Just as Harvey had left Ted Black hanging at the bar, walking out of the place with a smirk on his face, he couldn't help but chuckle at the two messages lighting up his screen.
Daddy, call now
The authoritative tone of the message made him laugh even more, already picturing his son behind the screen, being slightly upset. Nearly a year ago, when Harvey had to be away on a business trip to Chicago, the little boy had thrown quite the tantrum, insisting it wasn't fair that Mommy could call Daddy whenever she wanted but he couldn't. So, despite being generally against screens for their kids, Harvey and Donna made a small sacrifice — they bought an iPad, set it up with a passcode so Miles couldn't use it unsupervised, and only added Mommy and Daddy to the contact list, along with a music app so he and his sister could dance around the living room when they wanted. At just four years old, whenever Donna or Harvey was away, he would ask for the iPad so he could call, patiently waiting for someone to answer. But over the past few months, after realizing his parents couldn't always pick up, he'd discovered that by pressing the little microphone icon, he could dictate a message and it would type it out for him. Since then, there's been no stopping him, and at five years old, Miles was a real menace. Just below the message, he read the second one — this time from his wife — and his laughter doubled.
Honey, please call him. I've been listening to his closing arguments for twenty minutes now… I'm going crazy
Already picturing his wife sitting on the couch, listening to their son explain in great detail with his five-year-old language why Daddy wasn't home and how completely unacceptable that was — a future lawyer in the making, his father's son through and through — Harvey couldn't stop chuckling. Quickly, Harvey tapped on his son's name, lifted the phone to his ear, and after a few seconds of ringing, his son's excited voice burst through the line.
«Daddy!»
«Hey! My boy»
«Why didn't you call me earlier?»
«Well, I was a bit busy Miles»
«Yeah, but you said you'd call me when there was a four on the iPad screen — and you didn't call when there was the four»
«Yeah, sorry, but it's okay, I'm done now»
«Really done?» giggled the boy.
«Really done, officer» snorted Harvey.
«Good — when are you coming home?»
«I'm stopping by my hotel, grabbing my bag, and then heading to the airport. Sound good?»
«Sounds good, yeah»
«Perfect — by the way, where's Mommy?»
«With Aida in the kitchen — wait»
As he could hear the sound of tiny footsteps running off, a sign that Miles had probably gone to fetch Donna, Harvey couldn't help but chuckle as he imagined him. While waiting for someone to pick up the call again, Harvey flagged down a taxi and climbed in, headed for his hotel, while in the background, more footsteps echoed through the phone, followed by a burst of noise, and then Miles's voice returned.
«Daddy, it's okay, I brought Mommy»
«Hey honey»
«Hey gorgeous»
«Daddy» yelled Aida.
«Hey my little princess—how are things at home?» chuckled Harvey.
«Well, let's say… interesting. As you can probably imagine, Miles laid out three very specific points explaining exactly why it was completely unacceptable that you went to Los Angeles to see Ted instead of staying home with us — while Aida changed outfits three times this morning before preschool, only to come back with a red paint stain on her beautiful pale pink overalls»
«A classic Tuesday, huh» snorted Harvey.
«Yeah — when's your flight?»
«I land in Seattle at eight»
«What does that mean, Daddy?» whispered Aida.
«Well, it means you and your brother will be in bed and sound asleep»
«Then we'll stay awake» said Miles.
«No, you won't» snorted Donna.
Hearing the kids giggling, Harvey could picture the three of them crowded around the iPad on speaker — Miles and Aida snuggled up against their mom, both grinning while Donna tried (and failed) to sound stern. With everyone talking at once, Harvey stayed silent and let out a chuckle just as the taxi pulled up in front of his hotel. After he paid the driver, stepped out, and heard Miles's voice come through again, he smiled.
«Daddy, today I won at soccer!»
«And me, Daddy — I did a full ballet turn!»
For a few more minutes, Harvey made his way up to his room, collecting his things while the kids went on, filling the call with stories from their day, and by the time he came back down for check-out, they were still chatting excitedly — until Donna gently interrupted, asking them to save a few stories for later. After the final goodbyes and I love yous, Harvey hung up and got into another taxi — this time heading for the airport — as the lawyer let his mind drift as the scenery passed by outside the window, memories flooding in. Almost six years ago, everything had moved incredibly fast — a wedding, a honeymoon, and a move — as neither of them had imagined that things could go even faster. Barely a week after settling into their condo in Seattle, Donna started feeling sick — constantly nauseous, exhausted, and out of it — and Harvey was starting to worry. He'd never seen Donna under the weather like that, and with it being mid-November and cold season going around, he panicked at the thought it might get worse. So he booked a doctor's appointment as neither of them was ready for what came next.
«Congratulations, Mrs. Paulsen — you're pregnant»
«I'm pregnant?» Donna whispered, her voice thick with emotion.
«You are. I'd say approximately six weeks»
Donna was pregnant, and in that moment, both of them felt the tears roll down their cheeks at the thought of becoming parents. They had talked about having children before — and though part of them feared it might be too late, they never expected it to happen so soon. Then, after doing some quick mental math, Donna gasped.
«I was pregnant at my wedding… I drank champagne that day»
«Don't worry, Mrs. Specter. You didn't know, and it's perfectly fine. The important thing is that you're not drinking anymore»
«Of course »
«Alright, we've got a few things to go over, future parents, right?»
Donna and Harvey were over the moon, thrilled at the idea of welcoming a baby in just a few months, as every moment felt magical — every tiny kick, every little outfit they bought, every stroke of paint in the nursery, every strange craving — it all brought joy. And just when they thought they couldn't possibly be happier, their first child was born — their son: Miles Gordon Specter — the greatest pride of the two adults. Becoming parents was the most beautiful thing that had ever happened to them, their greatest pride, and no matter what titles they'd carried throughout their careers, nothing compared to being mother and father. Quickly, Miles became their whole world and Harvey and Donna poured every bit of themselves into raising the little boy who never stopped smiling at them, radiating pure joy and happiness. And just when they thought their hearts couldn't hold more — just a few months later — they found out Donna was pregnant again.
«What does the test say?»
«Three weeks»
«Already?» gasped Harvey.
«Apparently… honey, he's four months old…»
For a few seconds, neither of them said anything — Donna leaning against the sink, test still in hand, her gaze locked on it, while Harvey was sitting on the edge of the bathtub, waiting for her reaction, Miles asleep next door. A few beats later, she looked up at him with a crooked smile, and suddenly, both burst into giggles while Harvey pulled her into his arms, lifting her up as her legs wrapped around his waist.
«We're gonna have a second baby…» whispered Harvey, voice thick with emotion.
«God… a second baby»
«It's insane»
«What's insane is that you managed to get me pregnant this fast both times» snorted Donna.
«Oh please, not exactly shocking»
«But honey?»
«Hmm?»
«Not one baby a year, okay? Think of my uterusfirst »
In the end, the couple welcomed the news of a second pregnancy with pure joy, and even though Donna was barely out of one pregnancy before diving into another, neither of them had any regrets. Once again, they were both excited to meet their next little one, savoring every step of the journey — each kick, every ultrasound, every little clothes, every late-night craving — until they finally welcomed their second baby: Aida Regina Specter — the little princess of the family. If the kids were only a year apart — well, a year and twelve days — and while at times it felt like they'd had twins, there wasn't a single ounce of regret, though Donna did get an implant three weeks after her second delivery, right before having sex again, just in case. Life with two toddlers was intense, to say the least, as it had thrown the new parents into a world they'd never known before — chaotic, loud, and exhausting — but more exhilarating than anything they'd ever experienced. Lost in thought, the taxi driver informed him that they had arrived and a few hours later, after clearing security and settling comfortably into his seat in first class, Harvey pulled out his phone and quickly typed a message to his wife — neither of them being used to going more than an hour without knowing what the other was up to.
I'm seated. Looks like we're taking off on time.
Just seconds later, his phone pinged with a reply while Harvey smiled as he opened the message to find a photo of the kids, both grinning ear to ear, holding up a cake, followed by Donna's text.
Can't wait to see you (they can't either, by the way). And there's a cheesecake waiting for you when you get home
While the last passengers continued to board, Harvey took a moment to zoom in on the photo, studying the two little wonders Donna had brought into the world. Even if they'd tried, they couldn't have planned it better — while their children were supposed to be a perfect blend of the two of them, in reality, they'd somehow ended up creating two clones: one mini-Harvey and one mini-Donna. Miles had inherited a few of Donna's features — her nose as well as her freckles — but everything else was pure Harvey. Dirty blonde hair, a Cheshire cat smile, those deep brown eyes, and a set of expressions that could charm every neighbor on the block. He was a bundle of energy, bouncing between soccer, baseball, and boxing, and carried himself with the same confident attitude as his father that sometimes, when Miles stood his ground in a bedtime debate, Harvey felt like he was back in court, facing off with a particularly tenacious opponent. And while that sometimes terrified Harvey — to see so much of himself reflected in his son, to fear that one day Miles might feel as lonely as he once had — he found comfort in the boy's warmth. Miles was affectionate, open, and completely anchored by the love of his parents — something Harvey had never truly known growing up. He was his father's pride and joy, following him around with perfect diction, always ready to defend his honor — or even more fiercely, his sister's — as Miles had Donna's tenderness and Harvey's fire, a perfect balance.
Then there was Aida — the family's little princess — as, aside from her father's deep brown eyes, she was a carbon copy of Donna, down to the smallest detail. Aida was gentle and delicate, her strawberry blonde hair always perfectly styled, her outfits immaculate as she spoke in a high-pitched little voice, full of excitement and softness — the very picture of a perfect little girl. If Miles was the kind of kid who'd do flips on the couch — giving Donna a near heart attack every time — Aida preferred to sit quietly on the rug, surrounded by picture books as she'd flip through the pages curiously, studying the images since she couldn't read just yet, before running over to one of her parents and gently asking them to read it to her — never without offering a hug or a kiss first. She was the kind of child that made every other mom in the neighborhood green with envy — so well-mannered, so sweet — and Harvey… he was so incredibly proud of his little princess, who also just happened to be the spitting image of his wife. As he sat there, lost in those thoughts, the pilot's voice came over the intercom, announcing the beginning of the flight while Harvey exhaled quietly, finally letting himself relax. In just a few hours, he'd be home with his family, and he couldn't wait. If someone had told him over ten years ago that his life would one day look like this, he never would've believed it, and yet now, just a few hours away from them, he felt like a part of him was missing — like his wife and kids were his oxygen, and without them, he could barely breathe. So yes, he was happy to be home. With a few small gifts tucked into his suitcase to spoil them, Harvey was already thinking ahead, planning the upcoming week. He opened the shared online calendar Donna had created for the two of them — an impeccably color-coded masterpiece that synced both their schedules, down to the minute, including the kids' — as it helped him organize work around his most important priority: them. Satisfied with how things looked and noticing how little flight time remained, he pulled out a case file while he was determined to finish it before landing so that in the morning, he could help Donna with the chaos of their everyday life and still be the one to drop the kids off at preschool with her.
Life in Seattle had changed everything. Their pace was different now — more grounded, more full — and even though his schedule had adjusted, Harvey still often felt like he wasn't spending enough time with Aida and Miles. If he really listened to himself, he'd have quit everything to become a stay-at-home dad, just to be with them every second of the day. But Donna, of course, had convinced him otherwise, not only had he worked his whole life to build this career, but their lifestyle kind of required both of them to keep working — all those gifts he likes to bring back aren't going to pay for themselves. Plus, apparently, she still found him sexier as a high-powered attorney than as a full-time dad. In the end, he'd decided to strike the perfect balance — between the man he'd built himself into and the man he wanted to be for them. And now, as his plane touched down and he slid into a cab, the anticipation of being back with them surged inside him as, thankfully, home was only twenty minutes from the airport. The moment he stepped inside the condo, everything dark and quiet, he dropped his suitcase in the hallway and moved silently toward the master bedroom, as there, in the soft glow of the bedside lamp, Donna sat reading a book, and curled up beside her, deeply asleep on his pillow, were Aida and Miles.
«Honey, hey» whispered Donna as he bent to kiss her.
«Hey»
«I missed you so much»
«You too, you have no idea — have they been asleep long?»
«I'd say about twenty minutes»
«Way past their bedtime» snorted the lawyer.
«Please — next time, you try debating with your son about the necessity of at least ten hours of sleep when you're five»
«He's unbelievable»
«We might as well start prepping his Harvard Law application for next year — I think he's ready»
As Harvey let out a chuckle at his wife's comment before leaning in to kiss her again, he then quietly moved toward the bed, crouched down, and gently kissed each of his children's plump little cheeks, careful not to wake them. A few moments later, taking advantage of their peaceful sleep, Harvey and Donna slipped into the bathroom — Harvey stepping into the shower while Donna leaned casually against the sink as the two of them chatted, catching up about his meeting with Ted and how the afternoon went at home. Then Donna snorted, amused.
«Miles didn't annoy you too much with his messages? I told him three max a day, but ever since he found the 'dictate message' button, he's unstoppable»
«Come on, it's cute — slightly threatening, I'll admit, but I love it» chuckled Harvey.
«See? The iPad wasn't such a bad idea»
«Yeah, yeah — but I'm still anti-screens. Have you seen how smart and perfect they are? I'd hate to fry those little brains, huh?» snorted the lawyer.
«You're not wrong»
«Anyway… are they sleeping with us tonight?»
«Oh, please — no. They're going in their own beds. I've been sleeping with them for two nights straight, and Aida does not stop moving»
«I can imagine»
«Plus, I really want to have sex»
«They're going to bed, then»
Following his wife's instructions, he quickly dried off and slipped on his boxers — which, truthfully, wouldn't be staying on for long — before gently picking up Miles, holding him close for a quiet cuddle. He then carried him into his football-themed bedroom — all beige and ochre — laid him down in bed, pulled the blanket over him, and softly closed the door. Barely back in the master bedroom, he did the same with Aida, scooping her up to carry her into her little ballerina-themed room — all pink and girly — as he tucked her in and pressed a tender kiss to her forehead, recognizing the same scent of shampoo Donna used, knowing full well how much their daughter insisted on being just like Mommy. Once they were both in bed, Harvey quickly returned to his room, taking off his boxers as soon as he crossed the threshold to climb onto the bed and join Donna, who was visibly laughing at his impatience — if the lawyer had changed a lot in the last six years, his obsession with sex had remained intact. After nearly an hour under the sheets and two orgasms later, the two of them fell back breathless next to each other, Harvey snuggling against Donna, murmuring softly.
«He talked about you again»
«Who? Ted?»
«Yeah — I don't think he ever got over the way you shut him down back when you were at the DA's office… must've bruised his ego» snorted Harvey.
«God, he really should move on — I mean, it's been nearly two decades, and I made two babies with you»
«Hell yeah you did — and he doesn't even know about Aida»
«What?»
«Yeah, Miles kept blowing up my phone with messages, and when I didn't answer right away, Ted goes : Come on, I know he's your son, what's his name?— He didn't talk about Aida »
«Did you tell him?» chuckled Donna.
«Nope. First, I joked that his name was Ted, and the idiot actually believed me — like I'd ever name my son after the guy who tried to hit on my wife»
«That was almost twenty years ago, and just a reminder — you and I weren't even together back then» snorted Donna.
«Still — then I told him his name was Kevin, but he caught on that I was messing with him. I left him without an answer»
«Cruel»
«Oh come on, he doesn't need to know — they're our babies»
«Well, do whatever you want» chuckled Donna, kissing the top of his head.
For a few more minutes, they talked about everything and nothing until they eventually fell asleep, wrapped in each other's arms. If the last couple of mornings had greeted Harvey with silence and an empty bed, today was the exact opposite. As he slowly opened his eyes, still groggy, he was instantly met with the sight — and scent — of Donna, already showered, walking into the master bedroom in her underwear with Miles by her side and Aida cradled in her arms, all three of them mid-conversation. The chatter was way too loud for that early hour, and all three fell silent as soon as they spotted Harvey — clearly, Donna had kept his return a surprise — and even with his eyes barely open, both kids climbed onto the bed, crawling across the sheets and yelling.
«Daddy!»
«You're home!»
«We made you a cake!»
«It's in the fridge»
«Are you coming to school with us today?»
«Did you see the drawing I made for you yesterday?»
«I did one too»
«We played with the neighbor's dog yesterday!»
«Yeah — he's brown!»
As an impressive stream of chatter flowed from the two little mouths, Harvey couldn't help but chuckle before pulling them into his arms and hugging them tightly, trying to make up for all the affection he hadn't been able to give them over the past two days. Letting Donna finish getting ready, Harvey listened as the kids talked, jumping from one topic to another, while he kept planting kisses randomly on every part of their faces he could reach — completely obsessed with how perfect they were. A few minutes later, Donna came back to freshen them up, and Harvey joined her shortly after to help get them dressed. When the four of them finally gathered in the dining room for breakfast, Harvey watched as Miles explained to Donna how he wanted to play for the Yankees one day, while Aida alternated between feeding a raspberry to herself and then one to her mom, sitting quietly and listening to the conversation. At that moment, Harvey was hit with a warm, comforting feeling as he thought about all those years he had spent sipping coffee alone in the kitchen of his condo in silence. And now, he was at the table with the woman he had loved for so many years — who had given him peace, unconditional love, and most of all, had carried their children for nine months and sacrificed so much to bring them into the world — his greatest pride. As Donna seemed entirely absorbed by the kids, Harvey left the kitchen, set down his coffee on the table, walked around, and kissed her deeply, earning a small sound of disgust from the children.
«Ewwww»
«Oh, please» snorted Harvey.
«Not that I'm complaining, but what did I do to deserve that kiss?» said Donna with a laugh.
«Because I have no idea how to thank you for giving me the chance to know what it really means to be loved — and to be happy. Everything I have today is thanks to you, and I don't know how to show just how grateful I am. So yeah… kisses might not be enough, but I figure it's a start»
Donna, visibly moved by his words, didn't even know what to say, but just as she was searching for a response, she was interrupted by Aida, who switched chairs to climb onto her mother's lap and leaned toward her dad to whisper.
«I want a kiss too, daddy»
«Hey, me too» added Miles.
Soon enough, both kids ended up on Donna's lap, while she silently prayed they wouldn't wrinkle her dress too much. Harvey stood just behind her, wrapping his arms around all three of them in a group hug, feeling the overwhelming love they all had for one another. Those two days without them had been harder than he expected, away from the joyful chaos, from Miles' laughter and Aida's cuddles, from Donna's soft gaze — he had felt incomplete. For a long time, Harvey believed his worth was measured in courtroom victories, signed deals, and satisfied clients, but over the years — and especially after losing everyone else, his parents, his brother, the pieces of a past life he once thought unshakable — he realized that this was everything: his wife, his kids, his family as they had become his reason to wake up every morning, his strength, and his calm. They were all he had, all he wanted, all that truly mattered, and as he wrapped his arms around them in that quiet embrace, right in the middle of their kitchen, he knew with absolute certainty that as long as he had them, he'd never truly be missing anything.
This was happiness — pure, real, and exactly where it was meant to be.