Thanks for the reviews. Here is more of the story. The big day is fast approaching.

Chapter 45

1750 local

City Centre Park

Blacksburg, VA

Judge Priest's husband was a notary as well as her eldest daughter, they would be the witnesses for this somewhat unorthodox way to end one family and begin another. The Judge was sorry to hear about the father's illness to hear him say to her he was glad to see she was with someone who loved her like he did, if not more, she wouldn't have to be around him while he was slowly dying. Tom was giving his daughter one last gift, the freedom to fulfill dreams before she'd lose both her birth parents.

Tom and Mattie had arrived a few minutes before; both were uncharacteristically quiet, knowing their lives would never be the same. Tom, especially, as he knew his time on earth was short. He had a letter written out, and a tape made, he would send to Harm, once the teens were on their way to Australia, which informed them of his precarious health. The doctors told him he'd be bedfast for the last part and Tom was glad Mattie would not have to care for him. He had caused her to lose much of her adolescence and didn't want his illness to rob her of her remaining childhood.

Mattie was coming to realize her father wasn't the complete ogre she'd made him out to be, but a man who'd made serious mistakes in his life and was trying to rehabilitate himself and she realized in allowing Harm to have custody her father was preserving the relationship between them.

Mattie was the only one who recognized the Lexus and she walked quickly over the vehicle when Harm parked it. She gave Harm and Mac a hug, and after some prodding, gave Andy a quick hug. She was introduced to Trish. The five then walked over to where the judge and her family were located. After introductions, Judge Priest stated. "This isn't the first time I've held court here; it's more peaceful out here. My father and my uncles planted these trees at the end of the Second World War." She encompassed the air and the trees they were sitting under. "I've found at times like this, that the fewer words the better, so all I'll say is let's just sign the papers and do this. Is this okay with everyone?" Tom Johnson nodded his head and said yes. Harm and Mac were waiting in case Tom changed his mind at the last moment. They quickly nodded and Harm said .Yes, ma'am."

The papers were signed somberly; Tom gave Mattie a hug and a kiss, and then quietly walked away. "Take care, Matilda Grace, listen to Harm and Mac, they'll be your parents, I want you to do your mother proud. Goodbye." Those last words w said with much emotion, Tom had tears in his eyes, and he walked away. Each person in the group followed him with their eyes to his car. His attorney took the copy for Tom. Harm took his copy. Andy took the suitcases, boxes, along with the small pieces of furniture Mattie was taking which were temporarily placed by the picnic table and went over to the Lexus to pack. Harm tossed Andy the keys and the teen put the items into the vehicle. He had told Harm as they drove into Blacksburg "Dad, I'll drive back; it'll give you more of a chance to talk. Besides, since I'm on summer break, I slept in. I have the feeling things have been crazy at the White House with the state funeral added to the mix."

"Thanks Andy, you're right about work, it's been an interesting start to a job that's for sure, Hard to believe by this time next week we'll be getting married." He leaned over and kissed Mac. Harm then gave Mattie a hug. "We'd better get going; it'll be after midnight when we get back to Falls Church as it is." To give Mattie and Harm a chance to talk as privately as they could in the car Mac took the front seat. The weary travelers were home shortly before 1 am.

"We decided to wait to get everything other than a mattress and bed frame until you came, this way you have the style of furniture you want, and the bedding. We'll go shopping later this morning. I'll see you guys at 1100." Harm led Mac out to her car, which Bud Roberts had dropped by earlier in the evening. He kissed her goodbye and she drove off.

Chapter 46

Crystal City Mall

1130 local

Sunday afternoon

Harm was getting a good idea of what it would be like with three like-minded females in his life. Trish was along for the ride, she was going to stay out of any decisions, and she was going to pay for the items she'd made that very clear to her son and soon to be daughter in law.. Harm did not know this, he was surprised at how quiet his mother was during the discussions. He'd planned to go to a department store and get the needed furniture, bedding, and then leave. Mac and Mattie had other ideas. They were now entering their third department store, the first two hadn't had what Mattie wanted, and they wound their way to the furniture section. To his relief he heard sighs of contentment from his young charge and fiancée. He looked at the price on the set she had her eyes on, and to his great relief it in his price range and even better it was on sale. While he was talking with the salesperson to discuss delivery, the other two went on to the linens section where they found a bed-in-a-bag set that Mattie loved. It had geometric patterns and was in bold, almost fluorescent colors, Mac could see that with the color of the room it would be a cheerful room. A room to go to for sanctuary and yet perk up on those days that Mattie would need cheering.

Harm set delivery for the next day, and headed over to the linens, when his cell rang. It was Andy, his friends had called, inviting him for the afternoon to go swimming and play tennis. Harm agreed with the stipulation he call at five o'clock. Harm was not paying attention to his surroundings as he was hanging up the phone and he bumped into a shopper. To his surprise, it was Annie Pendry. "Excuse me, I wasn't watching where I was going, Annie?"

"Harm, what are you doing here?"

"We're shopping, getting things for Mattie's room. She and Mac are over in the linen department."

"So you and Mac are together, for how long?" Annie had seen signs years ago that there were sparks between the two, it was one of the reasons she had broke things off with Harm.

"For almost six months, we're getting married next Friday."

"Congratulations why did it take you two so long? I could see sparks between the two of you years ago; I just didn't want to admit it. Who's Mattie, your daughter?"

"Yes, I have custody of her, her mom's dead and her father gave me custody because he's having to much trouble staying sober, he said he'd rather not have Mattie with him and still have love for him than her completely hating him. I have to give him credit. How's Josh doing?" Annie told Harm Josh wanted to be in Washington for Reagan's funeral and they had driven from Baltimore.

Harm and Annie walked over to where Mattie and Mac were, the two were deep into discussion as to what color curtains to get for the room, knowing Harm was to meet them there before going to that section of the floor. Mac was trying to persuade her to get lacy white curtains. Mattie wanted to get something else; in fact, she wanted to get curtains that matched the comforter. "We'll have to see if they even have that, Mattie. Here's Harm ---with Annie, what is she doing here?" Mac had a puzzled look on her face, as did Mattie, who'd only heard about Annie.

"Look who I found wandering around the store, Annie, you know Mac, this is my daughter Mattie."

"It's nice to meet you Mattie, Harm's told me a little bit about you."

A young, good-looking teenaged male walked up to them. "Mom, I found the…Hi, Harm, its nice to see you sir, its been years."

"Josh, I ran into Harm over in the furniture, he's here with his family. You remember Major McKenzie?"

Harm interrupted Annie. She's a Lt. Colonel now." Josh nodded that he remembered Mac.

"They're getting married next weekend." His mother informed him

"Congratulations to you two". Josh had resigned himself to the fact Harm and his mother would not get back together a couple of years ago.

"Josh, I'd like for you to meet my daughter Mattie, Mattie, I'd like for you to meet Josh, I went to the Academy with his dad."

The two teens looked at each other. Harm's fatherly instincts kicked in to high gear. He hadn't really seen Mattie with many people her age. Mattie and Josh were the same age. Mac—and Annie--- saw the look on Harm's face they both snickered, "I don't have to deal with this, this is one of the times I'm glad Josh isn't a girl" Annie whispered to Mac, when she saw the look of amusement of Mac's face.

"I don't think Harm's going to let her date until she's thirty with the look he just gave Josh". Mac whispered back.

"Dad, chill," commented Andy, who'd been in another part of the store. He most definitely wasn't wanting to be involved in furniture buying. He'd gone to the clothing department with his grandmother who was determined to make up for years of not having her grandson to buy for. He'd had his eye on a few things that were out of his clothing budget and Trish had bought them for him, Harm had andy on a smaller clothes budget than his mother had given him so he didn't mind his grandmother buying the items for him. Trish was looking at china right now and Andy didn't want to be in that department, he was afraid he'd bump into something fragile and expensive. He'd followed his father and Annie, curious about the identity of the woman his father had greeted so warmly. He'd walked behind them and seen the look on his dad's face.

"Dad?" Annie was surprised. Harm had two teenagers…how was that possible?

"Annie, you remember Andy? He's a few inches taller than the last time you saw him," giving the woman a hint as to the identity of the young man before her.

"I'd say more than a few, just how long?" She was now very confused, before Harm had taken Josh on that ill-fated Tiger cruise, he'd bemoaned the fact it'd been close to five years since Shannon left and taken their son.

"The last time you and I talked Harm, you hadn't had any contact with Shannon for close to five years." Annie wanted this cleared up for her and the not the abbreviated version.

"Earlier this year, Shannon showed up at Mom's gallery, with Andy. They came here. She and I talked, we agreed Andy would live with me and soon after, Shannon was murdered. That's the short version, one of these days I'll give you the longer version."

"So other than that how have you been the past few years." Annie was curious.

"The short, concise version is that Harm's life has been interesting the past few years." Mac said, giving her fiancé a hug, enjoying any chance to be physically demonstrative with Harm. One of these days, you'll need to come over to the house and I'll tell you all the gory details."

"House, You've really changed, I thought you'd never give up that loft." Annie noted.

"Annie, I hate to cut this reunion short, but we have to meet with the wedding coordinator and we still have a lot of shopping to do. Call me at JAG early in the week and we'll set up a time to get together." Mac knew the time they'd allotted for shopping was quickly ending and there were still many things to acquire. She was trying to extend an olive branch to an old girlfriend of Harm's besides, she might have some good dirt on Harm, since she'd' known him off and on for years.

"Harm, are you still with JAG?" Annie queried, knowing about fraternization rules.

"No, one of us has to transfer. After the past few years, I'll be lucky to make Captain, much less Admiral. I burnt more than a few bridges last year when I… I'll tell you about when you come over for a visit. I'm at the White House as an advisor on military issues, a junior advisor." He smiled a bit ruefully, it had been a long time since he had been in so junior a position and truthfully, it was an exercise in humility.

They talked a few minutes longer; Mattie wondered what the connection was to this Annie person. A quick cell phone call and Trish was with them. Trish told Mattie that they'd have a chance to go shopping, just us girls, On the way to the wedding coordinator, Harm filled her in. Yes, Annie was a former girl friend, but she was also the widow of Luke Pendry.

Chapter 47

Thursday

June 17th, 2004

1800 local

It was hard to believe it was the day before his wedding and everything so far that week had gone as smoothly as he could have prayed for.

Frank as well as Chloe arrived earlier in the week. The two girls hit it off immediately to Harm and Mac's relief. They were two peas in a pod Harm was privately glad there was a couple of hundred miles between their residences. The two together for an extended period would give him grey hair. Actually more grey hairs, he'd found the first grey hair while with the CIA and kept plucking them out. Andy caught him doing that one morning, and had snickered loudly when he saw his father using the tweezers to remove the offending strand of grey hair. His son blackmailed Harm into secrecy, the cost was minimal, if the subject came up in a group conversation, Andy would say his father had no grey hairs, and Harm would pony up the money for either a DVD or a CD whatever Andy was wanting that particular day. So far, the cost had only been one CD and one DVD. Harm told Andy that arrangement was off whenever Mac found him with a grey hair after the marriage.

To Harm's everlasting relief the initial meeting between Sergei and Trish went smoothly. Harm found out, during dinner the evening before, that Trish had gotten Sergei's address and phone number from Sarah Rabb and had written, then called him, this, however, was their first face-to-face meeting. Sergei told Harm, privately, he was glad he'd talked with Trish before actually meeting her. It made their meeting at the airport much less stressful. Sergei had been surprised to see his brother was now the parent to two teens. Maybe now Harm would treat him more as a brother and an equal instead of being a surrogate father, the unconscious treatment of Harm to his younger brother had been the driving force of his return to Russia.

They had a short rehearsal at the garden, going over who stood where, when, and with whom. After that, they went to the newly retired Chegwidden's home for a very relaxed bbq/rehearsal dinner. He'd dropped the bomb on the staff the day after Memorial Day. Admiral Morris took the reins on Monday. It was a hectic time at JAG, between the prison scandal in Iraq, Harm's transfer, and the admiral's retirement. It meant Turner and Roberts were extremely busy, Bud was still getting used to being called Commander. (AJ promoted him to Lieutenant Commander, but kept it secret from all concerned until his retirement announcement. To the staff at JAG, it helped lessen the sting of losing a beloved commanding officer, which was AJ's reasoning behind the way he'd promoted Bud.)

Mac had a very light workweek due of the wedding, since they were going to take their honeymoon in August, she'd take her leave then, as already scheduled. She knew they'd stay close by, because of the limited time constraints, she just didn't know where. Because the next day being a workday plus the threat of dismemberment by the bride the men gone out to an all night diner. Andy's age helped them determine where they were able to go. It also kept the group sober. They didn't want to face Mac if any were arrested.

Friday, June 18th, 2004

Washington Botanical Gardens Conference Room B

Washington DC

1839 local

Chaplain Turner was smiling; it was a typical pre-wedding scene in front of him, one very nervous groom, and his attendants less so. Harm was in a white tuxedo, trying to strangle his self with a tie. Andy was in a matching tux, with the exception his tie was the same color as Mattie's dress. Andy was trying unsuccessfully to get his father to let him tie the recalcitrant tie. Frank was looking on in bemusement, as was Sergei. They'd been down the road of matrimony and enjoying watching the normally non-flustered Harm turning into one bundle of nerves Frank was sure was registering at the nearest earthquake recording facility.

When he and Trish had married it had taken Trish most of the day to get her son into dress clothes, ultimately the threat of going on the honeymoon with them and not staying with his grandmother Sarah forced the sullen teen into changing. Looking at the pictures from that wedding, you could easily see who didn't want to be there. Andy had seen the pictures. He was surprised at his dad's current demeanor. "Dad is it true at Grandma and Poppa's wedding, she practically forced you into your good clothes and make you go on their honeymoon. Is it true?"

Frank's eyes twinkled. "Yep, I think the threat, which was Trish's idea by the way, turned the tide. Your father got into his one and only suit, and had a clasp on tie, didn't match the suit, by the way, but I could tell he wouldn't let me help him. You'd think after twenty plus years in the Navy, if you count his time at the Academy, the guy could tie a simple knot." he teased his stepson.

"Very funny Frank, don't quit your day job" the flustered groom told his step-father. To his amazement, the knot, which had been so elusive to tie for the past five minutes, finally cooperated. Looking in the mirror, he sighed. "I didn't think I'd be this nervous."

"Harm, even with you driving your mother and I crazy, I was still nervous." Frank commented.

"So was I older brother" Sergei, the bridegroom of only a couple of months, was enjoying turning the tables on his older brother."

"Commander, its part of the fun of the day, I was nervous when I married Sturgis' mother." Chaplain Turner said, grinning knowingly.