Chapter Ten

Donna and Rachel have dinner at this Italian bistro that they both love; partially because the special for dessert is always this chocolate mousse cake that was just to die for.

Tonight, however, Donna was definitely distracted. Rachel thinks she's gotten better than when they were in her office earlier though; the word to describe her then would be distraught. She wouldn't really talk now however, so Rachel was having a really hard time pinpointing exactly what has happened.

"So," Rachel began, "do you want to talk about it?"

Donna looked at her, tirelessly shaking her head. "Not really," she replied. "I don't really know what to say."

Rachel slowly nodded her head, "Well, maybe a little alcohol would loosen your lips."

Donna chuckled quietly, "I wish, but not tonight, Rach. I need a clear head. Do you think maybe we could go?"

Rachel nodded her head eagerly, "Yes, if that's what you want."

The two women paid for their meal and as always, decided to share a cab home. Only this time, Donna gave the driver an address that Rachel didn't recognize. "Where are we going?" she asked Donna.

"Oh, I need to see a friend," Donna replied. "You can go off home, if you want."

They stopped at the address Donna gave and Rachel looked out the window in bewilderment. They were in front of one of the trendiest bars in the city…popular with gay men. Why would Donna want to come here?

Donna turned to her, "Rach, I'll see you at the office. Thanks for having dinner with me."

Rachel looked at Donna, "What?" She indicated towards the club, "What are you going to do here?"

"I need to talk to a friend," Donna replied nonchalantly, "Go home, I'll be fine."

Rachel nodded her head apprehensively but seeing the look on Donna's face made her follow the older woman's words. She told the driver her address and began her way home. She texted Mike to see if he knew anything but didn't get a reply. Looks like she would have to wait till Monday to find out what's happened.

..::..

Monday morning rolled around and Rachel still had no replies from Mike. So, early that morning, she approached him in his cubicle. "Why haven't you been answering me all weekend?"

"Good morning to you, Rachel," he answered sarcastically, "If you must know, my phone is currently hostage inside Harvey's office. He kicked me out of there last Friday night before I could grab it."

"Was he in a bad mood, too?" Rachel asked, curious if this could lead her to Donna's strange behaviour.

Mike nodded, "That would be an understatement. I don't know what him and Donna talked about but Harvey was pissed off when I saw him."

"Donna wasn't very good company during dinner either," Rachel offered. "What do you think happened?"

"Hell if I know," Mike said. "They never tell me anything. I hate it when they fight though, it's just not the same."

Rachel looked at him strangely, he sounded like a kid who hated seeing his parents fight. "I'm sure they can fix whatever has happened, Mike. Did you see Donna this morning?"

"No," Mike answered, "she wasn't at her desk when I came in. I was hoping she was so I can get my phone but…"

Rachel nodded, "I'll call her."

And so Rachel called, she called all week long only to have all of them sent to voicemail. Friday finally rolls around and she sees Mike duck into her office after lunch.

"So, apparently, Donna's sick," he said. "It's probably a lie, because Harvey has been moping around all week like he did back when Donna got fired. So, I don't know."

Rachel looked at him, "Well, she didn't say anything like that on Friday. If she's sick, and she could be, shouldn't we visit?"

Mike nodded, "Yeah, I told Harvey that but he mumbled something about George, architect douchebag, then he got angry and tossed me out again. Luckily, I saved my phone this time."

"Who is George?" Rachel asked, to which Mike just shrugged. "Well, I'm going to see her," she continued.

Mike stood up, "Okay, let's go."

Rachel shook her head, "Maybe it's best if I go alone. Girl talk, you know. I'll call you if I come up with anything."

Mike nodded reluctantly, not wanting to be left out.

"Go and look after Harvey. Make sure he doesn't kill anyone in his angry state," she told him before heading out the door.

..::..

Rachel tried to piece together all the information she knew but just couldn't come up with a plausible theory: The fact that Donna wasn't drinking was definitely a big issue; Donna was always willing to drink her troubles away. No alcohol meant one thing, Donna was pregnant. That was a start. Then there was Harvey, was he the father; but then why was he so angry? Maybe this George guy was the father, that would explain Harvey's anger…but seeing as how he was only Donna's boss. But, then all of it didn't explain why Donna visited a gay bar to meet a friend. Rachel decided to start with what she knew for sure and that was the fact that Donna is pregnant, or just on an alcohol fast!

She got to Donna's building, thankful that a neighbour was just leaving so she grabbed the door and entered. She climbed to Donna's floor and walked to her door only to see a box holding a delicious looking fruit cake inside. She grabbed it and knocked. No answer. She knocked about ten more times after which she added, "Donna, it's Rachel."

Footsteps. She heard the chain on the door being undone and finally came face to face with Donna. Donna, who looked well for someone supposed to be sick. "You don't look very sick," Rachel said.

Donna sighed, "Come in, Rachel. You can put that in the fridge with the others."

And so Rachel did. "Did you open up a cake shop I didn't know about?" she commented, seeing about a dozen other boxes in her fridge.

Donna shrugged, "Harvey knows how I hate getting flowers and he thinks cake is always the best apology. He knocks on my door, gives up, leaves the cake and that's that."

Rachel looked at her like she was crazy, "Why would he need to apologize?"

Donna gave her a look, a there-is-no-way-you're-going-to-get-that-out-of-me look. So, Rachel nodded to herself, she was going to make Donna say what she wanted to hear. So, she blurted, "Donna, I know you're pregnant." Rachel figured if she was wrong, then Donna might correct her and if she was right, well, then she was brilliant. Right now, the look on Donna's face was saying that she was brilliant.

But Rachel wasn't stopping there, so she blurted out, "I also know Harvey is the father." She knew that was a long shot so imagine her surprise as Donna's jaw almost hit the ground and she looked at Rachel like she was some sort of psychotic psychic.

"Oh my God!" Rachel exclaimed, "You're actually pregnant with Harvey's baby?!"

Donna was not amused, after she realized that Rachel had used the oldest trick of the book on her; she was usually a lot sharper than this, this whole pregnancy thing was putting her out of balance.

She looked at Rachel and nodded her head, "Yeah."

Rachel sat on her sofa, "This is big! Wait, why is Harvey apologizing to you then? And who did you meet at that gay bar last week?"

So, after grabbing a cake out of her fridge and some juice, Donna began to tell Rachel the whole story; albeit without some of the more delicate details. In the end, Rachel looked at her and said, "I get where you're coming from, Donna. I would be furious at Harvey, too. But, you can be angry at him and still tell him. He needs to know."

Donna nodded, admiring the younger woman for all the wisdom she possesses. "I know, Rach. Me hiding out here isn't really helping the situation but I just couldn't face him. Never mind the fact that I hate feeling this insecure. He may want a baby but like I told you, he wants it with Zoe."

Rachel sighed. "Number one, those two eggheads were baked when Mike had that idea. Number two, I think Harvey would throw her out the window if you tell him about you."

Donna looked at her and smiled, "You don't understand. Zoe has always been the closest person that Harvey ever committed to before; he was serious about her five years ago. She's like his number one prospect."

Rachel shook her head at the older woman. "If you ask me, she's more like a very distant second."

"You're sweet, Rach," Donna said. "But, here, you'd be sweeter if you take at least two of these cakes home with you."

Rachel took them and they made their way to the door. She turned back to Donna before the older woman closed the door, "I think you'll make a great mom."

With that, Donna gave her a hug, saying, "Thanks. That means a lot. I'll call you tomorrow and tell you what happens, if not, I'll see you on Monday."

..::..

Donna woke early the next morning. Harvey had been coming to her apartment every day the past week at seven in the morning, with a cake in hand. So, she got ready and made it to his building by six; hoping to catch him before he comes to see her again.

His doorman had known Donna for a while and she got in without any hiccups. She made his way to the elevators and waited impatiently for one to come. She spent the ride up alone, due to the fact that it was way too early for anyone to be using one yet. She got to his floor and rounded the corner only to see the door to his apartment already opening.

She was expecting Harvey to saunter out instead she saw him hold the door open as Zoe exited his apartment. Luckily, the door to the stairs was to Donna's left and she ducked in quickly; watching as the blonde moved past her towards the elevators.