AN: Thanks to everybody for the great reviews. As a thank here's the last two chapters (plus I wanted to get it all posted by Christmas)
Chapter 6
20 minutes later Mac returned from putting AJ to bed.
She walked up and touched Harm's arm, "AJ wants to say goodnight to his uncle Harm."
"I'll be right back," he said to his mom, he gave Mac a quick kiss before going up the stairs.
"You sure this is only your second date?" Trish asked Mac, "you seem pretty...intimate."
"I'm sure," Mac said, "it's just that we've been friends for so long that we feel completely comfortable around each other."
"Are you sure we won't be intruding on your evening?" Trish asked.
"Of course not," Mac said, "did Harm tell you we were going to the wall?"
"Yes," Trish said, "he was concerned about Frank..."
"But I have some people of my own I want to visit," Frank said placing an arm around his wife's waist.
Just then Harriet approached them with Jimmy, "Jimmy wanted to say goodnight to his auntie Mac."
"Good night Jimmy," Mac said kissing the boy on the forehead, "you'd better get to sleep if you want Santa to come."
Harriet smiled at Mac and continued on her way.
"I bet you can't wait 'til Harm and you have a little one like that," Trish said.
"I wouldn't get your hopes up too high," Mac said so quietly Trish could barely hear her, "at least not for biological grandkids."
"Oh my dear," Gram said joining the conversation, "is there something the matter."
"The short answer is yes," Mac said, "the long answer can wait. I don't need it circulating around the party."
"Alright Deary," Grams said, "where is Harmon? I know he wanted to go to the wall but I'm afraid if we wait any longer I'll be asleep before we get there."
"He's just saying goodnight to AJ," Mac said, "he should be back down in a minute. Speaking of which I should probably go dig out our coats and find the girls."
"You get the coats," Frank said, "I'll get the girls."
10 minutes later they had just managed to get their coats, say their goodbyes and get out the door.
The drive to the wall was uneventful. Harm and Tom Boone easily found parking spaces and the group gathered at the path. Harm slowly led the way down the path to his father's name. When they reached the panel Frank gently squeezed his wife's arm and continued on.
Harm took off his glove and ran his fingers over his father's name.
"Well dad there are a few more people here than usual," Harm said softly, "I brought Mac and Mattie, you've met them before. Tom Boone's here and so are Mom and Grams. I guess we're just missing Sergei then the whole family would be here. He sends his love though Dad, he sent a card to." Harm took an envelope out of his pocket and placed it at the base of the panel.
"I talked to you at thanksgiving and Mom and Grams haven't been here in a while so I'll let them have a word." Harm took a step back to give his mother and grandmother some privacy.
Nothing was said between Harm and his girls, they kept the reverence of the moment. Mac took one hand and Mattie the other, Chloe took Mac's other hand. Harm tugged their hands and the group began to walk along the path. They remained silent, each lost in their own thoughts. The silence remained until Sarah Rabb summoned them.
"Harmon," Grams said, "Thank you for bringing us here but I'm dead on my feet. Could you take an old woman home now?"
"Of course Grams," Harm said offering his grandmother his arm. "Mattie could you and Chloe go get Frank please?"
"Sure Harm," Chloe said.
"I'll go with them," Mac said, "make sure they don't get into trouble."
Mac and the girls came back with Frank and they all headed back to Harm's.
Later that evening
Harm's house
Alexandria VA
Harm let his family into the house.
"Harm it's beautiful," Trish said glancing around the front hall.
"Thanks Mom," Harm said helping her with her coat, "Mac and the girls helped decorate. Jen do you mind bunking with Mattie and Chloe tonight so Grams can have your bed?"
"No problem sir," Jen said, "just let me grab something to sleep in first."
"I'll show you the way Grams," Jen said guiding the elderly woman up the stairs.
"Thank you my dear," Grams said, "I'm sorry for putting you out of your room."
"I don't mind," Jen said.
"Mattie can you make up the pull out in the family room for Admiral Boone?" Harm asked, "the spare sheets are in the linen closet."
"Sure," Mattie said before sprinting up the stairs to get the sheets Chloe followed her.
"Mom, Frank, you guys can have the guest room," Harm said leading his mother, step father and Mac up the stairs. "It's the one at the end of the hall. I'm just going to help Mac make up the pull out in the office. The bathroom's on the right if you need it."
Harm entered the office while Mac went to the closet to get the sheets. Harm took the cushions off the couch and pulled out the bed. Mac came back into the room with the sheets.
"I've got this Harm," Mac said, "why don't you go make us some hot chocolate?"
"Sure," Harm said, "Mind if I invite the others to join us?"
"Sure," Mac said leaning over to put on the fitted sheet, "I'm going to finish up here and put my pjs on. I'll meet you downstairs."
Harm went over and quickly kissed her before heading off to ask the others to join them for hot chocolate.
A few minutes later.
Harm was standing at the stove stirring the hot chocolate when his mother entered the kitchen.
"Harm?" Trish said.
"Yeah, mom?" Harm answered.
"Mac said something this evening that worried me," Trish said.
"What was it Mom?" Harm asked his tone a mix between worry, curiosity and trepidation.
"I hinted at grandchildren when Harriet came around with little James," Trish said.
"Mom..." Harm began.
"I know I shouldn't have," Trish said, "but I did. She said that I shouldn't get my hopes up. At least not biological ones. What did she mean?"
"It's not all my story to tell," Harm said, "but the short version is there are medical concerns with Mac getting pregnant."
"Medical concerns?" Trish inquired, "is she alright?"
"I'm fine Trish," Mac said from the doorway.
"Hey," Harm said gently, "how long have you been standing there?"
"Just caught the tail end of the discussion." Mac said.
"I'm sorry Mac," Harm said, "I shouldn't have said anything without your say so."
"It's ok Harm," Mac said walking up to him and placing a hand on his arm, "It concerns you too. And your Mom deserves to know why she might not have grandkids."
"I already have a granddaughter," Trish said, "two if you count Jennifer. I don't need anymore."
"Thanks Trish," Mac said, "but you still deserve to know. This past May I was diagnosed with endometriosis. It makes it difficult for me to conceive and even more difficult to carry a baby to term."
"Oh my," Trish said, "that's terrible." She reached over and squeezed the younger woman's hand.
It was at this moment that Mattie and Chloe entered the kitchen.
"What's going on?" Chloe asked.
"Ohh, you just told Gramma Trish about Mac's thing didn't you?" Mattie said.
"Yeah," Mac said, "but enough of this lets all go into the living room for some hot chocolate. Where's Admiral Boone and Frank?"
"Frank got a call from the office," Trish said, "he should be down soon."
"Admiral Boone said he was going to turn in," Chloe said.
"Frank got a business call at this hour on Christmas Eve?" Mattie asked.
"Yes," Trish said, "it's not this late on the west coast."
"I guess," Mattie shrugged, "still seems weird to me."
"You get used to it," Harm said.
"Says the man who locked himself in his room every Christmas Eve from the age of nine," Trish said.
"I had good reason," Harm said. That was the year his mom had started to date, he felt like she was betraying his father. He did not vocalize his reason though, he left the statement as it was.
"Topic closed," Mac said, "It's Christmas Eve. Can't we think of happier things to talk about?"
They did think of happier things. They talked of happy memories and hopes and dreams. They talked about Mattie's boyfriend and how Harm and Mac finally managed to get together.
A while later only Mac and Harm and left sitting in front of the dying fire.
"Harm," Mac said.
"Hmm," Harm replied looking at the marine in his arms.
"I was thinking about what your mom said," Mac said, "Mattie's great but I do want more children. I just don't know if I can stand to go through all the treatments."
"Mac," Harm said as he turned to face her, "you and I both know that families aren't made out of genes. They're made out of love. We will have more kids. We can adopt and as long as we love them they will be just as much ours as AJ and Jimmy are Bud and Harriet's."
"You're right," Mac said, "we'll have plenty of kids, and I'll never have to go through labor."
Harm laughed, "we'd better get to bed. I have to get up early in the morning to pick up Mattie's present."
"Oh that's right," Mac said, "where is it?"
"The admiral's," Harm said, "now bed."
"Bed," Mac agreed with a yawn.
The two climbed the stairs and parted ways with a kiss.
TBC