A/N: Hi all… I'm new to this site, so I'm still working out how to post. Hence, the first chapter was huge. This is my first JAG fic, though I've been a fanfic writer for eep! 20 years now. All mistakes are mine, as this has not be beta'd. Feedback is welcome! Please see chapter one for additional notes/disclaimers.
01:38 EST
Harm's Apartment
North of Union Station
Mac turned over again and sighed softly. Her internal time sense told her exactly what time it was, but she couldn't seem to sleep. After she and Harm had spent a few hours making love, Harm had brought in the Wilson case file for them to at least go over and discuss. With a plan of action in mind, the two of them had once again made love before taking a long, hot shower together, and then settling in for the night.
Climbing quietly out of bed, Mac pulled on Harm's discarded t-shirt as she went out to the kitchen. Pouring herself a glass of milk, she bit into the piece of vegetarian pizza she'd retrieved, lost in thought.
She was fairly sure that she and Harm would be getting married sometime in the future. While she didn't know for sure when they would become engaged, she was pretty sure it would happen soon. This meant that either she or Harm would have to transfer out of JAG HQ, since they couldn't be married and serve under the same Commanding Officer.
Harmony's comment about needing a place of her own also had Mac thinking. With Harmony's deteriorating health, she was going to need someone nearby to take care of her, and she especially needed someone around if she went into labor. Also, neither Harm's, nor Mac's, own apartments were big enough to accommodate a baby, so once Miranda was born, they'd need someplace bigger.
Sighing, Mac quietly rinsed her glass and placed it into the dishwasher, and then stood looking out the window at the twinkling lights of the city. There was so much to consider, and not a lot of time to get things done.
This was how Harm found her when he came down the steps to find her.
"Hey, you okay?" he asked, wrapping his arms around her from behind.
Mac leaned into his strong arms and solid chest, nodding. "Yeah, just… thinking," she said softly.
"About…" Harm said, slightly worried.
"About a lot of things. Harm, we have less than three months before we're officially going to become parents. Your apartment is great for a bachelor, and my apartment might be okay for a married couple, but neither apartment is good for a family," she said. "And I don't think Harmony should be alone for the duration of her pregnancy. Not with her health going downhill," she told him. "Maybe we should look into buying a house or, at the very least, getting a bigger apartment."
Harm smiled broadly. The fact that Mac was thinking about these things warmed him. "I agree," he said, kissing the back of her neck.
"You do?" Mac asked, turning in his arms to look at him.
"Yes, I do," he said. "Mac, you're right. Our apartments are too small for a family, and that's what I'm committed to: you, me and baby Miranda becoming a family, and Harmony, too, for as long as God allows. This apartment has been great, but it's more of a bachelor pad. I'm ready to move on to bigger, and much better, things."
Mac smiled at him, her eyes filling with tears. "What about the fact that one of us will have to leave JAG?"
Harm sighed. "Let's talk to the Admiral on Monday; maybe he has some ideas in that area. Even if it means that I have to leave again, if you want to stay, then I will. JAG, hell, even the Navy, isn't as important to me as you are… as having a family is. Not anymore."
Mac nodded. "You proved that to me when you left everything a year and a half ago," she said quietly. "I'm sorry I didn't appreciate it the way I should have; the way you needed me to. No one has ever cared that much for me, and it scared me to death. I didn't think I was worth it."
Harm cupped her face in his hands. "You are worth that, and so much more. If I had to do it again, I would… in a heartbeat. Even if the outcome were the same. I love you," he said, kissing her tenderly. He pulled back and looked into her eyes. "I was going to plan a special dinner and all sorts of romantic things before I did this, but now feels right. Mac, will you marry me?"
Mac smiled, even as tears rolled down her cheeks and into his palms. "Yes. Yes, Harm, I'd be honored to marry you."
"You sure it's not too soon?" Harm asked, giving her a mischievous grin.
Mac chuckled. "Oh, you!" she said, pulling him close to her and hugging him for all she was worth. "What took you so long?" she whispered.
"I wish I knew," he answered. "I've been such a damned fool. Forgive me?"
Mac pulled back and looked into his eyes. "I already have."
Harm leaned forward and kissed her again, before picking her up and carrying her back to the bedroom.
08:00 EST
Harm's Apartment
North of Union Station
Harm had gotten up at 07:00 and gone for his usual morning run before stopping at the corner market to pick up a few things for breakfast and a Sunday paper. As he opened the door to his apartment, Mac was just coming down the steps. "Good morning, sunshine," Harms said, smiling at her disheveled look.
Mac gave him a wan smile. "Coffee?"
Harm chuckled and nodded towards the kitchen counter where the coffee maker sat. "I made some before I went out for my run."
"Bless you," Mac said, pouring herself a cup and taking a long draught. "Mmm… that's better," she said, sighing.
Harm grinned as he pulled the items from the grocery bag. "I got cream cheese croissants and a fruit salad for breakfast," he told her. "Hope that's okay."
"Okay? Ham, it's perfect," Mac said, taking down a couple of bowls and saucers and setting them on the island in the kitchen while Harm retrieved the silverware they'd need.
As they ate, Harm pulled out the Real Estate section of the newspaper. "So, what kind of house are we looking for?" he asked Mac.
"Are you sure we want a house?" Mac asked, sipping at her second cup of java. "Not just a bigger apartment?"
"We can get an apartment if you'd like, but I figure we might as well buy a house now. The market is good, and with our combined resources, we could easily afford one," Harm replied. "What do you think?"
Mac thought a moment and then smiled. "I like the idea of a house. What do you want in a house?"
"It has to be at least three bedrooms and two baths to start," Harm said. "I don't mind a fixer-upper, as long as it doesn't have any major damages to repair."
Mac nodded in agreement. "What about neighborhoods?"
"Well, we don't have to worry about school for at least five years, but I still want it to be safe. Something close to JAG would be okay, since I'm assuming one of us will stay on there," Harm told her.
Again, Mac nodded. "I'd like a fenced back yard; something that's not on a busy street. Definitely no pool for now, and I'd like a decent sized laundry room."
Harm grinned. He was thrilled with this discussion, and it showed. "What about a realtor? Do we want to use one, or do we want to do this on our own?"
"Why don't we see what we can find on our own, and if we don't have any luck in the next… three weeks… we can ask Bud and Harriet who their realtor was?" Mac suggested.
"Sounds good to me," Harm said, separating the real estate section into two. "You take this half and I'll take this one," he told her, handing her a ball point pen.
Mac smiled. "Okay. What price range do you think we can manage?"
Harm considered it for a moment. "Well, I have about sixty-thousand in savings, how about you?"
Mac blanched at that. "How in the world…?"
Harm shrugged. "The CIA paid pretty good, and since I don't have a lot of bills, I usually just save most of what I make. Plus, I had some investments that really did well for me," he explained.
Mac smiled, still surprised. "Hmm. Well, I only have about twenty-five thousand," she said, "and I'd like to keep at least that much saved for an emergency."
Harm nodded slowly. "I agree. Why don't we see what we come up with as far as houses go, and then we can go Monday or Tuesday evening and talk to a lender? Once we find out how much we'll qualify for, we can decide how much we want to actually spend."
Mac nodded her head as she turned back to her section of the paper, but stopped and suddenly took his hand. "I can't believe we're really doing this," she said, grinning brightly. "I love you."
Harm leaned forward and kissed her. "Believe it, Mac. I love you, too."
10:02 EST
Somewhere in the DC area
Two hours later, they were armed with a list of houses they were interested in. They had called ahead to most of them, making arrangements to view the homes, and planning to make a circle so that they would be back in DC by dinner time.
Harm had called Harmony and asked if she'd like to meet them for lunch when they got up to Bethesda, telling her they wanted to talk to her.
They spent the morning looking at houses, making notes on each one as they went through. They got to Bethesda around 11:00 and toured three houses, before they met Harmony for lunch at a local café.
Once they had all placed their orders, Mac looked at Harm and smiled, nodding towards his cousin.
"Harmony, Mac and I have something to tell you," he said, smiling at the girl. "We're getting married."
Harmony smiled broadly. "Harm, that's wonderful!" she exclaimed, standing to hug her cousin and then moving over to hug Mac as well. "Have you set a date?" she asked, as she took her seat again.
Harm shook his head. "Not yet. We've also made a few other decisions, as well. First, we would love to adopt Miranda," he said, watching as a weight seemed to lift from his young cousin's shoulders.
"Thank you, so much," she said, her eyes tearing up. "I know you two will make great parents," she said.
Harm gave her hand a gentle squeeze. "We've also decided to buy a house, since neither of our apartments is big enough for a family," he told her. "We want you to come and live with us, as soon as we find something."
Harmony looked surprised. "You don't need to do that, Harm."
"I know; we want to. You're going to need all of the help and support you can get, especially since you are most likely going to get sicker," he said softly. "You're part of our family, and we want to take care of you."
This time, the tears fell from her eyes and she sniffled. "Thank you; both of you. That really means a lot to me. Can I help in any way?"
"Just take care of yourself and that precious baby," Mac told her. "We'll take care of the rest."
The waitress brought their orders just as Harmony smiled in appreciation, and they chatted amiably during lunch.
Harm and Mac told Harmony how they met, and a little about their history together.
Harmony told them more about her and Donny.
When they were finished with lunch, Harm looked at Harmony. "I'll have the adoption papers drawn up, so you can sign them ahead of time. Given the special circumstances, I don't think it will be a problem, but I'll make sure. But Mac and I want you to know, as long as you are still alive, you are Miranda's mother. We want to be her parents, but we want you to be here for her, more."
"Thank you, Uncle Harm," Miranda said softly. "I know I made the right choice."
They said their goodbyes and then Harm and Mac headed off to look at more houses.
19:08 EST
Harm's Apartment
North of Union Station
Mac put her head back on the couch and sighed. It had been a long day, and they'd seen a lot of houses. Some were definitely not what they were looking for, but a lot of them were on the 'maybe' list. She'd seen one that she really liked, but she didn't want to jump into anything, so she thought she'd wait until they'd seen a few more houses.
"Tired?" Harm asked, sitting beside her on the sofa.
"Yeah. I haven't had much sleep the last few days," she said, grinning at him. "Not that I'm complaining, mind you."
Harm chuckled. "Good. How about I pack a bag, we can stop and get take out for dinner, and then we can go to your place to eat before we settle in for the night?"
Mac looked surprised. "You don't want me to stay here again?"
"I'd love for you to stay here again. But you don't have a uniform here, and I don't have a bathtub, and I'm thinking you need a long soak in a hot bath, before we snuggle up together to get some serious sleep tonight. We have a lot to do tomorrow, and we're going to need to be at our best."
Mac smiled at him. "Have I told you lately how much I love you?" she asked.
"Hmm… not for at least an hour," Harm said, grinning.
Mac moved closer and kissed him. "I love you."
"I love you, too," he said. "Let me get some things together for tomorrow, and we'll head out."
Mac stood as well and re-packed the bag she'd brought with her the day before. She needed to wash some of the items, and the rest were toiletries she'd need in the morning.
In ten minutes, they were standing in the hallway while Harm locked his apartment door. Turning, he smiled at Mac and pulled her close for a toe-curling kiss, just as the elevator door opened.
Jennifer Coates stood there with wide eyes, watching her two friends, and superior officers, kissing each other rather heatedly. She cleared her throat and blushed furiously. "Excuse me, sir, ma'am," she said.
Harm pulled away from Mac and looked at the young Petty Officer. "Hello, Jennifer, how are you?"
Jennifer smiled nervously. "I'm good, sir; you?"
Harm looked at Mac with a smoldering look and smiled lecherously. "I've never been better." He nodded once to Coates as he took Mac's hand and led her to the elevator. "See you in the office tomorrow, Jennifer," he said, just before the doors closed.
Jennifer stood there with wide eyes and her mouth hanging open.
