Well, thank you so much for the reviews and the followers. I so appreciate all of it. I love reading your reactions. Here is a chapter which included Lily and Bobby as I wanted to show that Harvey was still working on that relationship as well. Enjoy!

Donna Meets Lilly

Chapter 12 -

Dining with the Parents

Harvey and Donna checked Donna out of the Sheraton on the way to his mother's house. They were still enjoying the physicality of their relationship along with great conversation, but Donna did notice that every time she brought up the subject of the firm Harvey's jaw would immediately clench and he would quickly change the subject.

They rode in the Mustang dressed casually for the dinner with Lilly and Bobby.

"I suppose this time your brother won't be there," observed Donna.

"No, I think my mom wanted to just get us alone to see where we stand," Harvey said with a little side smile. Then he looked over at her and saw the concerned look on her face.

"They love you, Donna. What's the matter?" Harvey asked.

"I know they love me. I'm Donna. But do you honestly understand that as of Wednesday when we are back in the office I am no longer your secretary?" Donna asked again. Harvey was being rather reticent and she instinctively knew there was a problem that he was hedging because he did not want to fight this early in their personal relationship.

Harvey looked out the window driving. He shook his head and wondered himself if he was ready to be without her by his side helping him with her wisdom. They were a great team in the office. Now they would be a great team in life. It was just Harvey was too spoiled by Donna's care in the office to forego it for a little while until he could be with her again.

"Donna, it's not that I don't understand. I told you I respected your rule and I still do. Especially because I do still have you," Harvey said.

"Look, Harvey, you know what will happen if we do mix pleasure with business. I have seen firsthand what happens when a boss becomes involved with his secretary and they carry it on during business hours. It isn't always the business relationship that suffers. I don't want that. Do you?"

"No. I've waited too long," Harvey said. "It's my own fault, I know."

Harvey stopped the car on the side of the road which was tricky because there was still snow piled up on the shoulders of the road where the snow plows had placed it.

"Donna, are you sure you won't change your mind?"

"Harvey! What was it you said last night? 'I don't care if you don't work for me after tonight as long as I know I have you?' Was that bullshit or just something to say so I wouldn't pull back at the last minute?" Donna asked harshly.

"You couldn't have pulled back then if you wanted, too! You wanted me just as much as I wanted you!" Harvey exclaimed.

Then in a more soft voice, Harvey said, "No, what I said last night was not just bullshit to make you have sex with me, it wasn't! I think I've shown you know how I love you. I do know we don't live in a perfect world, but if we did I know we could make it work at both."

There was a few seconds of silence while Donna digested what Harvey was trying to say.

"What are you so frightened of this time, Harvey?" Donna asked earnestly. She hated to see him so worried and upset knowing how much he had suffered with his own guilt over Mike this past year, but he had to understand where she stood. For once, Donna had to think of her own salvation. She would much rather spend her life with Harvey, but if she had to not do it for her own sake, it was time for Harvey to survive on his own. He could do it and did it once, but he just had to be shown that his success was not all due to Donna and also that he still had her as his best friend and the person who loves him best and lets him know when he is going to hurt himself.

"Donna, it is just I know who I am with you at the firm. Without you to help me, I am going to screw it up. I know it!" Harvey had tears brimming in his big brown eyes.

"Harvey Specter, you never needed me to know who you are. Granted I helped you from fallling down a few pits, but you knew in the end that my advice was just common sense. Honey, you know exactly who you are at the firm even without me. You are Harvey Specter, managing partner of Pearson Specter Litt and the best closer in Manhattan. Remember, you managed six months without me before Mike got arrested and you did great!"

Harvey smirked his quirky mouth smirk and shook his head. He thought he would plead one more time.

"Donna, please, I need this. Can we not try this on a trial basis? If we find we are going home and not enjoying being together because of what happened in the office or vice versa, I promise you can leave me and find another position or do whatever you want. Just so I know that I have you in some capacity."

"Harvey," Donna said with a sigh and held his hands in hers. Outside the air was chill, the car heater was up to its full temperature and at times one could hear vehicles whizzing by on the wet slick roads. All Donna could see was this man she had loved for over twelve years was again compelling her to put her needs in front of his, and who knew, maybe, the detriment of their relationship.

Lilly looked out the window at the street in front of their house.

"They're late, Bobby," Lilly said worriedly and she chafed her arms up and down from the cold. It was now 7:30 pm and it was dark. This February night was clear compared to the previous night.

"I'm sure they are fine. Probably got caught up in one another and left a little too late from the house," Bobby said smiling hoping to alleviate Lilly's fears.

"Or they had a fight that delayed them from them leaving the house together and Donna is on her way back to New York or Harvey is going back to Marcus'."

Bobby laughed and rubbed Lilly's arms up and down trying to soothe her.

"Look, you went for years not really worrying about Harvey and now all of a sudden he usurps your every minute?"

Lilly turned and looked at her husband. "Bobby, that's not necessarily true. Granted I didn't need to worry about Harvey as much as Marcus who was physically sick, but I did miss Harvey. He's my firstborn and he is my son. I never stopped loving him even if he stopped loving me."

"Ok, I understand," Bobby said and then he noticed Marcus' Mustang, which once had belonged to Bobby, pull up in the driveway.

"I just want him to be happy. I know Donna is the key."

"From your lips to God's ears," Bobby said as he started for the front door to welcome his guests.

"This was delicious Chicken Parmigiana, Lilly," Donna said wiping the corners of her mouth.

"Thank you. I made it because it used to be Harvey's favorite," Lilly said smiling at Harvey.

"Still is. I didn't forget how great your chicken parm is, Mom," Harvey said putting the last bite into his mouth.

"Any more wine for anyone or water?" Bobby asked with the wine bottle poised over the table.

"No, I'm good. Thank you," they all said smiling.

Once Bobby sat back down and pulled himself up to the table again, Lilly began to see what condition Donna and Harvey's relationship was at the moment. She imagined it was all lovey-dovey after Lilly had figured they had gone back to Harvey's childhood home. However when they walked into the house, Donna's eyes were glistening and Harvey's jaw was just a little too tight. So, she was right. They probably had had a fight before they arrived at her house.

Lilly rose and said "I'd like to clear some of these plates off the table before we have dessert and coffee."

Donna rose and automatically started to clear the table when Lilly said, "Donna, you sit here with Bobby. Harvey, I made your favorite Strawberry Pie. Why don't you help me clear and leave Donna to talk over hockey with Bobby? She missed out on the game we saw together."

Harvey glared at Donna and then looked at his mother. He supposed he should just do what she said...for once. He rose from the table and placed his formal napkin on the table and picked up the water glasses and some plates in his hands and followed Lilly to the kitchen.

Donna looked up at Harvey as he rose and then smiled at Bobby.

"So, the Bruins have really been good this year..." Bobby began.

Harvey began to rinse the leftover bits of food from the plates and stacked them in the dishwasher. Lilly began to get dessert plates from the closet shelf and removed the pie from the refrigerator.

"Harvey, please hand me the pie cutter. It's in the drawer next to the sink."

Harvey retrieved the pie cutter and momentarily looked at his mother cutting the pie.

"That looks good. You really should not have gone to this much trouble for us. I would have gladly taken you out to dinner again."

"Nonsense. It's been a long time since my boy had a homecooked meal. I wanted to do it for you and Donna."

Harvey came and kissed his mom on the cheek. Lilly then reached up and hugged her tall son.

"Thanks, mom. I am very glad you did this for us," Harvey said hugging his mom tightly.

"You are very welcome."

They both went back to their chores and the silence between them was large. Harvey anticipating that his mother would say something, and his mother wondering how to broach the subject.

"Harvey. Is everything all right between you and Donna?"

Harvey stopped rinsing a small dish and rose. He did not answer her immediately. He wanted to lie so badly because he did not want his mother's interference in his love life. After all the issues he's had with women, apparently, according to Dr. Agard they all stemmed from his relationship with his mom. However, since reconciling with her and coming back into the Specter fold which included accepting Bobby as his stepfather, Harvey was a much more contented person. He was not angry all the time now when it came to women and his mistrust of them or mistrust of people in general. Jessica left and she was like his big sister and the most influential female he had to date, and although he missed her wisdom he did not fall apart. Professionally, he was ready to take the reins and manage the firm. However, he now questioned it because Donna would no longer be his right hand person.

"Sure. Everything is fine. Thanks for the house, mom. We are enjoying it," Harvey said turning around to see if his mother believed him. He remembered when he was a little boy his mother had always been able to catch him in a lie. His father had been no better especially when he got older. That's how the whole rift had begun. Because Harvey could no longer lie about his mother's infidelities.

Lilly smiled at her son and picked up the tray with the pie and the plates.

"Could you bring the coffee into the dining room, honey?"

Harvey smiled and answered quietly. "Sure, mom."

As they reentered the dining room Donna's eyes went immediately to Harvey's face. Harvey was a great poker player, but Donna was usually the only one who read an expression on his face and read it accurately. Donna saw he actually smiled at her with the usual soft expression he reserved only for her. She had not heard any raised voices, so Donna thought that a good sign that all was still well between Harvey and Lilly.

Lilly began serving the pie. "Would anyone like whipped cream?"

At that Donna and Harvey actually laughed out loud.

"What's so funny?" Bobby wondered. Then as Harvey and Donna continued to laugh like two teenagers Bobby resigned himself to say it must have been a private joke.

"You have no idea," Donna clarified as sexual scenes and sensual touches from that other time suddenly appeared in her mind's eye.

Harvey laughed so hard he had to leave the room. He had the same sort of dreams darting through his mind's eye as well. Donna shortly followed Harvey out of the room so they could laugh together and not have to explain.

Lilly and Bobby just sat at the table and smiled.

"Did you see the look on Bobby's face when he acknowledged it must have been a private joke between us?" Harvey asked.

"I didn't think we were going to get through dessert," Donna stated still laughing.

After the dessert and a little more bit of small talk, Harvey and Donna decided to leave. It was getting late and the house was about a forty-five minute drive from Lilly and Bobby's. They were in the Mustang and a smooth jazz station was filling the car with sensual and sleepy sounds.

"Marcus and you must have gotten your culinary skill from your mother. That dinner and dessert were fantastic. I'm surprised Marcus didn't hire your mother to cook for the restaurant."

"I think he almost did. I'm not sure what happened when he started. You know all that time I was so tied up with Forster and you becoming my secretary at the D A's office. All I know is my brother was so happy about the start up money and disappointed he could not get the chef he originally wanted. He probably had our mother start. It would have made sense."

At the mention of the D.A's office where there relationship began to click, the atmosphere in the car took a less tranquil characteristic. Even the music had changed where the jazz became more Dixieland reminsicent of Mardi Gras than the nightclubs of the thirties. Just when Donna was going to broach the subject of the firm again, a song from Gordon Specter's filled the car.

Harvey and Donna recognized it at once leaving the rest of the ride back in silence and appreciation.

The subject of their discussion earlier in the day temporarily forgotten.