The restaurant wasn't impressive.
That was the point.
No reservations made weeks in advance. No private rooms. Just a quiet place with decent lighting and food that didn't try too hard.
Dana noticed immediately. "You remembered."
"I remember what you hate," Julian said. "That counts more."
She smiled as she sat. "It does."
Dinner wasn't an interrogation. They didn't dissect the past or dramatize the breakup. They talked about work, about New York, about how little either of them slept. At some point, Dana reached for her glass at the same time Julian did, and neither pulled away.
"This feels… easy," she said.
"It should," Julian replied. "We made it hard before."
She studied him for a moment. "You're different."
"I learned when not to leave."
She nodded, accepting that for what it was.
They didn't define anything out loud. They didn't need to.
The next morning, Donna knew.
Julian realized this the moment he stepped off the elevator.
"Good morning," Donna said brightly. "You're late."
"It's eight fifty."
"For you, that's late," she replied. "Coffee?"
"I already—"
"Too bad," Donna said, handing him a cup. "Also, your calendar's been adjusted."
Julian frowned. "I didn't authorize—"
Donna smiled. "You didn't have to."
Across the bullpen, Dana looked up from her desk. Their eyes met. No panic. No awkwardness. Just familiarity.
Donna followed his gaze and hummed. "Oh, that's nice."
Julian took a sip of coffee. "You're enjoying this."
"Immensely."
Harvey found out fifteen minutes later.
He walked out of his office mid-rant, stopped short, and stared as Dana and Julian stepped out of an elevator together. Not touching. Not whispering. Just… aligned.
Donna leaned over. "You owe me fifty dollars."
Harvey didn't look at her. "For what?"
"You said a week," Donna replied. "That was optimistic."
Harvey watched Julian laugh quietly at something Dana said. "I don't like this."
Donna shrugged. "You don't like change."
"I like control."
"And yet," Donna smiled, "here we are."
Louis was the last to notice, which bothered him immensely.
He noticed Dana's mood first. Then Julian's. Then the fact that neither of them reacted when he cleared his throat dramatically in the hallway.
"You're working together," Louis said finally.
"Yes," Dana replied.
"Closely," Louis added.
"Professionally," Julian said.
Louis narrowed his eyes. "You're hiding something."
"No," Julian said calmly. "We're just not sharing."
That did not help.
Jessica assigned them a small case that afternoon. Nothing dramatic. Contract review. Strategy memo. Routine.
They worked efficiently. Spoke when necessary. Finished early.
Mike watched from across the room, baffled. "How do they do that?"
Harvey glanced up. "They trust each other."
Mike frowned. "Is that… allowed?"
Later, Dana stopped by Julian's office.
"Dinner?" she asked.
He smiled. "I thought you'd never ask."
As she left, Harvey leaned against the doorway. "You're serious."
Julian met his gaze. "Yes."
Harvey studied him for a long moment. Then nodded. "Good."
Julian blinked. "That's it?"
"I don't like chaos," Harvey said. "But I respect consistency."
Donna watched them from her desk, satisfied.
Everyone knew now.
And somehow, the firm felt steadier for it.
Author's Comment:
Julian and Dana are officially dating early—no drama, no secrecy, just adult comfort. From here, the tension shifts outward: cases, firm politics, and long-term choices. Expect workplace comedy, established-couple moments, and slow groundwork toward marriage much later. Thanks for reading.