A/N- I have rewatched all 3 NCIS - LA episodes and FWFS. I thought I needed to get this little idea out of my head before it drove me insane. It's just my own spin on how it could have been done much different.
Disclaimer- I don't own, nor do I claim to. Believe me if I did, their 9 years on JAG would have gone much different.
Harm's Apartment
North of Union Station
After leaving McMurphys they made their way back to Harm's place. Harm walked in and Mac followed him. He made his way over to the bar, sitting down.
"So we're heading to San Diego? Harm are you sure your okay with this? We can always go to London."
Harm stood and pulled Mac into his arms. "You won fare and square. We are going to San Diego. I'm going to put my commission on hold for now. Till we get settled."
"Harm you know I love you. But deep down I just can't let you do this again."
"Your not, when I asked you to marry me. I knew exactly what I was doing and what I'm willing to give up."
"You say that now, I just don't want to wake up one morning and you blame me for the decisions that have been made."
"I don't see that happening. Besides this is our engagement night, I don't want to spend it talking."
Harm stood up and took Mac by the hand. He walked up towards his bedroom. "I've been waiting 9 years to make love to you."
Mac suddenly stopped him, Harm turned around and looked at her. "What's wrong?"
"This just isn't how I pictured our first time. I always thought it would be more romantic. Not rushed."
"We can wait, if that's what you want to do."
"I guess I really don't know what I want. Part of myself wants to, and part wants to wait, and part is scared that if we cross that line what will happen?"
"If we cross that line, we become lovers. I know that I'm ready Mac...Sarah...but I'm not going to rush you. I want this to be on your terms."
She walked over and started playing with buttons on his jacket."You're the first man that's ever said that too me."
Harm creased her cheek. "Well maybe you've been with all the wrong men till now."
"I think you're right. No I know you're right.I also know that once I cross that line with you, there will be no going back for me."
"Me either. You're it for for me, I've known this for quite a while."
"I can't make you any promise's Harm. But..."
"I know, I've thought about it too, and when we do make love. I'm willing to..."
"No! No, protection. I want to feel all of you. Besides my chances are so slim that it's a one in a million shot anyway."
"Still someone always wins the lottery."
"Well that would be our lottery."
They both sat down on Harms bed.He took her hand in his. "Tell you what, when your ready, you let me know."He started to stand back up."you said that too me, that day on the beach."
"I meant it than, and I mean it now. I'm not going to force myself on you. I'm not that type of man. I'd never do anything you don't want me todo Sarah. I'd never force an engagement on you, Force you to set a wedding date. I want everything to be when your ready. I'll wait for you as long as it takes for you to be ready."
Flashword 14 Years later -
Mac sat alone on her plane flight back home to Washington. She thought about everything they said to each other in the bar. Was she really willing to just keep waiting? What was she so scared of? Deep down she already knew the answer. She was scared they'd crash and burn. Just like her so called marriage to Chris and her ill fated engagement to Mic. ( what had she been thinking with that )
She knew it was different with Harm, her relationship with him always had been. From day 1 they just seemed to click. Like fate really had brought them together. She looked up when she heard the chime for the fasten your seats sign go off. Home sweet home now she thought.
The plane landed and taxied to the gate. She stood and retrieved her bag from the over head compartment. Making her way through the plane. She headed through the terminal. Not really paying attention to the people around her. Till she bumped into a man.
"Oh I'm..."
"Your what?"
"Harm? What how?"
"After you left, I waited a whole 5 minutes and then I decided, I'm not willing to wait another 9 years to see you again.i boarded my cod back to ship. Packed a bag rebored the cod and flew into Andrews."
"What does this mean for us?"
"You asked me why we where standing there as colleagues and not husband and wife? Well what do you say about finally becoming my wife, today at city hall."
"Why after 9 years?"
"I'm tired of waiting on you. I've known from almost the first time we met,that we are meant to be together. So what do you say Marine, make an honest man out of me.?"
Mac smiled and pulled him unto her arms. Pressing her lips against his ear. "I say hell ya XO. I'll marry you."
Harm backed up a bit, taking her face in his hands kissing her with everything in him. When they broke free. They heard applauding around the terminal. "Looks like we have an audience!"
"Looks that way. But who cares I've finally got my sailor. Let's go home Harm."
"Lead the way."
Both walked off hand and hand to the start of the rest of their lives.
18 months later
"And that my sweet girl is how Prince Harmon won the hand of Princess Sarah. " The tiny little girl just opened up one eye looking up at her father. She wasn't even 12 hours old yet, and she already had the ability her wrap her daddy around her tiny little fingers. "I was a fool my sweet girl, I almost lost my chance to hold you, to have your mama in my life."
"No Harm, I was the fool."
Hearing his wife's voice, Harm made his way over to the bed,sitting down next to Mac. She stroked the little girls head. "I shouldn't have never made us wait. I should have just..."
"We both made mistakes, in the end we came together, and this little Princess is a product of our compromise."
Mac arched her eye brow. "Are you calling our daughter a compromise?"
"Well no, I just mean we learned how to communicate better."
"I think you mean, you learned how to communicate and I learned some times everything does work out in the end. It's just a matter of time."
"Timing is everything. I've learned that the hard way." Harm glanced down at the little pink bundle.
Mac smiled ; "She was worth the wait. I think she has your looks, and I'm hoping her own brain. That is one trait she doesn't need from either of us."
"On that we both agree. Little Sarah..."
"I thought we agreed to call her by her middle name?"
"You're right; Little Rosie will grow up to be a strong independent woman just like her mother , the love of my life."
"And also just like her father, the only man I could ever see as the father of my child."
Harm smiled taking his wife in his arms, both watching the newborn daughter sleep.
24 Years later,
She made her way to the normal spot in Arlington, she'd been making this trip for the last 2 years. Stoping once she reached their graves, brushing her tears away,she placed the Red Roses on one grave and on the other one she placed a tiny hammer.
Taking a step back she stood in silence, honoring the parents that gave her everything and taught her everything, not a day went by that she didn't wish she could have just one more moment with them. As she stood, the tears began to fall. Using her free hand she brushed them away.
Gathering all the strength she could muster, she snapped to attention and saluted both her mother and father. "I love you both." Turning she walked away. Never noticing the two figures watching. Both looking on as their baby girl walked away.
