A/N: Sorry for not putting this stuff in the first chapter, but I'm still
figuring out how to post. Thanks to everyone who's sent me feedback on
Chapter 1 - the encouragement is most welcome. Hope you enjoy!
Summary: Little AJ's finally turning five. . . here's my take on a possible H/M reaction. Please R&R! It's my first fanfic.
Disclaimer: If I owned them, do you think I'd be working for a living?
Spoilers: "Yeah, Baby" and any other episodes up through "A Merry Little Christmas".
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Same Evening; Dominic's Cafe & Restaurant; Georgetown, Washington D.C.
Forty-five minutes later, Harm and Mac were sitting at a corner table waiting for someone to take their order. Dominic's was usually pretty crowded on Thursdays during the dinner hour, but tonight the establishment was relatively empty. Mac supposed that would change once the sun had set and the temperature began to drop. But for now, only the muted sound of jazz music and the occasional clinking of glasses filtered back to their table, allowing them to talk with ease.
"Okay, how exactly do you propose we go about this?" she asked, her eyes twinkling mischievously. Harm looked slightly uncomfortable.
"I, um, had thought you might have some suggestions."
"Me? It was your idea, buster."
"Yeah, I guess it was. But you bought into it." He leaned back into his chair, and looked thoughtful. "Well, how many options do we have? There's in-vitro, artificial insemination, or good old-fashioned-"
"Wait a minute," Mac interrupted with a shake of her hand, "we should work out some of the bigger logistical issues first. I mean, no offense," she laughed, "but I think the mechanics of actually *having* a baby will be fairly straightforward."
"Oh really? Please explain." Harm crossed his arms over his chest, eyes narrowing.
"Custody arrangements, day-care, insurance, pediatrician, education," she rattled off, "not to mention what we're going to tell the Admiral and everyone at the office. Having a baby should be easy; it's everything else that's going to present a challenge."
She folded her hands in her lap as the server approached. Once they had placed their orders and the menus had been removed, Harm reached for his water and absently began stirring it with his straw. Mac pulled a legal pad and pen out of her briefcase.
"You're right," Harm conceded, and flashed her a smile. "The ever practical Marine. Okay, so we'll deal with the logistical issues first. If it's alright with you, I would like to have joint custody."
"Really? Won't that put a wrench in your bachelor lifestyle?" she teased.
"Mac, I'm serious."
"So am I."
"After what I went through losing my father, do you think that I would settle for being an every-other-weekend parent? I don't take the responsibility of fatherhood lightly and I'm a little hurt that you would insinuate otherwise. If you feel that way, why did you help me become Mattie's guardian last fall?"
Reaching out to take his hand, Mac caught his gaze. "I meant it when I said you'd be a great father. But there's a world of difference between a newborn infant and a fifteen year-old teenager. Babies require a lot of time and energy."
Harm looked away, but didn't pull his hand from hers. They sat for a moment in silence. Finally, he looked back at her and took a deep breath.
"What if I were to move into your place for a while?"
"What?" This was the second time in the last few hours that Harm had thrown her a proverbial curveball. Mac looked at him in surprise.
"You've got a sleeper sofa, right?"
"Yes, but-"
"Hear me out." He leaned forward, moving closer to her. "With both of us around it would be easier to provide our child with the love and attention it needs. Once the baby is old enough we can start a more conventional custody arrangement."
"How old is 'old enough'?"
"Well, we can figure that out as we go," he grinned, giving her hand a squeeze. "Better your place than mine."
"Well, my apartment does have more space than yours, and more privacy. Nicer neighborhood, better schools-"
"So it's settled. Next?"
Their food came, with the discussion continuing over the meal and Mac taking notes. One-by-one, they came to agreement on each of the areas previously discussed, as well as several others. After sunset, the noise level inside the restaurant rose commensurately with the number of patrons until further conversation was practically impossible. Finally, Harm and Mac rose to leave. Now only three obvious matters remained: how the child would be conceived, what they planned to tell their CO and colleagues, and how they intended to both remain at JAG.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
A/N #2 (I have few questions):
Do USMC rules/regulations prohibit an unmarried female Marine from having a baby? (i.e., would she have to get married or be subject to discharge?) Nothing I saw on the Internet indicated as such, but I just want to make sure.
Where exactly is Bud and Harriet's house? I know their apartment was in Rosslyn, VA, but they moved at the end of season 7 / beginning of season 8, and I can't recall where the house is located.
If anyone could help me out I'd appreciate it!
Summary: Little AJ's finally turning five. . . here's my take on a possible H/M reaction. Please R&R! It's my first fanfic.
Disclaimer: If I owned them, do you think I'd be working for a living?
Spoilers: "Yeah, Baby" and any other episodes up through "A Merry Little Christmas".
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Same Evening; Dominic's Cafe & Restaurant; Georgetown, Washington D.C.
Forty-five minutes later, Harm and Mac were sitting at a corner table waiting for someone to take their order. Dominic's was usually pretty crowded on Thursdays during the dinner hour, but tonight the establishment was relatively empty. Mac supposed that would change once the sun had set and the temperature began to drop. But for now, only the muted sound of jazz music and the occasional clinking of glasses filtered back to their table, allowing them to talk with ease.
"Okay, how exactly do you propose we go about this?" she asked, her eyes twinkling mischievously. Harm looked slightly uncomfortable.
"I, um, had thought you might have some suggestions."
"Me? It was your idea, buster."
"Yeah, I guess it was. But you bought into it." He leaned back into his chair, and looked thoughtful. "Well, how many options do we have? There's in-vitro, artificial insemination, or good old-fashioned-"
"Wait a minute," Mac interrupted with a shake of her hand, "we should work out some of the bigger logistical issues first. I mean, no offense," she laughed, "but I think the mechanics of actually *having* a baby will be fairly straightforward."
"Oh really? Please explain." Harm crossed his arms over his chest, eyes narrowing.
"Custody arrangements, day-care, insurance, pediatrician, education," she rattled off, "not to mention what we're going to tell the Admiral and everyone at the office. Having a baby should be easy; it's everything else that's going to present a challenge."
She folded her hands in her lap as the server approached. Once they had placed their orders and the menus had been removed, Harm reached for his water and absently began stirring it with his straw. Mac pulled a legal pad and pen out of her briefcase.
"You're right," Harm conceded, and flashed her a smile. "The ever practical Marine. Okay, so we'll deal with the logistical issues first. If it's alright with you, I would like to have joint custody."
"Really? Won't that put a wrench in your bachelor lifestyle?" she teased.
"Mac, I'm serious."
"So am I."
"After what I went through losing my father, do you think that I would settle for being an every-other-weekend parent? I don't take the responsibility of fatherhood lightly and I'm a little hurt that you would insinuate otherwise. If you feel that way, why did you help me become Mattie's guardian last fall?"
Reaching out to take his hand, Mac caught his gaze. "I meant it when I said you'd be a great father. But there's a world of difference between a newborn infant and a fifteen year-old teenager. Babies require a lot of time and energy."
Harm looked away, but didn't pull his hand from hers. They sat for a moment in silence. Finally, he looked back at her and took a deep breath.
"What if I were to move into your place for a while?"
"What?" This was the second time in the last few hours that Harm had thrown her a proverbial curveball. Mac looked at him in surprise.
"You've got a sleeper sofa, right?"
"Yes, but-"
"Hear me out." He leaned forward, moving closer to her. "With both of us around it would be easier to provide our child with the love and attention it needs. Once the baby is old enough we can start a more conventional custody arrangement."
"How old is 'old enough'?"
"Well, we can figure that out as we go," he grinned, giving her hand a squeeze. "Better your place than mine."
"Well, my apartment does have more space than yours, and more privacy. Nicer neighborhood, better schools-"
"So it's settled. Next?"
Their food came, with the discussion continuing over the meal and Mac taking notes. One-by-one, they came to agreement on each of the areas previously discussed, as well as several others. After sunset, the noise level inside the restaurant rose commensurately with the number of patrons until further conversation was practically impossible. Finally, Harm and Mac rose to leave. Now only three obvious matters remained: how the child would be conceived, what they planned to tell their CO and colleagues, and how they intended to both remain at JAG.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
A/N #2 (I have few questions):
Do USMC rules/regulations prohibit an unmarried female Marine from having a baby? (i.e., would she have to get married or be subject to discharge?) Nothing I saw on the Internet indicated as such, but I just want to make sure.
Where exactly is Bud and Harriet's house? I know their apartment was in Rosslyn, VA, but they moved at the end of season 7 / beginning of season 8, and I can't recall where the house is located.
If anyone could help me out I'd appreciate it!