December 2006

Harm raised his eyebrows when he noticed his wife walking into the kitchen. He offered a less than amused look as she headed for the fridge. Mac was on bed rest after a check-up at the doctor, where her blood pressure had been slightly elevated. The doctor wasn't too worried but he wanted Mac to take it easy and to come back in two days for another check-up.

"You are on bed rest," he reminded her.

"I am," she reached for a water bottle.

"Mac…" he put Logan down and walked over to her. Logan hurried after him.

"I'm on bed rest," she said reassuringly. "I just wanted water."

"I could have gotten it for you," he reminded her.

Logan hugged his mother's legs.

"Sorry, little man, I can't lift you," Mac said with a pout. "I'll read to you after dinner," she promised.

"I'll bring up some dinner for you," Harm said and reached for Logan. "Now, go back to bed."

"Okay," Mac smiled and headed out of the kitchen.

"We better make sure mommy rests, okay, Logan?" Harm put the boy down.

"Okay," Logan agreed and ran over to his toys on the floor.

Harm went back to tend to their dinner.

After giving Logan a bath he took him to the master bedroom to say good night to his mother. Mac was in bed with a book, the dirty dishes from dinner on the nightstand.

"Ready for bed?" Mac wondered as Logan hurried over to her.

Logan shook his head as he snuggled close to his mother. Mac kissed his forehead and smiled.

"I'll just take this downstairs," Harm said as he gathered dirty dishes. "How are you feeling? No headache?"

"I feel fine," Mac reassured.

Harm took the dirty dishes downstairs, then he looked in on Mattie. The teenager didn't need any help with her homework so he went back to see if Logan was ready for bed. After putting his son down he walked back into the master bedroom.

"You want company?" he wondered as he slumped down on the bed.

"Come here," Mac reached for his hand and put it on her belly.

"She's active," Harm said as he scootched closer.

"So is her brother," Mac smiled.

"He went out like a light," Harm said with a chuckle. "I talked with Mom and she is taking over the Christmas dinner. We only have to show up."

"I'm sure I am out of bed by then," Mac reasoned.

"Nothing stressful will be going on in this house until after this baby arrives," Harm declared. "She needs at least eight more weeks in there."

"It'll be fine," Mac reassured. "I feel fine."

Harm hesitated. "You will follow doctor's orders, Mac," he finally said. "If she says bed rest for the rest of this pregnancy, you will stay in bed."

Mac reached out and cupped Harm's face. "I think you'll need bed rest if you keep stressing with everything."

Harm let out a sigh. "Mac…"

"You need to take it easy, Harm," Mac ignored his attempt at an input. "You're so tense. Come here," she motioned for him to come closer. "I'd help you lose some of that tension if I weren't to stay away from anything that could raise my blood pressure. You have a way of raising my blood pressure," she said seductively.

"Mac…" Harm warned as she leaned in to kiss him.

"Ease up, Harm," she said with a pout.

Harm let out a sigh, then smiled. "I have been stressed," he admitted as he lay down beside her. "There's a lot to think about."

"I know," she said and ran her hand over his forehead softly. "I'm sorry about that."

"It's not your fault," he pointed out.

"Last week was stressful," she admitted. "There's a lot going on at the office at the moment. This is not a great time for me to be on bed rest."

"It's not a good time?" Harm, let out a snort as he sat up.

"Hey, don't be mad," she demanded. "If we were in London and our roles were reversed… well it wouldn't have made a difference, because you're a man and this would still just be my problem."

"It's our problem, Mac," he pointed out as he got out of bed. "I get that it's your body, and I respect that, but we're in this together. If anything happens to the baby I will feel just as bad. But you're right, it's is mostly your problem, because it's your body. So yes, it's your responsibility to follow doctor's orders. I expect you to," he finally said. "And you can be mad at me, but I can live with that."

Mac hesitated. "I'm not angry with you, Harm."

He offered a slight smile. "Is there anything that I can do to make the situation better for you?"

"Not really," she said with a pout. "But I'd feel better if you'd come to bed with me."

"Not if that will raise your blood pressure," he warned as he stepped closer to the bed.

"I can't promise anything," she teased as she reached for his hand and pulled on it.

He bent down and kissed her softly. "Let me tidy up after dinner, then I'll spend some time with Mattie, and then I'll be back."

Mac nodded. "Okay."

Harm kissed her again. "Behave in the meantime."

"I will," she promised."

One week later

It was two days until Christmas and the house was all decorated and nice. From her place on the couch Mac could smell cookies in the making. Harm and the kids were having fun in the kitchen. She had helped them with the batter, but since she was to take it easy until the baby arrived she obediently found the couch after a little while.

"Mommy!" Logan ran over.

"Hi there, Sweetheart," Mac pulled the boy close and kissed his head.

"We make cookies," Logan said as he snuggled closer to his mother.

"I can smell that. I think someone is tired," she added when Logan yawned widely.

Mattie joined them. "I promised Logan I'd read him a book tonight."

"I think he's more than ready for bed," Mac said with a smile.

Mattie reached for Logan. "Come on, let's go."

Mac watched them leave with a smile on her face. She felt so blessed. Putting her hands on her belly she let out a sigh and leaned back on the couch. She had to get used to relaxing like this.

Harm joined his wife on the couch. "How are you feeling?"

"Relaxed," she said and stretched lazily. "I think I'm embracing this now."

Harm chuckled. "It only took a week."

"I will do whatever it takes for the little recruit to stay perfectly healthy and where he is until he's ready to come out," Mac promised.

"Good to hear," Harm said with a sweet smile. "And the good news is that the doctor isn't worried. Your blood pressure is perfect now. I'll make sure it stays that way."

"You have to keep your hands to yourself then," Mac teased.

Harm chuckled. "I have long training in resisting you."

"Yeah, nine years," she said with a chuckle. "Can I have a cookie?"

Harm nodded and stood. "Let me get that for you, ma'am. Anything to drink?"

"Hot chocolate, please," she called after him.

A little while later Harm came back with a plate with cookies and a mug with hot chocolate. He sat down beside her.

"Cresswell called today," Harm said.

"Yeah?" Mac said curiously as she reached for a cookie.

"He wondered if I was interested in getting back in uniform," Harm said and studied her as he waited for a reaction.

"Oh? Are you?" Mac wondered.

"It's your job," Harm continued. "He needs a replacement until you're back."

Mac nodded. "He does."

"Thoughts?" Harm questioned.

Mac hesitated. "If you want to get back in, that's a perfect position. It's a great crew."

"So, you think I should do it?" Harm questioned.

"If you want to. You're starting to really get into your new job, you like your colleagues, the work…." she pointed out.

"I do like it," he admitted. "But I like the Navy too," he added after a little while. "Anyway, I don't have to give him an answer yet. I have a week."

Mac smiled and reached out to run her hand through his hair softly. "My people would be lucky to have you as their leader. They can learn a lot from you."

Harm smiled. "I appreciate that."

"It's the truth," she said and leaned in and kissed him. "And I wouldn't have to worry about someone messing up everything I've worked to establish."

Harm chuckled. "How do you know I won't?"

"Oh, I have great faith in you," she reminded him.

"If I do say yes, I will constantly worry about letting you down," he said with a chuckle.

"You can never let me down," she reasoned. "If anything, I'd worry that you'll do a better job than me."

"I don't think that's possible," he said and laughed softly as he took her hand. "Would Major Hoover even accept me as your stand-in? He kinda scares me a little."

Mac smiled. "My chief of staff is a bit rough around the edges, but once you get to know him, you'll realize that he's actually a softy. You should see him with his kids."

"So he'll accept me?" Harm assumed.

"He doesn't have a choice," Mac said with laughter. "Once you get past that though Force Recon Marine exterior, he's a sweetheart. He shoots straight from the hip, but he will have your back."

Harm nodded. "I haven't made a decision yet."

"Sure you have," Mac accused. "You can't wait to get back into that Uniform."

Harm studied her thoughtfully. "You think I should do it?"

"I do," she said with conviction. "You were born to be a Naval Officer."

"These days there are more important things," he pointed out.

Mac smiled sweetly. "I love that you say that."

"It's the truth," he said and lifted her hand and kissed it, then put the other on her rounded belly.