no strings attached

.

It's early, so early that there is barely any light peeking through the curtains of her bedroom. Donna's breath is coming out evenly against Harvey's neck but he knows she isn't asleep. There's something about early mornings with her, something about the way she curls up to him, in a comfortable state between awake and asleep, that he loves. Sometimes Donna reveals what's on her mind in those moments and he quietly listens to her.

"I love you without any strings attached," Donna whispers, her voice latched with raw emotion as her thumb gently strokes his cheek. "Even if we never get married, never have children, never buy a house, you know I will be by your side, where I've always been, right?" Blinking, she looks up at him, eyes small from sleep, crinkling at the corners with affection she reserves only for him.

What a plot twist, he thinks. All this time he had been too afraid to acknowledge his feelings for her thinking he wasn't what she needed. But being with her has shown him that he doesn't need to be anything that he isn't already. She just wants him. Flaws included. It doesn't matter to her as long as they are a team, partners in every way. The realisation that he is it for her; come sunny or rainy days, takes an unimaginable burden off his shoulders.

He wants to give her that, everything. A family and a home. He can finally admit that but sometimes he still has these nagging thoughts that are eating away at him, telling him he isn't good enough and that she will leave him if he can't be all that she needs. They've been together barely a month and it's been exhilarating and mind-blowing but he hasn't thought past the here and now and that Donna is his everything.

A gentle smile tugs at the corners of his mouth and he buries his hands in her tresses, holding her close, almost as if he's grounding himself, letting her warmth and their new reality seep into his body and his consciousness. Donna is with him, not just physically but emotionally as well, telling him that her love for him is enough for her.

It soothes a worry inside of him that he'd barely begun to acknowledge but Donna had seen it anyway.

"Donna, I want to give you everything," he replies, his voice deep and raspy.

"I know," she simply replies, reassuring him instantly.

"And we will have everything. I just–" His hands glide down to her shoulders, caressing her bare arms until they settle on her waist, pulling her body even closer. "I haven't figured it all out yet but that doesn't mean I don't want it."

Donna nods, understanding what he means, even if he doesn't say it.

But he wants to say it, needs to say it.

"I want to figure it out with you. Whatever we want, we can have it. We've kept our feelings inside for so long and for what? I want to share my life with you, Donna. In every way. And that includes marriage, children, a home." His eyes are open and honest, a rare vulnerability shining in them as he lays all his cards on the table, too.

Donna's eyes mirror his, eyes teary and a slow smile spreading on her face. "You know I want all of this with you. I'm just saying, you're enough for me, Harvey. You're what I want the most. Just you." Her voice is soft and sweet and god, he loves this woman so much.

He can't not kiss her. His lips meet hers in a series of soft pecks, moving on to her nose, her cheeks, her forehead. Her face scrunches up and he breathes against her mouth, "I love you too if you haven't guessed already," and it feels natural, being open with her. This is their forever.