Chapter Text
Life in the Specter household was as organized as it was chaotic.
After the somewhat rushed delivery of the redhead and Harvey’s last-minute arrival in the delivery room, the couple had returned home with their baby to enjoy their new little family. Although both doctors suspected that parenthood would be intense, they had never imagined it would be this intense — and yet, every time they held their son in their arms, it felt like their hearts were about to explode with love. Miles was the perfect baby: he only cried when he needed changing or wanted a cuddle, otherwise, he spent his time gazing at his parents with his big chocolate-brown eyes and flashing the same mischievous smiles as his father. Still, although the two parents had wanted to stay in their bubble as long as possible, the return to reality had been more complicated than expected.
« I’m not sure I can do this, Donna »
« Honey, you knew this was going to happen at some point, right? »
« Yeah but look at him, he’s so tiny »
« I know… »
Both had taken their eight weeks of parental leave, but Donna had decided to take advantage of her rights under the Family and Medical Leave Act and add twelve weeks of unpaid leave, while Harvey had to return to the hospital — though his heart wasn’t in it. With little choice, he resumed his full-time position as a surgeon while Donna stayed home to care for Miles — at least, until her leave ended in turn as that part had been disastrous. Donna cried all night before returning to work with red, puffy eyes, only to calm down when she saw he was doing more than fine in the daycare. The luxury of being doctors was having the daycare right at their workplace, allowing Donna to check on him during her breaks — and especially Harvey, who dropped in whenever he could, making sure the son of the great Harvey Specter was being properly taken care of. As everything was going smoothly, months passed, and just as their life seemed absolutely perfect, the couple discovered — surprise — that Baby Specter Number Two was already on the way, much sooner than expected.
« I can’t believe it »
« We’re having a second baby » whispered Harvey.
« Yeah »
« Oh my God — I’m so happy »
« Me too. I love you » smiled Donna.
« I love you too. So much »
After a kiss full of tenderness and love, the couple had eagerly jumped back into the whole process — ultrasounds, setting up a new nursery, shopping, delivery, parental leave, returning to work — only to find themselves here, today, with their little family now expanded thanks to the arrival of their second child: a baby girl. They quickly found their rhythm again, and even though having two young children was a whirlwind of chaos and complexity, they wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world. The months went by, and just when they thought this day would be as ordinary as any other, they had no idea what was in store for them. At six in the morning, as the alarm rang, Donna could feel Harvey tighten his hold around the redhead, who snuggled a little deeper into his arms — especially when she felt his lips press softly against the back of her neck, whispering simply.
« Good morning, babe »
« Good morning, honey »
As she turned in his arms, still half-asleep, she wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling Harvey closer as he nuzzled her neck, trailing a few kisses along her skin, savoring this quiet moment just for the two of them before the real chaos began. Nearly ten minutes later, the second alarm went off and they were forced to separate as Harvey kissed his wife softly before getting out of bed. Barely five minutes later, he placed a coffee on her nightstand — black, one sugar, and two splashes of vanilla — while Donna, now able to enjoy caffeine again after months of abstinence, savored the gesture. As her eyes finally opened, she saw Miles toddling toward her, favorite stuffed animal in hand, wobbling on his little legs and gazing up at her with those chocolate-brown eyes that melted her heart while she immediately opened her arms to welcome him.
« Hey my baby — did Daddy wake you up? »
« Yes »
« Come here, Mommy needs a big hug »
Miles quickly ran toward her, and Donna scooped him up into her arms, hugging him tightly as the sound of his laughter echoed through the master bedroom. While they were in their bubble, a few minutes later, Harvey walked back in — Aida in his arms, her bottle in his hand as the little girl started wriggling the second she saw her mother. Unlike Miles, who was the spitting image of Harvey, Aida was a miniature version of Donna — something that drove the surgeon absolutely crazy with joy. The fact that his little princess looked exactly like the woman he worshipped? It was everything. As soon as Aida was in Donna’s arms, Harvey lay back down beside her, picking up the book Miles had sneakily brought into their bed. Meanwhile, Donna began feeding their daughter as the room settled into a calm, peaceful quiet, the kind that only comes in the early hours — until the parents sighed in unison, realizing it was already 6:30 and time to get moving.
« Who’s volunteering? » chuckled Donna.
« I’ll go. I missed my workout last night — let’s call it a warm-up »
« Let’s call it that, sure »
If Aida was the picture-perfect, sweet, calm baby, Miles had become just as endearing as he was chaotic. Getting him dressed had turned into a sport in itself — think a mix of sprinting, boxing, gymnastics, and parkour — dressing Miles was no joke. As Harvey turned toward his son with a knowing look, the little boy gave him a smug smile — the exact same smug smile Harvey wore daily — before letting out a squeal and dashing out of the room, knowing it was playtime. Hearing the tiny footsteps in the hallway and his giggles echoing through the apartment, Harvey let out a dramatic sigh before getting out of bed in just his boxers and taking off after him, calling out in a loud, teasing voice.
« Where are you going, little monster? »
Hearing Miles yelling, Donna couldn’t help but chuckle as she kissed Aida’s forehead, the baby now done with her bottle and smiling brightly at her mom.
« Looks like it’s just you and me, huh? »
After burping her, Donna got up and headed to the little princess room Harvey had set up, grabbed a change of clothes, and took Aida with her to the bathroom to get both of them ready for the day. As always, in their well-oiled morning routine, Harvey finally managed to finish dressing Miles while Donna handled breakfast, giving Harvey a chance to get dressed himself. At exactly 7:15, all four of them were outside — Aida in the stroller pushed by Donna, and Miles perched on Harvey’s shoulders — as the little family set out to take on the day. Even though they both still loved their jobs, if it were up to them, they’d give it all up just to focus on their kids because being parents was the best job in the world. But responsibilities were responsibilities, and becoming parents meant sacrifices — even when they were hard, they still made them. About ten minutes later, as soon as they arrived at the hospital, the family made their way to the daycare on the ground floor, where they were greeted by one of the childcare staff.
« Professor Specter, Dr. Paulsen, good morning! »
« Good morning »
« And how are the two stars of our daycare today? » chuckled the woman.
« They’re doing great. They both ate well, Aida slept through the night, and Miles is in top form » replied Harvey.
« Perfect — go ahead and say your goodbyes »
« Sure » smiled Donna.
Everyone knew those two were obsessed with their kids and if Harvey’s reputation had shifted since he became a dad, the gossip had quickly made its way around the hospital: the brilliant, sharp-tongued surgeon was even worse when it came to his wife and kids — a total nightmare if anyone crossed a line. So every morning, before handing the kids off, Harvey took his time hugging them again and again, even if he’d be seeing them again in just a few hours and once the hugs were done and the kids were dropped off, the couple headed downstairs to the locker rooms to change into their scrubs. When Donna came out, Harvey was already waiting for her with a huge grin on his face as she chuckled.
« You didn’t have to wait for me, you know »
« Actually, I kind of have to. Not seeing you? It’s like not breathing — vital » smirked Harvey.
« Alright, Shakespeare — you’re gonna be late »
Arm in arm, the couple walked toward the elevators and once they were alone and the doors had closed, they started making out like a pair of teenagers until the elevator stopped at Harvey’s floor, where they had to part — reluctantly as he whispered against her lips.
« I’ll stop by later so we can sync our schedules? »
« Yeah »
« Alright, see you babe »
« Bye, honey »
After one last kiss, Harvey finally stepped out of the elevator, ready to take on the day, while Donna did the same a few floors up. Since becoming parents, the couple had always coordinated to maximize their time with the kids, making sure their children never felt a moment of absence. Given Harvey's popularity at the hospital, his national reputation, and the fact that he intimidated just about everyone — including HR — they had a certain amount of privilege. So, they’d arranged their schedules to match: same shifts, same breaks, even their night shifts were aligned as from the moment Miles was born, they’d agreed — neither of them would spend the night alone with the baby. So Donna, now head of the General Pediatrics Department, had secured her own office, which quickly became home to a crib... then a second one while she did her rounds with a stethoscope around her neck and a baby monitor clipped to her pocket — or even one of the babies strapped to her chest when colicky and needing mama. Harvey, on his part, joined her whenever he had a break, just to see the kids before returning home together, but today, while Donna usually handled everything like a machine, exhaustion was written all over her.
« You okay? »
« Yeah, yeah. Just tired »
« The kids? »
« No, I mean, they both slept through the night »
« Your husband then? » chuckled Claire, the head nurse.
« Not this time » snorted Donna.
As she yawned again, Claire laughed at her own joke. Everyone knew Harvey was completely obsessed with his wife and ever since their marriage became public knowledge, the surgeon made no effort to hide it — his hand lingering a bit too low in public, kisses far too passionate for hospital hallways, and Donna often sporting hickeys that even a loose hair couldn’t cover. Donna chuckled too, filling out patient reports, though she couldn’t ignore how uncomfortable she felt today — still, she blamed it on fatigue. Meanwhile, Harvey was in the middle of a double bypass, glancing at the clock and wishing he could fast-forward to the part where he got to hug his three favorite humans after dealing with what he considered a crew of absolute idiots — his interns.
« You good, Specter? » snorted Alex.
« Yeah — my back’s killing me »
« That's age, man. You’re getting old »
« Ask my wife. She’ll tell you I’m anything but old » muttered Harvey while continuing to operate.
The two men laughed while the rest of the OR remained silent — until Harold Gunderson, the clumsy intern no one understood how he got in — whispered.
« You have a wife? »
« What’d you just say, Gunderson? »
« Nothing — I mean, I’m just surprised because you’re... you know… »
« No, I don’t know »
« Well… you’re, I don’t know, but — »
As the blond stammered, Alex laughed and murmured.
« Oh, come on, Specter — don’t scare the kid — you know what he means. And Gunderson? His wife is the complete opposite of him. She’s an absolute sweetheart
Facing Alex’s words, Harvey cracked a subtle smile under his mask, thinking of his stunning redhead.
« Really? » asked Gunderson.
« Yep. You should swing by pediatrics — you’ll see »
« Wow »
« And the wildest part? They’ve got two perfect kids who, thankfully for all of us, take after their mom »
« Alex… » growled Harvey.
Even if their marriage wasn’t a secret anymore, Harvey still had trouble with people openly discussing his private life — especially when it came to his kids. So hearing his colleague talk so freely about them rubbed him the wrong way until Alex muttered with a chuckle.
« Come on, Papa Bear. We're almost done and then you can go hug your crew »
Thinking about his kids made Harvey smile again, and the two men finished the surgery as fast as precision would allow while across the hospital, Donna had just wrapped her morning rounds and some consultations when she turned to Claire with a smile.
« Need me for anything else? »
« Nope — you’re all good. Go hug your babies »
« See you, Claire »
Donna grabbed the lunch bag she’d stashed in the breakroom fridge, exited her department, and headed for the elevators. As excited as she was to see her kids, Harvey was equally eager — he’d just finished surgery and was now sprinting through the halls, still wearing his surgical cap, taking the stairs two at a time until he arrived just in time to see a flash of red hair turning the corner.
« Babe! Yeah! »
« Honey — hey! »
He jogged the last few steps to her, kissing her softly, and together they walked hand in hand to the daycare as inside, Aida was relaxing in her bouncer and Miles was next to her, chatting to his sister in their shared baby language. After a few seconds, the moment they spotted their parents, both children squealed with joy, melting their parents’ hearts as they couldn’t help but smiling.
« My babies! »
« Mommy! »
« Hey you two » smiled Harvey.
The caregiver handed over the kids and wished them a good lunch, knowing they'd be back after their parents' break and with Aida in Donna’s arms and Miles holding Harvey’s hand, the little family headed outside to one of the hospital’s picnic tables under the warm sun. As Donna helped Miles eat, Harvey fed Aida her bottle, showering her with kisses between questions from Miles — most of which made no sense but were answered with a grin nonetheless. The kids were used to seeing their parents in scrubs — it was like a second skin — and in fact, Miles had taken to wearing his own tiny surgeon’s cap around the house, pretending to be like Daddy. For almost an hour, they laughed, talked, and enjoyed their lunch together — until it was time to return the kids to daycare. About twenty minutes later, as Donna headed to check in with the afternoon shift, she suddenly grabbed the edge of a nearby trash bin and vomited violently — probably her lunch and breakfast both as her colleague muttered.
« Dr. Paulsen, are you alright? »
« Ugh — sorry about that. I think lunch didn’t sit well... Can you excuse me a second? I just want to call daycare and ask them to keep an eye on Miles — he ate the same thing I did »
« Of course, yes »
As she reached into her white coat pocket to pull out her phone — her lock screen showing her three loves asleep together — she had to grab the trash can again and throw up a second time at the blonde looked at her boss a bit worried.
« Doctor, you don’t look good — you’re pale as a ghost »
« I’m fine. Just a little off »
As she stood up to step outside and make the call, the hallway suddenly spun as the last thing she heard was her colleague gasp before everything went black. Meanwhile, Harvey was mid post-op consult when his phone rang. Seeing ER calling, he frowned, not understanding why they were calling him. Odd — If it were urgent, they’d page him — and as he kept talking with his patient, a nurse interrupted him, entering their conversation.
« Doctor Specter? »
« I’m in the middle of something »
« Yeah, but — »
« Not now »
« It’s your wife »
At the mention of Donna, Harvey immediately turned, panic flashing in his eyes, as he snatched the phone the nurse handed him and left the room without another word to the patient, talking quickly.
« Hello? »
« Professor Specter, this is the ER. I’m calling about your wife, Dr. Paulsen »
« Is she okay? »
« She’s stable for now. She experienced sudden, violent vomiting earlier and then fainted in her department. She came to a few seconds later and is now under observation here in the ER. I know you're likely busy, but — »
« I’m coming »
He didn’t wait for a reply. Hanging up, he tossed the service phone on the central desk and ran, through corridors, past confused colleagues, through the connecting hall into the ER building — his heart pounding, panic rising with every step. It was Donna — his wife, the mother of his kids — and something was wrong. Luckily, his cardio unit wasn’t far as he arrived at the ER desk, breathless, and spoke with urgency.
« My wife? »
He didn’t need to give a name. Everyone knew the sweet redhead from pediatrics was married to the intimidating cardiac surgeon as the nurse replied.
« Room 402. End of the hallway »
No thanks, just running, until he threw open the door and saw her sitting cross-legged on the hospital bed, paler than ever, sipping a bottle of neon-blue electrolytes as a doctor was leaning against the wall across from her. They were mid-conversation, but Harvey didn’t care. He rushed to her side, gently cupping her face, scanning it anxiously before murmuring.
« You’re good? »
« Better now »
« Jesus… » sighed Harvey.
As he placed his lips on hers, Donna winced before murmuring.
« I vomited twice and I haven’t brushed my teeth yet »
« I don’t care — what’s going on, doc? »
« I was just about to start asking my questions — do you remember what happened right before you fainted? »
« I don’t know, since this morning I’ve been a bit out of it, I’m exhausted, and I think the lunch didn’t sit well, and all of it probably caused the fainting »
« But did you eat this morning? » the doctor asked again.
« Not really, I wasn’t super hungry, just a bit of strawberry my son left this morning, but nothing else »
« Is this the first time you’ve fainted? »
« Yeah, yeah »
« Are you sleeping well lately? Are you stressed? »
« No. I mean, I have two young kids, so it requires some organization — especially with the hospital — but I think we manage, and they both sleep through the night and are pretty easygoing »
« Yeah, I see… And have you had any nausea or vomiting recently? »
« No, I mean, I felt a bit off this morning but otherwise, no… » whispered Donna.
« At this point, it could be any minor issue — fatigue, hypoglycemia, stomach virus, or God knows what » sighed Harvey.
As the doctor began the physical examination — blood pressure, pulse, abdominal palpation, and general observation — she continued to chat with Donna, delving a bit more into her vomiting, questioning her further on the subject as she talked softly.
« Have you lost weight recently? »
« No — well, I don’t think so. Right now, I don’t really have the time to pay attention to my weight with the kids, so… » chuckled Donna.
« And are there any smells or foods that bother you? Any changes in your appetite or mood? »
« No, not really… »
« Did you get your period this month? »
At the question, the room fell silent as the couple looked at each other with eyes wide open as everyone understood the doctor's implication, Donna murmured.
« Yeah — I mean, I don’t have my phone on me to check on my app, but I think so, right? »
As she looked at Harvey, the surgeon grimaced before murmuring.
« Babe... Your breasts are like… »
« Like what? »
As Harvey mimed with his hands the shape of large breasts in front of himself, Donna gasped before murmuring.
« Why didn’t you tell me? »
« Well, I don’t know, I thought it was hormonal or something — I’m your husband and a heart surgeon, not a gynecologist or obstetrician »
As they both looked at each other in silence, the doctor chuckled before murmuring.
« Alright... I’m going to get a quick urine pregnancy test then »
Without another word, the woman left, leaving the couple alone while Donna groaned and hid her face in her hands, clearly desperate about what she had just heard, while Harvey cleared his throat, softly murmuring.
« Hey babe, maybe it’s not that »
« Oh please — my breasts are bigger, I have no memory of my last period, I'm nauseous, and we have the sex life of horny teenagers »
« Yeah, but you're on an IUD »
« I was also on an IUD with Aida. I had it removed, and bam — estimated conception date the same day. So either I'm very fertile, or your little swimmers can compete in the next Olympics »
« Hey, wait to see the test first » smiled Harvey.
As if by magic, the woman appeared with the necessary items and let Donna do what she had to do in the bathroom, while Harvey remained half-seated on the bed, waiting for his wife to finish. After exchanging a small, awkward smile with the doctor, Donna emerged from the bathroom, and they all waited in silence for the result — the doctor standing next to the test, and Donna and Harvey sitting on the bed, eyes fixed on the outcome. After a few minutes, the doctor carefully studied the strip, while Harvey murmured, a mix of anxiety and hope in his voice.
« So? »
« Well, I suppose congratulations are in order... Is this your first? » asked the doctor with a gentle smile.
« Third » sobbed Donna.
Though both of them were caught off guard by the news, they knew that despite it not being planned, and being so early and unexpected, it felt right — they were going to be parents again. The next few months would be intense, but they were overjoyed so without hesitation, Harvey grabbed Donna's face in his hands, kissing her again and again, as the tears from the redhead mixed with their kisses while the doctor chuckled softly, then murmured as she stepped back.
« I’ll leave you two to celebrate this moment, and in the meantime, I'll page your gynecologist to schedule a dating ultrasound. Alright? »
« Thank you »
« Yeah, thanks » added Harvey, his face full of joy.
In that moment, everything had changed — and they were ready for whatever came next. Barely alone, Harvey kissed Donna again and again while the redhead chuckled, slowly pulling away as she whispered.
« I understand you're happy »
« More than happy... God, if I could get you pregnant every year, I would »
« Oh please, no way — Jesus, I'm going to be pregnant... again. It's like I just get out of it, and then I dive right back in »
« Hey, Aida is six months old, don't you think you're exaggerating? »
« Please, you can’t even handle a cold. I wonder how you’d manage if you had to carry a baby inside you every day and then push it out »
« Hey, I’ve always said you’re the boss at home » chuckled Harvey.
« Yeah, that's true — god... another one » giggled Donna.
« Another one, yeah — it makes me want to have sex with you right now »
« Oh no, leave me alone now »
« It’s not something you’ll say in the second trimester — god, I can’t wait — hot sex morning, noon, night, and even in the middle of the night, my favorite time »
« Harvey » blushed Donna.
« What? The idea of being exhausted at work just because I had sex with my wife all night is the sexiest thing on the planet »
At that moment, the door opened, and one of Donna's colleagues from the obstetrics gynecology department arrived with a portable ultrasound machine, smiling at the redhead before declaring with a chuckle.
« Well, congratulations to both of you »
« Thanks, Inaam »
« How did you find the time to make a third one with two so small in tow? » chuckled the woman.
« Well, my husband is a horny teen » snorted Donna.
As Harvey rolled his eyes and groaned at his wife’s comment, the redhead already knew what to do — after all, it was her third time. Barely lying semi-upright, with Harvey sitting next to her, she lifted the top of her scrub, revealing her still-flat belly as quickly, after exchanging some small talk with her colleague, who turned on the machine and applied the cold gel to her skin, Dr. Nahidah pressed the probe to Donna’s belly. While the two parents were already feeling their eyes water at the thought of seeing their baby, the tiny little spot on the screen gave way to a fully-formed baby, with two little legs kicking in all directions and for a moment, the room fell into silence until Harvey whispered.
« Alright, I’m not an obstetrician, but this baby is huge… The first two were so small »
« Am I dreaming, or am I already in the second trimester? » whispered Donna.
« Well, we’re not at the very beginning of the pregnancy, that’s for sure... The fetus is already well-formed, we can already see the arms, legs, and a well-defined head... the baby is moving well and is active. At first glance, I’d say around twelve weeks or something »
« What? » gasped both parents.
« Wait… I’m going to take a few measurements to confirm and… yeah… based on the crown-to-rump length, you’re exactly 13 weeks — that corresponds to about 15 weeks of amenorrhea »
As they both looked at each other with wide eyes, Harvey murmured more to himself than to the two women, doing some calculations out loud.
« Thirteen weeks… so three months… which means Aida was… three months. Oh, babe, I’m — »
« Harv. As soon as this baby is out, you’re getting fixed down there because I’m never listening to you again »
After giving birth to Aida, between the months of post-birth abstinence and breastfeeding, the redhead hadn’t used any contraceptives during the first three months of her daughter’s life, not worrying about the risks. But between the day she stopped breastfeeding and the day she got an IUD, there had been one day of intimacy, and while Donna suspected it was a bad idea, Harvey convinced her with some shaky calculations that there was no risk, claiming to be a pro at understanding his wife’s cycle — and clearly, he was wrong. So after a sorry smile from the surgeon, Donna sighed with a small smirk while Inaam chuckled.
« How old are the kids? »
« Six and thirty months »
« It’s going to be intense in a few months, then »
« Oh please, it’s already intense now » snorted Harvey.
« I imagine — so, about that baby »
For a few more minutes, Dr. Nahidah gave some information about their baby while both of them gradually processed the fact that she would already be entering her second trimester in a few days, discussing the ultrasound with joy. During the twenty minutes of the examination, Harvey held Donna’s hand, placing tender kisses all over her face, whispering soft thank yous and I love yous against her skin and once the few pictures were taken and the gel wiped off by Harvey — accompanied by a series of butterfly kisses on her belly — the couple thanked the gynecologist before leaving the emergency room. As they walked down the hallways, Harvey grabbed Donna’s face, kissing her again and again while she chuckled and he whispered.
« I know it wasn’t planned, but I’m super happy — and I know things are going to be rock and roll, I mean, they’ll be what? Three years old, twelve months, and a newborn? All together? Sweet baby Jesus, it’s going to be a circus at home »
« I want a new house » said Donna.
« What? » chuckled Harvey.
As his wife was against the wall, Harvey standing right in front of her with his hands on either side of her face, the surgeon looked at her with love while she gently nodded, biting her lip, and muttered.
« Yeah. I want a house this time so the kids have their own space, so with three little bedrooms for — »
« Or four? »
« Three and that’s it » said Donna, with wide eyes.
« Alright, then » chuckled Harvey.
« You got me pregnant three times in less than five years, it’s the least you can do, huh? »
« What you ask for, I’ll give you »
« My man »
As they both chuckled and kissed once again, Harvey started to slide his lips down her neck, placing tender kisses on her skin while whispering.
« And now? »
« Well now we mostly have to go back to work »
« Donna, you’re — »
« Harvey, don’t. You already annoyed me about my first two pregnancies, you’re not going to annoy me about this one too, alright? »
Reluctantly, Harvey sighed before placing one last kiss on her lips, intertwining his fingers with hers, and escorting her to her department before heading back to his own. As Donna made some shaky excuses to justify her discomfort, she couldn’t help but discreetly slide her hand over her belly, gently caressing the area below her navel with the tips of her fingers under her scrub as she thought about her baby. She couldn’t believe it — barely three months after giving birth to their second, she was pregnant again, and even though their doctor schedules were complicated and were only going to get worse, she was so happy to be a mom again, even if this one would be the last — that much was certain. Meanwhile, as soon as he was back in his unit, Alex approached Harvey with a worried look.
« Hey — is Donna okay? »
« Yeah, yeah, nothing serious, just a little… bug »
« Are you sure? » smirked Alex.
« Yeah, why? » snorted Harvey.
« You’ve got that idiot look on your face »
« I’m just happy my wife is doing well, that’s all »
« Yeah... sure »
After a last knowing glance, the two friends and colleagues parted ways and got back to work as an hour later, Harvey sent a message to his wife.
I’ve got a break — shall we make our plans?
Barely a minute later, he received a reply from the redhead, his heart racing as he read the message.
Yep, I’m waiting — well, we’re waiting for you
The thought of joining his wife and the baby she was carrying gave Harvey butterflies in his stomach, and without hesitation, he left his department, quickly crossing the hospital to the pediatrics unit where, with a swipe of his badge — the security department had no choice but to grant him access — he entered the department, a bit more colorful than his own. After greeting a few people from the department and being directed to where Donna was, he entered the break room where she was already sitting in front of her tablet, murmuring while looking at the screen.
« Honey, hey »
« Hey — make some room for me? »
Quickly, Donna moved to give Harvey space, sitting on his lap while they both opened their planners on their table and began discussing and aligning their schedules for the next two months. Between pacemaker placements, bedtime stories, pediatric consultations, night rounds, bottle feedings, valve replacements, baths, and morphology ultrasounds — the agenda was full of both medical and parental duties. But after nearly fifteen minutes, both schedules were done, and after a kiss on her neck, Harvey whispered in his wife’s ear, his hand resting on her belly, which already seemed a bit more swollen than earlier under his palm.
« Babe? »
« Hmm? »
« We still have one more thing to do… »
« I know »
« Shall we do it now? »
« Yep »
Quickly, the couple got up, using their short break to head to the seventh floor, towards HR and as they walked hand in hand, they could spot the head of the department in the distance — Big Berta — already shaking her head disapprovingly as she saw them approaching. Barely inside her office, the woman sighed before murmuring in an irritated voice.
« The Specters… How can I help you? »
« Well, here’s my pregnancy declaration » smiled Donna.
« Didn’t you just give birth, Red? »
« Six months ago… but — »
« Specter, you have to leave this poor woman alone » sighed the woman.
« What? I — » started Harvey.
« Save it, loverboy — alright, I suppose you need the documents for maternity leave, birth leave request followed by paternity leave, request for work schedule adjustments for Red, the family file update, and anything else? »
« The form for applying for a place in the hospital nursery too » smiled Donna.
« Great — one second, please »
As Berta turned to grab the documents, Harvey leaned in to kiss his wife’s neck, but before his lips could even touch her skin, he heard the HR head make a disapproving sound before murmuring loud enough for him to hear.
« No way — not in my office, Specter »
As Donna laughed, Berta turned toward the couple, handed them all the necessary documents, and gave one last disapproving look to the heart surgeon before returning to her work without another word, still wearing the same annoyed expression as the couple left, with only two hours left in their shift before they could finally finish up and go pick up their kids. Since they’d already been absent a lot today, they hurried back to their departments to quickly wrap things up, finish their day, and finally head downstairs to change. After about fifteen minutes, as she exited the women's locker room, she chuckled seeing Harvey leaning against the wall, scrolling on his phone.
« Hey »
« Hey — shall we go? »
« Yeah »
As he reached out his hand to her, she took a few seconds to observe him. Now forty-one years old, Harvey was still so sexy and attractive. Wearing nothing more than loose light jeans and a white t-shirt, the sleeves hugging his muscular arms that he worked so hard to maintain, Donna hurried to join him, intertwining her fingers with his as they headed toward the elevators, going up to the first floor before making their way to the daycare, where the two mini Specters let out little screams when they saw them. As Miles ran towards her, Donna crouched down to pick him up, showering him with kisses before they exchanged the kids to share more cuddles and after listening to the daily debrief and thanking the nursery nurses, the couple walked home, listening to the kids babbling in their baby language as the parents chuckled.
« That’s a lot of things, my baby »
« Daddy, look! »
« Yeah, it’s a bird »
As they walked through the Beacon Hill neighborhood, listening to their children’s babbles, the couple couldn’t help but look at each other, imagining what it would be like in a few months when their little third would be in a baby carrier against them. However, while they could have gotten lost in each other’s gaze for hours, they were quickly brought back to reality by the kids, their roles as parents taking over. Hours later, after feeding, bathing, and getting the kids into pajamas, Donna stepped out of the bathroom to observe the scene before her. On the floor in the middle of the living room, Harvey was only dressed in his boxer shorts, Miles sitting on his father's back while the surgeon did push-ups and every time he was on the ground, he kissed Aida’s bare feet as she cooed with a big smile, while Miles burst out laughing each time Harvey pushed himself back up, causing the little boy to move with each push. Watching the scene, Donna slid her hand over her belly, smiling softly before murmuring to her belly.
« You’ll see, baby, we’ll be so happy, all five of us »
As the night settled, the house grew quiet, the children finally asleep after a busy day while Donna and Harvey sat side by side, their hearts full despite the exhaustion. For a moment, they watched over their little ones, reflecting on how much their lives had changed — three children, a family they never imagined but always dreamed of. The weight of parenthood, of the future, was ever-present, but in these moments of stillness, it felt manageable. They didn’t need words to understand that they were in this together, every challenge and joy, facing it all side by side. The chaos of their lives would continue, but in each other’s company, it was always worth it.
And as they sat in the quiet, they knew one thing for sure: no matter what the future held, they were ready.
Because they were together.