Sorry it has taken so long to update, but I finally got a day off school to write. I'll try to be better, and summer is coming (

Standard Disclaimers Apply

********** January 16, 2004 1100 Romeo Arlington National Cemetery

The JAG crew and the Rabb/Burnett families filed silently from the chapel to the gravesite of Lisa Marie Simmons Rabb. The last notes of music had faded away, and the only sound was the crunching of their snow boots on the frozen ground. The casket was lowered, and Rev. Turner lifted the first shovel of dirt. "Ashes to ashes, and dust to dust..." Harm then placed three roses in the hole, one red and two pink.

The others stood back to give him a private moment, and then he turned away. They all trooped back up the hill to the church to claim their offspring, where the Admirals' Wives had prepared the funeral lunch.

*********** One Week Later January 23, 2004 The Roberts Residence 0300 Romeo

"Knock, WAAAAAAAAIIIILLL!!!!! Knock, Knock! WAHHHH!!!" The hesitant tapping on the door woke Harriet from her spot in the recliner, where she had dozed off while nursing Ellie. She quickly covered herself and headed towards the door. On the other side stood a frantic looking AJ Chegwidden with two decidedly unhappy babies in his arms.

Harriet quickly ushered him in, saying, "I'll be right back, I'm going to try to get Ellie back to bed. If the twins wake her it will take forever to get her down again." With that she disappeared up the stairs, reappearing a moment later and taking one of the twins.

"I can't get them to calm down, I've tried everything!" Can you help me figure out what's wrong with them? The neighbors called the landlady and complained about the noise, so I had to get them out of there."

Harriet responded by wrinkling her nose at the twin she was holding. "I don't need to see, I can smell. Excuse us a minute, please!" She grabbed the diaper bag from AJ and headed towards the table. Spreading out the travel change pad, she made quick work of the diaper and got a fresh one on.

"I think I know what their problem is. Did you change formulas recently?"

AJ looked astounded "Yes, the store suddenly quit carrying the brand I usually buy."

"The change is upsetting their tummies. What type did you use and what brand did you switch to?"

"I had Carnation Good Start for Newborns, I just started using Similac."

"I have some Carnation upstairs in case of emergency. Be right back."

Harriet quickly made up two bottles from the powder and handed one to AJ. Both twins were soon contentedly suckling and falling quickly asleep. Harriet and AJ talked as the babies ate, and it was decided that he would move in with them for awhile, and they would as Mac to move in as well. They could put the Brumbys in Mac's Room, Becky in the other bedroom and Zach on the couch. They put the now sleeping twins in the downstairs bassinet, and Harriet showed AJ to the downstairs guest room. He was asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow.

*********** Jan 18th 1330 Romeo Bud and Harriet's House 2nd Floor Guestroom

"O.K. Girls, settle in, your litterpan is in the bathroom, your water bowl is downstairs in the kitchen, and Chowtime is at 1600." Mac addressed the occupants of the cat carrier as she undid the latch. KitKat immediately tried to get under the bed, but as they had put stuff under there, she headed out the door in search of somewhere to hide. Kamikaze was not as subtle and expressed her displeasure at the change of address by hacking up a hairball into Bud's uniform shoe.

Mac headed downstairs to help the admiral unpack. "Mac, are you free to go shopping in the morning ? These girls need more clothes!"

"Sure, AJ. We can go after lunch if that's o.k. I have to go in to the office in the morning, I take over full JAG duty on Monday, you know."

"Mama! There's a monster under my bed, and it bit me when I tried to get my truck, AJ wailed, showing his mother the red marks on his hand.

"I don't think that was a monster, AJ. Let's go look. Harriet retrieved some of the cat treats from the can on the counter and headed to AJ's room. Sure enough, there was a cat under the bed.

Jan 20th, 2004 Bud & Harriet's House 1900 Romeo

The entire JAG crew had gathered at Harriet's house for dinner. All of the adults were sitting around the dining room table talking about the turns some of their lives had taken recently. Next to Bud & Harriet were Mac and Webb, (who had finally recovered from his ordeal in Paraguay enough to leave the rehab facility) Jen and Jeff, Tiner and Natalie, Mic and Sydney ( she wasn't actually at the table, she was on the couch, with Kamikaze snoozing on top of her huge pregnant tummy) Sturgis and Bobbie were cozily cuddled together. AJ was paired with Webb's mother, who had insisted on coming with him for his first excursion out of the house since his return from rehab. Rounding out the circle was Harmon Rabb, with Kamikaze in his lap.
Sydney was almost two weeks past her due date, and if she didn't deliver by the end of the week, the baby would be delivered by C-section. The babies were all in the living room where AJ was watching The Lion King 1 ½ under the supervision of the Brumby teenagers.

I don't know what I'm going to do," Natalie said. "Jason's going away on Sea Duty and wants us to get married before he goes. I know we won't be able to afford a church wedding like I've always dreamed of, but it's enough just getting married. But if we do that, where am I going to live? I can't afford my own apartment and my roommates probably wouldn't appreciate Jason staying over."

Harriet nodded. "We haven't told anyone yet, but Bud and I have to find a new place as well. I had a fight with my mother, and she stopped paying the mortgage and didn't tell Bud and I until a collection agent banged on the door. We found out yesterday that we have 90 days to be out. My dad is giving us some money on the sly, but I don't know where we are going to go. It's probably going to be an apartment, at least for awhile. AJ's going to be heartbroken that he can't get the puppy we promised him for his birthday."

Porter Webb, who had been listening contemplatively and not saying anything, suddenly spoke up very forcefully. "AJ's going to have that puppy, and Natalie, you and Jason are going to have the wedding of your dreams. You are all coming to live with me, at least for the time being. I know how it is being married and being apart, and in your case, Harriet, it's personal. You see, you should have been my child."