Million and one

A darvey fanfiction

(Again, this is unbeta-ed, you've been warned – sorry for the mistakes. Last chapter folks, brace yourselves!)

Part 13 - Committed

"Good morning, Donna!" Your mother greeted me. "Do you want some coffee?"

"Yes, please," I thank her and sit down next to Katie.

We're all pretty quiet. Katie and Marcus are staring at us while eating their breakfast. I notice you and Bobby join Lily in the kitchen to get some more toasts. As I can't take that silent treatment anymore, I take this as an opportunity to let my frustration out.

"What?" I ask, pouring myself a glass of orange juice and proceed to check my surroundings to see what the kids are doing - they're playing - before whispering: "I know I'm the most beautiful Donna you've ever seen but my threesome days are behind me."

"You just told me you didn't see anything!" Katie hit Marcus in the chest.

"I -" Marcus began but Donna cut him off.

"He saw everything." Donna nodded and smirked, taking a sip of her juice.

"Well you got to see us last night so…" Katie let the words trail off, slightly embarrassed.

"You guys seemed to be having fun." Donna took another sip, waggling her eyebrows suggestively.

"We were," Katie stressed. "I saw how surprised you looked. It's not what you think. We're not getting back together."

"Oh…" Donna let out, somehow a little saddened that the two people who had never looked more like a couple than today didn't want to go down the marital path again. "So this was goodbye sex?"

"I certainly hope it wasn't the last time…" Marcus began, gazing at Katie's face. He bore the most protective and loving look in his eyes.

"Marcus…" Katie touched his arm.

"Yeah, I know. We've had a good run so far. Thirteen years, that's more than most people can dream of these days."

This picked Donna's interest. "Thirteen years?"

Donna always thought they'd been together longer than that.

"Well we got married thirteen years ago."

"In a week," Katie clarified.

"What do you say we wait another week for me to sign those papers?"

"I say, I like that lucky number," Katie smiled.

"In some cultures, it's not," Marcus pursed his lips.

Katie offered him a genuine smile that encapsulated a thousand feelings, questions and answers that would need more than a day to get over with. So he continued his previous explanation: "But anyway, we agreed that it was best we found some common ground and kept the love we've shared so far for one another at bay and secure it for our kids. I need to get better. Find myself again. And I can't be the reason that prevents her from moving on either."

The uncertainty in Marcus's voice got to Donna. The younger Specter still hated himself for putting his wife through so many ordeals.

"I don't want to move on, Marcus." Katie reassured him. "But he's right. We'll have some amazing sex for a while and think everything's great again until it won't be."

"And we both need to have a healthy relationship. It's in our kids' best interest." Marcus concluded.

Donna realized Katie was feeling the same. Unsure as to where they'd go from here. But she was helping him, keeping him grounded and safe.

"I'm truly sorry and happy for you at the same time. You need to tell Harvey that," Donna added.

"I will. Before you guys leave. I will," Marcus said.

"But Donna, I have to ask. Last night you looked like you'd seen a ghost. I mean I get that seeing us like this wasn't ideal but -"

"I thought you were Harvey and…" Donna explained, still cringing from the image.

"Oh come on! Harvey never would have -" Marcus began before changing his angle of approach. "He loves you. Last night he told me I was a fool who was just in love with his wife." He turned to Katie. "I am and I'll always be no matter what or how long it takes for us to go back there."

"She'll always love you too, you fool." Katie caressed the back of his hand.

Marcus squeezed her hand back before he continued, addressing Donna again. "I know he's just like me… us. He'll never love anyone else the way he loves you. You're his window girl."

"I'm his what?"

"You're my what?" Harvey looked pale coming back from the kitchen with Bobby and Lily.

"Your window girl," Lily repeated, smirking.

"Who's that?" Donna asked.

"Here's your coffee, dear," Lily said pouring a cup. Her avoidance of the question didn't slide by Donna.

"And some liquid vanilla," Bobby handed her the bottle. "Harvey said it's how you take it."

"Thanks," Donna said turning her attention back to Harvey. "So, who am I?"

"Later," Harvey let out.

"Wow, sure, okay!" Donna said before mumbling 'rude' through gritted teeth.

Harvey seemed impatient and lacking confidence. He scratched his head. "Marcus, living room now!"

"Ucle Harbey!" Olivia ran to her uncle and jumped in his arms.

"Saved by the progeny!" Marcus jumped out of his seat and added: "Katie, can you come with me for a second?"

Harvey lifted Olivia in the air.

"In a moment." Katie turned to Donna and spoke in a low voice. "See this man over here Donna? You'll never be parted from him. You guys aren't me and Marcus. You've had time to grow apart. That's what we need right now. But you don't. In some twisted way, I think you and I have both found our happiness. But our way of getting there was just different. I don't have to wish you good luck. I guess that fateful number's on your side."

"How do you know I've known him for thirt-"

"Who do you think Harvey brought as a plus one the day I got married?"

"A blonde?" Donna smirked for she somehow knew this wasn't going to be Katie's answer.

"Maybe, I don't remember her to be honest. But I remember him calling you a few times."

"It was probably work related." Donna shrugged off.

"When the brunette wasn't around," Katie insisted.

"So you do remember her." Donna arched a brow.

"It was work related and yet, it wasn't," she teased. "And forget the blonde."

"So, not a brunette anymore?"

"Donna!" Katie said, making sure Harvey who was still focusing all his attention on the little girl wasn't eavesdropping on them.

"Sorry," she apologized.

"I teased him about the way he was smiling over the phone. I called him out on it and asked him who it was. He said it was no one. So I pressed. Took a wild guess that wasn't so wild after all and asked him if she was funny but ugly?"

The suspense was killing her. Donna held her breath for a second before blurting out: "What did he say?"

"He said –" Katie began but Harvey cut her off.

"Not any of your goddamn business."

Katie bit her lips. "Hm, I don't recall –"

"Katie!" Harvey growled.

"Aaand I better go see Marcus."

Olivia giggled a couple of times, the sound filling the house with happiness. Harvey then proceeded to give her a light kiss on the forehead before putting her down. She looked happier than she had the night before. She ran to Donna after and whispered: "Thank you Autie Donna."

"For what?" Donna asked the little girl.

She asked Donna to pull her into a hug and said once secured n her arms. "Mommy and Daddy are happy again."

Katie heard everything and it brought tears to her eyes. She stroked her daughters back and mouthed the sincerest of thank you-s to Donna.

"And you definitely aren't ugly by the way," Katie appropriately corrected before joining Marcus in the living room.

The redhead knew things wouldn't go smoothly for Marcus and Katie but at least they were on the same page regarding their kids. Their happiness mattered more than their mistakes. Mistakes come and go but Donna stood by this idea that two people have to want to be together to be happy. And it was clear to her that despite their love for each other, they didn't think being together would make them happier. The last time it had led to their impending divorce. Donna hoped they could find their way towards one another again. But for now a way to make the lives of those around them better would have to suffice. And seeing that Olivia's face had brought so much joy to Lily, Bobby, Harvey and the two parents, Donna couldn't think of a better reunion for now. Marcus and Katie hadn't been apart for the last thirteen years. And as soon as it had dawned on Donna that it was the exact same amount of time she and Harvey had been friends for, she wanted nothing more than for that number to disappear.

Olivia was still clinging on to Donna tightly. Harvey approached them both and sat on the chair that was formerly occupied by Katie.

"Do you ever want one?" Harvey asked bluntly.

It took her aback. This wasn't the conversation she wanted to have with Harvey while Olivia was sitting on her lap.

"What?" She asked, feigning cluelessness.

"Or two?" He smiled up at her before caressing Olivia's back.

The question was loaded. He wanted kids. With her. He wasn't just hoping for a lifetime. He was hoping for a legacy. Thirteen years later. Maybe thirteen years too late. Donna wasn't so sure her number was up. He certainly was the one man she wanted to have kids with – only because she didn't think he'd bring it up so soon.

"A little me? Oh yes Autie Donna, say yes! I want a little…" Olivia was searching for the proper word.

"Cousin?" Donna offered, staring at Harvey.

"That's it! Say yes, Donna! Say yes,"

"Yes, Autie Donna, say yes," Harvey added, playfully.

"Yes," she blurted out before adding, "but –"

"No buts!" He cut her off.

"Harvey, can you come with me for a second," Katie asked all the way from the living room before stopping at threshold leading to the kitchen. "And Donna can you keep an eye on Olivia for a second?"

"Yeah, sure," she said.

"And if you see Nathan tell him to pack up his bag," Katie added before leaving the room with Harvey.

"I can't wait to meet my first cosin," Olivia said to Donna once the other adults had left.

Nathan arrived at the perfect moment. "Hey Donna where are my parents?"

"They're talking to your uncle. They asked me to tell you to pack up your belongings. And take your sister with you while you're at it."

"Are you mad Autie Donna?" Olivia asked cryptically.

"No, honey bun, I just need to pack my things too."

Until someone else wants some more. You are my more Harvey but it seems you want even more than that. That "will you" you never finished this morning still haunts me and now you're saying you want to make a baby with me? Maybe even two? I'm not getting any younger so that would mean now. All I can say is why the hell did you wait thirteen years if all you've ever wanted was this? You make it sound so easy. At some point your heart wasn't in it. This commitment. What changed? I watch the kids leave and I'm about to go out when a familiar hand grabs mine.

"So, what's going on?" Harvey asked the couple before him.

"We just wanted to thank you for what you did this weekend," Katie explained.

"And what did I do exactly?"

"You helped us decide who we want to be for our kids," Marcus added.

Harvey tilted his head to the side with a hopeful look on his face. "Are you guys getting back together?"

"No." Marcus left no room for confusion to set in.

"I don't get it… Why would you have sex then?"

"Because sometimes Harvey, that's the only way to start communicating again," Katie explained shyly.

"And I'm great in the sack," Marcus joked.

Katie elbowed him.

Marcus ran his hand smoothly on his side. "Fine, we just missed us. But we need some time apart."

"Then how does this newfound relationship of yours…" He made circles with his hand, index finger switching from Marcus to Katie before continuing, "make things better? What about Nathan and Olivia?"

"As far as they're concerned, nothing's changed. We're fully separated. But at least we're friends again and," she paused, looking lovingly at her ex-husband, "we haven't had so much fun in ages. It's like there's something new between us. A commitment that's bigger than our marital problems."

"Cut the crap, you guys just had trust-issues because of his gambling!" Harvey practically shouted.

"Trust issues are marital problems, Harvey," Marcus countered.

Harvey turned to Katie, trying to find some common ground. "You can't trust that he won't use the kids to cover up for his addictions again, Katie!"

"I can't. But I married him for a reason. And that reason still stands. I love him and I know he wants what's best for his kids. The only reason why he would lie would be for selfish reasons. Now that he knows I'm not going anywhere, he can ask for my help and won't have to lie to me about it. Besides, you made sure I can't take the kids away from him."

"So long as he doesn't do something stupid," Harvey said.

"I won't hurt Katie ever again, Harv'" Marcus stated.

"So you're saying you're keeping each other at arm's length so as to not break each other's hearts? Only to make sure neither of you can really move on from one another?" Harvey turned to Katie again. "How twisted is that?"

"You're the one to talk!" Marcus fired back. "Isn't it what you did with Donna to some degree for the better part of your adult life?"

"What did you just say to me?" Harvey closed his hand into a fist.

"Don't use that stance with me. You know I'm right. You wanted everything with this woman and yet which is why you made sure she could never move on from you: offering her a job, keeping her close, taking care of her. You were no better, Harvey."

"That… that wasn't the same." Harvey released his empty grip. "I…"

"You were protecting her from you, Harvey," Katie explained, taking a step forward to take Harvey's hand in hers. "Because you were afraid you'd screw up the one relationship you truly wanted."

"Which is exactly what Katie and I are planning to do moving forward," Marcus confirmed. "To save our family."

A tear rolled down Harvey's cheek as he chuckled. "You guys are idiots."

"Maybe we are," Marcus said, patting his brother on the back before adding. "But it's better than having no relationship at all, wouldn't you say?"

"That's what the old me would have said."

"Harvey," Katie began. "The old you built your relationship with Donna too."

Harvey remained still.

Old me. New me. It doesn't matter. I am committed. And as enigmatic as Katie's words are I think I can find some appreciation in them. I love Donna more than anything in this world and because of that I don't always think. An hour ago I wanted to ask her to marry me. And then some ten minutes ago I was asking her if she wanted kids. I've been rushing against time as if I were in Katie and Marcus's shoes all this time. I want all of those things. But just because I want them doesn't mean I'm doing it for the right reasons. I've been pressuring her into the kind of stability I've always wanted. She deserves my truths and fears; for my desires are merely just a result of those.

"Lily you scared me," Donna lied, recognizing the woman's soft grasp.

"Can I show you something?" Lily asked, leading Donna outside.

Donna agreed and followed Lily to the garden. They were standing in the middle of it when Lily asked: "What do you see?"

"I beg your pardon?" Donna wasn't sure she understood.

"When you look at this place? What do you see?"

Donna took in her surroundings. Not that she needed to look much at the place. "I see a beautiful house and garden, a couple of trees, a fence…"

"You're right it is a beautiful house."

"I'm sorry Lily, I don't see where you're going with this."

"I'll tell you what I see." Lily paused and took a deep breath. "I see a lonely house with a once broken family with a mother who still loved her husband very much. And because of that love, she asked her son to lie for her. That woman was feeling lonely. And the lifetime she'd been promised when she got married vanished because life just doesn't always go according to plan. Whether it's your husband's job taking over everything or having to put your own needs aside for the one you love."

Donna chose not to interrupt. She never judged the woman. On the contrary, she understood all too well what she had gone through.

"What I see when I look at this house is the lack of neighbors on this side of the house. There's no one to call for help. And then I see that window up here. Harvey's room. I remember how he kept staring out it, sometimes for hours, telling himself stories out loud."

Lily pointed at the window and walked up to Donna. "You might want to know about that one specific story."

The window girl?

"Yes, of course you do. I can tell by your eyes." Lily sat down on the two-days-old mowed grass. "Sit with me, will you?"

Donna didn't care one bit about her Gucci pants and sat down next to the woman who'd made her feel at home over one weekend. "Harvey was about eleven when it started. He was very creative and had quite the imagination. I thought he was too old to have imaginary friends. But I knew I was responsible. My cheating… it happened in the room next to his. I knew he could hear us but I was a mess and –"

Donna could tell this was forcing repressed memories to the surface. "Lily, if this is too painful…"

"I sought help for this Donna. I can do it now. It's okay," Lily licked her lips, found some composure again and continued. "I guess he wanted to understand girls – women, a little more, and since he was a little league boy with barely any girls around to play with, he started picturing a perfect embodiment of our sex. A girl who was loyal to him, challenging his deepest feelings and thoughts on many subjects. She was someone who wasn't me that he could trust. I remember him asking this pretend girl once whether he was pretty."

Both Donna and Lily chuckled.

"And then he got older and stopped talking to her. But I knew she was around somehow, she was the neighbor, in that non-existing house across the garden; she was his escape. From this place. From his own family. She was the embodiment of, the dream-like family he wanted. She was his window onto a world he had every form of control over. It was his certain form of uncertainty."

"What does this have to do with me?"

"After everything I just said, I thought you'd be the one to open my eyes on son's feelings for you."

"I'm not her, Lily. He was just a boy who'd made up some fantasy girl," Donna said.

"Weren't you loyal to him all these years?"

"Yes but –" Donna began but Lily kept going.

"Didn't you challenge him?"

Those rapid fire questions weren't preventing her from thinking her answers through. "He surely could never stop me from trying."

Lily smiled up at Donna. "Do you think he's pretty?"

Donna smiled back and couldn't help but flash a tender look in her eyes at the woman behind lawyer-extraordinaire Harvey Specter.

"Then commit to him. Let him give you what you want."

Donna looked away for a moment and sighed. "He asked me if I want kids, you know?"

"Why do you think I brought you here? The walls in this house are very thin, remember?" The older woman laughed.

"I said yes because Olivia was here and I was feeling all this pressure…" Donna let the words trail off as if she didn't have the strength to face them all.

"I think the question isn't whether or not you want kids, I think you're afraid. Maybe because the clock's ticking, maybe because you're afraid of needing medical assistance, I don't know. But what I do know is that you both need to decide if you're ready to go through the good and the bad as a unit or not."

"We've been together for the better part of five days, Lily! Five!" Donna rationalized.

"You want me to say he's rushing into this and using some old boy fantasy to support his madness."

"Yes! Because that's exactly what all of this is!" Donna blurted out.

"But I won't say it. Instead I'll tell you he's had thirteen years where he didn't have to make her up."

I'm speechless as I watch your mother stand up and go. Like mother like son. You two have a tendency to do that. Maybe I've done it too. Yeah I definitely have and sometimes it's annoying; sometimes gut-wrenching and sometimes necessary. I'm left alone with my thoughts. Now, I'm the one staring at that window. It's so high up above me. That's when your silhouette hits me like a flash. You must be packing. I don't think you noticed me. But I noticed you. And my heart's beating faster as I realize I've been admiring you from down here. Your 'life's like this speech and I want this' has never meant more to me than today as I believe I got up there with you. Maybe I was the one in that invisible house after all. Maybe we were always on the same page, at the same level and I was just looking at you from the wrong angle. I should have just seen what was right in front of me all along. The glass wall may just happen to have been my own fantasy. Damnit Harvey! Why is the grown ass woman that I am even considering the fact that you were my very own window man? Yeah… I know why.

Donna stood up from the grass for she had some packing to do too. For the first time in this get-away-slash-meet-a-working-dysfunctional-family weekend, she wanted nothing but the comfort of New York City, a glass of scotch and him.

I'm packing when you come through the door. You look just as beautiful as ever. I probably forgot to tell you earlier. Because I'm an idiot. I should tell you every day. So I drop my suitcase on the bed, I walk up to you and as I put my arms around your waist, I do just that.

"You're beautiful," Harvey said.

Donna smiled up at him and said: "If you keep saying stuff like that to me and holding me close, we might miss our flight."

"I'm in no hurry to get back to work." He shrugged.

"But I..." She brought her mouth close to his ear and uttered, "want you to take me home, to your place and make love to me all night."

"I can do that." He gulped.

"I know you can." She smirked, placing her arms around his neck.

"I want to do that." He observed, caressing the small of her back.

She let go of him and he did the same. She watched him pick up his suitcase and stare at the window one last time. His shoulder tensed up. She knew he was about to say something that had everything to do with communication. "This is ridiculous." He turned around.

"What is?" Donna asked, bracing herself once more.

"I told Katie you were a man's worst nightmare and fantasy at the same time."

Donna was speechless.

"And that I wanted nothing but to find you undesirable. But you and I hadn't had sex yet and I just couldn't stop flirting with you at work and over the phone apparently. And it bothered me that she'd figured it out before I did. That's why I snapped at her earlier."

Donna tried to force more words, more truths out of him. "Figured out that you…"

"That I was feeling everything I wanted to feel. And that for the first time… it was real. It never felt that real with any of the women I've been with. Maybe it was because I never had to lie to you."

"You lied about one thing though," she uttered.

"That I wanted you? Come on, Donna. You know it wasn't that simple."

"I know that… But thank you," Donna said.

"Thank you? And that's it?" He frowned.

"It can wait, window boy." She winked at him.

He watched her, wide-eyed at the realization that someone must have talked to her about it. His mother most certainly.

"Now, let me pack up my things. I'll be downstairs with you shortly. We don't want to miss our flight."

Donna heard him call out his mother like a twelve year old and inevitably sniggered at his baffled tone.

You don't know this yet but Mom and I spent the last thirty minutes talking. It felt good. Honest. And if you knew just how much she validated your presence in my life, you'd be able to grasp how much you've helped us mend our offenses. As I watch you join us downstairs with Marcus behind you holding your bag, I realize we've all been talking to the members of my family for the past two days.

As I tell Nathan he can have my baseball bat, I notice Katie saying Olivia's got a present for you. You're beaming as my niece hands you what looks like a drawing. You hold it close to your heart and say you'll get it framed. I ask you if I can see it and of course you show it to me. It's me and you and Olivia eating sweets with hearts everywhere; she's got mom's eye for details and drawing skills for sure.

I hug Marcus, Katie and shake Bobby's hand until I realize I'm being an idiot. The man's been nothing but the perfect guy – step dad – to me; to us all this weekend. So I hug him too and he says something that does something to my heart. "Your dad would be proud of you for getting that girl. Hang on to her," he whispers. I pat his back and nod. You follow suit and hug everyone after me. I'm kissing Mom goodbye and give her the longest hug. She says she loves me and that we should come back soon. And I tell her Bobby and her can stay and visit anytime. From the looks of it, I'm certain you won't mind. Besides I don't see why we can't keep both our places. Mike and Rachel certainly kept their pied-à-terre in New York before moving to Seattle.

I catch a couple of words Mom says to you. The sort that could have had me dead on the spot.

"I've never seen him so happy. You make him happy."

And she's right. I told you before. You do. Whenever I see your face. Whenever I catch that look in your eyes that is reserved for me. Whenever I can hold your hand the way I'm about to so as to lead you out of my childhood place. Whenever our reciprocated feelings take over us, make us, break us for a while only to patch us up.

As I start up the engine and we wave our final goodbyes, I'm neither happy to leave nor sad to go because you know everything. And you got me to know myself and who I want to be.

The small talk on our way to the airport was nice until you had to check your phone and realized Louis had left you a dozen messages. Of course the man knew I'd never check mine – especially when I knew most messages would be from him.

I tell you we'll deal with it tomorrow and you say I'm right. What do you think, Donna? I'm always right. My smug face makes you roll your eyes and you scoff before snuggling closer to me. The engine of the plane makes you doze off but I can't sleep. There's too much on my mind. And it's definitely not just work related.

We're about to land. I should wake you but I don't want to yet. As I watch your sleeping form with you head resting on my shoulder, your light complaints of before about you not being my secretary anymore resonate in my mind, and put a smile on my face. We'll forever be able to joke about this because I know you don't regret it. Sure, it was about you taking care of me 99% of the time. But I still hope somehow that I evened this out. I'm not an idiot. I know I have. And I will never stop. You're my partner, Donna and as I kiss your temple, I feel you squeeze my thigh in appreciation. God, you're such a mind reader.

When we reach your condo, it's the night already. If I look spellbound to you it's because I really am. I've been here many times before; only never as Harvey Specter's goddamn girlfriend. I walk up to the windows and can hear you take our luggage to your bedroom. I'm in trouble because I know I'm getting used to this. You… Taking care of me; without needing grand gestures like bringing me flowers, offering me a car ride or saving me from an awful fate.

I take in the view for a moment and find it breathtaking. But it's just a view and I feel alone. I wonder if you've ever felt this way, watching all of those lit skyscrapers, towering the New York City skyline. It's a larger window for sure but did it ever bring you the satisfaction you wanted? I sigh. Overthinking window metaphors really wasn't what I had been planning on doing tonight. I head to the bathroom to freshen up and when I come out, you're the one staring out that window. Barefoot. Hands in your pockets. Sexy as hell and just as deep in thought as I was earlier. As I walk up to you, I realize you took off your cardigan and are left with the most blueish clean white HS branded shirt I've ever seen.

"Your reflection in my window… it looks good," Harvey said, never turning back.

"If I didn't know you that well, I'd say you were the embodiment of the Byronic hero…" She moved in slowly, circling her arms around his waist from behind and uttered against his strong back: "a proud, moody, cynical – no not really – with defiance on his brow, implacable in revenge and misery in his heart… and something about yet capable of deep and strong affection."

She could see him smirk from the reflection of the glass. "Did you just quote that from memory?"

"You always forget I know plays by heart," she shrugged.

"Louis knows plays by heart, you suck at remembering your lines," he joked.

She gently hit his shoulder. "I've always been saving the best ones."

He chuckled before tensing up again.

"So… Are you brooding over God knows what just to get the girl at the end of the novel? Because I'm pretty sure you already have her," she teased, placing her chin on his shoulder, holding him tighter.

His tone turned serious. "I'm scared of being alone. Of people leaving me. But you already know that."

"I know," she sighed in understanding.

"I want to be the guy who's got a home to come back to. A family that has room for us two and more if life ever grants it. Cause you're more than my family. You're my life, Donna." He turned around and pressed his hand against her cheek.

"Harvey –" she tried to say but he wasn't finished.

"I'm not perfect, Donna. I wish I was good enough for you but I'm not. So if it's me you want, it's the best you're going to get."

"You are the best, Harvey," she reassured him, resting her hands on his chest.

"Then build a family with me, marry me and move in with me," he said, pulling a small box out of his pocket.

Donna's eyes dropped to the black box that could hold nothing but a ring in it. She closed her eyes and then smiled up at him. "All in that order?"

"And all of it." He smiled back and opened the box before taking her left hand in his. "And taking my messages from Louis for me, of course."

"Only if I get a foot massage every night," she challenged.

"Deal," he said, placing the ring she hadn't had a chance to look at on her finger.

"Deal," she replied, kissing him before hugging him tight. The view of them was staring back at her.

I take in the view for a moment again and find it breathtaking. It's not just a view. It's you and me, framed together.

"How long have you had that ring?" Donna asked, truly looking at it for the first time since he'd put it on her finger.

"Mom gave it to me earlier. it was my grandmother's. She gave it to my Dad who proposed to my mother with it," Harvey admitted.

"It's beautiful." The ring was elegant; a three-stone engagement ring with a grey sapphire in the middle.

"When she gave it to me she said: 'Just in case you want to ask her a year from now.'" He tucked a lock of hair behind her ear and searched her eyes. "I didn't want to wait that long."

"And you're okay with your Mom giving me her old ring… your father's ring?" Donna asked, a flash of concern hitting her face.

"Donna... she never stopped wearing it," he explained. "I didn't understand it at first. I couldn't. The ease with which she gave it to me, asking me to propose with it… It means the world to me."

"I'm…," she never finished that sentence as tears threatened to take over. Another kind of impulse took over. Only the kiss she gave him could communicate the unspoken, the implicit and the truth. This. Everything, had been done out of love.

"Wait a minute!" She frowned and broke the kiss. "How about you move in with me?"

"Who said anything about moving to my place?"

"True," she narrowed her eyes. He probably had won this battle but she didn't seem to give a care in the world anymore, watching him eyeing her wickedly with that smug face of his. She took a good look at the ceiling, then a quick glance at his bedroom door before setting her eyes on the scenic window." But just so you know… I don't mind your view." She sucked on his earlobe. "At all."

It was always the matter of when.

We perform in reverse. I let my lips trail everywhere but on your mouth.

My spirit is weak.

We thrive on unfinished business.

The last time I let myself feel this way, it was a long time ago.

And it's now, Donna. The never is gone.

Let me show you just how yours I am; let me caress your hair, rub my hands against your skin.

You got down on not one but two knees in the end. Sounds familiar.

Let yourself feel this way, Donna.

And I drop to the floor. Yes. Be still Harvey and keep your mouth down here.

There's no way to rehearse. You're the light to my end. The view onto my love.

This is all we ever sought. Those lights are the days we had, the days we'll discover together. Let's dream our life away together and cherish the million and one nights and days left ahead of us.

The end.

MAO
MAO
MAO

This was the last one folks. I hope you understood the last part. You're not supposed to be able to differentiate the points of view here even though sometimes I used their names to make it clear. All you need to know is yes, Harvey's clearly doing something nice to Donna ^^ but I figure it's the rest that matters most. ;)

I like open endings even though I made it pretty clear that they're going to have everything. So picture the wedding, the kids and the white picket fence. I'm okay with that. That's how I see it too.

I'm sure some of you wanted more but isn't it good to want more sometimes? I know that's what keeps me reading fanfics. There are marvelous writers out there. Read them. And review.

This was probably my last long darvey fic. But you never know.

Happy season 9 gals. We've earned it. And besides even if the stories suck, Harvey and Donna could read the phone book they'd still be awesome.

Thank you you know who.

Thanks to all of the loud and quiet people who followed this story. It wasn't the easiest to write but I think I ended it the way I was supposed to.

See you soon. I'm always one tweet away anyway. ;)

Yours,

B.