Chapter Forty Nine

One month later:

Everything was finally right in the Rabb household. Mac had decided that even though they had decided to wait to move in together, that it she needed to be there for every moment that she could be to watch the children grow. Mac had moved in with Harm a couple weeks later. They now had a bustling house every morning. Sergei and Harm had decided to turn the FROG into an apartment for Sergei. It worked out perfectly because the FROG had a separate entrance to it from the garage, but could still be accessed from inside the house. Mattie grudgingly gave up her "cool" space but said it was well worth it to have her uncle around. They even took the first steps to formally adopting Mattie.

Flashback

Harm had called Tom a week ago to address the topic of adopting Mattie for good. They had decided to go to lunch together, the three of them.

"Tom, there is something we need to talk about." Harm said to him over lunch at Uno, Dos, Tres. "I would like to be able to formally adopt Mattie."

Tom sat there and didn't really express much of anything. "Tom, you will always be my father, and it doesn't mean that I want to stop seeing you every so often, it just, Harm has been so good to me, and I would like to be able to be his legal daughter."

"Harm has done everything to help us out. Why don't you want me to be your dad?"

"You will always be the dad to the little girl who worshipped you before the drinking, but Harm is the dad who helped me be a little girl again when it was ripped away from me. Harm has been able to provide me with a good home, a great school, two sisters, a huge family, and a woman who regards me as her own child too. I want to legally be a part of this wonderful family."

"I'll consent, because it is the best thing for you. I don't know if I can stay on the wagon, and I need to just concentrate on me." Tom said not showing any regard for the child that was biologically his.

Harm sat there and was happy that he was going to have Mattie in his life for good, but was upset that Tom didn't even put up a fight for her.

They ironed out some details and Harm called the lawyer to let her know that he would be officially adopting Mattie and to get the papers started. They walked to the car and Mattie let out some tears.

"What's wrong sweetie?"

"Why didn't he fight for me Dad? He just let go so easy, if he turns back to the bottle it will be my fault."

"Honey, Tom did what he felt was right for you, and what you asked for. That is all you can expect for a father to do. If you wanted to go back to live with him, I would be sad, but you are a woman now, and I would have to respect your decision. But you wouldn't be able to get me out of your life quickly."

"No Dad, I want to live with you."

End Flashback

"Mom, are we going to go back to school shopping?" Mattie yelled from the top of the stairs.

"As soon as Harriet gets here. She is going to drop of the boys and they are going to have a boys day out, and we are going to go to the mall."

"Sounds great."

Sergei and Harm were sitting in the kitchen enjoying their coffee. "Tell me brother, how did you end up with such a beautiful fiancée, two wonderful children, and a beautiful house?"

"Just lucky I guess." Harm answered smiling at his brother. "If someone told me a year ago my little family was going to grow, I would have laughed at them. Life is so good right now, I am waiting for it to fall out from underneath me."

"Oh baby, you can't think about that kind of stuff." Mac said walking into the room. She had walked up behind him and looped her arm around his broad shoulder. "What are you doing with AJ and Jimmy?"

"I think we are taking them to the national zoo."

"Sergei, what are you planning on doing with Jennifer?"

"I am taking her out to a lunch and then we are going to go rollerblading around the park."

"Be careful. We finally got everyone out of casts and healthy, I don't need another trip to the emergency room."

"Yes older brother."

Mackenzie could be heard crying over the baby monitor. "Harm can you get the baby?" Mac asked from the laundry room.

"Sure honey." Harm bounded up the stairs to the nursery and found Mackenzie in her play area with her lips pouting. "Hey Mackenzie. Daddy's here. Did you get tired of playing with all your toys." He picked her up and looked her over and found a small bruise forming on her arm. "Where did you get this from?" He set her down and watched her play, and then saw her get her arm caught in the locking mechanism. He scooped her up and walked into Mattie's room. "Matts, I need you to watch Mackenzie for a couple of minutes."

"Sure Dad. Let me grab some clothes for her, and I will change her."

"Thanks Kiddo. You are a good older sister."

Mattie held Mackenzie and walked into the nursery and watched her dad tear down Mackenzie's play area. "Dad, what are you doing?"

"Mackenzie just got bruised when she was playing in here. I won't have anything that can harm you kids in the house."

"Dad, you worry too much."

"Da!"

"Well Matts, that is what a dad does. Thank you for dressing your sister."

"No problem dad. Have fun with the boys today."

"Don't run up the credit card too much."

Mattie and Mackenzie were two steps in front of Harm as he hauled the play fence out of the house. "Harm what are you doing with her play fence?"

"It was bruising her. That is what caused the screaming this morning."

"Good investigating Harm. So that is where she was getting those small bruises from. I noticed one the other day during bath time."

"I'm glad we figured that out. I guess I will just have to find a different play area for her. Which reminds me, don't let Mattie walk all over you today. Her grandmother just bought her a new computer, but that doesn't mean new computer games. Also, she can get three pairs of jeans to start, sweaters, and a nice coat."

"Harm, I think I can handle shopping with Mattie."

"You haven't been shopping with Mattie yet, not on a shopping spree day. Trust me on this." He was telling her as he walked the discarded play fence to the curb. They saw Harriet and Bud pull up.

"Ma'am, sir." Harriet addressed as she got out of the car.

"No ranks today." Mac said first. "I thought it would be easier if we took Harm's Lexus, and then Harm and Bud could take the minivan, that way we don't have to switch car seats and all."

"Good plan Mac." Harriet answered. "If you are ready to go, we can get to it."

"Okay." Mac said. "Mattie, can you bring Mackenzie out?" Mac shouted to the house.

"Yeah Mom." Mattie appeared a couple of moments later with Mackenzie in hand with the diaper bag and Mac's purse. Mackenzie squealed out when she saw her dad again.

"Da,da,da,da!"

"Come here Wiggle Worm." Harm swung her high in the air and caught her.

"She won't still try mom?" Harriet asked.

"She has on a couple of occasions, but she only babbles dadada, when Harm is around. I think she knows that makes him happy. We figure we wouldn't rush it." Mac said watching Harm do his "pre-ride" check with Mackenzie as he put her in the car seat. Mac walked up behind him. "You do that so well, maybe one day we will have to let Mackenzie be an older sibling."

"Mom, Dad, yuck! There are other people around." Mattie said.

"Okay Mattie we'll can it. Just remember what I said about not going overboard with this whole shopping thing."

"Yes sir."

Harm leaned down and kissed Mackenzie on the cheek and then kissed Mattie on the forehead. "You two be good for Mom and Aunt Harriet. I will see you at home for dinner."

Mac leaned up and kissed him. "I love you flyboy."

"I love you too Mac." In that instant they both knew that this was their paradise.