“Gwen.” There’s a click as the door locks and the faint sound of a key being pulled from the keyhole.

“Gwen.” She furrows her eyebrows, pushing the voice from her mind, focusing on the file folders strewn across the counter in front of her. A mug of coffee rests by her elbow. It's cold, she notes, lifting it to her lips. A shrill whistle startles her, making her jump. Coffee sloshes over the rim of the mug and Gwen shoves the folder in front of her away, inadvertently pushing another folder off the countertop.

“Lynn.” A soft voice says from behind her and she hums in answer, setting the mug down.

“You almost made me ruin a bunch of files, Harv.” She says, turning on her stool to face the man behind her. His blue eyes glint with amusement and he rakes a hand through his already unruly blond hair. He cracks one of his infectious smiles and she returns it, standing.

“Sorry. What’re you doing home so early?” He asks, moving to slide his arms around her waist. Her eyes search his face, counting the freckles scattered over his cheeks and the bridge of his nose before answering.

“There was nothing for me to do, so they let me go home.” Harvey raises an eyebrow.

“Oh? They didn’t need your expertise? Well, that project has probably already failed.” Gwen rolls her eyes at his words.

“I’m flattered that you think that, but I’m really no smarter than any of them.” She says and Harvey huffs.

“Maybe a little bit smarter than them. Anyways if they had nothing for you to do, what’s with all the files?” He asks, peering over her shoulder.

“Those are files on a new project. Reginald wants me to head it…” She trails off and Harvey presses a kiss to her forehead.

“But?” He prompts and she expels a sigh, leaning her head against Harvey’s shoulder.

“The project itself… The idea of it is just… Wrong.” She mumbles in his shoulder.

“Can you tell me what it is?” Harvey asks and Gwen shakes her head.

“You know I can’t.” She murmurs, pulling her face from his shoulder. She meets his eyes and takes the sight of him in for a full minute, her hands on his chest. She releases a soft sigh and shakes her head, pasting a smile on her lips.

“Can we talk about something else?” She asks and Harvey nods, seeing her discomfort.

“Yeah, of course. Have you eaten yet?” He asks and she shakes her head.

“Why don’t we make dinner then.” He says and she hums in response, glancing over her shoulder at the mess of folders on the counter.

“Let me clean up my stuff and I’ll help you with dinner.” Harvey nods, giving her a small smile. She returns it and turns away from him, stacking the folders together. She skims the tabs, making sure she has them all

“Oh. One of them fell onto the floor.” Harvey pipes up from behind her and Gwen’s eyes fall to the floor, spotting the folder on the other side of the kitchen. She walks over and crouches, gathering the scattered papers, the project name catching her eye.

“Project Phoenix…” She mumbles to herself and Harvey’s snort of laughter startles her. She stands.

“What’s so funny?” She asks because there is no way he could’ve heard her. Harvey shakes his head, standing by the stove. He puts a handful of spaghetti into a pot.

“Nothing really. I was just thinking…” Gwen raises an eyebrow, setting the folders off to the side of the counter.

“About what?” She asks, moving to stand beside him at the stove.

“Ya know, just that…” He trails off, stirring one of the pans on the stove.

“Just what, Harv?” She prompts, gently bumping her shoulder against his.

“You know… Our wedding is in a couple of months and I… I’m just worried I’ll do something stupid and screw up. Like… What if I drop the ring? Or I mess up my vows? Or say ‘I do’ too early? Or--” Gwen slides her arms around Harvey’s waist and he goes quiet. She presses a kiss to his cheek and lets out a breath against his skin.

“Relax. Deep breath, Harv.” She breathes and he takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly, relaxing into Gwen’s arms.

“We’ve got a couple of months, Harvey. Don’t stress about it too much, alright?” She asks and he nods.

“Besides,” she says, kissing his cheek, “you’ll do great. I mean, if you can hold onto me this long, I don’t think you’ll have any trouble holding a ring.” Harvey chuckles.

“I love you, ya know.” He says and Gwen groans, hiding her face in his shoulder.

“You’re being all gross again.” She murmurs and he laughs softly, the sound bringing a smile to Gwen’s face.

“I love you, Gwen,” Harvey says again.

“You sure say that a lot, you know.” She murmurs and Harvey snorts, shaking his head.

“I love you too, Harv.” She says and he smiles.

“I know.” He replies and she hugs him tighter, breathing him in.

“How’s everyone at the lab?” He asks and Gwen shrugs.

“You know… Good, I guess. I’m pretty sure Melanie is gonna ask Alison to marry her soon.” Gwen murmurs and Harvey raises an eyebrow.

“Yeah? Good for her. Hopefully, she can do it in one go, unlike me.” He murmurs. Gwen chuckles.

“I don’t know. Being proposed to three times was kinda nice.” Gwen says and Harvey shakes his head.

“Yeah, right. I only had to ask you three times because I couldn’t get the goddamn words outta my mouth.” He says, stirring the pasta.

“God, Gwen… It’s like… Whenever you’re around, I… I freeze up and forget what I’m gonna say. Maybe less so now, but when we first met… I could barely speak around you because you just stole my breath away.” Gwen pushes away from him.

“Wow, someone’s cheesy tonight.” Harvey scoffs and turns to face her, sliding his arms around her waist, pulling her to his chest.

“You know I’m always cheesy.” He murmurs and she hums, hands reaching up to cup his face.

“Yeah, but it seems you’re more cheesy than usual. It’s usually in the morning and when we’re getting ready for bed that you’re at your cheesiest.” Harvey lets out a soft laugh and presses his forehead to Gwen’s.

“I’m feeling extra cheesy.” She sighs, shutting her eyes.

“You’re so beautiful.” He murmurs and she hums.

“I know. You tell me every time you can.”

“I will continue to. Till death do us part.” He says and presses a kiss to her nose.

“Ugh. I’m drowning in cheese.” Gwen protests and Harvey presses a quick kiss to her lips, before turning back to the stove, an arm still around her waist.

“You know what I love about you?” He asks and she sighs because she’s only heard this question three hundred times before.

“Everything?” She guesses and he hums.

“Yeah, but more so the fact that I can get you to come out of your shell when we’re together. Remember when we first met?” He asks and she groans, burying her face in his shoulder.

“Don’t remind me.” She grumbles and Harvey presses a kiss to the top of her head.

“I won’t go into detail, but remember how you were? You barely talked, and now look at you. We’re engaged, we’re living together.” He says and she hums.

“Today’s Friday, right?” He asks and she hums again, glancing at the calendar hung up by the clock. Her eyes go wide, seeing the next date and the small, red scrawl in the box. She hugs Harvey tighter, tucking her face into his shoulder as memories come flying back. There’s a click as Harvey turns off the burners and both his arms are around her in seconds and he holds her tightly.

“Tomorrow’s the 5th, isn’t it?” He asks, his voice soft. She nods mutely, feeling him sway them from side to side.

“Gwen… It’s ok. It’s ok to cry. You can’t keep everything bottled up. I’m here. Talk to me.” He breathes and Gwen swallows, shaking her head. Harvey lets out a sigh and rubs her back gently.

“Ok. Not now. Later, when you want. I don’t wanna push you.” Gwen nods, thanking him in her head.

“Would you mind setting the table?” He asks and she shakes her head, pushing him gently away. Harvey catches her hand before she walks away and kisses her knuckles.

“Love you.” He whispers and she nods, giving his hand a gentle squeeze before moving away from him. 

---

“Thank you for cooking.” She says, drying the plate Harvey passes her.

“No problem.” He says, a smile curling his lips. A few minutes of silence pass before Harvey clears his throat and speaks.

“I have tomorrow off.” Gwen nods, putting away the clean dishes. The sink gurgles as Harvey lets the water out and Gwen shuts the cabinet, letting out a breath.

“Can I just skip tomorrow? Like just sleep for the whole day?” She asks, wiping her face. Harvey’s arms slide around her and he pulls her back into his chest. She shuts her eyes, leaning against him.

“I’ll let you sleep in, but I really think we should visit.” He murmurs and Gwen sighs.

“Fine. That sounds fair. Thank you.” She breathes.

“No need to thank me, Lynn. Besides, I never got your dad’s blessing. I never really asked if I could marry you.” He whispers and Gwen lets out a soft laugh.

“Good luck with getting his blessing. He’s always been stubborn.” She replies and Harvey kisses her cheek, humming.

“So I’ve heard.” Gwen turns in his arms, setting her hands on Harvey’s chest.

“They would've loved you.”

“You think so?” Harvey asks and Gwen shrugs.

“Probably. I didn't get to know them that well before…” Her voice trembles and she shakes her head, trying to continue.

“B-before…” She stops, pressing a hand over her mouth, a choked sob slipping out. She squeezes her eyes shut, feeling hot tears slide down her cheeks. Harvey tightens his arms around her waist, gently rocking them from side to side.

“Before…”

“Don't force yourself, Lynn. I know how hard it is for you to remember.” Harvey whispers into her hair.

“I just… It's been 20 years and every time I think of them or October 5th rolls around, I… I can't focus on anything.” Gwen whimpers, her face in Harvey’s shoulder. Harvey doesn't get a chance to speak before Gwen pushes away from him, wiping tears from her cheeks.

“I swear… If one more person tells me some bullshit about how time heals all wounds, I will…” She trails off, brushing her hair from her face. Her eyes meet Harvey's and she grabs her sleeve, yanking it up past her elbow. She repeats the action with her other sleeve, holding Harvey's eyes with hers. There are tears in his eyes, she notes.

“Why… If time heals all wounds… Why can I still see these?” She asks, gesturing to the jagged scars that run down toward her wrists. Harvey doesn't answer, tears sliding off his cheeks.

“Why can I still see the scars on my stomach, or my legs, or the one on my forehead?” She asks, her voice cracking.

“If time heals all wounds, why do I still feel like this?” She asks, her voice a whisper. She drops her gaze to her arms, her nose wrinkling in disgust as she traces the scars.

“I hate them.” She murmurs, closing a hand around her arm, her nails digging into her skin.

“They're just shitty reminders of what happened.” Hands close around her wrists, squeezing gently. Gwen shuts her eyes.

“They're also shitty reminders of what didn't happen. You didn't die. You survived.” Harvey says, his voice shaking.

“Barely.” She mutters and Harvey squeezes her wrists.

“This is why you can't bottle it up, Lynn. When it gets to be too much, you just explode. I'm here for you. You can talk to me. You know that, right?” He asks and she nods.

“Good. Look at me please.” He says and she lifts her head, meeting his eyes. Deep blue, just like the ocean, she often finds herself getting lost in their depths.

“It's getting late. Let's go get ready for bed, yeah?” Harvey asks and Gwen hums in agreement. Harvey let go of her wrists and leads the way into the bedroom. Gwen sighs, kicking off her shoes. She lines them up by the door and moves to the closet. She sighs again, peering into the closet. She changes into her pajamas quickly, throwing on a pair of shorts and a tee shirt, hearing blankets ruffle as Harvey climbs under the covers. She joins him in bed and he turns off the light, plunging the room into darkness.

“Sweet dreams, Harv.” She breathes, feeling Harvey’s arms sliding around her. He pulls her to his chest and presses a kiss to her temple, whispering a soft “goodnight” against her skin.

“Love you.” He breathes. She turns her head, kissing his forehead.

“Love you too.”

“Sweet dreams, Lynn.” He murmurs, already half-asleep.

“You too.” She whispers, feeling him relax as sleep claims him. It takes Gwen a few seconds to relax and sleep claims her, wrapping her in a blanket of dreams.