Disclaimer: Don't own'em

A/N: This is the 'trequel' in the 'Conversations' and 'Insights' series. I've been toying with this one for a while and I apologize that it took so long to get it out. Time has been scarce. It actually still is and I'm really busy these days so I cannot promise one-a-day postings. Thing is, I don't think I'll have an opportunity anywhere in the near future where I won't be busy. So I'm posting this with the promise that I will not leave the story hanging, but you might not get one-a-day updates. The story is pretty much complete, except for the ending. I'm honestly stumped. Usually reading your comments gives me all kinds of ideas, hopefully this will be the case here, and an amazing idea for the conclusion will come through. Fingers crossed.

This will be like the previous stories in the series, focusing on H&M's relationship. The last story ended around summertime, so the first few parts of this take place in the summer, in the lead-up to 'Legacies'. Some of you will find the beginnings slow, some of you won't. Think of it as an exploration.

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Plans - 1/20

JAG HQ

1048 Local

She looked happy, he thought, as he watched her from across the bullpen. She was talking to Harriet and Bud about something – he'd guess little AJ – and she was all bright smiles and sunny laughter. Sure, he'd seen her light up at the mention of little AJ before and he'd heard her wonderful laughter countless times, but this was different. She was ... glowing. She was happy.

He did that. He preened unconsciously at the thought.

That dazzling light in her eyes? All him.

The breeze in her step? Also him.

The extra lilt in her laughter? This guy.

He grinned cockily. He was good for her. He was the best parts of Sarah MacKenzie – she'd told him so.

He laughed, his arrogance now free to strut.

"Commander."

Harm straightened at the sound of his CO's voice, but his grin refused to budge. "Sir."

"You seem to be in a good mood," The admiral cast a none too subtle glance in Mac's direction.

"Yes, Sir." Harm replied, following the admiral's gaze. She really did look good, all tucked away under that uniform. He couldn't wait to get home tonight and peel the marine green off the Marine. It was one of his favourite things to do, divesting her of the clean lines and smooth starch of her uniform to reveal the soft, sizzling, sexy beauty underneath. And all those buttons to unfasten ... His fingers itched at the thought.

"I see."

Harm realized that the admiral was now appraising him with that mildly curious, disconcertingly perceptive look of his. He thought he ought to feel slightly embarrassed given that he was fantasizing about the admiral's Chief of Staff right in front of the man... but come on, he told himself. Look at her.

There she was, her eyes sparkling and her laugh shimmering golden.

Seriously, look at her. He wasn't about to feel embarrassed, let alone sorry. Especially as he knew her toenails were painted fire engine red today. His grin widened.

"...and I informed the SecNav you would be more than pleased to volunteer your services." The admiral's concluding words cut through Harm's idle, extremely agreeable daydream.

Harm stared at his CO, hoping he didn't look as clueless as he felt. What? Had he been talking this whole time?

"Yes, Sir." He replied, hoping he hadn't just volunteered away something too vital.

"Excellent. Harriet has all the details." The admiral said briskly, and then hesitated. With a glance in the general direction of the bullpen, he assumed a conspicuously conspiratorial air and added, "Between you and me, Harm, I wouldn't want to be in your shoes."

And then the admiral headed back to his office with a bounce in his step that made Harm think he was more preoccupied with thoughts of Dr Walden than with any sympathy for his star lawyer's plight. Whatever that plight may be; damned if he knew.

Just great. And what in hell had he been signed up for? He'd better talk to Harriet.

He headed towards her, target in mind.

To his credit, he was about half way there when his eyes latched on to Mac and then she was all he could see.

"Colonel." He greeted with a smile when he reached the group. He was pretty convinced she looked even more beautiful now than she had that morning. Maybe it was the sunlight? Or maybe the bullpen's colour scheme just complemented her really well.

"Commander." Mac replied. He loved the sound of her voice, how she sounded when she spoke to him. Like she had secrets only he was privy to. Although, when she'd called him Commander in bed this morning, the context had been entirely different...

He realized that Mac looked a bit self-conscious under his stare. Her eyes flitted from his, darting from Bud to Harriet.

"Bud, Harriet." He added in greeting, remembering himself. He pulled his eyes away from Mac.

"Sir." They responded in unison. Harriet seemed to be biting back a giddy smile with all she was worth.

Mac cleared her throat lightly. "Bud and Harriet were just telling me about little AJ's birthday party."

"It's this Saturday. You'll be able to make it, won't you, Sir?" Bud asked with quick eagerness.

"Of course, Bud. Wouldn't miss it." He answered easily. He then remembered his manners.

"Anything we can help with?" He asked, with a slight tug on Mac's collar to include her in the offer.

For some reason, his question was enough to make Harriet's smile burst free.

"No, Sir. Thank you." She replied, "We've got it covered."

"You'll let us know if anything comes up, Harriet." Mac added, though Harm was confused by the pointed, warning frown she sent in his direction.

"Of course." Harriet hastened to assure them. Her smile got even brighter as she looked at Mac, suddenly remembering something. "Oh, I wanted to tell you: you know that photo of you little AJ has in his room?"

Mac nodded, breaking into a mindblowingly brilliant smile at the mention of her godson.

"Well, yesterday when I asked him where Aunty Mac is, he pointed at the picture!" Harriet could not contain her excitement as she shared this recent development.

Mac positively lit up. "He did!"

Harriet nodded proudly, even Bud was grinning away.

Mac grabbed Harm's arm and shook it lightly.

"Did you hear that?!" She asked him, even though she was still looking at Bud and Harriet's beaming faces.

Harm couldn't help but laugh at her reaction.

"Wow." She marvelled, full of awe, oblivious to his amusement. "He's a really smart kid."

"He is, Ma'am," Bud's chest puffed up.

"And he has good taste," Harm offered, with a hint of mischief. Between these three groupies, Harm figured it would be his job as godfather to make sure little AJ was somewhat level-headed.

Mac punched him lightly in the arm, recognizing his teasing. He laughed.

The phone on Harriet's desk rang, effectively breaking up their pow-wow in the bullpen. Harriet excused herself to tend to the phone, while Bud returned to his office. Harm followed Mac to hers.

"Mac is going to be his first word," She informed Harm as they rounded her office door.

"We'll see." He replied. He leaned against the doorjamb, and watched as Mac took a seat behind her desk.

She began flipping through the files on her desk, her attention slowly centering on her work. Her long, slender fingers turned a page, and then tucked an errant lock of hair behind her ear. She had that slight crease in her brow, the one that usually surfaced when she was deep in some thought.

She had really nice skin, he thought. Like warm honey. Or maybe more of an olive tone. Olives were his favourite food. Her eyes were absolutely gorgeous as well. He'd been looking into those eyes a lot more lately, not to mention that those eyes were also looking at him a lot more recently. He grinned. Eyes like chocolate. Dark chocolate – the only kind of chocolate worth having, in his opinion.

"Harm?"

He was startled out of his thoughts by her voice. He focused on her. Had she been talking all this time?

"Huh?"

She was frowning in mild concern as she searched his face.

"Are you alright?"

What a question, he thought, grinning once again.

"Perfect, Mac." He threw her a wink.

She returned his smile, and her eyes glowed with that warm, dazzling light he was responsible for. He cocked his head to the side, admiring it.

"Did you need to discuss something?" She asked, indicating his presence in her office.

You marrying me, he thought.

"What?" She was staring at him, looking a bit self-conscious.

"What!" He jumped. Had he said that out loud? Shit! Moron.

Mac seemed startled by his reaction. Her worry also seemed to increase ten-fold

"I mean, is everything okay?" She said carefully. "You were just staring at me..."

Oh, thank god. His relief made him slightly woozy, and he had to lean against the doorjamb. He hadn't said it out loud. Thank god. He realized Mac was still observing him with a worried interest.

"No. I mean, yes. Yes. Everything is just fine." He assured her quickly, and then repeated for good measure, "Just fine. Thanks, Mac for ... uh..." What was he thanking her for? He couldn't remember and suddenly the ring in his pocket felt inordinately heavy.

"Thanks," He repeated, and threw her a quick, forced smile before returning to the relative sanctity of his office.

Once there, he sank down heavily on his chair.

He took a deep breath. Shit. That was close.

What the hell was he supposed to do?

It was one thing to know he wanted to spend the rest of his life with the woman in the office next to his, that he wanted to marry her and love her and cherish her until he drew his last breath.

It was something else altogether to ask her if she wanted the same with him. It was such a big question. How was he supposed to ask?

How exactly did one broach that particular topic? He had no experience whatsoever.

Tradition dictated a romantic setting of some sort, him getting down on one knee and – as the saying went – popping the question.

But there were a lot of blanks to fill in, weren't there?

Did she want to marry him? To take that step which would mean a change of duty station for at least one of them? Which would also mean spending the rest – as in the entire rest, whatever was left, absolutely all of it – of her life with him?

Rationally, he knew he was being slightly ... silly. He was pretty sure Mac would say yes if he asked. He felt it in her every time they touched, every time she spoke his name.

But still. And she had said that she was terrified of it all ... what if she still wasn't ready?

He'd hoped the moment would just come, he'd just know, and the words would fall seamlessly from his lips – he even carried the ring around with him everywhere he went on the off-chance such an opportunity would present itself. But they'd been back from his parent's place for over two weeks, and the ring was still a weight in his pocket. It was burning a hole through his skin.

Maybe he ought to ask someone ... He eyed his phone. Frank? He glanced at the bullpen. The admiral? Or Bud? He supposed he could ask any one of them. But then someone other than himself would know that he was having technical difficulties with proposing, and that was just plain embarrassing.

Maybe if he dropped hints? Mac would pick up on those. Subtle hints, though. Things like asking her if she wanted a formal church wedding ... or maybe a Naval wedding with all the trimmings ... or just something casual, like a sunset on the beach. He liked that idea ... Mac in a white sundress, the sky blazing, sand between their toes, a saltwater breeze in her hair.

Hell, anything with Mac's hands entwined with his, her deep, gorgeous eyes looking into his, and the two of them promising their hearts and their lives to each other would be perfect. Absolutely perfect.

Harm stared out his window.

He just wanted her. To greet every morning with her kiss. To pepper his day with thoughts of returning to their home together in the evening. To spend evenings talking about their day while he made dinner – a healthy, nutritionally balanced dinner – and she wheedled him for an after-dinner walk to the ice cream parlour. To wake up in the middle of the night to the sound of her quiet, even breathing as she slept. To spend the rest of his life discovering her, her beauty and strength, her sharp wit and that sprite of mischief she so often kept hidden from anyone but him. He wanted to be the only man who was ever offered her heart, the only man who was able to reach that inexhaustible wealth of love he was discovering she'd kept so tightly under wraps for such a large part of her life. He just wanted her.

Really, really badly.

If only he had the words to ask her, in the way that she deserved to be asked.

The sharp ring of his phone jarred him from his thoughts. He picked up the receiver, realizing that he hadn't done an iota of work and the day was almost half gone – and wasn't there something he was supposed to ask Harriet? He couldn't remember. Great. Asking Mac to marry him would be for nothing if he didn't still have a job by the time he found the words.

"Rabb."

"Hey, Harm."

"Mac!" Warmth settled over him at hearing her voice. He immediately felt better. "What's up."

"I just, well, wanted to see if you were doing okay. You seemed a bit off when you left my office."

"I'm fine, Mac. Thanks." His smile started somewhere in his toes and reached right to the tips of his hair. He dropped some chaff to dismiss her concern. "I'd just remembered a call I needed to make. I took care of it."

"That's good to hear. You had me worried." She paused to shed her 'office tone' as he'd christened it. "So, Sailor ... Are you still free for dinner tonight?" She was flirting with him in that slightly impish, playful way of hers. He leaned back in his chair and savoured the moment.

"For you, French fry, I'm free for the rest of my life."

There was a slight pause on her end, it wasn't long but it was enough to make him wonder if his subtle hint had all the grace of a jackhammer.

"I love you," Her voice, exquisitely soft and full of promise, drifted through the line. His heart took silent pleasure, even as it burst with wonder, and he treasured this moment, too.

"Always, Mac."

He held the phone to his ear a long time after she'd disconnected the line.

Harm sighed.

Now all he had to do was make sure to keep those hints coming. And then find a way to propose to her. And, most importantly, he had to convince her to say yes.

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