......Mild AN from Shoe.......

Hey All,

Greetings. It's Shoe (Carol's friendly-abusive muse, who buds with Michi's Gum.) I just wanted to remind y'all that before someone comments 'that was so out of character' that they should read the AN in Part 1. That's all.

Return back to the story as I bug Carol. Hey, Gum shouldn't you be bugging Michi?

Grin and wink-

-Shoe

First Impressions Part 4/11

Disclaimer - See part one for all important information

Harm's Apartment

6:28 PM

Trish was in the kitchen putting the final touches on dinner. Frank and Harm set the table, when there was a knock at the door. Harm smiled as he looked at the clock. "I'll get it." He opened the door and smiled at Mac. "Hi."

"Hi," Mac said to him as they kissed softly.

"Let me take your coat." Harm helped Mac out of her coat.

Frank watched, then he walked up to Mac to greet her. "Hello Sarah. How are you?"

Mac smiled at Frank's kindness. "I'm fine, Mr. Burnett. How are you?"

"I'm good and please, call me Frank."

Harm smiled at Frank being polite and kind to Mac. The three of them walked towards the kitchen area. "Hello, Mrs. Burnett. How are you?" Mac very politely asked.

Trish turned around from the stove and looked at Mac. "I'm fine, Sarah. Dinner will be ready shortly."

"It smells wonderful, ma'am. May I ask what you've made?" Mac asked as Harm gently took her hand into his to encourage her.

"It's a surprise." Trish looked at Frank. "Frank, why don't you open the bottle of wine you bought this afternoon?"

"Sure." Frank pulled the bottle of wine out of the refrigerator. "A friend of ours owns this vineyard, I was surprised to find it out here." Frank showed Harm the label.

"Sounds nice," Harm said before he looked at Mac. "Would you like some water to drink?"

"Please."

Trish looked at Mac. "Oh, Sarah, you have to try this wine it is wonderful."

"No thank you, ma'am," Mac politely responded.

"Harm, will you be having some?" Frank asked as he started to pour a glass from himself and Trish.

Harm handed Mac a glass of water and quickly looked in her eyes for her approval. "Yeah, I'll take a glass."

Frank nodded and poured another glass and handed it to Harm. Trish then started giving some mild directions. "Well, dinner is ready. Frank you can help me bring the food to the table. Harm, Sarah, why don't you two go sit down?"

"Sure, Mom," Harm said as he and Mac sat down at the table.

Trish and Frank brought the food out to the table. Frank sat down as Trish brought out a covered casserole dish. He looked at the young couple across from him and smiled. "I don't know what it is. She made it while I was out getting the wine."

Mac and Harm smiled at Frank's honesty.

"I wanted to surprise everyone," Trish said. "We've got fresh bread from a bakery down the street, garlic mashed potatoes, steamed veggies, and something new for me….. meatless meatloaf."

Harm and Frank stared at each other then Trish. Trish ignored their looks and focused on Mac. "Harm told me you didn't like his, so I looked at the recipe and did some changes to it. I hope you like it." Trish gave Mac a super sweet smile as she lifted the casserole lid.

Mac looked at the meatloaf. "Considering I once compared Harm's to toxic waste. I'm sure it's much better then his."

"Well, let's find out." Frank tried to diffuse the tension with his hopefulness.

Everyone started to fill their plates with the food. Harm took the chance to whisper to Mac. "I told her you didn't like this. I don't know what she's up to."

"It's okay, I'm fine," Mac whispered.

Trish smiled as she gave Mac a pretty good size of the meatloaf on her plate. "Thank you," Mac said as she took her plate from Trish.

Trish started to eat the steamed veggies as she watched Mac place a piece of the meatloaf on her fork and eat it. "So how is it?"

Mac tried her hardest to resist her urge to spit it across the room, thinking about how the food on Fear Factor probably tasted better then this. "It's different than Harm's. What did you do to change it?"

"It's a secret," Trish said.

Frank and Harm watched the two women and they both took a bite of the meatloaf. Harm bit into it and felt himself nearly gag at the taste. He looked at Frank who was wearing a pained expression on his face. The two men locked eyes and realized Trish was trying to find reasons not to like Mac.

The rest of dinner was filled with forced pleasant conversation. Trish asked Mac questions about dinner and Mac politely answered them. Mac in turn took the opportunity to ask Trish about her favorite artist and what it's like to run a gallery. Trish answered the questions honestly, but with a guarded feeling. Harm and Frank tried not to get involved in the conversations, unless it was necessary.

"That was quite enjoyable, ma'am," Mac placed her fork on her empty plate.

"Really?" Trish said sounding almost surprised. "Are you still hungry?"

"No, I think I ate more then anyone else." Mac looked at the others plates, noticing all of them still having the meatloaf left on them.

"You usually do eat more then most people," Harm commented with a playful smile.

"You'll pay for that one." Mac looked at Harm.

Harm picked up Mac's hand and kissed it. "I hope so." He gazed in her eyes, soon finding himself lost in them.

Frank looked at the young couple and smiled at the love he saw. He looked at Trish and thought about how if looks could kill Mac would be dead and Harm would be missing a few limbs.

"Frank, did you pick up that dessert wine I asked for?" Trish asked snapping the couple out of their moment.

"Yes, I did."

"Great. How about the four of us go to the living room and enjoy some of the wine?" Trish offered it not to be a choice.

Mac looked at Harm with a slight bit of apprehension. Harm noticed her look and knew why she was nervous. "I could go for some coffee instead of wine."

"Harmon, coffee will keep you up, wine is much better choice. Don't you agree, Sarah?" Trish instructed.

Mac took a breath before she answered. "Actually ma'am, I would prefer coffee."

Trish gave her phoniest smile. "No problem at all. Frank, will you help me in the kitchen? You two can go into the living room."

"Sure, Mom." Harm and Mac walked into the living room holding hands.

A few minutes later Trish and Frank joined Harm and Mac in the living room. Harm took a sip of the coffee and started coughing. "It's a little strong."

Mac took a sip and smiled. "No, it's not."

Frank tried not to laugh as he saw Trish's face fall, knowing she didn't get the reaction from Mac that she wanted.

"So, Harmon, how was you day at work?" Trish asked.

Harm took a breath. "Only a mild headache while I was in court."

"Singer?" Mac asked.

"That woman drives me insane." Harm took a small sip of the coffee.

"She can't be that bad," Frank said.

"She makes Satan look like Minnie Mouse." Harm caused Mac to laugh.

"Harriet will love that one." Mac smiled.

"Sarah, why don't you drink?" Trish bluntly asked.

Mac looked at Trish and prepared herself for the after shock of what might happen. "I'm a recovering alcoholic, ma'am."

"You're a drunk," Trish rudely stated.

"Mom, that was uncalled for."

"I'm just trying to get to know Sarah. That's all," Trish said to Harm then she turned her attention back to Mac. "Have you ever been married before?"

"Briefly when I was 18," Mac said hoping Trish wouldn't ask the next question.

"Divorced?" Trish asked.

"Widowed," Harm answered for Mac.

"Oh, that's so sad. Did you love him?" Trish asked trying to sound like she cared.

"At that time I thought I did, but now as I look back I know I didn't," Mac said to Trish.

"So you married someone you didn't love. Do you love my son?" Trish asked.

"Yes," Mac quickly answered as Harm took her hand into his.

"Well, are you going to love him in a week?" Trish asked.

"Yes." Mac drew strength from Harm's support.

"I'm just wondering you two have been seeing each other for one month and you say you love him. How long have you two been having sex?" Trish candidly asked.

"Mom, I told you earlier that was none of your concern," Harm forcefully said.

"I think it's important," Trish countered.

"Trish," Frank said. Trish turned her head and gave him a warning look and Frank promptly shut his mouth.

"I'd like to answer that," Mac offered to Trish. Harm and Frank both looked at Mac with surprised looks. Mac squared her shoulders. "When we started seeing each other we realized sex had been the problem in our past relationships and we decided not to have sex until we're sure about us."

"Is this permanent?" Trish asked sounding very worried.

Harm smiled at Mac. "We're working on that."

Frank smiled as he realized Trish had lost this round. "So, Sarah, what do you do as a living?"

"I'm a lawyer at."

"You're a lawyer?" Trish questioned her.

"Yes, ma'am," Mac said, not fully understanding why Trish would question her.

"Don't you mean secretary? Because there is no way a drunk could be a lawyer," Trish offensively stated.

End Part 4