Author's note: Thank you to all the new followers of this story. I plan for a little more action but must lay the groundwork first. I hope you enjoy!

Donna Meets Lilly

Chapter 4- H & D's dilemma

Mike sat in his small drab office at the legal clinic where he worked as a legal consultant and groomed associates for the big bad world outside. Essentially it was the same type of position that Harvey had offered him when Mike emerged from prison. Only Harvey wanted to pay him as much as he was earning as a Junior Partner. For all intents and purposes, let's just say Mike's present position paid a whole hell of a lot less, but Mike gathered much more satisfaction when he was able to help the common people to whom they had no one else to turn for their legal troubles.

Sitting across from Mike was a huffy Harvey. Huffy because he was trying to avoid his secretary at all costs. The thing between them which began as a thank you to Donna for making him reconnect with his biological family had suddenly turned into another reason to avoid her.

"So, are you going to stare at that brief all day or do you have something to add?" Mike said to Harvey as he sat with his legs crossed and the multi-page brief open on top of them. Mike observed that Harvey had turned exactly 1.5 pages before just sitting staring at the floor.

Harvey shook his head and eyed his "partner".

"I apologize, Mike. I'm a little preoccupied and every time I think about who typed and proofed this voluminous document I get a little distracted."

"That's not like you. When it comes to work you're obsessive. What's the problem?" Mike asked hoping and not hoping that Harvey would confide in him. Hoping because they could deal with it and continue on with this patent infringement case and not hoping because he knew that Harvey was too complicated to let things happen naturally.

Harvey closed the brief and threw it on Mike's desk.

"Oh, shit!" Harvey said suddenly. "I forgot. See I depend on her so much I didn't even remember the RSVP was due for my mother's 65th birthday."

"I'm sure Donna has it under control. It is your mom, after all. I'm sure she would forgive you even if Donna didn't respond for you since you've come through a lot more recently than just a missed RSVP."

"I don't think I told Donna about it, though. I didn't want Mom to call and talk to Donna directly because she'll think I will be bringing Donna with me. By the way, would your mother-in-law forgive you without a lecture?"

"Laura? No way in hell. She and Robert are a bid formidable. I still don't want to stay alone in a room with Daddy Zane. I'm afraid he'll beat the shit out of me." Mike smiled and sniffed a laugh.

Harvey smiled. He was certainly glad he decided to see Mike in his office rather than have Mike at the firm. Donna would have turned off the intercom had Harvey insisted but he knew from his great dependence on her that was the one way she maintained so much control over Harvey's schedule and used it as a barometer on Harvey's condition during the workday.

"All right. It really looks like we're getting nowhere on this," Mike said and took a look at his watch.

"Hey, it's lunchtime. How about you take me out for lunch and we can talk about you, Donna, and your mother's hope that you're secretly married," Mike suggested.

"Are you really hungry or do you just want to gossip like two school girls, Michelle? Hey, I treated last time. I think it's your turn," Harvey joked rising and buttoning his suit jacket.

Mike grabbed his jacket from the back of his chair and said laughingly, "I always knew you were a cheap son of a bitch!"

Harvey smiled because there were few people that really knew of Harvey's care and generosity. Mike was one and, of course, Donna was another.

That was the crux of the whole problem-Donna.

"So you're mother and her husband send this beautiful bouquet of roses to thank Donna for all she did for them and now she assumes that you and Donna are together?"

"Well, the card thanked Donna for taking care of me all these years besides thanking her for the accommodations," Harvey said through gritted teeth. He knew it was high time to do what was expected of him (marry and carry on the Specter name), however, Harvey never liked people pressuring him into doing anything. Harvey pressured others; he was not pressured. Let alone make an honest woman of the woman who had been sharing his daily life for the past 13 years. The only time not stepping over each other 10-12 hours a day was the time she had worked for Louis following the debacle of him telling her he loved her but not how.

Harvey also knew that he could not let on to Mike that for the second time in six months he had dreamed of her being in his bed and kissing her lovingly and knowing that she was his both in and out of the office. Donna's rule was something that was between Harvey and her. The only time she ever broke it was when she was sleeping with that murderer Stephen Huntley from that disastrous merger. At the time when he asked her why she broke her rule with Stephen, she said she would not apologize for who she was and that she had to live her life. Harvey knew she had every right to bed whatever man she wanted. She could have the pick of them he knew if she only would let him go. Well, she had been going with a man recently, so maybe she had let him go. After all he never did make a formal personal claim on her.

Harvey had to decide whether he wanted Donna to move on professionally so he could have her personally. Because he knew as soon as they crossed the line, Donna would leave him permanently and this time not return without Harvey acknowledging how he loved her. This time, Harvey feared silently, there would be no reprieve or excuse that they had to join forces to help Mike .

"Lily?" Donna asked.

"Yes, it's me, Donna. Is Harvey there?"

"No, he's on a consultation. Then he's due at a client's office. I don't expect him back here until after 5," Donna responded pleasantly.

"How are you?"

"I'm fine, Lily. By the way thank you so much for the beautiful vase of roses. I love them. You didn't have to thank me, though. It's my job," Donna said.

"No, I think you go above and beyond your professional capacity for Harvey. I hope he appreciates it."

Donna did not respond immediately. Harvey was generous. After all he paid the difference of her salary out of his own pocket. Even through all her defection to Louis for those six months, she knew Harvey had still continued to pay her difference. No paperwork had ever gone to HR with Louis' signature on it. Louis had said he had given her a 2% raise, but Donna did not care because she knew was paid more than any other secretary in the firm. She had not needed a raise anyway. That was absolutely not the reason she had removed herself as Harvey's assistant for those six months.

"Yes, he does," Donna answered simply.

"Well, I hope you're coming to my birthday party next week here in Boston."

Donna perked up at Lily's statement. Harvey must have received the invitation privately because she knew nothing about it, or was she slipping?

"What?"

"My birthday party. I know that Kate, my daughter-in-law, sent invitations to everyone including Harvey and I had asked him to bring you with him next time he visits. So I assume he told you about it."

Donna decided to avoid any confrontations between Harvey and his mother and said, "Of course. I just am trying to be sure that I can get away."

"Of course. I'm sure you and Harvey are very busy away from the office," Lily said.

It seems Lily was on a fishing expedition. Donna tried to answer the probing.

"Yes, well, we work so late many, many nights. Lately we're so tired we just go to our homes and sleep."

"Really?"

"Really. It was so nice speaking with you, Lily. How's your husband?" Donna asked quickly trying to change the subject.

"Bobby is great. He's visiting his grandchildren today. Bobby was married previously as well. He has two grandsons from his daughter with his first wife."

"Oh, I didn't know that."

There was an overwhelming silence which erupted between them.

"Thank you for calling, Lily. I will be sure to get on Harvey about the trip to Boston for your birthday," Donna said motioning to hang up the phone.

"I look forward to seeing you both. Don't let Harvey take advantage of you. He's a fierce personality," Lily said.

"That he is. But don't worry, I'm pretty fierce myself," Donna volunteered.

"I'm sure you are. That's why Harvey is so in love with you."

At about 5:00 pm, Harvey walked to his office and prayed that Donna, for once, was not waiting for him either at her cubicle or in his office sitting patiently on his couch for his return. He held his breath as he turned the corner and looked through his glass office walls. Whew! No Donna sat on his couch or behind his desk.

However, as soon as he sat behind his desk, he heard a voice.

"You must be kidding. You didn't think you'd escape me, did you?"

"Donna!" Harvey said with a heavy sigh and sat down in his chair.

Donna paced slowly into the office and up to Harvey's desk.

"I talked to your mother today."

"You did? What did you talk about?" Harvey tried to ask innocently.

"Well, it seems that you and I have an invitation to Boston for her 65th birthday party. Now it's odd because I had to pretend that I knew all about it."

Harvey looked up into her unsmiling face and tried to hedge.

"I didn't tell you about it because I thought I would go by myself. I mean she is my mother and if you show up again with me she is definitely going to think we're more than what we are," Harvey stated trying to sound matter-of-factly but knowing he failed. He anticipated a firestorm from this very special woman standing across his desk.

"Are you going?" Donna simply asked. "The only reason I ask is that I normally make all your arrangements and I have to know whether I should make reservations for one or two."

Donna looked at him and she was practically begging for an answer.

"Look, Harvey. I know you don't want me that way. I truly understand if you don't want me to accompany you to your mom's birthday party. It's nothing to do with me as you say." If he's so in love with me, now is the time for him to speak up. But this is Harvey old habits are hard to break.

Donna walked out of the office.

"Goodnight, Harvey. I have an audition."

Harvey remained silent but wondered if she had an audition tonight why she had not mentioned it to him previously. Maybe she's creating this sudden audition for my benefit. Harvey also wondered if he should catch up with her before she hit the elevators and let her know that he would love for her to accompany him to Boston.

Not just a shield between he and his mother either.