I got bored with the lack of real conclusion to the nine-year courtship, court-martial, courtroom incidents, call it what you will. So, I wrote my own with the help of someone elses' lyrics and someone elses' characters. No, I don't own them. Woe. Hugh-jass thanks to delgaserasca for the wonderful beta job
Forever's Gonna Start Tonight
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Together we can take it to the end of the line
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"We're going to let fate decide. Bud?"
"When Admiral Chegwidden retired, he gave me his JAG coin and I thought that this would be the perfect moment to use it. Here is the side with heads, and this is the side with tails. The bride-to-be will call it."
"Tails."
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The 'gang' – the family – followed the coin into the air with their eyes, waiting with baited breath for it to land. It hit the ground with a 'clink'; seven sets of eyes dropped to see it. Bud was the first to laugh.
"How's that for fate, flyboy?" Mac whispered.
The coin was balancing on its side, having chosen neither London nor San Diego.
"Consider this my engagement present, Colonel, Captain." General Cresswell handed both Harm and Mac a brown envelope. They looked at each other, confused, before Mac tore hers open and Harm unpicked his neatly.
The pair swapped papers before looking back to the General.
"Neither of you are leaving. I spoke to Chegwidden earlier, he told me many things – not least of which, I'd be a very foolish man to lose even one of you – never mind both. I had some strings pulled."
Harm grinned appreciatively, pulling Mac closer. "Thank you, General."
"I guess I'll have to put away the sun block, huh?" Coates laughed.
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An unspoken agreement took the pair back to Harm's apartment, mugs of coffee, no space between them on the sofa.
"Did we just do that?" Harm looked a little like a deer caught in the headlights; eyes wide and questioning. Mac's grin faded.
"You… you don't regret it, do you?" (Please don't shatter my heart; we've come too far for you to fuck this up now).
"No, God, Mac, I don't regret any of it – except the whole nine years thing. It's… wow."
"Not like we moved fast, huh?"
The question left his eyes, replaced by a sparkle matched in his grin.
"Nine years too slow."
"Don't dwell on the past, Harm. Let it lie. This is about you, me, us, forever."
"Semper Fi, Marine," he wrapped his arms tighter around her and without thinking, she leaned into him, resting her head on his shoulder like she'd done it all her life.
"Harm," she whispered, a moment later. "You're Navy."