A/N: Okay, so I started this story ages ago, but have been busy trying to finish my other two. Then my sister and I had this wild conversation the other night (too many beers...), and suddenly this story wouldn't leave me alone. So, it's finished, and I'm posting it all at once. JAG, its characters, etc. are not mine. Just trying to make them a little happier! 'The Rubber Duck' song is from 'Sesame Street', and was one of my youngest daughter's favorites when she was little. Love you, Bird! Enjoy...
16:45 EST
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, VA
Friday
"Auntie Mac!" a small voice yelled from across the bullpen, and Mac turned around just in time to be tackled around the legs by her eldest godson.
"Hey there, AJ!" Mac replied, smiling and kneeling down to eye-level with the preschooler. "How are you?"
"I'm good," AJ replied. "Mommy says I is going to your house this weekend."
Mac nodded. "That's right. We're going to have lots of fun, too."
"Your house is always fun," AJ told her.
Harm came out of his office carrying his briefcase and cover, and smiled at his godson. "Hey there, AJ," he said.
AJ turned his attention away from his godmother, and faced Harm. "Uncle Harm!" he said, launching himself at his godfather. "I is gonna go to Auntie Mac's for the weekend! You should come stay wif us, too. We is gonna have lotsa fun."
Harm looked down at AJ, eyes wide, and gave him a tentative smile. "I don't think Auntie Mac would like that," he told him.
"Is she mad at you again?" AJ asked in exasperation.
Harm blinked at the child. "Um… well, you see AJ," he began.
Mac had moved over to where they were, and had overheard the conversation. She noticed both Bud and Harriet looking uncomfortable, and she sighed inwardly. The last thing she wanted, was for AJ to be upset with the status of her and Harm's… whatever it was. She could already see the fear and concern in the young boy's eyes.
"Hey, how about Uncle Harm comes and visits us?" Mac suggested. "He has to sleep at his house, because my couch is too small for him, but he can come and have dinner with us, and stay until it's your bedtime."
Harm tried to hide his surprise as he looked at Mac. Smiling, he nodded. "Does that sound okay with you?" he asked AJ.
"Yes! Hurry and come to Auntie Mac's!" he said, as he grabbed his godmother's hand and began to tug on it. "We has lots to do!"
"I can't thank you enough for this, ma'am," Harriet said, as she handed Mac little AJ's suitcase, blanket and bear.
"No problem, Harriet," Mac assured her. "You know I love to spend time with him. Kiss Jimmy for me, okay?"
"I will," Harriet said, as Mac allowed herself to be dragged by the hand towards the elevator.
Harm looked to Bud and Harriet, as Mac and AJ stepped into the waiting elevator car. "Why's Mac watching AJ? Everything okay?"
"Oh, it's fine, sir," Bud replied. "Mac volunteered to keep him this weekend, so that Harriet and I could have a bit of a break. With two kids in the house, it has been a bit hectic."
"She's so good with him, too," Harriet said. "He always comes home from his overnight stays with her, raving about all of the fun they had. She's going to be a terrific mother, someday."
"She's done this before?" Harm asked, surprised, and silently agreeing with Harriet's assessment of Mac's maternal skills.
"Oh, yeah," Harriet said. "It's become a monthly ritual."
Harm only nodded, before bidding them farewell, telling them to kiss Jimmy for him, and to enjoy their weekend, before he left. His curiosity was piqued now, and he really wanted to get home to change so that he could get over to Mac's place as soon as possible.
18:04 EST
Mac's Apartment
Georgetown
Friday
The knock sounded on the front door, and AJ jumped up from the table where he was coloring the pictures in his dinosaur coloring book.
"It's Uncle Harm!" he said excitedly, as he raced over to the door.
"AJ," Mac said, as she came out of the kitchen. "Don't open the door until you know for sure who it is," she admonished.
"Oh, yeah," AJ replied. "Who is it?" he called out.
"It's Uncle Harm," Mac heard Harm's voice come through. She undid the bolt, and allowed AJ to open the door.
"Yay! You came!" AJ said, grabbing Harm around the knees.
"Yes, I did," Harm laughed, leaning down to pick up the rambunctious child. He gave him a kiss on the cheek, tickled his tummy, and then set him back on the floor.
"Come color wif me," AJ said, as he headed back towards the table. "Auntie Mac is makin' dinner."
"Do you need any help?" Harm asked, as Mac closed the door and re-locked it.
"No; I've got it," Mac said, smiling slightly. "Go play with AJ."
Harm watched as she walked back into the kitchen, and then sat down at the table beside AJ. He looked at the page he was currently coloring. "Wow, that's a good job you're doing," he told the boy, who had colored the trees a ghastly shade of purple, and the dinosaur a bright orange. "What kind of dinosaur is that?"
"It's a…" he paused. "Auntie Mac? What kinda diosaur is this again?" he called.
"A Brontosaurus," Mac called from the kitchen.
"Thank you!" AJ called, then looked at Harm. "A Bronnosaras."
Harm smiled broadly at him, winking. "It's very nice."
"Bronnosarasuses only eats plants," AJ told him. "They don't eat people."
Harm nodded. "That's very good to hear."
"AJ, you need to wash up; dinner's just about ready," Mac told him, as she poked her head out of the kitchen door. "Clean up your coloring stuff, and you can finish later."
"Okay," AJ said, putting his crayons back into the plastic case sitting on the table, and setting the coloring book on top. He snapped the case closed, and then ran towards the bathroom.
"Should I go help him?" Harm asked, as Mac came out and wiped off the table where AJ had been sitting, and then set the table.
"He usually manages okay on his own," she told him. "There's a stool in there that he can use to reach the sink."
Harm nodded as he watched her head back into the kitchen. Things between them were better recently, but they still weren't anywhere near as close as they had been before he returned to flying, and he wished he knew how to bridge the gap between them.
AJ came bounding out of the bathroom, and hopped back into his chair at the table. "All done," he called to Mac.
Mac came out and held out her hand, palm up, and AJ promptly stuck one of his smaller ones into it for her to examine. After she was satisfied that he had, indeed, washed his hands, she went back into the kitchen and returned a moment later with two platters in her hand, which she set on the table.
Harm eyed the platters with raised eyebrows as Mac went back into the kitchen and emerged a moment later with two bowls and another plate, which she also set on the table.
"The grilled salmon is for you," she told Harm as she sat down and began dishing AJ's plate.
Harm smiled, thanked her, and took the plate with the salmon to put a piece on his plate.
"I likes chicken nuggets," AJ told Harm, as he picked one up and popped it into his mouth, only to spit it right back onto his plate. "It's hot!"
Mac gave him a patient smile. "I just took them out of the oven; of course they're hot. Be more careful, please."
"I will," AJ assured her as he picked up the previously discarded nugget and blew on it, before taking a tentative bite. When he was sure it was safe, he ate the rest of it.
"You need to eat some of your salad, too. Would you like ketchup for your French fries?" Mac asked him, as she placed a small portion onto his plate.
"Yes, thank you," AJ said, poking a piece of cheese-covered steamed broccoli with his fork and blowing on it before putting it into his mouth, and then eating a large bite of his salad. "You is a good cooker, Auntie Mac."
"Thank you, AJ," Mac said, smiling at him.
"Wasn't all of this pretty much pre-packaged, ready to heat and eat?" Harm grinned.
"Actually, the chicken nuggets, the steamed broccoli and cheese, and the French fries, are all made from scratch… as is the salmon and the salad," Mac told him. "I always make things from scratch when I have AJ here."
Harm looked surprised at this, before he smiled. "I'm impressed, Marine. This is excellent food."
"Thank you," Mac said, biting into another chicken nugget.
They ate in silence for several minutes, before AJ spoke up.
"Uncle Harm?" AJ asked, as he picked up another chicken nugget and took a bite.
"Yes?" Harm answered, taking a bite of his fish.
"Auntie Mac is pretty."
"Yes; very pretty," Harm said, noticing Mac's slight blush.
"And she's smart."
"Very smart," Harm replied with a nod, wondering where the child was going with this.
"She's a good cooker and she's fun, too," he said.
"Yes, on both accounts," Harm told him, noticing the curious look Mac was giving AJ.
"Well, if you won't marry her, I'm gonna," AJ said matter-of-factly.
Mac, who'd just taken a sip of water, began to choke.
Harm jumped to his feet and began to lightly pat her on the back. "You okay?"
Mac nodded, waving him away as she continued to cough for another moment.
When Mac had finally settled, and Harm was back in his seat, they both looked at AJ.
"Are you okay, Auntie Mac?" he asked, eyes wide.
Mac swallowed hard, ignoring Harm's amused look. "Yeah; I'm fine."
AJ looked at Harm and sighed, shaking his head, and then popped another French fry into his mouth.
20:32 EST
Mac's Apartment
Georgetown
Friday
"AJ, your bath is ready," Mac said, as she came out of the bathroom.
"Cool!" AJ said, pulling his shirt over his head as he rushed towards the door where Mac was standing.
Mac turned and followed him in, closing the door slightly behind her.
Harm sat on the sofa, reading a case file as he listened to the splashing and laughing coming from the bathroom.
"Sing the rubber duck song!" AJ insisted.
Mac's musical laughter made Harm smile, and his curiosity got the better of him when he heard her agree. He stood and moved to stand just outside the bathroom door, watching as Mac kneeled in front of the tub and picked up the bright yellow rubber duck that was floating in the midst of all the bubbles. AJ had shampoo in his hair, and a bubble 'beard', and was grinning widely.
Harm's smile widened as he listened to Mac's clear, beautiful voice singing to AJ, while squeaking the duck at various times throughout the song.
"Rubber Ducky you're the one. :squeak: You make bath time lots of fun. Rubber Ducky I'm awfully fond of you… wooboobeedoo… Rubber Ducky joy of joys. :squeak: When I squeeze you, you make noise. :squeak: Rubber Ducky you're my very best friend it's true. :squeak squeak: Oh, oh, oh, everyday when I make my way to the tub-by… I find a little fella whose cute and yellow and chub-by… scrub-a-dub-dub-by. :squeak: Rubber Ducky you're so fine, and I'm lucky that you're mine. Rubber Ducky you're my very best friend, it's true. :squeak: Oh, oh, oh, everyday when I make my way to the tub-by… I find a little fella whose cute and yellow and chub-by… scrub-a-dub-dub-by. :squeak: Rubber Ducky you're so fine, and I'm lucky that you're mine. Rubber Ducky, I'm awfully fond of, :squeak: Rubber Ducky wish I had a whole pond of, :squeak: Rubber Ducky I'm awfully fond of you!" :squeak squeak:
"Wooboobeedoo!" AJ added, laughing, and clapping excitedly. He wrapped his wet arms around Mac's neck and kissed her cheek. "You do that the bestest of anybody!"
Mac laughed and then made him sit back in the tub so that she could rinse him off. Then she pulled the plug on the drain and helped him to stand up, wrapping a towel around his body and lifting him out of the tub. When she turned around, holding the towel-clad child in her arms, she saw Harm leaning against the doorjamb, a wide smile on his face.
"How long have you been standing there?" she asked, surprised.
"Long enough," he replied. "Why don't I dry him off and dress him for bed, so you can get dried off yourself?"
Mac nodded, handing over AJ to Harm, who carried him out to the living room where his clothes were laid out on the sofa.
"I hasta wear a Pull-up for bed," AJ told Harm, handing him a pair of underwear made of diaper material.
Harm examined the thing, before shrugging and helping him into it. "Why do you have to wear a Pull-up for bed?"
AJ got a shy look on his face, and replied softly, "sometimes I don't wake up, and I potty in my pants."
Harm nodded his understanding. "Can I tell you a secret?" he asked AJ, keeping his voice low.
AJ nodded, expression serious.
"When I was your age, I still went in my pants sometimes at night, too. And we didn't have Pull-ups, so me, and my jammies, and my whole bed got all wet," he told him. "My Mom told me that it was okay, and as I got older it would get easier to wake up to go at night, or to not potty until morning."
"Really?" AJ asked, his expression hopeful.
"Really," Harm told him, nodding. "And guess what? She was right."
AJ breathed a sigh of relief. "Thanks, Uncle Harm."
Harm winked at him, tapping his nose lightly with his forefinger. "No problem, Sport."
Mac, who had stopped outside her bedroom door when she heard their conversation, smiled softly and wiped a tear from her eye as she went into her room to bathe and change into her pajamas.
Thirty minutes later, Harm had given AJ his before bed snack and they were just finishing cleaning up, when Mac came out of her room.
"Let's get your teeth brushed and take you potty, and we'll go read your story," she told AJ, who nodded and made a beeline for the bathroom again.
Harm put the last dish into the dishwasher and glanced at Mac. "You're really good with him," he told her. "Did anyone ever tell you that you have great maternal instincts?"
"Not as often as I've been told I have a great karate chop," she said ruefully, sighing.
Harm smiled, but the smile vanished at the look on her face. "You okay?" he asked, concerned.
Mac shrugged and nodded, turning to head towards the bathroom where AJ was brushing his teeth.
Harm followed and waited while they finished up in the bathroom, watching Mac intently. Something was bothering his partner, and he wished fervently that he could get her to open up to him about what it was.
When they were done, AJ came out of the bathroom and grabbed Harm's hand. "C'mon Uncle Harm! You gotta read a story wif us!"
Harm looked to Mac, who smiled softly and shrugged. "Take your shoes off, though," she told him. "I don't want those dirty sneakers on my bed."
Harm gave her a cocky smile, and followed AJ into Mac's room.
AJ climbed into the middle of the bed, and patted the left side. "You go here, Uncle Harm."
Harm nodded, slipping his shoes off and moving the covers back so that he could get comfortable.
Mac, wearing a pair of sweat pants and a light blue t-shirt, climbed in on the right side of AJ and made sure he was covered up, before picking the book up off of the nightstand.
"This is my favoritest story," AJ told Harm.
"I see," Harm said, turning so that he was facing the boy and Mac.
"Ready?" Mac asked.
"Uh-huh," AJ nodded.
Mac showed him the cover and read, "Green Eggs and Ham."
Harm and AJ listened as Mac read the story, and Mac had to frequently pause to answer AJ's questions, or respond to a comment about the pictures. When she finally finished reading, she looked over and saw that Harm was asleep. Shaking her head, she sighed softly. AJ's eyes were droopy, but he wasn't yet asleep.
"Auntie Mac?" he said softly.
"Yeah?" Mac replied, brushing his blonde curls from his forehead.
"I wish you and Uncle Harm could gets married and have a baby," he said. "You'd be a good mommy."
"Hmm," was Mac's non-committal reply. "Thanks, AJ. Now go to sleep," she said, kissing his cheek.
"I love you," AJ said.
"I love you, too, sweetheart," Mac said.
She waited a few minutes until she was sure AJ was asleep, and then stood and moved to the other side of the bed, covering Harm with the blankets. Carefully, she kissed his cheek and whispered, "I wish we could get married and have a baby, too… I love you, Flyboy." Then she turned out the light and slipped into the living room.
Harm waited until she had left and then opened his eyes, his cheek still tingling from the feel of her lips, and his heart pounding so hard, his chest hurt, as her words filled him with a wonderful kind of warmth.