A/N: Well this has been longer than I had hoped. We moved into our new home and Christmas is right around the corner again so we should be good to go for some more regular updates towards the holly jolly festive season!

Please consider leaving a review so I know someone is still reading this thing :D

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"Siiiiiilent night, hoooooly night," Olivia bellows climbing the stairs up to their apartment.

The Notre Dame Academy's Christmas recital is in two weeks and Olivia is adamant she needs to practice all the songs every day or she will forget the lyrics.

"Liv, with you singing at the top of your voice, it is not so silent tonight for the other residents is it?" Donna attempts to tone her down.

Olivia giggles. "Oopsie."

Just as she opens the door, Donna's phone rings.

"Liv, be a doll and grab the phone out of my pocket please."

Olivia does as she is told. "Ooh it's Grammy, I'll get it," she announces enthusiastically.

Olivia chatters away while Donna places more gifts on the ever-growing pile in the corner. She unbuttons her coat, mentally dividing up the evening into three parts. Cooking, eating, storytime and bedtime for Olivia. Make a big move on invoices for the dental company and then wrap gifts, again.

She should also really call Rachel. She had hoped that was her now on the phone but it's been unusually silent ever since they had an uncomfortable text discussion about Harvey's proposal.

Rachel declared her insane for even considering his proposal but Donna feels Rachel doesn't quite understand how dire her situation is.

Sure she knows money is tight and pays for the odd drink and bite here and there but she doesn't know what it's like to lie awake worrying about how to make ends meet. To skip meals yourself to feed your child, to buy her fitting clothes.

"Hey Liv," Donna calls her niece to the table where she just served a bowl of broccoli soup.

"Ugh," Olivia makes a retching sound.

A stern look from her aunt makes her pick up her spoon and quietly lap up the liquid.

"How would you feel about spending the holidays with Harvey?" Donna asks, breaking the silence.

Olivia's eyes grow big as saucers. "Here?" She waves her spoon around the apartment. "Actually it doesn't matter where," she continues. "Yes please!"

"It would be in the Hamptons. The house is owned by his boss."

"He's spending Christmas with his boss?" Olivia's face turned into a big question mark.

"It's a business trip. Harvey has a very important job."

Olivia stops eating and hoists herself on her knees on her chair. "So what does he need us for?"

"A lot of people from Harvey's office are coming, bringing their girlfriends or wives. Harvey doesn't want to be alone so he would like us to keep him company." Donna tears off a piece of stale bread to mop up the remaining soup.

Olivia is bouncing on her knees. "He wants us to be his family?" She claps her hands together. "The odds for a baby sister have never been this good," she mutters.

Donna wraps her hand around Olivia's arm. "Liv," she says firmly. Olivia keeps shifting excitedly. Donna grabs her other arm as well. "Honey, it's not like that." Her voice is serious, hoping to reel in a bit of the extreme excitement Olivia is displaying. "Harvey and I are just friends."

"Maybe it turns into more with this trip?" Livia wiggles her eyebrows, looking hopeful.

"No, honey. It can never be more."

"Why not?" Olivia pouts.

"Because," Donna wracks her brain on how to break this to her six-year-old. "Remember how in your previous school Jamila had two mothers?"

Olivia nods. "They are lesbian."

"Harvey likes men."

"He's lesbian too?!" Olivia gasps.

Donna crosses her fingers behind her back for the lie she is about to tell. "Yes, although when two men love each other, they call it gay."

"Such a shame," Olivia shakes her head. "You would make a cute couple."

"So, Christmas?" Donna brushes over the words her child just uttered. She definitely doesn't need the images of her and Harvey as a couple floating around in her head.

"We wouldn't want Harvey to be alone. We can keep him company." Olivia nods, climbing off her chair, hop-skipping towards the sink to wash her hands.

…

I'm in. What time do you need us where?

Harvey gets her message during a deposition Mike is leading. He sneaks a glance at his screen. A fizz of excitement runs through him, the corner of his mouth curling upwards in something of a resemblance of a smile.

The nervous woman across the table smiles back at him. He senses she's hoping to find an ally in him. He throws her a bored look, raising an eyebrow, shutting down any prospects she might have.

He contemplates what to answer Donna later.

Louis strolls past the glass front of Meeting Room C. He gestures with two fingers from his eyes to Harvey's, telling him he's keeping tabs on him. In true Louis style, it doesn't stop there and he makes a backstabbing gesture as well.

Harvey rubs his eyes. He already had a hunch but Louis is making it blatantly clear he's willing to go to great lengths to secure the name partner position. Does he want to bring Donna, and Olivia for that matter, into the lion's den that will be Christmas at the Hamptons in Hardman's mansion?

His phone buzzes again.

Jessica: Any progress on your instant Christmas family?

…

Harvey had texted Donna back after all and arranged for Ray to pick her and Olivia up at Notre Dame Academy and whisk them off to Saks Fifth Avenue.

He is waiting for them when the elevator doors open on the 9th floor of the store.

Olivia comes tumbling out, high on excitement.

"WOW! This place is like magic. Everywhere you go a butler appears."

Harvey grins, Donna wants to make a comment to Olivia but Harvey clicks his fingers and three 'butlers' appear.

"Right this way, Miss Olivia," a store assistant beckons and Olivia eagerly trails behind her towards the private dressing rooms.

The carpet is so thick your heels disappear in it and Olivia's eyes are gleaming.

Harvey and Donna sit down in the luscious leather seats. A cup of coffee is provided. A glass of lemonade is served for Olivia and a three-tier tray filled with mini sandwiches and sweets appears.

Donna, too stunned to say anything, accepts the cucumber/cream cheese sandwich Harvey hands her.

"Time for the show," he winks. Donna throws him a puzzled look. "You ready, Olivia?" Harvey bellows.

"Affirmative!" she hollers back.

"Let's go then!"

The curtain is swept to the side by an assistant and out strolls Olivia with exactly the right swagger.

A bemused smile graces Harvey's lips. He loves her style.

"So here we have Miss Paulsen…" Harvey starts but he's interrupted by Olivia waving her finger.

"Actually it's Olivia Olsen, after my dad."

Harvey sneaks a curious glance at Donna. But she just shrugs.

He recomposes with a nod. "Weeell, excuse me, Miss Olsen."

"Miss Olsen," he ponders. "Are you…?"

"Nope," Olivia shakes her head immediately.

"I figured. You have so much more class."

Olivia giggles. She proceeds to do the runway walk after all, with Harvey commenting.

"Liv is sporting a fabulous sparkly dress. It's awesome for twirling."

"It swooshes when I do this," Olivia sways her hips and the dress layers make a rustling sound. "I love it so much." She claps her hands excitedly.

"Is it even a dress when it doesn't swoosh?" Harvey looks at Olivia.

"They should make that a rule." Olivia's eyes light up. "All dresses have to swoosh."

"Agreed. I'll tell Ralph Lauren next time I see him."

Olivia giggles and does one more strut up and down the room. She scoots closer to the cookie tray, fingering her wool tights. "These are so soft and warm," she sighs.

Harvey makes eye contact with the assistant. "In which colors do these come?" He points at the tights.

"White, black, navy, and grey, Sir."

"We need all colors in her current size and the next one."

Olivia's eyes light up. Harvey waves to the corner of the room. "More dresses to try, my lady."

His head swivels back to Donna. She wants to protest but her mouth is full with another sandwich. Olivia has been eating larger portions lately, probably a growth spurt, and Donna has been reducing her portions in return.

Taking advantage of the adults looking at each other, Olivia swipes a few cookies off the tray and scarves them down, crumbling all over the pewter grey carpet as she skips back to the assistant.

Olivia tries on three different dresses, each with their own pair of shoes. She twirls until she's dizzy and collapses in a heap of laughter.

Donna gets up to help her and Harvey takes the opportunity to silently motion to the assistant to wrap it all.

"Harvey?" Olivia's voice pipes up from behind the curtain. "Does it snow in the Hamptons?"

"Yes." Harvey nods. He steeples his fingers together. "Yes, it's been known to snow there. In fact, I think a few inches fell already last week."

Olivia looks up at Donna. "We're gonna have to bring my Elsa rain boots then. They are a bit tight at the front though."

"Already?" Donna sighs.

Olivia bows her head. "I think they'll do for a bit longer, I'm sure. I also need to bring my raincoat for playing in the snow." She tries to change the subject. "Although that one is getting short at the arms. But who cares when you have mittens," she hastily adds, noticing Donna's crestfallen face.

"We don't have the Elsa brand," one of the assistants joins the conversation. "But if you tell me where you got it, we might have something similar?"

Donna bites her lip as she pulls the dress over Olivia's head. "Elsa is not a brand. It's from Disney," she says, tucking in Olivia's sleeveless undershirt.

"Elsa is a princess! My very favorite one," Olivia bellows enthusiastically. She eyes the assistant who wrinkles her nose. "Surely you must know this one?" Olivia starts singing before Donna can stop her. "Let it go, let it go…." The assistant hastily scurries away through the curtain, giving Harvey a look. He just flashes her a big grin. "We'll be needing a full winter outfit from head to toe," he calls after her.

After Olivia is kitted out to survive a trip to the North Pole, "This is just the warmest coat I have ever tried on, I don't want to ever take it off," Harvey insists she needs indoor play clothes as well and before Donna can wrap her head around it all, pants, cozy sweaters, winter boots, nightgowns, bathrobes are silently whisked away by one assistant, to be brought back wrapped and bagged by another.

"Alrighty, I think we're good, aren't we, little miss?" Harvey leans forward in his chair to be at the same eye level as Olivia. "I don't know, maybe I just need…" The strawberry-blonde girl strokes her chin.

"Olivia Donna Olsen, don't you dare ask for anything…" With a few large strides, Donna is passing her niece, halting in front of her. "More than…."

Olivia giggles. Donna tilts her head and it is then she notices the twinkle in her eyes, the cheeky grin. And Harvey is sporting the same grin. The two bump fists and Donna just shakes her head. How did her six-year-old wrap this big corporate attorney round her little finger so quickly?

"Alright, Miss, your turn."

Donna's head swivels to the assistant wheeling in a clothing rack full of cocktail and gala dresses, cashmere sweaters, wool coats, designer shoes.

"Harvey," she stutters, "this is too much, I can't accept anymore—"

Harvey interrupts her. "This is work attire, you need it for our trip. Besides…" he catches Olivia's eye, "I think it's time for you to get a new coat."

"Girl, it is so time to get a new coat!" With one hand on her hip, Olivia rolls her eyes at Donna.

Donna's cheeks flush crimson red. Not just for her niece's cheeky behavior but also that Harvey saw through her story about her hideous threadbare coat.

The assistant beckons her to the fitting room to try on different items.

With her aunt disappearing behind the curtain, Olivia climbs into Donna's chair. Tugging on Harvey's sleeve she speaks in hushed tones, "If you still have some more money, can you buy Aunt Donna earrings? She never buys anything for herself."

"You bet!" Is Harvey's immediate response. "Want to help me pick?"

Olivia beams, bobbing her head up and down excitedly.

Harvey pulls out his phone, pulling up Tiffany's website. Olivia claps in her hands. "The blue box," she exclaims.

Harvey puts his finger on his lips to tone down her enthusiasm.

"The blue box," Olivia whispers.

Harvey chuckles, eyeing the little girl. 'She would have a blast with Ava, my niece,' he thinks.

Olivia and Harvey are deep into scouring the earring section on the Tiffany website when a clearing of the throat catches their attention.

Donna is wearing a black and white two-tone gown in taffeta and crepe with a shoulder ruffle. It has a one-shoulder neckline and floor-sweeping hem.

"Wow," is all the usually chatty Olivia can manage and Harvey nods in agreement.

The assistant hands Donna a lush faux fur baby pink peacoat. It has a mid-length hem, notched lapels, and double-breasted front closure. Putting it on it feels like heaven and she pushes the lapels up a bit, the soft fabric grazing her chin.

"BEE-U-tiful," Olivia states. She grabs Donna's tattered coat that was stuffed into her backpack as discreetly as Donna could manage as soon as Ray had halted the car in front of the store.

"We need a bin for this one." Olivia hops off the chair, looking around the room. She spots one in a corner and ceremonially dumps the coat in the trash can. Dusting off her hands, she gets back into the seat and high-fives a sniggering Harvey.

Donna wants to crawl inside her own skin, pull that luxurious coat over her head, and sneak out of the building. She wants to die from embarrassment. So she shifts nervously on the spot, biting her lip.

"We're definitely taking this one," Olivia tells the assistant.

"Excellent choice," is her reply. She beckons Donna to follow her back to the curtain to try on more outfits.

Donna shuffles her feet but is hesitant to follow the lady. She keeps looking back to her niece leaning her head against Harvey's arm as they are looking at something on the phone he is holding.

"Your husband and daughter seem to enjoy themselves just fine. I would take this time to try on as many outfits as you can. Who knows when they'll be this patient again?" The assistant laughs, taking the coat Donna shrugs out off.

Donna smiles tentatively at the younger lady, her skin tingling at the words.

She shouldn't be surprised that this is how people view them. In fact, it is how they want people to view them in just a few weeks. But she hadn't anticipated the fluttering sensation that comes with it.

"Harvey, will you come to my Christmas recital?" Olivia's suddenly shy voice penetrates Donna's absentmindedness.

"Let me check if I can move some things in my schedule, I'll try but I can't promise anything, alright kiddo?"

Olivia nods, snuggling into Harvey's side.

Donna wrinkles her nose, closing the curtain behind her.

Looks like she isn't the only one that is enamored with the womanizing, greedy corporate lawyer Rachel warned her about.

Except, she knows people and Harvey isn't the stone-cold killer everyone else sees. He has some emotional issues but nothing that she wouldn't be able to fix. But she isn't going to. This is about Liv's tuition and nothing more.