September

Mac walked into the house carrying groceries. She could hear voices from the kitchen as she walked through the living room. It had been a busy day, and she was looking forward to spending the weekend relaxing. Mattie was home for the weekend, and they had planned to see Harm's mother and stepfather the next day. On top of that, Harm and Mac were planning their wedding, which would happen two weeks from now. They had seriously started looking into adoption, and Harm had suggested that they hurry up and get married. That meant scaling the wedding down from what they had originally planned for next summer.

"Hi," Mac said as she entered the kitchen.

"Hi, Mac." Mattie was sitting on a barstool. She now moved easily between her chair and other places. She managed on her own with most things. It was fun to follow her progress as she got back on her feet. They were talking about moving her home for good in the next few weeks.

Harm moved in and kissed her as she rounded the counter. "Something smells great," Mac said as she put the groceries down.

"Lasagna," Harm said as he started unloading the grocery bags. "You go change, and we'll eat."

"Sounds like a plan." Mac left the kitchen and went to change out of her uniform.

Harm had set the table by the time she walked back into the kitchen. Mac noticed how hungry she really was. She had barely had time for a quick meal at lunchtime.

"How was your day, Mattie?" Mac wondered as she sat down.

"It was okay. I did my exercises, and other than that, I've been mostly inside watching TV.

"And how's school?" Mac wondered.

"It's fine, I guess. Although the actual school would be better," the teenager said with a sigh. "I miss people."

"I can understand that," Mac said sympathetically.

"You're moving home soon, and there's no reason why you can't go to school at some point. When the doctor says it's okay," Harm added as he sat down with them.

Mattie nodded but didn't say anything. Harm and Mac shared looks. They knew that Mattie missed her friends' back in Blacksburg.

Later

Mac handed Harm a glass of ice tea before joining him in the porch swing. It had become even more amazing than she had pictured when Harm had described it to her. It had become their place.

"Did you have a good day at work?" she wondered. Harm had started in his job as a state prosecutor a few weeks back.

"I did," he assured.

Mac worried that he wasn't happy with the situation. He was back in the courtroom, but without the uniform. He was still in the reserves, and he kept up his quals, but he didn't get to put his uniform on every day.

"You don't have to worry about me," he added.

She smiled. "I just want you to be happy."

"I worry that Mattie isn't happy," he said after a little while.

"Maybe we should have stayed in D.C," Mac suggested. "She'd have her friends'."

"Well, that's too late now. Besides, we had to leave," he reminded her. "It wouldn't have made sense for both of us to turn down our assignments. As flattered as I was to get the London command, I knew deep down that doing that and doing what was right for Mattie wouldn't be possible to combine. I have more time for her now."

"I know you did it for her, and she appreciates it, Harm. It's just hard right now," Mac sipped her tea.

He smiled as he turned more fully to her. "I did it for us too. I did think this through, you know."

"Did I suggest anything else?" she wondered with amusement.

"You think I'm reckless," he accused. "We're getting married in two weeks, now is the time to run away if you have doubts," he teased.

She could see that the smile didn't reach his eyes. They still weren't the best communicators. "I feel like I got everything. I got you and Mattie, this house, and my command. I didn't give anything up."

"What would you give up to have me?" he asked. "Would you give up your command?"

"I would give it up," she answered honestly as she put her ice tea down on the deck. "It's just a job. A job I like, but still just a job. I can live without the Marine Corps, Harm. I don't think I can live without you. As cliche as it sounds."

"I can live without the Navy," he put his ice tea down as well and moved his arms around her. "I have no regrets, Sarah."

"I believe you," she moved her arms around his neck. "And I'm not running away."

"That's a relief," he leaned in and kissed her softly. "I wanted to discuss something with you."

"Yeah?" she reached for her ice tea again.

"About Mattie moving home. She wants to do it before the wedding." He studied Mac's reaction.

"If the doctor thinks it's okay, I don't see a problem with that." It had been in the cards for a while now. The house was ready.

"But we're leaving the night of the wedding and staying away for the weekend and two extra days," he said with worry. Because of his new job and her command, they couldn't take a whole week, so they had agreed that they'd save the longer trip for later.

"Jenn, your mom, and Frank, they would all be willing to stay with Mattie," Mac reasoned. "I think it would be good for Mattie."

Harm nodded thoughtfully. "Okay, we'll tell her in the morning."

Mac smiled reassuringly. "I promised her we'd go shopping in the morning. Your mom is coming too."

"As long as I don't have to go," Harm said dryly.

Mac laughed softly.

Harm started to stand. "I feel the bed calling me." He took her hand and dragged her to her feet, moving her into his arms, kissing her deeply.

Mac enjoyed his passionate side. He was an amazing lover, and they had enjoyed exploring that part of their relationship.

The next day

Mac and Trish waited while Mattie got dressed. They were looking for a bridesmaid dress for Mattie.

"I loved the light purple one," Trish commented.

"I did too," Mac said with a sweet smile. She was on cloud nine at the moment. The thought of being married to Harm made her smile every time she thought about it. Two more weeks, and they were officially a married couple. She was glad they had decided to up the wedding. The sooner, the better.

"But it's up to Mattie," Trish pointed out. "I can't wait to see the wedding dress."

"And I can't wait to show it to you. It's perfect. Everything I wanted." Mac had found it right away when she walked into the store a few weeks back. It was on a mannequin, and she'd known right away that it was the perfect dress.

"Excuse me." The shop lady, Maryann, motioned for Mac to follow her. "I put the dress out for you in here."

"I'll just look at the dress my daughter is wearing first," Mac said.

"Just let me know when you're ready." Maryann smiled and left them alone.

"So?"

Trish and Mac both turned to Mattie. She was standing up, looking like her old self. It was amazing to watch how far she'd come since her accident. "Wow, it's gorgeous, Mattie."

"It really is," Trish agreed. "I like the soft yellow color. Although the light purple one was amazing too. It's going to be a hard pick."

"You decide," Mattie said to Mac.

Mac hesitated. Mattie had looked good in both. "It should be your decision, Mattie."

"But it's your wedding," Mattie argued.

"I loved the purple one," Mac finally said.

"I do, too," Mattie said with a big smile. "I'll take that one."

"I agree," Trish smiled warmly. This was a moment she had dreamed about. The day her son would get married.

"Does your daughter need any help?" Maryann was back.

"Mattie?" Mac wondered.

Mattie nodded. "Sure."

"I'll just get into my dress then," Mac said with a smile as she headed for the changing room.

Maryann arrived after a little while to help her. "It fits perfectly."

Mac looked in the mirror, and she had to agree. She had never felt more beautiful in her life. It clung to the right places, simple yet elegant. "I better show Mattie and Trish."

Both Mattie and Trish had bright smiles on their faces when she stepped out of the dressing room. "Wow!" Trish wiped away a tear. "It's amazing."

"It really is beautiful, Mac," Mattie complimented. "You are beautiful."

"Thank you, Mattie," Mac said sincerely. "So, you think Harm will approve?"

"More like hit the floor," Mattie suggested.

Trish laughed softly. "Wow, I'm finally going to have a daughter in law. And a grandchild to spoil," she put her hand on Mattie's shoulder. "I thought this day would never come."

Mattie was taken by surprise by Trish calling her grandchild. She didn't have any grandparents since they had all died while she was young.

"I'll just change, and we can leave," Mac said and headed back into the changing room. The dress was coming home with Trish. Mac and Mattie would stay there the night before her wedding, and they'd dress and get ready together.

Later

Mac found Mattie out on the balcony after dinner. They had had a busy day, and Mac knew that Mattie had to be tired.

"How's it going?" she wondered.

"I just needed some air," Mattie moved her chair around as Mac sat down on a chair. "Today was great."

"You must be exhausted," Mac said with worry.

"In a good way," Mattie reassured. "It's great to be out of the hospital."

"Only this week left, and you get to come home for good," Mac reassured.

Mattie nodded. "Mac?"

Mac nodded. "Yeah?"

"Today, when the shop lady called me your daughter, you didn't correct her," Mattie said questioningly.

"I didn't," Mac smiled hesitantly. "I might have called you my daughter when I spoke with her earlier. I didn't mean to overstep."

"It's okay, really. I'm grateful for what you've done for me. I know that marrying Harm came with this package," she motioned for herself in her chair.

"I didn't just agree to marry Harm, I agreed to be your guardian as well, and I take that responsibility very seriously. We're a family," Mac smiled. "I have come to love you very much, Mattie."

Mattie smiled. "I love you too, Mac."

"There you two are," Harm said as he walked out on the balcony. "I thought that we should get you home, Mattie."

"I'm fine," Mattie reassured. "I'm tired, but in a good way."

"There's a good way to be tired?" Harm wondered.

"I know my limitations," Mattie said with an eye roll.

"Okay," Harm didn't sound so sure.

"I think Mattie is right," Mac meddled.

"Are you two ganging up on me?" he wondered.

"Yes," both Mac and Mattie said in unison.

"I'm in trouble then," Harm said with worry. A gleam in his eyes told them that he was fighting a smile.

"So much trouble," Mattie warned with laughter.

Mac stood. "Are you sure you're able to handle it?"

Harm thought about it. "I think I'm going to handle it well," he smiled.

Mac moved into his arms and hugged him close.

"Is there more dessert left?" Mattie wondered.

"Oh, good idea," Mac agreed.

"We're not having dessert every day," he warned as Mattie wheeled past him, and Mac released him to follow her inside.

"Almost every day," Mac said.

"On Sundays," Harm warned.

"We'll see," Mattie said, and she and Mac shared silly smiles.

"I'm in so much trouble," Harm mumbled as he followed them inside.