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This is a sequel to 36 Hours and is set nearly three years on from the original instalment...liberties [aka guesses] have been taken with ages and such.
Disclaimer: Not mine... well, except for the little ones.
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For the most part, Mac slept through the late visit. She stirred for a while, long enough to realise Harm was there, holding her, kissing her, but didn't wake enough to be able to ask him why he was still there – or there again, she wasn't sure which.
Despite the lack of conversation, the visit did much to lift Harm's spirits and he returned home more than thankful for the chance to see his wife.
Finally asleep by midnight, Harm was first awakened by Lily's bell necessitated by the need for a bathroom trip. Drifting off again, it was his son's cries which disturbed his sleep, and by virtue of their proximity, his twin's.
Swiftly able to settle Rose who was experiencing nothing more than sympathetic tears, Harm carried Harry back to his bed to ensure Rose wasn't disturbed again. Leaning back on a stack of pillows, Harm cradled the sobbing child in his arms and sang softly to him. As his tears subsided and sleep was overwhelming the toddler, he nestled further into his father's chest, his hand disappearing under Harm's tee and settling on his nipple.
"Sorry, buddy," Harm whispered, kissing his head. "I'm not mommy, there's nothing there for you."
Content with just the close contact, Harry finally drifted off and Harm settled him down on Mac's side, putting her pillow in his chubby grasp before tossing aside some other pillows and curling up with him.
Harm could only smile as the boy muttered 'mommy' before sleep claimed him fully. He wasn't sure if Mac really knew how much the Rabb men truly loved her.
Exhausted by the day's events, Harm's eyes fluttered closed as he drew several long, deep breaths. Finally on the verge of slumber, he could have screamed when his cell vibrated on the bedside table. Cursing whomever had dared to message his at this obscene hour of the night, Harm picked up the cell and smiled at the screen:
1 Message from Mac
Accessing the message, Harm's eyes filled as he read his wife's words:
Honey, I love you and miss you. Thank you for everything – not just today but everything. I didn't want to call and wake you but I needed you to know I love you unconditionally. Mac xox
Quickly dialling her cell, Harm held his breath waiting for her to answer.
"Hello?" she said tiredly.
"I need you to know that I love you unconditionally too," he whispered, not wanting to wake his son.
"Oh, Harm," Mac replied and he could hear the emotions in those two words.
"How are you doing?" he questioned, gazing at their wedding photo as he spoke to her.
"Okay, I think," she replied. "I dreamt you were here."
"I was there," he confirmed.
"Yeah, earlier today...but this was tonight," she said, fatigue coating her words.
"I was there," he repeated. "Bud and AJ called over to stay with the kids so I could come in."
"Why didn't you wake me?" she asked, tears filling her eyes.
"Because you needed to sleep," he replied. "But, I did hold you and kiss you and tell you I love you."
"That's what I dreamt," she said, smiling.
"It was real," he said, grinning that she'd felt his presence.
"Dream come true," she said with a yawn. "You make all my dreams come true, sailor."
"And you make mine come true, marine," he replied, fighting his tears. "You're so tired," he added when he heard her yawn again.
"Yeah, but I want to hear your voice," she said wearily.
"How about I sing you to sleep?" he said and Mac mumbled her agreement.
In the darkness of the room, Harm made himself comfortable before crooning Mac's favourite lullaby...the one she made him sing to each of their children when they were newborns...
Hush, little baby, don't say a word.
Papa's gonna buy you a mockingbird
And if that mockingbird won't sing,
Papa's gonna buy you a diamond ring
And if that diamond ring turns brass,
Papa's gonna buy you a looking glass
And if that looking glass gets broke,
Papa's gonna buy you a billy goat
And if that billy goat won't pull,
Papa's gonna buy you a cart and bull
And if that cart and bull turn over,
Papa's gonna buy you a dog named Rover
And if that dog named Rover won't bark
Papa's gonna buy you a horse and cart
And if that horse and cart fall down,
You'll still be the sweetest little baby in town.
While he could hear Mac's soft snore from the billy goat, he continued to sing. More for himself now than her...just knowing she was sleeping peacefully brought a sense of contentment to him he hadn't felt in a long time.
The following day, Harm and Mac arrived home a little before lunch and Harm settled her on the sofa in the living room before heading to the kitchen to fix them something to eat.
"You're supposed to be resting," he said when he spied her in the doorway.
"I was thirsty," she replied, grabbing a glass from the cupboard.
"I could have got it for you, Mac. You only had to ask," he said, pulling the water jug from the fridge.
"You know I'm not an invalid," she said, holding her glass out for him to fill.
"Yeah, I know," he agreed, mindful of the fact that despite his desire to take complete care of her that Mac needed time and space and independence.
"So, what's for lunch?" she asked, sitting at the table.
"I was thinking salad sandwiches. Is that alright with you?" he asked and smiled when she nodded. "You want to slice the tomato?"Mac went to stand up but Harm carried the items to the table. "You can do it from there...if you want..." he added.
"Great," Mac said smiling, a little surprised Harm hadn't whisked her out of the kitchen and tucked her back up on the sofa.
After lunch, they headed to the sofa, both tired from the happenings of the previous day and night. With her favourite DVD playing, Mac pulled the throw rug over herself and snuggled into Harm, grinning at the thought that he was the best pillow a girl could have.
"What are you smiling about?" he asked, studying her intently.
"You...you're better than any Tontine product, you know," she said, manoeuvring herself into a position which didn't cause her stitches to pull.
"Well, I'd like to think so," he said, kissing her head as his arm held her securely against him.
The opening credits were still playing when Harm looked down to find Mac drifting off.
"How about we forget the DVD and you go lay down for a while?" he asked, running his fingers through her hair.
"Mmmm maybe," she mumbled, more than happy with the place she was in. "What time do you have to get Lily?"
"Three," he replied, usually it was later on a Tuesday with dance taking place right after school, however with two broken ankles and desperate to see her mom, Lily had pleaded with her dad to pick her up at home time.
For several moments Mac looked up at him, wondering whether she could ask, should ask...
"You want to know if I can go get her now?" he asked, reading her mind.
Mac nodded. "I know it's only 1325 but..." her voice trailed.
Harm kissed her head. It seemed mommy was just as desperate to see daughter as daughter was to see mommy.
"If I get go get her, will you both have a nap when we get back?" he asked, knowing his daughter hadn't really slept much last night either, her dark eyes at breakfast a giveaway.
Mac nodded eagerly. A nap curled up with her precious daughter was better than any medicine.
"What about the twins?" he asked, sliding out from behind her. "Want me to get them too?"
Slowly Mac shook her head. It wasn't that she didn't love them, she did, deeply. It was just that on full throttle the twins weren't conducive to rest and while she would make it up to them when they came home later, right now she had a longing for some precious one on one time with Lily.
"Does that make me a bad mother?" she asked quietly as Harm picked up his keys.
"No, gorgeous," he said, padding back and kissing her head. "I think it makes you a very good mommy." He kissed her again. "The twins are pretty resilient but I think Lily is a little fragile at the moment and an afternoon with mommy will do her the world of good."
"Thank you," she whispered, pulling him closer and brushing her lips across his. "Mommy appreciates it."
Harm grinned; less than 24 hours after her surgery she was already more like her old self. As he drove to the school he could only hope things would get better from here on in.
Looking up from her desk, Lily was more than surprised and concerned to see her father standing at the door talking to Mrs Thompson. The usual practice was for the parent to attend the office and complete the early leaver's pass and the child was then called to the office. However, with Lily in her current predicament, Harm had been given permission to fetch her from her room.
She watched silently as her father and teacher spoke in hushed tones and seemed to exchange paperwork. Finally, he looked over at her and smiled widely and Lily grinned. A smiling daddy meant nothing was wrong with mommy.
Threading his way through the desks, Harm crouched down beside her and kissed her cheek.
"Is mommy okay?" she asked quietly, needing to check despite his smile.
"Mommy is good," he replied, packing up the pencils on her desk. "She's at home and she wanted to know if you wouldn't mind coming home early so she can take a nap with you."
Lily nodded enthusiastically. "Sure, dad," she said, unhooking the brakes on her wheelchair.
"But the trade off is that later this afternoon you have to do the work from Mrs Thompson that you're missing out on," he said, weaving the wheelchair back through the tables.
"No problem," she said eagerly. School work was easy, especially when you had mommy to help.
As Harm carried Lily through the front door, he wasn't sure who had the biggest smile; his daughter or wife. In the end it didn't matter, they now had each other and that's all that mattered.
"Now, nap time," he said, still holding the child as Mac hugged her.
After a bathroom trip for both of his girls, Harm ensured they were comfortably tucked up in bed, Mac placing a pillow in front of her, lest Lily hit out in her sleep. Harm just smiled; their daughter was so tightly snuggled into her mother, she couldn't have moved if her life depended on it.
After kissing them both and leaving Lily's bell beside them just in case they needed anything, Harm left to see what he could organise for dinner.
"Mommy," Lily said quietly. "Are you still sad?"
"Not so much," Mac replied, honestly. "I'm a little sore with the stitches and all, but I'm not too sad at the moment."
"Does that mean your uterest is better?" she asked, looking up at her mom.
"My ut-er-us," Mac said slow, enunciating the word for her daughter, "is doing okay at the moment. Now we just have to wait to see if it stays okay."
"And if it doesn't will they still have to pull it out?" she asked, clasping her mother's top in her hand.
"Yeah, they will," Mac admitted, knowing what the odds were.
"If my ankles stay broke, will they have to pull them out?" she asked tearfully.
"No, pumpkin," she answered quickly, kissing her nose. "Ankles are very different to uteruses. Your ankles will be as good as new when the casts come off and though you may have to be a bit careful for a while, they'll be all fixed up."
"So, why can't they do that to you?" she asked, her eyes heavy. "Why can't you be fixed?"
Mac could only smile at the irony – when animals were spayed, you said they were 'fixed' and she surmised that her being 'fixed' actually equated to the same thing.
"Mommy will be just fine," she whispered reassuringly kissing her daughter's head. "Whatever happens, mommy will be fine." She took a deep breath at her own realisation – whatever happened, whatever was taken from her physically, she would be okay so long as she had the love and support of her amazing husband and children.
As silence descended on the room Harm backed away from the door having overheard the last part of the conversation. Tearfully he smiled to himself, Mac was right; their daughter was the best medicine for her.
xoxoxo
