A/N: This story takes place after the episode 'Hail and Farewell', but assumes that it was a going away party for Harriet~ the Admiral is still in charge at JAG, and it takes an A/U course after that, though it assumes some of the episodes from season 10 took place- just with Admiral Chegwidden in charge, instead of General Creswell.
Disclaimers: Not that it's of any use, but they're not mine. I would have made them much happier… and the show would still be on! This is, of course, all in fun; no infringement intended.
11:06 EST
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, VA
Lt. Colonel Sarah MacKenzie looked up when a knock sounded on her office door and smiled at the man standing there. "What can I do for you?" she asked.
Commander Harmon Rabb returned her grin. "Hey, Mac, are you going to have time to meet with me about the Wilson court martial after lunch?"
Her smile slipped and she sighed. "No, sorry. I'm up to my neck in the Beaumont case and I have three filing deadlines for the Mendez Article 32."
Harm's smile vanished, but he nodded. After a moment, it returned. "Hey, it's Friday… why don't we get together for dinner later and then we can discuss it?"
Mac thought it over for a moment. It would be close, but if she could finish before she left tonight, they could get the Wilson case out of the way and free up her weekend. "Yeah, that sounds good. Your place or mine?" She realized how that sounded and tried not to blush. "Um, I meant…"
Harm chuckled. "I know what you meant. Actually, why don't we go out for dinner and then we can head back to my place and get some work done?"
Mac smiled and nodded. "Sounds good to me."
"Great. I'll pick you up at your place at nineteen hundred. I know this great little Italian place we can go." He waited for her nod of affirmation before turning and heading back to his own office. If he finished up his paperwork, he'd be free for the weekend once they'd discussed the Wilson case.
Mac took her paperwork and headed downstairs to the filing office. After that she had to make a stop at the library to double check a reference to a case from a few years ago for her defense of Petty Officer Beaumont. Once that was accomplished, all she had left was her meeting with Harm and her weekend would be hers. The day had passed quickly as she worked to get everything done, and she knew it was almost time to secure for the day. She didn't notice the girl that stepped off the elevator looking a bit lost as she wandered into the bullpen.
Petty Officer Coates came around the corner and noticed the girl. Smiling, she moved around to look at her and was surprised to see she was pregnant… at least six months, by the look of her. "Can I help you?" she asked the girl.
Gray-blue eyes looked a bit startled a moment and then relaxed slightly. "I'm trying to find Commander Harmon Rabb?"
Harm was standing at the far end of the bullpen, his back to the elevators, speaking softly to Bud Roberts. He'd finished up his work and was just going over some notes for a case they were defending starting on Monday. He looked up and turned around when he heard his name and his eyes widened. "Bud, I'm sorry… excuse me?" He barely noted Bud's reply as he stepped away from the surprised Lieutenant. "What are you doing here, young lady?" he asked sternly, barely suppressing a smile.
The girl looked up and grinned, rushing forward, only to be caught up by two strong arms and spun around. "Harm!"
Harm carefully set her down and took a step back. "Um, you look a bit different than the last time I saw you."
The girl looked around nervously at the group of people surreptitiously watching them. "Can we talk somewhere? Privately?"
Harm nodded and motioned for her to precede him into his office. Closing the door, he showed her a seat and then he moved his chair around and sat across from her. "What are you doing here Harmony?" he asked.
"Oh, Uncle Harm! I don't know what to do! You're the only one I have to turn to." Harmony said.
"Take it easy," Harm said, taking her hand. "Start at the beginning." He nodded towards her extended abdomen. "How about starting with this?"
Harmony released his hand and placed her palm on her tummy. "Well, I'm obviously pregnant."
"Obviously," Harm agreed, smiling slightly.
"I got married last year, to a Marine," she said. "He got shipped over to Iraq just a few months after the wedding, and then I found out I was pregnant shortly after that."
"How'd he take the news?" Harm asked.
"He was ecstatic. He couldn't wait to be a dad…" a tear slipped from her eye. "He was killed four weeks ago when a RPG hit the truck he was traveling in."
"Oh, Harmony, I'm so sorry," Harm said, laying a hand on her arm.
"Thanks. We knew it could happen, but I still wasn't as prepared as I thought I'd be."
Harm nodded. "No one is."
"It wouldn't be so bad, but… well… now…" she sighed and then looked him straight in the eyes. "Harm, I'm dying."
Harm stared at her in shock for a moment as his world narrowed and grew suddenly dark. When it finally righted itself, he swallowed hard. "What?" he finally managed.
"I started having problems a few months ago, so my doctor ran some tests on me. I have cancer."
Harm's eyes filled with tears. "Harmony… can they… is there anything they can do?"
"If they'd caught it earlier, maybe. But it's an aggressive cancer that has already started taking over my liver, spleen and one kidney. In another month or so it will have spread even more. The doctor said that we could deliver the baby now, but even with radiation and chemotherapy, it will only slow it down, and the baby might not survive. If I carry the baby as long as possible, she has a better chance of survival…"
"But you don't," Harm finished for her.
Harmony nodded. "Either way, there's nothing they can do for me."
"Is the cancer a danger to the baby?" he asked.
"Only that it makes it likely that I'll have to deliver early. It hasn't spread into my uterus yet, and the doctor is watching her very closely. If there's any sign of stress, they'll take her right away."
Harm absorbed this for a moment. "How is your husband's family taking the news?"
"He doesn't have any family. He was an only child of two only children. His parents and grandparents are all dead."
"I'm sorry," Harm said, again. "What can I do for you? How can I help?"
Harmony smiled sadly and took a deep breath. "Uncle Harm, you're the only family I have left." She looked him in the eyes. "I've thought long and hard about this, and I want you to adopt my baby. I want you to raise her for me."
Harm momentarily forgot to breathe. When he did, he sounded as shocked as he felt. "Me? Are you sure?"
Harmony smiled. "Absolutely sure. You don't have to answer now, we do have a little leeway, but please don't wait too long. I need to know this is taken care of before my time is up."
Harmony left a short time later, telling Harm that she was going back to her hotel and would call him in the morning.
Harm closed the door to his office after she left and sat heavily in his chair, lost in thought. This was the last thing he'd been expecting when he saw Harmony on the other side of the bullpen. Sighing, he glanced at his watch. It was time to secure for the night, and he had to get home and change or he'd be late picking Mac up for dinner. Standing up he gathered the files he'd need for tonight's discussion on the Wilson case, placing them in his briefcase. Then he grabbed his cover and put it on his head, switching off the light as he left his office and closed his door. He was distracted enough that he missed the looks from his coworkers as he headed towards the elevators.
18:57 EST
Mac's Apartment
Georgetown
Mac had just slipped on her shoes when the knock on her door sounded. Her internal clock told her it was eighteen-fifty-seven, but she checked the peephole to be sure before opening the door for Harm. "Right on time," she smiled. "This has to be a first."
Harm answered with a smile of his own. "Hey, I'm not always late. Ready?"
Mac nodded. "Let me grab my purse and briefcase."
The drive was longer than Mac expected, but they arrived by nineteen-twenty-six and Harm held the door open for her as they entered the restaurant. They were seated almost immediately, and the hostess took their drink orders before handing them menus and disappearing.
"Did you meet your filing deadlines today?" Harm asked, as he nodded to the young man that set their drinks in front of them.
"Yeah, but just barely," she said, sipping her iced tea. "I'll be glad when these two cases are finished and then I can concentrate on the Wilson case."
Harm nodded in agreement. "I finished all of my other cases, except for the trial that starts Monday. Once that's settled, Wilson will be it for me as well. How close are you to finishing up?"
"That depends on whether or not Mendez will accept the plea bargain Sturgis laid out for him. It's really his best shot to avoid brig time."
Harm nodded. "Have you decided what you want yet?" he asked, indicating her menu.
"Yep. You?"
"Mmmhmm."
The waitress arrived a few moments later and they placed their orders. She promised to return shortly with their dinner salads and then disappeared after taking their menus.
"So, how is Mattie doing? Does she like being back home with her dad?" Mac asked.
"She's doing well. She's happy to be home, but she says she misses me. I try to do things with her on the weekends whenever possible, but I'm also trying to encourage her to spend time with her dad. They have a lot of mending to do between them," Harm told her.
Mac reached across the table and took his hand, giving it a light squeeze. "I know that has to be hard on you. You really care about her and I know it was difficult for you to let her go, but you really are doing what's best for Mattie in the long run. I'm proud of you."
Harm looked up at her and gave her a small smile. "Thanks, Mac. It means a lot to me to hear you say that."
"I'm glad," she said, releasing his hand and taking another sip of her tea.
"How is Chloe? She's a Sophomore in High School isn't she?" Harm asked.
Mac sighed. "Yeah. It seems like just yesterday she was standing in the bullpen at Christmas telling everyone I was her mom, and now…" she sighed. "She is growing like a weed. Her grandparents adore her, and her dad is taking a three month personal leave to spend just with her. They've gotten to spend some time together, but not nearly enough. I think it will be good for both of them."
Harm nodded just as the waitress brought their salads.
They chatted amiably over dinner, laughing and talking like the two old friends they were, but Mac could tell that something was on Harm's mind. As the waitress took their plates and offered them the dessert menu, she decided to call him on it.
"Harm, you've been kind of distracted all evening, what's on your mind?" she asked.
Harm looked up from the menu, trying to look innocent. "Huh?"
Mac set her menu down. "Come on, Harm, this is me you're talking to. I can tell something's been on your mind all night. I'm willing to listen if you want to share."
Harm paused, then sighed and set his menu down as well. "I had a visitor this afternoon."
"Oh?" Mac asked.
"I think I should start by telling you about my cousin, Harmony."
Mac looked confused. "You have a cousin named after you?" Mac asked, surprised. "How old is she?"
Harm nodded. "She's nineteen. Her dad was my dad's cousin. I was there the day she was born. Before she was born, her parents were trying to decide on a name, and since Harmon is an old family name, they asked my mom if she'd be offended if they named a girl Harmony. She told them she'd be honored, and when she was born, they dubbed me 'Uncle Harm'. Of course, at age twenty-one I wasn't so sure 'Uncle' was a name I wanted to be saddled with, but I was out voted, so I tried to take it all in stride."Mac laughed slightly as Harm waived off the offer of dessert and thanked the waitress for the check. "How long did it take you to get over being apprehensive?" she asked, the minute the waitress was gone.
Harm looked right at her. "Not long. The minute they brought that tiny little bundle all wrapped in pink and laid her in my arms, I was hooked. I doted on her. It was like having the little sister I'd always dreamed of. From then on I was thrilled. They decided to make me her godfather."
Mac smiled at the mental image of Harm holding a pink bundle and being enthralled.
"It was always hard for me to leave her behind, but I was in the Navy and she and her parents lived near my parents' home and I wasn't around much at all. Except after my accident. After I went to stay with my grandmother, I asked if Harmony could come and stay on the farm with me for awhile during her summer break. I loved having Harmony there as much as I hated it. But she's part of what kept me going."
Mac smiled again and nodded. She gathered her things and waited for him to pay the bill, before they headed out into the night. Harm opened the door of his SUV for her, and then waited until they were on the way to his apartment to start talking again.
"Tell me more about Harmony," Mac said, trying to stir him from his thoughts.
20:42 EST
En route to Harm's Apartment
Harm smiled at her. "She was a handful. Sassy, smart and such a tomboy. She loved to help me do chores on the farm and she asked a million questions." Harm said.
"What happened?" Mac asked.
Harm glanced at her. "I went to law school and got busy trying to start yet another career in the Navy. She graduated from High School two years ago, right before her parents were killed in a car crash, and then went off to college for a semester."
Mac nodded as they pulled up to Harm's apartment. Once they were upstairs and Harm had gotten them drinks, Mac turned on the sofa to face him. "So, why'd Harmony come to see you today?"
Harm took a drink from his bottled water and then set it on the table. "She got married last year, to a Marine."
"Good choice," Mac said, smiling.
Harm grinned slightly. "I knew you'd approve. Only, he went to Iraq and got himself killed about a month ago."
Mac's smile fell. "Oh, Harm… I'm sorry."
"That's not the worst of it. She's pregnant and she has cancer," he said, softly.
Mac's eyes were wide as she absorbed this. "How bad?"
Harm jumped up from the couch so suddenly it startled her, but Mac quickly regained her balance and watched him pace. It was bad.
"She's going to die, Mac," he said, stopping by the sink and looking with sightless eyes out the window.
Mac stood and moved to put her palm on his shoulder. "And the baby?"
Their eyes met in the glass and Mac could see the tears in his. "She wants me to adopt it."
Mac absorbed this for several moments, their eyes still locked. When she finally spoke, it was barely a whisper. "What did you say?"
Harm looked skyward and then squeezed his eyes shut. "I didn't say anything. She didn't give me the chance. She told me to think about it and let her know and then we exchanged some small talk and she walked out of there…" He turned to face her and a tear rolled down his cheek. "She asked for my help and I just froze…"
Mac's heart was breaking. For Harm, for Harmony, for the situation. "Harm, I'm sure she understood. It's a lot to take in… maybe she realizes that. How do you feel about the idea of adopting her baby?"
Harm accepted the tissue she handed him and wiped his eyes and nose and then took a deep breath. "Funny thing about that… a little more than a year ago I wouldn't have even considered it. But since Mattie…"
Mac smiled at him. "Maybe this is why Mattie came into your life; to help prepare you for this."
Harm looked into Mac's eyes and nodded, smiling slightly. "Maybe." He took another deep breath and pulled her into a strong embrace. "Thanks, Mac."
She hugged him back. "You're welcome."
They stood there like that for several minutes before Harm finally spoke. "I've missed this. Being able to talk to you about anything and everything. It seems like whenever the world is falling apart at the seams, you're there to hold me together. It's one of the things I love most about you."
Mac froze. Love? Um, sure… yeah, okay. Like a sister or a best friend, or…
"Mac?" Harm asked, sensing the sudden tension in her. "I- Are you okay?"
Mac pulled away slightly and looked him in the eyes, forcing a smile. "Yeah, fine."
Harm noticed the tears in her eyes and realized what she must be thinking. He looked into her eyes for another moment, opened his mouth to say something, and then did the last thing either of them expected.
He kissed her.
21:06 EST
Harm's Apartment
North of Union Station
Mac was taken by surprise when Harm kissed her. She kissed him back, hesitantly at first, while her mind flashed on all of the reasons why this was wrong, why things between them could never work out.
But ever since things went south between her and Clayton Webb, her heart had been pulling her more and more towards Harm. In every relationship she'd had since she'd known him, she had always compared her companion to Harm, even if it was only subconsciously, and not one had ever measured up to the handsome aviator-turned-lawyer. So maybe she should listen to her heart for a change and take a chance with Harm. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she pulled him closer to her and gave Harm the silent signal he needed to deepen the kiss.
Harm kissed Mac tentatively, cautiously waiting to see what she would do. If she tried to pull away, he would let her go. He'd be disappointed, but he wouldn't push her. He could sense the hesitation in her and was about to pull away, when Mac wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back with a firm, sure kiss. Smiling inwardly, he pulled her closer and deepened the kiss. Nothing had ever felt so right in his life. Well, except being in the pilot's seat of a Tomcat, that is.
The kiss took on a life of its own, and before long Mac was unbuttoning Harm's shirt as she slowly pulled him towards the bedroom. She'd denied her feelings for him for far too long and she decided that it was time to stop worrying about the 'what ifs' and just let herself love him.
Harm felt Mac's hands undoing the buttons on his shirt as she led him towards the bedroom and he paused for a moment, partly to catch his breath and partly to look into Mac's eyes. "Mac, are you sure about this? Absolutely sure?" he asked in a voice hoarse with desire and raw with emotion.
Mac paused a moment and then looked at Harm with a firm resolve in her eyes and expression. "Absolutely."
08:13 EST
Harm's Apartment
North of Union Station
Mac awoke to the sound of the telephone ringing and sighed, turning in the warm embrace that enfolded her and reaching for the phone. "Hello?" she answered, somewhat groggily.
"Um, hello? Is Harmon Rabb at this number?" a female voice asked.
Mac smiled. "Hold on a moment, please."
She turned again and looked up into Harm's peacefully sleeping face. She hated to wake him, considering they hadn't slept much at all last night, but knew that the person on the phone must be Harmony, as he'd told her last night that he was expecting her to call this morning. She knew he wouldn't want to miss this call. Kissing him lightly on the jaw, she nudged him with one hand. "Harm? Harm, telephone."
Harm groggily accepted the phone and put it to his ear. "Yeah, this is Rabb."
Mac listened to his side of the conversation and decided that the caller must, indeed, be his cousin. When he said goodbye and leaned over her to hang up the phone, Mac smiled up at him. "What time is she coming over?"
Harm looked down at her and returned her smile. "Around fourteen hundred." Grinning lecherously at her, he leaned down and kissed her before caressing her face. "We've got plenty of time."
"Oh? Well, in that case…" Mac replied, wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him to her for a deep, thoroughly satisfying kiss.
13:18 EST
Mac's Apartment
Georgetown
Harm had taken Mac home to shower and change before Harmony came over to his place. Mac had insisted that he leave her and she would drive over after she was ready. They still hadn't discussed the Wilson case at all, but she knew that the situation with his cousin was more important to him for the moment.
She had asked him if he wanted her to stay away while he and his cousin talked, but he insisted that he wanted her there with him, and, more importantly, he wanted Harmony to meet the woman he loved.
She was almost ready to go when suddenly, on a whim, she decided to pack an overnight bag to take to Harm's. As soon as she was finished, she headed down to the parking garage and loaded her things into her car and left for Harm's apartment.
13:58 EST
Outside Harm's Apartment
North of Union Station
Mac stepped off of the elevator and saw a girl standing in front of Harm's door. She smiled as she realized that it must be Harmony. "Hello," she said, walking up and extending her hand. "I'm Sarah Mackenzie. You must be Harm's cousin, Harmony."
Harmony looked surprised, but was kept from answering when the door opened and Harm smiled out at them.
"Hey there; come on in, you two," Harm said, opening the door wider for them.
They both entered the apartment and Harmony turned to face Mac, extending her hand. "Sorry, you surprised me out there. Yes, I'm Harmony; I'm glad to meet you, Ms. Mackenzie."
Mac shook her hand and smiled warmly at her. "Please, call me Mac."
"Mac?" Harmony asked, surprised.
Harm chuckled. "Mac is a nickname; she's a Lt. Colonel in the Marine Corps," he said, kissing Harmony on the cheek and then pulling Mac close for a quick kiss. "Have a seat," he said to them, as he headed for the kitchen. "Can I get either of you anything to drink?"
"What do you have?" Harmony asked, sitting in a chair by the woodstove.
"Apple, tomato or grapefruit juice, bottled water, beer, or iced tea," Harm rattled off.
"Apple juice is good," Harmony said, glancing at Mac.
"Water for me," Mac said, smiling at Harmony.
Harm moved into the living room and handed Harmony her juice and Mac her water, before sitting beside Mac on the sofa and twisting the cap off of his beer. "How are you feeling?" he asked Harmony.
Harmony sipped her juice and then sighed. "Tired. I don't have much energy these days."
Harm smiled sadly at her. "Have you talked to my grandma lately?"
"Yeah, I went and saw her before I came here. I told her what's happening, and she agrees that you're a good choice to raise my baby," she said.
Harm took a deep breath, gathering courage to ask his next question. "What kind of time frame did the doctor give you?"
Harmony sighed. "I'm at twenty-five weeks right now. Ideally, a full term baby is anywhere between thirty-eight and forty weeks. My doctor said our goal is at least thirty weeks, but the longer we can keep her in here, the better." She told him, rubbing her belly softly.
Harm swallowed and looked at Mac, who smiled encouragingly at him. "So, somewhere between now and about three months from now." He took Mac's hand in his, gathering courage from the gentle squeeze she gave him.
Harmony looked at their clasped hands and it gave her a glimmer of hope. She had seen the way they looked at each other, and she could tell that they were very much in love. If everything worked out, her baby might just have a mother and a father to love and raise her.
15:12 EST
Harm's Apartment
North of Union Station
Mac looked at Harmony. "So you're having a girl?" she asked, smiling.
Harmony smiled softly and rubbed her belly again. "Yeah."
Harm was surprised that he had not picked up on that. "Have you thought of any names?"
Harmony's smile slipped. "I thought I should leave that to you… or whoever ends up raising her."
Harm moved closer and took her hand. "Have you thought of any that you especially like?"
Harmony's eyes teared up. "Miranda," she said softly. "It was Donny's mother's name."
"Miranda is a beautiful name," Harm told her, smiling. "Donny was your husband's name, I'm guessing?"
Harmony nodded. "Donald Jeffrey McMillan," she said.
Harm gave her hand a gentle squeeze. "Tell us about him," he said, softly.
Harmony reached down and picked up her purse, pulling out some photos. She handed them to Harm, who looked at them and passed them to Mac. The photos showed Harmony and a young man with reddish-brown hair and dark eyes. His youthful smile added to his good looks, and they both looked very happy in the photos.
"We met while I was working at a pizza parlor in my junior year," Harmony told them, as they looked at the photos. "He came in and ordered fifteen cheese, fifteen Hawaiian, fifteen Supremes and fifteen vegetarian pizzas, all extra large," Harmony said, laughing. "I stood at the counter staring at him like he had two heads, especially when he asked if he could have them all in an hour…" she sighed. "When I finally pulled myself together enough to ask him what he needed sixty pizzas for, he told me he was buying them for movie night at his church and they needed them as soon as possible."
"Did he get them in an hour?" Harm asked, smiling.
"No. We got him as many as we could in an hour… I think it was in the ballpark of about half of them… and then I told him I would deliver the rest to him as soon as they were done. Since my shift was over when I dropped them off, he invited me to stay for the movie, so I did. We had a great time, and after the movie was over he asked me if I'd like to go out with him on my next night off from work."
"Obviously you did," Harm said, grinning at her.
"Actually, I didn't. I told him he'd have to wait until the following Sunday to take me out, but he said that he had church on Sunday, so that was out of the question… until he invited me to church. Then he said I could have dinner at his grandma's house with him afterwards."
Mac smiled at the girl as she blushed. "Was he in the same grade as you?"
"No. He had graduated the year before, and he was just on a break from a program called 'Master's Commission'. It's like boot camp for Christian kids," she explained. "He told me that once his year with Master's was up, he was enlisting in the Marine Corps. I told him the Navy was better, but he laughed and told me he hated boats."
Harm chuckled at that and looked over at Mac, who was smiling broadly.
"Anyway, we kept in touch via email and telephone, and when he was on his breaks he came to visit. Then when I was starting my Senior year, he went off to boot camp. Again, we kept in touch via emails and telephone. He graduated from boot camp, and had a small break before he was sent to Camp Pendleton, so he came and visited again. That's when he asked me to marry him," she said, smiling. "I was so excited… though Mom and Dad weren't as sure."
Harm nodded, remembering his cousin's parents. Her dad was proud to be part of a military family, but he would have wanted more for his baby girl.
"I graduated, and then Mom and Dad… well…" she paused a moment and sighed, as a tear slipped from her eye. "Just after you left, Donny came to see me at your parents' house, since it was so close to Pendleton. I cried with him for hours before he had to leave again. He made me promise to start college in the fall, just as I had planned, so I told him that I would only go if it was nearby, so we could still see each other."
Harm looked surprised. First, that she hadn't mentioned Donny to him the whole time he'd been there, and second, that his parents' had never said anything to him. Of course, it was right in the middle of his time with the CIA, and he wasn't the easiest person to get a hold of at that time.
Mac looked at Harm, surprised that he'd never mentioned it to her, but realizing that it was right in the middle of his time with the CIA, and since she was with Clay at that time, things between them had been strained, to say the least.
Harm looked at his watch and then did a double take. It was already nearing 17:30, and he was sure the women were as hungry as he was. "Hey, why don't we order in some pizzas and then continue this?" he asked.
Mac leaned over and kissed him. "You really know how to turn a girl on, Sailor," she whispered.
Harm chuckled and stood, heading for the phone. "So what do we want?"
"Meat!" Mac and Harmony said in unison, and then laughed at the look on Harm's face.
18:45 EST
Harm's Apartment
North of Union Station
Harm lifted the lid of the pizza box and stared amazed. "You two polished off an entire extra large pizza by yourselves?"
Mac and Harmony shared a glance and then chuckled. "Hey, you know my appetite, and Harmony's eating for two," Mac said.
Harm sighed as he picked up the empty box and set it on the counter, before resuming his seat on the sofa. "Where are you staying, Harmony?" he asked.
"There's a hotel near Bethesda that charges a reduced rate if you're a patient there, so I'm staying there. It's just until I find a place of my own," she told him. "Speaking of which, I should get going; I'm really tired. I really enjoyed getting to visit with you both today. We'll have to do it again," she said, as she stood and gathered her purse.
"Count on it," Harm said, smiling at her and giving her a quick kiss on the forehead. "Call me when you get to your hotel, so I know you're safe," he told her.
"I will. Good night, Mac; it was great to meet you. Good night, Uncle Harm," Harmony said, as she walked out the front door.
Harm waited until the elevator doors had closed before he closed the front door. Turning, he looked at Mac and smiled. "That was nice."
Mac smiled at him. "Yes, it was." She sighed, and then turned serious. "Have you made a decision yet?"
Harm moved to where she was and sat down, pulling her close. "I'm thinking I'm going to say yes, Mac, but it depends on you."
"Me?" Mac asked, looking up at him in confusion.
"Mac, I know we've only recently become a couple, but I'm really hoping that we're headed to something more permanent," he began.
Mac smiled, trying to calm her nerves. "So do I," she said softly.
"If I agree to adopt Harmony's baby, and we eventually get married, you'll be her mother. I know with your condition, it's going to be difficult~ maybe impossible~ for us to have children of our own. Are you ready for an instant family, Mac? More importantly, can you accept Harmony's baby as your own child?" he asked her.
Mac took a deep breath and let it out slowly. She had been contemplating this same question since she woke up this morning. "Harm, you know how I said that the situation with Mattie may have happened to prepare you for this?" she asked.
"Yes," Harm said.
"Well… maybe my condition is part of that same plan. I mean, Little AJ just turned five, and if I could have a baby, we'd be expecting our own child right now. Then what would happen to Harmony's baby? Maybe fate, or God, or whatever, planned this all along," she said, turning to look at him. "Does that make any sense?"
Harm smiled lovingly at her. "Yes, it does. So, does this mean you want to be Mommy to baby Miranda?" he asked her.
Mac caressed his cheek gently. "I'd love to be Miranda's Mommy."
Harm pulled her close, and kissed her thoroughly. "I love you, Mac," he said, kissing her again. It was tender and sweet, and filled with all the love that he felt for her.
When they parted, Mac stood and took his hand, tugging gently until he stood, too. Smiling softly, she led him to the bedroom.