"This debate goes back a long way, doesn't it?"

Mac and Harm both looked up. Lynn had emerged from the changing room.

"Yeah, about six years," Mac said looking over Lynn, "You look amazing."

"Thank you." The mint colored dress she wore was made of satin. It was styled with a modest drape neck in the front, which draped just low enough. In the back, the drape fell to just below her shoulder blades. The rest of the dress fit gracefully to her figure and seemed to flow to the floor like a gentle mist.

"Now, Colonel," Phillipe began, showing Mac the qualities of the dress, "Look at her eyes. The color of the gown makes her eyes piercingly sharp, and it shows a beautiful feminine Kate."

Lynn rolled her eyes. "Phillipe, we picked this dress because it's practical. This just happened to be this color and style."

Phillipe gave her a guilty smile. "I made it with you in mind, Lynnea. You can imagine how thrilled I was when you picked it," he confessed.

"You didn't tell me that," Lynn said happily surprised, "Thank you so much."

"You're very welcome, girl," he said, and then turned to Mac, "For you, Colonel, I think we should go for something more powerful. Lynnea's dresses are always more subdued because she needs to be able to slip through the crowds without gathering too much attention. You, on the other hand, will want to be noticed."

Mac looked at Harm with her eyebrows raised. "I think being with you ought to be enough, don't you?"

"Dress whites and gold wings," Harm replied smiling.

Phillipe sighed, "Never worked on me. Then again, I've never really had a thing for men in uniform."

Lynn stifled a giggle, but both Mac and Harm couldn't withhold snickers.

"Well, if you're going to laugh," Phillipe said sarcastically and pursing his lips. Then, he smiled and brought his attention back to Mac, "What about gold?"

Lynn studied Mac for a moment, and then shook her head. "I think gold may wash her out. How about burnt orange?"

"Too autumn," Phillipe said in return, "I think we need to get dangerous."

He went into the front of the store, followed by Cynthia, and when they came back, their arms were full of gowns, each a different shade of red.

"That's awfully risky, Phillipe," Lynn said.

"It's Christmas," Phillipe replied, "And she can pull it off."

Mac looked at Phillipe, "Want to clue me in?"

"Red is a tough color," Lynn said while Phillipe put the gowns into the changing room, "It takes a lot to wear it successfully: the right hair, skin tone, and attitude."

Harm stood off to the side smiling smugly.

"She can do it," Phillipe said, "Now, Colonel, go try them on. I want you to model them each for us."

Mac sighed, and left for the changing room. Lynn followed her. When they were both in the room, Mac began sorting through the gowns while Lynn started to slip out of her dress. Mac had all but forgotten Harm's words of weariness about Lynn from the night before. In fact, Mac was starting to like her very much.

"Just pick one," Lynn advised, "He'll probably make you try them all anyway."

Mac nodded. "Lynn, are people really going to be watching Harm and I?"

"Not as much as Phillipe is making you think they will," Lynn assured her, "But you will be noticed, ma'am. I'm surprised that you haven't drawn more attention than you have. Besides, you and the Commander together will be too handsome not to notice."

Mac blushed a little bit. "The Commander is always turning heads."

"Even yours, ma'am?"

Mac raised her surprised eyes to Lynn's.

Lynn's eyes widened and for a moment she looked a lot like a guilty Harriet. She quickly backpedaled, "Ma'am, I'm sorry. I was out of line."

Lynn's apology put Mac at ease. "It's alright, Lynn," she said, "Please call me Mac."

"Okay," Lynn said smiling as she focused on the buttons of her shirt.

"And yes," Mac added, "I do find Commander Rabb to be handsome."

As she spoke, Mac changed into one of the dresses. It was a cherry red v- necked silk. Lynn was now dressed in her skirt and button down shirt; she was braiding her hair back into its oval.

"Lynn, when you have a second, could you zip this for me?"

Lynn pushed the last pin into her hair and zipped the back of Mac's dress. She looked over Mac's shoulder and into the mirror. She and Mac looked at the reflection of the other's face and giggled. The dress was hideous. It was a beautiful dress, but on Mac it looked silly.

"What's going on in there?" Harm called.

Both women smiled like schoolgirls, their eyes filled with mirth.

"Nothing," Lynn called in a voice that still quivered with laughter, "I'll leave you to the rest." Mac smiled and Lynn left the changing room, careful not to give the men a view of Mac.

"Miss O'Connor, what was so funny?" Harm asked. He looked playfully stern.

"Girl talk," Lynn answered.

"Oh," Harm said knowingly.

"Don't ask too many questions," Phillipe told him, "Even I don't understand girl talk, and I'm gay."

Harm and Lynn both laughed. Over the next thirty minutes, Mac modeled ten different gowns. Each gown was beautiful in its own right, but still none of them were perfect. Phillipe would like the color of one dress, but not the cut. He'd like the fabric, but the detailing would be wrong. Mac didn't mind so much. She was happy to share meaningful glances and break into giggles with Lynn after Phillipe declared each dress imperfect. It was as if the two women had formed a bosom friendship over the last few hours.

"Come on, ladies," Phillipe chided, "We'll never find the right one if you two don't take this more seriously." Harm even chuckled at Phillipe's annoyance.

Mac returned to the dressing room, but when she came out again, Harm stopped talking in mid-sentence. He looked her up and down, but his eyes settled on her face. She looked as if she had just stepped out of one of his dreams. Her eyes were bright and her cheeks flushed; her hair was messily brushed off her forehead. But it was something in her presence that struck him as compelling.

"Mac?" he whispered, unsure if he was dreaming.

"That good, huh?" Mac asked smiling.

"Pinch yourself, sailor boy," Phillipe quipped aside to Harm, then said in a louder tone, "This is the one. I don't have words for it."

"That's a first," said Lynn, "Mac, you look absolutely stunning."

Mac's dress was crimson red. The full bell skirt shimmered with the organza layer, and was lined at the bottom with ribbon of the same crimson color. The embroidered corset, which displayed Mac's voluptuous hourglass figure, was laced up with inch-thick ribbon. If the dress had been white, it would have been a wedding gown, and Lynn wasn't surprised that Harm was lost for words.

"We'll finish the dress with a white faux fur wrap," Phillipe said as he wrapped it around her shoulders, "You can wear pearls with it and we'll get you matching shoes."

"Phillipe, I can't thank you enough," Mac said.

"Oh, don't worry about that," Phillipe said, "Seeing you like this is enough. Besides the Admiral will be providing generous 'thanks.'"

Mac smiled and shook her head. Harm still sat dumbly looking at her. Lynn kicked him gently in the shin. Harm jerked around as if he'd forgotten there were other people in the room. He looked at Lynn, who smiled back at him, but tipped her head toward Mac. She seemed to be silently telling him, 'Say something to her.'

Harm cleared his throat. "You're incredible."

Mac's face lit up, but Harm continued, "I mean, you look great."

Her face fell a little, but she quickly smiled. "Oh, well, thanks, Harm."

There was an uncomfortable silence that Lynn broke, "Mac, why don't you go change, and I'll wrap things up out here."

Mac nodded. She took off the faux fur wrap and walked back to the changing room. Harm hung his head and Mac she had closed the door, Phillipe said, "Way to go, Casanova."

Harm gave him a frustrated look. He knew he'd messed that up, but he didn't need anyone else to point it out. He did think Mac was incredible, and she did look great. She looked more than great, she was astonishing: strong and graceful, simple and elegant. She was Mac, and she was Sarah.

"Commander," Lynn said softly, "I'm settled with Phillipe, so we can leave as soon as the Colonel is ready."

Harm nodded. "What's next, Miss O'Connor?"

"We meet the Admiral at 1800," Lynn said, "So you and the Colonel will have about two hours to go get some dinner, and then I'll meet you back at the Commons at 1645."

"Thank you for doing this," Harm said.

"It's my job, sir."

"Would you please call me 'Harm'?

Lynn smiled, and Mac appeared a moment later. She was back in her jeans and sweater. Phillipe came to usher them out the door. John, the car driver, greeted them. He took the covered gowns and the accessories and put them in the trunk.

"It was a pleasure meeting you," Phillipe said, "Enjoy the dresses."

"Thanks again, Phillipe," Mac said, shaking his hand. Then, she turned and stepped into the waiting car.

"I'll see you again soon," Lynn said, and she plopped into the seat next to Mac.

Phillipe shook Harm's hand, and he leaned in and said, "I wouldn't let that one get away. The other fish don't have anything on her."

When Phillipe let go of his hand, Harm looked gruff for a moment, but then his face softened and he nodded. He got into the car and they drove off.

1420 Local Commons Hotel London, England

Harm and Mac both stepped out of the car. The ride back the hotel had been completely silent. The tension between the two officers was so thick that Lynn could have cut through it with a knife. As Mac was turning to walk into the hotel, Lynn called, "Mac, Harm, I'll meet you here in the lobby at 1645. Try to relax and get something to eat."

Mac nodded and then she turned and walked off. Harm thanked Lynn, and followed Mac. She was already waiting at the elevators when Harm caught up with her.

"Mac," he tried, "I'm sorry about before."

Mac turned her head away from him and focused on wall. Harm stayed silent. The elevator ride was chilly, as neither one said a word. They walked down the hallway to their rooms. Mac started to search her pockets for her key.

"Damn," she said angrily, "I left my key in the room."

"I'll let you in through mine," Harm offered. He, too, was searching his pockets. "Well, I would have, but I think I left my key in my room, too."

Mac made a face. "Perfect," she sneered.

"Hey, you forgot yours, too," Harm reminded her.

"I wasn't blaming the fact that we're locked out of our rooms on you."

Harm took a deep breath. "Look, Mac," he said as calmly as he could, "I meant what I said when I said you were incredible."

"Yeah, my body," Mac said icily.

"No, all of you," Harm corrected her, "Your body, your mind, your heart. Sarah, you are incredible. You're breathtaking when you're just sitting over your cluttered desk. You're passion for the Marine Corps, and law, is so strong. The way you love Chloe and little AJ is amazing. Sarah, you are the most incredible woman I have ever met."

Mac was stunned by Harm's words. "Then, why."

"Because I didn't want to say that in front of Lynn and Phillipe," Harm explained, "I wanted to tell you when it was just us."

Mac smiled up at him. Harm smiled back at her and opened his arms. Mac stepped into them and wrapped her arms around Harm's neck, but soon she was so happy that she began to giggle. Harm chuckled a little, then he said, "We must look like a couple of idiots. Let's go get some dinner."

Mac unwrapped her arms and stepped out of the hug. "Where?" she asked.

"The hotel restaurant?" Harm suggested.

"Sounds good to me." And they set off for the hotel restaurant hand and hand.