A/N: You thought I fell off the face of the earth didn't you? Well life isn't exactly peaches and roses but I won't bore you with that.Instead let's focus on this epilogue. It's sadness and joy at the same time. I'm elated I finished this epic journey of these two but at the same time, I love writing them in this universe and I have so many more headcanons for them.Thanks again for the ride everyone!
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Rachel observes quietly when Harvey places a plate holding an exquisite dessert in front of Donna.
"How did you manage this?" the redhead says surprised. She tips her head backwards to look at Harvey hovering above her.
"The Maitre'D of l'abeille finds me irrésistible."
"Isn't she like sixty or something?" Mike sniggers into his glass of Cabernet Sauvignon.
"What can I say, she thinks I look like a young Marlon Brando." Harvey runs his hand in a smoothing manner alongside his hair.
Mike snorts so hard, with the sip of wine he just took, he is soon wheezing, struggling to catch his breath.
Rachel gives him a few good slaps on his back and Harvey mutters, "Pup's drink water not wine."
"Anywaaay," Harvey drawls as Mike stops spluttering. "Your milestone deserves a celebration." He looks at Donna lovingly, placing his hands on her shoulders.
Donna leans backward, her head resting against Harvey. "You remembered," she whispers.
"Of course." He leans down to kiss her forehead and Donna grabs his hand on her shoulder to give it a quick squeeze.
Rachel shares a look with Mike. She is bursting with happiness to see their friends so openly loving one another.
"You know it's rude not to include your guests into this conversation," Mike pipes up.
Harvey is ready to volley back a dig but Donna motions for him to sit down and he does as told, causing Rachel to stifle a chuckle.
"I've been phasing out my anxiety medication and today is the first day I haven't taken anything," Donna explains to her friends.
"That is the best thing I've heard since Harvey told me he got his head out of his ass and finally canoodled you."
Mike is totally earnest but it results in Harvey rolling his eyes and Rachel shaking her head.
"Uhm, thank you I think?" Donna says bemused.
"What my husband means," Rachel starts, "we are proud of how you got back up on your feet so quickly. You worked so hard to not let this thing define you and be happy again. And also we are thrilled to see you two together. It's the sweetest thing."
Donna takes Harvey's hand across the table. "I think it is impossible to separate one from the other. Harvey looking after me in the most loving, compassionate, encouraging way is where I drew my strength from. I know he'll catch me if I fall."
Harvey brings Donna's hand up to his face. "Always," he murmurs, pressing his lips against the back for a soft kiss. He looks from his girlfriend to Rachel. "Is that mushy enough for you girls?" He shovels a spoon of dessert in his mouth and leans back in his chair looking past Rachel towards Mike. "Isn't there some case where Robin needs Batman to save Gotham City?"
…
Harvey rummages with the items on his bar cart. He looks over his shoulder, Mike holds up the bottle and he begrudgingly lets go of his tumbler and just brings two glasses instead.
"Live a little man, try something new." Mike nudges.
"I have tried it all and decided that Macallan fits my taste best."
"Okay grandpa but the world evolves and new distilleries and brews pop up everyday." Mike steps out onto the balcony. "These guys won best American single malt in the world whiskies awards."
"What do Americans know about brewing great whiskey?" Harvey purses his lips indignantly.
Mike shakes his head, the corner of his mouth quirking up. He slides the bottle across the table as he lowers himself in a seat.
"I brought their Sherry wood instead of the winning peated malt. Baby steps for my old man here."
Harvey twirls his glass before taking a sip. The amber liquid slamming his pallet, the vapor filling his sinuses, leaving an almost effervescent sensation, tasting the wood it was aged in.
"I wanted to thank you," he starts.
"Hold on, let me check if I'm not dreaming." Mike smacks his own cheeks with his flat hand. "The great Harvey Specter, thanking me."
Harvey rolls his eyes.
"You finished? You don't even deserve me saying this anymore." He taps his fingers impatiently on the table.
Mike hooks his feet around the chair legs, leaning forward with a smirk.
"ThankyouforhelpingmewheneverIgotoverwhelmedwithhelpingDonna." Harvey spits it out without so much as an exhale and swallows a big gulp of his whiskey.
Mike knows better than to blow this up to epic proportions. He wiggles his eyebrows, replying with a quote.
"Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall."
Harvey pokes his tongue in his cheek and mutters, "This is why Superman works alone."
Mike's face turns serious. "I wanted to apologize again for—"
Harvey raises his hands, shaking his head. He does not feel the need to drag up the past.
"Fine," Mike leans back in his chair, twisting his wedding ring. "Then tell me this." His eyes hold a mischievous gleam. "Now that you and Donna are doing the rumpy pumpy, are copulating, having coitus…"
Harvey looks heavenward.
"Are you going to put a ring on it?"
…
Donna slips further down in her seat. "Oomph, that was delicious but I might need to unbutton my pants if I take one more bite."
She neatly places her fork and knife on her plate the way you do in a restaurant to indicate you're finished.
"Stop talking sexy to me, woman." Harvey stacks the plates and pushes back his chair to stand up. "We still have dessert to go before I drag you to my man cave. Otherwise known as our bedroom."
Donna smiles as she watches him walk inside.
"I don't think I have room for dessert, love," she calls after him.
"Not even this?" Harvey appears on the threshold.
Intrigued Donna perks up, craning her neck as Harvey slowly approaches the table with two dessert plates.
Placing it in front of her, Donna claps her fingertips together in joy.
"Is this… a mini barmbrack?" she exclaims.
Harvey nods with a beam.
"Where did you get this?"
"I may or may not have called your mother."
"My mother?!" Donna blurts with wide eyes.
"Just eat it babe." Harvey hands her a fork.
Donna tears off a bite with her fork and brings it to her mouth. She closes her eyes, slowly chewing the cake, savoring each moment of this sweet dessert that holds so many memories.
Harvey watches her with a scrutinized look. He barely eats himself, unable to swallow, his mouth feeling dry.
"But did you get the recipe from my mother and did you bake it or—?" Donna's hand is hovering in the air, her fork with the next bite halting before her mouth.
"Eat, babe," Harvey grunts.
Donna gives him a confused look but does as she is told anyway.
It's when she breaks off her next bite, and something shiny catches her eye when she brings the fork to her mouth, that it dawns on her why Harvey is being so shifty.
"Oh, my god." Donna slowly peels away the cake crumbles to reveal an elegant ring.
She looks up, realizing all around her are suddenly strings of lights, sparkling away and Harvey is next to her on one knee.
He clears his throat.
"Donna, I want to eat barmbrack with you every day…"
"The cake version or the bread one? Because the ring is actually supposed to be in the bread." Donna babbles.
The corners of his eyes crinkle.
"I know but your mum and I felt the cake was more suited for dessert and I was allowed this sin just once for this occasion."
Donna nods in agreement.
Harvey picks up again. "You are my home. Whether that is in this condo, in Battery Park or Seattle—"
"Would you consider that?" Donna butts in, licking her lips.
"What?"
"Seattle."
Harvey cocks his head to the side. "I think I would, yes."
Donna hums content.
"I meant what I said," Harvey continues in an attempt to pick his proposal up again. "Front porch, white picket fence, count me in. Although," he suddenly ponders out loud, "I have to draw the line at your dads fence. That thing is ugly."
"Excuse me!" Donna clutches her chest in horror. "Oh who am I kidding. It's horrible," she giggles.
Her eyes grow wide. "My dad!" she shrieks. "Please tell me you asked him for permission." Her eyes look at him pleadingly.
"As a matter of fact I did." Harvey's knee shifts slightly on the hard surface of the balcony.
"Phew." Donna lets out a relieved breath. "Because if you didn't…"
"Babe!" Harvey interupts her loudly. "How about you actually let me propose to you? My knees are not getting any younger."
Donna clasps a hand to her mouth and nods timidly.
Harvey gently pries the ring out of her fingers and holds it up.
"I love you. I already wasted so much time for not admitting how I feel about you. But I know we're going to be together forever so Donna Paulsen, will you marry me?" Nerves ripple down low in his stomach as he utters the words. His voice grows more husky every second.
A smile lights up Donna's face as she softly nods. "Yes," she says, blinking back tears, caressing his cheek. "Of course, I'll marry you."
Harvey beams, pushing the ring gently past her knuckles all the way up her finger. "It's my grandmother's," he tells her, cupping her face with both hands. And before Donna can completely choke up, he crashes his lips into hers. She welcomes him with open arms, threading her fingers in his hair, kissing him back fiercely.
Harvey tastes her with his tongue, as he traces it across the bottom of her lip. She lightly bites him and he lets out a moan. She moans back as her warm breath tickles his face.
Harvey scoops her up in his arms when he finally relieves his knees from that gruesome position.
"My man cave has champagne and strawberries."
"Lead the way."
He doesn't need telling twice. He rushes to the bedroom. Laying her down on their bed, he buries his head into her neck, sucking and kissing her sensitive skin. As she whimpers softly beneath him, he pulls his shirt over his head, revealing his toned torso, causing Donna to smack her lips.
"Let me show just exactly what our married life will look like."
He grabs a strawberry from the plate and drops it into her cleavage, his face following right after.
Her squeal and subsequent laughter fills their home and his heart.
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If you knew how lonely my life has been
And how long I've been so alone
If you knew how I wanted someone to come along
And change my life the way you've done
If you knew how much this moment means to me
And how long I've waited for your touch
If you knew how happy you are making me
I've never thought that I'd love anyone so much
Feels like home to me
Feels like home to me
Feels like I'm all the way back where
I come from
Feels like home to me
Feels like home to me
Feels like I'm all the way back where I belong
I'll be updating Wrap me up (in love this Christmas) soon. I also have another work in progress about a subject that is requested often ;-)
So stick around and leave a review in the mean time.