Well… I suppose it was a happy ending on the show, or at least satisfactory... Then why do I still feel depressed about the season? Maybe because Harm and Mac aren't allowed to talk to each other the way they talk about each other in front of other people?

That kind of writing makes me cranky. *sigh*…. At least Sturgis is happy.

The promised epilogue… only perhaps it keeps going… I can't stop… someone save me… better still, save the show….

Oh. I don't own the show, the characters, or the twinkle in the Admiral's eye…

The Streets of Georgetown

Saturday

1900

"I still think it's a cool name. Better than Mathilda, anyway."

"Well, what isn't?"

Mac silently looked in the rearview mirror as raspberries were exchanged.

"Well, it's true, you always say so. At least you weren't named after a Barbie doll."

"Kira was a Barbie doll?"

"Yeah." A dejected pause. "She got discontinued."

"Bummer."

The overly profound silence burst into giggles, and Mac smiled, shaking her head.

It was her second weekend with Mattie, and she was amazed at how much younger the girl let herself act with her new school friend. The colonel found it was a bit of a relief. Self-sufficiency is wonderful, but Mattie hadn't had much time to be a kid. This weekend had been busy with Christmas shopping, and the 'girl's day at the mall' had the makings of an annual event. Mac grinned when Mattie suggested it, remembering what Harriet had told her.

"Just be careful what you do on the spur of the moment around holidays or birthdays, because you only have to do it once before it's declared 'tradition'. Lord help you if you forget a tradition!"

"What's so bad about traditions?"

"Nothing. But just wait until you have to find candy canes to hang on the tree at three in the morning because you forgot Santa always does it, and the last thing you hear when you tuck them in, thinking of the pile of presents in the closet, is 'gee, I can't wait for the candy canes'…"

Mac was disturbed from her reverie by a head appearing from the backseat.

"Mac?"

"Yes?"

"Did you get the stuff to make the cookies?"

"Yes."

"And the clementines and lemon leaves for the centerpiece?"

Mac sighed. "Yes, Martha. We're all set." Kira giggled.

Mattie had fallen in love with the Food Network and was determined to have a celebratory Christmas dinner party. With Mac's help, of course.

"I didn't get anything for the punch yet. Did you figure out what you want?"

"Still looking. Sara's got a good one, Martha's is too complicated, and Emeril's is half bourbon."

"Right."

Kira giggled again. "Here, drink the punch. BAM!"

Mattie smacked her arm automatically. "I still haven't checked with Alton-"

"Not returning your calls, is he?"

"Ha, ha, very funny. Can I go online when we get home? To check, I mean?"

Mac smiled and felt her stomach do a little flip. Home. "Sure. Just remember that whatever we do Wednesday, it has to be ready by five-thirty."

"I know. We're halfway done already, and it's just the seven of us-"

"Nine. You invited the kids, too, remember?"

"Wait… the Roberts, the Admirals, and us…right. Do you think we should have some mac and cheese on the side for AJ, just in case?"

"Good thinking, sweetie."

"Hey, what party? You didn't invite me."

Mac saw Mattie turn to Kira in the mirror. Her ward, who seemed to let the 'sweetie' go by without flinching, smiled easily at her friend. "Next time. This time's just a family Christmas get together." She looked thoughtful for a moment. "Maybe between Christmas and New Years?"

"Sure. My family's out-of-towners will be here by then, I'll need the escape route." Kira pointed over the front seat. "There's my house, Colonel Mackenzie."

"Got it." Mac pulled Harm's SUV up to the driveway and waited while Kira gathered up her shopping. "Thanks for the ride, Colonel M, and lunch, and everything. I had fun."

"So did I, Kira. Nice to finally meet you."

Kira giggled and waved. "See you tomorrow, Matt! Only two more schooldays till break!"

"Bye, Kira." Mattie clambered up into the front seat before Mac drove away.

"You could use the doors, you know."

"Harm says I can climb over as long as I'm in pants." They looked at each other for a moment and laughed. Some of their best bonding had been at Harm's expense, although if anyone else made a joke about her guardian, Mattie would either be very indignant and cold (if they were adults), or smack them. They drove in comfortable silence for a while.

"Hey, Mattie… didn't you tell Kira I said she could call me 'Mac'?"

Mattie reached for the cd player. "Nope."

"Why not?"

Mattie stared out the window for a moment. "You have no idea how impressive it is to say I'm the ward of a Commander and a Colonel. People either think it's really cool, or that I'm the unluckiest girl in the world. Either way, no one gives me any trouble."

The Colonel looked thoughtful, a small grin on her lips. "Well, good." She glanced over at Mattie. "I'm not sure about 'Colonel M', though."

"You'll get used to it."

"Gee, thanks. Nothing too loud, okay?"

Mattie laughed as she adjusted the stereo. "I don't think you'll mind this one. Harm got it for me."

Five minutes later they were at Mac's apartment, singing Christmas carols loudly along with the Muppets. They popped the cd and brought it in with them, so by the time Harm had arrived for dinner with a plum-colored poinsettia for 'the women', Christmas was coming and the goose was getting fat. He took his turn in the round as they set the table, stopping to pick up Mattie and spin her around. She squealed.

"Harm! No fair! You never do that to Mac."

"Because he knows I would deck him."

"That a challenge, Marine?"

"I wouldn't try it…"

Mac turned back to the sink, humming, as Harm and Mattie exchanged a calculated look. He gestured to her and she nodded. "Hey, Mac, look at this!"

When the Lieutenant Colonel stepped over to see what Mattie was pointing at, Harm grabbed her around the waist from behind and spun her around. She didn't so much squeal as yell.

When he put her down she spun around, a carrot still in her hand. "Oh, you are so asking for it, Navy. I should –" she stopped abruptly as he laughed and stole the carrot, biting the end off and passing it to Mattie.

"I think she's louder than you, Mattie."

"Nah, just older. When I'm her age I'll be able to yell like that too."

"You think?"

Mac stared back and forth between them and shook her head. "You're lucky I'm filled with the Christmas spirit. As it is, you both have KP." She handed the napkins to Mattie for the table, and the peeler to Harm. "You, mister, can finish the salad. I'm going to take a quick shower."

"Aww, poor Marine got all sweated up taking the mall." He grinned at her as she threw a towel at him and left the kitchen.

Mattie finished up the table, and wandered over to the tree. Several presents were already wrapped beautifully and waiting, Mac being more efficient than most people in that regard. For all her teasing of Mattie, Mac's apartment looked as Christmasy as any Martha Stewart show.

"Hey, Harm?"

"Yeah?"

"What are you getting Mac for Christmas?"

There was a pause. "It's a surprise."

"Uh huh. You haven't bought anything yet, have you."

"I didn't say that."

"Right."

"What about you?"

"I'm working on it."

"Sure."

"Hey, I really am!"

"Then what is it?"

She paused. "It's a surprise." Looking down at the boxes, she saw there was one marked 'Harm and Mattie'. "Hey, there's one for us here."

"Gee, there's a shock. And no shaking." Mac had reappeared, her hair slicked down from the shower, wearing sweats and a Navy t-shirt.

"I wondered where that shirt went. That's mine."

"Was yours." She stuck her tongue out at him. "That'll teach you to let Mattie borrow it."

Harm's expression was one of exasperated amusement as he looked toward his ward. "Funny, I don't recall letting Mattie borrow it." The girl shrugged and continued checking out the presents under the tree.

"Oops. It was either that or do the across the room dash naked-"

Mac laughed as Harm held up his hands for her to stop.

"Red light, Mattie."

"I don't think that counts for her." Mac stirred the sauce and shook her head. "Well, you're not getting it back at the moment. I'll wrap it for Christmas."

He was looking at her strangely when she turned back from checking the stove. "What?"

His eyebrows went up, innocently. "Oh, nothing." She frowned, and he shrugged. "I admit, you fill it out a bit more nicely than I do." Mac rolled her eyes.

"We ready?"

"Ready here."

"Yep."

"Okay. Let's eat."

Sitting around the Christmas tree after dinner, Harm and Mac sipped coffee while Mattie stacked marshmallows in her hot chocolate. "Mac, can I use the computer now?"

"Sure, Mattie. But not all party plans, alright? You said you have to do the edits your teacher wanted on that English report."

"It's only a couple words."

"Just get it done."

Harm looked after her as she took her mug and vanished into Mac's second bedroom- the former office which was now Mattie's bedroom, and the computer room. When she was gone, he looked at Mac. "How is it going with her?"

"Good. She's a great kid." She smiled fondly. "Did you work out the bedroom?"

"Sort of." He sighed, stretched his arm along the back of the couch. "I'm beginning to think I may have to move after all."

"You love that apartment. You've put so much work into it."

"Yeah… but it's pretty… ah… open."

Mac stifled a laugh. "Estrogen poisoning?"

He smiled. "Not yet, but I'm still thinking it might be good to have a bit more room." He shook his head. "A second bathroom would be even better. You're right about the apartment, though. I'd hate to lose it."

"Maybe you could sublet. Then it'll still be there if…" She frowned, not wanting to finish the thought. "If anything changes."

Harm, lost in thought, didn't catch the implication. "I wouldn't want to sublet to just anyone."

"Maybe Mikey?"

"Heh. I will need to get rent."

"Or maybe this new lady that Sturgis has been speaking so highly of."

"He talks to you about her?"

"No, not really. He just sort of sighs and looks dreamy." She chuckled and put her mug on the coffee table. "You know, it was tough when he was depressed, but this is something else altogether. I've never seen him this way… have you?"

"There were a couple girls during the academy, but this looks different." He looked serious for a moment. "I'm really happy for him."

"Me too."

The quiet hung around until it got uncomfortable.

"Maybe I should get going."

"Oh…?"

"Well… "

It was strange. Since they had taken responsibility for Mattie, Harm and Mac found themselves together often… but not alone. Moments like this put them back in that tense place where they should be discussing their relationship. Or how they don't have a relationship. Or something. Mac shook her head, stared at her coffee mug. "If you want to leave, I mean-"

"Mac." Harm looked into her eyes and they both eventually smiled. "Do you think we'll ever be really comfortable again? Just us, talking?"

She looked at the tree and back to him. "God, I hope so."

"We used to be able to do this."

"Yeah." They stared blankly, trying to remember just what they had done all those years of being 'just friends'.

He frowned, shook his head. "Maybe I should-"

"Hey!"

Harm looked at her, startled. "What."

"Want to watch a movie?"

He stared at her for a long moment. "Yeah." He looked thoughtful. "Didn't we used to watch Life around now?"

Her eyes sparkled. "That's right. The Mackenzie-Rabb Christmas film festival. I knew we were forgetting something. I remember that year when we watched a different film every night for a week."

"And three different Christmas Carol's on Saturday."

"Murray, Stewart, and Caine…we must have been out of our minds."

"It was great."

Hesitating, she looked at him as she moved to the DVD collection. "You still want to?"

Harm smiled warmly, noticing how lovely she looked in the soft glow of the tree lights. "I'd love to."

By the time Mattie came out with a handful of sheets printed with punch recipes and desserts, Mac and Harm were sitting entranced on the couch, her head on his shoulder, a fleece throw covering them. Mattie glanced at the black and white screen and back to her guardians. With a raised eyebrow and a little smile, she stepped back behind the doorframe to watch them for a few minutes. Jimmy Stewart was falling apart onscreen, and Harm reached a long arm over to the side table, grabbing a box of tissues. Mac turned to look at him in surprise.

"What? This part always makes you cry."

She stared at him for a long time, and then leaned in and kissed him fondly on the cheek. "Thank you." Taking a tissue, she put her head back on his shoulder. He kept the box in the air until she took two more, and they both laughed quietly before looking back at the television.

Mattie pursed her lips curiously. "Hmmm," she said under her breath. "Could be an interesting Christmas."