Author's Note: Here is the next part of the story. I hope that it is enjoyable and this part has a little more humor then the last parts but it is shorter, I have the next part in the works now and it is rather long so it might be a little while before I update. Anyway feedback is much appreciated and I love to hear from you and my ears are still open for ideas. * Question: Does anyone know when Little AJ's birthday is?*

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

JAG HQ

Falls Church, VA

1815 ZULU

Mac was so absorbed in a magazine when a knock on her door caused her to jump. She figured it was Harm so she said,

"You couldn't get enough of me could you?" She then returned to her magazine.

"Ma'am are you feeling okay?"

"Would you cut the ma'am crap or else you won't be getting…HARRIET!" Mac said spinning her chair around with the magazine still in her hands. She really hadn't expected it to be Harriet.

"Ma'am what is it that I won't get?" Mac got that deer in headlights look. How was she going to get herself out of this one?

"Harriet I thought you were someone else."

"The Commander right?"

"You are a sharp one Harriet."

"Thank you and what exactly isn't he going to get?"

"Umm a settlement on a case."

"Ma'am you two are working together on your cases right now." Harriet said cocking an eyebrow.

Oh shit! Mac thought, but out loud she said,

"I know Harriet I am just a little distracted today. What did you need?"

"I just wanted to say hello…What magazine are you reading?" Harriet said reaching across the desk and pulling the magazine out of Mac's relaxed hands. When she saw the cover she giggled.

"Modern Bride ma'am? You're not going to marry Webb are you." Harriet giggled and then turned serious. "You're not are you?" Now it was Mac's turn to laugh.

"No Harriet we parted ways a long time ago. Can't a woman just look at wedding dresses once and a while and daydream?" Mac said reaching out for the magazine with her left hand. She took the magazine but as she pulled it away Harriet squeaked and grabbed Mac's wrist.

"Oh my gosh! Is this what I think it is? You tried to fool me, and it almost worked. Whose is it I want ALL the details. Who is he? Is it the Commander? This ring is gorgeous and the diamond it must have cost him a fortune! I can't believe I didn't notice it before! I can't wait to tell…" Harriet bubbled, she looked like she was about to explode with joy.

"Lieutenant slow down and breathe!" Mac ordered pulling her wrist out of Harriet's grasp, before she continued,

"I will answer your questions okay. First, yes it is an engagement ring. Yes it is the Comm…"

"YES!! I KNEW IT!!" Harriet boasted proudly and very loudly. Which caused a few heads in the bullpen to turn toward Mac's office

"Shhh! Now it is Harm, but you can't tell anyone, you have to swear you won't tell we won't be making the formal announcement until later he only proposed last night."

"Aww that's no fair ma'am and I won't get to collect a quite a lot of money from the office and a fair some from Commander Turner and the Admiral too."

"You all placed a pool on Harm and I?"

"Actually it was the whole office ma'am, and it has been running for several months actually almost a year, and so far we have got at least a few hundred dollars on it. It's funny how many people are eager to bet. Even the Marines out front we placing their money on Valentine's of next year but I had my money on AJ's fifth birthday and go figure it's tonight." Mac couldn't believe what she was hearing and for a minute she was worried that Harriet knew about 'the promise'.

"Harriet why AJ's fifth birthday?"

"Well last year around his birthday I overheard you two talking about something and I heard something about a deal and AJ's fifth birthday so I figured that it was important to you both, so I bet on it." Harriet beamed. Mac relaxed slightly, at least she didn't know the details but Harm didn't quite the extent of the deal as it stood now.

"Umm Harriet since you know about this I was wondering which dress you liked better." Mac asked opening the Modern Bride to a marked page. Harriet looked over her shoulder,

"That one ma'am that is beautiful and would look fabulous on you!" Harriet said pointing to a silk spaghetti strap gown.
"I don't know that looks an awful lot like the gown from Russia."

"You mean the one that we went shopping for before you left and what did the Commander think of it? You never told me." Harriet asked casually.

"Oh he liked it alright I swear if he didn't have a ton of self control and we weren't looking for his father he probably would have well… you can only guess what would have happened next. How about this one?" Mac shrugged and turned the page and pointed an off the shoulder silk gown with a beaded bodice and long train and a delicate and simple veil.

"Ma'am it's perfect and look it's a Vera Wang. I wish I could have afforded one of her dresses for my wedding."

"Yeah Harriet I wish I could too. If Harm saw that price tag he would be seeing Tomcats." Mac laughed. Yet she marked the page and they continued to thumb through the magazine admiring the dresses.

Harm and Sturgis stood outside in the bullpen looking into Mac's office through the blinds.

"What do you think they are so happy and giggly about?" Sturgis asked. Harm knew of course, Mac had told Harriet and they were probably looking at that magazine Mac had bought just a week or two before their recent engagement, he shrugged,

"Oh probably just some research on a case."

"Yeah right, women don't get that excited for new evidence, they are probably looking at the latest Playgirl magazine." Sturgis said.

"Those things exist? I thought that there were only Playboys."

"Harm my friend you have been pulling too many G's and you are very wrong buddy and what do you think they do at bachelorette parties? Knit?"

"No they go to strip clubs and watch guys take off dress whites to music." Harm stated glumly and Sturgis laughed.

"SO that's where you're whites went before the Robert's wedding."

"How did you know about that?" Harm asked shocked.

"Well let's just say that Harriet is very helpful when it comes to getting blackmail about the people in this office." Sturgis grinned and headed to his office. Harm shook his head and returned to his office remembering to be more careful about what he told people.