Title : Where The Sea Meets The Sky
Author : Jaggie 107
Disclaimer : JAG characters belong to DPB, CBS and Paramount. 'Sue Thomas, F.B.Eye' belongs to PAX TV - and I hope all parties will allow me to have fun for a little while, and replace them all when I'm done. Thank you. (Here's the disclaimer for NCIS, as above...I'll leave it in for the rest of the story; makes life easier when I need to 'borrow' Gibbs and his team!)
Rating : G to PG-13
Thanks go to cbw, jtbwriter, beegirl, katydid13, ninjaturtle, capriceann, starryeyes10, kirsten, soonerfan, another tracy, tomcat-all, lori4, carol, eliv.thade, alicia5, fragmentpieces, kesh, claysmvl, chicmns, skyefire, tammy-jet, abigaile, kjflygirl87, anna7, nikki, jbird7986, angelab, pineapplehead, rosa, manda, rinkrat, bard2003, laura carr, tj, sahc, kstorm, arian04, deb, lisa brown, smithknk, cmaf, cj, manda may, dd2, firedevil, youngest knight, soleil2, guitarvixen, anaika skywalker, harmfanatic and annigh4ever for their reviews. As before, any reviewers I miss between posts will be added to the list for the next chapter!
Replies to previous chapter reviews :
jbird7986 Never meant to be cruel - honest! But if it keeps you hooked, it's worth it! :o) Thank you so much for your support, and please keep reading!
dd2 Thank you so much for your support, and please keep reading!
jtbwriter Hiya! Ha, gotcha!!! With regard to the wedding vows, no you didn't miss a chapter, but I thought you'd caught me out in your chapter 7 review, you mentioned the word 'marrired'! It just seemed the right thing to do to have them go off and get hitched in Vegas! It was romantic, but it also served a purpose in that they wanted to be able to help Mattie and by being married they would provide a more 'stable' environment. As for Tom, he's not doing himself any favors! Hope it didn't spoil your reading too much. Getting near the end now, hope you'll stick with me! All the best for the job scene - still thinking about you! Thanks as always!
alicia5 Soon is now! Got back late Tuesday, so this is my first chance to post! Next couple of chapters you get to find out more about Tom. I've been working on the last few chapters while i've been away! What can I say, I'm an insomniac! Thank you so much for your support, and please keep reading!
harmfanatic Hello and welcome to the story! I'm really not an evil person! Honest! ;o) I seem to have the knack, though, for keeping people hanging between chapters! Ha, ha! Okay, yeah, I can be evil...(grins) but I'm nice too! Thanks for your support, and please keep reading!
manda may Your promise to be good has paid out! Here's chapter 58, and as I've been busy typing up the last few chapters (sob) you'll get them in quick succession too! You will know by now that it was Briggs who stepped off the transporter - Harm, of course, came by Tomcat! His favorite mode of transport! :o) Thank you so much for your support, and please keep reading!
beegirl Hello! It's great to hear from you, no matter when! No, you didn't miss anything in a chapter - I just sneaked the pair of them off to Vegas! It worked for me, and the story, as they knew they wanted to be married sometime, they didn't really want the pomp and circumstance of a 'naval wedding' at this point in their lives, they just want to be together, and by doing it this way, the Admiral gets time to finalize things for them officially, and they get to provide Mattie with a 'show of force' when it comes to the hearing! Hope it didn't spoil your fun too much. Jack and Sue are still around, and will turn up soon! Thank you so much for your support, and please keep reading!
abigaile Hello! No, you didn't miss a chapter - I just sneaked the pair of them off to Vegas. Seemed the right thing to do at the time, and it works that they just want to be together with as little fuss as possible! It does serve a purpose to help Mattie, too, and as you'll see later, they will arrange something to involve their family and friends too, so please stay with the story! Thank you so much for your support, and please keep reading!
annigh4ever Hello and welcome to the story! Thanks for your questions - they give me ideas! Mattie's future is settled in the next chapter (59), Mac's pregnancy and Jack and Sue's future could come in another story... now, there's a thought - I could make this into a trilogy! Just give me a little time, and I'm sure i'll think of something!!! Hope this keeps you hanging in for more! Thanks for your support and please keep reading!
smithknk Hello! Mac and Harm got married around chapter 7/8, but I kept it under wraps - a couple of times I thought people had come close and guessed, but no-one actually came out and asked, so I kept it quiet! It seemed the right thing to do at the time - I figure they didn't want the pomp and circumstance of a naval wedding at this stage in their lives, but they will have a blessing later in the story, to include family and friends. I guess I'm doing something right when such kind reviewers as yourself can picture the characters actually saying 'my lines' on TV! That's the ultimate praise! Thank you so much for your support and please keep reading!
lori4 No, you're not losing your mind, honest! I had Mac and Harm get married in Vegas (a) because they didn't want all the fuss of a big wedding, and (b) because it would ultimately help Mattie's case. A couple of reviewers came close to guessing, but nobody actually quizzed me on it, so I kept it under wraps! Hope it didn't spoil your fun too much. Thanks for your support, and please keep reading!
deb Glad you like the twist, and the wedding was between chapters 7/8. I kept it under wraps as a surprise for later, and it worked out! A couple of people came close to guessing, but nobody asked outright, so I got to keep the surprise! :o) Thank you so much for your support, and please keep reading!
starryeyes10 Thank you so much for your support, and please keep reading!
anna7 Glad to know you're able to review - all the better for me! Thank you so much for your support, and please keep reading!
nikki Hope this clears up the confusion - I had Mac and Harm go off and get hitched in Vegas for two reasons - (a) they wanted to be married but didn't want all the fuss of a full ceremony, and (b) they wanted to be able to give Mattie a 'show of force' for the hearing. I've written in a blessing ceremony for later, for their family and friends. So, hope I'm forgiven, thank you so much for your support, and please keep reading!
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HARM'S APARTMENT
NORTH OF UNION STATION
FRIDAY LATE AFTERNOON
Harm woke up, and took a few seconds to orientate himself to being on solid ground, in his own bed, in his own apartment. Mac. Mac had met him at Pax River, and the Admiral had told Harriet and Bud that he and Mac were married, and by now 'that' bit of information would be all around JAG Ops! Mac, however, was currently unfazed by this disclosure into their private lives, as she was asleep, and wore the cutest expression he had yet seen on her face. It was a mixture of a sated woman, and a content mother-to-be.
Harm grinned. He and Mac had returned from Pax River to the apartment, with Mattie in tow. When they had reached the apartment building, Mattie had hugged them both, reminded them about the impromptu get-together at the Admiral's house later, and gone off to her own apartment. Harm had turned to Mac, moved to pick her up in his arms, and 'carried her over the threshold', with a murmured, "Hello, Mrs Rabb!" Their lovemaking had begun almost before they had the door closed to the apartment. With Harm leaning back on the door, he had drawn Mac into his arms, lifting her so she was aware of his need for her. His arousal was making his flight suit tight and Mac sought him out with her hand, brushing down the front of the material, and causing Harm to groan loudly.
"You want your first time in almost a week to be up against the door?" he whispered, and there was a smile in his voice. Mac could hear it, and she grinned at him.
"What, you can't make it to the bed, flyboy?"
"Right now I'd be hard pushed to get to the floor, I want you so badly."
"Harm!" Mac groaned, and he pulled her closer and kissed her. It wasn't a gentle kiss. It was hard, and hot, and Mac reciprocated, pushing herself into him, skin against skin. Their first time was up against the door; their second time was almost on the sofa. Eventually they had made it to the bed, and then finally they had fallen asleep, arms around each other, Mac's head on his shoulder, Harm's hand cupping the growing mound of her abdomen.
Harm shifted slightly in the bed, without dislodging Mac, or taking his hand off the growing bulge of their children in her womb. His smile turned introspective as he smoothed the skin with his hand, feeling tears form in his eyes at the thought that this incredible woman carried not one but two babies. He felt Mac's hand run through his hair, and he raised his eyes to hers.
"This is beautiful, Sarah. You are beautiful. Thank you..."
"For what?"
"For giving me you, and our babies..."
"I gave myself to you, Harm," Mac acknowledged, and her tears formed too, mingling with his as she leaned in to kiss him softly. As she drew back she ran her hand down his cheek and a finger across his lips. "You gave me the ultimate gift in return. Not once, but twice!"
Harm managed a rather smug-looking grin, and Mac tilted her head.
"What's that for, flyboy?"
"I was just thinking, 'not bad' for an old man!"
"I'd say you were pretty damn good, sailor, and I should know!" Mac pushed herself up to a kneeling position on the bed, and looked Harm over, from head to toe. In response to her gaze a certain part of his anatomy was rising to the occasion again, and Mac bit back a laugh, or at least she tried to. It came out as more of a giggle.
"What are you laughing at?" Harm looked slightly miffed at her expression, and Mac leaned down to drop a reassuring kiss on his lips.
"I'm not laughing at you, sweetheart. I'm just so happy, and so proud of you, and I'm the luckiest woman alive right now..."
"Yeah? Then I'm the luckiest man, Sarah..."
"I'm so in love with you, Harmon Rabb, I hope you realize that."
"I do," Harm murmured, lifting a hand to Mac's face as she spoke. "I love you so much, Sarah Catherine Mackenzie Rabb. Tell me something, do we know whether we are having girls or boys, or one of each?"
Mac's giggle was infectious, and Harm smiled before he queried her reaction.
"Well, I could say one of them resembled their daddy in a certain...erm...way," she admitted, and then added softly, "but the other one was hiding out, so I don't know if it's a girl or a boy. I still have to have more scans yet, so we could find out later, if you want to."
"I'd be quite happy to wait and see," Harm admitted, and Mac smiled, nodding her head in agreement.
"Me too," she murmured, just as her lips met his in a gentle kiss. Harm pulled back slightly and looked at Mac, his eyes fixed on hers. "What?" Mac whispered, seeing something in Harm's eyes that she had never been aware of before.
"I am yours, Sarah. Always."
"As I am yours, Harm. Always."
It was all they needed to say.
ADMIRAL CHEGWIDDEN'S HOUSE
SOMEWHERE IN VIRGINIA
FRIDAY EVENING
Jennifer called for everyone's attention before Chegwidden spoke.
"Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for coming tonight, at such short notice. I am pleased to see so many of you here, and I would like to thank Jennifer Coates and Harriet Sims for putting together such an evening with little warning. As you are all aware, this gathering is to welcome Captain Rabb, Harm, back to JAG. It is also an evening to celebrate a previously little known event that occurred just before Harm went out to the Sea Hawk. He came to see me with an idea, and a request, and I had the greatest pleasure in granting his request. You see, folks, after almost nine years together as working partners, with a few bumps along the way, Harm and Mac were married." As Chegwidden said the words, Harm pulled Mac to him on one side, and Mattie on the other. Chegwidden carried on, and the sudden noises of congratulations died down again briefly. "I should point out that although this was a decision made just prior to Harm taking up his TAD assignment, it was done for a number of reasons, the least of which was to cause upset amongst family and friends. Harm knew he and Mac wouldn't be able to admit they had taken their vows until he returned to JAG; he had to give me time to clear things with the SecNav, and others. To my knowledge, and until I asked Mac on the tarmac at Pax River, I believe their marriage remained unknown."
When they had first arrived at the Admiral's house, Mac and Harm had spoken separately to Bud and Harriet, and Sturgis, to explain their decision to marry 'in secret', but they need not have worried. Their friends understood, and the only question asked was how they could help 'celebrate' the event again. Harm explained that, as the issue of Mattie's custody was still unresolved, they would decide after that what they would do about arranging a blessing ceremony.
"I guess I was the first to see the 'married couple' after the event, then," Sturgis spoke up, and Harm looked at him and then grinned as he remembered.
"The airport!"
"Yeah, bro'," Sturgis nodded, and continued, explaining for the benefit of those gathered. "Harm appeared ten minutes late - nothing unusual for him, I guess - but I thought I'd seen Mac leaving the terminal building just as he arrived. What got me worried about Harm was that he had the distinct aroma of roses around him. I even asked him if he'd changed his cologne."
"I told him some old lady had sprayed rose water around the perfume counter, and all over me!" Harm recalled, laughing, and Mac hugged him as she stood in his embrace. What the rest of them didn't need to know was that Harm had bought her roses for the ceremony, and then spent the rest of their brief 'wedding day' spreading the petals on the bed in their room and making love to Mac, and realizing that the scent of the flowers was very much on their skin.
The group around them laughed at that, and even Mac joined in the teasing, adding to Sturgis' words with her own.
"Now I know it's true, no matter what Harm does, he always comes up smelling of roses!"
Harm looked down at Mac, a glint in his eye that caused her laughter to hitch slightly as she recognized the flare of passion, and her own response was a slight nod of her head, accepting without words that Harm wanted to be alone with her again. Making small talk at the party for a little while longer, they were able to excuse themselves when Mattie pronounced herself tired and, along with Jennifer, they returned to their respective apartments. With the promise of a brunch for the four of them on the Saturday, Mattie and Jennifer went into their own apartment as Harm opened the door to his and followed Mac inside. As before, they were in each other's arms before the door had fully closed, and Mac forgot everything, even her name, as Harm's lips met hers.
HARM'S APARTMENT
NORTH OF UNION STATION
EARLY SATURDAY MORNING
"Hey, how about calling Jack and Sue and inviting them along for the brunch? We can tell them about us, and you can congratulate them, too!" Mac practically bounced on the stool, and Harm came up behind her to wrap his arms around her waist, as much to hold her close as to make sure she didn't fall off the stool in her excitement.
"Congratulate them on what?" he asked, dropping a kiss on her shoulder.
"They're engaged!"
"Really? Geez, I go away for a few days and look what happens!"
"Harm!" Mac laughed as she hit his arm, and then swung herself around on the stool to face him, a move that put her right between his legs; a move that put Harm in a position to lean over Mac and push her back against the breakfast bar as he dropped his head to nuzzle on her neck.
"Did I happen to mention that you're insatiable, Harm?"
"Mmmn, a couple of times, I think, but I'm not the only one, Mrs Rabb..." Mac smiled at that endearment, and pulled Harm up so she could kiss him. As they broke the kiss in the need for air, Harm grinned. "It must be those screwed up hormones of yours. Are you going to be this demanding every time you're pregnant?"
"Every time, sailor? Are you planning on keeping me pregnant?" Mac's voice had dropped to a husky murmur, and Harm became serious.
"For the joy of seeing you so happy, I'd say yes, but it's your body, Sarah, and your choice. If you want more, when you're ready..."
"If we could manage twins a second time, it would be quicker," Mac laughed, "but right now I'm very happy with a loving husband, and a growing bump."
"Mmmn, and your loving husband is very happy with your bump, too," Harm returned to nuzzling on Mac's neck, but his intended target was now lower. As Mac leaned further back against the counter to give him access, she suddenly had a totally irrelevant thought.
"Harm, is there a history of twins in your family?"
Harm groaned as his target went out of reach when Mac sat up, but he looked up and smiled at her as she waited for his answer.
"Not that I know of," he responded quietly.
"I never really went into my family history much; I was more interested in getting away from my past than trying to find out about it." Mac's past was something Harm knew about, but not something she spoke about often.
"Hey, enough of this...where was I when you interrupted me?" Harm brought the conversation back to his original intended journey down her body.
"Oh, round about here..." Mac drew Harm's left hand down into the vee of her robe, and he followed with his right hand, pushing her robe aside as he went. "Harm, I know I started this, but do we have time to finish? Mattie and Jen?"
"It's still early, Mrs Rabb, so the answer is yes, we have time..."
"Oh, goody!" Mac's husky laugh carried through the apartment as Harm lifted her up from the stool, her legs wrapped around his waist, and walked them both up the steps to the bed, and into their own private heaven. Again.
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To be continued
A/N - Couldn't recall where Admiral Chegwidden's house was located, so if someone knows, please give me a clue - I may need it for my next story!
Author : Jaggie 107
Disclaimer : JAG characters belong to DPB, CBS and Paramount. 'Sue Thomas, F.B.Eye' belongs to PAX TV - and I hope all parties will allow me to have fun for a little while, and replace them all when I'm done. Thank you. (Here's the disclaimer for NCIS, as above...I'll leave it in for the rest of the story; makes life easier when I need to 'borrow' Gibbs and his team!)
Rating : G to PG-13
Thanks go to cbw, jtbwriter, beegirl, katydid13, ninjaturtle, capriceann, starryeyes10, kirsten, soonerfan, another tracy, tomcat-all, lori4, carol, eliv.thade, alicia5, fragmentpieces, kesh, claysmvl, chicmns, skyefire, tammy-jet, abigaile, kjflygirl87, anna7, nikki, jbird7986, angelab, pineapplehead, rosa, manda, rinkrat, bard2003, laura carr, tj, sahc, kstorm, arian04, deb, lisa brown, smithknk, cmaf, cj, manda may, dd2, firedevil, youngest knight, soleil2, guitarvixen, anaika skywalker, harmfanatic and annigh4ever for their reviews. As before, any reviewers I miss between posts will be added to the list for the next chapter!
Replies to previous chapter reviews :
jbird7986 Never meant to be cruel - honest! But if it keeps you hooked, it's worth it! :o) Thank you so much for your support, and please keep reading!
dd2 Thank you so much for your support, and please keep reading!
jtbwriter Hiya! Ha, gotcha!!! With regard to the wedding vows, no you didn't miss a chapter, but I thought you'd caught me out in your chapter 7 review, you mentioned the word 'marrired'! It just seemed the right thing to do to have them go off and get hitched in Vegas! It was romantic, but it also served a purpose in that they wanted to be able to help Mattie and by being married they would provide a more 'stable' environment. As for Tom, he's not doing himself any favors! Hope it didn't spoil your reading too much. Getting near the end now, hope you'll stick with me! All the best for the job scene - still thinking about you! Thanks as always!
alicia5 Soon is now! Got back late Tuesday, so this is my first chance to post! Next couple of chapters you get to find out more about Tom. I've been working on the last few chapters while i've been away! What can I say, I'm an insomniac! Thank you so much for your support, and please keep reading!
harmfanatic Hello and welcome to the story! I'm really not an evil person! Honest! ;o) I seem to have the knack, though, for keeping people hanging between chapters! Ha, ha! Okay, yeah, I can be evil...(grins) but I'm nice too! Thanks for your support, and please keep reading!
manda may Your promise to be good has paid out! Here's chapter 58, and as I've been busy typing up the last few chapters (sob) you'll get them in quick succession too! You will know by now that it was Briggs who stepped off the transporter - Harm, of course, came by Tomcat! His favorite mode of transport! :o) Thank you so much for your support, and please keep reading!
beegirl Hello! It's great to hear from you, no matter when! No, you didn't miss anything in a chapter - I just sneaked the pair of them off to Vegas! It worked for me, and the story, as they knew they wanted to be married sometime, they didn't really want the pomp and circumstance of a 'naval wedding' at this point in their lives, they just want to be together, and by doing it this way, the Admiral gets time to finalize things for them officially, and they get to provide Mattie with a 'show of force' when it comes to the hearing! Hope it didn't spoil your fun too much. Jack and Sue are still around, and will turn up soon! Thank you so much for your support, and please keep reading!
abigaile Hello! No, you didn't miss a chapter - I just sneaked the pair of them off to Vegas. Seemed the right thing to do at the time, and it works that they just want to be together with as little fuss as possible! It does serve a purpose to help Mattie, too, and as you'll see later, they will arrange something to involve their family and friends too, so please stay with the story! Thank you so much for your support, and please keep reading!
annigh4ever Hello and welcome to the story! Thanks for your questions - they give me ideas! Mattie's future is settled in the next chapter (59), Mac's pregnancy and Jack and Sue's future could come in another story... now, there's a thought - I could make this into a trilogy! Just give me a little time, and I'm sure i'll think of something!!! Hope this keeps you hanging in for more! Thanks for your support and please keep reading!
smithknk Hello! Mac and Harm got married around chapter 7/8, but I kept it under wraps - a couple of times I thought people had come close and guessed, but no-one actually came out and asked, so I kept it quiet! It seemed the right thing to do at the time - I figure they didn't want the pomp and circumstance of a naval wedding at this stage in their lives, but they will have a blessing later in the story, to include family and friends. I guess I'm doing something right when such kind reviewers as yourself can picture the characters actually saying 'my lines' on TV! That's the ultimate praise! Thank you so much for your support and please keep reading!
lori4 No, you're not losing your mind, honest! I had Mac and Harm get married in Vegas (a) because they didn't want all the fuss of a big wedding, and (b) because it would ultimately help Mattie's case. A couple of reviewers came close to guessing, but nobody actually quizzed me on it, so I kept it under wraps! Hope it didn't spoil your fun too much. Thanks for your support, and please keep reading!
deb Glad you like the twist, and the wedding was between chapters 7/8. I kept it under wraps as a surprise for later, and it worked out! A couple of people came close to guessing, but nobody asked outright, so I got to keep the surprise! :o) Thank you so much for your support, and please keep reading!
starryeyes10 Thank you so much for your support, and please keep reading!
anna7 Glad to know you're able to review - all the better for me! Thank you so much for your support, and please keep reading!
nikki Hope this clears up the confusion - I had Mac and Harm go off and get hitched in Vegas for two reasons - (a) they wanted to be married but didn't want all the fuss of a full ceremony, and (b) they wanted to be able to give Mattie a 'show of force' for the hearing. I've written in a blessing ceremony for later, for their family and friends. So, hope I'm forgiven, thank you so much for your support, and please keep reading!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HARM'S APARTMENT
NORTH OF UNION STATION
FRIDAY LATE AFTERNOON
Harm woke up, and took a few seconds to orientate himself to being on solid ground, in his own bed, in his own apartment. Mac. Mac had met him at Pax River, and the Admiral had told Harriet and Bud that he and Mac were married, and by now 'that' bit of information would be all around JAG Ops! Mac, however, was currently unfazed by this disclosure into their private lives, as she was asleep, and wore the cutest expression he had yet seen on her face. It was a mixture of a sated woman, and a content mother-to-be.
Harm grinned. He and Mac had returned from Pax River to the apartment, with Mattie in tow. When they had reached the apartment building, Mattie had hugged them both, reminded them about the impromptu get-together at the Admiral's house later, and gone off to her own apartment. Harm had turned to Mac, moved to pick her up in his arms, and 'carried her over the threshold', with a murmured, "Hello, Mrs Rabb!" Their lovemaking had begun almost before they had the door closed to the apartment. With Harm leaning back on the door, he had drawn Mac into his arms, lifting her so she was aware of his need for her. His arousal was making his flight suit tight and Mac sought him out with her hand, brushing down the front of the material, and causing Harm to groan loudly.
"You want your first time in almost a week to be up against the door?" he whispered, and there was a smile in his voice. Mac could hear it, and she grinned at him.
"What, you can't make it to the bed, flyboy?"
"Right now I'd be hard pushed to get to the floor, I want you so badly."
"Harm!" Mac groaned, and he pulled her closer and kissed her. It wasn't a gentle kiss. It was hard, and hot, and Mac reciprocated, pushing herself into him, skin against skin. Their first time was up against the door; their second time was almost on the sofa. Eventually they had made it to the bed, and then finally they had fallen asleep, arms around each other, Mac's head on his shoulder, Harm's hand cupping the growing mound of her abdomen.
Harm shifted slightly in the bed, without dislodging Mac, or taking his hand off the growing bulge of their children in her womb. His smile turned introspective as he smoothed the skin with his hand, feeling tears form in his eyes at the thought that this incredible woman carried not one but two babies. He felt Mac's hand run through his hair, and he raised his eyes to hers.
"This is beautiful, Sarah. You are beautiful. Thank you..."
"For what?"
"For giving me you, and our babies..."
"I gave myself to you, Harm," Mac acknowledged, and her tears formed too, mingling with his as she leaned in to kiss him softly. As she drew back she ran her hand down his cheek and a finger across his lips. "You gave me the ultimate gift in return. Not once, but twice!"
Harm managed a rather smug-looking grin, and Mac tilted her head.
"What's that for, flyboy?"
"I was just thinking, 'not bad' for an old man!"
"I'd say you were pretty damn good, sailor, and I should know!" Mac pushed herself up to a kneeling position on the bed, and looked Harm over, from head to toe. In response to her gaze a certain part of his anatomy was rising to the occasion again, and Mac bit back a laugh, or at least she tried to. It came out as more of a giggle.
"What are you laughing at?" Harm looked slightly miffed at her expression, and Mac leaned down to drop a reassuring kiss on his lips.
"I'm not laughing at you, sweetheart. I'm just so happy, and so proud of you, and I'm the luckiest woman alive right now..."
"Yeah? Then I'm the luckiest man, Sarah..."
"I'm so in love with you, Harmon Rabb, I hope you realize that."
"I do," Harm murmured, lifting a hand to Mac's face as she spoke. "I love you so much, Sarah Catherine Mackenzie Rabb. Tell me something, do we know whether we are having girls or boys, or one of each?"
Mac's giggle was infectious, and Harm smiled before he queried her reaction.
"Well, I could say one of them resembled their daddy in a certain...erm...way," she admitted, and then added softly, "but the other one was hiding out, so I don't know if it's a girl or a boy. I still have to have more scans yet, so we could find out later, if you want to."
"I'd be quite happy to wait and see," Harm admitted, and Mac smiled, nodding her head in agreement.
"Me too," she murmured, just as her lips met his in a gentle kiss. Harm pulled back slightly and looked at Mac, his eyes fixed on hers. "What?" Mac whispered, seeing something in Harm's eyes that she had never been aware of before.
"I am yours, Sarah. Always."
"As I am yours, Harm. Always."
It was all they needed to say.
ADMIRAL CHEGWIDDEN'S HOUSE
SOMEWHERE IN VIRGINIA
FRIDAY EVENING
Jennifer called for everyone's attention before Chegwidden spoke.
"Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for coming tonight, at such short notice. I am pleased to see so many of you here, and I would like to thank Jennifer Coates and Harriet Sims for putting together such an evening with little warning. As you are all aware, this gathering is to welcome Captain Rabb, Harm, back to JAG. It is also an evening to celebrate a previously little known event that occurred just before Harm went out to the Sea Hawk. He came to see me with an idea, and a request, and I had the greatest pleasure in granting his request. You see, folks, after almost nine years together as working partners, with a few bumps along the way, Harm and Mac were married." As Chegwidden said the words, Harm pulled Mac to him on one side, and Mattie on the other. Chegwidden carried on, and the sudden noises of congratulations died down again briefly. "I should point out that although this was a decision made just prior to Harm taking up his TAD assignment, it was done for a number of reasons, the least of which was to cause upset amongst family and friends. Harm knew he and Mac wouldn't be able to admit they had taken their vows until he returned to JAG; he had to give me time to clear things with the SecNav, and others. To my knowledge, and until I asked Mac on the tarmac at Pax River, I believe their marriage remained unknown."
When they had first arrived at the Admiral's house, Mac and Harm had spoken separately to Bud and Harriet, and Sturgis, to explain their decision to marry 'in secret', but they need not have worried. Their friends understood, and the only question asked was how they could help 'celebrate' the event again. Harm explained that, as the issue of Mattie's custody was still unresolved, they would decide after that what they would do about arranging a blessing ceremony.
"I guess I was the first to see the 'married couple' after the event, then," Sturgis spoke up, and Harm looked at him and then grinned as he remembered.
"The airport!"
"Yeah, bro'," Sturgis nodded, and continued, explaining for the benefit of those gathered. "Harm appeared ten minutes late - nothing unusual for him, I guess - but I thought I'd seen Mac leaving the terminal building just as he arrived. What got me worried about Harm was that he had the distinct aroma of roses around him. I even asked him if he'd changed his cologne."
"I told him some old lady had sprayed rose water around the perfume counter, and all over me!" Harm recalled, laughing, and Mac hugged him as she stood in his embrace. What the rest of them didn't need to know was that Harm had bought her roses for the ceremony, and then spent the rest of their brief 'wedding day' spreading the petals on the bed in their room and making love to Mac, and realizing that the scent of the flowers was very much on their skin.
The group around them laughed at that, and even Mac joined in the teasing, adding to Sturgis' words with her own.
"Now I know it's true, no matter what Harm does, he always comes up smelling of roses!"
Harm looked down at Mac, a glint in his eye that caused her laughter to hitch slightly as she recognized the flare of passion, and her own response was a slight nod of her head, accepting without words that Harm wanted to be alone with her again. Making small talk at the party for a little while longer, they were able to excuse themselves when Mattie pronounced herself tired and, along with Jennifer, they returned to their respective apartments. With the promise of a brunch for the four of them on the Saturday, Mattie and Jennifer went into their own apartment as Harm opened the door to his and followed Mac inside. As before, they were in each other's arms before the door had fully closed, and Mac forgot everything, even her name, as Harm's lips met hers.
HARM'S APARTMENT
NORTH OF UNION STATION
EARLY SATURDAY MORNING
"Hey, how about calling Jack and Sue and inviting them along for the brunch? We can tell them about us, and you can congratulate them, too!" Mac practically bounced on the stool, and Harm came up behind her to wrap his arms around her waist, as much to hold her close as to make sure she didn't fall off the stool in her excitement.
"Congratulate them on what?" he asked, dropping a kiss on her shoulder.
"They're engaged!"
"Really? Geez, I go away for a few days and look what happens!"
"Harm!" Mac laughed as she hit his arm, and then swung herself around on the stool to face him, a move that put her right between his legs; a move that put Harm in a position to lean over Mac and push her back against the breakfast bar as he dropped his head to nuzzle on her neck.
"Did I happen to mention that you're insatiable, Harm?"
"Mmmn, a couple of times, I think, but I'm not the only one, Mrs Rabb..." Mac smiled at that endearment, and pulled Harm up so she could kiss him. As they broke the kiss in the need for air, Harm grinned. "It must be those screwed up hormones of yours. Are you going to be this demanding every time you're pregnant?"
"Every time, sailor? Are you planning on keeping me pregnant?" Mac's voice had dropped to a husky murmur, and Harm became serious.
"For the joy of seeing you so happy, I'd say yes, but it's your body, Sarah, and your choice. If you want more, when you're ready..."
"If we could manage twins a second time, it would be quicker," Mac laughed, "but right now I'm very happy with a loving husband, and a growing bump."
"Mmmn, and your loving husband is very happy with your bump, too," Harm returned to nuzzling on Mac's neck, but his intended target was now lower. As Mac leaned further back against the counter to give him access, she suddenly had a totally irrelevant thought.
"Harm, is there a history of twins in your family?"
Harm groaned as his target went out of reach when Mac sat up, but he looked up and smiled at her as she waited for his answer.
"Not that I know of," he responded quietly.
"I never really went into my family history much; I was more interested in getting away from my past than trying to find out about it." Mac's past was something Harm knew about, but not something she spoke about often.
"Hey, enough of this...where was I when you interrupted me?" Harm brought the conversation back to his original intended journey down her body.
"Oh, round about here..." Mac drew Harm's left hand down into the vee of her robe, and he followed with his right hand, pushing her robe aside as he went. "Harm, I know I started this, but do we have time to finish? Mattie and Jen?"
"It's still early, Mrs Rabb, so the answer is yes, we have time..."
"Oh, goody!" Mac's husky laugh carried through the apartment as Harm lifted her up from the stool, her legs wrapped around his waist, and walked them both up the steps to the bed, and into their own private heaven. Again.
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To be continued
A/N - Couldn't recall where Admiral Chegwidden's house was located, so if someone knows, please give me a clue - I may need it for my next story!