Mattie stirred a little bit and slowly woke up from what would be the beginning of Saturday again. When she stirred she woke up Harm who was still sleeping, but Mac and John were gone. Mattie slowly made her way into her wheel chair and then Harm followed her out into the common room.
"Good morning sleepy heads.."Mac said as she handed Mattie a glass of orange juice and Harm a cup of coffee.
"Thanks something smells really good." Mattie said.
"Well I found out that John has been holding out on us…He can really cook." Mac said.
"Yeah that he can.."Mattie said.
"Well breakfast is served.."John said with a smile..
"Good Morning.."Mattie said as he wheeled over to him.
"Good Morning." John said giving her a kiss on the forehead. He was not all that comfortable kissing her in public yet especially not in front of her Mom and Dad.
"Good Morning Marine.."Harm said giving her a peck on the lips. Shy is definitely not Harm especially when if came to showing how much he loved Mac.
"Morning Flyboy.."Mac said as they sat down to eat.
"This looks so good.."Mattie said.
"Thanks so much for doing this.."Harm said looking at John and Mac..
"Well as I said I don't fall back to sleep very easily.."He felt bad as soon as I said it.. "I didn't mean it like it came out…So I just wanted something to keep me busy so I decided to cook and I was quickly joined by Mac…Who is not so bad herself.."John said with a smile.
"Yeah she does a good job.."Mattie agreed.. "I am excited about a day at the beach.."Mattie grinned.
John was excited to hear her use the words excited and beach in the same sentence.
"Yeah it looks like it is going to be an amazing day for it." Harm said.
"Yeah John and I checked the news and it really is." Mac said..
"Well let's eat up so we can get out there." Harm said..
So they ate there breakfast and headed out to the beach for the day. They brought a picnic for Lunch and then they were going to go to a restraint on a boat that Harm had arranged…
"So do you really think we could go flying one day?" John asked as they were sitting on the beach just hanging out.
"Yeah definitely. I will have to clear it with Viper, but I definitely think that could be a possibility." Harm said.
"That would be very cool.."John said.
"I will see what I can come up with." Harm replied.
"So is that where you and Mattie met?" Mac asked.
"Well kind of we had met at work first, but then being in the ROTC high school program it kind of help to really build our friendship." Mattie replied.
"Hey Mats you want to go in the water?" John asked.
"Yeah…Mom, Dad you want to come too." Mattie asked.
"Yeah let's go..Ill race ya!"Harm said as he picked up Mac and John and he went running for the water. Mac and Mattie screaming the whole way..
"Does everything have to be a competition?" Mattie asked..
"YES!" Harm and John said together..
"Oh no mom they get along to well already." Mattie said with a smile.
"We are in big trouble…why did you have to pick a navy aviator?' Mac said pretending to whine.
"I am corrupted what can I say.."Mattie said laughing..
With that comment Harm sent a splash right in her face and they got into a huge water fight. They were laughing and giggling. It was great they were having fun again as a family.
"Chicken fight.."John said..
"Wait John I don't know about this.."Mattie said.
"Just trust me.."John said as he put her on top of his soldiers and Harm did the same with Mac.. Mattie and Mac battled it out for quite sometime until Mattie finally was able to push Mac over. Mattie and John high fived each other..
"What ever.."Harm said totally kidding..
"Nobody like a soar loser Dad.."Mattie said…
"That's it I have had enough." Harm said as he went over and started to tickle Mattie as john held her arms.. Mac Just smiled as he watched Mattie smile and laugh she had forgotten what Mattie's laugh was like and she was glad that it was back..
"Wait…..wait…this isn't fair John you are supposed to be on myside.."Mattie said.
"Its ok Mac I will come to your rescue.."Mac said as she walked up to Harm and started to tickle him in all the spots that she knew would drive him crazy…what she did not realize was that Harm would soon grab her again and now she was being tickled and was pretty much helpless because Mattie could not get away from John to help her..
"I'm sorry mom.."Mattie said as she was trying to catch her breath from all the laughing..
"Its ok Mattie…Ill get him back when he least expects it.."Mac said… "Ok truce my love…truce…"Mac said pleading…
"I look forward to when you will get me back." Harm said with a sexy smile..
'Get a room…"Mattie said… Harm moving towards her and Mattie freaked out.. "Please dad don't…i'm sorry…please…"Mattie said pleading. Harm walked over to Mac and picked her up and twirled her around.. Mac wrapped her legs around him under water. She love being close to him but especially in the water..
"Mac don't start something that you can't finish especially with our daughter so close in the water.."Harm said barley above a whisper..
"Oh I am not starting anything I can't finish its just when I finish it.."Mac said..
"Mac please no teasing not right now…you know what it does to me and it's not a behavior that I want to begin in front of our daughter and her boyfriend.."Harm said pleading with his eyes.
"Don't worry flyboy we are not going there right now as much as I would love to. I thought it would be fun to do it on the beach.."Mac said..
"Well I guess we will just have to wait for the Honeymoon than my love.."Harm said..
"EEEWW a clue to where we are going.."Mac squealed..
"Yeah not exactly a very precise one though.."Harm said…
"John stop please…"Mattie said with a huge grin on her face..
"Ok I will stop i'm sorry no more tickling.."John said..
"Or dunking.."Mattie said…
"Or dunking…"John said…
"How about some lunch.."Mattie said as her stomach was telling her it was about that time..
"Are you ever not hungry?" Harm asked as they made there way back to the blankets..
"I am a growing teenage girl what do you expect…"Mattie said.. "Plus you think that I eat a lot you should see how much John eats.."Mattie said..
"I plead the 5th.."John said..
"John you are talking to two of the best lawyers I have ever met in my entire life.."Mattie said..
"That why I plead the 5th on that one.."John said.. Everyone laughed…
"Harm can I have my sandwich please?" Mac asked..
"Yes!" Harm said handing the sandwich to Mac..
"So John how has business being going since you moved it out here?" Harm asked.
"It has been going really well. My dad and I have been keeping very busy.."John said.
"Well that is good to hear." Harm replied.
"Yeah besides having to leave Mattie behind with her dad San Diego has been an amazing move." John said.
"So school is going well and everything?" Harm asked.
"Yeah I really adjusted well and I think that Mattie will too." John said..
"It's good that you will have each other as friends to begin with." Mac said..
"Yeah I think that's a plus…I will keep him as a friend for now anyways.."Mattie said with a smile.
"Hey be nice now.."John said..
"I am being nice.."Mattie said…
"So what does your mom do?" Mac asked.
"She works at the middle school where my sister goes." John replied.
"Oh wow that's great.."Mac said.
"Yeah she really likes it and my sister is still at an age where she is ok with my mom being at her school." John said.
"How is the ROTC program going for ya?"Mac asked.
John didn't really want to talk about it because he figured that Mattie would not be able to rejoin even if she did walk again. The Navy was weird about physicals and he felt bad because he knew how much she loved it. "It's going well.."John said hoping that the subject would change.
"Was it harder in VA?"Mattie asked..
"It's really been about the same." John replied looking at her trying to get an ok. Mattie nodded.
"It's ok John.."Mattie said.
'I know I just feel bad.."John said.
"It's ok.."Mattie said promising him that she was ok with what has happened to her and the life that she had now.
"Hey John do you want to throw a football a little bit?" Harm asked..
"Yeah sure." John replied..
"Mattie and I are going to lay here and get some sun.."Mac said..
"Girls.."John said as he got up..
Mattie happened to throw her ice water on him before he was able to get away…
"I don't remember the last time I was able to just lay out and bake in the song." Mac said.
"Yeah I know that feeling.. I would always get farmer tans from working, but never could just enjoy lying out." Mattie said.
"I know it's probably not a good thing for our skin, but it is so relaxing and plus it makes the summer dresses look good." Mac said.
"I know I have a really cute one for dinner tonight." Mattie said.
"Is it the pink one with the flowers on it?" Mac was with her when she bought it.
"Yeah I brought it because it's a casual dress but it can also be dresses." Mattie said.
"Yeah I remember we bought that one together I really like it on you." Mac said..
"Yeah that was a fun day when we went shopping." Mattie said..
"Yeah it was we should try to keep out girl bonding times on a high level." Mac said.
"I agree." Mattie replied. "So how are things going with the wedding mom?" Mattie asked.
"They are going great…. We are pretty much ready for the day…now its just waiting and making sure that the final touches fall into place." Mac said.
"It's going to be an amazing day." Mattie said.
"Yeah it better be I have waited ten years for this day.."Mac said giggling..
"Ten years well worth it though.."Mattie replied.
"Yeah!"Mac replied with a smile…
"Men.."Mattie giggled…
"I head that.."John said as he waited for Mattie to look up and see who said that and then tossed a cold cup of water on her.
"Thank you for that shower." Mattie said with a smile.
"Speaking of Showers it's about that time." Harm said. So they packed up there picnic and gathered all of there belonging and headed back to there room to get ready for the night out on the boat.
It was one of those sunset tours that you can get at some beaches and this particular one had dinner and some dancing…Sounded like a lot of fun. Harm was glad that he was able to get tickets for it.
After about an hour and a half everyone was ready to go. John and Harm were waiting on the couch for the girls to get ready.
"I'm so glad to get to spend sometime with you." Harm said.
"Yeah I agree. I am glad to be back.."John said..
"Thanks for all that you are doing with Mattie. I always knew that there was something between the two of you, but I just could not put my finger on it." Harm said patting his back.
"Yeah I was just being patient waiting for the right time, which I am not even sure this is the right time, but she hasn't pushed me away yet." John said..
"Naaa she won't this time…You are helping her to heal by just being there for her." Harm said.
"Thanks Harm it means a lot that we have you and Mac blessing to start a relationship." John said..
"Just don't hurt her or you will have one very angry Marine on your hands not to mention me." Harm said.
"Nope I will not hurt her.."John said. "We are going to take things nice and slow..figure this out.."John said..
"Slow is good just don't wait ten years.. It causes a lot of heart ache and plus girls get tempted and become engaged to other men and you don't want to end up punching out of an F-14..It's just not pretty so give yourself time, but make sure to keep things moving along." Harm said and both him and John laughed..
"Mattie told me that story.."John said..
"Yeah not one of my finer moments…I may not be the best person to learn from. I don't always follow the rule book." Harm said..
"Who better than to learn from." John said..
Harm just smiled and laughed again.
Mattie's door opened first. When she came out Harm had a flash back to when she first met. Mattie looked so beautiful in her dress..
"You look wonderful.."John said as he walked over and gave her a kiss on the head again.
"Thank you.."Mattie said with a huge smile.
"I really like that dress." Harm said trying not to embarrass her to much.
"Thanks dad." Mattie replied. Mattie grabbed Johns hand and gave it a squeeze and he just stood by her holding her hand until Mac emerged from the room..
Mattie smiled when he saw Harms reaction to Mac walking out of the room. He always was amazed by her everyday. She wanted that in her life. She wanted to amaze John no matter what she was wearing. So far things were going just at the pace that she needed them too..
"Mac you look beautiful.."Harm said..
"Thank you." Mac said as she accepted the peck from Harm.
"I really like that dress on you mom." Mattie said.
"So ladies our chariot awaits us." Harm said as he took Macs hand and they made there way out to the boat.. It was a gorgeous night; there was not even a cloud in the sky.
"Its going to be an amazing cruise." Mattie said. "I love when all the stars are out.."Mattie said again.
"Me too."John replied as he was pushing her as they walked towards the boat. Mattie could do it on her own, but sometimes John just liked to push her and give Mattie a break.
"She is doing so well today..I can already sense a difference." Mac said with a smile as they walked a few feet behind them.
"Yeah she has had a very good day. I think we are all going to sleep well to night." Harm said with a smile..
"Yeah we will." Mac replied with a smile..
The two couples got on the boat and had a nice dinner. After dinner was over the music started to play.
"Mac will you dance with me?" Harm asked.
"I would love too." Mac replied with a smile.
"Mattie?' John asked really not sure what her reaction would be.
"I don't know john.."Mattie said not really sure if she was comfortable.
"We don't have to. I am fine just sitting here with you." John said as he squeezed her had that he was already holding.
"No you are right we should dance." Mattie said.
"Ok then dance we will." John said as he took her hand and they went out on the dance floor.
Mac just smiled watching John and Mattie as Harm twirled and moved her around the dance floor..
"What are you smiling at Marine?" Harm asked he did not even have to see her face he could just feel the love and the happiness come from her.
"I was just looking at Mattie and John dancing." Mac replied.
"Me too.."Harm said.
"I'm just so happy Harm. I have never been so happy.' Mac said laying her head down on her chest.
"I love you so much Sarah." Harm said.
"I Love you too." Mac replied.
So they continued to dance the night away until they got back to the dock. They walked back to there room and both couples went to bed exhausted from the day before, but feeling very happy as they went to bed this time. Tomorrow was a flying day so that they could be back to start work again. Healing had begun and would continue. The relationships between the couples were growing stronger and the family was growing stronger too. The day that would make it official was coming closer and closer…