Epilogue: Friendship, Love and Law Degrees

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Harvard

Class of 2017 Graduation Day

"Slow down! How do you move so fast in those shoes?" he calls after her, holding his cap down with one hand, his robe being pulled back by the wind.

"Keep up!" she calls over her shoulder, "We're going to be late!"

"There you two are! They've been calling your names for like, ten minutes," Scottie greets them from her place in a lineup of students in long black robes and square caps.

"Sorry, we got… distracted," Donna smirks and Harvey can't hide the proud smile on his face.

"I swear you'd think you two had been dating for four months not almost four years," Scottie teases, "But your dress is cute," she gives Donna a once over and admires the cream coloured fitted dress she's wearing. It's barely visible beneath her gown but she smiles when she spots the necklace Harvey gave Donna for their first anniversary sitting just above where the scoop neck met her skin. She and Rachel had helped Donna get ready for that dinner date for hours, helping her find the perfect dress and the perfect shoes, chatting about how they couldn't believe it had already been a full year. When Donna returned home the next day, the three of them fawned over the necklace Harvey had given her, and a day hadn't gone by since that the stone didn't grace Donna's neck.

"Paulsen," a professor calls from behind them in line, "Get in line, it's alphabetical."

"That's your cue, I'll see you after?" he turns and smiles down at Donna.

"If you're lucky," she flirts before leaning up on her toes and giving him a short kiss before shoving him in the right direction and moving to her place in line.

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Making her way through the packed courtyard after the ceremony, she keeps her eyes peeled for friendly faces. She'd lost Scottie once they were instructed to line up and in the sea of graduates and overly excited parents she was having a hard time finding her friends. She spots the brunette leaning against a stone pillar in the courtyard and immediately runs to her, throwing her arms around her in a massive hug.

"Rachel Zane, you look incredible! That city of yours must be some place!" Donna beams, holding Rachel's arms out as she examined her former roommate. She was dressed in a modest grey pencil skirt and a pink blouse and had her long brown hair pinned back behind her shoulders in a classy elegant way that screamed successful lawyer.

"Says you! That dress is incredible!" Rachel compliments, twirling Donna around so she can appreciate her outfit.

"Rachel!" Scottie squeals as she comes up behind Donna, pulling the brunette in for a hug.

"How's Seattle?

"Windy, rainy, lacking you two, but the position is great so I can't complain," she replies.

"I can't believe you've been an associate a whole year," Scottie muses, fiddling with the tassel on her cap.

"That will be you two soon enough!"

"We really did it, didn't we?" Scottie asks, looking between her smiling friends.

"Couldn't have done it without you two," Donna grins, pulling them both in for a group hug.

"Promise me this, no matter where we end up, we'll stay in touch."

"Here we go…" Rachel and Scottie whine in unison.

"What?"

"Donna, we're moving to different states, not different countries," Scottie explains, with a slight laugh. She and Rachel had a bet that Donna would become sentimental before the ceremony let out, and sure enough, she was the first one to crack and start reminiscing.

"Besides, Chicago, New York and Seattle aren't even that far," Rachel chimes in, "and you know Mike is going to want to come and visit both Harvey and Thomas."

"You two better come and visit us," Donna pouts, refusing to let go of her hold on both of their shoulders.

"And miss out on you and Harvey living together? We wouldn't dare," Scottie teases. She and Thomas had been living together for the past year in Boston and had already signed a lease on a place in Chicago, where they both had secured positions at an up and coming law firm. Donna and Harvey on the other hand, would be moving to New York to work as associates at firm called Pearson Hardman. Unlike their friends, she and Harvey decided not to live together in their final year, seeing as Harvey still had Mike and once Rachel moved out Donna found herself enjoying having her own place; even if Harvey had technically spent practically every night with her. She was excited to be heading back to the city, and she'd heard nothing but wonderful things about Pearson Hardman, things were looking up and her future - their future - was looking bright.

Mike would often spend the weekends visiting Rachel in Seattle, the city he would soon be joining her in, so he and Harvey would try and sneak in a boys night during the week, leaving Donna and Scottie to enjoy much needed girls nights. The past few years seemed to fly by and with each passing semester, Harvey and Donna's relationship strengthened. She had no doubt he would make an excellent roommate once they settled in Manhattan.

She spots her mom in the crowd and waves her over to where they were standing, the proud grin on her mom's face making her insides swell.

"Congratulations sweetheart," she says as she places a kiss on her cheek, "You as well Scottie."

"Thank you Ms. Paulsen," Scottie smiles.

"What do you girls say I take a quick picture?"

The three of them are quick to agree and they rearrange themselves in a line as Donna's mom fishes her camera out of her bag.

"On three…" she instructs as she focuses on the three girls.

"One… Two… Say 'Harvard Graduates!'"

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"Who would've thought, we actually made it," Mike chuckles to himself as he joins Harvey on the far side of the courtyard.

"Me, I always had faith. You, I had my doubts," Harvey ribs him and is met with a sharp protesting "Hey!"

The sound of her laughter catches his attention and he turns and spots Donna, Scottie and Rachel posing for photos across the path. He smiles as he watches her, naturally working the camera in a way only she could. He can't believe that by this time next month they would be living together in Manhattan, starting a life together. It was equal parts terrifying and thrilling and he can't believe there was a time in his life when he couldn't be interested enough in a woman to take her on multiple dates. Here he was with Donna, ready to start a life, to spend the rest of his life by her side.

He subconsciously grazes his hand over his jacket pocket while watching his girlfriend with a massive grin.

"Good luck tonight," Mike smiles, peering down at where Harvey is nervously fiddling with the edge of his jacket.

"Good luck?"

"Common Harvey," Mike shrugs towards the bulge in his jacket pocket.

"It's time to go get her, for good this time."

"Who knew you had one more pep talk in you?" Harvey teases him, grateful to have made such a great friend in Mike these past few years.

"For you two crazy kids, I'll always have a pep talk in me," Mike says.

"Seriously Harvey, I'm happy for you guys."

"She hasn't said yes yet…"

"Do you have any doubts that she won't?"

He didn't. He had never been more certain of anything in his life. The past four years had been extraordinary and with each passing day, he fell for her smile a little harder, her laugh a little deeper and she had his heart indefinitely.

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After sending both of their mothers off to the restaurant they'd reserved to celebrate, they find themselves alone on a bench just outside the courtyard, taking a moment to take it all in.

She leans on his shoulder, her cap long gone and her long red curls falling over his shoulder. He takes her hand in his as they look out over the still semi-crowded courtyard, breathing her in.

"So this is it," she sighs, squeezing his palm.

"This is just the beginning," he says, sliding off the wooden bench and extending a hand to her.

She takes it skeptically before scanning his face to try and get a read on him. After four years she was a professional when it came to reading him, but this time she wasn't quite sure what he was up to. Her eyes scan his, and for as many times as she gazed into his honey brown eyes, she would never tire of the way they melted when met with hers.

"Where are we going?" She smirks as she follows after him in the direction of the library.

"It's a surprise!" He calls over his shoulder, making sure she's following even though he's leading her by the arm.

"We're going to be late for dinner," she reminds him, her smile growing.

"We'll be quick, I promise," he says with a quick squeeze of her palm before he picks up her pace and tugs her into the large brownstone standing before them.

She follows silently and without question while he leads her through the halls of the older building, walls lined with photos of old professors she didn't recognize, the aged floor creaking every so often. When he reaches the end of the hall, he pauses to flash her a quick smile before pushing through an exit door that led them directly into another building, a building that was much more familiar to her.

"Harvey, what are we doing here?" She asks as he continues to lead her down a hallway she knew all too well. He pauses outside of their old classroom and draws in a deep breath, taking both of her hands in his. She watches as his heart begins to race and looks around the halls of the place where they first met. In four years nothing had changed. Not the portraits on the walls or the old wooden floorboards that groaned when you crossed them. It was like they had stepped into four years ago, when she had run into Harvey while soaking wet and he offered her his jacket. The only difference, instead of two strangers standing across from one another in the hall, they stood beside each other as lovers in robes that indicated their time here had passed.

He had a grand plan, he would take her to the place he first met her and deliver a heartfelt speech about why he loved her, why he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. Only now, looking at her in her long black gown, her long red curls framing her face, hazel eyes locked on his, he can't remember a single thing he wanted to say.

He spent weeks planning out his speech. He would take her hands in his and get down on one knee while telling her.

"Donna Paulsen, when I first met you four years ago, never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I would be lucky enough to get to fall in love with you. But here we are, four years later. You're my best friend. You're my compass. You're my everything. And if I had known all those years ago when I gave a pretty girl my jacket, I would be back to ask that girl to marry me, I might have used a smoother pick up line," and she would laugh through her tears while he rummaged through his pocket for the little blue box he'd picked out.

Her eyes would light up when she spotted it, because she was always going on about the ring she wanted as a little girl. A ring that came in a little blue box with a tiny white ribbon. He would open it as he continued his speech, telling her she was the love of his life, and he couldn't wait to spend the rest of his life trying to keep up with her.

And naturally, she would say yes before he slipped the ring on her finger and she fell into his arms.

Only, in this moment, with the beautiful redhead that was once a stranger staring up at him with adoring eyes, he can't remember any of that.

"Donna...I…"

He tried to find the right words but it's suddenly all too much. How do you ask your soulmate to spend the rest of her life with you in the perfect way? Suddenly, what he had planned to say didn't seem like enough, and he was left standing in the hall, her hands in his, floundering.

"What I mean is… will… will you…" he stutters, staring down at the ground between them.

"Yes," she gushes, tears forming in her eyes as he returns his gaze to her face from her heels.

"Yes," she cries again before launching herself into his arms and connecting her lips with his.

"You didn't even let me ask," he chuckles as he breaks the kiss, his arms wrapped around her waist, holding her against his chest. Of course she'd known what he was going to say, she was Donna. If he'd learned anything in their time together, it was that surprising her was a rarity, and in this moment, he's never been more grateful for her ability to read him.

"Oh," she mumbles, her cheeks flushing with a soft shade of pink. She was slightly embarrassed to have cut him off, but she didn't need a big fancy speech. All she needed was Harvey. Her Harvey. Forever.

"Donna Roberta Paulsen," he begins again, keeping his hold on her, the tears now steadily rolling down her cheeks, her smile as wide as a mile. He contemplates launching into his well rehearsed speech, telling her all the reasons he loved her, but decides that she already knows. All it took was one look at the girl in his arms, his girl, for him to know he didn't need some grand gesture that would be forgotten years down the road, he only needed her.

"Will you marry me?" he whispers as he lets his nose come to rest against hers.

"Yes," she whispers back before closing the distance between them and kissing him again. He squeezes her waist and lifts her off the ground, twirling her around while never allowing his lips to leave hers.

He holds in her in his arms, her heels hanging above the floor as he deepens the kiss. He was drunk on the taste of her, his fiancée, the only women who had ever managed to make him feel the way Donna made him feel. Alive, wanted, appreciated, like he was enough. She made him want to be a better man, she pushed him to be the best version of himself and he couldn't wait to spend the rest of his life making her laugh, making her proud and making her feel as loved as she made him feel.

When they finally part to catch their breath, he places her back down, helping her to find her footing in her heels before placing one more lingering kiss on her forehead. He reaches into his pocket and retrieves the little blue box he'd carried around for the last month, watching as she gasped, her hands flying to her face when she noticed it.

He opens it, revealing the ring she'd spent one evening last July describing to him as the ring she'd always wanted as a little girl. He takes her hand and slides it onto her shaking finger as she watches him with adoring eyes.

If she could freeze one moment in time, this would be the one. The way his eyes light up as he watches her reaction to the ring. The way his smile expands as he slides the ring onto her left hand. The way he can't help himself from watching with a beaming grin as she examines her left hand, breathless. Everything about this moment is perfect. Because it's them and the way they love each other is unparalleled. From the moment the met, standing in this very spot, she knew he was something special, and every day for the past four years, she learned she was right.

The Harvey Specter she met four years ago was an enigma. He was a riddle she couldn't quite figure out, but that she was desperate to solve. The Harvey Specter she just agreed to marry taught her what it felt like to be loved, what it felt like to be in love. He taught her that love meant spending Sunday mornings doing nothing but sitting in opposite corners of the room, reading silently in the company of each other. That being together didn't mean going out to do something together, it meant cleaning the kitchen together, screaming the lyrics to an old Beatles song while driving down an old country road hand in hand with the windows of the car down. He taught her that love was simpler than she once thought it was. It wasn't present in grand gestures or proclamations but rather threaded through the small details that made up their life together. Above all else, he showed her that love was worth fighting for.

Looking back on their story, she wouldn't change a thing about it. Not the heartache, not the push and pull and certainly not the pain. Because it taught her that something like what they had was worth fighting for, and it served as a constant reminder that what they had was special.

"I love you," she sighs before leaning upwards to place a kiss on his lips.

"I think I've loved you since you first stole my jacket," he replies with a coi grin.

"I didn't steal it, you offered it to me," she clarifies with a small huff.

"Oh right, you stole my heart," he smirks, stealing another kiss.

"Is this how corny you're going to be now that we're engaged?" she teases, placing her palms against his chest as she chuckles.

"Depends," he quirks his eyebrow.

"On?"

"Whether or not my wife will tolerate it."

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New York, 2017

Moving Day

She's neck deep in a pile of folded sweaters as she sits on the wool area rug in the center of the mostly empty living room of their brand new Manhattan apartment. She looks around at the stacks of boxes from her place on the floor and smiles to herself. The apartment was everything she'd dreamed her first apartment would be. It had an open-space kitchen, granite counter tops that matched the white cabinets and a living room complete with a massive fireplace and a large wall sized window with a perfect view of Central Park.

It was far beyond either of their budgets but the managing partner at the firm that hired them, Jessica Pearson, had given them each a massive signing bonus they decided to use for the down payment. Harvey had given her free rein to decorate however she pleased and she spent hours with Rachel and Scottie picking out colours and throw pillows to create the perfect atmosphere. Everything had come together splendidly and their first night as roommates was perfect. They settled on a blanket in front of the fire with a pizza and a bottle of wine and toasted to their new life, before falling asleep in each other's arms in front of the fire.

She hears the door open while she folds another sweater to be placed in their closet, and turns to find Harvey standing at the entrance to the living room with a stack of letters.

"Still unpacking?"

"Someone has to do it," she teases as she gets up and plops herself onto their brand new sofa.

"Let me help you," he offers, crossing the room and joining her on the couch.

"But first," he smiles softly, passing her an envelope that had her name on it, watching as the realization of what it was washed over her.

She peers down at the identical envelope in his lap before speaking, "Are these-?"

"You ready?" he asks, reaching for his envelope.

"Wait," she reaches out to stop him. She shifts on the couch and pulls her legs up beneath her, her knee falling over his lap as she does so. As much as he always appreciated how she looked when she was dressed up, he much preferred this version of her; hair tossed in a messy ponytail, casual pants and a baggy sweater. Just Donna. Just the way he loved her.

"What if one of us didn't pass?" she asks nervously.

"Then I guess we'll have to leave all this stuff in boxes, pack up and find a cheaper place," he mocks, looking around at the chaotic mess of boxes littered about the living room.

"Harvey! I'm being serious!" she whines, shifting nervously in her seat, "Our job offers depend on what's in this letter, what if one of us-"

"Hey, look at me," he interrupts, lifting her chin with his index finger so her worrying eyes meet his.

"Nothing in this envelope is going to change anything," he reassures her, taking her hand in his and gently squeezing her palm. He can't help but smile when his hand comes into contact with the ring on her left finger, still unable to believe that a woman as amazing as Donna had agreed to marry him.

"Have faith in yourself, like I have faith in you," he adds with a soft smile.

She nods and draws in a deep breath, turning the envelope over in her hand and studying the letters that painted her name across the front. She was holding her fate in one hand and the love of her life in the other, and with a second squeeze of her palm, he made her fate seem less daunting, like everything would be alright.

"Ready?" he asks, gesturing towards the letters.

"On three?" she asks and is met with a slow nod as he released her hand and clutched his own envelope.

"One… Two...Three," they count down together before frantically tearing the packages open and skimming down the front page of the letter inside.

He quickly skims down his own letter, a wave a relief washing over him when he sees his result before he quickly looks up to study her expression. His eyes meet hers in a panic and a small smile settles across her face when he nods in response to her unasked question. He tilts his head in response, waiting for her to answer the same question. He's met with an enthusiastic kiss as she launches herself into his arms and tosses her hands around his neck.

"We're going to be lawyers!" she squeals, falling into his lap with a giggle.

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New York City, 2021

Pearson Hardman

"Mrs. Paulsen, do you mind taking a look at these?" a young blonde asks as she passes Donna a stack of file folders.

"Sure, put them on my desk and I'll try to get to it before I leave," she instructs, not looking up from her computer screen.

"Sorry to bother you, Mrs. Paulsen, but when do you think that will be? The heading home, I mean?" his voice cuts through her office and she pulls her gaze away from her screen to greet him with a smile.

"That depends," she smirks, getting up and rounding her desk to meet him. He eyes the tight maroon dress she's wearing, the neckline showing off the freckles along her collarbone and falling just below her knee. Tasteful, yet stunning. He grins to himself, recalling how he kissed each of her freckles that morning, the novelty of getting to love her something he relished in every day.

"On?" he smirks as she reaches for his tie, straightening it before letting her hands settle on his chest.

She leans forward and whispers in his ear, her statement making his eyes widen, a devilish smirk developing on his lips.

"Mrs. Paulsen-Specter, this is a place of business!" he pretends to be offended by her words but the sudden strain in his pants tell her that her words had their desired effect.

She grins at his use of her full last name. Though she had legally changed her last name to Paulsen-Specter, it often was shortened at the office and she loved the way his last name trailing hers sounded. It never sounded complete without the "Specter" attached to it.

"Then I think it's time you take me home for the night," she purrs, stepping away from him to grab her purse and jacket.

"What about those files?" he asks, eyeing the massive stack on her desk.

"They'll still be there tomorrow, right now I just want to go home with my husband," she smiles, looping her arm through his and following him out towards the lobby. They had been working at the firm for four years, been married for three and she never tired of leaving the office together and returning to their penthouse apartment where they shared stories about their day and laughed about whatever crazy thing Mike had been up to.

While Mike and Rachel were enjoying Seattle, both had decided to take a step back from corporate law, whereas both she and Harvey had been drawn to it. Something about the hustle and quick pace it involved fascinated her and she found herself excited to go into the office each morning. She had no doubt that this was what she was meant to do, what they were meant to do and all it took was a little bit of hard work to get here.

"What do you say we go out and celebrate before we head home? Somewhere fancy? What about that Del Posto place you keep mentioning you want to try?"

"We don't have to…"

"Donna, you just made partner, we're celebrating. Besides, I already made a reservation," he boasts proudly as they wait for the elevator.

She peers over at him in surprise, and he flashes her a toothy grin in response, "What? You're not the only one who can pull off a surprise."

"And you're kind of like the boss of me now," he smirks, allowing his hand to wrap around her waist and settle on her hip.

"Not for long, you're going to be the next partner."

"But until then…" he whispers just above her ear.

"Oh my god, you're turned on by this, aren't you?"

"Well…" he shrugs sheepishly, he wasn't about to apologize for being turned on by what a bad ass his wife was. He was proud of everything she'd accomplished over the years and beyond proud of how hardworking and dedicated she was to her career.

"You're an idiot," she laughs as she playfully smacks his chest.

"I'm your idiot," he corrects her before leaning down to steal a kiss. Office PDA was something they actively tried to avoid, but tonight they were celebrating and that warranted an exception to the rule.

The elevator dings and they step on while Donna is rendered speechless, something that rarely happened. Harvey peers over at her with a self satisfied smirk, peering out at the silver lettering that read Pearson Hardman that lined the lobby walls as the elevator doors begin to slide shut. One day those walls would read Paulsen Specter, and they would have all of Manhattan at their feet. Just the two of them, on top of the world, or at least their little corner of Manhattan.

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Harvard

Ten Year Reunion

"Gordon, I mean it no running!" she calls after the spirited redhead that was sprinting across the lawn in front of them.

"But Mom! Amelia is running!"

"Listen to your mother," Harvey scolds, slipping his hand through Donna's as they followed their two kids across the Harvard courtyard towards the large white tents that were set up in the center.

"Edith!" both kids call as they take off towards a young brunette standing beneath a 'Class of 2017' sign.

"Be careful!" Donna yells after them, her words fading as she realizes they're no longer paying attention to her but rather focused on giving their "Uncle Mike" hugs.

"Gosh, has anyone ever told you you're hot when you yell?" he whispers into her ear before nibbling gently on her ear lobe and placing a kiss on her neck, his arm finding its place across her shoulders.

"I guess nothing really changes around here, does it?" she hears Scottie call from behind them and turns around to find her brunette best friend staring at them with a mischievous grin.

"I thought you guys were still in Paris?" she smiles, stepping out of Harvey's embrace, moving to pull Scottie into a hug.

"And miss this? We wouldn't dare," Scottie beams as she steps back and examines Donna.

"Thomas," Donna greets him before pulling him into a hug, leaving Harvey to follow her lead and welcome Scottie with a hug.

"You guys look incredible, Europe must be agreeing with you," Donna says as steps back towards Harvey.

"Us, look at you two. All loved up still like those crazy kids who couldn't keep their hands off each other," Scottie replies as Harvey slips his fingers between Donna's.

"And the kids?"

"Over with Edith," Donna answers, gesturing towards where the kids were playing in the grass.

"They're getting so big! How old are they now?"

"Amelia just turned 6 and Gordon will be 4 next month," Harvey replies proudly, watching as Amelia helps her brother with the game the kids were playing. Amelia was a spitting image of her mother, right down to the flaming locks and the big personality, while Gordon was a perfect mix of his parents, having Harvey's drive and Donna's determination.

"Do my eyes deceive me or is that Dana Scott fresh from the other side of the world?"

"Rach!" Scottie squeals before pulling the brunette in for a hug.

"I've missed you guys," Scottie says, roping Donna back in for a group hug.

"We've missed you little miss globe trotter! How was the summer in Greece?"

"Incredible, remind me to tell you about Santorini," she smirks before the sound of Mike clearing his throat interrupts their girl talk.

"I hate to interrupt but seeing as your loving husbands have volunteered to babysit your children for the night so you ladies can have a 'girls' night' might I suggest telling that story later when there are less prying ears," he says, looking down towards where his daughter Edith was tugging at his jacket.

"Right, sorry," Scottie blushes. She and Thomas didn't have any kids as they were too busy galavanting across Europe and she wasn't quite used to having them around, even if she had babysat for both of her friends when she was in the city.

Mike answers Edith's question and she runs back over to play with Gordon and Amelia, leaving the six adults to catch up over a few beers. Mike and Rachel had moved to Manhattan just before their daughter, Edith, was born and spent most weekends with the Paulsen-Specter's, so the majority of the afternoon was spent learning about what Thomas and Scottie had been up to and mingling with old classmates. Though Rachel wasn't part of their graduating class, she spent most of her time with Donna and Scottie and knew their peers almost better than she knew her own and the afternoon was filled with old memories and laughter.

Donna and Rachel filled Scottie in about their jobs in the city and how the kids were doing while Harvey, Mike and Thomas chatted about sports over a few beers and everything felt like it did ten years prior. No matter how far apart the six of them found themselves, it always felt like no time had passed when they got back together.

At some point in the afternoon, Donna finds herself in a conversation with her former classmate, Louis, and Scottie about the London theatre. She laughs at something Louis says and catches a glimpse of her husband and Mike playing with their kids across the courtyard, laughing as they pass a ball between them and a smile settles on her face.

She always knew Harvey would make an amazing father and day in and day out he proved her right, reading their kids bedtime stories, spending Saturdays with them at the park and taking them in to work with him where he would always let them play lawyer. She never thought she could fall further in love with him but the day she watched him hold their daughter for the first time, she fell a little bit harder.

"He's so good with them," Scottie says as she follows Donna's gaze across the yard towards where Harvey was teaching his son how to throw a ball.

"He really is," Donna muses, watching her little family with adoring eyes.

"You two really got it all didn't you?"

"What do you mean?" Donna asks, turning to face her friend.

"Common Donna, you two have the most epic love story I've ever heard."

"How is it any different than what you two have?"

"Look at the life you two have created for yourselves…" Scottie grins at Donna, "two big shot lawyers from the city and their two adorable kids. You two were practically kids when you fell in love and look at you know, conquering the world together. You know, it's funny, he still looks at you the same way he did back then."

"So does Thomas," Donna points out, watching as Thomas stole yet another glance of his wife from his place across the yard.

"But Thomas always had me, we were never friends before we dated, at least not like you two were. I'm very lucky because he has been incredible, our adventures our greater than anything I ever would have imagined for myself, but it's different. We began in a relationship, he was supposed to look at me that way. But Harvey, he was staring at you with those adoring eyes long before you two got together, and I guess it's just nice to see that he still is."

"I think a part of me always loved him, even if I claimed I didn't," Donna admits, thinking back on all those times she tried to convince herself that they were nothing more than friends.

"Can I let you in on a little secret?" Scottie asks and Donna nods.

"You two were the last to know you were in love."

"What?"

"It was clear as this bright blue sky that you two were head over heels for each other, and you were the only ones who couldn't see it. Hell, even Professor Gerrard knew it!"

"He did not!" Donna chuckles to hide the blush that had crept into her cheeks.

"Don't believe me? We can always go ask him, I'm pretty sure I saw him near the barbecue."

"I'll take your word for it," Donna laughs as Rachel wanders over and joins them.

"What are we laughing about?" She asks as she jumps into the conversation.

"We were just talking about how lucky we got," Scottie informs her as all three women turn towards their husbands who are now engaged in a rather intense game of Monkey-In-The-Middle with the children.

"You would never know they're all successful lawyers," Rachel laughs as she watches Mike dive away from the ball which sends Edith into a giggle fit.

"Well," Donna says raising her wine glass, "to us. Almost fifteen years of friendship, love, and law degrees."

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As the sun begins to fade and the summer sky is painted in hues of marmalade and orange, Donna finds herself wandering across the campus grounds, reminiscing. The kids were playing a game with Thomas and Scottie and she was taking a moment to herself to take it all in.

This was the place that helped make her into the woman she had become, both professionally and personally, and being here, she was feeling sentimental.

As she wanders across campus, she lets her feet lead the way, her mind swimming with visions from a lifetime ago. The girls nights spent at the campus pub. The hangovers she nursed in the library while attempting to push through and study. Exams that left her frazzled, mock trials that led her to become a better lawyer. Every little piece of who she had become had been built using this place as a foundation. She grew up on this campus. She found herself, fell in love and discovered the type of young professional she wanted to be.

It was within the confines of these grounds that she blossomed. She continues across campus until she finds herself in a place that she held close to her heart. The start of her love story, the start of her marriage, and ultimately, the place where her happily ever after began.

She peers around at the empty halls, memories from what felt like a lifetime ago flooding her mind. It appeared as though nothing had changed. The oak walls remained untouched and the floor still creaked beneath the old photograph of Professor Mavious. It was as though time stood still in this hallway. That every memory made here over the past decade had been preserved, placed away in a time capsule that eagerly awaited it's opening. Standing here, in the place where they met, it felt like nothing had changed, only, everything had changed.

Glancing at the worn sign labelling the women's room she smiles to herself, thinking back to the panic she felt on that first day of class. She'd been so young and eager to make a good first impression. If only she could go back and tell herself what she knew now, she would have walked into that classroom with her head held high and never given her dampened shirt a second thought. But she was grateful that she hadn't or she might not ever have gotten to know Harvey. Her young dirty blonde knight in shining armour who stood two feet from where she was currently standing and changed her life.

"Harvey," he reaches out to shake her hand, "Harvey Specter."

"Well thank you, Harvey Specter, I truly appreciate it."

"For a pretty girl like you, always."

They'd gone through so much since that day in the hallway. They graduated, got jobs, got married, started a family. And with each passing day she fell a little more in love with Harvey and the man he had become. He was that same kid who approached her with a one liner about his jacket in the campus bar.

"Excuse me ma'am, you haven't borrowed any suits jackets lately have you?"

Only, he was passionate, determined and dedicated to both his career and their family in a way that pushed her to want to be the best version of herself.

She pulls her arms to her chest as her mind takes her back to that afternoon in this hallway when he asked her to marry him and she smiles softly. If you would have told her ten years ago she would be standing in an old hallway, reliving some of the greatest moments of her life, she never would have believed it. Yet, here she was, so caught up in her past she doesn't hear the footsteps behind her.

"Excuse me, Mrs. Specter, borrow any jackets lately?" He calls out, causing her to swivel and face him.

"Harvey," she coos in a voice that goes straight to his groin.

"Donna," he counters and for a split second she's taken back to a bar, watching as a young Harvey tried to hit on her relentlessly.

"I thought I might find you here," he says, taking a few steps in her direction.

"I was feeling sentimental," she responds, dropping her hands to her sides.

"About the night I asked you to marry me?"

"And the day we first met," she replies, glancing around the hall one more time.

"It's almost like nothing has changed since that day," she adds.

"I mean, you're still the smartest woman I know."

"Flattery will get you everywhere, Mr. Specter," she smirks, moving to stand by his side.

"It didn't back then. I remember trying so hard to impress you, and you never went for it."

"Can I let you in on a little secret?" She smirks, turning so her body is facing his.

"I went for it, I was yours from the moment you put your jacket over my shoulders."

"That always was my lucky jacket," he muses, running his hand down her forearm until his fingers slide between hers.

"I'm pretty sure I was the one who made it lucky for you," she laughs, knowing he was just as much of a romantic as she was and that that day meant a lot to him too.

"Did you ever think we would get here? Get to have all this? After that day we first met I mean?" She asks, stepping close enough to him to have their breaths mingle.

"I always knew you'd graduate at the top of the class, ever since that day I ran into you and you were dripping wet. I knew you would make one hell of a lawyer, even back then. But never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I'd be lucky enough to share all of that with you."

"Harvey-" she sighs, his statement making her tear up.

"I always thought that running into you that day was the greatest thing that ever happened to me, but then you told me you loved me and that became the greatest thing. And then you agreed to marry me, and we had those beautiful kids that are likely out there driving Mike crazy. Basically what I'm trying to say is, I learned that as long as I'm with you, every day is the greatest thing that ever happened to me. Because you're the greatest thing that's ever happened to me."

"Not making name partner?" She teases, even though her eyes are now glossy and tear-filled and her voice is quivering.

"That doesn't even come close to comparing to the day you took my last name," he replies, leaning in to steal a kiss.

"What about signing that big baseball star?"

"Doesn't even crack the top ten," he grins, his hands taking up residence on her hips, anchoring her closer to him.

"What about-?"

"Donna, you and those kids, you'll always be my everything," he cuts her off before she can ask another question.

"I love you, wholeheartedly," she smiles, leaning in to kiss him, a kiss he deepens immediately.

"Now, what do you say we go visit the library? Take a little trip down memory lane?" He asks, wagging an eyebrow at her suggestively, while still holding her against him.

"What about the kids?"

"With their godparents," he mumbles between the kisses he's peppering her lips with, "Besides, I'm feeling extra sentimental about our first time."

"Our first time was at your apartment," she points out, hands falling to his chest.

"I meant our first time on campus," he winks, taking her hand and leading her down the hall.

She stops abruptly half way down the hall, peering into their old classroom. He watches as she slowly wanders in and studies the formation of the desks, noting that the current class must be going through a mock trial. She takes a seat on what would be the opposing councils bench, swinging her legs as she smirks at him.

"What?" He asks, a sly grin on his face.

"Would you have told me how you felt if we hadn't done that trial?"

"Eventually," he states, taking a seat next to her on the countertop.

She falls silent as she peers around the room, taking it all in. He watches her for a few moments, content to just sit by her side while she recalled the past.

"Hey, I have an idea," he says, hoping down off the desk and heading towards the door.

"What?"

"I'm going to go and get Amelia and Gordon, show them where we went to school."

"Oh, I love that," she gushes, following him back out into the hall.

"Are you going to tell them this is where I kicked your ass in debate?" She smirks as they begin to stroll towards the exit, hand in hand.

"I was going to tell them this is where I met and fell in love with their mother," he says, turning to kiss her before she has a chance to respond.

"Mommy!" Amelia calls as she runs down the hall towards her parents, launching herself into Donna's arms as she steps away from Harvey.

"Hi princess," Harvey greets her, as his eyes wander to where Mike and Rachel we're approaching them with Gordon.

"I figured you'd be here and well, they were getting pretty restless," Rachel explains as Harvey scoops Gordon up in his arms.

"Do you guys want to see where daddy met mommy?" Harvey asks, leading his kids down the hall, taking his wife's hand in his as he begins to tell them a story that begins with once upon a time and ends with happily ever after.

To my beta, May, there are not enough thank you's for your time, ideas and support.

To everyone has followed along with this story for the past four months, thank you for your kind words, comments, support and for coming on this little law school journey with me. It really has been a blast to play with these characters in Boston.

xx S