A/N: A 5+1 fic no one asked for.
There might be some smut, so rating will change for that chapter.
Thank you to my beta, CreativeSlump, for helping me brush off the dirt and make these ficlets shine.
Her birthday has always been special to him. But it became even more important when he married her. Harvey doesn't have the words to describe it. It's just a feeling. Something deep in his core that sets off an outpouring of love and adoration.
There are a million things he loves about her, but one thing he'll always cherish is the way she makes him feel safe. A feeling he hasn't felt in such a long time. Not like this. She makes him feel safe in a way he doesn't shy away from allowing himself to be vulnerable, to feel comfortable enough to fully let his walls down, let her see all of him and know she loves that version of him.
Funny how that has always been the crux of his problem. He didn't want to feel safe with anyone, too scarred by the pain love caused his father. Feeling safe meant he would let his guard down, and in letting his guard down, it is possible someone will squeeze their way into his heart, and hurt him in the process.
Donna managed to squeeze her way in so easily and effortlessly that Harvey can't even tell the exact moment he fell in love with her. (He thinks it was the first night they met, his lucky day.) He trusts her implicitly, and feels safe with her in everything. He feels a connection he never felt with anyone.
So, when it's time to celebrate the day she was born, to celebrate the life of the woman he married, he doesn't hold back, showering her with all the love he holds in every tiny piece of his soul. And still, he knows it will never be enough. Will never make up for all the time he spent pretending not to be in love with her.
As he watches her from across the room, he can feel the emotions rise as tears pool in his eyes and blur his vision. Just looking at her gives him a wave of happiness. He's been a fool to believe a grown man won't get butterflies in his stomach.
When Donna catches him staring, a blush creeps across Harvey's perfectly sculpted cheekbones and his loving smile transforms into a foolish smirk. She makes him feel like an infatuated teenager, and he enjoys every second of it. His life is finally perfect. She is perfect.
They gather around the table, with all the other guests at the party, and just as Donna declares the buffet is open, Harvey flashes her a smile and clinks his own glass with a fork to call for everyone's attention.
It gets quiet, each pair of eyes focusing upon him, and suddenly he feels nervous. He doesn't know why, because speeches are usually his thing. He loves being the center of attention in court, skillfully arguing and wiping the floors with his opponent. When has he ever not basked in the light as he implemented his trial strategy with skill and grace.
But this is different. He's about to wear his heart on his sleeve, talking about the most important person in his life, Donna. He's about to voice the feelings he's had, and continue to grow, for over a decade.
And while everyone at the party has known, even before him, how stupidly in love he's been with her, he still feels his heart beat nervously, still feels his brain fog up and his tongue dry up as he prepares to show some of his own vulnerability he's only ever used to showing her now in their little bubble of two.
So he looks for her, his touchstone—her presence always had a way of calming him down.
He chuckles nervously as his eyes catch hers. Donna is watching him with such rapt attention that he thinks he might burst into flames with the heat of it. Her lips are twisted into her trademark alluring smirk, eyes blown wide with a hint of arousal as she takes in his appearance, but also a knowing sparkle in her eyes that shows confidence and faith in him.
His eyes go down to the rest of her, taking in her gorgeous frame in her sequined pantsuit with the plunging neckline, before dragging them back up to her dazzling red flames curled and volumized, fascinated by it as she rarely ever wears her hair that way.
Harvey finally meets her eyes again, and he swears her pupils just dilated and his mouth waters at the view of her seemingly getting turned on by him. She raises a brow at his long staring, nudging her head slightly for him to get a move on, before sending him a reassuring amused smile.
"S-sorry," he chuckles, tearing his gaze away from the redhead to address friends and family. "I got a little distracted." Then he clears his throat.
"Today, we are here to celebrate a truly remarkable woman, someone who has had a hand in the lives of everyone in this room in countless ways." He glances sideways at Donna, smiling, and continues, "And, honestly, it would take years listing the ways she's touched everyone with her Donna-knowing ways."
The table chuckles at the remark.
"So I just want to take this opportunity to reflect on the incredible journey we've shared together." Harvey smiles, turning his head to fully address Donna and reconnect his eyes with her. "The short version I swear," he quips, addressing the table again, getting a wet laugh from Donna who already looks overwhelmed at his speech.
Her smile is so wide now it splits her face into rays of happiness. He can feel every cell in his body alight with the intensity of her gaze. She means so much to him. It overwhelms him to even try to wrap himself around it. He knows his words won't ever capture how much love he has for her. But he promises to try for the rest of his life.
"Donna, from the moment I met you, you've had my full attention. Since we met at that bar, and to this day, you've captivated me with your intelligence, your grace, and your unwavering loyalty. You've been my partner, my confidante, and my rock through every twist and turn of life's journey, and for that, I am eternally grateful. You're more than just my compass. You're my northern star."
Harvey doesn't even try to hide the emotion in his voice, and the happiness plucks at the invisible string between him and Donna—a small tremor passing through him to her as her tear-filled eyes stare back at him.
"You have a way of lighting up a room with your presence, of making everyone around you feel seen and valued. You exude this…" he pauses, collecting his thoughts, "light and power and you only ever use it for good. Your warmth, your wit, and your endless capacity for kindness have changed my life for the better in more ways than I can count."
He clears his throat, picturing the endless montage of ways Donna Paulsen had made his life worth living.
"And I promised to keep this short so I'm not going to even attempt to try." Donna lets out a laugh at that, squeezing his hand under the table grateful for him lightening the mood because she is one more comment away from bursting into tears.
"But what I admire most about you is your strength. You've faced challenges with courage and resilience, never backing down in the face of adversity. You inspire me every day to be a better person, to strive for greatness, and to never settle for anything less than the best."
"As we celebrate six decades of your extraordinary life, I want to thank you, Donna, for sharing half of them with me, and for promising to share the rest of them as well. With you by my side, I know that anything is possible."
"So here's to you, my beautiful wife," he says with a tender smile as he raises his glass, leading the room in a heartfelt toast to the woman he adores. "I love you more than words can say. To many more decades filled with love, and laughter."
The table claps and hollers at the end of his speech and Harvey waves them off, before sitting down, turning to face Donna, who has tears running down her face.
"Hey, I didn't mean to make you cry," he thumbs a tear of her face, clasping her cheek in his palm.
"Happy tears. Overwhelmed tears," Donna chuckles her reassurance out.
Harvey smiles at her, understanding the feeling.
"Who knew Harvey Specter was so good at romantic speeches?"
"You did," he murmurs softly before finally kissing her like he's been wanting to all night.
The crowd's cheers morph into whistles and catcalls and Harvey reluctantly pulls away from Donna, feeling more than seeing her face blush profusely at the uncharacteristic level of PDA they just showed.
"Happy birthday, wifey," Harvey whispers hoarsely against her lips and Donna smiles.
"Tonight, I'm going to show you just how much your wife appreciates you."
Harvey grins widely at that. He can't wait for his gift on her birthday.
