A/N: So, I didn't plan to write everything from two perspectives, because I usually just switch povs in the chapter itself. But I think I'll continue to do this whenever I see fit. It allows me to dive deeper while not breaking the flow. I'd try to keep it interesting by including new scenes like I did last time... Let me know if you're on board with this :)
Every review makes me so happy. Thank you!
"I'm so sorry for dropping her off in such a rush on her first day," Harvey says, completely out of breath, "but I really gotta go. I'm late for court."
He hands Donna Eden's backpack, then kneels down before his child and says, "Listen, sweetheart, you'll stay here for a few hours, and then Daddy will pick you up and we can do whatever you want later, alright?"
Eden looks down, shuffling her feet, her brow furrowed in a way that mirrors Harvey's own worry lines. She curls her small fingers around the silk of his tie, grasping it like a lifeline, as if anchoring him to the spot.
Harvey flinches slightly, his breath hitching in his throat. His gaze darts upwards, catching Donna watching them with a soft, warm smile that holds all the comfort and support he so desperately needs.
"Please, Edie," he murmurs, "Don't make this harder on me than it already is."
He feels horrible. To hell with the court, with the lawyers, with the obligations, with everything. He just wants to scoop his daughter up in his arms and disappear. Find some quiet corner of the world where the only thing that matters is the warmth of her tiny hand in his.
But he knows he can't do that. He's made a promise, another vow to his wife, a vow to carve out a new life for him and their daughter. To stop living like a boat without a sail, because his little girl deserves better than the hollow shell he's become.
Three years lost in a fog of grief won't be erased overnight. But for her, he'll fight his way back to the light. Become that better version. And it starts right here, right in front of Donna's daycare.
"Eden," Donna's voice breaks the silence, "why don't you come inside and join the other kids for breakfast, hm? They're really excited to meet you. Besides, who else will tell them the difference between a stegosaurus and a spinosaurus? They seem tragically uninformed."
Eden's grip around Harvey's tie loosens, but her brow remains furrowed for a moment. She casts a hesitant glance at Donna, then back at Harvey.
"You should go teach them a lesson," he says, grinning slightly. "You're the expert. Don't be shy."
With a barely audible sigh, Eden finally untangles her fingers and hugs him goodbye, before she drags her feet up the stairs and into the house.
"I'll be right there, honey," Donna tells her, smiling. Then she turns to Harvey. "Maybe you should—"
"Fuck," he mutters under his breath after pulling his phone out to check the time, "I really need to go."
"Harvey…" Donna says, stifling a laugh.
She reaches out, intending to clasp his hand, but at the last second, redirects her arm to grab his sleeve to stop him from bolting. He whips around, his jaw clenched, eyes blazing.
"What?" he snaps, the word laced with a barely contained frustration that seems to have nothing to do with her.
Donna holds his gaze, unfazed by his harsh tone, her lips pursed between a smirk and a smile. "May I?" she whispers.
Her heart beats rapidly in her chest, her hand trembling slightly as it rises to Harvey's forehead. There, right between his brows, sticks a brightly colored princess sticker – she carefully peels it off.
As she touches him, it almost feels like crossing a boundary, because she's doing it deliberately now. But she also feels that strange warmth radiating through her again, like when she first met him, and it feels good. Perhaps a little too good.
He twitches a bit at the contact, and she can't blame him. There is a charge between them when they touch as intensely as electricity. Like every little part has been zapped from lightning and awakened from a long slumber – or maybe he feels nothing at all, she wonders.
"I just figured you wouldn't want to show up to court with this on your forehead," she says softly with an even softer smile, holding the removed sticker out to him.
Harvey stares at the sticker, feeling the phantom imprint of her touch still tingling on his skin. So light, so soft. And God, she smells so good. And she is looking at him in a way that nearly brings him to his knees.
Shame washes over him once more. These feelings, this burgeoning attraction – it is wrong. He shouldn't be feeling this way.
Yet, a rebellious part of him yearns for more. Wants to lean into this unexpected connection, to savor the emotions that, for the first time in a long time, make him feel truly alive. He just isn't sure if he dares to.
"Right," Harvey mumbles, feeling like a complete fool. "I'm sorry, Donna," he sighs. "I didn't mean to…"
It's the first time Donna hears her name fall from his lips. And the way he says it – the flustered intonation – unsettles her. It's so soft, intimate. Whispered so flawlessly and endearing, like it means something.
"It's okay, Harvey," she reassures him, her voice soothing his frayed nerves. "But you should really get going now."
He takes a step back, a reluctant goodbye forming on his lips. "Yeah," he hums, feeling the tension in the air thicken, lifting hairs on the back of his neck. "But if she…" The sentence trails off into a nervous smile.
"Eden will be just fine in there," Donna states with confidence. "Trust me. I've got this."
Harvey's gaze meets hers, a trace of something akin to reverence crossing his features. "How do you always seem to know what to say to her?" he asks after a beat, a blend of genuine curiosity and the faintest echo of wonder. "One minute she wouldn't even look at you, and the next…"
"I'm Donna. I know everything," she coos, her hazel eyes sparkling with mischief.
Her words, infused with a playful arrogance, draw a heartfelt laugh from him.
Damn, the woman is a force of nature – confidence, quick wit, and a humor that seems to have a built-in laugh track. It's a bresh of fresh air compared to the numbness that has gripped him for so long. Everything he used to love about life spills out of her like sunshine, warming him from the inside out.
"Thanks, Donna. I'll see you at five." He wants to stay, to bask in the warmth of her presence for a little while longer. But the clock is ticking. "Maybe 4:30."
"Like I said, Harvey… She'll be fine," she says reassuringly. "Go knock 'em dead!"
After he's gone, she heads inside, where she finds Eden standing transfixed before the colorful display of children's artwork adorning the wall. Donna hangs the small backpack up on one of the hooks by the door, then grabs her hand.
"Come on, sweetie. The others are waiting for you."
There are Benjamin and Henry, two rambunctious boys of a similar age to Eden, whose boundless energy often stretches Donna's patience to its limits. Yet, they possess a surprising sweetness, transforming into eager helpers the moment she puts her foot down.
Ava, a four-year-old whirlwind of a girl, is the group's resident chatterbox. Her quick wit and endless questions are a constant source of amusement. Perhaps, Donna thinks with a smile, her infectious energy will be the key to unlocking Eden's quiet reserve.
Donna busies herself preparing a bowl of cereal for the new member of her crew. "So, troops, let's brainstorm some ideas for today's activity," she says, her voice bright and cheerful. "I'd say we make it a special day to welcome Eden."
"Zoo!" Henry yells excitedly, bouncing in his seat.
"Zoo!" Benjamin echoes, mirroring his friend's enthusiasm.
Donna chuckles. Then she turns to Ava, raising an eyebrow in a playful challenge. "What about you, young lady? Don't you have an opinion on this?"
Ava's gaze shifts from Donna's expectant face to the new girl sitting quietly beside her, as she is still adjusting to the new environment. Her head tilts slightly, a thoughtful expression gracing her features.
"What does she like?"
"Hm, that's a brilliant question, Ava," Donna muses. "I think Eden might be a dinosaur enthusiast." The moment the last words leave her lips, Eden's head snaps up from her cereal bowl, excitement lighting up her eyes. "But she probably loves all kinds of animals. Lions, penguins…"
"Who doesn't love penguins?" Benjamin interjects, frowning.
"You're absolutely right, Benji," Donna chuckles, ruffling his hair affectionately. "Penguins are pretty much universally adored."
Eden continues to eat her cereal in silence, but Donna catches the hint of a smile gracing her lips.
"So, how do we find out what she likes if she doesn't talk?"
"That, my dear Ava," Donna smirks, "is a question we're about to answer. Perhaps today's activity should be a grand expedition to discover Eden's favorite animal kingdom resident."
She leans against the kitchen counter and takes a sip of her coffee, staring at the toddlers over the rim of her cup. "Listen, until we head out, I want you all to show Eden how much fun we can have around the house, okay? Make her feel right at home here."
"Yes, Miss Donna," they all say in unison.
A few minutes of comfortable silence settle over them as the children finish their breakfast. Just as Donna contemplates activity ideas, a small voice pipes up, "Miss Donna?"
"Yes, Ava?"
Ava's next question hits her like a bolt from the blue, making her nearly choke on her coffee.
"Do you have a boyfriend?"
The boys, mid-glug of their milk, sputter and burst into laughter, spraying cereal across the table.
"I saw you with that man," she adds, a seriousness in her voice that belies her young age.
"What man?" Donna inquires as the wheels in her head turn slowly. Finally, they finally click into place. "Oh, you mean…" She feels a blush creep up her neck, a warmth that spreads far beyond embarrassment, and she lets out a nervous laugh. "That's Eden's dad, Ava. And I'm not… He's not… We're not a couple."
"But you kissed him."
"I didn't kiss him, baby," Donna replies, trying to appear nonchalant despite the heat rising in her cheeks. "A bright pink princess sticker got stuck to his forehead. And, you know, lawyers are very serious people, so he asked me to peel it off. That's why we were standing so close."
Ava ponders this for a moment. "Okay," she finally says, but the single word holds a weight that suggests she isn't entirely convinced.
"Maybe he can be your boyfriend soon," Henry mumbles, his mouth full of cereal, milk raining down his shirt.
"Yes, maybe," Benjamin concedes as he licks off his spoon. "But only if he's nice."
"Miss Donna wouldn't talk to him if he was mean," Ava chips in. "He has to be nice, Benji."
Donna chuckles, a genuine laugh this time. "Hey," she says, her voice warm but firm. "No more boyfriend talk. Eat your breakfast, you little rascals, and stop talking with your mouths full. All of you."
•••
Mike brings the beer to his lips and takes a long pull, savoring the cool bitterness as it washes over his tongue and soothes his throat. As he lowers the bottle again, he sighs contentedly. "Before you go… Almost forgot to ask," he turns to Donna, "How'd things go with Harvey today? Wasn't it Eden's first day?"
"I hope you didn't feel blindsided by this whole thing, Donna. We really thought she'd be a great fit."
Donna smiles warmly. "Honestly, Rachel, it was great. We had a fantastic introduction. And Eden, well, she's absolutely adorable! A little quiet, sure," she chuckles, "but I think we already have a connection. It's a good feeling."
"Good to know he wasn't an ass," Mike mutters with a smirk.
"Who? Harvey?" Donna's eyes widen in surprise. "Far from it. A little… shy at first, but then—"
Mike cuts her off with a snort, a huge spray of beer erupting from his mouth. He sputters, wiping his face with the back of his hand. "Wait, hold on a second. We're talking about the same Harvey, right? Thee Harvey Specter. The man who walks into a room and demands everyone's attention. The always-wins, take-no-prisoners Harvey Specter?"
Rachel chimes in with a laugh. "Yeah, Donna, I think you might have gotten the wrong guy."
Swirling her wine, Donna studies the tiny ripples on the surface. She sniffs first, then sips. It's hard to ignore the emotional knots in her stomach when she thinks of him. Maybe there's more to Harvey Specter than meets the eye. She feels both intrigued and unsettled.
"Well, I don't know what else to tell you," she shrugs her shoulders, but there's a wisp of sympathy in her eyes. "He was a bit secretive, but I think he just didn't feel comfortable opening up about how his wife leaving him is still so raw. And I get it…" Her voice trails off for a moment, vulnerability peeking through. "Breakups are hard, so I didn't pry."
Her eyes go from Mike to Rachel and back. Their expressions are a mix of amusement and disbelief, like they just witnessed a unicorn tap dancing.
"Okay, guys... seriously. What am I missing here?" she says, and a roguish grin lifts her lips before morphing into a raised eyebrow. "I know you prepped me for a hurricane of arrogance, but the Harvey Specter I met was... rather decent. Dare I say, kind?"
"Like the type of guy who'd make small talk with the attendant at the toll tax barrier to cheer them up?" Mike says, smirking. "God, I wish I could've been there."
"We rarely get to see that soft side of him," Rachel notes. "Especially since he lost…"
"Hey, all I need to know is how he treats his daughter," Donna argues. "What that man has going on in his private life is none of my concern unless it affects my work at the daycare. Which, by the way, seems to be going smoothly. He was on time when he picked Eden up today. He says hello, goodbye, and more importantly, thank you, and he seems to have a loving relationship with his little girl. Eden's absolutely smitten with him!"
Her smile becomes even wider, practically splitting her face in two. As her eyes curve, her entire body exudes a soft charm. "I don't regret saying yes to this arrangement, if that's what you're worried about."
"No worries," Mike says, smiling.
"Yes, no worries," Rachel echoes, smiling too. "But I'm happy you and Harvey get along, because, trust me, he's really not the easiest person to get along with."
Donna grins. "I'll let you know when he shows his fangs. Then I might kick him out," she quips. "Speaking of being kicked out… I think I'll head home now. But thanks for dinner. I really hope we get to do that again soon."
"I'll walk you out," Mike offers as Donna rises to leave, but she stops him with a wave of her hand.
"I know where the door is, Mike. Thank you," she smiles.
She goes over to him and hugs him goodbye, then does the same to Rachel, except she lingers in that embrace for a beat longer. Rachel returns the hug warmly, sensing the unspoken worry beneath Donna's smile.
A tremor runs through her voice as she whispers, "Have you thought about…?"
"Yes, of course," Rachel murmurs. She draws back, takes Donna's face in her hands, and smiles. "I'll go with you to see that specialist." She sweeps her thumbs across the redhead's cheeks. "It'll be fine, Donna. Remember what you said… Things will work out the way they're supposed to."
"I know," she sighs. "Love you, Rach."
"Love you, too."
Rachel squeezes Donna's hands, her grip tightening for a moment before she lets go. As the door closes behind her friend, she can't help but let out a shaky breath. She grabs the leftover food from the table and joins Mike in the kitchen, who's already busy rinsing dishes and stacking them neatly in the drying rack.
He glances at her, his brow furrowed slightly. "Does she know?"
"Know what?"
"That Zoe's… That she's dead."
"It sounds like she believes Zoe dumped him. Maybe she thinks they're divorced."
"Shouldn't we tell her then?"
"No, Mike, it isn't our place to tell her," Rachel retorts. "If Harvey would've wanted Donna to know he would've been less vague about what happened with Zoe. Besides," she adds, her voice softening, "wouldn't it be cruel to drop that kind of bomb on her right now, especially with everything else she's dealing with?"
"Yeah, but imagine how Donna will feel when she finds out Harvey's been keeping such a big secret. Don't you think she deserves to know the truth? Especially considering how much she seems to care for Eden already. Harvey shouldn't have lied about her mother."
"He said Zoe left them. That's not a lie."
"But it's not the truth either, is it?"
"I get it, honey. I really do. But what if telling her the truth makes things worse? Harvey clearly wasn't ready to share that with Donna yet." Rachel sighs. "It's none of our business, and I'm sure he has his reasons. So, I think as long as Donna knows Harvey is the only parent Eden has, then—"
"It just… It doesn't feel right."
"No, it doesn't. But this is Harvey, Mike... The man who has built walls around his heart that not even Spider-Man could climb. Give him time. He'll come around."
"It's been three years, Rachel. Three damn years," he exhales, and on the ebb of that long, drawn-out sigh, he reaches out and grabs Rachel's waist, pulling her closer. "How long has it been since he… Has he even been with another woman since it happened?"
Rachel puts his arms around Mike's neck. "Still none of our business," she says with a wry smile. "But if you're asking me if he's slept with anyone since Zoe… honestly, I don't know. Maybe he has, maybe he hasn't. But if he did..." Her voice falters, a hint of sorrow clouding her eyes. "I doubt it meant anything."
The thought of Harvey numbing the pain with a string of women seems almost comforting compared to the reality of him shutting himself off completely.
"I can't imagine what he went through. What he still must be going through," she murmurs. "I don't know what that does to a person and I don't ever wanna find out."
"God, I wish I could help him," Mike sighs.
"I know you do, baby," Rachel smiles, kissing him. "But he has to figure it out himself. He has to want to move on and embrace life again. You can't force someone to heal. It has to come from within."
"You think Donna can get through to him?" Mike muses. "I think having her in his life could make a difference. She has a way of seeing the good in people, even when they're trying their hardest to hide it."
"Hold on!" Rachel's eyebrow shoots up like a cat's tail. "You didn't just recommend Donna's daycare to Harvey because it's the best in the city, did you? You also did it because you're secretly hoping they will… What, become a thing?"
"Mm," Mike hums, nuzzling into the crook of her neck, trailing soft kisses from her earlobe down to her shoulder. "Come on, she might just be what Harvey needs. And Donna…" he sucks lightly on Rachel's skin, "… she deserves a good guy for once. Someone who isn't a total douchebag."
Rachel cracks up with laughter. "So, when it's about courting Donna, you think Harvey is a good guy?"
"Hey," he pulls back, a huge grin plastered on his face. "He's my best friend. Of course, I think he's a good guy."
"But throwing my best friend at him like some kind of emotional cure-all won't fix things," she shoots back at him, giggling. "Have you forgotten about her rule?"
"It's a stupid rule, Rachel, especially if it stands in the way of love," he says with a playful lilt in his voice. The emphasis he puts on the last word makes it sound like a nursery rhyme whispered by a serial killer. "And you know, all women eventually fall for the great Harvey Specter. It's a blessing and a curse."
"Yeah, for whom?" Rachel snorts. She shakes her head in amusement, adding, "Mike Ross, you're a lousy matchmaker!"
"You say that now, but soon you'll see I'm actually a genius."
"Let's get this mess cleaned up and go to bed, you genius," she says with a teasing smirk, and Mike chuckles in response.