Beautiful Days Part 5/10

Disclaimer - See part one for all important information

Day one-sixteen I asked her what she was doin'

For the rest of my life

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JAG

Monday April 7, 2003

1:12 PM

"Commander,"  Admiral Chegwidden said as he walked into the break room to get his after lunch cup of coffee.  He carefully looked at Harm as he just stood there looking at something in his hands.

"Sir,"  Harm nervously said as he snapped out of his thoughts and also snapped something shut in his hands.

AJ tried to ignore Harm's behavior, but he couldn't ignore the unmistakable snapping shut of a small jewelry box.  "Something on your mind?"

"Someone, Sir,"  Harm corrected his CO.

"The Colonel."

"Yes, Sir."  Harm opened the small jewelry box in his hand and showed the one and half carat diamond ring to AJ.  "I picked it up during lunch today."

AJ tried not to act surprised. "It's beautiful.  When are you going to ask her?"

"Tonight.  If I put this off another day I swear I'm going to have a hole the size of Cleveland in my stomach."  Harm closed the ring box and placed it in his pocket.

"You know she's going to say yes."

"I know, but just asking makes me nervous."  Harm took a ragged breath, "I'll be back to normal tomorrow, Sir."

AJ laughed. "Now that line has me nervous."  Harm joined in on the laughter.

"Good luck tonight, son," AJ said. "I better see her with that ring on tomorrow morning during the staff meeting."

"Yes Sir,"  Harm said as AJ left the break room with a smile on his face and a still empty coffee mug.

Washington DC

10:03 PM

"Cold?"  Harm asked Mac as they walked from the Lincoln Memorial towards the Reflection Pool.

"No,"  Mac said as she moved closer to Harm.  Harm wrapped his arm around her shoulders and felt her arm snake around his waist. 

When they reached the Reflection Pool they stopped.  "It's nice right here."

Mac looked around and saw DC in all its nighttime glory. Directly in front of them was the Washington Memorial, to the right the Korean War Veterans Memorial, to the left the Wall, and behind them the Lincoln Memorial.  "It is," She said as she rested her head on his shoulder.

"Lets sit for a few minutes."  Harm indicated to a bench near them. Mac smiled as she sat down.  "I love you,"  Harm whispered in her ear as he scooted closer to her on the bench.

"I love you," She echoed back.  Mac looked above them and saw the stars out in the clear night sky.

Harm noticed where her eyes were and took the chance to reach into his pants pocket and pull out the ring box.  He placed it in his right hand and wrapped his arms around her.  Mac sighed into his embrace. As she leaned into him he asked:  "Marry me?"

Mac lifted her head from his shoulder and looked into his eyes as he repeated "Marry me?"

Mac blinked as she felt Harm lift her left hand and slip a ring onto her ring finger.  She watched as it passed her finger nail and first knuckle.  She lifted her gaze into Harm's eyes, swallowed the lump in her throat and whispered with heavy emotion "Yes."

Harm's heart raced as he slipped the ring completely onto her finger.  He leaned over and kissed passionately.  After some time he released her lips and looked into her tear filled eyes.  "I love you."

"I love you, too,"  Mac said as she watched a few tears fall from Harm's eyes.  She wiped a tear away from his face. "Happy tears?"

"Very happy tears,"  Harm said to her. 

Mac chuckled softly. "If you have very happy tears, just imagine what your mother will have."

"We should call her tonight."

Mac looked to their left. "We could tell someone else first."

Harm followed her gaze and knew exactly what she meant. "I told him this afternoon after I showed him the ring.  But I would love for him to meet you as his to-be-daughter-in-law."

Mac kissed Harm affectionately before they stood up and walked hand in hand over to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

End of Part 5