How about Chinese tonight?" Harm asked.
"Sounds great. I know a noteworthy Chinese restaurant on the south side. It's called Shon Hing."
The two officers walked out of JAG HQ and drove to the south side of Washington.. The restaurant was closed.
"Don't worry." Harm said. "I'm a pretty fair cook. We can have dinner at my place. Then we can rent a movie or something."
Harm was concerned that this date might become a disaster.
"That is a wonderful idea, Harm." Sherri was apologetic that the restaurant was closed.
They arrived back at Harm's apartment. It was a good-size apartment, sparsely decorated. A typical bachelor's apartment Sherri thought.
"I was expecting to see model airplanes hanging all over." Sherri teased Harm.
"Oh, I have them in the bedroom." Harm teased Sherri.
"Is that an invitation, Commander?" Sherri was hoping that it was.
"You never know when you're in the presence of Harman Rabb, Jr."
Sherri turned a bright shade of red and both officers laughed.
"Make yourself comfortable and I will start the steaks."
"Can I help?" Sherri asked.
"No, just make yourself at home. I got everything under control."
Harm scampered around the kitchen while Sherri took off her shoes and relaxed in the living room. Sherri noticed a guitar leaning up against a wall in the corner.
"Harm, do you play this?" Sherri was curious.
"A little. I'm not really good at it." Harm was modest.

"Dinner is ready." Harm pulled out the seat at the table for Sherri.

After dinner was over and cleaned up, Sherri and Harm sat next to each other on the sofa.
"Harm."
"Yes, Sherri." Harm answered.
"Remember when we met in Arlington, I said that I was visiting my boyfriend who was an Air Force pilot who was shot down almost ten years ago?"
"Yes." Harm knew this wasn't easy for Sherri. He did his best to make her feel comfortable.
"Well, we were actually engaged. We were going to be married after his tour in the middle east. Desert Storm was going on then. About a month before Trevor was due to come home, I received notice that he had been shot down over Iraq. They didn't know if he was alive. I never heard anymore. After time the Air Force just declared him KIA." Sherri said with a tear falling from her eye.
Harm wiped her tear with his finger and kissed her gently.
Sherri continued. "What neither of us knew when he left is that I was pregnant. When my daughter, Christina was born. My parents decided that they would raise Chris as their own, when she was older she would know that I was her mother. For awhile I was her older sister, not her mother. Harm, she still doesn't know that I'm her mother. I just wanted you to know because I think a lot of you......"
Harm cut Sherri off in mid sentence and held her closer to him. "Shhhhh.... It's ok. I think a lot of you, too."
He kissed Sherri tenderly on the lips.
"Seeing my aviator wings must be hard for you."
"Not really. I'm ok. It doesn't hurt that much anymore. It's been almost ten years." Sherri said.
"I was visiting my girlfriend the day we met at Arlington. Jordan was a mental health officer in the navy. I found her murdered outside of her apartment about six years ago. The last time I saw her we quarreled about me going back to flight status. I wanted to fly F-14 Tomcats again." Sherri could see that Harm was still hurting.

Harm and Sherri held each other close and kissed once again.

"I know, I'll get the guitar. Some music books are there in the corner."
Sherri found some music books. "Gee, Harm. We like the same kind of music." she smiled.
Sherri pulled out books with songs from the '60's. "This is great. The songs included 'I'm into something good, ''Cherish,' and 'Along comes Mary.'
Harm played the guitar and sang. Sherri also sang. They were truly having a good time.
After a while Sherri noticed the time. "Harm, I hate to be a party-pooper, but it's getting late. We both have work in the morning."
Harm agreed. "Before I take you home for the evening, would you please have one dance with me?" Harm asked. "There is a CD in the CD player."
Sherri did what Harm asked. Harm took Sherri by the hand as the music started to play, 'When a Man Loves a Woman.' They slow danced holding each other close. Harm kissed Sherri gently on the lips. When the music was over, the couple continued to hold each other close.
"Sherri, I don't want to let you go. I've been so alive since I met you." Harm whispered.
"I feel the same way, Harm." Sherri kissed Harm tenderly.

Harm drove Sherri to her apartment in Oxon Hill. Back at his apartment Harm couldn't get this wonderful and beautiful Air Force Capt. off of his mind. What he didn't know was that at Sherri's apartment, she couldn't get the tall, debonair naval officer off of her mind