TALKING TO MOM

Author: LeE

Classification: Romance/ a little humor

e-mail: lee_81881@yahoo.com




HARM'S APARTMENT
1850 EST

"Mom, can you go and turn the radio on. I want to know how traffic is on the Beltway"

Trish smiled at her son. "Is that a hobby of yours, or do you only do it when you know Mac is coming?"

"Okay, so I get a little worried. You know, if there's an accident or something...well.."

"I know Harm"

Glad his mother let him off the hook for now, he returned to his duties in the kitchen. The radio came on and unconsciously he stopped what he was doing to listen to the traffic report. Trish just smiled and went to sit down over at the couch. 'Yep, she definitely has him pinned down. Never thought I'd see the day.'

Harm listened intently to the report, and after it was over, he walked over and sat next to his mother on the couch. Trish was busy going over his photo collection of Mac.

"Does she know you have all these pictures?"

He grinned sheepishly. "Uh, well, most of them, no. She's never seen that album. It's sort of personal. I brought it out for you to see it. Thank God none of my other girlfriends ever found it. I keep it under my bed"

"Wow, Harm. You put a lot of effort into this"

"Yeah, I guess. I've found myself looking through it a lot more in the past two years" he said, and the hurt came through clearly in his voice.

"Oh, sweetheart. I know it's been really hard for you, with her wedding and all that"

"Harder than you think mom. It's been a nightmare. Even after Mic left, it seemed like all we did was fight and misunderstand each other," he said with regret evident in his tone.

"You do want that to change, don't you?"

"I've never wanted anything more in my life" he said sincerely, and draped an arm across his mother's shoulder.

"Well, you better get a move on it, Navy. I'm getting old, and I'd really like to spoil my grandchildren" she said and smiled up at him. Harm just nodded. She was surprised by the seriousness in his face. "Harm?" she asked cautiously.

"Mom, I've been thinking about giving you grandkids more than you think"

"Really?" she whispered.

"Yes, Mom. I'm not getting any younger. But mom, if it's not with Mac, I won't do it. I won't marry someone else to replace her, let alone have children. She's the only woman I'll ever love. If I can't have her my life is over, mom"

The fear and sadness in his voice tore at his mother's heart. 'I have to do something; this can't go on. My son might be an idiot sometimes, but he deserves to be happy. And damn it, I want grandkids!!' she thought and smiled as she envisioned a plan to help out her son.

The rest of the evening went by pleasantly, with Harm trying unsuccessfully to persuade his mother to put a stop to her story telling of a young Harmon Rabb. Mac couldn't remember a time she had laughed more. Trish was obviously having a blast. After dinner, which Harm had chosen to cook instead of ordering, they sat down on the couch; Mac on the floor in front of Harm.

After the movie was over, Mac decided it was time to rest, and said her goodbyes. She gave Harm a hug, which surprised him a little, but he returned it with the same intensity. Trish walked up to Mac and hugged her 'hopefully-soon-to-be-daughter-in-law' and they said good night.


NEXT DAY
1000 EST
MAC'S APARTMENT

After returning from her morning run, which had been a little later in the morning than usual, Mac had some breakfast and prepared a bath for herself. She was sitting in her living room, comfortably spread on the couch, reading a book, when the phone rang.

"Mackenzie"

"Mac?"

"Trish?"

"Good morning, Mac. How are you today?"

"I'm doing great, Trish. What can I do for you?"

"Well, the person I was scheduled to meet for lunch today had something come up at the last minute and won't be able to make it"

"Oh, I'm sorry. Harm is probably thrilled that he'll get to spend more time with you"

"Actually, I was calling to see if you were free to have lunch with me today"

"Uh, well, sure. I'd love to. What about Harm?"

"Well, let's just say I sent him to run a few errands" she said and chuckled softly. Mac picked up quickly on her intentions and felt warm all over, as she realized this "lunch" with Harm's mother could turn out to be more of an interview than anything else.

"Well, I'd love to have lunch with you, Trish"

"That's great, dear. I'll be over to pick you up at 12:30, how's that sound?"

"That sounds great, Trish. I'll see you then"

"Yes, see you then. Bye Mac"

"Bye Trish"

When Mac hung up the phone she immediately ran to her bedroom. 'What should I wear?' was the first thing she thought about. 'Well, it's not like Harm will be there' she thought as she realized she was being ridiculous. "Just a simple lunch" she said to herself as she inhaled deeply. Two hours later, Mac was dressed and ready to go.

HARM'S SUV
Same time

"Mom...." He whined into his cell phone.



"But mom, I wanted to go and surprise Mac for lunch!"



He groaned. "All right. But only because you're the best mom ever"



"What? Mom, stop with the double talk. You've been doing it since yesterday"



"Fine. I hope you have fun on your little date with the art person"



"All right, bye"


1330 EST

"Trish, thank you for having lunch with me today. I was actually trying to figure out what to do today," Mac said as they waited for the check after their meal.

"Oh, dear. No need to thank me. I should be thanking you. After all, you're the one that puts up with my son day in and day out"

"Yeah, well, I'm used to him already"

"Yeah, I've noticed. You too are really comfortable around each other"

"Yeah, we've been through a lot" Mac said as she sobered up thinking about her partner and the man she loved.

"Mac, I never did thank you for following him to Russia. I don't know much about what happened. But I do watch the news, and I know Russia is not exactly paradise"

"Not even in my wildest dreams would I have left him alone. We're partners and best friends. We take care of each other"

Trish regarded her carefully before she spoke. "Is that all he is to you? Your partner?"

Mac was surprised by the question, but tackled it like a true Marine. "NO" she said firmly, which earned her a smile form Trish.

"I'm sorry Trish. That came out wrong. What I meant to say was that.."

"Sarah, I wish you could see yourself through my eyes. Most of all, I wish you knew what Harm sees when he looks at you"

"Uh, Trish, I don't think..."

"Sarah, my son loves you, more than his own life"

"Oh, Trish, I love him too. You have no idea. It's just that we've managed to hurt each other so much, and now I don't know if he's even willing to give "us" a chance again and..."

Trish just started laughing, managing to confuse Mac thoroughly. "Oh, Mac. I wish I'd had a tape recorder so you could hear Harm say exactly the same things about you. You two are quite a pair you know?"

Mac felt relieved. Actually, excited was more like it. "Trish, how? How can you be so sure about, you know, about what Harm..."

"Mac, I'm his mother. I've been hearing about you for years, and since the beginning I've been telling him to get his butt in gear and go for it with you. However, having the experience I have with the Rabb male species, I knew that Harm wasn't ready for you yet. He's always loved you Mac. But he has experienced so much loss and pain in his life that it's hard for him to believe in true happiness anymore. The day he started telling me your story, I knew you two were destined to be together. You're so different, but yet so much alike. Only you can make my Harm happy, Sarah. You're the only one he'll let in. Only you"

Mac's tears were falling freely at this point, but she didn't care. She had just been given the most amazing gift in the world. Of course, it wasn't Harm in front of her telling her he loved her. 'At least not yet' she thought to herself and smiled.

"Oh, Trish. There's nothing I want more than to make Harm happy. You have to believe me"

"I do, Sarah. I do. And you have to believe me when I tell you that it's not easy to live with a Rabb. They're stubborn, cocky, arrogant, overconfident at times," she paused and smiled as memories of the true love of her life came to her "But they're also loving, faithful, loyal, honorable, gentle, caring. Please Mac. Don't give up on my son. He needs you and you need him. He's not as strong as he looks. He's actually very vulnerable when it comes to you"

"Do you really think we can be happy together?"

"Oh, Sarah. Let me tell you a little story..."

The next few hours were spent at the park, as Trish related stories about her and Harm Sr. and the struggle to get him to open up to her. Mac recognized herself in the same situations as Trish had been with Harm's father. By the end of their time together, Mac was determined to knock some sense into that stubborn flyboy of hers. Little did she know that Harm was planning on beating her to it.


MAC'S APARTMENT
That evening

Mac had been thinking about the love of her life ever since she returned from lunch with Trish. She had to do something. Her hypothesis was now a theory. She now had evidence of Harm's love. His own mother had told her. She smiled to herself, 'Now all I have to do is get it out of him' she thought.


HARM'S APARTMENT
Same time

Harm laughed sarcastically as he thought of his mother. "A lunch with an art contact my ass," he said to himself as many possible scenarios ran through his mind. 'I wonder what mom is up to now.'

Harm sat down and once again looked through the special album of Mac's pictures he had under his bed. His mom had been the only other person to see it besides him. A thought occurred to him. 'Yes, this is what I'll do tonight.'

Harm got everything ready, grabbed his keys and headed out the door towards the woman that would change his life forever.


AN: The next chapter of the story will be labeled NC-17, since Harm and Mac will get..umm.. creative..:) So be sure to check the next part under the appropriate labeling... If you do not wish to read the NC-17 version, please e-mail me at lee_81881@yahoo.com and I will gladly e-mail you the R version... Enjoy!