Disclaimer: as in ch.1

NATO BALL

15 October 2027

"That son of yours is getting more and more handsome, Mac, if that's even possible." Bobbie Turner grinned as she looked at the little group of young men in the far corner.

"Well, thank you." Mac smiled proudly and added, "He could easily be his father at that age."

"I'll definitely agree with that. So, what's with the solo appearance? Not that he'll stay that way much longer." Bobbie smiled slyly.

Meredith nodded in complete agreement as she watched all the girls drifting towards that corner. "That boy is definitely something in those dress-whites of his."

"Harm had this crazy idea to play matchmaker for Trey and Grace." Mac sighed.

"You don't agree?"

"No, nothing like that. Grace is a nice girl and God knows how much Trey cares for her. Plus, we all like her. Of all the dates Harm could have set up, he chose the NATO Ball. Now, as I watch Trey, Grace, and Alex, all I can think of is how Harm, Mic, and I were just like that thirty years ago. It scares the hell out of me! I don't want them to have to go through the same things I did." Mac's face was worried and tense as she recalled all the unpleasantness she and Harm went through.

"They won't." Harriet tried to smile reassuringly, but she also could remember the whole Mic/Mac fiasco--and this was getting too close to that for comfort.

For rest of the night, Harm's plan continued to disintegrate. Trey and Grace only shared one dance, both feeling awkward at how Jeremy had set them up. Their conversation consisted of polite nothings, and, before long, the ball was over and the best friends still felt like strangers.

-----

Two days later

Webb Residence

Alexandria, VA

"Jeremy! Hurry Up!" Trey yelled from the doorway. He'd offered to take his friend up in his father's old plane, 'Sarah'. Jeremy, who loved any sort of flying, agreed instantly, and they decided to go before they both returned to their duty stations the next day.

"I'm coming. Give me ten minutes!"

"I swear you are slower than my sisters!"

"Watch it, buddy!" Jeremy retorted.

"You got less than ten minutes, Lieutenant!" Trey yelled back, then headed outside to wait at the driveway.

At the same time, a car pulled to a stop at the house, the back door popping open to reveal Grace Webb and Alexander Russell.

"Oh...Hi, Trey, I didn't know you would be here today." Grace looked uncomfortable.

"I bet you didn't," Trey muttered quietly under his breath.

"Nice to meet you again, Trey." Alex shook his hand firmly.

"Likewise." The aviator forced himself to smile.

"I'll see you tomorrow, Grace. I need your help with the writing assignment. I hate essays!" Alex shook his head with a wry grin, and Grace nodded in understanding.

"Tomorrow, then. Pick me up?"

"I'd love to." Alex flashed her a smile.

"I bet you do." Trey mumbled, just loud enough for Grace to hear and Alex to miss.

"What the hell was that?" Grace demanded as soon as Alex left.

"What was what?"

"Don't act all innocent, Trey! I heard what you said. What is wrong with you?"

"There is nothing wrong with me!"

"I just don't get you. Alex is a nice person, and he's my friend. You've resented him from the moment I introduced you two. What did he do to make you dislike him?"

"He got you." Trey sighed in a quiet voice.

"What was that?!"

"Nothing!" He replied defensively.

"Trey Rabb, what is your problem?"

"There is no problem!"

"Yes, there is! You hate my friend, and I want to know why!"

"I didn't say I hated him!"

"You didn't say it, but your actions sure did!"

"I see you are defending him, again."

"He's my friend! We are in the same assignment team. I defend my friends! I can't believe I have to explain this to you."

"You don't have to. Your personal life is none of my business."

"You're damn right, it isn't!" she snarled.

"Fine!" he retorted.

Grace took a deep breath. "Listen, Trey, I just want you to accept my friend and my choices."

"I won't stand in your way to becoming the wife of the next Earl Russell, if that's what you mean. He's got everything, Grace. He has looks, a great future, and lots of fortune. Isn't that what you've always wanted?"

Trey regretted the words as soon as they came out of his mouth. Grace's hurt expression didn't help his conscience; he never intended to fight with her like this.

Grace tried to control her anger at his betrayal, but two tears managed to slip down her cheeks. "I hate you, Trey Rabb! I hate you!!" she screamed and ran inside, almost colliding with Jeremy.

"Whoa! Slow down!" Jeremy grinned at her, but she ignored him, heading for her room. "What did you do this time, Harmon Rabb III?! You may be my best friend, buddy, but I will not allow you to hurt my sister!" He quickly switched to over-protective-brother mode.

"I put my foot in my mouth," Trey answered shortly. "She came here with Alex, and we got into an argument. She said she hated me." Trey's voice was barely above a whisper.

Jeremy sagged slightly, feeling sorry for his friend. Trey's feeling for his sister were anything but a secret, but the two were just far too stubborn for their own good. "Oh, forget it! She could never hate you. Sure, she's angry, but it's not hate. Just wait till she calms down, then apologize. Now, let's go fly that Steerman." He awkwardly patted Trey on the shoulder, but Trey still felt awful.

The whole day, Jeremy was whooping and laughing onboard the plane, but Trey's mind was miles away, back with Grace.

"I hate you, Trey Rabb! I hate you, Trey Rabb!" He heard it again and again, heard the anger in her voice.

'She hates me. She really hates me. This time, there's no other chance for me. I'm sorry you feel that way about me, Grace. I was never good enough for you, anyway. I'll get out of your life; you can be sure of that, Grace.'

The next day, Trey was deployed to the Pacific, carefully avoiding Grace until he left. That day on the driveway of a certain house in Virginia became, perhaps, the last time Grace Webb would ever see Harmon Rabb, III.

TBC…