In which it copies correctly!

Sorry! Here's the final chapter!

Disclaimer: I own nothing. No infringement is intended.

All mistakes are mine and autocorrect. Reviews always welcomed! ?

End of Part 5:

"Mac, I disappeared from the face of the Earth for 6 months. I never returned any of your calls. If basically walking out of your life for that long without returning any attempt at contact isn't abandoning you and what was left of our friendship, I don't know what would be."

Part 6:

She moved her hands to his cheek and sighed. "Harm, I've been abandoned before. Deann. I did nothing wrong and yet my mother abandoned me. Ran off to who knows where. For decades, she willingly disappeared from my life. Poof. She had no regard for my well-being. ... For my life."

"Mac." She passed a finger over his lips silencing him.

"Did you listen to my voicemails?". He bowed his head and nodded once. "Did I ever once say I needed help?" He shook his head.

"You never once said you weren't okay. That you needed me. Mac, if you had, I would have been at your door at the first available opportunity. I may not have been happy about it but. ..." She smiled.

"You would have been there. I know. That's why you never abandoned me. You were angry. Pissed. Royally pissed. But. If I needed you, you'd be there. I never doubted that. Never." His face creased in confusion.

"Then I'm confused because you said." She stopped him.

"I said I didn't know what you would do if we had discovered my endometriosis after marriage. But I know you wouldn't do that." He matched her smirk.

"Sneaky." She offered a small laugh and settled into his embrace with her head resting on his chest. After a few minutes, she spoke.

"But we do know about it." She sighed. "You deserve children - the chance to be a dad. And biologically, you chances are less than 5% with me. I'm damaged goods, Harm. You deserve better." He raised her chin so their eyes met.

"I deserve to be with the woman I love. I deserve to be happy." A lone tear fell from her eye.

"I know and that's why I'm -" His placed his finger over her lips silencing her words.

"I love you, Mac. I want you. Only you. You want me happy - then you're going to have to give us a chance."

"I won't survive if we fail." He smiled.

"Together, we've never failed, Mac." The fear and worry raged in her eyes then gave way to hesitation.

"You should really give it some thought, Harm." He sighed and leaned back to look at her.

"Nine years is enough consideration."

"Subtract the, 'Diane lookalike is all I see' years." He raised an eyebrow.

"Eight and a half years is enough time for thorough consideration, marine. Have faith in me. In us. Take the leap, Mac." She raised her own eyebrow.

"Is that a proposal?" He looked around and then laughed.

"I don't make proposals in confines smeared with sticky, indiscernible batter flung everywhere." She looked at her forgotten surroundings.

"No, I guess not." Her voice took on a slightly defeated tone. "What kind of story would that make?". Putting his hand on her chin, he redirected her face to his.

"Consider it a promise." She smiled.

"Don't make a promise you can't keep." His face broke into the smile she had always loved.

"Haven't yet." She raised an eyebrow, smile firmly in place.

"That's a nice smile you have." His eyebrow raised in response.

"So you've said. But will it get me what I want?" Her hand cupped his cheek.

"Say it again." He pulled her close.

"I love you."

"I love you, too." His smile went up in wattage.

"All I ever wanted..."

"Was?"

"To hear those words and to be with you."

Their kiss was filled with love, hope, and the promise of a future. As for the kitchen disaster, cleanup was left for another day.