THAT PARIS WEEKEND CHAPTER 17

"You're in early!" Samantha remarks as she passes by Donna's office. Stopping cold in the doorway, she folds her arms across her grey suit jacket, and passes the threshold.

It's 7:30 am on Monday - definitely a little earlier than Donna is used to arriving. When she worked for Harvey, she always made a point of getting in before he did, but he was never much of a morning person. With her increased responsibilities as COO, Donna's workdays are definitely more demanding and, now that she and Harvey are together, she's determined to take every opportunity to prove she's still every bit the professional.

"How was your weekend?" Samantha asks as she saunters towards the desk.

"Good! I caught up with with Rachel in Seattle," Donna says, steering clear of any mention of Thomas or her personal life. "Robert must be proud. She and Mike are doing amazing things with the legal clinic there. It was great to catch up with her. How was yours?"

"Pretty low key, although I met a few law school friends for brunch, which was nice," she responds, her eyes scanning the room. Donna senses there's something on Samantha's mind.

"Everything ok?" Donna enquires.

"Actually…," Samantha hints, as she slides into the chair across from Donna. "I need to pick your brain about something and… it's personal. Do you have a second?"

Donna is taken aback but also curious. Leaning her elbows on her desktop, she clasps her hands suggesting to Samantha that she has her full attention. "Sure, what can I do for you?"

"Harvey…" she begins. "Do you know if he's seeing anyone?"

Donna's heart drops and races all at once. Her eyes involuntarily go wide, but she's quick to catch herself to prevent what she's feeling on the inside, from showing on the outside. Tilting her head, a tight smile on her lips, Donna does her theatrical best to look indifferent. "Why do you ask?"

"One of my best friends from law school is getting married in Boston the weekend after July 4th, and I thought I might ask Harvey to come to the wedding with me," she says. "I figure he'd be good company… all my friends are lawyers, not to mention it wouldn't hurt to have a handsome man on my arm… and he has family in Boston, doesn't he?"

"Yes he does. I'm surprised you're coming to me first and not asking Harvey himself?" Donna enquires, sliding her hands down onto her lap to direct her nervous energy through fidgeting fingers. Even though she knows Harvey only has eyes for her, Donna can't help but feel protective over their relationship.

"Well, you know him pretty well," Samantha states, her red, bee-stung lips offering a friendly but uncomfortable smile. "And I thought I'd avoid any awkwardness by asking you first… you know… in case he's already involved with someone."

"So you'd have no issues dating a colleague then?" Donna asks, intrigued by what Samantha might have to say on the matter.

"Well, I haven't really given it that much thought… it would depend on the situation… you know… if I were a subordinate, I might feel differently," she offers. "But we're all adults here and if there's no conflict, I don't see why not. You're fortunate with Thomas, Donna. I gotta say, the good men are getting harder to find."

Donna takes a deep breath. She has no choice but to tell Samantha the truth… and as for avoiding any awkwardness, that ship has sailed. Plus, she's going to have to explain the Thomas situation, which she's dreading. Only Rachel knows about that mess.

Just as Donna opens her mouth to come clean, Louis pops his head in.

"Hello ladies, how are you both today?" Louis asks with cheery enthusiasm. Since taking over as managing partner, he's been keen to keep morale high and show himself to be a strong and approachable leader. So, every morning, at Sheila's suggestion, he makes the rounds to greet staff on the 50th floor. In the afternoons, he pops downstairs to do the same, including with the terrified associates.

"Great Louis, we're just catching up on a little girl talk," Donna signals. "How's Sheila feeling these days?"

"She's definitely ready to have this baby. Three more weeks to go!" he states with a proud, toothy grin. "Sorry to interrupt, but Samantha, do you have a second? There's something I need to run by you with the Miller case."

Samantha stands and walks towards the door.

"Sure Louis." Turning back to Donna, she adds, "We can catch up later."

"Sounds good. I'll come look for you," Donna says with a frozen smile, her eyes following Samantha and Louis into his corner space.

After they're out of sight, Donna desperately wants to march right into Harvey's office, but he hasn't made it in yet. She busies herself at her desk until the clock hits 8:00 am. Exactly one minute later, she gets up and quickly marches to the other side of the building.

As Donna rounds the corridor to his office, she slows her pace. Seeing him at his desk, head down and typing away, she can't help but smile. Then, she glances at her old cubicle, and for a split second, she misses being there, next to him. Her memories of those days are so vivid and yet it feels like a lifetime ago. She was different then. They were different. And now it's all so clear. It was confusing when they were in it, but looking back, the loyalty, devotion and even the love was real and right there all along.

Sensing she's near, Harvey looks up. She catches his attention as she casually sways into his space.

"Donna." Harvey's hands are still typing but he's not looking at the screen. There's a hint of a smile on his lips. He's said her name a million times before, but now, she can hear a lightness, an optimism, in his voice.

Donna tilts her head, her lips forcing a smile as she's unable to hide her affection for him. "Harvey."

"What are you doing on this side of the office?" he asks, dark brown eyes following her as she sits in front of him. "If you have any naughty ideas, Donna, they're going to have to wait," he deadpans. "I like to keep my personal life and my professional life separate."

Donna rolls her eyes at him. "Harvey, you're not taking what I said seriously," she huffs. "That's fine, because the personal and the professional are coming to smack you in the side of the head, and you can't blame me for it."

Harvey furrows his brow and pulls his chin back, not sure if she's teasing or serious.

"What are you talking about?" Harvey asks, his eyes quickly looking her over.

Today, she's wearing one of his favourite outfits. A sleeveless dress in black crepe, with an open neck and decorative lace that teases her cleavage. Simple in its design, it hugs every curve perfectly. Donna can pretty much wear anything and look good, but Harvey has always appreciated her classic style – tailored, well-cut clothing that shows off her perfect figure.

What she has on today is not evening wear, but the black and the lace and her porcelain skin take him right back to being under the stars at the Eiffel Tower. He's seen her in many stunning outfits, but that Paris dress… she has never been more beautiful than that night. It reminds Harvey to suggest an evening out, just for the sole purpose of seeing her in it again.

"Focus, please!" She's talking and he's not even listening. Her long legs are crossed to the side and her fingers intertwined her on lap. Donna goes silent, waiting for his eyes to make their way up to hers again.

"Samantha asked me if you're seeing anyone," she bluntly states.

"Samantha?" he asks, his eyebrows shifting in surprise. "I figured she'd be more into you than me… I guess I called that one wrong. So…what did you tell her?"

"I didn't get a chance to tell her anything," she explains. "Louis walked in and interrupted."

"What's the problem, then?" He's knows why Donna's flustered, but he's going to enjoy this. "Because if you're thinking about a threesome… you once told me, I wouldn't want to share you…"

"Harvey!" Donna interrupts, shaking her head in response to the smirk on his face.

"She wants you to go to a wedding with her in Boston the weekend after July 4th. It's a bunch of her lawyer friends and she knows you have family there."

"So, tell her the truth. Donna. I thought we've been through this." Harvey is unnervingly calm as his eyes make their way back to the document on his computer screen. He already knows Louis is fine with it. "Everyone is going to find out eventually and I bet they'll think it's long overdue."

"Harvey, I'm going to say this only once… and it frustrates me that you don't seem to get it," she sighs. "The difference here is that, yes, I've earned my position, but I don't have the traditional academic and professional background that many other COOs have," she says, her voice strained. "And I've spent years dealing with rumours about you and me. My integrity will always be called into question. It's different for you."

Harvey drops his hands on either side of his laptop and looks at Donna with empathetic eyes.

"Donna, you're talking to the guy who hired a fraud and that worked out just fine. This will be ok, too," he says confidently, opening his palms towards her. "You've proven that you're more than qualified for the job. And I'll gladly take on anyone who suggests otherwise."

Harvey takes a breath and delivers a half-smile. "I don't think this is about your qualifications, to be honest. It's about change… I know I'm the last person who should be telling you that, because I have never done well with change, but….I think that's what it is, Donna… a big, scary change for both of us."

Donna slowly nods and exhales. "Listen to you, Mr. Philosopher…"

"You're rubbing off on me," he grins.

"I guess there's no escaping this, then. I have to talk to Samantha." Biting her lip, she pauses before continuing. "As for the wedding, I have an idea…"

Harvey's eyes go wide. He leans back in his chair and cocks his head. He knows Donna well enough to know she wouldn't leave Samantha high and dry. Now he's both curious and a little wary about what crazy idea she's going to try and sell to him.

"Ok spill it," he says. "I know you're thinking something. But, for the record, I don't care how platonic it would be, I am not going to a wedding with Samantha, so don't even go there."

"Well…" The corners of Donna's mouth curl into a mischievous smile. "What about Marcus? He's single now and he's already in Boston. Plus, it might be good for him to get out. You never know, they may hit it off."

The suggestion jolts Harvey to sit up in his chair, and he's shaking his head with conviction. "Donna…there is NO way…. Absolutely not! I'm not running a God damn matchmaking service out of this office! Not to mention, he's not even officially divorced… and you want him to go on a date to a wedding?!"

"I get it Harvey, but it doesn't have to be a romantic date, and Marcus has been separated for a year now. This is not about you, it's about him. Let him decide," she says, trying to temper his reaction. "Can't it just be a fun night out? I also think it would be healthy for Samantha to not hang out with just lawyers…Lord knows, they're all so intense..."

Harvey huffs at her little dig. "Fine. But I'm taking no responsibility for this. I'm telling him it's entirely your idea. I know better than to get involved in people's personal lives… that's why I'm not a divorce lawyer." he states with certainty.

"Harvey, it's not 'people'," she reminds him, a sweet smile on her lips. "It's your brother, and he's a big boy… you're just being thoughtful."

"Fine, I'll ask, but no guarantees..." He takes a deep breath, quietly impressed that despite why Samantha came to her, Donna is kind enough to still want to help, and to consider Marcus's happiness as well. It's one of the reasons Harvey loves her so much. She's always ready to give when someone needs it, even when they don't realize it.

"But then you need to come clean with Samantha, ok? It's unfair to keep her hopes up about yours truly," he smirks. "She and all the single ladies of New York need to know that I'm spoken for."

"Oh My God, Harvey!" she quips. "Dr. Lipschitz can strike 'self-esteem issues' off his list now. Time to move on to 'delusions of grandeur'!"

Harvey can't help but grin at Donna. Their banter is as charged as ever. But now, knowing how much love there is behind her words, it all feels like foreplay, and the sudden tightness in his pants tells him as much. If Donna teased him like this at home right now, he'd be naked in ten seconds flat.

As Donna gets up to leave, she can feel his eyes following her out, and can't help but smile. Turning at the doorway, her hand on his glass wall, she looks back at him. Harvey's face is relaxed, his features soft and, despite all his whining about Marcus, he's clearly content.

The last time Donna remembers seeing him like this at work, was after he patched things up with his mother. She and Harvey were in his office late one evening, and he asked her to help hang the artwork his mother had given him. As he stared at the portrait, he looked as if an enormous weight had been lifted off his shoulders. It's the same look she sees now.

"I enjoyed this little visit, Harvey," she flirts, with an eyebrow raised. "As for being spoken for… whoever this young, gorgeous and impeccably dressed woman in your life is, I hope she realizes how lucky she is."

Harvey knows where this is going and he can't help but chuckle. "No, no… I'm the lucky one," he exaggerates. Raising his chin as he speaks, he adds. "But thanks, I'll be sure to tell her tonight."

"And that… was the right answer!" she says, pointing to him as she steps away, and leaving him rolling his eyes.

xxx

It's late afternoon, and Donna grabs her phone as it vibrates on her desk. A text from Harvey.

Marcus is open to the idea.

The stuff I do for you…

Eyes emoji!

Donna smiles. Her thumbs on the screen, she responds.

Thanks, love. Now I'm off to tell the ladies of NY that you're spoken for.

Bachelor days are over.

I'm replacing your basketballs with throw pillows.

xxx

It's close to six by the time Donna finds herself standing in Samantha's doorway. Her blonde colleague looks up with a smile once she notices her there.

"Donna, come on in." She waves her hand towards the chair in front.

Donna feels a little anxious as she slowly steps closer. She knows what she needs to do, no matter how awkward the entire conversation is going to be.

"Sorry, I meant to come by earlier, but I figured, now that the day is winding down, it would give us a chance to talk without interruption." Donna sits straight in the chair, legs uncrossed and her hands formally folded on her lap.

Samantha blinks, sensing Donna's less than casual tone. "Ok…sure," she obliges.

"Samantha… there's something I need to tell you," Donna starts, her features earnest. "Thomas and I…well…we're no longer together."

"Oh no, I'm sorry to hear that… Are you ok?" Samantha's asks with concern. "I thought things were going well?"

"I thought so too… until I found out about his wife in Connecticut." Donna presses her lips together for an awkward smile. "I was completely blindsided and I've felt pretty stupid about entire thing. To make things worse, I found out in Paris."

"What!?" Samantha's mouth drops while her eyebrows head in the other direction. "I'm so sorry, Donna. I would have never guessed by the way you've carried yourself at work… And to think he sent you those flowers when you got back. What a jerk."

"Well….that bouquet… it wasn't from Thomas, it was from Harvey." Donna holds her breath, nervously anticipating Samantha's reaction.

Samantha's eyes go wide, her black lashes fluttering in surprise. "Harvey? That was a sweet gesture considering what happened… Wait a minute, what do you mean?... You two aren't involved, are you?"

"Yes…we are… And although it might seem sudden, it's been a long-time coming. Thirteen years actually," she admits. "Harvey is the one who told me about Thomas, and it forced us to talk honestly about some other things… I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier, but I'm still getting used to this myself."

"Ok…Wow…," Samantha says, shifting uncomfortably in her seat, her eyes uncertain where to land. "Well, now I'm sufficiently embarrassed."

"Please don't be. It's ok," Donna interrupts, as she reaches to place her hand on Samantha's. "I actually owe you an apology for not being upfront. I'm sorry… Harvey and I, well, we've been dancing around this for years, and we're both finally ready. No one here knows yet. You're the first person I've told."

"Well, thank you, I appreciate that," Samantha replies, a polite smile on her lips. "I'll keep it to myself."

"Thanks… so… can I at least compliment you on your great taste in men?" Donna asks cheekily, trying to keep things light. "And… are you still interested in a date for the wedding? Because I have an idea …."

Samantha tilts her head. "Maybe… do tell," she says, a curious look in her eyes.

"You mentioned that the good men are getting harder to find," Donna begins. "And I might have a good man for you… no pressure, but it might be fun for the wedding."

"Ok…" Samantha is starting to wonder if Donna is trying to pawn off one of Louis' cousins on her.

"Marcus Specter," Donna says. "Harvey's younger brother. He's a restauranteur, divorced and lives in Boston… he's attractive and a nice guy. He's more laid back than Harvey, and I think he'd be open to a date."

"You'd think he'd be open to it, or you're sure he'd be open to it?" Samantha is a lawyer after all.

"Ok, I already checked," Donna admits with a smile. "I just thought I might help you out, you know, with another handsome Specter boy." The grin reaches Donna's eyes now.

Samantha takes a deep breath and lightly slams her palms down on her desk. "Ok, Donna, this sounds crazy but why not. I've got nothing to lose and everything to gain."

xxx

"So my bachelor days are over, huh?"

Harvey asks, as he gently runs his hand across the pillow to play with Donna's hair. This has quickly become his favourite time of day. Lying in bed with her, without their office armour, making easy conversation and talking about them.

"What gave it away?" she giggles, as she pulls herself closer in his giant king-size bed.

"Well, for one, there's been nothing but red wine around here… Did you hide all my scotch?" he asks playfully. "I've been treating that cactus like a person… and now you have me setting my brother up on dates."

"Yeah, you're officially whipped," Donna teases. "But you wear it sooo well."

Harvey is suddenly quiet, his eyes intensely focused on hers as he strokes her hair.

"Why do you love me?"

Donna's eyebrows suddenly rise, and a slight smile warms her lips.

"Why do I love you?" she repeats. "Because you're you and every time I think about my future, you're all I see."

"Why though? Why me and not someone else?"

"Seriously, Harvey? After all we've been through?" she quizzes.

Donna places her hand on his chest. "Remember how you once said there was 'no you without me'? Well… there's 'no me without you'. Who we were then, and what we have now, is the most real thing I've ever had in my life. And it's not about needing someone or not wanting to be alone, it's about who you are, who you are to me, and no one else even comes close."

Donna pauses, searching his eyes to see if he understands.

"There's no one like you, Harvey," she continues. "No one drives me crazy like you do, and no one makes me happy like you do. I still can't believe you came to Paris for me… and when I told you to leave, you wouldn't. You have no idea what that meant. I knew then that you were everything… the man I always knew you to be."

Donna takes a deep breath. Her hand now resting on his cheek.

How can I not absolutely love you, Harvey?"

Harvey swallows and nods. Her words caress his heart, gently massaging away every insecurity he's ever had about them.

"Move in with me." His voice is soft but certain. "I don't want to wait anymore."

"Harvey… it's only been a week," she reasons. He's caught her off guard.

"Really? Feels like thirteen years to me," he reasons back.

Donna pauses and takes another deep breath.

"Wow, this is a big step isn't it?" she says, furrowing her brow. "But I think I'd like to meet your mother first…."

"Is that a yes then?" He's hopeful.

"It's a yes to moving in with you. It's a no to your place," she clarifies.

Harvey jerks his head back, confused. "You want me to move in with you? Your place is great, Donna, but it's too small for both of us."

"No, Harvey… I think we need something that's not yours or mine. Something new, something that's ours.. big enough for our families and friends when they visit and, of course, for my wardrobe needs."

"Shit, you're going to buy lots of throw pillows aren't you?" His tone suggesting that he really doesn't care because anywhere with Donna is home.

"Yep... and you're going to love it," she says, her soft mouth brushing his smiling lips.

He closes his eyes at the gentleness of her touch. A place big enough for family suits Harvey just fine.