Chapter Fifty Four

Mattie and Harm pulled up to the driveway after an extensive shopping trip which only produced a pair of shoes for Mattie. He saw Mac on the front porch with Mackenzie and he waved to them.

"Mackie, look who is here!"

"DADADA!"

"I swear Harm, this kid thinks the sun and moon rises and sets with you."

"No, I'm just her Dad." He picked her up and threw her in the air and caught her in his arms. "Mattie and me had a blast."

"That's good. Dinner is done. I thought for a change we would have dinner in the formal dining room."

"Okay Mac."

He helped her up off the porch and they went inside as a family. Harm opened the dividing doors in between the kitchen and formal dining room to be greeted by warm familiar faces.

"Son, why don't you pull up a seat and lead the family in grace?"

"Okay Frank," Harm replied. He cleared his throat, and everyone rose around the dinner table, and he went into parade rest out of force of habit and bowed his head. "Bless oh lord, for these are thy gifts, which we are about to receive through thy bounty through Christ our Lord, Amen."

"At least you didn't forget you dinner prayer." His mother spoke up. Harm looked around the table and saw Sergei and Jen, Admiral Chegwidden, Admiral Jonas, the Roberts, and Sturgis with Varese.

"You guys didn't have to come out here for dinner."

"Yes we did." Sturgis replied. "Who cooked?"

"Actually, I did." Mac said.

"Harm, you trust a Marine to cook? Have you had her coffee in the office?" Sturgis asked.

"Sure have. In Mac's defense though, it has to be the coffee maker. She makes great coffee here." He kissed Mac on the cheek and Mackenzie started reaching for Harm so he ended up picking her up and eating with her on his lap. He reached over and broke up some roll for her to gum on.

"Harm, do you always eat with Mackenzie on your lap?" His mother piped up.

"No, but today is different." He said feeding Mackenzie some of her baby food.

The extended family sat around joking with each other. Harm's mother told some rather embarrassing stories of him when he was a baby while Harm took Mackenzie and Mattie outside to gaze at the stars. "Harm Sr. used to do that with him when he was younger. I am surprised he remembered."

"My father knew about the stars?" Sergei asked genuinely curious.

"Oh yes. He was a science buff. He loved astronomy, anatomy, biology, and physics. He used to love the stars, and I guess that is why he flew."

"Harm one time told me that flying always put him closer to the stars and that made him feel closer to his dad." Mac commented.

"Sergei that's where you get it from." Jen said to him. "He gazes up at the stars at night, and then proceeds to tell me where all the constellations are." Jen explained to everyone else.

"Sergei, you should call me more often," Trish said. "I am sure I can tell you stories of your father, and I am sure your grandmother would tell you stories. You are no longer alone. We are here now. We are your family."

"Thank you Trish."

Same time outisde

"Mattie, I know this is going to be hard for you to hear, but there is a chance that I may not come home." Harm started to say to her.

"Daddy, no don't say that." She said with tears streaming down her face. "In my dreams you will always be here, pulling up in the Lexus and wrapping me up in the hugs only you can give."

"Come here honey." He pulled her closer and whispered, "I hope you always keep me in your heart and in your dreams." He hugged her close. "Always remember, I love you Mathilda. If I could stay here with you, I would, but I can't."

"I know Dad."

Mackenzie started giggling while sitting on Harm's lap. He sang quietly to them as they rocked on the swing they had put up. Before he realized it, Mattie was fast asleep leaned up against him, and Mackenzie was snuggled up in his arms. Mac came walking out and claimed Mackenzie from his arms to put her up in the bassinet and Harm carried Mattie up to her room. Mac made it downstairs before Harm.

"Sarah, dear, the kids in bed?"

"Yes they are Frank. They were out like a light. Harm has always had better luck putting Mackenzie to bed than me. She is going to have a hard time when he leaves tomorrow. Mattie worships Harm." She sighed knowing that the morning would soon be approaching.

AJ came up behind her and put his hands on her shoulders. "You know Mac, you will not be alone in raising these children."

"I know AJ. I'm just scared."

Trish walked through the door. "It's alright to be scared Sarah. Lord knows, when Harm Sr. went off, I don't think I got a wink of sleep."

Harm came bounding down the stairs and saw Mac being surrounded by the group of people. He made it to the middle of the group and swept her up in kiss. "I won't be able to do this for several months, I might as well do it as much as I can right now."

Harriet, being the ever so diplomatic person, grabbed her husband and pointedly said, "You know, it's getting a little late, we should get going now."

Sergei looked at Jen and invited her to his room to watch a movie, and Harm raised an eyebrow telling them to behave. Sergei laughed at that. AJ, Admiral Jonas, his parents, and Strugis and Varese decided to go get coffee at the local coffee shop, leaving the lovebirds behind to face the uncertain future together.

TBC