Chapter Five:

AN – Let me give yall a time line – Harm is only 37 when this takes place, making Mac 33, however Sergei is still in the picture. At this point, they are friends, the best of, there for each other, unlike the show (Nic screams in frustration!) Other than that, nothing you really need to know. There are no major spoilers. The town I describe is the small town I live in now – if you have never lived in a small town, I highly recommend it.

Harm led Mac the block down to the Founder's Day Fair. He stopped by a plaque. "Belleville was founded by four families, the Rabbs, the Smythes, the Webers, and the Clarks."

"So your family has a deep seeded history in this town."

"Yes they do. My grandmother left the farm to me, but I just don't think I am ready to leave the service. I always thought of myself as a lifer."

"What are you going to do with the farm?"

"I'm going to keep it, I'll staff it with the barebones and take extended breaks up here. I would love to bring my kids up here and let them ride the horses, teach them how to milk a cow." Harm told her getting out his billfold to pay for the entrance to the fair.

"Harmon Rabb, Billy look who is here, it's Harmon Rabb."

"Crystal, Harm isn't supposed to get here till tomorrow to go over Gram Rabb's will, you know that."

"Billy you were always a day behind." Harm told his old friend.

"Harm, put away your money, it is no good during this fair, you know the rules, Founding Fathers' kin are free."

"I forgot about that rule Crystal. But I still have to pay for my Marine here. Mac, this is Billy and Crystal Weber. I haven't seen them since their wedding."

"So you are the other half of the famous Harm and Mac duo we hear about every Sunday after church. I always wondered when Harm would bring his Sarah around. You do know that is what Gram's called you right?"

"No Crystal, I didn't. Harm never brought me to meet Grams before."

"Don't take it too personally dear. I think that Harm here has ever brought a girl around. Did you know that he was my first kiss?"

"Really, that is the same thing Mia said at Jesse's." Mac said knowing she was going to get her partner in trouble.

"Harm, you kissed Mia! Well, I never. Did you kiss her in your barn?"

"Thanks a lot Mac. Crystal, it all worked out for the best, you got Billy here." Harm said teasing her.

"What else can you tell me about Harm here?" Mac asked them.

"Nothing." Harm answered. "I'm still the same guy Mac, what you see is what you get."

"Harm, he was always getting into trouble. Do you remember the time that you and Billy blew up Daddy Weber's barn. He was so mad." Crystal said.

"How did they blow up the barn?" Mac asked. Billy and Harm had slinked away.

"I heard that they were playing with firecrackers in the barn and they lost control over one of them. Caught the hay on fire. Luckily all the animals were in the pastures. Billy and Harm had to rebuild the barn after the fire."

"Gram Rabb tanned both of our hides for that one didn't she."

"I don't think I ever saw her that mad. She was little, but man could she pack a punch. Much like my Marine here," Harm said. 'My Marine, when did she become that?' Harm grabbed her hand and they started walking through the small street fair. Mac sighed.

"Tired Marine?"

"No, I was just taking it all in, I can understand why you would want to retire up here. Everyone seems to know everyone, and life just seems so much simpler."

"Life wasn't always simple up here. This town has weathered a lot . . . the men leaving for WW II, an underground fire in one of the mining shafts, a drought that almost killed all the crops." Harm told her sitting on the curb handing her a lemonade. "You have to try this, Jack makes the best lemonade."

Mac took a sip. "He makes it with real lemons! Wow, I haven't had lemonade like this in such a long time." She said smiling at him. Mac looked off in the distance . . .

In Mac's Mind

In Mac's mind eye she saw a young Sarah Rabb grabbing the hand of a young man. The sign overhead read Belleville Tenth Annual Founder's Day Festival. Sarah Rabb was beautiful in her pink dress. The dress looked like it came from the forties.

"Come on Francis, we have to go on the Ferris Wheel!"

"I love the Ferris Wheel, I always felt like I was flying when I am that high in the air."

Young Sarah Rabb giggled. Francis grabbed his young girlfriend's hand and led her to the gigantic wheel that was the highlight of the fair. As they made their way to the front of the line, Francis whispered something to the ride operator while Sarah was talking to her friends.

At the top of the ride, the wheel stopped and Francis looked at his young companion. "Sarah, when I am with you, I am feel like I am on top of the world, like I am flying all the time. Will you be my co-pilot with me in this crazy world?" Francis asked holding up a ring.

"Yes!" 17 year old Sarah Rabb told him.

End Mac's Montage

Harm looked at Mac. "Did you hear me Mac?"

"I'm sorry, I was zoning. Come again?"

Harm smiled at her, "I said would you like to ride on the Ferris Wheel."

"Sure." She said smiling. Harm helped her off of the curb. He watched her brush the dirt off her jeans.

"I used to love the Ferris Wheel." Harm told her as he gave the ride operator the tickets. "Gram used to take me on every year. She said that this is where the love of her life proposed to her. I used to love being up really high in the air."

Sarah looked off in the distance, "You know, love never dies, life does," she told him as the ride stopped and they were at the top waiting for more people to get on.

"Gram used to say the same thing to me." Harm said handing her his jacket as a slight chill ran through the air. "You know Mac, you are really beginning to scare me. You looked like you were a million miles away."

She hugged the jacket around her and he wrapped his arms around her. "You are almost right there, Harm. Give or take a couple of decades or so."

Harm looked at her inquisitively and decided to let it drop. He wanted to enjoy the rest of the fair, which consisted of them sharing a cotton candy and going to a good old fashion square dance. In the midst of all of Harm's sadness, Mac helped him remember how to live and how to love. Just by her being her. He marveled at the thought as he watched his Marine sleep in the passenger seat of the car.

AN – I wrote all night to get this out, and it is now midnight – RR as always, no updates at least until Tuesday (I have a Neurogenics Midterm to work on so maybe not even until Friday) Real life stinks right now. Don't got to school for 20 years straight, take a break!