AN: READ THE AUTHOR'S NOTE!

AN: After much verbal banter with myself over whether or not to write this story, I finally decided to go for it. It is actually based on a conversation that I had with my surrogate father when I was much younger. Don't worry--I am not going to go masochistic on you all--it really is meant to be a sweet father/daughter story. But, I wanted to play around with thedialogue because I think the characters fit it well. So, if you are offended, I will totally understand if you stop reading. But, if you stick with me, I promise to "not go there."

Mattie shuffled her feet under her chair, reading her new People magazine, waiting impatiently for Harm to get home from the office. She should have been working on homework, but given the imminent discussion, she opted for an activity with less brain power. Needing to move, Mattie stood up a bit too fast for a girl who was paralyzed from the wasted down 6 months ago. Feeling breathless for a moment, she stood still until her feet felt as if they would move without falling through the floor. Just then, the key turned in the knob.

"It's open, Harm! Oh… hi, Mac."

Mac tipped her head to the side, assessing the young woman. "You don't seem too thrilled to see me there, kiddo. C'mere and give me a hug."

"Is that an order?"

"Most definitely." Mac held her arms out to embrace her daughter. Even though Harm and Mac had not officially adopted her until three months earlier, the older woman was surprised by how easily she fell into the role of "mom."

"Mac?" Mattie's question was muffled as she had her head buried in Mac's shoulder.

"Yeah?" Mac did nothing to end the hug.

"When's Harm getting home?"

"He should be right behind me. He stopped by the grocery store to pick up a few things. You need to talk to him?"

"Yeah—"

"Hey there, my two lovely women!"

Mattie jumped at the sound of said voice and then stepped back to let him and Mac kiss. Harm, although slightly distracted by the kiss, cut it off with a quick wink and immediately assessed the state of his teenager.

"Why so jumpy, Matts?"

"I need to talk with you." Looking at Mac who had raised an eyebrow, Mattie continued, "Mac can be there, too, since you'll probably tell her everything."

"Okay. I was going to make supper, but that can wait. Where would you like this discussion to take place?"

"The living room is fine," Mattie gestured to the room to their left. Moving tended to be difficult, so simplicity was generally the preferred method of protocol.

As Mac and Harm each took a seat, Mattie stood—an uncomfortable position for an even more uncomfortable topic. Silence seemed to fill the air as they waited for her to talk.

Finally, she gave in, sounding much younger than her 16 years. "Harm, what happens if I do something really, really wrong?"

Curious Harm queried, "Like what?"

"The 'what' doesn't matter. What happens if I disobey a rule that you and Mac have set?"

"Mattie, I think it really would depend on the situation; although, I hear no phone, TV, or computer privileges work pretty well." Mac chose to answer this one, giving Harm a little wink on the last comment, as she had heard that he once had to do that earlier in their relationship.

Frustrated, the teenager tied her curls back in a loose pony tail. "I don't mean little stuff, Mac. I mean… what happens if I do something that makes you so angry that you would want to…" Mattie stopped, searching their eyes for answers.

"Mathilda, do you think we would get rid of you? I thought we'd had this conversation before—more than once, if my memory serves correctly." Harm stood up, took her shoulders in his hands, and stood her still in front of him.

"No…It's just… This is really hard for me to say."

Harm nodded, giving her time.

Finally, she came clean. "Harm, my dad used to hit me when I did something wrong."

Even though Mattie had never admitted this directly to him, it had always been an unspoken truth, so Harm took a moment to respond.

Mac, however, thought she knew where the girl was headed. "Mattie," she reached for her hand and pulled her to the couch next to her, "Harm and I are not going to hit you… ever."

"I know that, but…" Mattie continued, desperately needing to get it all out. "When I was younger, five or six, maybe, my mom used to spank me. Not like dad—she didn't hit or anything—it was always done in love." Her eyes filled up at the thought of her mom. "I don't want to sound masochistic or anything, but sometimes I think that the only way I will really ever trust someone is if they love me like mom did… even including the spankings."

Staring at the floor because of embarrassment, Mattie felt silence fill the room for the second time that evening. Harm was the first to speak as he knelt beside his daughter next to the couch. Taking her hands he addressed her concerns while trying to keep eye contact with her.

"Mattie, I can't even begin to imagine the pain that you've been through. But, I can identify with the trust issue. I had the same problem with Frank when I was younger. I felt that no one could really love me like my Dad did. But, Mathilda—look at me—" He waited until her tear-filled eyes met his intense gaze, "what you want me to do isn't the answer. The real answer lies in trust. I understand that you're willing to trust me to do something very difficult, but real trust happens when you allow situations and people to happen without trying to conform them to your ideal. People are not all bad—and at some point you are going to have to realize that."

Standing up, Harm caused Mattie's gaze to follow him. "Here is my proposition to your concern… for two weeks I challenge you to push Mac and me as much as you want and/or need. Be as bad as you think you need to be in order to test our love. If, at the end of two weeks, you still feel like you need me or Mac to spank you in order to prove our love to you, we will. Deal?"

Nodding, Mattie stood and embraced Harm, as a new found feeling of insecurity washed over her. She really didn't want to test Harm or Mac, but maybe that is what she needed to do. As a sickening feeling tightened around her stomach, she felt Mac's arms hug her from behind. Not able to be around them anymore, Mattie broke free of both sets of arms and trudged quietly to her room. Only after the door clicked softly did either parent speak.

"Harm, are you really going to…"

"If that is what it takes, yes. But I really don't think I will need to.

"Isn't she a little old?"

"Of course, but in her eyes, she is the little girl who needed a daddy that loved her just as much as her mommy. She is wise beyond her years, except when it comes to trust." Harm took Mac in his arms, thankful he had a partner.

"Two weeks, huh?"

"Two weeks…"