Previously
"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.
Amelia looks at Harvey, then at Derek and back to Harvey. He on the other side is like paralyzed, he opens his mouth to say something but closes it again 'cause he doesn't get a word out.
"I- uhm" he tries, he then closes his eyes briefly and takes a deep breath "I'll tell you everything but not here. Let's go home" he says quietly "I want Donna to be there, too"
"How about you tell her now?" Derek says and Harvey turns madly towards him and pushes him against the wall again.
"shut the hell up you son of-"
"Dad stop!" Amelia grabs him. "I think you should go now" she tells Derek and he does so.
"what's going on dad?" she asks calmly
"Please, let's go home first"
"but mom is not there. She called me in the morning and asked me to get some papers and bring them to her because she's calling a sick day today"
"Where is she?" He asks worriedly.
"At grandparent's. Are you two okay?" Harvey shakes his head "No"
"Does it has anything to do with Derek?" Harvey nods
"let's go home"
On the way home Harvey sends a message to Donna "we have to tell her now, please come home"
A few minutes later the three of them arrive in their appartement.
"What the hell is going on?" Amelia asks
Seventeen years ago
"I can't even tell you how happy I am" Donna tells him "I thought I lost you"
"You will never lose me" he tells her fondly "I love you… both of you" he says and places a kiss on her stomach.
"There's one thing we need to talk about" Harvey starts and looks up at Donna
"Derek" he nods
"What about him? D'you wanna tell him?"
"I don't know… D'you want me to tell him?"
Harvey shakes his head "that's not my decision"
"Yes it is. It's our decision. She or he is our child and we will decide everything together from the beginning"
"I don't" he then tells her "I don't wanna tell him and I don't wanna make a test, I'll love him anyways" he says lovingly. "But Donna this is just my opinion, you don't have to agree if you think differently"
"I don't. You're the father. We'll be a family and if you're okay with not knowing then I'm too"
"I'm more than okay with it" he says and starts kissing her.
"one thing" Donna pulls him back slowly "him?" she smiles
"Does it mean you wanna have a boy rather than a girl?"
"uhm I- yes" he eventually says and Donna looks at him surprised
"It'll be much easier when he becomes a teenager"
And she laughs "and what if he brings other 16 year old girls. home?" she raises an eyebrow
"It's not my job to take care of other girls"
"uh huh" Donna says laughing and starts kissing him.
"I think it's gonna be a girl" she tells him with a smile
"We'll see"
Present day
"…wait!" Amelia says as she starts to realize what their parents just told her "… you met in the same week you and Derek broke up?" Donna nods "and you slept with both of them and got pregnant?" she takes a shaky breath "Does that- Does that mean you- you're not my father?"
"We don't know" he answers in a low voice
"what?"
"I never wanted to know. When Donna told me, we knew each other for 10 weeks and were a couple for less than a month but I knew I loved her and didn't want to lose her. I didn't want to know, I wanted a family with her and I would love you anyway no matter what"
"what about me or Derek? Did you think about that for a second, that we would have a right to know the truth?" she raises her voice now
"We knew you'd have a father who loves you unconditionally and that's what counts" Donna tells her and Amelia huffs a sarcastic laugh "It's not" she shakes her head "you lied at me my whole life. Were you even going to tell me at all if he wouldn't have made you to do so?"
"No" Harvey tells her honestly "You're my daughter and nothing in the world is gonna change that"
"Amelia listen" Donna starts to close their distance but she stops her "Don't" she says in a warning voice and lifts her arms in protection "You lied at me my whole life, you lied at him even though he would've had a right to know and you're not even sorry" she shouts
"because I love you" Harvey says.
"yeah sure… the only thing you cared about was yourself. You wanted mom and I was part of the package, that's why you agreeed to" she starts crying
"that's not true. I could've stayed with her and tell Derek about the pregnancy but I wanted to be your father, that's why we did it. I wanted us to be a family"
"Tell that someone else" she says upset.
"Amelia please"
"No! I don't wanna hear anything anymore. You'll lie anyway" she sniffs "I won't believe you a word anymore… never again!" she shouts and leaves the condo.
Harvey sits on the couch and puts his palms on his face.
"she hates us… she hates me"
"She doesn't mean it" she tells him "she's hurt and angry but she'll forgive us" she tries to reassure him but is scared herself. "you're her mother… but I" he shakes his head
"You're her father…
„"maybe not"
"we can find out… and even if you're not she doesn't care about those facts"
"You can't know that"
"Yes I do and I do know how much she loves and admires you. You're her hero Harvey and you're her dad"
"yeah… I hope so" he says quietly. For a few seconds there is silence between pthem till Harvey starts to speak
"I missed you last night" he tells her and gets up. "I came back home to apologize but you weren't there" he looks at her with sad eyes.
"I went at my parents"
"I am sorry… I was mad and hurting about what you said but… I should've never said that." He really hurt her with what he said she can't deny it but she also knows that she hurt him, too. She just couldn't meet him yesterday anymore and decided to leave. They both needed some space and time to think.
"It's okay you-"
"No, it's not. It hurt me that you said he has a right to know 'cause that's not what you said back then but… I had no right to question your love towards me. I know you love me and I hope you now how much I love you too"
She nods "I do know that" she closes their distance and takes his hand "You're right it really hurt me, this is the last thing I want you to think about me. I chose you because I loved you, I did it back then and I always will. I need you to know that" she says with teary eyes.
"I know that" he wipes a tear from her cheek and places a kiss on her forehead
"I am sorry too. I know we both agreed not to tell him and I have never regret it but…"
"but maybe we should've told him" he finishes her sentence
"yeah maybe" he says pulling her in a hug.
"Do you really think she'll forgive me?"
"she's not only mad at you Harvey… she needs time and we have to give it to her but she loves you"
"I'm just so scared to lose her"
"You won't" she assures him.
… … …
"Amelia" Mike calls her the second his eyes catches her. She's sitting on a bench in the park. It's a little cold outside and she's not wearing a jacket. She hasn't answer to Harvey's nor Donna's messages and they're worried so they asked Mike to immediately tell them when he meets her.
"Hey" he greets
"Leave me alone"
"They told you"
"They did… and like I said I want to be alone"
"Are you mad at me?"
"You seriously asking me that?" she asks mad "You all lied at me, all of you! And now go!" she shouts
"Amelia… I- I didn't know. Harvey told me yesterday evening"
"sure"
"seriously"
"You know what? Then stay here, I can leave too" she says and gets up to leave but Mike grabs her by her shoulder.
"Amelia I swear, We didn't know. They never told us"
Amelia wipes her tears away and looks at Mike
"really?" he nods and they both sit down on the bench again.
"They lied at me my whole life. I will never forgive them"
"Amelia… I know you're hurt and mad at them and I understand it, I'd be too. But they didn't do it to hurt you"
"They still did it. Probably everyone knows, everyone but me… and they all keep laughing about me for my cluelessness"
"No" Mike says firmly "look at me" she does so
"They never told anyone"
"how d'you wanna know that?"
"Harvey told me yesterday. Since they decided they wanna be a family and Harvey didn't want to make a fatherhood test, they decided to keep it for themselves. After you were born and they saw your birthmark, they were sure your Harvey's anyway"
"A birthmark doesn't proof anything, uncle Mike"
"Look, take your time to calm down but answer me one question. Does it make such a big difference for you? I mean maybe Harvey is your dad, but would you love him less if he's not?"
"it is a big difference uncle Mike. Everything I thought I would've it from him it could be from someone else. I could have another family, siblings"
"You could and you can find out… but would you love Harvey less than you do now if you'd find out his not your biological father?"
She keeps looking at Mike and shakes her head "I don't know" she says somehow upset "he lied at me and he didn't care. And if Derek hadn't find out they would've never told me. I don't wanna talk to non of them right now."
"And you don't have to, take your time to think about what you wanna do'
"I wanna know the truth"
"and it's your right to do so but you should answer some questions to yourself before you find out"
"what do you mean?"
"Just think about the possibility that Harvey's not your biological father, will anything change for you? And you should tell him that before you get the answer"
Mike tells her softly. He's sure she cares just as much as Harvey does, she just needs to be reminded. And of course she's mad and hurt, that's why he takes her with him in their apartment and just sends a short message to Harve and Donna to assure them she's safe.
… … …
It's evening, Donna is sitting on the couch while Harvey is in their bedroom and wanted to be alone for a while.
"Amelia" Donna whispers and gets up as the girl enters their living room. "Are you okay?" she asks her daughter and she shakes her head.
"You lied at me" she says sadly "and you never cared about it"
"we thought it wouldn't matter. Harvey loves you and I didn't want to make things more complicated if it comes out that you're Derek's"
"Did dad really never cared?"
Donna shakes her head "The second I told him he asked for some space but… hours later he came back and told me he wouldn't care and from the second he spoke about you as his child." Donna smiles "actually he spoke about you as a boy" she chuckles
"why's that?" Amelia asks with a smile
"He said it'd be easier when you become a teenager"
"but didn't he realize that boys can bring girls home?"
"He said it wouldn't be his job to take care of other girls" and they both laugh
"Amelia then closes their distance and hugs Donna "I love you, mom"
"I love you too, sweetheart"
"where's dad, is he here?" she asks as they break the hug
"He's in our bedroom"
"D'you think he wants to see me?"
"I'm pretty sure he does"
Amelia hesitates for a moment when she stands in front of the door. She doesn't know what to tell him, she's afraid that it is gonna be weird but then decides just to do it.
"come in" he says expecting Donna
"Amelia" he says surprised. He was standing in front of the window and watching the skyline.
"Can we talk?" she asks quietly and he nods.
There is silence for a little while
"I am sorry we didn't tell you" Harvey starts "But I always saw you as my daughter and I-"
'Mom said you talked as a boy about me" she smiles at him and so does he
"yeah I- I was afraid I couldn't handle being dad of a girl"
He than turns serious "Listen I- I need you to believe me that I never agreed just because I wanted Donna. I love you an-"
"I know" she interrupts him
"Listen I… uhm…" she takes a deep breath "I love you… Your are my dad and you'll always be. I care about blood relation just as much as you do. I didn't mean what I said in the morning. You're my dad and no one else." She says as tears roll down her cheek. "We can make a test or not, I don't care. It won't change anything between us anyways"
"I'm so glad to hear that" he says and stars crying himself while he pulls her in a tight hug. "I love you honey" he kisses her head
"I love you, daddy… and" she pulls a little away from hm to face him "You did a great job as father of a girl"
"Thank you…" he says with a smile "but it was easy 'cause I was lucky to have a grat daughter" he says and hug her tight again.
The next day
"Hey" Derek greets her as she arrives in front of their apartment
"Mr Bradford" Amelia stops. She doesn't know what to say. It's weird 'cause he could be her father. What is she supposes to do? How is she supposes to react? Can she reject him? Would it be fair to him, and if she doesn't, would it be fair to Harvey?"
"Derek is fine" he tells her
"I prefer Mr Bradford" she says somehow distantly
"They told you" he says and she nods
"Listen uhm… I know this is hard for you and that you need time but… I would like to know the truth and… if you're my daughter, then I'd love to get to know you" he smiles at her.
"Uhm" Amelia presses her lips together "I- I know it's a shitty situation for you and I get that you want to know but… I do have a father and I don't need and new one"
"maybe I am your father"
"No, you're not. I- I don't care what some damn tests say. He is the one who raised me, he is the one who stayed up with me the whole night when I was scared, when I had to learn and when I was sick. He was always there for me"
"Just because I didn't know about you"
"I know… but it doesn't change the fact. My father is Harvey and I don't care about who my biological father is. Look… I am really sorry but I'm not gonna hurt him by doing a test"
"Please, just think about it"
"I am sorry, I don't have to" she says in puts out her keys to go into the building.
1 month later
The last four weeks have been a weird time. Even though Amelia first decided to not make a test, they now did and are waiting for the results. Derek somehow managed to convince Amelia 'cause he told her how sad he is not to know if she's his daughter. He told her about similarities between them he noticed and about things Amelia does what reminds him of his father. This somehow gets her and she began to wonder if they could just carry on as if nothing had happened. At some point she carefully and hesitantly asked Harvey if it would be okay for him and he agreed. It hurt him but what was he supposed to say?
So they did it but deep down Harvey and Amelia both are hoping that they're father and daughter, even though Amelia really likes Derek, she hopes that Harvey is her father.
Donna, Harvey, Derek and Amelia are in Havey's and Donna's apartment. The results are there and they decided to open it together. There are two envelopes, one with Harvey's and Amelias and one with Amelia's and Derek's results.
Harvey is the one to open the envelope first. He slowly opens it and his heart is racing, just like Donna's and Amelia's. Only Derek seems pretty calm but the three of them don't notice that.
Harvey takes the paper on his hands and starts reading. He than lifts his head and and gulps.
"and?" she asks hesitantly
"You-" he shakes his head and his eyes fill with tears "you're not my daughter" he tells her with shaky voice.
"No" Amelia whispers
"Your mine" Derek says while he holds the other paper on his hands and a smile builds up on his face. He starts walking towards her to hug her but she stops him "I can't" she says and walks away.
"Derek, could you please leave us alone?" Donna asks and the man leaves without another word.
Donna than looks at Harvey who seems lost with his thoughts. She slowly approaches him and puts a hand on his shoulder. "I am soo sorry Harvey"
"Nothing to be sorry Donna, that's what we've been prepared for" he simply says and walks towards the kitchen island.
"Hey" she grabs his hand ans stops him "you don't have to play the tough guy now. Yes, you're right, we knew it could happen but we all were hoping another result"
"Not all of us"
"I meant our family" she says squeezing his arms "Hey…" he looks at her "this paper" she points at the paper on the floor "won't change anything"
"You don't know that" his voice breaks "things change even though we don't want it"
"this won't, you'll see" she says firmly but softly.
"Donna I- I love you but… I need to be alone right now"
"Okay" she whispers and Harvey leaves.
Due to the fact that they haven't heard anything from their friends and they knew the results were there, Mike and Rachel assume already that it weren't the results they would've wished. So Mike simply writes a message to Donna "is he okay?" And a few seconds later Donna calls
"Hey Donna"
"Mike… he uhm- he left. He wanted to be alone"
"Should I look for him?"
"No, I think he needs time for himself to process it. But he'll need you"
"I'll be there for him whenever he needs it" he assures her softly. "Do you need anything?"
"I'm alright, Mike. It's just Harvey he…"
"It's hard for you too, Donna. We know that"
"Tell her I'm going over" Rachel tells Mike. Donna doesn't say no or anything, 'cause unlike Harvey she doesn't want to be alone right now.
At Harvey's and Donna's
"Hey Rach" Donna greets her by giving her a hug "thank you for coming"
"yeah, of course"
The two friends sit together with a lot of ice cream. Rachel also brought different movies in case Donna doesn't want to talk.
"He's so hurt" she says
"I know, it's not easy to get over it but he will. I mean… he knew it could be this way" Rachel tries to calm her friend down "but it's different to have it black and white"
"of course it is, but don't forger that he loves her, they'll be fine for sure" Rachel says softly.
"Yeah, he does. He did it from the beginning" Donna smiles while tears roll down her face "He's so perfect. I've never met someone as perfect as him"
"I did… Mike" Rachel says and Donna chuckles "Yeah of course, keep thinking that" and they both smile.
"Now… what movie should it be?" Donna asks
"it's your choice"
"Well… actually it doesn't matter 'cause were gonna be here for a while" she tells Rachel.
And they really do. They watch about 4 movies this afternoon and eat a lot of ice cream, till it's evening.
Rachel stays at Donna's and Harvey's after she gets a message form Mike
"I'll try to find Harvey. I think I'll bring him at hours tonight."
"okay, I'll stay with Donna" she answers.
Harvey was alone the whole day. He thought about calling Mike but he just needed some space. Now he is sittting alone in his office and would really prefer to have some company but it's almost 10pm and he doesn't want to bother his friend. He doesn't really want to talk about anything… he just wants to have some distraction. So he pours himself some scotch and plays his dad's music, trying to think of something else… anything.
A few minutes later Mike enters his office and a smile builds up on Harvey's face.
"Hey" he greets him
"Do you want some company?" Mike asks softly and he nods. Mike first opens his mouth to ask him if he's okay but closes it again 'cause he knows it's a stupid question and he knows the answers anyway.
So he just goes over to Harvye's desk and gras two glasses.
"I must mark this day in the calendar red and bold" Harvey jokes
"why's that?"
"You bought scotch"
"Do you need glasses now, old man? It's just Vodka and it's the cheapest one I could find" he says and shows him the bottles.
Harvey huffs "I should've known. My fault…. What was I expecting?" he shakes his head
"I am not gonna drink that" he says firmly while he doesn't miss to show the disgust.
"oh you will"
"why the hell should I do that?"
"Because we're going to get drunk tonight. And what we drink now, we will hate tomorrow and will never want to drink it again. And I love the expensive scotch that YOU buy just too much to hate it. And this one" he lifts his hand with the vodka bottle "we're never gonna drink again anyway, so we won't miss it" he smiles and so does Harvey
"fair enough" he agrees.
And the two friends drink way too much this night. They laugh a lot that night. For a few hours Harvey doesn't think about Amelia and the fatherhood.
"Thank you, Mike" he eventually says
"for what?"
"for not asking me how I'm feeling or anything about…"
"yeah I assumed you need distraction. And I though if you want to talk you would start"
"You do know me" he smiles
"Yeah, I do"
"I was so hoping she's mine"
"I know buddy"
"Don't misunderstand me, I really don't care about the blood relation thing but I… he'll do anything to take her away from me and he has the best reason and argument now. I just don't wanna have him in our life. I don't know, I just don't like him"
"Yeah he's weird right?"
Harvey looks surprsed at him "you don't have to say that Mike. You can like him I wo-"
"It's not because of you. I don't know. I can't explain it… I just think he's not as nice as he pretends to be"
"I know what you mean"
"look, I know you're scared but Amelia already told you. This won't change anything between the two of you. Sure… maybe at some point she wants to know him and the other family she has but… it won't change the love she has for you and your family"
"You seem pretty sure about that"
"That's because I am. She loves you and nothing in the world will change that"
… … …
The next morning Harvey comes home early so Rachel leaves to leave the couple alone.
"I'm sorry I didn't come back yesterday. At some point Mike came by and-"
"It's alright" Donna reassures him "I spent the day with Rachel"
"What about Amelia? Where's she?" he asks a there's a little panic in his voice
"She's alright, she's at her friend's"
"Julia?"
"Yeah, of course. Who else" Donna chuckles.
A few minutes later their daughter arrives too.
"Hey" she greets them "I'm sorry I somehow lost the time-feeling and"
"you don't have to apologize, it's okay" he interrupts her and they stay like that for a few seconds till Amelia rushs towards Harvey and pulls him in a hug. "You're my dad and I don't care about the test, okay?" she tells him softly. "I want you to know that even though I'll get to know him and his family and doesn't mean that I don't love you or our family anymore"
"I know" he whispers.
The three of them just have breakfast together and decide to spend the day together.
/ / /
Thank you for reading, hope you enjoy.
I know there are too much hugs in this one, kinda annoying, right? Hahah. But I don't have other expressions in my vocabulary right now so it's always the same.
Have a nice week :)