Chapter Text
One thing that Donna figures out soon after moving to Massachusetts is that she loves fall there.
It's different from New York. The tree leaves are more colorful, there are pumpkins everywhere, everyone seems to get the Halloween mood. Not that New York didn't have it — she supposes that the suburbs feel that atmosphere properly, and people with kids too. Well, she lives in the suburbs now, even if it's close to Boston and not the big apple, and she has a child too, so that helps.
Mia doesn't care if it's kind of chilly as she laughs and runs over the tree leaves in the park. Donna laughs with her too, and they spend a good hour playing with the leaves as they walk. It's the little girl's second birthday, and even though she doesn't fully grasp that concept yet — she's still a baby, Donna reminds herself when time feels as if it's going too fast — she likes presents and costumes and Halloween.
Donna and Harvey had the day prepared just for her: they let her sleep in and skip daycare, chocolate pancakes for breakfast, many, many presents, they all watched a round of Moana with her (hew newest obsession), lunch with grandma at Uncle Marcus's restaurant, and Harvey had to leave in the afternoon for some meetings he couldn't get out of. Still, Mia got an afternoon with her mother, because the COO managed to get some time off too.
"Come here, baby," Donna calls mid-laughter as Mia runs to her, a mischievous grin on her face.
She's just had a haircut — courtesy of taking after her mother with the big hair — and her hair is just around her ears, but it's enough that the leaves gather around it. Mia stands quietly as Donna picks them out patiently.
"Look at that," she says, taking a yellow leave out. "This one is just like your hair!"
Mia giggles and takes the leave from her, admiring it as if it's the most beautiful thing in the world. Her curious little eyes wander over the ground, crouching down carefully to get a red leave.
"For you, Mama!"
"Oh, thank you very much," Donna laughs. "You wanna take one for Daddy?"
Mia nods, holding onto the yellow leave. "I take this to Daddy," she decides.
Donna smiles. "I'm sure he will just love it, honey."
She picks her baby up and Mia giggles brightly — she's an energetic little thing today, even more than usual. Last year for her first birthday they settled for a small family reunion and it included a precious costume for the baby — a pumpkin to continue their tradition from the day she was born. This year, however, Donna was excited to approach Halloween differently. There will be trick or treating around Lily's neighborhood, and even though Donna knows they'll probably just walk around the block before Mia is tired she knows it'll be worth it.
It's always been her favorite holiday, and now it's her favorite day ever.
They approach the building, Donna holding Mia, and she smiles at the security guard and how he waves at Mia, who is bouncing against her mother in anticipation of seeing Daddy.
It doesn't take long to go to their office. It's nothing compared to their old firm in New York; here, Harvey and Donna are free to do what they want in their terms. The birthday girl herself is far too used to their firm, all smiles and waves at their receptionist and going as far as blowing a kiss to Harvey and Donna's shared secretary when the young woman wishes her a happy birthday. She's still holding the tree leaf diligently in her hands, and when Donna receives confirmation that Harvey is indeed alone, she enters his office.
The balls are still there by the window, even if it's a smaller window — still good, but Donna is the one who got the corner office of their firm, something she would never complain about. Harvey's on a phone call, but his serious expression turns into a smile the moment he sees them, and Mia is already wriggling in Donna's arms, wanting to be put down. She does so, closing the door behind them, and their baby girl runs to Harvey's desk just as he's finishing the call.
"For you, Daddy!" She announces, throwing the leaf his way. Mia is as flamboyant as a vivacious two-year-old should be. Harvey thanks her profusely before picking her up and sitting her on his lap, curious little fingers already itching for Harvey's pens — her favorite past time as of late. Also the reason why pens are forbidden in their house until they figure out a way to make Mia stop coloring the walls.
"How's your birthday going, baby girl?" Harvey asks, planting a kiss on top of Mia's head as she clumsily picks the pen. "Did you have fun with Mommy?"
Mia nods happily as Harvey hands her a paper that she can use before she paints his desk. Donna sits on one of the chairs in front of his desk, watching them with a satisfied smile on her lips.
"We had chocolate ice cream with strawberries," Donna tells him. "Someone even managed to eat without getting ice cream on her clothes."
Harvey laughs, but then a pained expression takes over his face. "She's growing up, Donna."
Donna chuckles. "Time does that, yes."
"It's going too fast," Harvey says resolutely. "Remember when she was just a peanut?"
Donna laughs and nods, feeling a pang in her chest as she remembers finding out about Mia, growing her, growing her relationship with Harvey. She reminisces on it now and then — not always because having a toddler at home means there's little free time, but it's a part of their story and she wouldn't change a single thing. Not a word. Even through the bad times and the hurt… they found each other in the end.
And they're hardly at the end now.
"She's still a baby, though," Donna says, trying to make things a little better.
Mia's first birthday was a milestone to them both as well, and that first year went by so fast that between marriage, moving, raising the baby, it felt like a success — they all survived the first year of parenthood with shining stars, and that had to be celebrated even if Mia didn't get it yet. Now it's different, they're more settled, she's a little spitfire of personality and wit and charms. Today is about her, and she kind of gets it, and next year she'll want specific presents and a party but this year… kind of feels like she's not a baby anymore.
As if sensing her thoughts, Mia sends her a cheeky, bright-eyed smile.
Still a baby, though.
"She'll always be our baby," Harvey huffs. "Won't you, Mia?"
He tickles her, and Mia giggles and squirms, turning on Harvey's lap to throw herself against his chest, something she's done ever since she was a (much smaller) baby. Donna smiles through it all — she loves the way he raises their daughter. Loves how patient and loving he is, how he watches Moana nearly every evening with their baby, how he cooks for them both and takes care of them both. He's a great father, not that that fact ever surprised her. But he's even better than she let herself imagine he would be, in all these years that they've known each other.
Father and daughter enjoy the tickling game a little longer before Harvey announces he's done for the day, and they can continue the rest of their celebration of Mia's second birthday. They leave the office holding hands, with Mia in her father's arms, much like they've been doing often since moving here.
The evening is spent with trick or treating, albeit just around the block of Lily's house, with Hailey and Joshua also joining in. Mia doesn't really get the entire thing but likes chocolate and understands soon that she'll get chocolate if they keep doing this; Halloween is still a big project for Donna, and so she was more than happy to organize two outfits for the occasion this year — one for their trick or treating, and the other for Mia's party on Saturday.
Today, their little Rapunzel gets tired soon and ends up asleep by the time they get home from trick or treating. It's not like Donna's wild and flamboyant old Halloween days, but it's better somehow. She and Harvey dressed to the nines as king and queen, albeit in simpler versions than Donna would have liked. Well, he did agree to dress as Batman for the birthday party.
Donna can't wait to see Mike's face when he realizes Donna managed to get Harvey to wear a superhero costume. But well, if Mia is Supergirl and she's Wonder Woman, he might as well pretend to be Batman for a few hours.
It's Harvey who takes Rapunzel to her nursery and Donna changes her costume for pajamas without the baby girl even waking up — a full day of playing and having all that she likes would do that to a toddler. They leave the nursery quietly and go downstairs, taking the baby monitor with them, and when Harvey asks if she wants pizza, she promptly agrees.
"The usual? Yellow tomatoes?" Harvey asks distractedly as he picks up the phone.
Donna nods, sitting on the couch with a sigh. "Yeah. Oh, don't forget the olives."
He nods. "I won't."
She picks her phone and scrolls through the pictures taken today — their breakfast together, the FaceTime with her parents, Mia in the playground, the ice cream the two of them shared, her second Halloween. Today was about the three of them and their immediate family, and in two days they'll get to celebrate with all their friends much like the old days. Donna forwards a picture of the three of them dressed up for trick or treating to Rachel and smiles as Harvey sits down next to her. She turns the phone towards him and he chuckles.
"So… you asked for olives," he says after a moment, chancing a look at her.
Donna hums her assent.
"You haven't had olives on pizza in like two years," he continues.
That makes her look up, lips parting in surprise. He's got an innocent look on his face. The same expression Mia has sometimes. The mockery of these two.
"We don't know yet."
"But the test is right there," he points out.
"It's supposed to be more precise in the morning," she counters.
"You said you took it in the evening when it was Mia," Harvey says.
Damn her for falling in love with a lawyer.
"I mean, I know when I bought the test during lunch it was a bit complicated with Mia around," he says softly, his hand finding hers. "But Mia is asleep now."
Her eyes meet his unwavering gaze. She can see the nervousness in them, the excitement, and a little bit of fear at the same time. She knows this because she feels the same. They have just started trying, maybe it's too early, maybe it's too fast, but the signs are all there and…
This time they can share it, no matter the outcome.
So she nods.
Harvey grins and kisses her lips.
"Let's do it," Donna announces.
It's different from the first time. The test is done in their shared en-suite bathroom with their baby girl sleeping down the hall, in a different city than the other time, and she waits for the results sitting beside Harvey on their bed, discussing work stuff as if she takes a pregnancy test every other day but she knows he's doing this because he just wants to distract her. She remembers the first time, remembers being so afraid to look at the result but bringing herself to do it at the same time.
When his phone beeps, signaling them that the test is ready, they don't need to talk — Harvey just stands up and takes the little plastic stick from the bedside cabinet, and Donna braces herself for his reaction.
Her answer is a bright smile on his face, one that she shares immediately. She sees the two lines on the test and he's hugging her so tight that she feels tears stinging her eyes, out of pure happiness. It's different than the first time, not only because those uncertainties don't cross her mind now but because now… they're together for it all. They're complete, just the two of them and their daughter and a new baby and maybe even more to come.
Not even her wildest dreams were this good.