Carol - Michi, yesterday was Thursday.
Michi - Yeah, I found that out. For some reason my calendar has two Friday's.
Carol - So does mine. Is yours written in green gel-pen?
Michi - Yeah, and when I look closer Friday is misspelled.
Carol - I think we've been had.
Michi - But how did Acer and Vered get our calendars?
Carol - HAD by Gum and Shoe.
Michi - Oh...so how are we going to get them back.
Carol - I know we won't post today.
Michi - Wow!! Did you just hear everyone yell at us?
Carol - What?!! I couldn't hear you everyone was yelling at us.
Michi - Never mind.
Carol - Huh?
Michi - I think that means we should post today.
Carol - Yeah, I see if we don't they might bring out the baseball bats again.
Michi - Again, Gum still has hers.
Carol - Gum always has hers. The readers are getting their baseball bats again.
Michi - I knew that.
Carol - So we're posting today.
Michi - Yeah, but BDV wanted an explanation.
Carol - Hmm....Do we have one?
Michi - Well, we can't tell them it was because Gum and Shoe jacked our calendars.
Carol - Yeah....that would be sad.
Michi - How about "our beta reader sent us a little more and we decided to be nice to everyone"?
Carol - That sounds great. But when are we going to be evil again? I liked evil.
Michi - I know you like evil and we will be soon.
Carol - Oh.....something to look forward to.
Michi - Well, all you read it. Glad you liked the surprise yesterday. Enjoy today's.
Michi and Carol - Happy reading!!!
…Till Death Does Us Part Chapter III – Part 5/24
Disclaimer - See part one for all important information
Harm's Apartment
5:06 PM
"Frank owns the house," Mac stated before she took a bite out of the pineapple pizza.
"Yeah, he wants us to call and he'll tell us the whole story and go over the price," Harm said before he stole a bread stick from Mac's plate. She glared at him. "You took the last piece of pizza," Harm stated.
"Your child is hungry."
Harm grinned at those words. "We should start picking names."
"I think we should settle the house first. I have a feeling that is going to be less stressful then choosing a name."
Harm chuckled, but knew Mac had a point. "You really think we'll have that hard of a time picking a name?"
"It took us twenty minutes to order the pizza," Mac pointed out.
Harm thought for a few seconds then stood up and walked into his bedroom. He came back with a book and showed the title to Mac.
"You bought a Baby Name book."
"Yeah," Harm admitted. "I thought we should start thinking about names. We've only got a month left."
"Did you not hear me about the stress we're going to have over this?" Mac placed her plate on the table and looked at him. Harm wore a pleading look and Mac caved. "What names have you picked out?"
He smiled and sat down next to her. "If it's a girl, I was thinking Lisa, Michelle, Jayme, Winifred."
"Winifred?" Mac asked.
"I thought I would put something in there to make you think." Harm smiled.
"And what if it's a boy?" Mac asked as she rubbed her belly.
Harm opened the book to the boy's names and pointed at several as the pages flapped in front of him. "Patrick, Drew, Payton, Alexander, Daniel."
Mac shivered. "Not Daniel. I went to school with a boy named Daniel and he was a jerk."
Harm picked up a pen on the table and scratched out the name. "Okay, it's gone."
"What time are we suppose to call Frank back?" Mac asked as she glanced at the phone.
Harm's eyes were in the book. "After dinner. How about Robert Michael?"
"How about I take the book home and look? We'll talk about this later. But for now we'll call Frank," Mac offered, taking to book out of his hands.
Harm nodded. "Okay. We can use the speakerphone. Let's sit on the couch."
Mac stood up and walked into the living room and Harm moved the speakerphone onto the coffee table. He sat down next to Mac and dialed Frank's number.
"Hello," Frank greeted the caller.
"Hey, Frank," Harm said.
"How are you son?" Frank asked.
"Good, Frank. I've got Mac here and you're on speakerphone," Harm told Frank.
Frank smiled; glad to know Mac was there. "Hello, Mac. How are you?"
"I'm good, Frank," Mac told him with minor nervousness rising in her stomach, but the baby gave her a kick to calm her down.
"And the baby?"
"Just starting to kick again." Mac laughed. "Guess it liked dinner." Two kicks followed Mac's words.
Frank chuckled. "You two don't mind if I put you on speakerphone in the den. Do you?"
"No," Harm said for he and Mac.
"Thanks." Frank switched the phone to speaker as he sat in the den at his desk with his back to the door. "So I take it you two liked the house."
"It's wonderful, Frank," Harm told him.
"Why are you selling it?" Mac asked.
"Trish and I were thinking about moving out to DC a few years ago, but we changed our minds."
"Why?" Harm asked.
Frank took a deep breath. "It's hard to explain, but I think Trish just likes it better out here. But, mind you, as soon as she finds out about the baby, she'll be in DC more than you wish."
Mac decided to inject. "And when will Trish be home for her son to tell her about the baby?"
Frank sighed and looked at his desk calendar. "Well, I think she said last night she'd be home…"
"Now," Trish said as she walked into the den. "Harmon, what the hell is this about a baby?" She demanded to know.
Harm and Mac had surprised looks on their faces as they heard Trish's voice over the line.
"Mom, I thought you were in Boston," Harm said trying to deflect some of the heat off of him and Mac.
"I missed my husband and decided to come home early." Trish folded her arms across her chest and looked at Frank. He was trying to smile, but it more or less came off as a frightened look.
"You must be exhausted. So Mac and I…" Harm started.
Trish's demeanor suddenly changed. "Oh, Mac. How are you? Last Harm told us you'd been in Italy. Did you like your command?"
Harm glanced at Mac and shrugged. "I'm great, Trish. I loved Italy. So how are you?"
"Oh, I'm fine except for the fact I'm very curious about what is going on? What is this about a baby and why does Frank have the deed to the house in McLean out?" Trish asked as she looked at the papers on Frank's desk.
Mac took a deep breath. "Well… ummm… I'm sure Harm would be more than happy to explain that to you." Mac looked at Harm. "Harm?"
Harm gave Mac a fake smile. "Thanks, Mac." He turned his attention to the speakerphone knowing that his mother was probably not going to be happy and that Frank was sitting there with an innocent look on his face and didn't want to get involved. But it was too late for that.
Harm took another breath. "It's a long story."
Trish sat down in the chair across from Frank. "I've got all night, Darling."
Harm looked at Mac and decided to go with the quick and honest truth. "Well, here's the short story. Mac's pregnant with my child. The baby is due in a month. We're going to move in together and raise the child. Frank, Mac, and I were just discussing the arrangements for the house, because we would like to buy it."
Trish stared at the phone and nearly fell out of the chair. Frank watched her as she heard the words. She was completely silent and had no clue on how to respond.
"Mom?" Harm asked. He waited a few more minutes then tried again. "Mom?"
Trish remained fixed in her chair, still in shock.
"Frank, is Mom okay?"
Frank was about to respond as Trish stood up and walked over to the bar in the den. She pulled down a glass and filled it with the good Brandy. She took a breath and then swallowed the liquid in one gulp. She turned to Frank and he saw the glint in her eye which meant that someone better start talking and fast. She wanted facts and she wanted them now. "Harm, I think she's ready to respond."
Harm cringed at those words. "Thanks, Frank."
Saturday August 14
Harm and Mac's House
McLean, Virginia
5:23 PM
Harm stood in the doorway of the living room of his and Mac's new house and found himself surprised with the events of the past few weeks. In three weeks he and Mac had 'bought' a house from Frank, told their friends about the baby and the house, moved in, and had a baby shower/house-warming party. Of course it sounded easier to say then to do. The hardest thing was the conversation with his mother.
He had to chuckle at the way Trish yelled at him, not for being irresponsible but for not telling her sooner. Mac admitted to Trish that she didn't tell Harm, but Trish excused Mac for her actions. "Trust me, Sarah, the Rabb men have a way of making anyone not think straight." After a few more explanations Trish informed them and Frank that she would be visiting as soon as she could, since she did have to help Mac decorate the house.
The house was a semi-easy matter to solve. Frank would sign the house over to Harm and Mac and the mortgage payments would be simple enough for them to handle, along with the pressure of the baby. Frank also included the fact that they would not be paying a bank or a loan company the payments; they would just be sending him the checks. What Frank didn't tell them was that the money would be going into the baby's college fund and he would never touch the money or tell them if they were late on a payment.
After the matter of the house was solved, Harm and Mac spoke with AJ about the fact they would be living together. He once again took the news pretty well. He did inform them to keep domestic squabbles out of the office and to not do anything that would cause them to get into any hot water.
Next came the very interesting part, telling their friends. Mac and Harm took Sturgis out to lunch and broke the news. Since he already knew about the baby it was no big deal, but the house nearly gave Sturgis a stroke. He did volunteer to help, but when Mac excused herself to the restroom Sturgis told Harm not to hurt Mac in anyway. Harm took the warning to heart, knowing Sturgis would carry out the threat.
Knowing Harriet and Bud would have several questions about the whole thing, they decided to go over to their house for dinner. After the kids were put to bed, Harm and Mac told the Roberts about Harm being the father of the baby. Bud was surprised, but acted normal. Harriet on the other hand asked when they first got involved and why they kept it a secret. Mac handled it by telling her younger friend that she and Harm were not really ever involved and that there was no real secret, but they would be living together and raising the baby. Harriet wasn't pleased with this news, but she decided it would work for now, the ever romantic was still hopeful.
The move was pretty painless. The whole crew helped with packing up Mac and Harm's apartments and moving the furniture into the house. Thank god Trish was there to dictate where things were to go. She also helped Mac pick out some new pieces for various rooms. Harm just had one request; she and Trish were not allowed to pick anything for the baby's room, which would be his job.
The living room would use Mac's things, while Harm's couch and living room set went into the finished basement along with a new flat-screen TV. The men liked this idea, because it gave them a place to watch the big games. The family room received all new treatments which would be perfect for a new baby, everything was stain resistant and colored to hide marks.
Somehow they also ended up with a new dining room set, while Mac's kitchen table went into the breakfast nook. Since neither Harm nor Mac had anything for the deck, Frank was more than happy to supply some chairs, a lounge, and a grill. Harm didn't want the grill, but Mac talked him into it by saying the baby loved grilled food. Harm knew he had been had but couldn't bring himself to say no.
Since Mac was taking the master bedroom her things were moved in there with no problems. Harm's things were moved into the larger room at the end of the hall. The den was turned into an office with their desks moved into the room, along with their law books, and two over stuffed chairs. The guest bedroom was set up with new things and decorated by Trish, who decided it should be decorated by her since she and Frank would be in there a lot of the time. The nursery was Harm's secret operation, and he wasn't telling anyone what he had done to the room.
After the house was finally set up and every piece of furniture and picture was finally placed in its correct place according to Mac and Trish, Harm thought he could rest. He took Trish to the airport and she went home, but informed him she and Frank would be there once the baby was born. Harm just smiled and knew not to argue. Once he returned to the house all thought of relaxing for at least an hour were vanquished from his mind. Mac had informed him they had to make a baby registry, since Harriet and Meredith had decided to throw a baby shower/house-warming party for them.
They spent the next few days going to baby shops and registering for baby belongings and being told by the stores employee's that registering twenty days before the baby is due was not a smart idea. Mac said it sounded perfect to them, since they were military, they could handle it. And handle it they did, of course Harm didn't let Mac pick out anything that could be used to decorate the room, since he was almost done with the room. They just placed the usual baby clothing items on their list along with some toys, diapers, formula, and the ever-famous Diaper Genie.
Today was the party and Mac sat on the couch in the living room with her friends cooed over the baby clothing and little booties. Harm looked into the kitchen and saw Sturgis opening the refrigerator door.
"All the beer is in the cooler on the deck, Buddy," Harm said as he walked into the kitchen.
"Actually I was looking for a juice box, AJ's thirsty and we didn't want to send him into estrogen central to ask Harriet," Sturgis told him and pulled out a juice box. "Are they almost done?"
Harm shrugged. "I have no idea. I figured one of them would send for us when they needed us to move something."
Sturgis laughed as they walked onto the deck through the sliding glass doors by the nook. Sturgis handed the juice box to AJ who took it with a smile and went back to playing with his Matchbox cars.
"So, Harm, how are you dealing with living with a Marine?" Admiral Chegwidden asked.
"Living with the Marine is fine, it's the pregnant woman that hates me half the time I'm having trouble with," Harm reported.
Bud laughed. "Just wait until the labor starts, she'll hate you all the time, Sir."
"Thanks, Bud." Harm laughed with him and his friends. "So what's the gender pool up to?"
"Almost $250, Sir," Bud informed the group. "Do you know something, Sir?"
"Yeah, we get to wait eight days to find out." Harm grinned hoping for a healthy and happy baby. Boy or girl didn't really matter, but he secretly wanted a girl with Mac's looks.
Little AJ walked over to his godfather. "Uncle Harm, are you and Aunt Sarah going to forget about me when the baby is born?"
"No way, AJ. We're hoping that you're going to be a big help to us. Aunt Sarah and I don't know what we're doing here and you have a little brother so you know more then we do." Harm gave AJ a serious look. "Do you think you can help us with the baby?"
AJ quickly shook his head. "I know everything about babies. Mommy say's I'm a big help."
"I bet you are," Harm said before ruffled AJ's hair.
AJ giggled and moved away from his uncle as the sliding door opened. "Excuse me, gentlemen, but the ladies request the presence of Commander Rabb in the living room," Jennifer Coates informed the group.
"Being summoned by the little woman. Harm, that's so cute." Sturgis chuckled.
"You're not funny," Harm told Sturgis as he walked into the house behind Jen. Once they made it into the living room he surveyed the room. Pink and blue balloons decorated the room in the corners and streamers around the fireplace. He then looked at the women who were laughing about something. "You summoned me, Madam?"
The room fell silent. "I believe Harriet wanted to talk to you about something," Mac said to Harm.
Harm turned to face Harriet. "When are you going to show Mac the nursery?" Harriet bluntly asked.
Harm scratched his head. "I was thinking about doing it later tonight once everyone had left."
"I don't think so, Harm," Meredith stated. "We have been in the dark since you announced you were decorating it. I think you should reveal it now."
"Really?" Harm crossed his arms in front of his chest in playfulness at Meredith's request.
"Do I need to get my husband to make it an order?" Meredith jokingly asked.
"Trust me, Meredith, he'll just disobey that like he did mine," Mac interjected.
Harm smiled at Mac. "I disobey yours because inside this house we do not out rank each other."
Mac looked at Harriet and jokingly said, "Help me up, so I can hurt him."
Harm laughed along with the ladies. "How about I show Mac the room and after she's seen it you ladies can go view it?"
"Sounds fine to me," Mac said as she stood up from the couch unassisted.
Varise smiled. "Good, while you two look at the room, we'll clean up in here."
Mac walked over to Harm and the two of them started up the stairs to the second floor. In a few short seconds they stood in front of the nursery's door. Harm moved in front of the door before Mac could open it.
"I need to do one thing," he told her.
"What?"
"I can't tell you. Close your eyes," Harm instructed.
Mac knew better then to argue. She closed her eyes and covered them with a hand. "Okay, they're closed."
"Good. I'll be right back." Harm went down to his room and quickly returned with a plush teddy bear baby name sign to hang on the door. He placed the bear on the hook, then stood behind Mac. "Okay, open your eyes."
Mac opened them and looked at the teddy bear. "He's cute."
"Once we have the baby we can write down all the important information on the bear's belly," Harm told her as Mac touched the bear. "Go ahead and open the door."
End Part 5