Disclaimer in Part 1
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APRIL 2004
Spring finally arrived and with it a lessening of the tension in the office, compounded by the cabin fever people were getting after the long winter.
Jen shocked and surprised everyone when one day, after taking a 3-week vacation, she turned up wearing a wedding and an engagement ring on her finger.
The other thing to cause shock was the fact that Jen's uniform's name tags were missing. But that mystery was quickly resolved when Jen explained that she was taking her husband's name and was just waiting for the new tags.
That was also the reason for the 'riot' - Jen wouldn not, under any circumstance reveal the identity of her husband. It was definitely not that she was ashamed of him or something like that, she just wanted to see them squirm. Of course, she told them that she simply wanted to keep her personal life private from her professional one.
Everyone congratulated her, some more sincerely and some less. Of the 3 bears, as they were now called, only Mac congratulated her, even though it was clear she envied Jen. Who wouldn't? Jen was clearly in love and happy beyond belief. Harriet even broke the protocol when she squealed and hugged Jen enthusiastically in the middle of the bullpen, sincerely happy for her.
When they heard Jen talking on the phone, later in the day, making arrangements to be picked up to go to dinner and everyone decided to hang around to find out who her husband was, even the 3 bears.
Closing time had finally arrived, every member of the staff still hung around (mostly around the parking lot), waiting anxiously to find out the identity of the mystery husband. This was, after all, the news of the year!
Everyone scrutinized Jen, but she was oblivious to it all. She couldn't believe how much she'd missed him, even though she had seen him only just that morning. She sighed with happiness at the memory of their slow, tender love making after waking up.
She secured her post and headed for the stairs, not even willing to wait long enough for the elevator to come. Upon arriving at the parking lot, she stopped at the curb and waited for her ride.
Every member of the staff was devoting their complete attention to the parking lot. Even the Admiral was looking through his office window, curious.
Every eye was turned towards the guard shack at the entrance.
Then finally it arrived.
Appreciative murmuring was heard throughout the group as the brand new black BMW M6 came into view.
The sleek machine, reminding onlookers of a panther, growled to a stop at the check point, chrome shining in the sun.
The completely black tinted windows prevented the view of the driver.
The Marine on duty finally came out of his paralysis after seeing this black road predator and stepped up to the driver's window that had just opened.
Onlookers could see him checking the driver's ID and then the car's plates, identifying him as a diplomat.
The Marine returned the documents to the driver and raised the gate.
The 507 HP strong, powerful engine roared and the chrome 19-inch wheels started turning again.
Slowly, like a great cat stalking it's prey, the magnificent vehicle navigated the parking lot.
Even though they had guessed that it would happen, everyone was still shocked to see the car stop in front of Jen.
The engine turned off and the driver's door opened.
Everyone held their breath, anxious to see who the mystery husband is.
As they recognized the face they almost forgot to breathe.
Harmon Rabb, resplendent in his tailored black suit, stepped out of the vehicle and approached his waiting wife.
Envious murmurings went through the crowd, some accusing Jen of being a gold digger and Harm of being a craddle-robber.
Mac stood in complete shock at the sight of her former partner and once best friend, the man she had turned away with such cruel, cold, thoughtless words, only to twist the knife in the wound by taking up with the man who was responsible for the whole mess in the first place. Intense envy and jealousy filled her heart as she saw the handsome man round the front of the car to take his wife in his arms and kiss her passionately. How stupid she had been to turn away a man like that for a cheating lowlife like Webb. The 5 years were almost up and if she hadn't made the mistake that cost her any chance of happiness with Harmon Rabb, she could've been carrying their child by now. But now that dream would never come true, just because of spiteful, insulting words and a decision made in haste, out of feelings that weren't real. She had gambled with high stakes and lost everything. Harmon Rabb would never be hers. With tears of regret and anger at herself she turned and ran into the building.
As Harm and Jen embraced each other and shared their first kiss in 10 long hours, the murmuring stopped. The critics suddenly realized how wrong they were.
Their love for one another was so obvious that even a blind man could see it. It's brilliance was so powerful it could turn night into day.
Those envious critics shut up and had to acknowledge that these two truly are in love, a love so strong and powerful like no other, and that they got married simply out of that love and not because out of some calculated, greed-fueled move on Jen's part nor out of some mid-life crisis on Harm's part. No, this was true love.
Finally they pulled away from each other's lips and out of their own world. They stared into each other's eyes, seeing the love there and conversing silently. Then, as one, they turned and approached the car. Harm, always the gentleman, opened Jen's door for her. As she got in, he closed it and turned around. Only now did he see the crowd that was still watching them. He nodded in greeting to the people he knew and turned around to get in the car himself.
The engine roared to life and the sleek car, that until now looked like a panther sunning in the warm sun, turned towards the entrance and disappeared from view soon after.
The Admiral, who was watching the whole thing, raised his glass filled with burboun in salute and muttered. "Good for you, son."
And everyone who was a witness to the scene that had just transpired had no doubt that this is a marriage that would last for a lifetime and beyond.
And future proved them right.
END
AN: for this fic let's pretend that M6 was introduced in early 2004 (and not in late 2004) and that Harm bought and imported it from Germany due to his connections and status as a diplomat.
All info on the BMW M6 was taken from:
www.bmw.de