Since getting back together, the newly engaged couple couldn't stay apart, utterly obsessed with each other — as if the last few months had never happened. They shared the same deep bond once again, radiating the energy of two teenagers, chaotic and completely devoted to one another. God, they were chaotic — constantly teasing and flirting, with Harvey being unapologetically affectionate in public as their make-out sessions were relentless, no matter who was around... well, except it was still outside of New York. Despite their engagement, they both knew it was still too soon to announce it to the world — after all, it had only been a month since Donna had graduated, and in the meantime, they kept their relationship a secret. Donna continued working as a legal secretary at Skadden, dividing her free time between Harvey and studying for the bar exam, as the lawyer was convinced he was a better study aid than any prep course and was more than willing to help. Meanwhile, he juggled university commitments, his consulting work at Pearson Hardman, mentoring Mike, and, most importantly, supporting Donna in her studies. He was proud of his fiancée, and as they spent countless hours working through practice simulations and drafting responses to complex legal questions, Harvey couldn't help but feel she'd be a dreadful opponent in court one day. Amidst their packed schedules, they always managed to find time for each other, and they were experts at carving out moments — especially in the privacy of the bedroom, like tonight. After ordering a shitty Thai, they both took advantage of the forty-minute delivery wait to jump into bed, knowing that the evening was meant for constitutional law. As Harvey lay on his back, Donna straddling him, bouncing on his length, both of them were lost in the moment as they moaned.
«You're so sexy»
«Harv»
«I can't believe it»
«I'm gonnacome »
«Wait»
As he was accompanying his fiancée's movements with both hands grabbing her hips, giving quick thrusts inside her, both of them stopped abruptly when they heard someone knocking on the door.
«What? No»
«You think it's the delivery guy?»
«It's too early» moaned Harvey.
As Donna was about to pull out of him, he tightened his grip on her before growling.
«No. We start, we finish»
«Harv, we don't— »
Without giving Donna time to finish her sentence, he pushed inside her again, making her moan as he sped up his movements while sliding his thumb between her folds. As the redhead's sweaty hands began to slip on her fiancé's wet chest, Harvey closed his eyes to concentrate on not coming first as Donna began to flutter around him. Seconds later, when they heard another knock on the door, Harvey groaned.
«Come on»
In a split second, he moved faster, and the redhead clenched violently around him as he followed right after, emptying himself inside her with a strangled moan. Just as he had barely finished and opened his eyes, Donna pulled away from him, both of them moaning at being still sensible, while she grabbed Harvey's boxer shorts and t-shirt that were lying on the floor, put them on, and ran toward the front door. As she expected to face the delivery guy with their Thai food, she came to an abrupt stop when she saw a blonde man standing in front of her, smiling wildly.
«Oh my god, are you the student?»
«Excuse me?»
«Sorry, you must have graduated by now, I guess, since you're here, you know. Congratulations, I suppose»
«Who are you?»
«Mike»
«The puppy?»
«What? The puppy? I was thinking more along the lines of Robin — like, from Batman and Robin — but does Harvey really call me the puppy?»
«He does, yeah»
«Is he here?»
«He's —»
As Mike tried to peek his head into the condo, he was surprised to see Donna close the door a little more, blocking the view with her body. Weird… As she stood there for a moment, he took in her appearance: her hair was messy, her face flushed, she was wearing a t-shirt that was too big for her, her arms crossed over her chest, but also a pair of men's boxer shorts — most likely Harvey's. Seeing her slightly uncomfortable, Mike quickly realized he had arrived at the wrong moment.
«Oh, I'm interrupting something, right?»
«Not at all»
Just as Donna was about to continue, Harvey's voice echoed from inside the condo.
«Baby, is it —»
«Get dressed» muttered Donna while looking inside the condo.
«Alright, clearly, I'm interrupting something» murmured Mike, avoiding her gaze.
«Who's that?» asked Harvey.
«The puppy»
«I'm not the puppy»
«He's coming» whispered Donna.
As Mike waited for a few seconds in front of the door, it was Harvey who arrived, sighing when he saw his protégé.
«Mike, what are you doing here?»
«We need to talk about the Giels case»
«Now?»
«Yeah, now»
«Alright, come on in, then…» sighed the older man.
As the blonde observed the lawyer for the first time, he was torn between the amusement of seeing him out of his usual two-piece suit and the embarrassment of discovering him shirtless and in boxers. The scratches and nail marks on his shoulder blade made it clear he had just come from an intense session — something Mike wasn't sure he wanted to dwell on. As he followed Harvey into the condo, which looked nothing like what he had seen before — now clearly a space shared with a woman — Harvey turned to him, murmuring.
«I'm just gonna take a shower, and I'll be back. Make yourself at home»
«Sure…»
With the shower already running, Mike watched his mentor disappear into his bedroom, talking to Donna, who was busy getting cleaned up already. Taking advantage of the moment, Mike began to explore the apartment. Photos of the couple, flowers, high heels, and a Burberry trench in the hallway, along with jewelry, hand creams, and lip balm scattered throughout the condo — clearly, they were living together now. About ten minutes later, both Donna and Harvey appeared in the hallway — dressed this time as she headed for the kitchen, while Harvey made his way to the living room, settling next to Mike. A few seconds later, he raised an eyebrow in a teasing manner as his mentor snorted.
«Don't do that»
«I see you took my advice and reached out to her»
«She's the one who reached out to me»
«Weak» snorted Mike.
A few seconds later, Donna appeared with three plates of Thai food, setting them down on the coffee table in front of the three of them as Mike gasped when he noticed the redhead's hand.
«No fucking way. You asked?»
«He knew?» asked Donna, looking at her fiancé.
«I was desperate»
«Oh my god, you guys are getting married. When?»
«Well, we haven't really discussed it yet, but we'll wait until we can be seen in public, that's for sure»
«And when will that be?»
«Well, originally we said at least six months after my graduation, but since we got engaged sooner than expected, we need to think it through — at least not until I pass the bar exam»
«I get it, yeah»
For another hour, the three of them chatted about everything and nothing — mostly about their relationship — until Mike chuckled and muttered.
«It's cool to finally have a conversation with someone from my generation»
«Hey, shut up. And Donna's actually a bit older than you» snorted Harvey.
«She's twenty-seven, I'm twenty-three, so four years apart. With you, it's way more... old man»
«Well, trust me, Mike, when you see what he does in bed, sex with him is mind-blowing. Let me tell you, he's anything but old»
As both of them shot Mike a smug smile, the young man was torn between being scandalized and not at all surprised as he murmured softly, looking at them with wide eyes.
«Oh my god, it's like seeing a female version of you, Harvey»
As the two exchanged a loving glance, Mike cleared his throat, prompting Harvey to change the subject and ask his protégé the reason for his visit as Mike pulled out the files he had brought and began discussing them with his mentor. Usually, they'd go over case files together over a glass of whiskey, but this time, it was a three-way conversation — now that the newly graduated Donna had joined the mix. Mike was sprawling out on the single sofa, Harvey sitting across from him, while Donna was on the same couch as her man, her legs stretched out across his thighs as her fiancé absentmindedly traced her ankles with his fingers while they continued talking about the case.
«We need to request the judge's recusal due to his demonstrated bias in this case. Given that he has already ruled on a similar matter, this constitutes a violation of the principle of impartiality» said Mike.
«Well, you also need to demonstrate that this bias is manifest and evident. You can't simply rely on showing a similarity between the two cases» added Harvey.
«But in civil procedure, we can still rely on the presumption of impartiality, right?»
«You're confusing two concepts, Mike. The issue here is whether the similarity between the cases raises a reasonable concern about the judge's impartiality. We're not discussing the presumption of impartiality in this case» corrected Donna.
For a few seconds, the room fell silent as Mike realized his mistake. Meanwhile, Donna, still lying down, locked eyes with her fiancé and immediately, tried to slip away, but it was too late — Harvey jumped on her. As he kissed her dirty — tongue and teeth — Mike made a noise of disgust, looking away as the redhead chuckled against the lawyer's lips, trying to push him away since they were not alone.
«Urgh, you're not serious» moaned Mike.
«She's so hot when she's talking about law» whispered Harvey with a smirk.
«If you say so»
«Oh, please Mike. You're just jealous because she corrected you»
«No, I'm not»
Mike seemed a bit surprised at how calmly and confidently Donna had taken him down, while Harvey, completely absorbed by his fiancée, saw her as both talented and promising. Hours passed, and once the case was closed, Mike left for home. The couple, however, slipped under the sheets, still talking as Donna whispered to her fiancé.
«Mike is great, but it's true, he's kind of a puppy»
«I like him. Sometimes he tires me, but he's a good guy with a good heart. He helped me a lot when I was at rock bottom after our breakup. And even though he messed up with his studies, he's promising and will go far»
«It's good that you're his mentor then»
«Yeah, but baby, the way you threw him off balance... that was hot»
«I noticed»
For a few more minutes, the couple chatted about everything and nothing before eventually drifting off to sleep in each other's arms. Days passed, and while they continued to study for the bar exam day and night, the pressure started to mount. One evening, as Harvey sat on the couch, questioning Donna — who was pacing back and forth while answering his questions — he suddenly stopped, the redhead turning to him sharply.
«Why did you stop? Keep questioning me»
«Let's goaway »
«What?»
«Let's take some time off»
«Two weeks before my bar exam? You're not serious»
«Dead serious. Look, I know you're ready — more than ready — and despite that, you're going to work right up until the morning of the exam. But I still think taking a little break, with our feet in the sand, would do us some good»
«I don't know, Harv. I don't want to mess up my exam because I wasted time sunbathing»
«First of all, no sunbathing for you, I love your pale skin too much to ruin it with UV rays. Second, I promise we won't waste time — we'll still work. And finally, Cuba or Jamaica?»
In the end, they chose Cuba. While staying in a private beachfront villa near Trinidad, isolated for miles, Donna had to admit that the working atmosphere was much more relaxed. As Harvey lounged on a chair on the beach, wearing nothing but his swimsuit, a constitutional law book in one hand and a cocktail in the other, he questioned Donna, who was pacing back and forth with her feet in the water as she was wearing a bikini, her legs slathered with sunscreen, a long t-shirt for extra coverage, and a wide-brimmed hat to shield herself from the sun.
«Alright, so if it goes on trial, what are our chances?»
«Well, depend on the judge. If we don't have solid evidence, the motion is dead before it even starts»
«You're a goddess— you're gonna kill it »
«Next question, then» smiled Donna.
«Baby, I know I told you we were gonna work, but we're also on vacation, we can enjoy it for a second, no?»
«Well, you're the one on a lounge chair with a cocktail. If that doesn't scream vacation, I don't know what does» snorted the redhead.
«Come on, vacations are with you. Please, just five minutes»
For a split second, Donna hesitated, then sighed and agreed. Instantly, Harvey tossed the book aside without a second thought. Donna let out a frustrated sigh, trying to stop him, but it was too late — the book was already buried in the sand as Harvey didn't miss a beat. He rushed toward her, scooped her up over his shoulder, and sprinted into the water. Donna, laughing uncontrollably, tried to wriggle free, but it was no use, and they both plunged into the crystal-clear water together, as she couldn't help but burst into laughter when the cool waves splashed over them. For nearly half an hour, Donna clung to him like a koala, her arms wrapped around his neck and her legs around his waist as they splashed and joked. Their conversation was punctuated by playful kisses while the waves rolled over them, the tension of the upcoming bar exam felt miles away as they enjoyed the moment together, completely obsessed and in love with each other. The days passed, and as it was time to head home, the young couple couldn't help but be excited at the thought that maybe their next vacation would be their honeymoon. In the meantime, there was just one week left before the bar exam for Donna, and Harvey couldn't believe how stressed he was — more so than when he had taken it himself. As the day of the written exam approached, Donna checked her outfit in the mirror for the fifteenth time, while Harvey sat on the edge of the bed, bouncing his knee uncontrollably. Donna, a small smile tugging at the corner of her lips, murmured.
«Remind me, who's taking the exam? You or me?»
«What?»
«Your knee, honey»
«Sorry, it's just... I'm really stressed»
«I know, but if you keep doing that, you'll make me even more stressed than I already am»
«Sorry, baby — you're so beautiful, by the way»
«Thanks»
«What time does Rachel get here?»
«In about five minutes, I think»
«Good»
«What time's your meeting?»
«At ten, but I'll be done before that to pick you up after the exam»
«I can go home on my own, you know»
«No way. I'll be there»
«Alright»
For a few more minutes, the two of them chatted until a knock at the door interrupted their conversation as Donna quickly went to answer it, letting her best friend into the condo. Meanwhile, Harvey was gathering his things from all over the place and gave Rachel a brief nod of greeting — the brunette still not entirely comfortable being at her old professor's place. Finally, he turned toward his fiancée, taking her face in his large hands as he muttered.
«Hey, everything's going to be fine. You're going to crush it, alright?»
«Alright» smiled Donna.
«I love you»
«I love you too»
After a long kiss on her lips and a look filled with love, Harvey finally left the condo, leaving the two best friends alone as Rachel seized the opportunity to look around with wide eyes, murmuring softly.
«So, this is where you live?»
«Half of my time, yeah»
«It's gorgeous»
«For real»
«And you're moving here after your wedding?»
«I don't think so»
«To your place, then? Donna, don't take this the wrong way, but if I had the choice…»
«Oh no, if I had the choice, I'd pick here too. But I think we'll probably move somewhere else together. The condo's perfect, but there's only one bathroom, and the second bedroom, which is currently an office, is a bit small for... well, you know»
«Your little lawyer babies? Yeah, I figured» snorted Rachel.
«Anyway, are you ready for the bar exam?»
«No. I don't know what made me think it was a good idea to take it now. I should've waited until February»
«Rach…»
«Seriously, not all of us are engaged to one of the best lawyers of his generation who's totally dedicated to our success»
«Maybe not, but your dad is Robert Zane, and I'm pretty sure he sent you to the best bar prep courses in the state»
«Yeah, that's true — sorry, I'm freaking out. By the way, how was Cuba?»
«He was right, it did me good. We still studied while we were there, but let's just say it was much more pleasant»
«Urgh, I'm so jealous. You're marrying a talented, famous lawyer who's giving you this princess life and is completely crazy about you. He's probably going to buy you a palace on the Upper East Side as soon as you change your name to Specter, give you the wedding of your dreams, and make beautiful babies with you. Are those flowers from him, by the way?»
«To wish me good luck today. I'll probably get more tomorrow» giggled the redhead.
«Urgh. See? That's what I'm talking about. I want that too»
«Well, I have someone in mind... Okay, he's not a lawyer yet, but he's very promising. A little wild, but dedicated, and he's a total puppy. He could be your Harvey in a few years»
«Who is it?»
«My man's protégé»
«I thought you were his protégé»
«Yeah, well, he's not having sex with the puppy, and he's definitely not planning on getting him pregnant at some point, so that's probably what makes us different»
As the two women laughed together, Donna gathered their things before heading downstairs to catch the Uber Harvey had reserved for them. Meanwhile, Harvey sat in a meeting in Jessica's office, constantly glancing at his phone, his knee bouncing rapidly as Jessica could tell something wasn't right. She wasn't stupid, for almost a year, she had watched Harvey slowly spiral. But for the past three months, he had mysteriously found his smile again, had become less and less available to her, and the tan he now sported didn't match the usual New York weather. It looked more like the tan of someone just back from a vacation in the sun. And, of course, today was the day the bar exams started in New York, which made Jessica even more suspicious. While she thought her protégé might find his one true love in a few years again, she never expected it to happen so quickly — right after graduation. But, well, she had warned him, he and that student were both adults and knew what they were doing. So, Jessica pretended not to know anything. Now, nearly an hour and a half had passed, and she saw Harvey stand up quickly, grabbing his jacket.
«Where are you going?»
«We're not done?»
«We still need to discuss a few points about the Fayez case»
«Oh, it's just that I have a meeting soon with... Mike»
«Well, if you're meeting with Mike, I'll let you go then»
«Thank you, Jessica. See you»
As she watched him rush out of the office, hurrying toward the elevators, the brunette smiled, torn between the sadness of what awaited the redhead and the happiness of seeing her protégé still so happy. They had both been through a rough year, and though she felt a bit guilty about it, she reassured herself by thinking that, in the meantime, Harvey hadn't lost his job, and that girl had managed to graduate. At least that much was something — now, it was their turn to play the game. Harvey quickly made his way home, took his car out of the garage, and sped toward the Javits Center, constantly checking the time, praying he would make it. As soon as he parked in front of the large glass structure, he sent Donna a message letting her know he was waiting for her, knowing her phone was off and she would turn it back on once her exam was finished. While responding to a few client emails, he saw her message telling him she and Rachel would be arriving in five minutes, and not long after, he spotted them in the distance. As soon as the car door opened, Harvey leaned over, looking at his fiancée lovingly, and murmured.
«Hey»
«Hey»
«Do we need to drop Rachel off?»
«She doesn't want to, I think she's a bit embarrassed »
«I'm not giving her a choice, come on»
As the two women climbed into the car, Harvey glanced at his fiancée before leaning in for a tender kiss and handing her an iced coffee, then turned to Rachel to give her the second one.
«I hope you like macchiatos»
«Oh, but I don't want to take anyone's— » murmured the brunette.
«Don't worry, it was mine, but I'm already too nervous because of Donna's exam. I need to cut down on the coffee. So? How'd it go?»
For nearly twenty minutes, the three adults discussed the exam, with Rachel gradually relaxing as the moment started to feel more and more normal. After all, she was just sitting in the back of her former professor's luxury sports car, while he held the wheel with one hand and caressed her best friend's thigh with the other — everything seemed perfectly normal. After dropping Rachel off, the two of them headed back to Harvey's place, diving straight into studying again, non-stop while later, they shared a shower and went to bed, sighing as their heads hit the pillow.
«Just two more days» sighed Donna.
«Two more days, and this bar exam will be behind us» replied Harvey.
Two more days.