A/N: Seriously guys, WOW! The reviews just keep coming and I don't know how to thank all of you enough. Just... thank you.

Apparently, some of you have trouble picturing Jen and Vukovic together. There's just one thing I can say to that: it's a minor detail compared to what the main goal of the story is. This thing circles around Harm and Mac's relationship and Jen and Vic are just there.

Last thing before you get to read the next chapter, for the sake of this story, Harm officially adopted Mattie. She's no longer his ward but his daughter.

Enjoy!

JAG HQ

Falls Church, VA
1103 hours local

'Harm, will you drop the issue? I am not going to negotiate. My client doesn't want the deal'.

A frustrated Mac walked into the bullpen, Harm in tow. 'I still think he is better off when he takes the deal' he said.

Mac swirled around on her heels to face him. It was a look Harm hadn't seen on her face in a long time. She was annoyed with him. Not playfully annoyed, like she usually was these days, but really annoyed. Almost angry.

'Commander, I hoped that I could somehow knock this into your brain, but apparently the days when I could do that are over. Don't' she warned, raising her hand, when she saw Harm was about to protest.

'My client is not going to take the deal!' She empathized on every word. 'And you're not going to shove it down his throat either. So, drop it and move along. We'll see you in court'.

She turned around again, walked into her office and slammed the door shut behind her. Harm heavily sighed and ran a hand through his hair. Well, at least they weren't arguing about personal issues this time. This would probably be easier to settle. He sighed again and made his way to his own office.

Harriet and Jen traded glances. Harm and Mac hadn't argued about anything in a long, long time. What happened now that Harm had been pushing Mac's buttons in the past three days? With three more months on the clock before the wedding Harm and Mac weren't going to let things break down again, were they?

'Do you know what is going on with them?' Harriet asked in a soft voice, handing Jen a file.

'This morning everything was fine. They haven't been like this for a while'.

Harriet nodded, biting on her lower lip. 'You think that they…'

'Don't even say that out loud Harriet' Jen warned. 'I really hope that while they are gluing pieces back together they do it right this time. Mattie said that they were doing fine, right?'

The Lieutenant didn't miss the eagerness and concern in Jen's voice. Harm and Mac just had to be okay. Jen picked the phone up and speed dialed Mattie's cell phone. 'Mattie?'

'Jen! Hey, what's up?' Mattie sounded cheerful.

'Any idea what your guardian and his better half were up to this morning?'

Mattie started to frown. 'Dad and Mac? Why? Dad made her angry again?'

Oh oh. Jen let her breath out. 'What do you mean, again?'

Harriet's eyes grew wide. No. They couldn't be doing this right now. Please god, don't let them fall apart again.

'It's nothing. Mac is either PMS-ing or having her period and Dad should know better than not to agree with her, or any woman, during times like these. He's just too stubborn, although I tried to warn him that Mac wasn't gonna like him. So, what did he do know? Forgot her chocolate cake?'

Jen nervously laughed. 'No. Looks more like he's trying to talk her into taking a deal her client doesn't want'.

'Yep. Sounds like Dad. I wouldn't worry about it Jen. He'll be hesitatingly tapping on her door, apologize and take her out for dinner tonight. This little fight doesn't jeopardize our plan'.

She smiled and nodded at Harriet. 'Thanks Mats. You just saved my day'.

Mattie grinned. 'Happy to help. I gotta run Jen, class is about to start and you know my English teacher doesn't like me. I talk to you tonight'.

'Bye Mattie'. Jen hung up and sighed, trying to lose the knot in her stomach. 'There's nothing going on. According to Mattie, Mac's just PMS-ing or having her period and Harm should indeed know better than to argue with her when it's that time of the month'.

Harriet couldn't be more relieved. 'Thank god'.

'Thank god for what Lieutenant?'

The two women jumped at the sound of the Admiral's voice. He gave them a confused look. 'Something I should know about?'

'The Colonel and Commander are having a little… disagreement sir'.

AJ didn't totally buy it. 'A disagreement Lieutenant? And you're thanking God for that?'

Harriet smiled and shook her head. 'No sir. The Petty Officer and I were… well sir…'

'We were a bit afraid that they were going to have one of that big fights again sir' Jen explained. 'But Mattie just said that that is not the case, luckily. The Commander is just pushing her buttons at the wrong time. The wrong time of the month, if you know what I mean'.

He nodded and sighed. 'I know what you mean. Anyway, don't you two have things to do?' He lowered his voice. 'Things that have something to do with a wedding in three months?'

Harriet and Jen stood at attention. 'Aye aye sir'. And with that, they were both of to their duties for the day.

Jen and Mattie's apartment

North of Union Station, DC

2045 hours local

Unfortunately, things hadn't settled between Harm and Mac during the rest of the day. They had only said the most necessary things to each other and had parted ways at the end of the day.

Mattie and Jen were going over the wedding plans in Mattie's room, where they were surrounded by all the papers, magazines and catalogues they had so far, when they heard a tap on their door. Glancing at each other, they got up and retrieved to the living room, where Mattie plumped down on the couch with a book. They had learned that having a cover was a must. Harm could just show up at any time.

It was Harm standing behind the door. He had a grim expression on his face. 'You guys busy?'

Jen shook her head and let him in. Mattie looked up and closed her book. 'That is an expression I haven't seen in… a while' she said. 'What happened?'

'Mac is angry with me' Harm sighed, sitting next to her on the couch.

Mattie arched an eyebrow, as if she didn't have that information yet. 'What did you do this time Dad?'

He leaned back in the seat and rubbed over his face. 'I tried to talk her into a deal she and her client didn't want'.

'And you think it's weird she's angry with you?' She shook her head in disbelieve. 'You're unbelievable. I thought that after nine years of working with her you'd figured this out'.

'I thought I did' Harm answered. 'But it seems that I've lost grip on the situation'.

Mattie sat up. She could see he was really having a hard time with this but she had to push the issue now. 'Is that what you call that thing between you and Mac? A situation?'

Jen's shot Mattie a warning look and shook her head. What was she doing? Harm was startled. 'I don't know what to call this thing between us anymore Mats. We're best friends' he offered as some kind of explanation.

'Best friends huh?' She sighed. 'You know what you need to do?'

Harm tilted his head to the side and both the girls saw the questioning look in his eyes. 'What do I need to do Mattie?'

'Apologize. Say you're sorry. And you better do it now, because if you don't, you won't sleep tonight and that results in the fact that Mac won't be the only one having a bad mood tomorrow'.

Harm didn't say anything for a long time. He was staring at his hands, thinking about what Mattie had just said. Then he looked up to Jen. 'What do you think?'

'I…' That was something she hadn't expected. He was asking her what she was thinking. 'I think you should go over and apologize. And try not to push her buttons again'.

Mattie grinned at her and gave an almost invisible wink. If Harm was going to apologize now, it would throw Mac off guard, and it would show that Harm did know what it took to have an honest relationship with her.

He got up from the couch and stuffed his hands in his pockets. 'You're right. I should go over and apologize'. He paused, looking insecure. 'But what exactly would I be apologizing for?'

Okay, that was pushing it. Mattie pulled him down on the couch again and stood up herself. 'Are you really this thickheaded or are you just pretending not to know a thing? It doesn't really matter what you apologize for, just as long as you do. Right Jen?'

Jen nodded. This teenager really was a handful. 'Right'. She moved over to the table. 'You know sir, apologizing for trying to talk her into a deal would be a great start. And once you've done that, apologize for the rest. Which are mostly undefined things'.

He frowned confused. 'I'm apologizing for undefined things? Why would I apologize for undefined things? Mac and I are not married!' Harm jumped up from the couch.

'Then why did you come here in the first place?' Mattie wanted to know. 'Hoping for back up on what you did? You should know better than that Dad'.

Harm was standing with the doorknob in his hand, ready to open the door. He remained that way for a long time. Finally, he gave up. 'Maybe you're right. I should go and apologize to her'.

His daughter gave him thumbs up. 'It'll work out just fine Dad, you'll see'.

Harm made a face. 'Help me remember that the next time I ask you guys something, you two are women'. He opened the door. 'Go to bed on time Mathilda. I'll see you two tomorrow'.

'Bright and early' Mattie smiled as Harm closed the door behind him. And than she finally said the thing she wanted to say for a couple of minutes. A word that had been burning in the back of her mind.

Mac and I are not married… 'Yet'.

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