Chapter 5

December 24th

Roberts residence

Harm, Mac, Chloe and Mattie were a little late arriving at the party. For once it wasn't Harm's fault.

"Commander, Colonel, Mattie, Chloe, Jen," Bud answered the door, "come in."

"We're not the last ones here are we?" Harm asked.

"No sir," Bud said taking their coats, "we're still waiting on a few more people."

"I'll take these into the kitchen," Mac said motioning to the dishes she and Mattie carried. Mattie and Chloe followed while Jen wandered off to chat with other guests.

"A bit of advice Bud," Harm said, "if either of those twins is a girl always tell her your leaving 15 minutes before you plan to. That way she might actually be ready on time."

"Blaming other's for your tardiness again commander?" AJ Chegwidden asked as he approached the two younger men.

"Yes sir," Harm said, "Mattie delayed me 10 minutes leaving our place and then Chloe still wasn't ready when we got to Mac's so we had to wait another 10."

"I see," AJ said.

"Excuse me sirs," Bud said, "I'm going to check on the turkey." He turned and headed for the kitchen.

"Any idea who we're waiting on sir?" Harm asked, "Bud said there were more people coming but I don't see anybody missing."

"Afraid not Harm," AJ said. He was lying but he didn't want to ruin a surprise.

A while later Harm was chatting with Mike Roberts and Tiner when the doorbell rang. Harm looked toward the door curious as to who these 'mystery guests' were.

Bud opened the door with a smile, "Please come in."

Harm was surprised to see retired Admiral Thomas Boone on the other side of the door. A few seconds later his surprise turned to pleasant shock when Boone was followed by Harm's mother, stepfather and grandmother. Harm began to make his way through the crowd but Mattie beat him to the door.

"Trish, Frank, Grams," the teen exclaimed hugging each of them. "What are you doing here?"

By this time Harm had arrived at the door. He hugged his mom and Grams and shook hands with Frank and Boone.

"Well I won't be around forever and I thought it would be nice to have a family Christmas," Grams said, "and now that you have that nice big house we can do that."

"Grams don't say that," Harm said.

"Well I'm not saying I'm going anywhere anytime soon," Sarah said, "but is it so wrong to want to spend the holidays with my only grandson. Especially now that I have such a wonderful great-granddaughter."

"Of course not," Harm said.

"It's settled then," Trish said.

Just then Harriet waddled out of the kitchen.

"Admiral Boone, Mr. and Mrs. Burnett, Mrs. Rabb," Harriet greeted her newly arrived guests, "you're just in time. Everyone dinner is on the table."

Everyone moved to the dining room and took seats around the table. Harm and Mac sat next to each other. Chaplain Turner said the blessing thanking the Lord for all they had been blessed with over the past year. When he was done Mac stood up before people could start eating.

"Um, everybody," Mac began, "before we start I have a few announcements to make. The first is that as of December 27th I will no longer be working at JAG HQ."

There were a number of people who began to ask questions. Mac raised her hand signaling for them to be quiet. She waited a few seconds for the silence to settle.

"I'm sure most of you know about the problems plaguing of the office, especially me," Mac continued, the others nodded. "Secretary Sheffield has offered and I have accepted Ted Lindsey's old position."

She glanced at Harm to make sure he was ok with what she was going to say next. He smiled at her and gave a small nod.

"Saying that permits me to make my second announcement without worrying about regs," Mac said, "As of earlier this week Harm and I have begun to date."

"Congratulations, Ma'am, Sir," Harriet said.

"It's about damn time," Chegwidden said.

"Uncle AJ said a bad word," little AJ piped up. The entire room broke out laughing. Mac sat back down and everybody began eating and carrying on various conversations. Fortunately Mac and Harm were separated from Harriet by a number of people so they didn't have to deal with her interrogation until after supper.

After supper they gathered in the living room for some Christmas carols. A short while later AJ approached Harm and Mac.

"Auntie Mac," the boy said, "will you read me the night before Christmas before I go to bed."

"Sure buddy," Mac said, "why don't you go up and get your PJs on and brush your teeth and I'll be up in a minute."

He nodded then scampered off to get ready for bed. Mac wandered out into the hall, Harm followed.

"Harm are you sure Chloe and I should stay over?" Mac asked, "I mean your family's here we wouldn't want to impose."

"Mac," Harm said taking her hands in his, "you're family too. And it's not like we don't have the room. Chloe and Jen can bunk with Mattie, Grams can take Jen's room, Mom and Frank can stay in the guest room, We'll put you on the pull out in the office and admiral Boone on the pull out in the family room."

"Ok," Mac said, "if you're sure. I'd better go read to AJ. We can head to The Wall when I come back down."

"Ok," Harm said before pulling her to him for a brief kiss.

As he watched Mac walk up the stairs he realized that Admiral Boone didn't know how to get to his new place and he didn't know if his guests would be comfortable with a visit to the wall. He decided to go in search of his mother. He found Trish talking with Varese.

"Mom can I talk to you for a minute," Harm asked.

"Of course Honey," Trish answered, "excuse us Varese."

"Sure," Varese said.

Harm took his mother into the den for a little privacy.

"Mom, you know I usually visit Dad on Christmas Eve," Harm said, "Mac and the girls were going to come with me..."

Harm didn't get a chance to finish his sentence. his mother interrupted him.

"Thanks for your concern Harm," Trish said with a small smile, "but I think I should pay him a visit too. It's been a long time since I was there. I know Tom and your grandmother would like to go. And before you say anything about Frank he has friends on that wall too."

"Ok," Harm said, "We'll all go to the wall and then Tom can follow us back to my place."

"Don't you have to drop Mac and Chloe off?" Trish asked.

"No," Harm said, "Mac and Chloe are sleeping over. And before you say anything Mac is sleeping on the pull out in the office. We're taking things slow. We just thought it would be fun to have Christmas morning together especially now that I have Mattie and Chloe's with Mac for the holidays."

"I can understand that," Trish said, "where is Mac anyway?"

"Putting little AJ to bed," Harm said, "he wanted her to read him t'was the night before Christmas."

"That's sweet," Trish said, "she'll make a great mother. Hint hint."

" Mom," Harm said in a warning tone.

"Ok, ok, I'll stop," she said, "why don't we get back to the party."

Harm agreed and the returned to mingle with the other guests.

TBC