Chapter 48

Same time

Conference Room A

(AKA the Bridal Suite)

It was much calmer group of women. Mac had only to put on her dress; her make-up and hair done.

Trish was getting the bride's dress out of its bag, with the help of two very excited teenagers. "You know, Mac, this wedding is going a lot smoother than the last wedding I attended with Harm, I mean, Frank and mine. Less than ten minutes before we had to leave for the church Harm was still in swim trunks. That week he'd told me that on no uncertain terms he wasn't about to go to the wedding. Finally, I told him to go upstairs and put his suit on, or he would go upstairs and pack for the honeymoon, because he was going to go with us, he wouldn't be able to spend any time with his grandmother Rabb that summer. Needless to say he stomped up the stairs, slammed the door to his room, I thought the door was going to fall off the hinges he slammed it so hard. Less than five minutes later he was wearing his suit, and had a clasp on type tie that clashed with his suit, I knew I'd better let him wear that, otherwise I'd likely have a very unhappy third wheel on our honeymoon." She told this, obviously remembering every moment of that day.

"I've wondered when I saw the pictures why he wore that tie; I thought it was just because it was the 70's. Not exactly the most fashion conscious decade." Mac said laughing as she could picture a teenaged Harm not getting his own way. The story helped relax all. AJ Roberts, the ring-bearer was outside in the hall, getting last minute instructions from his father.

Soon the dress was on, the women could hear the music in the garden change.

1859 local

Harm walked out to the gazebo where the wedding would take place, Andy and Sergei were his attendants. Before walking out with Andy and Sergei, Sergei walked his grandmother down the aisle. She was the only grandparent attending the ceremony. Frank walked Trish to their assigned seats and they sat down.

Frank had the tape recorder and the microphone at the ready, even though he was aware of the change of plans, plans he wholeheartedly agreed with.

1900 local

Washington Botanical Gardens

The wedding started on time. Exactly on time. The music changed to the processional "Sonata in C" by Mozart. Harm was on time, there would be money exchanged by several friends, many friends who didn't think Harm would be able to get his wedding started on time. AJ walked down the aisle as ring-bearer by himself. Mattie and Chloe would do double duty, not only as bridesmaids but also as de facto flower girls. They practiced several times over the week to get the rhythm down. As they walked down the short aisle, they strew the rose petals on the runner.

The moment finally arrived. Sarah started out of the building. They decided she would walk by herself down the aisle. AJ gave her a glance and said. "Are you sure, you don't want me to walk you down the aisle?" He positioned her so she could not see the other individual.

"Admiral, I'd like to."

Chapter 49

To Mac's everlasting astonishment, she heard Uncle Matt's voice and then saw him in the flesh. "Uncle Matt, what, how?"

"I called in a couple favors, before I retired. Mac, He's on special furlough. He's in the middle of a transfer since he's actually moving to the facility at Groton for the remainder of his sentence."

"Thank you Admiral, from the depths of my heart, you don't know what this means to me." She was moved to tears but they were happy tears.

Harm saw the glorious reunion from his vantage point; informed of the slight change in plans that afternoon when he'd arrived at the botanical gardens. He could see the joy on Mac's face as she realized who'd been able to attend her wedding. Both Mac and Harm had despaired that she wouldn't have any family at her wedding, this was one reason they'd decided to keep it small. For the wedding party and the friends knew what was happening it was a very emotional time and many shed tears. Not just by those in the wedding party.

Matt O'Hara proudly walked his niece down the aisle, his face beaming. Truth be told his eyes were welling up with tears, even if they waited until he was sitting down to fall down his face. He never thought he'd be able to give her away, as she was like a daughter to him. His daughter had died as a child from leukemia. When sentenced for his part in the theft of the Declaration of Independence, he knew it would take a miracle for him to attend Mac's wedding it was apparent that miracles do happen. He was here.

When they reached, Harm Chaplain Turner asked the age-old question. "Who gives this woman?" Matt answered, as they had quickly rearranged.

"Her uncle and her children do." The beaming faces of Andy and Mattie told those few in attendance who didn't know who those children were. Matt then sat down next to the Roberts. There were some who knew Matt O'Hara and where he was living, they were glad he'd been allowed this day with his niece. The words spoken brought the tears that were threatening to fall, the mascara Mac used was apparently tear-proof, and otherwise, she would've looked like a raccoon.

Mac then took Harm's hand and Chaplain Turner continued with the ceremony. Soon they were to the part where Chaplain Turner asked if there were if there were any objections. The look on both the bride and the grooms face said whoever considered it better keep their trap shut if they wanted live past the reception. Needless to day there was no response.

Chaplain Turner, with a huge gleam in his eye said, "Harm and Sarah have written their own vows. With these two being lawyers, this could be interesting!" Everyone in attendance laughed, even Harm and Mac. "Sarah, you may start."

Mac's eyes were welling up with tears, tears of happiness. "Today, we start anew, this time as a couple; we've both had our share of ups and downs and misunderstandings. We should have married long ago." This drew a laugh from all in attendance. "You complete me, Harm, in a way that no one ever has. I realize now, what was missing in my life was you. You complete me. Harmon David Rabb, I promise to love you, honor you, and I'll try to obey you, but I have seniority in rank" she said this with laughter in her voice. "For eternity, Harm, this is for eternity." She then nodded to AJ, who then went over to Chloe who untied one ring. Mac then placed the wedding ring on Harm's ring finger. "With this ring, I thee wed."

Harm could see the tears in her eyes, and he knew he had tears in his eyes as well. "Mac, It seems crazy to me that it took us this long to get together. If someone had told me a year ago that I'd be getting married and to you, I would have thought they were crazy. I was the crazy one, seeing things not there. If I've learned one thing this year it is good things are around the bend. I have Andy in my life, I have Mattie, but most importantly Sarah, I have you." His voice broke." Sarah Marie, I promise to love you, honor, you, and even though you'll likely always outrank me, I pledge you my troth. For eternity, Sarah, this is for eternity." Harm then stepped over to AJ Roberts, bent down, and untied the other ring and placed it on Mac's ring finger. "With this ring I thee wed."

Chaplain Turner continued, "By the power granted to me by God, and the District of Columbia, I now pronounce you man and wife. Soon the moment Harm and Sarah were waiting for. Chaplain Turner uttered the immortal words. "You may kiss the bride." It was a memorable kiss. Those who saw it would say in the future that it went on for over to a minute before the only the need of oxygen caused the couple to break apart.

"Ladies and Gentleman, I will now for the first time introduce to you Commander and Mrs. Harmon Rabb, Junior."

The recessional went quickly as it was a small wedding party. They all moved over towards the area where they'd planned to take pictures. Because the photographer was a former Marine, it was not long before this too was completed. Those guests that weren't in the wedding party had wandered over to the reception area.

Harm and Mac did not have the traditional receiving line, instead they made sure that throughout the evening they talked with each guest.

Soon it was time for the first dance as a married couple they had decided to use the song "Tonight I Celebrate my Love for You" after they had danced the first dance. Matt in the de facto father of the bride danced with Mac and Harm with his mother. Then Andy and Mattie took a turn on the dance each with Harm and Mac.

The reception then kicked into high gear. Sarah's Uncle Matt had to say good-bye after the first dance and Sarah would never forget that he'd been to come with for her a special way. Sarah would never know just how many favors were cashed in for him to be transferred on that specific day and more importantly for the stop in DC.

The remaining guests and the wedding party danced, ate, and completely enjoy themselves. When it came time to cut the cake there were those who were disappointed Mac and Harm did not shove the cake into the other's face. Soon it was time for Harm to retrieve the garter from Sarah's leg, Andy arranged with the disc jockey to have the theme from Jaws play while Harm was getting the garter. The choice of music surprised everybody, Andy didn't have a good poker face and they figured out who'd chosen the music. Mike Roberts was the one to catch it, several reminding him that he'd have a little while to wait until he married, as he couldn't while at the Academy. Then it was time for Sarah to throw the bouquet. Kate Pike managed with a bit of a leap, to catch it, barely beating Francesca Paretti, who had come as her father's date for the evening.

The bridal couple soon left the reception, to change into clothes more suitable for traveling. Because they did not have time off for the honeymoon, they were going to make the most of the weekend. They would spend the weekend at the Willard Hotel, and the official honeymoon would take place in August. At that point, they'd go to Kauai. A neighbor of Trish and Frank had a place on the island and it would give them complete privacy.

Chapter 50

They left, trying in vain to avoid birdseed. They would take a limo to the Willard. They were checked in already, so they were able to go directly to their room. Frank and Trish had made sure the room was completely ready for them. Trish had laid out the peignoir for Mac and within minutes she was back in the room, they would finally consummate their love for each other. Harm had spent the time getting himself, and the room ready.

(This part you'll have to think of yourselves). Take a quick guess what I left out.

Harm and Mac had been tempted to sleep together before their wedding, but both knew it would be easier to tell Andy and Mattie to wait if they themselves waited for sex, in the end they were glad they'd waited because it made their first time as a couple more meaningful and special. They figured they'd known each other for so long; they didn't need a long engagement.

Andy and Mattie, spent the rest of the weekend with Trish and Frank, Mattie enjoyed showing them portions of Virginia the average tourist doesn't normally go to.

Chapter 51

0759 Local

JAG Headquarters

Falls Church VA

Monday morning was a reality check for everyone in the Rabb household; Harm had to be at the White House by 0700, so Mac decided to go in early, to catch up what she'd not been able to the week before. The new JAG still faced confirmation hearings, Harm's replacement would be there this morning. She'd been delayed from starting any earlier because of a trial at her former location. Mac had heard a lot about her over the years but never had met her. Harm was reticent about that period of his life, because of Diane's death.

At 0800, a tall blond commander entered the bullpen. "Bud, it's nice to see you," she commented, she noticed he now had lieutenant commander stripes. She'd been a lieutenant commander for three years. She was curious when he'd received his stripe. The last she and Harm had talked, about Christmas time, Bud was still a lieutenant.

"Commander Austin, I didn't know you were the new attorney." Bud said as he walked over to Meg.

"Commander Turner wants you all to join him in the conference room." Petty officer Coates said, interrupting any further chances for conversation. Coates took Meg's cover and briefcase and put them in Harm's old office knowing that the temporary JAG wanted to get the meeting started. Coates hoped whoever was tapped for the position would not be as exacting a boss as the temporary JAG had been in the short time he'd been in command.

Sturgis started the meeting. "The Senate is in the process of confirming the new JAG, a Colonel Gordon Creswell, if he's confirmed he'll be promoted to General. Mac paled, just briefly, at the name, since he'd known about her liaison with John Farrow years before. Fortunately for Mac, the meeting turned into a mundane weekly meeting. Sturgis ended the meeting by introducing Meg. "Lieutenant Commander Meg Austin will be joining us at Headquarters. Before Colonel Mackenzie, she's decided to keep her name for professional reasons, joined Headquarters, Austin was Harm's partner, and with his transfer, will now take his office. You are all dismissed."

As they were walking to their respective offices, Meg asked Mac where Harm was. "He's stationed at the White House, as a military advisor."

"I heard he recently got married."

"He did, just this past weekend, with his transfer we decided wait for a honeymoon, we'll do it when the kids get back from Australia, Frank and Trish are taking Andy with them to Europe. This will be the summer they get to travel."."

"Kids?"

"Andy and Mattie" seeing the look of incomprehension on Meg's face Mac decided she would go easy on the younger attorney. "Mattie is our ward, she's almost sixteen, her mom died in an car accident, her dad relinquished custody, he's an alcoholic, and to keep any sort of relationship with his daughter, decided it would be best if we raise her. Andy is Harm's son from his first marriage."

Meg realized she needed a scorecard to keep up with all the changes in Harm's life. She'd had the feeling Harm and Mac would eventually get together; there'd been enough letters over the years between them that mentioned Mac so she wasn't at all surprised to find out they'd married. "If you don't mind having lunch with me, I'd like to hear more about my former partner."

"I'd love that, I hate to cut this short, but I need to be in court shortly, I'll come and get you." With her transfer, Meg didn't have any cases anywhere near trial. She was staying in VOQ nearby, until the house she and her husband leased would be available. He wouldn't be able to join her until the beginning of July. As a free-lance writer he could work just about anywhere, he had a project due at the end of the week and did not want to hassle with the move until then. He'd found a nice place over the internet and she didn't mind living out of a suitcase for a couple of weeks.

Lunchtime came and Meg found out more about her former partner. She was surprised to hear about Shannon and Andy's return into Harm's life earlier in the year. She told Meg of all the upheaval in Harm's life the past year she pulled no punches and admitted some of the strain between herself and Harm had been her fault. She told Meg that meeting Shannon and hearing both sides of what had occurred years before helped hers to understand why Harm had acted the way he did, in Australia, over the past few years, and in Paraguay when he'd assumed a good-bye kiss between her and Clay was more than just that.