"Hey Mac where are the cold cuts?" Harm asked. They had gotten a platter and so he did not know where they had put the left overs after yesterday.

"Oh Harm I will get it."Mac said as she started to get up.

"No sit..You enjoy holding the baby and I will get lunch set up."Harm said.

"I hope you say that when I am holding a baby that is ours."Mac said.

"You bet I will."Harm said.

So Harm and the boys got lunch ready and then they all sat around and ate lunch. After lunch Harm was getting up to clean up and John stoped him.

"Hey Harm."John said following him into the kitchen.

"John whats up?"Harm asked.

"Could we maybe take a walk for a couple of mins.?"John asked.

"Let me ask Mac, but it should be no problem."Harm could sense that John was worried about something.

"Hey Mac can I talk to you?"Harm said.

"Sure."Mac said as she gave the baby back to Bud.

"What is going ok?"Mac asked as she went into the kitchen with Harm.

"John needs to talk to me and I just wanted to make sure it was ok with you if we took a walk for a little while. I pulled you away because I remember that Mattie did not want her problems at center stage. I think he is worried about what is going on with Mattie since the whole beach incident."Harm said.

"You Harm that is fine please take all the time that you need. Hopefully Mattie will be up when you two get back. I think seeing her will be a good thing."Mac said.

"Thanks for being so understanding."Harm said.

"Anytime."Mac said giving him a kiss.

"Oh I am sorry…Harm I will wait for you outside."John said very embarrassed that he walked in on an intimate moment between Harm and Mac.

"It is ok. Now give me a hug and take you time. Harm is a good listener."Mac said.

"Thanks Mac I will not keep him to long."John said.

"No worries, we will just be hanging out here."Mac said.

Harm stole one more kiss and then they headed out the doors.

"John I know that sometimes it is hard for us guys to talk about things, but I am here for you and have all the time, so let me help you so that we can all help Mattie."Harm said.

"I know I just already feel bad for bringing you away from your family during this time."John said.

"John I need you to level with me. Because the way things are set up. Mattie is going to be going to her first day of School and Mac and I are going to be honey mooning. Mac and I are going to have to lean on you, so I need to know what is going on."Harm said.

"It is just hard. She does not deserve any of this. I just do not know if I can help her. So much has happened.."John said purley frustrated.

"Yeah it has been a rough summer for all of us, but you are helping. All you have to do for Mattie is show her that you care. You just have to hold her when she cries and be there when she needs someone to talk to. That is all she wants from you. She wants you in this family."Harm said.

"I know I just want to make sure that we are going slow enough and that I am being a good friend. I am just worried because all the things that she has ever want to do I am going to do and she is not going to be able to. I know the odds she will walk again yes, but she will never fly or be taken into the military. I will do everything and she will sick back and watching and I will feel guilty the whole time. I just do not know if I can do it."John said now feeling really upset.

"Sit down right now. Mattie has the kindest heart of anyone that I have ever met. Sure she has been given a blow to the heart, but she will recover and find something else that she is passionate about. I do know one thing about my daughter and that is she would not want you to give up the opportunity of following your dreams. We had a talk after the Top Gun day and she told me so. Ok, so by following your dreams and by loving her like you do she is getting better John. Sure her mom and I have had something to do with it, but so have you. She needs us and none of us can deny her our love. She needs to know that she has people in her life that she can trust. More importantly she needs to know that she can trust the men in her life. This is a big deal, but I know that you can do it. Just be you John that is all she is asking for. For you just to be who you are. Not hiding anything because you are afraid of what she will say. Just be you and be open to her when she needs you."Harm said.

"Thank you Harm for taking the time to talk and knock some sense into me. Its just everything happened so fast and I just started freaking out. I really love being part of Mattie's life and part of this family. It means a lot to me to have her back again. I was so worried about her when we had to be separated. Her dad he was not right. He never was. That day with the plane when I went out there and saw her with the blood. I was so angry, like it was my fault. I should have faught harder when the split happened. I should have told her to come with us."John said.

"John it would have made matters worse. You did everything that you could have done. Mattie does not care about the past, but she does care about the future. So you need to look to the future now. The past is done, but you are here now. Do not be stupid like me and let the love of your slip away for a long time like I did."Harm said.

"I know it is just hard sometimes. I will be strong for Mattie though. I hope that this is not akward to talk to you about. Usually Dads are not keen on talking to their daughters boyfriend. I will take good care of her though. I promise. I am really happy to be apart of her live and yours and Mac's. She used to tell me all about Mac and you. She hoped for a long time that you guys would end up getting married."John said.

"She did huh..(Smiling) We are happy for you to be apart of this family too. And I am glad that you are back in Mattie's life."Harm said.

"Yeah me too. Thank you Harm for this talk. I just needed someone to talk too."John said.

Meanwhile at home

The girls were talking again and AJ, Little AJ, and Bud were in the water playing when Mac heard a thud in the house.

I wonder what that was Mac thought to herself as she went to check the noise she heard.

"Mattie are you ok?" Mac asked as she saw who made the noise.

"Sorry mom I did not mean to frighten you I just slipped on the way down."Mattie said.

"No worries I am glad to see you up and about. How did you sleep?"Mac asked.

"Really well. I feel much better."Mattie said.

"That is good."Mac said as they began to walk back outside Harm and John came in.

"John I have missed you so much."Mattie said even though it had only been a couple of days.

"I have missed you too. How are you feeling?"John asked.

"Much better I got a lot of sleep today." Mattie said.

"Good I am glad."John said as he gave her a peck on the lips.

"JOHN.."Mattie whined knowing her dad was standing there. It made Mattie a little uncomfortable.

"I am sorry Mattie." John said.

"I think that might be our que to exit."Mac said.

"Mom we are coming out too."Mattie said.

So the Rabbs made their way back out to everyone.

"Hey guys why don't you join us in the water."Aj said.

"How about a game of water volleyball?"Harm asked.

"That would be awesome."Little Aj said.

"Mattie are you up for playing?"John whisphered into her ear.

"yeah as long as I do not over do it."Mattie said as she leaned in for a kiss.

"You can not get mad at me for that one."John said as he wrapped his arms around her.

"I know."Mattie said flashing a huge smile.

"I am so happy to see you smiling again."John said.

"That you. You know part of the smile is because you are here with me."Mattie said as they walked over to a place and sat down. Mattie could sense that maybe right now was not the time to be playing volleyball.

"I am sorry that I have not been their for you recently."John said.

"John I did not mean to make you apologize. I just miss you that's all. I saw you talking with Harm, is everything ok? I want to be here for you and I also want you to know that you can come to me and I will be here for you."Mattie said.

"I know Mats. I just have been worried about us. I mean do not get me wrong I have hoped and wished that this day would come, when we would be back together again. I did not dream it under these circumstances. I just feel awful that I am going to be living your dreams right in front of you. It hurts me and I just wanted to make sure that you were ok with us and the future."John said.

"I do not know what to say. I want you to know that I will support you in anyway that you need. I have learned that the dreams I had for myself will not be a reality, but that is ok. I will find new dreams and experiences. We just have to be ourselves and lean on each other and be honest with each other."Mattie said.

"I know I am really sorry that this is the way things played out."John said as he moved the hair away from Matties face.

"I can not and do not want to think that way. Because I am very happy with the way things are and can not wait to see what the future will bring."Mattie said puting her hand on his that was on her face and kissing it.

"I am one lucky guys that is for sure. Thanks for being so understanding Mattie. I am sorry that everything that has happened to you did. I just wish sometimes that I would have taking you with us when we had to move out here."John said.

"John you cannot talk like that. Plus had you taken me, I would have not met Harm and would have not formed the bond with him that I did."Mattie said.

"I know sometimes I just wish that I could take all the pain away."John said.

"I know you do, but I will be ok and we will deal with what ever comes our way."Mattie said.

This time seeing that they were out of most sight John deepened the kiss a little bit.

"Let's go back to everyone else now."John said helping Mattie up.

"So we are ok now?"Mattie asked.

"Yeah we are more than ok."John said.

"Good I am glad."Mattie said.

"Mac they look so happy together."Harriet said watching Mattie and John walk back towards them.

"Yeah they really have been great together. They are really taking it slow. They have a lot of history together so we will see how it all plans out, but they are good for each other and we love having John as part of the family."Mac said.

"That is awesome. Seems that things really are going well here for you guys. I was hoping that things would go well for you guys out here."Harriet said.

"It has been a transition period, but yeah we are deffinitly having fun. It is nothing like what VA was. The family could never be as good."Mac said.

"We miss you guys too."Harriet said.

"Well you will have to come out and we can have a mommy weekend together."Mac said with a huge smile.

"Yeah it will be fun. Oh Mac I have wanted this for you guys for a long time."Harriet said.

"Yeah we took a long time to get it together, but better late than never."Mac said.

"Hey mom."Mattie said as they came back.

"Are you going to play?"Mac asked.

"Yeah we are going to go in the water for a little while."Mattie said.

"Ok just becareful."Mac said.

"I will and you do not have to say it, I will get out if I start having some pain."Mattie said.

"Sounds good. And Have fun."Mac said.

So Mattie and John got in the water. Mac and Harriet stayed on land in order to be with the twins.

"You going down dad."Mattie said. Mattie and Harm were very competitive when they were playing games. Tonight though Mattie was just joking because she knew that she was not on her best.

"You think so huh. We will just have to see about that."Harm said.

"Serve it up."Mattie said.

So the gang played in the water for a while and then ordered some pizza for dinner. After dinner everyone was sitting around watching a movie and waiting for the last of the party to arrive.

Knock….Knock…

"Come in."Harm yelled knowing the front door was open and Coats was leading the way into the house.

Coats went to go and get Tiner and Sturgis from the airport. Coats and Tiner have been trying to do a long distance relationship and thing were going well. They were happy to get to spend four days together. Even more happy that it was at their best friends wedding.

"Sturgis."Harm said as he shook his hand.

"How are things going?"Sturgis asked.

"We are enjoying having everyone here and can not wait to get married."Harm said with a smile.

"Good to hear. I am glad that after everything we have been through that I still rank in the friend category."Sturgis said.

"Yeah, Time seems to heal old wounds. I am very happy that you were able to make it out. I am glad that you will be standing up their with me."Harm said.

"I am more they honored to be their. How is Top Gun going?"Sturgis asked.

"It is going well, but who wants to talk about work at a time like this."Harm said.

"Understood."Sturgis said.

"Tiner it is so good to see you."Harm continued the conversation as Mac came and joined him.

"It is good to be back with the family all together again."Tiner said staying close to Coats. They only get to spend so much time together so they need to make the most of it.

"That it is..That it is.."Mac said.

AJ just stayed in the back watching the old Jag family reunited and just smiling to himself. Finally everything had come full circle and what he had hoped would happen finally has. It was all such a magical time.

"Now I know that is a fun time, but we have a long day tomorrow so I think we should get the new arrivals settled and then get some sleep."Mac said.

So Harm and Mac helped get everyone settled into their rooms,

Meanwhile Mattie went out to say good night to John.

"John thanks for coming over today and for being honest with me. We are going to make it through this. Everything is going to be great. No more tears. Well at least no more sad tears."Mattie said.

"You are welcome thank you for being so nice and forgiving. You help me to be a better person everyday."John said kissing Mattie.

"Good night."Mattie said leaning in for one more kiss.

"Good night see you tomorrow."John said.

Mattie saw John get safely in his car and then she went back inside the house and headed up to bed.

Mac and Harm went into Mattie's room and said good night. Mac protested a little bit that she should sleep up in the room again, but Mattie promised that she would get them if she needed them. So they said good night and then headed to their own room. They both got in bed and then went to sleep. Happy to have the whole JAG family back together again and looking forward to a fun day at the beach tomorrow. They were so happy. Could not wait for a couple more days to pass so they could be husband and wife.