The next morning

Harm yawned widely as he finished making the oatmeal for breakfast the next day. He put it on the table and found bowls and spoons, then put fruit on the table.

"Morning Dad," Matthew walked into the kitchen followed by Rose and Max.

"Morning," Rose said too.

"Good morning," Harm smiled. "Breakfast is ready."

"Where's Mom?" Rose wondered.

"Asleep, so I'm taking you to the stable. Matthew, you'll catch a ride with the Parkers to your game," Harm sat down across from them. "Listen, we had to go to the hospital last night because Claire's friend Kim was hurt. Your mom is staying home with Claire today to make sure she's okay."

Matthew nodded. "Okay. What happened, Dad?"

"I'm not entirely sure, but the important thing is that Kim will be okay," Harm smiled. "Now, we better eat and get going huh?"

Rose nodded. "Okay."

Later

It was past 1100 when Claire padded down the stairs and into the kitchen. Mac had only been up for about an hour and was still by the counter sipping her coffee and reading the newspaper.

"Morning honey," Mac smiled.

"I need coffee," Claire slumped down on a barstool. "Morning."

Mac stood. "I'll get you coffee. I can't believe you're old enough to drink coffee."

"Sometimes I wish I wasn't old enough to do anything," Claire mumbled.

Mac put a mug down in front of her daughter. "How are you feeling today?" she sat down beside her.

"I don't know," Claire admitted and sipped her coffee. "Thanks for staying with me last night."

Mac patted Claire's knee. "Any time you need me, I'm there."

"Thanks," Claire smiled. "Where's everyone?"

"Well, Matthew had a game, and Rose has Whirlwind today. I was supposed to take her, but your amazing dad swept in and took care of everything, so that I could stay here with you," Mac smiled. "I really do love that man."

"He's the best dad," Claire agreed. "Mom, can we go to the hospital?"

"Honey, I talked to Admiral Talley and he reassured me that Kim is doing good and that she is well taken care of. They need time as a family to deal with this. He promised to send your love and to let Kim know that you are there if she needs you," Mac reached out and touched Claire's cheek. "I'm so proud of you."

"I just," tears ran down Claire's face. "I should have known that she wasn't okay."

"Oh honey," Mac hugged her daughter close. "This is not your fault. Kim will get through this."

"I just wish she would have talked to me," Claire said between sobs.

"I know, but she probably couldn't talk to anyone," Mac kissed Claire's head. "Just let it out."

Later that day

Lunch was on the table when Harm and Rose came back from the stable. Matthew had come home a little earlier and they were already seated to eat.

"Happy anniversary beautiful," Harm said when he walked into the kitchen with flowers.

Mac smiled and stood. "Happy anniversary," she greeted him with a kiss. "Thank you."

"Oh, I totally forgot," Claire stood. "Happy anniversary!" she hugged them both. "Did I totally mess up your day?"

"No, we actually haven't planned anything special," Harm reassured.

"We can celebrate when we go to Hawaii," Mac added.

"We will," Harm leaned in and kissed her again. "I love you."

"I love you too," Mac said lovingly. "And the flowers are beautiful," she added. "I need to find a vase. Lunch is ready."

Later that night Harm found Claire and Tim on the couch watching a movie when he had said good night to Rose and Matthew. Tim had come over to make sure Claire was doing okay. He hadn't been able to be at the party because they had relatives visiting for the weekend so he hadn't known about what happened until Claire called him earlier in the day. As much as Harm hated to admit it, he liked the young man who had come to mean so much to his daughter. There was no way around it, his little girl was turning into a young woman.

"Where's your Mom?" Harm wondered. "And why are you two not using the amazing big screen and surround sound in the basement for the movie?"

"Because Mom is down there, and she has a surprise for you," Claire smiled sweetly.

"Really?" Harm got a curious look on his face as he walked towards the basement.

"You two behave yourself down there," Claire said.

He laughed softly. "Speak for yourself young lady. And remember that it's a school night, so Tim has to go home soon."

"Yes, sir," Tim said.

He found his wife on the couch waiting for him. "What's this?" he noticed the popcorn and candy on the small table.

"This is a date," she patted the seat beside her. "I thought we'd finally see that Jack Reacher movie we never got around to see when it first came out."

He sat down beside her and put his arm around her. "That sounds perfect. Happy twelve-year anniversary beautiful," he leaned in and kissed her softly.

"I'm ready for twelve more," she snuggled into his arms.

"Me too," he smiled and got comfortable. "Let's watch this movie."

The next morning was busy as usual, and work was busy as well. Harm caught up with Mac in the break room at lunch time, where she was sitting with Harriet and Jennifer.

"Hi ladies," he went for the coffee.

"Hi honey," Mac smiled. "Here's your salad."

"Oh," he smiled and walked over. "You got me lunch, what a good wife you are," he joked and handed her an envelope. "Here."

She took the envelope from him and took out its content. "Oh, it's here," she looked at him. "Rose is ours."

"Yup," he smiled. "And just in time for her birthday on Friday."

"Congratulations," Harriet said with excitement. "She'll be so happy."

"That's great. Congratulations," Jenn said.

"Thank you," Mac let out a contented sigh and focused on her husband. "She's going to have the best birthday party on Saturday."

Harm nodded. "Absolutely."

"When should we be over on Saturday?" Harriet wondered.

"We start setting up around noon and Rose's friends will be there around 1300, so just come by sometime around then," Harm said.

"We'll be there to help set up," Jenn said.

"We will too," Harriet agreed.

"Sounds good," Mac said.

Later Mac caught up with her husband as he was leaving the office for the day.

"Ready to go?" he asked.

"Just about," she leaned on his doorframe. "Hey, I was thinking about Rose and her birthday. I think we should give her the news tonight, that way she'll have a chance to digest it and she won't be too overwhelmed at the party."

"I agree," he closed his briefcase and walked over to her. "It's going to be a big day for her."

"I'm so happy it's final," she reached for his hand. "I think it's better for Rose to know that she is ours."

"No more insecurities," he squeezed her hand. "She's feeling safer every day I think."

"Yeah, she does," she smiled. "Give me a second to get my things, then we can go home."

Later that night

Rose looked up when Mac knocked on her door. She had been busy writing her journal, she was on her stomach on the floor with Max resting his head on her back.

"Can we come in?" Mac asked.

"Sure," Rose closed her journal and sat up. Max rose to meet Mac and Harm, then he went back to lay beside Rose.

"We wanted to tell you something," Harm crouched down on the floor.

"Okay?" Rose looked curiously at them.

Mac sat down on the floor beside her. "You know how we talked about you becoming our daughter?"

Rose nodded. "Yeah."

"Well, today we got the adoption papers, so it's official," Harm said happily.

"You are ours," Mac added.

Rose's eyes widened as a smile formed on her face. "Really?"

"Really," Harm confirmed.

Tears streamed down Rose's face and she threw herself into Mac's arms. "Thank you," she said as she clung to her mother.

"We are so happy, Rose," Mac felt her own eyes water.

"We love you," Harm reached out and put his hand on Rose's back.

Rose released Mac and wiped her eyes. "I love you too."

Harm smiled. "So, Rose Elisabeth Rabb, what do you want for your birthday?"

Rose hesitated. "I already got my birthday present."

"But you need to think about something we can wrap up too," Mac kissed her forehead. "And what cake you want."

"I need a new diary. This one is almost full," Rose smiled. "And I like chocolate cake."

Mac laughed softly. "Okay."