Disclaimer: I don't own them, just having fun.
AN: A month after the last chapter. Harm and Mac are more than enjoying the shift in their relationship. They are endeavouring to keep it quiet so their future could be decided by them and not the General.
The remaining chapters in this story are dedicated to my dear friend MarineMom. You have my prayers and deepest sympathy, love you lots!!!
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Bud had known for a month that the relationship between the Colonel and the Commander had changed. There were the little telltale signs; the looks, the lingering touches they thought no one else had notice, the fact they weren't arguing. It was all adding up for Bud. Added to this he had noticed the Commander was frequently brought to work by Petty Officer Coates, and although that was nothing unusual on its own, Bud had seen the Commander get out of the Colonel's car two mornings that week in front of Starbucks and get into the Petty Officer's.
He had finally taken this information home to Harriet and she was very unhappy Bud hadn't told her straight away. A relationship between Harm and Mac was something she had longed for. Harriet thought the pair were perfectly suited and she wanted them to experience the same level of happiness she and Bud shared.
"I'll call and invite them for dinner," Harriet suggested but Bud said no. He wanted to make sure he wasn't misreading the signs first. He said he would look into it and find the truth.
Bud's search was short as the answer was dropped into his lap, or more accurately onto his leg, the next morning. The General had called a meeting in the conference room and Bud sat next to Mac, Harm and Sturgis sat across from them and the General was at the head of the table. The meeting was little more than an administrative requirement. The General was talking about budgets, policies and protocol and Bud was having a very difficult time concentrating. As he was busy making margin notes on the General's handouts, he felt a foot move up and down his leg. He looked up and saw Harm looking at Mac inquisitively, but she was oblivious to his actions. The meeting proceeded and Bud shifted several times in his chair but once again he felt the Commander's eager foot.
"Mr Roberts?" the General asked but Bud had missed the question entirely.
"Sorry Sir, can you please repeat the question?" he asked embarrassed.
The others laughed. "I said, 'Have a good day'."
"Oh, oh, yes sir," Bud replied. The General left and Bud was flustered, trying to put his notes in order.
"Bud, what's wrong?" Mac asked. But Bud was too embarrassed to answer.
"Oh, no." He shook his head and left.
Bud returned to his office and tried to put the morning behind him. He now knew for certain there was something between his two favourite officers but now he had to deal with speaking to them about it.
Harm came into his office and closed the door.
"Bud, you got a minute?" he asked.
"Yes sir, what do you need?" Bud asked, praying it was job related.
"The truth." Harm dropped himself into the visitor's chair.
"About?" he cringed.
"About?" Harm asked incredulously. "About your performance in the conference room, what's going on?"
"Nothing sir," Bud replied, there was nothing go on with him.
"Nothing, try again," Harm instructed.
"Commander, it's not something I care to discuss," Bud said becoming flustered again.
Mac came into the office and handed Harm a piece of paper. "Since you're coming over tonight to work on the Hiller case, can you pick these things up?"
"Sure," replied Harm. He looked at the paper and smiled. Mac left.
"Bud, I thought we were friends. I thought we could discuss anything," Harm resumed the conversation.
"So did I but obviously not," Bud replied.
"Bud, I'm not following – what is going on with you?" he asked frustrated.
"What's going on with you?" Bud retorted and then in a moment of bravery added, "with you and the Colonel?"
Harm stopped and stared at Bud. "How did you know?"
"Lot's of little things but this morning was a big giveaway," Bud admitted, dropping his head.
"What happened this morning?" Harm asked.
"The conference room," he stated, hoping he didn't have to be more specific.
"Yes," said Harm, unsure of where this was going. Bud blushed and tried to find the right words.
"Bud," Harm prompted. .
"Commander, let's just say it wasn't Colonel MacKenzie you were playing footsies with under the table," Bud said studying his desk top.
It was Harm's turn to blush. "Oh Bud, I'm so sorry. I...I…" But there was really nothing he could say.
"Now that we know for sure, Harriet would like me to invite you both to dinner one night," Bud said.
"I'm sure we would both love to come," Harm agreed.
"So, sir, is this it? Is it…" Bud's voice trailed.
"Bud, this is certainly it. We are in love, if you didn't already know, and we are both very happy." The smile on Harm's face said it all.
"We're very pleased for you and may I say it is about time too," Bud grinned.
"That seems to be the general consensus, Bud."
Harm went onto enquire as to how Bud knew and Bud reluctantly shared the knowledge he had acquired over the last month. He was embarrassed to discuss matters of an intimate nature with the Commander, not because he was a prude but because he didn't want to think of the Colonel in that way. It made him feel painfully uncomfortable. Harm could see that Bud felt out of his depth and decided to end the inquisition.
"Ok, dinner," Harm said, "When were you thinking?"
"I'll ring Harriet and she can get back to you with the details. The boys will love to see you," he said.
"Can't wait to see them either." Harm moved to the door knocking papers off Bud's desk and dropping Mac's note. He bent down to pick them up as too did Bud.
He picked up Mac's note and quickly saw it was a shopping list, he handed it to the Commander. "This is yours, I believe."
"Oh, yes, Mac's list," Harm grinned.
"Is the Colonel cooking?" Bud asked.
"Not as far as I know," he replied.
"But it's a list of ingredients: chocolate syrup, whipped cream, strawberries. She has to be making something," he said.
Harm knew what the list was for and he knew Bud felt ill at ease discussing things of a personal nature but he couldn't help himself.
"Bud, she's not making anything," he said.
"But sir, she must be," Bud pushed not knowing when to give up.
"Bud, did you read the note," Harm asked amused.
"Yes sir," he replied.
"Did you read it carefully?" He handed the note back to Bud.
"Yes sir, it says: Tonight the dessert's on me." He handed the note back.
"That's right!" Harm exclaimed.
"What is?" Bud confusion showed on his face.
"Bud, do I need to spell it out for you? Tonight – the – dessert's –on– me," Harm said slowly.
"Yes sir, it's on…" Harm saw the penny drop and Bud turn bright red. "Oh sir, that's too much information."
"You wanted to know, Bud," Harm grinned.
"You could have lied and told me it was a cherry sundae or something." Bud's face reddened.
"You wanted the truth."
"Well, sometimes I can't handle the truth." Harm walked out of the office in fits of laughter.
Dinner at the Roberts' had been scheduled for the Friday night and Harm and Mac were both looking forward to openly being a couple with their friends. True, they would be protected in the privacy of the Roberts' home but so far their time only opportunity to express their feelings had been confined to one of their apartments.
Harriet was so happy to see them, pregnant with twins and with two young children her days were being spent in a blur of nappies, school duties and feeling fat. In her wisdom, she had organised for the boys to be picked up by the babysitter an hour after Mac and Harm arrived. It would mean some quality time for the children and their friends and it would also give them a chance to have some uninterrupted time for the adults.
There were so many questions Harriet had been dying to ask and Bud had not been very forthcoming with answers. She had planned a simple dinner that would free her for the more important things, like talking. After the boys left and the dinner had been cleared Harriet started asking questions. She wanted to know the ins and outs of how they got together. Bud excused himself, this was knowledge he could do without. Harm followed Bud to the study and they switched on the game. They could hear the women laughing from the dining room.
Mac had been open and honest with Harriet, after all she was her closest female friend and it felt good to finally have something positive in her life to share. Harriet gushed over Mac's description of the ball and of Harm's song and that kiss. Harriet kept asking questions and Mac kept answering them, although she did withhold some of the more intimate details. She mentioned how they had "slept" together the first night without actually sleeping and how Mattie had sent them back the second night to do it all over again. Harriet was delighted.
The men stayed in the study, they thought it was far safer this way. Romance was one thing but talking about it was another thing entirely. "Sounds like they're having fun," commented Harm during the half time break.
"Yes sir, they're quite happy in there. I think it's just what Harriet needed. She's been so busy with the boys it doesn't leave her much time for other things," Bud said.
"We've been busy ourselves." Harm chuckled.
Bud rolled his eyes. He could imagine but he didn't want to. "Well sir, have yourself a few kids and you'll find things change."
Bud caught the expression on Harm's face as he said it. It was only fleeting look but Bud had seen it. Harm said nothing.
"Sir, I didn't mean anything by it. I just meant that one day if you and the Colonel…" he tried to apologise.
"It's okay, Bud. We'd love to have kids. We even have, had, a baby deal that if neither of us were in a relationship by the time little AJ was five, we'd have a baby of our own," Harm explained quietly.
"AJ's seven," Bud replied.
"Yeah, well we, um..." he trailed.
"It's okay, Harm. You don't need to explain," Bud said moving immediately into close friend mode.
"What it boils down to is that Sarah…" his voice trailed off.
"Is it serious, Harm? You called her Sarah," Bud had to ask.
Harm smiled, he'd have to work on his telltale sign or he'd never be able to play poker. "We've been told that Sarah is going to find it nearly impossible to conceive."
"Oh, I'm sorry. But nearly impossible is not impossible, there's still a chance, isn't there?" he asked.
"There's always a chance, Bud," Harm sighed. "I've learned never say never especially where Sarah MacKenzie is concerned."
"Especially where Sarah MacKenzie is concerned about what?" Mac asked coming into the study.
The men looked at each other. "Concerned about loving me," said Harm pulling her to him and sitting her on his lap. She kissed him quickly and said, "So don't tell me. Would either of you gentlemen like anything? Coffee? Tea? Me?" She said playfully to Harm.
"I'll have coffee," said Bud standing, "and I'll get it myself. You two look busy." He left them in a passionate embrace. Once again it was too much information.
One chapter to go