Chapter Text
Donna knew Mike had been taking law classes -- some online, testing out of others, and the quarters he took night classes Harvey was unusually cranky. She also knew about the Harvard deal before Harvey did, because Joseph had told her about making arrangements for the Dean to come down, and in return Donna had helped him get a really exclusive restaurant table for them. She knew what night it would happen, and prepared accordingly.
The day after Mike was recruited for Harvard, Mike and Harvey showed up together. Donna held up two Pearson Hardman branded folders, passing one to each.
"New brief?" Mike asked, chewing on a bagel.
"I keep telling Jessica -- " Harvey paused, because he'd opened his folder. "What...?"
"Chartered flights to and from Logan, Friday and Sunday nights, starting in January," she said, leaning back, giving them her smuggest of smug looks. "Car service reservations in Boston, and a list of appropriate restaurants. I assume you don't need hotel recommendations," she added, lowering her voice to a sexy growl.
"These are -- " Mike looked confused, flipping through his folder.
"Housing suggestions near Harvard," she announced. "Maps of campus and environs, and recommendations for fun places to hang out that don't involve young law students drinking until they're convinced to have sex with each other."
They watched her warily.
"You really never did get used to me knowing everything, did you?" she asked Mike. He beamed and leaned way over her desk to give her a kiss.
"You are the best Donna I know," he declared.
"I'm not kissing you," Harvey informed her.
"Good, Mike already mussed my lipstick," she answered. "Run along and play, I have real work to do now."
"You good?" Harvey asked Mike, who shoved the rest of the bagel into his mouth and nodded. "Off with you."
Mike hurried down the hall towards his office, folder clutched tightly to his chest. They watched him go.
"I need another favor," Harvey said, turning back to her once Mike was out of earshot. Donna raised an eyebrow. "I need a ring."
"Harvey! This is so sudden!" she pressed a hand to her chest. "What will my boyfriend say?"
"You're not funny," he said urgently.
"Do you need a wedding planner, too?"
"No! I just..." he glanced over his shoulder.
"I get it," she laughed. "You don't want him to forget you while he's at Harvard."
"We're not getting married. It's a going-away present, that's all."
"You're afraid he's going to get swept up by some would-be lawyer in a pencil skirt," she accused. "Oooh, or a professor. He does have that 'rescue me, I'm a baby deer' look to him sometimes."
"Don't mock me. I want to give him something nice."
"Didn't you do that last night?"
"Donna!"
She delicately plucked a sheet of paper from her printer and offered it to him. "A list of reputable jewelers. Get him something simple in white or antiqued gold. No gems."
He looked down at it. "You're dying to help me pick it out, aren't you?"
"Not at all."
"Not even a little?"
"Harvey, be a big boy. Do you want me to help you pick out a ring for your beloved?"
Harvey narrowed his eyes. "Now I'm rethinking it."
Donna just waited. Harvey sighed.
"Donna, I will buy you dinner at the bistro if you help me pick out a ring for Mike."
"Was that so hard? Don't answer that. We have an appointment at the first place on the list at five. Oh, and tell Mike I'm not helping him move to Cambridge."
"I'm hiring movers," Harvey said.
"He's going to yell at you again."
"It's how we roll," he answered, disappearing into his office. Donna kept on smiling smugly all damn day.
She smiled even more smugly when the ring Harvey eventually picked out, aided by her gentle nudging, came in a set.
"Give him both," she said.
"Why?" Harvey asked, looking irritated.
"Because then he can give you one back."
The day Mike was inducted as Junior Partner -- actually during the little champagne get-together itself -- Donna snuck down to the office where a maintenance guy was scratching Consultant off Mike's door and left an envelope on his desk. Inside was the name of the wedding planner she and Rooey had used, along with a hand-scribbled note: Make an honest man out of him.
If they didn't make her Best Man after that, she thought, returning to her desk, there were going to be words. She hoped her tux still fit.
END