After a month, Mac got his time off. He was preparing to go to California to see Karen before he went on with his other plans. He missed her terribly and they had been talking on the phone and online too. He wanted to be with her though. He was boarding his flight for Los Angeles and Karen knew he was coming. She would be waiting for him.

Mac's plane landed in Los Angeles and he walked out of the gate. Karen was standing there waiting for him. She ran to him and threw her arms around his neck. "OH, Mac!" she exclaimed. "I am so glad to see you!"

Mac looked at her. "I'm glad to see you too." He kissed her. "Let's get out of here."

They went out to Karen's car and went to her apartment. When they got inside, they shared a long kiss. "I have missed you so much," Mac said.

"Come on!" Karen replied and ran for the bedroom shedding some of her clothes as she went.

Mac went after her and threw his shirt in the floor as he got in there. "Why don't we undress each other?" Karen asked.

"Fine with me," Mac replied.

They hurriedly undressed each other and then got into bed. "Oh, it's been too long!" Karen said.

"No longer," Mac replied.

Later, they were lying there in bed together as Karen stroked Mac's hair. "The beach here is beautiful," she said. "You want to go down there later?"

"Sure," Mac replied. "But I have to tell you that I'm going to be out of touch more for a while."

"Why?"

"I'm going over to Camp Lejeune for a while. I have to get my strength back and I can't think of a better way."

"How long will you be there?"

"About four or five months."

"You won't be able to call me or talk to me?"

"Of course, but probably not as often as we've been doing."

"You do what you have to do. I'll be here when you come again."

Mac rubbed his hand across her soft skin. "I guess I won't be around anything soft for a while," he said.

"Don't get hurt over there."

"You think I can't take it?"

"I don't know. Can you? You're not twenty years old anymore."

Mac smiled. "I know that, but I think I can handle it."

"I would go with you if I weren't here."

"Now, that would be interesting."

"Would it? What if I beat you?"

"I might let you win."

"You would have to be doing good for that, Taylor."

Mac pulled her close to him. "You're a tough woman," he said. "That's how I know you're going to make it through this."

"You give me so much support, I have to make it," Karen replied.

Mac spent a week with Karen and then he left for North Carolina. He hated to be away from his job that long again but he had to do something to get his strength and endurance back. At least he had gotten to be with Karen again before he went there. He had enjoyed their time together and he loved her. He would be glad when that year was over and she was back in New York and they would get married.

By the time Mac got done with his Marine training, he knew how out of shape he had been, but he had made it. He felt strong again and he did not ache anymore. He smiled as he left the base to get a plane to California again. He had to see Karen before he went back to New York, but this time, he would only get to spend the weekend with her.

"Oh, Mac, I thought I was never going to see you again," Karen said as he met her in the airport.

"It seemed like forever but I'm here now," Mac said.

"So, how was it?"

"It was tough but I made it."

"I can't wait to see that hard body."

Mac smiled. "You think it's hard again?"

"I think so. You can't get through all that without changing."

Karen was quiet all the way to her apartment but Mac figured she was just thinking. They went into the apartment and Karen fixed them something to eat. They sat on the balcony to eat. Mac could see the ocean from where they were. "This is a beautiful view," he said.

"Yes, it is," Karen agreed. "It's the best part of living here. The ocean is so blue."

"You seem to be getting a golden tan."

Karen smiled. "Well, when you live this close to the beach, you can't help but go down there sometimes."

"I guess not."

Mac looked at her. "Are you alright?" he asked.

"Yes. Why?"

"You seem awful quiet."

"Just been a long week. There are a lot of complicated situations to this job, and dealing with the public is not always pleasant, not to mention dealing with executives."

"I can sympathize with that."

They went down and walked on the beach after they were done eating. "I can swim again," Mac said. "I think I've finally regained all my strength in my legs. I feel like myself again."

"I want to know what yourself feels like," Karen said.

Mac looked at her. "You could have already known that."

"I just thought it would be nice to walk on the beach since you have to leave tomorrow night."

"It's very nice." Mac just looked at her a moment. "You sure are beautiful."

Karen smiled. "Am I?"

"Yes. Even more than before."

"Really?"

"Absolutely. Let's go back."

"Okay."

They went back to Karen's apartment and sat down on the sofa. Mac had thought they would just naturally go to the bedroom when they got there but she wanted to sit on the sofa. She lay down on the sofa and pulled him down on top. Mac thought he was floating away as they were lost in the kiss but it did not stop at a kiss.

The next day, Mac had to go back to New York. Karen held onto him for several minutes when they were standing in the gate. "I'll be back to see you again," he said.

Karen was trying desperately not to cry. "I love you, Mac."

"I love you too. Are you sure everything is okay?"

"Everything is fine. I just miss you."

"We'll talk on the internet tonight." Mac kissed her again and then got in line for the plane.

Karen watched him leave and she was crying. She felt so alone when he was not there. She did not know many people here and she had no one to help her. She was beginning to think she would not make it but she had to…especially now.

Mac sat on the plane wondering if Karen was really okay. She had not acted like herself while he was there. He supposed it was just the change in her routine and the way things were going there. He would have to make sure he kept in touch with her and kept assuring her that everything would be fine. He knew a year would be over before they knew it.

About four months later, Mac wanted to go to California, but Karen did not want him to come. "I'm just so busy," she said. "We wouldn't have any time. Wait for a while. Now that it's almost been eight months, the year is almost over."

"I know," Mac said. "But I can't just come out there any time. Are you sure you don't want me to come?"

"Oh, Mac, I want to see you but I think it would be better to wait."

"Okay. If that's what you want. Are you okay?"

"Yes, just tired and busy."

"I can imagine."

When that call was over, Mac sat at his desk thinking. He did not understand why she did not want him to come over there, but he would not go if she did not want him to. He knew it was nothing to do with their relationship. He thought maybe she was just under too much stress to deal with him right now. He was beginning to wish this situation was over and she was back here. He wanted to be married and he wanted her here with him.

A month later, Mac got on his way to California. He decided he would surprise Karen. They had been talking online and on the phone but he wanted some face to face talking. She had seemed a little down lately and he wanted to go over there and cheer her up. His plane landed and he got a cab to the apartment building. He went up and knocked on the door.

Soon he heard someone unlocking the door and Karen was there. She gasped when she saw him. "Mac!"

Mac smiled. "Are you surprised?" he asked.

Karen hugged him. "I sure am." She looked at Mac a moment with a worried look.

"What is wrong?" Mac asked. "I know something's wrong."

Just then, Mac heard something in the other room. He stared at Karen as he realized what he was hearing. "What was that?" he asked.

"Mac, there's something that I haven't told you," Karen said.

Mac felt like he was going to lose his breath. "What is it?" he asked.

"Well, just come with me."

Mac closed the door and followed her to the bedroom which had changed since he had been there…and sitting in the corner was…a crib. Mac stood in the doorway of the bedroom feeling like he could not move. "What have you done?" he asked.

Karen went over to the crib and picked up the baby that was wearing a blue sleeper. Mac felt like his legs would not hold him up. "I have to sit down," he said and sat down on the bed.

Karen came over to him and laid the baby in his arms. "This is your son," she said.

Mac looked at the baby and felt like he was trembling all over. "How could you do this to me?" he asked.

"I didn't mean for this to happen. I…"

Mac looked at her. "I don't mean the baby," he said. "I mean, how could you keep this from me? You went and had my baby without even telling me? I thought our relationship was based on trust and love."

"I was scared, Mac. I thought you would be angry, and I thought you would want to move over here to be with me. I was afraid it would embarrass you."

"Embarrass me? What do you think's going to happen when I tell everyone that I have a son that I didn't even know was coming into the world?"

Karen could see that she had really hurt Mac. "I'm sorry, Mac," she said with tears streaming down her face.

Mac looked at the baby and touched his little hand. "What's his name?" he asked.

"I haven't named him yet. I wanted you to know about him first."

Mac could not believe he was holding his own son. "He's beautiful," he said.

Karen sat down beside him. Mac looked at her a moment. "I still love you," he said.

"I love you too, Mac. I'm so sorry."

"I don't understand why you thought you couldn't tell me."

"I don't know either."

Mac held the baby up and looked at him and then hugged him to his chest. "How old is he?" he asked.

"Four days."

Mac felt like he wanted to cry himself. "I didn't get to see him born," he said. He looked at her. "How could you do this to me?"

Karen did start crying then. She felt like she had betrayed him. Mac realized she was going through an emotional time now and he was not helping it any. "I'm sorry," he said. "Don't cry."

"I know I hurt you," Karen sobbed. "I just didn't know how to tell you."

"For nine months? Why didn't you tell me…" Mac stopped a moment. "You knew the last time I was here and that's why you didn't want me to come before."

Karen nodded. "You're right. I wouldn't blame you if you don't ever want to see me again."

"I think it's a little late for that since we have this little baby here."

"I wouldn't blame you if you're angry at me."

"I'm not angry…I'm hurt. You took something from me, Karen, and I can't get it back but at least I can see my baby." Mac looked at the baby which had brown hair on his head. "There's no need to have hard feelings now."

"What do you want to name him?" Karen asked.

"Do you have any names picked out?"

"Well, I thought of naming him Mac Junior."

Mac shook his head. "No. I don't want my son called Junior."

"I had the name Jonathan in mind and call him Jon. And I also thought of Adam and Ben."

"I think I like Jonathan."

"And call him Jon?"

"Sure. What about the middle name?"

"I know you hate your middle name, but…"

"NO! No way. We could have the middle name Mac or Boyd. My father's middle name was Boyd."

"Jonathan Boyd Taylor."

Mac smiled. "Sounds good to me."

"Okay. I'll call that name in so they can put it on the birth certificate."

Mac sat there and held the baby while she called the name in. "Jon," he said. "I think that's a good, strong name. I just wouldn't want to call you Jonny. I had an uncle named Johnny and he didn't want to do anything but fight. Every time he came around, you could expect him to start fighting with somebody, so we'll have none of that." Mac stared at him a moment and thought he was a perfect little baby. He looked at Karen. "Don't I get to sign the birth certificate?"

"Yes," Karen said. "We have to go to the hospital for that."

Mac nodded. "I want to then." He put his finger in the baby's hand and it clinched it. "He has a good grip."

Karen smiled as she watched Mac holding the baby…their baby. Then the baby started crying. Mac stood up and held him. "Oh, it's alright," he soothed.

"It's time for his feeding," Karen said as she was finishing the phone call.

Mac looked at her. "Are you bottle feeding him?"

"No…only when I have to go back to work will I give him a bottle."

"Oh. Are you going to come back to New York with me until you are ready to work again?"

"I want to, but I have the apartment here and I worked until I had the baby. Mister Crenshaw wasn't too happy when he found out I was pregnant. He almost fired me."

"And you didn't tell me," Mac said.

"I know I should have told you. I'm sorry. I don't know how to make it up to you."

Mac was not sure she could but he supposed he would get over it eventually. "I want you to come home," he said. "I want you and our baby there with me. We will get married and raise him together. I don't want to leave you out here."

Karen looked at Mac and knew he meant it. "Okay," she agreed. "I'll go back with you."

"You'll be my wife and we'll be a family. You don't have to worry about work right now until you're ready. I make plenty of money for us."

Mac gave the baby to Karen and they sat on the bed. He watched the baby feed. "Karen," he said softly.

"What?"

"I love you."

"I love you too, Mac."

"I didn't mean to sound harsh."

"I can understand why you were upset. I wish I had told you."

"Well, we can't change that now. All we can do is go forward."

"And we will go forward…together."

Mac kissed her. "Always."