Hey Everyone!
And...
MERRY CHRISTMAS! I hope that you are all well, snuggled into a blanket and a nice cup of coffee/tea/hot chocolate/e.t.c. And I know, an update so fast? Well, I missed you guys! Plus, I worked on a Christmas chapter so I definitely had to post it before Christmas ended.
Well, best not keep you waiting.
Enjoy!
P.S. Nothing belongs to me.
"Harvey?"
"Mmm?"
"Would you please pass me the bauble?"
"The what?"
"The ornament."
"Which one?"
"The red one with the white border."
"Where is it?"
"The one beside the coffee table."
"Which coffee table?"
"The espresso one."
"The what?"
"The brown one."
"...There's two brown ones."
"No, that's not a coffee table. That's a side table."
"Honest to God Max, I can't tell the difference."
"Holy Hell Harvey, it's that ornament."
"This one?"
"Does that look like red to you?"
"In all honesty, yes."
"That's russet, Harvey. Over there is the red one."
"All of them are red."
"Are you colour blind?"
"Partially. Where is it?"
"Two steps to your right, one step ahead."
"...Where?"
"For the love of God!" Max huffed in anger as she climbed off the ladder, walking past her idiot as she leaned down to the coffee table, picking up the red ornament. As she was picking up the ornament, she stood straight, realizing Harvey had been smiling. Confused, she looked around her, noticing Harvey's arm above her head. Her eyes hit his hand where the mistletoe hung from his fingers. With a giggle, she looked at Harvey, clad in his deep auburn sweater and dark wash jeans. She shook her head as she wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing him deeply and lovingly. Beside them the nine-foot tree was decorated with silver and red ornaments, hanging beautifully off of the pine Christmas tree. She pulled back, giving him the raised eyebrows and the long smirk.
"Well played, Mister Specter."
"I am the best at everything I do," he said, wrapping both of his arms around her waist.
"Wait," she said, going to the tree, "Can we please open our presents before Rachel and Mike come? They're on their way already."
Harvey rolled his eyes as he walked over to the tree, picking up one of the two presents under the tree. Max grabbed hers, switching it comically with Harvey. He laughed, grabbing the box from her. He watched as Max unwrapped the box. Her eyes lit up from the second she saw the little blue box. As she pulled the Tiffany's lid off, she clasped onto the diamond tennis bracelet.
"Harvey, this is-"
"Too much?" He said before leaning in to kiss her.
"Too bad," he said with a wink.
She laughed as she watched him unwrap his present. His own eyes lit up with excitement.
Although the women like little blue boxes, men like the little green ones.
Harvey opened the box, revealing the silver Rolex embedded in the gift box.
"Max, this is-"
"Too much?" She said, leaning up to kiss him.
"Too bad." She said laughing.
He kissed her again, slipping his free hand behind her neck.
"Thank you, babe," he said against her lips.
"Thank you," she whispered.
"Well, like I said," he slightly pulled away from her, "I am the best at everything."
"Everything?" She challenged.
"Mmhmm," he said, kissing her lips again.
"So..." she started, "you wouldn't mind if you helped finish the decorations?"
Harvey looked at her with an unamused glance.
"Be careful of what you say, Harvey. It might come back and bite you in the ass."
He wriggled his eyebrows, "The only thing that will be biting my ass is-"
"Merry Christmas!" The sound of the caramel-skinned beauty's voice rang through the home as Rachel walked through Max's front door. Clad in a red jacket with white fur trim, the woman crossed the room, giving Max a huge hug. Mike was quickly behind her, holding several bags of presents. Harvey shook his head as walked over from where he was standing, helping Mike with several of the gifts. As the girls squealed about nonsense, Harvey and Mike made their way to the kitchen.
"Beer?"
"Please," Mike responded, grabbing the bottle that Harvey offered.
"Not spending Christmas at your bat cave? Or you could have chosen Rachel's house."
The blond rolled his eyes, "I'm sorry that not all of us can spend Christmas at our girlfriend's million dollar condo."
"It is nice," the brunette nodded.
"Better than yours," Mike retaliated.
"I would have thought you would have spent Christmas with your Grandma?" Harvey asked, leaning against the counter.
"We went to go visit her, Rach and I, before we came here. She usually wants to spend it with her friends afterwards," Mike said as he supported his weight on his arms as his hands held him up on the counter.
"You're telling me you spend Christmas every year, alone?" The brunette asked in disbelief.
Mike shrugged, "Not this year."
Harvey slightly smiled, leaning his bottle towards Mike. The blond smiled as he lifted his beer up, clinking it with Harvey's.
"Not this year, Ross."
"Capital of Lithuania."
"Vilnius," Mike and Max said simultaneously.
"I've got one," Rachel said, leaning in, "Longest beard in the world belongs to..."
"Sarwan Singh," they both said in unison.
"Most jumps on a pogo stick," Harvey whipped out.
"Gary Stewart," the man and the woman said at the same time.
"How many jumps-"
"One hundred seventy seven thousand, seven hundred thirty seven jumps."
Harvey looked at Rachel, who laughed.
"This is impossible," Rachel said, looking between the two.
"We've played this game so many times," Mike said leaning back in his seat, "we've never beaten each other."
Harvey looked at the two, smiling.
"What is Donald Duck's middle name?"
Max rolled her eyes, "Harvey, everyone knows that."
She looked at Mike, whose face was blank. Her eyes widened.
"You don't know that?"
Mike panicked, "Yes, I do. I just can't remember at the moment."
The woman smiled, and turned to Harvey.
"Fauntleroy."
Rachel laughed as Mike spewed out insignificant words. Max continued laughing at him as she got out of her seat, heading towards the balcony. She opened the door, feeling the slightly brisk winter air. With Mike ranting, Harvey went out to the balcony, following his girlfriend. She turned to face him as he opened the door, walking out into the night air.
"That was cheating, Harvey. You know Mike watched Nickelodeon as a child, not Disney."
"Well I apologize for wanting my girlfriend to be successful in everything she faces," he said, placing a kiss on her temple as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders.
She sighed, "It's amazing, isn't it?"
"Specifically?"
"Us," Max said, leaning into his embrace, "How we are completely different people, and yet we are so similar. I would have never thought that you, of all people, would be the person I want to wake up beside in the morning."
"If Mike wasn't speaking to you in the conference room, I possibly wouldn't have given you a second thought."
She turned to him.
"Thanks," she said in a monotone voice.
"I'm kidding, babe. All I'm saying is that I got lucky."
Max smiled, "Funny. I was gonna say the same thing."
She looked out into the city, seeing all the beautiful lights down below.
"Has it been seven months already?"
"Seven months?" Harvey asked incredulously, "Wow. I would have at least thought two years."
She smacked him, causing him to laugh.
It was quiet between the two of them for a while; Max, her mind swirling over whether or not she should tell Harvey what she'd been planning on telling him for a while, and Harvey, who had his mind in a warped loop as he'd been wondering whether or not to tell Max what he was really thinking.
Harvey had the guts to go first.
"Max, there's something I have to ask you."
She pulled away from him slowly, turning so that she was face-to-face with him.
"Yes?"
He exhaled, "Do you want kids?"
Her head jerked back, "Pardon?"
"Do you want children?" Harvey repeated.
She smiled, "Yeah."
"One or two?"
"Two, maybe three."
"Three?"
"I like big families," she said, looking up at him.
Harvey nodded, "Okay..."
"Harvey?" Max asked, knowing he had more to say.
He stroked her face. Should he tell her what he was really feeling? It seemed so long ago that he started dreaming about children with Max. He had gotten so close before, but it was just a false hope. He didn't want another mishap. He wanted to be sure that Max was in this with her all.
"Do you want children with me?"
Max's faced softened as she quieted down. Harvey looked at her as if she was changing her mind about kids, about him, about their relationship in general, until she grabbed his face lightly, looking deep into his eyes.
"Whatever happens in the future, know that I will never regret a moment of it."
She smiled at his sad features, "But I hope that I'm lucky enough to have children with you, Harvey."
Max sighed in happiness as Harvey mirrored his smile.
"You don't know how much I've thought about it," she said.
He chuckled, "I can imagine it was the same amount as mine."
She inhaled, "You? But...babe-"
"I want kids, Max," he cut her off, resting on the balcony bar, "God, I want a bunch of them just running around the house, driving us both crazy. I want someone to call me 'Dad'. I want a little me, running around with just as much charisma as I have," he said, looking out into the night sky, "but mostly, I want a child who is half of my greatness, but half of your greatness. Because you, Max, are the greatest person to ever come into my life. You changed me in the best way possible, and I can't thank you enough for that."
He turned to face her, seeing that she had tears in her eyes.
"I love you, Harvey."
His heart stopped.
No... she- did? No, no, she didn't. But- yes? Possibly? What- how?
Harvey couldn't process it. She said it. She said the three words. She really did love him, with all of his faults, and all of his mistakes. She really did love him, even if he was sometimes a cocky son of a bitch. She really did love him, even when he looked like a mess in the morning because he was too lazy to get ready sooner.
She really did love him.
And he really did love her.
But he couldn't say it.
Max, on the other hand, was standing there, was waiting for Harvey to answer her back. Of course, it was merely five seconds, but all he did was stand there, and not respond. Was he nervous? Did he hear her properly? Was he going into shock?
Did he really love her?
Crap, crap, crap... she thought nervously.
Max noticed at that moment, that Harvey was trying to say 'I love you' back. She watched as he faced the inner dilemma, praying that he had enough courage as she did to say it back. He looked into her eyes, knowing she'd understand.
She did.
Max walked forward, wrapping her arms around his waist.
"It's okay, babe. When you're ready." She told him.
She leaned in towards him, "But I do love you."
He smiled.
As soon as they were about to kiss, the balcony door opened.
"Oh," Rachel said indifferently, "sorry."
She pointed into the house, "Just letting you know that Cameron Dennis is at the front door."
They looked at each other in confusion as they both walked off the balcony, seeing Cameron Dennis almost instantly. Instinctively, Harvey shielded Max from his former mentor. Harvey knew from past encounters that when it came to men who hated him, Max always got caught in the crossfires.
The older man strolled around the home, inspecting all of the pictures on the walls, as well as the tables.
"Harvey," the sly lawyer said.
"Cameron," Harvey's tone was ice-cold.
The old man shrugged, "Oh, now come on. Be jolly. It's Christmas! Aren't you going to ask me to stay?"
"Fuck no," a voice from behind Harvey said with authority. Harvey couldn't help but smile.
Cameron smiled, "Must be your girl, Harvey. No one else has got balls like you."
"You're ruining my Christmas because..."
"I want to give you an offer," he said, slipping a piece of paper out of his over-coat, and handing it to Harvey, who cautiously took it. Max decided to move around Harvey, standing beside him as he opened the envelope. Harvey looked over the contents of the letter, his eyes widening in disgust.
"You want me to join a firm?"
"Not just a firm," the silver-haired man said, "my firm."
He continued, "I need the best of the best to work for me. That way, we'd help a lot of people-"
"Empty out their wallets?" Max said as she took the letter, "You expect Harvey to drop everything and work for you; the one person who almost fucked him over."
"The offer is not just for him," the man said.
Her jaw dropped.
"Me?" She said, noticing his head slightly nod.
"Sorry, I would rather wipe my ass with this offer," she said, throwing the letter on the coffee table.
"Actually, I take that back. I wouldn't put my ass anywhere something reeking of you, Cameron."
"Oh come now, there's no reason to be vulgar."
She snorted, "Get the hell out of my house, Cameron."
The old man looked to the younger man.
"Aren't you going to help?"
Harvey nodded.
"Cameron; get the fuck out of her house."
He sighed as he walked to the door, opening it, "You know, you two are just a bunch of wasted talent."
"And you are a bunch of wasted air. Good. Bye," she said, slamming the door in his face. She turned around, letting out an angry sigh.
"The audacity of that man..." she said, crossing her arms.
"Hey, don't let him get to you, babe," he said, rubbing her arms lovingly.
She smiled as she looked at him. She could see it clearly in his eyes; he loved her. She could feel the love pouring out of his being as he stood close to her, radiating it completely.
It would have been nice to hear it, though.
A knock interrupted the two, causing Max to roll her eyes.
"What the hell does he want now?" She asked, throwing the door open.
"Yes Cam-" Max stopped herself, noticing it was not Cameron Dennis standing in front of her door. Rather a very frazzled young woman with red-rimmed eyes.
"Karly?" Max said, walking closer to her.
The blond woman sniffled.
"My dad's gone missing."
Hmmm, what would be going on here?
ON THE NEXT TAOP: Someone we all love is going to get hurt. How, you may ask? Well, it's either mentally or physically...well, it's up to you to guess which.
Review?
xoxo N.