Hey fans! This is almost done. Please enjoy this latest update! More soon! Love - Carebearmaxi

Donna Meets Lily -

Chapter 28 -

Love and Understanding with a Cherry on Top

They did not go straight back to Harvey's hotel. The night had been so clear and warm that they decided to take a walk back in the park where the play had been held. Harvey took Donna's hand and they walked side by side in the moonlight. The sound of the ocean waves hitting the beach could be heard in the distance. It was that quiet. They air between them was peaceful yet electric. Now all they had to do was lend that peaceful feeling to each other and combine their electric energy to fight for who they were together and how much they wanted to finally be together.

Harvey and Donna were silent for most of the walk. Harvey, particularly, found comfort in just being with her again. First and foremost, Donna was his best friend. All of the other feeling for her such as need, desire, and most importantly, love, were just grace notes added to the song of Donna in his heart.

They sat down on a bench and Harvey put his arm around her. She placed her head on his shoulder and was so happy and surprised that he had come for her. She did not have to play the vamp to get him back. Harvey, her best and most fierce friend, he had always been. Protecting her in his jealousy of other men like Stephen Huntley. He had never met Mitchell, but Harvey probably would have liked Mitchell and pushed her to marry him had he known Mitchell had wanted that. Donna took a moment to gaze up at Harvey without him looking. From this angle all she could see was his strong jaw, his beard which she had told him not to shave until they returned to New York, his ear which she kissed a few minutes before, and then his short barely coiffed hair. She loved this Harvey because this was the real Harvey. The man who had deep feelings and who really only wanted to relax once in a while. He was always a winner and he played hard but anymore it was not all about him. Donna turned toward him and put her arm around his waist as his arm had encompassed her shoulders.

"So how's Missy working out?" Donna ventured to see if he would say anything of what Lily hinted.

"She's a great secretary. She's not you, but then I couldn't replace you if I tried. Did I tell you she came onto me?" Harvey said looking down at Donna to gauge her reaction.

"No, you seemed to have left that out. So did you give in?" Donna teased knowing full well Harvey's loyalty issues.

"Well, I have to admit I was tempted, but good thing my mother was visiting and interrupted us."

Donna wondered if he was still joking. She decided she would play along. After all, he had dropped his professional life which meant a lot to him and traveled 3000 miles to surprise her to propose.

"So what happened next? I mean when you're mother interrupted you," Donna said.

"Well, Missy wound up on her ass on the floor of my office," Harvey winked seeing if Donna was interested asking more questions.

"Ok, so was her ass covered or was the interruption more coitus interruptus?"

"Well, you know as well as me that her ass could be covered and it still be coitus interruptus..."Harvey said laughing.

"Harveeeeeey!" Donna drawled out showing that she knew he was joking.

"Does this mean you won't marry me if it we were having sex in my office?"

"I don't know. It would depend if you plan to cheat on me after I say 'I do'."

Harvey then removed his arm from around her and turned around on the bench to face her. He took both her hands in his and kissed them.

"She was kissing me and them mom came in and I was embarrassed so I accidentally dumped her from my lap to the floor. By the way, she insinuated herself onto my lap. I didn't pull her on my lap like this!"

Harvey quickly put his hands on Donna's waist and hoisted her onto his lap. She giggled and held onto his neck for dear life. She then bent down to hug him and Harvey caught her lips.

Donna could feel herself melt into him. It as if they had never said goodbye or had not been like this always. Donna suddenly remembered that late night thirteen years ago when she instinctively knew he would show up at her door. She no sooner had closed the door that his lips were on hers and her body on his.

Suddenly Harvey released his lips from hers and looked up at her. She had come to straddle his thighs in the dark moonlit night.

"Let's go to the beach," he whispered. He had not been in California in a long time. Not since he was in college.

"You want to go for a swim?"

"Well, we are in California. Besides I didn't say what type of swimming I wanted to do."

"Ok, loverboy," Donna said getting off his lap. "We are having that talk before any more of this (moving her finger back and forth between them) is going to go farther. Do you understand, Mr. Specter?"

"Yes, Judge Paulsen," Harvey said staring up at her. He rose and bending his arm at the elbow he signaled Donna to take his arm as they continue their walk back to his hotel.

"I still think we could have had a good talk on the beach," Harvey said wistfully as they continued up the walk.

He unlocked the room with the sweep of his keycard. Donna walked right in and turned on the lights and found the two glasses in the bathroom. They had bought a bottle of Scotch and a bottle of wine. They could start out soft and if the mood turned ugly they could both imbibe some hard stuff.

Harvey had, of course, booked a five star hotel; so the luxury abounded. The glasses that Donna took from the bathroom and brought to the kitchen area were glass not plastic. The little fridge in the suite part of the room was overstuffed with soft drinks, small bottles of harder stuff, candy, and other assorted small things that would fit in a compact space. These surprises always cost people more than the actual items would be down the street at the newsstand, but nothing was too expensive for Harvey.

He looked around in there a bit because he knew Donna would probably want something although they had dined well a few hours ago. He could not fathom what she would like, so he decided to join her in the kitchen area and sat at the table while she poured his Scotch and her wine.

Donna was glad she had decided to come back here with him. Legally she could still get into her apartment and had to before she came back here with Harvey until they decided to return to New York. Hopefully, they would be together and married as Harvey had wanted.

"So, Harvey, how about you pop the DVD into your computer and we can watch my final performance?"

"I thought you wanted to talk first?"

Donna turned around in disbelief.

"You really want to talk?" Donna asked.

"No, I really want to take you bed right now that you put that ring back on your finger, but I thought you might not still be ready to do that. So, I chose the other option hoping that we will wind up in that spacious bed over there together watching your last performance," Harvey reasoned as he eyed her from across the counterspace.

"I think we can multitask. We'll watch my awesome last performance and then we'll talk from there," Donna suggested handing Harvey his glass of Scotch before she headed into the living room area of the suite.

Harvey took a gulp of his Scotch. He then put the glass down and walked to meet Donna in the living room area. He retrieved his computer case from the back of the door where he had left it. Never taking their eyes from one another, Harvey removed his laptop from its case and then placed it on the credenza in front of them. They sat on the edge of the couch across from it and were pleased that the DVD went straight into the First Act.

Donna watched Harvey as the story unfolded. Taming of the Shrew was not that hard a play to follow. Besides Harvey understood a lot more than for which he gave himself credit having once said that Shakespeare should have been a lawyer for all the extra and enigmatic words he used. Donna saw Harvey smile as she came onto the stage.

"You know this part fits you," he joked to which Donna pushed her elbow into his pretending to be displeased at his remark.

"That's because I'm awesome," Donna rejoined.

Harvey looked over at her and said, "You certainly are."

They then kissed. The performance had suddenly been forgotten.

The sweet kiss ended. Harvey opened his eyes and said, "Do you mind if I turn this off? I promise I will watch the entire thing later, but I think we have more important things to do." Harvey rose from Donna's side. She placed her wineglass on the coffee table in front of her and let her eyes follow Harvey's every movement. He sat back down and they both were suddenly gunshy in what they wanted to do. The video continued to play as background for the both of them.

As her eyes followed his every movement, Donna temporarily doubted herself how to put her letter into words. Harvey, meanwhile, doubted how he could put words to his feelings. They both had hinted of their predicaments earlier in the evening but now each faced their last testimony to each other which would ultimately decide their fate either together or separate. Donna promised she would marry Harvey, and she would except she needed him to understand her position before she returned to New York as his wife.

"Ok, Harvey, let's talk."

"Me first," Harvey insisted.

"Oh, no, counselor," Donna interrupted. "Me first. I have been needing to explain and convince you that I would never abandon you, but I needed something on my own first and then the reasons why I feel this way."

"Now, who's the lawyer," Harvey said.

"I'm an actress, but a lawyer's girlfriend and former secretary. So, I think I learned a lot over the years."

"Ok. You win. Let me have it," Harvey said sitting back still looking into her eyes trying to calculate what the outcome would be. That's the one thing with Donna. I can always trust her to tell me how the outcome will be. Harvey thought. Whether I like the outcome or not.

Donna retrieved her glass from the table. Took a sip, replaced it, and then stood up across the coffee table and looked at Harvey while he sat on the couch in his relaxed position.

"Harvey, I want to repeat again, first and foremost, I love you. I have never stopped loving you from that time thirteen years ago. However, in the last few months, since you went to Boston and reconciled with your family and, at work, with "The Donna" venture: I have come to realize that I am thrilled you want to make me a part of that family..."

"You are already, you know. My mother and Bobby absolutely adore you. My brother thinks you're a nut case for loving me which is his way of saying he loves you, too," Harvey interrupted.

Donna smiled. "I'll have to thank Marcus next time I see him. Anyway, what I am trying to say is that I have spent many, many years accepting my position as your secretary because our relationship is built on trust. The bargain we struck way back in the D.A's office became absorbed by me and I forgot all about my original aspirations to make my mark as an actress. You know I had never stepped out on you for anything theatrical until a couple of years ago, as you know..." Donna continued.

"I know this. What's your point?" Harvey was getting restless. He hated lectures in all areas because he understood someone's point, normally, from the first sentence. However, he promised he would listen. He just wished Donna would get to her big point which Harvey was pretty convinced he already knew.

"My point is I needed to make my mark or own something before I become immersed back into your career and support you not only as your secretary, but as your wife and hopefully mother of your children someday."

"Have you felt that you have done that? Do you feel like you have made something your own out here?" Harvey asked noting she used the words not only...but.

"Yes, and no. I did come to California and it fed my soul. However, I would like for something to be ongoing, so I can feel a sense of accomplishment day-to-day like you do when you win a tough case or manipulate someone into a settlement that usually turns out beneficial for both parties. Do you know what I mean?" Donna asked coming to sit back down and placed her hand on Harvey's knee.

"Yes, I do know what you mean. So, as managing partner of Pearson, Specter, Litt, I have decided to make you a new job offer."

Donna was flabbergasted now. He really did understand what I said in my letter. Donna realized. She bit her lips anticipating some minor position within the legal department, so Harvey could still bargain his way into her doing her old duties although she had handpicked someone that would cater to Harvey's needs. Albeit it sounded rather too well. Donna knew she would have to have a talk with Missy or if that did not work get her away from Harvey. She knew Harvey would not stray willingly, but he might be tempted and Donna could no way live with that knowledge.

Harvey began. "You made some improvements to the partners' calendars and secretarial pool. We really do not have a manager of daily operations. I'm managing partner, but I have way too much to do and I need someone I can trust with doing the minutiae of running the office. You already have experience with hiring and we have not yet attracted a person who can head Human Resources. So, as Managing Partner, I wanted to offer you a newly created position of Operating Manager which would encompass all those amazing skills that you have demonstrated. We've never had someone who can manage in this area previous, so you would be the first person ever to hold that job. I'm not Jessica. I still want to do some lawyering and the big stuff I know I need to be there, but you are so good at keeping all the balls in the air. This position would be yours to develop. You can hire an assistant if you think it necessary. Mind you, Donna, this is for the entire firm, not just the 50th floor or just me. The whole firm. Hopefully, in the midst of all your duties, you can check on me once in a while; and see if your protege is behaving herself. I hope to be your husband and I don't think you want her anywhere near me, right?"

Donna was speechless for maybe the second time in her life. Harvey could see he surprised her and he was happy that he had. He sat forward and took her hand which she had inadvertently removed from his knee and kissed it and looked into her eyes trying to decipher how she would answer.

Harvey was smiling trying to gauge her silent reaction. The video still played in the background. Sounds of Donna and the other actor projecting their voices across the audience. They were both now so absorbed in their talk that the video play ignored.

Donna released his hand and she stood up and paced toward the kitchen area. She grabbed another cup and this time poured some of Harvey's Macallan 18 into it. She was actually shocked. She took a big gulp throwing it back in excellent fashion.

"Holy shit!" Donna finally stated emphatically.

"Is that a good 'Holy Shit!' or a bad 'Holy Shit!'"? Harvey asked frightened of her silence and then sudden exclamation.

Donna smiled and she said, "You understand. I'm surprised, Harvey. You did understand me."

She walked toward him leaving the empty Scotch glass on the counter. She sat back down on the couch facing him. Harvey moved toward her to kiss her and then she had a sudden thought.

"Are you sure there's a need for this and you're not just doing this because you think this will satisfy my need for my own mark?"

Harvey folded his hands and asked, "No. This is a much needed position and there is no one more suited for it than you. Why the hesitation?"

Donna shook her head for a moment and then taking Harvey's hand in hers once again. He looked down at their clasped hands and Donna's ring caught the light and flashed its brilliance for just a moment. Donna then looked into Harvey's big pleading brown eyes and explained her dilemma.

"I know you understand me what and how I want more. Believe me, no one was more surprised than me when you're mother said she thought you understood what I was needing from my life."

"Then why are you doubting me, Donna? Do you know how hard this has been for me? I have missed you so much and I was a fool to just think that things could continue the way they have even after we're married. I thought you understood how much I want you near me, but I understand the not working together part. We're not working together anymore," Harvey pleaded for her to understand.

"See. Harvey. You think you have the right motives, but I think essentially your trying to close me. Now, the reason I ask is that last time one of your clients took a meeting with me about investing in The Donna I had overheard that the only reason he took the meeting was a favor to you. He never had any serious intention of investing in the product because I was nothing but a career "legal secretary." Do you know how humiliated I felt after that? How worthless?"

"Donna, honey, you are not worthless. You know you're amazing, and that son of a bitch is getting a call tomorrow. I'll fly home just to kick his ass or drop his ass as a client because of what he said to you."

Donna placed her hand on Harvey's cheek and smiled.

"You told me when you fought Stephen Huntley that it wasn't a duel. Maybe not, but I'm pretty sure that's your intention with this asshole. Besides I don't want to see you lose a very important client."

"No one..."

"'...puts baby in a corner...,'" Donna quoted smiling.

"That's not what I meant," Harvey tried to backpedal.

"Yes, it is. I think it is the sweetest thing you've ever done for me," Donna said bending forward and tentatively placing her lips on his kissing him softly. Harvey responded just as tenderly brushing her hair away from her cheek and holding her face in his hands.

In the midst of kissing, Donna broke away and said, "By the way, you're missing my best parts."

"No, I'm not," Harvey mumbled deeply.

"No, you're not," Donna repeated.

Donna awoke the next morning from Harvey's phone blaring loudly. She picked it up having to reach over her lightly snoring, deeply sleeping completely naked fiance.

"Harvey Specter's phone," Donna in her secretarial voice answered.

"Donna?"

"Lily," Donna responded sitting up in bed, just as naked, and rubbing her head. "What's up?"

"Our flight has been delayed a few hours, so I thought that maybe Harvey and you would like to join us for some breakfast."

"Breakfast?" Donna disbelieved that it was still breakfast. She and Harvey had talked into the night finally letting sleep claim them about 3:00 am. Donna slipped into bed next to Harvey with nothing on but her panties, so Harvey slipped into bed completely nude and completely hard with arousal. So one thing lead to another and they made love for at least another two hours, so Donna looked at her phone on her side. She quickly picked it up and saw that it was 11:00 am. They had slept for six hours! Harvey was still sleeping.

"Well, brunch, then," Lily said hoping to see Donna and Harvey before they boarded their plane for New York.

Harvey suddenly waking up from hearing Donna's voice talking said groggily, "What's up? Who's that?"

"Shh..." Donna admonished. "Lily, do you mind if we take a raincheck? Harvey and I had a late night last night."

Harvey nodded that that was the right move.

"Ok, you two, we understand. See you back in New York," Lily hung up.

"My mother went from staying away from me to clinging to me for dear life," Harvey said shaking his head.

"I think she just wants you to be happy even if she has to manipulate the circumstances. Now I know where you got your negotiating skills."

"Donna..."

"Harvey," Donna said rising and pushing Harvey down while she straddled him with her thighs.

"Give me a second. I'll be right back," Harvey said smiling as he rushed out of bed.

Donna lounged in bed on his side inhaling his scent and waiting for him. She had almost fallen back to sleep when Harvey stood in front of her with something amusing in his hand.

"Look what I found in the refrigerator," Harvey said victoriously holding a can of whipped cream in his hand.

"Yeah, you didn't just find that in the refrigerator. You know how I know that?"

"Because you know I bought it at the store last night on our way back here?"

"Yes. Like you could fool me. I thought for sure you would "whip" it out last night. Especially after I said would accept your wonderful job offer."

"Well, I was hoping to use it during celebratory sex. What would a celebration be like without whipped cream?" Harvey said never taking his eyes from Donna lying naked in his bed. He stepped forward.

Donna opened the sheet and said, "I don't know. Why don't you get in here and show me?"

Harvey slipped in next to Donna and proceeded to do just that.

Meanwhile back in the airport, Lily said to Bobby, "I'll take my payment for our bet now."

Bobby said, "You, my love, are jumping the gun. They aren't married yet."

"I didn't say that had to be married. I said they had to be together."

"Well, if I'm going to pay you, I want to make sure that I don't have to ask for it back again."

"You are one tough customer," Lily said smiling.

"You're one hell of a mother," Bobby responded kissing his wife softly.