A/N: Here comes the longer chapters! Thank you again for all your lovely reviews; we truly appreciate them. Hope you all enjoy this update! :)
"Harvey?" The voice he hears is familiar but not the one he expected to answer the door. He looks up and sees an older woman, same fiery red hair and hazel eyes.
"Clara?" He's shocked. It's obvious in their faces that neither of them expects the other to be there. The crinkled suit, ruffled hair, and his tired-looking features earn him a worried questioning look from his mother-in-law. "It's a long story," he mutters after Clara ushers him to come inside.
He is about to ask Clara where Avery is when Donna's voice fills the room. She walks into the living room fresh out of the shower. Her hair is still damp, water streaming down from her neck to her cleavage. She's bare-naked except for the red bath towel wrapped around her body. "Mom, before I forget, I need you to check on Avery every— " Her words hang in the air as she sees her estranged husband in her very own living room. "Harvey?" She stops in her tracks, eyes are wide like a deer caught in the headlights.
"Donna," he whispers her name, his eyes traveling down her body before they settle back again on her face.
Their eyes meet for the first time again after two years. Two long years of being apart, in different states with different lives. A big change after being together since they were kids, as they'd like to call it. Growing together that led to growing apart. It was hard, it was painful. But they had to get by for their daughter.
Now he's here again, standing in front of her and right before her eyes. It transports him back in time when he first met her, when he first saw that mesmerizing pair of hazel eyes as she turned around in her seat in the theater at Harvard. His heart skipped a beat that day, the same way it did today. And that's when he realized that she'll always be the one to hold his heart. He's taken out of his reverie when she starts speaking again.
"What are you doing here?" She has a confused look on her face. It's only been a few hours since they last talked and she's been in surgery as soon as their call ended. She promised to give him an update on Avery's situation but she didn't think she'd be giving it to him in person.
He wipes the sweat forming on his forehead then runs his hand through his hair before rubbing the back of his neck. "Sorry... I just had to," he starts to answer but quickly pauses after. He's nervous, never really got the chance to think things through. All he knows is that he needed to be there for his daughter, for his family. "I want to see Avery. When you called, I panicked and I—," he sighs as he stretches his arms by his sides, silently saying that worry led to him being there, to be with his family.
"Right." She nods. "Give me a minute to... change." She holds on tighter to the only fabric covering her and starts to walk back into her room.
He nods then Clara clears her throat, making her presence known in the room. "I'll make you a cup of coffee, Harvey. Why don't you take a seat for a moment? Looks like you need it." She offers her a weak smile and pats his shoulder before moving to the kitchen.
He settles down on the couch, eyes wandering around the room as he patiently waits. The same blue floral painting is still hanging on the wall, a new stack of books is now resting on the coffee table. He notices the rest of the furniture is still the same, except for the cushion covers. His eyes darted to the photo frames meticulously arranged above the fireplace. Curiosity got to him, absentmindedly standing up and reaching for one he has never seen before — a recent selfie of his wife and his daughter.
"I love that." The older woman's voice makes him jump in his place, hands grasping on the frame he's holding. He carefully places the object back, finger slowly running over the image of the two women he truly loves. He turns to his mother-in-law and accepts the cup she offered. Clara stands next to him and looks at the picture, smiling as she tells him the story behind it.
"They always plan a girls' day out at least once a month, you know? They say it's so they can make it up to me because they're both so busy, Donna with the hospital and Avery with school. But this was the first time I couldn't go with them because I attended an event with my friends. I told them to still go ahead even without me." She pauses and lets out a breath. "I'm glad they did. I think they needed it more than I did."
The last few words intrigued him, but before he could ask about it, a ding resonated in the room. The older Paulsen quickly walks away back to the kitchen, leaving him standing alone in front of the picture. Her story makes him think of how much he might be missing out on, how there are moments he no longer knows, days he is no longer a part of.
He lifts the cup of coffee to his lips and takes a sip. He quickly pulls back, not quite expecting the taste to be different.
"Too strong?" A different voice makes him jump in his place yet again. He looks to the side and sees Donna standing by the couch, wearing a pair of gray scrubs. She raises her eyebrows at him, waiting for his reply.
"Is this a Paulsen thing? Appearing out of nowhere?" He says as he walks by her side going to the kitchen. "Your mom did the same just a few minutes ago."
She chuckles lightly and shakes her head. "Maybe," she shrugs, "but I see we're not the only ones doing it, huh?" She teases him, knowing full well he's actually the one who suddenly appeared early in the morning in a different state.
She grabs a small bottle from the cupboard and walks back to him. She takes the cup from his hand and adds a splash of vanilla into the coffee — the amount she puts on her coffee every morning, religiously. Nostalgia hits her. She used to do the chore for both of them. Two years ago, it was two cups instead of one. She shakes her head lightly, not wanting to think of the past, of what it used to be.
He retrieves the cup back, whispering a 'thank you' in the process. He takes one sip, now fully enjoying the familiar taste. He finally asks about their daughter. "Avery—"
"She's fine. Surgery went well. Our daughter just needs some bed rest. She's still sleeping, but she's in her room upstairs if you want to see her." She gives him a weak smile. "I told you there was nothing to worry about."
Relief washes over him, finally relaxing his tensed shoulders. "Do you mind if I go and see her?" He asks, eager to see his daughter. The last time he saw Avery was via Facetime, a day before she had emergency surgery. Nothing in her features gave away that she's sick. There are things that you just don't expect to happen in a blink of an eye.
"Not at all. I'll accompany you to her room." She motions for him to follow.
He takes another sip before putting the cup down on the table. He makes sure the cup is on a drink coaster, knowing it's one of the things that infuriates her when he doesn't do so. "I remember." He smirks at her, tapping the side of his head lightly with his index finger.
"Good. I've taught you well." She toys with her fingers inside the scrub pockets, not used to the kind of interaction they're having anymore.
They go up the stairs in silence. Only their footsteps and the creaking of the wood beneath them could be heard. She slowly opens the door of Avery's bedroom trying not to wake her up. He goes in while she stays back, leaning against the door frame. She watches the scene unfold before her eyes — of Harvey placing a soft kiss on Avery's forehead and sitting down at the edge of the bed.
It reminds her of their night routine when their kid was just a little girl. They made an agreement before that they'd always be there to tuck their daughter in at night, read her a book before she falls asleep, and give her kisses all from mom and dad. But Harvey and Avery always had their own little moments, cute little jokes that he would think of during the day and tell her at night just so he could hear her giggle and see her sweet smile. Donna loved those moments and always looked forward to it at the end of every day. Now all she knows is she greatly misses the old times.
He is gently stroking Avery's hair when she suddenly stirs, eyes slowly opening as her sight adjusts to the low light of her room. He takes back his hand and gives her a weak smile before whispering, "Hi."
"Dad?" His daughter asks, looking at him still a little disoriented.
He leans in, eyes filling with tears to see that his daughter is okay. He reaches for her hand and gives it a squeeze. "Hi, kiddo."
She grunts and rolls her eyes but the sides of her mouth tug upward. "Not a kid anymore, Dad." She tries to sit up, forgetting that she just went through surgery, until her mom's voice fills the room. "Oh no, Avery. No abrupt sitting for you just yet, honey."
Both parents assist their daughter up, Donna holding on to her hands while Harvey places a pillow behind her. "There you go," her mother says as she gets settled in her seat. The older redhead is now on the other side of the bed.
Avery turns her head and looks at his father then her eyes widen, the fact finally dawns on her. Her father is here, in her room in Chicago. "Oh my god, Dad, you're here!"
He shakes his head and chuckles. "I am here. Who do you think you were talking to?"
"I thought I was dreaming." She chuckles and stretches out her arms, asking her dad for a hug. He smiles and leans in, arms wrapping carefully wrapping around his daughter as he drops a kiss on top of her head. "When did you get here?" She asks as they pull apart.
"Uhm, I–" he clears his throat and rubs the back of his neck, quite shy to admit the whirlwind of actions he did.
A faint chuckle comes from Donna then she answers on his behalf. "He just got here."
"Just?" The young lady catches her mother's nod before looking at the clock on her bedside table. It says half past five in the morning. She's in shock when she looks back at her father, "But it's so early!"
"Yeah, well… It's a long story." He replies, pausing as a yawn escapes his mouth. He quickly covers it then offers his daughter a weak smile. "I'll tell you all about it later."
He moves out of bed and helps her daughter lay down again, her mother doing the same. "So, you're staying?" He hears her ask. The question makes him pause. Of course, he's staying. But with his impulsive take off from New York, booking a hotel hasn't crossed his mind. He'll just have to figure that one out later, "I am."
"Are you staying at your usual hotel?" Now it's Donna who's asking, placing her hands in the pockets of her uniform as she waits for him to answer.
He takes a step back and puts his hand on his hips. "About that—," he scratches his head before looking back at her.
She reads the embarrassment on his face, as well as the slight panic he feels of not being able to plan out his trip. "Did you fly here on a whim?"
"Something like that." He tilts his head to one side giving her a wry smile. There's no point in denying, she could read him like the back of her palm so easily.
She holds his gaze. Raising a brow she teases him. "That explains the lack of a suitcase."
"Oh shit!" He runs a hand over his face then nods. "Yeah, I forgot that too," he adds. Their pure laughter blends filling the room. Soon it slowly fades out. Both are still smiling at each other with their eyes wrinkling. The twin bed setting them apart created enough space to fully admire and take in each other's presence. She studies his features from a meaningful distance —a luxury she now gets to do when Avery shows pictures from recent New York trips.
She looks at his deep-sunken eyes, giving away the amount of sleep he had, or hadn't have. The tousled hair and the now unbuttoned and crinkled suit radiate an aura she couldn't look away from. Their gazes meet once again, heart now pounding like a drum against her chest. Knowing that he's doing the exact same thing, her cheeks flush red.
She's the first one to look away and right on cue their daughter decides to break the silence. "You can stay here, Dad." There's a pitch of excitement in her tone.
"I don't think we can fit in your bed, Avery." As much as he wants to stay with her, there's just no way they would both fit into a single person mattress. Just him alone wouldn't even fit.
"Well, not here here. But, I don't know," Her eyes roam around the room trying to come up with an idea. "The couch?"
"No, it's not good for his shoulder." Donna interferes right away, thinking of the 'incident' that did a number on his shoulder.
"So, you remember?" He teases.
She's caught off-guard, shifting her weight to one foot. "That your right shoulder is no good? Yes." She quips.
They're both once again sucked in their own bubble, lost in each other's eyes. Joining into the conversation, their daughter asks, "What happened to your shoulder, Dad?"
They both look at her not knowing how to explain it. He clears his throat. "It was a long time ago, kiddo. I assure you both my shoulders are doing just fine." He says, giving his wife a side glance.
She scoffs at what her husband just said. "Yeah right."
"Oh, you don't believe me? Well, I can show you." He says with a devilish smile on his face.
He's walking towards his wife when his daughter sits abruptly in excitement. "Or you can stay in mom's room. Oww!" Suddenly, the excitement is replaced by a sharp shooting pain in her right lower abdomen.
"Avery!" Both worried parents scream in unison. He quickly walks beside his daughter. He helps Donna assist their daughter to lie back down.
"I told you not to do that!" Worry fills her eyes she lifts the shirt up to examine the fresh stitch. "Does it still hurt?" She asks. Her daughter shakes her head, giving a sense of relief.
"So?" Their daughter asks, still pertaining to the question earlier.
"Avery Lilian Specter!" She calls her full name like a warning.
"What? It's not like you're gonna be there 'cause you'll be at work." She argues, not giving up until her mother approves. "C'mon, Mom. It's not even 6am, no one's gonna take Dad in." She adds further to strengthen her defense.
"Ah but… I–" She keeps her mouth shut, speechless. Half-annoyed, half-amused at their daughter. Sometimes it slips by her how smart she is. And how there's a lawyer's blood running in her veins. Their daughter might have gotten the looks from her but the attitude, she mostly got it from her father. Sassiness aside.
"No, it's alright. I'm sure I can find a bed & breakfast nearby. Don't worry." He chives in when he notices her having a hard time deciding whether to approve or disapprove of his stay. He keeps his lips tight after, trying to hide his amusement and smugness on how their daughter could make her mom say yes right away. 'That's my girl,' he thinks.
She sighs before answering, finally coming to terms that his stay might actually be a good idea. "It's fine. You can stay here so you can look after your daughter too." She tells him, caving in on their daughter's request.
"Yay!" She hears her daughter shrill with a grin resemblant of her father's.
"Now, you." She points at her daughter. "You go back to sleep and rest. The whole day, Avery, I mean it!" She also reminds her of the meds and the times to take it. And also to call her if anything starts hurting. She places a quick peck on her cheeks before heading towards the door. Harvey follows after tucking their daughter in.
"Sorry." He apologizes after closing the door behind him. "I promise I'll get out of your hair as soon as your shift's over."
"It's okay, Harvey. It's actually good that you're here. Mom might have plans and I don't want your daughter to be on her own just yet." She turns around and starts walking towards the master's bedroom.
"Hold on." He stops in his tracks, both hands settle on his waist. "You said 'your daughter.' So when Avery argues like that, she's just my daughter?"
"Well, she sure did get that from you," she replies. He may not see it but he knows she's smiling. They reach the bedroom, the one they used to share. She steps in, leaving the door open so he could follow.
He catches up with her and stands next to her in front of the bed, their bed. "I may have to go out to buy some clothes." He says as he stares at the soft sheets laid out, the mattress calling him to rest.
She perks up at his words and moves towards the ensuite, but not before whispering, "You don't have to."
"What do you mean?" He follows her yet again, now standing in the middle of the walk-in closet. It used to be a his & hers area, a space they divided equally between the two of them. Now, it's just full of her things — clothes, shoes, and bags. All hers, or so he thinks.
He looks down at his attire, the crumpled shirt and loosened tie, his slacks that definitely need washing after sitting for hours and hours in the airport. There's no way it'd be appropriate to wear this again. "I can't exactly survive with just a pair of suit," he says as his hands try to smoothen down the lapels of his coat. "Unless, of course, you're fine with me being naked. But I don't think Avery will approve of that."
His last words earn him a glare from her. She bumps his shoulder with hers before she walks to one corner of the room, crouching down as she reaches for one of the drawers. "Idiot," she rolls her eyes. "I mean, I may or may not still have some of your clothes in here."
He smiles and kneels down next to her as they look into the drawer. She pulls it open and reveals a couple of shirts neatly folded next to a stack of pants. "Oh. Do you now?" He wiggles his eyebrows at her, teasing like nothing much has changed between them. But deep inside, he's touched. Maybe she still does think of him as much as he thinks of her.
"Shut up. Do you want your clothes or not?" Her eyes widen as she responds to him, but a smile also creeps on her face that she can no longer hide.
They haven't seen that much of each other in the last two years and they've only been in each other's presence now for less than an hour, but this all feels like things are naturally falling back into place, like no time has ever passed. Like the whole separation didn't exist and they're still the young students who fell deeply in love. She silently admits it kinda feels nice.
He doesn't answer her question, just cocks his head to the side and smirks at her. She shakes her head, grabbing a pair of pajamas and pushes them against his chest. "Get dressed then we'll talk after."