Part 23: A Journey of Separate Hearts – Fulfilling Dreams
This part is too high rated for this board, but the story will fit without it! I took care of that.
Part 24: A Journey of Separate Hearts – The Morning After
AN to part 24: Have you ever been to Paris? If not, I'd suggest you should go to Paris. Really, it's amazing, breathtaking and love is in the air everywhere you go! ;) Ok, well, not everywhere… Anyway, I was there two years ago with my art class and I loved walking through this amazing city!!
Coucoune, I hope I wrote every French word right…if not, don't sue me – it's all the fault of this French map I call my own. ;)
February 14th 2003, Friday
1100 Zulu (12:00 hrs West EDT)
Hilton Paris hotel
Harm's room, Number 306
Paris, France
The sun shone warmly on Sarah MacKenzie's still sleeping face. Magically a soft smile appeared on it – but not only because of the warm February sun…
'Wow, we just made love…'
It was the sweetest way of lovemaking she had ever experienced. Mac had always dreamed about it, but finally last night it had happened. Nothing in her dreams came close to what had really happened between them – it was so much more.
Neither of them had expected it, neither of them had really planned that they would finally take that most intimate step towards each other and with each other.
Mac still had to pinch herself to make sure this was real – that she was really here, lying in one bed with Harm. Harm – her best friend and now her lover for the last few hours. HOURS?
'Oh my god, it's already noon…and where's Harm?'
Mac realized she had slept far too long and when she turned her head, the place next to her was empty and cold. She wasn't engulfed in his embrace like she had been, when they had finally drifted to a deep comfortable sleep.
A sudden apprehension came over her trying to kill every hope she had inside her causing her body to shiver.
'He doesn't regret it, does he? Oh Lord, no…please no…'
"Hi, beautiful. Are you planning on getting up anytime soon?"
Mac turned her gaze in slow motion, afraid that the man who owned that voice wouldn't be there. But there he was: a big charming smile greeted her, his eyes sparkling in amusement.
And the cold fear was replaced by a wonderful deep feeling of love and warmth.
Within seconds Mac was out of the bed and in his embrace.
Harm was slightly shocked by her impulsive reaction to his hello, but god, he loved it.
He loved to hold her close and warm.
He loved drifting to dreamland with her next to him.
He loved to watch her sleeping like he had done it a few hours ago, before he had decided to get up and prepare everything for a wonderful Valentine's lunch.
He loved the way she was when they made love, when they laughed, kissed, argued and teased each other.
It was simple – Harm loved every single feature and characteristic of Sarah MacKenzie. He was lost just by seeing her deep, hypnotizing eyes or her beautiful, breathtaking smile.
And she was here with him – only with him…just the two of them.
Finally, two individuals, who have known each other for eight years, had become lovers only a few hours ago.
'Wow, what a Valentine's gift…' Harm thought happily.
"Huh? Valentine's gift…what do you mean Harm?"
'I didn't say that out loud, did I?'
But the questioning look in her eyes told him otherwise.
He smiled sheepishly like a little boy who'd just got caught by admiring a little girl, even though girls were only supposed to get on boys' nerves and weren't worthy to play football with – better, boys who thought they were men.
Breathing in deeply Harm said, "Well, my dear, you are the best and most beautiful Valentine's Day gift I've ever received."
Mac blushed slightly, but tried to hide it by looking down. "Gee, thanks Harm. You don't have to pretend to be nice, I'll buy you that red toy car you've always wanted."
She meant to tease him, but Harm took her comment very seriously.
"Noo! Sarah, I'm 'not' pretending anything! You 'are' the most beautiful woman I've ever seen and you always will be. And because of 'you', today is already the best Valentine's Day ever. Don't think anything less. I love you and I won't let you go – not after we've finally found our way to each other. I…"
A soft touch from Mac's index finger on his lips stopped him. Mac was taken by surprise. She hadn't meant for him to think that she might have any doubt about his love. No, she was absolutely sure. Nevertheless, his love confession had been so passionate and full of true emotions that she hadn't expected to hear anything like that from him. Every word had touched her fragile heart and made it stronger.
"Oh, how I love you! Thank you for being my other half – you've made me complete."
Now it was he who was silent.
They just stared and got lost in each other's eyes. And then they happily smiled at each other.
After a few moments of comfortable silence and enjoying each other's nearness, Harm cleared his throat.
"Um, Mac, darling…it's getting late and considering that this is our very first Valentine's Day together as a couple, I really think we should use it to see something of Paris…you know it's the so called 'City of Love'…"
"Well, I guess that's a good idea, flyboy," she giggled.
"Hey marine, why is it, that you aren't hungry yet?" He grinned in amusement, loving to tease her about that.
He promptly got the answer he needed as a starving marine stomach grumbled loudly.
Mac smiled embarrassed, but got the courage not to look away and answered, "I guess you have your answer: I'm starved now!!"
"Well then, I have the perfect surprise for you. Close your eyes, will you?"
She obliged and let Harm lead her through the room.
"Now open them again! … Happy Valentine's Day, Sarah."
Mac did as he asked and gasped in surprise. The table in front of her was romantically decorated. Red rose blossom petals had been spread all over the white tablecloth, which matched perfectly with deep red plates. The golden glitter of candlelight sparkled from the two red candles…. Everything was just wonderfully decorated, showing how much he cared, how much he wanted to make it perfect for her.
"Harm, this is amazing! How sweet! Thank you so much."
Like a true gentleman, Harm helped her to sit down, poured non-alcoholic wine into their glasses, served their lunch and sat down.
"What did I do to deserve you?" wondered Mac in amazement.
"I could return the question. I guess, we are just lucky and I thank God every day for bringing you into my life."
They enjoyed the meal in comfortable quietness, talking with each other only through their eyes.
Afterwards they got dressed and set off to start their sightseeing tour through Paris.
Both enjoyed the view from the Eiffel Tower, admired the art pieces from the Musée du Louvre and Musée d'Orsay, walked to the Arc de Triomphe and then to its modern counterpart: the Grande Arche along the avenue des Champs Elysées.
Notre Dame and Sacre Coeur were fascinating to look at – nothing that Mac and Harm had seen in the US or elsewhere could compare with these two buildings – examples of age-old European architecture.
The day flew by and it was getting cold and dark. It was time for them to head back to the hotel.
February 14th 2003, Friday
1630 Zulu (17:30 hrs West EDT)
Somewhere in the 'City of Love'
On their way back to the hotel
Paris, France
As they rode back to the hotel in a cab, Mac used the chance to watch him, to admire him. He had been so sweet and caring the whole day, always paying her attention and giving in to her wishes. This gave her the feeling that she was the most important and precious person in the world to him. She loved him even more for that.
Mac wanted to give him something back, wanted to show him that he was her world and at the same time, she could be her own person.
He had respected her from the beginning, showing her that he saw her as an equal: in their roles as officers, as lawyers, as investigators, as friends and now as lovers.
Well, of course he had the habit of always trying to protect her from everything, rescuing her even though she was capable of handling difficulties and problems by herself.
He's a man, what can you expect?
And yeah, sometimes Harm could make her crazy. But she loved every emotion he caused in her, no matter if she was mad or happy, worried or relieved, crazy or totally in love – it was all because of him. And she'd rather argue with Harm instead of not having him in her life.
Mac grinned slightly when a plan started forming in her mind. The day wasn't over yet and Mac planned to spend a unique Valentine's evening with Harm…