Candlelit Dinner and Red Lace

Harm took her to La Bergerie in Old Town Alexandria where they enjoyed a romantic dinner. Mac smiled at Harm and slid her hand over his on the tablecloth. The candlelight provided on the small tables throughout the dining room flickered over his strong face and she looked into his eyes. "How did you find this place in such a short time, and manage to get reservations for tonight Harm?" He smiled arrogantly back at her. "What, you don't think I was planning this months ahead of time?" She chuckled and shook her head.

"No, I don't believe that. Seriously though, how did you find out about this place, let alone get us in on such short notice?"

He was about to respond when he spotted a figure over her bare shoulder and stood, taking her hand and prompting her to stand also as she turned to look at who was coming.

"Sarah, I'd like you to meet an old friend of him, Jeremiah Miller. We were at the academy together way back when." He greeted the shorter man that approached them, who was dressed in a dark elegant suit that complimented his blonde hair and hazel eyes.

"Harmon Rabb Jr., you have to introduce me to the woman that's finally tamed 'Harmful' Rabb" Jeremiah winked as Mac as he and Harm shook hands before extending his palm to her. "Colonel Sarah Mackenzie," she introduced herself, "and I don't think 'Harmful' will ever be tamed." He laughed as he kissed her knuckles graciously and released her hand so it returned to Harm's clasp.

She looked up at her fiancé, expecting him to be a little embarrassed by the teasing, but he simply looked down at her with love and warmth in his eyes.

"Jeremiah owns the place and he always tells me to stop in if I'm in the neighbourhood. Unfortunately, I've never been before, but I immediately thought of it for tonight." He slipped a strong arm around her waist and turned back to his friend.

"Sarah and I are celebrating tonight. We've had some very good news today and," he looked at her again before continuing, but she was unable to tell what he was thinking about, "we're trying for a baby."

"Congratulation Harm! Couldn't have happened to a better man. And I heard about your new post in London. You've certainly moved up in the world since we were freshmen at the Academy."

A waiter appeared at Jeremiah's elbow then and whispered in his ear. He nodded and the younger man walked away.

"Well folks, it seems something requires my attention so I must take my leave of you, but enjoy the rest of your dinner, and Harm," he shook his finger at the grinning man, "you'll have to come back soon now that you know what you're missing."

"Oh I will Jerry. The place is great. Congratulations."

Jeremiah shook his hand again and kissed Mac's cheek and then he was off with a quick smile.

As Harm seated her, and then himself at the table again he gave her the same intriguing look as before. She though about the deal they had made that day on the steps of JAG headquarters. In no way, even in her wildest dreams, had she ever imagined her live taking this turn. She'd always wanted, in her heart of hearts, to have husband, home and children. As she and Harm had gotten closer over the years she'd allowed herself to hope that they would find their way to each other, and he would be the husband that she'd dreamed about.

And now…. she smiled wider and laced her fingers with Harm's on the tablecloth. He gave her an inquiring look as his thumb caressed the back of her hand.

"What are you thinking about to make you smile like that?" She tilted her head to one side.

"Did I ever tell you that your eyes were the first thing I was attracted to?"

The eyes in question sharpened, a predatory look coming into them.

"Really."

He took a drink of his wine, still looking steadily at her. He set it down and turned her hand over so that her palm was facing up. He stroked the soft skin from her wrist to her fingers as they talked.

"I have to say, after I got over the shock of you looking so much like Dianne, what first attracted me to you was your smile."

Suddenly shy, she ducked her head as he continued. "You didn't smile much, but when you did… man." He smiled and reached over to tip her chin up with a couple of light fingers. "That's why I was always teasing you. I couldn't wait to see you smile, hear you laugh."

Her eyes turned heated as the warmth that had been inside her all evening started to simmer.

The waiter returned at that moment to clear their dinner dishes and ask if they wanted dessert. Mac though about the surprise she had waiting back at the hotel room and sipped her coffee as she watched man she loved.

They went for a walk after dinner and crème brullee for dessert. They made a striking couple, the tall man in his dark suit and overcoat with the slender striking woman in red and her black overcoat on his arm.

They didn't have a destination in mind as they walked. They simply enjoyed each other's company and the crisp cold silence of the evening.

They walked past a small café on the corner and Mac sighed. "I used to imagine walking like this with you. Of spending weekends together, just wandering around the neighborhood. "

He stopped and pulled her into his arms so they stood in the glow of a streetlight with snowflakes silently falling around them. "For every weekend you imagined, I wished for two. There's so much time we could have spend together." He leaned down and kissed her sweetly, softly, gently, not wanting to think about time that had been wasted before.

"From now on we won't spend anytime apart that we don't have to."

She kissed him once more before turning to walk again, offering her hand for him to grasp.

They drove back to the hotel later that night, the silence between them lengthening as their gazes started to linger and heat. Touches were more frequent, a fingertip sliding over warm skin brought desire and want to the surface.

He tucked her close to his side as the walked from the car to their hotel room. It was almost difficult to walk but his hand on her waist held her tight against them as they climbed the short set of stairs and walked the long hallway.

When they entered the room he took her coat and his to hang up and she slipped out of her heels, moving them out of the way. He turned and she all but melted into his arms as a large palm swept up and down her back, aligning them from knee to chest.

She breathed him in, the mixture of aftershave and cologne mixed with male, the scent running through her like a fast acting drug. She was about to lift her arms around his neck and raise her head for a loving kiss when she remembered Harriet's gift.

She started to back out of her haven, but he gripped her tighter and kissed her neck, her cheek. He moved his mouth to her ear and spoke into it, his voice deepened to the tone of a lover. "And where do you think you're going Ms. Mackenzie?"

She moaned under the sensuous assault and almost, almost gave up on the idea. But she summoned up her Marine strength and moved away from his grasp. She kept ahold of his hand and started to lead him towards a chair by the small table. "I want you to sit and relax for a few moments while I change into something more… comfortable."

He grinned wolfishly at her words. "I don't think I'll be able to relax, but I can wait for a few moments." He tugged her close again so that she fell against his chest and held her with his strong arms banded around her waist. "Hurry back darling." He looked into her eyes, planting a spirited kiss on her trembling lips.

She almost couldn't make it to the bathroom under her own steam when he let her go, but she entered the small, brightly lit room and smiled as she shut the door and pulled back the shower curtain to reveal the outfit that she'd left there earlier that evening while she was getting ready.

Looking at the red lace that barely covered the hanger it was placed on, she started to untie the top of her dress. Harm wasn't going to know what hit him.

A/N: So I guess I'm not waiting to post this. LOL, I just couldn't disappoint the people that reviewed and didn't want me to wait. Please enjoy and keep reviewing!

The restaurant that I talk about it a real place in Old Town Alexandria that I found on the internet. (But I totally made up the part about Harm knowing the owner) Now, please remember that I'm a Canadian university student so I could be way off base about geography, but I think I've figured out that Alexandria is a neighbourhood in Washington.

Thanks to: CharmedAli, Katie, michelle UK, jaggurl, BrittanyLS, starryeyes10 and all others for reviewing.