CHAPTER 4

The tension in the room was unbearable and even though he usually prided himself with being able to handle awkward situations, he now found himself at loss with words.
He had no idea what to say to lighten the mood, and they both managed to make him feel unwanted so he excused himself by claiming he had a meeting to get to.
He said goodbye to Mike but the kid didn't even look at him and he couldn't help to feel slightly disappointed.
Harvey didn't have a meeting until the afternoon which meant he was now forced to meet Donna, who would without a doubt pester him with a million questions.
As expected, the first thing he heard when he reached Donna's desk was her excited voice.

"How did it go? How was he? Was he cute?"
"It went terrible and I'm pretty sure my son hates me"

He answered and her face fell.
Harvey walked into his office and sat down at his desk with a sigh, placing the folder on his desk.
Donna followed him inside and of course she immediately reached for the folder and he didn't stop her.

"You're going to take custody?"
"I don't know"
"Harvey, you have to"

He sighed, of course she would try to convince him to go through with it, just like she had convinced him to visit Mike.

"Harvey, he's your son"
"Did you miss the part where he hates me? The only reason they're even asking is because Edith Ross is sick and can't take care of him. They need me, but they don't want me"

It was a difficult situation to say the least and Donna sat down.

"Tell me everything"

There wasn't much to tell really but he told her about how both Edith and Mike had acted cold towards him and how it was painfully obvious that Edith really didn't want to ask him to take custody but had no other choice.

"He's only 11 and he just got a new dad. He'll get over it and you'll get along in no time"
"I don't know if I'm going to do this"
"You will"
Donna gave him that smile that she always had every time she knew she was right, which was more often than not.

Of course, to no one's surprise Donna was right yet again.
He decided to go through with it the same night when he sat alone in his apartment and his mind started to imagine what it would be like to have another person there.
He didn't know how to be a father but he could learn along the way just like he and Mike had to learn to get along.
It wouldn't be easy but it would be better than abandoning the kid when he needed him.
He knew enough about foster care to know that too many people was foster parents for the wrong reasons, and many times it could end with neglect or even abuse.
He just couldn't let that happen to the poor boy.
That's why he called Edith the first thing he did the next morning, just to make sure that they knew and could stop worry about it.
Hopefully it would take some weight of their shoulders and they could enjoy their last months living together without fearing for the future.

That had been the plan at least, to let it take it's time so that he wouldn't rip the boy away from his grandmother sooner than needed but the plans changed drastically as he got a phone call from Edith, who had been brought to the hospital after a collapse.

"They say it's bad, Mr. Specter"

She told him and the old woman sounded like she was going to break apart any second.

"It's really bad and I don't know how much time I have left"

Despite having only met the woman once his heart broke at her words.
Harvey couldn't even begin to imagine what it would be like for Mike when his grandmother died, especially if it would happen this close to his parents' deaths.
He offered her all the help he could give but she only wanted one thing. She wanted him to take care of Mike and as soon as they hung up he started to pull all the strings he could to speed it all up.
Donna was delighted by the fact that Mike was going to come sooner because that meant that she could start remake his home office to a bedroom.
Harvey didn't dare to stand in her way as she picked out everything from the wallpaper to the bed and he already knew that Donna would be spoiling the kid.
Mike wasn't even living with him yet but his secretary was already making notes about all the things she could buy the kid if he needed or wanted them and Harvey made a mental note to make sure he got his credit card back from her.

A week after Edith's pleading to take care of the kid, everything was ready thanks to Harvey's many contacts and after work on Friday he went to pick the boy up.
He felt nervous, after today his life would forever be changed, after today he would no longer be a bachelor but he would be a single father.
For the next seven years he would be responsible for another life and that was a terrifying thought, he could easily mess up the kid forever.
However, he had reached the point of no return and he had no other choice but to push the anxiety aside and appear confident.
He patiently waited for Mike to say goodbye to his grandmother, and even though they were both trying their best to appear strong, it was painfully obvious that they were just seconds away from falling apart.
Edith then turned to him and gave him a stern look before making him promise to take care of Mike and he had every intention to honor that promise.
Then for the first time since they met the coldness disappeared completely and instead she gave him a small, grateful smile while they shook hands.
He then grabbed Mike's heavy bag and asked if he was ready and even if it was clear that he wasn't, he nodded and they walked out and left Mike's old home behind.

After a car ride spent in awkward silence they finally made it back to Harvey's condo.
He let the kid go in first and even though he tried to appear nonchalant, Harvey could see the wonder in the blue eyes as the kid saw his new home for the first time.

"Welcome home, Mike"

He said and smiled at the boy, but as expected the smile wasn't returned so instead he cleared his throat and showed him to his new room.

"My secretary picked all the stuff out, if you don't like it we can change it"
"I like it, it's nice"

Harvey nodded before putting the luggage down before turning around to go back to the kitchen and figure out what they should eat for dinner.
He was stopped by Mike's voice

"Mr. Specter?"
"Harvey"

He corrected, he didn't expect Mike to call him dad but he didn't want his son to use a formal title either.
Mike anxiously looked down at his hands as if he dreaded asking the question, or rather dreading the answer.

"You will let me visit grammy, right?"

He looked up again and his eyes were filled with fear and Harvey realized that Mike was genuinely afraid that he wouldn't be allowed to see his grandmother.
Jesus, how cruel did the kid think he was?

"Of course, you can see her whenever you want"

Mike visibly relaxed and mumbled a thank you.
Harvey smiled at him again and this time it was actually returned, with a very small smile.
He then left the room and let Mike settle in.