A/N: Thanks for all the amazing reviews on the last chapter guys. Here's what you've been waiting for!
Enjoy!
JAG HQ
Falls Church, VA
0812 hours local
AJ was standing outside the building, next to his car when he watched two Corvette's pull up in the parking lot. Both cherry red, but Harm's was a '68 while Mac's was a '97. They parked their cars next to his and got out.
Both wearing T-shirts and sweatpants, they did look relaxed. He was about to make them a whole lot less relaxed.
'Were you two together when I called?' he asked.
Harm and Mac exchanged looks. 'Why do you ask that sir?' Harm wanted to know.
'Just curious' AJ said.
'The Commander and I were out for our morning run sir'. Mac pushed a strand of hair behind her ear. 'Is everything okay sir?'
The Admiral smiled. 'Everything is fine Colonel. It's just nice to see that my two senior officers are back on the road again'.
His comment earned wide smiles of both of them. It was good being back on the road to friendship again. They both just didn't know that after today they would be a hell of a lot more than just friends. AJ handed them both a few papers.
'These are for you and these for you. And back into the cars again'.
They both frowned at him. 'Aren't we going to need to know what they say sir?' Harm asked.
'Read them in your car. I'll be here if you have any questions'. AJ nodded to them and after they exchanged looks, they retrieved back to their cars.
Harm opened his car door and sat down in the driver's seat. He started to read the first page. Mac was already flipping through the papers. AJ was just waiting for their reaction, arms crossed in front of this chest and he just couldn't suppress his smile although he was really trying to.
He saw Harm and Mac's eyes grow wide at the same moment and he heard a loud protest.
'What!'
They were both out of their cars in one quick movement and were storming towards him.
'Sir…' they both began.
AJ gave them expectant looks. 'What is it about it that you don't understand?' His voice was calm but he was having so much fun seeing them both this bewildered.
Mac was looking down at the orders in her hand. 'Orders to attend a wedding sir?'
'And not just any wedding sir' Harm started, 'but you are ordering the Colonel and me to get married this afternoon?'
The look on AJ's face was one of disbelieve. As if he couldn't believe his officers would make this much fuss about it. 'Is there something about it you don't like Commander?'
Harm shook his head. 'No sir, but I just…'
His partner was staring at him. He said 'no'. There was nothing he didn't like about the orders? Or had he just not given it enough thought yet? Of course, that had to be it. He was just as overwhelmed as she was.
'Sir, I don't understand. Why would you order us to get married? And do you have any idea how big the St. Peter's Church is?'
'I know the size of the St. Peter's Church Colonel' AJ replied. 'And I like to think that the reason behind the orders is pretty clear'.
He turned them around and walked to his car. 'Listen. You have less than six hours to get used to all of this. And I understand that it must be a lot to cope with right now. Especially since you didn't have any idea that this was coming. So, what I want you to do is this: Go home, have a cup of coffee and think things over. Than report to the St. Peter's Church at 1245 sharp'.
They were staring blankly at him. Suddenly, Mac's jaw dropped. 'Are you saying that the whole fashion show thing was a joke?'
All AJ had to do was nod.
'How long have you known about this sir?' Harm's eyes were traveling between the papers in his hand and his CO's face.
AJ shrugged. 'About a year'.
'A year!'
Mac let her breath out. 'So, apparently, you planned this whole… let's call it a wedding for lack of a better word, and now you are ordering, ordering us to get married? With all due respect sir, but are you out of your mind?'
Now he couldn't suppress his laugher anymore. AJ started to laugh. Mac was upset, Harm was just overwhelmed and shocked and they both obviously didn't know what to think.
'Mac, please calm down. Look, orders are orders. You two are officers. And I expect officers to obey the orders I give them. Now, I know you two have a reputation of disobeying orders at the right time, like when it concerns a close friend, but I don't think it's wise to pull a stunt like this right now. I expect to see the both of you at the St. Peter's Church at 1245'.
Harm took a deep breath and his eyes darted to Mac to see her reaction. She was shaking her head in disbelieve, reading the orders in her hand. For a split second their eyes met and they both looked away.
AJ sighed and opened his car door. 'Is there anything else you would like to know before I go?'
Harm looked up. 'Who is performing the ceremony sir?'
Finally, a real question. 'Chaplain Turner'.
The corners of Mac's lips pulled up. She had always thought that, would she and Harm ever get that far, she would want Chaplain Turner to perform the ceremony. Harm had obviously had the same idea. AJ saw their reaction and a slight relief washed over him. Maybe they didn't take it as hard as he thought they would.
'Anything else?'
'If… if we're doing this, is it just the two of us or is that church actually filled with guests?' came Mac's hesitant question.
AJ smiled again. 'Do you think that I would've gotten a church instead of a chapel if it were only the two of you?'
When neither of them said anything for a while, AJ thought it was time to send them home. 'Guys, do me a favor and go home. Normally, a groom doesn't even see his bride until it's time to walk down the aisle. You're already lucky Mr. Rabb'. He winked.
Harm and Mac nodded and started to walk to their respective cars. Harm stood next to his car and lifted his head up to look at Mac, who was getting in her car. She was beautiful. And if he was lucky, she would be his beautiful wife in less than six hours.
Before totally lowering herself in her seat, Mac took one last look at Harm and pulled her lips in some sort of smile. She got a full blown Flyboy-grin in return. God, the man still had that power over her. And maybe, maybe, her husband would smile that same smile at her later that day.
St. Peter's Church
Washington DC
0835 hours local
Jen parked the car in front of the church and she and Mattie ran out. She was so happy that she saw Tiner's car standing outside already. That would mean that if she was a little late, there was at least someone to take care of the dresses.
Seeing that there wasn't a lot to do around the church anymore, since Madame Nana had brought the dresses and the florist had done it's job, Jen decided to go check at the hotel where the reception would be later that afternoon.
Chloe, Sergei and Galina were staying at the same hotel and Harm and Mac would have the honeymoon suite there for the night. Mattie had someday caught Mac saying that the Emperor's Crown was her favorite hotel. Knowing that, they'd approached the hotel to have the reception there.
Mattie and Jen bumped into Chloe in the lobby of the hotel and they greeted with hugs. 'How are you doing?'
'I'm nervous!' Chloe replied. 'I sure as hell hope I'm not the only one'.
The two girls shook their heads. 'You're not'. Jen nodded towards the hall. 'Everything okay in there?'
'I was about to check'.
They walked towards the hall, the two guys in tow. Mattie stared up the ceiling to the chandelier. It was a real one, with at least a hundred candles that would be lightened when it would get dark later that night.
'Wow'.
They followed her gaze. 'Yeah'.
'Which one of you is Jennifer Coates?'
Jen turned around. 'I am'.
The man extended his hand. 'Gary Wilson, the manager. Is every thing okay?'
'Yes, we were just curious to what the reception hall would look like'. She smiled. 'I have to say that it looks perfect. Couldn't have done a better job myself. The DJ checked in yet?'
Gary smiled reassuringly. 'He's on his way. He'll be in time Ms. Coates'. He looked at the others. 'Who did you bring?'
Jen grinned. 'Mattie, my so-called little sister, her boyfriend Josh, this is Chloe, the bride's sister and Vic'.
Gary smiled at all of them. 'I think it will be crowded this afternoon?'
She nodded. 'I think so. There are so many people we had to invite and everything, but I honestly think we got it covered'.
'As do we. The cake safely arrived about ten minutes ago, so you don't have to worry about that. As said, the DJ will arrive shortly. We expect to see you around three thirty this afternoon then'. He shook her hand again and walked away.
Jen took a deep breath and leaned against Vic. 'Why can't I just let this go?'
He rubbed her back. 'Because it means the world to you and you've spent the past ten months arranging this'. Vic kissed the top of her head. 'Come on, let's get a coffee in the restaurant and we'll just hang out till it's time to go okay?'
Sergei and Galina showed up a while later and Jen tried to relax until it was time to get ready. Only another three hours until Harm and Mac would get married.
So, let me know what you think. As usual.
