Disclaimer: Ha ha ha I have taken the characters hostage!!! I promise to return them after this! Promise
Summary: In an alternative universe, Harm never went flying before Mac's wedding, and the day went according to plan. But did they live happily ever after????
"So, Sarah, did you not enjoy the party tonight?" Mic asked as they entered her apartment.
"It was fine, why do you ask?" Mac replied still in a daze. Not because of the kiss on the porch, but the slight touching of her and Harm's hands right before Harm and Renee made their exit from the party."
"Just you spent a lot of time outside, that's all" Mic said slightly showing his hurt that his fiancée spent the majority of the party outside with the man he detested, rather than inside with him, celebrating their upcoming wedding.
Mac knew that 'Yeah, I kissed Harm' would not go down well. Being a lawyer herself, she knew a lie had to utterly convincing to fly. "You know that us getting married will change the friendship Harm and I have, we were just saying our goodbyes, to that part of lives, we have gone through a lot you know." Mac thought that would be convincing enough, as it was close to the truth. Their friendship would change, but after tonight's events she was unsure as to what direction it would it take.
Similar thoughts were racing through Harm's mind. He had dropped Renee off and was heading back too his apartment. Renee saw that something was up with Harm, distant almost, she had asked him about but all she got in reply was "I don't want to talk about it right now" and was delivered to her doorstep. He didn't follow her in, nor did she get a goodnight kiss, deciding not the push the issue tonight, she got out and let Harm leave. Renee know that this relationship would be on tender hooks until after Mac's wedding, even then she wondered if Harm could cope with that.
As Harm entered his apartment he didn't bother to turn on any of the lights, he just headed for the shower. Collapsing on the bed without bothering to dry himself, Harm feel asleep instantly.
Awaking with the sun the following morning Harm could feel the sense of guilt slowly twisting in his stomach and edging its way towards his chest. Harm decided that maybe an early morning job maybe just the thing to take his mind of the events of the night before. Expecting to be hit by the icy air that usually confronts him, Harm was surprised by the warmth that greeted, and somewhat invited him outside. Following his usual jogging track, Harm was paying little attention to his surroundings. His focus was more the sensation of guilt that was manifesting in his gut. He had never cheated on someone, or led someone to cheat before. Why now? Was it really cheating, it sure did feel like it though. If he wanted to be with Mac, he had plenty of chance before now, so why now, so close to Mac's wedding day? Picking up speed as he made his way downhill, Harm rounded a corner on the path. With that he collided with another early morning jogger.
Jolting himself back to the real world, Harm was quickly on his feet, apologising profusely to the fallen jogger. As Harm extended his hand to assist them to their feet, he realized that it was Mac. "Mac, I am so sorry. I didn't even see you, sorry I wasn't pay attention."
"No worry Harm, my mind was on other things as well." Mac said, obviously surprised to see Harm so early. "You have cut your knee, Harm."
"Yeah, no big deal, it's just a graze" but by the end of his sentence, Mac had made him sit on one the park benches, and was inspecting the tiny beads of blood on his knee. "Mac it's nothing I'll be fine, are you are OK? I came round that corner pretty fast"
"All good, don't worry about me"
"Great" Harm almost whispered. He lent towards her and slowly removed a leaf from her hair. Mac could tell that he was lingering, taking his time, after all it was only a leaf.
"So, Mac what are you doing up so early?" Harm asked without taking his eyes off the woman in front of him. With that Mac joined Harm on the bench, sitting closer to him than she would do normally.
"Just trying to clear my head, thought a jog might help" Knowing that Harm's intense gaze was focused on her, she dare not return this as she knew instinctively what would happen if she did. Now it was just a memory, but she could still feel Harm's lips on hers.
"Yeah, same here" Harm was relaxing in Mac presences. He could feel the ugly green guilt monster that was manifesting in his body dying and turning into butterflies.
"Harm, about last night…" Mac started unsure if she wanted to even explore this topic. "I am getting married, it probably shouldn't happen again." Mac was however long that it would, here even.
"Probably shouldn't" Harm reply, knowing that it probably would regardless of the fact she was married to someone else or not. With that Mac finally looked Harm in the eyes. They held each other's gaze only momentarily before they kissed for the second time within 12 hours.
"How about I make you breakfast?" Harm asked forgetting about Renee and Mic, hoping he could have Mac all to himself for a while longer.
"Sure, sounds great"
Without even noticing Harm and Mac walked backed to his apartment hand in hand for most of the way. Breakfast passed to quickly for both of them. Not much was said. Knowing that she indulging in a guilty pleasure, Mac decided it was best to leave. "Harm, I should get going, I don't want Mic to call the police or anything."
"OK, I will see you soon." Harm said almost making it a question.
"Yeah, later" Mac made her way out of Harm's apartment building, with one quick glimpse over her shoulder she saw Harm watching her from his window. It was enough to make her heart soar for days.
Mac made her way home floating on a cloud. No one had made her feel that way in a very long time. As she walked in the door reality hit her hard. Hearing the running of the shower, seeing the scattered belongings of the man she would marry in a couple of days, once again crushed her spirit. With that she remembered that she couldn't live out her fantasy life with Harm. He was with Renee and she was engaged to Mic. Then why did she feel so great with Harm, that she could just be herself, not the Marine, not the Lawyer, just herself, with all her faults and not feel judge or confined. Why was the exact opposite with Mic?