"That look..." Harvey observes, closing his laptop and fixing his attention on Donna, "means I already want to say no but I'm going to feel guilty if I do. Out with it."

A loose smile tugs her mouth and she glances up from where she's seated opposite his desk. In the few months they've been together he's started reading her with frightening accuracy, making her wonder if he's always been doing it (and hiding the ability) or if he's genuinely just taking more notice now. Either way, his semi-amused gaze makes her blush and she tucks her hair back, swallowing a surprising amount of nerves. "My father's going to be in town this weekend."

It's an open ended sentence, rolling a sigh up through his suddenly pensive lips. "Donna... the man hates me."

"He doesn't know you." She counters, trying to soften his hesitation but he's quick to dismiss any sugar coating.

"Well, he knows enough to have formed an opinion." His gaze dips back to his computer, his fingers winding under the lid and prising it up again. He thought there might be some room for negotiating but it's in all of their best interests to let sleeping dogs lie when it comes to her father.

"You were the one who went in swinging." She's gentle but firm with the reminder, watching his eyes flash defensively.

"To protect you."

Her lungs draw in the weight of his adamacy and she expels a slow breath. She's not accusing him of having the wrong intentions but he could've handled the situation with a little more tact.

Any, tact.

"You threatened him without even talking to me about it."

He did and won't deny it, leaning back in his chair and drumming his fingers against the arm. In hindsight maybe he should have taken a different approach. It certainly would have made things easier now but back then he'd been plucky and firing on all four cylinders. He'd seen someone he cared for about to get hurt and he'd acted. To say he regrets approaching Jim would be stretching things. "He's your father. Whatever I'd said, you would've had a blind spot."

She fights to keep from voicing her frustration, for the simple reason that he might not be able to admit he was wrong but there's scope for it in his expression. Because at the end of the day this about family. He holds those morals in a high regard above everything else and she pulls herself up, taking a step and leaning on the edge of his desk. "You had a blind spot for me for twelve years."

The guilt he was expecting winds its way in and he chews the inside of his cheek, skimming her gaze. She would never force him to agree... because she doesn't have to. If it's important to her, it is to him, and goddamn he's been leaning on a hell of a lot of mistakes recently. "Okay, I'll make us a reservation."

She was always expecting to win, but not easily, and she straightens with a hesitant look that he quickly shuts down. "Donna."

The message is received loud and clear, don't look a gift horse in the mouth, and she edges around to him softening her features. "Thank you."

He relaxes as she nears him, an involuntary reaction, and he reaches out grazing a light touch against her hand. "You don't need to thank me." He wished he could do more to show her he means it but they agreed 'not at work' and he rubs his thumb over her knuckles with smirk, "you might need to step in if he tries to kill me."

She chuckles at the comment, her cheeks warming once again, this time with gratitude. "Just be the amazing man I fell in love with and he'll see exactly what I do."

She pulls free with a smile and he returns the gesture, even if he isn't convinced by her optimism. Still, he didn't become NYCs best closer by sitting on the sidelines. He doesn't lose, and he isn't going to this time.

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

An hour into dinner and the mood is tense, Harvey cutting through his steak as Donna keeps up the light conversation beside him. He can tell she's starting to get irritated by the lack of effort he and her father are putting in, something Jim obviously picks up on as well because he initiates the next comment- though his tone is more prickly than interested.

"So Harvey... I've been reading a lot about the firm in the papers recently.

Donna rolls her fork through her salad, tossing the leaves with a sigh. "Dad."

He shakes his head in defence, raising an eyebrow. "I'm merely pointing out that anyone can run a business into the ground, it's not just the 'common' people who make mistakes."

It's a clear dig despite been directed openly and Harvey fights the instinct to retaliate. He knew it wouldn't be the smooth sailing dinner Donna had predicated, suspects she did as well, which is even more incentive to try and make peace. After everything she's been through with his family she deserves some respite from her own and he eyes Jim across the table, his voice even and steady. "We made some bad decisions, we're handling them."

An amused huff catches in the older man's chest, the deflection from 'I' to 'we' apparent but honestly, he wouldn't have expected any less and sarcasm paints his response. "That's very big of you to admit. Careful, wouldn't want you falling off that high horse."

Harvey's grip tightens around his cutlery and he bites the inside of his cheek reigning in what he'd like to shoot back. The man obviously has a chip on his shoulder but he takes the high road, or at least tries to, dipping his head back to his steak. "I don't think I'm better than you, Mr. Paulsen."

The unexpected attempt at politeness is not only fake, it's degrading, and Jim places down his fork, wiping his mouth with a napkin before clearing his throat. "Then tell me, what do you think Harvey? Or are you too scared to say it in case you put me offside."

Donna cringes at the outburst, feeling Harvey stiffen beside her but to his credit he doesn't retaliate and she jumps in first, before he changes his mind. "Dad, stop-"

"Donna it's okay... he's right." Harvey cuts her off, his irritation fuelled by her being placed in the middle. He's honest to god been trying but he isn't going to sit idly by and be attacked, especially not if it means she's forced to pick up the pieces. "I came to extend an olive branch, not throw around insults, but I didn't slink in with my tail between my legs." He assures, speaking to her but holding Jim's gaze, "if he wants to throw the gesture back in my face, I'm certainly not going to lose sleep over it."

"And what gesture would that be-" Jim snaps, waving an absent hand at their lavish surroundings, "booking a fancy restaurant so you can parade my daughter around, is that what you think remorse looks like."

Harvey almost loses it but manages to keep himself in check. He's not goddamn trying to show any remorse and even if he had been considering it, he's all but done with the idea now. "I think it's better than being a stubborn, old-"

"Enough, both of you." Donna breathes out sharply, collecting her hands on her thighs and swallowing the urge to let her composure slip. She isn't going to guilt them into finding a common ground. If they can't resolve things like civil adults then trying is a mistake and she lifts her gaze to her father first. "I am not being paraded around anywhere. I wouldn't be with someone who had that little respect for me, or you..." she defends but can feel Harvey's smug look even before it breaks his expression and she turns her heard sharply, "two words... they're called an apology, learn them."

She pushes up, stealing her purse from the table and Harvey straightens- annoyed but wearing it with caution. Picking a fight would be a mistake. One that would only serve him with a sharper tongue lashing so he lets her go, hoping she's just visiting the bathroom and not abandoning them entirely. She wouldn't, he doesn't think, but then again his temper might be quick to fire but hers is always more steeled and he reaches for his wine, muttering at Jim. "She get that from you?"

"Her mother." Jim picks up his knife and fork, more passive when it comes to his anger. Despite what his daughter thinks he's only looking out for her and chooses silence over making any further comments.

"That I actually believe." Harvey lifts his mouth from the drink, the quiet leading him to place it back down on the table. They're never going to get anywhere if one of them doesn't bend first and Donna's not so subtle dig rests heavily across his shoulders. He did start this, whether his intentions were honourable or not, and he tries to find an angle of compromise. "I'm not going to apologise for being proud-" he starts, fixing his position so there's no mistaking what he's about to say, "I've built a career out of going after what I want but this isn't about me, it's about Donna." It's the truth in more ways than one and he sticks to what he is willing to admit, circling his fingers around the stem of the glass and swallowing his pride. "If you want my honestly, I know she's too good for me... and I was afraid of that for years, scared I'd screw up any sort of relationship and hurt her."

"And yet, here we are." Jim counters, but his doubt is shadowed by the faintest hint of curiosity urging him to let the man continue.

"She's made me a better person." Harvey lets his hand fall from the stem, winding it back into his lap. Donna's helped him accept every single thing he's sure would've broken him otherwise and all he wants to do is be that better man for her. "You can believe me or not, but I didn't come here to rub anything in. You're her father, you love her... and I respect that."

It's the first time since they've met that Jim actually thinks he's being genuine, though he keeps his gratitude guarded, offering the man some tailored advice. "Being proud isn't a flaw Harvey, lacking humility is... so focus those efforts on being less arrogant and I may just start to believe you."

Surprising he isn't insulted by the comment. In fact, it's close to something his own father might have said once, and his mouth twists around a smirk. "How arrogant would it be to move us from Sauvignon to a single malt."

"Overdue." Jim encourages, finally ready to start looking beyond the lawyer to the man sitting across from him. His reservations aren't going to be fixed by a fancy steak but his daughter has never shown herself to be a bad judge of character. That much drove him here, now it's up to Harvey to prove Donna right because never mind an olive branch.

Her mother's going to expect a goddamn tree.

AN: I was supposed to be sorting my life out today but wrote this instead XD How excited am I about Harvey trying to impress Donna's father. I CAN'T EVEN. I want to be in a bubble that only lets Thursdays in hahaha.