Rock a Bye Babies'
Chapter 17
Two weeks later
Rabb Flat
1230
Harm pulled Mac tightly against him. His favorite part about this time of the month was being able to spend his lunchtime in bed with his wife. He'd read all the material he could find on infertility issues and how one of the hardest traps to avoid was not letting sex become a chore during ovulation. Harm couldn't help smiling to himself. How could this ever be considered a chore?
"What's so funny?" Mac shifted her weight a little more heavily onto Harm, running her finger along his jaw line and settling it on his cute lips.
"Nothing really. Have I mentioned how much I enjoy coming home for 'lunch'?"
Mac could feel the rumble in his chest as he tried not to laugh again. "Maybe," she grinned. Tossing her leg fully over his, she crawled into a straddling position, her lips now only inches away from Harm's. "Can I interest you in dessert?"
The growl that rumbled deep in Harm's chest had nothing to do with an urge to laugh. Flipping Mac over onto her back, his lips came painfully close to hers.
"Always," he breathed, his mouth descending the final distance, melding smoothly with hers. Being with Mac made Harm feel eighteen all over again. No matter how often they made love, it was never enough.
He'd barely had a chance to begin to savor the taste of his lovely bride, when his cell phone chirped annoyingly at the bedside.
Mac shot her arm out, groping blindly along the nightstand for the intrusive apparatus.
Refusing to cease his endeavors, Harm trailed a path of deliciously moist kisses along her cheek, stopping momentarily at the base of her ear. "Ignore it."
Her head lolling back in delight, Mac wrapped her fingers around the still sounding phone. "It's not like Beth to disturb your 'lunch'. Maybe the White House DID explode."
"You'd better be right." Reluctantly, Harm rolled to the side. Sitting up, he answered the phone. "Rabb."
"Sorry to disturb you, sir." Beth had debated with herself for almost ten minutes whether or not to call the captain at home. She really hadn't wanted to interrupt him. After Gunny had mentioned that the captain and Mrs. Rabb wanted children very much, she was pretty sure that Jen and her conclusions were correct and these lunches had nothing to do with food.
"What is it, James?"
"Sir, you got a phone call from the embassy. Something about notification from the Queen and needing to speak to you right away. I'm sorry, sir, but I thought the Queen might rank up there with the White House, sir."
"Who made the call?"
"The ambassador himself, sir."
"I see, very well. I'll call him back from here. Thank you, Beth."
"Yes, sir. Sorry, sir."
"What's wrong?" Mac asked, watching Harm scroll through his directory.
"Nothing, I hope. Ambassador Wilkes called. Something about notification from the Queen."
"Oh." Mac sat up, patiently listening to the one-sided conversation. After the first few times Harm said, "I see," "Yes, I agree," and "Understood," she rolled out of bed and reached for her robe. Whatever this was, it sounded like the rest of their 'lunch' would have to be postponed.
"Well isn't that something?" Harm flipped his phone shut and walked over to where Mac was standing at the foot of the bed.
"What?"
Dropping his hands loosely around his wife's waist, he moved to kiss her neck. "It seems our Gunny has been awarded the Queen's Commendation for Bravery."
"Wow. What for?"
"Technically, for stopping the subway attacker."
"Technically?"
"Apparently it was brought to the attention of the House of Lords that not only did Gunny save a pregnant woman and prevent any further attacks on the subway from a man who was on a rampage, but it was also pointed out that Gunny was instrumental in gaining access to information that thwarted the subway bombings last month."
"Wow," Mac repeated.
"Yeah. The official ceremony will be held two weeks from now."
Chlachan's Pub
Later that night
"I can't believe you asked the captain to let me attend," Beth rubbed her hands together, chasing away the winter chill.
"Well, you're the closest thing to family I have here. You don't mind do you? I mean, if you'd rather not..." Gunny figured since the captain already knew how he felt about Beth, he wouldn't need to explain why he wanted to include her.
"Are you kidding? I'm honored. I just wish I didn't look so fat." Beth had finally had to give up on the rubber bands and start wearing maternity uniforms.
"You're not fat, you're pregnant. Besides, I think you look beautiful." Gunny stiffened awkwardly. He hadn't meant to let that slip.
"Liar, but thank you." Beth couldn't imagine how she'd make it through this pregnancy if not for Gunny's never-ending support.
Gunny debated what to say next. He almost told her the story about the time Tiner had told Harriet he thought pregnant women looked sexy, but decided that was more of a Pandora's box than having told her she was beautiful.
"Is something wrong?" Beth noticed Gunny looking unusually pensive.
"I just think the whole thing is a waste of time. People do brave things every day and getting into a fight with a druggie shouldn't be considered one of them."
"That's not the point and you know it. That lunatic had hit on three other people before Melody, and the last one was in intensive care for a week. If you hadn't shown up, he could have killed Melody and the baby. Even worse, he could have gone on attacking more unsuspecting people, putting heaven only knows how many others in the hospital. You did a good thing Gunny, and I'm proud of you." Beth rolled her eyes, before shutting them tightly. Her blasted water faucet was about to start again.
"Hey, I didn't mean to make you cry." Gunny hated it when he did that. He couldn't help but think of what the captain had told him about not bringing Beth to tears on a daily basis.
"You didn't. These are happy tears, not the same as crying." Grabbing the napkin off the table, Beth tried to dry her eyes as inconspicuously as possible.
United States Embassy
London England
Two weeks later
Beth shifted uncomfortably in her seat. When Gunny had first told her he'd requested she be allowed to attend the ceremony, she had been thrilled. When she found out the commendation would be presented by His Royal Highness the Duke of Kent, it was all she could do to keep from throwing up.
"Is everything okay?" Mac questioned. She'd been concerned for the young petty officer ever since she arrived. Mac couldn't remember ever actually seeing anyone turn green before.
"Fine, thank you." She was lying through her teeth. "I'm sure I've said this before, but I absolutely love the way that suit looks on you, ma'am." Beth was bound and determined to pull this off if it killed her. After all, it wasn't the Queen herself who was going to be there, and it wasn't like she was the one getting the commendation.
"Thank you," Mac smiled. Leaning into Harm's side, she turned to whisper in his ear. "I hope Beth makes it through this. I know we're all proud of Gunny, but she looks so nervous, you'd think she was the one being honored."
"It's probably just hormonal," Harm shrugged lightly. Truth be told, he was a little nervous himself and glad that Gunny had requested Mac be added to the guest list. Things always went much smoother with her at his side.
"What does that have to do with anything?" Mac asked a little louder than she'd intended, a few heads in the room turning in her direction. "Are you implying being pregnant makes women nervous?" she repeated very quietly.
"No. I'm saying pregnant women are more emotional, and there's nothing wrong with that. It's expected." Lightly tapping her leg, he lowered his voice. "Shh, it's starting."
Everyone rose as the Duke began his speech. Gunny stood stiffly, ever the proud Marine. The entire American delegation was beaming. Harm and Mac looked prouder than any parents could. The smiles on their faces put the Cheshire cat to shame.
As the official ceremony came to an end, the Duke and Gunny saluted, shook hands, and with little pomp or circumstance, the gathering began to disperse.
Mac stepped away from the crowd. The photographers were snapping photographs and a few miscellaneous reporters were rapidly scribbling down names and asking the Gunny for his side of the story. She was touched when she saw Gunny reach out and request Beth join him for the remainder of the photos. They made a nice looking family. Mac couldn't help but wonder if it was going to take them as many years to recognize what they had as it did she and Harm. Though, technically, she and Harm were merely a couple. They weren't a family yet. Clutching her purse tightly to her side, she closed her eyes and said a quick prayer. Before meeting Harm at the embassy she'd stopped at a nearby drugstore. Maybe today would be different then the last few times, maybe today would be a special day for everyone.
The end for now.