"Comforted by his brunette": Ch04: "Shared guardianship across the seas";
A/N: AU. This is a fictional story, in a fictional Alternative Universe, about fictional characters who entertained us in a fictional TV series between 1995 and 2005. Mike. Characters borrowed with love and appreciation for the great team who brought us "JAG"; may your following careers blossom.
A/N: AU: "they aren't mine, I'm just playing with them - apart from any fictional character created by myself". See Ch 01 of this story for the whole disclaimer A/N. Feel free to PM me if you spot any typos - my goal is 100% error-free. Feedback and comments are also welcome; I see plenty of followers and visitors to this story. Your opinions, critiques (and requests as PMs) are always welcomed.
A/N: Publication date: 06-Apr-2020: Four months after writing the original ending in Chapter 03, I wrote up some spare notes and took Harm and Jen – with Mattie and the future Rabb-Coates baby – further into the post-FWaFS stage of their lives. I hope that you like this extra – and this is definitely the end of this story! The guardianship of Mattie proceeds. Harm and Jennifer prepare to say "I do". Jen begins her new job, then Mother Nature gets in the way. Mike
A/N added 07-April-2021 - thanks for the reviews and PM requests for "more about Harm & Jen please". I am pleased to announce that I do have further stories in sketch form, which will extend the Harm&Jen&Mattie&bump storylines beyond the end of this story - which is, now, definitely completed! Mike
A/N: Story update April 2021; I have now developed the story into a four-chapter arc reaching to May of 2005. Further stories in the "Brunette" series will follow over time, but as separate self-contained stories.
A/N – link to Canon Episodes: We are beyond canon time. Think of "Season eleven and - ultimately - beyond."
Characters from FFNET – H Rabb; J Coates; Mattie J
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Monday 30th May 2005, (Memorial Day Sunday) 0923hrs EST
Apartment of Harmon Rabb jr, Jennifer Coates - ready for Mattie's return;
North of Union Station, Washington DC
Jennifer had missed Harm over the past month – however the past four days had seen the morning sickness symptoms fade away. She had completed her first two weeks working for AJ Chegwidden Esq and she was loving the difference.
The previous weekend, she had folded up and poly-wrapped her spare uniforms and taken the final week's uniforms to the dry-cleaner's. When they returned, they would be hung up in the wardrobe, ready for the inevitable migration into the back bedroom when they selected their long-term home. However, that lay in the future, to be tied up with Harm's relocation stateside at the end of his expected three years in London (which would become Naples later in the summer).
Jennifer had fairly simple tastes in her life (having grown up with relatively little) but she was prepared to indulge a passion for Italian leather shoes when she got the chance to hop across the Pond to Italy at some future date.
For now, she was happy to stay in their old apartment block. Harm's apartment, knocked through into the apartment which she had previously shared with Mattie, gave the "the Three Rabbs" more than enough space – plus the bedroom for "the parents" was some way apart from the wall which divided Mattie's apartment from any sounds of marital exuberance. She gently stroked her buttoned jacket, talking to the baby which was now developing steadily in her womb. So far everything was pointing to her baby having been conceived around the start of April, so Jennifer was reconciled to a Christmas baby – which would fit neatly with Harm's planned Christmas and New Year furlough from the European office.
Her "new boss" was running the adoption paperwork on a pro-bono basis, estimating a hearing in August or September if Mattie's recovery continues as well as the doctors were forecasting. In the small hours of the night, she wondered how successful she would be, with a new-born baby and a teenage daughter. One thing she knew for sure – with her husband alongside her (even when he was supporting from a distance), she had the best chance of success. Jennifer Rabb would do her darndest to be a good wife and a good mom.
She drained her glass of milk and scarfed her grilled-cheese sandwich (protein, calcium and half-a-dozen other good things for little baby Rabb-Coates) then settled down with a cup of tea. Harm often called about this time on a Monday, which coincided with the end of his 1400hrsUK weekly team gathering in London.
True to form, her man, her lover, father of her child and husband-to-be did not disappoint her. The phone rang.
"Hey lovely lady, how's tricks?"
"Pretty good, daddy-to-be; our little Rabb-to-be had left Mommy's digestive system alone for three whole days, so I am mainlining on vitamins and all good foods while the calm period continues."
"Jen, I just wish that I could be with you." From the other side of the Atlantic, Harm seemed genuinely upset at not being able to be with her.
"Don't worry, daddy-to-be; within about four weeks, the first ultrasound picture will be winging its way across the Atlantic to you." She had managed to keep her breakfast down today. She was now certain that her pregnancy was progressing – and she was delighted by the news. She continued to enjoy their regular conversations during the week - even though they spent even longer talking at the weekend.
Mattie had been more-active over the past week; her young body was healing, although there was still no firm forecast of when she was likely to be released to continue her recuperation with her adoptive family. This made it even more important to get the adoption process completed.
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Friday 10th June 2005, 14:00hrs BST
Office of Capt Harmon Rabb, jr, USN JAGC
Embassy of the United States of America to the Court of St James
30 Grosvenor Square, London W1A 2LQ
"Hey darling, happy Friday."
"Harm! You must be psychic! We've got the preliminary court hearing date for Mattie!"
"Jen darling, that is great news; when are we going to be at the hearing?"
"Thursday 7th July. So, if you can make it out for the Independence Day celebrations, we could make a week of it." She paused. "Or you could be the good boss and give people time stateside for the Independence Day weekend, then fly your people back to the UK on Tuesday 5th overnight landing Wednesday 6th, so you can brief them, handover and fly home on the Wednesday afternoon. Harm, I have a really good feeling about this – we'll have a real family by Christmas."
"Darling Jen, that sounds just perfect – plus I get to see the bump at the 3-4 month stage. I'll start making plans."
He paused, marshalling his thoughts for the next part of the conversation around future planning." "Jen, I'm going to suggest delaying the wedding - I reckon that July 4th is just going to be too much of a rush. What do you think?"
"Harm, I reckon we can wait. I am already yours in every measure that matters. So long as the marital status won't worry the court. I spoke with AJ and he is pretty agnostic about is, so I say we should relax and take our time. Also, I know that Mattie would want to be there in her bridesmaid's dress, standing with us."
"Thanks Jen."
"Plus, I want to fit into my wedding dress without problems plus we could combine it with a christening for "the bump".
"Jennifer Coates, I like the way you think." Harm was so proud of his fiancée - she was wise, flexible and focussed on the unusual (some would say insane!) family which they were building - an age gap, a wounded teenager, a difference of five time-zones in their workplaces and a baby due around year end. Plus, they'd probably need to find a real home, with space for them all and - if their daughter's recovery wasn't complete - an easier living space for Mattie.
"Love you Harm."
"Love you Jen; please give Mattie a hug from me when you see her."
"Will do. Hey Harm?"
"Yes Jen?"
"I am so glad that I was your prisoner that Christmas."
"Me too, Jen; me too."
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FIN.
End of Ch04: "Shared guardianship across the seas";
Mike: England, 06-04-2021 *revised 08-APR-2021