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"Life intervened . . . isn't that about it? We make marvelous and intricate plans and then life - in the form of something wonderful, or something terrible, or something that isn't one or the other but is still demanding - makes us throw out the plans and start from scratch."

Toby the Splendid

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"Wooo!" Mac exclaimed happily. They had been soaring through the clouds of Virginia for over forty-five minutes and Mac didn't want to land. She was getting a little taste of heaven.

Harm laughed along with her and it seemed just like another day, another day they had been trying to forget from the minute they had took off and had succeeded in the first five minutes.

"Harm, this is better than before!"

'That's because there are no poachers.' Harm thought, but kept the comment to himself.

"I'm glad you like it!" He replied.

"I do! I can't imagine a better birthday present!" She yelled into the wind.

"Do I have to keep telling you? This isn't it!"

"Well, it's a great one anyway!" She retorted and grinned.

They continued riding through the clouds and chasing the sunrays for an hour more until Harm turned back to land.

"How you doing up there?" Harm called.

"Great! All this yelling has worn me out, though!" She laughed.

"A Marine? Worn out? You're kidding me."

Mac groaned. Wrong thing to say to a squid.

"You better not be too tired for later." Harm said.

"There's more?" Mac asked.

"Yes, there's more." Harm laughed.

They filled their time back to the airfield with corny jokes and both were laughing as they landed.

"Wait, Harm, I've got a better one." Mac laughed, tears nearly spilling down her face.

Harm groaned but couldn't retain from laughing. Her musical laugh was just . . . he racked his brain for the right word. Contagious. And her smile . . . and 'alright Rabb, that's enough. If you let your thoughts drift now you'll never get them back on track and —"

"Well?" Mac turned in her seat to look at him.

"Huh?"

Mac rolled her eyes. "You missed the joke, Sailor. You have to get up earlier to keep up with a Marine."

Harm rolled his eyes. "Walked into that one." He couldn't remember corny jokes ever being so . . . funny. But then again, Mac always made everything ten times better.

He jumped down first and turned to assist Mac. Mac was still laughing and stumbled as she came down. Harm reached out a strong arm to catch her and she looked into his eyes when she straightened.

"Woah there." He whispered softly, meaning it to sound humorous and in jest, instead coming out breathy and soft.

"Thanks." Mac said back, still in a daze. The ensuing look seemed to go on forever until one of the flight mechanics walked past.

"Hey Harm. You ready to put this girl in the hanger?"

Harm unwrapped his arm from Mac and nodded. "Yeah, I'll taxi her in."

The man nodded. "I'll open the hanger for you." He tipped his hat to Mac before heading towards the hangers.

Harm turned back to Mac. "I gotta go put Sarah in and then I have some errands to run. But come to my apartment at 6:30, ok? And dress nice."

Mac nodded. "6:30 it is."

Harm waved goodbye and watched her walk away. The sun glinted off her hair, causing the highlights to shine with extra brilliance and he realized no one could ever look that good in jeans and a sweater.

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MAC'S APT

6:00 EST

Mac had tried on four different dresses, all semi-formal, and slipped the fifth on with frustration. If she didn't find the perfect outfit soon she would . . . She stopped as she looked in the mirror. She wore a long black dress that hugged the complimentary places with a low, but not too low, neckline, and flared at the bottom. It seemed to flutter in slow motion as she walked. It was formal but not too formal . . . In other words, perfect. Smiling at her reflection, Mac touched up her make up before grabbing her purse.

"See Jingo? Your owner can choose an outfit easily."

Jingo raised his eyebrows alternately as if asking her whether she was sane or not.

Mac kissed his nose before grabbing a jacket and her keys. "I'll be back later Jingo." She locked the door behind her. Realizing a necklace would look appropriate, she mentally smacked her head in frustration. Not wanting to be late, she forgot the necklace and hurried to her car. No, she couldn't be late. Not on a special birthday . . . whatever surprised Harm was cooking up.