"This was a good idea Mac." Harriet said as held little AJ's hand as they walked to the spot they had picked for the picnic. Mac had Abi and the baby bag, Harm was carrying a picnic basket and a cooler and Bud had a couple of cushions and a blanket for them to sit on.

"It's not your traditional wetting down party but we're responsible parents now." Mac smiled.

"Not forgetting the great fundraiser we were at last night ma'am." Bud said.

"It's Mac remember." Mac corrected. "And no more fundraisers."

"So how do you like being a Captain so far Harm?" Harriet asked.

"Haven't really noticed a difference yet. But I think it's going to take a while to get used to responding to Captain, I've been answering to Commander for the last eight years."

"Don't worry sir, we'll throw a pencil at you if don't respond." Harriet joked.

"I still don't believe that you all new about it and didn't mention it."

"We were under orders not to." Bud said.

"But it would be interesting to know what the hold up was." Harriet commented.

"I know the answer to that one." Mac replied.

"You do?" Harm questioned. "Would you care to share with the group?"

"As soon as I sit down. Abi's getting heavy. So AJ where do you think we should set up the picnic?" Mac asked involving her godson in the decision.

"Over there Auntie Mac." He pointed to a clearing under the shade of the trees.

"I think that is the perfect spot. You heard the man over there." Mac instructed.

"You know I thought of a benefit apart from the extra money, she can't order me around quite so much."

"It wasn't an order and it was a suggestion. AJ do you want to help him?"

"Come on uncle Harm." Little AJ grabbed his hand and started to tug him. "You too Daddy." Harriet threw Mac a smile.

Once the blanket was laid down Mac sat Abi in front of her and gave her a few toys to play with including her cloth blocks.

"So you were going to tell us why my promotion was held up." Harm reminded her.

"That's easy the politics of Capitol Hill." Mac replied.

"The politics of Capitol Hill?" Harm repeated.

"There were several people on the Hill who were unsure whether it was wise to promote some who has destroyed so much expensive Navy equipment."

"The SecNav told you that Mac?" Harriet questioned.

"Along with lots of other information which I can't reveal to you in a meeting that went far too long."

"Which left her trying to plot to kill him." Harm added.

"I wasn't plotting anything; I was just asking how much trouble I thought I would get into if I did. Besides which you shouldn't mention that we're military officers that could be construed as conspiracy."

"I stand corrected." Harm smiled. "And will never mention the incident again."

"Good."

"Mommy, can I have a drink?" AJ asked.

"Please." Harriet prompted.

"Please." AJ added.

"Of course." Harriet opened the cooler and took out a juice box and handed it him.

"Hey AJ do you want to come and see if we can get this toy plane to fly?" Harm asked.

"Can I Mommy?" AJ asked.

"May I." Harriet corrected. "Go ahead, but only for a little while we sort out the food."

"Let's go." Harm said taking AJ's hand.

"Bud, can you keep an extra eye on her while I help Harriet?" Mac asked.

"Of course ma'am." Mac rolled her eyes and moved over to help Harriet.

"What've you got there Abi?" Bud asked. Abi held up a block to show him. "That's great." He started to stack them together. "Let's build a tower." As soon as Mac heard the word tower she turned.

"Bud no..." But it was too late. Abi had already thrown a block at him and was trying to shuffle backwards on her butt.

"Oh no you don't young lady." Mac grabbed her. "Sorry about that Bud, I should have warned you. She doesn't like building towers, when someone tries to she throws the blocks and tries to move away so she doesn't get in trouble."

"Interesting trick." Harriet commented.

"Don't ask me where she learnt it from. It took Harm three or four times of her throwing them at him for him to catch on. She threw them at Tiner last night."

"I'm sure she'll grow out of it." Harriet said.

"I'm hoping so, I would take the blocks away from her but she loves them and they're pretty safe for her to play with."

"It's okay ma'am, I've been hit with worse." Bud smiled.

"She still needs to learn that it isn't okay to throw things at people."

"And she will." Harriet said.

TBC