Harm and Mac's house

Saturday morning

Harm looked around the living room and shook his head. It was filled with backpacks, sleeping bags, and everything else three people could possibly need for a week camping the mountains.

"Are you sure you have it all?" he asked with humor.

Mac turned to him with a clever look on her face. "Just about."

"We have it pretty much under control now," Uncle Matt chimed in.

Harm looked at his wife. "I just realize that you're leaving me."

"For a week," she pointed out. "I'm sure you can manage. And I hear that absence makes the heart grow fonder."

"I guess," he didn't look so sure.

"This is kinda your idea," she reminded him as she reached for his hand. "I'll miss you too."

He smiled. "You deserve it," he leaned in and kissed her.

"You two are so sweet you'll give me a toothache," Matt was amused. "We better pack everything. I've gone through everything twice. We should be good for a week. Gather the troops."

"Yes, sir," Mac let her husband go. "I'll go get Matthew."

Three days later

Mac found her son sitting on a rock looking over the hillside. She walked over and sat down.

"You are really enjoying this, aren't you?" she smiled.

"It's cool," Matthew held out the fossil he'd found earlier in the day.

"Yeah, I agree. You should bring that home and show everyone," she suggested.

"I definitely will," Matthew hesitated. "Mom, Uncle Matt said that this will be his last trip."

"Yeah, he's getting older and the climb up here is though," Mac put her arm around her son's shoulder. "But we'll have Uncle Matt around for many years."

"I hope so, Mom," Matthew said thoughtfully.

Mac had seen that Matthew had been worried when Matt needed so much time to unwind after the climb up there. Mac also noticed more and more that her uncle wasn't as strong as he once had been. It was natural, after all, he wasn't a young man anymore. She was just happy that he was still in her life.

"Did you really stay up here for a whole month?" Matt wondered.

"Yeah, I did. It was to get my life together. I was drinking too much and I was running with some bad people. They didn't exactly have the right influence on me. Uncle Matt took me here and he straightened me out," Mac smiled. "He's the reason I am who I am."

"Uncle Matt is pretty great," Matt agreed. "I'm glad we did this, Mom."

"Me too, honey," Mac let out a happy sigh. "Really happy."

Rabb & Roberts Law Firm

Harm stood as his next appointment appeared in his doorway. They had decided to hire another attorney since their client list was growing. An old classmate from law school had been one of the applicants and after rounds of interviews she did end up on top of the pile. They needed someone who knew military law since the greater part of their client list were military clients or military-related clients. Since Mac had her work at the Academy as well, and she was planning on keeping that up, they needed another senior attorney to take on some of the work.

"Samantha," Harm offered his hand. "It's great to see you again."

"You too, Harm. And I appreciate the opportunity," Samantha shook his hand.

"We're lucky to have you," Harm smiled. "I hope you and your daughter are settling in alright?"

"So far, it seems like a good neighborhood. Tina already met some girls her own age, so hopefully, she'll be happy here. It's more stable for her than military life," Samantha reasoned.

Harm nodded. "Well, let me show you around. And you and your daughter are welcome at my house for dinner this evening," Harm motioned for Samantha to follow him.

"That sounds nice. Thank you, Harm," Samatha smiled as she followed him.

"Claire," Harm motioned for his daughter to join them. "This is the new attorney, Samantha Pickering. My daughter Claire."

"So nice to meet you," Samantha smiled. "You do look a bit young to be an attorney?"

"Pre-law, but I'm helping out during summer. I'll let Dad run this place a while longer," Claire said teasingly.

"Claire will probably be running this place before we know it. She's at the top of her class at Harvard," Harm said proudly.

"Dad, stop bragging," Claire warned with a slight eye roll.

"It's never going to happen," Harm smirked.

"I know," Claire shook her head with amusement. "Want me to show Samantha around?"

"Absolutely," Harm agreed. "Let me know if you have questions."

"I will," Samantha promised.

"We set you up in here," Claire motioned for Samantha to follow her.

Bud walked up to Harm. "The CO of Lubicon called. He wants a meeting about the contracts concerning the armed vehicles. I set it up for tomorrow morning."

"That's great Bud," Harm agreed.

"Did I miss the new attorney?" Bud questioned.

"Claire is showing her around," Harm said.

"Well from where I stand I think Miss Pickering will be a good fit," Bud said.

"Yeah, let's hope so. We sure can use an extra set of hands around here. And I mean that in a positive way," Harm smiled.

"Yeah, it all grew faster than I could have imagined," Bud said proudly.

Later that night

"You have a beautiful home," Samantha looked around. "And a wonderful family."

"Yeah, I'm a lucky man," Harm smiled proudly.

"I'm surprised that you decided to retire from the Navy though," Samantha admitted.

"I was done with it," Harm admitted. "I had nothing more to prove and I didn't have that thrive I once had. The bureaucracy I think."

"I know the feeling, although I mostly left because of Tina. Raising her while being a single parent didn't fit with the military," Samantha admitted. "And more money certainly won't hurt." She motioned for the family portrait on the living room wall. "You have quite the handful."

Harm chuckled. "Yeah, that wasn't planned. But I'm grateful. Mac and I have the resources and the love, and it has turned into quite the adventure."

"You always did take care of everyone around you," Samantha remembered. "But you weren't the commitment type."

"Yeah, I guess that changed with Mac," Harm smiled sweetly. "It took us long enough but we've made a great life for ourselves. We're both exactly where we want to be."

Samantha nodded. "Your daughter is quite impressive, Harm. You did not exaggerate about her."

"Yeah, she's hard-working and smart. She was always the easy one. I think she went through her teenage drama in one week. Found out it wasn't for her," he laughed softly. "But her ability to see the people around her and reach out, that's what I admire the ost."

"I look forward to getting to know her," Samantha motioned for the picture on the wall. "And the Colonel too. I never went up against her or appeared before her, but she had quite a reputation within the JAG Corps."

"Yeah, Mac keeps me sharp." Harm had no problem admitting that Mac could match as a lawyer. She was competent and smart and he was lucky to have her both as his partner and wife. "She's also teaching at the University. That's actually the main reason we needed another experienced attorney at the firm."

"I'm thankful to get the opportunity and I promise to not let anyone down," Samantha promised.

"I have no doubt you'll be an asset," Harm reassured.

"Dad, the kitchen is clean again," Rose said as she stepped into the living room. "Tina helped."

"Good work," Harm smiled. "I think the effort deserves a price. I think your mom has ice cream in the fridge."

"Thanks, Dad," Rose smiled brightly. "Come on Tina."

"How do you feel about dessert in the middle of the week?" Harm asked Samantha.

"Well, I try to avoid it, but I can make an exception this once," she motioned to the kitchen. "Shall we?"

"I better let Kelly and Claire know too," Harm motioned to go upstairs. "I'll be right back."

Friday night

"Who wants chocolate and marshmallows?"

Mac and Matthew shared a look. "We do!" they said in unison.

"I figured as much," Uncle Matt sat down by the bonfire and held up a bag. "My secret stash."

"I can't believe we're going home tomorrow," Mac looked around. "I've had a great week."

"Me too," Matthew smiled as Matt handed over a chocolate bar. "Thanks, Uncle Matt."

"It's the weekend, we should enjoy ourselves," Matt smiled. "Last night up here. For me, it will be my last night here for sure."

"The climbing got to you," Mac assumed.

"Yeah, I'm definitely an old man, Sarah," Matt smiled. "But, fear not, I have plenty of other, less demanding, adventures for us to go on."

"Sounds good, Uncle Matt," Mac smiled.

"I'm in," Matthew said with excitement.

"We better eat up and get some sleep. We have to get up at the crack of dawn to climb down. We have a plane to reach," Matt reminded them.

"I can't wait to sleep in my own bed," Mac admitted.

"I'm telling you that fraternizing with the Navy has made you soft," Matt teased.

"Like you don't prefer to sleep in a comfortable bed?" she accused with amusement.

Matt laughed. "Guilty."

"Besides, fraternizing with the Navy isn't so bad," Mac said cleverly.

"I guess for a squid that husband of yours isn't so bad," Matt ruffled Matthew's hair. "This guy will follow in his footsteps. Unless you've changed your mind and want to get into the real military?"

"As long as I can fly really fast planes I don't care about the color of the uniform, Uncle Matt," Matthew said with laughter.

Matt nodded. "Navy or Marines, you'll make a fine officer, Matthew."

"That's what I'm planning on," Matthew promised.

Mac studied her uncle and son's interactions and once again she counted her blessings.

Saturday morning

Claire could smell a wonderful aroma in the house as she walked downstairs to breakfast. She had slept in after a hectic week. They had been short-staffed after Harriet and Bud had to leave in a hurry because Harriet's mother had fallen and broken her hip. It was a good thing that her mom would be back from vacation.

"Wow, how long have you been up?" Claire wondered as she looked at all the baked goods on the counter.

"Rose and I got up early," Harm smiled as he motioned for the scones. "Freshly baked scones."

"And cookies, and what's that?" She removed a kitchen towel and found buns.

"I figured I'd stock up the freezer a little. There's a batch of pizza buns in the oven now too," he motioned for the counter by the window. "And another batch waiting on the counter."

"Mom will be impressed," Claire reached for a scone. "You really missed her."

Harm indeed. "I did."

"I bet Matthew has loved being a lonely child this week," Claire suggested. "Having Uncle Matt all to himself."

"I bet he has," Harm agreed. "Hey, do you mind finishing this. I have to get a file from the office, go with Rose to the stable,and I have some shopping to do. I don't have everything I need for tonight's dinner."

"Dad, you've been working a lot this week, maybe you could take the weekend off," Claire suggested. "That file won't go anywhere."

"I know, but I always go over things on Sunday night when I have court," Harm took out the pizza buns and put in the last batch.

"Always prepared," Claire rounded the counter. "I'm taking over."

Harm smiled. "Thank you. And thank you for all your help this week. I couldn't have managed without you."

"I learn a lot," Claire smiled. "And I enjoy it."

"Just remember to have some fun too," Harm said as he headed for the living room.

"I'll remember," Claire called after him. She opened her mom's recipe book and found the chocolate cake the family loved. "I'm going to bake," she mumbled to herself.

"What's that?" Kelly just walked into the kitchen.

Claire turned the book. "I'm making this."

Kelly lit up. "We're baking? Cool!"

"And yummy," Claire turned the book back and looked over the recipe. "We have to see if we have everything we need."

"I can run to the store," Kelly offered as she reached for a pizza bun. "This smells delicious."