Chapter Thirty Three

AN- Want to see Mac's dress? I love ?5FencodingUTF8&n1036592&vglance

1700 EST

Harm's House

King George, MD

Harm had taken his shower downstairs at his mother's persistence. The women wanted to be upstairs to help Mac get ready. Harm had situated Mattie in the living room and had put Mackenzie in the pack-n-play. His mother had gone above and beyond the call of grandmother hood. She had not only bought Mattie 15 DVDs, but she also got her a portable DVD player to watch them on. He put on Shrek on the big TV though keep the children occupied. Harm was pacing waiting for Mac to descend the stairs when he heard a knock on the door. He looked out the window and saw Admiral Jonas and Admiral Chegwidden conversing on the front step.

"Sir, did you come to check out the progress of the carnival?" Harm said addressing Admiral Jonas.

"AJ filled me in on the progress. How is Mattie doing?"

"She has a concussion, but is doing fine. Coates is going to stay and help my parents with things."

"Rabb, I received a call from the SecNav. It seems that he will not allow you to drop your fight status this year. It seems that the Navy is trying to keep up the fighting forces for the war on terror. I have been at his office all day trying to talk him out of it, but he won't allow it."

"When do I leave for my quals Sir?"

"Unfortunately, you leave within the next couple of weeks for the Patrick Henry. Captain Ingles is looking forward to having you."

"I suppose I can get Jen to help Mac watch the kids. My parents can't stay any longer than Tuesday. Is it okay if Mattie goes to JAG? She won't be going back to work until next Monday." Harm asked.

"I could use some extra filing hands. I'm sure Coates wouldn't mind the help." Admiral Jonas said smiling.

Harm invited everyone inside. He insisted that they stay for dinner, they had ordered enough for everyone. Admiral Jonas and Admiral Chegwidden looked up the steps and saw Mac exiting down the stairs.

"Rabb, you are one lucky SOB." Jonas said under his breathe.

Sarah was wearing a full length black lace dress. She held a clutch purse in one hand, and was wearing stiletto heals. He extended his arm out and guided her down the stairs. Harm was wearing a dark grey suit with a dark blue shirt and tie that complemented his eyes. Mattie sighed and realized that their family was going to be complete. He looked at Mac. "You take my breath away." He gave her a kiss on the cheek. "Give me a moment."

He walked away from her and walked into his office. Mattie came in after him. "Dad, are you going to give Mac what I think you are going to?"

"Sure am Kiddo. I have been holding on to this for much to long." He opened up the wall safe and pulled out a small slender box. He nodded at Mattie, and she walked and sat down on the couch, and watched her father walk behind Mac and place a black pearl pendant around her neck. "While I was stationed on the Pat 4 years ago, I saw this in a local shop while on liberty, and bought it. I have held on to it, waiting for the right moment to give it to you."

She looked at him and smiled. Mattie snapped a picture of the two. Admiral Jonas walked into the kitchen to pretend he didn't see the electricity between the two. Harm gave his arm to Mac and walked out to the yard when they saw a stretch limo.

Harm turned around and looked at his mother. "Harm, I wanted this to be a perfect night, I had Marcus trade in the Escalade for a stretch limo."

Mac was standing there in awe. "I have never been in a limo before."

"Well it will be a first night for a lot of things. Just let me make this night just for me and you." As if right on cue, Mackenzie reached for her parents and started whimpering.

Mac reached for her girls. Mattie hugged Mac, and Harm protected himself with a burping rag and kissed Mackenzie goodbye. "Mac have a good night with Dad."

"Honey are you sure you will be fine?" Me and your dad can do this another night."

"Yeah Mattie, if you are feeling bad at all, I'm not going." Harm said.

"Dad, Mom, go, have a great night . . . Do I have to make that an order?" Mattie said in her best AJ voice. She looked at her Uncle AJ. "Sorry Uncle AJ, I couldn't resist."

"She's right. Go, or I will make it an order," their old CO said.

"Okay." They turned away from their family and walked away. Waving goodbye on the front porch stood their family, albeit a nonconventional family, but a family – Admiral Chegwidden was supporting Mattie, Admiral Jonas was holding a leased Dammit, Harm's parents, and their girls: Mattie, Jen, and Mackenzie. He looked at Mac, and smiled. "There is our family."

"I know Flyboy."

The ride in the limo was exquisite; they had non-alcoholic champagne and strawberries on the drive to Baltimore. Half way through the drive he looked at Mac.

"Our love is so magical."

"I sure hope not. Love can sometimes be magic. But magic can sometimes be an illusion. And if this is an illusion, I don't know what I'll do."

"You know, I am the luckiest man alive. I love you, and that is not an illusion."

He looped his arm around her, and drew her in close. Just then, Always by Bon Jovi came on, and he started singing it to her in her ear.

"And I will love you always . . . . Take a look at my face/There's no price I won't pay to say these words to you," he sang.

The song ended and he held her close in his arms. Her perfume of lavender and vanilla made her irresistible. She was thinking her life was perfect, she could smell his Drakkar. The limo driver put down the partition and announced that they were at the restaurant.

Harm looked at his watch. "Sarah, we have a about a half an hour until dinner. There is a small jewelry store next to the restaurant, I would like to go and get Mattie a small gift."

"Sure no problem."

People on the street took notice of the handsome couple walking with their arms linked. They were envious of the obvious love that flowed effortlessly like a river between the two of them.

They walked into the store. Harm walked over to the counter that had a variety of bracelets displayed. A salesman looked at the couple and discretely walked over to them.

"Hello, I am Hansel. How may I help you today."

"Hello. My name is Commander Harmon Rabb, I am looking for something special for my fifteen year old."

Hansel had a gleam of recognition in his eyes. "Well Commander, we have a fine selection of sweet 16 presents that would do nicely for a father/daughter momento. May I suggest a stunning platinum plated charm bracelet."

"Yes Hansel that will do nicely."

Mac walked over to a display of picture frames. Harm caught her looking away, so at that moment, they went to the register to ring up his purchase. He discretely handed a small package to the Commander. "The young Ms. Coates was in here today inspecting this. She said it would do splendidly."

"Thank you for your discretion. Also, I would like to have a five-by-seven frame engraved with a special inscription if you can do so by the end of tonight. The driver will be in with further instructions."

"As you wish sir."

Harm left all but one package with the clerk, and called Marcus to let him know to go by the jewelry store to pick up the packages for him. He led his Marine into Aldo's to enjoy their night away from the children.

Aldo's was raved among the locals and revered in the papers. It was situated nicely on Baltimore's inner harbor. They were seated in a small dining room where they gazed into each other's eyes. The waiter came and read the specials. Harm ordered the Zuppa di Pesce alla Calabrese which consisted of Day Boat Filet of Fish, shrimp, scallops, clams, mussels and potatoes in tomato-infused bouillon. Mac ordered the grilled prime filet mignon, with seared hudson valley foie gras, Italian black truffle, porcini and wild mushrooms sauce with four cheese risotto. Harm handed the menus to the waiter and held his hand out to Mac. He took her hand and pressed her palm to his lips.

Mac could see in the intensity building in his dark blue eyes. He put down his water goblet and gave her a dazzling smile that would always make her go weak in the knees. The sting quartet started playing an all too familiar song, "Unforgettable." He helped her up to feet and gracefully led her to an open area where they could sway to the music. Since they were in a small private dining room, it felt like they had the whole room to themselves.

"Je T'aime," Harm whispered to her.

"Harm, I don't know French," she sighed into his chest.

"You know Farsi and Russian. I know French. It means I love you." He held her close forgetting the outside world.

The waiter placed their food on the table and waited for refilled their drink orders. Harm led her back to the table and pulled out her chair. Before sitting, he gazed into her eyes. "I could get lost forever in those eyes." She murmured.

They sat down and ate their food in companionable silence. Harm brought out his cell phone only once to make sure that Mattie was doing fine. After dinner they walked around Baltimore's Inner Harbor and took in the sights that were all around them, the lights, the water, and the boats. She started shivering and he reached from behind and put his jacket around her shoulders. She sunk into him, and he placed a light kiss on her neck. The sensation that she felt on her delicate patch of skin there would forever brand her forever his.

0015 EST

Harm's house

The limo ride home was uneventful. Mac spent most of it lying in Harm's arms. Upon arriving at the house, Harm didn't want to wake his most precious package of the night. Marcus gave him the packages and bid him farewell. Harm got Mac up the stairs and into the room he dubbed "theirs." Even though Mac didn't officially live with Harm, he still thought of it as their room.

He placed her on the bed, and removed her shoes. He placed Mattie's present on the night stand, and went down to his office. He finished wrapping up Mac's gift and found her standing in the doorway yawning. He quickly put the package behind him. She was still in her dress.

"Sarah, honey, you should go to bed now. We have a huge day tomorrow."

"Not without you."

He went into her open arms and hugged her close. "I never want to let this night end."

"What is in your hand Flyboy?"

"Something I got for you. Let's go to the bedroom, get ready for bed, and when we are safe and sound in the bed, I will let you open it."

He handed her the present, and picked her up. He carried her up the stairs, mindful not to make any noise. He went down the hall and checked on Mattie. She was asleep with Jen lying next to her and The Sound of Music playing. He checked his watch, it had been 12 hours since the incident. He breathed a little easier.

He walked into Mackenzie's room and checked on her. She was a perfect sleeping little angel who would soon be up terrorizing the house.

He walked back into his bedroom and found the love of his life waiting for him so she could open her gift.

"Well, you waited long enough."

She tore open the silver paper and gold bow to show the silver frame that Harm had purchased earlier. The inscription read Nunc Scio Sit Quit Amor.

"What does the inscription say?"

"It's Now I know what love is."

Inside the frame was a picture of them taken earlier in the day. Harm had put the necklace on her, and she was touching the part of her neck where the pearl fell. He was standing behind her placing a kiss on her bare shoulders with his arms around her waist. Now Harm and Mac really knew what love was.