The day seemed to drag on for an eternity while both Harvey and Donna tried to keep busy and ignore the knot in their chest and the anticipation of finally, after all these years, knowing where they stand. At about 7:30, Donna walked out of her office heading home. At the elevators, Harvey was just stepping in and pushing the button. Upon noticing her, he started lifting his arm to stop the elevator doors from closing, but stopped when he heard Donna say:

- It's okay, I'll just take the next one.

He looked at her and nodded. It only took him a second to understand why it was for the best. He was going home to talk to Paula. "We'll talk when all of this is over" is what her eyes were telling him. He nodded as well and with one final look at Donna, the doors closed between them. Harvey was so sick of all the actual and metaphorical doors between him and Donna. The door to her apartment, the door to his, the elevator door, the wall separating their two offices, all of the choices they made over the years. He thought about all of those times when he felt the need to knock them down just to feel closer to her. That night when she came over to his office to give him back her key to his flat after finding out about him and Paula was still etched in Harvey's memory. A thing so insignificant as a key made him feel empty inside, like Donna giving this up meant she gave him up, gave up the intimacy they both shared. For a second, but just for a second that night, he considered calling everything off with Paula. But then what? He knew he wouldn't have the guts to actually attempt a relationship with Donna, so he settled instead.

Until that fateful night when she kissed him, the night when everything clicked together. Harvey smiled when he thought that Donna was, once again, as she had been many times in the past, braver than him. She had the guts to do what he didn't, and thanks to her, there might still be hope for the two of them.

- You incredible woman, Harvey smiled to himself.

By the time he arrived to his flat to meet Paula, Harvey was anxious to have this conversation with her. All the dread from the last hours vanished when he thought about seeing Donna later tonight. Back at his place, Paula was waiting for him on the couch holding a glass of wine. By the look on her face, she knew something was wrong.

- Hello, Harvey! How was your day? She asked without smiling.

- It was fine, thank you. How was yours?

- Quite miserable, I have to say.

Harvey didn't want to ask why, because he would have felt like a jerk asking, knowing fully well why. So, he just said:

- I'm sorry. I think we need to talk.

- So talk.

- See, Paula, I've been thinking, and… I care for you a lot, I really do… but… I don't think this is working. I think it is unfair to you to continue this relationship, and I think you deserve the kind of happiness I can't give you.

Paula nodded quietly staring into the glass in her hand. Turning her eyes toward Harvey, she said:

- It's her, isn't it?

- I'm sorry?

- Please, don't insult my intelligence and pretend you don't know who I'm talking about, Harvey.

- I don't know what you want me to say, Paula.

- That it's her. That I was right all along and that you are in love with her.

- I don't think it matters if I…

- IT BLOODY WELL DOES, yelled Paula. I want to know how much I've wasted my time with you, knowing you were in love with another woman, knowing we could never have what you have.

- Paula, I'm truly sorry, I never meant to hurt you. Me and Donna… it's complicated. It always will be and no one deserves to be trapped in the middle.

- You can't even say it. You can't even admit it to me that you're in love with her. You bloody idiot. I hope at least you'll be able to admit it to her, if you ever want her to be with you, Paula smiled bitterly and got up.

Putting the glass down on the coffee table, she got her bag from the kitchen counter and made her way to the door. Harvey followed her moves unsure of what else to say, but feeling like he hasn't said enough.

- Thank you, he finally said.

You could tell Paula was surprised by his words by the way her shoulders moved just as she was about to open the front door. Without turning around, she asked:

- What do you mean?

- I don't think I ever thanked you for helping me realize some things about myself. I will forever be grateful for that, Paula, and I truly wish you the best.

- I just wish I'd known better than to get myself in this situation. You know, Harvey, I hope you get the girl.

With those final words, Paula closed the door behind her and was out of Harvey's life as quickly as she had entered it. Harvey took one deep breath and considered pouring himself a glass of scotch before he went to see Donna, but changed his mind immediately. No, this time, he would be completely awake and himself when he talks to her. Without bothering to call her, he left for her apartment.

Back at her place, Donna was pacing back and forth, too nervous to sit down. She knew Harvey wouldn't get in touch for a while, maybe not even tonight, but she didn't know what to do with herself. She considered having a glass of wine, but then she thought if Harvey comes by tonight, she wanted to be fully awake. Just when she was about to call it a night and get into bed early, she heard the familiar knock at her door. Too impatient to even pretend like she was not waiting for it, she opened the door immediately.

Harvey was standing in front of her door, all these years later, with the same smile he had on his face that night when they slept together. It seemed incredible to her that even after all this time, he could still look at her with the same love, lust, and amazement in his eyes that he did then. It also seemed incredible to her that all it took was that look from him to make her knees shaky.

- Do you want to come in? she asked timidly.

- You have no idea.

She smiled and motioned him inside, but he stopped right in front of her, wrapped his hands around her, and pulled her in a tight hug. She buried her face in his chest and inhaled his cologne. He squeezed so tight that she thought she was going to remain breathless, but she never told him to let go. She could feel he was desperate to be close to her, and the same desire burned deep within herself. After a few minutes of complete silence in which they simply held each other, Harvey chuckled softly and said:

- I think we should probably close the door.

She gently let him go and did so, inviting him inside, where they settled on the couch. Facing each other, there was burning desire in both of their eyes, but they had a tacit agreement that they should talk first.

- I ended it with Paula, Harvey started.

- Is everything okay? Donna asked.

- Better than I could have hoped for. She seemed to have already figured out what was happening, perhaps way before we did.

- Oh. So what exactly is happening, Harvey?

The next words were incredibly difficult for Harvey to say. Not because he hadn't said them before to Donna, but because this time, he wanted to make sure she understood the full meaning of his words. This time, he would allow no confusion.

- I love you, Donna. Always have, always will.

Donna open her mouth to speak, but Harvey was not done.

- Before you say anything, let me explain. I know I've said those words to you before, and I know I haven't delivered on them. I know I've been purposefully vague and tried to deny that there's anything more between us because I was afraid. I was afraid starting a relationship with you would be the end of me. Because you, Donna, you are the only person who has enough power over me to break me. I thought if things don't work out between us, this will be the end of our friendship. And for a long time, I thought it was not worth risking this friendship, because you are my best friend. You truly are. But you're also more than that. You are my rock, you are the one person who keeps me sane, you're the person who reads my mind and is always there when I need her. You're my work wife, my biggest crush, and my soulmate. Before you came into my life, I never thought a connection like this with another human being was possible for me. What we have, this, this is something unique and something I am not willing to lose. Ever. This may seem like a selfish thing, and it was. I know I was selfish and that I made you suffer. I know you've put my needs first for years, and you deserve much more than what I've given you. I hope you will some day forgive me for not being ready for you when you were for me, for taking you for granted for so long, and for not telling you I loved you sooner. Because I do, I love you, Donna Paulsen, and not in a platonic, "let's be friends who flirt and laugh and drink together" way, but in an "you are the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with" kind of way. If I am too late and you no longer want to give us a chance, I will understand that too. I will understand, and I will still love you. But I cannot spend another second not being with you when this is what I want most in the world. And I think you do too.

Harvey looked at Donna questioningly. Her eyes were brimming with tears while she looked straight into his. Slowly wiping off a tear rolling down her cheek, she opened her mouth to speak.