michelle UK: when I wrote it I intended it for Loren to fantasize and be ecstatic about their upcoming love, marriage and family more than about everything else.

The sucessful career would just be an icing on the cake. An icing that would make the experience sweeter, but an unimportant icing in the big picture. She would still be happy and love her life and family even without the high rank. Loren is at the point in her life where she wants love, marriage and children, with Harm, more than she wants her career. Everybody, except for a small percentage of people like Mac, comes at a point in life where they would put family and love before their career. Also, the fantasy was about being an Admiral, not just the JAG. Are there even any female Admirals currently serving in the US Navy?

Jeff: good to have you back with us. I hope you're feeling better, being sick is definitely something we all can live without.

Jeff, sohard2c: the part is coming, just a few more before it.

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"You know I like this."

When she glared at him he hurried to explain. "Not the 'you in pain' part, but just how comfortable we are with each other. We are just 'being', you know what I mean? Doing nothing, just being with each other, in each other's company and not feeling awkward. I would never believed it possible just a week ago."

"Yeah, I know." rejoined Loren. "You know why it's like that?"

"Why?"

"Because we are so alike. We have many things in common. The Navy, eating habits, style of music-I saw the CDs you have in your car when you picked me up, we are both career-minded,... While opposites may attract, it is similarities that are the ones that make a relationship work. Because after the initial infatuation of a new relationship with someone different from oneself is over, then the differences just start to annoy and distance the partners and ultimately cause the end. It's the couples who have a lot, if not all, of things in common that have the biggest chance of making it work for a lifetime. Why do you think there are so many divorces in this country, besides people jumping into marriage too quickly?"

Harm looked at her with respect in his eyes. She'd certainly been surprising him a lot lately.

He had a strong suspicion that she would continue to surprise him for a long time to come and he didn't mind the prospect one bit.

Cause he was sure that they'd all be good surprises.

He pointed a finger at her and said teasingly. "You know, you're pretty smart. You should be a lawyer."

In a completely out-of-character move for her, she stuck her tongue out at him, rendering him speachless and then giggled at the way his mouth gaped open.

A slow grin spread across his lips then.

He moved his hands towards her warningly, wiggling with his fingers and a happy grin on his face. He was enjoying this playful mood very much. "You know you'll pay for that, right?"

She stood her ground, glaring at him aloofly. "And how, pray tell, do you intend to make me pay?"

Harm moved his hands closer. "I'll tickle you until you apologize."

She continued to stare him down, but he could see a gleam of good humor shining in her eyes.

She was enjoying this just as much as he was.

His fingers had finally made contact with her sides and he tickled her, prompting a jump and a squeak from her.

He stopped immediately and his eyebrows rose in surprise at her intense reaction, while Loren's face blushed crimson. Inside she was cursing the curse of being a blonde with fair skin, which made it very obvious whenever she was blushing.

She hid her face in her hands, hoping for a hole to appear and swallow her whole, her humiliation complete.

"What was that?" in his voice she could hear a chuckle threatening to explode and had the overwhelming urge to thump him on the head for it.

She refused to answer, however.

He accused her with an astonished air. "You're ticklish! And quite so, in fact. Hehe, good to know. Wonder what it's worth it to you that your secret doesn't come out..."

She removed her hands from her face to glare at him defiantly. "You wouldn't dare!"

A smirk settled on his face. "Wouldn't I?"

Loren quickly ran through her options.

Then she smiled seductively at him and lightly ran a nail down one of his forearms, scratching at the inner side, making him shiver from both the sensation and the promise these two gestures contained. "You wouldn't do that to little old me, would you?"

He snorted. "Little old me? Where did you get that from?"

She shrugged innocently. "Oh, here and there..."

He laughed then. "Wouldn't 'here and there' mean one of those trashy novels that have a bodice-ripping motive on the cover? The one that you've no doubt brought along on this case? Or perhaps Gone with the wind?"

The sudden widening of her eyes and a renewed blush confirmed his suspicions. He had to admit that the blush did indeed become her very much. He loved to make it happen.

"Uh..." she stammered.

Harm laughed and, to her utmost relief, moved on.

"So..." he stretched his fingers, making them pop. "You ready for one of the world-famous Rabb massages, honey?"

She scowled at him over the name, but then shrugged.

They've been already talking of marriage, though admittedly in the completely abstract and vague sense, so why couldn't he call her 'honey'? The prospect of a massage also felt very tempting and she subtly shivered at the thought of his hands on her, doing amazing things. Another subtle shiver was evoked from the image of what else his hands could do to her body to give her pleasure...

She then demanded with a grin that belied her sharp tone. "Get to it, buster, or you'll be sleeping on the couch."

Harm smirked. "We're not married yet, Loren."

Loren smiled softly. "'Yet'. I like that."

Harm smiled back. "Yeah, me too."

She reached up to tenderly stroke his cheek. "Because it means we will be."

Harm nodded, looking deep into her eyes. "Yes, we will." He caressed her own cheek, then motioned for her to turn on her side.

She did, making sure that the hot water bottle was still pressed to her belly, easing her pain and prepared for bliss.

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