Thank you all so much for reading and reviewing... here's Chapter Two.

Chapter Two:

Katie's POV:

Mommy's tummy really did grow bigger and bigger, and now it looks like a balloon that's ready to pop. I guess that means the baby will be here soon. Daddy has been reading me a new story. It's about a little girl called Chrissie. In the story, Chrissie got a little sister and a little brother for Christmas. Chrissie was really happy because she played with her brother and sister, and she helped her Mommy take care of the babies. Daddy says that's how Mattie felt when Jack and I came home for the first time. I guess I never thought of it that way. Yesterday I asked Mommy if the baby will like me… Mommy said the baby will love me very much. I think I feel a little better now.

Baby's POV:

It's so warm and cozy in here. I could stay here forever. But something inside me knows that I won't be here forever. There are voices I hear all the time from inside my snug cocoon. One of them is the one I know best of all. Instinctively, I know who she is. She's my mother. Her voice is warm, calm and soothing, more familiar to me than anything else in my little world. It makes me feel loved. Sometimes her voice gets sharp and tense, but never for too long. I don't quite know how, but I know that my mother watches over me and nourishes me.

Then there's another voice – deep, strong and quiet… it makes me feel safe and protected. I know he is someone hugely important in my life, and I can't wait to meet him. There are a few other voices – happy, excited, serene, curious… I hear them all, but muffled, like they're being filtered through something I can't quite penetrate. But something tells me the day will come when they'll all be crystal clear. Somehow, I know that there's more to discover somewhere out there. I love my comfy little home, but one day soon, I'll be ready to come out and explore.

Mac's POV:

He's hiding something. I can tell. I'm not worried; I'll get it out of him eventually.

The kids are in bed. Harm and I are on the couch. I'm lying with my head and upper body propped up on pillows, to support my aching back. My feet are in his lap, and he's massaging one of them slowly, with just the right amount of pressure, carefully avoiding the ankle. It feels amazing.

'Your feet are swollen,' he says.

'That's normal right now, Harm,' I say, 'you know that. I've been dealing with edema for a while.'

'Yes,' he replies, but you're supposed to be resting and keeping them elevated.'

'I am, Harm, trust me... and I'm drinking lots of water, minimizing my sodium intake, doing everything by the book... alas, the feet still get swollen.'

'Poor baby,' he says, doing more magic with his fingers. This is bliss.

Harm's POV:

'Oh yeah, mmm, right – there,' she whispers breathlessly, 'that feels amazing, Harm.' I guess we're lucky we're alone down here, because the moans and groans coming from between Mac's lips sound positively indecent. There's something else that's getting a little… indecent… just a few inches from where her foot is resting… but I'm trying hard not to think about it.

The phone rings. It's Mattie, and we spend a few minutes talking to her. After the conversation, the foot massage that's slowly turning into a form of torture (for me) continues.

'So,' I say, in yet another attempt to distract myself, 'Mattie seems to be doing well.'

'Mmm... yes she does. Ohhh yes, just a little harder right there... yes, that's it.'

'Jack and Katie are doing pretty well at school too... although it looks like Katie's really struggling with math.'

'Yeah, I was going to talk to you about Katie's... mmm, that's nice, that's very, very nice... I was uh, what was I saying again?'

'Something about Katie's math,' I supply, helpfully.

'Oh yeah, I was going to suggest that you do a little extra work with her this weekend... you're better at math than I am... mmm, Harm, that feels sooo amazing.'

'So, we're finally agreed on baby names now, right?'

'Uh huh – Matthew if it's a boy, Elizabeth if it's a girl. Mmmm… that's it, ohhh, right there, honey. Don't stop….'

Suddenly I can't do it anymore. She's driving me crazy with those moans and groans, and my attempts to distract myself (by talking about anything and everything else) just aren't working. I don't even think she realizes it. I stop massaging her foot, and she opens her eyes in surprise.

'Why'd you stop?' she asks, looking adorably bewildered – a look that does nothing to alleviate my current… situation.

I figure now is as good a time as any. 'There's something I have to tell you.'

'I know,' she replies. How does she do that? She sits up to look at me, keeping her feet in my lap.

'So, today a woman... well, a woman, uh, made some advances.'

'Advances? Towards whom?'

'Me.'

She rolls her eyes. 'Don't sound so surprised, Harm. Women make passes at you all the time.'

'Well, not all the time.'

She rolls her eyes again. 'Don't worry, Harm, I'll let you know when you need a little slice of humble pie,' she says. 'The fact is you're gorgeous… and charming to boot. You may not notice all the female attention you get everywhere you go; you're probably just used to it. But trust me; it's there.'

'Really?' I'm genuinely surprised. 'You've never complained.'

Mac bursts into laughter. 'That's because you never given me reason to. I know you don't seek after or encourage attention from other women, and that's what counts to me. That's not to say I don't get a little ticked off by those other women sometimes. I still remember the one at the Robinsons' Christmas party. She actually told me to my face that I wasn't your type.'

I remember that evening – it was bad enough that Admiral Robinson, whom I was serving under at the time, and I had an unpleasant disagreement just a few days before the party (but that's another story). Attending his party, at his insistence, was awkward enough, but having his drunken niece drape herself all over me in full view of my wife had been the icing on a bitter cake. Mac and I had left shortly afterwards, with an apologetic Admiral in our wake. 'She'd had a little too much to drink,' I say to Mac now.

She's still laughing. 'Yes, I believe she'd had a little too much "hot man in uniform". Aww, you're so cute when you blush.'

I heave a sigh… I'm not blushing – and Mac isn't taking this as seriously as I thought she would. I try to get her back on the subject. 'Back to what I was about to tell you –'

'Did you turn her down – the woman that made the advances today?'

'Of course.'

'Then that's all I need or to know,' Mac says, and I can tell that she's serious now. 'I know that women come on to you, and I'm sure that sometimes they're extremely attractive – tempting, even. But I also know that you respect and cherish me and our family much more than that. Us – our marriage, our friendship, our family – is one of very few things that I truly believe in. When it comes down to it, you wouldn't deliberately hurt me and cheapen what we have just to satisfy an itch. That's not who you are - you're much better than that… and that's what matters to me. I don't want to live with doubts, Harm. I know you're not perfect, and neither am I, but together, we can get through anything life throws at us – no matter how painful – and come out stronger.'

I find myself nodding as she speaks – I feel the same way about us, and it's a realization that has evolved and been reinforced in many ways over the years – from the years when we were virtually at cross-purposes with each other, to the ones we've spent together now. Counseling has helped to some extent, but more than anything, learning to communicate more freely has helped us grow stronger as a couple. That truth – coupled with the fact that I know what Krennick is capable of - is why I have to go on with conversation, even though Mac's just given me a way out.

I give her foot a gentle squeeze. 'Thanks Mac... but this particular woman is someone you know... someone, unfortunately, that I have to work with occasionally. Alison Krennick.'

'Admiral Krennick?'

'Uh huh.'

'I think you mentioned that she was… interested in you when you worked together….'

'Yes.'

Mac is clearly puzzled. 'But you were both single back then… she knows you're married now – she's met me. And didn't we meet her husband somewhere?'

'Yep.'

'Wow,' Mac says, 'she knows I'm a Marine, right?'

I can't help but laugh. I love this woman. 'I can't believe you're making jokes about this… I was shocked. And angry.'

'Angry? Why?'

'Because she suggested we have a coffee after a meeting, and that was when she dropped it on me. I should never have gone with her. And she said the most offensive things….'

Mac shrugs. 'She would have found a way to make her offer anyway, coffee or not. If she's been in love – or lust – or whatever it is, with you for all these years, she's probably just been biding her time. Don't blame yourself. And I can only guess what "offensive things" were said, but Harm, I don't care what Admiral Krennick thinks... and neither should you. When you think about it, she's absolutely irrelevant to us. If anything, I feel sorry for her. It sounds like she's playing a dangerous game with a very illustrious career – her own.'

I sigh again. 'She is. And it's certainly not love on her part – I don't even think it's just lust. For Krennick, it's always been about power… being in control, in charge, is what she lives for. Once she's decided on what she wants, she refuses to give an inch, and she'll do whatever she has to do, to get what she wants. She is always looking for ways to stay on top of the competition – and she's always considered me competition. It seems to me like her entire life is one endless power play. And I don't think the battle for power is ever really over for her… at least, not until she's won.'

'Then I really do pity her,' Mac says, 'because not only does that game sound utterly exhausting, there is so much more to life. And she sure as hell is never going to get on top of you – that's my position. Well… at least sometimes it is.'

We laugh together – I'm glad I told her about Krennick, and I tell her that now.

'I'm glad you told me too,' she responds, 'but don't sweat it. I feel very secure… ok, so I'll admit to feeling just a little insecure now that I'm this… beached whale who has to basically roll herself around until the baby arrives, but like I said, I trust you.'

'Thank you... and I trust you too.'

'Please, Harm,' she laughs, I've spent most of the last four months in this house, growing huger, more hormonal and more stir-crazy by the second. Whether you trust me or not - no one's checking me out.'

I'm shaking my head as I help her to her feet. 'That's where you're wrong. I'm always checking you out.' My hands lift to her face, seemingly of their own accord, and my next words are almost involuntary too. 'You're so beautiful, Sarah.'

'You think so? Even now?'

My hands roam over her. 'Especially now. You still don't know what you do to me, Mac. Telling you about Krennick was only half the reason why I had to stop your foot massage… just those sounds you were making… you have no idea.'

Now she's blushing.

After talking a little more, mostly about how Mac can't wait for the baby's arrival, we decide it's time to go up to bed. Mac also told me about the persistent backache she's had all day. Back pain has been part of her life for a long time, but it's been much more intense during the pregnancy, especially in the last few months. As much as the thought of her going through labor upsets me, I can't wait for the baby to get here either. We're halfway up the stairs, when, whoosh.

I stare down at the liquid underneath our feet. 'Honey, did you just –'

'No, Harm, my water just broke.'