Title: Epilogue: Thankful

Author: Katarina Maru

Rating: G

Disclaimer: I am a broke college student who owes more money than she actually has….so JAG…the characters, the story, the name, the song "Thankful" none of it is mine….Kelly Clarkson wrote the song…and a great song it is….

Summary/Explanation: This is it. The end. I was debating on whether or not to even write this….but I had to do something to give myself some closure on this whole thing. And I am hoping that it will do the same for others! Read, review….but more importantly….ENJOY!

Epilogue: Thankful

18 months after the coin toss…

We've got one red bootie on and one more to go. Then we have to find our matching hat and maybe even the matching sweater.

"Isn't that right, baby?" I coo to the little being lying on the changing table in front of me. She giggles in response, and I agree. Today is a giggly day. I hear music coming from the living room down stairs. I begin to hum the tune while picking up the baby and the rest of the items I need to finish dressing her.

You know my soul
You know everything about me there's to know
You know my heart
How to make me stop and how to make me go
You should know
I love everything about you
Don't you know?

That you do, little one, that you do. I look down at the now dressed 9 month old miracle I hold in my hands. And I realize I will never forget that night back at the bar when I took fate into my own hands. It paid off. I am thankful for everything I have. I am thankful for the friends we have, and for the fact that Harm trusted me enough to make a decision I felt would be best for him, Mattie and I.

That I'm thankful for the blessings
And the lessons that I've learned with you by my side
That I'm thankful (so thankful)
For the love that you
Keep bringin' in my life
In my life

Thankful, so thankful

I take one more look and the little one in my hands, make my way towards the door and turn off the lights in the room. I can hear voices now coming from down stairs. People must be arriving. As I walk down the hall, I take a look at all the pictures that hang from the wall. The first one I see is from our wedding day. It was a beautiful Maryland summer day. That's right Maryland. The Naval Academy Chapel to be exact. It was a compromise. We got married in the Academy Chapel, and I got to carry a bouquet of White House Roses. Him in his dress whites, and me in an off white dress with pearls scattered all over the place. I look down the hall and notice a figure standing and watching me.

You know my thoughts
Before I open up my mouth and try to speak
You know my dreams
Must be listenin' when I'm talkin' in my sleep
I hope you know
I love having you around me
Don't you know, yeah

"How are two of my favorite girls?" the voice asks. I smile at him and continue to sing the song I hear floating up the stairs and lingering in the hallway we are standing in.

"Do you regret it?" I ask as I draw the baby closer to me.

"No. We both got to keep our careers. I am still a Captain, and we are celebrating your return to work and promotion to Colonel. Am I sad that we didn't pick London or San Diego? No. Not at all. I put my trust in you and what you thought was best for us as a family and look what it got me. Not one, but two beautiful daughters."

For once I am able to drown out the song and listen to every word he has said. I realize that I should let him in on a little secret I have been sitting on for almost a week.

For the lessons that I've learned
For the trouble I've known
For the heartache and pain
Thrown in my way
When I didn't think I could go on
But you made me feel strong
With you I am never alone

(Thankful, so thankful)

So I'm thankful (oh) for the blessings (yeah)
And the lessons that I've learned with you by my side
That I'm thankful (so thankful)
For the love that you
Keep bringin' in my life
In my life

The song is coming to an end. But We, as a family are starting a new chapter in life. I look at him and hand him Antonia Rose Rabb. Our little miracle. The one they said would never happen. Once I am sure the baby is secure in her father's arms. I place a hand on his cheek. And the other on my stomach.

"I guess I should tell you what the doctor told me when I went in for my check up." My voice is soft and gentle, but the expression on his face is one of fear. I realize the words that I have used and kick myself for using them. All I can do is gaze into his eyes and listen to the words of the song in hopes of gathering some courage.

Thankful (thankful) for the moments

(so thankful) when I'm down you know just how to make me

(oh yeah) smile (oh yeah)

Thankful (thankful) for all the joy you bring into my life
In my life

Thankful Thankful Thankful

So thankful So thankful So thankful So thankful

I smile at him and stroke his cheek.

"Sarah…" His voice cracks when he says my name. I wipe a tear away from his eye and then place a finger on his lips.

"Harm. Don't worry. It's not what you think. I am perfectly healthy. In fact, we both are." He looks at me a little confused. He knew that the visit was just for me, not me and the baby. He then realizes that I have my hand on my stomach, right where it laid the last time I told him we were going to have a baby. He begins to cry. His body wracked with sobs. Tears are flowing from his eyes and landing in the dark hair of the child he has clutched to his heart. She looks up at her father and instead of being startled by his sudden emotion out burst, she reaches up and places a sloppy kiss on the tip of his nose. That was my undoing. I just let the tears flow. He looked so happy at that moment.

Thankful Thankful

That's exactly how I feel right at this moment.

I hear him mutter something about "4 percent my ass" and can't help but giggle.

"Are they sure?" His voice has gained some of its strength back. I nod my head and he pulls me into a hug. We hear footsteps coming towards us. It's Mattie.

"You finally told him." She states in a matter of fact tone. I nod once again. She walks over and gently touches her little sister's hair. The little girl just looks up with her big chocolate brown eyes and coos at her older sister. Harm pulls Mattie into the hug and we all stand there. As a family. I look up at Harm and he kisses my forehead like he so often does.

"How do you feel about all this?" I ask him.

The final words and notes of the song fade from down stairs when he simply says,

"Thankful"