Title: Wedded Bliss
Author: Selena and Susan
Summary: Okay, so we totally stole the secret marriage idea from "Scarecrow and Mrs. King," but that's okay.
Disclaimer: Sadly, neither one of us owns the characters or these ideas. If we did, we would be independently wealthy and wouldn't have to borrow them. The song at the end is "I Wanna Love You Forever" by Jessica Simpson. It can be found on her "Sweet Kisses" cd.

Thanks to our beta readers: Margie, Cindy, Kim, and Michelle. We won't force you to read it again, but we do appreciate your input and suggestions. Special thanks (from Selena) to Susan, who rescued this little story from the depths of despair and actually made it readable. And (from Susan) to Selena, for writing such an incredible beginning and then allowing me the honor to play with it.

2300 Zulu
Saturday Evening


"I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride"

Mac froze as she heard those words, but melted quickly when Harm's lips descended on hers. For something so crazy, there was no way that this could feel more right. She was only supposed to fly down to Panama City for two days and keep Harm company during his leave. She'd never expected to be standing on a beach and exchanging vows with him in front of a chaplain and two people she'd never seen before in her life. And in that instant when Harm's mouth was still warm on hers, she flashed back to the events that brought them here.

24 Hours Prior
Bay County International Airport
Panama City, Florida


Mac didn't have to look very hard to pick Harm out of the crowd as she made her way through the gate. A 6'4" man wearing khakis, aviator sunglasses, and a cocky grin was hard to miss in the small airport. A smile graced Mac's face as she walked towards him, and they shared a quick, friendly hug.

As she stepped back, Mac put a sly grin on her face. "Hey, Sailor. Been in port long?"

"Cute, Marine. Very cute." Harm simply shook his head and laughed as he grabbed Mac's duffel and pointed her in the direction of his SUV.

"Seriously, Harm, when did you get in?"

"I drove down right after I went off duty this evening and then checked in at the resort." Harm tossed Mac's things in the trunk and unlocked the door for her. He didn't notice that her eyes had narrowed.

"Resort? Did you say we're staying in a resort?" She watched him as they rounded the car.

Harm simply smiled as he replied, "Did you think I was going to stick us in some flea bag motel, Major? You're on vacation, and so am I. I figured we'd try to have some fun."

As she lowered herself into Harm's SUV, Mac couldn't control the smile that played at her lips. Things had been a little tense between the two of them when Harm had made his decision to leave JAG and join an active fighter squadron. So she'd been a little apprehensive when he'd called and invited her down to Florida, but now things seemed so comfortable between them that Mac didn't want to let that go. Looking over at him, she allowed the smile to come fully to her lips and quickly decided that maybe they were going to try and have some fun on this little vacation.

Edgewater Beach Resort
Panama City Beach, Florida


Mac looked around at the extravagant suite with a little awe in her expression. "Harm, did you happen to get a raise when you changed your designator? I know for a fact that they don't pay JAG lawyers this well."

Plopping down on the creamy white sofa, Harm stretched out and looked up at Mac. "Yeah, that's exactly why I came back to flying, Mac. I'm in it for the money."

Mac rolled her eyes, but sat down at the other end of the sofa and turned towards Harm. "And now for a real answer?"

His smile was a bit sheepish when he said, "Did I mention that Frank owns this condo?" As Mac shook her head, he continued. "When I told him and mom that I was coming here for my leave, they insisted. And I knew I couldn't use all this space..."

"So I get an all expenses paid weekend at an exclusive resort? Not a bad deal, Flyboy." Mac had laughter in her eyes, but she turned serious as she said, "Thanks for inviting me, Harm. You have no idea how much I needed this."

For the first time, Harm noticed the tired lines and dark smudges beneath Mac's eyes. He looked at her more closely and asked, "What's going on?"

"Cases, investigations, paperwork, more investigations, more paperwork. I honestly don't think I've been this busy since I first came to JAG." Mac rolled her shoulders and Harm instinctively stood up and moved behind her. She leaned forward slightly when she felt the warm pressure of his hands as they began to knead the tight muscles of her neck and shoulders.

"Why are you doing all the work? I thought Brumby was staying full time," he said absently as his hands roamed over her warm flesh.

Mac let out a short, sarcastic laugh that almost turned into a moan as Harm began massaging a particularly tense spot. "If Mic Brumby put as much time and effort into his cases as he did into trying to get me to go out with him, I wouldn't have to do all the work."

Mac jerked her head around as Harm stopped suddenly. She met his eyes and saw something she couldn't quite read as he said, "Is he really bothering you? I can talk to him..."

Reaching up to squeeze his hand, Mac laughed again. "I don't think that's going to be necessary, Harm, but thanks for asking." She turned around as Harm started his massage again. Then she said absently, "Actually, if you can think of a way for me to...shall we say, discourage the Commander, I'm all ears."

"We could get married. That would stop him." The words escaped Harm's lips before he thought about them. They were said jokingly, but caused an uncomfortable silence to fall over the room.

Mac felt Harm's hands freeze on her shoulders, and she let out a breath that she hadn't even realized she'd been holding. Desperately trying to think of something to break the tension, she swallowed audibly, but put a smile on her face. "We should probably go to dinner first, Commander."

Harm reluctantly removed his hands and backed up a few steps. He, too , placed a smile on his face and cleared his throat. "That sounds good. Why don't we go get ready?"

Mac nodded and walked towards her bedroom, but not before she stole one last look at Harm's retreating form...and smiled.

Harm berated himself as he opened the door that led to what would be his bedroom for the weekend. He couldn't believe he'd said that...and it scared him more than a little that he'd actually meant it.

1100 Zulu
Saturday Morning
Edgewater Beach Resort
Panama City Beach, Florida


Before Mac even opened her eyes, she could sense the bright sunlight flooding her bedroom. She knew instinctively that it was barely six o'clock, but her internal clock didn't seem to care that she was on vacation. Stretching and yawning deeply, she rose and walked across the room to a small, private balcony. As she looked out onto the white sand and crystal blue water, she knew she couldn't imagine anything more beautiful. It was perfect.

Well, it was almost perfect. She couldn't help but remember how tense things had been between her and Harm the night before at dinner. There had been one awkward moment when Harm pushed in her chair at dinner and lightly brushed her shoulder, causing them both to pause. The smiles seemed plastered on their faces, and they'd barely tasted their meal. Even their conversation was forced and covered Mac's cases, Harm's adventures as a retread, and the latest accomplishments of little A.J.

They had talked about everything except what they really needed and wanted to, Mac mused. Not a word was said about Harm's breakup with Jordan, the tearful good-bye they'd shared in his office, or that eye-opening little comment he'd made the night before. Shaking her head, she closed her eyes and took in a deep breath of the salty air. She remained frozen like that for several moments, never noticing the man who stood watching her from the shore below.

He couldn't believe how beautiful she was. Of course, he'd noticed it before, but he'd never really let himself think of her that way. She was his best friend, his partner, nothing more. Or at least there could never be more because she was his partner, and there were regs that neither of them could ignore.

But all that had changed the moment Harm had changed his designator. Now there was no real reason that he and Mac couldn't be together. No regulations. No Jordan. Nothing. However, there was still one thing that kept Harm from acting on the feelings he'd harbored for years. Friendship. Mac had become his best friend, and there was no way he was going to risk losing that.

Shaking himself slightly, Harm decided that he wasn't quite ready to face Mac yet, so he continued his run down the beach in the other direction. However, his own thoughts drowned out the sounds of the surf.

A little voice kept whispering in his ear, 'What are you waiting for?'

Picking up the pace, Harm pushed himself even further and thought violently, 'It'll never work.'

That little voice, however, would not be silent. 'How do you know?'

Although his lungs were aching with the effort, Harm continued as his mind and heart raced. 'I just know. What if something goes wrong?'

'What if it does? If you want a lifetime guarantee, Rabb, go and buy yourself a toaster. If you want her, go to her. She's waited on you long enough.'

With that, Harm stopped abruptly and leaned over, bracing his hands on his knees. As he tried to catch his breath, he finally realized that he'd won the battle with himself. Mac had waited long enough. In fact, they both had.

Looking at his watch, Harm realized that time was something he was running out of. He and Mac had less than forty-eight hours left together, and Harm quickly decided that he was going to make it count. Beginning a brisk jog, he made his way back to the condo...and Mac.

Humming to herself, Mac busily arranged fresh fruit on a plate before she grabbed hot bagels from the toaster. She smiled when she heard the front door open, and then picked up the plate to carry it towards the living room. She called out, "Where've you been, Sailor? I thought maybe I'd lost you." The smile faded from her face when she saw Harm's serious expression. She asked softly, "Harm? Are you okay?"

Harm decided that it was now or never. Swallowing roughly, he replied, "I don't know, but I will be." He crossed the room slowly and motioned for Mac to sit. She put the plate aside and dropped to the couch slowly, and her eyes continued to follow Harm as he paced in front of her.

"Whatever it is, you can tell me, Harm. You know that."

At that, he paused and smiled softly. "That's just it, Mac. I can tell you anything, but I'm not so sure you'll want to hear this." Then he continued his pacing as he began again. "I'm flying, Mac. I'm back doing what I always thought I was born to do. I'm living a dream I thought I'd lost a long time ago. But I've realized something. I had to give up another dream, too."

Mac nodded and licked dry lips before she could speak. "I know you miss her, Harm, but maybe I can talk to Jordan..."

Harm shook his head vigorously as he interrupted. "No. God no, Mac.

I'm not talking about Jordan. That was over months ago...even before she broke it off."

Now it was Mac's turn to be confused. "Then I don't think I understand, Harm. What dream did you have to give up?"

Taking a deep breath, he finally said the words. "I had to walk away from you."

Mac's eyes grew wide, and she opened her mouth to speak, but Harm cut her off with a single look. "No. Please. Let me finish. I've waited too long to say this, and I honestly don't know when or if I'll ever get the chance to say it again." He paused until Mac nodded mutely. Then he slowly sat down beside her and continued, "The day I walked away from you was the hardest of my life. Wait...actually, it was the second hardest. The worst was when I had to watch you drive away with Dalton Lowne. That day, I knew that I needed you, but I guess I didn't realize how much. And then when I did finally get around to seeing it, the tables were turned, and I was the one leaving. When you asked me if I was in love, I was so afraid that you'd see right through me. That you'd see that I was in love with you."

He stopped so suddenly that Mac almost wanted to pinch herself and see if it was really true. Reaching a tentative hand towards him, she asked, "But why were you afraid? What did you think I would say?"

Harm just shook his head as he searched her eyes. "What would you have said?"

"I would have said that there was no way I was going to let you out of that office before I did this." Suddenly she closed the distance between them and pressed against him as her lips met his. Four years worth of pent up emotion flooded between them as each deepened the kiss. As they reluctantly broke apart, Mac took Harm's face into her hands. "And then I would have told you that I loved you, too."

Harm sighed as his forehead touched Mac's. Although his heart was still racing, he tried a slight smile. "So you're telling me that we could have been doing this for the past three months?"

Returning his smile, Mac said jokingly, "Umm-hmm. And maybe we could have even been working on the little plan you mentioned last night."

Harm suddenly sat bolt upright before the words came pouring from his mouth. "You mean you would actually consider marrying me? I mean, after training, I'll be on the carrier for weeks, maybe even months at a time. I don't know when we'd see each other or if I'd ever make it to D.C."

Mac just stared at him. "Harm...do you...are you really proposing?"

Not pausing a second, he searched her eyes and simply said, "Yes."

Only a flicker of doubt flashed in her eyes before she saw the love mirrored in Harm's. "Then I accept."

A grin slowly made its way across Harm's face as he pulled Mac towards him and gave her a quick kiss. Then he pulled away and crossed the room. Mac stared after him, confusion written on her face. "Where are you going now?"

"I need a shower," he replied matter-of-factly. "We have a wedding to plan, Major." With that, he closed his bedroom door and left Mac standing with a half-scared, half-dreamy smile on her face.

Back to the Present
2300 Zulu
Shell Island
Off the Coast of Panama City Beach, Florida


And now Mac stood with a very similar look on her face as she stared back at Harm...her husband. Yes, they had indeed planned a wedding...in twelve short hours. Mac found herself on a deserted island looking up at the man who had just promised to love and cherish her for the rest of their lives. She was almost dizzy, but felt strength flood through her when she heard Harm whisper, "I love you."

Looking up into his eyes, she replied with a grin, "I know." Then she laughed as she felt her feet leave the ground. Harm swung her up into his arms and brought his mouth firmly against hers. When they finally broke for a breath, Mac said quietly, "And I love you, too."

Their eyes locked for a moment, and it seemed as if they were lost in their own world on the quiet little island. However, they soon realized they had an audience. Harm quickly set Mac on her feet and moved over to thank the chaplain and witnesses. They simply smiled at the couple and left.

Harm then turned back towards his bride. "So, Mrs. Rabb, what would you like to do first?"

Mac smiled at the use of that name, and didn't even bother to correct him that it was 'Major Rabb.' "Well, Commander Rabb, I guess we'd better catch the last boat, or we're not going to make it back to the mainland."

"Who said anything about going back tonight?"

Looking around at the beautiful but desolate beach, Mac's eyes grew wide. "And where exactly do you propose that we stay?"

Wordlessly, Harm took Mac's hand and gently pulled her after him along the beach. With the setting sun their only light, they walked further until they reached a small cottage set back among some trees. Faint light glowed from the windows, and Mac couldn't help but gasp at the simple beauty of the spot. However, she said nothing as Harm led her to the front door and pulled her up into his arms.

Opening the door carefully, Harm looked down into Mac's eyes after he carried her over the threshold. "Will this do?"

Mac looked around and felt tears spring to her eyes. Although the small, one-room cottage wasn't nearly as extravagant as the resort, it was somehow perfect. Pillar candles illuminated simple furnishings, and the only music heard was that provided by the pounding surf. Nodding, Mac replied, "It's wonderful. But how did you..."

"I would do anything for you. I wanted tonight to be perfect, and I couldn't think of anything that I wanted more than being here with you. We have so little time left..."

Placing a gentle finger on Harm's lips, Mac quieted him. "No. I don't want to talk about that. Not now. Tonight's for us. Just for us."

Harm nodded as he carefully set Mac on her feet. "Us," he whispered.

"I like the sound of that."

"Well, you'd better get used to it because I'm not planning on letting you go any time soon." With that, Mac wrapped her arms around Harm's shoulders and brought her mouth to his. Between soft, slow kisses, she told him again and again how much she loved him. And her heart thrilled when she heard him return those words.

Soon, however, the kisses weren't enough. Hands began to roam and explore, and desire grew between them, threatening to take them both over the edge. Harm slowly worked his way behind Mac, and his trembling hands found the zipper at the top of her dress.

Mac smiled as the pale blue sun dress that had served as her wedding gown pooled at her feet. Then she turned to meet Harm's eyes and wasted no time in undoing the buttons that lined the front of Harm's simple white shirt. As she parted the material, Mac allowed her hands to run across the expanse of his chest, eliciting a smile from Harm.

"Are you enjoying this, Commander?" she asked, her voice low and seductive as she helped him remove the shirt.

"Um-hmm...I've been waiting for this for a long time," he replied, his eyes half-closed.

Mac laughed softly. "You can't have been waiting that long, Harm. We've only been married fifteen minutes." Her hands traveled across his shoulders and down his arms until her hands met his. She looked at him intently as his gaze met hers.

"I've been waiting on this for four years, Mac. I knew it then...I've always known. I've loved you since the day I first saw you, Sarah, and I'm never going to stop." Harm's voice was soft, but Mac heard each syllable.

Gazing into his eyes, she said, "Make love to me now. I don't want to waste one more moment."

Nodding, Harm quickly stepped out of his shoes and watched as Mac did the same. Then he felt her hands move to his waist and undo the buttons of his khakis. Soon they lay disregarded alongside the dress, and the rest of their underwear quickly followed before Harm took her into his arms to carry her to the bed.

Hours later the candles had melted into pools of wax, and Harm and Mac still lay tangled in each others arms. Harm leaned on his forearm and raised his head so he could look into Mac's eyes. Using his free hand, he gently brushed a stray lock of hair from her forehead. "You are so beautiful."

Reaching up, Mac clasped his hand in her own. "And you are the most wonderful man I've ever met. I can't believe how lucky I am to have found you...to be here with you."

Harm quieted her with a gentle smile. "I'm the lucky one. You agreed to marry an aging retread who you may only see three times a year."

The sparkle that had been in Mac's eyes all night dimmed a little as Harm said those words. Putting a brave smile on her face, she replied, "Don't think you're going to get rid of me that easily, Sailor. I'll be your girl in every port, and we'll make those three times a year seem like an eternity."

Nothing Mac could have said would have been more perfect. Harm brought his lips down to hers once more, and then whispered, "I love you. We are going to make this work." Mac nodded quietly and then closed her eyes in ecstasy as Harm's body covered hers once more.

1345 Zulu
Sunday Morning
Shell Island
Off the Coast of Panama City Beach, Florida


He lay there and watched her sleep. In fact, he'd been doing it most of the night. It was almost as though he was trying to memorize each curve and line of her body...as though he hadn't already done that years ago. Sighing, he gently touched her face and thought about how hard it was going to be to let her go today.

Mac stirred at that single touch. Blinking several times, she finally focused on the man who looked at her so intently. "You're here. I thought that maybe last night was just a dream."

Harm replied with a smile. "No, it was real. Very real."

"Hmmm," she replied lazily. "Maybe I need a reminder."

Harm raised his hand and gently trailed a finger down the side of her face. He traced the fullness of her lower lip as he said, "Remember that?"

Mac sighed as she kissed his finger. "Yeah, I remember that."

Harm replaced his finger with his lips and applied gentle pressure to her lips before pulling back and looking down at her. "And how about that?"

A moan escaped her lips as she closed her eyes. "Mm-hmm. I remember that, too."

Harm moved his mouth to her ear and blew softly before pulling the lobe into his mouth. "And this?"

"I definitely remember that."

Harm trailed kisses down her neck until he reached her shoulder blade. "And now?"

"Now, I just want you."

Mac sighed as she leaned back against Harm's chest. The sand was warm against her bare feet, and she closed her eyes against the bright light of the midday sun. "Can we stay here forever?"

"Well, I think we should, but the United States Marine Corps and Navy might have other ideas," he laughed softly against her ear. Then he paused for a moment before he said, "Mac..."

"I know, Harm. I know. In a few hours I'll be on a plane to D.C., and you'll be driving back to Pensacola." She stopped and turned so that she could look directly into his eyes. "And you said it yourself, we will make this work. We have to."

Wrapping his arms around her, he smiled and replied, "We will...but it'll be the hardest thing I've ever had to do."

Mac swallowed roughly and said, "Harm, how are we going to do this? I was only supposed to come down here for the weekend, and I come back married? What's everyone going to say when we, I mean, when I tell them?"

Harm looked thoughtful for a moment. "What if we wait?"

Mac shook her head and began to speak, but Harm stopped her. "Seriously, Mac, what if we wait and tell them together?"

Mac watched him for a moment before she spoke. "Harm, I don't know if I can keep this a secret. It was hard enough hiding my feelings for you when we weren't together. Now that we are, I just want to shout it from the rooftops."

Harm smiled as he laced his fingers through hers. "I know the feeling." He toyed with the gold band that occupied her ring finger as he met her gaze. "I don't want people to think that we did this on a whim, Mac. I have loved you for so long that I can't remember a time when I didn't, and I don't want you to have to deal with all of the questions and the speculation without me by your side." Mac looked down at where their hands were joined as he continued, "And besides, I want to tell my mother in person."

Mac smiled as she looked back up at him. "Tell you what, Harm, I'll make you a deal. I won't tell anybody about us getting married until you can be there to share in it, if you agree not to tell your mother without me by your side."

Harm's eyes lit up as he leaned closer to her. "You've got yourself a deal, Marine."

Mac met his lips as they descended on hers. As he tried to deepen the kiss, she pulled away from him and stood up. She smiled as she reached down to help him to his feet. "Come on, Sailor, we've still got a couple of hours before we have to head back."

Harm took her hand in his as he got to his feet. "Where are we going, Mac?"

Mac smiled as she pulled his arm over her shoulders. "Back to that lovely little cottage, Flyboy. I want to make sure that you don't forget me while you're out at sea."

Harm stopped walking and turned her around to face him. His voice was completely serious as he whispered, "Mac, I could never forget you. You're the most important person in my life."

"Good," she replied. "Because you're the most important person in my life, too." A smile played across her lips as she leaned closer to him. "Now, come on before I decide to just have my way with you here on the beach."

Harm laughed as they resumed walking towards the cottage. Something told him that marrying Mac was the best decision he had ever made.

2300 Zulu
Sunday Evening
Bay County International Airport
Panama City, Florida


Harm set Mac's duffel down in one of the plastic chairs and turned around to face her. "I guess this is goodbye for a while."

Mac nodded slowly as her eyes met hers. "Harm..."

Harm pulled her into his embrace as the tears slowly slid down her cheeks. "I know, Mac."

Mac wrapped her arms around his waist as she buried her face against the soft cotton of his shirt. "I love you so much, Harm."

"I love you, too," he whispered into her hair.

Mac pulled back to look at him. "We can do this, right?"

Harm nodded as he choked back the tears that threatened to fall. "Yeah, Mac, we can do this."

The voice of the gate attendant came over the loud speaker. "Flight 8976 to Atlanta with continuing service to Dulles International now boarding at Gate 2."

Mac leaned back against his chest as he tightened his hold on her. "That's my flight, Harm."

Harm slowly released her until he could look down at her. "I'll write you every day, and I'll call every chance I get."

"Be safe," she whispered.

Harm gave her a brief smile as he leaned down and brushed his lips against hers. "Always, Mac."

Mac allowed her gaze to rest on the solid gold band that dangled from the chain around his neck. She reached up and gently tucked it inside of his shirt as she met his eyes again. "I love you, Harm."

"I love you, too, Mac." Harm captured her lips again before he dropped his arms from around her and took a step back. "Semper Fi, Marine."

Mac wiped at her eyes as she picked up her duffel. She fingered the gold band that hung around her own neck as she slowly backed away from him. "Semper Fi, Sailor."

Harm watched her through tear-filled eyes as she turned her back to him and followed the flight attendant out to the small plane. When she reached the top of the steps leading into the plane, she paused and looked back at him. Bringing her fingers to her lips, she blew him a kiss before disappearing into the plane.

1145 Zulu
Monday Morning
Mac's Apartment


Mac put the finishing touches on her make-up and looked at herself in the mirror. Aside from the gold chain that hung around her neck, her outward appearance hadn't changed any over the weekend. However, in her heart, Mac felt like she was a completely different person. It was an exhilarating feeling to finally be able to express her love for Harm.

A smile crossed her face as she relayed the events of the weekend in her mind. In all of her fantasies of how she and Harm would get together, she had never imagined that he would propose the way he had. The fact that she had so readily accepted his proposal was almost as surprising as the act itself.

Mac made her way into the bedroom just as the phone started ringing. Settling herself on the side of her bed, she reached over to answer it. "Hello."

< "Good morning, Mrs. Rabb." >

Mac smiled at the sound of Harm's voice. "Good morning, Mr.Rabb."

< "How's my favorite Marine today?" >

"Aside from missing my husband something awful, I'm doing great."

< "I like the sound of that -- your husband." >

"I thought that you would be on your way to the Patrick Henry by now, Harm. What's up?"

< "I had a couple of minutes, so I thought that I would call and say good morning." >

"I'm glad that you did. I didn't sleep very well last night without you here. I think that you've spoiled me."

< "I know what you mean. I kept waking up and reaching out for you." >

"Sounds like I'm not the only one who got spoiled over the weekend."

< "No, you're not. I wish that I could talk longer, Mac, but I've got to get going now. I just needed to hear your voice again before I left." >

"I love you."

< "I love you, too, Mac. I'll talk to you later." >

"Bye, Harm."

< "Bye, Mac." >

Mac returned the phone to its cradle and reached up to finger the ring hanging around her neck. Giving a soft sigh, she pushed herself up off of the bed and finished getting dressed.

1645 Zulu
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, Virginia


Mac looked up from the case file she was reading through when she heard the soft knock at her door. "Enter."

Harriet entered her office and closed the door behind her. "Good morning, Ma'am."

"Good morning, Harriet," Mac replied as she motioned her to a chair. "What brings you into the office this morning? Shouldn't you be at home with A.J.?"

Harriet sank into the chair with an appreciative smile. "Actually, Ma'am, I had a few errands to run today, so I left A.J. with our next door neighbor, Mrs. Murphy. I'm a little early for my lunch date with Bud, so I thought that I would stop by and say hello."

Mac smiled at her. "Well, I'm glad you did, Harriet. I haven't seen you in quite a while. How are things going?"

Harriet shrugged. "Taking care of A.J. keeps me pretty busy, Ma'am. However, now that he's getting a little older, I don't feel so guilty about leaving him with a sitter."

"That's good. It would do you some good to get out of the house every once in a while."

"Speaking of getting out of the house, Ma'am," Harriet replied. "How was your trip down to Florida?"

Mac couldn't stop the smile that spread across her face as she answered, "It was wonderful, Harriet. I think it was exactly what I needed."

"And how is Commander Rabb, Ma'am?" Harriet asked.

"Harm is doing wonderful, Harriet. He was scheduled to leave for the USS Patrick Henry early this morning."

"And?" Harriet prompted.

"And what?" Mac asked as she dropped her gaze back to the case file.

Harriet tried to suppress a grin at Mac's obvious discomfort in discussing Harm. "And did the two of you have a nice weekend together?"

Mac nodded. "Yes, we did, Harriet. The weather was fabulous and the resort was lavish."

"The resort, Ma'am?" Harriet questioned.

Mac forced her gaze back up to the smiling face of her friend and chuckled. It was obvious that Harriet was here to pump her for information. The least she could do would be to give her a small scrap to take back to the masses. "Commander Rabb met me at the airport in Panama City, and drove us to The Edgewater Beach Resort. Apparently, his stepfather owns it, and he insisted that we use it for the weekend. It was a beautiful resort, Harriet. Complete with a stocked kitchen."

Harriet's smile widened at that. "Sounds like Commander Rabb knows how to keep you satisfied, Ma'am."

Mac forced herself to keep her eyes focused on Harriet even as thoughts of other ways that Harm had kept her satisfied flashed through her mind, turning her face a nice shade of pink. "I have to give Harm credit here, Harriet. He went out of his way to make sure that I could relax and enjoy the weekend."

"And did you?" Harriet asked, noticing the slight blush on her cheeks.

Mac nodded emphatically. "Yes, Harriet, I did."

"I'm glad to hear that, Ma'am. You and Commander Rabb both deserve a little happiness in your lives."

Mac smiled as Harriet stood to leave. "Thank you, Harriet. And thanks for stopping by."

"You're welcome, Ma'am," Harriet replied as she reached the door. She turned back to face Mac and added, "Give our love to Commander Rabb next time you talk to him, Ma'am."

"I will, Harriet, and you give A.J. a big hug and kiss from me."

Harriet nodded her agreement as she made her way out the door. Mac watched the door close behind her and sighed. This was going to be harder than she thought.

Three Months Later
1700 Zulu
JAG Headquarters


Mac leaned back in her chair with a frustrated sigh. It had been over two weeks since she had spoken to Harm, and it was beginning to drive her crazy. Granted, she was still receiving e-mails from him on a regular basis, but it wasn't the same. *Reading* how much he loved her just couldn't compare to *hearing* him tell her how much he loved her.

"Suck it up, Marine," she gently chided herself as she turned back to her computer to type up the notes on her latest case. The flashing mail icon caught her attention and she quickly clicked on it to see who had sent her a message. She smiled as she recognized Harm's return address on the latest message in her inbox.

She opened the message and quickly read it to herself.

Mac,

Good morning...or afternoon. I'm not sure exactly what time it is there anymore. I just got off duty, and I wanted to say hello before I hit the sack.

I miss you terribly, Mac. I never imagined that being apart from you would be so difficult. I'll be glad when I get off of this rotation so I can at least call you. I miss hearing your voice. I miss the way you say my name, and the way that I can hear the smile in your voice when you tell me that you love me.

I almost gave in and called you at the office today, but I knew how many questions that would have raised, so I didn't. I can't wait to see you again. I'm looking forward to being able to wrap my arms around you, and hold you again. Not only that, but I can't wait for the day when I can tell the world that I'm the luckiest man in the world because you're my wife.

Take care, Ninja Girl. I love you.

H.

Mac fought the tears that threatened to fall as she reread the message.

"Excuse me, Ma'am." Tiner's voice cut through the silence of the office.

Mac quickly closed the document and turned to face him. "Yes, Tiner?"

"I'm sorry to interrupt you, Ma'am, but Admiral Chegwidden would like to see you," Tiner stated as he took in her slightly moist eyes. "Ma'am, is everything okay?"

Mac nodded as she logged off of her computer, and closed the case file she had been working on. "Everything's fine, Tiner. Please tell the Admiral that I will be right in."

"Yes, Ma'am," Tiner answered as he turned to make his way out of her office.

Mac took a steadying breath as she watched Tiner retreat from her office.

She needed to get a grip on her emotions before she saw the Admiral if she wanted to avoid any questions that she couldn't answer without explaining the newest twist in her relationship with Harm.

Turning her back to the door, she pulled the chain from beneath her blouse and held it in her fist for the briefest of moments before returning it to it's place of safekeeping next to her heart. As she stood up to make her way to the Admiral's office, she whispered, "I love you, too, Harm."

Mac knocked on Admiral Chegwidden's door, and waited for his command before she entered. As she walked into the room, she noticed that Commander Brumby and Lieutenant Roberts were already present.

"You wanted to see me, Sir?" she questioned as she came to attention.

"Yes, Major, I did," Admiral Chegwidden answered as he came around his desk. He didn't stop until he was directly in front of Mac.

As she continued to stand at attention, Mac missed the smiles that had crept onto Bud and Mic's faces. Instead, she stared straight ahead and waited for the Admiral to speak. And although it was only a moment or so, the silence seemed like an eternity to Mac. She began to worry...maybe they'd somehow found out about her and Harm?

Curiosity and dread getting the better of her, Mac almost broke protocol and spoke out of turn. However, she stopped suddenly when she heard the Admiral call everyone in the room to attention. "Major, on behalf of the United States Marine Corps, I am pleased to announce your promotion to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel."

Mac quickly looked down at the oak leaves shining in the Admiral's hand. Then her eyes rose to meet his, and he could immediately see the questions there. Sternly, he replied, "You've earned them, Marine."

With those simple words, Mac knew that her C.O. meant it. Perhaps some darker parts of her past had been forgiven, and now she was truly looking forward to her future. Her only regret now was that Harm was not here to share this moment with her.

Mac smiled as Admiral Chegwidden pinned the silver oak leaves on her collar. "Congratulations, Colonel."

"Thank you, Sir," Mac replied.

"At ease, Colonel," Admiral Chegwidden stated as he made his way back around his desk. "Commander, Lieutenant, that will be all."

Brumby and Bud came to attention with an "Aye, aye, Sir," before leaving his office.

Admiral Chegwidden motioned Mac into a chair as he sat down himself. "My apologies for cutting the celebration short, Colonel. Unfortunately, I have a case that needs your prompt attention."

"Not a problem, Sir," Mac answered as she settled herself into a chair.

Admiral Chegwidden handed her a case file as he began, "Lieutenant Dylan Basset, a communications officer on board the USS Patrick Henry, has filed sexual misconduct charges against his supervisor, Commander Shawna Reynolds."

"The Patrick Henry, Sir?" Mac questioned as she looked up from the case file.

"Yes, Colonel," he answered. "And yes, I am aware that it is the same carrier that Commander Rabb is serving on. Do you have a problem with that?"

"No, Sir. Not at all, Sir," Mac replied as she tried to calm the sudden erratic beating of her heart. Did she have a problem with it? Was he kidding? Why on earth would she have a problem with an assignment that would allow her to see her husband again.

Admiral Chegwidden's voice interrupted Mac's thoughts. "Captain Pike has requested that we conduct an investigation to determine if the charges warrant a court martial. I'm reassigning the Powers case to Lieutenant Roberts, and sending you out to the Patrick Henry. Your transport leaves at 1800 tonight. Any questions?"

"No, Sir," Mac answered. "I'll be sure to update Lieutenant Roberts before I leave this afternoon."

Admiral Chegwidden nodded as he leaned back in his chair. "Very well then, Colonel. Dismissed."

Mac stood to attention. "Aye, aye, Sir," she stated before she turned and left the office with a broad smile on her face.

0320 Zulu
En Route to USS Patrick Henry
Somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean


Mac glanced out the window of the helicopter as the lights of the Patrick Henry came into view. A smile crossed her lips as she realized how close she was to seeing Harm again. As soon as she had left Admiral Chegwidden's office that afternoon, she had e-mailed Harm to tell him that she was coming to see him. She had debated telling him about her promotion, but had finally decided against it, opting instead to tell him that she had a surprise for him.

As the helicopter drew nearer to the carrier, Mac shifted in her seat and tried to relax. Regardless of how excited she was about seeing Harm, she knew that they would have to maintain a certain level of professional decorum -- at least while they were in public. However, once she was alone with him, she had every intention of reminding him that he was a taken man.

"We'll be landing momentarily, Colonel," the young Lieutenant yelled at her in order to be heard over the noise of the aircraft.

Mac nodded her understanding as she sat up straighter in her seat. She reached up to adjust her helmet as she felt the helicopter began its descent to the carrier. As soon as the helicopter touched down, the Lieutenant opened the door, and jumped to the deck. He reached up to help Mac out of the chopper, and then climbed back on board as Mac made her way off of the landing pad.

Mac's eyes searched the well lit deck for Harm, and a smile crossed her face as she spotted him. Even wearing a safety vest and helmet, his tall frame was easily recognizable. Harm grinned, and opened his arms for a hug as she approached him. Mac stepped into his embrace for a brief hug before straightening to look at him. He motioned towards the door located behind him, and she followed him as they stepped out of the noise of the deck into silence.

Harm quickly removed his helmet and vest as he turned to face her. "Hello doesn't seem adequate."

Mac smiled as she removed her helmet and handed it to him. "I know what you mean. It's good to see you, Harm."

"It's good to see you, too..." Harm's voice trailed off as she removed her vest and the shiny oak leaves came into view. He quickly snapped to attention. "Lieutenant Colonel, Ma'am."

Mac rolled her eyes at his reaction. "At ease, Commander."

Harm relaxed his stance and met her gaze. "When did this happen?"

"This afternoon," Mac replied. "I was going to tell you in my message, but since I knew that I would be seeing you tonight, I decided to tell you in person."

Harm flashed her a smile. "Congratulations, Mac. You definitely deserve it."

"Thank you," Mac replied.

Harm pointed to the hallway on her left. "The bridge is that way, Colonel."

Mac turned and started down the hallway as Harm fell into step beside her. "So, are you my official escort for the duration of my stay?"

"Unfortunately, no. Although I'm sure I would enjoy that duty," Harm answered with a smile. "I think I shocked Captain Pike when I volunteered to meet the transport bringing the JAG investigator."

Mac dropped her voice to a whisper as she met his gaze. "I guess you didn't tell him that it was your wife on the transport, huh?"

Harm shot her a heated look. "No, Colonel, I didn't." Leaning closer to her, he added, "Do you have any idea how bad I want to take you in my arms right now?"

Mac stopped as they reached a staircase. Turning slightly so they were face to face, Mac answered him, "If it's anywhere near as bad as I want to take you in my arms, then I think I might have a clue."

Harm drew in a deep breath at the love he could clearly see in her eyes. He had been dreaming about that look for over three months, and now that he was face to face with her, he felt as if he were drowning.

Mac forced her gaze away from his and turned back to the stairs. Her voice was strained as she asked, "How far away is the bridge, Commander?"

Harm followed her up the stairs as he tried to get his emotions under control. "Not far, Colonel," he replied as they reached the upper level of the ship. "Not far at all."

0340 Zulu
USS Patrick Henry
Atlantic Ocean


Mac tried to maintain a walking pace as Harm showed her to her quarters, but it was becoming increasingly difficult. Although Harm hadn't said a word to her since they had left Captain Pike on the bridge, the looks that he was giving her were slowly driving her crazy.

Captain Pike had welcomed her on board and given her a brief summary of the situation, but he had quickly dismissed her with the understanding that they would go into more detail tomorrow after she had gotten some rest. Then he had ordered Harm to escort her to her quarters and to make sure that she was settled in. Harm had readily accepted the assignment and was now quietly leading her back to her room.

"Second door on your right, Colonel," Harm stated as they rounded yet another corner.

Mac stopped when she reached the door, and Harm's hand came around her to open it. As he pushed it open, Mac stepped inside and turned around to look at him. "Are you staying, Sailor?"

Harm quickly checked the hallway to make sure that they weren't being observed before he stepped inside. He closed and locked the door, and then turned to face Mac.

Mac barely waited until he had turned to face her before she lunged at him. Her arms wrapped around his neck as she pulled his mouth down to hers. Harm returned her kiss as his hands snaked around her waist, pulling her hard up against himself.

Mac groaned as their bodies came into contact with each other. Pulling her mouth from his, she kissed her way down his neck. "I've missed you, Harm."

"I've missed you, too, Mac." Harm replied as he slid his hands under the back of her blouse. "You feel so incredible."

Mac smiled as she kissed her way back up to his mouth. "You feel pretty incredible yourself, Harm. However, you have on way too many clothes."

Harm captured her lips as he slid his hands around her body, sliding them up until he came in contact with her lace covered breasts. As he plunged his tongue into her mouth, he gently teased her nipples through her bra.

Mac tightened her grip on his shoulders as the sensations threatened to overwhelm her. Three months was way too long to go without feeling him like this. He continued to tease her through her clothes, but it wasn't enough for her. She wanted more. No, she needed more. Summoning what little willpower she had left, Mac stepped away from him.

Harm opened his eyes at the loss of her mouth on his and her body under his hands. "Mac?"

"Strip," Mac stated as she began removing her clothes.

It only took a moment for Harm's passion clouded mind to process what she was doing. He then quickly began removing his own clothes. When they were both naked, except for their dog tags and wedding bands, they stopped to look at each other.

Harm stepped close enough to her that he could feel her body heat radiating off of her. "You are so beautiful, Mac. Have I told you lately how much I love you?"

"Not since your e-mail early this morning," Mac replied as she smiled and reached out a hand to touch the gold band that rested against his chest.

Harm inhaled sharply at the touch of her hand on his bare skin. He reached up and covered her hand with his trapping it against his chest as he spoke. "I love you, Mac."

Mac felt the rapid beating of his heart under her hand as she met his gaze. "I love you, too, Harm."

A slow smile spread across Harm's face as he pulled her closer. "So, Colonel, how do you feel about hot bunking?"

Mac met his teasing smile with one of her own. "Two to a bunk, Commander? I think I can handle that."

Harm's smile faded as he leaned closer to her and claimed her lips again.

There would be plenty of time for talking later. Right now, he just wanted to feel.

0930 Zulu
USS Patrick Henry
Atlantic Ocean


Mac crossed her arms over Harm's chest and rested her chin on them as she watched him sleep. She hadn't sleep as soundly as she had last night since their last night together in Florida. Despite the fact that they had spent more time making love than they had sleeping on both occasions.

A smile crossed her lips as she realized how completely she trusted the man sleeping so peacefully beneath her. She had never felt as safe and relaxed as she did when she was in his arms. It was an amazing feeling, and she had every intention of experiencing it for the rest of her life.

Harm slowly opened his eyes as she began to absentmindedly draw circles on his chest. "Good morning."

"Good morning," Mac replied.

"What time is it?" he asked.

"0930 Zulu," she answered with a grin. "What time do you have to be on duty?"

"Not for a few hours yet."

"Good," she stated as she leaned forward to kiss him. "Because I don't have to meet Captain Pike until 1200, so that still gives us a couple of hours alone together."

Harm reached up to brush the hair away from her face. "Any suggestions on how we spend that time, Colonel?"

Mac grinned at him as she answered, "Well, I suppose we could go work out."

"We could," Harm agreed slowly. "Or we could just stay here."

"And what would we do if we stayed here?" Mac teased as she shifted her weight over him.

"Talk?" he suggested as he tried to still her movements by grabbing onto her waist.

"Talk?" she repeated. "Are you sure that's what you want to do?"

Harm closed his eyes as she continued to tease him with her body. Finally finding his voice, he answered her, "Yes."

Mac stopped squirming and looked down at him. "What do you want to talk about, Harm?"

Harm took a steadying breath before opening his eyes to meet her gaze. "Our future, Mac."

Mac's brow shot up. "So start talking, Sailor."

"No offense, Mac, but it's really difficult to concentrate with you like this."

Mac grinned as she climbed off of him and reached for his t-shirt. She tossed him his boxers before she pulled the shirt over her head. She pulled the chair over next to the bed and sat down. "Better?"

"For talking, yes," Harm replied as he pulled on his boxers and sat down on the edge of the bed. He reached for her hand as he began. "I know that I really screwed things up back when I decided to come back to flying without discussing it with you. At the time, I was afraid that you would try to talk me out of it, and I didn't want that. I wanted the opportunity to prove to myself that I still had what it took to do this."

"Harm," Mac interrupted, "We're way past that."

Harm nodded his agreement as he continued, "I know that, Mac. I know that you would have never agreed to marry me if we weren't, but that's not the point. The point is that I made a decision that drastically impacted both of our lives without discussing it with you, and I don't want to make the same mistake twice. Especially now that we're married. I realize that any decision regarding my future affects you just as much as it does me, so it's not my decision to make alone."

"Okay, Sailor, so what's the decision that you're pondering?" Mac asked.

Harm took a deep breath as he stood up and began to pace. "I received a message from Congresswoman Latham last week, Mac. It seems as if the Pentagon is interested in having a lawyer on staff who would work as a liaison between the Pentagon and the military. Bobbi told me that when she mentioned my name as a possible candidate, she received a lot of positive feedback." He stopped pacing and turned to look back at Mac. "It isn't official, but she told me that the position is mine if I want it."

Mac met his gaze. "Do you want it, Harm?"

Harm nodded slowly. "Yeah, I think so, Mac."

"It would mean giving up flying again."

"I know," Harm answered as he made his way back over to the bed and sat down. "It would also mean that I would be back in Washington with you."

Mac shook her head and replied, "Harm, I don't want you to make this decision based on what you think I want you to do. I would never ask you to give up your dreams. Not for me. I told you once that I would take you on whatever terms I could get you, and I meant it."

Harm took her hands in his again and met her gaze. "Mac, I'm not doing this for you. I'm doing this for us. Besides, I've already accomplished all that I set out to do here. I needed to know that I could still do this, and now I know that I can. However, I also know that I'm not the same man that I was when I left flying. I want different things out of life now. Granted, flying will always be in my blood, but it's not the same driving force that it was back then."

"Harm..." Mac began.

Harm quickly cut her off. "Mac, I'm not giving up my dreams. I'm just changing from one dream to another. In this one, I get to be a good man for a woman with a great career and lots of comfortable shoes. And if I'm lucky, I'll also get to be a good father to our children."

Tears slowly made their way down Mac's cheeks as she asked, "Are you sure about this, Harm?"

"Very sure, Mac," he answered.

"So what are you waiting on?" Mac asked with a smile. "Call Congresswoman Latham and tell her you accept."

Harm pulled her into his arms as he smiled. "I love you, Mac."

"I love you, too, Harm" she answered as she buried her face against his neck. "I love you, too."

2346 Zulu
USS Patrick Henry
Atlantic Ocean


Mac made her way to her room and dropped lazily onto the small bed. Her investigation into the charges of sexual misconduct that Lieutenant Basset had filed against Commander Reynolds had turned into quite an interesting case. Not only had Lieutenant Basset admitted to falsifying the charges, he had also admitted to doing so as a way to get even at Commander Reynolds for refusing his sexual advances.

When Mac had questioned Commander Reynolds, the young woman had insisted that she had done nothing improper. Unfortunately, while questioning a few of the other men under Reynolds' command, Mac had discovered that although she had not made advances at Basset, Commander Reynolds was not completely innocent on charges of sexual misconduct. In fact, from what she had been able to gather, Commander Reynolds was involved in a serious relationship with her first in command, Lieutenant Stephens.

Mac sighed as she pushed herself off of the bed and opened up her laptop computer. She quickly typed up her case notes before changing out of her uniform into a pair of sweats and a t-shirt. She had called Admiral Chegwidden with her findings earlier, and they had agreed to leave the decision on whether or not to prosecute Commander Reynolds and Lieutenant Stephens in the hands of Captain Pike.

Captain Pike had decided that formal charges of fraternization should be filed as soon as Mac arrived back in Washington, and he had arranged for a transport to pick Mac up at 0700 the next morning. Until then, Mac was on her own, so she decided to kill the time until Harm got off duty by working out. She quickly laced up her tennis shoes and made her way out into the hallway.

0010 Zulu
USS Patrick Henry
Atlantic Ocean


Mac jumped up from the table when the knock sounded on the door. Making her way across the room, she opened the door to find Harm standing there. "Good evening, Commander."

"Good evening, Colonel," he replied. "Do you mind if I come in for a few minutes? There's something important that I would like to discuss with you."

Mac opened the door wider and stepped back to allow him to enter. Once he was inside, she closed and locked the door before turning to face him. "You're late."

Harm shrugged as he met her gaze. "I'm always late. You should be used to it by now. However, this time I have a legitimate excuse."

Mac arched an eyebrow as she leaned back against the door. "I'm listening."

"Captain Pike was waiting for me when I landed. Apparently, Congresswoman Latham has already contacted him in regards to my transfer," Harm stated as his eyes traveled down her body. After her workout, she had showered and changed into a pair of shorts and a t-shirt that did nothing to conceal her body from his roving eyes.

"And?" Mac prompted as she stepped closer to him.

Harm forced his eyes up to meet hers as he replied, "The paperwork is being filed as we speak. I should officially be on my way back to Washington within the next week."

Mac's eyes widened. "A week?"

Harm shrugged again. "Two at the most."

Mac smiled as she reached out to hug him. "Wow!"

Harm gave her a smug smile as he looked down at her. "Yeah, that's what all the women say."

Mac gave him a playful smack across his shoulder as she said, "I'd better be the only woman you make say 'Wow!', Sailor."

"Speaking of which," he said as he lowered his mouth to hers, "I missed you."

"I missed you, too," she replied.

"How was your day?" Harm asked as he released his hold on her and moved to sit down in the chair.

Mac followed him and settled herself in his lap as she answered, "Unfortunately, it was rather productive. I leave at 0700 in the morning."

"I see," Harm stated as he wrapped his arms around her waist. "So, I suppose we should make the most of the time we have together?"

"I'm all for that." Mac moved her hands to the back of his neck and pulled his mouth down to hers as they gave in to the passion between them.

2147 Zulu
One Week Later
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, Virginia


Mac looked up from her computer at the knock on her door. "Enter."

Bud opened the door, and leaned his head in. "Sorry to interrupt you, Ma'am, but Commander Rabb is on line two for you."

"Thank you, Bud," Mac answered as she reached for the phone.

"You're welcome, Ma'am," Bud replied. "And Admiral Chegwidden would like to see you in his office when you're finished."

"Tell him I'll be right there, Bud."

"Yes, Ma'am," Bud stated.

Mac waited until Bud had closed the door before she picked up the phone. "Lieutenant Colonel MacKenzie speaking."

< "I'm sorry. I must have dialed the wrong number. I was looking for Colonel Rabb." >

Mac smiled at the sound of Harm's voice. "I'm sorry, Sir. She is off daydreaming about her husband's return right now. Is there anything that I can help you with?"

< "Well, I guess that depends." >

"On what?"

< "Is there any way that you could arrange to pick me up at the airport tomorrow evening around 1930?" >

Mac tried to keep her voice calm as she answered him, "I'll have to check my schedule, but I'm pretty sure that I can arrange that."

< "Great." Harm paused for a moment before he continued, "Colonel, do you suppose you could do me another favor?"

"Sure, Sailor. What do you need?"

< "Could you please tell my wife that I love her, and that I can't wait to see her again?" >

Mac smiled softly. "I'll do that, Commander. Have a safe flight."

< "Thanks, Mac. See you soon." >

Mac sighed as she returned the phone to its cradle. It was finally happening. Harm was finally on his way home...to her. Taking a deep breath, she got to her feet and headed to the Admiral's office. There would be plenty of time to celebrate later. Right now, she had work to get done.

Mac came to attention as she entered Admiral Chegwidden's office. "You wanted to see me, Sir?"

"At ease, Colonel," Admiral Chegwidden replied as he looked up. "Have a seat."

Mac made her way over to one of the chairs across from his desk and sat down as the Admiral began, "I received a call from the SecNav early this morning, and I thought you might like to know that Commander Rabb is being transferred back to Washington."

Mac met his gaze. "I know, Sir. I spoke to Commander Rabb last week while on board the Patrick Henry, and he informed me of his request for transfer."

Admiral Chegwidden nodded slowly as he watched her. "This new position means that Commander Rabb will likely be assisting on cases from time to time. Do you have a problem with that, Colonel?"

"No, Sir."

Admiral Chegwidden looked back down at the papers on his desk. "Do you know when Commander Rabb will be arriving back in Washington?"

"His flight arrives at 1930 tomorrow evening, Sir," Mac answered.

"Would it be safe to assume that you will be picking him up?"

"Yes, Sir," Mac replied with a small smile.

Admiral Chegwidden nodded again. "Very well, Colonel. That will be all. Dismissed."

Mac stood up and came to attention. "Aye, aye, Sir."

Admiral Chegwidden smiled as he watched her leave his office. He then picked up his phone and dialed out. "This is Admiral Chegwidden. The plane lands at 1930 tomorrow."

0115 Zulu
The Next Day
Harm's Apartment
North Of Union Station


Harm grabbed his duffel with one hand and Mac's hand with the other as they made their way into his building. "Now that I'm back in Washington, Mac, how do you suppose we go about telling everybody that we're married?"

Mac gave his hand a squeeze as she pressed the button for the elevator. "I have no idea, Harm. I tried calling your mom earlier to tell her that your plane was getting in tonight, but she wasn't there. I know that you want to tell her first, so I was thinking that maybe we could fly out to California this weekend and break the news to her and Frank."

Harm smiled as they stepped into the elevator. "I guess that we'll just have to keep it a secret a little while longer then." He shifted his duffel to his shoulder and pulled Mac into his embrace as the elevator doors slid shut. "You do realize that tonight will be the first time that we've made love here in Washington, don't you?"

Mac nodded as she wrapped her arms around his waist and leaned into his embrace. "Yes, and I can't tell you how much I've been looking forward to it."

Mac gave an involuntary shiver as she felt his warm breath against her ear. "Do you know how many times I've fantasized about making love to you in my apartment?"

Mac titled her head to the side to give him better access to her neck as she mumbled, "Probably about as many times as I have."

"More," he stated as he moved back to her lips and claimed them in a passionate kiss.

When the elevator stopped its ascent and the doors opened, Harm managed to guide them down the hallway to his door without breaking contact with her lips. Mac had managed to get his uniform shirt untucked and was working her way up under the material to caress his back when he realized that he would have to let go of her to get the keys out of his pocket. Trapping her body between his and the door, he pulled away from her long enough to get to his keys.

Once he had the keys firmly in his hand, he returned his mouth to hers and pressed his body more firmly into hers. Just as his key reached the lock on his door, the door opened and they both fell inside landing in a tangled heap of arms and legs.

"What the...?" Harm began.

A loud chorus of, "Welcome home!" rang out as Harm and Mac scrambled to their feet.

Silence followed as the room full of guests realized what they had just witnessed. Harm and Mac looked around at the shocked faces of their friends and co-workers before turning to face each other. Harm grinned as Mac reached up and wiped the lipstick off of his mouth. "I guess this answers the question of how do we tell everybody."

Mac glanced around again and noticed that Trish and Frank were among the guests who had gathered to welcome Harm back to Washington. "Harm, your mom and Frank are here. I think this would be as good a time as any."

Admiral Chegwidden stepped forward. "Commander Rabb, is there something that you and Colonel MacKenzie would like to share with us?"

Harm took Mac's hand in his as he turned to face the Admiral. "Yes, Sir, there is." Turning to his parents, he continued, "Since we have you all here, Mac and I have an announcement to make." Harm paused as he smiled down at Mac and then said, "Mac and I got married back in August when she came to visit me in Florida."

Admiral Chegwidden was the first to recover and a broad smile covered his face as he reached out to shake Harm's hand. "Congratulations, Commander."

"Thank you, Sir," Harm replied.

The Admiral stepped in front of Mac and pulled her into a hug. "Congratulations, Colonel."

"Thank you, Sir."

Admiral Chegwidden stepped back and met her gaze. "We'll discuss why you didn't tell me about this development Monday morning."

"Yes, Sir," Mac replied as she watched her C.O. turn back to face the group of party-goers.

"Well, people, it looks like we have more to celebrate tonight than just Commander Rabb's return. Let's get this party going."

Harm reached for Mac's hand again as his mother and Frank made their way over to them. "Mom, I'm sorry that we didn't tell you earlier, but we wanted to tell you in person."

Trish waved him off. "There's plenty of time for explanations later, Harm. Right now, I just want to tell you how happy I am for you." Turning to Mac, she added, "For both of you."

Harm smiled his appreciation as he pulled both his mom and Mac into his embrace, and then reached out to shake Frank's hand. "I'm glad that you guys are here."

"We're glad that you're home safe, Harm," Frank replied as someone found the control to the stereo and turned the music on.

As the music poured out of the speakers, Brumby and Mattoni pushed the furniture against the wall to make room for dancing. Several couples made their way to the make-shift dance floor as Bud and Harriet approached Harm and Mac.

Harm smiled as Harriet reached out to hug him. "I am so happy for you guys, Sir."

"Thank you, Harriet," Harm replied as she stepped out of his embrace. "And thank you for the welcome home party since I'm sure that you had a hand in this."

Harriet blushed slightly. "I'm sorry, Sir. If I had known, I would have never suggested this."

"Relax, Harriet," Mac chimed in as she hugged the younger woman. "It's okay. We were just discussing how we were going to tell everybody. Our entrance gave us the opening that we needed."

Bud shook Harm's hand. "Congratulations, Sir, and welcome home."

"Thanks, Bud. It's good to be home."

Mac smiled up at Harm as Congresswoman Latham approached. "Commander Rabb, congratulations on your new position, as well as on your nuptials."

"Thank you, Bobbi," Harm replied as he returned her handshake.

Bobbie turned to Mac with a smile. "Colonel MacKenzie, you have a wonderful man here. I hope that you two find years of happiness together."

"Thank you, Congresswoman," Mac replied. "And thank you for making it possible for him to return to Washington so quickly."

Bobbi smiled as she looked at the two of them. "I should have realized that something was going on when Harm so readily agreed to the position. However, I'm not complaining. Harm is the perfect man for this position, and I'm very excited that he has agreed to it."

Harm flashed her a grin before he turned his attention to Mac. "May I have this dance, Mrs. Rabb?"

Mac nodded her agreement and followed him to the make-shift dance floor. The other couples stepped aside and left Harm and Mac at center stage as the song blared out of his speakers.

You set my soul at ease
Chased darkness out of view
Left your desperate spell on me
Say you feel it too
I know you do
I've got so much more to give
This can't die
I yearn to live
Pour yourself all over me
And I'll cherish every drop
Here on my knees

Harm pulled away from her and reached for the chain that hung around her neck. Pulling it free from her shirt, he lifted it over her head and unhooked the clasp. As the ring dropped into his hand, he smiled and sang along.

I wanna love you forever
And this is all I'm asking of you
Ten thousand lifetimes together
Is that so much for you to do?
Cuz from the moment that I saw your face
And felt the fire in your sweet embrace
I swear I knew
I'm gonna love you forever

Mac returned his smile as he slipped the gold band onto her finger and kissed her hand. She leaned up and kissed him softly on the lips before pulling the chain out of his shirt and removing it from around his neck.

Oh my mind fails to understand
What my heart tells me to do
And I'd give up all I have
Just to be with you
And that would do
I've always been taught to win
And I never thought I'd fall
Be at the mercy of a man
I've never been
Now I only want to be right where you are

"I love you," Mac whispered as she slipped the ring onto his finger.

"And I love you," Harm replied as he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her back into his embrace.

"Forever," Mac promised with a smile.

"Forever," he agreed. He leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on her lips as the song continued.

I wanna love you forever
And this is all I'm asking of you
Ten thousand lifetimes together
Is that so much for you to do?
Cuz from the moment that I saw your face
And felt the fire in your sweet embrace
I swear I knew
I'm gonna love you forever

As the last strains of the music faded, the room erupted in applause. Harm smiled as he addressed the group. "By the way, Harriet, who won the office pool?"

"The office pool, Sir?" Harriet replied feigning ignorance.

"Yes, Harriet, the office pool," Harm stated. "You know, the little pool that you have been keeping since your arrival at JAG on when Mac and I would get together."

Harriet gave a slight nod. "Oh, that office pool, Sir."

Harm smiled at her. "Yes, Harriet, that one. So, who won?"

"Which day did you get married, Sir? Friday, Saturday, or Sunday?" Harriet asked.

"Saturday, August 15th," Mac answered for him.

Harriet glanced down at the small notebook in her hand. "Then that makes Admiral Chegwidden the winner."

"Sir?" Harm asked as they looked over at him.

Admiral Chegwidden shrugged as he met their curious glances. "I've watched you two fight your attraction for each other for years. I knew that if the circumstances surrounding your partnership ever changed, it would only be a matter of time before you stopped fighting the attraction and gave into it. When I heard that Mac was planning a trip down to Florida to see you, I decided to go with the odds that you two would finally get your heads out of the sand and admit your feelings for each other."

Mac laughed as she looked around the room. "Are we the only two who didn't realize how much in love with each other we were?"

Admiral Chegwidden nodded slightly. "Yes, Colonel. I do believe you are."

"Were," Harm corrected as he wrapped his arm around Mac. "Not any more though, Sir."

"I'll second that," Mac agreed as she leaned up to meet his kiss. "Not any more, and not ever again."


The End