Authors note: I have been writing this story for over a year...if anyone else has written a story like this I can promise you that I didn't steal your idea.

Summary: What if Mac had a secret that no one knew about? It is time for the secret that she has been keeping with her for 16 years to come out

I do not own JAG or any of it's characters...except for the ones that aren't in the TV show: Catherine, Vivi, and the rest of the Morin Family, and some other characters that will come later.

Enjoy!

January 14, 2004

Morin Residence

1600 Local time

"Catherine, did you clean the bathroom, the dining room, and the living room?" said a medium sized woman as she raced around the house cleaning things.

"Yes, I did mom." said a tall, brown haired, blue eyed girl as she came down the stairs. When she hit the bottom of the stairs the doorbell rang. "I'll get it, mom. It's probably Aunt Mac." Catherine said as she walked to the door. She looked through the peep hole and knew exactly who she was looking at.

"Hi, Aunt Mac." She said to the woman of medium height who was standing on the doorstep.

"Hey Catherine," Mac said kissing her niece. "You ready to go?"

"Yeah, let me just tell mom that I'm leaving." She turned into the house, "Mom, I'm leaving." She yelled as Mac laughed at her niece's behavior.

"Ok, sweetie...How are you Sarah?" Catherine's mother said as she hugged her best friend.

"I'm fine, Vivi. How are you doing?" She said as she hugged Vivi back.

"I'm crazed right now. Michael's boss is coming over for dinner tonight. Everything has to be perfect."

"Don't worry, Vivi. It's not like the Sec Nav will fire Michael because dinner was bad."

"Thanks for the confidence, Sarah." Vivi said sarcastically as she laughed. "Honestly, thank you for taking her tonight. I know that she was really happy to be invited."

"Don't worry about it. She's like part of the JAG family." Mac replied as she put her arm around Catherine's shoulders. "Besides she helped me pick out all of the gifts. All of my presents are from her and me."

"You behave yourself, Catherine. If I have to hear from your father that you disgraced him, it won't be pretty." Vivi said to Catherine.

"Don't worry, mom. I'll be on my best behavior."

"Ok, you two have fun."

"Don't worry we will." Mac said as she and Catherine walked out closing the door behind him.

1630 Local

Robert's Residence

KnockKnockKnock

Lieutenant Bud Roberts opened the door to find his friend Commander Harmon Rabb on the other side.

"Good Evening, Commander…Harm."

"Hello, Bud." Said Harm, walking into his friend's house with an armful of presents.

"Is the Colonel with you sir?" Bud asked looking back out the door.

"No, Bud. You mean she's not here yet? Wow I'm surprised…she's never late."

"I know sir. That's why Harriet and I are getting worried."

"Wait a minute Bud. Don't worry…she had to pick up Catherine on her way over. Viviane probably wanted to talk to her…"

KnockKnockKnock

"Good evening ma'am." Bud said as he opened the door and saw Mac and Catherine on the other side.

"Hi, Bud." Mac said as she passed him on the way in.

"Hey Uncle Bud." Catherine said giving her uncle a hug.

"Hi Catherine. Harriet and I were so happy that you could come." Bud said as he returned the hug from his only niece.

"Like I would have missed the JAG Christmas party…Come on Uncle Bud a herd of elephants couldn't keep me away."

As she walked into the living room she heard a voice behind her. "Hey there beautiful." There was no doubt in her mind about who that voice belonged to; she could have recognized it a mile away.

"Uncle Harm! You're already here?" She said as she turned and jumped into the arms of Commander Harmon Rabb Jr.

"Yes, I am, and I was here before you. You made Mac late for once in her life." He said putting her down.

"She didn't make me late Harm, it was her mother. You know how nervous Vivi gets when she hosts the Sec Nav for dinner."

"Yeah, I know. But you know I couldn't pass up a chance to make fun of you for being late."

"Ok, everyone, its time to open presents." Harriet Sims-Roberts said in her best "I'm the hostess" voice. "So could everyone please have a seat?"

Mac and Harm sat down next to each other on the couch like they normally did and Catherine sat on the floor at Mac's feet. As Catherine looked around the room she saw her entire family in the room. She could feel all of the love and happiness radiating from the room as she looked from face to face. Sitting on her left were her uncle, Commander Sturgis Turner, and his girlfriend, Varese; on her right was her surrogate sister, Petty Officer Jennifer Coates; next to Jen on the arm of the couch was one of her favorite people, her surrogate grandfather Rear Admiral AJ Chedwiggen; sitting next to the Admiral in one of the armchairs was Gunnery Sergeant Victor Galindez; and in the armchair next to him sat her aunt, Lieutenant Harriet Sims-Roberts; with her husband Lieutenant Bud Roberts standing behind her. "This is my family." Catherine thought to herself as she looked around. "No matter how bad things get at home, I can always come to this family and know that everything will be ok."

Within an hour all of the presents had been unwrapped and everyone was eating and talking. Around 10 o'clock people started leaving. Sturgis and Varese left first; followed by Gunny and then Jen. An hour after Jen left Mac decided that it was time for her and Catherine to leave. They said their goodbyes and walked to their car.

"Thanks for bringing me with you again this year, Aunt Mac." Catherine said as she got into the car. "It was nice to get out of the house. I mean Michael Jr. got to go play video games with his friends while I cleaned the house for the dinner party…It was just good to get out of the house."

"I know it was sweetie." Mac said as she got into the car. "How about you come and spend the night at my apartment. We'll watch movies and just hang out this weekend."

"I would love to, but I'm not sure what Mom would think about that."

"Don't worry about Vivi. I'll take care of it."