Author's Note: Here is part nine. This will be the last part for about a week or so because I'm going on vacation. This part is fairly long and I hope that you really enjoy it. Please feel free to give all manner of feedback and if you give me your e-mail I will send back a thank you. Well I suppose I should shut up now or you will never get to read it.
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The Royal Tahitian
Out in the Pacific Ocean
0900 Romeo
Day 6
Harm and Mac's days had fallen into somewhat of a routine, they got up at eight when Mary came and woke them then they got ready for the day and after meeting Bud and Harriet for breakfast the planned out the days events. Today the ship was still in route to Bora-Bora so they had to stay on the ship. At breakfast that morning Harriet said,
"I know what we should do today, ma'am, we should go to the poolside and just spend the day out in the sun. My tan is coming along okay but I think a few a hours in a pool chair might help it."
"Harriet that is a fabulous idea. I could also finish my book. Well now that we know what we're going to do what about the boys." Mac looked pointedly at Harm.
"I don't know Bud what do you want to do?" Harm shrugged.
"I don't know sir, I suppose we could go swimming too, we aren't going to get much of a chance for a while in DC." Bud figured,
"Okay then on today's schedule we book some serious pool time. We meet out on the pool deck at eleven o'clock sound good." Harm concluded. They all nodded their agreement and finished breakfast. Harm and Mac left the table their hands intertwined leaving Bud and Harriet to think that their plan was working.
"So Mac do you want to go for a run?"
"Harm what are you smoking we just ate and where do you run on a ship?"
"Okay your right how about a walk instead?"
"That will do but we have one hour and twenty nine minutes before we need to get ready to meet Bud and Harriet." Mac reminded him. They took the elevator to the main promenade and began their walk. Their hands were still intertwined as they walked the feeling was so natural that they almost forgot that it was supposed to be a sham. When they reached the bow they stopped and stared at the midmorning horizon.
"Oh Harm it's so beautiful…ohh and look at the dolphins!" Mac exclaimed pointing down to the water. She was leaning on the railing just watching the dolphins swim and do tricks in front of the ship.
"Have you ever seen dolphins before Mac?"
"Only in books, I've never even been to Sea World." She stated simply and continued to study the dolphins intensely. Harm added that statement to his list of things he was going to do with her someday. They stood there for a while longer before finishing the remainder of the walk around the deck. They made it around in one hour and twenty-five minutes. Quickly they headed back to suite nineteen and with a few minutes to kill lounged on the couch plotting.
"Harm tomorrow night is the formal I say we launch an all out romantic assault." Mac stated.
"Okay and how exactly are we planning on doing that?"
"We go the whole nine yards, staring at each other from across the table, dancing just a little too close and maybe even a kiss or two." Mac commanded. Harm nodded his agreement then stepped over to the small chest of drawers a pulled out his swim trunks.
"Alright, Mac let's continue this later I want to go swimming. Do you want to change out here or in the bathroom?"
"The bathroom is fine, you go ahead." Mac said from the couch not even looking up, from the book she held in her hands.
"Well aren't you going to start or are you going to sit here and watch me." Harm inquired.
"Oh come on you haven't got anything I haven't seen before." Mac replied casually.
"You know Mac sometimes you can really be strange and you never cease to amaze me." Harm said taking off his shirt. Mac kept her eyes on the book despite how difficult it was to not sneak a peek. Harm changed quickly and stood there watching Mac's face turn redder by the second.
"Mac are you blushing?"
"No."
"Well you certainly aren't sun burned."
"Look Harm why don't you go check and see if the Roberts are ready yet. I'll meet up with you in a few."
"Okay see you later Marine." Harm walked out the door. He had pulled his T-shirt back on so he could walk down the hall. He knocked softly on the door and Bud answered it. He was ready to go as well but Harriet was on the phone. Harm could hear snippets of the conversation while Bud was grabbing a beach towel.
"…Okay… Yes…All right sounds good…Yes they are just leaving…"
"Harm decided to ignore it and when Bud had located a towel they left Harriet and headed to the pool by themselves.
Outdoor Pool Deck
10 minutes later
Harm and Bud were swimming laps in the Olympic sized pool when Mac and Harriet stepped out onto the sun filled deck. They pulled up chairs right up next to the pool. Mac sat down and immediately cracked opened her book. Harriet watched Bud for a minute before doing the same.
"Hey Bud have you seen…wow!" Harm didn't finish his question his eyes had fallen on Mac. He stared at her. Her legs were long, smooth and slender they were perfect in his mind except for, under closer inspection a small scar on her thigh. His eyes took in her small black bikini that he noted covered what was only necessary. They then drifted up her figure and he looked past the cleavage that would have made, even monks drool, he looked at her face her sunglasses covered her eyes but he could see the concentration on her face as she intently read. How her lips were pursed in that cute,
"Hello! Earth to the Commander! Are you listening?" Bud waved a hand in front of Harm's face.
"Uh what?"
"Apparently not, sir what has gotten into you lately? You stare keep staring at the Colonel like I stare at Harriet sometimes. You might want to get rid of that grin sir before she sees you." Bud stated and then continued to swim. Harm treaded water for another minute before he resumed swimming. He kept glancing up every once and a while to look at Mac again. When he and Bud had swam enough laps to have crossed the English Channel or so it seemed to them. They climbed out of the pool and Harm stood over Mac dripping wet.
"Excuse me your in my sun…" Mac paused when she looked up to see who's shadow was putting her into the shade. She looked at Harm who was covered in water. His swim trunks she was sure had sunk down to past the regulation level and she could see his six pack and strong chest and arms. She had seen him plenty of times without his shirt on but maybe the salt water was getting to her.
"What are you reading there Mac?" He asked innocently smiling. The look on her face was classic. Over the top of her sunglasses he saw her wide eyes and her slightly red face. She shut her book and responded,
"Oh, nothing just a sappy romance novel, see?" She held up the book so he could see the cover. On it was a man in dress whites kissing a woman that slightly resembled Mac.
"Well go figure. I never saw you as the romantic type Mac."
"Well there's a lot of things you don't see me as." She muttered back under her breath. Harm pretended not to hear her and flopped down on the chair next to her. He closed his eye and quickly dozed off.
As Harm slept the pool had emptied out since it was around lunchtime. Mac put her book down on the deck and rolling over so she was on her stomach untied her bikini so she wouldn't have a tan line. She soon too nodded off in the warm afternoon sun.
"Sir, sir wake up!" Bud hissed into his ear. Harm jerked awake abruptly. Bud was holding a finger to his lips to warn him to be quiet.
"What's the deal Bud? Where did everyone go?"
"They all went to lunch sir, but we will have to get some later besides now is the perfect time." Bud gestured to Mac and Harriet who were both sleeping with their tops undone.
"Perfect time to do what exactly Bud?"
"We should dunk them sir!"
"No way Bud! Could you imagine what Mac would do to me? No I won't do it! No way!"
"Please it will be fun sir and we'll tie their tops before we do it anyway."
"Oh fine Bud let's do it and I must say you have got some serious guts lieutenant."
"Thank you sir now hurry." Bud strode over to Harriet and loosely tied her top back on. Harm did the same, but just as he was finishing Mac murmured "Harm what are you doing… that tickles."
"Nothing Mac just go back to sleep." Harm cooed softly, taking off her sunglasses. He then lightly stepped around to the end of the chair and pulled it so it was right at the edge of the pool. Bud did the same and then they walked to the other end of the chairs and Harm gave a nod.
"Time to take a swim Ladies!" Harm shouted then lifted Mac's chair and dumped her into the pool Bud did the same thing to Harriet. They both hit the water and when Mac came back up to the surface her hair was plastered against her face and she yelled.
"HARM! I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!" She wiped the hair from in front of her eyes out of the way glared at him. Harm smiled with a hand behind his back,
"Not without this you won't." He pulled his hand from behind his back. In it was her sopping wet black bikini top. It had come off when she had fallen in and he had scooped it out of the water.
"Harm would you kindly give that back to me before anyone sees?" Mac asked icily sinking down lower into the pool to cover herself. She was extremely red in the face and was looking very uncomfortable. Harm had sympathy and replied,
"Well I suppose I could we don't want to see a Marine at a disadvantage, but might I ask where your tattoo is first."
"Let's just that my hands are serving as the reason your not seeing it. Now give me back my top." Mac snapped. Harm dropped the top into the water and Mac quickly snatched it. She hastily tied it back on and then looked at Bud and Harriet who were now conversing quietly on the deck.
"Now help me out would you?" Harm held out a hand to her, which she gladly took then when she was half way out she got an idea. Quickly and before Harm could stop her she took a hold of his swim trunks with one hand and with the other that was still in his hand she pulled and Harm fell face first into the pool. Bud and Harriet turned at the source of the splash.
"Who's at the disadvantage now, Sailor." Mac said holding up his swim trunks, which were still in her hand just without Harm in them. Harm turned the brightest shade of crimson and hurriedly surrendered,
"I am now can I have them back? This is really embarrassing."
"Only if you tell me who's bright idea it was to dump me in the pool, and if I like what I hear I just might give them back." Mac reasoned.
"It was Bud's idea."
"I don't believe you."
"Honestly it was, the lieutenant can back me up can't you." Harm looked at Bud. Bud looked innocent and lied,
"Sir as I recall it was your idea and after all you are the senior officer."
"Damn! All right fine it was me now could I have them back? Please Mac."
"Now before I give them back I have one last question. When I say jump what do you say?"
"How high." Harm sighed this was really hurting his pride and Mac knew it but she wanted him eating out of her hand.
"Very good Flyboy you learn quickly. Here you go." She handed them to him and swam over to the other end of the pool. Harm put them on in the water. He didn't want to risk being seen and once he had he swam up behind Mac and grabbed her around the waist as she was climbing out and pulled her back in.
"Hey don't do that! You scared me! Now let me go!" Mac was squirming in his arms, but it was no use. Finally she gave up and sat there with her arms crossed and pouting while Harm held her. After a minute or two he said,
"I'll let you go on one condition, that you never ever to that to me again."
"Okay fine just let go of me!" Harm did as instructed and tossed her into the water and swam in the opposite direction.
"Hey Harm you weren't lying were you?" She called to him as she climbed out and sat on the warm deck. It took him a minute to finish his lap and come over.
"Nope, I wasn't lying. Seriously Bud suggested it and I just went along for the ride. I do have to admit it was kind of funny to see you get wet and lose your top. I rather enjoyed it." Harm said coming up to sit beside her on the deck. By now a few people and the even smaller number of children aboard were returning to the pool. Mac watched a small dark haired boy play at the shallow end for awhile with a look of longing on her face that Harm quickly spotted.
"He sure is a cute one isn't he?" He said casually he had been watching the same boy she was and wondering.
"Yea and just think we could have one like him someday." Mac said absentmindedly.
"So your still on for AJ's fifth birthday then." Harm asked turning to look at her. She looked up at him and nodded sheepishly smiling,
"It's good to know I have something to look forward too. Thanks Mac." Harm said quickly giving her a wet hug, which she returned, but when her hands touched his back he winced slightly. Pulling away she asked,
"Harm what's wrong?"
"Just a sunburn nothing big." He shrugged.
"Turn around." Harm did as he was told and Mac laughed.
"Harm your back is as red as the lobster I had for dinner last night! I told you that you should have worn sunscreen."
"No you didn't." He protested.
"I didn't say it in so many words but you are old enough to do it yourself. Come on let's go back to the suite and put some aloe on this or it will start to peel and I'm not going to sleep with someone who is shedding skin like a lizard." Mac teased, standing up. Harm followed suit and they began to walk back towards Bud and Harriet who were still lounging on the poolside. Harm and Mac looked at each other and then to Bud and Harriet. Then they pushed both the Roberts in. Laughing while they sputtered water, Mac said through giggles,
"That's for putting us in a room together." Harm put an arm around Mac's waist just to get the Roberts to think there was a double meaning then picked up Mac's book, sunglasses and Harm's T-shirt they kept walking, leaving the Roberts in the pool with huge smiles on their faces.
*=*=*=*
The Royal Tahitian
Out in the Pacific Ocean
1425 Romeo
Suite 19
"Ouch! Mac that hurts! Stop it!" Harm snapped squirming under her touch.
"Oh quit whining you big baby and hold still!" She snapped back. Mac was trying to get the Aloe on his sunburned back and wasn't having much success. When they had gotten back Mac and Harm had showered and now Harm was on his stomach on the bed with Mac straddling him and trying to rub in the Aloe.
"I told you not to take a hot shower that it would cause it to burn but no, don't listen to your partner." Mac said and rubbed in the lotion quickly so that he wouldn't move again, but she must have found a really burned spot because when she ran her hands over it Harm yelled,
"SHIT! That hurts!" He jumped up and sent Mac tumbling to the floor.
"Harm all I'm trying to do is rub in lotion not kill you! For god sake lay down, hold still and suck it up!" She said standing up.
"NO Mac! I'm not going to let you do that it hurts too much."
"Fine Harm have it your way but I'm going to finish even if I have to tie you down." Mac said wiping off the excess on her slightly pink skin and reaching into her suitcase pulled out two silk scarves.
"Mac you aren't serious are you?"
"You bet you're six I'm serious now get on that rack." She motioned to the bed; Harm obediently laid down on his stomach again and waited with a smug look on his face. Mac carefully tied a scarf to each of his wrists and then tied them to the headboard.
"There now I'll be done in a minute, okay." She straddled him once more and continued. He only flinched under her touch and tried really hard not to say anything while she worked. Within another minute she was done. Getting up she untied him and folding the scarves and placing them back in the suitcase.
"See now it wasn't that hard was it? Now lay still and wait for ten minutes or so and then you can put your shirt back on."
"Yes mom." He remarked sarcastically and then added a little more gently. "Could you order some food I'm hungry."
"Of course. A salad for you?" Harm nodded and Mac picked up the telephone and dialed room service,
"Hello this is umm… Mrs. Rabb in Suite 19 would you please send up a cheese burger a salad and two Cokes… In five minutes…Thank you…bye." She hung up and then sat on the bed next to Harm.
"So we're married again huh?" Harm asked.
"Well what was I supposed to say. That I was your mistress?"
"No that would have been very inappropriate, because you're not my mistress." Harm said softly.
"Thank you Harm but I will say your previous girlfriends thought otherwise." Mac said.
"They said that to you?"
"No but they were certainly thinking it." Mac said flatly. Not wanting to continue the subject. At that exact moment there was a sharp knock at the door.
"I'll get it." Mac said jumping up and rushing to the door. She opened it and saw Mary standing there smiling.
"Hello Mrs. Rabb did you miss lunch again? Yes Mary we did. You don't usually do room service do you?"
"No ma'am not usually but I was bored so I took it off the regular guy's hands."
"Well come on in and set it down on the table." Mac opened the door wider and let Mary in. She walked past Harm and set it on the coffee table.
"Good afternoon Mr. Rabb." Mary said to Harm politely.
"You too." Harm said half-heartedly. Mary looked a little puzzled. Usually when she was here to see them they were up and energetic.
"Sunburn." Mac mouthed. Mary nodded that she understood and quickly announced her leave.
"Well ma'am, sir enjoy your late lunch and I will see you tomorrow morning when we dock in Bora-Bora.' She quickly left Harm and Mac to eat.
When she was gone Mac said,
"Well Harm you can get up in a few minutes can you wait to eat?"
"No Mac, not when it's sitting right there in front of me." He remarked. Mac rolled her eyes and picked up the salad and a fork. She then sat down on the floor next to the bed and getting a forkful of 'rabbit food' on the fork ordered,
"Harm open your mouth."
"Why?"
"Well you wanted to eat right away didn't you, so I'm going to feed you."
"Your not serious are…" Mac didn't let him finish she put the bite in his mouth and forced him to chew and swallow.
"Mmm that was good." Harm said.
"Which part? The salad or the fact that I'm feeding you?"
"Both, but as much as I would like you to continue can I get up now?"
"Yes Harm." Harm sat up slowly, and immediately took the salad from Mac and began to eat it. Politely but with a purpose. Mac moved over to the couch and picked up her burger off the plate and ate it quickly. She had forgotten how hungry she was and the burger tasted good. Popping the last of it in her mouth she licked her fingers and then downed her Coke. Harm was still eating and she watched him for a minute while he finished. When he did he looked up at her and laughed.
"What is so funny, Sailor?"
"You have ketchup on your face. You certainly are a messy eater." Harm handed her a napkin, which she quickly used to wipe her face. When she looked at him again she noted that she wasn't the only messy eater. Harm had ranch dressing on his cheek. She decided she would try something a little different to get it off his cheek.
"Hey Harm do you mind if I kissed you?"
"What did you say?"
"Can I kiss you?"
"Why? Wait I don't want to know. Go ahead it can't hurt anything." Harm shrugged. Heck he might even enjoy it. Mac walked over and leaning over placed kiss on his cheek. Just enough to get the dressing off his cheek. Then she straightened and taking the room service tray set it outside the door.
"That was it?" Harm asked puzzled when she stepped back inside.
"And you were expecting a Top Gun 'Take My Breath Away' scene. Yes that was it."
"Umm well I will admit it was slightly strange and awfully random, but I was a little surprised that you…" Harm stood and pulled his shirt back on, gingerly, even though the burn didn't hurt much anymore.
"So what are we doing tonight?" He asked Mac who was lounging on the bed.
"Well I don't know. Bud and Harriet are going to the dinner theater and it's too late too get tickets so we're on our own tonight."
"Oh well then I say we go to dinner in the main restaurant and meet some of our fellow passengers." Harm suggested. Mac nodded her agreement and kicking off her shoes settled in for a nap.
