J*A*G

"A Time for Everything"

Summary: Two tragic deaths, two grief-stricken kids, and two hearts longing to be one…can one event push the course of Fate to where it needs to be?

Author's Note(s): (1) Takes place in season six.

(2) Mac hasn't moved the ring yet.

(3) For the purpose of this story, Sergei is just sixteen.

(4) In this AU,Chloe's grandparents aren't living.

Disclaimer: I don't own these characters. I just wrote this story for fun.

Chapter 9: A Time to Love

2130 Zulu

Sarah Rabb's Porch

The stars were beautiful, but not as beautiful as Mac…at least, in Harm's opinion.

They sat together, silently, on the swing enjoying the quiet around them.

Unfortunately, it was a little too quiet.

"Uh, Mac," Harm began, hesitantly. "Can we talk?"

"Of course," she said, smiling. "What did you want to discuss, Sailor?"

"Sydney," he told her, giving her a pointed look.

"Oh," she said, quietly.

"Remember on the ferry what I told you?" he asked, gently.

She nodded.

Of course she remembered.

It was that particular conversation that drove her to Mic Brumby in the first place.

"I never really got a chance to explain," Harm went on, swallowing.

Man, why is this so hard?

She shrugged. "What was there to explain?" she asked him, hoping she sounded casual.

"A lot," he told her, smirking. "I was a complete ass and well…you know us Flyboys aren't the brightest tools in the shed."

She chuckled. "You aren't just a flyboy, Harm," she reminded him, smiling.

"Yeah, I guess," he said, sheepishly. "Anyway…when I said I wasn't ready to 'let go' it had nothing to do with you or…uh…us. It had to do with me. I was scared…"

There, he'd admitted it.

"Scared?" she asked, surprised. "What was there to be scared about?"

"My feelings," Harm told her, seriously, "and how I felt about you."

"Your feelings for me?" she asked, her heart beating in her chest.

Could it be…?

Would he finally…?

"I love you, Sarah," he told her, letting ever ounce of feeling he had for her show in that short simple sentence.

She gasped, feeling her heart start to race.

"I think I have from the moment I met you," Harm went on, staring intently into her eyes, "but…it just never seemed the right time to say it. I'm sorry it's taken me this long to do it. Can you ever forgive me?"

Mac's breath caught in her throat. She had waited a long time to hear him say those three little words.

"Oh, Harm, there's nothing to forgive," she said, blinking back tears. "I love you, too."

The tears started falling.

"Hey now," he said, rubbing them away, "I thought we agreed no more crying over me."

She smiled. "These are happy tears," she told him, sniffling. "They're allowed."

"Oh," he said, grinning, "well…is this allowed?" He leaned in and kissed her.

As their lips connected, a jolt of pure passion coursed through both of them.

It was as if they'd been struck by lightening…only neither of them wanted it to stop.

The kiss lasted for several moments, until they finally had to pull away or run out of oxygen.

Needless to say, they were both pretty breathless.

"Whoa," Harm exclaimed, smiling from ear to ear.

"Yeah," she agreed, feeling the same way.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a ring.

It was a diamond engagement ring. Its setting was very old.

"Gramps gave this to Gran," he told her, "and Gran gave it to Dad to give to Mom."

She just continued to stare at him, afraid to even breath for fear he wouldn't say anything more.

"After Mom married Frank, she put it away," he continued. "She gave it to me a few weeks ago when she came to visit."

"Why?" she asked, curiously.

"I guess she thought I was serious about Renee or something because she told me she thought it was time to pass it on," he told her smirking. "Well, she had the right idea…just not the right girl."

He smiled at her, his eyes practically twinkling with amusement.

Mac watched in stunned silence as he got out of the swing and knelt down on one knee.

"I ain't much, Mac," he told her. "I'm stubborn, pig-headed, opinionated, and…I snore."

She chuckled. "I know all that, Flyboy," she told him. "We have known each other five years now."

He nodded.

"I know," he said, looking sheepish. "I just thought I'd remind you I'm not perfect—not that you think that, of course."

She smiled, shaking her head and gently ran her fingers through his hair.

"Anyway," he went on, nervously. "I have my faults and I know you have yours too, but they don't matter to me. I love you all the more for them."

"Harm," she told him, grinning. "You're babbling."

"Sorry," he told her, smirking. "What I'm trying to say is you would do me a very BIG honor, Sarah Mackenzie, if you would be my wife?"

Mac once more felt tears feel her eyes. "Uh, don't you think this is…sudden?" she asked him, curiously.

"Hell no!" he exclaimed, laughing. "We've wasted too much time all ready, haven't we?"

She nodded. She had to agree with him there.

"Don't most people date before they get engaged, though?" she asked him, smirking.

Of course, they weren't most people…

He snorted at that.

"Mac, I've dated more women than I care to remember," he told her. "And none of them—not a single one—knows me as well as you do and no one ever will."

"You know me, too," she told him, smiling.

"Then, what do you say?" he asked, smirking. "Will put your toothbrush next to mine of the next fifty years or so?"

"Yes," she told him, grinning. "Yes, Harmon Rabb Jr., I would be honored to be your wife."

"Hot damn!" he crowed, jumping up and pulling her up with him and wrapping his arms around her.

"Harmon," Sarah's voice exclaimed from within, sternly.

"Sorry, Gran," he called out, looking just like a little boy caught in the cookie jar. "It just slipped out."

"You'd better watch it," Mac whispered to him, smirking. "Wouldn't want her to get that wooden spoon, would you?"

"Don't even joke about that," he told her, wincing. "That thing hurts!"

"I bet it does," she told him, teasing, "and I bet you know from first hand…uh, rear… experience."

Harm nodded at that. There was no denying it.

He had been a rather…rambunctious…kid growing up.

"So," Mac told him. "Are you gonna put the ring on?"

Harm smiled. "You bet I am," he said, and did just that. "It looks pretty damn good, eh Marine?"

"It certainly does, Sailor," Mac told him, teasing, "but so do you."

Harm grinned. "C'mon," he said, grabbing her hand and leading inside.

"So," Sarah asked, grinning knowingly. "Did you two talk?"

They smiled at each other.

"We sure did," Harm told her. "We'll tell you all about it tomorrow, Gran. Good night!"

"Night, Gran," Mac called, but that was all she got out before she was pulled up the stairs. "Hold it, Flyboy, let's check on the kids first…"

Harm nodded. He quickly looked in on Josh and Sergei. "Sound asleep," he reported to her. "Chloe?"

She nodded. "Likewise," she said. "She's taking up most of the bed, too."

"Guess this means you're going to need a place to sleep, eh?" he asked, smirking.

She smirked back. "Got somewhere in mind?" she asked, coyly.

"As a matter of fact," he told her, pulling her to him. "I do."

He kissed her passionately.

"We'd better hurry," she told him, breathing hard. "Otherwise your grandmother is going to get quite a shock when she comes to bed."

He laughed at that, but he knew exactly how she felt.

"Right this way, Ma'am," he told her, opening the door to his room.

"Why thank you, Kind Sir," she said, brushing his jaw with a finger as she stepped into the room.

Harm smiled brightly.

Oh, man, yeah!

That was his last coherent thought as he closed the door.

He had other thoughts, too, but none of them really mattered at that moment.

Nothing did, except….

Oh, yeah! Oh, Mac! OH, YESSSSS!

...

0800 Zulu

Sarah Rabb's House

The next morning dawned bright and clear.

Harm awoke feeling warmth snuggled against him and smiled.

Memories of the night before, his first night with his beautiful Marine, came flooding back.

"I smell food," Mac mumbled, sleepily beside him.

Harm chuckled.

Leave it to his Marine…

"It's probably Gram," he told her. "She always gets up early on Sundays…"

Mac opened her eyes. "That's right," she said, smiling, "it is Sunday…"

"You mean you didn't know?" he asked, smirking. "What happened to that internal clock of yours…?"

She smirked back at him. "Somebody seems to have thrown it for a loop," she told him.

"Oh?" he asked, playfully. "Anybody I know?"

"Maybe," she said, teasing.

"Oh, well then," he said, leaning down, "let me see what I can do about that…"

They kissed passionately.

When they parted, both breathless, he grinned. "Better?"

"No," Mac said, smirking, "worse…but that's okay. You can keep throwing me for a loop, Flyboy."

"My pleasure, Ninja Girl," he told her, caressing her cheek. "It looks beautiful on you."

"Huh?" she asked, glancing down at her self.

She wasn't wearing anything, so…

He picked up her left hand and kissed her ring finger…with the ring he'd given her on it.

"Oh," she realized, smiling. "It does, doesn't it?"

"Absolutely," he said, proudly.

"You know we're going to have to tell the kids," she said, "and Gram…"

"Yeah," he said, sighing. He reached for his jeans.

She stopped him. "I didn't say we had to tell them right this second…"

He smiled, seductively.

"Oh, really," he said. "Got something in mind?"

She crooked a finger at him. "Come here," she said, sultrily, "and find out, Commander."

"Yes, Ma'am," Harm said, never happier to obey an order in his life…

Later…an hour later, to be exact…they did get up and get dressed.

Going downstairs, they found everyone in the kitchen.

"Well, look at all of you," Harm said, whistling.

Sergei and Josh were outfitted in white dress shirts and black slacks while Chloe wore a flower-print dress.

"What's the occasion?" Mac asked, curiously.

"Gram insists we go to church," Sergei told her, sighing.

"C'mon, little brother," Harm told him. "Church will do you good…"

"It'd do you some good too, Harmon," Sarah said, coming into the kitchen in her Sunday dress.

"Uh, well," Harm said, "we—me and Mac, that is—figured we'd just…um…"

He glanced at Mac helplessly.

Mac rolled her eyes and held out her left hand for everyone to see.

"What the flyboy is trying to say," she told them, "is that since we're now engaged we thought we'd spend the day together here if that's okay with all of you...?"

"Uh, yeah," Harm said, smiling. "What she said."

He shrugged when Mac gave him a look.

For about five seconds, no one spoke and then…

"Oh…my…GOSH!" Chloe squealed, hopping up. "It worked! It actually worked!"

"Now hold on there, young lady," Harm told her, firmly. "That little scheme of yours had nothing to do with it…"

Chloe smirked at him.

"Would you have popped the question, though?" she asked him, smugly.

Harm narrowed his eyes at her.

"I'm gonna plead the fifth on that one, little lady," he told her, smirking.

"That means 'no'," she said, grinning. "Oh, I'm so happy!" She hugged them both tightly.

"As I am," Sarah said, coming and kissing both of them.

"Congratulations, brother," Sergei said, embracing his brother, "and to you to, sister." He hugged Mac as well.

"Um, that's great," Josh said, hesitantly. "I'm happy for you both."

"Uh huh," Harm said. "C'mere, buddy." He held out his arms and the boy came to him.

Hugging him tightly, he whispered in his ear, "I am happy for you, Harm."

"Thanks, buddy," Harm whispered back. "Now go hug Mac, okay?"

He pushed the boy at his bride-to-be.

"Uh, congrats Mac," Josh told her, hugging her awkwardly.

Mac smiled and embraced him.

"Its okay, Sweetie," she told him, "I know you don't know me all that well…"

"Nah, it's cool," he told her. "You make Harm happy, that's all that matters."

"Your happiness matters to me too, young man," she told him, cupping his chin gently. "Don't ever forget that, okay?"

He smiled. "Never mess with a Marine, right Harm?" he said, glancing at his godfather.

Harm chuckled, wrapping an arm around Mac's waist.

"You said it, buddy," he said, winking at him.

Mac rolled her eyes.

"It's almost ten," she said, her internal clock once more working in pristine order.

"Oh, we've got to be going," Sarah said, putting on her hat and gloves. "Come along, children."

"Drive safely, Gram," Harm said, "and be sure to tell Reverend Morgan I said hello."

"Oh, I will," Sarah said, smiling. "He'll be happy to hear his favorite fishing buddy is back in town."

Harm chuckled.

"Tell him to let me know and we'll go," he called out, as they all piled into Sarah's car.

"Will do," Sarah said, climbing into the driver's side.

She started the car and sped out of the drive way.

Harm felt arms wrap around him and a cheek press against his shoulder blade.

He turned his head and smirked.

"Have I told you today how much I love you?" he asked Mac, curiously.

Mac smiled at him.

"Only half a dozen times before we got out of bed this morning," she said, smirking.

"Oh," he said, turning around to embrace her, "then let me make it the first time out of bed this morning…"

"I love you, Sarah Mackenzie."

"And I love you, Harmon Rabb," Mac replied, lifting up on her tip toes to kiss him.

He returned the kiss with equal passion.

"C'mon," Mac said, after they'd parted, "let's sit out here and enjoy the fresh morning air for a little while."

"Sure," he said, allowing her to pull him over to the swing and sat down.

He wrapped an arm around her shoulders, while she leaned her head on his shoulder.

"So," she asked him, "when do you think we should have the wedding?"

"Hmm," he said, thinking. "How about next Sunday…?"

Mac burst out laughing. "Oh, right," she said, chuckling. "Good one, Flyboy."

He looked down at her.

"I'm serious, Mac," he told her. "Why not have the wedding next Sunday?"

She lifted her head and looked at him. "Harm," she said, seriously, "that's only a week away!"

He shrugged. "So?" he asked, not seeing a problem.

"You can't put together a wedding in a week!" Mac exclaimed, indignant.

"Why not?" Harm asked, smiling. "If we call everybody tonight and let them know…"

"What about a dress?" Mac asked. "Then there's flowers, the catering, the bride's maids dresses, the tuxes…"

"Do we really need all that?" Harm asked, curiously. "I just need you, Mac."

"I need you, too," Mac told him, "but there are some things I always thought would be givens…"

Harm thought about it.

"Well, like I said, if we called everybody tonight," he told her, "that would give them time to get here."

"I guess so," Mac reasoned, "but what about the other things?"

"Well, I don't know about you but I'll probably ask Bud to be my best man," he said, grinning.

She nodded.

"Harriet will be my matron of honor," she said, "and Chloe can be our flower girl—she's not too old yet."

"Josh can be the ring bearer," Harm added, "but what about Sergei? I don't want to exclude him…"

"Well," she said, thinking, "why not let him choose what he wishes to be…he might not want to be part of the wedding at all."

"Good point," Harm said, smiling. "So, does this mean we can do it? Next Sunday, I mean."

"What about the other stuff?" she asked, curiously. "And where exactly would we have a wedding at?"

"Here at the house," he told her, simply. "It's where I've always wanted to get married, anyway."

"I like that," she said, smiling. "Now, tuxes and dresses?"

"Well," Harm said, "Bud will wear his dress whites and he can bring mine with him when they come. I'm sure if we can tell her a color, Harriet can pick out a nice dress to wear…"

She nodded, agreeing so far.

"What about a dress for me?" she asked him, smirking. "There are such things as measurements and fittings, you know."

"Well," Harm said, "there's Gram's wedding dress…it's a bit old fashioned, but…"

"But I couldn't," Mac said, "I mean, it probably wouldn't fit, but even if it did I couldn't ask her to…"

"Gram's never had a daughter to pass it on to," he reminded her, "and my mom wore her mother's wedding dress when she married Dad. Gram's can sew like no body's business and so she'd be able to do any adjusting that needed doing in plenty of time…"

Mac swallowed. "I suppose that could work," she said, "but what about flowers?"

"Did I mention I'm quite handy with origami?" Harm asked, smirking. "If you wouldn't mind paper roses for decorations and…there is the flower shop in town, of course."

"What about the license?" Mac asked, smirking.

Harm shrugged.

"We'll go first thing tomorrow," he said, "that way any blood work that needs doing can be done with by the end of the week."

"And a minister to perform the ceremony?" Mac asked, grinning.

"There's always Reverend Morgan," he told her, "or I do have an old Academy buddy who's father is a navy chaplain…"

"It seems you've thought of everything," she said, impressed.

"I just don't want to wait, Mac," he told her. "I'm tired of waiting—waiting nearly cost me the most important thing in my life, remember?"

She nodded, understanding. "I know," she said. "I'm tired of waiting, too."

"So?" he prompted.

"So," she said, smiling, "it looks like there's going to be a wedding here next Sunday."

"Hot damn!" Harm hollered, jumping up and pulling her up with him.

She smirked.

"You're lucky Grams isn't here," she told him, "otherwise it'd be the wooden spoon for sure…"

"Oh, shut up," he told her, "and kiss me."

"Aye, aye, Commander," she said, and obeyed the order with much pleasure.

TBC...