Disclaimer: See Ch. 1

Author: J Bear

A/N: Sorry for the delay guys, it's been pretty hectic these two weeks, n' the teachers weren't helping with the piling on of midterm… stuff… then the cold/flu/allergy came on and… well… it wasn't a pretty sight. Anyhoo, here's the chapter.

Rabb's Apartment
0845

Harm let the warm water run through his hair and down his skin. It was soothing to him and calmed his nervousness at the thought of Mac coming over. "It's just Mac." He said to himself, "Your best friend, c'mon Rabb, you've had her over before." But not like this. And he was right, it was never like this. The evening before ended with him walking her to her apartment and a parting kiss on the cheek. Harm was pacing himself, trying not to go too fast with the relationship.

At the ring of the doorbell he shook himself out of his reverie quickly turned off the shower and put on a pair of boxers. Then he ran out to get the door only to find Sarah Mackenzie gaping at him, closing the door behind her.

"You've been working out Harm?" she smiled wryly, glancing up and down. There were water droplets on his body and his hair was damp and matted.

"Heh…" he blushed. "Uh… make yourself at home Mac. I'll just… uh… change."

"Oh, don't change on my behalf."

Throwing her a look over the shoulder, Harm retreated back to his bedroom and threw on a pair of blue jeans and a fresh black shirt. He heard clanging on the kitchen and leaned back to take a look. Mac had her head in the fridge, looking for food.

"Care for some eggs?" He asked her, walking down the steps.

"Sure. I'm kinda hungry."

"You're always hungry." That remark earned him a playful punch on his arm. Then he took out a couple of eggs and the bacon he kept in the fridge for when Mac came around. Mac helped out by putting on a pot of coffee. At his look of warning, she assured her partner that the coffee is in fact 'wimpy squid coffee'. He rolled his eyes and returned to the eggs.

"So, what do you have planned for our… 15 days of leave?" Mac asked him, leaning on the countertop, admiring his handsome face. He looks so cute when he's concentrating… on eggs too no less.

"Oh I don't know, a trip here, a trip there, some food here, take 'Sarah' out for a ride." He pushed the bacon around. "Or something like that."

"I'd like that." She smiled.

***

Same place
0930

They had finished breakfast and Mac was nursing a cup of coffee on the couch while Harm was answering a phone call.

"Yes… No… Uh… Mo-om! I really can't. Uh-huh. Well… Okay… Great! Alright, have fun. Bye. Thanks. Yeah, love you too." Harm ended the call and placed the phone down gently.

"And how is your mom doing?"

"She and Frank are going to New York to see 'the sights'"

"Fun." She replied, taking a sip of black coffee. "Well? How about our 15 days?"

"Well…" He paused, gathering his thoughts. "Go back to your place and pack what you need for a day. I'll pick you up an hour from now."

"An hour… to pack?" she frowned. "I don't need an hour to pack. And where are we going?"

"You will understand why you need an hour when I give you this." Harm hands her a slip of paper with a web address, a login and a password. Puzzled, she looked at him strangely. "You'll see." He says and Mac goes to the door.

Harm stops her before she opens it and places a soft brief kiss on her lips. Satisfied, he smiles, opens the door for her. "An hour, Mac. An hour."

+++STORY+++

It was a full moon. Harm stood on the precipice and stared down at the city of Washington. It was where he could hear no cars honking, people talking or yelling, but the sounds of a bird chirping in the distance or wind blowing by his ear. It was the place he collected his thoughts. Many nights, he would leave the embassy, away from his work and his colleagues, and come to this place where a certain sense of peace would wash over him. And tonight, unlike many nights, he went into the pocket of his blazer and drew out a box. He opened it and there it shone in the moonlight. Worry and uncertainty outlined in his face, Harm closed the box, let the breath he was holding out and stuffed it back into his blazer. With that, he turned on his heels and left for the car.

+++

The doorbell rings at Mac's apartment, and she stuffed the final piece of cake into her mouth, took a sip of coffee and went to open the door. When she did, Harm stood there with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. His hand holding a single red rose as usual and handed it to her.

"You look like you haven't slept for a while Harm." She said worried.

"I'll be fine. I've just been kind of swamped at the embassy that's all." He replied, "You called?"

"Yeah, actually, I've been ordered to take days of leave. So strange, I just took 5 like… 4 months ago."

"Oh?" He lifted an eyebrow

"Uh-huh, so I'll be around lot more often."

"I think I like that." Harm said gathering her into his arms. "I've been also ordered… by my father."

"For what?" She looked sharply at him

"To go back to Lorthien"

"Why?"

"Well… I did your… version of meet the family… and I must say a very large and loving family, now it's your turn."

"Uh…" Mac was unsure. They were just ordinary people as Harm had said but they were still royals. She didn't know how to act towards them or around them. Then she suddenly found her slippers very interesting. Harm lifted her face so that she would be looking at him.

"Please?"

"Harm, I…" She paused "Look meeting your family is a big deal to me. They are the head of a freaking country. Royalty. I mean, how would it play out? I don't want to make a mistake. Making a mistake would mean…" Harm touched her lips with his index finger.

"My family's going to love you Sarah. And I'll love you no matter what happens." He reached into his blazer and-

+++END+++

"What the…" She was frustrated and narrowed her eyes. When she returned to her apartment she quickly packed for the 'trip' then put the disk into the computer and read the story. "Argh… how could you Harmon Rabb." Mac moved scrollbar up and down to make sure she didn't miss anything and she didn't miss anything. The story ended with an 'and'.

"How could I what?" A voice asked behind her. Mac jumped.

"You have got to stop doing that."

"Doing what?"

"First off, coming up behind me, second, leaving me hanging here with nothing left but an 'and'. Who the hell ends their chapter with an 'and'"

"Me." Harm grinned at her response, it was just what he expected to be and he was relishing it. "Ready to go?"

"I'll be ready once you finish the damn sentence."

"Tsk tsk tsk, we're a frustrated person today aren't we?"

"Damn it Harm finish it."

"Oh my… Is the marine begging?" He asked cockily

"Marines don't beg, Squid." Mac glared at him. "We order."

"That's great Mac, but the problem with that is I've got the story and you don't." He smirked and lifted up her luggage "Is this it?"

"Wonderful, the squid is taunting me... Yeah, that's the luggage." Exasperated, she gave in and hoped that he would somehow finish the damn sentence soon or she'll rip his head off. The colonel shut off the computer and followed her flyboy out the door.

***

A/N: Well? So? How was it? Will you PLEASE let me know.