…Till Death Does Us Part Chapter IV (The Conclusion) – Part 5/12
Disclaimer - See part one for all important information
Saturday August 27
Harm and Mac's House
McLean, Virginia
5:45 PM
"Colonel, you have to look at these pictures," Bud said with a smile on his face as he was reviewing the pictures he had taken on his digital camera.
Mac walked over to Bud on the deck and looked at the pictures on the LCD screen. "Oh, that one definitely has to be on the office refrigerator on Monday." She laughed as she viewed a picture of Ty and Harm, both with icing over their faces.
"I don't trust those words," Harm called from the grill.
Harriet glanced at the picture really quick. "It's not too incriminating, Sir."
"Oh, that makes me feel so much better, Harriet." Harm laughed as he walked over to the picnic table with a plate full of burgers and hot dogs. "Dinner is served."
Soon the adults were seated around the picnic table. Ty's birthday party had started at two on the dot with the cake and gifts. Then Little AJ, Ty, and Jimmy went to the zoo with Trish, Frank, and Sarah. The elders decided it would be best if the kids were away, so Harm and Mac could tell their friends the news.
At the table sat AJ, Meredith, Sturgis, Varise, Harriet, Bud, Clay and his date Marissa, who had been his nurse when he was recovering from his injuries. Harm and Mac were sitting at the opposite ends of the table in plastic outside chairs, enjoying the company of their friends.
"It was really nice of your parents to take the kids out," Harriet commented.
"Mom loves kids and jumped at the chance to take them," Harm smiled as he had a bite of his veggie burger.
Conversation passed up and down the table as everyone was just enjoying the light atmosphere and the fair weather. The weather had surprised them. Usually in August DC is the hottest place one could imagine, but a mild breeze came through the yard and gave them the perfect outdoor day. As everyone finished their meals, Harm glanced at Mac and knew it was time to make their announcement.
"That was really good, Harm," Sturgis commented. "Who knew you could cook meat that well."
Everyone had a good chuckle. "Sturgis, be nice to him." Varise gave Sturgis a good natured poke in the ribs.
"Yes, Ma'am." Sturgis joked.
Mac decided that now was the best time to tell everyone, considering she and Harm had no idea how to bring the topic up. "Harm and I have a few things we would like to say."
Everyone looked at them; Harm slowly got up from the end of the table and walked over to stand behind Mac.
"First," Mac started. "We want to thank all of you for being great friends and coming today. It means a lot to us."
"Gee, and I thought I was here for Ty," Clay grinned.
Mac chuckled. "You are, but we're just glad that everyone came."
AJ beamed with pride at his two officers. "It's our pleasure, Mac."
"We also have something to tell all of you and it's very important," Harm started. He quickly watched as everyone at the table leaned forward to listen to the announcement. He looked down and Mac tilted her head and gave him a nod of encouragement. Harm took a deep breath. "As all of you know, Mac and I have always had a unique relationship. And when Ty was brought into the picture, our relationship changed."
"Oh," Harriet gasped softly as she hoped this was going to mean that Harm and Mac finally admitted they were in love with each other.
Harm placed his trembling hand on Mac's shoulder and continued. "We've been working on being better friends and a real family. And… umm… there's something else, but I can't seem to find the words."
"The hotshot can't find the words," Clay joked to lighten the mood.
Mac sighed and decided to take over. "There's no easy way to say this, but the truth. Two years ago Harm and I accidentally got married."
There was a stunned silence at the table as Meredith, Harriet, Bud, and Varise stared at the couple across from them.
Mac kept on talking so Sturgis would understand where they were going with this, since he already knew about the marriage. "We were going to get it annulled, but there was a mild mix-up with the papers. And then we were going to get a divorce when we realized that annulment was not an option, since I was pregnant with Ty and the period of time for the annulment has outrun."
Harm decided to take over. "Last week we were supposed to sign the divorce papers. We went down and I signed them. But Mac decided not to. We talked and we made the decision to stay married."
The only sound that could be heard was that of traffic and the wind. Mac and Harm carefully looked at their friends. Clay and AJ just sat there, having already known the whole story. But Harriet and Bud were lost in their thoughts. Sturgis was surprised to hear the rest of the story and his jaw was nearly scrapping the table. Varise didn't know whether to smile in happiness or stare in shock. While Marissa, Clay's date, just thought this was very unusual.
Meredith looked at her husband. "Why aren't you surprised?"
"I already knew," AJ told her, knowing that when they got home she was going to give him an earful.
Harriet finally snapped back to reality. "You two are married?"
"Yes," Harm and Mac responded.
"And you're going to stay married," Bud said.
"Yes," Harm and Mac responded again.
"Why didn't you tell anyone?" Varise asked the most obvious question.
Mac decided to take this one. "We wanted to work everything out first."
Then it suddenly dawned on Bud. "This is why you have your new assignment, Sir."
"Yes, Bud, it is. It's the perfect solution for both of us," Harm smiled.
Harriet stared at her two friends and felt complete happiness. A lot of things that she witnessed today started to make more sense. She recalled watching Harm touching Mac on her back and pulling her into several half hugs as they played with Ty and Jimmy. A tear rolled down her cheek. Bud looked at his wife with concern. "Are you okay, Honey?"
"I'm just so happy," Harriet said before she got up from the table and gave Mac a huge hug. "You two finally admitted to each other what we have already known for years."
Harm laughed. "What did you know?"
Harriet let go of Mac and looked at Harm. "That you two love each other and are meant to be together." Then she and Harm hugged.
"Yeah, we do love each other and we are together." Harm smiled.
Soon everyone was congratulating them and asking questions about everything. Conversations soon overlapped each other. And happiness and love were the only emotions that filled the deck, only interrupted by the ringing of the Admiral's cell phone. He took the call and walked to the little play ground at the end of the yard.
Sturgis looked at Mac when there was a lull in the conversation. "So Mac, does this mean I don't have to keep that secret anymore?"
Mac gave Sturgis a confused look, but then it slowly came back to her and she laughed. "No, he already knows."
Sturgis smiled. "Good, because I was getting worried I was going to send out a mental communication about your feelings."
Harm looked at his wife. "What are you two talking about?"
"I'll tell you later, Honey." Mac said before giving him a soft kiss for the first time in front of their friends. Their friends saw that love between the married couple and found that happiness can truly exist in the strange world they live in.
"Mac, do you have a second?" AJ asked after he'd ended the call. His behavior showed that something serious had happened.
"Sure," Mac slowly answered and got up from her chair.
"Let us take a walk, okay?" AJ suggested her gently before looking at the irritated looking Harm and his guests. "We won't be gone for long."
Harm's eyes followed Mac and his former CO until they walked into the house and were out of his sight.
"Do you know what this is about?" Sturgis asked his friend and brought Harm out of his thoughts.
"I have no idea, Sturg," Harm answered quietly, never stopping to look at the house. "I have no idea."
The End Part 5
