Chapter 63

The honeymoon was all that they expected, it was very romantic, and the remoteness of the property on Kauai made the time together all that more special. They'd had to wait for Mac to get the okay from the surgeon to resume intimate relations and had been given the go ahead for the first day of their honeymoon. They made endless love, drinking in the chance to be with each other in soul, spirit, and body.

Mattie and Andy had an enjoyable and memorable time visiting places they'd only read about in history books. Frank and Trish showed the teens various historical sights, and as it was a trip for the gallery, Trish stopped at several galleries. They took the teens to see the Louvre among other famous sights. Mattie had never been a big fan of art, and wasn't really looking forward to going to a bunch of museums. Trish realized this and instinctively knew the places to go and the items to see that gave the girl a life long appreciation for art. Mattie said she'd never be an art major but she'd really like to learn more about certain periods of art. Art that found she really liked. When Trish took Mattie shopping for clothes, "I have fifteen years of not being able to shop for a granddaughter and I want to get you a few things." With that Mattie agreed, making sure that not everything was frou-frou. During those days Frank and Andy hightailed out of Paris for a few days of golfing in Scotland.

Chapter 64

Soon the Rabb family was back together in Virginia, and the summer was soon over. Mattie decided while in Europe that she wanted to go to school with Andy, and to her surprise the funds were made available from her father's estate, she would go to Shaw Academy, as well. She knew she needed to have a strong academic finish to her schooling after two years of haphazard schooling. Shaw had a statewide recognition of being tough academically and Mattie was all for that. Besides, it helped that she not only knew Andy, she knew several of his friends that attended Shaw. The school was impressed by her initiative in taking care of a business single handedly and her ability to make up more over a semesters worth of work in a short period of time. She didn't really like wearing a uniform, but as it was the only deterrent to her attending, she dealt with it, looking forward to those days they didn't have to wear a uniform. It was tough for the first few weeks, as the academic load was harder than at her previous school but Mattie soon found she enjoyed the challenge.

The work at the White House kept Harm busy, because of the prisoner abuse scandal Harm's brain was picked more for legal expertise than his pilot experience. He occasionally made a trip out of the country because of this but could not tell Mac where he'd gone. She didn't like it, but understood the reasons behind the secrecy. Andy and Mattie were busy with the various activities of school. Mac made as many games as she could. She was busier than ever, but loved every minute of it Even if she and Harm never had children together, she loved being a step mother to Andy and Mattie .

Chapter 65

October 22, 2004

Rabb home,

Falls Church, VA

0712 local

It was the fourth morning in a row Mac had awaken feeling nauseous and during the night realized she knew what the problem actually was. Mac decided she'd stop by the pharmacy on the way home from work. She didn't want to get her hopes up as she'd thought she was pregnant a month earlier. She hadn't verified it because she only felt sick one morning. On second thought Mac decided to get a pregnancy test before work, take it there if positive, she wanted to check with her doctor to verify. Because of her age, and the problems she'd had, she knew she'd be considered a high risk pregnancy. It didn't matter she was in excellent health otherwise, her gynecologist had told her she'd have to be cared for by a specialist.

So not to arouse any suspicions of Andy and Mattie, she chose a store located on her way. When Mac arrived at headquarters she went to the woman's restroom took the test and waited. She couldn't bear to look at the stick for the result when the time elapsed. "Suck it up, Marine," she told herself. She opened her eyes, and looked down at the small stick in her hands.

Mac was pregnant. She was surprised that she felt calm about the prospect of giving life to a child of her own, she'd always thought she'd feel anxious when she found out she was pregnant. Mac went to her office, taking the stick with her in her purse, so she could show Harm the results. She called and was able to make an appointment for noon. At the clinic her doctor verified that she indeed was pregnant, she was actually two and one half months pregnant, the doctor wrote her a prescription for prenatal vitamins. The doctor gave her the name of a high-risk obstetrician. whose office was down the hall. Mac stopped in on the way back to JAG with her first appointment scheduled. She knew she needed to inform the general of her condition, but wanted to tell Harm first.

Mac really wanted to tell her Harm that night, but he'd had to go out of town and would be back on Monday, the 25th, his birthday. She could have called him on his cell phone, but this was something she really wanted to tell in person. Mac realized this would be the best birthday gift she could give him. She'd already bought him something, so she'd give him both the news, and the gift. She didn't let Andy or Mattie know, not realizing they had an idea she might be pregnant because she'd stopped drinking coffee, that, and they'd heard her being sick for several mornings, feeling better later in the day. In this way everyone was surprised and Harm wasn't unintentionally told.

Chapter 66

October 25, 2004

Rabb home,

Falls Church, VA

1945 local

Harm had returned a little earlier than planned, getting in Sunday night, Trish and Frank arrived early Monday morning and took the birthday boy out for lunch, It was easier for him to meet them than for them to go through all the security checks to visit him at the White House. They neglected to mention they were staying in town and would be at his place that evening.

hear

There was a senior's function at Shaw Academy, they attended as a family, and as it was a Monday, and early in the school term the meeting was short. They were out of the school auditorium by 7:30 pm. Harm knew something was up because each of the teens had asked what he wanted for his birthday. He figured they would have a quiet birthday party when they arrived back at the house. What he didn't know was it wasn't going to be a quiet party. There were people coming, with a gift to give Harm when they arrived home. "It looks like we have company." Harm noted when he saw AJ Roberts headed towards him at top speed. Harriet and Bud were close behind, as close as they could be carrying an infant seat, and Harriet was not moving fast as she was seven months pregnant with twins.

"Happy birthday, Uncle Harm How old are you?" He said to his parent's embarrassment. Bud groaned when he heard what his son had asked.

"I'm older than your mom or dad, but I'm younger than Admiral AJ." Harm said as he picked the youngster up. He told the boy the truth, but wasn't answering the entire question. Frank and Trish had arrived about the same time and Frank chuckled when heard his stepsons comment.

"Spoken like someone who works at the White House," Frank said wryly.

They went inside, and there were several people inside. "Surprise, we're having a birthday party. Harm" his mother said after the shock wore off. They moved into the living room while Mattie and Mrs. Mattoni got the rest of the things for the party, that they couldn't hide. Andy was in the living room with AJ.

"Andy, Uncle Harm didn't tell me, I want to know how many candles he's going to have on his cake."

"AJ, Dad is 41," Andy told the boy conspiratorially this elicited a laugh from everyone. There were several people from JAG, and a few co-workers from the White House who'd been invited for a surprise birthday party, besides some neighbors, the Douglas family and others from Shaw that Harm had befriended.

The look on AJ's face was funny; you could tell he thought the amount of candles would melt the cake and burn the house down. Harriet explained to her son that only a few candles would be on the cake. AJ relaxed when he realized the house would not burn down.

There were several gifts of the over the hill variety, they'd not been able to properly celebrate Harm's fortieth birthday the year before. The last three gifts were from the Rabb family. Mattie gave him a book on aviation she'd found in France. Andy gave him a photo album he'd been able to get put together while in Australia during the summer. The pictures were from Andy's childhood, He'd also had several tapes taken of him converted to DVD's. Andy had his neighbors help him, by sending it to Trish and Frank as to not spoil the birthday surprise. Finally, it was time for Mac's gift. Mac had gotten him a leaf blower, admittedly not a very romantic gift, but he'd been muttering the weekends before, about all the leaves and she'd bought it the first evening he'd been away. Mac put the pregnancy test stick into a long slender case, making Harm think he was getting a pen set, or maybe cuff links, for his birthday. The first gift had caused all the men in the group to groan, "You know you're a married man when you get a gift like that for your birthday: Alan Mattoni quipped. His wife bought him a new lawn mower for his last birthday when their old one had died.

Harm saved the small gift from Mac for last. It was lightweight and Harm was curious. Mac was sitting next to him with a cat- that ate- the -canary look on her face. He unwrapped the present with a little trepidation. It was a small jewelry case; he opened it and was surprised to see a small stick enclosed instead of the expected cufflinks. It took a few seconds for his brain to register what his eyes had seen and what it meant. When it did tears welled up in his eyes. "Are you sure, Sarah? he asked breathlessly. He didn't call Mac Sarah often, so the times he used it were extra special.

Andy and Mattie looked at each other, they'd talked to each other on Friday on the way to school. They were sure Mac was pregnant, but they disagreed as to how far along Mac was. Mattie took the five dollars from Andy; he'd said that she was only pregnant for a month. Mattie had said it was longer, she'd noticed little things over the past few months, and had kept to herself about her suspicions. They were both looking forward to having a younger sibling, they'd both been an only child and were excited about the prospect of having siblings, even with the large age gap between.