Author's Notes: They don't belong to me, we're just having fun together.

I've named the Roberts twins Nikki and Michael

Posted for Ladybrin who's eager for some Bud and Harriet tales.

Roberts Residence

Friday 7:56pm

The noise level had escalated rapidly throughout the night and finally, with dinner finished and four children asleep, Harriet sat on the side of her bed with a heavy sigh. It wasn't that she didn't love her active brood or her husband or her brother-in-law who had been staying with them for the past three weeks or Harm and Mac, her dinner guests, she did, it was just that she had no time for herself and she was exhausted. Now in the relative silence of her room she sat still for the first time that day. She could hear noises from the dining room and knew she should make her way back down but she had neither the energy nor the inclination to do so.

Harriet had been gone nearly twenty minutes before Mac noted her extended absence.

'Do you think Harriet needs any help up there, Bud?' Mac asked, nodding up the stairs.

'No, I don't think so, she's probably just settling one of the babies,' Bud answered.

'She was looking very tired,' Harm commented.

'It's hard on her chasing after all of us,' Bud replied.

When Harriet hadn't returned after another five minutes Mac went upstairs to find her. She didn't have to look too far as Harriet was still sitting on her bed, tears quietly running down her face.

'Harriet,' Mac said concerned, 'what's wrong?' She sat beside her and took her hand.

'Oh nothing, Mac, really,' she replied brushing away the tears.

'Do you want to try again? You're sitting here alone in tears, there has to be something wrong.'

'I'm just tired, very tired. I haven't had two minutes to myself all day,' she said quietly.

'Kids keeping you busy?'

'Yep, kids, husband, house guest, visitors.'

'Oh, I'm sorry Harriet, I should have realised. Harm and I can go and let you get some sleep.'

'Oh no Mac, I didn't mean it like that. I love having you guys here. I need to have you guys here to keep me connected to the outside world. It's just some days are harder than others.'

'Is there anything I can do to help?'

'Can you add a few extra hours in the day so I can get some sleep?'

'No, but I can give you a break.'

'How? I mean a break sounds wonderful but the organisation alone would exhaust me even further.'

'Leave it to me. Have an overnight bag packed and I'll pick you up at nine in the morning.'

'Oh Mac, really, no, I couldn't arrange it in time, I mean there's the twins and Jimmy and AJ has a friend's birthday party tomorrow and I need to run some errands and there's laundry to do and I need to go to the grocery…'

'Harriet, stop! You have a highly capable husband and brother-in-law and Harm can help out.'

'But…'

'But nothing…I'll organise it now.'

Mac left Harriet and went back down to the men.

'You were a while up there Mac, everything alright?' Harm asked.

'Um, no, where's Bud?'

'In the kitchen. What's wrong, ma'am?' Mike asked.

'Come with me, both of you,' she instructed walking to the kitchen, obediently they followed.

'Take a seat,' she instructed them and they did, Bud joined them at the table.

'So what's going on ma'am?' Mike asked again.

'What's wrong? Is it Harriet?' Bud asked standing up.

'Bud, sit down for a minute, please.' He did. 'Look Harriet's exhausted she needs some time out. So, we're going to go away for a girls' weekend.'

'That'll be great for Harriet; she has been very tired lately. When are you planning on going?' asked Bud turning to the calendar. 'Late next month's looking good.'

'Tomorrow,' Mac reported.

'Tomorrow? But…' Bud began.

'But what? Are you telling me that the three of you aren't capable of looking after four small children?' Mac asked with mock surprise.

'Us three?' Harm questioned.

'Yes, you can help Bud and Mike out, can't you?'

'But I was planning to do some work on the Corvette this weekend.'

'And is the Corvette more important than Harriet's wellbeing?'

'Well, no.'

'Good, so you'll help out.'

Roberts Residence

Saturday 8:45 am

Mac pulled her car into the drive way and opened the trunk ready for Harriet's belongings. AJ rushed out to greet her.

'Aunty Mac,' he squealed, jumping off the porch and landing near her feet. 'Where are you and my mom going?'

'We're going on a little holiday, AJ,' she said kissing his head.

'Can I come?' he asked eagerly.

'Oh, that would be great but this time it's a girls' weekend.'

'What's a 'girls' weekend'?'

'When girls get together and talk and do make up and hair and talk about boys,' Mac replied, not that this was her plan for the weekend, she only wanted to dissuade AJ.

'Eeew, yuck!' he exclaimed screwing up his face. 'That sounds gross.'

'That's why it's a girl's weekend. You'll be home with all the boys, you can have a boys' weekend.'

'Nikki will be here, she's a girl,' AJ said by way of protest.

'But she's a baby, that doesn't count.'

'Oh,' said AJ, believing her.

'So is your mom ready?' Mac asked walking with him into the house.

'I'll go see,' he said eagerly and ran up the stairs.

'Good morning Mac,' said Bud coming from the kitchen.

'Hi Bud, are you all prepared for two days?'

'I certainly am, Harriet wanted to write out a list of instructions but I told her we could cope.'

'That's the spirit, Bud.'

'So where are you headed?'

'It's a secret but we'll be about an hour away and have our cells if there's an emergency, but only in an emergency,' Mac smiled.

'Morning ma'am,' said Mike coming down the stairs carrying Harriet's overnight bag.

'Good morning Mike, the trunk's open.'

'So where are you off too?'

'She's not telling. Is Harriet ready?' asked Bud.

'Two minutes.'

'Is the Commander here yet?' Mike asked.

'No, not yet,' said Bud looking at his watch.

'Does it surprise you he's late?' Mac asked.

'Not really,' Bud smiled.

Harriet came down carrying her handbag, jacket and Jimmy.

'Now, the twins were fed at six and are playing in their cots, they won't be due for a feed til about ten. Jimmy needs to have breakfast and he's a bit grumpy this morning,' she kissed Jimmy's head and handed him to Bud. 'Are you sure you don't want me write this down.'

'Harriet, Mike, Harm and I can deal with four kids for 48 hours. It'll be a piece of cake.' He kissed his wife and ushered her towards the door. 'Now go and have a great time.'

'Okay, if you're sure.' Harriet kissed AJ and Bud again and walked out to the car.

'If Nikki…' she began.

'Harriet, we'll be fine, go relax and have a good time,' Bud instructed.

Just then Harm pulled up and parked his car out on the road.

'Morning ladies,' he said walking up the driveway.

'Morning Harm,' they said in unison.

'All set to go?'

'We certainly are,' said Mac smiling.

'So, what's the plan?' he asked.

'For us to have a great time and for you to help Bud, if you can cope with four littlies,' said Harriet.

'Piece of cake,' beamed Harm.

'Oooh, that's tempting fate, Harm,' laughed Mac.

'We'll be fine, go!'

And off they set.