box. "Wait. What about the ring for Donna?"

He smirked at her, patting his jacket pocket over his heart. "I've been carrying it for weeks."

Emilie let out a small laugh, a beaming smile coming to her face. "You big softie."

Harvey just shrugged, smiling at her then back to the ring box.

"Why today?" Emilie asked quietly.

"I just can't wait. You know, there's been a lot of awful in my world over the years but there has always been Donna. Despite everything else, she was there. I can't wait another day."

Emilie swallowed the lump in her throat as he spoke so beautifully. If only their mother could see him now.

"We'll do something with our families later but tonight…" Harvey trailed off, looking up to meet his sister's eyes. "I know Marcus would want to see this. And I would love to have mom here. And my dad." He reached his arm out and pulled Emilie in close to him again. "But I'm glad you're here, kid."

Emilie chose to laugh instead of cry, like she wanted to. "Do you need me to be your flower girl?"

Harvey paused, as if weighing his options. "That's not necessary." He paused. "But how about ring bearer?" He handed the small box back to her and reached for Donna's ring from his pocket. "And come stand beside me, too."

"What? No. Wouldn't you rather have Mike up there?" Emilie was taken aback by his question. She had placed distance between herself and Harvey when she stayed in San Francisco. Life had carried on without her. She intentionally ignored his Facetime requests - mainly to avoid all his digging questions about why she deferred her enrollment to Columbia and what exactly happened between her and Jon Finnegan. She rolled her eyes whenever he mentioned how he was paying for her to live in that old apartment.

Even at their mom's funeral, things had been daunting and glossy and empty. Things were left unsaid. They skipped over the mess, like they usually did, and carried on with their separate lives.

But in that very moment of Harvey putting his entire heart on his sleeve and ignoring their imperfect relationship, she couldn't help but feel a burning warmth in her chest. It was love for her big brother.

"Nope. I want my smartass kid sister standing beside me. Please, Emmy."

She just smiled again, reaching for his hand and squeezing it. "Well, okay. Since you asked so politely. Thank goodness I brushed my hair for this, old man."