San Diego, 2020
The clock on the wall struck noon just as Captain Harmon Rabb filled two mugs of coffee. He was again reminded that he only had two more days of leave before he had to deploy again. He had three months left of his nine months tour.
"Are you staying on the couch all day?" Harm wondered as he handed over one of the mugs.
Sarah Mackenzie smiled and sipped the coffee before putting the mug on the table. "Yes."
Harm chuckled as he got comfortable on the couch and reached for the newspaper. "What are you reading anyway?"
"It's called 'The last Trial'"," she said absentmindedly as her eyes darted to the next page of the book.
Harm was always fascinated by how indulged she would be when she started a book. She could sit for hours in her own little world. She had done that a lot over the last two weeks. He knew she was busy when she worked and this was her downtime. As usual, when he was on leave she'd take time off and they'd stay at their San Diego house. It was like no time had passed since they last were there even if it was months when they didn't see each other. They had been together for their anniversary this year, for the first time in many years. They had made a whole day out of it. Lazy morning in bed, long breakfast, taking the boat out for a romantic lunch, then dinner at a fancy restaurant at night. They had made up for all the years they hadn't celebrated. Sometimes he wondered what kept them together. They were living completely separate lives. They had no kids together, except for Mattie who was an adult by now and had her own life. Fifteen years since the coin toss and it was still the two of them.
"What are you thinking?"
He shook out of his thoughts. "Huh?" he said.
"You were staring," she pointed out.
"I was?" he shrugged. "Well, you're beautiful." He smiled and reached out and ran his hand up her leg. She really was, even when she didn't make an effort.
"You looked worried," she pointed out.
"I did?" he shrugged again. "I'm not worried. I was just thinking."
"About?" she put the bookmark in between the two pages she had opened and closed the book. She put the book on the table and reached for her mug. It was something sensual about everything she did. Even the simples things.
She was looking at him with one eyebrow raised. He knew he had to tell her something or she'd never let it go. "Honestly, I was thinking about you, and us, and our anniversary, and how beautiful you are. And that I'm leaving in two days."
She smiled and put her mug down again. She scooted closer to him. "You are leaving," she said and moved her arms around his neck.
"Three more months until we're home." He cupped her face.
"It's not that long," she reassured. "It's nothing we haven't done before."
"Must you always be so nonchalant to the fact that we spend most of our marriage on opposite sides of the world?" he wondered.
"What should I do?" she questioned as she leaned in and kissed him. It was a soft lingering kiss, and when she moved back he moved after her making her smile and nibble on his lower lip. "It's no point crying about it. It won't change anything."
"I could retire," he suggested.
"You could, but you won't. Not yet." She smiled. "You're not ready yet. You have that inner drive. I love that about you. You do what you love."
"I love you," he pointed out.
"One thing doesn't have to exclude the other," she reminded him. "Besides, we're happy, right?"
"Damn straight we're happy," he said and pulled her into his lap, kissing her deeply.
"You always get a little down before you leave but once you're out there, you're fine," she reminded him as she opened a button on his shirt.
He smiled. "Doesn't mean I'm not thinking about you, missing you. Worrying that you'll find someone better."
She chuckled. "Like that could ever happen."
"Hey, you have options," he pointed out as he moved her t-shirt up.
"Like there's any other option," she said and finished with the last button of his shirt. She trailed kisses down his neck.
"Are you distracting me?" he wondered as he helped her take off her t-shirt completely. "It's working," he said as he moved them so that he was on top.
Later
Mac ran her hand down her husband's muscular chest. Her husband. She always felt proud when she thought about him as her husband or introduced him as her husband, or even just when they went somewhere together. Why wouldn't she? He was handsome, considerate and everything anyone could want in a significant other. Sure, they spent so much time apart, but when they were together, they were really together. She couldn't remember a time in their marriage when she'd been jealous, even when they spent six months apart. She knew he loved her and even if he felt some attraction towards another woman he would never act on it. When Harmon Rabb took an oath, he didn't break it. He had promised to be faithful and he would never break that promise. It was the same for her. She would always be waiting for him to come home.
"I'm going to miss this," he mumbled against her hair. "It can get pretty lonely at night."
"As long as you don't have anyone to make it less lonely, I can live with that," she said with a chuckle.
He laughed softly. "I'm not suicidal."
She turned and propped herself up on her elbows. "I'll miss you too."
"But you're looking forward to getting back to work," he said and propped himself up on an elbow. He moved her hair behind her ear.
"I do, but so do you," she reminded him.
He nodded. "That's true."
She smiled. "You know, when you finally retire we're going to have to spend a lot more time together."
"Yeah, you'll get sick of me," he accused with amusement.
"I don't think so," she leaned in and kissed him softly. "And we don't have to worry about that quite yet."
He let out a sigh. "Yeah," he kissed her again, pulling her down on the bed.