And here it is…. :applauds ridiculously: Finished, finally, and hopefully to everyone's liking…Lord, I could feel the sap flowing out of the computer as I was writing it. Anyway, I'll stop rambling and get to it, I hope it lives up to what everyone expected. I still own nothing, because if I did, Harm and his Phantom costume would have no time for Mac .
The ride home was not unpleasant, though Mac was sure it was longer somehow than the ride up there. Something told her that once they got back something would be different…the night had been too perfect, too charged with some energy she didn't realize was possible. For better or for worse, something was going to happen tonight, and it both thrilled and terrified her.
Harm seemed slightly preoccupied as well, but he tried to hide it under general banter and wry grins that could have been seen as any day at the office. However, as the car pulled into the parking lot of her apartment building, they both became significantly quieter, the atmosphere one of anticipation.
Harm walked her to her apartment as the perfect gentleman, and they lingered at her door for a moment before the presence of mind to say 'Come in' came to her. He smiled softly and nodded, following her into the dark apartment. A couple of light switches and a quick check of the messages later, Mac turned around to face the man still standing a few feet from the doorway, watching her every move.
Suddenly self-consciousness hit her like a wave, and she stood there for a moment just staring at him, a blush rising in her cheeks. "Would you like something to drink?" OK, so not perfect, but a start.
"A soda would be nice." Harm snapped out of his own form of a trance as he nodded, following her into the kitchen. Trying to control her shaking hands was not an easy task, but somehow she managed well enough to poor them two glasses of soda. She offered him what little food was still in her fridge as well, but he declined.
The formalities were now out of the way, and the now-silent duo made there way back into the living room. Mac realized how ridiculous they would look to anyone outside the four walls of her apartment – the legendary Phantom of the Opera and Christine, sitting on a couch with sodas in their hands. In the interests of salvaging the awkward silence that had fallen upon them, Mac spoke.
"Thank you again for tonight, Harm. I really had a fantastic time."
His smile sent the butterflies in her stomach into seizures, as he shook his head. "I told you, Mac, it was my pleasure. I don't think I've had a better Halloween."
"I know I haven't." Her reply made his smile even wider, and his eyes twinkled behind the stark white mask. "By the way, have I told you that you make an absolutely fantastic Phantom?"
"Good to know." He chuckled, leaning toward her. "I think I mentioned how wonderfully cast Christine was."
His close proximity caused the butterflies to implode upon themselves. She managed to keep her voice in check long enough to manage "Also good to know".
"I'm really glad you had a good time, Mac. That's all I was going for. Getting to dress up in the coolest costume at the party was just a bonus." They both laughed at that, calming the atmosphere for a brief moment before he continued. "Seriously, Mac, it was fantastic. And the fact that you loved it too….."
As he trailed off she made the mistake of looking up into his eyes, causing all other thought to cease. He was so close, too close….He was caught in the same spell, apparently, because he seemed to stop breathing as well, and they sat there in an eternal moment before he spoke barely above a whisper. "I just want to make sure you're happy, Mac."
"I am." That was all the reply he needed, because in the next instant he had caught her lips in a deep kiss, sending all thoughts out of her head and all emotions exploding through her. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and the silky expanse of his cape as he tickled the curls on the side of her face. He pulled away first, resting his forehead against hers and looking into her eyes for a reaction.
"I've been wanting to do that all night." The twinkle in his blue eyes was matched in hers, and she brought her hand up to caress the cheek below his mask.
"And I've been wanting to do that for a lot longer." He smiled, capturing her lips in a quick kiss.
"Me too, actually." His smile faded into an affectionate expression as he traced her jaw with his hand. "I guess this is the part of the play where I sing a beautiful musical number and carry you away to my lair."
He was rewarded with a chuckle. "Don't try it, Harm. I do have neighbors who might get angry if they are awoken by operatic ballads."
"How about just a little taste?" His voice lowered to a soft baritone as he sung his next few words. "Christine, I love you….."
Mac knew her eyes were glistening and her smile close to adolescent in his sillyness, but at the moment none of that mattered. In a choked voice she replied. "That I think they can handle. I love you too, my angel."
His grin matched hers, and he moved in to kiss her on the forehead. "Past the point of no return?"
"We better be this time."
"Good, because if you run off with any blonde pretty boys…."
"You have my permission to hang them from the ceiling."
"Good. " His smirk hid the various past issues that would, eventually, be talked about. But not tonight…tonight they would forget every reason they couldn't, shouldn't, wouldn't be together and just love. Tomorrow she'd be Lt. Colonel Sarah Mackenzie and he'd be Commander Harmon Rabb. Tomorrow, that wouldn't be a problem anymore.
And there it is. :huge sigh of relief: I'm sorry it took so long it coming, but now its done…the ending is so full of sap I'm surprised I didn't die writing it. So, hope you enjoyed it, and I'm intending to write some more eventually…actually right now I'm working on some fics for other fandoms, so check those out if you want to. :huggles all reviewers: