A/N: I know it's been over a week since I last posted, but I have a good excuse – watching JAG all weekend with buddies down in Texas! After spending all day yesterday traveling back home, and then sleeping in this morning, here's the next installment. Thanks once again for all the reviews. Enjoy!
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Christmas Eve; 0315 Zulu; Washington D.C.
Eventually the excitement and festivity of the evening wound down, leaving a sense of peace and contentedness in its wake. Everyone agreed to leave the opening of presents for the following morning, so with an exchange of hugs and well wishes, Jennifer departed and the Burnetts turned in for the night. An hour later, after a yawning Mattie said goodnight as well, Harm headed off for his annual visit to the Vietnam Memorial.
The snowfall had tapered to flurries, leaving the ground covered by a white blanket that glittered under the memorial's soft lighting. Standing alone in front of the somber black wall, Harm looked intently at the name etched into the stone. It had been thirty-five years since his father had gone down in that jungle halfway around the world. Thirty-five years, he mused. Had it really been so long? Lost in a world of memories as he ran his thumb over the familiar lettering, he didn't hear the footsteps crunching in the snow behind him.
"Penny for your thoughts."
Dragged out of his musings, he automatically tensed at the soft female voice. The moment of anxiety faded, however, when he turned around and recognized the figure standing a few feet away.
"Mom? What are you doing here? I thought you'd gone to bed."
"Couldn't sleep."
"Is everything okay?" Concerned, he took a step forward.
"Everything's fine," she said with a dismissive wave of her hand. "Just a little insomnia, that's all. I thought maybe a glass of milk might help but when I went down to the kitchen you were already gone."
"How'd you know I'd be here?" He paused, and then answered his own question. "Mac told you."
"I'm rather surprised that she didn't come with you."
"Even my Marine can't argue with the fact that a woman in her sixth month of pregnancy shouldn't be walking around outside on a night like this. These sidewalks are pretty icy. The last thing she and the baby need would be for her to slip and fall. You know how stubborn she is – she'd insist on walking by herself and I'd be a wreck worrying she'd lose her balance and have a crash landing." He shrugged with a grin. "What can I say? Being more persuasive is what makes me the better attorney."
"Are you better, or simply more egotistical?" his mother said wryly.
"I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that," he smiled. "Speaking of nights like this, you shouldn't have come out here this late by yourself."
"Don't worry, I didn't: Mac drove with me. She's waiting up in the car." Burrowing her hands deeper into her coat pockets as she stepped closer to her son, Trish turned her attention to the memorial before them. Her voice grew somber. "This is the first time since your father disappeared that I've had the courage to come here on Christmas Eve."
"I know," Harm said quietly.
"It doesn't feel like it's been thirty-five years. Frank and I have been married nearly thirty, yet there are some things I remember about your dad as though they happened just yesterday." Trish leaned over to give her son a hug, discreetly slipping a small wrapped package into his pocket as she did so. In return, he nodded and wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
"I know the feeling. A lot has happened in the last year alone, but sometimes it doesn't seem like a whole year has gone by at all. It's funny how the mind perceives the passing of time."
They stood for a few moments in silence, each staring wordlessly at their combined reflection in the black granite wall. Finally, Trish spoke.
"I'm proud of you, Harm, both with what you've done for Mattie and where you're going with Mac," she told him. "And I'm sure your father is proud of you too."
"Thanks, Mom. That means a lot." Working to control the underlying emotion in his voice, he finally cleared his throat and forced a grin, squeezing her shoulder. "It's getting kind of cold out here. What do you say to rescuing Mac and then going home for a cup of hot chocolate?"
Patricia Rabb Burnett took one final look at her first husband's memorial before smiling up at her son. "That's an excellent idea, dear." Turning wordlessly, they slowly made their way back up the icy walkway, the wall behind them gleaming dully in the quiet night.
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New Year's Eve; 2250 Zulu; Harm and Mac's Home; Falls Church, Virginia
"Mac?" Harm called up the stairs for the third time in as many minutes. "They're going to be back any minute with the limo. What's the hold up?"
"Just a second!"
Her muffled response drifted down to Harm from somewhere above. Glancing at his watch, he sighed before reaching into the hall closet. Frank had procured an extra pair of tickets to one of the more prestigious Washington area New Year's Eve balls and the four adults were planning to go together. Since the evening's gala wasn't a military function, Harm had forgone mess dress in favor of a more traditional civilian tuxedo. As he buttoned up his winter coat, the rumble of a car engine pulling into the driveway announced his parents' arrival. Grabbing his scarf as he turned to call Mac once again, his voice instantly stilled at the vision of the woman coming down the stairs.
Her hair had been swept back off her face into delicate finger curls. The long, shimmering, deep red velvet dress fit perfectly, with its plunging neckline and empire waist that accentuated her rounding figure without being overly provocative. Watching as she came to a stop halfway down the stairs, Harm's eyes drifted in speechless wonder up her body before finally coming to rest on her face. Their gazes locked and held. She looked at him with surprise at his seeming speechlessness, while he simply stared with the rapture of a man smitten.
!!!FLASH!!!
Completely mesmerized by the beautiful woman before him, it took a moment for the click of the camera to register in Harm's ears. A few feet away Mattie stood grinning foolishly, watching as the two of them stared at each other in helpless adoration. In the six weeks since they'd moved into the house, she'd seen them slowly growing closer without ever actually admitting their feelings. How could two people so obviously in love be so utterly clueless?
"Wow, Mac, you look fabulous!" she complimented. "Isn't she stunning, Harm?"
"Absolutely breathtaking."
His voice was low but firm, and full of heartfelt sincerity. Standing perched on the stairs with Mattie looking intently between them, Mac could feel the warm blush creeping up through her chest and into her cheeks. In vain she tried to drag her eyes away from his riveting gaze but found herself unable to do so.
"Don't you guys have to be there soon?"
Mattie's astute observation suddenly spurred her guardian into action. Moving back towards the door, Harm peered out the window towards the driveway.
"Frank and Mom just pulled up," he announced, taking Mac's wrap from the nearby closet. "Are you ready?"
"All set." Handing her clutch to Mattie as she stepped down into the foyer, Mac let her gaze drift over Harm's broad shoulders before turning to let him help her into her coat.
"Now, remind me again what time you kids are planning to be home?" Mattie smirked.
"That, my dear, is none of your business." Grinning broadly at her, Harm opened the door. "You know how to contact us in case of an emergency."
"Yeah, yeah, I know." She rolled her eyes. "I've got Mac's cell phone number if I need you for anything. But I don't think there's anything to worry about – my only date tonight is with Dick Clark and the bottle of sparkling apple juice that's chilling in the fridge."
"Sounds like fun. Don't stay up too late." Following Mac through the open doorway, a moment later he leaned back inside. "Happy New Year, Mattie."
She returned his smile. "Happy New Year, Harm. See you in 2005!"
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To be continued...
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