December 22nd

The snow was coming down heavily outside. Inside the house the fire was lit, and the family was preparing for Christmas. Harm was anxiously looking out the window then looking at his watch.

"They will be here soon."

He turned and faced his wife. "I should have insisted that I go pick them up."

"Honey, Mattie is a good driver," she reached for his hand. "Come have cookies with us instead of standing here worrying."

He sighed. "Okay," he kissed her softly. "It does smell pretty good."

She tugged on his hand and they moved to the kitchen where Rose, Matthew and Claire and Nathan were laughing. "What's so funny?" Harm wondered.

"Claire's Christmas cookie fiasco," Nathan held up a picture.

Harm chuckled. "The kitchen smelled like smoke for days."

"I was eight," Claire defended herself.

They heard the front door open. "They're here," Matthew yelled.

They all went to the hallway. "Merry Christmas," Trish said.

Mattie dumped a few bags on the floor. "Grandma brought all of San Diego with her."

There was a round of hugs and kisses before Nathan and Harm helped them in with the rest of the things. "Now that everyone is here, Christmas can start," Harm said and took his wife's hand.

Later

Later that night when Harm went around the house to make sure everything was secured for the night, Harm found Nathan in the library playing guitar.

"Hey," Nathan stopped playing. "I didn't think anyone was up yet."

"I'm heading upstairs now. Just wanted to make sure the house was secured," Harm hesitated. "Is everything okay, son?"

"Yeah, just felt like playing," Nathan hesitated. "I haven't had much time for that lately. I've been so busy with school."

"You're doing okay at the Academy, right?" Harm wondered.

"Dad, I'm doing fine. I'm fully focused and my grades are good," Nathan reassured.

"That's good, but there are other things that are equally important," Harm sat down. "How is Eve and Sofia?"

Nathan smiled. "They're good. We're doing good. But with Eve in nursing school and me at the Academy we hardy ever get to see each other."

"I have a year and a half left, and then who knows where I'll be. Is it even possible to make it work?" Nathan wondered.

Harm hesitated. "Did I ever tell you about Diane?"

Nathan shook his head. "I don't think so."

"She was at the Academy too, and we fell in love. After graduation she went one way and I left for flight school, and we hardly ever saw each other. She always had that special place in my heart, but we never made any commitments because we were both focused on our Naval careers. I guess she was the one that got away. I wasn't prepared to give up anything to be with her and she wasn't prepared to give up anything to be with me. I guess what I'm trying to say is that it is the effort you put in that decides if it'll work or not," Harm smiled. "You and Eve can make it work, but it'll take some effort for both of you. If it's meant to be, and if you both feel like it's worth it, you'll stay together."

Nathan nodded thoughtfully. "I guess you're right. So, what happened to Diane?"

"She died," Harm admitted. "It was after I joined JAG. We were supposed to meet and discuss the future, make some hard decisions, but we never got the chance."

"That's too bad. Would you have given up your duty station and relocated to be with her?" Nathan wondered.

Harm thought about it. "No, I don't think I would have. And neither did she I think."

"So, it couldn't have worked?" Nathan assumed.

"Not for us, but that doesn't mean that you and Eve wouldn't be able to make it work. Eve isn't in the service, which makes it a little bit easier," Harm reassured as he stood. "I feel the bed calling," he yawned.

Nathan stood too. "Yeah, me too," he put the guitar down. "Hey Dad."

Harm turned in the doorway. "Yeah?"

"If Mom hadn't given up her command to follow you to London, would you have given up yours?" Nathan wondered.

"Yes, without a doubt," Harm said honestly. "Had that coin landed differently I would have followed her to San Diego."

"And given up your career?" Nathan was surprised.

"You know, had your Mom chosen to stay in, the military would have found us duty stations that allowed us to be closer together. One of us might have had to make sacrifices and taken on a less desirable assignment, but we'd make it work. She didn't want to stay in though, because she wanted to focus on a family, so ultimately, she made the sacrifice," Harm smiled. "But to answer your question, yes I would have given up my career for her. It was a combination of being tired of not being with the woman I love and being in a stage of my life where my career just wasn't as important as it used to be."

Nathan nodded. "Thanks for telling me this, Dad."

"Any time," Harm chuckled. "You'll figure things out, son. You've got time."

"I guess," Nathan agreed.

A little later...

Mac moved her focus from her book. "You took your time," she commented as he walked into their bedroom.

"Yeah," Harm closed the door. "I had a talk with Nathan," he walked over to the bed and removed his shirt. "Damn, it's hot in here. I won't be able to sleep in this heat."

"I forgot to turn the heat off," she chuckled. "Sorry."

"I can keep you warm," he reminded her as he turned off the heat and flashed her a charming smile.

"You use that smile on all women?" she put her book away and focused on him.

He laughed softly. "Nah, only with you," he moved to the bathroom and disappeared inside. When he got out she had snuggled down on the bed. He hurried to undress and got into bed with her.

"So, what did you and our son talk about?" she wondered.

"Love," he pulled her close and kissed the top of her head.

"That's deep," she teased.

"Yeah, tell me about it," he let his hand find its way inside her sleep tee, caressing her back softly. He's thinking about the future."

"I can't believe he's all grown up," Mac let out a sigh.

Harm nodded. "He sure is. You know, he's more in touch with his feelings now than I have ever been. When I was his age the Navy was all that mattered."

"Hey, when you were forty, the Navy was all that mattered," she reminded him.

"That's not entirely true," he argued with amusement, then thought about it. "Okay, so maybe you're right, I was a little commitment phobic."

"A little?" she questioned.

"Hey, no picking on your husband," he warned and tickled her.

"Stop it," she tried to wiggle out of his embrace.

He laughed and pulled her close. "I'll behave."

"I think Nathan will be fine," Mac smiled.

"He will be," Harm agreed. "I'm glad we're all together."

"Me too," she kissed him softly.

December 24th

The house was quiet, the only sound coming from the TV room where the whole family was gathered watching a Christmas movie. They had been to church earlier and then had a wonderful Christmas dinner afterwards.

"Look, it started snowing," Rose stood and hurried for the big window. The young girl had never seen snow before she came to live with them and she loved it.

"What's the big deal?" Matthew walked over too. "It's just slightly frozen water falling from the sky."

"It's beautiful and magic," Rose said with slight awe in her voice.

"I agree with Rose," Trish stood. "But, now I'm ready for bed. Thank you for a wonderful day."

They all said good night.

"Good night Grandma," Claire smiled and looked up from her phone.

"So, what's got you so focused on your phone, Claire?" Harm wondered as he stood.

"It's not just me, it's Mattie too," Claire pointed out.

Mattie looked at her sister. "What?"

Nathan jumped up and grabbed both their phones. "I can find out."

Mattie and Claire were fast on their feet running after him. "Nathan!"

"You two better go to bed," Mac stood. "It's way past your bedtime."

"Come on Max, time to go outside," Harm looked at the dog on the floor. Max lifted his head and let out a small bark.

"Come on, it's not that bad. It's' just snow," Harm bent down and patted his head.

"Magical snow," Rose said with a smile as she walked over to them. "I'll go get ready for bed."

Mac hugged her. "Good night, Sweetie. I love you."

"I love you too," Rose moved out of her mother's embrace and headed upstairs.

Nathan came running back into the living room with Mattie and Claire behind him. "Dad, do something!" Claire demanded.

Harm chuckled. "You're on your own. Come on Max."

Keeping the sofa between them Nathan laughed. "Let's see," he peaked at one of the phones.

"Midshipman Rabb!"

Nathan froze and turned to his Mother.

"Drop that phone right now," Mac said in her best command voice.

Nathan dropped the phones on the couch. "Sorry, ma'am."

Claire and Mattie hurried to take the phones on the couch. "Thanks Mom," Claire smirked at her brother.

"You're totally scared of Mom," Matthew teased his older brother.

"Bedtime, young man," Mac reminded Matthew and hugged him. "March."

"Yes, ma'am," Matthew saluted and headed upstairs.

Max came running back to the living room, barking.

"He does not like this weather," Harm chuckled, then noticed that the girls' had their phones back. "Did the Marines interfere?"

Mac chuckled. "Come on, time for bed." Max ran upstairs looking for Rose as Mac reached for her husband.

Harm took her hand. "Behave down here," he smiled. "Good night."

Mattie, Claire and Nathan said good night, and Mac and Harm could hear them bickering as they headed upstairs.

"I love this," Mac said with a contented sigh as they entered their bedroom. "All of us, together like this."

"Me too," Harm agreed as he pulled her close. "I love you."

"I love you more," she kissed him softly, then smiled. "Lock the door handsome."

Harm raised his eyebrows, locked the door and moved in to kiss her deeply.