A New Chapter

Donna squints through the Seattle afternoon sun streaming into Harvey's office, blinking in three sets of concerned eyes. She's horizontal on Harvey's couch, but doesn't remember taking a nap, and she tries to sit up, swatting her husband's hand away.

"Take it easy," Harvey orders, ignoring her protest and sinking his fingers gently over her shoulder. "An ambulance is on the way."

"Why?" She reluctantly obeys his command and lies back down, but her gaze skips over him to where Mike and Rachel are both standing with worried looks. "What happened?"

"It's okay." Rachel sports a calm smile. "You had a dizzy spell, that's all."

"A dizzy spell?" Donna frowns, trying to retrace her steps. She and Harvey made plans to have lunch, so she left the theater, came here, and then… nothing. But it's not the first time she's felt off this week, and panic knots in her throat as she whips her attention back to Harvey. "Is it—"

"Just try and relax. We'll know more soon." He slips his hand into hers with a squeeze, trying to conceal his own fears. They only recently found out she's three weeks pregnant, and have been keeping the news to themselves while they weigh up the pros and cons of the unexpected surprise. They're happy with their life the way it is, and the doctor tactfully explained the risks of a geriatric pregnancy. But they've been following a prenatal plan to the letter, because starting a family together is something that's on the table.

They haven't had a lot of time to process the news, but when she arrived looking pale—failing to string together a joke about morning sickness, he was already up and moving. Her nauseas had been bad, but she managed breathe out she was feeling dizzy right before her knees buckled—jolting him with a harsh blow. The doctor was right. Neither of them are in their prime anymore, and as selfish as it sounds, Donna is his first priority. Which is why he throws Mike a pleading look, not wanting to cause her any more undo stress. In the event they do have to talk candidly, she doesn't need the added stress of coming clean to their friends. And he breathes a sigh of relief when Mike takes the hint.

"We'll be outside." Mike palms his wife back, urging Rachel to follow his lead.

"We won't go far," Rachel assures her best friend, throwing her another comforting smile.

The door closes with a quiet click, and Donna exhales slowly, rolling her head to where her husband is kneeling. "You told them."

He flinches sheepishly, though he's in no way surprised she read the room, and he ducks his head, conflicted by his feelings. He's not saying he's attached to the thought, but any kid with her emotional insight and his penchant for getting out of trouble would be a force to be reckoned with. But he has to reason with facts. He saw the sacrifices Louis and Sheila made, even had a candid conversation with Louis at the hospital about how scared the man had been when his wife faced complications. He told Mike and Rachel about the pregnancy because he was terrified, and he picks up Donna's hand, leaning her closed fist against his cheek with a sigh. "I didn't know what else to do."

She isn't mad. If anything, hearing how unsure he was reflects everything she's struggling with. Deciding whether to have a family is big. But she doesn't want them to be robbed of the chance to choose, and that's when she realizes there's a third influence already weighing in that it isn't just tiredness or bouts of nausea making her ill. Her body is trying to host an actual person, and her free hand curves around her stomach, a film of moisture coating her gaze. "What if—"

"Mrs. Paulsen."

The door swings open, revealing two male paramedics, and the first man casts a warm greeting in her direction.

"My name is James, and this is my partner, Harris."

"I'm pregnant." She doesn't know what compels her to blurt out the information. Usually she would deflect or make light of all the fuss, but no matter how rationally she and Harvey have approached the situation up until now, a protective urge kicks in that's only partially absorbed by the paramedics' assuring smile.

"Congratulations." He kneels down beside her, slinging his bag off his shoulder. "I hear you had a dizzy spell. Can you tell me if you hit your head when you fell?"

"She didn't," Harvey answers. He was careful when he laid her down, and wishes he could do more, but his speciality is law not medicine. His best course of action is to give the men space, and he reluctantly lets go of her hand, moving behind the armrest of the couch.

Donna takes a deep breath, laying both palms flat against her flat stomach as the medic zips open his bag.

"If it's alright with you, Donna, I'd like to take your blood pressure."

Harvey's fingers lightly stroke her hair, and she nods, watching the man strap a band around her arm. It immediately starts to tighten, and she focuses on Harvey's gentle touch, silently counting back from ten.

"Slightly above normal, which is to be expected." The man comments, deflating the instrument. "Are you still feeling dizzy or lightheaded?"

"Just nauseas. Which isn't new," she attempts to joke, watching him pull out a stethoscope.

"And what do you do for work?"

He places the diaphragm under the low line of her v-neck, and she answers him with a small, proud smile. "I work in theatre management."

After a few moments listening to her heartbeat, the paramedic leans back with a cheeky grin. "Seems like your little one might have inherited a flare for the dramatics."

The casual remark stirs a flutter in Harvey's chest. They've been careful about throwing around nicknames, strategically referring to the pregnancy not the baby directly. But without thinking, he instinctively breaks his own rule. "Are they okay?"

"Donna's vitals look good, and there's no reason to suspect anything's wrong with the baby. But I'd like to bring her in and have the doctor take a look just to be sure."

Harvey sinks his head down in relief, catching Donna's gaze. Neither of them are completely at ease, but her amused smile turns up the corners of his mouth, and he can tell they're both thinking the same thing. Despite trying to remain impartial, they're already growing attached, and her pregnancy just turned into their baby.

Whatever happens next, it's no longer just about the two of them anymore

…

They're both silent as they enter their condo, the air heavy as Donna gravitates toward the view overlooking the bay.

Harvey closes the door and follows her with a deep breath, hesitating a few steps behind where she's standing. For the past couple of hours she'd been poked and prodded, undergone countless tests, and he'd never felt more goddamn useless. But he's her husband, and now they're away from prying eyes, he feels bolder and settles his hand at the curve of her waist.

She leans back against his chest, exhausted. But she finds the energy to smile at his reflection in the window.

He relaxes, too. They haven't talked about the decision they made. But he'd felt the same anxiety whenever a nurse passed her room—afraid that her tests would reveal something was wrong. And when the doctor informed them their baby was perfectly healthy, it hit them with silent, unequivocal certainty; their lives are about to change all over again. So he doesn't ask where she stands in the matter. Instead, he sinks his arms rather around her with a low chuckle. "Are we sure about this?"

She snorts, brushing his fingers as they caress her stomach. "Either way, I don't think our baby's going to wait thirteen years while we figure it out."

"Good." He grins, leaning his chin over her shoulder. "Because I don't want to wait that long to meet the little guy."

"Or girl," she teases, elbowing him gently.

They both quietly relish in the moment, thinking about the future and what's coming, and he knows everything's already changed. They're going to spend every second worrying, trying to do everything right and undoubtedly getting things wrong. They'll make mistakes, and when the kid's a teenager they'll probably get labeled as the worst parents in history. But they'll be doing it all together—the three of them, and they'll manage just like they did today. "Come on. You need to rest."

He pulls back, and she turns with a glimmer of amusement in her gaze. "If you're going to start ordering me around, it's going to be a long nine months."

"Humor me, would you?" He takes her hand, smiling. "Just think about all the late night craving runs I'll be doing."

He tugs her forward, and she follows, reaching up to brush her fingers across his jaw. He instinctively drops his head, and she meets his lips, kissing them soundly—filling with a range of emotions. Today wasn't easy for him, either. And there are going to be times his protectiveness gets overbearing, just like there'll be moments she'll need to listen to him instead of being stubborn. But nine months from now, the good and the challenges will culminate into something amazing, and she has complete faith in him as husband and a father.

However their next chapter unfolds, he's the person she wants by her side through all of it, and that's something she is sure of.