Author's Note:

Well here is part twelve I have been typing furiously to get this up after receiving your reviews. I would like to send a special thanks to MaryKate 113 for commenting on the Titanic reference which I had no idea was going to give people that image. Don't worry though the ship is not going to sink. I also noted one consistent thing in your reviews regarding a 'little box' I am sure you are dying to know what is in it and this part will clarify it of that I am sure. Anywho I don't want to bore you with my babbling so I will let you read. Oh and I have had meatless meatloaf and I must say YUCK!!

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*The Royal Tahitian

Out in the Pacific Ocean

2021 Romeo

Promenade Outside the Pacific Ballroom

Harm and Mac found a place against the railing and looked out at the moonlit water until Harm remembered what he was going to do tonight and now he decided would be as good as any, but his thoughts were interrupted by Mac's voice,

"Harm you are too good to me. I mean you have always been there and have always been strong when I wasn't and you bought me the most beautiful pearls. I don't deserve the things you do for me."

"Mac I did all those things because I have always wanted you to be treated as a woman should, not that I'm saying you are helpless, because you are the farthest thing from it, and I bought you those pearls because I wanted to because… I guess what I'm trying to say is…I think I'm in love with you, Mac." Mac's head shot up.

"You want to run that by me again Sailor?"

"I said I think I'm in love with you Mac and while I still have some guts to do it." Harm repeated and getting down on one knee and looking into her dark brown eyes, continued, "Mac will you marry me and be my wife for as long as I live and be the mother of our children?" He pulled the small velvet box from his pocket and opening held it out to her.

Mac couldn't speak this was too much to take in all at once. As she stared at the ring as it glittered in the moonlight and light drifting out from the ballroom, she was ready to jump for joy and then again she was ready to run for the hills. All her other relationships had failed and she didn't want to have the same thing happen again especially to Harm she never wanted to hurt him. Now he had thrown marriage into the equation and even though it was something she had dreamed about now she was a little scared.

"Mac…Sarah say something." Harm pleaded softly he was nervous that he had been to forward and had scared her and she would say no, but he didn't want to rush her. The people on the deck were now watching them and waiting with baited breath. Finally Mac found her voice,

"Harm, I love you, but I," Oh no here it comes. Harm thought but stopped when Mac continued,

"I want to know that you are absolutely sure that this is what you want, because I don't ever want to hurt or disappoint you."

"Mac you will never be a disappointment and I want you more than anything ever in the whole wide world. Even more than flying, but I really don't want to rush you, but I will ask again, Mac will you marry me?" Harm said taking her left hand in his. Mac sniffled and as a tear escaped her eyes she answered,

"Yes Harm, I will marry you." She smiled and began to cry as Harm removed the ring from the box and gently slid it on her finger. It fit perfectly and with her hand still in his he rose and kissed her lips softly, much to the approval of the small crowd who clapped and whistled their approval. They didn't even notice. They were too wrapped up in their own emotions. When they broke apart Mac leaned against him and Harm held his fiancée close and enjoyed her company.

Mac listened to the music that filtered softly out onto the deck and recognized the song instantly and began singing.

"…What becomes of a broken heart…"

"What did you say Mac?"

"Oh I was just singing along to the song." Harm listened and smiled,

"I guess we know what becomes of broken hearts don't we?"

"Yeah they get in a fight and their friends put them on a cruise ship together and they fall in love and…" She didn't finish. Instead she turned in Harm's arms and kissed him softly. When they broke apart Mac resumed her position leaning against him and as he held her they rocked gently back and forth to the music. When it finally ended Harm broke the silence.

"I guess we had better go back in the Roberts will be wondering if we jumped ship."

"Do we have to? I would rather stay out here and be with you. Or we could turn in early and get out of these clothes." Mac whispered with a seductive smile on her face.

"Now Mac let's not get too far ahead of ourselves or we might start undressing out here."

"Would it be that bad?" Mac giggled and taking his arm again they walked inside. They approached the Roberts back at the table and quickly explained,

"I think we are going to turn in early we are bushed." Mac stated.

"That is understandable ma'am. You had a long day." Harriet said. Mac brushed away a lock of her hair with her left hand absent-mindedly and Harriet could have sworn she saw something glittering on her ring finger, but it couldn't be could it? She wondered as she watched them walk out of the ballroom.

Suite 19

5 minutes later

Harm and Mac entered their suite and Mac immediately sat down and took off her shoes and tossing them across the room lay down on the bed.

"You still don't have lots of comfortable shoes, do you?" Harm said sitting down next to her.

"No but I do have a great career and a now a great man."

"Well it's good to know that I am a great man." Harm said leaning over her and kissing her.

"Oh no you don't Flyboy you will wrinkle my dress." Mac teased and pushed him off her. She then sat up and stepped over to the dresser and pulled out something that Harm couldn't see.

"Harm would you unzip me?"

"Sure and then can I…"

"We'll see. Remember patience is a virtue." Mac reminded him and herself too. She was really anxious as well, but she had one trick up her sleeve. Harm unzipped her dress and laid soft kisses on her neck while he removed the string of pearls from her neck. Mac quickly took the earrings off and then went into the bathroom holding her dress up.

"Mac I think we are passed getting dressed in separate…Wow!" Mac stepped out of the bathroom in an above the knee lace nightgown. He noted it was navy blue and he thought the color looked good on her. Not as good as the Marine green that only she could make look good though. She hung up her dress casually as if she was in jeans and a tank top and then looked at him and asked,

"What are you staring at?"

"Just what you're wearing. I thought you said you left your lingerie at home?"

"I never said that. Why do you not like it?"

"No I think it looks wonderful." And it would probably look even better in a pile on the floor. He added to himself. Sitting down on the bed he began to undress himself starting with his shoes. Mac sat next to him and when he straightened up she began to undo the buttons on his dress coat and carefully pulling it off him she said,

"You seem over dressed still."

"We can fix that."

"Oh can we?"

"You bet." Harm quickly took off the remainder of his whites and was left in his skivvies.

"That is much better now come here." She ordered pulling him back on the bed and kissing him.

The rest is well… against regulations to discuss, but everyone knows what happens.

The Royal Tahitian

Out in the Pacific Ocean

0925 Romeo

Suite 19

Day 9

Neither Harm or Mac had gotten much sleep, but now both were sound asleep and wrapped in each other's arms in between the sheets. The sharp ringing of the telephone jarred Mac awake. Her hand searched for a minute before she found the receiver.

"Hello… Oh good morning Mary…Yes could you we slept in again this morning…Bacon for me and don't forget the coffee… Bye." Mac hung up and rolled over onto the pillow.

"Who was that?" Harm asked sleepily. Opening his eyes and propping his head up on his elbow.

"Just Mary, looks like we missed breakfast again. She is bringing it up in a few minutes."

"Can't we just skip breakfast and stay here all day?" He asked kissing her neck and shoulder gently.

"As much as I would like to I'm hungry. Now can we get up?"

"Geeze you have to ruin the fun don't you?"

"Harm quit pouting and get up." Mac commanded. She really didn't want to get up but she didn't want Mary to come in and see the room in a state that would easily have told the story of the nights events. She pulled out a T-shirt and jean shorts and after quickly puling them on began searching through Harm's side of the dresser.

"What are you looking for?" Harm asked getting up. Mac didn't answer and pulled out a pair of boxer shorts and answered,

"Here put some shorts on. You can't walk around naked all day." She then tossed them at him and he caught them and pulled them on before remarking.

"What's with you today, last night you couldn't wait to get my clothes off and now your ordering me to get dressed." He teased, then added more seriously, "Are you regretting last night, because if you are then we can slow down a notch or you can end our…" He was now holding her again and didn't finish before she spoke, looking up at him,

"Harm don't you worry, I won't ever regret last night or any other time I have spent with you. I like the pace our new relationship is going but I am a little concerned that if we take it too fast it will fall apart and I really don't want that. Don't you ever think for a minute that I will cancel our engagement or when we get married divorce you. Face it Flyboy you're stuck with me." Mac laughed softly and Harm kissed the top of her head before releasing her and headed off to shower while she picked up his clothes off the floor.

Mac was making the bed when Mary's knock caused her to stop. She opened the door and saw a smiling Mary standing there with a tray of breakfast foods and a pot of coffee.

"Good morning, you look awfully happy today Mary. Here let me take that for you." Mac greeted taking the tray from her and quickly walking over and setting it on the coffee table before she went back to the door.

"Thank you ma'am. Today Peter is coming home, but I won't get to see him until we dock on Sunday, but I am still excited."

"Oh I didn't know you were married. That's wonderful."

"We've only been married for a year." She looked at her watch, "Oh I have to get going, if you need anything you can call. Enjoy your breakfast." Mary quickly turned on her heel and scurried off down the hall. Mac closed the door and sat on the couch and poured a cup of coffee. Harm appeared a minute later in a towel and drying his hair with another towel.

"Breakfast here yet?"

"Yes dear." Mac reassured teasingly. Harm leaned over the couch and kissed the side of her cheek then grabbed a piece of toast and quickly devoured it before putting clothes on.

"Harm I didn't know you could multitask."

"I'm not. I kissed you then ate my toast then I got dressed and know I'm going to get a cup of coffee." He replied sitting down next to her and pouring himself a cup.

"It's nice to know you have your priorities, Sailor." Mac noted before taking a bite of one of the numerous strips of crisp bacon. Harm wrinkled his nose,

"How can you eat that stuff?"

"No I think the real question is how you can eat things like meatless meatloaf and not puke." Mac took another bite of the bacon before taking a bite of the eggs on her plate.

"Hey! It's not that bad and you may as well get used to it since you're the one marrying me."

"I'm not marrying you for your cooking Harm, believe me."

"Well then what are you marrying me for?"

"I'm marrying you because I love you, and the sex is pretty good too." Mac grinned and Harm almost choked on his coffee. He set his cup down and looked at her for a minute.

"Only pretty good? Come on Mac, you have got to admit that…"

"Harm were not going there. Now can we eat breakfast?"

"Fine you win, but only because I'm hungry." Harm admitted and ate his breakfast in silence.

"Well that was good, now I think I'm going to shower and really get ready for the day." Mac sighed standing and padded off to the bathroom. Harm shook his head and finished cleaning up their meal and set the tray out side the door before he finished making the bed. He didn't have to make it there was a maid to do it but he was bored and it gave him something to do.

Mac emerged fully dressed from the bathroom half and hour later and found Harm out on the balcony, where she joined him.

"Hey, what are you looking at?"

"The ocean, there's not much else out there." Harm replied shrugging. Mac looked down at her left hand, which had the diamond ring sparkling in the sunlight on her ring finger.

"Harm this ring fits perfectly. How did you know what size to buy?" She asked trying to start a casual conversation. Harm brought his gaze onto her.

"I did a little investigating and amazingly enough I found out what size you wear by looking at a very old receipt."

"Which one?"

"The one for your Corps ring and so I went and had that diamond mounted on the right size. It was my mom's ring and then before that it was Gran's. Why?"

"I was just wondering. So how did you have it and not know that I was coming or were you in league with the Roberts?"

"Well I brought it along to help me think about what to do next in my life and whether I wanted you to be in it as more than a friend."

"I'm glad I'll always be in your future." Mac sighed resting her head on his shoulder. "So what do you want to do today?" She changed the subject.

"You know what I really want to do?"

"Well yes of course."

"Well I would love to take you back inside and…"

"No Harm, what I mean is not right now."

"Please." Harm said sticking out his bottom lip.

"Now don't give me that look." Mac warned. Harm quickly flashed her his best Flyboy grin.

"Stop that! You know how well that smile works on me."

"No I don't."

"Well let's just say with that smile and some other things it becomes extremely hard to say no to you."

"Oh so Navy Wings of Gold turn you on?" Harm said cocking an eyebrow.

"I never said that! But yes sadly I am not completely immune to your charms." Mac sighed crossing her arms.

"That's three for Navy."

"Are we keeping score? Because if we are I think you are wrong, you should only have one point for that remark."

"No I have three. One for getting you to admit that gold wings turn you on. One for getting you to marry me and one for getting you in the…"

"Hey don't push it Harm or you might be sleeping in Davy Jones's Locker tonight." Mac threatened. Harm laughed and rolled his eyes before replying,

"I know! Let's play Ping-Pong! There were a couple of tables on the Palms Deck and it would be a lot of fun."

"Ping- Pong, Harm?"

"Yes, did you know that I was my high school's champ."

"Yes my suspicions have been confirmed, you were someone with WAY too much time on their hands in high school."

"I played football too and…"

"Let me guess and took ballet to meet girls."

"No I have never taken ballet in my life I actually was on the cross country team."

"Oh well that it explains it then. Now let's go play Ping- Pong." Mac said stepping back inside and putting on her flip-flops.

"Me being on the cross country team explains what?" Harm said walking in and putting his shoes on. Mac stood and said walking to the door.

"Let's just say cross country running is one of among many things that require a large amount of endurance which you possess." Harm looked confused and then it hit him.

"I think I will take that as a compliment. Now let's go." Harm said ushering her out the door.

"Oh wait Harm! I have to take my ring off."

"Why?"

"Well it's not like I don't want to wear it, but what if we run into Bud or Harriet or the Carsons then we either have to explain that we are now engaged or why my ring magically got here from the lock box in DC." Mac explained carefully.

"Mac what are our chances of that happening?" Harm said rolling his eyes.

"Not very big, I know, but I would feel better and it would cause less of a fuss and knowing our luck well…"

"I see your reasoning but, if there something deeper to this then tell me now." Mac shook her head that there wasn't and he sighed gratefully,

"Okay Mac if it makes you feel better." Mac removed the ring and pulled out her dog tags from under her shirt and fastened it on and then tucking it back in she took Harm's hand and they headed towards the Palms Deck.

*=*=*=*

Palms Deck

1245 Romeo

Ham and Mac were on their forth game of Ping-Pong and Mac was beating the tar out of him. They had decided to go best of seven as Harm insisted, even though he didn't have much of chance of beating her.

"I thought you said you were the high school champ?" Mac teased as they played.

"Yes I did but you didn't tell me you played Ping-Pong."

"Well in Okinawa I had a lot of time on my hands." Mac shrugged and served the ball. They played for a little longer in concentrated silence. When they were on the last game Harm was catching up and Mac couldn't stand that.

"Oh Harm look the Playboy Bunnies are here!" She exclaimed pointing a finger over his shoulder.

"Where!" He asked turning around. Mac quickly aimed and served the ball and it hit him on the back of the head and bounced off.

"Ouch! What was that for?"

"One for beating me and two for being so anxious to see the long legged blondes with bunny ears and not paying enough attention to your fiancée." Mac said picking the ball up off the floor and preparing to serve again. Harm hit the little white ball when she served it with a certain veraciousness that made Mac a little frightened. Harm decided to get back at her.

"Hey Mac look Tom Cruise!"

"Yea, right I'm not falling for that." Mac snorted hitting the ball back at him even though she had a strong urge to turn her head (I mean Tom Cruise! What woman wouldn't turn her head.)?

"No I'm serious! He is right over there." He passed the ball back to Mac who hit it and turned around, she turned back around after the small ping pong ball hit her in the back of the head and heard Harm's remark.

"Ha-ha I win!"

"No you don't that wasn't fair!"

"Yes it was! You used one of my weaknesses against me so I used one of yours." Harm protested.

"Fine! Have it your way. Now let's eat lunch I'm hungry." Mac snapped setting the paddle down and walking over to his side of the table.

"Okay, I didn't mean to get you mad. Will you forgive me?" Harm asked.

"I suppose I can after all I do love you." Mac sighed playfully and they went up stairs to the Horizon Deck to eat.

They both had finished their sandwiches when Mac asked,

"What's on this afternoon's agenda?"

"I don't know, maybe we could go back to the suite and have a…"

"In the middle of the afternoon! My god you do have sex on the brain!" Mac hissed quietly. She didn't really mind but it would be kind of strange in the middle of the afternoon.

"Yes in the middle of the afternoon and I only have it on the brain with a certain partner of mine."

"So that's what it was when I walked in when you were filling in for the Admiral a while ago and you called me 'sweet thing'. What was your intention if I hadn't stopped your daydreaming."

"Well if I hadn't been hallucinating and you were really in that ivory evening gown and weren't engaged to Mic well then I would have taken you right there on the Admiral's desk."

"So you mean to tell me you were hallucinating. Would that be the result of falling out of the Admiral's chair?"

"Yes it would be and another result would be seeing you instead of Renee coming out of my shower that evening." Mac laughed.

"SO that's what she was bitching about to me about being clothed in only raindrops. You know if things were different this would be great blackmail material. Does anyone else know about this?"

"Nope, just you and me and maybe Bud but I really doubt it. Thank goodness. Now about this afternoon…"

"Harm…"

"Please…."

"Okay fine! Not that I really mind."

"Let's go then sweet thing." Harm said standing. They had put their meal on the tab and headed for their suite.

Outside Suite 19

"Harm can you at least wait until we're inside?" Mac said trying to open the door. Harm who was kissing her neck muttered,

"Just hurry up."

"Okay, got it." Mac said opening the door. It had barely shut behind them before Mac pushed Harm on the bed and began kissing him furiously.

"Whoa! Mac slow down! And I thought I was the anxious one!" Harm said trying to sit up, but Mac was on him now and he couldn't easily get up without her falling on the floor.

"You just had to ruin the mood didn't you?" Mac said rolling over and off of him.

"That wasn't my intention. Now where were we?"

"Right about here…" Mac whispered and pulled Harm down on top of her.

*=*=*=*

Suite 19

A sufficient amount of time later

"WOW! You know I think I really like doing this in the afternoon, but I have to ask why did you stop me earlier?" Mac thought out loud. Harm laughed.

"I had a very strange fantasy which included the Admiral's desk."
"Do you think we should try it when we get back." Mac chided.

"SARAH! Are you out of your mind?!" Harm asked sitting up. Mac did the same but kept the sheet pulled up around her.

"No, I just wanted to see your reaction." She smiled.

"Well you saw it alright, but now that you mention it we might need to try it sometime. You're his Chief of Staff, when does he go out of town next?" Mac looked shocked and then thoughtful for a minute.

"Well let's see he is going to Milan the week after next to visit Francesca and he will probably have one of us fill in for him. So it's a date then?"

"Your serious aren't you Mac?"

"Sure why not, let's walk on the wild side more in the future." Mac said laying back down.

"How about we walk on the wild side now?" Harm asked leaning over her.

"I'm game." Mac said kissing him again.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Author's PS

The ballet reference is for my guy friends who just like Mac said joined ballet to meet girls or so they say. (Makes you wonder doesn't it?) I added a couple of things that I don't really know are true about Harm, but for the story to work they need to be there.