"That's nice. Did he tell you that he still lost his case even after the change of defence? He didn't lose as badly as he probably would have done, but he still lost." Mac asked noncommittally.

"No, he didn't tell me that. But he did tell me about your little shopping trip at the weekend."

"Ah. You know what I think I'll get some saltines and go back to bed since you're here to look after Abi." Mac moved towards the kitchen.

"Stop right there Colonel." Harm said. Mac stopped. "About face."

"You know one about facing makes me nauseous and two I out rank you." Mac turned to look at him.

"Then maybe you should sit down." Harm suggested. Mac did as he asked. "So..."

"So?" Mac questioned.

"Were you ever going to tell me you thought we needed a bigger car?" Harm asked.

"Harm, we're going to need a bigger car." Mac said.

"Funny. You couldn't have talked to me about this before I left?"

"Harm, you found out the day before you left. I had the information for just over twenty four hours. I didn't even think about it until after you left and then it gave me something to do other than worry about you."

"Mac still."

"Harm, I didn't actually buy anything, I knew I had to talk to you about it first. I called and talked to Frank for two hours about what would be the best model and the most practical for us. I was practical about it, I figured out how much we can afford, I worked out how much we can trade the SUV in for. I read the consumer reports and the safety standards."

"Sounds like you were busy."

"It was something to do. Harm, duck."

"What?" He didn't move fast enough and the yoghurt pot hit his shoulder. Mac couldn't help but laugh. "I thought Marines didn't duck."

"We don't we take cover, but you're not a Marine, you're a squid. Was Daddy ignoring you sweetheart?" Mac asked taking Abi out her highchair. "That wasn't very nice of him was it?"

"She's got good aim." Harm said as he wiped the yoghurt that had spilt on him off.

"She gets that from me." Mac smiled. "Shall we go and see if the big bad wolf is going to get the little pigs today?" Mac said to Abi and went into the living room and picked up the book of children's fairy tales.

"Three Little Pigs?" Harm questioned following her.

"Yesterday it was the wicked stepmother who wouldn't let Cinderella go to the ball."

"I see." Harm sat down and listened to the story, when it was finished Abi was asleep.

"She was tired from screaming all night." Mac dropped a kiss on her forehead.

"So were you." Harm said.

"Umm." Mac mumbled.

"Does it have to be a minivan?" Harm questioned.

"It's either that or a very large station wagon. We're going to need the room; we're going to have three car seats. Plus buggies and other baby paraphernalia."

"And it's not going to be one of those things with flower power stickers all over it?"

"Harm, it's not the sixties and the age of free love. They look like cars, just bigger and more practical." Mac yawned.

"I think you should go back to bed."

"I might just do that." Harm took Abi. "If you want to see the information it's in a blue file folder in the top drawer in the study."

"Okay thanks. Any preference for dinner?"

"There is pasta salad in the fridge. I made it while I was up last night, but then I couldn't face eating it." Mac told him.

"Is there anything in there I wouldn't eat?" Harm questioned.

"Of course, I put beef and lots of dead animal in there." Harm looked at her. "I'm kidding, it's your typical vegetarian pasta salad, but with no mayo, looking at it made me feel sick. Wake me up before 1800, I'm expecting a call."

"Who from?" Harm asked.

"Uncle Matt."

"How did you manage to swing that?"

"I was talking to the warden about something else. He offered to set it up."

"That's great news."

"Umm." Mac yawned.

"Sweet dreams."

"Thank you." She gave him a quick kiss before heading upstairs again.

#

"Thanks Frank. Tell Mom I'll call her at the weekend." Harm hung up. He'd read some of the information that Mac had collected. Calling his step- father had been an impulse, but when it came to his family Harm wanted them protected as much as possible.

Harm glanced at the clock, it was nearing 1740. He knew he had to go and wake Mac up, Abi was still asleep, so he climbed the stairs. Mac was hugging a pillow. Harm watched her for a few minutes, she looked so peaceful.

"Sarah honey." He dropped a kiss on the forehead. "Time to wake up."

"You should know better than to wake a sleeping Marine." Mac mumbled.

"I can talk to Matt if you like. I'm sure he'll have some great Marine wisdom to share with me."

"I'm awake." Mac said.

"Good. Phone's here so don't bother getting up. I'll bring you dinner in bed."

"Breakfast in bed sounds so much more romantic." Mac muttered as she pushed herself up.

"Dinner is the best I can do right now."

"Works for me." He gave her a kiss.

"I'll be back."

TBC