DISCLAIMER: For all intents purposes, no one has died on the show (except Diane). I claim author's privilege on this one and say that many of these characters just mysteriously disappeared from the lives of Harm and Mac, or if you like, I brought them back from the dead. I own very little…Webster's defines the words, Bellasario owns the characters, I create the plot.

AN: Last chapter for this story. There is one more backstory to be posted in a day or so, so look for that. Thanks so much for all those who have stuck with me throughout this. And now, some utter begging on my behalf. I'm at about 120 reviews and there's a minimum of 600 hits for each chapter with only an average of 15 reviews per chapter. It'd be great to hear from everyone who's been reading...(plus, 150's a very nice number!). Anyway, hope the ending is what you've all been hoping for.

CHAPTER 8: A Verdict?

Witnesses moved to sit on the edge of their seats, eagerly awaiting his words.

Harm turned to Mac. "Well?"

"Well?"

"They're right, Mac. Everything they've all said about us is true. There's been no one else for me but you."

"Nor for me. It's always been you, Harm."

"So?"

"So?"

"Wanna go for it?"

She smiled and nodded her head. "I'll stop dancing if you will."

"Already stopped. Ready and waiting."

There was a pause. The long kind of pause that drags on. The kind of awkward pause where everything seems to just hang there, waiting. Waiting for some sign, some movement, some action. Breaths were held, people were frozen in their seats, wishes were sent upward, pleadings were silently murmured.

And then it came. The sign the world had been waiting for. Planets could finally shift back into place, the stars would finally hang in balance, people could breathe, sighs of relief could be released, and cheers of joy could be shouted.

Mac and Harm stepped towards each other, each moving to close that final gap, both figuratively and literally, between them. Hands slipped around a slender waist, while another set slipped up around a neck.

Heads moved, lips met, and fireworks were set off. The air was filled with cheers of joy and triumph. The prosecutor relaxed, for the first time in days, relieved to be done with her job. She and the judge winked at each other, gleeful smiles on their faces, then vanished.

Just as Harm and Mac kissed, the world around them faded and went black. They both blinked their eyes several times and found themselves laying on the floor in the same hall they had been hurriedly coming down earlier.

"What…?" Mac sat up, putting a hand to the back of her head.

"What happened?" Harm asked, also sitting up.

"Sir? Ma'am? Are you two all right?"

They both looked up next to them to find a group of people standing there, all of them with worried looks on their faces.

Admiral Chegwidden suddenly pushed his way through the crowd.

"Are you two all right?"

"I think so, sir," Mac answered.

"How long have we been out?" asked Harm, slowly getting to his feet.

"Around ten minutes. We called for an ambulance and it should be here soon, sir," an ensign informed them.

"We don't need an ambulance," Mac protested.

AJ surveyed them. "Why don't you two go take the rest of the day off and we'll see you on Tuesday. I'll have someone go cancel the ambulance."

"Thank you, sir," answered Harm.

The crowd watched as Harm helped Mac to her feet and they both made their way back to their offices to gather their things. Harm grabbed his stuff and joined Mac in her office, shutting the door behind him; the blinds were already partially closed.

"I had the strangest dream," she said, looking up directly at him.

"So did I."

In that moment, they knew both dreams were the same.

"Your place or mine?"

"Mine. I've got something at mine I need to give you." An image of a simple yet ornate diamond engagement ring entered his mind, the very image of the one sitting in the small black box in the bottom corner of his top dresser drawer.

"Okay, let's go."

"Okay." Harm helped her with her coat and then started to follow her out. She paused right before she was about to open her door.

She turned around to face him, her things sliding to the floor.

"Mac?"

"I just gotta make sure this is real," she muttered. She slid her hands around his neck and pulled him close. Their lips met in a gentle, yet passionate kiss that went on for quite some time. His things joined hers on the floor as he wrapped his arms around her waist.

Meanwhile, outside the office, Harriet spoke. "Do you think they'll ever figure it out?"

AJ smiled. "Probably not."

Chloe and Mattie turned to each other and gave each other a high-five. "We did it!"

The End

AN: Hope the ride was enjoyable for all. Thanks for those who were there from the beginning. And thanks so much for your wonderful reviews and responses to this story. They were much appreciated! Please review!