Break the Silence - Bring on the Yule tide. 'Christmas Edition'

Chapter 16

~Have yourself a Merry little Christmas,

Let your heart be light,

Next year on, our troubles will be out of sight.~

The snow had begun to fall in ribbons around the city; people padding about the sidewalks trampled with greying snow and oil leaking from unsuspecting cabs into the gutter.

Somehow, even in the din of the dirty city, there was still something iconic, something magical about the whole deal.

Harvey waited patiently in his car whilst Ray made the last, arduous crawl around the block to his apartment.

"Certainly a white Christmas this year, Mr Specter." Ray called to the back of the cab.

"Sure is, Ray. You got anything planned with the family?" He asked, glancing at his watch as it read '19.40pm'.

"I'm sure my wife will inform me of the itinerary." Ray replied, winking into the rear view mirror.

"I know the feeling well." Harvey sighed. He was in such a different place from a year or so ago. With Donna and the baby they had all found this groove, a comfortable balance between them. It had been a few months since both Donna and the baby were allowed home, and with every passing moment his world had morphed and developed into something...oddly conventional for an eternal bachelor. He'd never thought in a million years, after standing up in a church and ruining Donna's supposed one and only special day, that the end of the journey would lead him here.

"How are Donna and the baby doing?" Ray asked, bringing his attention back into the car.

"Both good, thankyou. He's growing up fast."

"They always do." Ray agreed, tipping his hat to him as the car came to a stop outside, pausing to allow Harvey to open the door. He turned when he reached the sidewalk, his feet sliding slightly under some unruly snow.

"Have a good Christmas, Ray. Give my love to the family." He said.

"Thank you, Harvey. Same to you.."

He nodded in reply, shutting the door behind him as he walked into his building.

Every year the lobby was decorated in garlands and tasteful lights with holly-laden arrangements. He'd never really bothered with his own place, having no need for the festivity. It was easy to feel like it was Christmas by just walking around the city, the chestnut carts, skating at the Rockefeller, the lavish decorations along 5th avenue towards Macys. With all of that and more, he'd seen no need to move that chaos of tinsel and glitter into his expensive and well dressed apartment. Donna knew that he'd be a little later this evening, tieing up things on the Saturday night as one of the named partners; seeing as Jessica had to rush off it was up to him to sort out any pre holiday loose ends. After a very long day, he could almost feel the glass of scotch and the sneaky hold of his son approaching.

A Perfect Christmas, by his standards.

He tapped his foot gently on the carpet as the lift rose to his floor.

When the doors opened, he frowned for a moment, hearing music. Loud music.

Very Loud music…

His suspicions rose, as he fished out his keys, turning one in the lock. He shut the door, the music suddenly dissipating into the air. He wandered down the hallway, frowning, the the warm glow of lights on in the lounge hitting the end of the hallway in streams.

What was she up to?

"Surprise!" Many voices shouted at him. Jessica. Mike. Rachel, amongst others.

And Louis, of all people. What the hell was he doing here?

"What the..?" He stood in silence, his eyes taking in the sight of the place, the large christmas tree in the corner, decorated to the nines with garlands and gold ornaments; draped garlands suspended and hanging from the ceiling amongst jewelled fairy lights. And the spread...a plethora of intricate little party snacks on plates he knew he hadn't owned when he'd left for work this morning, amongst bottles and bottles of alcohol; Advocaat, champagne, and the distinct smell of mulled wine. His eyes darted to Rachel, who held a strange pinkish red drink with a twist of orange and what looked like glitter in it. No doubt Donna had been concocting things.

Many things. In his, their, usually streamlined apartment. A lump rose in his throat.

He must have still been frowning when Donna appeared beside them.

"You look stunned. And not in a good way." She said, studying him.

"Yes, I'm stunned. When...did you do this today?" He asked, trying to keep a lid on his wavering shock.

"Yes. I had helpers," She replied. "I know it's big. But I paid for it," She noted, aware of his mood.

"It's not that Donna," He said, cocking his head at her. Money was at the bottom of his concerns right now...

"I thought it would be nice to have a real christmas party."

"It's certainly that. I'm just… shocked. At all the... glitter."

He heard the music raising back to the level he heard when he was outside, the offending Louis holding his remote. His. Remote.

"Come on Harvey, get in the Christmas spirit!" Jessica said, appearing at his side with a knowing smile as she nudged him slightly.

"I am. I'm just...shocked, Jessica. No doubt you had something to do with this?" He accused, eyeing her towering form.

"I may have helped a little bit." She said coolly.

"I really shouldn't have given you the afternoon off." He said, scowling deliberately at his associate.

"But then you wouldn't have this," Mike pulled something out from behind his back. A bottle.

He felt a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

"Macallan Gold, huh?" He said.

"It's Christmassey." Mike reasoned. "Want a glass?" He asked.

He looked around at the faces of his friends, co-workers, and people he was sure Donna must have known. "Sure. Let's get this party going." He found himself saying.

He watched as all participants sighed with relief, watching him relax slightly as he followed Mike into his own kitchen.

"So, you had no idea, huh?" Mike asked, opening the bottle.

"None whatsoever. I was dreaming about a quiet glass of scotch."

"Ah. Well I can't guarantee the quiet, but. Double. Neat. There."

He grinned, a first real grin, chinking the glass against Mike's as he settled against the counter.

"Hey handsome. Have we met?" He turned slightly, as Donna glanced at him with a deliberate smoulder. He smiled, taking in her kohl rimmed eyes and flirtatious choice of lipstick as he pulled her to his side.

"You're a nightmare." He grinned.

"I'm sorry. I had to. Mike made me." She defended, pointing at Mike and grinning back at him as she took Harvey's glass, taking a long purposefully sip from it.

"Mike. You're fired." He said without looking at him, kissing Donna's cheek.

"What else is new!" Mike replied, wandering off to join the party of people.

"Where is our child? Did you sell him to afford all of this?" He joked, face almost deadpan.

"You're so funny in Tom Ford." She said, pulling at his tie.

"I try."

"He's in his bedroom, having a nap." She explained, playing with his lapels.

"Oh. Good. You look fantastic by the way. If there weren't so many people milling about i'd-"

"I can imagine." She grinned, interrupting him. "Well, if you play your cards right later," She growled into his ear, watching his expression as he stifled any notion of being aroused. A game she had clearly won.

"Well, I suppose I better join the party?" He said, clearing his throat, a gentle scold in his expression, his hand lingering around hers for a second.

"Yes, you should after all the trouble I've been too. I invited some old friends of yours, so enjoy. And don't forget your glass." She reminded him, waving it in front of his face.

"Thank you, darling." He said, overemphasizing the words enough to make her cringe at him.

"Enough with that crap, get in there." She said, pushing his shoulder gently with a wink.

His gaze trailed from her into the crowd of about thirty people. Some old faces from the DA's office, their firm and some of her friends that he'd met briefly over the past few months.

"David!" Harvey suddenly spied an old friend from Harvard. "David Moss, well. It's been a while." He said, shaking the blonde man's hand.

"It has. Got a call from your other half. I was surprised. It had been a few years. I see you've been kept busy, though?"

"So you've met Donna?" He said, the dry humour lacing his words.

"Yeah. She's something alright. She's good for you. Got you out of the bachelor pool, I gather?"

"Something like that." He smiled ruefully. If only he knew. "How are you? Still married to Alise?"

"Yeah. Eleven years and counting." He replied with a faked tired grin.

"Kids?"

"Yeah, two girls. I'm pretty much overrun with estrogen at the house." He answered, smiling.

"You still working for the DOJ?"

"Yeah. They have me up in Washington now. The commute is hard, but it's worth it, if only to stay in the city a little longer. I'll have to move out there eventually, when they stop over-paying me." He said with a rhye smile.

"So that's why we've not seen you around town. Chalking up those frequent flyer miles, huh?"

"Like a champ. I heard from Donna that you have your own firm now?"

"In a manner of speaking. I'm one of the named Partners. Have you met Jessica Pearson? Jessica?" He called to his Boss, as she glided over to them both, all liquid smile and with christmas spirit he didn't even know she had.

"Jessica this is David Moss. David, this is the founding partner of 'Pearson Specter', Jessica Pearson. David works for the DOJ in DC."

"Nice to meet you, David. Ah, how long have you two known each other?" She said, shaking the man's hand.

"Since, god...first year of Harvard?" David mused, looking at him for clarification as he nodded in reply.

"Well, that is a long time. So, how is the Department of Justice doing these days?"

He couldn't help it. He was having a great time, but there was something in the back of his head that wanted for something. Or indeed someone. A very red-headed someone.

He managed to sneak away when Mike was telling a joke and causing smoke-screen-like eruptions of laughter that filled the room long enough for him to slip down the corridor. He opened the door slowly, carefully as not to wake the intended, the room filled with a warm orangey glow from the christmas themed night light that had just appeared like all the other additional festive arrangements.

He wandered up slowly to the crib in the middle of the room, spying his son peacefully sleeping the evening away. He felt the warm glow of Macallan laden contentment spread further throughout his body as he watched the little red haired man in his element, his mouth twitching slightly as his hands moved, thumbs clenching at different speeds.

"So this is the little nephew, huh?"

He stopped dead, as he turned around to watch the stranger lean against the crib next to him.

"Hey brother. Miss me?" A voice said.

He turned to find the similar features and younger version of himself.

"Don't tell me. Donna?" Harvey offered, an unsurprised look on his face.

"Sorry we're late. Megan couldn't find anything to wear."

"Marcus. Don't blame your wife. You always were the girl." He joked snarkily as his brother patted him on the back. "Hows it going?"

"Good. So. You made a baby?" He said, indicating to the child sleeping in the crib.

"I did...help somewhat." He agreed, his focus once again on his sleeping son.

"Good job. And the hair. Impressive."

"Like that's a surprise." He rolled his eyes. His brother was such a jerk. "You've met Donna plenty of times."

"I have. Doesn't it usually skip a generation?" He asked vaguely frowning at the obvious carrot-haired boy.

"Not this time." He said with a smile. He'd take the love of Donna's hair to grave...

"So, you're a father, old man. Finally catching up."

"Shut up. Just because you couldn't keep it in your pants." He said, glaring back at his younger sibling.

"Yeah like you didn't spread the love. I'm surprised there aren't hundreds of little Specters popping up all over Manhattan," His brother joked, knowing it would get a rise out of him.

"No, Marcus. Just one." He said, cutting the joke. "Speaking of more than one; did you bring the kids?"

"Yep. Outside. Full House."

"So...you're staying here?" He asked. The idea that it would be all seven of him in this medium sized condo sounded like a Christmas nightmare.

"As if. No, we have a hotel in the cheaper part of the city. Us poor 'out-of-towners' can't afford your Upper Manhattan prices. Donna did insist but I assumed you'd be out of bedrooms."

"I could have got you guys a room."

"Harvey," Marcus objected.

"But you're...here for the holidays?"

"Very much so."

"Good. It's good to see you." He said, patting his brother on the back.

"Well, one of us had to make the effort," Marcus replied half-heartedly, a lazy smile on his lips. "Dad would be very proud, you know. He might have even been a little envious that you beat him to the punch."

"Don't say that."

"What? He had a real soft for Donna. You remember that Christmas he came to you?"

"You're such a jerk." He shook his head, resisting a smile at the memory of his father gushing about Donna after she'd left for her parent's house.

"Well, someone has to offset your scrooge-like attitude."

"I'm not scrooge-like." Harvey objected, thinking of the house completely filled with lights by his very un-Scrooge-like other half.

"Yeah okay, Ebenezer. Let's get a drink shall we? Leave this little man to his dreams." He said, ushering Harvey into the hall.

"Okay Louis, I think it's time for you to go," Donna said, holding his shoulder to stop him from stumbling, as Mike and Rachel looked on, trying to disguise their laughter.

"Those glitterball-tinis where practically the star of the show, Donna."

"I know. You had about twelve of them. I really thought that you could hold down your liquor," She said under her breath, helping him to the elevator.

"I must say, Donna. Harvey is a very, very lucky man." He said in long vowels.

"Thank you Louis."

"And if you're thinking of coming back to the firm, I would love to extend my invitat-"

"No. Louis. But thankyou. Now get in the elevator." She said curtly, pushing him in, and watching him fumble to straighten as the doors closed and she waves him. She turned to find Harvey lent against the doorframe, watching her.

"You're firm." He said, wiggling one eyebrow slightly.

"But fair. He keeps asking me to be his assistant." She said, rolling her eyes.

"I hope you told him 'No'."

"I told him I only work for people I sleep with," She said with a devilish grin as she draped her arms around his neck. It's times like this where he wondered how it all got so lucky for him.

"We both know that's not true, otherwise-" She silenced him, kissing properly for the first time the entire evening.

"I've missed that." He said, pouting.

"I gathered; when I saw your face hit the floor in front of a room full of people."

"Thankyou. It has been a great night. And for inviting Marcus,"

"I did good?"

"You did good. Our home is lit up like Hiroshima, but… you did good."

"Good. You can clean it up," She said, leaving him standing as she wandered back into the apartment.

She was impossible. He loved that.

As he made to follow her, Mike and Rachel appeared in the doorway.

"You two off?" He asked, stifling a yawn.

"Yeah, we have my parent's; lunch tomorrow." Rachel answered, smiling softly at him.

"Mike, getting in with the family, I see?" He jibed a the younger man.

"Who said I wasn't already in," He replied coolly, taking a leaf out of the older man's book as he punched him gently on the shoulder, taking Rachel's hand in the process as they waited for the elevator.

"For what's it's worth. Thankyou. I know Donna had help." He said, a slight admonish for them keeping things from him.

"You're welcome. Merry Christmas, Harvey." Mike replied as the elevator doors opened.

When he walked back into the now empty apartment, with Marcus & Co already in a taxi to their hotel room, he spied through the dimmed christmas lights and kitchen layered with drinking glasses, Donna holding a ruffled Sebastian.

"Look who's up," She crooned, almost bouncing the kid on her knee as he chewed at his fist.

Harvey looked down at their son, as his head fell back a little bit to peer back at him. "Hey kiddo. You missed a great party." He said to his son.

"Daddy missed you today, didn't he?" She said to the baby, but not before eyeing his father.

"Just a little." He said, moving to pick him up. It was still strange, this little person belonging to them both, as he cradled the little boy in his arms, who watched back under a small mop of hair in wonder. "But then, you're like mommy. Cool as a cucumber. Remind me again how I ended up the more stressed parent out of the two of us?"

"Well, you never were great with people. And I…need I remind you, am fabulous."

"I'm fantastic with people." He argued, smiling at his son.

"With him, perhaps." She said coyly, pointing at her son. "And as you're so fantastic a Dad, would you like to put him to sleep?"

"I don't know. Do get a reward?" He asked, grinning through the dim lighting.

Finally, the night he had expected.

"Oh, I'm sure I think up something." She said with look, wandering off into the bedroom.

"Okay, kid. You gotta get to sleep. Daddy's got plans." He said, wandering into Sebastian's room.

One hour later, Harvey, somewhat drunk but mostly tired, padded into the bedroom,

To a snoring Donna.

This was it, this was his life. It figured.

But it didn't suck, having a beautiful mother of your child spread eagled on your bed in Victoria's secret lingerie.

He did what any man would do in his position,

Pulled what part of the covers he could back, got under the sheets, and went to sleep in the hope that a warm body would wake him very, very early in the morning,

With apology sex.

All in all, he felt a very happy holiday on the approach.

Just a little thing for Xmas. It's totally under the wire before new years. My bad!

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year,

A~