this chapter calls attention to the past, more in a way that doesn't necessarily cover as much as i had wanted but it definitely covers the necessary amount.

anyway, review if you like :)

Harvey stops suddenly at Donna's desk, his stride halting in a way that almost makes Donna squirm in her chair, but she doesn't. She holds her composure and tries not to budge. She forces herself to keep her eyes focused on her computer screen. She can feel his eyes on her, looking at her like something is out of place.

Truthfully, she'd been hoping that he wouldn't notice the flower arrangement perched on her desk, but she knows that would have been expecting a lot. Even before he'd expressed a concrete interest in her he would have noticed. He'd always managed to be jealous, although not to the point of distraction, but he'd found it within himself to participate in jesting. Now, she sees the absence of a smile and the jealousy lined in his jaw.

"Secret admirer?" He asks.

There's a chill that skates down her spine at the tone in his voice. She quirks an eyebrow in return, hesitantly parting her gaze from her computer. "You could say that."

His gaze sharpens before he steps towards her cubicle. "Your ambiguity is disconcerting."

"Jealous?"

He huffs and rolls his eyes, "no."

"Right," she says with a laugh, "you seem flustered."

"Who's the admirer?" He asks, leaning against the cubicle wall.

She narrows her gaze it him, warningly yet teasingly at the same time. "Who's asking?"

"What do you mean who's asking? Me. I'm asking," he counters.

She sighs and leans back in her seat, looking at him with a slight smirk and suggestive eyebrow raise. She's watching him squirm fully and she wonders then if she's being cruel or if she's just playing hard to get. She's going to go with the latter rather than former, if not for her own peace of mind.

"Are you asking as my boss or," she looks around for a moment and leans in real close to whisper, "or as my boyfriend?"

"Hm," he thinks. His fingers grasp the cubicle wall so tight that his knuckles turn white. He thinks that it isn't fair that she always has the upper hand, that she's always found a way to be his boss when he's the one with the title. He sighs then – sighs in defeat, in recognition, in fear. "Can't I just be asking as an inquiring mind?"

She grins. "You've always managed to find a way to piss all over me and my territory the moment you think someone else is getting close."

He stares at her with a blank face, muscles unflinching. "That's disgusting."

"If you must know," she says, "they're from my father, just like every other year for the last ten years that you've inquired. I just liked watching you squirm."

"That isn't very nice," Harvey grumbles.

"How else was I going to keep your attention?" She asks, eyebrows popping up on her forehead.

He shakes his head gently before turning on his heel and heading into his office. He drops into his chair and looks up at her. She's already back to work – typing up only god knows what. For someone who doesn't make it very obvious that she's doing anything productive, she sure does a lot. He doesn't even know what she does half of the time.

"Oh," he starts, lifting his gaze to hers and offering her the most professional smile he can manage, "and just so you know, you've never really had to do anything to keep my attention."

It's the Wednesday after his dad and Donna told them that they are dating when he finally realizes what that means. He knows more about them than he's ever let on, especially where his dad is concerned. His dad has only ever been transparent about one thing: Donna. Theo's always thought that his dad's feelings for Donna have probably always been something that everyone has always seen, but no one has ever had the balls to comment on it. Briefly, Theo wonders if their decision to try was their doing or if it was his dad and Donna all on their own.

8 Years Ago

Harvey has never had such a difficult time picking out his wardrobe for a date, but he is acutely aware that this is not just any date. He can't choose between casual wardrobe or a suit. He wonders which Donna would prefer. She sees him in a suit every day. She knows when he isn't done up perfectly. He gets one chance to make an impression, to show her that they can do this without jeopardizing their professional relationship. She'll see one thing about his attire off kilter and she will know, and she'll run scared from him.

He ultimately decides on a casual pair of khaki pants and a black, cashmere sweater when there's a knock on his door. No, he thinks, he isn't ready, she can't be at his door – he thought he was picking her up at her place. He sighs and braces himself as he walks to his front door. He peers through the peephole and is both relieved and nervous when it isn't Donna on the other side, but another woman that he's never even seen before.

He pulls the door open, suddenly aware that he only has on his white undershirt and the slacks from his suit, wrinkled from being worn all day. He isn't interested in buying whatever she is selling. He really doesn't have time for this right now.

Before his door is all the way open he hears the woman speak. "Are you Mister Harvey Specter?"

"Yes," he answers, distracted and confused. He blinks in an attempt to make her frame become clearer, uncertain who this woman may be. His eyebrows furrow as his feet shuffle beneath him. He wonders how quickly he could get her to leave. "Do I know you?"

"Mister Specter," she starts, clearly ignoring his question, "I'm from D. H. S.-"

"There aren't any children here," he interjects impatiently. She smiles degradingly, like he's stupid. His blood boils at the thought that she's addressing him like he's an idiot. Who does this woman think she is? Mary, Mother of Christ? "I don't have any kids."

"Mister Specter," she replies, forcefully. He wonders why she keeps saying his name like that, so demanding and mighty. Who does she think she is? "Maybe it would be better if you sat down? Can I come in?"

"I, uh," he hesitates to glance at his watch and really doesn't like the direction this is going, "I guess so."

"Mister Specter," she says as she steps over the threshold and into his apartment, "my name is Eva Howard and I'm from the Department of Child Services. Were you aware that you are the father of a seven year-old boy?"

"I'm sorry?" He asks, dumfounded, as he whips around to face her. And here he thought she wanted him to sit down to deliver this news. He shakes his head in disbelief. "I don't have any kids."

He's aware that he's beginning to sound repetitive.

"On the contrary," she says with a smile, "you have a son."

"It isn't possible," he insists, "I use protection."

She stares at him hard for a moment, mocking him. "Condoms aren't always effective."

"Of course they are. It's their very purpose to be effective," he grumbles. He drags a hand through his hair, contemplating who could have come up with a practical joke like this. He stops suddenly as it dawns on him. He grins as he narrows his eyes in her direction. "Who put you up to this? Was it Jessica?"

"Do you think this is a joke, Mister Specter?"

"No, not Jessica," he snaps, ignoring her protest. "It was Donna, wasn't it? Tell her it isn't very funny. Is this a test? Is she testing me right now? Is she trying to see where my priorities are? I'm not going to stand her up, okay? I'll be there. Tell her I'll be there."

"Mister Specter, this little boy's mother just died and he desperately needs his father to step up because if you don't, he'll end up in foster care. He's just old enough that if that's where he ends up, he isn't getting out," Eva says pointedly.

Harvey takes a long minute to advance into his living room, frantic to put space between him and this woman trying to ruin his life. She's obviously trying to sabotage his date with Donna. He glares at her and braces himself with a hand on the island between the kitchen and the living room. He doesn't have time for this.

"What proof do you have that this kid is mine?" He pressures.

"We will perform a paternity test if you wish, but I really think that you should meet him before you dismiss him completely," she suggests.

He sighs, dejected. "What am I going to do with a kid?"

"You can spend a couple of weeks with him, see if you think you can make it work – see if you have room for him in your life – and if you can't do it, we can make other arrangements," Eva smiles her encouragements, "but, for the record, I hope you can, Mister Specter."

He pulls the stool at the island out and sits, leaning against it for support. He feels his legs turn into jelly and he doesn't even know how he's possibly still standing on his own. It doesn't make sense how he could have a 7 year-old kid that he's never known about. There's no reason that he should believe the kid is his.

"Can I ask some questions?" She nods her head and it barely registers for him. His face twists in confusion as he finally lifts his gaze to her. "Who's his mom?"

"Nadia French," Eva replies. Harvey barely remembers her. "Look, he's downstairs. He's very excited to meet you. Every question you could have is answered in this letter."

His eyes barely register her extending her hand with an envelope grasped in it. He takes it but can't bring himself to open it, not with this woman watching. So he sighs in defeat and looks at Eva with disdain. He wants to tell her to shove it, that this isn't true, that there isn't any way that he could have a 7 year-old kid he never knew about. He's only 33. This can't be happening to him.

"What's this kid's name?" He asks. He notes the way she narrows her eyes at him when he says this kid like he's refusing to take responsibility.

She smiles apologetically and he wonders if she thinks it will make this all better. "His name is Theo."

"And he's seven?"

"Mister Specter," Eva says, again forcefully, "my colleague is bringing him upstairs right now. If after a few days, you still don't think you can do this, you can give me a call and we will make other arrangements for Theo. You should know that he doesn't fully understand what has happened but there will come a time when he will."

"Okay," Harvey says carefully. There's suddenly a firm knock on the door and he stills like a deer in headlights. He never thought that he would be in this position where he is suddenly face to face with a past he never actually knew existed. "Is that him?"

"That's him," Eva confirms.

Harvey shakes as he gets to his feet and walks to the front door. He doesn't remember ever being so nervous in his entire life, but when he opens his door and sees a kid on the other side, he knows that there's no denying Theo is his kid. He gulps and braces himself for his life to change, big time.

Shortly after Theo falls asleep on the couch, Harvey finally finds a moment of silence where he can call Donna, but when he sees the time on his phone he knows it's too late. Theo was much more talkative than Harvey had ever imagined a kid in his position could be, and he seemed comfortable and to trust the idea that Harvey is his dad. It seemed to Harvey that Theo had built up years and years of things he wanted to tell his dad. Harvey used to relate to that feeling after his mom left, but he can't anymore.

When he notes the time, he can't bring himself to call Donna, so instead he sends her a text.

I'm sorry.

Fuck you. Her reply is immediate and he can feel the heat in her words.

I can explain. She never replies.

"Look, Donna," he says, three steps behind her, "I can explain."

She doesn't even look at him, just keeps moving about like he never said a word. He follows her quickly even though she's trying to avoid him. He doesn't know where she's going but he refuses to let her leave his sights before she hears him out. He needs her to hear him out.

"I get that you're mad, but I can explain everything," he continues. She halts in her step, stuck halfway between his desk and him because he's blocking the door. She sends a glare his way and attempts to step around him. He blocks her from leaving his office. "You owe it to me to at least-"

"I owe you?" She mocks. Her voice mocks him, her anger boils at the surface and he doesn't know what to do. He obviously hit a nerve.

Harvey hasn't seen her in two days and he's sure that's only made her angrier due to the fact that he stood her up, that he didn't even come to work the next day and didn't have the decency to let her know personally. She had to find out through Jessica, which he sure she was absolutely pleased about. He closes the door and she looks sealed in, annoyed.

"Okay, I didn't say what the way that I should have," he admits, "but I need to tell you why I didn't make it."

"It doesn't matter, Harvey," she bites.

He huffs for just a moment before he takes a haggard step towards her. "It does matter, Donna. This kid showed up at my apartment."

"What?"

"I didn't know," he says.

Her eyebrows furrow in response. She lightly shakes her head. "Didn't know what?"

"I didn't know that I had a kid. He just showed up and I didn't know what to do," he explains. She doesn't seem satisfied with this, like he's lying to her maybe. He doesn't know how to convince her that he's telling the truth. "His name is Theo and his mom died. He's seven and I don't have the slightest clue what I'm doing."

"Where is he?" She asks. She's genuinely interested. He just hopes that she won't hate him over this.

Harvey swallows and drags his hand through his hair. His hair is left disheveled and he can see her eying it immediately. She wants to fix it, to put everything back into place, but he wonders now if he lets her do that just how far she will try to extend herself into fixing things for him. But, even though he's aware of these things, he's grateful that she's the one looking at him. If it were any other woman, she wouldn't look at him this way.

"He's at school."

Donna's mouth clenches tight as she resigns to the situation. He knows that she's still angry, but she's giving him a little bit of leeway. She huffs again, making a point to show him just how annoyed with him she really is.

"What school?" She asks.

He drops his hands into his pockets. "A good one. I did my research."

For a moment, he thinks she looks as though she's about to cry, but she doesn't. She pulls her chin up and stands a little taller. He's taken by her and for the briefest of moments, he resents Theo for making him stand her up. He berates himself for blaming a kid.

She smiles sadly. "Let me know if you need anything."