A/N: Parallel moments in time with Donna and how she celebrates Mother's Day.. This goes out to all those who celebrate Mothers Day, in their own ways!

Warning: Tooth-rotting oneshot ahead!

Don't think I've mastered Mike's voice 100% yet, so apologies if this came out not very canon-y. Hope you guys still enjoy and please let me know your thoughts and critiques in the comments! Suggestions are as always welcome Xxx

Mother's Day

Donna calls her mom, on Mother's day, congratulating her on being an amazing mother and for having the perfect daughter. She'd tease her over the phone which always earned her a laugh and a haughty reply of "Which came first though?" From Clara. Donna would huff good naturally before they'd catch up on their lives. Clara would usually tell her how she spent the day, a lot of the time opting to spend it with her own mother and sister, sometimes mentioning or purposefully not mentioning how Donna's half sister from another mother, Sarah, stopped by or sent her some lovely flowers to celebrate the day. When Clara was divorced from Donna's dad, Donna always made it a point to set up a brunch or weekend together sometime soon. But overall, they never did anything too crazy. Donna's family was never big on doing an entire thing for Mother's day. They opted to instead surprise Clara or her grandmothers year round, sporadically showcasing their appreciation in little and big things. There would be the occasional fancy brunch when they could afford it, and later on as the years went by, a promise of a meetup soon and gifts sent over the house.

Donna always ends up making sure Harvey had either nothing or everything to think of on Mothers day. When she first found out about their estrangement, she took it upon herself to ensure he had an incredibly light caseload, making everything run smoothly like clockwork so he'd have nothing to bother or irritate him. Other times, she'd make sure he had a jam packed day, where he didn't get even a second of a chance to overthink the family holiday. It always depended on the first five seconds of the day. If he got her a coffee that morning, with all her favorite fixings of whipped cream and extra drizzles of caramel, she'd know he was feeling saccharine and extra cynical that day, needing hours of work on end to punch the feeling of resentment out of him. If he didn't hand her over a coffee, if he simply nodded a terse good morning to her, with his tie slightly crooked to the right, she'd know he'd need a light work day, where nothing went wrong and he could feel like he was in control of his life, his work, his choices in life.

No matter what route she'd take, she always made sure she was there on the phone at the end of the night to distract him too.

He never said it outloud but she could tell from his expectant hey the second year in that he was appreciative of her looking out for him. He told her on the third year that honestly, it was unnecessary because at the end of the day he'd realize he hadn't stopped to celebrate mother's day since he was 13 years old, the feelings as foreign to him as the idea of going to mudding with louis. At the mental picture in her mind, Donna had giggled loudly into the phone and Harvey had snorted in response.

She still called him though, every sunday night, every year, to distract him with whatever was going on in her mind. She just wanted him to know she was there for him.

When Mike started at the firm a year and a few months into it, she noticed he spent Mother's Day with his grandma. She'd offhandedly mention how she was sending her mother a bouquet of flowers to be delivered to her house on Sunday, and Mike would eagerly ask in his puppy-like tone which florist she was using, because he wanted to give some to his gammy. Donna would melt just a little on the inside at the fact Mike celebrated mother's day with the only motherly figure in his life. She'd picture how bittersweet the day must be for Edith, celebrating with her grandson while mourning her daughter. She'd give him the number and tell him simultaneously that she'd take care of it herself, to which Mike would humbly reply "I want to do it myself. She'd probably call me a shithead if I pawned it off to someone else."

"Edith is a woman after my own heart." Donna would tease back at Mike's bashful eye roll as he took the card from her.

They'd swap mother's day gift ideas and it was sweet. After Edith passed away, Donna noticed how hard Mike took it as Mother's day approached. He'd be extra jittery, running around in Harvey's office on too little sleep and too much caffeine, as he annoyed Harvey with his fervent rants with little to no point to them. He'd look like a lost little puppy every night when she parted ways with him and Harvey, like he was dreading going home to be alone with his thoughts. Donna put two and two together why, and finally realized why he was acting up. She subtly suggested a coffee break the next day, when she and he were called in on a Sunday to work on some cases because it was an all hands on deck situation. "C'mon we deserve a break. Plus, we both definitely need a breather from Harvey." she mock rolled her eyes in exaggeration as she jutted her chin out to Harvey's glass walls, where Mike spotted Harvey typing away at his laptop.

Mike chuckled and agreed. He'd offered to pay for her cup of coffee and she agreed to the kind gesture.

Coffee turned into a walk around the park then a quick detour to a music shop where Mike regaled her with all the facts she didn't know about Diane Ross, and Prince, to which Donna responded to with her ever growing list of people she knew. "He actually told me about that." Donna casually replied to his tidbit as she walked away from him, leaving a stunned Mike at the pop rock section.

Then, she'd managed to get him into a Saks store nearby and begged him to let her buy him some good ties for once. He settled on letting her buy one. She kissed his cheek as a thank you when they made it back to the office, with her dropping him off at his dutiful cubicle with his silk tie jammed into his drawer. "That is Prada Mike. Respect it." She said as she flicked his forehead with two of her fingers and he responded with an annoyed "Ow!".

As Donna got back to her own desk, Harvey came bellowing out of his office towards her.

"Where the hell have you been? I've been looking for you for hours and where's Mike too?"

"Probably showing Rachel the new tie I just bought him."

"You're really gonna be that honest about the two hour break you just took for a shopping spree with your boss?" He scoffed at Donna as she casually placed evidence of her shopping under her desk.

She slowly turned around to enter her cubicle, and sat graciously down.

"Who's whose boss?" she asked with a curiously amused tone to her voice, as she swivelled the chair towards her monitor, focusing her attention back to her computer.

She didn't miss Harvey's unimpressed raised brow, as he pressed his lips in feigned disdain while they twitched slightly in amusement.

"He just… needed a distraction today. Figured I'd help. That way he won't be distracted for the Meyers case"

"Right. The Meyers case." He saw through her botched attempt at hiding her sincerity. But he let it stay unsaid till he called her at night and she admitted she felt bad for Mike because he usually spent the day with his grandma.

"Shit, I didn't even realize."

"I know. That's why you have me." She teased lightheartedly, but there was truth to her comment.

And so, a new tradition was born. Every year Donna and Mike would get coffee, shop around and kill two hours out of the evening either at work or casually outside of work. Sometimes Rachel tagged along, but for the most part, it was just their thing. He'd pay for her coffee and she'd slip in buying him something new while she got herself something as well. And for two hours out of the day, Mike got to spend Mother's day with someone who understood.

….

Rachel was five months pregnant and still commandeering the kitchen like a mad woman, with Harvey and Marcus helping her out like dutiful sous chefs as Marcus butted heads with Rachel. This was Marcus's first year spending Mother's day estranged from his wife. They were still separated, and Katie had opted to spend it with her own mom and grandmother at some European cruise for a week, leaving Marcus with the kids sans mom. So, Harvey and Donna suggested they come to Seattle to visit them.

It's how they ended up here, at Mike & Rachel's place, the mother-to-be hosting them for a late lunch as she tested out new recipes she'd concocted during her crazy pregnancy cravings.

The kids were running around enjoying Rachel and Mike's new dog teaching him tricks and trying to get him to obey them, as they wrestled around with him in their backyard.

Donna was fervently texting back and forth with Louis, demanding pics of her goddaughter at Sunday brunch as she and Mike sat at the dinner table, banned from the kitchen due to one too many accidents at previous date nights. They didn't really mind.

Like a tingle shot up her spine Donna looked up to see Harvey making his way to her, sharing a wink with Mike before handing her a glass of white wine. She was momentarily distracted by his laid back appearance, his slightly tanned body being showcased deliciously in his tight navy blue t-shirt on top of his light denim jeans, which all added to his rugged look as he sported a five o'clock aftershave. He didn't shave anymore over the weekends, Donna loved that. He bent down to kiss her forehead and caress her shoulder lovingly while she squeezed his arm in thanks, till her curious mind went back to wondering about what the two were up to.

Mike cleared his throat as he took a sip of his beer.

Harvey stayed resting casually near Donna, his hand still on her shoulder as he leaned against the side of her chair.

"So Donna, I got you something." Mike casually stated, with a hint of nerves in his tone.

Donna frowned in amusement. "You got me something?"

Mike hesitated, a speckle of pink suddenly spreading across his cheeks. "Yeah well, it's nothing crazy, I just saw it and thought of you.." Mike coughed awkwardly as he conjured up a gift bag out of nowhere and slid it over the table. "Smooth" Harvey coughed into his hand causing Mike to glare at him and Donna to chuckle as she stared back up at him and then back to Mike's gift. She slowly opened up the bag with a hint of excitement and surprise.

"You thought of me - oh my god Mike!" She chided thoughtfully as she saw a sleeve of a rare vintage Prince vinyl peek out. "It's signed. Figured you want it at your place so you could remember the fond times you had with him." Mike teased as he sent Harvey a smug grin and Harvey rolled his eyes.

"Oh please I still don't believe you even knew Prince at all." Donna took offense to that. "I have receipts Harvey. Besides, ask Gretchen! She was a nonbeliever too till she saw wisdom. We're listening to the song again you'll see."

Harvey sighed and rolled his eyes. He wasn't a huge fun of Prince's to begin with and imagining Donna inspiring one of the many sex songs he had was not how he wanted to spend his night.

"Thanks for that, really." He sarcastically quipped to Mike. Mike completely ignored Harvey as he kept eyeing the bag in Donna's hands. Donna frowned bemusedly assuming there was something else in there.

She rummaged around till she took out a small felt jewelry box. "Mike… Rachel is right there, she's gonna be upset if she realizes who your number one really is." Donna teased as she whispered and Mike let out a nervous chuckle.

He didn't offer up an explanation and Donna eyed him wearily amused and confused at the same time, as she slowly opened up the box. she let out a tiny small gasp of surprise as a simple thin gold chain with a tiny gold pendant rose hung off it.

"Mike-"

"Look I know you're already a godmother to Lucy and it was already kind of a given you and Harvey were going to be godparents to our kid but I just wanted to give this to you as a sort of Mother's Day gift to show you appreciation for it. Because I mean it Donna when I say you're gonna be amazing at it. Our kid will be lucky to have you in their life at any capacity let alone as their godmother. And.. lm so grateful I have you in my life too. I mean without your Donna wisdom I'd probably still be on a couch getting high with Trevor cursing the day I ever met Mr. stick-up-his-ass over here." he nudged his chin towards Harvey who rolled his eyes at him. Donna let out a wet chuckle at Mike's words. Mike let out a shaky breath and Donna felt her chin wobble as she tried hard to not let her right eye twitch as she took in what Mike was saying. Harvey brought Donna's hand up to where his was resting on her shoulder, squeezing it in reassurance as he noticed her get emotional.

"I'm just really glad you got to spend today with us. I just wanted to thank you for it all."

"Mike, this is- thank you. It's beautiful."

"So worthy of the mighty Donna Paulsen's neck?"

"More than. And I'm really glad I got to spend today with you too."

They shared a knowing smile with one another, misty eyes shining at one another.

"Just so we're clear though I'm nowhere near old enough to be your mother." Donna quipped back with her sassy tone and both Harvey and Mike chuckled at her light hearted comment.

"Oh no. More like an older sister."

"Exactly." She said as she handed over the necklace to Harvey who dutifully took it from her fingers, as she grabbed all hair to one side. He clasped it around her neck, and carefully rearranged her hair back behind her neck, his hands slowly combing out the soft tresses as Donna smoothed out the pendant as it rested on her. "It's beautiful Mike really. Thank you." She got up out of her seat, smoothed down her flowy summer dress as she squeezed around and gave Mike a tight hug.

"Thank you. For everything." He whispered hoarsely into her ear before giving her a kiss on the cheek as he cast a look back at Rachel, who was laughing with a protective hand on her bump as Marcus told some joke.

Mike was more than aware had it not been for Donna's guiding hand with all the people in the room today, he wouldn't have the family he had now. All jokes aside, she really was like a surrogate Mother of sorts, partnering up with Harvey to guide his ass through the treacherous waters of the firm when he first started out, letting him lean on her when he had trouble with Harvey, or Jessica, or one of the million people out to get him, playing matchmaker with him and Rach, offering up her words of wisdom as she got both their heads out of their asses on more than one occasion, hell, even spending more than one mother's day evening with him.

Donna sent him a knowing smile, before nodding as if hearing his thoughts out loud.

He decided to get out of his chair and be with the mother of his child, feeling extra appreciative for everything in his life right now.

As he walked away, Donna turned around to look at Harvey, who's eyes hadn't left her, staring at her with his love and admiration for her shining so bright through his brown eyes. It still made Donna's breath hitch how loud he was now with his feelings towards her. It made her lose her breath just a little more when she realized how he always looked at her that way over the years, just with less openness in his gaze compared to now.

"You knew this was coming?" She playfully accused, one hand resting on her hip as she fake scolded him, the other pointing at his chest as she stepped closer to him.

Harvey shrugged his shoulders as he raised his hands in mock surrender. "Guilty. Kid wanted to surprise you, make sure his necklace wasn't going to secretly rot away in some drawer because it wasn't up to par to your standards."

"How cruel do you think I am?"

"Don't think I don't know what happened to the first gift I ever got you-"

"When have you ever seen me wear aztec blue navajo jewelry-"

Harvey effectively shut her up with a quick squeeze of her waist as he brought her closer to him, her body flush against him as he kissed her soundly. He coaxed her lips against his, their tongues meeting clandestinely, speaking a familiar language of their own, briefly, aware they were still in the middle of the Ross's household with kids nearby.

"-like ever in your life." Donna finished off her sentence breathlessly against his lips and he chuckled at her ability to still get the last word in.

"So you liked it? Kid did good?" He murmured as his hands kept softly caressing her waist, the slight ruching of her white summer dress rumpling under his hands.

Donna hummed her response. "Yeah, he did good. Nearly got me to cry."

"I know you're so emotional these days." He quipped sarcastically. Donna smacked his shoulder, before caressing his biceps lovingly, "Thank you."

"For what?"

"For all of it."

"What do you mean- it was a 100% Mike's idea he-"

"No, Harvey, thank you for… for getting us a puppy all those years ago. For ignoring my incredibly valid reasons for not wanting to keep him around and for making us partners in crime when it came to keeping him out of trouble."

Harvey smiled faintly at her sentiment, understanding how true her and Mike's words earlier were. They had raised the kid in a billion different ways, and even though Mike had parents of his own, it really did feel like they helped oversee all the growing up he had to do in the new life he got knocked into. He wanted to tell her that he wouldn't have done this with anyone else, that he couldn't imagine dealing with Mike all on his own, and that he was just as if not more thankful than Mike that she agreed to doing all of this together, for better or worse. He wanted to show her just how much they all owed her, for being in their lives. But he couldn't find the words, they still failed him sometimes, years of holding in his feelings playing against his instinct now to confess everything to her.

But he didn't need them, because Donna looked at him like she knew, cocking her head sideways and caressing the stubble on his cheek as she took in the rest of him, her eyes reading him like he was her favorite open book. Harvey silently thanked whatever the hell was out there for her ability to get him, to know him so effortlessly.

He shrugged his shoulders slightly, his hand drifting off her waist towards her own, clasping it in his warmly.

"Well if we're being technical here you're the one who told me to hire him."

"Only because I thought he was being clever."

"Which he never is." Donna laughed out loud at that.

"So true."

"Kids, lunch is ready!" Marcus bellowed out as he, Mike and Rachel began setting the table.

Harvey kissed the side of her temple before the kids came over, effectively ending their little moment as they sat down across from Mike and Rach, while Marcus and the kids sat on each end, already exclaiming how good the food smelled.