Admiration and Love – 10/11

For disclaimer and all other important comments, see part one.

Everyone watched her go and listened as they heard the back door open and close. Chloe let go of the breath she was holding. "I'm sorry, Harm."

Harm looked at Chloe "For what? Doing what you thought was best for her? I'm glad you did it. My only concern right now is her."

Harriet stood up. "I'll go talk to her."

"No, it was my film. She's my mom. I'll go talk to her," Chloe said, stopping Harriet. She left the room, but not before she grabbed a blanket from the hall closet and a box of Kleenex. Then she went out the back door to find Mac sitting underneath the big tree in the backyard.

Chloe walked up to her and handed her the box of Kleenex. "Here." Mac looked up and tried to give her a smile. Chloe put the blanket over Mac's shoulders. "I'm sorry, Mom," Chloe said as tears started to fall from her eyes.

"Oh, Honey. No." Mac pulled Chloe down into her arms. "You have nothing to be sorry for. I do."

"But if I didn't show the stupid film, you wouldn't be here crying."

"But I'd still be crying myself to sleep again. No. What you did was a smart thing. You wanted me to realize what's going on. And here I thought I was doing pretty well at resisting him." Mac took a ragged breath. "I love you very much."

"I know. Are you mad?" Chloe asked as she stopped crying.

"Not at you."

"You're not mad at Harm…? I'm the one…"

"Chloe, I'm mad at me. I've done a lot of stupid things. Telling him we had to back off was very stupid of me. I've regretted every word of that conversation since we had it. I'm tired of lying to myself, to him, to everyone. I love him and I want to be with him," Mac explained to Chloe. "I just need to tell him this and try to convince him we can work it out."

"He's in the house. Just go in there and tell him." Chloe stood up.

"It's not that easy."

"I'm lost again. Why can't you go in there and tell him?"

"Because, for once, she's making simple things complicated," Harm said to Chloe as he walked near the tree. "Chloe, can you let us talk?"

"Sure." Chloe looked at him before she turned to Mac, who had her eyes closed.

"It will be okay." Mac opened her eyes as Chloe left them alone. "How much did you hear?"

"Enough. Can I sit down?" Harm asked. Mac nodded her head, and Harm sat down next to her. "Why did you leave?"

"I needed to get out of the room and think." Mac stared at her hands.

"What have you thought about?"

Mac gave a slight laugh. "That day we went flying and I told you I was already falling in love with you. I remembering thinking how great it felt to tell you. It was like a weight had been lifted from my shoulders. Everything was so right."

"I know."

"I wanted someone to catch us at AJ's birthday party. I wanted to tell everyone how I felt about you and that we were together," Mac admitted. "I am so sorry for everything that I have put you through in the past year."

"I know you are. But you know, I'm glad Chloe did that."

"You are?" Mac asked, looking at that man next to her for the first time.

Harm locked eyes with Mac. "Yeah, because you're here right now at this point and time with me, and everyone knows we love each other. We are going to figure this out. I am not going to let you slip away from me ever again."

Mac started crying again and she touched his face. "I love you."

"I love you, too." He touched her cheek and gently leaned towards her and kissed her lightly on the lips. Harm wrapped Mac into his arms as she cried. "Everything is going to be fine."

"I know it will be. But how can you forgive me?"

Harm moved her back so he could look into her eyes. "I love you, that's how."

End Part 10/11