"I know Mom... Mom, I can manage my daughter for a week without Mac being here.... I know... honestly Mom you don't need to come out here.... Abi is fine." Harm was trying to insist to Trish that he could cope while Mac was away. The doorbell rang. "Hang on a minute Mom someone's at the door." Harm walked to the door. He had the phone tucked on his shoulder and Abi in the other arm, she was dozing.

He walked to the door, Sturgis was stood there. Harm beckoned him in.

"Am I interrupting something?" He asked.

"No." Harm turned his attention back to the phone. "Mom, Sturgis is here, I have to go.... Yes I'll call you if I need any help.... I love you too, bye Mom." Harm dropped the phone on the couch.

"How is your Mom?" Sturgis asked.

"She's fine. Apparently Mac e-mailed her to tell her she'd be out of the country for a few weeks, so Mom wants to come out and look after Abi."

"Might not be a bad idea. I mean that way you have a bit more flexibility."

"I'll manage. Mac coped while I wasn't here."

"Harm, your grandmother was here and Mac has a more flexible schedule than you do." Sturgis reminded him.

"I'll cope. Was there something you needed?"

"I thought we should go over our strategy for tomorrow. That is if you have time."

"Let me just put Abi to bed and I'll be right with you. Make yourself at home."

"Thanks."

~

"Sturgis, can you think of some place romantic to propose?" Harm asked as they sat drinking a beer after going over their strategy.

"Harm, you proposed she said yes, you got married, you have a kid, a house."

"It's not for me. I told a friend I'd try and help them think of something."

"Anyone I know?" Sturgis asked.

"Yes."

"That was an information filled response."

"I promised I wouldn't tell anyone." Harm took a sip of his beer.

"Harm, I'm pretty good at keeping a secret, Mac would tell you that."

"Okay, but you have to swear that no one else will hear this."

"I swear."

"Tiner's going to propose to Jen. He took Mac and Harriet shopping for a ring on Saturday under the pretence of shoe shopping."

"Wow. Mac told you?" Sturgis asked.

"No, Tiner did. Mac was planning on keeping it a secret. Tiner only told me because I dragged it out of him."

"Who else knows?"

"Harriet, Mac, me and the Admiral. Jen doesn't have a clue."

"I'll see if I can think of something." The phone rang.

"Excuse me. Hello?" Harm said answering it. "Hey honey... she's fine, she's in bed... Sturgis and I were just finishing going over our strategy for court tomorrow.... what time is it over there anyway?... The two am would have done. Get some sleep you have court in seven hours.... I will... I love you too. Sweet dreams." Harm hung up. "Mac says hi."

"How's she doing out there?"

"Adjusting to the time difference. She'll be fine."

"And she'll be back before you know it."

"I know. I'm just going to check on Abi."

"I should be going anyway." Sturgis said standing.

"You're more than welcome to stay."

"We've got court in the morning. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Okay, goodnight."

"I'll see myself out."

TBC