Pairing: Harvey Specter/Mike Ross

Other characters: Rachel Zane, Donna, Jessica Pearson, Louis Litt, Kyle, Gregory, Harold, Ray

Author's note: Originally written for LJ suits_meme. The prompt was 'Mike is a stress baker who is too embarrassed to tell people that he bakes, but his baked treats are heavenly. Harvey secretly has a sweet tooth and can't get enough of Mike's baked goods.' (This story has six chapters and will be updated daily here :))

"Oh wow, where did you get these?"

Rachel closed her eyes and enjoyed her cupcake, letting out a moan that was far from being appropriate in front of a colleague. If Mike hadn't recently developed a crush on his boss, he would've knelt down on one knee and confess his undying love to her right there on the bench.

"It's a secret." Mike smiled as he finished one himself.

"Come on, Mikey. There's no secret between us."

Mike shook his head as he thought about just how many secrets there were between them. Rachel didn't know that he wasn't from Harvard, or that he had a crush on Harvey, or that he was a stress baker.

"Am I not your best friend at work anymore?" Rachel narrowed her eyes as she took a chocolate chip cookie from Mike's lunch bag.

"Of course you are!"

"Then spill it! So I can buy these myself without having to steal yours."

Mike thought about it but he was too embarrassed to admit that he had baked the desserts himself. He had been teased for his soft features all his life; he didn't want to give anyone a reason to tease him more. Rachel had already teased him the other day that he would've made a nice ballerina.

"Are you afraid I'll buy all of this baker's products and leave you with nothing?"

"No. It's not like you'll buy the whole bakery. You're not a big girl."

"Oh my god, don't tell me you have a crush on the baker and you don't want me to ask him or her out."

"What? No! It's nothing like that." Mike waved his hand.

"Then what is it?"

"It's just that… the baker doesn't like the spotlight. He's a very shy person."

"Aha! So it's a 'he'!" Rachel had never been so excited to learn someone's sex.

Mike looked at her with disbelief. "You're really that curious? It's just some cookies and cupcakes."

Rachel looked offended. "You know I'm a foodie! And, believe me, these are not just some cookies and cupcakes."

Mike was happy to hear her value his baking skills so highly, but it still didn't change his mind to keep yet another secret from his best friend at work.

Later in the afternoon, Mike was heading down to the files room when he heard a female voice coming from the dark.

"Psst, over here, Mike."

Nearly jumping out of his skin, Mike's head snapped to the person who spoke. "Donna? What are you doing down here?"

"Shh! This is a secret meeting that has never happened."

Donna urged Mike into the files room and locked the door behind her. "This room isn't bugged and there are no security cameras in here."

Mike wondered what this was about. "Okay…?"

"Rachel tells me you know the best baker in town."

"Oh, you can't be serious."

"I live for cookies, Mike. I am very serious. Do not make me torture you to get the information I want."

Mike pondered about the possibility of revealing himself much more seriously. If he had learned one valuable lesson while working at Pearson-Hardman, it was that Donna shouldn't be messed with. If she tortured him, Harvey would probably defend her and keep her out of jail, which would lead to more torture until he gave up the name of the baker.

"You haven't even tasted them. How can you be sure he's the best baker in town?"

"I trust Rachel completely when it comes to food. Her parties always have food that make you want to keep her in a cage."

"Oh…"

"So?" Donna approached Mike with a determined look on her face.

"Um…" Mike took a step backwards.

Donna took another step forward and shot him her very best 'Do not mess with me' look.

Gulp.

Mike quickly took out his phone and hit speed dial number two.

"What is it, Mike?"

Mike was grateful that Harvey picked up after only two rings. "Harvey! Donna's trying to…"

"Oh, you did not."

"Harvey!" Mike yelled as Donna confiscated his phone and ended the call.

"You called Harvey? Mike Ross, you know Harvey would pick me over you."

She didn't think that she had said something cruel, but Mike's eyes showed that he was hurt.

"Mike? Is everything all right?"

"You're right. He'd pick you over me. Excuse me."

Mike unlocked the door and left the room, kicking himself for having reacted so emotionally over something that would never change.

The next morning, Mike walked into his kitchen and had to gasp. There were all sorts of muffins, cupcakes, and cookies absolutely everywhere.

'Did I really bake all these?'

Mike tried to remember what had happened last night. The minute he had come home, he had hit speed dial number three on his phone and barked at his supplier that he needed more weak flour and pretty paper with star patterns on it within the next hour. When his supplier had knocked on his door with a grumpy face, he had given him two cupcakes that were left from the other day and had dismissed him before he could protest. Then he had baked and baked and baked into the night, trying to release some of his stress, frustration and loneliness.

'Oh my, I'm losing my mind. But I have a better excuse this time! Donna's words cut me to the bone!'

It was obviously very stressful to work at a competitive law firm as big as Pearson-Hardman. It was even more stressful to work for Harvey, the best lawyer of the firm. Mike hadn't been sure if his recent feelings for Harvey were due to a real crush or if they were just a means to adapt to his new environment until Donna's words cut him.

'Great! As if I'm not under enough stress! Now I have confirmation that I really have a thing for my boss who couldn't care less about a lowly associate!'

Mike threw his hands in the air and let out a sigh. Harvey was the one person in the firm that he didn't have to worry about regarding his many secrets. Harvey already knew about his suitcase full of weeds, about how he didn't go to a law school, and how he had cheated on LSATs for other people.

'Great! As if I don't have enough secrets! Now I have to watch my mouth in front of Harvey too! Life is just great!'

Mike thumped his head against the nearest surface and closed his eyes. There was no way he could eat all of what he had baked. It was time to play the nice neighbor and the bribing associate.

"Want some? I have plenty today." Mike opened the box full of muffins as soon as he walked into Rachel's office.

"Oh, he bakes muffins too? I must taste them!" Rachel shot up from her seat and took a muffin.

"I have cupcakes and cookies too if you want. Just stop by my cubicle whenever you want some."

Rachel looked at him curiously. "Are these on sale today? Because if they are, you have to tell me where this bakery is!"

Mike hated to lie but he saw no other options. "Yeah, they only have a big sale once a year and it's today. Well, I should say 'was' because they're probably sold out by now. The lines were so long. You have no idea."

"So that's why you look so tired."

Mike nodded and left the office in a hurry as Rachel let out yet another inappropriate moan with a piece of muffin in her mouth.

"Hey." Harvey pulled out one of Mike's earphones as he stood by his associate's cubicle.

"Hey. You need something?"

"Yeah, you. Do you have any plans for lunch?"

"No. Why?"

"Dickson wants to meet us on Thursday. I could use your help going over his case."

"On Thursday? But there's a lot of paperwork! He can't wait till next Monday?"

"Apparently he can't."

"Okay. You want me to start right now?"

"Yeah. Work with me in my office. It'll be faster."

Mike nodded and gathered his things while Harvey walked back to his office, giving Donna a small nod to tell her that the plan was in motion.

After hours of hard work with Mike on the coffee table, Harvey looked up at the clock. It was half past noon.

"Mike, you should get some lunch."

"I've packed my lunch. You should go out and get some while I finish this one." Mike pointed at the brief that he was reading.

"Nah, I don't have much appetite today."

Mike looked up with worried eyes. "How come? Fatigue?"

"I'm not sure. I just don't feel like eating anything. But go ahead. Go bring your lunch."

Mike stood up with a little uncertainty. He wondered if it was appropriate to have lunch in front of his boss who wasn't feeling too well.

He brought his lunch bag but was still unsure to open it. "Um, don't you think the smell of food will make you sick?"

"What have you packed?" Harvey asked innocently.

"Uh… some muffins and cupcakes."

"That's what you usually have for lunch?" Harvey frowned.

"Not exactly. I just… overbought these this morning. Big sale at the bakery." Mike realized that if he didn't go easy on stress baking, he would have to cook up more elaborate lies since he had already told Rachel that the big sale occurred only once a year.

"Well, enjoy your lunch."

Harvey went back to his brief, fully aware that Mike was still hesitating to eat. He mentally cursed the fact that his associate cared too much for a lawyer. He wondered if Mike had actually gone to Harvard and had spent more than enough time with heartless dicks and bitches, would Mike still have been the same caring Mike.

"Harvey?"

Harvey looked up from his brief. "What is it?"

"I don't know if Donna told you or if you like muffins, but I get these from a pretty good bakery. Would you like to try one in case it brings back your appetite a little bit?"

Harvey thought about how Donna had coached him how to act in a situation like this. So he made a hesitating face and spoke softly. "Are you sure? I don't want to steal your lunch. Young boys eat a lot."

"It won't be stealing if I'm offering it myself."

"Still, you only have a few muffins there."

Mike looked slightly embarrassed as he confessed, "To be completely honest with you, I really overbought these so I have another box of muffins under my desk."

Sensing the change of expression on Harvey's face, Mike decided to put his foot on the accelerator. "You know how sweet food can bring back your appetite, right? Since I have plenty of muffins, why don't you try one?"

Mike even put one on the brief for Harvey to taste.

Harvey observed the brown muffin. It did look tasty like Donna had told him. "It has almonds." He loved almonds.

"Yeah, I thought that… well, I asked him if he had ones with almonds and he did." Mike reminded himself that he should be more careful if he wanted to keep this secret.

"Well, thanks then. I'll give it a try." Harvey picked up the muffin, lowered the pretty paper around it and took a bite.

For the second time in his life, Harvey considered the possibility that God might actually exist. (The first time was when Donna had walked into his life). Who else could've baked these other than God himself? The fact that Mike was reluctant to reveal the identity of the baker added more weight to his theory. Wouldn't Mike rather give up his source and enjoy the muffins in peace than having to put up with people constantly stealing them and Donna threatening to torture him?

"This is good." Harvey had to say that much even though he wasn't going to tell his associate that he secretly had a horrid sweet tooth; he had an image to uphold.

Mike realized that he had been holding his breath, waiting for the verdict. If Harvey said it was good, it was good. Looking at Harvey take another bite with a satisfied look on his face made Mike want to run out of the office and do handsprings from one end of the hall to the other end of it.

'I should tell Grammy about this! It's her recipe after all. God, Harvey should taste my cupcakes too!'

Mike tried not to get too excited as he was sitting across someone who knew how to read people well. He wasn't going to give Harvey another reason to tease him when Harvey had already pictured him in drag. That wasn't the kind of impression you wanted to leave on the person you had a crush on.

"Where do you get these?" Harvey asked casually as he finished his muffin.

Mike shrugged and handed over another one. It was nice to see him get his appetite back. "It's far from here. Not worth the trouble going there just for muffins."

Harvey studied Mike's face as he took the muffin from his hand. "I see."

Just when Mike thought that the coast was clear, Harvey asked, "You bike all the way down there?"

"Uh, no. Jenny gives me a ride since she has a sweet tooth too." He was becoming a smooth liar; on the right path to be a great lawyer!

"She hasn't made a pass at him yet?"

"Well, you see, he's gay. Otherwise, he would've had a harem of beautiful girls from all over the world." Mike smiled as he thought about himself in an alternate universe.