A/N: Not much to say here. Just a long-awaited reunion.

Reunion

Heathrow Airport, London
May 25, 2007
2345 Local

Harm stood and began to pace. The closer the time came for Mac's plane to arrive, the more nervous he became. He wrestled with his thoughts. What if he said something to make her angry? How much had Mac changed over the past two years? Would they still have anything in common? Maybe she didn't even want to be friends anymore.

He stopped to reign in his galloping thoughts. No doubt there would be some awkwardness, given their departing words from two years ago. It would take time to restore what they had torn apart. But Mac had been the one to initiate this meeting. To say Harm had been surprised by her email from three weeks ago would be a gross understatement.

Harm:

I have some leave time coming up and plan to visit the UK and Europe. No specific plans except I will arrive in London May 5, so I thought we could meet. Let me know if you're interested. If not, I understand.

Mac

It was their first communication in almost two years. A bit impersonal, but at least it was a start. Harm had thought of contacting her—even went so far as to pick up the phone a few times but stopped short of dialing her number. Oh, he'd kept in touch, so to speak, through Bud and Harriet. He knew Mac had visited DC a few times since her transfer to San Diego. Whenever she was in town, she always made a point to visit the Roberts family.

And Harriet always made it a point to bring up Mac whenever they spoke on the phone. The woman was a born optimist. Harm never told Bud and Harriet anything what happened between him and Mac—only that they had parted ways. As far as he knew, she didn't either. If so, Harriet never let on. Her subtle hints led him to believe she hoped there was still a chance of the two of them reconciling.

Once when on a visit to the states, Harm stayed in the Roberts' home and overheard Harriet tell Bud it was a shame that neither Harm nor Mac ever mentioned one another.

When Mac's email arrived, he almost didn't answer. He had a new life in London. Granted, his assignment as Force Judge Advocate would soon come to an end, but he found he liked being in command. Thanks to having top-notch staff, the office ran smoothly and efficiently. But unlike those he served with at JAG, he never allowed himself to get close to anyone.

His standoffishness was cause for much speculation. He'd overheard the gossip. When he first arrived, he'd placed a couple of pictures of him and Mac in his office. One was taken at A. J. Roberts' christening, the other in Afghanistan. People wondered about the pretty marine Lieutenant Colonel, but no one dared to ask. When a petty officer who once served at JAG headquarters near the end of his time there rotated through, he overheard her conversation with his yeoman one day in the breakroom.

"They served together at JAG. Were partners for years. Everyone speculated there was more to their relationship. No one knows what happened to drive them apart."

Upon seeing him enter the room, the petty officer blushed profusely and excused herself. His yeoman never mentioned the incident, but he knew she'd told others.

He had a few friends outside of work. Okay, maybe friends wasn't the right word. There was the guy who lived in the same apartment building whom he went running with a few times each week. He'd dated a couple of women after moving here, but after a few dates, he broke it off with them. Problem was no one could compare to Mac. Harm had resigned himself to the fact he would remain a bachelor for the rest of his life.

Mac. She wanted to see him. How could he refuse? A day didn't pass that he didn't think about her. So, he reopened the email to reply, trying to keep it as impersonal as hers had been.

Mac:

Yes, please stop by. I have no plans for that time. Give me the details of your flight, and I'll pick you up at the airport.

Harm

They communicated back and forth a few times. She told him she had a month's leave time and no particular agenda. Somewhere along the way, he offered for her to stay at his apartment. I have two bedrooms. You're welcome to bunk here.

He regretted the words as soon as he hit the send button. Not that he didn't want her, but he was afraid she'd reject the offer and maybe decided not to come at all. To his surprise, she accepted.

That's nice of you. I'd love to stay there.

Harm spent the next couple of weeks preparing for Mac's visit. Whether she'd stay a day, a week, or a month didn't matter. He only knew his Ninja Girl would be here. Butch and Sundance would be together again. His mood was lighter than it had been in God knows when. His staff must have noticed because for once they didn't act as if they were walking on eggshells around him.

Even his yeoman, who's attitude reminded him a bit of Jennifer Coates, remarked about his cheerful attitude one day. "Permission to speak freely, Sir?"

"Go ahead, petty officer."

"It's nice to see you smiling. Everyone else agrees."

Had he been that bad? Regardless of what happened with Mac, he'd make a point to change that.

Harm glanced at the incoming flight monitor. Mac's plane landed five minutes earlier and was taxiing to the gate. It was time.

Mac took a deep breath and waited for the other passengers to exit. She'd never understood why people always rushed to exit a plane. She'd rather wait and have some breathing room. But that wasn't her only reason for waiting this time. The stoic marine would never admit it, but she was nervous about seeing Harm again.

Yes, he had answered her email several hours after initially opening it (she had asked for a read-receipt before sending). She'd almost given up hope when the reply came. Although he sounded as if he could have been talking to a casual acquaintance, the fact that he didn't say "no" gave her hope.

The next two weeks she prepared for her visit. She went shopping for new clothes (along with a few pair of comfortable shoes). She'd been sorely tempted to buy a new string bikini but remembered London in May was still chilly. Doubtful she'd get a chance to wear it. The day before her trip she spent hours at the spa—new hair style, facial, manicure, pedicure, wax job—the works. She was pushing forty now, and although she hadn't lost her youthful appearance, she noticed the fine lines beginning to form around her eyes. Call it vanity, but she wanted to look her best when she saw Harm.

Life had been good the last two years. She enjoyed having her own command, especially since the idea of a Joint Legal Service Center was new. Mac considered it an honor to have been selected. Who would have ever thought the alcoholic teenage daughter of Joe Mackenzie would some day be in charge of a group of military lawyers? She'd worked hard to get where she was and was damn proud of her success. She owed a lot to Uncle Matt. If he hadn't rescued her when he did, she certainly wouldn't be where she was today. Probably would be in jail or even dead.

For the life of her, she couldn't figure out why Harm didn't seem supportive of her new assignment. When General Cresswell made the announcement, he'd been more focused on what their separation would mean. Except to tell her he liked the sound of being called captain, he'd had little to say about his promotion.

We both knew this day might happen.

Your elevation to greatness?

Our separation.

But for someone so concerned about being apart from his best friend, Harm did nothing to try and rectify the situation. He went about making plans for his move, selecting his staff members, and packing his apartment.

When she went to his place that night, his declaration of love and marriage proposal took her by surprise. Then came the clincher:

I love you, Mac. But I don't want to give up my Navy career…

Mac didn't hear much after that. Only that he didn't want to give up his career. What about hers? Didn't he realize how much this new command meant to her?

"Oh, so your love has conditions? You love me if I come to London with you."

She shouldn't have spoken in haste and regretted the words once they came out of her mouth. Unfortunately, she couldn't take them back, and it released a firestorm of emotions in both of them.

"That's not what I meant, Mac."

"Well, it's what you said. I thought you'd be happy for me with my new promotion."

"I am happy for you. But how is being in command going to fit in with marriage? We once talked about having a baby together."

"Harm, plenty of women have babies and a career. Look at Harriet. She did it."

"But Harriet didn't have the problems you do. The endometriosis is going to make it hard enough for you to conceive. Wouldn't it be better if—"

"Harmon Rabb! I always thought you were in support of women in command positions."

"I am. I just thought—"

"No, Harm you didn't think. You're only like this when I have one foot out the door. Look, Harm. You almost have your twenty. In a few months, you could retire."

"Mac, I resigned my commission once for you. And what did that get me? Not a damn thing. Not so much as a thank you. I saved your life, Mac. Do you have any idea what I felt when I saw you cozying up to Webb?"

"Harm, I—"

But he didn't let her speak. "I should have gotten the hint in that hotel room where you told me the Navy was all I had."

"Harm, I just meant—"

"Then you had to go and say that things were never going to work out between us. I guess you were right, Mac. I'll never be able to do enough in your eyes. Dalton promised you a lucrative career, Mic gave you a gaudy ring, and well whatever the hell it was Webb did for you worked, but I'll be damned if I give up my career a second time."

"Then I guess we've said everything there is to say."

"Yeah, I guess we have."

It was the last words they'd spoken to one another. She'd gone home that night and cried herself to sleep. The following day, she was on a jet bound for San Diego and a new life. A life without Harm. A life that, except for her damned career, was empty.

The aisle was now clear. Willing the butterflies to stop niggling her stomach, she stood, grabbed her carry-on, then slowly made her way to the airbridge and into the terminal.

She spotted him standing several feet from the gate. Damn, he still looked good. Not any older than the last time she saw him. Obviously, he still worked out. His shoulders were still broad, the hard muscles of his chest were visible beneath the long-sleeved Henley shirt. His waist and hips still lean.

Just the sight of him made her heart flutter.

Harm watched as the passengers entered the terminal. When the number of people exiting the plane began to shrink, Harm wondered if she hadn't changed her mind about coming.

But then he saw her. She was even more beautiful than the last time he saw her. She had cut her hair—it looked a little like the way she wore it the night of her engagement party. Harm usually found long hair more attractive on women, but Mac could pull off any style. He low-cut blouse wasn't too revealing, but seeing her dressed in skinny jeans was enough to cause a wave of desire to course through his veins.

Simmer down, Rabb. She's only here for a friendly visit.

When she drew closer, he flashed his flyboy grin—one of the few times he'd smiled since moving to London.