Author's Note: You all asked for it and it took a little while to cook up, but here is another part. I originally wasn't going to continue this but oh well. I still am not sure how I will end this, so if you have any suggestions and any opinions my ears are open and I would love to hear from you. Should I use a suggestion that anyone submits I will be sure to give them credit for it, I don't want people thinking I stole an idea. Anyway I hope you don't get bored with it, which I doubt you will, so enjoy!
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JAG HQ
Admiral's Office
2145 ZULU
1 ½ months later
"Sir may I speak with you for a moment?" Harm asked knocking on the Admiral's door.
"Enter Commander. Have a seat. What can I do for you?"
"Well sir it's about the Colonel," Harm said sitting down.
"What about her?"
"Well sir I want to marry her."
"Excuse me! But would you care to repeat that?" The Admiral said his eyes widening.
"I said that I want to marry her and make her my wife."
"Look Harm you can't just ask another man's girlfriend to become your wife it just isn't right,"
"But her and Webb,"
"Furthermore Commander imagine the strings I am going to have to pull and this will probably affect your working relationship, no doubt."
"Well sir her and Webb have been apart for sometime and what we haven't informed you of is the fact that we have been seeing each other since her breakup with Webb." Harm explained. The Admiral almost fell out of his chair for that one.
"You mean to tell me Commander that you and the Colonel have a loving relationship outside of this office?"
"Yes sir. Also here is the ring I got her well it was my Gran's but I had it remounted, does it look too gaudy?" Harm said pulling out and opening a red velvet box form his pocket.
"No but, does the Colonel know you are telling me and showing me this?"
"No sir it is going to be a surprise."
The Admiral rubbed his forehead before replying,
"You know how much the Colonel hates surprises right?"
"I am aware of it, yes."
"Well I am very happy that you two have gotten your heads out of your sixes, and you can ask her. On one condition, that this office environment will not change into a wedding operations facility like it did for the Roberts, but those little cracker things Harriet had were delicious. You are dismissed Commander and I would feel better if this stayed on the back burner, please." AJ handed the ring back to Harm who tucked it safely in his pocket.
"Aye, Aye sir!" Harm said standing and taking his leave with a new spring in his step. The Admiral smiled to himself as the door shut behind Harm. This was going to be good he just didn't know how good.
Mattie and Jen's Apartment
2330 ZULU
"Hey Mattie how was school today?" Harm asked sitting down next to Mattie on the couch. Mattie flipped the TV to mute and shrugged,
"It was okay I guess. The Dragon Lady gave another assignment but everyone else is doing it too, it works."
"Well shouldn't you be working on it?"
"I am."
"MTV doesn't really relate to homework."
"Harm I'm brainstorming, I am still not sure what to write about."
"What's the topic?"
"A true story about someone that I know. I was thinking about you and Mac, you guys have all the elements, exciting jobs, drama, and romance, the whole nine yards."
"Mattie how did you know about Mac and I?"
"Come on Harm she comes over every night almost to your apartment and she is there when it's time for me to go to school. I mean you two couldn't have been working on cases all night, I really don't want to know exactly what you were doing but I can guess." Mattie said with a false shiver. Harm rolled his eyes and then became serious,
"On the subject of Mac, what do think about her? Do you like her?"
"Like her! She is wonderful! She is so cool, and really nice and you two are perfect for each other, you should take the plunge and get married that would be totally awesome!"
"Wow Mattie I had no idea you liked her so well I thought it was going to be one of those, 'Yeah she's okay I guess'." Harm tried to imitate Mattie, which got him a pillow in face.
"Okay I get the message I'm out of here, but be ready for dinner at in a half hour Mac will be here and we are going out to eat, and let's keep this discussion a secret."
"Your secret is safe with me." Mattie reassured him. Harm left the apartment just as Jen walked out of the bathroom.
"Was that the Commander?" She asked drying her hair with a towel.
"Yep and you're on your own for dinner."
"Actually that was what I wanted to talk with him about. I am going to meet Jason tonight he is on vacation from law school."
"Oh I knew you had a thing for that petty officer." Mattie teased.
"Yeah well don't let your success get to your head." Jen said throwing the wet towel at Mattie. Who threw it back and went to her room to change out of her sweatpants for dinner.
Giovonni's Restaurant
0215 ZULU
Harm, Mac and Mattie sat at a small table finishing their pasta.
"Harm this is better then yours." Mattie said taking a bite of lasagna. Mac smiled and added,
"Well if you didn't like his pasta praise the Lord that you haven't tried his meatloaf. Hey Harm are you going to eat that?" Mac asked picking up her fork and eyeing his alfredo.
"Go ahead have it just quit insulting my cooking your going to have to live with it for a while."
"Oh it that so?"
"Yup."
"Now I'm going to eat that pasta." Mac then twirled the noodles on her fork and ate them quickly. Harm watched her as she wiped the sauce off her face with a napkin but was brought back to reality when Mattie said,
"Harm do you mind if I go sit with Chad he's here tonight."
"Chad? Oh your boyfriend, yes that's fine just don't anything Mac and I wouldn't do."
"Don't you mean not to do what you might do?" Mattie corrected.
"Whatever just don't be gone too long." Harm chuckled. Mattie got up and went over to a table at the far end of the small restaurant.
"So that's Chad, he is pretty handsome." Mac stated turning in her seat to see Mattie sit down next to a dark haired boy who looked at least a year or two older then Mattie.
"How old is he?" she asked
"He's a junior, but he is an okay guy, very intelligent." Harm said. He liked Chad even though his hair was a little long.
"You don't like him do you?" Mac inquired.
"I like him just fine, but,"
"But what?"
"Oh nothing." Harm shrugged and motioned to the waiter for the check, which the man brought over and laid it with a flourish on the table. Mac continued to pry,
"I know you're worried. You are suffering from Concerned Father Syndrome I can see it in your face, the way that your brow furrows and how you get that cute little…"
"Alright Mac I get it! I just don't want her to get hurt."
"Harm broken hearts are a part of growing up, and she may cry for hours or a day or two and lock herself up in her room and claim that she will never love again, but she will."
Harm's eyes widened,
"She won't do that will she, I mean if they break up?" Mac nodded and Harm began to nervously search for his wallet,
"Damn where is it! I know I had it here somewhere." Harm cursed emptying his coat pockets on the table. Mac was about to reach into her purse for her credit card when her hand brushed a small velvet box on the table. Picking it up she wondered if she should open it, and when the curiosity became too much to bear she did, and nestled inside was a gorgeous diamond ring mounted on a gold band. The gem sparkled in the dim lighting and Mac gasped placing a hand on Harm's arm.
"Ha…Harm, what…when… it's…" Mac stumbled over her words and looked up, from the receipt.
"Oh Mac, you weren't supposed to see it until later, man I forgot to take out of my pocket earlier after talking to the Admiral."
"You talked to him about this, before talking to me?" Mac had regained her voice but it was still shaky.
"Mac, it was supposed to be a surprise and I told the Admiral to make sure that there wouldn't be any complications, are you mad at me?" Harm asked. He felt really guilty, for not telling her. Mac was silent for a minute before she shut the box and handed it back to him.
"Harm the only way I can be mad at you is if you don't drop on one knee this instant and propose, the proper way."
"Are you serious Mac?"
"Hit the deck Commander." Mac ordered smiling. Harm did as he was told and bent down on one knee and began,
"Mac…I love you and want you to become my wife and Mrs. Rabb. This ring…" Harm opened the box and held the diamond out to her before continuing, "…was my grandmothers and then my mom's and now I want it to be yours and I want it to represent the love that we share and hopefully share so Mac… Sarah will you marry me?" Mac nodded trying to hold back the tears, which ran freely down her face.
"Oh yes I will and Harm let's give everyone something to talk about." Mac smiled as Harm slipped the ring on her finger. He then stood and kissed her softly, the people in the restaurant applauded politely and then returned to their meals. Mattie walked over hand in hand with Chad, who commented,
"What a way to take the plunge sir."
"Oh so you told Mattie's boyfriend too huh?"
"No, I just asked Mattie what she thought of you today, so she told him."
"I see. Well then Mattie it is getting late so say goodbye to Chad and we will be on our way. Harm you took care of the check right?"
"Yes now let's go." Harm said putting an arm around Mac's waist and the three left the restaurant and climbed into Harm's car.
Beltway
Twenty minutes later
Harm and Mac were sitting in the front and Mattie was dozing in the back, when a song came on the radio that got both of their attentions.
"People are talkin, talking 'bout people,
I hear them whisper, you won't believe it,
They think we're lovers kept under covers,
I just ignore it, but they keep saying,
We laugh just a little too loud,
We stand just a little too close,
We stare just a little too long,
Maybe they're seeing, something we don't, Darlin',"
Mac looked at Harm and smiled before they both started to softly sing the chorus
"Let's give them something to talk about
Let's give them something to talk about
Let's give them something to talk about
How about love?"
Harm looked to Mac he was surprised at how right the lyrics were and how they related to their relationship. He wanted to give everyone something to talk about.
"…I feel so foolish, I never noticed
You'd act so nervous, could you be falling for me?
It took a rumor to make me wonder
Now I'm convinced I'm going under
Thinking 'bout you every day
Dreaming 'bout you every night
Hoping that you feel the same way
"Now that we know it, let's really show it, Darlin'
Let's give them something to talk about
A little mystery to figure out
Let's give them something to talk about
How about love, love, love, love?
Let's give them something to talk about
Let's give them something to talk about
Let's give them something to talk about
How about love, love, love, love?…"
When the song ended Mac giggled and Harm smiled and took her hand off the center console and entwined their fingers, that 'hallmark moment' was broken by Mattie, saying.
"Man you guys are really weird now be quiet so I can sleep."
"Yes, sweetie." Mac answered softly, looking back at Mattie, who already had her eyes closed.
"Do you think that she will go back to her father?" Mac asked Harm.
"I don't know Mac I really don't know, but I don't want her to."
"I know Harm, but we can't avoid fate and he is her biological father, tell you what, why don't we just enjoy it while she is here with us okay?"
"Okay, god I love you Mac." Harm sighed. Mac beamed proudly,
"I know."
Harm car sped on down the Beltway toward his and Mattie's apartment things were starting to look up for all of them, but it could all come crashing down in an instant, and that to some extent is exactly what happened.
Part V