We Can Be Us – Part 11
Disclaimer - See part one for all important information
Morning came early for Harm. He had heard Grams, who was an early riser, go downstairs but decided to just stay put a while longer. He hadn't slept well anticipating what would be taking place today. He promised Mac he would leave this morning if that was what she wanted, and he never made a promise he didn't plan on keeping and she knew that. Wanting to delay the inevitable, he continued to lie there contemplating his next move.
Mac had opened the window before going to sleep and the cool night air seemed to lull her to sleep as soon as her head hit the pillow. She woke early however, she too was thinking about Harm's departure as promised. She had also heard Grams go downstairs and chose to linger a while longer under the sanctuary of the warm covers. She thought long and hard for exactly fifteen minutes and three seconds according to her calculations before making her decision. She quickly rose and padded out the door in her bare feet and walked the six steps to the room across the hall.
She knocked softly, just in case he was still sleeping. The door wasn't completely closed so it opened further when she placed her hand on it. She poked her head in and saw he was awake. "You decent in here?"
"Decent enough. Come on in." He moved over and patted the space he had vacated motioning for her to come sit. The blanket was covering him up to his waist, leaving his bare chest exposed. Mac hesitated for a split second, taking in the magnificent sight in front of her, and then walked to the bed and sat.
She looked down at her hands resting comfortably in her lap, not trusting herself to look directly at him and his half naked form. "Harm, umm…" She was trying to find something eloquent to say, but nothing was coming to her. 'Why is this so difficult,' she wondered to herself. 'Maybe because it means so much.' Was the reply her conscience gave her.
Meanwhile, Harm was anxiously waiting for her to say something…anything.
"Mac?" He reached out tentatively to put his hand over hers.
Mac jumped at the contact startling Harm. She had been so deep in her thoughts, that she forgot where she was. "Oh, Harm, I'm sorry." She immediately relaxed and put her other hand over his. "I was just sitting here trying to think of what to say, but I'm not feeling very articulate at the moment so…I guess I will just have…"
"Maaaccccc…please you're killing me here. Say it already."
Mac looked into his handsome, tension filled face and smiled. "Please don't go… stay with me," was all she said. Was all she had to say for those were the only words needed. She reached over and ran her hands over the lines on his forehead, noting that there were a few more since the last time she had taken a good look. She pushed back a stray lock of hair that had fallen on to his face while he just stayed there perfectly still, watching her every movement while he enjoyed her soft touch.
He searched her eyes placing his hand on hers where it lay on his cheek. "Are you sure, Mac?"
"Yeah…I'm very sure. We need to talk and I can't think of a better place to do that than right here because it feels right here."
"I'm glad because I really didn't want to go, but I would have if that is what you wanted. I hope you know that."
"Harm, you have never broken a promise to me yet."
"And…I never will. I promise."
At that comment, they both laughed. They both recognized that the tension between them had been dispersed for the time being, but was it just the calm before the storm? That remained to be seen. For now it appeared they had come to a truce, and they both accepted that.
Harm smiled and became pensive. "Mac I need to say something here. It's something I have had on my mind for a while now. Please hear me out."
Mac shifted her body nervously at the tone in Harm's voice. She didn't have a clue what he was about to say, but it was obvious that it was important to him.
Harm realized that Mac had become a little wary, and moved closer to her putting his hand on her shoulder. "I'm not sorry you're pregnant and that WE are going to have that baby we once talked. I am thrilled that I am going to be a father and even happier that you are it's mother." Harm then lowered his eyes to look at the blanket on the bed. "I am sorry, though, that it happened the way it did."
Mac was a little taken aback at his last words and altered her position again, releasing his hand from her shoulder in the process. Harm sensed her confusion and was afraid that she would walk away so he reached out for her hand before he continued to explain.
"What I am trying to say here, Mac, is that I am sorry I never thought to ask if you were on any sort of birth control and if you weren't I should have considered using a condom. I apologize for not being a gentleman in that regard. You deserve better than that Mac. Heck…you deserve everything. Their should have been candlelight and music and lots of romance."
Mac took Harm's hand and surrounded it with her own. "It might not have been the most romantic setting, but you were the perfect gentleman Harm. You always have been. If I wanted you to stop, I know all I would have had to say was NO and you would have stopped immediately. I have no doubt about that. We were both so caught up in the moment, and it just happened." She then took Harm's face between her palms. "I know you would never intentionally do anything to hurt me. There had been no one for either of us since Renee and Mic. We had recently been given clean bills of health during our physicals, so we were never in any danger health wise. Besides sailor…we had a deal remember." Mac concluded giving him a little, friendly kiss on the tip of his nose trying to lighten the mood.
Harm looked at her sheepishly. "Yeah, jarhead…I remember. I guess we really do have to work on our communication skills."
They sat there for a few minutes just staring at one another before Harm broke the silence.
"What do you say we go down and get us some breakfast, Marine? Grams makes a mean vegetable and cheese omelet, and if she has some homemade bread, well..."
Mac jumped right in, her mouth already watering. "You're on, flyboy. I'm starving."
"Ha…tell me something I don't know, Jarhead."
On that note, she slapped him on the arm causing him to wince. "Hey, what was that for?" Harm yelped as he jumped out of bed and walked over to the dresser clad only in his blue plaid boxers to retrieve his shorts and t-shirt.
"That was for making jokes about my marine appetite," Mac responded, totally enjoying the view of his sexy six from where she stood, and relishing in their playful banter.
They enjoyed breakfast with Grams in the sunny, bright kitchen. Harm was right the omelet was to die for.
"Grams that was absolutely the best omelet I have ever had. Now I know where Harm gets some of his culinary skills. She gave Harm a playful look pointed her finger at him and added, "Don't get a swelled head flyboy because your meatless meatloaf is still disgusting." At that all three of them laughed. "If I keep eating like this, I will have gained ten pounds by the time I leave here."
"Good, I'm glad you enjoyed breakfast and ate with such gusto," Grams responded. "Besides gaining weight wouldn't hurt you any. You could use a little more meat on those bones of yours, I don't mind saying. Hasn't my grandson been feeding you?"
"Grraaammmms," Harm yelped.
"Well, dear, you should know by now that I call them as I see them. Sarah, please don't be offended, but you obviously realize by now…I speak my mind," Grams concluded; her hands placed firmly on her rounded hips.
Mac was eyeing the scene playing out in front of her and enjoyed the company. "It's okay Grams, really. I'm a big girl and can certainly take constructive criticism," she retorted with a grin to let Grams know she was really okay.
Mac couldn't help thinking, 'if she only knew what I was going to look like six months from now.'
Harm was deep in thought as well, thinking the exact same thing Mac had been thinking. The look they shared between them was priceless. Harm with his raised eyebrows, and Mac chewing furiously on her bottom lip.
Gram's was totally baffled watching them. 'What is it with these two?' She pondered. 'Something is going on here, and I'm fixing to find out exactly what it is.'
"Okay, everyone, out...out...out with you. I have things to do so go make yourselves scarce. GO!!!!" She yelled as she swatted their sixes with the dish towel she was holding in her hand. "I don't want to see you two until lunch time."
"Ummm," Mac sighed wondering what was on the menu for lunch. She immediately reeled her thoughts in. 'Get a grip, Marine, or you are going to look like a beached whale long before your ninth month. Remember a minute on the lips and forever on the hips, and being pregnant and eating for two is no excuse.'
Harm just stood there shaking his head. "Come on, Mac, what do you say we go up and get dressed and then take a little walk around the old homestead."