Author's Note: I'm really happy to finally be able to get an update out.
Long story short, I ended up going through a major burnout because of too much schoolwork to do and I have not had the motivation, energy or time to write anything for fun.
I have recovered from it now and I finally managed to start writing again and I hope that I won't take too long to get another update together.

Thanks for all the favourite/follow and positive comments I've gotten during my little unvoluntary hiatus, it's really what motivated me to start writing as soon as I could.
I really appreciate every single notification I get.

CHAPTER 22

There were no way Donna would simply go back to bed after Harvey's call asking about Mike, so it didn't take long before she showed up knocking on his door.
Together they drove around, hoping that the kid would magically appear walking somewhere but no luck.
It was eventually Donna that suggested to check out Mike's old house and they drove there.
Harvey went inside while Donna drove around the neighbourhood.
Once inside he searched the entire house and finally found Mike in his grandmother's old room, and the relief Harvey felt was indescribable.
The feeling of not knowing where his kid was had been absolutely terrible and he never wanted to feel that again, so he hugged Mike tightly and told him to never do that again.
When they went outside Donna ran out of the car and hugged the boy tightly, as if he had been missing for years and not mere hours.
Harvey felt that it wasn't more than right to invite Donna back to their apartment to eat breakfast, an offer she happily accepted.
Donna ended up staying with them for the rest of the day.

The next day Harvey called the funeral home, first thing, and thanks to knowing one of the guys working there he managed to get a time for them to come by already the same afternoon.
Harvey had been allowed to work from home for the week, even if had taken quite a big of arguing with Jessica, so that he could be there for Mike, who was going to stay home from school.
He spent the day working on some files until it was time for them to leave for the funeral home.
Mike was nervous over the whole thing, which was noticeable from how long it took for him to tie his shoes.
Harvey of course offered to go alone but Mike insisted to come with.
All in all the meeting went well, even if Mike was having a hard time he had expected it to be harder than it had been and once they left the funeral home, Mike had been able to pick out the perfect casket and flower arrangements for his grandmother.
Once they came back home, Harvey had barely sat down for ten minutes before the doorbell rang.
Harvey opened the door to see Rachel and Harold standing there.
The latter of them was holding a big gift basket.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Specter. We heard what happened and we came to offer our support to Mike."

Rachel said and Harvey looked at the gift basked that looked like it contained a big fluffy teddy bear, different types of candy and he could even spot a big lawbook in there, which caused a smile to spread over his face.

"That's very kind of you. Come in, I'll see if Mike is feeling up for a visit."

He stepped aside and closed the door behind the two kids before he went to Mike's room.
Mike was sitting on his bed, looking frustrated at whatever he was writing in a notebook.

"Hey, Rachel and Harold are here to see you."

Mike looked up from his notebook.

"I'm busy. I'm trying to come up with a speech but I can't even figure out a single thing to say."

Mike muttered as he scribbled something out and then slammed the pen down on the notebook in frustration.

"Maybe you should see them? It might be nice to take a break and to see your friends?"

Harvey suggested and Mike bit his lip, thinking for a minute before he nodded.

"Okay."
"I'll send them in."

Harvey walked back to the kids and directed them to Mike's room before he returned to his work.
Rachel and Harold ended up staying a while, not leaving until two hours later when Harold had to go home.
During their visit Harvey had heard the kids laugh quite a lot, which had been a wonderful sound to hear after the past, sad days.
After saying goodbye to the visitors Harvey decided it was time to start dinner and when he called Mike for dinner, the boy came out with his nose buried in his new lawbook.
While eating they discussed what Mike had read and it was amazing to see his enthusiasm and the way his eyes lit up, when he was allowed to ramble about all the information he had learned.

"You truly are my son."
Harvey stated with a fond smile.

The week went by, Harvey got a lot of work done despite being at home and Mike seemed to slowly feel a little better even if he had both good and bad days.
They had gotten time for the funeral for Friday the next week which made Mike feel pressured and nervous, even if he tried hard to not show it.
When the next week started Jessica demanded him back and Harvey felt some separation anxiety, since Mike had been allowed this week off as well.
The kid was 11 and Harvey knew that he could take care of himself, but it still felt hard leaving him alone.
Mike however assured him that he would be fine and hesitantly Harvey returned to work, promising to come home during lunch and to not work any overtime.
For Harvey the day went by way too slowly and he couldn't help worrying about his kid, worrying that something would happen and he would need him.
He kept on checking his phone even if he knew he had his volume up on the loudest setting.
When the day were finally over, he couldn't wait to go home.
As soon as he made it through the door he called out for Mike but received no answer, which caused the worry to return.

"Mike?"

He said again as he walked towards the kid's room, fearing to find it empty, but luckily he spotted the boy sitting on the bed.
However, Mike looked very upset which stopped the worry from leaving his body.

"What's going on, kid?"

He asked.

"It has to be perfect!"

Mike yelled and threw the notebook at the wall before burying his head in his hands.
Harvey realized that he was still struggling with his speech and he could understand the perfectionism Mike was feeling.
He bent down on picked up the notebook and turned to a new page before he grabbed the pen.

"Okay, how about this; you tell me about you and your grandmother, everything from your feelings to memories of you two, and I'll write it down? And then we can use that to make your speech?"

He suggested and Mike looked up, his face red from frustration, and gave him a sceptical look but decided to give it a try.
At first Mike just told him small things, like how much she had meant to him and how much he would miss her, but eventually he started to go deeper with memories that truly highlighted just how important their relationship had been.
A big focus was the time after his parents' deaths, when his grammy had been there for him, and Harvey made sure to write down every word about that.
Eventually the tears started to run down Mike's cheeks as he relieved the memories of his grandmother from when he was younger.
He told him about how he used to run away to his grammy when he was mad at his parents and how she used to make up the best bedtime stories.
When the tears turned into sobbing, he stopped talking and instead just crawled over to Harvey and sat in his lap, like a young child, and buried his head in Harvey's shoulder.
Harvey did his best to soothe him and when the crying had calmed down a little, Mike looked at the things Harvey had written and nodded.
"I can make a perfect speech."
He mumbled.

Friday came along way too quickly and suddenly they were standing there, dressed in black suits, in the beautiful church that was slowly filled up with people.
Most of the people were old, and Mike didn't seem to even know most of them.
A few of the staff from her nursing home showed up and Harvey even saw Trevor, Howard and Rachel sit down on a pew.
Harvey and Mike had walked to the side after Mike had needed some break from greeting people.
It looked like it was about to start, and Harvey looked down at Mike who was looking down at his notebook, re-reading it for the 100th time despite his eidetic memory.

"You're going to be fine."

Harvey said, trying to calm him down but Mike just looked up at him, looking like he was about to burst into tears any second now.

"It's very overwhelming."

He said with a shaky voice and Harvey reached out his hand and calmingly stroked his back.

"I know, I know."

Harvey kept rubbing his back for a minute before he realized that they had to go back to their seats in the front row.

"Let's get back."

Harvey said, taking a step before he was stopped by a single word.

"D-dad?"

Mike stuttered.
Harvey turned back to him and noticed how small and helpless he looked in that moment.
That one little word, his small look and his big, blue sad eyes made his father instincts go haywire and in that moment he was willing to do whatever his kid wanted him to do.

"C-could you go up there with me? Please?"

Mike asked, looking over at the altar where he would be holding his speech.

"Of course I will, kid."

Harvey answered and quickly wrapped his arms around him and placed a kiss on top of his head.

"You can do this, okay? You're strong, just like your grammy."

Mike nodded and then took a deep breath.

"I'm ready."

He said and together they walked into the church, ready to take their final goodbye of Edith.