Two months later

Harm and Mac's apartment

Harm checked the pasta and decided that it needed a few more minutes. Mattie was by the table doing homework. They were expecting Mac home any minute. She had been on assignment escorting a Private to the brig at Miramar. Harm hadn't been all supportive of the Admiral's agreement to send Mac to escort the Private since the Private had been the one to give Mac a concussion a little over a month ago. Mac had been punched in the face in the courtroom after the Private's verdict had been given. It had been a long week trying to make Mac take it easy while she was recovering.

"Are you almost finished?" Harm wondered.

"Yeah, I'll clear it away," Mattie said and stood. She gathered her books so that Harm could set the table. "I can get lost if you and Mac want some alone-time?"

"What?" Harm shook his head. "No, you don't need to do that. I'm sure Mac is just as eager to see you as she is to see me."

Mattie smiled. "I think it's cute."

"What's cute?" Harm wondered.

"You were blushing just now," Mattie pointed out.

"I was not," Harm argued just as they heard the front door open and shut.

They both headed out of the kitchen to meet Mac. "Hi guys," she said when she noticed them. She finished hanging up her jacket.

"Welcome home," Harm smiled brightly and hugged her. Their lips met in a soft kiss as the hug ended. "We missed you."

"I missed you guys too," Mac said and hugged Mattie too. "You'll never believe what happened. I proved that Private Boyer is innocent of the charges."

"What?" Harm was curious.

"You investigated? I thought you were escorting that soldier to prison?" Mattie questioned.

"That was the assignment," Mac confirmed. "Of course Colonel Okerman won't drop the charges so I had to get the Admiral involved."

"What was the new evidence?" Harm wondered. "I better save dinner from burning. Tell us while we eat."

"I'll just shower and change," Mac said and grabbed her bag. "I'll be quick."

Later

Harm handed Mac the steaming hot tea and joined her on the couch.

"Thank you," she said and smiled.

Harm smiled as she put her feet into his lap. The apartment had been empty without her.

"Did you say that your client didn't want his assignment back?" she questioned.

"Yeah, he took an assignment as a case manager at the aids ward at Bethesda." Harm started rubbing her feet.

"So his wife gave him the virus. That must have been hard for him to forgive," Mac assumed.

Harm nodded thoughtfully. "It was. They're separated. He would have handled it differently if she'd been honest from the start. But he couldn't forgive the lie."

"I can understand that." She nudged his thigh with her foot. "Did you say that your plate is empty at the moment?"

He chuckled. "The Admiral does not appreciate my metaphors. But yeah, I have a light schedule."

"Since I don't have to go back until Monday, you could leave early tomorrow and we'll get Mattie from school and go away this weekend," Mac suggested.

"Where would we go on such short notice?" he wondered.

"Let me look into that," she said with a cute smile. "I'm sure there's something for us to do this weekend."

Harm nodded. "I'm sure there is. Okay, Colonel, you figure it out."

"Great," she said and looked pleased.

Harm smiled. "Guess what I'm thinking?"

"I think I know what you're thinking," she said in a teasing tone.

"I wasn't thinking about that," he argued, but his eyes betrayed him a little. "I was thinking that it's good to have you home. I've missed you."

"I've missed you too." She put the mug on the table and she leaned forward.

He leaned forward too and their lips met in a soft kiss.

"Let's spend some time with Mattie, and then we'll turn in early," she suggested.

"Sounds like a plan," Harm agreed just as Mattie walked into the living room. She slumped down in a chair. "Guess what?"

"What?" the teenager asked.

"Mac is taking us away for the weekend," Harm said.

"Really?" Mattie smiled and sat up straighter. "Where?"

"I don't know that yet, but I think it'll be fun," Mac said with a sweet smile. "I have a few ideas."

"Cool," Mattie said.

They sat and talked for a little while longer then Mattie decided to look over some homework before she went to sleep. She left them alone.

Harm made the round and secured the apartment for the night before joining Mac in their bedroom. It was officially theirs now that Mac had moved all her things in there.

"I really missed you," she said as she moved into his arms.

"Me too," he said and leaned in and kissed her deeply.

Later

"Oh, that's good."

"You like that?" Harm chuckled and continued rubbing her shoulders.

"It's a good welcome home," she said with satisfaction.

He kissed her neck softly. "I aim to please."

"You sure do," she agreed.

"I talked to Mom and she invited us there for a weekend. She's been suggesting it for a while now," Harm said.

"We should just go," Mac said.

"I was thinking that we'd wait until school is finished for the summer and stay more than a weekend," he suggested.

"Do you think we'll both be granted leave at the same time?" she wondered.

"We should try," he reasoned.

She hesitated. "This is always going to be a problem for us."

"Yeah," he agreed. "But we won't work together forever," he reasoned.

"You planning on moving or something?" she wondered with amusement as she turned on her back.

He smiled and moved over her. "No, no immediate plan."

"Good," she moved her arms around his neck. "I'm not into long distance."

"Long-distance would be hard," he agreed before leaning in and kissing her.

"We should talk to the Admiral. Maybe he'll give us a few days of leave at the same time. You and Mattie could stay longer," Mac suggested.

Harm nodded. "We'll see."

"We should get some sleep," Mac suggested with a smile.

"Sleep?" he questioned as his hands moved down her body. "I have other plans."

"You want to go again?" she smirked. "Already?"

"I'm ready when you are," he challenged.

"In that case…" she pulled him closer and kissed him deeply.

Saturday

Harm took Mac's hand as they walked back to their rented apartment. Mac had found them a place to stay in Ocean City despite it being very last minute. They had played miniature golf, done some shopping and they'd been out on a boat and had seafood both for lunch and dinner.

"This was a great idea, did I say that?" Mattie wondered.

"Only like ten times," Mac said with a chuckle. "And I agree."

"It's a shame we have to leave again tomorrow," Harm said.

"We don't have to leave early, right?" Mattie wondered.

"I bet we can get in another round of miniature golf before we leave," Mac suggested.

"Yeah, you need your revenge, huh?" Harm teased.

"I was two strokes behind you," Mac argued. "And you distracted me with that last stroke."

"What did I do?" he wondered.

"You threw me off with that comment you made," she pointed out.

Harm chuckled. "What? I thought marines could handle more than that? I'll make sure I watch what I say around you from now on."

"For that, you get to sleep on the floor tonight," she warned.

He raised his eyebrows. "Ouch."

"Let's have ice cream?" Mattie suggested and pointed to an ice cream booth.

"You guys go ahead," Harm said.

"Come on Mattie," Mac motioned for Mattie to follow her.

They walked around for another hour then headed back to the apartment. Mattie found the remote and found a movie to watch so Harm sat down beside Mac and pulled her close.

"You're not really mad at me?" he whispered.

She smiled. "I'll let you make it up to me."

"Yes, ma'am," he agreed.

The next day

Mac was the first to wake up. She smiled when she felt Harm tighten his hold on her when she stretched. They had gotten into the habit of sleeping very close together, making it harder for Mac to fall asleep when she was away on assignment and had to sleep alone. Harm was surprisingly sweet as a boyfriend. She had gotten to see a new side of him after they finally decided to give them a chance.

She ran her hand down his muscular chest as she leaned in and kissed his neck. He mumbled good morning and moved against her.

"Should we get up?" she wondered.

"No," he said and moved over her.

"Mattie could be awake," she reasoned but held him close.

"We'll be quick," he suggested as he kissed down her neck.

Her only response was a nod as his lips met hers.

Later they had breakfast. They stayed for a while longer before packing up and leaving. They agreed to go back there sometime soon.