A/N: Wow – reviews! I have reviews! :-) Thanks to everyone for their
feedback, and thanks to Fanfiction.net for getting the review/author alert
issue fixed. It's nice to see that people are still reading this... I was a
little worried there for a few days until I realized it was a site issue.
*Phew!* (wiping sweat off my brow)
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Saturday; 0023 Zulu; North of Union Station
Mac stood at the kitchen island chopping fresh vegetables for the salad. Working her way through a red bell pepper, she glanced over towards where Harm was putting the finishing touches on the table.
"The napkins look fine where they are," she teased, watching him frown at the piece of fabric he'd attempted to artfully display in one of the wine glasses. "Harm, it's just Bud and Harriet. They'll probably think we've gone to too much trouble as it is."
"You're right," he conceded with a sigh. Folding the offending napkin, he placed it in the middle of the plate, as he'd done at the other three settings.
"I usually am."
"Oh, really? I could name a few times when you've been wrong," Harm countered jokingly. "But I'll be kind and let you think what you want."
Mac smiled and turned her attention back to the task at hand. "Just a few? Considering how long we've known each other, Flyboy, I'll take that as a compliment." Chuckling, she scooped the chunks of pepper into one hand and dropped them deftly into the salad bowl.
"There, all done." He took a step back to review his handiwork.
"The table looks nice." Wiping her hands on a paper towel, Mac reached for the tongs. As she turned away from him, Harm slipped up behind her and wrapped his arms casually around her waist.
"So do you," he murmured into her neck, placing a light kiss behind her ear. "Mmm, you smell good too."
"What's gotten into you?" Mac asked shyly, surprised at his sudden behavior but enjoying herself nonetheless. This playful flirting was a facet of Harm's personality that she'd occasionally glimpsed, but never fully experienced. A shiver went up her spine at the feel of his teeth gently nibbling on the sensitive skin.
"We should have Bud and Harriet over for dinner more often. I kind of like seeing your 'domestic' side."
"And I like showing it."
Sliding one hand up to her collar, Harm began to trail his lips across the nape of her neck while his other hand tightened on her waist.
An instant later, his head snapped up at the sound of a knock on the front door. Heaving a sigh of resignation, he dropped his forehead momentarily onto Mac's shoulder before releasing her. "That would be Bud and Harriet."
"Looks like I'm not the only one with perfect timing," Mac commented wryly. Lifting his eyebrows in agreement, Harm shot her a look he hoped implied *to be continued* before crossing to the door. Remaining at the counter, Mac picked up the forgotten tongs and started tossing the salad as Harm greeted the Roberts' warmly.
"Sir, ma'am," Harriet smiled as Bud followed her into the apartment.
"What's this?" asked Harm, nodding to the bottle of bubbly Harriet carried.
"We brought some sparkling grape juice."
"Thank you, Harriet. Make yourselves at home." Taking the proffered bottle, Harm gestured towards the living room. "Dinner should be ready in a few minutes. Can I get you something to drink?"
"Water's fine for now, thanks. Wow, ma'am, something smells wonderful," Bud observed, settling down on the couch next to his wife. Harriet echoed the sentiment.
"I was just telling her that myself, Bud." Harm grinned over at Mac, who shot him a veiled look.
"Thanks, but I can only take credit for the salad."
"What are Mattie and Jennifer up to this evening?" Harriet inquired.
"They were heading to the mall and then to see a movie." Depositing the bottle of juice in the refrigerator door, Harm moved to pour some water for their guests. "I didn't ask which one."
"I believe they were going to the new 'Princess Diaries' sequel," supplied Mac. Harm and Bud looked at each other.
"Chick flick," they commented simultaneously. All four friends burst out into laughter. Handing water glasses to Harriet and Bud, Harm waited for Mac to join them. As she sat down in the chair adjacent to the sofa, he moved behind her.
"Did you have any problems finding a babysitter?" Harm asked as he laid a hand on Mac's shoulder. The affection in the gesture was not lost on Harriet. "I know we pulled this together at the last minute."
"No," Bud shook his head. "The teenager next door was willing to put up with A.J. and Jimmy for the evening. She did, however, insist on hazard pay."
"Our godson is turning into quite the... *adventurer*, isn't he."
"Very diplomatically put, ma'am," Bud chuckled.
"Thank you, Bud."
"Speaking of godchildren," Harm interrupted softly, "we have a favor to ask both of you."
"Sir?"
"Well," he said, giving Mac's shoulder a reassuring squeeze, "we were wondering..."
"Would you be willing to serve as godparents to *our* son or daughter?" Mac finished, suddenly overwhelmed by happiness at finally being able to share their secret. "I'm due in March."
His eyes going wide, Bud's fingers clamped tightly around his water glass. Harriet, on the other hand, merely broke into a wide grin.
"Ma'am? Sir?" Bud stammered in disbelief.
"We're having a baby," Harm confirmed with a huge smile, Mac reaching up and placing her hand atop of his. "Together."
"I *knew* it!" exclaimed Harriet gleefully. "I just KNEW it!" All but leaping off the couch, she pulled Mac to her feet and enfolded her in a congratulatory hug. Mac's arms lifted involuntarily to return the embrace. Stunned by the intensity of Harriet's excitement, she exchanged a joyful look with Harm.
Rising as well, Bud gaped incredulously as the sound of laughter filled the apartment. "What? How? What?!"
"This is wonderful! Congratulations, sir!" Harriet beamed as she released Mac and turned to hug Harm.
"Ma'am? Sir? How... I mean, I *know* how, but when did this... I mean, isn't it kind of sudden?" Bud babbled in apparent shock.
"Not really, Bud," Harm informed him over Harriet's shoulder with a brief glance towards Mac. "We've actually been planning to do this for a while."
Pulling away, Harriet kept one hand on Harm's shoulder as her gaze turned to Mac. "How long have the two of you been together?" she grinned happily.
The room fell silent.
"Um," Mac's eyes fell to the floor, "we're not really *together*..."
"Not in the way you think," emphasized Harm.
"I don't understand," Bud frowned.
"Well..." Harm took a deep breath, but Harriet interrupted.
"You mean you're NOT getting married?"
"Not in the foreseeable future," Mac confirmed gently. Trying to hide her disappointment, Harriet released Harm with a smile and moved to embrace her husband.
"If you don't mind my asking... if you're not 'together', why are you having a baby?" Bud asked, having regained a measure of composure.
Harm's lips curled upward as he met Mac's gaze. "It's a long story. Why don't we tell you over dinner? I wouldn't want to starve my Marine -- she tends to get grumpy when she goes without food for any extended length of time," he teased.
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To be continued...
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A/N #2: In case you were wondering, "The Princess Diaries 2" is supposed to be released sometime in August 2004 according to Yahoo Movies.
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Saturday; 0023 Zulu; North of Union Station
Mac stood at the kitchen island chopping fresh vegetables for the salad. Working her way through a red bell pepper, she glanced over towards where Harm was putting the finishing touches on the table.
"The napkins look fine where they are," she teased, watching him frown at the piece of fabric he'd attempted to artfully display in one of the wine glasses. "Harm, it's just Bud and Harriet. They'll probably think we've gone to too much trouble as it is."
"You're right," he conceded with a sigh. Folding the offending napkin, he placed it in the middle of the plate, as he'd done at the other three settings.
"I usually am."
"Oh, really? I could name a few times when you've been wrong," Harm countered jokingly. "But I'll be kind and let you think what you want."
Mac smiled and turned her attention back to the task at hand. "Just a few? Considering how long we've known each other, Flyboy, I'll take that as a compliment." Chuckling, she scooped the chunks of pepper into one hand and dropped them deftly into the salad bowl.
"There, all done." He took a step back to review his handiwork.
"The table looks nice." Wiping her hands on a paper towel, Mac reached for the tongs. As she turned away from him, Harm slipped up behind her and wrapped his arms casually around her waist.
"So do you," he murmured into her neck, placing a light kiss behind her ear. "Mmm, you smell good too."
"What's gotten into you?" Mac asked shyly, surprised at his sudden behavior but enjoying herself nonetheless. This playful flirting was a facet of Harm's personality that she'd occasionally glimpsed, but never fully experienced. A shiver went up her spine at the feel of his teeth gently nibbling on the sensitive skin.
"We should have Bud and Harriet over for dinner more often. I kind of like seeing your 'domestic' side."
"And I like showing it."
Sliding one hand up to her collar, Harm began to trail his lips across the nape of her neck while his other hand tightened on her waist.
An instant later, his head snapped up at the sound of a knock on the front door. Heaving a sigh of resignation, he dropped his forehead momentarily onto Mac's shoulder before releasing her. "That would be Bud and Harriet."
"Looks like I'm not the only one with perfect timing," Mac commented wryly. Lifting his eyebrows in agreement, Harm shot her a look he hoped implied *to be continued* before crossing to the door. Remaining at the counter, Mac picked up the forgotten tongs and started tossing the salad as Harm greeted the Roberts' warmly.
"Sir, ma'am," Harriet smiled as Bud followed her into the apartment.
"What's this?" asked Harm, nodding to the bottle of bubbly Harriet carried.
"We brought some sparkling grape juice."
"Thank you, Harriet. Make yourselves at home." Taking the proffered bottle, Harm gestured towards the living room. "Dinner should be ready in a few minutes. Can I get you something to drink?"
"Water's fine for now, thanks. Wow, ma'am, something smells wonderful," Bud observed, settling down on the couch next to his wife. Harriet echoed the sentiment.
"I was just telling her that myself, Bud." Harm grinned over at Mac, who shot him a veiled look.
"Thanks, but I can only take credit for the salad."
"What are Mattie and Jennifer up to this evening?" Harriet inquired.
"They were heading to the mall and then to see a movie." Depositing the bottle of juice in the refrigerator door, Harm moved to pour some water for their guests. "I didn't ask which one."
"I believe they were going to the new 'Princess Diaries' sequel," supplied Mac. Harm and Bud looked at each other.
"Chick flick," they commented simultaneously. All four friends burst out into laughter. Handing water glasses to Harriet and Bud, Harm waited for Mac to join them. As she sat down in the chair adjacent to the sofa, he moved behind her.
"Did you have any problems finding a babysitter?" Harm asked as he laid a hand on Mac's shoulder. The affection in the gesture was not lost on Harriet. "I know we pulled this together at the last minute."
"No," Bud shook his head. "The teenager next door was willing to put up with A.J. and Jimmy for the evening. She did, however, insist on hazard pay."
"Our godson is turning into quite the... *adventurer*, isn't he."
"Very diplomatically put, ma'am," Bud chuckled.
"Thank you, Bud."
"Speaking of godchildren," Harm interrupted softly, "we have a favor to ask both of you."
"Sir?"
"Well," he said, giving Mac's shoulder a reassuring squeeze, "we were wondering..."
"Would you be willing to serve as godparents to *our* son or daughter?" Mac finished, suddenly overwhelmed by happiness at finally being able to share their secret. "I'm due in March."
His eyes going wide, Bud's fingers clamped tightly around his water glass. Harriet, on the other hand, merely broke into a wide grin.
"Ma'am? Sir?" Bud stammered in disbelief.
"We're having a baby," Harm confirmed with a huge smile, Mac reaching up and placing her hand atop of his. "Together."
"I *knew* it!" exclaimed Harriet gleefully. "I just KNEW it!" All but leaping off the couch, she pulled Mac to her feet and enfolded her in a congratulatory hug. Mac's arms lifted involuntarily to return the embrace. Stunned by the intensity of Harriet's excitement, she exchanged a joyful look with Harm.
Rising as well, Bud gaped incredulously as the sound of laughter filled the apartment. "What? How? What?!"
"This is wonderful! Congratulations, sir!" Harriet beamed as she released Mac and turned to hug Harm.
"Ma'am? Sir? How... I mean, I *know* how, but when did this... I mean, isn't it kind of sudden?" Bud babbled in apparent shock.
"Not really, Bud," Harm informed him over Harriet's shoulder with a brief glance towards Mac. "We've actually been planning to do this for a while."
Pulling away, Harriet kept one hand on Harm's shoulder as her gaze turned to Mac. "How long have the two of you been together?" she grinned happily.
The room fell silent.
"Um," Mac's eyes fell to the floor, "we're not really *together*..."
"Not in the way you think," emphasized Harm.
"I don't understand," Bud frowned.
"Well..." Harm took a deep breath, but Harriet interrupted.
"You mean you're NOT getting married?"
"Not in the foreseeable future," Mac confirmed gently. Trying to hide her disappointment, Harriet released Harm with a smile and moved to embrace her husband.
"If you don't mind my asking... if you're not 'together', why are you having a baby?" Bud asked, having regained a measure of composure.
Harm's lips curled upward as he met Mac's gaze. "It's a long story. Why don't we tell you over dinner? I wouldn't want to starve my Marine -- she tends to get grumpy when she goes without food for any extended length of time," he teased.
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To be continued...
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
A/N #2: In case you were wondering, "The Princess Diaries 2" is supposed to be released sometime in August 2004 according to Yahoo Movies.