Sunday, June 2nd

Harm ran his hands down his wife's body and drew her closer. She moaned into his mouth and ran her hands down his back. His mouth moved down her throat and neck, then a knock on the door was heard. He stopped.

"What?" he called out.

"We're going flying, Dad!" Matthew called through the closed and locked door.

"It's no rush," Harm leaned in and kissed his wife again. She was laughing as he found a ticklish spot.

"Dad!"

Harm let out a groan. "Give me half an hour," he called out.

"It's my birthday," Matthew reasoned.

"We can do this later," Mac suggested without letting go of him.

"Dad!" Matthew knocked again. "You can sleep tonight."

Harm moved off his wife and slumped down on his side of the bed. "I wasn't exactly trying to sleep," he mumbled.

Mac laughed. "Matthew, we'll be up in five. You go walk Max."

"All right," Matthew said.

"Now," she turned to her husband. "You want to finish this?"

Harm smiled and threw himself over her. "Damn straight I want to finish this."

Later

"Dad, are we going?" Matthew questioned when Harm followed Mac into the kitchen half an hour later.

"Happy birthday, baby," Mac hugged her son. "Let your Dad eat something."

"There's no rush," Harm hugged his son. "Happy birthday."

"Thanks," Matthew looked impatient. "Can't we eat and drive?"

Harm chuckled as he walked over to the fridge. "It's only 8.30. We have plenty of time. I'm making eggs and bacon. It's your favorite right?"

"Right," Matthew confirmed.

"So, Matthew, since you're going up in an F18, we figured you needed some stuff," Mac handed over a wrapped box.

Mathew hurried to shred the paper and open the box. He found a flight helmet and a flight suit. "My own?"

"Yup," Harm smiled proudly. "You'll get the g suit when we get there, but I figured you needed your own call sign," he motioned for the helmet.

Matthew smiled. "Hammer. Like you and grandpa. This is really cool. Thanks."

Patuxent River, Maryland

Harm smiled as they walked onto the airfield. He was going up in an F-18 again. He wouldn't be flying the plane but he could handle sitting in the back. Matthew looked ready to explode as they headed for the planes.

"Now Matthew," Harm stopped his son. "You'll listen to whatever Willy says okay?"

"Yes, sir," Matthew promised.

"He'll do just fine, sir," Lieutenant Lukas Williams smiled and patted Matthew's back.

"I know he will," Harm smiled proudly.

"Safe flight," Mac said. "Do I get a hug?"

Matthew hesitated. "I can't hug my mom in front of the pilots," he pointed out.

"I'll hug you," Harm moved in and kissed her. "And a kiss for good luck," he hugged her close. "Matthew will be fine."

"I know," Mac let out a sigh. "Good luck."

"Are you ready Admiral?" Lieutenant Commander Curtis Lee, aka, the cowboy, asked.

"I was born ready," Harm headed for the plane.

"See you soon," Mac said as she watched both her boys get into the plane. She stepped away and walked back to the hangar.

"Let me get you some coffee?" Captain Stephen Gerard motioned for her to follow him.

"Thanks," she headed inside. "And thanks again for making this happen."

"Always happy to be recruiting," Stephen said with a chuckle. "I bet Nathan was excited to get started with flight school?"

"Extremely," Mac smiled as Stephen handed over a mug. "Thank you."

"I have a plane available if you're interested in going up?" he suggested.

"That's fine, I've had enough exciting flights to last me a lifetime," she chuckled.

Stephen sat down. "I flew some wild ones with Nathan's father. That was after Harm got his eye problems and left. I was the rookie taking Harm's spot. Nathan has some great moments ahead of him."

Mac nodded thoughtfully. "That's what Harm says. I guess I was always hoping that he'd choose a different path, but I guess flying is in Nathan's blood. Much like Matthew."

"And that got you worried?" Stephen assumed.

"Absolutely," Mac admitted. "But I'd worry no matter what they did."

"I have a son at the Academy now. First-year, but he already knows what he wants. Sometimes I wish he didn't follow in my footsteps, but as you say, it's in the blood," Stephen smiled.

Mac nodded. She knew she had to let her children find their own path.

Later

"And then we pulled nine Gs," Matthew couldn't hide his excitement.

Mac chuckled as they headed for the car. Harm took her hand. "It was pretty amazing to be up there again."

"I can imagine," Mac squeezed his hand. "We better get home and prepare for the party."

"I can't wait for cake," Matthew opened the car door and got in. "And to let my friends see the flight video."

Harm stopped Mac before she could let his hand go and held her back. "Were you worried?"

"Yes," she said honestly. "But I'm glad Matthew got to do this, Harm. It meant a lot to him."

"It meant a lot to me too," Harm admitted sheepishly.

Mac leaned in and kissed him softly. "I love you."

"I love you more," he said with emotion.

The back door opened. "Are we going or what?" Matthew wondered impatiently.

Harm and Mac both chuckled. "Coming," Harm said and let his wife go.

Later

"We need more snacks," Harm said as he stepped into the kitchen. "Teenagers sure can eat."

Mac chuckled as she put the first pizza on the table. "I think you can hold the snacks, pizza will soon be served." She put the next pizza into the oven and closed the oven door.

Harm put the bowl he'd been holding down on the counter. "I'll slice it up."

Harriet joined them. "Anything I can do?"

"You made a cake into the shape of an F18, I think you've done more than enough, Harriet," Mac reassured.

"Matthew will flip when he sees it," Harm added.

Harriet smiled. "He sure seemed happy about the flight."

"Harm too," Mac said teasingly.

"Boys," Harriet said with laughter.

"I'll bring this to the hungry mob and let the two of you alone with your humor," Harm said with amusement. He took the pizza and left.

"Was it just me or did James and Kelly look a little too happy to see each other?" Harriet wondered.

"I think Kelly has a little crush," Mac said with a sweet smile.

"Well, if someone will get my son away from the computer I'm all for it," Harriet admitted. "It won't be any less screen time in the fall since he will be studying gaming in college."

"It's a million-dollar business. And he does what he loves," Mac reminded her.

"I'm proud of him, don't get me wrong, but it would be nice if he would take part in the real world too," she chuckled. "I worry that he spends too much time alone, but Bud doesn't. He says that they chat online."

"Yeah, Matthew is on with his buddies all the time while he's playing," Mac smiled reassuringly. "I hear him talking to himself and he has the headset on and they play together. I wouldn't worry about James. He's just not like AJ or the twins, but it doesn't mean he's not happy."

Harriet nodded. "You're right." She hesitated. "Should I have a talk with him about Kelly? She is two years younger than him."

"I wouldn't worry about it too much. Kelly says that they are good friends. They talk, nothing more. And she's pretty honest about what's going on in her life," Mac reassured.

"I'm glad she's finding her place here," Harriet said.

"Me too. It's been up and down, but she's finally letting her guards down," Mac admitted.

Later

Mac was busy hanging up some laundry when Matthew appeared in the doorway of the laundry room. His friends had left a few hours earlier and the other guests too. Matthew had seemed very pleased with his birthday.

"Hi there," Mac said.

"Hi," Matthew smiled. "Thanks for today."

Mac smiled. "Did you have a good birthday?"

"It was the best," Matthew reassured. "Thanks for letting me fly today, Mom. I know you get scared when I fly."

"I do worry about you," she admitted. "I always will. But I want you to follow your dreams and be happy. I love you so much."

Matthew hugged his mother. "I love you too Mom."

"See you're making me cry," Mac wiped away a tear.

"Sorry," Matthew said with a chuckle. "I'll go help Dad with the cleanup."

"I'm just going to get these tablecloths in the washing machine. Teenage boys sure do make a mess when they eat," she teased.

Matthew laughed. "I guess we do."

A little later Mac found her husband on the porch, sitting on the steps watching Matthew and Rose play with Max. She sat down beside him.

Harm put his arms around her and drew her close. "Thirteen years."

"We did good," she leaned her head on his shoulder.

"We sure did," he agreed.