1700 Local Commons Hotel London, England

Lynn sat in one of the leather chairs waiting for Mac and Harm; the opera dresses from Phillipe's were draped over the chair beside her. When Lynn finally saw them coming out of the restaurant, she noticed a new luster in Mac's eyes and saw her arm entwined with Harm's.

"Did you enjoy your dinner?" she asked when they reached her.

"Very much," Harm said, as he released Mac's arm and picked up the dresses.

Mac, though, was watching Lynn's face, for though she was trying to smile and look nonchalant, she couldn't conceal the worry in her features. Mac caught her eye and saw that they flashed with warning.

"Ladies, shall we?" Harm said, oblivious to what had passed.

"Yes, of course," Lynn said.

When all three of them had entered Mac's room and Harm had set the dresses down, Lynn looked then over. Harm still hadn't noticed the tension between the two women in the room.

"Well, I'll leave you two to get dressed," he said and went to dress in his own room.

Mac gathered her dress into her arms and disappeared into the bathroom before Lynn could say anything. She hung the dress on a hook on the back of the door, and turned to face her reflection in the mirror. Her cheeks were flushed red, and she looked guilty, even to herself. 'Suck it up, Marine,' she said to herself. And she changed into her dress.

By the time, Mac came out of the bathroom; Lynn had also changed and let down her hair. She still looked worried; she turned to face Mac, and said carefully, "Ma'am, the press will be watching you tonight."

Mac tried to shake it off. "What do you mean?"

"Ma'am, you know what I mean," Lynn replied.

Mac paused, then she nodded. "I know."

"Ma'am."

"Stop calling me 'ma'am,'" Mac interrupted, "Call me."

But Lynn interrupted her, "Look, you're going to be in front of the British Press. They're ruthless, and if you give them anything, they'll rip you to shreds."

Mac sat down like a chastised teenager. Lynn softened and sat down next to her. "Mac," she said, "It's only for a couple of days. After that."

"After that, we'll have to keep it from our CO and our friends," Mac said sadly.

Lynn nodded understandingly. "You'll find a way to make it work."

Mac sighed.

"Come on," Lynn said, ending the sad conversation, "I'll help you dress your hair and then I'll give you and Harm some time to talk."

"Sounds like a plan," Mac said as she smiled.

Lynn used the two pearl clips that Phillipe had given Mac to pull up two small bits of Mac's hair. The effect made Mac's face look softer and younger. When Mac looked at her reflection, she liked it. Lynn pinned up some of her own hair, but let most of her wavy tresses hang loose. She gave Mac a comforting look, and then she knocked on the dividing door. Harm opened it almost immediately. He was fully dressed in his dress blues, his wings shining above his ribbons.

"Sir, I'll be waiting downstairs with the car," Lynn said brightly, "So, when Mac is finished getting ready, you can join me."

"Alright," he said, matching her tone and holding the door open for her.

As soon as Lynn was gone, he turned to Mac, and, as far as he could see, she was completely ready, wrap and all. "You look ready to me."

Mac knew that he was joking, but she didn't feel like laughing. "Harm, Lynn and I were talking, and I think we need to cool it down a bit."

Harm felt like he had just been punched in the stomach, and Mac's heart broke at the look on his face. "Why?" he asked incredulously.

"Harm, the press has us under a spotlight," Mac explained, "We can't risk being seen as anything but professional."

"Huh," he said disdainfully. "You know, if this is how you felt in Sydney, I can commiserate with you now."

Mac's face fell and she felt worse. "I'm not talking about cooling it forever. All I meant was that we can't let the press see us. God, we've been pretending for five years, a few more days won't kill us."

Harm looked down into Mac's eyes and he knew what she was really saying. She had said that she was as ready as she had ever been to take this step. She'd been ready longer than he had and she'd given him more chances that he'd deserved, but he'd never been ready. How stupid he had been. She had also said that she didn't want to hide how she felt any more than he did.

"I understand, Sarah," he said softly, "I'll pretend in front of the press, but not here. Not here when we're alone."

Mac smiled tearfully up at him. "That's twice today that you've made me cry, stickboy."

"Only happy tears, though."

As the embraced, Mac leaned her head back to look up at Harm and he looked down at her. Her brown eyes were glittering with unshed tears and her cheeks were flushed. Before he could stop himself, he tipped his head forward and his lips met hers. The kiss was soft and sure, as if he was sealing a promise. When they separated, Mac smiled up at him.

"We're going to be late."

"Only a marine could kill the mood that quickly," Harm joked, and Mac punched him playfully in the shoulder.

"Come on, sailor."

Mac led Harm by the hand toward the door, but when she opened it, Harm pushed it shut again. She looked questioningly up at him. "Are you ready?" he asked.

She looked down over her dress, and said, "Yes, I am."

"I meant."

"I know what you meant."

When they stepped off the elevator, they saw Lynn waiting for them in the middle of the lobby talking on her cell phone. When she saw them, Lynn noticed that they were standing carefully apart, and that they both looked extremely happy.

"Well, that didn't take you too long," she commented, putting her phone into her handbag.

Harm gave her a knowing look. "Come on, we'll miss the show."