Seventeen years ago
Donna is sitting alone in a bar and drinking. Derek left her, she lost the most important person in her life. Yeah, he's right, they were only six months together but she loved him and she's sure, she'll never love someone else as much as him.
"Why is such a beauty head sitting alone in a bar and looks that sad?" Harvey asks her taking the free seat next to Donna.
"I'm not interested" she simply says and drinks another shot. There is one more left in front of her 'cause she ordered several at once.
"oh, a mad beauty head" Harvey shoots out and Donna glares angerly at him "Can't you go annoy someone else?
"I could but… they look all boring"
Donna rolls with her eyes angerily and drinks the last shot.
"More" she says looking at the barkeeper.
"No! That's enough" Harvey tells him
"I don't think that's any of your business" Donna turns to face him.
"You're right, it's not, but whatever is bothering you, this" he points at the empty shot glasses "is not a solution" he tells her softly.
"what's bothering me is that men are assholes and the worst thing is that they don't get it when they're annoying"
Harvey usually wouldn't do somehting like that but he's somehow overwhelmed from that red head. He doesn't know why or where this feeling is coming from but 'she's special' he thinks. He thought it from th first seconds his eyes caught her. She doesn't look like someone who'd go in a bar and knocks herself out with shots. He has the urge to protect her. She seems to have a hard time and alcohol is not a solution.
"Not all men are assholes"
"maybe not, but you as sure as hell are" she says madly and returns to her drink.
Harvey nods briefly "okay, I got it. Sorry for the disturbance. Have a good evening" he tells her and leaves. Donna recognizes from his tone that she might hurt him but right now she can't care about it.
Present day
Donna still is like paralyzed and can't answer to Derek "Derek please, just let it go"
"So he doesn't know" he says "Sure" he shakes his head "you married him 'cause you needed a father for your child and you were too proud to tell me" and out of the blue Donna slaps him on his face "Don't dare to say somehting like that ever again." She shouts at him "I married him because he's the most loyal, amazing and lovely person in the whole world… and just to be clear he knows. But he never cared about blood relation. When he cares about someone then he does it because he loves them not because they're of the same blood. He'd do everything for the people he loves, he never cared about sacrificing anything to protect us"
"Wow! why don't you give an oscar to him?"
"He'd deserve it" she shoots out
"Does she know, too?"
"she doesn't and she won't"
"that's not on you anymore"
"Derek, don't dare it!"
"Well Donna, you had sixteen years to tell her, I'm giving you 48 hours."
Donna just glares at him
"If you don't tell her, I will"
"Derek please" she pleads
"48 hours Donna" he repeats and leaves.
Seventeen years ago
Harvey couldn't sleep the whole night. On the one side he had to think about that red head he had met. Something about her was different and it wasn't the fact that she looked great. He doesn't get it. she yelled at him, she had insulted him but something told him she didn't mean it 'cause her eyes told him somehting else. He chuckles with himself how corny it sounds.
On the other side he's scared to death for Marcus. He's afraid of loosing him and every time he thinks of him he can't hold back the tears.
The next evening he visits the same bar. It was a a tough day at the firm and then his worry about his brother, he just needs a drink. He didn't even expect to meet her again but maybe he was hoping it.
He ordered his usual drink when he hears someone talking to him "I'm sorry for yesterday" He immediately recognizes the voice and a smile builds up on his face. He turns to face her
"It's alright, no need to apologize. It wasn't my business"
"but you were right. You just caught a bad time" she tells him and he nods "apology accepted"
"thank you" she smiles and turns to walk away again.
He hesitates first but decides to take the chance "how about a drink?"
"yeah why not" she turns and takes the seat next to him. She's really glad he asked 'cause just like Harvey she has a feeling about him that she can't explain and she wants to talk to him, she needs distraction anyway.
"I'm Harvey"
"I'm Donna"
"Two Macallan" Harvey tells the barkeeper.
"How'd you know what I want?"
"I don't. But I saw what you did drink yesterday and it was disgusting" he looks at her in disgust."
"As If your choice is that much better"
"Try it" and she does as told ' my god, this is so good' she thinks
"And?"
"Just like my 5 Dollar scotch" she tells him in an unimpressed voice
"Sure" he laughs,
"Are you here often?" she asks
"sometimes, when I had a tough day at work"
"so you're having tough days lately?"
"yes"
"and that's the only reason you're here?"
"what other reason should I have?"
"women" Donna says raising an eyebrow
"maybe" Harvey says and tears the look form her ashamed
"You don't have to be ashamed" she teases "most people are here because of that"
"sooo? Is it your reason?" Harvey lifts his head to the right and raises an eyebrow
"It's not" Donna lifts her index finger "and before you say something more you should know that I really do know people even if I don't know them"
"aah is that so?"
"Yes"
"proof it"
"You didn't just have a tough day but you didn't sleep enough either, which I can see here" she touches the left side of his cheek. "You forgot to shave it and you didn't see it because you're too tired. You try to convince other people that you're an asshole because - let me guess you're a lawyer?- but you're not otherwise you wouldn't have tried to stop me from drinking yesterday and you're not here just because of a tough day. You look worried what means you or someone you care about is in trouble… or sick" she says sadly.
"I- uhm" he smiles "You're creepy" he tries to joke and tears the look from her
"are you okay?" she asks
"It's my brother, he has cancer and we don't know if he's gonna make it"
"I'm sorry"
"It's okay. I just don't really wanna talk about it. Let's just talk about anything else. I don't care what about"
"That's great because my best friend is travelling the world and I really haven't talked to anyone about handbags in a long time and there's a hundred new models."
"Uuhhm handbags?
Yeah why not" he says 'I want listen to a word anything' he thinks, he's just to busy observing her.
After a while Donna snaps with her fingers in front of his eyes and he flinches "are you even listening to me?"
"of curse"
"what did I say?" she smiles
"uh uhm. I don't know but I do know that you really really love handbags and that you can really really talk a lot about them" 'and that I wanna marry you'
"You're right I do and I can… Did I annoy you?"
"no, not at all" he assures her.
They drink way too much on this evening but they laugh even more. Neither of them can remember ever having had such a great evening with a stranger.
Later Harvey brings Donna home 'cause her apartment is only ten minutes far away.
"you're not just a pretty face, are you?"
"I'm not, no"
"that's what I thought" he smiles "Good night, Donna"
"why don't you come up for one more drink? It's still early and I'm not really tired"
"it's 2 am" Harvey laugs
"as if you'd care"
"you're right! I don't"
"He's the biggest idiot I've ever heard from" he tells her while their sitting on her couch and started to talk about him.
"you don't even know him" Donna laughs
"I don't have to. He let you go" Harvey says in a serious voice.
"he did… but luckily there are million other men out there" she says with a smile and gets closer to him.
"It's late. I should go now" he says and gets up
"You shouldn't" she grabs his hand and tries to kiss him
"I don't think this is a good idea"
"why not" she says kissing his neck but he pulls her gently away
"am I not attractive enough for you?"
"You're the most amazing woman I've met in a very long while but…he just broke up with you, you're hurting and I won't take advantage of it"
"That's really kind of you but I am grown up and I do exactly know what I'm doing"
"I don't want you to regret it tomorrow" he says but seconds later she convinces him 'cause she's just amazing and he can't really think clearly… and the alcohol is not helping a bit.
Present day
"Hey" she places a kiss on his lips 'how'd it go?"
"it's over. Stephen is sentenced to life in prison and hopefully Ava can start over."
"good" she smiles. "what about thai-food tonight?"
"uhh not agian" Harvey says in a teasing tone and rolls with his eyes.
"what, it's a long time ago we had that" Donna protests and Harvey looks at her unbelievable with a smile
"it was last week"
"that's a long time, mister"
"I think we should ask Amelia" he suggestions and she laughs sarcastically
"You just wanna have someone to support you"
"No" he shakes his head
"I just want the majority to decide."
"that's unfair"
"what are you talking about?" Amelia asks entering the living room
"ordering thai-food" Harvey simply replies
"Oh my god! Please not again" she says "didn't she order that yesterday?" she narrows and Harvey laughs
"okay, okay" Donna lifts her hands in protection "Order whatever you want"
Harvey lifts his head to the left and smiles
"Burgers?"
"Oh yeah" his daughter agrees and Donna rolls with her eyes and shakes her head smiling.
Donna watches them eating the burgers and talking abuut baseball with a big smile on her face. She'll never get what's so great abut that sports and why they love it that much. At some point they gave up trying to explain it to her and just tease her about it. But the smile disappears as soon as she remembers what Derek wants her to do. It could destroy everything. Amelia will hate her for that, for lying to her her whole life. But it'll hurt Harvey so much. They agreed to never tell anyone and she broke that promise.
'can he forgive me?' she asks herself
'what if she's Derek's dauther, will that destroy Harvey'srelationship to her?
She knows there's no way out and that she has to do it tonight. She'll wait till Amelia leaves to go to her friend for an overnight and then she'll tell him.
Seventeen years ago
"I missed you" Donna tells him, placing a tender kiss on his lips but he notices something's wrong
"hey, what is it?" he asks worriedly
"why d'you assume somehting's going on?"
"you look like that and you're eyes are red, that means you cried"
"I don't know how to tell you. You'll break up and I can't lose you"
"I sure won't" he tries to reassure her
"I'm pregnant" and Harvey freezes
"what? How? I- scratch that. We protected" he doesn't know what to say. He doesn't want to be one of those assholes who react completely the wrong way but he really doesn't know what to say.
"I know" she looks at him
"Derek" Harvey says in realization but Donna shakes her head
"it could be both of you. Derek and I protected, too"
"both of us?"
"I'm in week 10, that's the week we met and I slept with both of you" she explains and he nods.
"I'm sorry I- I need to think" he tells her and she nods.
"You can just tell me if it's over. I'll handle it."
"I jsut need time Donna. You can't tell me that you might be expecting a child from someone else and expect me to just accept it"
She nods in agreement 'cause she knows he's right.
When he arrives the door he turns to face her "I'll call you" he tells her.
Present day
Later Harvey and Donna are sitting on the couch and watching TV. Donna is scared how to tell him that Derek knows. She and Harvey decided back then to never mention it again. He didn't care about blood relation, he'd love the child anyway he knew that for sure. He knew it's not fair but it was the only way they could've had a chance as a couple.
Donna takes a deep breath "I need to tell you something"
"what is it?" he asks softly
Donna presses her lips together "he knows"
"who knows what?"
"Derek"
"what? You- you told him?"
"I didn't. He saw her and asked about her age… aaand then he put one and one together"
Harvey shakes his head in disbelieve.
"I thought we agreed we never tell anyone" he says upset
"I know that! I didn't intend to tell him"
"sure"
"Harvey I- swear I…"
"You could've lied"
"I realized it too late. I was like paralyzed when he asked me. It came out of the blue I didn't see it coming and I couldn't think of something that fast"
"as if you'd had a problem with 'thinking of something' ever before"
"this is something else" she protests "It's not like I had to lie to Hardman or Norma or a stranger"
"and now. What does he want?"
"He wants her to know"
"no" he says firmly
"if we don't tell her within 48 hours, he will"
"son of a bitch" he curses
"I know that's not what we planned but…" she stops
"but what?"
"nothing" she tears the look from him
"but what Donna?"
"if she's his biological daughter, maybe he has a right to know"
Harvey looks at her and she doesn't miss the hurt in his eyes "that's not what you said seventeen years ago"
"Harvey…I'm sorry I-"
"I thought you'd think she's my daughter too"
"of course I do"
"Did you actually ever loved me or was I just the perfect solution for you?"
"what?" Donna asks shocked
"I mean why not. He left you, you knew I'm rich and that I'd do everything for you and you were pregnant."
"How can you say that?" Donna asks hurting while tears roll down her face.
"How can you say he has a right to know?" and with that he leaves their condo.
… … …
"Harvey what are you doing here?" Mike asks surprised. It's 11pm and he usually never visits them that late without telling them.
"Can I come in?" he asks and Mike notices form his voice that something's wrong
"Yeah of course" he moves to let him in
"Harvey?" Rachel says
Just as surprised as Mike "Is everything okay?"
"No" he answers and seconds later her cell phone rings
"Donna hey"
"is he there?"
"y-yes" she answeres and walks towards the bedroom.
"D'you need a glas of scotch?"
"I need the whole bottle" he says and sits on the couch.
"Here" Mike hands him a glas of scotch and sits in front of him on the armchair.
"what happened Harvey?"
"I- I don't know how to begin" he says.
"You don't have to talk about it now if you don't want to" Mike tells him
"it's not that… it's just-" he takes a deep breath
"It's about Amelia. Donna and I agreed years ago to never tell anyone and never talk about it but now we can't keep it a secret anymore"
"what's about Amelia?" he asks in a soft voice
"she might not be my daughter" he says and takes a big gulp of scotch
"what?" MIke asks shocked
"We slept together in the same week she and her boyfriend broke up. Then we became very fast a couple and… I told her I don't care abuut blood relation and that I'd love the child anyway and we agreed to never make a test or anything else. Later she had that birthmark and we were sure she's mine and… we never talked about it again."
Mike is speechless to the news. He doesn't know what to tell Harvey. There's so much to say but he doesn't get a word out.
"I've never seen you that speechless" Harvey tries to joke and smiles at him
"Uhm- I-" he then takes a deep breath and gathers himself
"Okay, that's huge. But why do you tell me now?"
"that man is… Derek"
"Derek Bradford?"
"How many other Dereks do you know?"
"I'm sorry I-"
"it's okay" Mike assures him
"but why d'you have to tell him?"
"He knows. He saw her and asked Donna about her age and"
"he put one and one together"
"yes. Donna thinks he has a right to know"
Mike looks up at him in surprise
"maybe she's just trying to do the right thing"
Harvey laughs sarcastically "that's not what she cared about seventeen years ago"
"He wants her to know"
Harvey nods "he gave us 48 hours or he'll tell her"
"Have you talked to her now?"
"No!" he says quietly
"Listen… I know it's hard and probably I can't even imagine how worse this is for you but you should tell her"
"She's my daughter" he says hurting
"I know that and you said yourself you never cared about blood relation."
"what if she does? what if she's not mine" he asks his frien with vulnerable voice
"She sure doesn't care Abitur blood relation zharvey. Yeah, probably she's gonna be hurt and pissed for a while but she loves you. you're her dad and that's never gonna change."
"you don't know that"
"What I know is how much you love each other and that she comes to you with every problem she has. Not to Donna, not to her friends but to you."
"that's right" he smiles
"She's probably yours anyway. I mean she has so much from you."
"that birthmark could be just a stupid coincidence Mike"
"I'm not talking about that. You like the same things, you laugh about the same 'not funny jokes', you're both great in maths and allergic to nuts. You ar-"
"that doesn't mean anything"
"Harvey, he knows! This is something you can't change anymore and he will tell her. Like I said she will be pissed and mad at you, both of you but she'll get over it.
"what if not?"
"she will" he assures him "but it'll hurt her much more if she doesn't hear it from you but someone else"
Harvey nods in agreement. He then lifts his head and looked at Mike
"I'm sorry we never told you. It's just I never really thought about that anymore"
"no need to apologize Harvey" Mike smiles at him.
"D'you wanna stay here tonight?"
He shakes his head "I should go home. I need to apologize to Donna, I said somehting worse and I didn't ' mean it but I hurt her"
"Okay, but if you need anything don't hesitate to tell me"
"thank you, Mike"
Seventeen years ago
Donna is sitting on the couch. She's crying and afraid that she looses again someone she loves and this time it's much worse. She loved Derek and he hurt her but Harvey, Harvey's different. She has never felt so comfortable and safe in someone's presence as she does with him. He manages only with a smile that she forgets everything around her. When he says that everything will be fine, she believes him, even if he himself has no idea whether it will happen. As soon as he takes her in his arms everything is good, she never had this feeling with Derek.
And she doesn't get it, why she still thinks about him. She doesn't want him back, she loves Harvey too much, but she's still not completely over him and she hates it.
'What if he's the father?' she thinks 'will he be there for them? will he want us to try it again. Do I want that?' and when she really thinks about it the answer is clearly no. She wants Harvey and no one else. They've only known each other for two and a half months but she knows she never wants to lose him again and these strong feelings scare her. Derek and she at least knew each other before. They worked together, then they dated, and eventually they got together. With Harvey it's all so fast and now she's pregnant and maybe not from him, how is he supposed to deal with that?
"what d'you think peanut. Will he stay with us?" Donna looks down at her stomach and strokes it.
"I'm pretty sure you could never get a better father than him" she smiles . She looks up as she hears the door open.
"Hey" he says in a soft voice
"hey" she gets up
"listen" they both start
"No please… let me first" Donna asks him
"no I-"
"please" and he agrees
"I know we don't know each other for that long and that non of us planned that and if you don't wanna be part of it I understand. If it's yours and you want it you can always see them. But I want you to know that I want to be with you. I want us to try it because I love you and I don-"
"Harvey stops her by putting his lips on hers.
"Can I now?" he smiles and she nods
"I'm sorry about running away. I- love you too and I don't wanna lose you. I don't care whether I am the biological father or not I'll love them more than anything else in the world. But if Derek's the father and you two want to try it again then"
"no" she interrupts him "It doesn't matter even if he's the father. I'll never go back to him. I love you and I only want to be with you" she tells him crying.
"You sure?"
"I've never been more sure in my life" he tells him and they hug tight.
"I love you" she tells him
"I love you, too"
Present day
"You son of a bitch" Harvey yells when he sees Derek.
"Harvey" he says with a smile "what did I do?"
"You leave me and my family alone, got it?" he says furious "I don't give a shit who you think you are. She's my daughter, so shut up and go where you're form or you'll regret it"
"seriously? You're a bigger asshole than I thought you were. You had no right to do somehting like that in the first place and instead of apologizing you're threatening me?" he shakes his head laughing sarcastically
"I've already told Donna. Either you tell Amelia the truth or I will" he says madly.
Harvey is furious so he closes the distance and pushes him against the wall
"You're not tell-"
"Tell me what?" Amelia asks in a calm voice and Harvey freezes. "Amelia" he says quietly and lets go of Derek
"what- what are you doing here?"
"tell me what, dad?" she asks again and Derek turns towards the wall so they can't see his face 'cause he can't avoid a gleefully smile.
/ / /
i hope you liked it and would love to know what you think.
Have a nice time 3