Disclaimer: See Chapter One.
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Beginnings
Chapter Five: Surprises
By Ann Parker
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Sunday, after picking her final choices of paint and saying goodbye to Harm and Mac, Lisa headed back to San Diego to get ready for the big move. She was driving across the country with the movers; expecting to reach DC the following Saturday. Harm had spent that week moving boxes into Mac's apartment, while working on a surprise for both of the women in his life.
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1930 EST
28 March 2003
Mac's Apartment
Georgetown
"Mmm, that was a great meal Harm. I think I'm going to like living with you if you keep feeding me like this," Mac joked. Harm smiled as he cleared the table.
"I'm going to be permanently in the kitchen with your appetite," he remarked. He started to run some water to wash the dishes as Mac followed him into the kitchen. Both were quite amazed at how easy the transition to living together had been. For Harm, it only reinforced what he knew he needed to do.
"Ha ha, very funny," retorted Mac, keeping with their playful banter. When she noticed Harm preparing to wash the dishes, she immediately objected. "Harm, let me do that. You cooked."
"It's fine, Mac," Harm replied. He took the soapy rag in his hand and began to scrub the plates. He heard Mac sigh and open a drawer, knowing she was going to try to dry them. "Mac—"
"Don't argue with me, Harm. I'm drying these dishes," she stated. Harm shook his head and let her be. He loved that stubborn side of her, the one that always got what she wanted. They finished the dishes in a peaceful silence, stealing glances at each other as if washing dishes together was forbidden. When they were finished, they headed into the living room.
"Ow!" exclaimed Mac, running into one of Harm's boxes.
"Are you okay?" he asked, concern rushing within him. Mac laughed slightly as she rubbed her shin.
"I'm fine Harm, relax. I just ran into one of your boxes. We really should start to unpack your stuff," she replied. Harm took Mac's hand and led her to the couch, his secret smile unnoticed.
"Well, it's too late to really start that tonight. Why don't we just unpack one?" he asked her. She nodded with his suggestion, not seeing the mischievous glint in his eye.
"That's sounds fine. We really shouldn't work too hard tonight anyway, since we're moving Lisa in tomorrow," Mac said. Harm nodded as he looked for the one box. "Hey, did you finish painting the apartment for her?" she continued.
"Yep, Lisa is going to be so surprised," Harm replied, suppressing laughter. Surprised was an understatement. He not only painted, but with a little help from Sturgis, he "redecorated." He couldn't wait to see her face.
But that was going to have to wait until tomorrow. He had another surprise to work on. He found the box and headed back over to the couch, setting the box on the coffee table. "Why don't you do the honors?" he asked Mac, handing her the exacto-knife to open the box.
"Okay," she replied, cutting through the brown packing tape. Harm watched her as she moved the flaps of cardboard. He heard her gasp as she found the framed photograph of the two of them with little AJ. She picked up the picture and smiled. "Oh Harm," she whispered, running her fingers over the picture.
"That's to remind me of what I someday want with you," he stated. She looked at him and smiled. "Keep going," he urged and she turned back to the box.
The next item she found was a cloth. She pulled it out of the box and realized it was the fabric she used to make her skirt in Russia. She looked at Harm, the question in her eyes. "I asked if I could keep it," he answered. "As a reminder of the first time I realized how much I loved you."
Mac smiled and lightly kissed him before turning back to the box. She pulled out a red silk rose and grinned. "A rose. Of course," she commented and turned to him.
"A reminder of the day my life changed forever," he grinned.
"Is there anything left?" she asked and Harm nodded. She scooted forward on the couch to get a better look in the box. Then she noticed the small velvet box and gasped. Carefully, almost as if she was afraid she'd break it, she picked up the box and held it in her hand. When she shifted to look at Harm, she found him on one knee before her.
"Mac, I've known for so long that I loved you with all my heart and that my life would be incomplete without you in it. I know it's taken a long time for us to get to this point, but I don't want to waste anymore time. I love you and will always love you until the world ceases to exist," he took a deep breath and lifted the box from her hands. Opening it, he continued, "Sarah Catherine MacKenzie, will you marry me?"
Tears of joy began to stream down Mac's face as she sat there stunned. This definitely wasn't what she was expecting to happen tonight. Finally, she found her voice. "Yes, yes of course!" she exclaimed, pulling him up to kiss him. When they parted, Harm slipped the ring on to her finger.
"Do you like it?" he asked, noticing her staring at her left hand.
"Of course I do, Harm. It looks aged, is this the ring your father gave your mom?" she asked. Harm nodded and she smiled even brighter. "It's perfect." She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him close. "I love you," she whispered before kissing him.
"I love you too," he said when they broke apart. She snuggled against him, allowing both time to digest exactly what had just happened.
"You really surprised me," she commented. "I didn't expect to get engaged tonight."
Harm chuckled. "Well, then one of my surprises was a success," he commented.
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1100 EST
29 March 2003
Lisa's new apartment
North of Union Station
Harm and Mac sat in his SUV, waiting for Lisa and the moving truck to arrive. Within minutes Harriet and Bud pulled up and so did AJ and Meredith. Silently looking around for Sturgis, Harm exited his car with Mac to greet the other helpers.
"Thanks for helping guys," he commented as they walked over to the two couples.
"It's nothing Sir, Lisa is a part of this family now," replied Bud. Two more cars pulled up and soon Sturgis, Bobbie, and Gunny were with them.
"Gunny, I didn't expect to see you here. You hardly know Lisa," stated Mac. Gunny smiled sheepishly and shrugged.
"Doesn't mean I won't lend a hand," he replied. During this exchange no one noticed Sturgis slip away into the apartment.
"Harriet, please tell me you aren't going to do too much lifting," commented Meredith. Harriet smiled and shook her head.
"No, I'm going to help with some of the unpacking, and maybe make some food for the rest of you. I just really wanted to help and Jason and Jen volunteered to watch AJ," she said. They chatted for a few more minutes before Lisa arrived in her convertible, a moving truck right behind her.
"Wow, sweet ride," said Harm as he walked over to her door, opening it for her.
"Thanks, I knew you would like it," she replied, giving him a quick hug.
"Well, shall we get started?" asked an extremely tall moving man, named Bill according to his shirt. Lisa held up a finger to signal to wait a second. She flipped her head so all her light brown hair was now all you could see. She pulled it together and quickly wrapped a scrunchie around the ponytail.
"Okay, I'm ready," she said with her hair now pulled back. Harm shook his head and grabbed her hand.
"Go ahead and start grabbing a few things, I want to show her something before anything is in there," he said and pulled Lisa to the apartment.
"Harm, what's going on?" she asked as they made their way up to the apartment. They exited the elevator and reached his, well her, door.
"I have a surprise for you," he replied and opened the door. He watched as she gasped and stared in shock at the rooms, and laughed when Sturgis caught it on film.
A loud scream startled the rest outside. "What was that?" asked Gunny, immediately getting worried about Lisa. He hardly knew the woman, but his connection to her already ran deep.
"It sounded like Lisa," replied Mac. "She probably is just shocked that Harm and Sturgis painted the apartment for her."
AJ laughed, "Well, why don't we see how good of a job they did." All headed upstairs.
"Harm! What did you do?" exclaimed Lisa, loud enough for the others to hear as they made it into the loft. They all walked in to see Harm and Sturgis laughing and Lisa turning red. Some gasped at what they saw, while others laughed.
Looking around, the living room appeared to be a blue and orange plaid design. The kitchen was pastel pokadots. The bedroom was done in yellow and black strips. The dining room, red and green swirls.
"Why? Why did you guys do this?" she pleaded. "What did I ever do to you?" Harm and Sturgis glared at her.
"Jell-O underwear ring a bell?" asked Sturgis.
"A month of extra duties answer your question?" retorted Harm. Lisa sighed and then laughed.
"Okay, okay, I get your point. Very nice pay back," she replied. "I just wish I didn't have to repaint everything now."
Harm walked over to her and guided her to one of the walls. "You don't, look carefully," he directed. Lisa raised an eyebrow but did as he instructed. She stared at a part of the wall and noticed something sticking up.
"Tape?" she asked, mostly to herself. She pulled at it and the wall started to go with it. Her eyes widened as she pulled down a huge piece of paper of her dotted kitchen.
"It's all paper?" she asked. Harm nodded.
"You didn't think we would be that cruel did you? We painted the apartment and then stuck ugly wrapping paper over them. Surprised?" he questioned. Lisa smiled and leaped at him, hugging him.
"I can't believe you two! Of course I'm surprised!" she exclaimed. Harm laughed and Lisa ran over to Sturgis to hug him. Everyone smiled and laughed at the prank the two Navy Commanders pulled off.
"Well, Harm, I guess both of your surprises were a success," commented Mac, walking over to him.
"What other surprise?" asked Lisa, hoping it was what she was thinking.
A questioning look came over Mac's face. "You didn't know? I thought for sure he asked for you help." Everyone looked at each other, highly confused. That was until Lisa noticed the gold on Mac's left hand.
"Oh my god, he asked! He wouldn't tell me how he was going to pop the question," she exclaimed, pulling Mac into a hug. "Congratulations!"
"Thanks," replied Mac. As soon as they parted Harriet was hugging her and Lisa was hugging Harm.
"Well, this has been an exciting morning," commented AJ.
"Hey, you guys realize we are paid by the hour, right?" inquired Bill, walking into the room. Everyone laughed and headed back down stairs to move Lisa into her new place, her new life.
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