six degrees of separation ; pg-13 ; 739 words ;

epilogue

they aren't okay but they'll both pretend anyway

It's a Friday morning when Ted appears on television to announce his campaign for governor. Donna can't help it when she reaches onto the nightstand for the remote to turn it up. His familiar voice is strong as ever, breaking into the silence of the dark bedroom at nearly 5am. She can only assume that it's an announcement from the day before that's only being replayed, one she had missed because she came in late from work.

"Damn it, Donna," Harvey grumbles, half teasing as he stretches and rolls onto his side. He slides his arm over her waist and tucks his hand beneath her hip, pulling her towards him. He expels a tired breath against her neck as he digs his chin into her shoulder; she has to sink further into him to make it stop. "You think it's loud enough?"

"Ted announced his campaign," she informs him.

Harvey slowly peels an eye open and lifts his head off of the pillow to glance at the tv, "we both knew it was going to happen eventually."

She sighs and rolls her eyes, Harvey's indifference less than amusing when they've had conversations over the last year that particularly avoid Ted's name. Conversations that any time he's on television they both fall silent and listen to what he has to say like they owe him at least that. They both knew they were going to feel a little guilty but they both feel like things are finally how they're supposed to be.

"You can show a little remorse," she replies, setting the remote back on the nightstand.

He grins, "I don't even know what that means."

"Clearly," she counters. She rolls into him, her leg sliding between his without much hesitance, and pushes her palm up his side. The diamond of her ring catches on the sheet for just a split second, almost unnoticeable, as she slips her hand beneath the hem of his t-shirt. "You could at least pretend."

"You're so high maintenance. I think we've heard Ted's voice enough for one morning. Kind of a turn off, don't you think?" Her fingers squeeze his side, thumb digging into his ribcage. His eyes narrow on her and she tucks her bottom lip between her teeth as her knee slide further up between his thighs. She feels him sigh against her skin, a sign that her nails on his scalp are distracting him from falling back to sleep. "Are you going to make me ask?"

"Ask what?" She presses.

He sighs, "why you're awake right now? We got home really late last night and you have a really early day. I would have thought that you'd get more sleep."

"I have an early day?" She scoffs, "I'm calling in sick."

"You haven't missed a day in nine years," he says with a laugh, "I find it hard to believe that you're going to call in sick, especially when you're in bed with your boss."

"You're right," she replies with an elongated sigh, "I think we should break up."

"Like hell we are. I already dished out plenty of money on your ring."

"I know," she gushes, "it's so pretty. Definitely one of the best ones I've been proposed to with."

He shakes his head and rolls his eyes, his teeth momentarily nipping at the skin exposed between her neck and the collar of her (his) shirt. He pushes his fingers up her spine, waiting for her to stop dragging her fingers through his hair so he could concetrate. His lips briefly press against her jaw before he pulls back slightly, attempting to put space between them.

"But you're going to go through with this one, right?"

"Do you think I should?" She asks teasingly.

He smirks, "I think you should. I think you'd be happy with the decision."

"Oh yeah? What about you? Will you be happy?"

His face gets really serious for a moment, his mouth no longer gracing a playful smile as his touch suddenly feels lighter. This is a side of Harvey that she rarely sees, even now when they have been together for months, when they have known each other for years, but he's only ever serious in few rare moments. He doesn't say anything right away, just looks at her for so long that she thinks he's falling back to sleep.

He swallows, "I'm pretty sure it's the only thing that will make me happy."