AN: and here's the long awaited talk. Keep in mind that this fic is taking place while Mac was still dating Webb and her friendship with Harm was almost non-existent. Because of that Harm is a little bitter and defeated when it comes to any prospects of being friends with Mac again.

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They sat in silence for a few minutes, neither knowing where to start, until Jen had had enough. "This is ridiculous! We're married, it's not like we are facing execution!"

Harm had to laugh at that. "You're right, Jen. But it's still unexpected and we were forced into it."

Jen looked hurt at his words. "I know you don't want this, Harm, so..."

Harm quickly took one of her hands in his and with a finger of the other he covered her lips, shushing her.

"You misunderstood me completely, Jen."

She looked frustrated and shook off his finger. "Then what did you mean? Cause it sounded pretty straight-forward to me."

Harm sighed, the gust of air ruffling her let-down hair.

"Jen, I'm 40 years old. And you're 27. I'm too old for you. While you're one of only two women with whom I've ever believed I could make a marriage work, I'm afraid you will one day regret being married to an older guy. You're still young and you have your whole life ahead of you. You should find someone your age, not an old geezer like me."

Jen stared incredulously at him. "Where do you get such ideas? Too old? I don't care how old you are. And guys my age are mostly immature jerks, interested in one thing only. Sex. I want more than that. I want a marriage and family."

This time it was Harm's turn to be surprised "What do you mean, you don't care how old I am?"

Jen let out an exasperated breath. "Harm, until Mattie went back to her father, we were practically a family. You and I were essentially her parents. You were my partner. And quite a few people thought we were married, they even referred to you as my husband. It didn't bother me. In fact, I loved it. I care about you, during these last 3 years you have become the most important person in my life. I have no one in my life but you and you fulfill so many roles I don't need anyone else. You are my best friend, confidant and partner. You not only supported me when I was starting over, but you also gave me a family. I don't have any other friends because I don't need them, your friendship offers me everything I could ever need. With all this you became the most important person in my life. And because of that status I am not bothered by our age gap. You are too important to me for me to be bothered by such a silly thing as the age difference."

Harm just continued staring at her.

Jen concluded smugly. "Besides, we're married and ordered to stay that way for at least a year. Like it or not, you're mine and I'm yours." She leaned back and waited for his reaction.

It took Harm a minute to shake off the paralysis caused by her words and only then did he manage to react. He burst out laughing, loud guffaws shaking his frame. Jen just looked at him bemused, but couldn't stop a smile from spreading across her face.

Finally he managed to get himself under control and leaned back, wiping the tears from his eyes. He looked at her and with dancing eyes he pointed at her. "You should've been a lawyer!"

Jen acted insulted. "Hey, watch the insults, oh hubby of mine, or you're going to take them back."

Harm snickered, but then got serious. "You're right. We've been ordered to stay married for a year. A lot can happen in that year. Let's just play it by ear and see what happens, okay? And I'll try to deal with my insecurities regarding the age gap. Deal?"

Harm held out his hand and Jen shook it. "Deal."

But then she frowned "What did you mean by 'one of only two women'?"

Harm suddenly grew sad. "There was only one other woman I have ever seriously considered marriage with and honestly believed it could've worked. An old partner of mine, Meg Austin. We were partnered for only a year, before she was transferred out and Mac in. Meg and I have come to care and know everything about each other in a very short stretch of time. But then she was transferred and I couldn't find out where or why."

Jen looked unconvinced "Not Colonel Mackenzie?"

Harm dragged a hand across his face and drew in a ragged breath. "Mac is a complicated chapter. Very complicated."

Jen urged him on. "Please, tell me about it. Ignoring the fact that as your wife I deserve to know, I would like to understand your relationship with her."

Harm considered her for a moment and then nodded decisively. "You're right, you have the right to know. Mac was assigned to me shortly after Meg was transferred out. Needless to say, I didn't take it particularily well. While I never stopped her from being a friend and co-worker, I wasn't prepared for anything more, I was still too much in love with Meg. It took me 3 years to be ready to move on. Even to this day, I haven't forgotten her. I tried dating other people, people with whom I subconsciously knew it wouldn't have worked. But I tried. Anyway, when I was finally ready to let go of Meg and start considering a life with Mac I found out that I could perhaps return to flying. My doctor mis-diagnosed me with night blindness after my ramp strike and when I found out he was wrong and that a surgery could repair my vision, I went for it. I had the surgery and then requested a transfer to an active squadron. I had to close that chapter in my life to be able to completely move on with my life. I had to prove that I could've been one of the best had my eyes not let me down. But Mac didn't understand that. Anyway, she didn't take it well, she acted as if I had betrayed her, actually, all of my friends acted as if I had betrayed them by going back to flying. Needless to say, her anger and her unsupportive attitude hurt me and it hurt our friendship. After I came back things got even worse. She was promoted while I was flying, didn't even tell me about it, and after I came back she made sure I knew she was the superior officer, ordering me to refer to her by her new rank and not letting me talk about anything personal. She made me pay for what she thought was my betrayal. Our friendship was in ruins. Then she became involved with another man, the man I had hated since I knew him and whom she didn't even like before then, only a day after I asked her to wait for me until I was ready, until my life wasn't such a mess anymore. I was still recovering professionally and personally from my flight duty and was nowhere near ready for a committed relationship. She took the man's ring and from then on it went downhill. It all came to an end last year in Paraguay, when she effectively, unilateraly terminated any chance of her and I ever having a relationship. Since then I have tried to rebuild our friendship, but my attempts weren't successful. You probably know that she is dating someone, he's the spy that got us both into one mess after another due to incompetent planning over the years and was responsible for the Paraguay mess and for almost getting her killed. It pains me to say, but the chance of Mac and I being anything more than just co-workers, being friends again, is non-existent."

Jen was quiet for a while, thinking over everything he had told her. "Are you sure? What if she ends it with the spy and wants to have everything with you? Marriage, family,...?"

Harm met Jen's gaze determinedly. "Not even then. Too much has happened between us, there is too much bad blood there on both sides, too much miscommunication and too many misunderstandings, for Mac and I to ever be anything more than friends, if we can become even that. I'm not willing to wait to see how her current relationship works out or for her to decide she wants me more. I'm too old for that, I want everything and am not willing to wait forever on a slim chance that something 'might' happen."

Jen then changed tact. "Are you sure you could be happy with me?"

Harm replied. "As I've already said, besides Meg, you are the only other woman I can ever see my marriage with to work and be happy with. We have become best friends, we were practically Mattie's parents together. By Common Law and the law of nature we were married. We were equal partners who were raising a child together. Like you, for the past couple of years I've been searching for more than just sex. I want a wife, family and career. You and Mattie have been the most important people in my life for the last year. Mattie as my daughter and you as my partner. We are married now and I can't help but be happy about it, even though the way it happened leaves a lot to wish for."

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Jen finally let out the breath she was holding and smiled relieved. "Good, we're on the same page regarding our wishes. I'll want babies soon, we've been waiting long enough as it is, so be warned."

Harm chuckled. "I want children too, Jen, but don't you think it would've been better if we take this slowly?"

Jen looked at him as if he was crazy "Slowly? Harm, hate to break it to you, but we are already married. I'd say it's too late for that now."

He looked at her, hoping she would understand. "I didn't meant that. I was talking about making our relationship physical. It's too early for that. We have to get used to being married, being a couple, first. I don't want to screw this up and I fear we would fail if we involved sex too soon. I'm not talking about years, but just until we get used to being a couple."

Jen smiled "I understand, Harm. I didn't mean we should just jump each other. I just wanted to make it clear that I don't want to wait for another 5 years or so. I guess you should know something about me, that is kind of embarrassing to say."

Harm covered her hand with both of his and looked at her tenderly. "Jen, you can tell me anything. I won't make fun of you. Just trust me."

She took a deep breath, gathering the courage needed to say what she wanted. In the end she just blurted it out. "Harm, I'm a virgin."

Harm smiled gently "See, it wasn't that hard. That's not something to be ashamed of. Can I ask how come?"

She looked at him wryly. "Being a Reverend's daughter pretty much prevented anything happening until I ran away. And the crowd I then hung out with... let's just say that none of the guys there deserved getting their hands on me. Besides, I've learned a thing or too and they would've regretted trying anything against my will."

Harm smiled, knowing she was telling the truth. Jen was street-wise and could definitely take care of herself in many situations. "Are you sure you want me to be the one to...?"

Jen nodded emphatically "Yes, Harm, you're the only one I would give my body to. Besides, it'll be necessary to do it if we want to have children."

Harm was awed by the trust and the gift she was giving him and was determined that when the time came, she would not regret choosing him.

"So, I think we said all that needs to be said."

Jen smiled happily. "Good. I guess I can now safely do this."

With that she leaned forward and pressed her lips gently to his. Harm responded and after a while they deepened the kiss.

A few minutes later they came up for air and Jen leaned her forehead on Harm's, breathing heavily.

"Wow."

"Yeah." Harm agreed.

They've spent the next half hour kissing and just being together when something occured to Jen and she jumped on her feet, dragging Harm with her.

"What is it?"

Jen looked around harried. "I thought of something. We need to go to the Court House so they can update our records and so I can change my name."

"You're right. Go put your shoes on and meet me here in 15 minutes."

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15 minutes later they met up again. Both had changed clothes in the meantime. Due to the warm weather Harm was dressed in a light, summer suit with a tie, while Jen was in a yellow summer dress, which was complimenting her bronzed skin beautifully and lovingly clung to her curves. Harm just stared at her for a few seconds, entranced 'She's so beautiful. And she's my wife. Wow.'

Meanwhile Jen was checking him out too. 'He's so handsome in that suit, it emphasizes his broad shoulders. He's definitely a handsome male specimen. And he's my husband. Yum.' she grinned leeringly.

Harm reached out his hand for Jen to take it. "So, shall we, Mrs. Rabb?"

Jen laughed joyously and took his hand, squeezing it tightly. "We shall, Mr. Rabb."

And out the window they went.

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