Mr. & Mrs. Specter: New Ventures

Chapter 4

Donna crawled over to Harvey's side of the bed and placed her arm around him and nibbled at his ear.

"Where's my other birthday present?" Donna whispered.

Turning over, Harvey perfunctorily kissed her and said quietly, "I'm a little tired tonight. How about in the morning?"

"Who are you and what have you done with Harvey Specter, my husband, who chased me around the bed the day after his heart attack?" Donna asked looking at Harvey with concern. They were a passionate pair, Harvey and Donna. The ardor had only been increased by the many years they had denied themselves that particular show of affection. Every place was a place to make love. They took advantage of every opportunity which presented itself to physically reaffirm their passion for one another. They even would make love in his office if the mood and atmosphere were right.

"I'm sorry. I really want to. I'm just a little worn out. I never thought Gordon would go to sleep. I must have read him "Green Eggs and Ham " three times. He started reading the words himself or he memorized it. I'm not sure which," Harvey said tiredly.

"Knowing our son, he probably memorized it," Donna said. "That would be funny if, by osmosis, he wound up with a memory like Mike's."

"I hope not. My ego and Mike's memory. There would be no room in the house for any of us," Harvey said and started to laugh.

Donna joined in.

Donna stopped laughing and took a good look at her husband with great concern. She was always acutely attuned to his condition and she could have sworn he had practically chased her into the bedroom tonight for one reason. She even came to bed clad in only her Harvard nightshirt which always turned Harvey on more than dancing around naked would.

"Are you feeling ok? No chest pain?" Donna asked frowning while softly stroking his chest.

Harvey saw her concerned look and touched her cheek with his palm. He kissed her tenderly and let his lips linger a little. He loved her so much and he really had wanted to make love to her but the situation with her new business had preoccupied his thoughts Pushing thoughts of possessing her body to the back of his subconscious. As much as he loved her and had promoted her having her own business, he somehow forgot that she may not be there for him in a professional capacity any longer.

"No. Donna, I'm fine. I'm just tired," Harvey hedged.

"You're upset about what I said earlier when you gave me the lease to sign, aren't you? You know you can't avoid me or pretend with me. So don't try," Donna said crawling into his arms.

"Ok, you got me," Harvey admitted. She lay in his arms and there was nowhere else he would rather have her. However, he knew that neither one would get any rest until this predicament was discussed in the open.

"Harvey. I know I'm good, but the one reason I wanted this business was to have something with my name on it."

"I know that. What about the theater? You still want to do that, don't you?"

"Well, considering that the last three auditions I've had ended with me not getting the part. It is making me reconsider my aspirations," Donna retorted bitterly.

Harvey held her a little tighter.

"They were assholes. You know that by now. If they didn't want my wife the best triple threat sing, act, and dance in the business, they are the assholes and you are better off not expending any energy on them."

"I knew I kept you around for a reason," Donna said and nudged closer into Harvey's embrace.

He kissed the top of her head and feeling suddenly peaceful started to drift off to sleep holding this woman whom he loved more than life. She was the love of his life and mother of his children and the one woman for whom he would miss everyday not seeing her and working with her in the office.

The next day in the office was a little scary for Harvey. He knew he could survive without his wife right outside his door, but he really did not want to. They had spent so many years within twelve feet of each other and now he had to realize that she was in her own business across town. At the moment she was overseeing the beginning of the renovations she had discussed with contractors she had employed for that purpose. She researched and conferred with Harvey before she had employed them.

He missed her. For the interim, he was sharing Mike's secretary, Amy. She was a lot like Donna: intuitive, sassy, attractive, and quick. She was quite a bit younger than Donna, so sometimes he felt she was intimidated by him and his requests. Not that Harvey minded that he just did not want Amy to get too disgusted and quit helping both he and Mike.

"Amy"!

The petite brunette came rushing into his office a little breathless.

"Yes, Harvey, the contracts you were looking for are right here and I did file your motion already with Judge Peterson this morning. Is there anything else you need?"

"Thank you, Amy. I just wanted to check on those items," Harvey said.

Amy started returning the long walk back to her cubicle when he called her back.

"Yes, Harvey," Amy said coming back into the doorway.

"I just wanted to thank you for subbing for Donna while she's away. I know I can keep a secretary pretty busy. I know Mike must do the same." Harvey gave her an apologetic look.

"It's really no problem. However," Amy started to say.

"What? You can be honest. I prefer it that way," Harvey said.

Amy came into Harvey's office and motioned a request to take a seat. Harvey nodded and held his hand out to the chair in front of his desk. She took the seat.

"Have you given any thought of a replacement for Donna?" Amy asked.

Harvey put down the pen he was holding and sat back in his chair looking both thoughtful and uncomfortable at the same time.

"No, I haven't. You're right, though. I need to," Harvey said folding his hands in front of him. "When Donna signed that lease last night, it really hit home to me."

"As much as I love working for the both of you, you really do need your own assistant."

"Yes, I know you're right"

Amy rose and she said," Donna left a list of good candidates in her drawer. She wanted me to give them to you when I knew you were ready."

Harvey smiled and laughed a little. My wife even knows when I'm ready to replace her in the office.

"Well, you'd better give it to me unless you'd prefer to work for me and make Mike look for a new assistant."

"Not really."

"Didn't think so," Harvey said. "Thanks, Amy".

As for Donna, she was reviewing the renovation plans with the contractors she had handpicked.

"No, I want lockers next to the bathrooms. Do you have the architectural design plans?" Donna asked a burly man with a dark mustache.

"Yes, Mrs. Specter, right here," Bruce responded to Donna as he laid the plans out on the table for them all to examine.

"Here," Donna pointed. She was dressed in her best jeans, a floral blouse, and a hard hat covering her vibrant red hair. The kids were at daycare and school so she was free until about 5:00 pm when she had to retrieve Gordon. Harvey said he would retrieve Amanda from school and take her back to the office. Harvey loved having his daughter with him. She was curious and very smart and Harvey never ceased to boast about her and how beautiful she was. Donna smiled a little when she thought what a proud papa Harvey had become.

Donna walked around with the contractors who were refurbishing her Yoga Studio. She was so happy and happy that Harvey was the one to hand her that gift. She pointed and directed the items she wanted to make her own. She felt like she had finally accomplished something for herself besides going from Harvey's secretary and friend to his wife and mother of his children in seven short years.

Harvey seemed to have reconciled the fact that she was no longer settling to be his secretary. Once this would have set him back emotionally and their relationship would have been lost. Although he still harbored some separation anxiety, Donna knew he was handling this as best he could without feeling he was being abandoned.

Donna was wont to leave her Yoga Studio site just yet. She walked around another few minutes and took in the changes she wanted to make. Finally after consulting her watch, she realized she had better fly or she would have been late picking up Gordon. It was an exclusive day care, so the late fees were very expensive.

She drove the short distance in her SUV to Gordon's daycare and was happily greeted by his teacher. Mrs. Gruff said Gordon was a smart child and was actually sounding out words and reading. Donna said to herself so much for the memorization. The child could actually read!

Back at the complex, holding Gordon's little chubby hand in her larger one and fumbling with her key with her other hand, she finally was able to let them into their apartment in the city. On the weekend they would travel back to the big house in West Chester. As Donna stepped through the door, she noticed the condo was dark and empty.

"It looks like we beat daddy and Mandy home," Donna remarked to Gordon. He was a little chubby four year old who looked exactly like his daddy at that age from what Donna could tell from the few boyhood pictures Harvey had taken from his house when he left home permanently at twenty years old.

Donna quickly gave Gordon his bath and then started dinner. She glanced at the calendar attached to the door by a couple of apple magnets and noticed that in all the hubbub of Harvey's mild heart attack, the owning and renovation of her own Yoga Studio and her birthday party, she had missed her period. Must be the stress, Donna thought.

She had not another thought of that occurrence until a few days later when she awoke with the worst nausea and barely making it to the bathroom.

Harvey awoke hearing her retch in the bathroom. He quickly threw off the blankets and opened the door.

"Donna? What's wrong? You only threw up two other times when you weren't drunk that I can remember and that's when..." Harvey suddenly remembered that the only times he had ever known Donna to be that sick was when she was pregnant with Amanda and Gordon.

"No...I can't be pregnant. I'm too old!" Donna protested. She knew there was a real possibility but with her new business taking a foothold in her life she really did not want a setback by having a new baby. Donna loved her children and she took the best care of herself when she had been pregnant twice before, but the timing for a new baby was not good.

"Really, Donna?" Harvey said with smirk as he stood there in the bathroom doorway. He smiled and his dark brown eyes which were sleep edged were now laughing at the thought he was going to be a father again.

"Don't look so happy, Specter. The timing of this contract is not good and you know it!" Donna said as she flushed the toilet and went to the large sink to brush her teeth.

Just at that time, her wonderful husband decided to come up behind her and placed his hands on her belly which was not completely flat but not big and round with the coming baby.

"The world can always use another Specter," Harvey mumbled into her neck.

"Yes, but why do I have to be the vessel to procure it?" Donna asked as she stared at him in the mirror.

"Just lucky I guess," Harvey laughed softly and then seeing how happy he was Donna could not help but smile. She spit into the sink and wiped her mouth on a towel which lay crumpled on the counter. She stared at their reflection in the mirror and put one had over Harvey's which lay on her belly and then the other over his arm and leaned into his touch.

"Ok, I'm happy if you are," Donna said.

"Good." Harvey said and kissed her on the cheek.

Just then there were two little infiltrators standing at the bathroom threshold.

"Gotcha!" Amanda squeaked as she took a picture on Donna's phone. Gordon just laughed and laughed holding his little mouth with his hand.

That broke Harvey from Donna and he said, "Who's got who!" He ran after the children and caught both of them up in his arms and collapsed with them on the bed amid their childish giggles and Harvey's deeper laugh.

"Who said you could use mommy's phone?" Harvey nuzzled into Amanda tickling her all the way while Gordon jumped all over him.

"Mommy!"

Donna came out of the bathroom and said, "Oh no, I didn't Miss Amanda Specter." Donna came to the bed and swiped the phone away from her daughter to see how the picture actually came out. She found the picture and thought her daughter snapped it at the right time.

"Hey Harvey look," Harvey took a minute out from clamoring with the children on the bed. Donna held out the phone.

"Wow, that's a great picture!"

"Did I do good, daddy?" Amanda asked.

"You sure did, Mandy," Harvey said holding his daughter to his side and kiss her on the cheek.

"What about me, daddy?" Gordon chimed in.

"You are always good, big guy," Harvey said as he took his other arm and held his son to his side and kissed him like he had done with his daughter.

Then he looked up at their mother and said, "Where am I going to put a third one?"

"I don't know but you'll figure it out. You're Harvey Specter," Donna smiled and then placed herself in front of Harvey and putting her arms around him kissed him to which their children giggled and laughed.

Donna strode through her new building a few weeks later. Her new pregnancy had been confirmed and she was still feeling a little worse for wear in the mornings, but Harvey had been good enough to help her in getting their present darlings off to school.

"Mrs. Specter?"

"Yes, Bruce, what is it?" Donna asked. "The building looks great. Just need to have the decorator come in and finish up."

"There's still a problem with the fire codes. I can't get the NYFD to pass this building as code. There may be a few tweaks I will have to make. I just wanted to check when you are opening the doors for business."

"In about three weeks, I have the instructors reporting here and the classes have been filling up steadily. Do you think there will be a delay?"

"Not yet, but I do not know for sure."

"When will you know?" Donna was getting agitated. She had been waiting for a long time for her Yoga place to open.

"Probably in a day or two when the electrician and the HVAC guys are finished with the final connections."

"All right. Keep me posted then. Thanks, Bruce," Donna said saluting him with her hard hat perched on the top of her fiery red hair.

"By the way, Mrs. Specter, congratulations for the third time!"

Donna walked back and looked down at her belly.

"I'm not showing already, am I?" Donna said embarrassed.

"Not there," Bruce said pointing to her belly. "You are positively glowing! Just like my wife did all four times."

"Whew. Well, keep this to yourself for a little bit, ok?" Donna asked.

"Doesn't hubby know?"

"Oh, no, he figured it out the minute I ran into the bathroom and threw up four weeks ago." Donna said smiling.

"What's the problem?"

"Oh, I just don't want my landlords thinking a pregnant woman can't handle a business."

"Your husband is Harvey Specter. He could sue them and beat the shit out of them if they thought that about you. Besides I know differently as well," Bruce said as he placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"Thank you, Bruce. I have to remember who I am from time to time. I seem to have forgotten it somewhere along the line."

"Have a good day, Mrs. Specter."

"You, too, Bruce." Donna said waving him goodbye as she left to have lunch with Rachel.

Donna strode into the La Bistro eaterie where she was meeting Rachel. Rachel was just coming to terms with being a mother of an active four-year-old and a successful lawyer simultaneously. Rachel was very excited about Donna's yoga business. She knew that Donna had always wanted a career outside being Harvey's secretary and then wife, but it was hard for Donna to find her niche so late in her life.

"So is this seat taken Mrs. Ross or can I older pregnant lady sit here?" Donna teased seeing her galpal so distracted and her mind off in space.

"What?...Did I hear you say the word "pregnant?" Rachel immediately had come out of her other world.

"Funny how you focused on that part." Donna quipped. "Yes, I'm knocked up for the third time and I have to tell you my timing stinks."

"I think Harvey might have had a little hand in that," Rachel remarked back and took a sip of her tall cool drink which in early November was really strange.

"Don't tell me. You're having a triple Latte with Caramel, whipped cream and a shot of wheat protein thrown in for good measure."

"Yes," Rachel agreed and bowed her head.

"Does this mean the Ross' are having a new baby as well?" Donna wondered. When Rachel was pregnant with four-year-old Jamie the latte's were the only food Rachel's delicate digestive system could withstand.

"No, the Ross' are not having another baby. I know we're all good friends, but I don't think friendly colleagues sex habits can nest together like menstrual periods." Rachel laughed. Donna was the only one who could amuse her except Mike.

Donna noticed the pensive look on Rachel's face and immediately asked what was wrong.

"Mike's secret might be found out," Rachel said softly. "He's been working this case which triggers a background check. He had his name taken off the papers, but the lawyer on the other side is pretty thorough."

"Does he know for sure that this other lawyer is that thorough?" Donna asked. Having worked for years for a lawyer who was detailed minded and thorough, she had read some briefs where the most obvious items had been missing.

"Well, I am not sure of the other lawyer, but if he has a legal secretary like you she might say something."

"Does Harvey know?" Donna asked. Hoping that Rachel and Mike were smart enough to take it to Harvey.

"I'm not sure. He hasn't spoken to him for a little bit. I told him to do it today."

"Good. Now do you want to hear how the business is coming along?" Donna said. "I mean I know you're going to be the first Yoga student who walks in the door, correct?"

"Of course, I will be. Tell me, Louis is thinking you're having a Mud baths being installed. Are you?"

"Maybe. Down the road. Right now all my focus is on the studio and assembling personnel. Spa extras will be installed if it's successful."

"So is this baby going to put a wrinkle in your business plans?"

"Nope. I can teach yoga through my pregnancy. I took yoga when I was pregnant with Gordon because I didn't have the issues I did with Amanda."

"That's wonderful. Oh, I am so happy for you," Rachel said and came across the table to give her friend a hug.

"Look, about Mike, I'll know if Harvey has been told or not. I'll know it the moment I look at him."

"Yes, I know how you know, Harvey."

"So don't worry. Harvey won't let him go to jail."

Just as Harvey had arrived at his office after dropping Gordon at daycare and Amanda at school. He walked into find Mike sorting through Harvey's massive record collection.

"Whoa...shouldn't you be out on the pro bono you found?"

"Well, that's just it. I can't because the corporate case that came to me is scaring me."

Harvey looked at his protege and a dark thought crossed his mind.

"What? Does the case trigger a background check?"

Mike turned around from the record collection and sat down at the chair in front of Harvey's desk.

"Yep, it does. I did not realize that it was going to go Federal when it did."

"Did you remove your name from most of the paperwork that would be in question?"

"Yes, I tried that, but I just got a call from Stoneworthy's legal secretary and she pointed out that he will not sign these contracts until my name is on there."

Harvey sat down and adjusted his pictures on his desk. Harvey missed Donna not eavesdropping on his conversations at moments like these. She was always so intuitive knowing the right questions to ask out loud if Harvey did not venture to ask them first. Harvey realized that this would be the new normal. Donna not sitting outside his office or listening on the intercom. So, he ventured on by himself and would explain it to her later to get her take on it.

"Ok, so you have all the credentials in the right places. Unless someone calls the police, there's nothing to be done because if you do make a stink about it then there will be too much attention brought to you. My advice is to let things lie. Go sign the papers or have Amy make changes and redline them."

"Well, that's what I told Amy to do. Now she's questioning it because I never told her I wasn't a real lawyer," Mike explained. "When she worked for me before I was an investment banker, so I didn't have any secrets from her."

"Okay...so what do you want me to do about it? I don't think you need to tell her; however, it's up to you. You know her better than me."

"Well, I've decided I'm not going to tell her. She'll probably figure it out anyway because she's just like Donna except she has a psychology degree."

"Mike, go with the flow. If anything comes out about it, I got your back. You know that, right?"

"Sure, Harvey."

Mike then left Harvey's office and contemplatively went back to his own.