Disclaimers: Don't own them, if I did we wouldn't need fan fiction to vent our frustrations with!!
AN~ Sorry it took so long for me to post again. I got caught up in the events of daily life *sigh. Please read and review and thanks to all of you that have given me reviews thus far!!! I hope you enjoy and I'll TRY to get the next part out sooner.
Chapter 4
Having spent several hours in the Admirals office, the new family left JAG headquarters after all of the other personnel had gone home for the night. "Sorry about the cramped quarters." Harm was referring to the two-person corvette that three people were going to have to squeeze into. "I wasn't expecting that I'd be carting around two other people." Although Harm said this with a sarcastic tone, he gave Mac a look that conveyed he was more than happy to have the extra passengers along for the ride.
"Harm, you got a new corvette? I thought you couldn't part with the one you fixed up?" Teasingly Mac smiled at Harm. It had been an issue when preparing for the wedding as to who would sell their corvette since they didn't need two corvettes along with an SUV. Harm didn't want to give up his classic that he had spent time restoring and Mac hated the idea of having to sell her 'baby'. Finally Mac gave in and allowed her car to be sold with the promise that she could drive Harm's corvette whenever she wanted. Of course what she wanted and what Harm wanted were two different things, but Harm did have a hard time saying 'no' to his beautiful Marine. As she neared the outside of the car, she thought it looked familiar but chalked it up to the fact that most corvettes are very similar. Once they were settled with Catherine on Mac's lap and Harm cautiously driving towards home, Mac finally took the time to relax. Even though Harm had been overjoyed at her reappearance, she couldn't help but feel a little apprehensive towards the whole situation. But now that she and Catherine were tucked safely in Harm's car and on the way home, she had never felt more content in her whole life than at that moment.
"Harm! This is MY corvette!" Mac exclaimed. During her quiet introspection, Mac noticed a little red stain on the floor of the driver's side. Her car had a red stain just like it from an unfortunate accident that occurred while driving to meet Harm involving red nail polish and an innocent motorist. "Why are YOU driving my corvette? We sold it to the dealer. I know it's been five years, but that was a pretty painful memory to forget." Mac looked to Harm with a questioning yet amused look in her eyes.
"I bought it." He looked to Mac but saw that this was not enough to quell her curious mind. Continuing at little self-consciously, "After you disappeared I sold mine and bought back yours. I always did want a new corvette." Hoping that this would appease her curious mind, Harm kept driving.
Mac knew he was holding something back but also knew not to press the issue. The drive continued in silence with Catherine sleeping in her mother's arms and neither adult wanting to wake her up. When Harm pulled into the parking lot to Mac's old apartment, Mac was confused. "Harm, what are we doing here? I thought you said we were going home?"
With a smile Harm replied, "We are. This is your home, Mac. I thought you would like to be here since it's familiar and my place only has one bed."
Mac gave Harm a look of speculation and interest as to why they were able to even GO to her apartment. After all, she had been gone five years. Hadn't someone sold it by now? Once they were in Mac's apartment, Mac looked around and noted that almost nothing had changed. Harm reached for the sleeping Catherine, "Here, let me put her in bed."
Mac wanted to object since Catherine needed to put one some pajamas and get ready for bed but she stopped herself and watched as Harm cradled Catherine in his arms, gently laying her on the bed. While Harm put Catherine to bed, Mac made her way around the apartment looking at all of the pictures that were scattered throughout. During the five years she was gone, she only had one picture of Harm. It was the photo of the two of them at Baby AJ's christening. She needed no pictures to remind her of Harm but Catherine only knew her father through that one picture; granted that one picture got more attention from the little girl than most pictures do.
Harm found Mac looking at a picture of him and an older Baby AJ. She traced the outline of Harm and couldn't help but think of Catherine and all that Harm had missed out on. Harm circled his arms around her waist and caught the hand that had been grazing the photograph and brought it to his mouth. He planted a kiss on her open palm then pressed her hand to his cheek. He needed the assurance that none of the days past events were just in his imagination.
Mac leaned into Harm. It had been five long years since she was awarded the pleasure of his arms around her. Mac felt Harm let go of her hand and reach up and undo the clasp to her necklace. After he had removed the necklace, Mac turned around a gazed into his eyes. "I know you've only been back a few hours, but I want you to know how much I love you." Harm removed her engagement ring from the chain and knelt in front of Mac. "I've never stopped loving you and I will always love you. Today has been the happiest day of my life. You came back to me and you brought our baby girl with you. Before you were kidnapped, we were going to get married. I still want to marry you, Sarah. I want to grow old with you and watch our kids grow up with you. I want to live in the little house with a picket fence and a big yard with a dog. Sarah, will you marry me?" Harm had tears in his eyes as he gazed into Mac's.
It was just like the first time he had asked Mac to marry him but sweeter and more loving if that was possible. Mac got down on her knees in front of Harm and cradled his face in her hands. "Harm, I'll always love you and I can't think of anything I want more than to grow old and watch our kids grow up with you. Yes. I'll marry you, Harm." She gave him a long and loving kiss. When they parted, he slipped the ring on her finger and kissed it. After a few more minutes of just holding each other, Harm rose. "Sarah, I think you're tired and I don't want to keep you up." As much as he wanted to stay, he wasn't going to unless she wanted him too. "I'm going to head home and I'll be back bright and early. O.K.?" Harm started towards the door.
Mac was stunned at first, then realized that he was just being the gentleman that he always was. "No, Harm. Please stay. Don't go. You belong here. I want you here. The memory of your arms around me at night was the only thing that lulled me to sleep these last five years. Please, I need you stay." She gave Harm a pleading look and tugged on his arm.
"Are you sure?" Mac nodded to his question and gave him another long kiss as her response. The couple retreated to the bedroom and made up for the last five years spent apart.
