A/N: And the last chapter. Merry Christmas to all!

I'd Like You For Christmas

"I'd Like You For Christmas" by Julie London

Chapter 4: Old Saint Nick Comes Through

"What are you doing here? How did you know?" I ask my visitor, still stunned he's here.

"One of the paramedics called me. You kept repeating my name and he found my number in your PDA."

"Oh."

"What happened?" Harm asks as he sits down in a chair in the corner.

"I wasn't paying attention. Took a turn to fast."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be. It was my fault," I counter, and I can hear him pulling his chair up next to my bed.

"You scared me, Marine. When the paramedic called, I thought he was going to tell me you were—were dead."

It's my turn to apologize. "I'm so sorry, Harm. I asked them not to call anyone, but I suppose the paramedic wasn't around to hear that."

Harm looks shocked for a moment. "Mac, I'm glad he called."

"Why?"

"Because I lo—because you're my best friend."

"Still?" I ask incredulously. I've spent so much time pushing him away that he shouldn't even like me.

He takes my hand in his. "Yes, Mac. That's never going to change."

"But…but I've been…I've been pushing you away."

"Yeah, you have."

"I'm sorry."

"It's okay. You, ah, had some things to figure out."

Tears run down toward my ears. "That's just it, Harm. I haven't! Or, I have, but I'm too late."

"Too late for what?"

I'm embarrassed now. I shake my head, wincing at the pain that brings. "Never mind, Harm. Thanks for coming. I—"

"Mac! I'm not leaving. I'm gonna stay here tonight."

"What about the Wall?" I'm not sure if I'm trying to get him to leave or to stay.

"I'll go next year."

"Okay." I guess I want him to stay. No, I know I want him to stay. I need him to stay. "Thank you, Harm."

Harm nods. "You're welcome."

We sit in silence for a while, my hand still in his, until Harm finally speaks.

"It's been a hell of a year, huh?"

I give a short bark of laughter. "You could say that." I think back to finding out about my endometriosis, my disastrous relationship with Webb and his "death, and losing Harm to Alicia.

"Mac." Harm's voice is soft and serious. "Nothing's changed. I'm still here."

I really start to cry now. I once asked if he'd always be there; he said yes, but how can he be when he's with Alicia?

"I know what you're thinking, Mac. You're thinking I've moved on—"

"With Alicia."

Harm actually looks shocked. "Mac…no…no."

"But she was at your place when I…"

Now he looks ashamed. "Harm?"

"She…she…I thought about it…but only for about two seconds. She's great but she's not…"

"Not what?"

"You, Mac. She's not you."

Oh my.

H-Harm. I shouldn't…I want…but it's not fair."

"What's not fair?"

"It's not fair for me to ask you to be with me. To stay with me."

Harm's eyes have a suspicious sheen in them. "Oh, Mac…you don't even have to ask. I want to be with you. No one else. It's not fair to me to keep me out of your life when all I want is you."

"But I can't…I can't give you what you deserve."

"Like what?"

"Babies. Children."

"Oh, sweetheart. Don't you remember what I told you? It doesn't matter how it happens, just that it happens between us. I love you."

Those familiar words finally penetrate my heart the way they couldn't when he first said them. "Okay, Harm. Okay. And Harm? I love you too."

"Mac, where are all your…your…"

"Decorations?" I say as he helps me inside my apartment. I was discharged from the hospital earlier today and Harm has no intention of leaving my side.

"Yeah."

I blush a little. This is the first time Harm's been to my apartment in months and I know he's used to seeing my place decked out in Christmas finery this time of year. The truth is this year I was too depressed to do much of anything. "I guess I just didn't feel like it."

"Oh." Harm looks sad as he leads me to my couch. Next to it is a small pile of gifts for the Roberts' children, the only gifts I've managed to buy for anyone.

"Maybe next year I can—"

"No."

"What?"

"No, Mac. We're doing this right."

"Harm. It's Christmas Day. There's no point in—"

"Mac, you can't have it be like this!"

I fight my aching body to get to my feet and step in front of him. "Harm, it's okay. It's okay. Forty-eight hours ago, I had nothing planned but a blue Christmas. But now…Christmas is perfect. I can dream about trees and decked out halls because I finally got my wish."

I can see Harm fighting a grin. "And what was your wish?"

"You, Harm."

His flyboy grin bursts forth. "Oh."

"Yeah, oh. There's just one thing, Harm." There's something I feel really horrible about right now. "I didn't get you anything for Christmas."

"That's okay."

"No…no it isn't. Maybe tomorrow we can…well, what would you like?"

Harm looks thoughtful for a moment. "You. I'd like you for Christmas."

"You would?"

"Yes, I would, Sarah. And then I'd like you for New Years, Easter—"

"Easter too?"

"Easter too. I love you, Mac."

"I love you too."

(Almost) One Year Later…

"Looks like I've got space for one more ornament, Harm."

"That's good because we've only got one more ornament. Tell me, Mac—why did we need this big of a tree?"

"To make up for last year," I answer my husband of ten months. Last year I didn't think I'd ever decorate for Christmas again, but then Saint Nick came through for me in the form of a tall, dark, and handsome sailor.

"Well, we sure did that." He looks around our London home. "The halls are decked, the tree is dreamy…"

"Yes, it is. Thank you for decorating the hard parts, Harm." He's made me be so careful since I got pregnant with the twins, but I understand. They're our little miracles.

"You're welcome," he answers, then reaches into the bin next to him. He pulls out the last ornament and holds it out to me. "Here," he says, but I don't reach for it. Some little spark has gone through my mind, and it's left me a little stunned.

"Mac? Are you okay? Is it the babies?" The worry in his tone brings me back to the moment.

"No." I shake my head. "I just had a bit of déjà vu."

"Ah," he says as he hands me the ornament. "Hey, where's that package Grandma Sarah sent? She said it was something for our first Christmas in London."

I motion toward the box by the front door.

"I wonder what it is?" he asks.

"Oh, it's a nativity scene."

"She told you, huh?"

I frown. "No. No she didn't."

Harm cuts the tape holding the box closed. Sure enough, it's a lovely nativity scene, perfect for our mantle.

Harm looks up at me. "More déjà vu?"

"Yeah, I think so. Or maybe a dream."

Harm shrugs. "Well, dream or no, let's get you off your feet while I set this up."

I smile at my loving husband. "I'd like that, Harm. I love you."

He grins back. "I love you too, Mac."

End