ANGLES - CHAPTER 7

Three Months Later…

There was a knock at the door. Mike scrambled to get up.

"Why are you not up yet? The Wedding starts in a half hour?" Harvey asked; a mock look of outrage on his face as he swaggered into Mike's hotel room. "Where's Rachel?"

"Too many questions! Uh… I have jetlag…Rachel's with Donna. Harvey, the Wedding's like 30 foot away. It's not like I'll be late." He said, roughing up the back of his hair as he disappeared into the bathroom.

"You better not be. Donna will kill me."

"You know, it's odd that you find the need to marry your ball and chain. You're practically married already; what's a piece of paper?"

"Oh, Mike. You have so much to learn about women." He jested.

"Clearly."

"Come on, hustle!" He called towards the bathroom.

"You could just leave without me!" He shouted through the door. "Go find Markus,"

Harvey rolled his eyes. "Markus is already on the beach. I don't trust that you won't fall asleep in there. Ten minutes."

They couldn't have chosen a better place. The Fiji Islands were stunning; intimate, isolated and perfect to bring a rag tag family of twelve. It had been a condition of Donna's that only friends and family attended the wedding. Unlike the last one; which was very public, very out in the open; Donna wanted the foundation of their life together to be about family. Harvey had never really had a proper family in her eyes; not since his Dad had died. It was important; especially as they'd finally achieved what they set out to do, that Donna would now build something else; something personal and important and for just them. Louis had actually bowed out; swearing to look after the place alongside Jessica for the two weeks that Harvey would be absent; which actually calmed him for a change.

Her brother couldn't make it; being tied up with work she'd told him not to worry about it; and instead the party had ended up being Mike, Rachel, Her Parents, Markus and his family and after much talking and negotiating: Harvey's Mother. It had taken a very long and frank conversation - which she'd nearly lost – to convince him that she would want to be here; that she had come to Donna on his wedding ready with advice but that it didn't mean that she would be a fixture at every Christmas and Thanksgiving.

Donna looked in the mirror one last time; most likely by the end of the day she would be bright red; a cooked lobster colour, all her freckles showing. Luckily they'd chosen to get married in the morning; she'd known that Harvey had been paying attention when he'd offered that as an option.

"Harvey," Donna's mother appeared at his side. She was a small blonde rounded woman, soft features that could conjure the same hard and steely determination that Donna had honed in her later years.

"Penny,"

"How you feeling?" She asked.

"Good." He said, squinting against the already intense morning sun.

"That's good. You're not nervous…or?" Her eyes searched his, the way mother's looked their sons over.

"Surprisingly, no." Came his genuinely honest answer. No closing to do here.

"Good because Donna will most likely be terrified; even if she doesn't show it." She small woman said, her tone soft.

"Why?" The idea of Donna beign terrified was almost alien to him.

"I think we both know that she doesn't like to show her weak spot. And you, Harvey, are her weak spot."

"I'll take good care of her, Penny, I promise. That is, if she can stop taking care of me for five minutes." He said, winking at her.

"That's my daughter." She smiled, squeezing his elbow.

It was one of the first real times that he'd spoken to her Mother alone. Penny was fiercely protective of her daughter, even at her age it was understandable, when your attractive daughter didn't get married at the drop of a hat, but got engaged practically monthly; there was some need for her parents to check up on things. He would probably have to humour a nice long chat with her Dad at some point too.

He watched the older woman walk slowly over to his own Mother, talking animatedly. It was a weird feeling, her being here. But he supposed Donna was right, that it was time to start burying part of the hatchet and move forward. Or, he hoped as much.

"It's time, brother." He heard a whisper in his ear as the music started.

First Julie walked down the aisle; holding her daughters' hands as they ambled on the uneven sand in their pretty white dresses. She coyly smiled at her husband, who winked back.

Next was Rachel; the pale yellow sundress highlighting her caramel skin and dark features. She smiled at Mike; her usual shyness taking over at being centre of attention for five seconds.

Harvey felt his chest tighten a little in anticipation.

This was it. The last time. He knew it in his core, that this was it. The big enchilada.

He watched her appear; her hair dewy and vibrant in the morning sun; hanging in long waves. Her dress was simple, vaguely lavender with halter straps and a flurry of rippled chiffon hanging on one shoulder. Her makeup was simple, understated; showing off all her freckles save for red lips.

She was a devil till the end…

When they reached the end of the aisle, she kissed her Dad on the cheek, watching him join her Mother.

"Hey." He said with a wink.

"Hi." She replied, her bravado masking her nervousness. "I could use drink!"

"Amen to that! " Mike yelled; earning a nudge in the ribs by Rachel on his right and a low five from Markus on his left.

Harvey laughed then. She was a nightmare, he thought as he pulled her towards him, nudging her shoulder. Somehow they all fitted together perfectly; no rough angles. She lightly bashed him with her self-named orange bouquet of Roses.

"Are you both ready?" The Priest asked carefully, clearly unsure by their lack of concentration and interest in one another. The peel of supressed laughter erupted from the group.

"Yes, we are. Please continue." He said.

"We are gathered here today; on this beautiful island to celebrate of the joining of two people, Harvey and Donna…"

"Okay, okay I got one!" Mike said, stumbling a little from his chair to standing.

"Oh no." Donna, laughed, leaning into Harvey. "Is he…?"

"Drunk? Yes. That kid can't handle punch."

"Not the way you make it," She quipped, elbowing him.

"Mike," Rachel warned.

"No, I'm good, I'm good." He placated her, "I have had the pleasure of working with Harvey and Donna for nearly four years. When I first met them, it was hard not to take notice of the kind of team that they were. Donna is probably the most formidable 'executive' assistant that anyone could have; and not only that, she has been a very good friend to me. I have watched these two people tackle a lot of precarious situations in both their professional and often separate personal lives. And somehow, they have always managed to do it together. I am honoured that I met you guys, and I'm so happy that you finally found a way to be together. To Harvey, And Donna."

Approval erupted from the table as glasses met in chimes of glass upon glass.

"And yes," He added. "I am stupendously drunk, and" He started, just as Rachel pulled him back to his chair before he could finish; a warm glow of embarrassment as she worded a silent 'sorry' towards Donna, who just laughed back at her.

"And with that," Markus suddenly rose from his chair. "I'm not going to make a speech. I think that Mike's was pretty hard to top. But I will say this. Donna; I once told you, that you were my honorary first sister-in-law; regardless of how things had gone down,"

Harvey's interest piqued immediately, but was sated by Donna playing with the back of his hairline, her eyes finding his.

"Sorry brother; but I am so happy that it's now a legitimate statement. And Harvey; I think we both know that Dad would be over the moon; and maybe even a little envious that you snagged her first."

Harvey rolled his eyes, and withheld an amused smile; more so when he saw Donna holding back a laugh.

"What? It was no secret that your Dad loved me. I'm very lovable." She said, laughter dancing in her eyes; a convincing pout forming.

"It's not the first thing that springs to mind." He said, eyeing her cautiously, to the delight of the table.

"Sexy?" She offered.

"Agreeable."

"Charming?" She asked.

"A Chatterbox."

"You're such a Jackass." She shook her head but didn't leg go of his hand for a second.

"I think you mean 'handsome'." He said, clearly playing on her weaknesses as everyone watched in amusement.

"Shut up."

Okay, this is officially it for this fic! I Promise no backsys. Hope you enjoyed, I had so much fun writing this.