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Suddenly unsure of himself, Harm stopped his actions and lifted his head to look Mac in the eye, and was overwhelmed at the love and desire shining from her eyes.
"Sarah, is this what you want?"
Mac didn't say a word, pulling Harm back down for a searing kiss and wrapping a leg around his waist.
"Does this mean I finally get to see that tattoo?" Harm seductively whispered in her ear, his hands moving to the front of Mac's shirt to start undoing the buttons.
"Tattoos, plural. I got another one a few months ago, and I think you are going to like it, at least I hope so," Mac answered, her breath catching as Harm placed a hot kiss to the hollow of her neck.
"What is…"
The sudden ringing of the phone made both lawyers jump. Harm groaned in frustration, keeping his head pressed to Mac's shoulder. "Perfect timing, huh?"
"Let the machine get it," Mac insisted.
"You better get it. It could be important," Harm insisted as he rolled over.
"Look at you being the responsible one," Mac teasingly added, then reached over to lift the phone from its cradle. "Hello. Oh, Harriet. Uh, huh…I see…Sure, we can be there by nine. What? Oh, um…yeah, I'll get a hold of Harm. What? Yes, Harriet, everything is fine, see you in a little while. Bye."
Mac quickly hung up the phone and turned on her side to face Harm. "I've think we have been found out, flyboy."
"I know. I heard Harriet squealing through the phone," Harm said with a laugh. "I take it we are babysitting the kids?" Harm scooted closer to Mac and began running a hand through her hair, unable to resist not touching her.
"Yeah, but it's just for a couple hours. Harriet isn't feeling well, so Bud's taking her to the doctor. I get the feeling we may have another baby on the way! A baby…," Mac trailed off.
Harm's hand dropped to Mac's stomach, his thumb rubbing comforting circles. "You still want a baby, right?"
"More than almost anything else, but I know my odds. I just…just don't want to disappoint you, I mean, if we are maybe heading in that direction. I know this, us, is all really new, and you might not even want…"
"Sarah, stop. You know I want a baby—a baby with you. A little brown-eyed girl or even if we have to adopt, that will be okay. And we ARE heading in that direction." Harm leaned over and placed an authoritative kiss on Mac's lips. "Now, I suppose we should get going if we are going to make it on time. I'm going to run back to my place; I'll grab some breakfast on the way back."
"Okay, but hurry back, and Harm, why don't you bring a few more things over, just, you know, in case," Mac said quietly, a slight blush gracing her cheeks. Harm smiled cheekily and threw on his shirt as he headed for the door. "Oh, and Harm," Mac called out. "I want a blue-eyed boy."
Unable to help himself, Harm returned to kiss Mac again. "I better get going or we are going to start working on those babies." With that, Harm left the apartment, and Mac laughed and crawled out of bed.
A total and complete happiness radiated from Mac's features. For the first time in her life she knew exactly what she wanted. And, for the first time in nearly nine years she knew exactly who she wanted and that Harm felt the same. It was amazing what a few hours and a few simple words could do.
She still was reeling from the night before. Humming her new favorite song, the one Harm had sang to her the night before, Mac dared to daydream of the future. As she stepped out of the shower, her thoughts turned to proposals and weddings. 'Stop, stop—you are getting way to far ahead of yourself, marine,' Mac chastised herself. Still, she wondered how long she could stand to wait. Harm had made it clear that he was thinking of the next step.
- - - - -
Driving from Georgetown, Harm was also thinking about the future. When he and Mac spoke about children, it really struck him that he didn't want to wait much longer to officially start his life with his girl. In all honesty, he had an engagement ring ready and waiting. Harm grinned, turned up the radio and thanked God everything was finally, finally falling into place. With a little more work and planning, there would be another Sarah Rabb in the family.
- - - - - -
"Do you think they will ask us questions?" Harm asked as he and Mac walked up the sidewalk to the Roberts' front door. The two had managed to get to their friends' house on time, but it was partially due to good luck in traffic lights and some speeding on Harm's part.
"Probably, considering you have a couple of lipstick smudges right here," Mac said, touching the corner of Harm's lips. What started as a fairly simple kiss when Harm had returned to pick Mac up had ended up in a full-blown teenage-like make out session.
"Oh, and who's fault is that, hon? Someone couldn't keep her hands or lips off me," Harm teased.
"Well, do you blame me?"
Before Harm could knock, the door to the house was opening, and a grinning Harriet stood inside. "Come on in guys. Thank you for coming on such short notice. It should be just a couple of hours. Kids, your favorite people are here," Harriet called. There were immediate shouts, and pairs of running feet followed.
"Uncle Harm, Aunt Mac," Little AJ yelled as the younger children followed their big brother into the room.
"Ma'am, can I talk to you for a minute?" Harriet asked
"Of course, what is it?" Mac said as she and the lieutenant made their way into the kitchen.
"So, give me the scoop, something has definitely happened between you and the commander," Harriet said in a conspirator's whisper. "Did you guys…"
"Harriet! Well, I mean he stayed over, but nothing, um, happened. It could have, almost, sort of…Let's just say we are finally on the same page, but we haven't really discussed the technicalities of what's going on so…"
"So we keep quiet, but oh my gosh, oh Mac, I am so happy and excited. Finally, finally," Harriet trailed off, a shine in her eyes and a satisfied smile on her face. "You will have to give me the details later because knowing the both of you, I KNOW there are details!"
Mac laughed. "Yes, there are details. It was perfect Harriet, absolutely perfect."
"Harriet, we better go," Bud called out. Harriet smiled at Mac and gave her a hug before moving toward the entryway.
"All right, kids, be good for Harm and Mac," Harriet said.
The morning passed quickly for the Roberts' kids and the babysitting duo. Watching Mac with the kids, Harm was once again reminded of how great of a mother Mac was going to be. Harriet and Bud returned a little before noon with joyful news of another baby on the way. And though Mac was thrilled for her friend, she couldn't help feel a little jealous.
"You okay?" Harm asked as they walked back to the car. "You're very quiet all of the sudden."
Mac wanly smiled up at him. "Just a little envious I suppose. It is times like this that I am reminded how much I want a baby and a family."
Harm pulled Mac into a hug and kissed her forehead. "It is going to happen. I am going to do everything in my power to make it happen, I promise you that."
"You promise, huh?"
"I have plans, marine, and they include you and Mattie and babies and a house with big backyard and a scruffy mutt to occupy it. I want all that and with you. I will take this at any speed you want, but you need to know that I'm ready whenever you are."
"Sailor, you are going to make me cry again. I love you, and I'm ready, too. Now, I think it's time for you to feed me!"
After lunch at cozy bistro and a fun and miraculously uneventful plane ride, Harm and Mac made their way back to Mac's apartment. "I think I am going to go lie down," Mac said.
"Tired, huh? Go take a nap. I'll start on dinner."
"Not tired, but I think you should join me," Mac said, her 'bedroom' voice kicking in. Harm's jaw dropped as he watched Mac through a smile at him and then proceeded to pull off her shirt, letting it drop to the hallway floor.
With his limbs feeling heavy, Harm made his way to Mac's bedroom, his breath catching at the site before him. True, he had seen Mac in a bikini a couple of times, but it had done nothing to prepare him for this. There in front of him was Mac clad in a lacy, ruby colored bra and panties.
"You're perfect," Harm managed to say, his voice raspy with emotion. Moving closer to his love, he lowered his head to first place a soft kiss on Mac's lips, then trailed a string of slow, warm kisses down her jaw and neck. Mac groaned and in turn, pulled off his shirt. She tried to pull Harm to the bed, but he resisted. "Wait," he told her. "There's no hurry."
Mac complied, stepping closer to Harm and kissing him back. Harm's hands gently pushed down the bra straps before teasingly playing with the hooks.
"You're killing me here, navy," Mac said, her hands doing some explorations of their own. "Harm, what's this?" Mac's eyes had fallen on a dark spot on the inside of his bicep.
"Oh, that? Its um, well, let's just say you're not the only one with a tattoo. Look closely at it."
Curiously, Mac inspected the mark, and what she left her speechless. It was a pair of wings with a rose in the middle and the name 'Sarah' underneath. "Oh, Harm," Mac said in a breathy whisper. "When did you get that?" she asked, running a finger over it.
"A few months back. I figured if you had one, I should get one, too."
"Well, I guess great minds think alike."
"What do you mean?"
"Look at mine and you'll understand. Of course that means you have to find it first."
"Oh, that won't be a problem. Let's see…I'm thinking somewhere around here," Harm said, his hands trailing down her back before coming to rest on her butt. Harm turned Mac around, but didn't see anything. Grinning, he eased Mac's panties down a notch to reveal a strikingly similar pair of gold wings, complete with a rose and the initials 'HRJ.' Extremely moved, Harm traced a finger over the tattoo. "We got these at about the same time, huh? That's what I call fate."
Mac turned back to face Harm, wrapped her arms around him and kissed his neck. "Love me, sailor. I've waited a long time."
"I do, I will."
With that, they fell into bed and their remaining clothes disappeared. Slowly, the two loved each other, taking time to touch every inch of skin, kiss where they desired. Promises and vows rushed from each of their lips as they joined together. Moving as one, they finally understood why they could never move on from each other. They fit, body heart and mind. The sun was setting when, tired and completely satisfied, they fell asleep, hands still linked together.
We're not through just yet…