August 5th 2003
It's the first time they do this, go together to a fancy restaurant to celebrate the day Donna joined his office.
'Let's agree to this' she had said with excitement, 'every year on the 5th of August, we clear whatever we have and have dinner together at La Posta' she had explained.
'What if we're twenty years from now and you have four mini you running around?' he had teased with a smirk, leaning close to her while he sat on her desk.
'My husband would take care of them for the night' she huffed, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. She was secretly happy he thought they'd last this long and wondered how he knew she had always wanted four kids.
He chuckled. 'But if we're married, that would be a problem' he flirted again, her blush not escaping him.
"Oh if I married you then there must be one" she teased jokingly, making him roll his eyes at her, a smile lighting his face.
'Every year, same day, same place?' he asked, extending his hand.
'Every year, same day, same place' she confirmed, shaking his hand as his thumb caressed her skin.
"This is a nice place" Harvey observed. It was his first time there. "Did one of your exes introduce you to it?" he teased.
'Nop. I thought I'd find a place where I never had a date or you a conquest. It's been a tough job, believe me' she said, exhaling in a dramatic tone.
'So this is like our special place?' he said, leaning in over the table, his eyes flickering to her cleavage.
'Special place? What's next, necklaces with matching half hearts?' she mocked, trying to fake annoyance, unable to suppress a smile.
"What's next is you and me, at my place, where I will demonstrate to you that idea I drew the other day" he whispered, his voice husky.
She smiled widely, her tongue purposely trailing a bit longer on her lip. She seemed to be considering it, before she leaned in again, whispering: 'Keep dreaming Harv'
They kept it going all night; the back and forth flirting, the sexual innuendos, the looks and whispers. But when time came for them to leave, Harvey dropped Donna home, as she left a small kiss on his cheek, biding him goodnight.
August 5th, 2004
This time was different. They had just slept together a week ago, and she had agreed to work for him at a new firm, on a condition that they wouldn't talk about it.
The tension was palpable, some awkwardness filling the atmosphere the first ten minutes. He couldn't stop his eyes from focusing on her lips as she sipped from her wine glass, his mind wandering back to that time her body shivered under his lips.
She seemed to know his thoughts exactly, as her eyes caught his, neither of them aware of the waiter standing idly by.
Soon the awkwardness was replaced by excitement for the new journey ahead. She listened attentively to him talk about his big dreams, about how his name would make the wall, about how THEY will do it; together. They made plans for his suits collection, his office decoration, talking about everything from coffee to dinner. They spent the rest of the night making plans together, as Donna felt the same twist in her stomach she had felt when he asked her to come work for him.
Sure, she was over the moon about his work plans that included her, but couldn't help but wonder if he would ever talk about anyone –her for example, with the same passion he spoke with about his work.
He glanced at her and knew; with her around, he'd be at his top.
August 5th, 2008
Things were good for them; he had been appointed senior partner, things at the firm were smooth and for an unknown reason, their banter was back again. Never as dirty as their first years together, time had made some words prohibited, some thoughts shut deep down. But they were here, throwing side smirks and looks that lasted longer than they should.
'What's your dream destination?' he asked her, out of the blue.
'As in vacation destination?' she asked.
'Yeah, vacation, living, whatever' he shrugged.
'No not whatever' she said with shock. 'It makes all the difference in the world' she said matter-of-factly.
'Enlighten me then' he said curiously.
'For vacation, Greece. For shopping and some romance, Paris of course. For retirement Florence' she listed as he carefully took in all the information thrown at him.
'What about here?' he asked.
'I'm here now aren't I?' she said, smiling widely.
'Touché' he said, smiling back. 'Why Florence?' he asked curiously.
'Just a little girls' dream. Been there once, it's a magical place. I can see myself growing old there; just sitting in a café in one of the city's old corners, drinking wine and playing bridge' she explained, her eyes drifting away.
Harvey smiled affectionately as Donna opened up to him about her dreams; she rarely ever did.
'Bridge? I bet you'd still be playing strip poker even when you're 90' he teased.
'Touché' she said then, her eyes twinkling as they met his.
His mind drifts for a few second, as he imagined himself twenty years from now, walking along the Arno River, hand in hand with her. He really should stop thinking about it.
August 5th 2013
Their relationship was growing strained, distant. Maybe it was the tension at the firm coupled with the fact that they were both seeing someone else. Tonight should've been special; it's been a decade since they first started working together. But somehow it didn't even matter.
'How are things with David?' he finally asked. He couldn't hold it in, but kept his cool as he took a bite from his fork.
She exhaled. This wasn't going anywhere good. She could recognize the hint of something in his eyes despite his attempt to hide it; possessiveness, maybe even jealousy.
'Good' she answered briefly. She was trying to minimize any opportunity for him to hang on every word she said.
He swallowed, looking at her with that look she hated; the one that said 'I know you're hiding something'
'What Harvey?' she asked, exasperated.
'Nothing' he said quietly, still looking at her the same. 'I thought you wanted to develop that more' he said, sarcasm dripping from his voice.
'Well I don't. How's Scottie?' she asked indifferently, feeling slightly childish for spinning it back on him.
'No need for me to tell you anything, you already know ALL about it don't you?' he said with the same tone.
'What is that supposed to mean?' she argued.
'Nothing; you just always have to say something about it, interfere' he accused her.
'Cause if I don't you'll screw things up!' she said, her voice louder now.
'And what does that have to do with you? Why are you so keen on making me and Scottie work?' he asked irritated.
'I want you to be HAPPY' she shouted, her voice shaking. She was furious, and he cursed himself for the tears forming in his eyes.
It's the second time she'd said this now; and he doesn't understand. He wanted her to be happy too, but sometimes, just sometimes, he thinks that he only wants her to be happy with him, as selfish as that may sound.
He didn't know what to say, his expression softening immediately at her shaken sight.
'This is why I told you we should never discuss our personal relationship' she whispered.
'Donna if we can't talk about this…' he started, as she looked at him curiously. 'If we're friends, if we really are friends, then we should be able to talk about it' he explained.
She didn't say a word, knowing that he was right.
'It's hard to keep a conversation going when you can't talk about half the things you want to talk about' he said again.
Her rule. He came back to that.
'You can't blame me for that Harvey, you agreed…' she started, lost at words.
'I'm not' he breathed. 'It's just-' he paused, before giving up. 'Let's just talk about something else' he barely said.
Dinner couldn't last longer; the rest of the night was mostly silent, a few Louis stories shared, none of them comfortable enough to laugh wholeheartedly.
'I'm sorry I snapped at you' he breathed to her in the car. She shifted her gaze to meet his, surprised by his apology.
'I'm sorry it's so difficult' she admitted.
'Goodnight Donna' he said with a faint smile, as they reached her apartment.
'Night Harvey' she said, reciprocating a sad smile, before she walked out.
August 5th 2015
Here they were, twelve years later, celebrating something that no longer existed. Donna wasn't working for Harvey anymore, but he had insisted they go out anyway, in an attempt to repair their friendship.
'He didn't really say that' Harvey said with disbelief.
'Oh, not only did he say it, but I had to transcribe it word for word off his Dictaphone' Donna shot back with a smile that warmed his heart.
He laughed, the smile on his face stuck for a few seconds, as he shot a small glance at her, one that she doesn't miss. Harvey suddenly felt something he hadn't felt for a while; contentment. That same feeling he had ten years ago about everything being ok, or in that dream he had of her in his bed
'What? ' she asked curiously, a smile on her face.
'No, I just realized I haven't thought about Jack Soloff and his bullshit for two hours' he said softly, their eyes locking for a few seconds.
'Glad we did this, Harvey' she said, knowing exactly what he meant. The evening was going great so far; they had succeeded to put apart their late problems, and just enjoy each other's company.
'Me too' he said. 'We should do it more often' he added casually taking a sip.
Donna hesitated for a second before speaking again.
'Well, I'm not sure how Mitchell would feel about that' she said with a coy smile.
Harvey stayed calm, as he asked her who Mitchell was, his smile mirroring hers.
'He's the man that I've been seeing for the last six weeks.
He's…he's smart and he's funny and best of all, he has nothing to do with the practice of law' she explained, looking at his face for any usual sign.
He didn't move, his eyes fixated at her with the same smile he had a few seconds ago. His fingers on the wine glass moved for a few seconds before he spoke.
'I'm happy for you, Donna' he said.
For the first time in over a decade, Donna was disoriented; the usual signs and reactions not clear on Harvey's face.
Maybe he really is happy for me, she thought. Or maybe she had lost her ability to read him, the exchanged I love you-s, her case, her moving to Louis' desk straining their relationship so hard that the invisible line connecting them had broke.
Harvey wondered why the hell Donna was telling him about her love life. Six weeks was a long time, and Harvey couldn't help the twinge of anger in his stomach when he compared how much he had been suffering with her easy transition into what seemed to be a rather serious relationship. He could tell by the way she described him that she really liked him, her dreamy eyes reminding him of that time she spoke of Florence.
He pushed back the gut-wrenching feeling down, realizing that he had no right to expect anything else. She looked happy, and that, in some twisted way, was enough for him to smile. But then he heard her talk about Esther, and suddenly felt personally attacked. He knew that she was right but wasn't ready to hear her talk, especially when she seemed as such ease with the whole issue.
Donna would be lying if she said her heart didn't slightly wince at the sight of Harvey and Esther flirting. But it made sense; she was after all very much like Harvey's typical type. And much like the last twelve years, she found no difficulty in talking about it and advising him about it.
'Donna, I appreciate you telling me this as a friend.
Now, as a friend, I'm telling you to mind your own business' he said trying to remain calm.
It was enough to cut the discussion short.
The car ride was silent, both of them sucked into their thoughts about how things had changed with time, and how little things remained intact.
Because it started when he didn't know how Donna she was, and he claimed that she was into him. She warned him that if he was ever lucky enough to have her, he wouldn't want to share; and just like every time, she was right. Because after wondering what they were waiting for, and after asking her to work for him, he realized that her and Stephen, it bothered him. But she didn't know he wanted both, so she decided that they would put it out of their minds and never talk about it again. Together, they made partner, they went through different names on the wall, until his made it there and even faced the threat of her going to prison. He admitted that the thought of her going to prison made him want to drop to his knees.
He told her he loved her.
Out of pity; but he didn't mean it. After all, she is different.
She said it wasn't working for her anymore
But she loved him.
He could barely breathe for weeks.
She had been seeing a man for the past six weeks.
He's happy for her.
He drinks alone that night.
She cuts her date short with Mitchell.
She isn't feeling well, she said.
He's hurting.
So is she.
Mostly I miss having you close to me
The only one who really ever knows me
And I'm sorry, I promise I'll do better, better
So I guess I'm gonna let you go
But you get to keep a little bit of my soul
So I guess I'm gonna write you out
But I don't think I can do it to me right now
Let's pretend that time heals all
So I guess I'm gonna let you go
But you get to keep a little bit of my soul
So I guess I'm gonna write you out
But I don't think I can do it to me right now
Let's pretend that time heals all
A.N: Hey guys! This is inspired from that last episode. I wanted to show the progression throughout the years, and how things changed.
Don't forget to drop a review, I would really love to hear your opinion
-G