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A Snowy Weekend – Part 2

Disclaimer - See part one for all important information

JAG Headquarters

Falls Church, VA

10:13 AM

"Huh?" Was Harm's only response. He was too surprised seeing her so soon again.

"A deal," Mac repeated her statement and moved into his office. "You know, when I buckled in Jimmy and Little AJ, I saw this box in the van," she continued and showed Harm the empty files box she was holding in her right hand. "And I came up with an idea. I thought we should use the box to put all the files you still have to work on into it and take them with us. Then I'll drive you to your apartment so you can pack some clothes, toiletries and most of all something to sleep in for the weekend. And when you're done with the packing you'll spend the rest of the weekend with Jimmy, Little AJ and me," Mac explained softly with a glimmer in her eyes.

"As tempting as this sounds, Mac, I can't," Harm answered defeated while looking at the pile of papers. "Right now it looks like I won't even get a lot of sleep over the entire weekend. Having a weekend full of fun with you guys would make it impossible to get the files done by Tuesday," He continued sadly.

"Well you haven't heard the most important part of my deal yet," Mac told him gently with a smile, while she sat down in one of Harm's visitor chairs.

"I haven't yet, have I? Would the Colonel like to tell me about the most important part of her deal then?" Harm asked with a raised eyebrow and crossed his arms.

"Sure, I would love to, Commander. I think you and I could work on the cases together while the boys are either asleep or watching some cartoons on TV. I'm sure we'll be done by Tuesday, if not even earlier. There may be a few files I can't help you out with at all, but I'm sure there are enough things I can do as well."

"Sounds really tempting."

"It does, doesn't it?" Mac smirked. "Harm, I really would like to spend the weekend with you and the boys. And you already know how much Little AJ would love to have you around," she explained gently. "Also I'm sure that as soon as Jimmy is out of his dreamland he'll be more than happy to see his Uncle Harm." Mac smiled and hoped she would finally get Harm to approve her plans.

"Hmmm, let's see. A weekend with you and the boys…," Harm started to say while he looked into Mac's smiling eyes. Then he turned his head to take another quick glance at the pile of files. "Or a weekend with Johnson, Murphy and Co. You know what? I would say, let's get the hell out of here," he decided with a grin and in one swift motion got out of his chair.

"Okay, that's my flyboy. Now which pile is done and which one is still to do and has to come with us?" Mac asked, waiting for Harm's instruction.

"This one we'll have to take with us," Harm answered defeated and pointed at the three times bigger pile of files on the left side.

"Got it." Mac started to put the files into the box while Harm got his coat, cover and briefcase.

"Where are the boys?"

"They are in the car. I didn't want to bring them up with me, since I didn't know what your answer would be. There was no need to risk AJ's hopes being shattered again. I told him that I forgot something in my office and that he should take care of his little brother. The private at the gate promised me to watch them until I'm back," Mac explained.

"Good thinking. Okay, I'm ready. Let's get out of here before fate decides to work against me."

Together they made their way to the elevator.

"So, what's on the agenda for this weekend anyway?" Harm asked in suspense, while they walked into the elevator. The thought of spending the entire weekend with his two favorite boys and his favorite girl brought a nearly goofy looking smile on his face. 'But don't forget that you have to work on the cases as well,' Harm tried to remind himself. 'Yeah, that may be true. But I can do that with my favorite girl.' Harm's eyes twinkled with happiness.

"Well, AJ already told you about our plan with the Christmas tree. I think other than that we'll spend the entire weekend hanging around, watching movies, drinking cocoa, reading stories in front of the fireplace or just cuddling together on the bed. I also had to promise him that we would go sledding if there's enough snow, which I guess is very much a done deal," Mac told Harm with a chuckle.

When Harriet and Bud had asked her a few weeks ago if she would like to take care of their boys over this weekend, Mac knew it would be a great weekend for her. Now that Harm would spend it with them, she was sure it couldn't get any better. It's as if a secret dream of her was coming true. 'Harm and I will spend the entire weekend like we have our own little family,' Mac thought and it warmed her heart immensely.

"Cuddling on the bed?" Harm asked with a raised eyebrow and a smile as they made their way to the car.

His question brought Mac out of her thoughts. She smiled and looked over at him. "Umm, yeah. Believe it or not, the boys like to cuddle. You should enjoy it as long as possible, because sooner or later it will be history," Mac explained as she opened the trunk of the van. "Here you go, just put the box next to AJ's sled and the boys' bags. Do you want to drive?"

"Sure," Harm said and took the keys out of Mac's hand.

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Harm's Apartment

North of Union Station, DC

11:04 AM

"Here we go. Come on in," Harm told Little AJ and Mac, who carried the still asleep Jimmy in her arms, as he opened the door of his apartment. "I'll just go get changed and pack my bag for the weekend."

"Uncle Harm, can I help you pack?" AJ asked him quietly so he wouldn't wake up his little brother.

The moment AJ had found out that his uncle would spend the weekend with them after all, he's wanted to shout in joy. However, Harm and Mac immediately told him to be quiet since his brother was still asleep right next to him. Beaming with joy, Little AJ only had whispered 'cool' and smiled brightly. A smile, which held its place on his face through the entire ride to his godfather's apartment.

"Of course you can," Harm answered his godson's request before he looked at Mac. "We'll be right back," he told her and walked with AJ into his bedroom.

"Sure, just take your time," Mac replied softly before she made her way to one of the living room windows.

It was still snowing and Mac knew that if it wouldn't stop soon, they would have to change their plans for the weekend after all.

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"Hey, you okay?" Harm asked softly when he walked out of his bedroom a few minutes later and saw Mac looking out the window. Tenderly he caressed Jimmy's cheek and got a gentle sigh as response from the sleeping boy.

"Yeah, I'm fine," Mac answered quietly with a smile. "I'm just trying to figure out what we'll do if it doesn't stop to snow soon."

"It is really coming down now, isn't it?" Together they watched the thick snowflakes dancing in front of them.

"Yeah, it is. And if it doesn't stop soon, there'll be no way for us to go sledding with AJ or buying a tree for Christmas. By tomorrow we'll be snowed in." Mac explained with a sad tone in her voice. She knew how much Little AJ wanted to go sledding and get a Christmas tree, but now she feared that she had to disappoint him. "Where's AJ by the way?" Mac asked Harm when she couldn't locate her older godson in the living room.

"He's still packing my bag. AJ told me that he's a big boy and could do it all alone. I thought I should at least give him a chance," Harm said with a chuckle. "When were you planning to get the tree?"

"Tomorrow right after breakfast. Yesterday I saw an advertisement in the newspaper from the grocery store near my apartment. They'll start selling trees by tomorrow."

"You want to buy a Christmas tree from your grocery store?" Harm asked with a disliked look on his face. "That's not Christmasish, Mac!"

"Christmas what?"

"Christmasish."

"Harm, Christmasish is not a word," Mac explained with a chuckle.

"I know it isn't a word, but that's not the point here! Mac, we can't go with our children to a grocery store and buy a Christmas tree. We have to do it the right way. They have to feel the Christmas spirit," Harm said thrilled and obviously was missing his Freudian slip.

However, Mac didn't miss it and smiled at the thought that Harm was apparently thinking the same about this weekend as she did. The thought of being together like a family. "Okay, and what would be the right way? How would it be Christmasish, Mr. Rabb?"

"Getting the axe and some straps out of my garage before we'll go hunting for the perfect Christmas tree," Harm explained confidently.

"Going hunting for a tree with an axe?" Mac was so bewildered; all she could do was repeat his words.

"Yes, and I think we should do it right away, before we'll get snowed in," Harm continued, now even more confident about his idea. "With the SUV it shouldn't be a problem to get to the farm."

"I thought you said your car's 'sick'."

"It was just the battery. Someone from my garage came and replaced it. So, what do you think?"

"Going hunting for a tree with an axe."

"Yes, Ms. MacKenzie. So what do you think?" Harm could hardly await Mac's answer and hoped she would like his idea.

"I like it. I never had a self cut tree for Christmas in my life," Mac told Harm softly. Christmas was never a big event in her childhood, and most of the time they had an artificial tree, if they had one at all.

"Then we should hit the road and try to find a tree for us. Why don't I get AJ and my bag from the bedroom, while you entertain our little friend here?" Harm kissed the now woken up Jimmy on the forehead who gurgled back at him, the happiness of seeing his uncle was clearly visible on his face. With a last wave at his younger godson and Mac, Harm was making his way to the bedroom.

"Sure," Mac replied quietly with a dreamy expression on her face while her eyes followed him. 'This will be a great weekend,' she thought and kissed Jimmy's forehead. 'A great weekend.'

TBC...