TALKING TO MOM

Author: LeE

Classification: Romance/ a little humor

e-mail: lee_81881@yahoo.com



HARM'S OFFICE
Same time

"Well?" Harm said with a raised eyebrow looking down at the only woman who could make him feel vulnerable. Well, the only one besides Mac, that is.

"Well, what?" she answered innocently.

"Do you want to tell me what that was all about?"

"What?"

"Mom, don't play games with me. I know what you're doing. It won't work"

"Harmon, you need a little help in the faith department, you know that?"

"Mom, listen. Mac and I have been at this for almost six years now. Mac is not like every other woman I've dated, mom. Don't you think if it were as easy as you make it sound we'd be together already?"

"Harm, do you love her?" Trish asked. This time her tone lost all traces of humor.

Harm sank down on his chair and ran a hand through his hair. "Mom, I...." He sighed "I didn't know what love was until I realized I was in love with Mac. It took me years to admit it to myself."

"Oh, Harmon. That's the most beautiful thing I've heard you say since....since...well that's just the most wonderful thing I've heard you say about a woman before"

'Yes, I was right. I knew it' Trish thought as she regarded her son.

"Mom, is not that simple. After all the things we've been through, if I just walk up and tell her that I love her, she'll probably kick my six all the way to Greenland"

"Once again, Harm. You need to have faith. You know? I have a feeling she loves you just as much as you love her"

"Oh, mom. I wish you were right. But I've messed up with her so many times that I don't know if she would give me another chance. God knows I don't deserve it" he snickered.

"Wow, Harm. Who are you and what have you done with my cocky, arrogant, self-confident son?" she said and smiled. Walking around his desk, she took his left hand in both of hers.

"Harm, listen to me. You have the most wonderful thing in the world right under your nose. You have found true love. Don't let it slip away"

"I wish I could just do it, mom. It's not that easy"

"Because you're scared" It was a statement, not a question. Harm looked at her with pleading eyes and nodded. Trish smiled and lowered her head.

"Harm, you want to know how I know that?"

"How?"

"Your father was the same way. I knew what he felt for me, because I knew him well before we started dating. He was just like you. Tons of girlfriends and women after him, but he could never keep one. You know what? I know I was your father's true love, and he was mine. Yeah, Frank is an awesome man, and I do love him. But what your father and I had was...." She took a deep breath and held back the tears that threatened. "Your father and I were soul mates, Harm. It wasn't easy, and we had a lot of obstacles, but love can do wonderful things Harmon"

A tear escaped Harm's eye as he heard her mother's words. She'd never really told him the real story about how she had managed to pin down Harmon Rabb, Sr.

"Mom, I really, really, want to make this work with Mac. I do. But you have to understand, I'm just so afraid to mess it up. I'm afraid I won't be enough for her. Mom, I couldn't live with myself if I made her go through what you went through"

Trish realized at once where all this was coming from. She squared her shoulders and spoke firmly and convincingly.

"Harmon Rabb, Jr. Stop living in the past. It's time to step out of your father's shadow and be who you want to be. He wouldn't want it any other way"

Those words stopped him cold. Was that really the way he had been living all this time? Trying to live his father's life instead of his own?

"Mom, I..."

"Harm, just think about it, all right? Now, what do you say we stop all this deep talk and you take you lovely partner to lunch? If I remember correctly, you compared her appetite to....well, I'm sure she's starving. Now, go"

Harm stood up, hugged his mother and kissed her forehead. "I love you, mom. Thanks for coming"

She smiled and kissed his cheek. "Well, I expect a nice Mother's Day gift for that pep talk I just gave you, you hear me?"

He laughed. "Of course mom. Let's see what Mac and I can find"

"Each other would be nice" she said and smiled innocently at him.

"Mom, give it a rest for now, will you? I work with those people out there. They actually respect me, you know?" he said with a smirk.

"Oh, cut it out" she said and playfully punched his arm as they walked outside his office.

Mac's door was open, and he went straight in.

"Hey Stickboy, you ready to take me to lunch?"

"Of course, Ninja-Girl. We don't want a grouchy Marine, now do we?"

"Very funny, flyboy. Let's go"

HARM'S SUV
On their way to lunch


"So, Mac. You okay with mom having dinner with us tonight?"

She looked over at him and smiled. "Harm, your mother is a lovely woman, and I must admit I like her style"

Harm rolled his eyes. "Could you just answer my question?" he pleaded

"Harm, you're hilarious. Of course I'm okay with it"

"Good"

'Good, huh?' Mac thought as another conversation they'd had a couple weeks before came to mind. Of course, they'd been under his dining room table arguing over who'd be first chair, but still, the memory of his closeness was driving her crazy. 'I should've jumped him then when I had the chance' she thought and laughed at the absurdity of it.

"What's so funny, Mac?"

"Uh, nothing" she said awkwardly, realizing she had been caught daydreaming.

"Maaccc..."

"Must you know everything? Can't you ever be satisfied with a simple answer?"

"I'm a lawyer, remember? I'm not letting you off the hook this time. Now spill it. What were you thinking that was so funny?"

'I can't tell him!!' she thought and quickly searched for an escape route.

"Well, I was thinking of the last time I saw little AJ, and boy how he made me laugh"

"Really?" Harm was still suspicious. "So, how does going to lunch with me remind you of little AJ?"

"Well, it actually reminds me of a three-year-old. Doesn't exactly have to be little AJ..."

"Okay, okay, I get the point" he saw rolling his eyes at her. She just smiled. 'Great'

After a few minutes of comfortable silence they arrived at the restaurant and sat down to enjoy their lunch. They finished eating and were waiting for the check while Mac excused herself to use the ladies room. A few minutes later she returned and was amazed by the sight before her.

Harm was turned to the side and was talking nonsense to a beautiful little baby who was sitting in the table next to them. Mac could barely hear Harm from her position behind him, but she could see his facial expressions from the side. The baby was squirming with laughter in his chair, while the parents talked to each other quietly. The sight warmed her heart and for the millionth time since she'd met Harm, she wondered what he would be like as a father, a father to their children. 'Down Marine. Stop it before you go crazy'

Harm turned around sensing her presence and flashed his 1000-watt smile. Mac felt weak in the knees and quickly sat down.

"Wow, Harm. I never figured you for the 'restaurant-baby-entertainer'"

"Very funny, Marine. I was just trying to make him laugh. He was crying and it was annoying the hell out of me" he finished trying to sound tough.

"Right...." She said and smiled. He simply looked away. Suddenly his facial expressions changed and a seriousness she'd only seen a few times before enveloped him.

"Mac?"

"What's wrong Harm?"

"Mac, don't you want a family?"

She was taken aback by his question. He knew she wanted a family. Heck, that's why she had accepted Mic's ring.

"Harm, of course I want a family"

"I want one too" he admitted and lowered his gaze from her eyes to the napkin he was playing with.

"You do?" she whispered.

"I do, Mac. To tell you the truth, at this point in my life, I want a family more than my own career"

She recognized the conversation getting out of hand, and tried to divert him towards some other topic.

"Yeah, Harm. The Admiral will be delirious if you tell him that. All he has to do is get you married and he can get rid of you!!" she said and laughed. Harm didn't. It almost seemed like he hadn't heard a word of what she had said.

"Mac, I'm serious. You know what I meant"

She sighed. "I know Harm. It's just that..well, you caught me off guard, I mean, you never talk about this openly and well...."

"Sarah?"

She gasped. "Harm?"

"Do you think I'd make a good father?"

"Oh, Harm. You'd make a wonderful father, I'm sure of that" she said and covered his hand softly with hers across the table, giving him one of those smiles he loved so much.

He smiled at her as well, and just like that, the hallmark moment was over.

"So, what do you think I should get mom?"

"Oh I don't know. Why don't we go to the mall and we'll think of something?"

"Sounds like a plan" he smiled at her and her heart melted.

The check arrived a few seconds later and they were soon on the road towards the mall.

MAC'S APARTMENT
Three hours later


"Whew...I can't believe it took us longer to pay for the gift than it took to actually find it" she said.

"Yep. If I'd known the line would be like that, I would've gotten in line while you looked for the gift"

"Oh, well, it's over now"

"I guess," he answered as he made his way towards her kitchen and opened the refrigerator to get a bottle of water. He stopped for a minute and realized how comfortable and acquainted he really was with her apartment, and how she seemed so used to it. 'Wow, I could get used to being like this with her all the time' he thought.

"Hey, Harm. What time do you want me to go to your place?" she yelled from her bedroom, where she was divesting herself of her uniform, and putting on some sweats and a USMC shirt.

"1900 okay?"

"Sure" she said as she walked into the living room, and found him on her couch, his feet up on the table, reading the sports sections on the newspaper. 'Wow, I could get used to being like this with him all the time' she thought.

"Are you comfortable, *dear*?"

He looked up and grinned. "I am, Mac. Thanks for asking!"

"Idiot" she joked. He laughed and got up from the couch to leave.

"I'll see you in a bit Mac" he said as he made his way to the door. She walked up behind him and held the door open for him.

"Drive safe" she said and smiled.

He couldn't help himself. He walked right back into the apartment and hugged her fiercely, lifting her off the floor, just like he had done to his mother hours before.

"Harm!! Put me down, you overgrown child!" she said and laughed. After a few seconds he put her down and smiled at her.

"Thanks for spending the afternoon with me Mac. I'm really glad you helped me shop for my mom's gift. I don't know what I'd do without you"

She was touched by his words, but tried no to get caught up in the moment. 'It doesn't mean anything. He's just grateful for your help. You're his friend, nothing more.'

"You're welcome Harm. I enjoyed shopping too" and smiled.

"Well, I'll see you later, then"

"Bye Harm"

The door closed behind him. 'Damn it, why can't I just say it?!' he thought. They had been together the whole afternoon, and all he had managed to do was to make her uncomfortable during lunch. Well, yeah, she laughed a lot that afternoon, at him, because he was an idiot, not because he purposely tried to entertain her. He shook his head and started towards his car. He still had to cook.