Hi, I decided that I´d be good girl and post part 8 and part 9 together in one, so this is the last chapter. I might write a sequel, but don´t be so sure about it, because I didn´t decide yet. I want to Thank you again for all the support everyone has given me throughout this story. I hope you enjoy this chapter as much as the others!
Special thanks to all the reviewers.
„Spending most my nights lost inside your eyes, wondering how can I ever live without you, live without you beside my side".
SOMEWHERE NEAR SAN JOSE, CA
Harm could not hide his shock or surprise. I stood quickly, almost
knocking him to the floor. Behind us stood Jasmine, rubbing her eyes
sleepily. I walked to her and lifted her up.
„Good morning honey". I gave her a kiss and then I turned around with her in my arms. I nervously awaited his reaction.
Harm stood in the middle of the living room, still in shock. He tried
to hide it as we came over to him. I looked at Harm and then at Jess
and I smiled.
"Honey, this is a very good friend of mine, Commander Rabb. Can you
say hi?"
"Hi," she said quickly, eyeing Harm cautiously.
I, too, looked at Harm cautiously. "This is Jasmine. My daughter."
Harm smiled down at Jess.
"Hi," he said softly. He glanced at me, and then said:
"I'm a pilot. Do you like airplanes?"
„Daddy!" Jasmine replied, her tiny mouth breaking into a grin. Both Harm and I stood here in shock. Sure I told her about Harm, but I didn´t tell her any names or anything like that. She is smart.
Harm is still in shock. I can hear the wheels turning in his head. I just wait till he starts yelling at me or something, but instead, he just says:
"She's beautiful, Mac. She has your brains," he added, looking at me again.
"That's about all of mine she has," I replied. "The rest is all her father." Especially that grin, I thought.
This is when he became serious.
„When did you found out? Couldn´t you tell me? I assume she is mine, isn´t she?"
Here we go.
„I…I just take her back to her room okay?" He only nodds. I think he is mad at me. I hope he won´t want to take her away from me.
"I'll be right back," I added.
I felt Harm's eyes on me, silently watching me as I walked down the hall to Jasmine's room.
"So?" Harm asked casually as I returned.
„I found out about a month after I have disappeared". I told him quietly.
„So you were two months pregnant then. I thought women find out earlier than that".
„I did not". I wanted him to know that I didn´t lied to him.
„I wouldn´t go if I knew earlier". I looked him straight in the eye and hoped he would believe me. He didn´t say a damn thing.
„She is yours. We can do the paternity test if you´d like". Instead of answering, he spaced out for a while. I wanted to say something when he dropped this on me.
"Come home with me, Sarah," he said, his voice softening. I didn´t know what to do. All I had to do was say yes and all my dreams would come true. The only problem was that I was not sure anymore what those dreams were.
"I don't know if I can," I replied. "So much has changed..."
"I know," Harm replied.
„But" he glanced in the direction of Jasmine´s room.
„I want to get to know her. She…she is my daughter". He smiled at me.
"I'm happy here. Jasmine is happy here. There's no crowds, no stress,
no one judging me. No deadlines or protocol. Besides, D.C. is a
terrible place to raise children. I have to think about what's right
for her."
"Bud and Harriet are managing just fine," Harm argued with me.
„We would manage too" he said and my heart skipped a beat.
„This is different. I'm not the same person than you once knew. I'm not the same jarhead Marine who will take on anyone and anything. I've mellowed, Harm."
"I've changed, too, Mac. We all have. But some things always remain
the same. Everyone misses you. Bud, Harriet, the Admiral, Gunny," he said. He took a quick breath.
"I miss you," he added shyly.
He took a few steps towards me and placed a finger under my chin, forcing me to look into his eyes. I whispered his name in warning just before his lips touched mine in a tender kiss. It was difficult to resist the urge to melt right into his arms. But I couldn't just go back to the way things were.
When I didn't respond to the kiss, Harm pulled away reluctantly. I
took a few steps back and shook my head, holding back the tears that
I knew would eventually come.
Harm's expression was one of sadness. He looked as though he wanted
to say something, but he just sighed.
"I'm sorry."
I took another few steps to the door and pulled it slowly open. To my
dismay, Carol stood on the porch, poised to knock. Her face lit up in
surprise and curiosity.
"I'm sorry, am I interrupting something?"
"No," Harm answered sadly. "I was just leaving."
He paused as he walked out the door.
"This is not goodbye, Sarah."
„I know"
He nodded politely at Carol and then he disappeared down the walk. I turned back to Carol, who stood there, mouth gaping.
"Carol, there's something I need to tell you..."
Two days later
For the second time in two days I was awakened by the doorbell. I groaned and pulled an extra pillow over my head. If I ignored it, whoever was there would go away.
After Harm had left the other day, I poured out my story to Carol. I told her everything, the murder, Harm's and my one-night stand. It felt good to tell someone, and I trusted Carol to keep my secret. She reassured me that I had done the right thing, but I knew she didn't truly believe it.
Apparently, neither did I. I was not able to sleep since that day, every night filled with dreams of what could have been. I was tormented by images of Harm's face and the sound of his voice. "Come home with me, Sarah. Come home with me..."
"It's too late now," I said aloud, throwing the covers off. I stumbled down the hall, the persistent sound of the doorbell making me want to scream.
"What's done is done."
I pulled open the door, a bitter remark poised on my lips. To my surprise, there stood Harm, looking gorgeous as usual in khakis and a blue shirt. I don't think he could ever look bad. I sighed and leaned against the door.
"Haven't you ever heard the phrase, at a decent hour?" Harm grinned sheepishly.
"Since when do I ever follow the rules." I couldn't help but smile.
"I thought you went back to D.C."
"I did. Can I come in?" I glanced behind me and closed the door a bit more, blocking his way inside.
"I don't think that's a good idea," I replied softly, my tone guarded.
Disappointment flickered in his eyes for a second, but he was not
discouraged by my refusal. He merely shrugged.
"Then I guess I'll say what I came to say out here."
I gestured at the chairs on the porch and pulled the door shut behind
me so we would not wake Jasmine. I sat down, folded my arms over my chest and looked up at Harm, expecting him to follow. He didn't sit. Instead, he got down on one knee beside me. I laughed nervously and looked the other way.
"I don't believe this," I said into the air.
"Believe it, Mac," Harm answered. I forced myself to look at him as he began to speak.
„I can´t let you go Mac, I just can´t. I've been going crazy without you. Walking away the other day was my biggest mistake. I'm not about to make another one, Mac. You won't escape me that easily."
"So you think that by coming here and pouring out your heart, and
throwing a ring at me, that things will be okay? That we'll just live
happily ever after?" I demanded, my voice trembling. Harm grinned.
"Something like that."
"What about Jasmine?" I asked more gently. "Are you ready for that kind of responsibility?"
"You're not the only one who's changed a lot in the past four years, Mac. I'm truly ready to settle down, buy a house, start a family. But I don't want to do any of those things without you. As for Jasmine," he added, looking deep into my eyes, "she's our daughter. I already love her."
His words touched me like no others ever could. I felt in my heart that he was speaking the truth. It was all I could do not to throw my arms around him and hold him forever.
"I was only home long enough to submit my report to the Admiral and buy a plane ticket back here. And to pick up this."
He reached into his other pocket and pulled out a small, tattered
jewelry box. The hinges squeaked as he opened it, revealing a beautiful ring with 3 small sparkling diamonds. It was his grandmother's. He didn't have to tell me, I felt it.
"You know I love you, Mac. I fell in love with you so long ago I can
barely remember what life was like before we met. Come home with me,
let me take care of you and Jasmine. Marry me, Sarah."
I could only nod. He smiled slowly and slid the ring onto my finger. We embraced tightly, but neither of us shed a tear. There was no longer a reason to cry.
We parted and Harm brushed my tangled hair away from my face. He kissed me then and I knew we were in for the long haul.
The End
Nix707 – well, hopefuly you´ll read it when you come back lol. Sure, you´re one of them :o)
Shalimar2 – thank you
Froggy0319 – so did you liked the Harm´s reaction to his daughter? This is the end so your heart will have to take it lol.
Jaggurl – I made this chapter long, did you like it? Thank you!
Daisymh – thank you
Xlovexnpainx – it´s daughter you know lol.
MarineJAG – thank you!
JamieAKAaclassyone - I got an account here about a year before I actually started logging in lol.
Amy – thank you
Deedee – is this soon enough? I´m evil, deal with it lol and thank you!
Duchovny0901 – I´m soo evil lol. You really squealed! That had to be fun to watch lol! Thank you!
Dansingwolf – that´s not true! There are many writers who have better cliffhangers than me! I´m one big evil because I wrapped it up in just one chapter :o) Write more? I don´t know, I have been thinking about a sequel but I don´t think I´ll have enough time after the holidays, so I will také it easy and then you´ll see lol.
Abigaile – yes Harm is smart, I wouldn´t let him think that Jasmine is not his lol!
Snugglebug – Cliffhangers are a real fun! Thank you.