Marcus was so happy.
The last time he had seen his best friend was during Christmas, and if they had planned to see each other again during the summer break at the end of their bachelor's degree, Marcus had an opportunity to do an internship in a big company and didn't return to Hartford. Since then, they'd called each other occasionally, FaceTimed, and kept up with what was going on in their lives. So far, he knew she'd graduated with highest honors, interviewed at The New Yorker to work in the culture department as a theater critic, and gotten the job while she'd found a small apartment in midtown Manhattan. Apparently, her life was perfect, and if Marcus had decided to do a one-year master's degree, he took advantage of a week's break to travel from California to New York, see where his best friend lived, and visit his brother at the same time if he was available. While he had asked her parents for the address of her new apartment, Marcus arrived in front of the redhead's place, a big smile on his lips and his bag on his shoulder, and hurried to knock on her door. A few seconds later, as she opened it, if he expected to see his best friend dressed for her day and a big smile on her lips at the fact of seeing him again, he was facing Donna, who had obviously just come out of the shower, wearing only a bralette and men's boxers while she looked at him with big eyes.
«Marcus?»
«Hey, Red»
«What are you doing here?»
«Surprise»
If he thought she would jump into his arms, he never expected to see her take a quick glance behind her before approaching and closing the door as much as possible, as if she didn't want him to see inside.
«What —»
«I'm really happy to see you, but do you think you can come back later?»
«You're serious?»
If the redhead looked stressed, it was when he heard noise coming from the apartment that he understood that she was not hiding something but someone. As Marcus pushed the door a little further to see inside, he started to speak before being quickly interrupted by a male voice.
«Donna, who is —»
«Baby, even if I love eating strawberries and whipped cream on your hot body, we have to — holy shit»
He couldn't believe it. If this voice had seemed familiar to him, he would never have thought to see his own brother naked in his best friend's living room. For a few seconds, no one said anything while Harvey covered himself as quickly as possible. Indeed, as the lawyer came out of an adjacent room completely naked, using a towel to dry his hair that was long enough for the end to cover his crotch, he quickly wrapped the towel around his hips while all three looked at each other a little lost. If no one knew what to say, it was Marcus who shouted first.
«What the fuck?»
«Marcus, we can explain everything»
«You're fucking my best friend?»yelled the younger brother as he pushed the door a bit more open to enter and punch Harvey.
«Hey, I'm here»
«Brother, let us explain»
«Marcus, we are not fucking»
« We are »whispered the lawyer.
«Harvey, shut up — we're dating, Marcus»
«What?»
«Yeah»
«Since when?»
«A year»said Donna.
«Three years»said Harvey at the same time.
«What?»whispered Marcus, completely lost.
«It's been a year since we officially started dating in June, but we've been sleeping together for almost three years»
«Harvey, he doesn't have to know everything»whispered the redhead.
«I can't believe it. You've been sleeping together for three years, and I haven't seen anything?»
«Or heard anything either»
«Harvey, shut up — look, it's not even three years, a little less, maybe?»
«You're sleeping together?»
«We're dating, Marcus»
«And he's at your place»
«At our place»
«What?»
«We've been living together»
«But this is not your place»whispered Marcus while looking at his brother.
«Well, the studio was a bit too small for two, I had to move so we could be together»
«Since when?»
«Since I'm in New York»said Donna.
«Yeah, we moved in together as soon as she got here»added Harvey.
«But it's official, like, is this your place together? As the two of you?»
«Yeah»replied Donna.
«I mean, our names are lease»added Harvey.
«As roommate, right?»
«No. As two persons who live together as a couple, you know, sharing a bed, sharing a life»
«Harv»sighed the redhead.
For a few seconds, no one said anything until Marcus whispered.
«No, there is no way»
«Brother, it's —»
«Are you serious, Harvey? We're talking about Donna? I mean, you grew up with her, she's like your little sister, and you're sleeping with her?»
«My little sister? What is wrong with you?»
«Alright, stop, both of you. You know what? Marcus let us get dressed because we're not going to have the talk while Harvey is naked, and I'm not far from that either. So please make yourself at home, and we'll be back when we're ready. Let's go, honey, hum, I mean, Harvey»
As the two of them disappeared into the adjacent room, Marcus thought he was hallucinating. No, it couldn't be, he hadn't just seen his brother naked in his best friend's apartment, much less learned that they were sleeping and dating, but as he toured the place, he thought it was a bad joke. In the kitchen, a series of polaroids was magnetized on the fridge right next to a selfie of them kissing and smiling, dating from at least a year ago given Harvey's long haircut, both of them in front of the Statue of Liberty, while, next to the shopping list, Marcus recognized a little note from his brother where he explained that he was coming home late tonight and that he loved her. Then he looked around the living room and laughed nervously when he saw his brother's PlayStation and imagined all the online games they had played where Donna was probably next to him and he knew nothing about it. He then continued his exploration and had trouble imagining the two as a couple, but while their two laptops were open on the living room table, their things mixed up and their cups of coffee now cold next to each other, Marcus had the feeling of not knowing the two people he actually thought he knew the most. All around him, a series of photos of them were arranged in the room, a life he was clearly unaware of: mirror selfies when they were well dressed in luxury restaurant, Harvey in court, Donna smiling big, selfies on a date, at brunch, at home, in the car, smiling while kissing, some more daring than others. Marcus didn't know what to think. As he could have them talking quietly in the bedroom — well, their bedroom — Marcus was impatiently waiting for them to come out and have the conversation he wasn't sure he wanted to have. About ten minutes later, when they were both out of the room, Harvey in a suit and Donna in a designer dress, while the lawyer started to put on his tie, the redhead started to put away the cups and things that were lying around before approaching her boyfriend to finish fixing his collar unconsciously while talking to Marcus.
«Look, we both finish late, so either you can join us for lunch but we don't have much time, or maybe dinner tonight?»
«Let's say tonight, at least I would have digested everything I just learned»
«Right»sighed the redhead.
As both were ready to leave and no one knew what to do, while Marcus scanned the room, it was Donna who spoke again.
«You know what? We need to go but get settled— Harv, give him your keys — and we'll see you later?»
«Alright»
Harvey hurried to give his keys to the apartment while he grabbed Donna's bag to give it to her, and the two of them escaped from the apartment, Harvey's hand resting on the redhead's ass, gesture that was not escaping Marcus. Once the door slammed, the young man looked around completely lost. Alright, so his brother had been banging his best friend forever without him knowing it, and that, for years, and today, they lived together and had their little life in New York. Deciding he needed a bathroom break, he headed to the bedroom where the bathroom probably was and winced as he saw their bed, their clothes in the same closet — suits next to dresses — pictures of them still laid out in the room. Before Marcus walked into the bathroom to see the two toothbrushes in the same pot, a note from Donna taped to the mirror that said they would see each other tonight and that she loved him, with a Polaroid of them next to it — were they in a bath together? — okay, he wanted to throw up. Anyway, once he was done, he went back into the living room before turning on the television, a photo of the two of them kissing in a black and white photo booth staring at him as he tried to convince himself it was all a bad joke. As he tried to focus on what was on the television, he just couldn't, because the very idea that his brother and his best friend were sleeping together every night in the next room was disturbing him like never before. Wanting to talk about it with the only person who could feel concerned as much as he did, he immediately called his father, who answered after a few rings.
«Marcus»
«Hey dad, am I bothering you?»
«Of course not. How are you, son?»
«I was fine until this morning»
«What happened?»
«Well, hold on tight because I just heard something about Harvey. I'm shocked and pissed. Anyway, I'm in New York right now, and— »
«You're in New York?»
«Yeah, yeah. Why?»
«Nothing»
«Dad»
«Yeah?»
«Do you know?»
«It depends, do I know what?»
«What I know»
«And what do you know?»
«That Harvey is screwing my best friend?»
«Oh, so you know»
«You knew too?»
«Yeah»
«But since when?»
«A long time»
«What does a long time mean?»
«Well, I had no idea your brother was sneaking into Donna's bed at night, and I didn't know about their car rides either, but — »
«What?»
«Okay, you obviously didn't know about that»
«So you knew?»
«Well, it was hard not to see it, your brother was just marking his territory on Christmas when that Thomas guy came over. They had a fight about Donna's boyfriend leaving her because of Harvey, and I saw the kid come up to the room with tears in her eyes and find your brother alone on the deck smoking in the middle of the night. I understood that something had happened, and when I questioned him, that's when he told me about Donna»
«And what exactly did he tell you?»
«That he was in love with her and that even though it killed him to see her with someone other than him, they couldn't be more because he knew that things would never work out between them»
«In love? Please, dad, we're talking about Harvey»
«So what? Everyone can be in love, even your brother»
«I know, but Harvey. I mean, he's incapable of commitment, he just wants to have fun and sleep around, not a serious and orderly life»
«Until Donna. Look, I don't want to talk about what's going on in Harvey's head because there's probably a series of things he doesn't want you to know — that I don't know either — but what happened between me and your mother affected him more than I would have thought and had shaped the way he saw love and the future. So yeah, he wasn't serious and didn't want to commit, but I've never seen anyone as in love as your brother is with Donna»
«We're talking about Donna, dad. I mean, I love my brother, I really do, but is he really the right fit for her?»
«Remember your brother a few years ago? He hardly ever came home anymore, and when he came, he was always in his room, angry at the world and sad until one day he wasn't anymore. I always wondered what happened to make him change so drastically, but I never asked until the day I saw him with that cigarette on the terrace, and I felt like I was seeing my sad son again. She saved him from all this anger and this unhappiness, and I know that in front of you, Harvey will never show his weaknesses because he wants to appear the strong and untouchable big brother, but he remains human with his pains and his problems, and it was as if Donna was finally the solution to everything. So yeah, I know it's hard to imagine that your brother and your best friend are in love, but we don't choose, and believe me, I have never seen two people love each other and devote themselves to each other as much as Harvey and Donna»
«Yeah»
«How do you take it?»
«Well, I showed up unexpectedly at my best friend's place, where I found my brother naked in the middle of her living room instead»
«Naked?»
«Yeah, he was coming out of his shower and showed up in the living room drying his hair, luckily the main part was hidden by the end of the towel, but still»
«Oh my god»chuckled Gordon.
«And he was talking about eating strawberries and whipped cream from her body — urgh»
«Yeah, let's just say you didn't learn about it the gentlest way»
«Absolutely not»
«Where are you now?»
«Her apartment, well, their apartment — they live together, dad»
«I know, they've been waiting for this for months»
«I can't believe it»
«I can imagine. What are you planning on doing today? I guess they're at work»
«Yeah. At first I thought I'd stay here until they came back, but all these pictures of them are frightening me. I think I'll go for a walk. Donna asked me to meet them for dinner tonight after their work»
«Okay, that's good, they'll be able to give you their version too»
«I don't know if I want to know»
«Look, I can imagine that all this is a lot, but they're happy, really. And let me tell you, they're going to stay forever togetherso you better get used to it »
«Okay, I'll try to keep that in mind when Harvey tries to justify why, out of all the girls, he chose to screw my best friend»
«Marcus»chuckled Gordon.
«Yeah, I know. Anyway, see you, dad»
«See you, son»
As soon as he hung up, Harvey took a quick look around the apartment until he saw a selfie of them in bed — much too daring to be displayed in a living room — and decided to go for a walk. He grabbed the keys his brother had left him before leaving the apartment to wander the streets of New York, waiting for the redhead's instructions to join her — to join them — for dinner tonight. As he was walking around Soho, he felt his phone ring in his pocket and saw that the redhead had sent him a message.
Pizza tonight?
Sounds good to me.
Great. I'll send you the address later.
Marcus didn't know what to think, really. Donna was his best friend and Harvey his brother, two people he loved and trusted the most, but he still remembered how his brother used to trash his entire room whenever he was upset, how he punched in the furniture when he was angry, how he ran away and yelled whenever anyone dared to say something to him, and even if he was different these past few years, he would never forget all that anger. While for Donna, he knew how sassy and unabashed she could be, exactly like his brother, but he knew how sweet, deeply kind, patient, and compassionate she was, so yeah, in that way, he could see how they complemented each other. But Harvey was a lawyer focused on his career, while Donna was a Broadway fan who dreamed of love, and while both were ambitious and passionate, they were very different. Another thing that also surprised Marcus was the speed. According to Donna, they had been together for just over a year, and the redhead had only moved to New York a few months ago, and yet they were now living together as if it had been years, as if it were normal. As he was lost in his thoughts, seeing the time, he hurried to the pizzeria where Donna had arranged to meet him before seeing the redhead already seated, scrolling through her phone with a smile on her lips, probably chatting with Harvey as she looked up when he sat down across from her.
«Marcus»
«Donna»
«Hey, come on, don't do that»
«Do what?»
«Acting like you're mad»
«Well, I'm mad»
«I'm sorry»
«Do you realize that everyone knew you were together except me? Your best friend? His own brother?»
«Marcus, how did you expect us to tell you?»
«Three years, Donna. You had three years to tell me»
«Oh, because you would have liked me to tell you that I was sleeping with your brother in the room next to where you were sleeping?»
«Urgh, stop»
«Exactly»
«Yeah, but you're together? It's been a year, you would have had time to tell me, it's not complicated: Hey Marcus, I'm dating your brother, that's it»
«Oh really? Not complicated? Look at you»
«I traveled for hours to find my brother naked in your living room. I would have preferred to be warned before»
«Alright, it was maybe a little brutal, I agree, but things were so complicated. We were together, but at a distance, we didn't know if it was going to work, and then, you know, your brother, confessing his feelings and showing them is not the easiest thing either for him»
«Yeah, I know, he's my brother, remember»
«Marcus»sighed Donna.
«Sorry, Red, but put yourself in my shoes for two seconds. You're like my sister, and Harvey is my brother. I mean, we were like a chip shop, and now my brother and sister are sleeping together»
«Urgh, first, stop with this brother and sister story. I never considered Harvey as my brother, I mean, I've had a crush on him since I was nine. And even then, it's even better, I'm your sister-in-law now, that's good too, right?»
«Jesus»
«Marcus, come on. I never planned to fall in love with him, I swear»
At the same time, the youngest brother heard Harvey's deep voice echoing behind him as the lawyer approached the table. After a quick handshake with his brother, he leaned down to kiss Donna on the mouth as she placed her hand on his jaw and stroked his cheek with her thumb as she whispered against his lips.
«Hey»
«Hey»
«Urgh»
«Don't be jealous»smirked Harvey.
As Marcus grimaced, Harvey settled into the booth next to his girlfriend and slid his arm around her before handing his brother a menu and taking one for both of them as he discussed what they were going to eat before a waiter came to take their orders. Once alone, Harvey looked at his brother before speaking.
«So? What do you want to know?»
«I'm not sure I want to know»
«Works for me»whispered the lawyer.
«Harv, come on — Marcus, you must have questions»
«Uhm, you two, when exactly did this start?»
«At the party you threw at your house when you were in 12th grade, and I came back from Harvard for the weekend»
«Yeah, and I was afraid I'd screw up with Mark because I'd never kissed anyone»
«So I volunteered to teach her»
«And I accepted»
«Except that innocent kissing is transformed into something more... intense»
«And we decided to keep making out»
«Without being in a relationship or anything, just because we were enjoying it»
«Exactly»
«Then we had sex»
«Harvey»sighed Donna.
«Alright, I don't need to know that. And that you realized when you were, you know— »
«In love?»
«You can say it, it's not a forbidden word»smiled Donna.
«Yeah, well, in love»
«For my part, I couldn't have said when. I always had a crush on Harvey and I liked him, but I considered it more when he took me on a tour of Yale with me so I wouldn't be alone. Then we went to Harvard and he showed me everything too, and I don't know, it was the first time it was just the two of us and we did something other than making out. He was adorable and attentive to me, and I don't know, it made me melt»
«And me? Well, very quickly. I had never considered Donna as more than your best friend, even if I always found her beautiful and kind, but at that party, I fell for her naturalness and her kindness, and when we kissed, I don't know, everything changed»
«But Donna, I saw you kissing Mark»
«It was a stab in my heart»murmured Harvey sadly.
«Yeah, well, the whole point of our kiss with Harvey was just to train me for Mark, I never thought we'd go further after»
«What about Thomas? Or even Scottie?»
«Well, I was seeing Scottie from time to time before Donna, but I was never with her»
«And Thomas, well, I thought your brother would never be around, so I went out with him, except that at Christmas, Harvey implied that we were sleeping together to mark his territory. Thomas understood and left me because he could see that I wasn't in love with him»
«But with me»smiled Harvey and placed a quick kiss on her lips.
«Alright… But after? I mean, you were at Yale, you at Harvard, then New York, and then what?»
«Well, we said we'd give each other a chance after my breakup with Thomas, and we took our time. Then, when we helped move, I didn't go to Rachel's but stayed with Harvey, and we decided to officially get together. I went back to Yale, and he stayed here»
«But it was super complicated, we missed each other too much, and even if we preferred to be a long-distance couple than not at all, we were eager to see each other again»
«Except that I wasn't sure about coming to New York since I was only leaving if I had a job there. Then Christmas came, and Harvey didn't come back home»
«And I went crazy because I felt lonely and the trial was getting to me, so Donna joined me here, and we decided to live together as soon as she finished at Yale. Job or no job»
«Wow»sighed Marcus.
«Yeah»
«I didn't see anything»
«Well, we hid pretty well too»
«Who knows? Aside from dad»
«Mom»smiled at Harvey.
«Mom?»
«Yeah, after Donna and I had a fight at Christmas, I went to her because I needed to talk to her. I was in love with Donna, and I didn't want to screw up. I mean, it's stupid, but I didn't want to make the same mistakes mom and dad did»
«It's not stupid, bro»
«Yeah»
«What about your parents? I mean, I called Laurel to get your address and she didn't mention Harvey once»
«They don't know»
«No way»snorted Marcus.
«Yeah, well, the fact that their twenty-two-year-old baby is leaving home to live in New York was bad enough, so if they knew I was living with my boyfriend…»
«Yeah, plus they would have asked questionsabout how »
«For sure»
«Alright»
«So? You're not too mad?»smiled Donna.
«I'm not... mad. I'm just shocked. I mean, it was in front of my eyes, and I didn't see anything»
«It must be in the family, brother, because I didn't see what was in front of my eyes for months»
To accompany his words, Harvey kissed Donna tenderly, looking at her with so much love, while Marcus grimaced.
«Alright, but no kissing in front of me, it's too weird»
The rest of the meal, they chatted about everything and nothing while Marcus couldn't help but smile, seeing his brother also smitten with the redhead, both sharing their pizza and looking at each other tenderly while laughing and chatting. Once finished, all three walked to the appartement, well, Donna on the lawyer's back while he held her high heels with one hand, the redhead depositing unconscious kisses on his neck, until they arrived at the bottom of the building and Donna whispered.
«Are you sleeping at our place, or did you take a hotel room?»
«Well, I was thinking of staying at yours before knowing that you weren't totally alone»
«Well, the three of us are not going to squeeze our beds, that's for sure»whispered Harvey.
«But you can take the couch if you want»
«Does that bother you?»
«No, no»
«Alright»
«We're not going to have sex next door if that's what you're worried about»
«Harvey, stop»moaned Donna.
While the lawyer was only laughing, all three went upstairs to enter the apartment. If thy all chatted for a few more minutes, the two brothers were sitting on the couch, a beer in hand, Marcus in boxers and a t-shirt, while Harvey was as usual shirtless and in boxers. Donna arrived in the living room in a shortie and matching top before fist bumping her best friend and speaking in a soft voice.
«Alright, I'm going to go to sleep. See you tomorrow, Marcus»
«See you, Red»
As she leaned down to kiss Harvey, the younger brother heard the lawyer murmur against his girlfriend's lips.
«I'll join you soon»
«Alright»
After yet another kiss, she left the living room, closing the door behind her, leaving the two brothers together. If for a few seconds no one spoke, it was Harvey who started.
«She's the woman of my life, you know»
«She seems to be»
«I never wanted to be with her to annoy you or because she's your best friend. I really fell in love with her, madly in love»
«I know, and that reassures me»
«What?»
«You're my brother, and I love you, but you were so angry and you looked so unhappy»
«I was»
«But Donna..»
«She's like my sun, the reason why I want to get up every morning. She's the pillar of my life, to the point where it scares me sometimes that she'll leave because my whole world will collapse. I'm so proud that she's my girlfriend, and every time I don't think I can love her anymore, she does one little insignificant thing, and bam, I fall a little deeper»
«I can't believe you're in love»
«Me neither, brother, and yet I fell so hard for her»
«I can see»
«Yeah, anyway, I'm going to go join her, but I'll see you tomorrow»
«Sure. Good night, brother»
As soon as the door closed again, Marcus heard them whisper before the room fell silent, and Marcus finally fell asleep. The next day, when he woke up still in the same silence and he absolutely wanted to pee, he thought for a few seconds before resolving and knocking on the door of the couple's room, hearing his brother groan. As he slowly opened the door, he winced, seeing them sleeping in each other's arms, in a position he had never seen before. Donna was half on Harvey, her legs hooking his hips, her two arms around his neck, grabbing his hair, and her face in the crook of his neck while the lawyer was lying on his back, his two arms around her back, holding her firmly against him while his lips were a few inches from her forehead. Once he finished peeing, he came out of the bathroom again and heard his brother whisper.
«Do you want to go running?»
«Why not?»
«Alright»
Delicately, he flipped them over, settling Donna on her back before covering her with the sheets and placing a tender kiss on her forehead. He passed by the bathroom to brush his teeth and get dressed before joining his brother in the living room, who was washing his teeth in the sink.
«Hey, you better clean your mess»
«Look at you, all maniac and everything»
«Wait until you live with a woman»snorted Harvey.
While the two brothers left the redhead sleeping, they went running in Central Park before going to get breakfast and bringing everything back to the apartment, where Donna was already waiting for them, ready with the table set. The rest of the day, he spent it as a the three of them, and even if now Harvey and Donna were a couple and Marcus was always surprised, he was happy because he could see how much two of the most important people in his life were in love. At the end of the weekend, Marcus flew back to California while the couple had accompanied him to JFK, leaving hand in hand until the next time they would see each other. The months passed, they met again at Christmas, then for Marcus' graduation, while Harvey continued to become more and more essential in the world of law while Donna worked on more and more articles and became known as a theater critic, Harvey cutting out his girlfriend's articles for the day when they would make a movie about her as the lawyer liked to joke. While Marcus had found a new job as a partner in a renowned restaurant in Boston, he had less and less time to see his brother and his best friend, even though he stayed in constant contact with them. Even if from a distance, he thought he knew everything about them, he was surprised the day his phone rang and Marcus saw Donna calling him.
«Hey»
«Red, How are you doing?»
«Great, what about you?»
«A lot of work, but I'm good. How is New York?»
For a few minutes, they chatted about everything and nothing until the redhead started to question him.
«Hey, you're still coming to Hartford for Gordon's birthday, right?»
«Of course, why?»
«You're staying until the 24th?»
«Yep, I flew back on the 27th, but why so much mystery?»chuckled Marcus.
If at first the redhead said nothing, smiling while looking at something behind the camera, probably Harvey, Marcus saw the camera move in all directions while she laughed, the image stabilizing a few seconds later to reveal the couple smiling, Harvey this time holding the camera.
«Hey, brother — so, what's happening on the 24th?»
«Well, you better save the date»
«What? Why?»
If they exchanged a knowing look, the moment she showed her hand on the screen, a huge diamond on her fourth finger, Marcus gasped while both of them yelled.
«We're getting married»
Right after, as Harvey grabbed the redhead's face to kiss her passionately, the phone still moving, the younger brother — who had been silent until then — exclaimed with a shocked look.
«No fucking way?»
«Yeah»
«You proposed?»
«Hell yeah, I did»
«And I said yes»
«Are you two insane?»
«What?»giggled Donna.
«You're way too young to get married»
«We're twenty three and twenty six, it's more than okay»
«Holy shit, you two are insane. When did it happen?»
«Well, do you remember our trip to Italy two months ago? When we went to Florence»
«The city of lovers. Romeo and Juliet»added Harvey with a huge smile.
«Exactly, and we had rented this penthouse with this terrace and the magnificent view of the whole city, so after a call with my mother, I came back where he was waiting for me with one knee on the ground with rose petals everywhere and all that — it was so romantic»
«Two months ago? Why didn't you tell me?»
«Well, we didn't tell anyone, don't take it personally, we wanted to keep it for ourselves for a while. Only my parents knew because Harvey asked my father for approval»
«What a gentleman »snorted Marcus.
«And my mother too, because she had to call me long enough for him to set everything up»
«So once again, I'm not the first to know»
«Well, about that»
«What?»
«There is one thing you'll be the first to know»
«Really?»
As Donna took the phone from Harvey, she moved it away from them so Marcus could see more than just their faces but their entire bodies as the younger brother gasped once again.
«Hey, Uncle Marcus»
Marcus didn't even know what to say to Donna's words. On the screen now appeared the redhead lying on her bed, propped up by cushions, as he could clearly see a small swollen belly exposed by a slightly raised gray top while Harvey was next to her, leaning over her to place a kiss on her stomach. He couldn't believe it, she was pregnant, his best friend was going to be a mom, his brother was going to be a dad, and he was going to be an uncle. As he watched them stare at each other lovingly, Marcus murmured.
«Are you having a baby?»
«We are, yeah»
«What the fuck? Guys, I didn't even know you were planning a baby»
«Well, it's not exactly planned»snorted Donna.
«You're kidding?»snorted Marcus.
«Nope»
«It's a little accident»
«A happy little accident»corrected Harvey as he placed a kiss on her belly.
«Oh my god, guys, I don't even know what to say. You're getting married and having a baby, that's…»
«Insane, we know»
«And that's why you're getting married in just a month?»
«Yes. When we got engaged, we didn't know that Donna was already a few weeks pregnant, and then when we found out, we knew that once the baby was born, we wouldn't have the time or energy to plan a wedding»
«And also, I don't want to get married big or with baby weight»
«Oh my God, Donna, you're... You're pregnant»whispered Marcus.
«I know»giggled the redhead.
«And everything is alright? I mean, the baby is okay?»
«Yeah, we preferred to wait until the first trimester to announce it, and yesterday's ultrasound showed that everything was perfect, so we wanted you to be the first to know»
«I'm so happy for you two, even if you're insane, this is great news»
«Thank you, Marcus»
For another twenty minutes, the three of them talked — well, the two of them since Harvey was too busy kissing her stomach and running his fingers over it — until they cut the call and Marcus was left staring at the wall. As the younger brother finally got used to the idea that they were a couple, now they were about to get married and have a baby, and he felt like he was hallucinating. But while he was in his thoughts, he couldn't help but smile at the picture his brother had just sent him: a selfie where his cheek was crushed against his fiancée's bare, swollen belly while both of them were smiling, one of Donna's hands resting on her belly and the other in Harvey's hair. They looked so happy, and Marcus couldn't wait to see them in a month. Soon, Marcus went to Hartford, where he was greeted by his father, and after he brought Laurel, Jim, and even Lily, they all waited for the bride and groom to arrive. If Donna had made her entrance with a big sweater and their parents couldn't really see much, it was with a knowing glance that the three young people looked at each other, and if Marcus thought she was going to announce it at the table, he was surprised to see that they continued to keep the secret. Days passed, they celebrated Gordon's birthday together before everyone got ready for the small wedding that was taking place in Hartford. The couple didn't want something too big, just to be married and together officially for eternity in the name of the law, and while everyone was getting ready on their own — Harvey with Marcus and Mike, Donna with Rachel — the whole family was waiting in the town hall room for the future groom to arrive. If until now, the parents-to-be had decided to keep quiet, it was when Harvey was waiting at the altar and the doors opened, revealing Donna in a tight lace dress with a long train stretching over her swollen belly, that the whole family gasped, realizing that she was expecting. For his part, Harvey wiped away his tears, because going from an eternal bachelor to marrying the woman of his life who was carrying their child was more than he could have hoped for. The vows were quickly pronounced, and as Harvey passionately kissed Donna, one hand on her cheek, the other on her stomach, Marcus couldn't help but wipe away a small tear that had escaped. Barely back home, everyone chatted, the conversation revolving mainly around the surprise announcement at the wedding while the redhead was still in her wedding dress sitting on Gordon's couch and the lawyer in his suit, clinging to Donna like a koala as she unconsciously stroked his hair while chatting with Lily. Once they were finally alone, Marcus took the opportunity to sit down in front of them and chat.
«Congratulations to you»
«Thanks Marcus»
«I saw you cry, bro»smirked Harvey.
«Like you didn't»
«I did, yeah»
«Don't you want to let go of your girl for a second? You're suffocating her by being attached to her like that»
«My wife»
«What?»
«Don't you want to let go of your wife, not your girl»
«You're proud, right?»snorted Marcus.
«Hell yeah»
«About that, I have to say I'm surprised»
«Surprised about what?»
«Well, I know you both. You dated on the sly, moved in straight away when you had never lived together before and were in a long-distance relationship. Then the engagement, the baby, everything straight away — I mean, you are the pros in everything that is haste and unreasonable choice»
«So what?»
«If there was no baby, you were planning to wait to get married, how cute»snorted Marcus.
Seeing the knowing look they were exchanging, the younger brother gasped before checking that the parents were all chatting in the kitchen and that they were among themselves.
«What was that look?»
«What look?»
«The one you just exchanged»
«Nothing»
«Nothing? Seriously, Donna? Nothing»
«Yeah»
«Harvey?»
«We already got married two months ago in New York»
«Harv»giggled at Donna as she put her hand on his mouth.
«What?»yelled the younger brother.
«Shhhh»
«Are you two insane?»whispered then Marcus.
«Well, Harvey proposed, we came back to the States, and we didn't want to wait, so the next day, we found a slot and got married in New York»
«You're kidding?»
«No. But we didn't say anything because we knew the parents would be sad to miss our wedding. So we thought we'd have a quick wedding to become husband and wife fast, and then we'd do something much bigger later, with everyone, more traditional and all that, pretending this is a first»
«But that was before the baby»
«Exactly»smiled Donna while caressing her belly.
«You two are crazy»
«Crazy about each other»murmured the couple before kissing, Harvey slipping his tongue into his wife's mouth when he heard his brother making a noise of disgust.
«Alright, I'm out»
The few days they stayed together, the three young people had fun as before, until everyone returned to their lives, Marcus in Boston and the newlyweds in New York. Even if the younger brother had quickly seen his brother and his best friend again during a short business trip, it was mainly thanks to the FaceTime, vocal notes, and video that Donna sent him that he stayed up to date with everything that was happening, like this video there that she had sent him when she was five months pregnant. While he was at the restaurant, he smiled when he saw the video that his best friend had sent him, on it, she was filming herself in selfie mode before turning the camera and revealing Harvey, who was lying with her on the bed, on his stomach, dotting her swollen belly with kisses while both of them murmured.
«Hey, Harv»
«Yeah?»
«What did we just learn today?»
«We're having a baby girl»whispered Harvey with a huge smile, stars in his eyes and his lips still against her belly.
« Baby girl, yeah. A little princess »
As Donna slid her hands through his short hair, Marcus could see his brother smile widely and his eyes shining as he continued to kiss his wife's belly while the redhead was chuckling. A few weeks later, while he was in his office, he saw his brother call him on FaceTime and quickly picked him up.
«Hey, dickhead. How are you doing?»
«I'm good, what about you?»
«Fine, I'm working. Where are you?»
«About that, welcome to the new Paulsen-Specters' apartment»
«You two moved?»
«Yeah»
«Why didn't you tell me anything?»
« Well, I thought you knew. I mean, Donna is going to give birth in three months, and our apartment right now only has one bedroom. We weren't going to sleep with our princess for the rest of our lives, our sexual life is going to be disastrous otherwise »
«Harvey»chuckled Donna from afar.
«Ew, Harvey, shut up, I don't want to know»
«Okay, I'll stop. No, in reality, we just wanted to be sure to have it before telling anyone. Shall I show you around?»
«Yep»
«Alright, so here you have the entrance that leads to the living room and dining room with the open kitchen over there. Here on the right you have the parents' area with our bedroom, bathroom, and dressing room with a large terrace since we are on the top floor. Here, that's my beautiful wife, whom I love so much with all my heart that I'm going crazy. Babe, say hi»
«Hi Marcus»snorted the redhead.
«And on the other side of the apartment, you have the children's area, with here, a first bathroom, a small dressing room, and a bedroom, and over there, once again, a bedroom, bathroom, and dressing room»
«Children?»asked Marcus.
«What? You didn't think we were going to stop at one? As soon as this one is out, we'll do another one»
«No way»chuckled Donna, who was in the room with him.
«What do you mean, no way?»
«Let me breathe first»
«Alright, I'll wait a month or two, then»
Faced with Harvey's impatience, Marcus and Donna couldn't help but laugh while the lawyer was chuckling with them. Once the tour of the apartment was over, they discussed the move and what was to come, including that in barely three months, Harvey had planned to move everything from one apartment to another, refresh the enormous penthouse they had just bought, do the baby's room, and finally move in before Donna gave birth. If his brother had been calm so far, he didn't expect to receive a call from his best friend on a Tuesday evening.
«Donna?»
«Hey, Marcus. Am I disturbing you?»
«No, no, tell me»
«Um, I'm at the hospital»
«What?»
«I'm going to give birth two weeks early, but everything's fine, she's fine, she's ready and not considered premature at all, everything's fine»
«Why do I feel like things are not going well then?»
«Can you call your brother, please?»
«What? He's not with you?»
«Yes, yes, but I sent him to get a bottle of water because I needed him out of the room»
«What's going on?»
«He won't talk to me, Marcus. Maybe he will to you»
«Donna, we all know that the only person Harvey talks to is you»
«Yeah, but it's probably because of me and the baby»
«Alright, I'll call him»
As soon as he hung up, he hurried to call his brother, who answered after a few seconds.
«Marcus?»
«Hey, Harvey. Donna told me you were in the hospital»
«Yeah, she's going to give birth»
«What's going on?»
«What do you mean?»
«I mean, your wife called me because she's worried about you and she can see that you're not doing well»
«I'm just scared, Marcus»
«And you think she's not? She's going to give birth to Harvey, and in addition to worrying about her and your baby, she has to worry about you»
«I know, it's just that I can't stress her out more by talking to her»
«It's by not saying anything that you're going to stress her out more»
«Alright, look, I'm at her door, I'll call you back»
«Alright, I'm waiting for news from you, brother»
«I will»
While Harvey thought he had hung up, Marcus was surprised to hear the sound of a door opening, followed by the voices of his brother and the redhead. He knew he had to cut the call, but he had never had the opportunity to see how they interacted in private, so he listened a little longer without them knowing, the voices a little muffled while Harvey had to put his phone in his back pocket.
«Hey»
«Hey»
«How are you?»
«I should be asking you that. I mean, you're going to give birth»
«I know, but I can see that something is wrong with you»
«It's just…»
«What's going on, honey?»
«What if I'm not a good father?»
«What?»
«I'm so afraid of screwing up, Donna»
«But you won't»
«I'm afraid of doing something wrong, and she'll end up hating me or even you because I'm not good enough»
«Harvey, you're going to be an incredible dad, are you kidding me? Just during my pregnancy, you've been incredible, you're already crazy about her; you do everything for us; how can you believe you'll be a bad father?»
Not wanting to listen too much in secret, Marcus cut the call and smiled as he remembered the conversation he had with his father a few years ago: Donna was finally the solution to everything. Harvey needed her for everything and forever, and Donna was always there to remind him that he wasn't the failure he thought he was, and if it hurt him to know that his brother was panicking, he knew that no one else but his wife could have reassured him. That night, he didn't hear from his future niece until the next day, when he was woken up around six o'clock by a message from the redhead.
Hey, Uncle Marcus. Luckily, you'll be happy to know that you're the first to know about her (we've learned from our past mistakes). Your niece — Aida — is doing perfectly well, she's 7 lbs 5, and 18 inches, a little shrimp, and already has her little temper. Call us when you're awake, she can't wait to meet you.
Below, she had sent a selfie of the three of them where the little girl was dressed in a white bodysuit and hat with little red hearts, asleep against Donna's chest, while Harvey and Donna had their cheeks crushed against each other and were smiling widely at the camera. As soon as the photo was analyzed, he called the new parents, while it was Donna who picked up in a soft and tired voice.
«Marcus, hey»
«Hey. Congratulations»
«Thanks»
«She's adorable»
«Wait»
As Donna turned the camera, he saw his brother walking into the room slowly with the baby against him, placing kisses on her head before hearing Donna whisper to come closer to show him the baby. After a few seconds, as he smiled at seeing his niece for the first time, the camera moved again, and Marcus saw Harvey settle on the bed next to Donna, and the three of them started talking.
«How was it?»
«It was long, she was born in the middle of the night. I was exhausted and in pain, but it was worth it»
«Yeah, I felt like an idiot. I held her hand, as she gave everything while the little one clearly didn't want to come out. I looked too stupid»snorted Harvey.
«Hey, don't say that, there wasn't much you could do. I mean, she's stubborn like daddy»
«Oh really? I'd rather say she likes to take care of her entrances like mommy, a real star»
As the couple laughed, Marcus had a hard time believing it, they were parents, mother and father, mommy and daddy, and even if the younger brother was still surprised, they were exactly where they were supposed to be. After a long conversation, he had to cut to go to work while the couple had to warn their parents. Days passed, then weeks turned into months, and while Marcus was bombarded with photos and videos of his niece looking exactly like Donna — much to his delight — he had never seen her yet and was looking forward to Christmas to be reunited. With the winter holidays finally upon him, he smiled as he waited impatiently, until Harvey came into the living room with their things, and Donna followed with the little girl all snuggled in her arms.
«Oh my God, guys»
«Baby, you say hi to Uncle Marcus»
«She's so beautiful»
«She's perfect»whispered Harvey as he dropped a kiss on her little forehead, then on Donna's lips.
«Look at her»whispered Lily.
«I'm glad she took after you, kid»chuckled Gordon while looking at the redhead.
Quickly, everyone settled on the couch, and if the baby was passed from arm to arm, constantly looking for her parents with her big brown-green eyes, the moment when everyone talked with the redhead, the two brothers decided to go out for a walk, Aida sleeping against her father in the baby carrier well swaddled while Harvey did nothing but caress her clothed back and place little kisses on her face.
«You look happy»
«I've never been so happy. I didn't think fatherhood would be something so strong, but if before I could die for Donna, for her, I don't know what I'm capable of. I mean, knowing that this little being so innocent and adorable is half me and half the woman I love the most in the world, it's the most beautiful thing that could happen to me»
«I guess. You know, when I learned about you and Donna, I was at first annoyed to know that out of all the girls, you had chosen my best friend, but also, I didn't understand — I mean, you weren't the same at all. I didn't understand how Donna could be interested in you, who wanted nothing to do with love, while I didn't understand either why you had started with Donna when I thought it would never last. So yeah, everything happened super fast between you two, but when I see you both with your little princess, it's obvious, you always belonged to each other»
«Thank you, Marcus. It means a lot to me»
Once back home, after everyone had eaten and Donna had given the baby a bottle, Harvey offered to go get a dessert at the local bakery while Marcus decided to accompany the couple. While he had to isolate himself to make a phone call, once finished, he saw Donna in the distance talking to Harvey, one of the lawyer's hands resting on the stroller, the other on his wife's back, while he heard a male voice in the distance.
«Donna?»
Arriving in the street, the younger Specter recognized Donna's old high school crush: Mark, and given the way Harvey had tightened his hold on the redhead, he suspected that his brother too, knowing him to be jealous and possessive when it came to his wife.
«Mark?»
«Oh my God, hi»
«Hey»
«What are you doing here? You're not in New York?»
«Yes, I live there, but I'm going back to Hartford for the holidays»
«Oh right, and still close to the Specter family, I see»snorted the young man.
«Yeah»
« And that's... »
«My daughter»smiled Donna.
«Do you have a daughter?»whispered Mark.
«Yeah, with my husband over there»
As she pointed at Harvey, Marcus wanted to burst out laughing seeing how Harvey was ready to mark his territory and the face of his former classmate, who seemed completely shocked to learn that the redhead — whom he had contacted several times during the years following high school — had never replied because she was married and now had a baby. Seeing the awkwardness between the three adults, Marcus decided to intervene.
«Hey»
«Marcus, hey, I was just busy talking to Donna. I didn't know she was dating your brother»
«Married»corrected Harvey in a stern tone.
«Yeah, sorry, married to your brother»
«Yeah, well, they're full of surprises»
After all three of them greeted Mark, who remained unmoved in the middle of the sidewalk, they all went back to Gordon's, where they shared a piece of cake while chatting about everything and nothing until the evening when Donna's parents returned home and the couple settled into the lawyer's old teenage bedroom with the little girl who was a few months old. As he was about to go to his room, he knocked one last time on his brother's door before entering and observing all three of them, the baby in the middle of the bed, Harvey lying on his stomach, placing tender kisses on her tiny clothed belly, playing with her little feet while Donna's finger was trapped in the sleeping little girl's hand, and she looked at them lovingly.
«Hey, good night, everyone»
«See you tomorrow, brother»
«Bye, Marcus»
After shaking everyone's hand, even the sleeping baby, as the three adults laughed, Marcus left the room before hearing them talking in a low voice.
«Hey»
«Yeah?»
«You do realize this is the bed where we first kissed?»chuckled Harvey.
«Yeah, supposedly to show me until I ended up with you on top of me and your hands under my shirt»
«I couldn't stop myself»
«I saw that»giggled Donna.
«This is also where we first made love»
«I was so stressed, and you were so sweet and caring, making sure I was okay and enjoying it»
«It was good»
«So good»
«Then we had sex all summer here, testing things I never thought I would one day»
«Should we talk about that next to our baby?»
«She's asleep, who cared?»
«Yeah, you're right»giggled the redhead.
«Anyway, so many firsts happened in this bed, in this room, and tonight, we're married, lying in our bed with our first baby, leaving a dreamy life. I mean, I would never have thought that in five years, my life would have been changed»
«Yeah, me too»
«Thank you for giving me a purpose in life, Donna»
«Thank you for making me that happy, Harvey»
Hearing the sound of a kiss, Marcus smiled before slipping away to his room and thinking about everything that had just happened. He would never have thought more than ten years ago that today, the little redhead who was alone in the schoolyard would have changed his big brother's life as he was always angry with the world. And if for a long time they had been Donna, his much too sweet best friend, and Harvey, his angry big brother, today they were Donna, his adorable sister-in-law, and Harvey, his role model, who became a loving dad and husband. In addition to being incredible parents, his brother had built an empire in New York, becoming one of the best lawyers of his generation while Donna continued to become more and more influential in the ruthless world of Broadway, and all that at only twenty-four and twenty-seven. If at first he resented them for falling in love with each other, today he couldn't be happier.
Harvey wasn't Donna's best friend's brother anymore, now he was her husband, and it was like the most obvious thing because that's what they were always meant to be.
Together.