Disclaimer: As in ch.1

AN: Finally!! I finished it.  I would like to thanks everyone that had taken time to read and review my story. Thanks for sticking with me, guys.

Last but not least, I would like to thanks Sigma Zed for beta-reading the story. Never could have done the story without your help.

Enjoy the story and I need a small favor at the end of this chapter.

0900 EST

Memorial Day 2045

Rabb's Residence

McLean, VA

It was suppose to be a perfect family outing today, but Sarah Rabb could not put her husband condition out of her mind. Harm had complained about chest pains more in the last month than he had in the last couple years.

"Harm, are you sure you're ok?" She looked anxiously at him as he strolled into the kitchen, trying to find his medicine.

"I don't know."

Sarah frowned at that. It was rare for Harm to admit anything even might be wrong. "Harm, sit down and tell me what's wrong."

Harm complied easily and took a deep breath, which frightened her even more.

"What's wrong, Harm? You're scaring me." Mac's voice trembled.

"Sarah, I..." He reached out to grab her hand, as if trying to reassure himself. "I just talked to Captain Owen. The test results came in."

"And..."

"It's a heart failure, Sarah. My days are numbered."  He sighed, resigned already.

It had been ten years since he had first complained about pain in his chest. His doctor, Captain Owen, had prescribed a whole bunch of pills, which had worked for some years, but with all the excitement over Matt and Trey during the last seven years or so, his heart had just kept getting worse.

"Please don't say that." Her voice was only a whisper.

"Mac...Sarah, I love you. I want eternity with you, but I think my time is up."

"No! Please don't leave me alone, Harm. I love you. I can't go on without you!" She threw herself into his arms, sobbing quietly.

"Sarah, I love you, too." He felt helpless, not knowing what to say, so he just held her tight.

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1000 EST

Rabb Residence

McLean, VA

Bud, Harriet, Sturgis, and Bobbie had arrived 30 minutes ago. It being Memorial Day, they were having a party at the elder Rabb's house. Rather quickly, the ladies drifted into the kitchen to help with the food while the men chatted on the porch, waiting for the children to arrive.

Harriet Roberts and Bobbi Turner didn't call themselves Sarah's friends for nothing. The moment they joined her in the kitchen, they knew there was something wrong.

"Do you have something to tell us, Mac?" Bobbi asked gently, a little hesitant to confront her.

"No, I'm fine." Mac answered, but her voice shook audibly as the stress caught up with her.

"Right...you want to try again?" Harriet saw through the act in a moment. After all, she had been Mac's friend for about forty years now.

At that, Mac's restraint broke, and she gripped the edge of sink so hard that her knuckle turned white. Her shoulders slumped, and she began to cry quietly. Harriet quickly wrapped her arms around Mac's shoulder, trying her best to comfort her, while Bobbi murmured soothing nonsense.  For five minutes, the two desperately tried to help Mac, until she finally calmed down.

"Are you all right?" Bobbi quietly asked.

"No." She answered flatly.

"You want to talk about it?"

"No, I don't think I have the courage to talk about it again." She took a deep breath and straightened as the old Marine façade replaced the unusually vulnerable one. "I'll be fine, guys. Honest. I'll be just fine." She turned away from them and continued to work on lunch.

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1400 EST

Rabb's Residence

McLean, VA

Lunch quickly passed by with very little trouble--a rare occurrence, considering all the kids were there. The elders--consisting of Rabbs, Webbs, Turners, and Roberts--retired to the back porch afterward while the younger generations played football, sat around talking in the grass, or played with the dogs and kids.

Harm sat contentedly in his usual rocking chair as he slowly rocked back and forth, holding his wife's hand and simply enjoying the happy tableau.

* Harm's POV *

I still sometimes to pinch myself after all these years. It's like a dream come true. I guess in a way it is. I married Sarah and had five beautiful children plus a bunch of grandkids to spoil.

I watched as they played 'husbands vs. wives' touch football games. My grandsons were laughing and chasing each others, and some of them were harassing their sisters and the dogs. I wondered if Joe and Rose Kennedy felt the same way as I am now as they watched their brood playing together. I felt happy and contented.

I shifted my attention to Trey, who was laying on the grass, reading a book, with his head on Grace's lap. I still couldn't believe sometimes that, after twelve long years, he'd finally returned home. I smiled at the memory of their wedding three years ago. He actually was able to stand on his own feet during the ceremony.

The doctors said it was a miracle that he was even able to move his legs again, even though he had to rely on a cane. I grinned, watching the heavily pregnant Grace alternate between stroking Trey's hair and reading her book. Both of them deserved their second chance.

Looking over to my other children, I could see that they were teasing each other as if they were five-years-old all over again. As I sat pondering my life, I realized that I'm an extraordinarily lucky guy with a beautiful wife, children, and plenty my friends.

I turned to watch my grandkids just as I felt a sudden, sharp pain in my chest. Closing my eyes and taking a deep breath, I realized my time was up. I suddenly felt very peaceful about it, but leaving Sarah on her own...I promised her eternity, but I guess I will have break that promise.

*end of POV*

Sarah, realizing something was wrong, turned to Harm as he squeezed her hand tightly. His eyes were closed, and his face tightened with pain. Forcing a smile, she squeezed his hand back. He looked at her, his eyes pleading for her understanding. She stroked his grey hair one last time and softly whispered. "It's ok, Harm. I'll see you soon. I love you, flyboy." Her wall crumbled, and a tear slipped down her cheek.

"I love you, too, Sarah." Harm scanned the happy people surrounding him, oblivious to what was happening.

Looking adoringly one last time at his family with smile plastered on his face, he passed away, and his rocking chair still rocked slowly back and forth.

A few more tears slipped down Sarah Rabb's cheek. "I won't say goodbye, Harm. I'll meet you soon." She softly whispered.

Harriet, turning to say something, was the first to notice what had happened. She let out a surprised sob, and the others turned, only to see all too well what had happened. As they bowed their heads in defeat and respect, the children laughter could be heard in background, as the oblivious children played on, not realizing that their father or father-in-law or grandfather had passed away. Admiral Harmon David Rabb, Jr. was 82 years old.

THE END

An: All right! First, please don't kill me!! I know I'm supposed to keep Harm alive but I need this for my next storyline. Now, speaking of next storyline, I am aware that there are many un-answered questions, especially around the kids. I am planning to work on that aspects, but I want to know if you still interest to read them or already bored to death with only this one. So let me know what you think, all right? Once again, thanks for sticking with me, guys. I really appreciate it.