Rabb residence, later that night
Harm led Mac to the door and reached for his key to unlock it. The night had been great and he decided by the reaction of his wife that he had done pretty well with their anniversary celebration. The house was quiet as they headed for the living room.
"I guess the kids have been good and gone to bed," Harm smiled cleverly. "I figured they would use this chance with us out of the house to stay up late on a school night."
"They are good kids. Besides, it's not really a school night when it's summer, right?" Mac moved into his arms. "We should head to bed too."
"Yeah," he said huskily as he leaned in and kissed her.
Steps on the stairs made them break apart and turn.
"I thought I heard sounds," Claire said. She was clad in pajama pants and an old t-shirt, a bowl in her hand.
"Ice cream?" Mac let her husband go. "Are you okay?"
Claire shrugged and headed for the kitchen.
Mac looked at her husband. "I better…" she motioned for the kitchen.
Harm nodded. "I'll turn in."
"I'll be right there," she smiled and turned to the kitchen.
Claire was busy loading a bowl with ice cream. "How was your night?"
Mac smiled. "It was great. Your father arranged for a drive-through cinema. It was pretty cool."
"That does sound cool," Claire agreed and loaded more ice cream to the bowl.
"Ice cream? Must have been an interesting night?" Mac sat down on a barstool.
Claire hesitated. "Well, Tim and I broke up."
"I'm so sorry," Mac said sincerely. She had really liked Tim as Claire's boyfriend.
"Yeah, well, we agreed that we were growing apart. We're both busy. We agreed to stay friends," Claire explained as she put the ice cream back into the fridge. "Did you want some?" she asked before she closed the door.
"No, I'm good," Mac reassured. "Will you be okay?"
"Yes, I think so," Claire said with a slight smile.
"If you want to talk…"
"I know where to find you," Claire grabbed the bowl. "I'll head to bed."
Mac nodded. "Good night."
Mac found her husband undressing in their bedroom. He turned when he heard the door open.
"That was quick," he smiled. "Is our girl okay?"
Mac nodded as she closed the door. "Yeah, I think she'll be fine. She didn't want to talk though."
"Probably just needs some time to figure out how she feels," Harm reasoned as he slipped off his pants.
"Probably," Mac smiled. "When did you become so smart?"
"I always was, you just never gave me the credit," he said with a chuckle as he headed for the bathroom.
Mac followed him. "You did great tonight, Rabb."
"I did, didn't I?" he said as he reached for his toothbrush.
"Totally," she reached around him and reached for her own toothbrush.
They finished getting ready for bed.
Harm whistled when Mac stepped out of the bathroom clad in black lingerie. He was already in bed waiting on her.
"So, Sailor, are you ready to celebrate more?" she walked over.
"Definitely," he smiled and dragged her down on the bed. "I'm a lucky man."
"I think I'm the lucky one," she smiled and leaned in and kissed him.
The next morning
Mac looked up when Kelly entered the kitchen. The girl looked surprised.
"What?" Mac wondered.
"I'm first?" Kelly questioned. "That never happened before."
Mac chuckled. "Good morning sunshine."
"It is a good morning," Kelly reached for a pancake. "When I get pancakes and not oatmeal."
"I figured we could go crazy on a weekday this once," Mac said with a chuckle.
"I'm all for that," Kelly said.
"What's your plan for today?" Mac wondered.
"I have no plan, but I could come with you to the office if you need help with anything," Kelly suggested.
"Yeah, sure, I could always find something for you to do."
"Good morning," Claire mumbled as she walked into the kitchen and straight for the coffee. "I'll just take this to go."
"Good morning," Mac studied the young woman. "You can have breakfast first. I'm sure your bosses wouldn't mind."
"Nah," Claire took her travel mug and headed out of the kitchen.
"So last night didn't go that well," Kelly assumed.
"I'm ready for the stable," Rose hurried into the kitchen.
"Good morning. Breakfast first," Mac pointed to the pancakes.
"Okay," Rose grabbed one. "I can eat in the car."
"I won't so sit down," Mac said with amusement. "Did you walk Max?"
"Of course," Rose found a plate. "I always do."
"Not the times I do," Matthew said as he entered the kitchen.
"Good morning. What's your plan for today?" Mac wondered.
"Play video games," Matthew said with a shrug.
"You can't do that all summer, Matthew," Mac reminded him.
"I guess," he slumped down on a chair. "Pancakes! Yummy!"
"Pancakes on a weekday?" Harm questioned as he entered the kitchen.
"We dig it!" Kelly hurried to say.
Mac chuckled as Harm leaned in and kissed her softly. "Good morning, handsome."
"It is a good morning," he smiled and kissed her again.
"I'm taking Rose to the stable, then I'll be in," Mac said.
Harm nodded and sat down. "What do you have for plans, Matthew?"
"Gaming," Matthew said with a shrug.
"In that case," Harm reached for a pancake. "The garage needs some tidying and cleaning. The loft looks like a bomb went off. It should be clean by the time I get home. And I mean military clean and tidy."
"Yes, sir," Matthew said.
"Good boy," Harm smiled.
Later that day
Harm had decided to bring his daughter to lunch. She had been quiet and in a sour mood all day.
"That waitress sure likes you," Claire said after finishing her meal. "That's the third time she refills your glass."
"I am a good customer. I bring my clients here," Harm reasoned. "Besides, I doubt she's that into an old man."
"You're not that old, Dad," Claire said with a chuckle.
"That's good to hear," he smiled. "So, what's up with you?"
"Nothing," Claire shrugged.
"Don't give me that. I know you. And your mom is out of town next week so I need your A-game both at home and at work," Harm pointed out.
Claire hesitated. "I won't let you down, you know that. I can compartmentalize."
"I just worry. It's not like you to mope," Harm reasoned. "I know breaking up is hard."
Claire nodded. "Yeah. I feel like I really hurt Tim, Dad. He's a great guy. So why don't I feel the same about him anymore?"
"Well, things change. People grow apart," Harm shrugged. "You're both very young. The first love isn't meant to last I think. It rarely does. I have a sweet memory of my senior prom with Meghan DeMille. I figured it would last forever but I left for the academy and she left for college. We met again years later and I did not like her at all then," he chuckled. "She had changed, and so had I. But I'll always have the prom. It's a great memory."
"So who was your first love?" Claire wondered. "I mean, the first time you thought about settling down."
Harm thought about it. "Diane. I always figured we'd be able to overcome our differences. We were going to meet and talk about the future, but she was killed and I was left to wonder about what could have been. There were other women along the way but I never felt that way."
"Then mom came along?" Claire suggested.
"I think I did love your mom soon after we met, but more as my partner and best friend. There were times where I felt that we could be more, but I didn't let myself go there. I was too afraid I'd lose her if I got involved with her. I'm glad we finally took the chance though. It's been fourteen amazing years," Harm smiled.
"So you're saying I shouldn't worry because it'll happen for me?" Claire wondered.
"Allow yourself to feel sad about Tim, but keep the door open for someone else. The next guy might not be the right one either, but you learn something new about yourself for every relationship. Not that I suggest that you get involved with just about anyone. It's a dangerous world out there," Harm reminded his daughter.
"I know that. You taught me well," Claire reassured. "And thanks for lunch. I guess I needed this."
"Any time, Princess," Harm said.
"I'm not your little princess anymore, Dad," Claire reminded him.
"No matter how old you are, you'll still be my Princess," Harm promised.
"I love you, Dad," Claire said with emotion.
"I love you too, Sweetheart. And I'm so proud of you," Harm reminded her.
Claire nodded. "Thanks, Dad."