･ﾟ: *･ﾟ*･ﾟ:･ﾟ
Donna slips off her heels, crouching beside Harvey's leather couch- his deep steady breathing a sign he's well and truely out for the count. She isn't suprised. It's the first time she's seen him relax in days, their personal time taking a hit with Alex and Samantha both out of town for a conference and Louis off ill.
She's half tempted to leave him but knows his shoulder will wear the consequences if she waits any longer. He needs a proper bed and she lifts her hand up fluttering it against his cheek. He doesn't stir and she selfishly takes a moment, tracing the rough stubble over his jawline and taking in his handsome lines with a content sigh. He keeps insisting he's the lucky one but in moments like these, when he isn't awake dispute it, she's the one who feels grateful- that he was willing to take a risk with her when wouldn't for anyone else.
An incoherent grumble spills from his lips and she smirks, slow in drawing away her hand. "Welcome back sleeping beauty."
He blinks a couple of times, confusion twisting his brow. He only meant to rest a few minutes, long enough to take the edge off inbetween appointments, but the darkness cascading in knots a ball of panic in his stomach. "What time is it?"
She makes a show of checking her watch despite knowing it's already been hours since his last meeting was scheduled. "Just after seven."
"The fuck-" he shoots up straight, assaulted by a wave of dizziness and palms his temple trying to stem the rush, "why didn't you wake me?"
Concern rests in her gaze as she watches him settling her fingers over his bent knee to keep him still. She didn't want him disturbed because of this- the fact he's running himself into the ground and seeing him now, there isn't any part of her that regrets the decision. "Because you're exhausted-"
"That's not a reason," he snaps, frustration winding tightly in his throat. It isn't all her fault. He relies on her more than he should because still has full access to his calendar and after a decade of being his secretary some habits are harder to break but if Cameron didn't wake him either that means she told him not to and regardless of well placed intentions, that does piss him off. "I had a call scheduled with Blake industries. Do you have any idea how important that was?'
"I do." She nods, dropping her hand and rocking back on her heels, "which is why I rang their CEO's secretary and sweetened her so Michael Blake would take the call with Samantha instead. She got them to agree to forty percent and he'll sign Thursday at the Ferrari Showroom on Heston, where you owe him a 'sweet ride' and a Scotch."
The tug of her lips does something to his insides, calms him somewhat, almost enough to appreciate the smug look on her face but he isn't ready to give in just yet. "I'm meeting with Salanger on Thursday night."
"You were-" she corrects him, holding her position on the floor, "but his daughter just had a baby so when I suggested lunch instead, he agreed it would fit in better with his schedule."
She pushes up in a fluid motion, her muscles easily taking the weight in an all-too-assured move and he breathes out the last of his frustration with a half hearted protest. "You still should have woken me."
She doesn't say anything just shoots him a warning look and he stands to follow her, slumping back down under another hit of dizziness. He quickly waves it off but knows she's right. He's been going at it too hard only it's not the long hours or case-load that's the problem, its the fact (like it or not) he isn't twenty something any more. His birthday is just around the corner, edging him nearer to fifty, and his throat tightens with embarrassment as he brushes off her unspoken concern. "I'm fine."
She doesn't argue, knows there isn't any point, and drops beside him under the pretence of sliding on her shoes. "Why don't you leave with me tonight? We can go back to yours put the game on and I'll help you with that mountain of paperwork Louis has been chasing."
The feel of her next to him -her thigh pressing lightly against his- urges a soft smile onto his lips. "You don't have to do that."
"I want to." Her voice is light, easy as she wriggles into her heels. "I've missed you this week."
The nearness, no matter how innocent it is, pushes the same sentiment from his lips, "I know, me too."
He's always worked hard, that isn't anything new but what they have now is. He hates the nights they spend apart and when she stands, shifting away from him, he doesn't think twice about throwing his thoughts out.
"Move in with me."
She stills, letting the shock filter through her expression before she turns to face him. He looks genuine but that doesn't exactly reassure her given his current state and she folds her arms over her chest raising an eyebrow. "You're sleep deprived, delirious."
"I'm serious." He counters, lifting up more slowly and shrugging his shoulders, "half of your stuff is at mine any way."
It's not entirety true. Her clothes are there, the things she needs... but her apartment is filled with artwork and memento's, things that won't fit in with his sparse decor which she's quick to point out, "and where would I put the other half?"
"Wherever you want."
He's always been a minimalist by choice pouring his money into his lifestyle over objects but he wants her and changing a few things around the place is hardly a compromise; if that's what it's going to take he'll do it.
He steps toward her, intention behind his gaze, but she keeps her arms crossed still wary he isn't thinking it through. "You'd really let me redecorate your condo?"
He nods, for the first time in his life completely okay with handing over control. "If it means I get to come home to you every night.." he edges closer stopping just shy of her with a smirk, "it's just an apartment, Donna."
Her pulse skips at the way he says her name -like she's the most important thing in his world- and she relaxes slightly, airing the last of her hesitation. "You're sure this isn't just a mid-life crisis, something to do with you're birthday coming up?"
"I thought we agreed not to mention certain annual events?" He tilts his head testingly, well aware she's already conspiring with his mother to organise something. He's been playing coy not wanting to ruin the surprise because as much as he'd rather let the day go by unannounced, if the two most important women in his life are happy- he's happy.
And moving in together would be the best gift he could ask for.
"The only thing this is about, is spending more time with my girlfriend..." he assures her, landing his hands on her arms and drawing them down. "Is that going to be a problem?"
Normally she would warn him off public displays in the office but she steps into the embrace, pressing her lips to his and breathing out her answer, "no, it... isn't."
It takes him a second to realise she's agreeing and he grins against her, tugging her closer and deepening the kiss.
So he's getting older.
Since his last birthday things have only picked up and if that's going to be a reoccurring trend maybe he will start celebrating them more in the future.