Once more with feelings… I have to say that this has gotten me through a REALLY rough semester here at work. Thanks once more to the readers, even more thanks to the reviewers. I'm amazed at how gratifying it is to find even a couple words in the ol' inbox… It truly inspires one to write more.

And now, the last chapter of this little tale.

A Modest Proposal

A Short Biplane Flight Out of the City

Saturday Midday

Mac leaned back against a tree and sipped raspberry iced tea. "Oh, Harm. You've outdone yourself." He smiled at her, almost shyly.

"Did you enjoy it?"

"Absolutely." When she looked up, the view was of maple leaves layered over themselves in glowing green shades, clearly getting the most out of the late summer sun. She closed her eyes and followed their example, letting the sunlight wash over her. "Everything was delicious. A girl could get terribly, terribly spoiled."

He smiled at that, picked a blade of grass and toyed with it. "I hope so."

Mac opened her eyes, looking at him as he stared down intensely at the shred of green. There is definitely something going on in there. She almost laughed when she realized that she wasn't at all nervous about what it might be, just curious. Three months ago that thought would have astonished her; now she accepted it gratefully.

Still, as she studied his profile, she wondered. They had talked, lightly, about moving in together. Maybe that was on his mind. Even though they spent most nights wrapped in each other's arms, the idea of actually 'moving in' felt - odd. She closed her eyes again and relaxed against the rough but somehow comforting trunk of the ancient maple. Everything was going so beautifully... she couldn't say at the moment why she would be nervous about taking that step. Maybe it was because she had struggled with being alone for so many years, and ironically, just as she gained acceptance of that, their relationship had fallen into place. He had been just as commitment-shy for other reasons, but maybe at this point-

"Mac?"

She startled from her reverie, neatly avoided spilling her tea and looked at him.

"Yes?"

He shifted nervously and stood up, reaching down for her hand. "How about an after-lunch walk?" She put down her bottle, took his hand and bounced to her feet.

"Good idea."

They walked quietly from the trees down the grassy hill, hand in hand, until they reached a few boulders and a stone bench near a long, narrow lake. The sunlight illuminated the woods on the other side, and sparkled like diamonds across the water. "Oh, Harm. This is beautiful." Mac stared in absolute delight at the view. "Did you scope this out just for today?" He grinned, caught.

"I found it a while back. The farmer that owns the field we landed in told me I could come anytime. He's retired Navy." Harm shook his head. "I was saving it for a special occasion."

She sighed. "It's so beautiful, the air is so fresh... I could just stand here looking for hours."

He put his arm around her, pulling her close. "You're such a Marine. How about if we sit, instead?"

They walked over to the bench and he swung one long leg over it as she moved to sit back into his open arms, leaning against his chest. The air off the water gave them a cool breeze, tempering the warmth of the sun. Mac rested her head back on his shoulder and sighed happily. After a few minutes, she leaned back and looked up into his eyes.

"So."

"So?" He kissed her forehead.

"Harmon Rabb. Are you going to tell me what's going on in there? Or do we have to pull out the legal pads again when we get home?"

He laughed. She used his full name the way his mom did, when there was going to be trouble if she didn't get an answer.

"Yes, ma'am." For a moment he looked unsure, but shook his head. Okay, Rabb. Just tell her.

Disentangling himself, he stood up, and reached into his pocket. He gracefully dropped to one knee in front of her and took her hand. Her eyes widened, unbelieving. "There's something I want to tell you."

She put her other hand to her mouth, trying not to speak, certain she must be mistaken in her thoughts. As usual, her mouth didn't appreciate her efforts. "I... ah..."

Harm looked at her nervousness and smiled reassuringly. "I'd like to tell you some things that I want out of life."

She looked into his sincere, storm-tossed eyes and nodded. "I'm listening." He smiled, looked down at her hand, and then back into her eyes.

He spoke her name the way he always did, with a whispered bedroom voice. "Sarah-" he caught himself, almost stopped, went on.

"I want to be able to work with you, stand beside you, share our victories and our defeats. I want to be able to talk in the car about the day, fade into talking about what we're making for dinner. I want to be able to sit and read in the evening, listen to music, relax on the couch with you, maybe sing you a song." He looked deeply into her eyes, which were filling with tears, and stroked her hand gently. "I've had that, these last few months, and I don't want it to end. Seeing what can be has only made me want it even more."

"Oh?" Her voice, small and tentative, made him smile.

"I want to go to sleep every night able to rest my head on your shoulder, knowing that you're the first person I'll see in the morning." He looked down for a moment, grinned, and looked back into the midnight depths of her eyes.

"I want, someday, for you to wake me up by poking me in the back and saying, 'it's time'. I want to be sitting up in the family room playing Scrabble when our kids get back late from a dance, so we can lecture them together about how important it is to find the right person, and what a blessing it is when you do."

She blinked, looked off at the distant trees and back to him, trying not to cry.

"I want to live my life with you. I love you, Sarah. "

She swallowed hard, found her voice, barely. "I love you, too, Harm."

He smiled at her, opened the small box in his hand, and took out a ring. She gasped in spite of herself. His voice remained quietly strong.

"It's a little different, but I thought a diamond solitaire was too typical for someone as extraordinary as you."

The stone in the center of the ring was a heart cut emerald. Delicate, narrow gold wings swept back on either side to form the band. Two small diamonds, one on each side of the emerald, seemed to stand guard. Mac's eyes widened, her hand unable to decide between reaching to touch the ring and covering her mouth.

"Where in the world -" realization hit her. "You must have had this made." He grinned at her.

"I must admit, the Admiral does seem to know where to get almost anything done." He looked anxiously at her, almost child-like. "Do you like it?"

Mac stared at it, her hand still over her mouth. "I love it." She looked up at him and saw the joy in his eyes. "Tell me the story."

He grinned, and held the ring so that the sunlight shot emerald rainbows across his hand.

"I knew a diamond alone wasn't right. And I thought, 'hey, I know she looks great in green'." They laughed at the reference to her Marine uniform, but he could see the pride shining in her eyes. "If you've earned your wings, they show that you've proved, through perseverance and patience, your skill. Even when the plane's not handling right, even when there's a storm..." He looked down again, then back to her face. "Mac, this band has the wings to my heart." He grinned at her. "You've earned them."

She swallowed hard, her back straight and tall as a tear ran down her cheek.

"The two little diamonds are for us. Because as beautiful as we are together, we know that we're two separate people... that we choose to be together, we don't have to be. That decision, that choice-" he shook his head wonderingly, "makes this relationship all the more precious."

He took her hand and brushed his lips across it. "Well, lady?"

Mac stared at the ring in his hand, looked into his eyes that spoke of promises and love. She straightened up, called on her Marine training, and found her voice. Despite her determination, it came out in a husky whisper.

"You didn't ask me yet. Ask me."

Harm swallowed at her sudden seriousness, took her hand between his, formally. "Sarah Mackenzie. Will you marry me?"

Mac looked at him and smiled. "Yes." She swallowed as tears continued to stream down her face. "I love you."

His eyes were shining with tears as he held her now trembling hand. For a moment they couldn't speak, but when he shook his head in amazement and smiled at her, the joyful laughter came. They held on to each other for dear life.

When they separated, Harm kissed her hand where the ring would rest, and gently slipped it onto her finger. Mac felt his hands shaking when he did. Then she leaned forward and they kissed gently, passionately. When they stopped she found she was on her knees with him, and they laughed, and hugged each other, and wept tears of happiness.

Mac wrapped her arms around his neck and looked over his shoulder at the ring on her finger, shaking her head. "I can't believe this. I don't think anything in my life has ever felt so right."

He gave her the grin. "Me either." He kissed her forehead and held her tight. Mac pulled back a couple inches and looked at him earnestly.

"Let's go home, Harm." He brushed her hair back over her ear as she rested her left hand conspicuously on his chest, the stones playing sparkling games with the sunlight.

"Right now?"

"Yeah." A mischievous little grin lit her features. "I feel like flying."

JAG headquarters

Monday

0915

"Tiner. Is the Admiral busy? I need to talk to him."

Tiner checked the schedule. "He's in the middle of paperwork, but I'll let him know, sir. How about fifteen minutes from now?"

"Perfect. I'll need to see Colonel Mackenzie, Lieutenant Simms and Lieutenant Roberts as well. Oh, and Sturgis. Get them in on it?"

Tiner nodded efficiently, picking up the phone. "Yes, sir. I'm on top of it." Harm nodded and walked toward Mac's office. He arrived as the phone rang, and Mac picked it up as she smiled at the commander.

"Yes, Tiner. Fifteen minutes. Thank you." She looked at Harm. "You sure about this?"

Harm grinned. "Too late to worry about that now, Mac."

She rolled her eyes. "Great. Easier to get forgiveness than permission, eh?"

"Fear not." He put his hand to his heart, dramatically. "Have I let you down yet?" Then, with feigned panic in his eyes, he added, "Today?"

Mac laughed, a little nervously. "Okay. So in fifteen minutes, you have an audience with the Admiral. You do know what you're going to say, don't you?"

"Hey, it can't be any harder than closing arguments against Colonel Mackenzie, can it?" He looked at his watch and turned toward his office. As he left, he threw her a kiss over his shoulder. "See you there, Tink." Mac shook her head and giggled at the pet name as he walked away, wondering just what was going to come of this.

Fifteen minutes later, Harriet, Mac, Bud, Sturgis, and Harm were standing at attention in front of Admiral AJ Chegwidden.

"At ease." He looked over the cream of his command and held back a sigh. Now what. "So. To what do I owe the honor of this gathering?" After a bare pause he stopped in front of Harm. "Commander Rabb. I understand this was your idea?"

"Yes, sir." He looked at the Admiral and took a deep breath. "I wanted to let the Admiral know that I took his advice." After a frown, AJ looked surprised, then almost smiled.

"Really. And may I ask what the result was?"

Harm turned to Mac and held out his hand. She looked startled, then fearlessly put her left hand in his. A green sparkle made Harriet gasp. "She said 'yes'. I'm sorry to take office time, sir, but we wanted all of our closest friends to find out at once."

"Oh, Mac!" Harriet broke formation and hugged her friend. "Congratulations! I'm so happy for you! Both!" The Admiral gracefully ignored the loss of protocol and waited as hugs and handshakes were exchanged.

Harm turned to the Admiral, his arm around Mac's shoulder. "Sir. Thank you." Mac looked at him, confused. "I promise I'll take good care of her."

The Admiral nodded, and grinned at the colonel's confusion. "I'll have you know, Colonel, that the Commander actually came to get my permission to ask for your hand in marriage." Mac looked astonished, and stared at Harm.

"When? I mean - I don't know what to say, Sir."

AJ looked out the window, and if he was embarrassed, they couldn't tell. "Commander Rabb actually told me that this was too big a favor to get from the universe without asking someone if it was okay." He looked at Mac, who blushed and looked at the floor. "I told him that you were a big girl, and if you were brave enough to take on life with him full time, you certainly could." He looked back to Mac in time for her eyes to rise, meeting his. "You both make me damn proud."

The Admiral stepped to the side, folded his hands behind his back, and nodded to Rabb. "So you did it. Good for you." He stuck out his hand and shook Harm's, then turned to Mac.

"My best wishes, Co - " He got that far when she threw her arms around his neck and hugged him hard, protocol or no.

"Thank you, Sir," she whispered. "For giving us a chance, for believing in us… for everything." She stepped back, blinked, and stared in front of her, standing at parade rest. "Sir. I know it's asking a lot, but would the Admiral be willing to give me away?"

AJ looked as if he were considering it, and gave up the pretense. "Mac." Mac looked at him, her eyes shining. "I would be honored." He grew more serious, his tone hardening. "But let me tell you. If this marriage interferes in any way with the work in my office -"

"Sir?"

AJ looked sternly at Rabb's interruption.

"Commander?"

"Yes, sir. I just wanted to point out that there have been plenty of interruptions in work brought on by the basic interaction between the personalities of Colonel Mackenzie and myself, and I didn't want any future disruptions to be considered without due comparison to our former work habits..." Harm stopped as the Admiral stepped just a little too close for comfort. "...Sir."

"Commander, there's a little more lawyer in you every year." He stepped back and looked at the two of them. "Suffice it to say that you'll be told, instantly, if I think one of you needs to request a transfer. Don't make me do that."

Harm and Mac smiled. "Thank you, sir. We won't let you down."

"I should think not." The admiral stepped around to the other side of his desk, and sat down. "Now. Show me how efficient you all are by getting back to work."

Five officers snapped to attention, Harm barked "Aye, sir", they all turned on their heels and marched out of the office. Once outside, Harriet hugged Mac and looked at her ring again, then hugged Harm.

"Look. I know we've got work to do... how about we all have lunch together? Would that be okay? I want to hear everything!" Mac smiled at her friend, and looked up at Harm, who nodded.

Turner laughed, a warm, low chuckle. "Well, well, well. It's about time. At least now we don't have to knock your heads together."

"Thanks, Sturgis."

"You just better make sure this works out, hotshot."

"Hey, you've got to admit, we've been doing alright so far."

"Yeah, but remember: you hurt that woman and you'll have every man in here on your six. And a few from outside, I'm sure."

Harm laughed. "Don't I know it." He glanced over at Mac when she touched his arm, and realized immediately what she was thinking. "Say, Sturgis... do you think your father would be willing to do the ceremony?"

Sturgis took a deep breath and smiled broadly. "I'll ask him right away. I'm sure he'd be thrilled." With a hug for Mac and a handshake for Harm, Sturgis headed toward his office to make the call.

Harriet was looking like she might burst with happiness. "So, lunch, right? I still want to hear how he proposed!"

"Sure, Harriet. You won't believe..." Harriet and Mac walked off together, laughing and whispering, leaving Harm and Bud standing and staring.

"Sir?" Harm turned and looked from smiling after his fiancee to Bud, his arms crossed.

"What's up, Bud?"

"I just wanted you to know how happy I am for you, Harm. I really think you and Mac are a good match." Harm looked delighted and a little surprised. Bud used his superior officer's first names, on his own, maybe once a year.

"Thanks, Bud. I think so too." He smiled, a thought dawning on him. "Will you do me a favor?"

"You bet, sir. What is it?"

Harm turned and faced Bud squarely. "I need a best man. I was hoping it would be you."

Bud's face lit up like a little kid at Christmas. "I'd be honored. But don't you think your best man should be your brother?"

Harm looked at the friend before him, shook his head at the man's humility. "Bud, I talked to Sergei last night, and he's agreed to be one of my men if he can get here... but we want you and Harriet to be our best couple. Is that okay?"

"Of course, sir!" Bud was glowing.

"There is one thing Sergei said, though."

"What's that?"

"Well. He said that since you're married, or 'taken', as he put it, he should be the one to 'take over my duties' with Mac if I'm not able to complete my term..." He began to laugh, and Bud joined him.

"I think I can agree to that, sir. And I know Harriet can."

Harm's apartment

Monday Evening

Harm and Mac sat cuddled together on the couch, a bowl of popcorn and a two bottles of root beer on the coffee table in front of them. The movie on the VCR was playing the opening credits, in black and white. Mac picked up the bowl and rested it in her lap.

"So the Admiral just handed this to you?"

"Yeah. It was in his desk drawer, almost like he's been saving it. He couldn't believe we'd never seen it."

"Sounds kind of suspicious."

"Well, he is the Admiral."

"I know. He knows everything, doesn't he."

Harm shook his head. "I remember he mentioned it when we talked about 'us'." He leaned over and kissed the top of her head. "He recommended that we 'study it carefully', whatever that means." She leaned back and caught his lips with hers, distracting him thoroughly.

"Hey. It's starting."

She grinned and turned back to the screen.

"'Adam's Rib'." She snuggled into his arms and nibbled the popcorn. "Hmmm. I love Spencer Tracy."

He wrapped his arms around her more tightly and stole some popcorn. For a moment, he caught her looking down at her left hand. A laugh of pure joy welled up from him, and he whispered in her ear. "Just you wait."

She looked up at him, puzzled. "For what?"

He smiled at her. "I'm going to make you forget all about Spencer Tracy."

END

And there you have it. By the way, if you haven't seen Adam's Rib, starring Spencer Tracy and Katherine Hepburn, I highly recommend it. A married couple, lawyers… hmmmm…. If they could make it work and be interesting in black and white in 1949, I'd think TPTB could find a way to make it work now.

Again, thank you for reading. I try to look up any signed reviewers work – it's the best way to find new folks who write what I like!