...Till Death Does Us Part Chapter III – Part 10/24
Disclaimer - See part one for all important information
December 22
JAG
2:30 PM
"Enter," he called through the door when Mac knocked.
"Hey." Mac smiled as she walked in.
"Can you give me a hint on how to beat Sturgis on the Kipler court marshal?" Harm asked as he lifted his nose out of the open law book in front of him.
Mac thought for a minute. "Insanity on the part of counsel."
"Not funny," Harm chuckled at her. "The case is not going my way and I think my rabbit hat is empty."
"Get a new hat," Mac suggested. "I came to tell you I'm going to pick up your parents and Sarah from the airport."
"And I'll pick Ty up after work."
Mac placed an envelope of developed pictures on his desk. "What are these from?"
"Thanksgiving at Sarah's," Mac told him. "I forgot to bring them home last night."
Harm opened the packet and laughed at the first photo. It was one of him and Ty asleep on the couch. "Cute."
Mac grinned. "I thought so too. I put the double copy on the fridge."
"I thought you said you didn't bring them home last night."
"I did." Mac gave him a second to put her words together but he didn't know what she was getting at.
"Do you want me to fix dinner?"
"Nah, I'm sure Sarah will want to cook since she said you've gotten too skinny for her taste."
"No problem, I love her cooking."
"Okay, see you at home." Mac smiled and stood to leave.
"See you then." Harm smiled back as she left his office. Harm looked at the law book, before he decided the pictures in his hand would be nicer to look at.
For Thanksgiving Grandma Sarah invited them to join her. So the day before Thanksgiving they finished up at JAG early, packed the car and Ty, and drove to Belleville. The drive wasn't too bad and Ty slept most of the way.
Sarah was awake when they reached the house. She hugged and kissed her three visitors and held Ty as Harm and Mac unloaded the car. Once that was done Sarah put Ty to bed as his parents ate a late dinner. A few days earlier she had one of the neighbor's boys unpack a crib from the attic. Then she borrowed some baby blankets and bumpers from a young couple from church, who had small children. She and a friend from church set up a room for Ty in her sewing room.
Sarah smiled as she watched her great-grandson sleep in his crib. She thought back forty years and saw herself watching Harm sleep in the same crib. Then she laughed as she thought back to her Harm sleeping in the same crib. She carefully looked at Ty and sighed as she realized Ty slept just like her two Harm's.
Harm fondly looked at a picture of his grandmother and Ty sitting in the rocking chair in the living room. She had told him about watching Ty sleep and she made him tear up when she said, "Your father would be so proud of you."
Harm continued looking through the photos and remembered the holiday weekend. Mac helped Sarah make Thanksgiving dinner while Harm introduced his son to the holiday tradition of the football games, until he and Ty fell asleep. That was when Mac took the picture he saw earlier.
However, Harm did get her back when Mac bundled Ty up and they went for a walk around the farm. She and Ty were sitting underneath a tree and she dozed off. Harm stared at the picture in front of him and had to smile at the way Mac looked so relaxed with Ty in her arms. The light was perfect in the picture as the sun shined off her hair and the auburn tints matched the fallen leaves on the ground. Harm took the picture and placed it on his desk leaning against his in-box.
There were several pictures of him trying to get Ty to eat some of the food. Even though the little guy still preferred his formula and cereal, every now and then he would eat some soft food. He more or less just sucked on it. Harm laughed aloud as he looked at the yuck-face on Ty as he was forced to eat some cranberry sauce.
The next picture stopped Harm's laughter; it was of himself and Mac. They were sitting on the couch half asleep in front of the fire. Mac was leaning against Harm's shoulder and his arm was around her. They looked perfect. Harm pulled the picture out from the rest and noticed the double print of it was missing. This meant that Mac must have the other copy.
Harm closed his eyes for a second and recalled the three nights at his grandmother's house. He was to sleep in his father's bedroom and Mac took the guest bedroom down the hall. Sarah had told Mac it was cold in that room, but Mac said she could handle it. She thought she could, till about two in the morning.
After being frozen despite the three blankets over herself, she walked down the short hall and into Harm's room. Harm remembered being woken up by Mac crawling into the bed with him. He made some comment about her joining him and she merely responded her room was too cold. He scooted over in the bed and the two of them fell asleep. The next morning they woke up wrapped in each other's arms. That was how they woke up every day of their vacation.
"Are you daydreaming?" Sturgis joked as he walked into Harm's office.
Harm looked at his friend. "Nah, just got lost in a thought."
Sturgis gave him a knowing look when he glanced down and saw the picture of Harm and Mac asleep. "Must have been some daydream."
Harm decided to change the conversation. "Did you need something?"
Sturgis gave Harm a knowing smile. "Yeah, I just wanted to tell you that's a cute picture on the fridge."
"What?" Harm asked wondering what in the world Sturgis was talking about.
Sturgis chuckled at Harm's confusion. "You'll find out." Then he left Harm's office.
Harm watched his friend leave. After about an hour he decided to get a cup of coffee. When he walked out of his office Harriet gave him a sweet look and he just stared in confusion. He walked into the break room and when he opened the fridge to get the milk he was surprised to see a picture on the fridge. Right there in front of him was the picture of him and Ty asleep along with a post-it-note that read, "Commander Sleepyhead and Son."
Harm smiled and removed the photo from the fridge as a voice from behind said, "Return that photo to its place."
Harm cringed slightly and placed the photo back. "Yes, Sir."
AJ chuckled. "I think it's a good photo. Mac's more than happy to show it off."
"But she didn't have to leave the post-it, Sir."
AJ grinned and looked at the handwriting on the post-it. "Who said she left the note?" With that AJ left the room.
Harm looked back at the note and realized that it wasn't Mac's handwriting. It was Ty's eldest godfather's handwriting.
Harm and Mac's House
McLean, Virginia
9:15 PM
As predicted Sarah did cook dinner for the family and Trish took care of Ty all night. She was currently putting Ty to bed as Mac and Sarah talked in the living room. Harm and Frank were in the basement enjoying a drink and spending time together.
"How are you and Mac doing?" Frank asked.
"Good. She's a great mom," Harm stated with pride.
Frank took a second and decided not to beat around the bush. "Have you told her about the annulment yet?"
Harm sighed heavily. "No." Frank stared at Harm and was about to ask why, but Harm started talking. "I'm not sure how to bring it up. I know I need to tell her, I'm going to do it after the holidays."
Frank raised an eyebrow. "Which holiday?"
"New Years?" Harm suggested.
Frank shook his head from side to side. "Son, I don't want you or Mac to get hurt."
"No matter when I tell her one of us is going to get hurt. I don't want her taking Ty from me." Harm stood up and started pacing.
"She would never take Ty away from you. She knows too much about you to do that."
"I know," Harm admitted. "But it still scares me."
Frank stood up and walked over to Harm. He put his hand on his stepson's shoulder. "Harm when the time is right you'll tell her the truth, just don't wait for the time when it's too late."
"I know, Frank."
10:45 PM
"Ty is so wonderful." Trish smiled to Mac as the adults sat in the living room with the Christmas tree lighting up the room.
"He must get it from your side, Mac. Cause Harmon was a terror," Sarah stated half-joking.
Harm stared at his grandmother. "I wasn't bad when I was a baby, was I, Mom?"
Sarah laughed. "I was speaking about your father. He was constantly crying and fussy. You were a dream, that is, until you learned how to walk."
"You mean run," Trish added then she explained. "He ran before he started to walk, always trying to catch up with the dog."
Mac rubbed her forehead. "Why I am worried about my son?"
Frank chuckled. "Maybe you should hope the Marine genes overpower the Navy genes."
"I already do." Mac laughed with him.
Trish was about to say something when she yawned. "Oh, excuse me. I shouldn't be tired, but I am."
"It's been a long day, dear." Frank smiled as he took Trish's hand into his. "So what are the sleeping arrangements?"
"We figured you and Mom could take my room, while Grandma takes the guest room," Harm explained.
Sarah looked at her grandson. "So where are you sleeping?" She secretly hoped for the same arrangement that he and Mac used at her place.
"The couch is a sleeper sofa," Harm explained.
"Oh," Sarah tried to hide her disappointment. "Well, I think I'm going to call it a night." She stood up and said good night to her family and left the room.
"Now, Mac, what are the plans for the holiday? Didn't you mention something about hosting?" Trish asked.
"Usually the Roberts host Christmas Eve dinner, but this year Harm and I volunteered. We have more space and thought it would be nice to do," Mac started.
"So since the two of you and Grandma are going to be spoiling Ty tomorrow, Mac and I were going to go to the grocery store after work tomorrow to get all the food. Then on Christmas Eve we could cook dinner, eat, then all of us are going to Chaplin Tuner's service," Harm explained.
Trish raised her eyebrow at her son. "You two are going to cook and go to work on the same day?"
"I was going to take a half day," Mac told Trish.
Frank grinned. "I have a better idea. The ladies and I will go to grocery store tomorrow and do the cooking on Christmas Eve. This way you two don't have anything to worry about."
Harm looked at Mac who was slightly surprised. "You don't need to do that."
Trish chuckled. "Yes, we do. Sarah was already planning on cooking dinner Christmas day. She loves the kitchen and would hate it if she wasn't part of the cooking."
Mac opened her mouth, but Harm put his hand on Mac's arm. Mac looked at him. "Don't even try to argue, Mac. Who do you think I got my stubbornness from?"
Mac sighed. "Okay, the kitchen is all yours and Sarah's, Trish."
"So how many are we expecting for dinner?" Frank asked.
Mac read off the list and counted on her fingers. "The five of us, Bud, Harriet, Little AJ and Jimmy, AJ and Meredith, Sturgis and Varise, Chaplin Turner, Tiner, Big Bud and Mikey, and. I know I'm forgetting someone."
"Coates," Harm told her.
"So 16 plus 1 child, Jimmy and Ty don't need to be counted," Mac explained.
"Well, just enough for twenty then, just to be on the safe side," Frank said.
"I thought Tiner was off at OCS?" Trish asked.
"He is, but he's in town for the holiday," Mac explained.
"Oh," Trish said before she looked at Harm. "Harm, did you ask Tom Boone if he wanted to join us?"
"He actually has plans. He's spending the holiday at his sister's," Harm told his mom as she yawned again.
Frank stood up and pulled Trish up with him. "Come on Dear, you're too tired to worry about dinner. We'll take care of it tomorrow."
"Yes, Frank." Trish looked over at Harm and Mac. "Goodnight Kids."
"Night, Mom, Frank." Harm smiled before Trish leaned down and gave him a kiss on his cheek.
"Night, Trish, Frank," Mac said as Trish surprised her with a kiss on her cheek as well.
"Night," Frank said as he and Trish left the room.
Harm leaned against the back of the couch and sighed. They sat in silence, before he noticed something. "It's nice being surrounded by family at the holidays."
"Yeah," Mac said very non-convincingly.
Harm turned to face her and saw she was watching the twinkling lights on the tree. "You okay?"
"Fine."
Harm placed his hand on hers. "Try again."
"I miss Chloe and Uncle Matt."
Harm rubbed his thumb over the top of her hand. "They miss you, too. But you have family here that loves you very much."
Mac sweetly smiled at Harm. "I know." After a few moments Mac decided it was her bedtime too. "Okay, I'm going off to bed."
Harm exhaled a heavy breath. "I think I'll go off to the couch, then."
"You know we could share my bed," Mac offered, finding herself slightly surprised with her own offer.
Harm suppressed a grin at the offer of sleeping wrapped around her. "Nah, the couch isn't too bad."
"Harm, it's no trouble at all. My bed is better then the mattress on the couch. Chloe hated it the last time she used it."
Harm gave her smile. "I'm tougher than a teenager."
Mac chuckled. "Okay, fine. I just thought I would be nice and offer."
"Well, offer appreciated, just not needed," Harm told her.
"Okay, then goodnight." Mac said before she leaned over and gave Harm a kiss on the lips.
"Goodnight, Mac." Harm smiled as she stood up and walked out of the room.
2:34 AM
Harm rolled onto his back and a spring on the mattress poked him. He then sat up and looked out the window and saw a light snow falling. He sighed. "This mattress is worse than the bunks on the Seahawk."
He walked into the kitchen and got a drink of water, then he walked back into the living room. He lay back down on the bed and tried to find sleep, but it didn't come.
Ten minutes later he closed the couch back up and left the folded sheets on top of the cushions. He quietly walked up the stairs. He checked to find Ty sound asleep with his blanket tucked around his little body. Harm leaned over and kissed his son's head. "Sleep tight, Buddy."
He left the room and silently crept into Mac's bedroom. His breath got caught in his throat as he looked at her. He had been in this position before. It was just over a year ago. It was the night that changed their lives. A mental image of her naked body passed through his thoughts. He blinked and knew his memory of that night would always be there.
Mac rolled over and the blanket around her slipped, part of Harm wished she was naked like she was that night. But she wasn't. He smiled and approached the bed as he recognized the cowboy pajamas she wore. He lifted the edge of the blanket and gently moved under it. Once he was settled he slowly exhaled glad he hadn't woken up Mac.
Mac turned onto her side and slowly her eyes opened. She looked at Harm and he smiled back. "I'm warning you Sailor, stay on your side and I won't need to use my hand-to-hand combat skills."
"Yes, Ma'am," Harm responded. Mac rolled over so her back was facing Harm. Harm closed his eyes and thought to himself, 'I didn't mind it the last time you used them.' After a few seconds he fell into a solid sleep.
End Part 10