A/N: There are several songs titled "Time," but I chose this one because of the lyrics. In a way, it's sad. "Who knows when we shall meet again. If ever…" And I know the "ring thing" has been done before, but humor me, okay?

Time

Remote Cabin – Virginia Countryside
December 26, 2003
1100 Local

The new lovers lay tangled together, sweat covering their bodies. As their breathing returned to normal, Mac glanced at the bedside clock. Another hour had passed, but she still wasn't in a hurry to move from the bedroom.

She reached out to stroke Harm's face, not accustomed to seeing him with a beard. "What made you decide to do this?"

"I was on a mission. Didn't have adequate facilities. When you need to shave as often as I do, it doesn't take long to grow a beard. Decided to keep it a while. Do you not like it?"

Mac remembered Harm commenting shaving twice a day years earlier before their assignment at the Sudanese Embassy. She'd often wondered what he'd look like with even a five o'clock shadow. "I do like it. Makes you look well, a bit rugged and virile."

Harm frowned. "A bit virile?"

"A bit rugged. And you are extremely virile." That was an understatement. He had the stamina of someone almost half his age. Mac was hard-pressed to remember the number of times they made love during the night. If she had her way, they would stay in bed all day. However, she was starting to get hungry.

"We missed breakfast. What about lunch?"

"You and your stomach, Marine."

"Figure we need to eat to keep our strength up."

Harm grinned. "Yeah, I guess we do.

"Any food around here?"

"There are a few non-perishables, but we'll need to drive into town to pick up some things. We can eat lunch there, and then tonight I'll make dinner."

"Fine by me as long as it's not your meatless meatloaf."

"You'll never let me live that one down, will you?"

"Not on your life."

Harm got out of bed. "I need to get a shower. Care to join me?" He quirked an eyebrow.

"If I do that, we'll never eat lunch."

He flashed his flyboy grin. "Good point."

"You go first, then I'll shower." Mac watched as he walked to the bathroom, her eyes taking in the sight of his naked body—well-defined pecs, flat abs, near-perfect six. And yes, Harm was well-endowed. She'd often wondered, now she knew. Truth was, she was a little sore after their night of lovemaking. One thing was sure. He wasn't a prude. Why she'd ever thought that was a mystery.

On the Road to DC
December 28, 2003
1500 Local

After spending three glorious days in the mountains, Mac hated having to return to DC. She'd love to hole up in the cabin for a couple of weeks. Being with Harm made it so easy to forget everything that had happened over the past few months. Well, maybe not forgetting but forgiving.

Although they spent a lot of time in the bedroom, they did talk about a lot of things—Harm's inability to say what he was thinking. The mistakes they made as a result of the disastrous ferry ride in Australia. Mac's tendency to run rather than face a problem. There were still a few things to work through, but they'd made progress.

There was only one thing more thing Mac wished for. Harm had been loving and tender. He made her feel like the most special woman on earth. But he hadn't told her he loved her.

He was relatively quiet most of the drive home. It wasn't until they neared the outskirts of the city that he spoke.

"Mac, I've been thinking. About my job. I could get called away anytime on a mission. In fact, I expect I'll be going somewhere soon. Some of the places I go are— Let's just say not everyone rolls out the red carpet. I could—"

"Harm, please don't say it. We're finally together in every sense of the word. I don't want to lose you."

A tear ran down her cheek, and Harm reached to wipe it away. "Hey, Ninja Girl. Don't cry. I have every intention of coming back to you. Now that we're finally together, I don't want to lose you either."

"I promise you, no matter what happens, you'll never lose me." Mac grimaced at her words. The same words she'd said on the admiral's porch. And yet, she'd been the one to run away. "And I really mean it this time, Harm. You won't lose me."

"Hell, none of us are guaranteed tomorrow. Think about those people in the Twin Towers or the Pentagon two years ago. Anything could happen."

"Harm, you're scaring me. What's up? Is the CIA sending you out on some dangerous mission?"

"Mac, you know I can't talk about it, but as far as I know, there's nothing other than the usual stuff."

"Then why talk like something is going to happen?"

"I'm not saying anything will." They were passing by a shopping mall, and he nodded. "Mind if we stop here? I want to you a piece of jewelry. Something to wear when I'm not around to remember me by."

"Harm, you don't need to give me anything. I've already told you I'm not going anywhere and, well, face it, you're a hard person to forget." Mac laughed as she spoke, trying to soothe the sudden case of nerves that overcame her.

"I'm serious, Mac. I know it's early in our relationship, but this is something I want to do."

Ten minutes later, they were in a jewelry store. Mac wasn't sure what he had in mind. Maybe earrings or a necklace. But Harm surprised her when he asked the jeweler if they had any rings in the Meander pattern. "Something in her size," he said, nodding toward Mac.

The woman's face lit up. "Yes, we do." She led them to a display case that contained several rings designed with an ancient Greek pattern.

Mac was a bit perplexed by Harm's choice since he didn't have any Greek ancestry. At least, she didn't think he did.

The clerk spoke again. "You probably know Meander symbolizes infinity and eternal flow. It also represents the bonds of love, friendship, and devotion."

"What do you think, Mac?" His bright blue eyes shown in anticipation.

"It's perfect. Under one condition." She turned to the clerk. "Do you have the same ring in men's sizes?"

A/N: Time by The Alan Parsons Project