A/N: Parallel instances of Donna and Harvey, inadvertently going to one another when they want to celebrate or share their successes, turning to one another for advice.

Hope you guys enjoy this little chapter, as always critiques, comments, and suggestions are always appreciated Xxx

You Come First

Harvey was finally having his dinner with Zoe, it had been a hectic week and he'd looked forward to going on a date with Zoe. She was in the middle of talking when Harvey felt a ping in his pocket. He tried keeping eye contact with Zoe as he grabbed his cellphone, not glancing down till he absolutely had to in hopes that diluted his date-faux-pas. Especially since Zoe was recalling a harrowing emotional story at the moment about her brother. He discreetly glanced down, looking at the text he'd just received from John, texting him the judge had ruled the case in his favor. He won. He tried hard not to react positively with his facial expressions because if secretly checking his phone was a bad move, smiling widely while Zoe went over a sensitive topic was perhaps a bigger one. He does excuse himself fibbing about getting a phone call - so he can go make one. Because Harvey knew who he could share this with, who'd understand and share in his- their- victory.

He texted Donna a simple 'we did it'. She called him not one minute after he had texted her and instead of saying hi she said "was there ever any doubt?" as a greeting over the phone. He grinned, shaking his head at her breathy cocky voice. He replied with a smug no, and she laughed because she knew he was doubting himself but she never did which was what made him think she deserved to be the first to know. They talk a bit more about how it's insane they managed to pull it off- Donna having to have literally been a super hero this week handling his emotions, her own upcoming auditions, and the case load he had assigned to Litts' lackey that Donna had to proofread, revise, edit and change as if she was an associate herself, because she knew how Harvey would've thought it through, how he would've preferred everything to be done. 8 minutes into the call, after chuckling a little bit about some jokes he threw at opposing counsel she asked "aren't you supposed to be with Zoe?"

Shit. Harvey had forgotten. He wasn't going to give Donna the satisfaction though of teasing him.

"I did. I mean I am. She's just in the bathroom right now."

"Oh. Okay. Well I better let you go. Congrats, Harvey."

"Congratulations, Paulsen. We should celebrate."

Donna signed into the speaker as if she was annoyed but he could hear her smile. "Drinks at O'Learys?"

"Tomorrow night." He wished her a good night and hung up, tugging on his lapels as he made his way back to his table. "Sorry." Harvey sheepishly apologized and Zoe shook her head indicating it was fine "good news?"

"We just won our case."

"That's amazing Harvey! Congratulations."

Harvey smiled his thanks. "Now tell me about your brother again." He said as he directed them back to their earlier topic.

. . .

Donna walked around Harvey's office waiting for him to come back from his meeting with Mike.

"Hey, what are you doing here? I thought you left already?" Harvey called out as he walked in.

"Oh I just had a few things to finish up before heading out." She feigned causality, as if she hadn't stuck around just to share her news with him.

Harvey non committingly nodded "hm. Drink?" He asked, pouring her a glass from his decanter and she plopped down excitedly on his couch bursting with excitement to tell him her good news. "Sure I deserve one." She said nonchalantly.

Harvey snorted. "And why's that?"

Donna narrowed her eyes at his question. "I'm Donna, I always deserve one. But, if you must know," she sighed dramatically as if he was dragging it out of her. "I got the lead part in that play." She shrugged casually, not missing the excited glint Harvey got in his eyes at her news, amusement and pride filtering his face, which Donna had been waiting hours to see.

Harvey nodded slowly and cheered his glass with hers to which Donna frowned at "that's it?"

"What? Am I supposed to be surprised? Of course you got the lead role. There wasn't a doubt in my mind."

Donna slowly smiled, shaking her head at his words that managed to warm her heart. "You and your lines."

"That was not a line." Harvey chided.

"Bet you say that to all the actresses you know."

"Just the ones with fragile egos Debbie." Harvey winked at her and Donna scowled.

"I'm kidding!" Harvey defended himself as Donna slapped his side arm. "Just drink your drink harvey."

. . .

Harvey had just finished having drinks with Mike in his office, before the pup had to go meet Rachel for dinner. They'd gone over every angle for this case and Harvey wanted to decompress a little before heading home for the night.

Mike could sense something was off with him, but he didn't really want to talk to Mike about his fight with his brother, especially to someone who was orphaned with no family, because he'd just ram the feeling of guilt down Harvey's throat.

Donna disrupted his thoughts as she entered his office, floating in without knocking, to place some files he needed for tomorrow morning on his desk.

"Can I ask you something?"

"If I say no will you stop talking?" Donna teased, but when she looked up at Harvey's unimpressed look she waved her hand to let him get on with it, as she took a seat in his desk chair and put one leg over the other on his desk, waiting for Harvey to tell her what was wrong.

Harvey slowly got off of the couch and rounded the table to the seat right across from his desk chair.

"Marcus is… pretty pissed at me."

"Why what'd you do?" Donna frowned with an edge of protectiveness in her voice. He couldn't tell if it was directed towards him or his little brother going through cancer.

"He said he's sick of having to go through chemo and alternating weekends I see him with mom because I.. you know why."

Donna nodded slowly, conveying her understanding. She cocked her head to the side, pursing her lips as she thought out loud.

"That's a tough pill to swallow. Looks like he's using the cancer card to guilt you into a reunion huh?"

"Donna, I can't do that and you know it."

"Can't or won't?"

Harvey frowned, then rolled his eyes at her statement. Donna pivoted her stance, understanding this wasn't a moment to tackle his feelings towards his mom but his brother instead.

"Harvey, it's not fair what your brother is trying to do, but you know what else is not fair? That he has cancer. We both know he has bigger things to think and worry about than yelling at you over this dispute. Let him take it out on you. I can't imagine Katy or the kids or even your mom are really giving him the space to be angry. You're all he has for a punching bag. It's fucked up but, that's what brothers are for right?"

Harvey swallowed, realizing once again Donna was right. He should give at least this to his brother, let him take out his frustrations and direct his anger towards something tangible, something he could pretend he had control over, unlike cancer which was a cruel sick joke.

Still. It stung. It hurts that his brother was yelling at him, guilting him that he wasn't being a good brother because of his own grievance against their mother, which wasn't at all similar to the grievance of cancer but Harvey thought his brother understood. Maybe it was asking too much of his little brother to be ok with their family being fragmented but if he was going to point a finger to blame it should be to Lily not him. It sh-

"Harvey. I may think you need to let him take it out on you but," she shrugged her shoulders wistfully smiling at him. "I'm here for you to tell me what you wish you could've told him if you were a lesser man." She smiled softly at him, before handing him a replenished tumblr of scotch.

Harvey smiled, a touch of awe on his face at how she always knew exactly what to say.

"So you think I'm a good man huh?" He wryly smirked at her, trying to delay the inevitable heavy talk.

Donna puffed out a laugh, while shrugging her shoulders yet again. She feigned a look of questioning. "Well you're not a gentleman," Heavery's eyes glimmered at her statement, recalling the incident that led to that conclusion years ago, "And you're a terrible boss, Mike and I can attest to that but… family wise, I guess you're a pretty good brother. Gordon used to think you weren't too shabby of a son." Her mentioning Gordon led to another lump in his throat, wondering how his father would've reacted to Marcus having cancer.

"Did he?" He asked gravelly, not knowing the answer.

"You know he did." Donna's answer was immediate, not letting Harvey for one second dwell over the truth in the statement.

"Now tell me, what else did your brother say?"

. . .

Donna sighed, peering up from her computer screen into Harvey's office trying to gauge if he was in a good mood. Him and Louis had weirdly been on the same page all day, acing their joint case and filing away their win to prove Jessica and Hardman wrong that they can't work together. He's got a date scheduled for tonight that Donna had already reserved a table for at the exclusive new restaurant in Chelsea, and he'd just come back from a meeting where Jessica had praised him in front of the other partners.

Now was as good of a time as any. She was going to ask for his input on her buying her own apartment (finally). It had been years in the making, her landlord telling her repeatedly she may as well buy the damn thing because the entire place was going co-op, her once decent enough upgraded apartment building turned upscale thanks to gentrification, and while she mourned some of the neighborhoods charming little eccentric details- she wasn't entirely upset with having la costas and soul-cycles walking distance away from her.

She'd been at Pearson hardman long enough now, had a decent 401k, a savings account with a high yield interest of 3.9%, hell she'd diversified her small portfolio of money like her ex financial adviser boyfriend told her too. (While the relationship may have ended sourly, she would always be thankful for his advice on stock options). All in all, Donna Paulsen had scrimped and scraped (upcycling last season's looks with vintage accessories) and managed to finally save enough to actually own her own apartment. She may have to starve for a few more weeks, and god help her current boyfriend Mark who was going to be her unpaid handyman around the house. Well… paid with sexual favors perhaps. Donna smirked slyly at her own joke before refocusing her efforts.

She knocked on Harvey's door. Before she could get a word in, Harvey spoke up, throwing down his pen on his desk, arrogantly folding his hands behind his head, resting his weight backwards practically tipping his chair relaxingly. "Let me guess, you're here because you heard about my amazing success at the partners meeting."

Donna chuckled at his antics, shaking her head at him before her hands found their place on her hips where they usually reside when she's about to playfully lecture him. "You mean I heard it from you. Because you're gloating."

"It's not gloating if you're simply reiterating facts Donna." He smugly countered. Ever the lawyer.

"Oh you could teach a whole course on gloating!"

"Just one of the many things I'm a master at." Harvey winked at her and Donna rolled her eyes.

"So what do you want?" Harvey asked, cutting straight to the bullshit of Donna's prepared ramble of placating questions.

She narrowed her brows in surprise, schooling her shock quickly before tilting her head at him. "How'd you know I have something to ask?"

Harvey scoffed with an amused smile on his face. "Donna, I know you. You've got the same look on your face you get every year when you ask for a day off on Halloween, you spent 12 minutes staring at me every 10 seconds wondering if I was going to do or say something soon, you knocked before you came in, yo-"

"Ok enough, thank you!" She held up a palm to stop his rambling, officially freaking her out with all the mannerisms he's seemed to pick up on.

Harvey looked too smug at her reaction and Donna sighed. "Ok. So, I managed to save up enough money to finally own my apartment."

Harvey leaned forward, hands dropping to the edge of his table, gripping it excitedly. "Holy shit, Donna, that's amazing! We should celebrate."

Donna raised another brow of surprise at his unusual giddiness while the office was still buzzing around them.

"Hold your Horses, Specter." Harvey smirked, "it was my diversifying advice wasn't it? It's ok you can admit it, that's why you wanted to tell me?"

Donna shook her head no, a true statement because despite his obnoxious factoids thrown here and there around her about money assets, she never really paid attention till Dave had oh so generously offered to consult/teach her how to do it. And Donna was quite the learner…

"Actually, I wanted to come to you for advice. I'm not a lawyer, and this contract seems pretty standard but I just wanted to double check it. I'd go to Louis but I'm scared he's going to invite himself over for a three hour long 5 course meal as a thank you." She winded her eyes in horror as she shuddered at the mere thought.

"Let me have a look at it. And you don't need excuses Donna. I know it's because I'm the best."

"I'm 3 more cock-assured comments away from quitting."

"Well you know how co-"

"Do not finish that sentence." She snapped the papers down on his desk and Harvey laughed.

"Alright, alright. I'll get this done today."

"Thank you." She said gratefully.

"Do I get a thank-you five course meal?" He yelled at her walking form.

"No, but can I give you a thank you- get your ass back to work Harvey."

Later on that evening, as she divided up the Chinese take-out between her and her boyfriend at his place, she told Mark about her day, how she'd asked Harvey to look over the contract. She didn't think anything of it, rummaging around his fridge to see where he kept the soy sauce, and missing the look of hurt that crossed his face.

"Wait, why didn't you just ask me to go over it? I've got years of estate law experience under my belt. I am an experienced architect, you know." He joked to cover up the hurt in his tone. Donna paused, unsure what to say. It was true, as an architect that collaborated with estate companies all the time, he did have the insight she'd have needed to make sure she got the best deal. Donna paused, unsure what to say as she kept her back to him, buying herself time despite having located his bottle of soy sauce next to the hot sauce. "I don't know, I just… thought of it while I was at work. He was right there and I wanted it done before 5, so I could turn it in on time." She turned around, finally facing him. His slight furrowed brow caused a pang of guilt in her, knowing she was lying to him. She'd specifically sought Harvey out, went out of her way to ask him for his advice, and Mark hadn't even occurred to her. "I didn't mean to exclude you. I promise you. He was just 's all." She tried to seal the deal with a quick kiss to his cheek, and he relaxed slightly, seemingly believing her fib. She hadn't even signed the papers yet, and they weren't due till tomorrow, giving ample time for Harvey to look them over before the deadline.

"Okay, just so you know I could've gotten you the best deal. I would've made that contract my bitch." Mark quipped as his hands wrapped around Donna's waist. Donna chuckled in reply, "Oh, I'm sure." She feigned a reassuring nod before smiling at him, kissing him once more.

"Let's eat, I'm starved!" She dragged him towards the dining table, settling down to enjoy her moo shu pork.

Later on that night, Harvey texted her a few clauses they could counter, shaving off 7 grand from the closing deal and ensuring a maintenance crew would still do yearling visits for her apartment, despite owning the place herself. She smiled giddily at his texts, happy with her gut instinct to go to him, because despite Mark's best intentions, Harvey Specter would always be the best closer and lawyer she'd go for help to. She'd never admit this to his face, lest it stroke his ego anymore, but he was the first person that popped in her mind to goto. Because like he always said, he'd do anything for her, and maybe that shouldn't mean as much as it did to Donna, but it did. She glanced down at Mark, sound asleep, his chest rising up and down slowly as she kept caressing his hair, a habit she had as she'd lulled him to sleep earlier. Assuring he was still dreaming, she glanced back at her phone, her heart warming at the fact Harvey was looking over her contract at 10:30 pm, when he really should be sleeping. She used her free hand, the one not on Mark to text back.

Thank you. She hit send.

Always. He responded back, not a minute late. Donna smiled, feeling a flutter of something in her gut. She looked back at Mark, smiling at his profile.

Do I get to have dinner with you as a treat now? Donna rolled her eyes, stifling a giggle at his response.

No. She sent back clicking her phone off as she tried to go to sleep, focusing on the warmth Mark was giving her, and ignoring the feeling of alertness she suddenly had. She closed her eyes, forcing her breathing to slow down. She felt her phone light up once more, and she took it, not one to ignore texts.

:( Don't I get a reward for doing you this hu-uge favor? Why'd I bother if I don't get to see Donna Paulsen's newly owned apartment?

Donna typed out 'because you love me' but over text, with her boyfriend sleeping in her arms, at the late hour…she deleted it, settling instead on the first part of his text.

Oh please, it wasn't a huge favor.

I guess if you're gonna be a big baby about it- we can have drinks tomorrow night.

His reply was instantaneous: Your place?

The office.

Great, so I'll see you tomorrow at your place then :)

Donna bit back another laugh shaking silently at his insistence.

Good night Harvey

She felt Mark unconsciously squeezing her waist, snuggling closer into her, and Donna smiled at the action, turning off her phone completely to try and get some much needed rest.

Night Donna. Congratulations again. You earned it. *Read 7:00 AM*