Disclaimer; as in ch. 1
1900 EST
15 October 2027
NATO Ball
Trey and Grace continued to grow apart from each other, especially after Alex came into their lives. The two friends were, unfortunately, equally stubborn about acknowledging their feelings towards each other, and in the end, that's what pushed them apart.
For Harm, it felt like déjà vu. It was amazing how similar his problems with Brumby and Mac, over thirty years ago, were. Harm did his best to keep his son from repeating his mistakes, and even managed to get Trey to the NATO Ball so he'd see her, but his efforts seemed meaningless.
It hadn't been hard to get the tickets to the ball, considering that Harm was the CNO (Chief of Naval Operations), and Trey had intended to ask Grace to be his date. Unfortunately, he was a day too late. Alex had already asked her, and she'd accepted.
Trey was left with no choice but to go stag. The tall, handsome, and apparently single aviator in his dress-whites and gold-wings didn't go unnoticed by the young women who were eager to ask him for a dance, but Trey brushed their advances off, his eyes constantly staying fixed on a certain couple. Grace looked even more beautiful than normal, if that were possible, with her bright red dress accenting every curve. Trey sighed, feeling incredibly jealous of Alex at that moment.
Across the room, the Rabb parents watched, frustrated again, until a voice broke through their gloomy thoughts.
"Harm! Mac!"
"Admiral, Sir!" The two automatically came to attention.
"Oh, stuff it, you two! I'm retired, and you have more stars than I do, Harm. Call me A.J.!" Retired Admiral A.J. Chegwidden sternly rebuked his former subordinates, but his mouth quirked slightly as he tried not to smile.
"Yes, Sir...I mean A.J." Harm quickly corrected himself.
"Where is Meredith, Sir...AJ?"
"She's with Harriet. Something about cooking...or maybe it was about a dress..." AJ shook his head, ruefully acknowledging that he just couldn't keep up with those women's conversations.
"I think I'll join them. Excuse me, AJ, Harm." Mac smiled, then made her way toward the two women, who were just being joined by Bobbie.
As soon as Mac was out of earshot, Chegwidden looked at Harm curiously, lifting his eyebrows. "So, what's with the gloomy face, Admiral Rabb?"
Harm sighed, "Let's just say that my plan didn't work out the way I planned it."
AJ frowned, and Harm nodded towards where Trey watched moodily as Grace and Alex danced. Harm began to explain what was going on, but just then, they were interrupted.
"Uncle Harm, Uncle AJ."
Coming up behind them was AJ's namesake, AJ Roberts, followed closely by Clayton Senior, and Clayton Junior, a.k.a Jeremy.
"Hello, boys."
"Uncle Harm, do you know where Trey is? I've been trying to find him all night." Jeremy looked frustrated at his lack of success.
"He's right over there." Harm pointed out the lone aviator, standing in the far corner, and the boys rushed off to their friend.
"Honestly, Harm! I used to think you and Sarah would always hold the distinction of having your heads farthest up your sixes, but I see you've lost that distinction." Clay Sr. shook his head in amazement.
"Excuse me, did I miss something?" AJ frowned, obviously not quite sure what was going on.
"Come on, AJ! You're old, but not -that- old. Surely you've noticed what's going on with your godson and my daughter?" Clay gestured towards the two.
"Ah, yes..." He suddenly realized what they were talking about. "But are you really surprised, though, considering who the parents are? Especially Trey's?" AJ grinned slyly.
Webb was silent for a moment, then he grinned back. "Nah..."
Harm sent them both death glares, while they did their best to look innocent.
TBC…
