February 2006

Harm walked into the master bedroom and found Mac on their bed. She was clad in her cowboy pajama and looked comfortable as she indulged in a book. They had started the morning with a fight, their first real fight since they got together. Mac had woken up and noticed that during the night she had gotten her period. There were spots on the sheet and she'd asked him to put the sheets in the washing machine while she took a shower. Harm hadn't minded and done as she'd requested. It was a little later in their bathroom when he had suggested that maybe they were too focused on making a baby that the argument had started. He had thought about it over the last month that they hadn't even been a couple for a year and already the romance and spontaneity was missing. It worried him that it was either about Mattie, Logan, or their wish to have a baby. His decision to approach the subject had not been well received by his wife and they'd ended up leaving the house, not on speaking terms.

He finished in the bathroom and silently worked up the courage to suggest that they talk things out.

"So," he hesitated beside the bed. "We should talk."

She put the book down and looked at him. "About you being unhappy and regretting everything? Because that sounds like a great conversation, Harm. One you should have thought about having before you asked me to marry you."

He raised his eyebrows. "What? I never said I was unhappy."

"You said and I quote; Maybe we should have thought this through before rushing into things. End quote," she put her book on the nightstand and got out of bed.

"Mac," he rounded their bed and caught up to her before she could leave their room. "I didn't mean that I regret us, or our situation. I love all of you. Mattie. . What I meant was that maybe we should ease up on the baby focus."

Mac hesitated. "You don't want a baby?"

"Of course I want a baby. That's not the point," he argued.

"Then maybe you should start making sense," Mac suggested.

Harm let out a sigh and hesitated. "Tomorrow night the team has a game. I'd like for you to come to watch me play. I'd like to show you off, in a non-trophy wife kind of way, because you're beautiful and smart and I'm lucky to finally share my life with you. We can go to dinner and not talk about the baby or eggs or sperm or the next ovulation. That's what I meant this morning."

"Wow, for a lawyer you really suck at getting your point across," she said after a little while.

Harm let out a breath he didn't know he'd been holding and laughed softly. "I'm sorry."

"Yeah, well, you choose a bad time to bring up anything," she admitted.

"You know I love you, right?" he wondered.

She smiled. "I know. And I'm sorry about this morning. I wasn't thinking, I was reacting."

"I didn't exactly explain myself that well," he said and moved his arms around her.

She relaxed against him. He was a good hugger. "So, you want to parade me around, huh?"

He laughed. "Yeah."

"I'd like to go watch you play," she leaned back and smiled.

"Then that's a date," he leaned in and kissed her.

"I'm sorry about being so focused on making a baby," she said when the kiss ended.

"It's important for you. I understand," he reassured.

"You're important to me." She leaned in and kissed him softly. "I love you.

The next night

Mac enjoyed seeing Harm play basketball. He had gotten some good friends on the team it seemed and he looked happy. After a particularly great jump shot, he even stopped to give her a waive giving her many interesting looks from other spectators who didn't know who she was. Harm had been right that a night out with friends would be good for them as a couple. At the restaurant Harm was affectionate in a way she would never expect from him in a public place. They even teamed up to play a game of darts against another couple.

"It was nice to meet you, Sarah," Weronika, the wife of one of Harm's teammates said as they were leaving. "We were beginning to think that Harm just made you up."

Mac smiled. "It was nice to meet you too. I guess between JLS and the kids I haven't taken the time to go out much. But I'll do better."

"I understand that a new job can be demanding, and not to mention the kids," Weronika smiled. "I run my own business from home, and it's not always easy juggling that with the family.

"You're a photographer, right?" Mac questioned, trying to remember what Weronika had said.

"Yes, I take family portraits, baby pictures, weddings, things like that," Weronika explained.

"We are due to take a family portrait. Do you have the time?" Mac wondered. She'd been thinking about it for a long time. Their living room wall was missing a picture of all of them together.

"I'd love to do that," Weronika reached into her purse and took out a card that she handed to Mac. "Call me and we'll set something up."

"Excellent," Mac took the card from the other woman.

A little later they said their goodbyes and left the bar. Harm took her hand as they walked towards the car.

"So? What do you think?" he asked.

"I had a great time," she reassured.

"Good. What did you think of my jump shot?" he questioned with a cute smile on his face.

"You looked good out there. Very manly," she stopped him and moved in to kiss him.

"That's what I was going for," he joked once the kiss ended and they started walking again.

"How did your trophy wife do?" she wondered with laughter.

"I'll never live that one down, will I?" he questioned with a hint of embarrassment showing on his face.

"No," she promised.

He chuckled. "Well, the guys were impressed," he admitted.

"That's what I was going for," she teased.

He stopped when they reached the car and pulled her in for another kiss. "I'm a lucky man."

She let out a sigh. "I think I'm the lucky one."

For the next month Harm and Mac made an effort to spend time together as a couple and they eased up on the baby focus. At the end of March, they went on a weekend trip alone.

Logan would turn two in June. He was a healthy and happy boy. Mattie had a weekend trip alone to Blacksburg to visit with her father. She had a nice weekend with him and was happy to have the chance to see her friends again.

May 2006

Mac was surprised when Petty Officer Coates announced that General Cresswell was there to see her. Mac hadn't heard anything about the Judge Advocate General making plans to come for a visit.

"Sir," Mac stood at attention.

"As you were, Colonel," Cresswell said and waved her off. "I'm sorry about this surprise visit."

"To what do we owe this honor?" Mac wondered as she motioned Cresswell to sit.

Cresswell nodded and sat down. Mac sat as well. "I've been asked by SECNAV to find out if we should keep this command. We're almost nearing the first year and it's time to evaluate. I'll be staying for a few days and get a feel for the place. I also want your report, financial, cases, and your evaluation of this first year."

Mac would lie if she said she was surprised. She'd taken over a new command and it was the first Joint Legal Service command in the Navy and Marine Corps history. She had expected it to be up for evaluation. "Sir, I'll get started on that right away. As for this command, I think you'll be impressed by the work we've done over this last year. It's a great staff, sir."

Cresswell nodded. "Yeah, that's my impression. You've handled some high profile cases from here and it's been a pleasure to see the professionalism in which you have all handled yourself, Colonel."

"I appreciate that sir," Mac said sincerely. She knew the work she had done was satisfactory.

Cresswell stood, so Mac stood too. "I'll need an office to work from, Colonel."

"I'll have Petty Officer Coates arrange for that, sir."

"That was all, Colonel," Cresswell turned to leave.

Mac stood at attention until the door closed behind Cresswell. She let out a nervous breath. This would be interesting.

That night

Harm had been surprised when Mac had called him and told him that she had invited Cresswell for dinner that night. He had reassured her that he could plan for something a little fancier than spaghetti and meatballs. Mac had sounded stressed and when she got home and told her about Cresswell's agenda for the stay in San Diego he understood why.

"You've done great work, Mac," he reassured.

"I know that," she pointed out. "But that doesn't mean that the Navy and the Marines will continue to use their money on a command like this. The war is winding down."

"I know, but I doubt they'll end their commitment to the JLS after only one year. Especially with the results you've gotten. Cresswell knows this so we both know what his report will say," Harm pointed out.

Mac smiled thankfully. "That means a lot."

"Well, I am your biggest fan," he reasoned and pulled her close, kissing her softly. The doorbell interrupted them.

"I'll get it! Mattie called from the living room.

Harm and Mac shared a smile, then Mac took Logan on her hip and they went to greet the General.

"Nice place," Cresswell said after being led into the living room.

"You should have seen it when we moved in," Harm said with a chuckle.

"Harm saw potential. He's done most of the work himself," Mac said.

"You're a handyman, Captain," Cresswell said. "And this little guy must be Logan?"

"It is," Mac confirmed proudly.

"It looks like you have created a great life here," Cresswell looked happy for them.

"We definitely have," Harm put his hand on the small of Mac's back. "Mac has done great with the JLS."

"We can definitely agree on that, Captain," Cresswell confirmed what Harm suspected that Cresswell felt.

They had a nice dinner. Then Mac and Cresswell talked some business while Harm put Logan down for the night.

"That went well," Harm said after they'd said good night to Cresswell and he had left the house.

Mac nodded. "Yeah, I feel it did." She reached for her husband's hand. "But that's a conversation for another time," she leaned in and kissed him softly. "Thanks for the support today."

"It's what I'm here for," he smiled and kissed her again. "You want to turn in?"

"I do want that," she smiled cleverly as she tugged on his hand.