AN: Congrats to bdv for being the only reviewer to notice Harm's slip up in the last chapter (calling Mac his wife even though they aren't married yet). Many thanks for all the reviews and I hope they keep coming!

BTW, I'm looking for a beta to proofread the rest of this story if anyone is interested.

Shopping and Making Plans

That afternoon while they were shopping Harm made a few phone calls and took charge of their evening plans and refused to tell Mac where they were going.

No matter how Mac pestered, begged, teased or seduced him, he was steadfast in his resolve not to tell her. She was still trying as they returned to the hotel later that afternoon.

"Come on Harm! You know I don't like surprises."

He laughed as they stumbled into their hotel room, loaded down with shopping bags, which the dropped by the small table in the corner. They slipped off their winter coats and shoes so that Mac was left in a soft pink blouse and grey slacks she'd put on that morning, while Harm was wearing black pants and a thin grey sweater over an undershirt.

Mac slid her arms around his neck and settled her body firmly into his. Her thumb brushed through the short hairs at the base of his scalp and she brushed her lips lightly across his once, and then again.

"Just tell me where we're going for dinner so I'll dress appropriately."

He grinned against her lips. "I told you. Semi-formal. Pretty much anything you pick will be great."

She pushed against him with her torso and he stepped back with one foot, arching an eyebrow as she glared.

"Harm, if you don't tell me where we're going, you're going to have a very annoyed Marine on your hands."

She punctuated the word very with another push and he stepped back again. His calf was braced on the foot of the bed and his hands were spanning her hips, his fingertips pressing lightly on her back while his thumbs caressed her hipbones.

"And you don't want you 'wife' to be annoyed with you, do you?"

He groaned and rested his forehead against hers. "Am I ever going to live that down?"

She couldn't help laughing as she pushed him onto the bed and stood over him.

"I couldn't believe poor Bud's face when you said that. He really thought we'd eloped and gotten married already."

"As if," he snorted as he pulled her down beside him, "my mother would kill me and Harriet-" he trailed off, more interested in the band of warm skin revealed by the slight separation of her blouse and pants.

He rolled them over so she was underneath him and stretched their combined arms above her head, holding both hers with one of his broad palms.

She shifted so he was lying between her legs and he kissed her softly.

"I just don't want to think about waiting anymore. It feels like I've been waiting forever and from that night in my apartment…"

He kissed her again, lingering for a moment in the softness as they breathed each other in.

"Even though we're still planning the wedding and nothing's official yet, you've already become my wife in my mind and my heart."

She sighed and closed her eyes for a moment. When she opened them again they were glistening and a tear dripped out of each, tracking towards her temple.

He rolled again, so he was on his back and he hugged her to him. "I just want you to know that whenever and wherever it happens, it's only reaffirming what I already know and feel."

All was silent for a moment until Mac lifted her head and looked at him. She shook her head slowly and groaned as she lowered her forehead to his chest.

"Now why did you have to go and say something like that?"

She propped her chin on his chest and cradled his face in her smooth hands. "Now there's no way I can be mad at you tonight."

He stroked a large hand over her hair, neck and down her back before he flashed a grin.

"Well, that was my plan all along."

She laughed and moved up to kiss him and he moved his hand to toy with the first button on her blouse.

About an hour later...

Mac finished applying her mascara and started screwing the tube back together as she looked in the mirror. Her dress was on, her hair and makeup done. She'd chosen the dress earlier that year in London while looking for a wedding dress.

She hadn't found anything yet, but it was just as well because she'd rather have Mattie with her for that decision. She smiled as she thought of the phone call she and Harm had shared with the teen earlier that day. Mattie had just gotten back from a morning physio appointment and had called Harm's cell-phone to tell him how it went, catching him just as they were getting ready to leave lunch. He'd quickly said his goodbyes to Jen, Sturgis and Bud as the trio headed back to work and then continued the conversation.

Apparently she was doing very well and her therapist had pronounced her more than ready to come to London and continue there. They told her of their plans for the afternoon, asking if she'd thought of any last minute Christmas gifts she wanted. She had the same reaction as Mac when she found out about Harm's unfinished shopping problem. They talked for a few minutes about plans for when Harm and Mac arrived in San Diego and then said their goodbyes because Mattie's tutor had arrived.

Harm had been in a good mood after that so it had been easy to drag him to many stores, even though the throngs of other shoppers were somewhat of a bother. She smiled as she remembered how much of a gentleman Harm had been the entire time and the smile grew and changed as she thought of the surprise she had in store for Harm tonight. The "gift" Harriet had given her was placed in a strategic position so she could change into it when they got back from wherever they were going tonight.

She heard her fiancée moving around outside and shook herself out of her daydream. She checked herself one more time and fingered the dress as it moved around her legs. Taking a deep breath she stepped towards the door, saying silently to herself, "well Flyboy, I hope you're ready for this."

Meanwhile...

As Mac had commandeered the bathroom to get ready Harm got dressed in the outer room. He finished pulling his jacket on and slipped his watch back on his wrist. He glanced towards the bathroom door and grabbed his cell-phone off the table by his wallet. He dialled a number from memory.

He spoke quickly to the person who answered and his sigh of relief was accompanied by a smile. "I owe you one Buddy." He was laughing as he hung up.

He checked his watch and opened his mouth to remind his fiancée of the time, but he stopped himself and smiled. This wasn't Annie who was always rushed to remember everything at the last minute, or Renée who primped and powdered until it was time to go. This was Mac, his Marine with an internal clock. She would be ready on time and would look fantastic. He had nothing to worry about.

He put his walled in his inside jacket pocket and sat down on the bed to tie his shoes. The bathroom door opened while his head was down.

"Ready to go Sarah?"

She didn't answer and he saw the tip of a shoe appear in his vision as he tugged on his pant-legs to straighten them. Her scent swirled around him.

He slowly sat up, his eyes tracing her figure from her red shoes to her shapely legs and following the red dress that clung to her like a second skin. It was a halter top, on of his favourite styles on her, and her smooth skin drew him to his feet as he finally reached her face. She was absolutely glowing and her red lips curved in a slick smile as she looked at him steadily from beneath smoky eyelids.

"Wow, Sarah. You look…"

He could only shake his head as he fingered the curls that framed her face and spilled down to her shoulders. "I forget how long your hair has gotten when you wear it up every day."

He lifted the fall of auburn off one shoulder and kissed the smooth skin there, moving to her neck, her cheek, the corner of her eye, the tip of her nose and finally her mouth.

Their lips only met for a moment before she gently pushed him away.

"We have to be going soon and if you keep touching me like that, well, let's just say that I didn't get all dressed up to stay in tonight."

He smiled and picked up her black coat, helping her slip her arms into it before putting on his own. He checked that he had his wallet and cell-phone and Mac picked up her purse.

He offered her an arm and she smiled, leaning into him slightly as they turned off the lights and left the room.