Okay, on my last part, someone commented that it's Mac not Meg. Just a note -- This is set, the first few parts, at the Naval Academy in Annapolis and later on it goes into Harm & Meg's first year of working together, and couple of events that I remember, that I have rewritten to fit in my story -- I understand there are diehard Harm/Mac fans -- but someone else already wrote/is writing a Harm/Mac story like this -- I got the theme from that --and replaced Mac with Meg -- to see how different things would be if the two met when Meg started at the Naval Academy, and something happened to her -- so she can't remember Harm -- and how hard that is for him -- so here is part two -- I have at least the first five parts written, so they'll all be up quite quickly for those reading this -- I will try to update every few days for you.
Part Two – Settling In
Meg settled into Academy life, and Ollie North kept his promise to her mother, checking on her every week. He came up on her eighteenth birthday, and brought her mother as a surprise.
Meg sat in her room after class, studying for exams. Angela had gone out with the Naval Academy Flying Squadron for dinner. She had invited Meg, knowing it was her eighteenth but Meg had refused, wanting to be alone. She knew Angela and her friends wouldn't have gone far, they weren't able to drink yet – they had three more years. Meg was engrossed in her book on Weapons Systems, and didn't hear the knock at her door until Ollie spoke.
"Meg sweetie?" Ollie asked, making Meg jump to attention and open the door. A rare smile spread across her face, lighting up her sapphire blue eyes.
"Uncle Ollie!" She said joyfully as he wrapped his arms around her. Meg buried her face in his neck. Ollie stroked her hair gently and Meg looked up to see her mother behind him.
"Mom…" Meg's smile drooped, and she backed away from Ollie. She knew her mother still disapproved of her joining the navy. Ollie had intervened on Meg's behalf and convinced Mrs. Austin to let Meg sign up.
Mrs Austin embraced Meg. "I've missed you Meg."
"Me too," Meg's tone was softer than usual, perhaps a little fearful of her mother. Mrs. Austin rubbed Meg's back. Meg pulled away from her mother and crossed to her side of the room. Ollie and Mrs Austin followed her, a little concerned.
Meg sighed as she sat on her bed and her mother and Ollie approached her to give Meg her presents, a framed family photo from her mother and her father's medals from Ollie. Both were tucked safely away in the drawer, both holding some painful memories for Meg.
"Mom why didn't the navy give you dad's medals back?" Meg asked as she took one out, playing with it. Mrs. Austin sat on the bed, her arm around Meg.
"Your dad gave them to Uncle Ollie before he died sweetheart."
Meg nodded, accepting the explanation. Her mother and Ollie then left her alone, and Meg took out the photo and placed it by her bed. She sat on the edge and smiled at it.
"I'm settling in fine dad."