Sunday night, Harm and Mac's house

Harm found his wife in their home office. She looked to be in deep thoughts as she scribbled notes on a legal pad.

"What are you doing?" he wondered as he sat down on her desk.

"Just preparing for tomorrow," she looked up and smiled. "I never had the chance to ask you about how it went with the Coffin's?"

"It went well," he hesitated. "It was hard. A lot of hurt for them, but I feel like it was easier for them now that they knew that she regretted what she did, and that she helped us."

"I'm glad," she took his hand. "How are you doing?"

He smiled. "I'm doing good. Thank you," he squeezed her hand. "Did you decide on our new assistant?"

"I did," she smiled cleverly. "Bruce Terrence."

Harm nodded. "Okay."

"I forgot to ask you about Matthew's birthday party this weekend. Did you talk to…"

"We have the skatepark to ourselves from 1200 on Saturday and can stay until 1600," he said.

"And the…"

"The food guys will start setting up as soon as we get the park to ourselves," he said.

Mac smiled sweetly. "You have everything under control."

He smiled. "You only have to make sure the cake is delivered."

"You are amazing," Mac stood. "Well, it's getting late."

Harm stood too and leaned in and kissed her. "I don't turn into a pumpkin until midnight."

"Want to see if we can make magic?" she wondered.

"Uh yeah," he took her hand and led her out of the office. "I'm pretty sure that we can."

Thursday morning, Harm and Mac's house

Mac put Matthew's gift down on the table. Everything was set for a little celebration before school and work. Her little baby was turning eleven. Where had time gone? She wondered as she walked over to her husband who was flipping pancakes.

"How are you doing mommy?" he teased, knowing that Mac always became sentimental this time of the year.

"I'm good," she moved into his embrace. "Just feeling like time flies."

"You and me both," he kissed the top of her head just as the birthday boy walked into the kitchen. "Happy birthday!"

Mac released her husband. "Happy birthday baby!"

"Thanks," Matthew hurried over to the table. "Is this for me?"

"It is," Mac walked over and hugged him. "And Dad made pancakes for breakfast."

"Great," Matthew took the gift and ripped off the paper. "I get a box?" he joked.

Harm laughed. "Yup."

Matthew opened the box and found a bright new skateboard." Wow, it's the one I wanted."

"Nathan helped us get the right one," Mac said.

"Thank you so much," Matthew hugged them both.

"Happy birthday," Rose walked into the kitchen. "Here," she handed him a present.

"Thank you," Matthew hurried to open it. "Cool," he held up a t-shirt and a cap."

"You can wear it when you skateboard," Rose said.

"Morning," Claire hurried over and covered her brother in kisses. "Happy birthday."

"Yuck, not so much affection," Matthew complained.

"For you," Claire handed him a box.

Matthew hurried to open. "New shoes. Awesome. I'll look so cool for my birthday party at the skatepark."

"And, breakfast is served," Harm said.

Later that night

Harm closed the file and leaned back in his chair. He had promised a client he would look over the contract before tomorrow morning, his day had already been packed so he had to put in some extra work after hours to finish the deadline. There was a soft knock on the door and he looked up.

"Hey," he smiled.

"Are you done working?" Claire wondered.

"I am," he moved his chair away from the desk. "So, what's on your mind?"

"Well," she stepped fully into the room. "I asked Mom about a party on Saturday."

"And?" he wondered.

"Well, it's a bunch of us from school going to this place to party. We thought we'd take the tents and stay over," Claire looked pleadingly at her dad. "It'll be like a giant slumber party."

"With alcohol and boys?" Harm asked.

"Well, yeah," Claire admitted. "But I don't drink, and I'll be sharing a tent with Kim."

"Is Admiral and Mrs. Talley really okay with her going?" Harm didn't look convinced.

"Yeah, they have their own problems so she pretty much just does what she wants to these days," Claire hesitated and sat down. "They are getting a divorce."

"Really?" Harm raised his eyebrows. "Well, how is Kim handling it?"

"Okay, I guess. I think she likes her new freedom actually," Claire offered a sweet smile. "So, can I go?"

Harm hesitated. "What did Mom say?"

"That she wasn't too crazy about the idea," Claire admitted. "But Dad, I'm seventeen, practically an adult."

"Will Tim be there?" Harm wondered.

"Yes, he will," Claire answered honestly.

"I don't know, Claire," Harm looked doubtful. "Things happen at these parties. I'd feel better if you came home to sleep. You're not eighteen yet, you know."

"I am super responsible, Dad. And I can take care of myself," she pleaded. "Please!"

"I'll let you stay out until 0100, but that's when you'll be home," he finally said after a long pause. "Sorry, but that's the way it has to be."

Claire stood. "Okay, I'll call Kim."

Harm watched her go. His little girl was growing up, craving her freedom. He turned off the light on his desk and stood, before leaving the office and headed downstairs to see what his wife was up to. Rose and Matthew were already in deep sleep. They had celebrated with Matthew's favorite dinner and cake afterwards. Matthew was eleven years old already, he too growing up in a hurry.

"Did Claire come to talk to you?" Mac wondered as she put her book away.

"She did," he sat down beside her and pulled her in for a hug. "I said no."

"I agree," she snuggled into his arms. "Are you okay?"

"My kids are growing up," he let out a sigh. "Next year by this time she'll be eighteen and soon ending her High School years. She'll go to college, get a good education and take over the world," he smiled. "I agreed to let her stay out until 0100 though."

"That's late," Mac raised her eyebrows. "That's very unlike you."

"She's a model prisoner, she deserves a little trust," he joked.

"She's a good girl, but even good girls push the boundaries sometimes," she smiled. "I agree that she should come home to sleep."

Harm smiled. "I'm beat, let's call it a night, huh?"

She nodded. "Agreed."

Saturday

Harm walked up behind his wife and wrapped his arms around her. Matthew's birthday party was nearing an end, the birthday boy was happy and tired as he said goodbye to his friends.

"We better start wrapping up," he kissed her cheek.

"I was doing that until you disrupted," she pointed out with laughter.

"Sorry," he waited for her to turn in his arms, then kissed her softly.

"Parent's behave."

They both turned to Mattie. "Oh daughter, relax," Mac smiled and let her husband go. "Are you leaving?"

"Yeah, I have a lot to do," Mattie hugged her mom. "I'll stop by tomorrow."

"Let me know if you need help with anything. We have some moving experience," Mac joked.

"I know," Mattie hugged her dad. "See you guys tomorrow."

Harm put his hand on the small of Mac's back as they watched her walk over to her siblings to say goodbye. Nathan, Claire, Matthew and Rose gathered around her and they all took turns hugging.

"If you had told me twelve years ago that we would be standing here like this, watching our kids like this, I wouldn't have believed it," Mac said and leaned onto him.

"It's amazing," he agreed.

"They are amazing," Mac turned her head and met his eyes.

He nodded. "I love you," he leaned in and kissed her softly.

"I love you too," she smiled and turned back to watch their kids.

Later that night

Harm woke up with a startle when the phone rang. He checked the watch and saw that it was 0130 in the night. Just then Mac walked into their bedroom.

"Claire isn't home yet," she said.

Harm reached for the phone. "Hello? Claire, where are you? What? We'll be right there." He hung up and got out of bed. "Claire drove Kim to George Washington. She said that she tried to kill herself."

"What?" Mac froze.

"I have no idea what happened, Mac. Let's just get going," he took his phone again and called Mrs. Lee, their neighbor. "Anna, I'm sorry about the late hour. There's been an emergency, can you come over and look after Matthew and Rose? Thank you." He put his phone away and hurried to the closet. "She's coming."

Mac finished dressing. "I'll go let her in."

Ten minutes later they were on their way.

Claire was waiting on them when they arrived. The first thing Mac noticed was that her shirt was soaked with blood.

"What happened?" she asked and hugged her daughter.

"Kim had a few drinks, then suddenly she freaked out and tried to leave. I got her to calm down, but when I left her for a minute to go get our things she had found a knife. I found her with a cut on her left wrist. I got a tourniquet from my car and stopped the bleeding, then drove her here. It was crazy, Mom. Why would she do something like that?" tears were streaming down Claire's face.

"Baby, I don't know," Mac pulled her close.

Harm put his arms around them both. "There's Admiral Talley, he released them and walked over to Kim's father.

"Harm," they shook hands.

"Henry," Harm patted the other man's shoulder. "I'm sorry about this."

"I don't know what happened," Henry let out a sigh. "The Doctor said she cut herself, but why would she do that?"

"I don't know, Henry, but she needs help," Harm met the other man's look. "Professional help."

"I haven't been paying attention," Henry admitted. "This is all my fault."

"Henry, I'm so sorry," Mac said as she and Claire joined them.

"Thank you," Henry reached his hand out and touched Claire's arm. "How are you doing?"

Claire shrugged. "I don't know. Can I go see her?"

"Her mother is in with her right now. We'll stay the night with her," Henry smiled weakly. "You should go home."

Claire shook her head. "No, I want to stay with her."

"Honey, there's nothing you can do. Let's go home," Mac took her hand. "We have to let her family take care of her."

Claire nodded. "Okay."

Harm handed the car keys over to Mac. "I'll drive Claire's car home."

Claire handed him her keys. "Thanks Dad."

That night Mac slept in Claire's room with her.