Chapter Sixteen

Donna had been cleaning up a little in her apartment the next morning when she heard her phone buzz from its place on the coffee table.

Sure enough, it was a text from Mike telling her to go downstairs already since they were there. Donna was surprised that those two were actually on time, but happy since they had a lot of shops to visit for the day. Grabbing her purse, she made her way downstairs only to be surprised by the sight before her.

Harvey was leaning against his car, much like he had done the week after she had gotten 'fired'; but gone was the suit and tie. He was wearing dark jeans and a casual long-sleeve shirt. He waved at her and gave her a subtle grin.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, "Didn't I leave you on your office couch last night after you passed out on me?"

"You set my alarm for like six in the morning," he reasoned.

She laughed, "Where are Mike and Rachel? You see, they were supposed to be meeting me here."

"Well, after I was violently awoken by my alarm this morning, I called Mike in to work but he said you all had made plans without me," Harvey answered, eyebrow raised slightly.

"I didn't think you'd want to go," Donna said carefully. "I'd really only asked Mike because we needed a guy to carry everything."

"Yes, I heard George couldn't go." Harvey then gave her a look, eyeing her purse, "But you thought my credit card would love to come with, huh!"

"Think of it as an early bonus," Donna said, smiling sweetly, "But, seriously, where are they?"

"See for yourself," Harvey said, beckoning towards the back seat of his car. Donna peeked in and saw both Rachel and Mike sitting inside comfortably, sipping coffee.

"Wow," she said, "how did you get them to bring you along? They, after all, are my loyal subjects."

"I offered my car services," Harvey said nonchalantly. "Apparently, they weren't too keen with Your Majesty's idea of walking around everywhere today!"

"Walking happens to be very good for a person," Donna said to Harvey, her eyes narrowing.

He shrugged, opening the passenger car door for her, "Whatever, it's still one point for King Harvey!"

Donna rolled her eyes and ignored the opened door. Instead, she tapped lightly on the back window, which opened immediately…revealing Rachel's face bearing a knowing smile to Donna. The older woman narrowed her eyes slightly but said a quick a hello to the both of them.

Then, whilst looking at Harvey first before turning back to Mike and Rachel, Donna asked, "How about we all head to my apartment first? I can make you guys some pancakes before we start the day."

At the mention of pancakes, Mike's face lit up and he jumped out of the car immediately. "Let's go," he said.

Donna smiled cheekily at Harvey, who could only shake his head. "I guess, that makes it a tie," she said.

"Do you have bacon, too?" Mike asked hopefully, opening the door for Rachel as they all entered Donna's building.

Donna smiled, "Of course. I'll cook you as much as you want." Then, she turned back to Harvey, "And the Queen is back in the lead!" Harvey could only shake his head at her with a slight smile on his face.

..::..

After a hearty breakfast, the four had piled back into Harvey's car and made their way throughout the different shops on Donna's list. They finished rather quickly, and was now on their last stop of the day.

Harvey and Mike were currently at the baby furniture section as Rachel and Donna finished some clothing purchases for the baby. They had to buy very neutral colours due to the fact that Donna didn't know the gender of her unborn child.

Just as Donna reached the checkout and was paying for their purchases, Rachel saw something that caught her eye. Making a quick dash for it, she showed it Donna who looked at it and smiled at her.

"Well, that's telling," Donna commented, eyeing the baby three-piece suit that Rachel was carrying, complete with mini vest and tie.

Rachel nodded excitedly, "It's so cute, though. You can totally just show him this and you'll be all, (with voice and all) 'Harvey, this will fit well with the baby.' Then he'd be all, 'But, Donna…that's not an architect outfit.' And you'll nod and he'll just understand. Then he'll take you in his arms and you guys will kiss and make up. And you'll also have a little lawyer baby, who will be so adorable. And it'll just be so good!"

Donna looked at the younger woman, very surprised by her outburst! "Rachel," she said calmly, "put down the baby suit."

Rachel smiled sheepishly, "Sorry, I got carried away."

Donna looked at her, "Carried? You were blown away, I think. What did I put in those pancakes this morning?"

Rachel laughed. "I'm still buying it," she said, before Donna could protest. She paid for it, adding it to Donna's purchases which were all currently on hold at the counter; since they had both almost half the store. She saw Donna perusing through some more clothes and was just about to comment when they both heard a commotion happening at the other side of the store.

The looked at each other and said at the same time: "Harvey." "Mike."

They made a dash towards the furniture section only to see Mike inside one of the cribs, sitting comfortably inside, and Harvey currently talking to one of the salesperson.

"What are you guys doing?" Donna asked, incredulous; switching her gaze from Harvey and Mike.

Harvey turned from the salesman he was having a conversation with and said, "Well, I just wanted to test how strong their cribs are. You can't be safe enough."

Mike just shrugged and added, "I think this one is good, Harvey." He climbed out easily enough and joined Rachel's side, who was trying to bite back a laugh.

"Did you read that in one your infamous baby books?" Donna asked Harvey, hands on her hips.

Harvey stared at Donna and then glanced sheepishly at Rachel (Mike knew of his book purchases, after all) before stating, "No! It's just how you buy beds; you have to test them out!"

Donna nodded, what Harvey said did make some sense. She shrugged, "So, I don't really like the colour of the one Mike was just in."

"Yeah, I knew you wouldn't," Harvey said. "That's why I'm talking to this nice gentleman," indicating the salesperson who was a pimply teenager who waved at Donna, before continuing, "How do you feel about a more maple finish?"

Donna nodded, agreeing with his taste and also started talking to the salesman. Mike and Rachel looked on, adding little quips here and there.

Just as they were all finishing up the purchases, the young salesman said, "So, we'll just have everything delivered and then, they will assemble everything at your apartment for only an extra cost of $1500.00."

"What?" Both Harvey and Mike said at the same time.

"Are you serious, $1500.00 to put together some furniture that comes with clear instructions?" Mike exclaimed. "That's extortion."

Harvey nodded along. "You can deliver today, we can build it ourselves," he said, looking at Mike who nodded along.

Donna and Rachel looked at each other. Rachel laughed quietly at the look on Donna's face, it said it all. She was going to let the boys have their fun, fulfill their ego; but she was definitely having professionals come and build the furniture.

After they settled everything, they got back into Harvey's car and headed back to Donna's.

"I mean, you've got two lawyers, manly—well at least I am—and campable, here at you beck and call," he said to Donna, "why would you ever need anyone else to build something so easy?"

Donna looked at him. "I'm sorry," she said, "I didn't think Assembling Cribs 101 was taught at Harvard Law."

Harvey rolled his eyes, "It's not. But the simple steps in assembling furniture is just like any old case we handle."

"How's that?" Donna asked, looking between Harvey and Mike who appeared to be tag-teaming her.

"Well," Harvey started, "you start with a case…"

"…which in this instance is the assembly of the crib," Mike finished.

"We start with getting our arguments, finding the evidence, and building strategy," Harvey added.

"That would be reading the instructions, which I already saw at the store and have memorized," Mike quipped in.

Harvey stared at Donna, "Then, we have the actual trial."

"Which is the actual building part; physical and manual labour," Mike said, staring at Rachel suggestively and flexing his arms; who only rolled her eyes playfully.

"And when I win, because I never lose…" Harvey began.

"…you'd have yourself one very fine crib," Mike finished.

Donna stared at the both of them with a deadpanned expression on her face. She was speechless but amused at their ridiculous words. She looked at Rachel, who was already laughing quietly in the back seat. "Fine," she said, "we shall see."

..::..

Rachel and Donna sat at Donna's kitchen table; Rachel with a glass of wine and Donna with a cup of warm milk. They were gossiping about people from work, running out of things to actually about since it was nearing midnight already. And not surprisingly, nothing was built yet.

They heard the occasional swearing and grunt from the two men in her living room currently making the crib. At a particular loud scream of pain from Mike, Donna finally stood up and Rachel followed.

"Where's Harvey?" she asked, seeing that it was only Mike trying to assemble the crib. They didn't even have the base built yet.

Mike stared at them, clutching his hand in pain, "He took a phone call in your room."

Donna sighed, "You do realize that I never trusted you guys to build this." She stared at Mike who narrowed his eyes at her. "I have professionals coming in tomorrow. Call me overprotective, but I'd really like to keep my baby safe from the furniture."

Mike let out a huge breath, "It's really hard. I don't know how people make it look so easy."

Both Donna and Rachel laughed. "You guys should go home," Donna said to her two younger comrades. "It's getting pretty late, I'll explain to Harvey."

Mike looked at Rachel, who nodded to him that they should leave.

"Alright," Mike sighed, "today was a lot of fun, Donna. Your pancakes are amazing. And my hand is fine by the way."

Donna touched his cheek sweetly, "Thank you, Mike. And I'm sure Rachel will take care of that hand, won't you, Rach."

Rachel eyed the older woman suspiciously, not believing that she was actually going there. "Really?" she replied to Donna, "Is that why you want us to leave? Do you have your own things to take care of?" She said this while looking suggestively at her bedroom.

Donna looked shocked at Rachel and eyed Mike, whose eyes had just gone saucer-wide. She walked (pushed) the two towards the door; Mike exited first, but not before giving Donna a double look, saying he'd hail them a taxi.

Rachel turned to Donna, this time serious, "Are you going to finally tell him?"

Donna nodded, "Yes, definitely. I did technically tell him yesterday, he would know by now had he not fallen asleep."

Rachel gave a hug, "Good luck."

Donna smiled. "Good night," she said.

..::..

Donna closed the door and looked at the current mess of her living room; she'd have to get Harvey to pick up all the little screws and pieces from the floor, seeing as she couldn't really bend without a lot of difficulty.

She was just gathering up all the instruction pages when she heard Harvey exit her room. One look at him and she knew something was wrong.

She looked at him, Harvey also staring back at her, and she said, "What is it? Harvey, tell me."

"It's Stephen," Harvey said. Donna' fear escalated as he heard the tone in which Harvey had said his younger brother's name.

"What?" she pressed.

"He's back in the hospital," Harvey answered her, looking dazed. "His doctor just said his cancer is back." With that he sunk into her sofa, his eyes on that picture on her coffee table.

Donna sat beside him, shocked herself, and unable to find the words he needed. She was surprised when his head fell onto her shoulders, nestled. She was even more astonished when he let her reach up her hand to make gentle soothing circles on his back.

Finally, she said, "It's going to be fine." She doesn't know who she was trying to reassure more, Harvey or herself.