Author's Note:. The things you can do when you download Office to your phone… The reviews are so very kind and awesome. Steamboat – you made me laugh really hard with your second one. (Oh and regarding your first comment- If there's a specific problem you're seeing, shoot me a message. )

Cleaned this one up and thought I'd post. As always, let me know what you think!

As always, all mistakes are mine (or a result of autocorrect being "super" helpful). I own nothing and no infringement is intended.

(Last line of Part 2)

Her "Excuse me?" came out with venom.

Part 3:

He simply held up his hands.

"That deal has haunted us since its conception." She tried to interrupt but he waved her off. "I made that deal. I set the parameters and you have no idea how many times I've kicked myself for saying five years - even before your diagnosis. Five was too damn long. I know I wasn't ready in Sydney and that seemed to create this... Idea in your mind that our deal was my back up plan. When in fact... In truth..."

"Harm, don't say something you can't..."

"It was my plan. The only way I saw or see my future." He bowed his head with his hands once again going to his hips. "Our plan... deal... was never about kids - never just about kids. And I know if you look solely at the words of the deal," he let out a light laugh, "Actually, the words left out a lot. I mean," he met her gaze, " 'go halves on a kid' - just how exactly was that supposed to happen?" She laughed and rubbed a hand over her slowly blushing face but remained silent. He continued when she meet his eyes. "Mac, I wasn't ready in Sydney because I wasn't ready to give up my flight status."

"I don't recall asking you to let go of your wings." She raised an eyebrow and he mirrored her look.

"So you were only asking for one night- a casual fling, Mac?" She crossed her arms.

"I didn't say that."

"Good because you won't and wouldn't have gotten it." He again waved off her comment. "Work makes us having a serious, romantic relationship complicated because however you play it out, it ends only one way- marriage. Marriage means reassignment for at least one of us. But for me, it really means giving up my flight status. That's the reason why I wasn't ready in Sydney. I was, though, ready when I asked you if you wanted to move up the timetable. I was also nervous, which is why I didn't push you for an actual answer." She started moving slowly toward him with her arms remaining around her torso. He met her eyes.

"You have no idea how much I wanted that timetable moved up. You just had the wrong reason." She gave him a half smile. "That said, I don't like it when you fly, Harm. But I would and will never ask or expect you to give up your wings. They mean too much to you." He gave her a slight smile.

"You don't get a vote, Marine."

"I would think the discussion would-" he cut her off with a shake off her head.

"No. We're military and things can always happen. But my declining to continue active flight status is non-negotiable. I will do my damnedest not to do to you what Dad did to Mom. I promised you I would always be here for you. And I will be or I'll die trying to be." The last part was whispered in her ear as his arms enclosed her. She let her head fall onto his chest.

"We're all human," she said quietly. "No one knows the extent of what he endured." He let his chin rest on top of her head.

"The military side of me knows and accepts that. It's the son, who has spent his entire life being compared to the man and repeatedly told he's the exact same in every way, that can't seem to forgive or accept."

"And Sergei?" He sighed.

"He's my family. A blameless child whose name you still can't mention to my mother." She nodded and gave him a light squeeze. After a few minutes of their silent embrace, he cleared his throat. "You know, I've done my fair share of being blunt tonight. What about you, Mac? What do you want from me?" She laughed.

"That's a loaded question, Sailor," she quietly stated remaining in his arms.

"Okay. Start simple." He nudge her head and she slowly moved her head off his chest to meet his eyes "Do you love me?" She offered him a slight smile and narrowed her eyes.

"I told Sturgis I was in love with you a few years ago and then I threatened his life so he wouldn't tell you." He shook his head.

"Are you still?" She raised an eyebrow. He cleared his throat, "I mean now. Are you now?"

"No damning of Sturgis?" He narrowed his eyes.

"Later. Answer the question." She laughed and returned her head to his chest.

"I've tried to unlove you, Harm. Tried to force myself not to want to need you. Tried to force myself to love the one I was with because I couldn't have the one I loved. The question was appropriately worded the first time. And the answer is yes."

"But?" She sighed and stepped out of his embraced and turned from him walking a few steps away.

"But I don't want you to give up on the idea of children, Harm. You-". He cut her off.

"You don't want me to give up on children?" She shook her head no and turned to face him. He reached out a hand to her and took a step toward her. "Then don't let me, Mac. Fight with me. Let's determine our viable options and create our family." She looked at him then his hand and brought her arms around her torso.

"I had an appointment yesterday... Follow up really." He took another step toward her.

"You were supposed to tell me when those were so I could go with you, Mac."

"Yeah, well... You didn't make this one for me. And at the time, well, you seemed otherwise occupied." He raised an eyebrow.

"One of the dumbest things you've said to me in nine years." She momentarily glared at him.

"Anyway," she rubbed her arms, "according to the doctor my odds for getting pregnant... Carrying a child... You name it... Are less than five percent. According to her, everything is compromised." She saw him nod slowly as he processed.

"Okay. And as I've said before - that still doesn't change things." She leaned back against the countertop and shook her head in defeat.

"I honestly don't understand how it can't."