Chapter 68

Election Day came and went, and Bush was once more elected into office. It made Harm relax a bit, with a new administration it would have been more likely for him to be transferred out of the White House, and possibly onto a carrier. He'd missed most of Andy's pregnancy and didn't want to miss this one.

In November, after discussing the matter with both Mattie and Andy and getting their consent, Mac and Harm started proceedings for adoption. Mac was officially adopting Andy, both Harm and Mac were adopting Mattie. It would simplify things if, God forbid, something happened to both Harm and Mac. If something happened to both Harm and Mac when the two were adults custody would be given to both. If something were to happen in the next few years while Mattie was still under age she would go to live with the Burnett's. Unless something happened in the next few months Andy would turn eighteen, he would be of age and able to take custody of any of the minor children.

Harm transferred to a more senior posting at the White House, in early December, which made his trips out of town fewer and further apart. It was a promotion of sorts for him, and gave him hope that when the promotions boards came in the spring he just might just be on it after all. He now had a family and didn't want to be away from them for long. For the first time since he was a child, he was looking forward to Christmas.

Because he'd never been that much into celebrating Christmas, he didn't have many decorations. However between Mac, Mattie and Andy, the Rabb family had more than they needed. It took more than a bit of good and take to decide which to use where, it helped both Mattie and Andy had small artificial trees that could be put in various areas of the house, the decorations not used in the living room were used throughout the house.

Bethesda Woman's Clinic

December 20, 2004

1655 local

Mac had scheduled to have an ultrasound taken of the baby, and after long debates Harm and Mac decided they wanted to know whether they were having a girl or boy, the pregnancy was going along without any crises, and Mac had felt amazingly well. As this was the only scheduled ultrasound Harm was here for the exam.

The obstetrician prepared Mac for the test, and as expected the gel felt cold, Harriet had been through this enough times to inform Mac to expect the cold feel of the gel. The doctor showed them the test, and started to ask them if they wanted to know what the sex of the child was. She then astounded them by telling them to look closely at the image they were seeing. There were two little Rabb's not just one. They were expecting twins. The doctor repeated what she was about to say when she realized there was to be a multiple birth. Did they want to know if they were having boys, girls, or one each?

Mac and Harm were stunned speechless, they couldn't believe it, they had a Christmas miracle and it wasn't even Christmas day yet. Finally, Harm got his voice back, and after looking at Mac told the doctor, "we'd like to know, these two have an older sister and an older brother that really want to know even if we didn't."

"Colonel McKenzie, Commander Rabb, baby number one is a girl," she pointed towards the top of the picture, "and hiding behind her and the surprise of the afternoon is a boy."

They drove home from the appointment in a state of shock; it had never occurred to them the reason for the rapid weight gain was multiple birth. They decided on waiting a few days and telling everyone else at Christmas, it would give them a few days for it to sink in.

During the months of November and December, Andy would disappear for several hours a week. On Christmas Day, they found out why. He'd made and painted a bassinet for his soon to be sibling. He'd made things for all of them at the wood shop the Douglas family had. Harm told his son he appreciated it, and admired the handiwork his son had done. Harm and Mac looked at each other and decided it was the moment to tell their older children. "When Mac had the ultrasound we found out we're having twins." Mattie and Andy went bug eyed, realizing they would be up to their eyeballs in diapers the next summer. Andy told them he would make another bassinet, so that both of his siblings would have one from him.

Mac and Mattie both treasured the gifts Andy had given them, they realized Andy truly accepted them into his family, because they items they'd wanted, but never expressed the want.

It was a tough Christmas in some ways for both Andy and for Mattie as it was the first Christmas they'd spend after a parent passed away. They didn't realize they were also dealing with a bit of sibling rivalry, even though the twins weren't due for several months. Harm and Mac gave them some leeway, but they also called them on it when it went from grief or jealousy, to belligerence. They didn't have to clamp down very often. After the first episode, Harm talked with an expert on how to deal with belligerent teens, his stepfather. Harm had been worse than either Mattie or Andy apparently. Frank suggested that the teens get some counseling, if they were interested. The next evening Harm and Mac talked with both of them separately about the possibility of grief counseling. To their amazement, both were receptive to the idea, and had actually looked into it. Fortunately Shaw had a good counselor and they both arranged to meet with her during the school year.

Chapter 69

JAG Headquarters

January 3, 2005

1302 local

Mac was wearing her maternity uniform for the first time, most everyone at JAG already knew she was pregnant but wearing the uniform confirmed it. Bud had just laughed when she told him she was carrying twins. "Don't expect much sleep for a few months, Colonel" the Lieutenant Commander and father of four told her. "Nikki and Tony aren't always on the same schedule, but Harriet doesn't have two teenagers in the same house," The Roberts twins had come at Thanksgiving and were just now starting to let their parents sleep for more than three hours during the night at one time. Mac hoped her twins would be kind to their parents and be on the same schedule.

Mac did not have any trials starting for a couple of weeks. She needed to talk with several witnesses for the government for an article 32 hearing next week, and was looking forward to meeting with the first witness on her list for the afternoon as she hadn't seen him for several years. Harm had seen him during his sojourn in the CIA. She knew that he'd been notified of the wedding, but because of the suddenness of the ceremony could not attend.

"Colonel McKenzie, it's been a long time, and I've seen you've changed." the blond chuckled as he eyed her maternity blouse.

"Thank you Captain, We're having twins, this is the first day I've had to wear this uniform. Before we get down to business, and co-counsel gets here, I'll let you know you're invited over to the house after work, Harm wants to see you, and we missed you at the wedding."

"'Where's that roomie of mine? I don't suppose he was able to stay on once you two tied the knot? I haven't seen him since we both worked for the Casper people. " Jack had made a career of working with the CIA but under the auspices of the Navy. He'd been floored to see his former academy roommate out of uniform and working for the intelligence agency. Jack wasn't surprised that Harm was not a good fit for the agency. Jack did not have the dings on his record that Harm had, he also hadn't had the varied career Harm had acquired and had received an early promotion to Captain weeks before.

Mac shook her head, "He transferred back in June, just before the wedding. He's had a different position, since December, so he doesn't have to travel quite so much. He hasn't been able to say where he's gone, because its White House related. Jack, I'd love to talk but I'm on a tight schedule here, and we can discuss personal items later." She could not try the case, because Jack was one of the principal witnesses for the government's case, but Creswell wanted her to take lead during this phase. A new transfer, a Lt. Gregory Vukovich, would take over for her once it reached hearing stage. The young officer had endeared himself to the General but Mac had found him lacking.

When Vukovich first met Mac that morning, she was sitting down and it wasn't apparent she was pregnant. Even though she was wearing her wedding ring, and a senior officer, the young man was flirting with her. When she'd stood up and he was made aware of her carrying twins he'd quit with the flirting. She realized he would be a handful and almost wished that Harm still worked in the building. He might be able shake some sense into the young man.

Before the meeting started with Keeter she gave him their new address. She wasn't sure he'd been home long enough to go through his Christmas cards. Mac knew Harm would enjoy meeting Keeter and be surprised to see Andy. She didn't let Jack know of all the changes in Harm's life. Harm could tell his friend. The two hadn't spoken to each other since they were both flying for the CIA.

Jack was had been best man an Harm and Shannon's wedding, the first wedding, and Harm had responded in kind when Jack and his first wife married. Jack had been there for Harm after Shannon had left for Australia. He'd helped Harm deal with the pain and grief of not only the ramp strike and the death of Harm's RIO, but he'd helped Harm during the divorce and the loss of his son from his life. Jack was the only one Harm would talk to during the lonely years about how much he missed his son. He would be pleasantly shocked when he arrived at the Rabb residence to find Andy living with his father.

Indeed, that evening Harm and Jack caught up on old times, some of the things they could tell Mattie and Andy and other stories had to wait for the two teens to head to do homework. Jack thought it outrageously funny Harm had taken orders from a young girl, a girl who could be his daughter age wise. Harm told Jack she would make a good officer some day because she hadn't allowed any guff from any of the pilots in her employ, including him. Harm was resentful of his friend's unexpected promotion, and hid it well, or so he thought. "Harm, don't let it eat you, if you don't make captain this year, it isn't the end of the world, you have something more important than titles, you have a growing family" he'd tell himself as the resentment would bubble up over the next few months.

During supper, Jack had told the teen, "Mattie, if you want to go to the academy, I'll sponsor you, I have the feeling a lot of officers at JAG will as well." Mattie was just starting to realize that college would be in her future, and not a pipe dream. She was starting to figure out where she might want to go.

Andy had gone the early admissions route and had received a letter of acceptance from Stanford. Because of this, he didn't have to worry. When Harm had seen the cost of tuition he'd blanched, he hadn't realized how expensive college was. When he was in high school and hadn't yet been accepted at the Naval Academy Frank had encouraged him to attend the prestigious university. Of course, at the time, and because Frank was encouraging him to go there it was the last school on his list. Mattie was leaning towards going to Annapolis, she knew her schooling had been spotty for a few years and was one of the reasons she'd wanted attend Shaw, to show universities that she was worthy of consideration. She knew she needed to consider a few schools; the Naval Academy would be a challenge to enter even with having an adoptive father as a alumni of the school. She checked with the guidance counselor the next day to see what she needed to accomplish to go to that school and the others she had on her list.

On the anniversary of Shannon's death, Harm took Andy to the shore, just the two of them. Mac had encouraged Harm to do this. "This may be the last time its just you two, without any other people around as distractions." It helped a great deal that it was the same weekend, as one of Mac's baby showers and the two men had not wanted to attend. Andy had completed the second bassinette by the end of the Christmas break as the weather had been conducive to inside projects. During their time on the Virginia shore, father and son were able to have several frank talks, there'd been a few issues starting develop and Harm hoped the weekend would take care of them.

It was about this time the adoptions became final. Mattie decided if she was going to be adding Rabb to her name, she would legally be Mattie, as she'd never really liked the name Matilda, even if it had been her grandmothers. She'd never really gotten along well with her father or his family; she decided she'd now be known as Mattie Grace Rabb.