THAT PARIS WEEKEND CHAPTER 14

"I need a drink."

Stepping past Harvey's door, Donna doesn't mince words as she hands him her purse and drops her dress bag across the foyer table. She lets out a long sigh and quickly pushes the door closed behind her. It's been a long day, and her worried mind is exhausted.

"I also need..." Without a second's warning, she quickly steps towards Harvey, her arms wrapped around his neck, and places an urgent kiss on his mouth. Harvey raises his eyebrows in surprise. He has no choice but to stand there, her large pink purse cradled in his arms.

As she deepens her kiss, pulling him towards her, he's unprepared for the intense jolt she forces down his spine and into his groin.

Jesus, Donna…

Donna's lips brushing against his and her soft hands running circles through his hair are becoming too much, so Harvey drops the bag and pushes her back against the door. Pressing his body against hers, he's now setting a rhythm with his mouth, kissing her back with the same intensity she started with.

As Donna relaxes into his hold, he slows their kiss, so they can both catch their breath. Harvey can't help but smile. He missed seeing her today. Donna moves her head aside to look at him, his chocolate brown eyes full of affection for her.

"Are we starting with dessert then?" Harvey teases, the taste of strawberry gloss on the tip of his tongue.

"I'm sorry I got here so late. My meeting ran long and the traffic from my place..." Sensing she's a little stressed, Harvey takes her hands in his.

"It's not late. Hope you're hungry enough for a steak dinner though?" Harvey asks, as he moves to collect Donna's things and place them on a barstool.

Then, reaching for her hand, he guides Donna to the sofa and pours her a glass of red wine from one of a dozen bottles purchased in France.

Kicking off her shoes, Donna curls up next to him as he takes a seat. Sipping from her glass, she lets out a long exhale and rests her head on his shoulder. This, on Harvey's sofa, is another first. Visits to his place have never been social.

"Steak dinner? I'm impressed. I had no idea my boyfriend can cook," she says with a smile. "I think I might have to take full advantage of that."

"Well it's grilling, it's not really cooking," he says with a vague recollection that he was once schooled about this.

"Seriously? That's silly, OF COURSE it's cooking!" She rolls her eyes at the suggestion. "And I can't wait to taste all your hard work, so let's eat." She immediately stands up and offers Harvey a hand up.

Smiling, Harvey takes Donna's hand and kisses it.

"What?" she asks, noticing the amusement on his face.

"You're just so… you, that's all."

Donna follows Harvey into the kitchen to help serve the steaks, roasted potatoes and salad that he spent the evening preparing. She notices that the cactus she had given him is no where to be found. A twinge of sadness hits her, but she doesn't mention it. With Thomas having been around, and knowing what she knows now, she can't blame Harvey for wanting it gone.

They move to the dining room table and Harvey raises a glass to toast.

"To the first of many dinners cooked by your personal chef."

Donna giggles. "I'll drink to that!"

Donna and Harvey spend the better part of an hour eating and talking about their first day back at work. They laugh about the growing pains of having Louis as managing partner, and Donna downloads about her latest challenges in interviewing new associates.

But Harvey doesn't want to talk about work. At least not the business-related stuff.

"I bumped into Samantha when I was leaving," he starts. "She thinks you're still with Thomas."

Donna sighs. "I know. She came by my office this morning asking about the trip. She thought the flowers were from him."

"So when are you going to tell her?" he asks, wanting to make official what they've started.

"I don't know Harvey….How are we going to do this?"

Harvey's eyes go wide. "How are we going to do what? Just tell her and anyone else who asks." He lets out a frustrated sigh. "You know, I've always been the one accused of complicating things, but you're making this harder than it needs to be."

"We're senior staff, Harvey. Maybe we'll just tell everyone the next time we vote on something." Her tone sarcastic. "Not to mention… I left for Paris with a client and came back with a name partner. For anyone who's ever doubted my professionalism, I don't look exactly stable, do I?"

"Are you actually serious right now?" Harvey cocks his head and he can feel the back of his neck getting hot. "Once people know the deal with Thomas, they'll understand. Is this about your professionalism or do you just not want everyone to know about us?"

"Of course not," Donna says, raising her voice. She feels defensive and she doesn't understand why. "I just don't know how to handle both sides of our relationship at the office. And you're going to need some patience, Harvey, not everything goes according to your schedule."

"Well, Mike and Rachel managed it! No one said a damn thing when Jessica and Jeff got together. She was managing partner and he was a subordinate." Harvey is making his case and he's frustrated that he even has to. "And you had no problem handling it with Stephen. So… is this really a problem, Donna? Or is it something else?"

"So you're going to bring Stephen into this? That's not fair, Harvey. That's exactly why I'm nervous. Stephen didn't reflect too well on me either, did he? And I'd like to think this is a thousand times more important than that. I don't know how I'm supposed to handle this… at work today, I felt out of sorts."

Harvey lets out a sigh as he leans back in his chair, his arm resting on the table. Shaking his head, he stands firm.

"Well, it threw me off, too, and I needed time today, but I don't give a shit what anyone thinks. We can handle this… You know what I can't handle?" His eyes zeroing in on hers. "You not being sure and things going back to the way they were… that's not going to happen."

"I am sure. I just need a few days to get used to this without everyone at the office knowing about us." She states. "Because once they do, it changes everything."

"No… what changes everything is that we love each other…and that we're together. And that has nothing to do with the office." His voice is calmer now. "Do you think they haven't noticed all these years? Do you honestly think this will come as a shock to Robert or Samantha or Alex?"

Donna's eyes are suddenly watery, and she's trying to hold back tears. "It's not about you, Harvey. I just need a few days…for me… without anyone at the office knowing. Because it will change things for me. It's not anything more than that. I just need to get my bearings."

Harvey softens. He can't stand to see Donna cry, and leans across the table to wipe the tear from her face. With a sigh, he concedes.

"Ok, Donna, if that's what you want… we've already waited this long. I guess I'll just keep flirting with all the ladies at the office so no one is suspicious." A sly grin forms on his face.

"Just until Monday," She chuckles as she wipes a stray tear from her cheek. " And I'll do the same with all our handsome lawyers."

Harvey traces Donna's face with apologetic eyes.

"I'm sorry I got defensive. It's just…if I have to hear anyone else mention Thomas…"

"It's over. Why does it upset you so much?" Donna's had other boyfriends and it never seemed to affect him this way.

"It's not him really," Harvey admits. "When you were with him though, I realized you were moving on without me and I couldn't stand it."

"Did you ever think that maybe Thomas had to show up for us to get here?" Donna empathizes.

"You really are a philosopher aren't you?" Harvey is feeling calmer now. She has a way of making sense when he feels unsettled.

""I didn't mean to hurt your feelings," she says. " I just need a couple of days. That's all I need."

Harvey leans over for gentle kiss, and then Donna changes the conversation to a happier topic.

"Dinner was delicious, by the way. Where did you learn to cook like that?" she asks.

"Marcus is the real chef, but when I first moved out on my own, I cooked a lot," he explains.

Harvey heads to the kitchen and returns with two spoons and a container of Chunky Monkey ice cream.

"I take it this is dessert?" he asks.

"Well the first part…" There's a seductive look in her eyes.

"So… how quickly can we get through this part?" He asks on behalf of his inner teenage boy.

For years, Harvey has avoided touching Donna, knowing that maintaining a physical distance was the only way to keep himself from losing control. And now that they're together, he can't help himself, his hand always seeking a connection. When she's near, Harvey finds himself reaching for her hand or touching the small of her back or stroking her arm.

Sitting on the couch, their shoulders and thighs touching, the pair share Donna's favourite ice cream. Then Harvey suddenly gets up. "I got you something."

Donna tilts her head, curious. "More? You made dinner… and the flowers today."

Harvey returns with a silver box tied with a blue ribbon. Donna looks at him and then the box. She doesn't know what to say.

"Open it," he insists.

Donna unties the ribbon and lifts the cover to find a key attached to a miniature rose gold Eiffel Tower. She gasps.

"Is this what I think it is?" Her wide eyes getting teary once again.

"A key to the Eiffel Tower?" he kids. "Yes it is. Now you can visit any time you want. I bought the keychain the first day we went up there… I took a chance."

Donna can't hold back the tears now, they're running down her face.

"And before you say anything…This is a new key… I had it cut from mine. And the keychain… you know… so you never forget."

"Harvey…"

"When you gave me back my house key, Donna… it just didn't feel right." he admits. "So…this is a new one, and what's mine is yours…except for my Miles Davis."

Donna chuckles, and wipes the tears from her cheek.

"Thank you, Harvey. I know that key was never mine to keep, but it felt like I was saying goodbye when I gave it back...because you were moving on," she admits, her voice quivering just the tiniest bit.

Harvey swallows hard as he recalls that night. It was just as difficult for him to take back the key. Donna placing it on his desk and walking away, felt like she was also saying goodbye. After she left, his stomach was in knots and he tossed and turned that entire night. When Paula kept asking what was wrong, he blamed a case he was working on. But it was just another lie he told her…and himself. He was in love with Donna then, he just couldn't admit it.

"It's over," he reminds her. Donna nods as she squeezes his hand. Then she gets up to find her purse.

"I have something for you, too," she says, returning.

Donna places a small navy blue velvet bag in Harvey's hand. He opens the gold drawstring and takes out a brown leather Hermès keychain with the signature gold H on the front. There's a key attached.

"I bought this thinking I'd save it for your birthday, but when we got home, I wanted you to have it… with my key on it," she says, her eyes twinkling. "So you'll never forget our little shopping trip."

Harvey can't stop staring at this gift, his heartbeat picking up pace as he rolls it over in his palm. Donna might be struggling with telling the office, but this gesture confirms that she's certain about him.

Then Donna continues, a smile forming, "What's mine is yours… except for my "When Harry met Sally" DVD and my emergency container of Chunky Monkey."

The smile reaches Harvey's eyes, and before Donna can say another word, his mouth is on hers. After so many years of denials and missed opportunities, his heart is so full he can barely breathe. It's moments like these, when he allows himself to feel the love he has for Donna, that his emotions overwhelm him.

He takes a deep breath and whispers, "It's been a long day. What do you say we head to bed?"

Harvey leads Donna to the bedroom and upon entering, she notices the cactus on the bedside table, and it warms her heart.

"So that's where it is." Donna is surprised how relieved she is to see it. "I thought you got rid of it."

"No, it was lonely out there, so I brought it in here," he admits. "and the morning light is better."

"Lonely, huh?" She smirks.

xxx

Lying with her head on Harvey's chest, Donna contemplates how to tell Harvey about Friday's dinner plans. She knows he's not going to be thrilled, but Harvey and her father are going to have to spend time together at some point, so it might as well be sooner than later.

"So…." Donna says in the sweetest voice possible, her hand gently traveling across his chest. "My father's in town on Friday and he wants to meet us for dinner." It's not exactly the truth but it's not exactly a lie either.

"Us?" Harvey raises an eyebrow. He's a little suspicious. "How does he know about us?"

"He called today and I told him," she clarifies. "Look, I know you aren't his biggest fan, but it would mean a lot to me."

"Ok Donna," Harvey agrees. "He's not in love with me either, but I'll go. It's got to happen some time."

Donna lifts her head up to deliver a kiss on his cheek. "Thank you, Harvey"

"Dinner with your father and mudding with Louis..." he sighs. "This is turning out to be one hell of a weekend."

"You're just going to have to put on your big boy pants to meet my father and then take them off later to go mudding with Louis." Donna giggles.

"I take it back, you're a terrible philosopher," he pouts.

"I could take your pants off..." Her hands teasing the waistband of his boxers. "Although I'm not sure we should let the lonely cactus witness what's about to happen."

His eyes go wide and he quickly places the cactus pot on the floor.

"Now we're talkin!" he says as he pulls a giggling Donna on top of him.