Disclaimer: I own nothing and this is all in good fun

A/N: Wow! I'm glad so many people like this story. As anyone who's read my Field of Paper Flowers, you have to know that me updating so quickly is quite irregular, so keep your fingers crossed that I remain good. There may be a slight delay before the next chapter because of work, but I'm working on it.

Chapter 3:

There was silence. It was a beautiful spring day in the park and there was complete silence. Even Jimmy and Talia stopped giggling in the playpen to watch the adults. The faces of the adults were either ones of pure shock or utter confusion, except for Mac's, which looked like she wanted to run.

" Why are they staring?" Nat asked in a typical little boy whisper that could be easily heard by everyone.

"Remember how I told you that Daddy and I met at work?" Mac looked only at Nat as she spoke and he nodded, "Well these are the people we worked with."

"Okay," he whispered and buried his head in her shoulder, suddenly shy from all the attention.

"Mom," little A.J. tugged on the edge of Harriet's shorts, recognizing the woman from photographs and phone calls, "Is that Auntie Mac?"

"Yes, it is."

"Good," he ran over to hug her, wanting to be picked up as well, "Hi!"

"Hey buddy," she set Nat down and he latched onto her leg, while she picked up A.J. and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

"I missed you."

"Me too," she set him back down.

"Do you have any idea what's going on?" Jen whispered to Mattie.

"Clueless," Mattie glanced at Harm whose face was frozen in shock, "But Harm obviously does."

"I believe that's the former Colonel MacKenzie," Tracy threw in, "I took over her office."

"Oh," Mattie and Jen said in unison and they returned to watch things play out.

"It's so good to see you," Harriet was the first adult to say anything and hugged her former best friend.

"Same here," she smiled and turned to Bud, "How are you?"

"Great, ma'am."

"Bud," she warned as she hugged him.

"Sorry," he laughed.

"Now I know this sounds crazy," Harriet began, "But didn't you tell us your son was named Jonathan?"

"Yes—" she began.

"I'm Jonatan!" Nat declared.

"He has problems with the 'th' so we shortened it to Nat."

"I like it," Bud smiled.

"Me too," Nat grinned, immediately taking a liking to Bud. He looked at little A.J. who was clearly getting bored and then up to his mother, "Can we go play?"

"Yes, you may," she watched him run off. Her line of vision briefly fell on Harm, but both of them quickly looked away.

"Belated congratulations on your other child," the admiral told them, "Although you really should have called us."

"Sorry about that, sir," she answered, falling into old habits just like Bud had.

"Well, you'll just have to properly introduce me to her," he led her over to the playpen sending the official signal that it was time for his staff to resume their regular party activities.

She was back. She'd been back for a week, and Mattie had been babysitting her kids. He had driven to her house and played with her kids, without knowing that they were hers. No wonder Nat looked so familiar; he clearly had Mac's face, but with Brumby's curly hair. Mattie had said she thought 'Sarah' was in the process of getting a divorce. Did that mean that she and Brumby were over?

He watched her showing off her daughter to the admiral. Her hair was longer and lighter, probably from the Australian sun, the same sun that gave her a healthy tan. In her khaki pants and simple purple top, she was just as beautiful as the last time they spoke. And now she was back.

"So that's Mac," Sturgis interrupted his thoughts. He had joined JAG after Mac had left, Harm had told him about her while they were rebuilding his car.

"That's Mac."

" And?"

"And what, Sturgis?"

"And are you going to talk to her?"

"She's talking with the admiral," he answered defensively.

"For now."

"Okay, ma'am," Jen pulled Harriet away from Bud, "Spill."

"That's 'Mac' or Sarah Brumby nee MacKenzie," she explained to Tracy, Jen, and Mattie, "She was a Lt. Colonel with JAG until she resigned her commission and moved to Australia with her husband."

"The one in the Royal Australian Navy?" Tracy asked, having heard more scuttlebutt on the topic.

"Yes, Mic Brumby," Harriet nodded, "He was TAD to JAG HQ for a while, and he and Mac got married. They moved to Australia when his mother got sick, but apparently they're back."

"Not him, just her," Mattie told them.

"What?"

"Sarah's made no mention of the kid's father and I've never seen her wear a ring," Mattie shrugged, "I assumed they're in the process of divorcing."

"Really," Harriet excused herself to go find Bud.

"Is Brumby in Australia?" the admiral asked, holding Talia. He immediately noticed her lack of ring and wanted to ask her about it without the audience, Mac gave a slight nod in response, "What happened?"

"It didn't work out."

"Mac," he knew her too well to just let it go at that, "There's more isn't there?"

"Maybe," she shrugged, "I don't want to talk about it."

"You'll have to at some point."

"Not if I can help it."

"Rabb will ask you about it," he told her, "So will Harriet and Bud."

"They probably will," she sighed, "Everything became such a mess. I just want to leave it all across the ocean."

"Well, it's too late for that now," he handed her back her daughter, "She really is beautiful."

"Thanks."

"If you need to talk—"

"I know."

"It's good to see you again."

"You too," she watched him walk away and found her gaze lingering on Harm. She had hoped it would be gone, but even after all this time she still was not over him.

A/N: I know, I'm a bum for the lack of Harm/Mac interaction, but you'll just have to deal with the dramatic build-up…hehehe!

Dansingwofl…don't feel stupid, I'm a little crazy about the naming it was a silly joke with my sister…if you say the two names Nat Talia together, then it sounds like Natalia…I hope this chapter actually conveyed what people's reactions would be because this is really the mother of all coincidences…or a cosmic joke…ah…now I'm rambling!

Ukone…I know what you mean…the continuation of fan fic is the only way I get through the lack of actual show!

Anita…Yup, I'm mean…I'm part of cliffie's anonymous…anyway…right now Mac's working at the hospital, but a lot of things are bound to change for her…

Lawandordersvu1… since you asked so nicely I might try working on that…

DD2…picking out the names is half the fun…I'm glad you like them!

Radiorox…from my own babysitting experiences I learned that Barney is the devil and the Teletubbies are his minions…as for Mic/Mac, well, she obviously came to DC alone for a reason…as for the questions…will she answer them…you know much she enjoys avoiding the issue…any issue…

KittyX, EternalSleep, Shalimar2, Bite Beccy, Achaon, Starryeyes10, & Dessler…thanks for reading, thanks for reviewing, and thanks for putting up with me!