A/N: It's short but shippery so I think everyone will be happy.

disclaimer: I still don't own them.

Harm's Office

1800 Hours

09/03/2004

I knock on the frame of Harm's door and wait for him to look up.

"Hey, Mac."

"Harm, are you almost ready to get out of here? "

"Better rephrase the question, counselor."

"What do you mean? " I'm truly baffled by the comment.

"I was ready to get out of here at 0900 hours. I'll be done with my work and able to go home in about 15 minutes."

"I see your point." I laugh. "I'll be in my office when you're able to leave."

"I'll come get you." Harm tells me as I turn to head back down the hall.

"You'll have to, I have the car keys." I call back.

I can hear Harm chuckle but he doesn't seem to have a retort handy.

Mac's Office

1827 Hours

09/03/2004

"Hey, Mac."

I look up from the email I'm reading and smile at Harm.

"You finally ready, sailor? " I ask.

"Yep, sorry it took so long."

"Not a problem, it gave me a chance to catch up on my emails." I tell him as I shut the computer down and grab my briefcase and cover.

"Anything interesting?" Harm asks as we head out of the building.

"Well, Mattie and AJ are having a blast in San Diego and Chloe wants to come down and visit in a couple of weeks."

"We should be able to work something out for Chloe and I'm glad the kids are having fun, now I don't feel so guilty about having to put all these hours in." Harm tells me as we approach the car.

Since we didn't have to drop anybody off at the sitter's we brought the 'vette. I was shocked when Harm suggested it, he never let's me drive it and he can't drive it right now because of his wrist. The Lexus and my car are no problem because they're both automatics but a stick shift is more than he can comfortably handle right now.

"I know what you mean about feeling guilty. Are things back under control? " I ask him. I know I have my cases under control but I haven't had time to see how he's doing.

"Yeah, I think so. At least as under control as things ever get around here."

I have to laugh at that because he does have a point, a lot of the time we're doing well just to control the chaos.

"So, what do you want to do about dinner? " I ask Harm as I start the car.

"Let's just stop and get some take out. I'm too tired to cook anything." Harm sighs.

"How about that deli near the house?"

"Sounds perfect."

"What time are you meeting Sturgis tomorrow?" I hope Sturgis remember to make plans with Harm. I need Harm gone for a couple of hours to set up his surprise.

"I'm supposed to meet him at his place at 1500 hours. That work okay for you?"

"Works for me." It should I suggested the time.

Harm and Mac's house

1830 Hours

09/04/2004

What do I still need to do? The table is set. The food is in the kitchen, the CD changer is loaded and playing. I'm ready, or as ready as I'll ever be. Just need the candles lit, and Harm, and we're ready to go.

"Mac!"

I take that back we just need the candles lit.

"In here Harm." I call out while lighting the candles I have on the table.

"Wow." Is all he has to say when he sees the dining room. "Did I forget a date or something?"

"No, this was supposed to be a surprise." I smile.

"Well, I'm surprised. Is this why Sturgis invited me over to watch the game?"

"Yeah, I told him I needed to get you out of the house for a couple of hours." I confess.

"Traitor." Harm says with mock indignation

I laugh at him. "Come sit down. I'll get the appetizer."

"You cooked?" Harm looks shocked and maybe a little worried.

"No, I ordered." I admit right away so he won't worry about what he's going to be eating. My cooking skills are very limited. Comes from having grown up in a house where my mom cooked the same 15 dinners until the day she left. If it was the 12th, dinner was spaghetti with Ragu.

I take the appetizer into the dining room.

"These look delicious, Mac."

"It's a Crab and Coconut dip." I tell him.

"It tastes as good as it looks." Harm remarks after a couple of bites.

We share the dip in silence while Norah Jones' new CD plays in the background.

"Should I just bring out the salads or are you ready for the main course too, Harm?" I ask once we're done with our appetizer.

"I'll leave that up to you. Do you need any help?"

"Thank you, but I've got it under control."

Harm looks at me like I've grown a second head.

"What's the matter, Harm?"

"You didn't do your I'm a marine speech."

"Maybe that's because tonight I'm not a marine, I'm just Sarah."

Having said that, I leave a very confused looking Harmon Rabb sitting at the table while I get the remainder of our dinner from the kitchen.

"So Mac, what's for dinner?" Harm asks as I step back into the room.

"Seaside Avocado Salad and Caribbean Lobster." I present the plate to him with a flourish.

"Looks wonderful and tastes even better." Harm states. "So you want to tell me what's going on?"

"What makes you think anything is going on?" I attempt to feign innocence.

"You really want a list?" Harm asks with a raised eyebrow.

"Not really, you remember you told me I could set the pace in this relationship?" I ask him.

"Yes, did I do something wrong?" Harm sounds very nervous.

"No, not at all." I quickly reassure him.

"Then what?"

"I'm ready to move this relationship ahead." I smile at him.

"And what do you see as being the next step?"

"Harm, will you marry me?"