Title: If things had been different
Author: Anaika Skywalker
Author's Email:
Rating: PG -13
Disclaimer: I don't own JAG; I just like to spread my wings occasionally.
Author's Note: Firstly thank you to everyone who reviewed. When I started this I wanted the story to have a few twist – thus Harm had married, had a daughter and lost his wife. I also wanted Mac to have a different life – thus her parents never split up and her father was never a drunk. I hope that explains it a little better. The rank question was concerning what rank Mac would have been while in Bosnia. I knew she was a Major when she met Harm, but we were never told if she was newly promoted or had been a Major a while. So I decided she was a Captain while in Bosnia and was promoted before meeting Harm. Author's privilege is so cool.
Thank you to the following: Maulen, Winjan, Abigaile (thank you for the review for Times Destiny, I'm glad you liked it), jaggygirl, smithknk, Starryeyes10, joanoa, Hemi Racing, DD2, katydid13, Vhosek Malacath, annebd, Strawberywine.
If things had been different
Chapter Three: Father-in-laws and Marines
January 1996: Rabb Residence: Falls Church Virginia, Washington DCLt. JG Meg Austin lent against the rail of the porch. "I'd love to know where she gets her energy from?"
"So would I, Meg," Lt. Commander Harmon Rabb stated, he handed her one of the beers he'd brought out.
"Thanks," she returned to her seat. "How do you do it, Harm?" She asked as he sat beside her. "You buy this house, renovate it in your spare time and manage to raise a daughter," she declared, smiling as she watched Harmony Rabb play with the small puppy her father had given her.
"I've had lot of help, Meg. My parents and Grace," he said calmly. "Family help family."
She took a swig of her beer. "You're lucky to have Grace."
"Mmm, even luckier she agreed to move into the apartment over the garage," he added.
"Which you built purposely," she noted.
"Perhaps," he grinned.
She melted under that grin, she did every time and she guessed she always would. "You're very lucky Harm."
He nodded. He'd brought the house in Falls Church and began doing it up in his spare time. It had taken a lot of work but finally he'd moved his family in with Meg's help. His daughter liked Meg and his partner was taken with Harmony.
Meg was playing with the beer label on her bottle. Her voice was quiet when she spoke next. "Emily must have been a very special woman."
"Very special," he answered her before taking a drink of his beer. "You remind me a little of her. You have the same determination."
"Really?" She was shocked.
"Not her temper though," he chuckled. "My Emily would have made a good SeAL or Marine. When she got a head full of steam, it was time to bug out."
Meg laughed. "Is Harmony like that?"
"No. Harms is like me. She has her mothers beauty, a joint share of determination and brains, but her personality is mine," he revealed sincerely.
"Not to mention she shares your love of flying," Meg added.
"Yeah."
She could see that bothered him. "She's also good at law, I mean how many eleven year olds do you know can quote the UCMJ?"
"Not many," he said grinning. "I would never have made it through law school without her. She was amazing."
"Well she has an amazing father."
"Thanks Meg."
They heard a squeal of delight and saw 'Maverick'; Harmony's six-month-old German shepherd puppy had her on her back, licking her face as she giggled. The pup had been named after Harm had said he'd been the maverick of the litter. The pup was also a lot happier now they were in the house instead of the apartment.
"I should go," Meg noted, she put her now empty bottle down beside her and stood.
Harm did also. "Thanks for helping out, Meg."
"No problem," she dismissed.
"Harms, Meg is leaving!" he called out to his daughter.
She ran in with the dog following. "Do you have to go, Aunt Meg?"
"I'm afraid so, kiddo. Work tomorrow," she messed her hair. "Be good."
"I will," the girl said with a miniature 'flyboy' grin like her fathers.
Meg shivered slightly. "Bye Harms."
"Go up and take a shower Harms while I walk Meg out," her dad ordered.
"Yes sir." She followed them in but headed up the stairs as they headed out to the front to Meg's car.
"It's been a fun week, Harm." Meg told him.
He laughed softly. "Well if you ever need help shifting house, I'll give you a hand."
"I'll remember that," she smirked, and then kissed his check, a little embarrassed. "See you tomorrow."
"Bye, Meg." He stepped back and she got in the car, starting it up she backed out and drove away. Harm watched her go, Meg was sweet but she was like a sister to him. He knew she wished it was more, but regulations forbid it and he couldn't look at her any other way. Just as he was going to head back inside, he groaned seeing who was cycling towards him.
Commander Allison Krennick pulled up in the driveway. "Good afternoon, Harm," she said smiling as she straightened.
"Commander."
She smiled, removing her bike helmet she shook her blond hair lose. "Inviting me in?"
"Sorry Commander, Harms and I are going out for dinner tonight."
"Oh need a third?"
Harm ignored her. "Commander, why are you here?"
"I thought I'd warn you."
"What about?"
"Do you know of an Admiral Chegwidden?"
Harm was stunned. His father-in-law. "He heads up JAG in the Pacific."
"As of tomorrow he heads up all of JAG period," she stated. "And he has a killer aid."
"Oh?"
"Mmm, me."
That didn't surprise him. "Congratulations."
"Don't patronize me, Commander," she said sternly, she put her helmet back on. "Chegwidden isn't going to put up with your antics, even if you are the rising star at JAG."
"I know what's expected of me, Commander."
"I'm sure you do," she turned her bike around. "See you tomorrow, Commander. You have an appointment in the Admiral's office at oh eight hundred." She informed, adding. "Don't be late." She then rode off without looking back.
Harm sighed and ran his hand through his hair. This is going to be interesting, he thought and headed inside.
Grace was coming down the stairs, seeing him come in. "Is everything all right?"
"Commander Krennick just dropped in, she had news about the new JAG."
"Anyone you know?"
"It's dad," he said aimlessly.
"Really, how are you going to handle that?"
"I don't know," he wandered into the lounge and sat down.
Grace sat with him, it was times like this she enjoyed the sisterly relationship she had with him. "Why don't you give him a ring?"
"I thought he would have rang me."
"Harm, you just moved into a house. The only one who has your new number is Meg." She noted bluntly.
He nodded, smiling sheepishly. "Sorry Grace, I guess I'm still in shock."
"It's okay, honey. Ring your dad, I'll go check on Harms." She got up, leaving him to his thoughts.
Sitting back, Harm grabbed the phone and dialed his father-in-laws number. He waited as it rang and then answered. "Hi Dad."
"Harm, I've been trying to reach you since I got into town." AJ Chegwidden announced, a little stressed.
"Sorry dad, we just moved into a house in Falls Church," he explained and then gave him the new number and address. "The phone was only connected yesterday, I should have rang you earlier."
"It's all right. So have you heard?"
"That you're now my new boss?" He asked smiling to himself. "Yes sir."
There was a sigh over the phone, then chuckling. "Sorry son, I guess this will make things a little awkward for you at JAG."
"It's okay dad, I can handle it."
"Once they realize the scuttlebutt will fly."
"Then don't tell them. Dad I'm not ashamed to have you as the JAG, if anyone deserves it, it's you."
"I know that son, still it might be a good idea to keep our rapport under wraps for now."
Harm agreed. "I'll warn Harms not to say anything."
"So how is my granddaughter?"
He almost laughed at how skillfully his father-in-law changed the subject. "She's fine, she got a puppy a few weeks ago."
"You finally gave in?"
"I did," it was Harm's turn to sigh. "Your granddaughter is a skillfully negotiator."
"I hear she takes after her father," AJ smirked.
"She does," Harm admitted. Seeing his daughter come down the stairs in her pajamas, he'd lied to Krennick when he said they'd been going out, he'd just wanted to get rid of her. "Harms has just come down, do you want to tell her?"
"You don't want to?"
"I think she'd like to hear it from you, here you are," he handed the phone to his daughter. "It's grandpa."
She took it, sitting beside him. "Hi Grandpa."
"Hi sweetheart, how are you?"
"I'm good Grandpa, what do you have to tell me?"
He chuckled. "I'm your dad's new boss."
She squealed happily. "Really?"
"Really," he answered with a chuckle.
"Does that mean I can come see you at the office?"
"You can but your dad and I agreed not to tell anyone that we know each other," her grandfather explained.
"Oh, so I can't call you Grandpa at the office?"
"Sorry sweetheart, but it might be better this way. You wouldn't want the officers who work with your dad to think he was getting favorers from me because he's my son-in-law."
"No," she chewed on her bottom lip, before asking. "But, can I still come to the office occasionally?"
"I can't see why you not, as long as you behave yourself."
"Cool, thanks Grandpa."
"You're welcome darlin. Put your dad back on."
"Okay, night Grandpa," she bid and then handed the phone back to her father.
Harm took it. "Sounds like you've sorted everything out."
"Like you said, she's a skillfully negotiator."
"That she is."
"Well I'll see you bright and early in the morning, Lt. Commander." AJ smirked.
"Aye, aye sir," Harm retorted, smiling. "Night Dad."
"Night Harm."
Hanging up, Harm gave his daughter a hug. "So are you all right with having Grandpa as my new boss."
"Yep," she said and yawned. "What's for dinner?"
"How about pizza?" He asked as Grace joined them. "Grace?"
"Sounds good. A large vegetarian for you two and a small meat lovers for me," she guessed and saw both father and daughter grin. She held out her hand. "Phone, Harmon," she teased. "The nice lady next door gave me the name of a pizza place that delivers and the phone number of her very single granddaughter, so behave or I'll ring and set you up on a date."
Harm handed her the phone. "Yes Ma'am."
"Now up for a shower with you," she ordered.
"Yes Ma'am," he said automatically, which had his daughter giggling. He ruffled her hair as he got up, heading up stairs to escape the laughter.
The next morning the three walked into JAG headquarters, Grace having followed in her car, since she was taking Harmony to school.
Meg saw them come in. "Hi Harms. Morning sir, Grace."
"Hi Meg," Harmony greeted cheerfully, she had her fathers cover on her head.
Harm plucked it off her head. "Morning Meg, the new boss in?"
"He is, you have enough time to put your briefcase and cover in your office," she announced, surprised he already knew.
"Krennick paid me a visit after you left yesterday," he explained with a smirk. "Wish me luck."
"You won't need it sir."
He chuckled and went quickly to his office, leaving his briefcase and cover, then continued to the Admiral's. Being told to go in by the Petty officer. He knocked and did so, shutting the door before standing at attention before the Admiral's desk. Krennick was there too. "Lt. Commander Rabb, reporting as ordered, sir."
Admiral AJ Chegwidden looked up; he'd been going over Rabb's service records. Harm had been busy since his becoming a lawyer. "At ease Mr. Rabb, your record here reads like a cross between 'Top Gun' and 'A Few Good Men'." He retorted.
"Sorry about that, sir." Harm apologized, becoming comfortable in his presence.
"I'm not, the Navy needs heroes, now more then ever," AJ insisted as he got up and walked around his desk to stand before him. "Pillory in the press by the liberal media. Under funded by an election driven congress and we're shooting ourselves in the foot every time a sailor gets horny."
"Yes sir," Harm said grinning. Deciding the charade wasn't going to be that hard to keep up.
"Now if I were to repeated those words to the press, the Secretary of the Navy would demand my resignation. For all my words are as true as the blue ice in the Arctic, they are politically incorrect and today's Navy Mr. Rabb sails in the sea of political correctness." AJ concluded enjoying this more then he should have.
"Yes sir." Harm agreed.
Before the Admiral could continue, there was a knock at the door. He saw Krennick frown as she came down the ladder; she'd been hanging his painting of Admiral Burke. He ignored her. "Enter!" He ordered and the door opened, his granddaughter came in, he held back a smile as she shut the door and stood at attention next to her father.
"Excuse me sir," she said without a waver to her voice.
"And you are, young lady?" He asked bluntly.
"Harmony Rabb, sir."
AJ saw his son-in-law was holding back from smiling. "What can I do for you, Miss Rabb?"
"Sir, I'd like a moment with my father, it's time for school and I would like to take my leave," she said keeping her gaze forward.
When the Admiral saw Krennick's frown deepen, he ignored it. "Very well Miss Rabb," he stepped back, crossing his arms against his chest.
Harmony smiled and turned to her father, he gave her a quick hug. "I'm sorry dad, I just wanted to say goodbye," she whispered.
"It's okay honey. You be good for Aunt Grace."
"I will," she kissed his check and then turned to the Admiral as he straightened. "Sir. Thank you, sir."
"You're quiet welcome, Miss Rabb. Dismissed."
"Aye, aye sir," she said, then did a perfect about turn and left the office.
AJ and Harm couldn't of been more proud of how Harmony had composed herself in front of them both and Commander Krennick, she was true officer material. However praising her would have to come later. Sighing inward, AJ continued what he had to say to Harm, informing him they were going to be ruthless and he was going to be given the top investigations. He then called Krennick over to begin the briefing, his first day at JAG and already he was sending his son-in-law to Colombia.
With the briefing finished, Harm was dismissed, AJ reflected on Krennick's attitude, as she moved for the door. "Commander Krennick?"
"Admiral," she stopped and turned.
"You're not carrying a grudge against Lieutenant Commander Rabb because he beat you at Naples are you?"
"Far from it sir, I think he's just the challenge I need," she said smugly, and then left.
AJ shook his head. My son-in-law is more then you can handle, Commander, he thought to himself. Deciding he was going to keep an eye on Krennick, he didn't like the way she frowned at his granddaughter. He'd make it a point this evening to visit Harmony and Grace on his way home and find out what his granddaughter thought of Krennick. It should make an interesting conversation.
A week later, Harm was back home, his exports in Colombia one for the records. In the back yard, his father-in-law and Jack Keeter were telling sea stories to his daughter and Grace, the later making sure it stayed clean. He was getting drinks for everyone; they were going to BBQ a little later. He was about to head back outside when he heard the doorbell; he went and answered it groaning inward at who it was. "Commander Krennick, your back. Where's Meg?"
"I dropped her home and came straight here. I need a hot shower and a weekend in bed. Like to join me, I know this little place near the Potomac, it has great views of the river."
So did he. "Sorry Commander, I have guests and a daughter I just can't up and leave."
Frowning Krennick yielded for the moment. "There will another time, Commander."
"Yes Ma'am."
She left in a huff, making Harm smile. The woman just couldn't take a hint. He shut the door and went back to his family; he had a feeling the next few months were going to be very interesting.
The White House Rose Garden. Fall – 1996
Harmony Rabb sat patiently between her grandfather and Lt. JG Bud Roberts, she liked Bud he was fun to be around. They were in the Ross Garden for an award ceremony. Her dad, along with others from different services, was getting an award - a Distinguished Flying Cross. Presented by the President of the United States himself.
She smiled as she saw the President pin the medal on her father's uniform and shook his hand, saying a few words to him. The ceremony ended and with a nod from her Grandfather she hurried up to her father, giving him a hug.
Her doing that caught the attention of the President, who much to their surprise walked back over. "Lt. Commander Rabb, who is this young lady?"
"This is my daughter, Harmony, sir," he said clearly.
The President smiled. "Young lady you have a remarkable father."
"Thank you sir." She said politely.
A photographer, who had been invited, came over to them. "Mr. President, could I get a photo of yourself with the Lt. Commander and his daughter?"
"Yes of course," he said smiling; he moved to stand beside Harm, putting his hand on Harmony's shoulder. The photo was taken. "Young man, make sure Lt. Commander Rabb gets a copy, I'm sure young Harmony would like to have it to show to her friends."
"I'll make sure he gets one, Mr. President." The photographer assured.
"Excellent, I'll sign it for her before it's delivered."
"Yes sir."
The President shook Harm's hand once again, then Harmony's before being ushered off by the secret service.
Harmony grinned. "That was so cool, dad, none of my friends are going to believe it."
"They will when the photo arrives," he said cheerfully as they went over to the Admiral and Bud, walking with them. In the past few months' things had changed at JAG, Krennick had transferred out and so had Meg. Bud had transferred in; he was going to night school, studying to be a lawyer. He Admiral assigned him to Harm's section. Today they were meeting Meg's replacement, a Marine Major. Life for Harmon Rabb, Jr. was just about to get more complicated.
Harmony saw her first, standing near the limousine. "Dad," she tugged at his sleeve.
"What is it Harms?"
"Look."
Harm barely heard the Admiral introduce Major Sarah Mackenzie to him, he thought for a moment he was seeing a ghost.
She held her hand out to him, smiling. "Mac," she told him, seeing the stunned expression on his face. She was about to pull her hand back when he came out of his daze, shaking it.
"Harm," he said, before releasing her hand. "This is my daughter, Harmony."
"Hello," she smiled at the girl, who had the same expression on her face, like they'd both seen a ghost.
AJ was a little confused at Harm's reaction too. "Do you two know each other?"
"Yes sir," Harm said at the same time as Mac said: "No sir."
Harm recovered quickly though, seeing not only the Admiral but also Bud and the Mac were both looking at him strangely. "Oh I'm sorry Major. Of course I don't know you. I just had a moment of déjà vu."
"Must be the uniform," she mused.
"No, actually she was in the Navy," he supplied, feeling his daughter grip his hand a little tighter.
Mac dismissed it as she heard the Admiral mumble something about not getting too familiar, that they had to work together. Still she could see it in Harm's eyes when he looked at her, his and his daughters. It was eerie, but then again so was her meeting Harm. She remembered the article she'd read when stationed in Bosnia and thinking she'd never met him and here they were. She snapped out of it when it came time to get into the limousine, Lt. Roberts was given a refresher course about the order officers got in and out by Rabb's daughter. The embarrassed Lieutenant climbed in after the little girl, she followed. The Admiral then followed Harm into the Limousine.
On the way back to JAG Headquarters, Harmony sat quietly as the adults talked about the Declaration of Independence being stolen and who was involved. It sounded like her dad and the Major were going to be going out of town to investigate it.
"Harmony?"
She turned to her father. "Sorry sir," she said sheepishly.
"That's all right, the Major asked you a question?"
"Sorry Ma'am."
"That's all right Harmony. I asked what school you attended?"
"Falls Church Elementary, Ma'am. I'm in seventh grade, I skipped a grade."
"My son, Jason, will be attending Falls Church Elementary, he'll be grade six. Perhaps you could show him around when he arrives. He's visiting his grandparents at the moment."
"I can do that Ma'am."
"Thank you Harmony."
"You can call me Harms, Major Mackenzie. Only my Great Grams calls me Harmony and dad and Grandpa, and they only do it when I do something wrong or they're cranky." She remarked, out of the corner of her eye she saw both the Admiral and her father smile.
Mac chuckled. "I'm sure that's not very often."
Harmony smiled, she liked the Major. "No Ma'am."
"Miss Rabb is well behaved, Major Mackenzie," AJ stated. "Especially in the office. Not to mention she's exceptionally well versed when it comes to the UMCJ."
Mac saw Harmony blush and she smiled. "Well I know who to come to if I need any help then."
"If Miss Rabb was somewhat older, she'd make an exceptional lawyer," the Admiral praised.
"Is that what you want to do, Harms, be a lawyer?" Mac asked her.
"No Ma'am. I want to attend the Naval Academy and then flight school, I want to be an Aviator." Harmony answered confidently.
Mac saw Harm tense up at his daughters words. "Well you have some time to decided that."
"Harms is really good with computers," Bud announced breaking the tension.
The Admiral frowned. "Thank you Mr. Roberts."
Mac held back a laugh but saw the sheepish look on the young girls face. There was a story there; she was going to have to ask the Lieutenant Commander about later.
Whey they arrived at JAG Headquarters a woman in her early forties was waiting for them in the car park.
Harmony waited until they were out of the limousine to hug her father goodbye. "Will I be seeing you this afternoon, dad?"
"I don't know Harms."
She hugged him a little tighter. "Be careful, daddy." She whispered, then stepped back addressing the Admiral. "Sir. Thank you for inviting me."
"You're welcome Miss Rabb. Dismissed."
"Aye, aye sir." She turned to the Major. "It was nice to met you Ma'am and I'll be happy to show Jason around at school when he arrives."
"Thank you Harms."
She grinned. "Bye Lieutenant Roberts," she bided and then hurried over to Grace.
Mac smiled also. "Harmony is a lovely girl, Lt. Commander."
"Thank you, Major," he said. He had a feeling even without meeting her son that he was going to get on well with Harmony. Just as Harm felt he was going to be get on well with the boys mother.
A half an hour later Mac was given a more detailed look into Lt. Commander Rabb. After receiving their assignment they were ordered to report to Andrews Air Force base with Bud and Clayton Webb. Having to stop first at Harm's house so he could change and get his bag.
While he was upstairs doing that, Mac looked around. The house was beautiful; Harm had done a wonderful job in renovating it. It was also tidy, for one that had an eleven-year-old running around it. Though she had a feeling Harmony was as squared away as her father.
She smiled at the photo on the mantel; a young Harm was in the cockpit of a F-4 Phantom, his father was leaning in pointing out the controls. Harm Sr. looked very much like his son did now, except for the mustache. Next to it was an almost identical photo, except this one was in color and it had Harmony in the cockpit of a F-14 Tomcat, her father leaning over to point out the controls. It sent shivers up her spin, looking at the two photos, so very much the same and yet different.
Further down she found one of Harm in his dress whites, his arms around a young woman with pale blue eyes. In her arms was a small baby she guessed was Harmony. This had to be Harm's late wife, she'd been a very beautiful woman with features more mature then young Harmony's, her hair a little lighter though.
Harm came down the stairs, seeing what she was looking at. He gripped his bag a little tighter. "My late wife Emily. It was taken the day I got my wings."
"She was very beautiful."
"Thank you."
Mac looked away, noting Harmon Rabb looked as exceptional in his khakis has he did his blues. Not as good as he did in his dress whiles and she hoped one day to see him in those in the flesh. Gold wings and all. "We need to go," she said finding her voice. "We have thirty-eight minutes."
Harm glanced at this watch, then back at her amazed. "How do you do that?"
She shrugged. "I've always been able to do it. It's a Marine thing."
He chuckled over that. "Really, well lets go then," he mused. Since he'd already called Grace on her mobile, he was ready to leave.
On the way to Andrews, Mac asked about the comment Bud made about the computer?
Harm chuckled. "I stayed late on afternoon, Grace, who looks after Harms for me, her honorary grandmother, dropped Harms in to me and went home to start dinner. The Admiral had been having problems with his computer, the tech's couldn't get there until the next morning and he was fuming," he explained. "Harms volunteered to take a look at it. In desperation the Admiral agreed, he slipped out to the break room to get coffee. When he returned the computer was working fine and Harms was gone. I finished up what I had to do and we left. Half way home my cell phone rings and the Admiral is on the line demanding that Harms gets her six back to HQ and into his office to get the damn cat off his computer."
Mac laughed. "Cat?"
"She'd downloaded a program off the Internet called Felix, he's a little black and white cat that wanders around your computer screen. She thought the Admiral would like it."
She laughed harder. "Did she get him off?"
Harm nodded, grinning. "He now lives on my computer, as well as the one at home," he told her, seeing her smile reminded him once more of Diane. After Emily had died, he turned away from women altogether and concentrated on surviving the last few months of his tour and looking forward to returning to his daughter. Then Diane had come back into his life after his ramp strike and he had begun to feel again. But fate had stepped in and taken Diane away from him and Harmony too.
Mac saw the same haunted look in his eyes as he glanced her way, realizing Harm had been hurt a great deal and he still wasn't over it.
Later that night after ditching Webb and his CIA buddies which they were going to have to make it up to Bud, because he'd been left behind with them. They hired a Ute from a service station attendant and headed for Red Rock Mesa, where Mac knew her Uncle would be hiding. As soon as Harm had found out Colonel Matthew O'Hara was her Uncle, he insisted on coming along. They'd talked about him for a while until the conversation had gotten uncomfortable for both of them. Especially when she made a comment about his smile.
Harm felt like he was on an emotional Rolla coaster sitting beside this woman. "I keep forgetting I don't know you." He finally confessed to her.
"Déjà vu again?" Mac asked concerned.
"Only whenever I see your face or hear you talk. I wouldn't know about your smile, I haven't seen you do that a lot," he informed.
"Well there's not much to smile about," she declared bluntly.
"I guess not," he said just as blunt.
"It sounds like I have a twin out there?" Mac stated, and then regretted the words as soon as they'd left her mouth just by the look on his face.
"Not any more." Harm said sadly.
Mac let it drop; obliviously someone who looked like her, someone who Harm had been close to, had died, leaving him grieving once more. Right now though she needed Harm to concentrate on the mission at hand, so she accepted his silence and drove on. Somehow she had a feeling as time went on she'd get to know all about Harmon Rabb Jr. and his past one way or another, with a little help from his daughter. After all Harmony liked her and Mac had a feeling Harmony was going to like Jason too.
Holding back a smile, she thought: Look out Harmon Rabb.
A few days after their adventure at Red Rock Mesa was over, Colonel O'Hara's case coming up, Harm had agreed to defend him during their time together. Jason Mackenzie arrived in Washington, joining his mother. Mac had found a nice house a few blocks from the Rabb house. Harm invited them both around, so Harmony could meet Jason, who was her age.
Jason was a lot like this mother, touches of auburn to his brown hair, he also had chocolate brown eyes like his mother. He'd been a little hesitant about meeting the daughter of the tall Navy Lt. Commander, who he'd meet at JAG that morning.
Harmony stuck out her hand, being friendly. "I'm Harmony, everyone calls me Harms."
He shook her hand, asking. "Why?"
She gave him her best 'flyboy' grin. "My mom always said I was a lot like my dad, so much it was like having two Harm's in the house when he was at home."
"Oh, I get it," he said grinning. "Where's your mom now?"
"She died when I was six." Harmony told him.
"My dad died before I was born. It's just my mom and me," he informed.
"I have dad and Aunt Grace," she explained. "Would you like to come out back, I have a puppy?"
"Sure, what's his name?"
"Maverick," she told him as they headed out to the back yard.
Mac smiled. "I'm glad they're getting on well together."
"I had no doubts." Harm said giving her his 'flyboy' grin.
She felt her knees weaken a little. Damn she couldn't believe he could affect her like that. "Why don't we head outside too, I'd like to meet Maverick as well."
"Sure," he agreed and took her out back. Harmony and Jason were playing with the Germen Shepard. Harm smiled. "It seems to me the Navy and the Marines are going to get along fine, at least when it comes to these two."
Mac chuckled as Maverick chased the two kids around the back yard. "It does indeed," she mused. "It does indeed."
To be continued… (My beta went through this chapter with me, so if there are any mistakes I apologize now and I apologize for the last paragraph, I added it quickly and I'm not real happy with it, but I'm leaving it for now.)