Chapter Eleven
Two Expectant Parents

DECEMBER 2006

2030 PST
MACKENZIE-RABB RESIDENCE
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA

"Here, let me get that."

Harm took the empty ornament box out of Mac's hands, much to her irritation. He'd been like this for her entire pregnancy, acting like it was illegal for her to so much as lift a finger to do anything. It was especially bad now that Mac was less than a month away from her due date. January 3rd, 2007 couldn't come soon enough. Mac felt like she was three seconds away from losing her mind at all times.

"I could've gotten that!" Mac called after Harm as he jogged up the staircase.

"I know, but you didn't have to," Harm paused at the top of the stairs, looking down at her with a smirk. "You're welcome, by the way."

Mac huffed, blowing her bangs out of her face. "Thank you," she replied begrudgingly.

She walked back into the living room, sitting down on the sofa with no intention of getting up any time soon. Her hands went to her belly, feeling a strong kick from her son, who was still nameless at 37 weeks. They hadn't completely decided on a name yet, something that was proving to be quite nerve wracking for both Harm and Mac. They had plenty of ideas, but none of them seemed to be the perfect fit.

It was ironic, almost laughable, that they were having so much trouble picking out a name. Harm and Mac had been trying to conceive since they moved to San Diego and had done multiple rounds of IVF; they'd planned practically everything about this baby, and yet they couldn't come up with a name to save their lives. That should've been a piece of cake.

"Maybe you just have to meet him," Trish had told them a few weeks earlier, "The name might come to you once you see him in person."

"What do you think about that?" Mac asked, looking down at her belly. "Are we just going to have to meet you before we figure out a name?"

There was no response, not that Mac was expecting one. Harm walked back into the living room just in time to see Mac yawn. He paused. "Do you want to go to bed?" he asked. "Because we can finish decorating the tree tomorrow-"

"No," Mac shook her head. "I'm fine. We may as well get it done so we can focus on stuff for the baby," she tried to stand, but it proved to be quite difficult. "Here," Harm offered his hand. When Mac stood up, Harm noticed a strange look on her face. She slowly looked down and Harm followed her gaze. There was a rapidly-growing wet spot on the front of her sweatpants.

"I think tree decorating is going to have to wait," Mac said, looking up at Harm with wide eyes.

"Yeah…" Harm nodded in agreement. He looked a little faint, and Mac thought for a split second that he was going to pass out. "Let me get the...the-"

"Okay," Mac knew she was going to have to take control for the time being, even though she was the one in labor. Thankfully she had Trish on speed dial in case Harm proved to be a complete basket case-which was a real possibility. He'd almost had a panic attack during the birthing class they'd taken a month prior. "You go get the hospital bag, I'll get the keys."

While Mac was fishing around in her purse for the keys, she heard Harm curse. "Honey," she called. "What's wrong?"

He appeared in the kitchen doorway, looking more flustered than Mac had seen him in a long time-and rightfully so; becoming a father for the first time was a big deal. "We don't have a hospital bag," he said.

"What?" Mac's brow furrowed. "What are you talking about?"

"We don't have a hospital bag," Harm repeated. "You said we would pack it after we got done decorating the tree, remember?"

Mac froze. "Shit."

"I know.

Turning back to her purse, Mac pulled out her cellphone. "Here," she said. "Let me call your mother."

TEN HOURS LATER

Despite its rocky start, Mac's labor went smoothly-much to the relief of everyone. Harm and Mac's son came into the world at 0430 on December 13th, 2006 weighing a little under seven pounds. After all the hoops she had to jump through in order to become a mother, Mac was so thankful her son was finally here, healthy and absolutely perfect. She was also incredibly thankful for epidurals.

"You're so handsome, aren't you?" Trish cooed softly at the sleeping infant in her arms. She always already head-over-heels with her grandson; Frank was even worse.

"He gets that from his mom," Harm said, smiling at Mac, who rolled her eyes affectionately.

"Have you two decided on a name yet?" Trish asked.

Harm and Mac exchanged glances. From the brief conversations they were able to have between contractions and the little bit they'd been able to talk since their son was born, Harm and Mac had a pretty good idea of what his name would be.

"Do you want to do the honors?" Harm asked.

Mac raised her eyebrows. "Me?"

He shrugged. "You did all the heavy lifting."

"Well," Mac turned to Trish, who was waiting eagerly. "We think we're gonna go with Wade Harmon Rabb. What do you think?"

Trish beamed. "I love it. Where did you get Wade from?"

"It means 'river crossing'," Mac explained. "We decided to go with a water theme."

"You know, because of the Navy," Harm added, unable to help himself.

Trish laughed. "I see."

Everyone looked down at the newest addition to the Rabb family, who was still fast asleep in his grandmother's arms. There was no doubt that he would be everyone's favorite Christmas present that year.