Monday night, La Jolla California

Mac put her legs up on the railing and leaned back. Trish's little condo had a beautiful view looking over the ocean. It was a nice, quiet neighborhood mostly with retired residents. Mac had to admit that a few days away from home was nice. It had been crazy with all the wedding preparations, the kids having the final weeks of school, and Claire coming home for the summer.

"This is nice."

Mac turned and smiled. Jennifer had come with her to help with the preparations for Mattie and Alex's wedding a little over a month away.

"I can't offer you wine, even though you probably deserve some, but this apple cider Trish had in the fridge was pretty good." Mac arranged a glass and handed it over to Jenn.

"Unless you'd rather be alone?" Jenn asked before sitting down.

"Don't be silly," Mac motioned for Jenn to sit. "You're probably more tired than I am. You have a baby."

"I do. And he's sleeping soundly and I'm going to enjoy it," Jennifer sipped the cider. "You're right, this is good. And I couldn't have wine even if I wanted to."

"I remember the period of breastfeeding as the time when I didn't have to explain why I didn't have a drink. I just said; I'm breastfeeding, and the whole I'm an alcoholic and the story of a misspent youth wasn't necessary."

"Why is it that people need an explanation when someone doesn't want a drink anyway?" Jenn hesitated. "Does it bother you?"

"Having to explain?" Mac thought about it. "I just get tired of having to explain. It doesn't bother me to say that I'm an alcoholic."

"Does it bother you that other people drink?" Jenn wondered.

"Not at all. Harm almost never does, and I know it's because he wants to be respectful, but it never bothers me if he has a drink. He's a good man." Mac checked her phone. "But he's not answering my text tonight."

"He probably will. Victor hates texting. I send these long texts and he answers with ok, or yes or no. Tonight it read; How's the baby? I wrote a lengthy summary of our day and I got in return; Kids ok. Love you."

Mac chuckled. "At least he told you that he loved you."

Jenn nodded. "This is great. Being able to sit like this after the baby is down. Usually, it's two more wanting attention then."

"I remember that." Mac pictured London after Matthew was born. "And before you know it, they'll be married."

"Yeah, how is that going anyway?" Jenn wondered. "Nathan is married. And Mattie will be soon too. How does that feel?"

"Well, I feel old." Mac laughed. "No that's not true. I feel happy that they are happy."

"Soon you'll be a grandmother." Jenn raised her eyebrows. "Harm will be a grandfather."

Mac laughed softly. "Oh my gosh, it's true. That will be adorable. And we didn't even think we'd have one kid."

"I don't know how you two do it. Running a business, you teach and the kids have so many activities…" Jenn sipped her cider. "I'm surprised Victor and I even found time to make number three. How do you have time to be happy?"

"It gets easier when they are older. The oldest watch the younger ones. But we were incredibly lucky with Claire. Nathan too, but Claire has always been like a second mother to Matthew. While I was on active duty, Claire just swept in and took responsibility when I was away." Mac smiled at the memory. "I guess we don't have to take the time to be happy. We just are."

"I guess you're right," Jenn agreed. "It really helps to have an amazing husband. Victor always knows how to deal with anything."

Mac's phone beeped and she checked it. "Harm." She raised her glass. "To our husbands."

"To them." Jenn held her glass up.

The next day

Mac looked around the store while she waited for Mattie to finish dressing. They had a busy day behind them but this was the final fitting of the dress and then they were meeting Alex and his family for dinner. She had a strange sense of deja vu as she walked around the store. The last time she had been to a fitting it had ended in a hostage situation. She wondered about Ray and his brother and how they were.

"What do you think, Mom?"

Mac turned. "Wow!"

"You like it?" Mattie swirled around and looked in the mirror.

"You look amazing, Mattie," Mac wiped away a tear. "I can't believe you're getting married."

"Don't get sentimental," Mattie begged.

"It's my right as a mother," Mac reminded her. "And I just married off my son and now my daughter, so I think I am entitled to a few tears."

"I'm really getting married." Mattie looked thoughtful. "In a month I'll be Mrs. Alex Morgan." Her eyes met Mac's. "I'm not making a mistake right? It's not too soon?"

"Mattie, I can't answer that for you," Mac reasoned. "It's okay to have doubts. It's normal."

"Yeah," Mattie let out a sigh. "Alex is a great guy. The best I've ever met."

"I think that answers your question," Mac smiled.

Mattie eased up. "Yeah, I guess it does."

"You look amazing," Mac repeated. "Alex is a lucky man. He seems like a truly great guy, Mattie. He respects your independence. He's not scared of relocating when the Navy decides it's time."

"He says that he can be a fireman anywhere." Mattie looked in the mirror again and smiled. "You're right, he's a great man. And I think I picked the right dress."

"Alex will definitely think so," Mac reassured.

"Mom?" Mattie turned to her mother. "I haven't asked either of my dads to give me away because they both kinda deserve it."

Mac nodded with understanding. "They'll both say yes, and understand it no matter who you choose. It's your day, Mattie."

"It's not easy deciding," Mattie admitted. "My dad is my dad, but Harm saved me. I wouldn't be anything if it wasn't for him. He's the dad everyone should have, you know."

"Yeah, I know." Mac understood completely. She might be a little biased but Harm was an amazing man. "You'll figure it out," Mac reassured and hugged her daughter.

"I better change," Mattie said and released her mom.

Later

Mac was on the couch with baby Oliver when her phone rang. She had given Jenn some time for herself and taken upon herself to get the baby settled for the night and keep him until the next morning so that his mother could get some well-deserved rest.

"Hi, honey."

"Hi, beautiful."

"Guess what I'm doing?" she asked with a silly smile.

"You sound happy. Are you having ice cream on the couch with some silly show?" he assumed.

"Nope, I'm sitting here with baby Oliver. He's just to eat up." Mac saw that the baby was falling asleep. "We had a bottle of milk and put on a dry diaper and now we're going to sleep through the night so that aunty Mac won't be tired in the morning."

Harm laughed. "Aunty Mac won't even be able to put him down, will she?"

"He's a cutie."

"Where's Jenn?" Harm wondered.

"She's spending some time with Mattie at her place."

Mac stood and headed upstairs. She put her phone on the dresser and turned on the speaker, then lay Oliver down in the portable crib she had moved into her room earlier.

"How's Mom doing?" Harm wondered.

Mac lay down on the bed after tucking in Oliver. "She's in great shape. She's at a function tonight."

"Keeping busy, huh?" Trish did not let her age slow her down much. "So you're having some alone time tonight? What's the big plan?"

"Well, I'll have some ice cream, read a book… I'll probably go to bed early seeing as I have to get up to feed Oliver at some point."

"Do you miss me at all?" Harm wondered.

"Here and there," she said with a chuckle. "How're things at home?"

"The kids are behaving like model prisoners. Kelly made dinner tonight."

"That's great." Kelly sure had come a long way since she came to live with them.

"I'll let you get back to your night," Harm said.

"It's no rush. It's nice to hear your voice," she reassured him. "Did you hear back from Lisa Bennet yet?"

"Yeah, she talked to the prosecutor and he was willing to settle on a deal. No one was hurt except for one of the robbers and the other gave up without a fight. They have to sit down and talk about punishment but both of the accused are willing to do some time so Lisa seemed hopeful that it can be settled outside of court."

"It seems too easy to believe," Mac pointed out.

"Lisa is good and the prosecutor doesn't seem like he wants to drag this out in court if he gets what he wants. They are meeting again next week Lisa said and she'll let us know the result."

"Thanks for following up on it." Mac could have done it herself but since she was a witness she didn't want to be too involved.

"No problem."

"I just hope the boys can get it together, Harm," Mac said with a sigh.

"Let's hope so. You've done what you can, the rest is up to the legal system and themselves. The one who was shot is out of the hospital and in custody by the way."

"Okay. All of this just makes me want to fight harder for stricter weapon laws. And a way to keep these kids away from the street and get them educated and… There has to be a way to even the odds, Harm."

"Not every poor kid ends up in jail, Mac. Some make it through school, get work and move up in the world. You did."

"I had someone believing in me."

"I think it was more than that. You did the work."

"I guess," she let out a sigh, realizing that she wouldn't be able to change the world that night anyway. "Hey, what are you up to now anyway?" Mac wondered.

"I'm meeting Bud for a beer. Thought I'd take advantage of having the wife out of town." His tone was teasing.

"Have fun and behave," she warned in a teasing tone.

"Wouldn't dear anything else. Talk to you tomorrow. I love you."

"I love you too."

They hung up and Mac got off the bed. It was time for ice cream.