Chapter Text
February 20, 2025
It was seven o'clock when the alarm went off, and immediately, the couple opened their eyes with difficulty, ready to tackle their day, which was shaping up to be quite busy. For about ten minutes, they cuddled and chatted, enjoying the calm moment to nurture their love before getting up and quickly sharing the bathroom to get ready for the day. Once they were both dressed — Harvey in a three-piece suit and Donna in wide-leg pants and a fluffy sweatshirt — she headed to the children's room to gently wake them while Harvey prepared breakfast. Though Miles was already awake, playing with his stuffed animals in his bed, he quickly got up when he saw his mother enter, stretching his arms toward Donna with a huge smile.
« Hey, my baby »
« Mommy! »
« Did you sleep well? »
« Yeah »
« I’m glad. Shall we wake up Aida? »
« Aida? »
« Yup, let's go »
After taking a few seconds to cuddle her son, Donna held him close, savoring the moment while he wasn’t yet too heavy to do so — he was almost three, after all — before leaving his room, crossing the hallway, and heading into the little girl’s room. This time, she was still asleep, her long strawberry blonde hair a tangled mess, her face buried in her pillow. Seeing her, Donna sat on the edge of the bed, gently leaning over to place a soft kiss on her cheek, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear before whispering.
« Baby, hey... it's time to wake up, we need to go to school »
As she turned onto her back, sighing while her eyes fluttered open, Donna’s heart melted at the sight of her firstborn looking at her with tenderness and love. For a few seconds, mother and children chatted before Donna left the kids alone in the little girl’s bed while Miles woke up his sister properly, and she prepared their clothes in each little bathroom. While busy preparing Miles' bathroom, Donna heard footsteps in the hallway, signaling that Harvey was coming upstairs as well, followed by the joyful shouts of the two younger ones, which made the redhead laugh.
« Daddy! »
« My babies — how are you doing? »
As Donna returned to Aida's room, she saw Harvey sitting on the small bed covered with a light pink with little stars sheet in his three-piece suit, with a child sitting on each knee as they chatted about everything and nothing. Discreetly, she kept looking as Donna's heart melted as she watched Harvey exaggerate his reactions, causing the toddlers to burst into giggles. When they saw her, both quickly jumped into their routine — Donna taking care of Aida while Miles stuck with Harvey, who was hopeless when it came to haircuts and matching costume jewelry — before they all gathered around the table for breakfast. For almost half an hour, they chatted as a family of four, realizing that having a conversation with a little boy who was almost three and a little princess who was nearly five was much easier now that neither of them was still in the learning phase — though it wasn’t always simple. Anyway, once everyone was ready, the two parents strapped the kids into their car seats before leaving the street, their brownstone fading into the distance behind them as Aida chatted away.
« Daddy, when are we taking the plane? »
« This evening, baby. As soon as you're done with preschool, I'll come pick you up, we'll grab Miles, and then we'll head home to mommy. Once all the luggage is in the trunk, we’ll catch the plane, okay? »
« Yeah! » the kids yelled with joy.
As the kids seemed excited without fully understanding why, the two parents couldn’t help but look at each other with love and tenderness. One of Jessica’s major clients had requested a meeting in his hometown, New York, so the brunette had asked Harvey to go, and obviously, the lawyer decided to take the whole family along for a trip back to the city that had witnessed all of their firsts. A year and a half ago, the night Harvey had proposed to Donna in Chicago, the redhead had immediately agreed, and the very next day, the lawyer had called his former mentor as they both made arrangements — so, two weeks later, after much research, the couple took some time off and spent a week in Chicago to see how they felt. But as they watched their children having the time of their lives in front of the flamingos at Lincoln Park, gazing at their parents with stars in their eyes, it only took one look for Harvey and Donna to silently agree — they’d be happy here. As soon as they returned to New York, they started searching for a place to live there, the best daycare and preschool for the kids — already looking ahead to kindergarten, elementary, and even middle school — as well as a new job for Donna. Once they had their list, they flew to Chicago again to spend the following weekend visiting homes and schools, and if they had thought the process would take time, it actually moved quite quickly. After falling in love with the best private preschool in Illinois, the couple had a wow moment on their fourth house tour — a contemporary greystone on a quiet, tree-lined Cedar Street in Chicago's Gold Coast neighborhood, with one floor for the parents, another for the kids, each with a walk-in closet and a personal bathroom, plus a rooftop terrace and proximity to Lincoln Park. The house reminded them of their Brooklyn brownstone, and both instantly felt at home during the visit — Donna’s eyes sparkling when she saw the enormous room that would be her dressing room, and Harvey moved by the huge children’s rooms he could already envision turning into a true palace for his babies. Quickly, Donna resigned, followed by Harvey, and they withdrew their children from preschool and daycare to finally organize their move. In the end, the first few months were mostly reserved for settling in. Aida made new friends at preschool, Donna stayed home with Miles while looking for a job and daycare, and Harvey threw himself heart and soul into Jessica’s firm — but never forgetting his family. Eventually, the redhead found the same job she had in New York at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater, occasionally stepping in for performances as a replacement — finding a perfect balance between her passion and family life, meanwhile, Harvey made a name for himself in the legal world in Chicago, and the children continued to grow and evolve. However, tonight marked the first time they were flying back to New York, the last time being over a year and a half ago. So, once his workday was over, Harvey drove to the little girl’s preschool, arriving in front of the door just as the teacher was approaching.
« Mr. Specter »
« Hello »
« I’m going to call her — Aida, daddy's here »
Immediately, hearing that her father was there, the little girl left her chair and the drawing she had been working on to run in his direction, a big smile on her face and her eyes sparkling. In a second, seeing his firstborn, Harvey bent down to lift her into his arms, showering her with kisses as she giggled, her laughter filling the air.
« Hey, my princess, how was your day? »
« Good. What about you, daddy? »
« Very good but even better now that I see you — thanks for asking, baby. Shall we go pick up Miles? And in the meantime, you can tell me everything you did today, alright? »
« Alright »
As he gathered all of his daughter’s things, they headed to the car, Aida chattering nonstop while Harvey felt like he was falling in love all over again as he carefully watched every feature she shared with her mother. She would only be five in a few months, but the more she grew, the more she resembled the older redhead — captivating the lawyer, who felt like he had the embodiment of perfection in his life once again. Two streets later, Harvey entered the daycare with Aida holding his hand, while Miles started running the second he saw his father. But as soon as the little gate opened, the young boy scooped up his sister to greet her before turning toward Harvey, flashing the same arrogant smile as him, which made the lawyer laugh.
« Hello, young man »
« Daddy »
« Do I get a hug too, or is it just for the two redheads of our life? »
As he crouched down, the two children giggled at their father’s mockingly offended attitude before Miles threw himself into Harvey’s arms, who quickly covered him with kisses. Once it was done, Harvey dressed the little boy, and the three of them walked to the car, chatting the whole way and by the time they arrived home, Donna was finishing packing.
« Mommy! »
« My babies. Urgh, I missed you so much, my loves. How was your day? »
Again, the kids explained everything in minute detail while Harvey finished packing the bags, loading them into the trunk, and Donna dressed the kids in more casual outfits before they all drove toward O'Hare International Airport in Chicago. It wasn’t the first time they’d flown, in fact, whenever they had the chance, they left the United States, recalling their week in Dubai and how much fun they had, but this time, it was for New York, and the kids could probably feel the excitement in their parents. They hadn’t returned since their departure, and while things hadn’t always been easy, they had excellent memories and couldn’t wait to show the kids the city they had probably forgotten a bit since then. After boarding first class and more than two and a half hours of flight, they finally landed in New York, and since it was late and the children were dozing in their arms, they headed straight to the Airbnb they had rented as Donna quickly cooked something for the kids with what Harvey had picked up from the deli before they took care of them and put them to bed. Once alone, Harvey ordered two pizzas and two beers, and the parents settled on the terrace of the rented condo, admiring the still-bustling streets of the city despite the late hour. After a few minutes without talking, as they enjoyed this typically New York dinner in the quiet after such a full day, Donna whispered.
« We’re good, huh? »
« So good »
« Don’t you miss it? »
« What? »
« I don’t know… New York, this life, the buzzing city, crazy life and everything »
« I don’t. I mean, New York, the big life, the money, the success — that’s what interested me the most. But now that I think about it, a night at home, the kids asleep beside us, and the two of us talking about everything and nothing — that’s what really makes my heart race. New York is far behind me now, my settled life is all I want. You and the kids are everything I need, and I have no regrets »
« Yeah.. » sighed Donna.
« What about you? »
« Me? »
« Yeah — no regrets? Well, when we first met, you were juggling two jobs to pay for your apartment in Soho. You dreamed of being an actress and performing on the Broadway stage, and then you left everything behind — your dreams, your goals, your sacrifices — to follow me to Chicago. I mean, since we met, all you've done is sacrifice. First, you sacrificed our couple's life by hiding with me, living this secret relationship, hidden from everyone. Then you sacrificed part of your career when we had Aida and Miles, taking care of them mostly on your own, allowing me to live this double life. And then you sacrificed your dream of New York to follow me to Chicago — that’s a lot »
« I have no regrets, Harv »
« Hey, I’d understand if — »
« No, seriously. When you and I met, I was twenty-five, struggling to make it on Broadway, exhausted by work, and starting to lose hope in love as well. I had dreams at eighteen, which changed at twenty-five, and now at thirty-two, they’re completely different, even though the core of it remains the same. I wanted to live off my passion, and I am — my work as a production assistant allows me to make a good living, better than being a barista, while still acting from time to time. I wanted to be in love and live the perfect love story, and I got even more than that — I married the sexiest, smartest, funniest man on the planet, the love of my life, my soulmate, and I’m loved in ways I never could have imagined. And then I wanted to be a mom, at least once, and you gave me even more — two perfect babies who fill me with joy every single day. So it’s true that we’re far from the life I imagined at twenty-five, but it’s even better. Everything I wanted — and it doesn’t matter the age — was to be happy, and now, I’m more than happy. You gave me the perfect life, Harvey... I have no regrets. None »
« I’m glad, then »
As they kissed tenderly, a mix of beer and pizza lingering on their lips, the couple sighed in contentment before continuing their late-night conversation, Donna shivering from the coolness of the evening while Harvey's burning gaze never left her. Over the next three days, Harvey and Donna took the kids to all the iconic spots in New York — Central Park, the Statue of Liberty, Coney Island, Times Square, and Brooklyn Bridge Park — watching the children have the time of their lives, which melted the parents' hearts. In the late afternoon, the couple decided to return to Park Slope, the place where they'd spent several years of their lives and where Miles had been born. With heavy hearts and minds full of memories, they passed by Prospect Park Zoo, stopped at Heap’s Ice Cream for a vanilla scoop, walked past the old daycare, and strolled through the quiet streets of the neighborhood. Sure, their life in Brooklyn had been amazing, but the constant fear of being discovered had taken a bit of the joy away, so, when they arrived in Chicago and found a house similar to their Brooklyn home — where no one knew them — they finally felt they were truly home. Once again, Harvey and Donna had created a perfect princess room for Aida — alternating whites and shades of pink, little fairy lights, girly-themed decorations, and floral sheets — all aesthetic and tasteful. For Miles, despite Harvey's insistence on a sports-themed room when he was born, he was happy to see that the boy was truly his father's son. Miles loved playing football with his dad — with his own set of rules, of course. His room was beige with white furniture, football-themed decorations, and a framed jersey signed by Lawrence Taylor on the wall — which had sparked several weeks of debate with the redhead, who found it ugly. Anyway, as the kids fell into exhaustion in their parents' arms, the four of them entered the rented Airbnb, enjoying their penultimate night in the big city by having sex discreetly on the terrace, half-dressed, with the still-bustling New York night beneath them, muffling their moans and groans against each other’s skin, feeling like they were twenty-five and thirty-three again, acting wild and free. The next morning, reluctantly, Harvey watched Donna chat with the kids in bed while he got dressed for his meeting, not forgetting the primary reason he was there. Once ready, he approached, climbed onto the mattress, and moved closer to the kids.
« You give daddy a kiss? »
Immediately, the two kids jumped out of their mother's arms and rushed over to Harvey, who quickly showered them with kisses, making them burst into laughter until Aida muttered with her cute little voice.
« Daddy? »
« My princess? »
« When are you coming back? »
« Right after my meeting. In the meantime, you’ll spend some time in New York — by the way, what’s the plan for today, super mommy? »
« Well, we’re going to get dressed, have a nice breakfast, then we’ll go play at Central Park and see the squirrels, and after that, we’ll go get some ice cream. What do you think? »
« Yeah! » yelled the kids.
« Wow, that’s quite a plan. It makes me want to come with you too... I’m this close to dropping everything to spend the day with you three »
As the kids yelled again in joy at the idea of staying with their dad, Donna chuckled before murmuring while looking at her husband with love.
« Honey, you’re going to be late »
« Urgh — bye bye, babies »
« Bye bye, daddy »
« And bye bye, baby »
« Bye, honey » giggled Donna.
As the last kisses were exchanged, Harvey left the apartment to head to his meeting, while Donna finally left the warmth of the bed. After washing, dressing, and styling the kids, she and her two children left the rented condo to begin their day, and as planned, she took them to Sarabeth's Central Park South for breakfast, and once they had their sugar fix, she walked them to the park to let them burn off some energy. While sitting on a bench to watch them, she quickly made a few phone calls before joining them, and as eleven o’clock approached, with Harvey planning to wrap up in a little over an hour to join them for lunch, Donna urged the kids to leave the playground and follow her. The children, curious, asked where they were going, but Donna remained secretive until they arrived in front of a huge building and entered. Inside the massive open space, she settled with the kids on large sofas, checking her watch every few minutes while maintaining a light conversation with them. But as she observed the employees coming and going, she suddenly stood up, spotting him walking by, and exclaimed.
« Mr. Agard! »
Immediately, the graying man turned around, studying the redhead closely, trying to recognize her as she quickly lifted Miles onto her hip and took Aida’s hand. In a second, she then walked toward the man who seemed to be waiting for her. If Donna noticed the change in the man’s expression, she cleared her throat before speaking.
« Mr. Agard, I’m sorry to bother you. My name is Donna and — »
« Harvey’s wife? »
Clearly, the man recognized her, and for a moment, Donna panicked, fearing he might yell at her, push her away, or do something else. But to her surprise, he smiled, prompting her to murmur.
« I am, yeah »
« And I suppose these are your kids? »
« Yeah — this is Aida, and here, Miles »
« Hello » said the little boy, waving his hand.
« Good evening, sir » added Aida with impeccable politeness.
« Hey, kids. I must say, it’s an honor to meet you »
As the two children smiled at the man, Donna searched for the right words before murmuring, adjusting her son in her arms.
« I know my approach is a bit unusual, but we’re just passing through New York, and I wanted to take this opportunity to see you and thank you. I know the situation wasn’t easy, especially since it involved family, but you really saved mine — I can never thank you enough »
« I did what I had to do. Despite everything that happened, I consider Harvey my son, and that won’t change. So when I saw him desperate and willing to do anything for you three, I didn’t hesitate — all I wanted was his happiness, and I knew he had found it with you. How’s he doing, by the way? »
« He’s doing really well. He works for a law firm in Chicago now, and although the pace of life and work is much less intense, it suits him — he can spend more time with the kids, and he’s cherishing those moments »
« I suppose he’s happy »
« Very happy »
« I’m glad, then »
« He talks about you often, you know » smiled Donna.
« Really? » chuckled the man.
« Yeah, you’ve really been a role model for him, and you’ve kind of saved his life too — I mean, he even told me we’d name our third kid Andrew if it’s another boy »
As they both laughed, Andrew looked at Donna with a paternal gaze, squeezing her shoulder before murmuring with a smile on his lips.
« I’m really happy for him — for you four. Harvey’s a great guy who truly deserves to be happy, and I’m sure he’s an incredible dad and husband. While it saddens me not to see him, I’m relieved to know that he’s exactly where he’s supposed to be »
« About that, if you’re ever in Chicago, you’re welcome to come by. He’ll be very happy too »
« That’s very kind, Donna — see you around maybe? »
« I hope so, Mr Agard »
After a brief nod and a wave to the kids, Andrew Agard disappeared, and Donna followed shortly after, taking the kids to the subway to reach their next destination. Watching them both sitting on the typical orange plastic seats of the New York subway, marveling at every little sound and passing train, made Donna laugh as she never would have thought she’d be here. The last time she had taken the subway, she was twenty-five, and after that, once she was with Harvey, he dropped her off everywhere before buying her a big car so she wouldn’t have to take public transport anymore. For a few seconds, she paused to reflect — she remembered being that age, sitting on the subway, exhausted from her day, ready to quit everything and return to Hartford while arguing with her boyfriend at the time over texts. Now, nearly seven years later, Donna was watching the two little wonders she had created with the love of her life — smiling at her, laughing at every train’s movement, as it was crazy how life could change when you find the right person. Barely out on Third Avenue, Donna walked slowly with the kids, listening to them chat about everything, pointing at each tall building, clearly impressed, while the mother continued to watch them with love until she interrupted them.
« Here, babies, we’re going to grab a little snack here while we wait for daddy, alright? »
Seeing them nod, Donna entered the café with butterflies in her stomach before approaching the counter to chat with the kids for a few seconds. Harvey wouldn’t be long after his meeting and would join them by taxi, so while waiting for the order and considering how slowly the kids ate, they were far from missing the snack with their dad. As she moved closer to the display case, she picked up Miles in her arms — Aida was now big enough to see everything — and the little girl pointed at a piece of cake.
« This one, mommy »
« Blueberry scone? »
« Yes »
« Alright -- what about you, baby? »
« That »
« Double chocolate brownie? No way, that’s way too much sugar, and you already have enough energy » chuckled Donna.
As he looked at her with his big eyes — the same ones as Harvey’s — she kissed his cheek before hearing Aida point at something else.
« That for Miles? »
« Yeah . Like Aida is showing you, you can choose the same thing as her, or a banana bread or a pumpkin loaf. So? What do you want? »
As he pointed to the same cake as his sister, Donna chuckled before stepping up to the barista to place the order. After a quick greeting, Donna began with a soft smile.
« I’ll take two blueberry scones, a cinnamon coffee cake, an iced lemon loaf, an apple juice, a strawberry banana smoothie, and a triple nonfat sugar-free mocha latte — thank you »
« Your name? »
« Donna »
« Perfect — $26.95 »
« Here »
After quickly paying, Donna settled at a table in the back, keeping the kids entertained while waiting for the order. A few minutes later, her phone rang, and her heart skipped a beat when she saw Harvey's name on the screen.
« Hello? »
« Hey baby, I’m done, where are you? »
« 219 1st Ave — I’ve already ordered the kids’ snack, but it hasn’t come yet, so you have time »
« Alright, I’m getting in the taxi, and I’ll be there soon »
« See you, honey »
Barely hanging up, Donna continued chatting with the kids while Harvey sat in the back of the taxi. Sure, New York was dearly missed, but compared to his life in Chicago with Donna and the kids, he wouldn’t change a thing. When he didn’t immediately recognize the address his wife had given him, his heart skipped a beat as the driver turned right and the car came to a stop as the taxi finished its ride. With wobbly legs, Harvey found himself on the sidewalk, facing the place that had changed his life: Starbucks. He would never forget how he had walked into that café before a client meeting to kill time and escape Paula, only to experience love at first sight when his eyes landed on Donna, as that chance encounter had led to the crazy life he was living today. With misty eyes, he walked into the café, and even though the décor had changed in the seven years since and he didn’t recognize anyone behind the counter, he still felt the rush of emotions in his body. In an instant, he spotted Donna in the distance — her hair making her easy to spot — and he couldn’t help but smile as he watched her. She was sitting across from Aida, the two of them chatting and laughing together while their daughter tightly held her mother’s hand, refusing to let go, while nibbling on her cake with the other hand. If the little redhead had the chance to eat, that wasn’t the case for her mother, who, in addition to one hand occupied by Aida’s, had Miles sitting upright against her, his little knees pressed into her thigh. His arms were wrapped around her neck, his chubby cheek pressed against Donna’s as he listened to the conversation between his mother and sister. As a result, Donna’s other arm was also occupied, holding him to keep him from falling, which meant she was forced to wait for Harvey to arrive to at least take Miles. Seeing the kids so attached to their mother, Harvey wasn’t surprised, she was so perfect and loving that they couldn’t act otherwise with her. Watching Donna try to turn her head — probably to whisper to Miles to sit up — and seeing the little boy tighten his grip on her, Harvey decided it was time to step in. Before Donna even saw him, Miles pointed at the lawyer and shouted.
« Daddy! »
Immediately, Donna didn’t have time to look up before Harvey grabbed her jaw and pressed a firm kiss to her lips, pouring all of his feelings for her into that kiss. Though he could have spent hours kissing her, they were quickly interrupted by Miles, who also wanted a hug, and Aida, who looked at her father with wide eyes and an adorable smile, murmuring softly, as if she was relieved to see him.
« Daddy »
« My princess, hey — what did you take? »
« Scone »
« Looks good »
« It’s good »
As she offered him a small piece of her scone, Harvey caught the pastry between his lips, then planted a kiss on her tiny fingers, making the little girl laugh. Sensing that the attention was no longer on him, Miles grabbed Harvey’s chin to get noticed before smiling up at him.
« Dada »
« And my little prince — you’re going to have to free mommy. You know, she needs to eat too »
Quickly, Harvey took Miles in his arms and walked up to the counter to take their order. Afterward, he joined his wife and kids, the four of them chatting and eating their snacks. In reality, Harvey wasn’t talking — he was simply holding Miles, enjoying his iced lemon loaf, and listening to Donna and Aida discuss her upcoming dance classes. The older redhead alternated between eating her piece of cake, running her hand through Miles’s hair, and caressing Aida’s cheek with her thumb, and as he sat there, Harvey began to reflect. Holding his son close, listening to the soft hum of Donna and Aida’s conversation, a deep sense of peace settled over him — the chaos, the sacrifices, the late nights, the struggles — they all seemed so distant now. His life had changed in ways he never could have imagined that fateful day he walked into that Starbucks. Back then, he was just a man trapped in a life that didn’t fit, searching for something he couldn’t quite define, and then he found Donna. They had given up so much — dreams, careers, the comfort of familiar places — but each sacrifice had led them here, to this perfect moment, to this life. They had built a family, a home, and a future together, and even though it hadn’t always been easy and it hadn’t always gone as planned, Harvey knew that if he had to do it all over again, he wouldn’t change a thing. Donna caught his gaze and smiled softly, as if she knew exactly what he was thinking while she didn’t need to say anything — her eyes spoke volumes. Their life wasn’t perfect in the conventional sense — there were still challenges, still moments of uncertainty — but in that moment, they both knew one thing for sure: they had everything they needed. They had love, they had each other, and no matter what came next, they would face it together, hand in hand, ready to make whatever sacrifices were necessary to protect the perfect life they had built.
Because they were a family.