Chapter 26

Harm bounded up to Mattie's room. He heard the unmistakable sound of rock music blaring out of her room. He knocked on the door, but she didn't answer. Taking a deep breath he steeled himself and walked in.

"Mathilda Grace Johnson, what was that display down there?"

"Harm, you wouldn't understand."

"What's up with Harm, you haven't called me that in months."

"Well you have it all now, a perfect little girl, a mother for her. Where do I fit in? You took me in and let me be part of your family, now I am not to sure I want to be part of it anymore. You can send me back to Blacksburg now."

Harm looked at her. He sank down to the ground. "Mattie, what is bringing this on? I love you."

"But I'm not your daughter."

"Yes you are. Honey, what is going on?"

"If I were your daughter, wouldn't I have your last name? You haven't even said anything about changing my last name, but Mackenzie has your last name." Tears were rolling down her face. "Now that you have a complete family, you don't need me anymore."

"You are right, I don't need you," Harm said, he put his arm around her, "I want you. I want you to be part of this family. If you wanted to change your last name, all you had to do was say something. I was going to bring it up around your birthday. Mattie, I love you. If your father consents to an adoption, I want to adopt you. If that is what you want. But honey, just to let you know, it is totally up to you."

"Daddy." She started sobbing in his arms.

"Shush angel." He rocked her back and forth until she calmed down. "There has to be something more."

"It's my mom's birthday on Sunday."

Mac stepped in through the doorway. "Well, if it alright with you, why don't we drive you down to Blacksburg and you can put flowers on her grave, and then you and your dad can take Sarah up flying."

"Can we Dad?"

"Yeah baby."

"You know Mattie, whenever you miss your mom, all you have to do is tell one of us. I know I can never replace your mom, but I would love to be your friend. Honey, me and your dad will be here for you."

"And so will I," Jen said. "I just called Gina to let her know we were running late."

"Okay, here is the plan of action. Jen, take Mattie and Gina tonight. I will pick them up tomorrow. The pool will be done with the treatment. I'll check it tonight, but I will call Gina's mom tonight and ask her if she can come over tomorrow night for a little swim, dinner, and a movie. Maybe she will consent to letting Gina spend the entire weekend with you. I finished decorating the FROG for you."

"Dad you are the best. I'm sorry about my outburst tonight. I just really wish that I was your real daughter."

"Oh honey, you are my real daughter." He drug her up to her feet and wrapped her in his embrace. Mattie had never felt so secure in her entire life, and the tears starting flowing again. "Mattie, why the tears?"

"Dad, you know, I haven't told you this enough, but you are my hero. Until a few months ago, I had no one in my life. I remember sitting there, and you had brought pizza. I had asked you what you got out of this, and you said me. I didn't understand it, and sometimes I wonder why you would go through so many problems just to have me. But thank you for fighting for me. Now I have a Dad," she said looking at him, "A Mac, which is just as great as a mom, and two sisters. Thank you Dad, can I take your last name?" Harm, Mac, and Jen had tears in their eyes.

"Oh, enough tears," Harm said. "We will sit down and talk about adoption when we can sit down with your real dad. But first, you have a slumber party tonight with your big sister." He tossed her the overnight bag that he had put together for her. "I think I got everything, pajamas, slippers, underwear, socks, jeans, t-shirt, popcorn, candy, hot coco, chips, and nail polish."

The girls started laughing. "What is so funny?"

"You Dad."

"Did I forget anything?"

"No."

"Oh, I put in giftcard for Blockbuster. That way you guys can go crazy." He picked up Mackenzie who was reaching for him, "You know, I smelled you a mile away. It must be time for a bath. Let us walk your sisters down." He walked them to the car.

"Jen?" Harm said to her.

"Yes sir."

"Enough with the sir. You are family Jen, you can call me Harm outside the office. I'm serious."

"Okay Harm."

"I called the security company yesterday and had them turn on the alarm at the loft. The code is 1025."

'S-Harm, I can't afford the cost of the bill."

"They are sending it here. You won't be seeing a bill. As your landlord I am legally responsible for your safety."

"But you aren't responsible for the bill."

"You have been there for me for quite a while Jen. I want to make sure that the girl I think of as my daughter is also safe. So if that means me taking care of this bill, then let me do it. It helps me sleep better at night knowing that you will be able to sleep easier."

"Thanks Dad." Jen hugged him.

"Adopted one, get three." He sighed, "I should adopt a son now. Living in this matriarchal society is going to be the death of me."

"Hey sailor, I heard that." Mac said bounding down the steps of the house. "I ran the bath water for Mackenzie." She walked around to Mattie's side of the car, "Behave, but not to well. Have lots of stories to tell me later kiddo. Listen to Jen, mind your ps and qs."

"Yes Mac. I love you."

"I love you too. Enjoy your night."

"You know Mac, in case Dad forgets to tell you, I think he is pretty crazy about you."

"Don't tell anyone, but I am pretty crazy about him too."

Mac and Harm watched the girls spin away in Jen's old Toyota. "I wonder how long it is going to be until Mattie asks me if she can drive the 'vette."

"Let's not think about that now."

Harm led Mac and Mackenzie inside. He gave Mackenzie her bath. Mac smiled. Bath time was somewhat of a ritual with Harm, she watched him with the baby. He held his butt-naked baby in his arms, Mac snapped a picture of them very discretely. Mackenzie was playing with his dog tags.

"Hey sailor, why are you wearing your dog tags?"

"These aren't mine. They are Dad's. There was someone who went over to Vietnam and Laos and found American servicemen's dogtags. I found my dads on a website several years ago. I switch them out everyday after work. Mackenzie likes the sound of them when they clink together."

Mac leaned in for a closer inspection.

Harmon David Rabb

Lieutenant, USN
xxx-xx-xxxx

Roman Catholic

A pos

"It keeps my Dad close to my heart."

"You know Rabb, you never cease to amaze me." Mackenzie continued to play with the dog tags while playing in the bath.

"Okay, you have to promise not to laugh." He pulled out two washcloth puppets and was singing the itsey-bitsey spider to her. He wiped the suds from the baby and he kissed her feet. She started laughing, and so did Mac. Who would ever thought that the man who seemed so bullet proof could play Mr. Mom?

He went to go lie Mackenzie down and he read "The Three Little Pigs" while making the sounds effects. Mackenzie smiled and would laugh when he would blow the house down. He put the baby down in the crib and turned on her mobile which played "Anchors Away." Mac smiled at the entire scene.

He cracked the door and watched the lights on the monitor light up when she breathed. Mac looked at him. She reached up and kissed him hard. He deepened the kiss and had her pressed up against the wall. Her kisses started trailing down his jaw line. "Mac," he gasped for air. "Sarah, are you sure?"

"I have never been so sure of something in my entire life."

He led her into the bedroom, and putting the baby monitor on the nightstand he proceeded to take off her shirt. He stopped there to gaze at her beauty that was marred by bruises. She noticed that he was looking at the bruise that was partially covered by her bra. Looking down at the bruise herself she started shaking with a flashback

Flashback

The metal table was cold against her back. Corporal Jenkins had managed to get her BDU top open. His eyes feasted on her breasts. She started struggling against his hold, knowing it was no use with the 100 lbs he had on her. He held her wrists down and kept her legs still. He lowered his mouth down and bruised her breasts horribly. She held back her screams of pain.

End Flashback

Harm went to his closet and pulled out one of his old academy t-shirts. He slipped it on over her head.

"Harm, I thought I was ready."

"I told you, no rush." He went to the bathroom and put on a pair of night pants. He opened up the armoire and cut on the television. "Climb into bed and let me hold you."

Normally she would have fought him saying that she could take care of herself, but tonight was different. He had let her see a completely different side of him, that she decided it was time she let go for a little bit. She rummaged around in his drawers and pulled out a pair of boxers.

"Marine, you can borrow my underwear, but you can't use my toothbrush." He said to her as he walked into the bathroom after her. He found he was too late. He took the toothbrush from her and kissed her with all his might, foam and all.

"Harm, yuck!"

"Now you know how much I love you. I just let you use my toothbrush and I kissed you with foam." He grabbed swig of water and jumped into bed leaving a marine with their mouth agape full of toothpaste.

She slid into bed next to him, amazed at everything he was. "Did you just tell me you loved me?"

"I sure did, do you have a problem with that?"

"Harm, I love you too."

"It only took nine years, a baby, and a mouth full of toothpaste for us to say these words to each other."

0400 EST

A jolt of lightening caught Harm's eye. The crash of thunder came next. Harm looked at the baby monitor, and waited. Mac curled up closer to him. He never knew how well her head fit into the crook of his arm. The thunderheads started rolling in, and the lightening started striking more steadily. Then he felt Mac quiver underneath him.

"Mac, what's wrong?"

"When you crashed into the drink. I'm so sorry, it was my fault, if I didn't want you home in time for my wedding, than you wouldn't have to have been out there. I was so selfish. Every night it's like this, I have visions of you floating in that water, in the dark, so cold, holding on to that buoy. I was thinking he will never know how much I love him." He held her tight, whispering soothing thoughts in her ear.

"I love you too. Baby, I would move heaven and earth to help you realize that what happened is not your fault. While I was floating my only thought was of you. You are the reason I held on to the buoy."

"Harm, the baby!"

He heard the soft whimpering over the baby monitor. The power just then chose to go out, and Mackenzie's wails got louder. He grabbed a flashlight from underneath his bed. "I'll go get her."

He got up and walked to the baby's room. She was sitting up with tears rolling down her little cheeks. "Hey baby, did the storm scare you? Its just a summer storm." He walked into his bedroom, "Here go to Mommy while Daddy goes to the basement to flip the circuit breaker."

Mackenzie went willingly into Mac's arm. Mac had tears rolling down her face. "Mac, are you scared of the storm too?"

"No, this is the first time I have ever been referred to as Mommy."

AN – If anyone is interested here is a site for dog tags, there are many more out