And she's back! Hoping you all have a wonderful start to the new year (and decade). Thank you for all the well-wishes. Health is slowly on the mend, still, but much better than it was last December. I have a ton of chapters finished, so I'm looking forward to getting back into posting every other week. Happy reading!

February 10, 1998

"Happy birthday!"

Mac looked up from her computer screen. "Thank you," she stammered, confused. "Who told you that?"

Tony shrugged. "A little birdie."

"Uh huh." She shook her head. "Birdie named Harm?"

"Jonah, actually."

That was unexpected. "Jonah?"

"There was talk about an upcoming birthday bash, so I figured it was Claire. Jonah quickly corrected that assumption."

"I'm not having a birthday bash. I'm having a very cozy evening in front of the fireplace with hot cocoa and my favorite dessert."

Tony held his hands up. "Just giving you the latest scuttlebutt. You don't like birthday parties?"

"No, I like birthday parties. Just not mine."

Tony grinned. "Mac, you're an enigma."

"I like it that way." She winked. "Anything I can do for you? 'Cause I'm up to my nose in the Paulson case and I'd kinda like to be home on time tonight."

"No, only wanted to wish you a happy birthday."

"Thank you, Tony," she softly said. "That's really sweet."

Harm had set his alarm way early, then he and Tally had brought her breakfast in bed. It had made all of them late by eight minutes, but for once, she didn't care. Tally had made her a beaded bracelet, which she was currently wearing under her uniform blouse.

Frank and Trish had called early their time to wish her a happy birthday, which she loved. Even Jack and Teagan had texted and called. So far, it was shaping up to be one of the best birthdays in a long time. Usually, she skipped it altogether, but this time everyone she cared about had made some sort of effort.

Harm stuck his head inside her office almost an hour later. "How's the Paulson case coming along?"

She glared at him. "People keep interrupting me!"

He grabbed his chest. "I'm not people!"

"All right." She put her pen down, crossing her arms in front of her. "What can I do for you?"

"You need an unbiased opinion on your opening statement?"

"From you?"

"Hey," he protested, "I can be a neutral party when I want to be."

"Don't you have work to do, sailor?"

"I always make time when you need me."

His expression was so earnest that she smiled. "I know. I'm pretty sure I can handle the case, though." Her eyes fell on her empty coffee mug. "I could do with another cup of coffee…"

"Say no more." Stepping into her office, he reached for the mug. "Anything else besides the coffee?"

"No, Flyboy, thank you."

Harm watched Mac from a distance as he crossed the bullpen back to her office. The breakfast in bed had been a special treat this morning he'd wanted to do, if only to make her feel cherished. The fact he'd had to get up forty-five minutes earlier than usual, he'd taken in stride. Her brows furrowed as she jotted something down on her pad, then turned back to her screen.

"Distracted, Commander?"

Softly cursing under his breath, he rebalanced the mug in his hand and straightened up. "Excuse me, Admiral?"

"Aren't you supposed to help Commander Griffin with his brief?"

"I am, sir." He cleared his throat. "Just bringing the Major a cup of coffee."

"Isn't it her birthday today?"

"It is, sir," Harm confirmed.

"Big plans?"

He shook his head. "No, sir. She hates being the center of attention, so we're having a small family dinner at home tonight. It's a surprise, she doesn't know."

"I'm sure she'll enjoy that."

"I hope so, sir."

Nodding, the Admiral turned around. "Well, don't let me keep you from bringing her coffee. We both know how she does on insufficient caffeine. Carry on."

"Thank you, sir."

She quickly smiled up at him as he placed the mug on her desk. "Thank you."

He winked. "You're welcome."

He started to leave, then turned around, as if he'd forgotten something. "Give me a call when you leave so I can have dinner on the table?"

Distractedly, she nodded. "Will do."

"Sarah?" He used her name, only to make sure.

This time, she looked up at him. "You never call me that at work."

His smile was soft. "Just making sure you actually heard me."

"I did." She returned his smile. "I'll call when I'm on my way."

"Thank you." Winking, he stepped back in the direction of her door. "I'll leave you to it."

"What are you still doing here? Buried in a case file, no less?"

Her head snapped up, ready to protest at being interrupted yet again, but no words came out. She blinked. Surely she was seeing things.

"You shouldn't be working this late on your birthday," Frank told her. He smiled. "Happy birthday, honey."

Finally realizing she indeed wasn't seeing things, Mac rose and took the few steps to him, accepting his hug. "What are you doing here?"

"Wishing my only daughter a happy birthday." He held her tight.

"You called this morning," she whispered. "You didn't have to come all this way."

Frank looked at her in earnest. "Yes, I did." He held up a pastry box. "Birthday cake."

Mac pressed her lips together, trying to keep her tears at bay. She swallowed. "You remembered…"

"I'd be a very lousy dad if I didn't remember that you only wished for birthday cake." He winked. "Death by chocolate. I'm hoping that's only a figure of speech."

"You're not a lousy dad," she sniffed, hugging him again. "You're the best dad ever. Thank you."

"You're so welcome, sweetheart."

Stepping back, Mac wiped her tears away, eagerly eyeing the box. "Would it be terrible if I ate it now?"

Laughing, Frank fished a fork out of his pocket. "I was counting on it. I apologize for the lack of a candle, so no wishes for now."

"I'm not sure I have anything left to wish for." Taking the box from him, Mac shook her head in amazement, gesturing to a chair. "Please take a seat." Sinking back into her own seat, she teared up again at the sight of the huge piece of cake. "Do you want to share?"

"No, thank you. Your mother would kill me if she found out I had cake now and dessert later."

"Please? I won't tell her if you won't."

Warily eyeing her, Frank gave in. "And you wonder why Harm is such a pushover when it comes to Tally. Two bites only."

Happily, Mac dug into her drawer for another fork, which she handed him with a flourish. "Enjoy." Taking the first bite, she closed her eyes in silent indulgence. "Oh, this is… heaven."

"I'd tell you to keep room for dinner, but I don't think I have to."

Her eyes sprang open. "Are you staying?"

"I am actually here to pick you up and take you out. All three of you."

"You don't have to do that."

"I know," he assured her. "But I want to, because we have reason to celebrate."

Reaching over her desk, she silently squeezed his arm, finding no words to express her gratitude. Clearing her throat, she reached for another bite. "Harm took my car to the shop this afternoon; I have his. Can we swing by the apartment so I can change?"

"If you don't mind driving me. I took a cab from the hotel."

"It's the least I can do."

"Are you supposed to be eating cake this close to dinner time?"

Mac looked up and grinned. "Only on my birthday, apparently." Her eyes sparkled. "It's death by chocolate, Tony. My dad flew in to bring me cake. What am I suppose to do?"

Tony's eyes drifted to Frank. "Must be a special piece of cake."

Frank shook his head. "It's a very special daughter."

Sure she couldn't take more compliments, Mac introduced them. "Tony, my father Frank. Dad, Major Anthony da Rosa. He's the new partner I told you about."

It made Frank narrow his eyes at Tony as he rose. "It's nice to meet you."

His handshake took the Marine by surprise. Tony sized the older man up. Judging by his look, he needed to be put at ease. "I have nothing but the utmost respect for your daughter, sir."

"I would hope so," Frank almost bristled. "If I ever hear otherwise…"

"Wouldn't dare dream of it, sir."

"Good."

Mac sighed apologetically. "I'm sorry, Tony, my father tends to be overprotective at times." She glared at Frank.

Tony winked. "I'd be too, Mac. Nice meeting you, Mr. Mackenzie. Mac, enjoy your night and happy birthday again."

"Thank you. See you tomorrow." She shook her head at Frank. "He's actually really nice, you know. Super polite, completely squared away…"

"I know." Frank smiled, forking another bite. "Doesn't mean I won't look out for you."

Clearly. With cake finished over chit chat, Mac closed her files and shut down her computer. "Are you going to tell me where we're going?"

"No," Frank said, helping her in her coat. "You'll have to wait and see."

"You do realize I'm terrible with surprises?"

"Yes, honey, well aware."

She stepped into the elevator, narrowing her eyes. "Yet you're still not telling me?"

Frank laughed, squeezing her hand. "Were any of the surprises you already had today completely terrible?"

"No," she reluctantly agreed. "They were actually pretty awesome."

"Well, then. Wait and see."

The drive to the apartment didn't take long, even though it was rush hour. Mac almost ran up the steps, Frank trailing behind.

"You understand that your old man doesn't keep up with that endless energy of yours?"

On the top of the stairs, she turned around, grinning. "Oh, come on! You're not that old!"

"Old enough to need to take it easy."

Shifting from one foot to the other, Mac waited for him, looking through her purse for the keys. When he joined her, she opened the door.

"Happy birthday!"

It stopped her dead in her tracks. How many more surprises could there possibly be today? Mouth open, she turned to Frank. "You knew?"

"Of course. Somebody had to be the diversion so you weren't going to be suspicious."

"Dad…" Speechless, she kissed his cheek. "Thank you for being the diversion." Turning around, she pierced Harm with a glare. "You!"

"Oh, don't give him that!" Teagan stepped up to hug her. "He went out of his way to make it a surprise. Happy birthday, gorgeous."

"Thank you," Mac sniffed. "This is way more birthday than I planned."

Having hugged Jack, she turned to Trish. "You two keep flying cross country for me."

Trish smiled. "We do. You deserve no less. Happy birthday, darling."

"Thank you for being here."

"Absolutely."

She watched as Mac quietly snuggled into Harm, then turned to her husband, surprised to note the lone tear rolling down his cheek. "What is it?"

"Nothing."

"Frank…"

He pressed a kiss to her temple. "She should have this every year."

"She will," his wife assured him. "What else?"

"She called me 'Dad'."

Trish's expression softened, turning to wonder. "Well, look at that. Congratulations, Dad. You did good."

Across the room, Tally piped up. "Can we eat now? Please?"