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Caroline's School
Late March 2013

Mac parked her car in the designated student pick up area at Caroline's school and quickly exited her vehicle. She made her way over to the group of other parents that were lined up near the doors waiting for their children to be dismissed for the day.

After cinching the tie on her coat a little bit tighter to ward off the chill, she slipped her hand into her pocket and pulled out her cellphone to dial Marie's direct line.

"This is Marie."

"Hey, Marie. It's Mac. I was hoping you could do a favor for me."

"Anything."

"Well, my former commanding officer is coming to drop off the reference letter for the adoption portfolio, and I'm still waiting to get Caroline from school. I was wondering if you can get the letter from him and find a place for him to wait until I get there. Caroline doesn't know he's going to be there, and she'll be thrilled to see him."

"No problem. It will be a welcomed break from going over the depositions. What's his name?"

"AJ Chegwidden." Mac smiled and waved when she saw the doors open and Caroline exit the building. "I have to go now; Caroline was just dismissed. Thanks, again."

"No problem, Sarah. See you soon."

"Hi, Mommy," Caroline greeted as she skipped over to her mother who was just putting her phone back into her pocket. "Is Daddy still away?" She asked with a dramatic emphasis on the word still.

Mac reached out for Caroline's hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. "He is, baby. Hopefully, he can try to call tonight. His JAG meetings should be finished this afternoon, and then he's going to go to Nana and Papa's. We can probably all video chat."

The annual JAG conference was in San Diego again this year, and Harm was going to make a stop in La Jolla to visit Trish and Frank for a day before returning to Virginia.

"It's not fair Daddy gets to see Papa and Nana and we don't." Caroline pouted as she crossed her arms over her chest.

"I know you miss them. Hopefully, we can all visit soon. We're going on an adventure before we go home, though, maybe that will make you feel better." Mac began as she helped Caroline get situated in the car. "That's why I picked you up today instead of you taking the bus, actually."

"What kind of an adventure?" Caroline asked cautiously, eyebrows raised.

"We have to stop at my work before we go home."

Caroline's face lit up. She loved when she would get to go to her daddy's office because if Uncle Bud was there and court wasn't in session, he'd take her to the courtroom and tell her stories about when he would argue cases with her against her parents there a long time ago, but going to her mommy's law office was fun in a different way. There weren't as many people, and they could walk around without people standing like statutes until her daddy said "at ease" or people stopping what they were doing and saying "attention on deck" when her daddy walked by. She asked him once why they did that and told her it was "military protocol" because he was the boss. But perhaps, Caroline thought, the best part about going to her mommy's office was that Miss Marie was there and Miss Marie would always let her have a Hershey kiss from her secret candy jar stash.

"Is Miss Marie gonna be there?" Caroline asked as casually as she could.

Mac smirked as she slid into the driver's seat and made eye contact with Caroline through the rear-view mirror. "Yes."

"Okay. Good. I was just wonderin'."

"You're thinking about those Hershey kisses, aren't you?"

Caroline blushed and nodded her head. "Yes," she giggled. "Miss Marie says she only gives the Hershey kisses to special people, and I'm a special people 'cause she gives 'em to me. What about you, Momma? Does she give 'em to you? Or do you hafta have the icky peppermints she keeps on her desk for everyone else?"

"She gives me the Hershey kisses, too."

"That's good."

"I think there's going to be something else that you'll get to see that you may just like more than those chocolate kisses."

"I don't know...I really like those candies."

"I guess you'll just have to wait and see then," her mother replied as she pulled away from the school.

Mac's Law Office
Main Lobby

AJ pushed open the large glass door and stepped into the lobby. It was the first time he got to see where Mac worked now, and he could tell that immediately that it was a good fit for her. It was nearly the exact opposite of what her last stint in civilian law looked like at Dalton's firm.

It was not ultra-modern like most law firms were these days – with a fancy fountain in the lobby, glass doors and expensive artwork on the walls. Instead, it was more intimate. It felt like a place where you more than just a name or billable hours to the attorneys there. It felt warm, cozy, and in some strange way, it felt like a safe haven.

"Hi," AJ greeted with a smile as he approached the receptionist. "I'm here to see Sarah MacKenzie," he fought the urge to call her "Colonel MacKenzie." Then he frowned for a second when he realized he didn't know what name she went by at work. "Or maybe Sarah Rabb. I'm not really sure what name she uses here," he chuckled awkwardly and scratched his head, "but she should be expecting me."

The young woman nodded and smiled. "She goes by Sarah MacKenzie-Rabb here, officially. Although, most people just call her Ms. MacKenzie or "Mac," she replied with a shrug. "She's not in right now, I'm afraid. May I ask your name?"

"AJ Chegwidden."

The woman flipped a few pages in her appointment book and confirmed that Mac was in fact expecting the older gentleman. "It says here that Ms. Hilliard will see you until Ms. MacKenzie returns. I'll let her know that you are here. She's one of the partners here."

"Thank you." AJ walked over to an empty chair and began to flip through one of the Food Network Magazines that was sitting on the table. Not too much time had passed before he heard the clicking sound of high heel shoes on the hardwood floor, when he glanced up, he realized that a beautiful, tall, slender, brunette woman was approaching him, and he quickly stood up.

"You must be AJ Chegwidden," she began with a dazzling smile as she extended her hand. Her bright red lipstick gave the illusion that her white teeth were literally sparkling. "Marie Hilliard. It's a pleasure to meet you." She said in her slight Southern drawl.

"You as well, ma'am."

"Mac had to pick up Caroline from school, and she isn't back yet, so I'm afraid you are stuck with me for the time being. I can give you the dime tour while you wait, if you'd like," she offered.

"Certainly."

"Excellent," Marie smiled as she took the folder from him. "If you'll follow me," she began as she gestured to another set of doors behind the receptionist.

"You're one of the partners here?" AJ asked to make small talk as they walked down the narrow hallway.

Marie nodded – after years of being in this profession, she was well versed on being able to pick up the sudden clues or signs of disbelief from people who –even after all these years – would think it wasn't her "place" to hold the position of partner. But when AJ asked, she couldn't pick up on any traces of disbelief or contempt. Instead, he seemed genuinely interested.

"I've been here ever since I graduated from law school more years ago than I'd ever care to admit. I have been a partner for the last 17 years."

"That quite an accomplishment. You should be proud of that."

"Thank you." Not familiar with receiving compliments like that, she nervously tucked a piece of hairr behind her ear and hugged the file folder against her chest. "I hear you were Mac's commanding officer. The JAG, right? Isn't that the position her husband holds now?"

"Yes, on all counts."

"That's probably a lot more interesting than family law."

AJ shrugged. "It probably depends on the day," he chuckled, "although, Harm and Mac...those two working together...well, let's just say they kept me on my toes."

Marie relaxed some. "They're great together. I can only imagine what they were like to work with."

AJ laughed. "Sometimes, I think they fought more when they were on the same side rather than when they were opposing counsel. They always had that unique dynamic about them. You know, the day they met, I told them not to get too close to each other, and sometimes, I think they may have listened a little too well. It took them a long time before they realized what they had with each other. But I guess everything happens when it's supposed to happen. No sooner and no later. I can't imagine a world where Harm and Mac didn't end up together." He added.

Marie smiled at the way he talked about Harm and Mac. "Fate's funny like that," she agreed. "Mac mentioned you were in the Navy; are you an aviator like Harm, too?" she wondered.

"No," he shook his head. "I was a Navy Seal, actually."

"A Seal?" Marie – who generally wasn't impressed easily -was in fact impressed, and the two easily struck up enough conversation to fill the time until Mac arrived nearly a half hour later.

Mac pushed through the second set of lobby doors holding Caroline's hand and they spotted AJ and Marie chatting down the hall near the coffee station. They were each holding a Styrofoam coffee cup, AJ's deep laughter could be heard down the hallway, and Marie was smiling as she waved her free hand around while she told him some story. She was so animated in her storytelling that the bracelets she wore on her wrists could be heard jangling over their laughter.

Caroline's face lit up. "Is Uncle AJ the surprise?" she asked excitedly.

Mac nodded and smiled. "Why don't you go say hi?"

Caroline trotted down the hallway using every ounce of willpower she had not to run at full speed as Mac followed a few steps behind.

"Uncle AJ!" Caroline shouted as she approached him. "Hi!"

AJ turned around, setting his coffee cup on the coffee cart, and grinned when he saw her. He kneeled down to her level and Caroline lunged herself at him. "Hi, Pumpkin Pie," he greeted with a kiss to her forehead as he stood up with her still in his arms.

"Uncle AJ!" She giggled. "I'm a kid, not a food!" She laughed again and then turned her attention to Marie. "Hi, Miss Marie."

"Hi, Caroline," Marie greeted as she reached into the pocket of her blazer and pulled out a Hershey kiss wrapped in silver foil and handed it over to the child.

Caroline's eyes lit up. "Thank you." She glanced over at her mother and, after receiving an approving nod, Caroline tore the wrapper off and put the piece of candy into her mouth.

Mac took a few steps closer and retrieved the empty wrapper from Caroline and shoved it into her coat pocket for the time being. "Hi, Admiral."

He rolled his eyes. "Mac..." he warned.

"Hi, AJ," she corrected, with a smile.

"Much better."

"Are we still gonna see baseball soon, Uncle AJ?" Caroline asked. "You said it coming up."

"Of course, we're going to go to opening day! I don't make promises I can't keep."

"Just like Daddy!" Caroline giggled. "Miss Marie should come too!" She declared.

Mac bit back a smirk – she never once put Caroline up to this, but apparently Caroline had some matchmaking qualities of her own.

"You know, I think that would be a wonderful idea, Caroline." AJ responded before Marie even had a chance to deflect. "Is that something you'd be interested in?" He asked as he turned to face Marie.

"Yes," she blurted out before she could talk herself out of it. "That's sounds lovely. I would be delighted to."

Later that evening
Burnett Residence

"I'm glad you were able to stop over before you have to return to Washington," Trish said to her son as she watched him set is laptop up at the kitchen table. Mac and Caroline were going to Skype him in a little bit so they all could "visit."

"Me, too, Mom. Caroline's pretty upset with me that I got to come visit, though, and she didn't."

Trish chuckled. "So, what are you doing to make up for it? A trip to the Air and Space Museum when you get home?"

Harm shrugged. "Maybe." He replied casually.

"For you her sake or yours?" She quipped; eyebrow raised.

"You sound like Mac, Mom." He shook his head.

"How are things going with the adoption?" Trish broached the subject and tried to gauge her son's reaction. Frank had told her not to pry, but she couldn't help herself. She frowned when she noticed Harm's demeanor shift the slightest bit and he didn't say anything. "Harm?" she prompted as she walked over to the table with a tray of finger sandwiches.

"It's..." He stalled for a moment while he had an internal debate with himself over whether or not he should voice the thoughts.

"Harmon Rabb," his mother said in that tone that she used for most of his youth. "What's going on?"

He sighed as he typed in the password on the laptop and the machine came to life. "I know that this is what I want, but there's still this little part of me that thinks maybe Mac doesn't want it...that she only agreed because she knows how I feel about it."

"Oh. I thought that's why you guys waited to start the process in January and not beforehand."

"Well, yeah. It was."

"And now it's March...late March," she emphasized. "...and last I heard the home study was completed, the portfolio was made, and letters of reference were being accepted."

"Yeah."

"Well, has Mac said anything that that leads you to believe she wants to change her mind?"

"No - quite the opposite, actually."

"Harm, I'm not sure I understand what the problem is then."

"It's just a feeling, Mom. I can't explain it...but that's how it's always been with Mac and me."

"Well, then I think you know what I'm going to say. You need to talk to Mac about this."

"Ehh...I don't know. It's probably nothing...I'm probably just reading too much into the situation and seeing things that aren't there."

"Harm," his mother's voice was firm. "You need to talk to Mac. Trust me. It will only make it worse if you avoid it."

Harm didn't get a chance to reply because the Skype sound suddenly filtered through the laptop speakers and he quickly went to accept the call. He was greeted by a smiling Mac and Caroline sitting at his desk in his home office back in Virginia.

Caroline was waving happily at the camera. "Hi, Daddy! Hi, Nana! Where's Papa?" She asked – immediately noticing that he wasn't there.

Harm waved back and Trish answered. "He's on his way home from golf. He should be here very soon."

"Hi, Itsy-Bitsy. Hi, Mac." He smiled, but the smile didn't quite reach his eyes like it normally would, and even his voice sounded a little off.

Mac was quick to notice. "Everything okay?" She asked, puzzled. She didn't think that if something was wrong he would talk in front of his mother and Caroline, but it was worth a shot. "Did something happen at the conference? Your mom and Caroline can video chat if you want to call the house and tell me about it," she suggested.

"No, no." He shook his head. "Everything is fine."

"Hm. You seem a little... off." She finally supplied.

"Must be a bad connection."

Mac cocked her head to the side. "Oh, okay." She replied even though she didn't believe him.

"Well, what did you do today, Itsy-Bitsy? Mommy told me she was taking you on an adventure."

"Yeah, I got to go to Mommy's work and Uncle AJ was there and GUESS WHAT!" She exclaimed. Her face lighting up more and more by the time she finished her sentence.

"What?" her grandmother asked.

"Miss Marie is gonna go watch baseball with me and Uncle AJ! Isn't that exciting!"

"Oh, really?" Harm smirked and gave Mac a look. "Did Mommy suggest that?" He raised an eyebrow as he crossed his arms over his chest.

"Hey!" Mac scowled as she pretended to be offended that he would make such an accusation.

Caroline wrinkled her nose. "No, Daddy. I did."

"Oh, I see," he chuckled.

"Yes, Harm, she really did ask all on her own. I didn't influence her in any way."

"Well, I guess it looks like we have a little matchmaker on our hands..." he replied with a real smile.

"Yeah," she agreed. "I think she learned a thing or two by spending all that time with Aunt Harriet." Mac laughed, and the sound made Harm's worries fade away – for now at least.