Prompt byJulie, caughtbycastles "What if Rachel had also been there with Mike for the Darvey Impromptu Wedding"
Maid of Honor's Eyes
Rachel bit back a loud sob, muffling it around a wet choke instead as her eyes ushered another layer of tears.
Mike whirled around in concern. "Whats wrong? Is it your leg?" He asked sympathetically soothing over a hand over her thigh and Rachel shook her head. "It's them," she choked out pointing at Harvey and Donna grinning like idiots whispering in hushed tone at the side of the gazebo. Harvey's hands were clasped around Donna's forearms anchoring her close to him, as if he was afraid she'd stray away from him. Rachel had never seen Harvey smile so wide, his infamous cheshire grin everyone said he had, with smile lines around his bright brown eyes. He looked so happy staring mystified at Donna, his best friend for years finally saying yes to his proposal.
She remembered over the years the joke proposals she'd catch glimpses of, many in the earlier years, less around the time Mike joined the firm, too awkward after Mike had mistaken them for a real couple. After Louis accused Donna of loving Harvey enough to commit a crime, after Harvey did commit a crime covering up Donna's, and then Scottie and Zoe, and Mark and Huntley all tinged the joke with bitterness and longer pauses.
Donna's response to said proposals was sometimes "We've already been married for years" which had Harvey sending her a rueful smile that Rachel always suspected was a little annoyed at her rebuttal. As if he wished she'd connect that truthful statement to changing their status quo somehow. But mostly, Donna would find creative ways to say no.
"What would Clooney think?"
"No thanks, your ego is too big for me. Size matters you know"
"And suffer 10 more hours of the day with you? Pass."
"You've had too many other girls in your bed I'd be afraid to catch something."
"Let's see the ring first, then I'll decide."
Rachel would always laugh, before catching Harvey's eye roll, smug snicker, or blatant disregard to her comebacks. But sometimes Rachel swore she saw a hint of hurt in his eyes.
And to see Harvey's face, scared and surprised by his own words, as he bent down on a knee and asked Donna to be his wife, for real, with a shaky explanation of his mother and the ring and quickly dispelling any fears Donna was voicing about moving too fast- which had Rachel almost pinching the side of her best friend to shut up-
Donna had finally, finally, said yes to the question with tears in her eyes and a face flushed pink, overwhelmed at the surprise gesture.
Rachel couldn't believe how shocked Donna was she kept repeating after "I never saw this happening. Oh my god. I can't believe that just happened" over and over again to her best friend.
"How can you not, he's been asking for your hand for ages! Years before you even got together." Rachel chided back.
Donna had let out a wet chuckle at that, tears still brimming in her eyes as she clasped Rachel in a bear hug. "I can't believe I'm getting married!"
"I can't believe I'm gonna have to be sitting down as your maid of honor with a stupid bootstrap cast!"
They both laughed and hugged each other a little tighter.
"Harriet and Michelle seem to have finally gotten everything they've ever wanted huh?"
"Yeah, they have." Donna hoarsely agreed before removing her arms around Rach's neck. "Ok, we have to stop before I have to reapply all my makeup."
That was over an hour ago, and now the married couple to be were still in their little happy bubble talking about god knows what as they get ready to exchange vows in front of Louis closest 250 friends.
"Oh god," Mike had groaned around an amused laugh as he interrupted Rachel's train down memory lane.
"Shut up Mike, you should be a whimpering mess too. You've been wanting this even more than I have. Hell even more than Harvey and Donna." She chuckled at her own joke as Mike snickered in agreement.
"She's finally happy!" Rachel gushed wiping away her tears before clasping mikes hand in hers. "Our best friends finally wised up." Mike smiled at Rachel, never not enraptured by how big her heart was. He kissed her palm before agreeing, looking back at his mentors. "Yeah. They finally have."
Rachel sighed as she tried regaining her emotions, knowing she'd have to be up at the alter across from Mike soon as best man and woman. Mike waited a beat before speaking up. "Would it be too soon to mention you're definitely experiencing symptoms of first trimester craze?" Rachel laughed. "Maybe. Think I would've cried anyways."
"Cant believe Donna didn't catch on to your pregnancy."
They both decided early on they didn't want to jinx things till after Rachel finished her first trimester, the fall she had breaking her leg scaring them. "Donna has bigger worries than why I've filled out my dresses lately."
Rachel smiled wistfully as she caught yet again another glimpse of Donna and Harvey, both of them still standing with one another sharing small smiles taking each other in. Harvey then kissed donna slowly, a soft small peck, perfectly acceptable for being in public. But it had Donna blush and her smile grow wider as she murmured an I love you to Harvey.
Rach pictured them as godparents to be to her own little munchkin, tag teaming each other to look out for it like they did with Mike. —Yeah, Rachel wasn't going to make it up the aisle without a few more tears of happiness for her best friend.