Chapter Seven

Let it be set in stone that Donna Paulsen is never wrong (she should really get a plaque made); and when she said 'they can never go back', she was truly right. Because right now, she actually held proof to that testament in her trembling hands.

..::..

The night after their whole divulging of things that needed to be said, everything went back to normal. Their dependency on one another has always far outweighed any disagreements or discomforts—no matter how big they were. So, it was back to playfulness and banter—and in all honesty, it's been great.

Now, Donna is sure that Harvey still pictured her naked from time to time; so, of course, she let herself indulge, too. But that was the end of that. They were both focused on work and well, other people (in Donna's case, other 'fake' people).

Sitting at her desk now, Donna finally realizes that Harvey actually hasn't mentioned Zoe for a while now—she hasn't come to visit him either. Filing it in her mind as something to ask him later; she readied the documents for Harvey to sign for when he finally decided came to work.

The whole day was filled with a lot of documents and phone calls that when Donna finally powered off her computer, she felt like she wanted to power off, too. She'd been really tired lately, she figures with all the work in the firm—although, it really isn't that much more than usual. She looked at her watch and it read 10:30; she looked to see that Harvey was still busy in his office and so she poked her head in to say goodnight. She was expecting a mindless wave and a goodnight, when:

"Hey," he said. "Rachel just handed this to me as I walked past her office." He waved an envelope in the air for her to see.

Donna saw the familiar green envelope and said, "Well, you could open it and find out what's inside."

Harvey shrugged. "Why bother?" he said with grin, "I can just ask you and you'll know. I always hear things akin to the fact that you seem to know everything…so, I assumed…"

"Ha ha," Donna said. "What would your lazy ass do without me?" She took the envelope from him. "It's an invitation to Mike's surprise birthday party. I think Rachel invited the whole firm."

"The pup has a birthday?" Harvey asked, looking incredulous.

"Yeah," Donna replied with a quirk in her brow, "I hear he has one every year…the audacity."

Harvey pouted at her, "You know that's not what I meant. Well, put it in the calendar. We'll go." He looked at her, "We're going, right?" Before Donna could respond, Harvey snapped his fingers, "Oh right, you have George…you should bring him."

Donna couldn't place the tone in which he always brings up her fake boyfriend, right now it sounded like disappointment but it was gone so quickly and replaced by a smile that Donna was sure it was all in her imagination. "He probably can't go. He works late hours sometimes…but I'll ask him," she said with a shrug. "Anyways, I'm going to head home after I put this on the calendar. I'll see you tomorrow."

Harvey nodded and said, "You have to let me meet him someday, Donna. But, goodnight!"

Donna smiled at him cheekily before exiting his office, "Maybe I will or maybe I won't. Good night, Harvey!" He always somehow found a way to mention George in every conversation, much like the one they just had. She now just remembers that she was going to tease him about Zoe but his always bringing up of her fake beau just put a damper on that plan. She loses focus when she has to lie. She was planning on ending this whole lie by well, lying to Harvey that her and George have broken up but she hasn't gotten around to it yet.

Sighing, she settled back down on her chair to put Mike's party on the calendar. She penciled it in on the paper one, unwilling to turn on her computer again; she'll finalize it all tomorrow morning.

She wrote it and did a double take on the calendar, noting the current date with a realized horror. She looked u, closed her eyes briefly, and took a deep breath, before checking the date again. Oh boy.

Of course she'd realize it the first week when it was off count, but she chalked up to stress. Then last week, she barely had time to think about anything after all the work they've been doing. But now, she felt a panic attack about to come on. She's almost two months late! This cannot be happening; it is not happening to her right now.

Harvey looked up from his work and noticed Donna still sitting at her desk just staring off into space. She was just going to pencil in Mike's birthday on the calendar, a task that didn't take twenty minutes; so, he walked out of his office to ask her what was going on.

"Donna…Donna," it was like she was in a trance. "Donna…" he said more forcefully. She finally looked up at him, a look of both surprise and horror in her face.

She mumbled something incoherently before standing up and walking towards the elevators. Harvey found her behaviour peculiar and followed. He grabbed her shoulders as she stopped in front of the elevator, ignoring the current of electricity he felt as he touched her, "Maybe you should sit, you don't look so well."

Donna was brought back to reality when Harvey grabbed her; she felt a jolt from his touch, bringing her back from her reverie. "No, no…" she said, "I'm fine. I'll see you tomorrow." She stepped into the elevator and gave Harvey a reassuring smile before the doors closed.

..::..

That was two nights ago. Yesterday morning, she sat on her toilet bowl holding in her hands a little white stick with the letters 'POS', glaring at her in bright blue.

Now, she had just left her doctor's office and holding a piece of paper the officially confirmed it all. She managed to make it to her desk, the meaning for the overwhelming feeling in her stomach now unclear to her. Was it because she was so nervous that she couldn't stop shaking or because she was…oh gosh, she couldn't even admit to herself. How was she going to tell Harvey?

Speaking of which, Harvey was now making his way towards her. She put down the envelope from her doctors and handed him the files he needed to sign with a smile. He took the folders and bid her a "Good morning" before entering his office.

At around eleven o'clock or so, Donna finally stood up from her chair. She thought to herself: Let it be set in stone that Donna Paulsen is never wrong (she should really get a plaque made); and when she said 'they can never go back', she was truly right. Because right now, she actually held proof to that testament in her trembling hands.

She entered his office after what felt like an hour of just standing outside his door, only to have him say, "If this is about the Halloween thing again, you can still have it off." He smiled.

She took a deep breath and looked at him. She opened her mouth to speak…

"Harvey."

Donna frowned, that didn't come out of her mouth. She turned to see that Zoe had poked her head through Harvey's door and was smiling at him.

"I just need to get these files to Jessica. I can meet you in the lobby in 30 minutes for that lunch you owe me," she continued.

Harvey tore his gaze away from Donna and nodded his approval to Zoe. Zoe then said a quick greeting to Donna, who could only nod in response, before the blonde woman made her way out and towards Jessica's office.

Harvey once again focused his attention on Donna. Standing from his chair, "Is everything alright?" he asked.

"Yes, yes," Donna answered quickly, backing away from his approaching form. "Better now that I know for sure I have Halloween off. You have fun for lunch. Just call if you need me to push back any of your meetings this afternoon."

Harvey shrugged, "Shouldn't be necessary. It's just a quick bite out. I'll be back on time."

Donna nodded, "Well, I'm glad you're moving forward with your you know with Zoe. It's about time." Harvey looked to be about to respond but Donna just didn't want to hear it, "I think I'll take my lunch now, too." Her tone dismissed any further discussions and she exited his office hastily. She felt like she was going to throw up.

All Harvey could do was stare as she walked off. He turned to pick some papers up from his desk and noticed the envelope that Donna had been holding on the floor. He picked it up and was about to open it when he turned it around and saw 'Donna Paulsen' scrawled across the front.

So, he grabbed it along with some folders he needed filed and left it all on Donna's desk—making sure to put the envelope separately so she wouldn't think she misplaced it; before making his way down to the lobby to meet up with Zoe.