Chapter Seven

1600 EST

Mac's Apartment

December 20

They made it back to her place a couple of hours later. They had so much fun at the park sledding, building snowmen, and making snow angels, and when they finally got back to her place, they were soaked and chilled to the bone. He got her up the stairs.

"Harm, that was great." She said still exhilarated from their winter wonderland. He started taking off her jacket. Pushing it off her shoulders, he nibbled her ear lobe. "I think I need a nice long bath," she said as she pulled off his jacket.

"Uh huh."

Their jackets were in a heap on the ground. He picked her up and carried her into the bedroom. "I love you Sarah Mackenzie."

"And I love you Harmon Rabb."

He deposited her on the bed and made his way over to the bathroom. She heard the water start running and him digging into the cabinets. Curiosity claimed the best of her as she walked into the bathroom. Her senses were immediately bombarded with the smell of lavender and jasmine.

"You bath awaits you." He said getting up to leave.

"Stay. There is plenty of room for the two of us, and you could help me scrub my back."

"You sure Mac?"

"If I wasn't sure, I wouldn't have said anything. Besides baths are better when you have someone to share it with."

He smiled at her as he climbed into the tub and she climbed in after him. They stayed in the tub until all of the bubbles were gone and the water turned cooled. "Harm, you have made this weekend great. Deep down you are a romantic guy." She said slipping on her robe.

"Don't let it get out, if Keeter finds it out, I will never hear the end of it," he groaned in her ear. He pulled her close and ran his hands through her dark, hair. He never told her, but he loved the fact that she decided to grow it out longer. "So what do you want to do with the rest of the day?"

"I don't know, lie here in your arms and turn on sappy movies?"

"That sounds like a plan."

He settled himself down on the couch after building another fire in the fireplace. "Does it seem like the snow is going to let up any soon?"

"Why, do you want to leave that badly?"

"No, Mac, it is just I want to know how much longer I can spend here with you in my arms."

She ran her fingers gently across his arms. "Yeah, and I love just lying here in your arms."

He watched her watch the movie and was content with doing just that. He never imagined that he could be any happier. Harm and Mac just laid on the couch watching It's a Wonderful Life and fell asleep on the couch. They didn't realize how much the day in the snow had worn them out. A little later, Harm had woken up with the all too familiar feel of Mac in his arms. He tried to wake her up.

"Hon, time to wake up."

"Don't want to," she murmured sleepily in his arms.

He untangled himself from behind her and picked her up in his arms and carried her to the bedroom. While he was carrying her in his arms he realized that he was carrying his entire world. He gently laid her in her bed and pulled the covers around her. While she laid in her bed in a land made purely of her dreams.

"You know Mac, one day I am going to marry you." He whispered to her sleeping form. "I love you Marine."

He kissed her on the forehead and watched her smile while she was sleeping. He saw her bare left hand and resolved that soon that problem would be rectified. He heard the light sound of her snoring and knew that she most have been really exhausted from the fun snow day. He was tempted to crawl back into bed with her but decided that he wanted to pull of one more surprise for her before she woke up for dinner.

Mac woke up to the sound of music coming out of her living room and could smell the wonderful aroma of Italian food from the kitchen. She wondered out of the room to find Harm throwing angel hair pasta on the wall to figure out if it was done or not.

"Well this is something I don't wake up to all the time." Her eyes readjusted to the surroundings and she found that her apartment was completely decorated. Harm had set up Pointesettas around the living room and found green garland and adorned it around her mantle.

"I figured that I would finish decorating the living room for you, and then cook you a nice home cooked meal." He said untying the apron from around his waist. It was then Mac had the chance to finally look at him. He was wearing a pair of Structure Khakis and a dark blue mock turtle neck.

"Harm, you didn't go to the store again did you?"

"No, I went to my car and found an overnight bag I had packed. I also had Christmas decorations in the back of the car I was going to donate to the orphanage. Mattie called me on my cell, and was staying at a friend's and the back roads haven't been plowed yet. Her friend's mom is going to keep Mattie until it is safe for me to get her."

"That's good. So that is why you weren't worried. Why are you all dressed up?"

"Well, I figured that I set up this nice romantic atmosphere, that I should dress the part." He flashed her a killer smile.

"Then I should get dressed for dinner. I will be ready in a moment."

She walked into her bedroom and quickly changed into a three quarter length sleeve black dress that fell to mid-calf, and she threw her hair back in a sleek ponytail. She came out and found him standing in the living room with a white rose.

"For you." He said extending the rose. "I figured since we couldn't get out for a nice date, I would bring the date to you." He kissed her nose and led her to the table where they ate in companiable silence.