AN: This takes place a couple years after the Season 10 Finale, after our favorite pair has had their first child and Mattie is in her freshman year of college. Mac had won the coin toss, and now everyone is happy in San Diego. Enjoy, and please review!
The park was crowded in the afternoon's warm sunset. Balloons, scattered across the sea of green, were almost as colorful as the children who held them. On this summer day, people, color, and love blended with the nature in the center of the city.
Still, one little group stood out among the rest. It wasn't their clothing that made them noticeable, nor was it their stature. They weren't famous, and they weren't rich. Instead, they were simply happy. This happiness was almost tangible, like the warmth of the day's last ray of sunshine. The smile radiated off of the faces of the father, the mother, who was comfortable in the father's arms, and the young girl, who was grasping the hand of her mother.
"Katie, honey, do you want to get some ice cream?" The young girl, Katie, immediately smiled even more, happier with the promise of the frozen treat. The group walked over to the vendor, still smiling and still holding on to each other, as the little girl ordered her treat. The mother ordered one too, much to the amusement of the man whose arms were wrapped around her.
"It's hard to argue a case with a stain like that. Chocolate doesn't go well with Marine greens, Mac," the man said. Mac laughed.
"Well then, I guess it's my lucky day, flyboy. I'm not scheduled to be in court today." She stuck her tongue out at him, and then kissed him lightly.
"Mommy?" the child said, holding onto the hem of Mac's uniform skirt. Mac looked down at her daughter, and saw the reason for her query immediately. The child's face was dripping with ice cream. Harm grabbed a napkin and wiped the face of the little girl. Her full attention was on her two parents, who were so obviously, helplessly, wonderfully in love. Well, the attention was on her parents until her face lit up again. This time, it wasn't because of a treat.
"Mattie!" young Katie squealed. She took off when she saw her beloved older sister, running through the park. Obviously, her parents followed her, both nervous that their daughter was running through the park alone and excited to see their other "daughter." Katie's embrace once she caught up to Mattie was followed by that of both Harm and Mac, and soon Mattie felt the love that the rest of the park had seen.
"Mattie, it's good to see you! But, we thought that the University's semester ended on Friday." Harm said.
"It does, but I talked to Mac earlier and she said you guys were bringing Katie here tonight, so I decided to drop by after class."
"Well, I'm glad you're here." Harm went to hug Mattie again, and in doing so, got a glimpse of his watch.
"Honey, it's almost one. You should get going." he said, turning to his wife.
"Alright…" she replied, reluctant to leave this beautiful scene. She wrapped her arms around her husband. "I'll meet you after work, and we'll go out to dinner, since Mattie's home." Harm nodded in agreement, and kissed his wife one last time as she walked away towards the JAG office just outside the park's walls.
This happy little scene may have stood out to many of the park's inhabitants on that night, but it was especially obvious to one person. He sat on a park bench with his arm around his current plaything, a blonde with more hair than wit.
"What is it, Vic? You seem distracted," the blonde stated.
"It's nothing, baby, nothing…" Vukovic said, standing up and turning away from the family.
"…just a little jealous," he murmured, barely loud enough to hear.