A/N: Here it is! The last chapter. I had fun with this one! Thanks for all the reviews!

PS: I borrowed a line from the movie Bridget Jones's Diary…regarding a documentary on lions that Bridget watched whilst depressed and alone. I always found it funny…

Lost and Found

Chapter 12: Eternity

1207 Local

Mac's Apartment

Georgetown

Mac stared at the box in Harm's outstretched palm. Her heartbeat sped up and her eyes shifted to his. "Um, Harm…I'm not…ah, ready…" She looked away, not wanting to see his reaction, his disappointment. He surprised her, though.

"No, Mac…I'm not asking…yet." He grabbed her hand and set the ring in her palm, folding her fingers over the box and then clasping her hand in both of his. "But here's the thing…this is your ring. No one else's. Even if you decide you never want to marry me, it's your ring. I would never give it to anyone else…honestly, if someday you decide you don't want 'us,' there will never be anyone else anyway.

"Mac, my intention has always been to marry you…have babies with you…grow old with you…ever since we stood on the steps of JAG and agreed to go halves on a baby. I don't know about you, but I generally don't make plans to bring a baby into this world with someone I don't intend to commit to. The problem at the time was that I was returning to flying…I couldn't consciously admit it then that I wanted you; I was leaving and my mind couldn't focus on anything else…I know, I know, that doesn't make any sense and it just drives home the fact that I'm a moron when it comes to you. Hell, a lot of what happened this past year happened because I went back to flying. If I hadn't, you wouldn't have…Brumby…ah, then Paraguay…you wouldn't, I wouldn't have…but that's all in the past. God, I'm not making much sense, am I?

"Anyway…I'm giving this to you for safe keeping…not to pressure you, or to have you wear it on your right hand…I just want you to keep it so you know that I'm serious about us, that I'll never leave by my own choice, that I want to marry you, have that baby…babies, with you. Mac, Sarah, clearly the times that I planned to ask you to marry me didn't work out…mostly because I am a moron…don't look at me like that, you know it's true…so, when, if, you're ready, you say the word…and I'll ask you, properly. If that time never comes…I'm still going to be here…alright, Sarah? Sarah?"

Throughout Harm's speech, Mac had sat silently, holding back tears. Now they finally spilled over. She was just about to answer him when he suddenly stood. Confused, she watched him pace about the room, words tumbling from his mouth in a nervous cadence.

"Oh, god, Mac, I'm sorry. It's way too soon for something like this. Holy shit, I am as bad as Bugme, uh, Brumby. Um, you don't have to take it. I'm sorry…let's just forget I ever said anything and just go to lunch. God, you probably don't even want to do that anymore. I'll just go, okay, god, I am a moron…"

Rolling her eyes and brushing her tears aside, Mac set the ring down on her coffee table and stood up. Harm was still pacing around, mumbling to himself. She stepped in front of him, calling his name, but in typical Harm fashion, he continued his self-flagellation. Finally, she took his face in her hands and kissed him soundly. She drew back, stifling a giggle at the slack-jawed, stunned look on his face.

"Harm, I would be happy to hold onto your, my, ring. Thank you. And that's where I see this heading, even if we're not quite ready to make it 'official' yet, okay, Harm? Harm? Focus here."

Finally, Harm snapped out of his stupor. A slow grin spread across his face and she smiled back before he claimed her lips for a soft, loving kiss. "Really, Mac?"

She rested her palm against his cheek, stroking it with her thumb. "Really, Harm." To her chagrin, she felt a fresh rush tears, but as before, they were happy tears. She laughed gently when she realized Harm was having a similar issue. She kissed him lightly again before stepping back, taking a moment to brush one of his tears aside while he did the same for her. They simply stared at each other for long seconds until the grumbling of Mac's stomach broke the moment. Chuckling, she went back to the coffee table and picked up the little box containing her ring.

"Harm, let me just put this somewhere safe and then let's eat. I'm starving."

Harm smiled that special smile she'd seen for years but now realized was just for her. "What else is new, Marine?"

"Nothing." She came back over to him and put her arms around his neck. "And everything," she said, as she pulled him in for a kiss.

1049 Local

Tyson's Corner Center

McLean VA

"So, has he asked you yet?"

Mac looked up from the rack of dresses she was sifting through. "Asked me what?"

"To marry him!" Harriet looked exasperated. She often did when it came to her two friends and superior officers. Mac knew this, knew Harriet was chomping at the bit for them to take the next step, and she couldn't resist messing with her just a little.

"Him?" she asked innocently.

"Commander Rabb!"

Mac giggled. "Harriet, considering you just helped me pick out lingerie to ah, entice, him, I think you can call him Harm. And no, not yet."

"Ma'am, you two are going to be the death of me," Harriet huffed.

Mac raised an eyebrow at her friend. "Harriet, considering you just helped me pick out lingerie to entice Harm, I think you can call me Mac. So, what do you think of this one?" She held out a silky midnight-blue dress.

"Gorgeous, Ma-Mac." Harriet grinned sheepishly. Mac smiled back and the two women headed off to the dressing room.

1204 Local

Capital Grille

Tysons Corner Center

McLean, VA

After purchasing dresses for the upcoming Surface Warfare Ball, Mac and Harriet decided to treat themselves to lunch at the Capital Grille. As soon as they were shown to their table and their drink orders taken, Harriet resumed questioning Mac.

"So…when is he going to ask you?"

Mac rolled her eyes good-naturedly. She'd never thought she'd be comfortable getting the third degree about her love life, but she and Harriet had grown closer since she'd asked her and Bud to look after Harm. Harriet was a great sounding board and though Mac didn't tell her everything about her relationship with Harm, but she was certainly more open about it than she'd ever thought she would be.

"When the time is right, Harriet."

"And that will be?"

Mac just smiled and shrugged at her friend and took a sip of the soda the waiter had just set in front of her.

"Arrrgh, Mac!"

At that Mac burst out laughing. "Harriet…weren't you the one who suggested Harm and I had a few things to work out before we sealed the deal?"

"Well, that's because you were fighting…again."

"And you were right! We have a lot of history, not all of it good, and we're working through it."

Harriet studied Mac for a few seconds. "And?"

"And what?"

"How's it going?"

Mac looked down at the table and blushed. "It's good. Really good."

Harriet gave her a knowing smile. "Hence the new lingerie."

Blushing even more furiously, Mac nodded, but felt the need to clarify. "Well, we've, um, already…but we have a room at the Willard for after the ball…"

"I see…soooo, do you think he'll ask you at the ball?"

Mac rolled her eyes in mock exasperation. "It'll happen when it happens."

"But it's going to happen, right?"

"Harriet!"

1622 Local

Heading toward the Roberts' Residence

Reston, VA

Mac exited the highway and drove down the side streets to Harriet's home. She'd been lost in thought as Harriet fielded a phone call from her mother.

When would it be the right time for Harm to ask? She hadn't told Harriet, but she and Harm had been going to couple's counseling. It was partly due to Harriet's observation that she and Harm needed to work through a few things. They'd had another fight, the product of one of their million miscommunications and even as readily as they made up, they could see the truth in Harriet's suggestion. Then there was the admiral. He'd caught them arguing in the conference room after meeting with a client. He'd stood there silently for several seconds before he finally broke in. "Good god, you guys need marriage counseling and you aren't even married yet. I swear, you two will be the death of me!" He'd thrown up his hands in disgust and stomped off, leaving a stunned Harm and Mac behind. They'd broke into laughter but then Harm turned serious.

"He's got a point, you know. Maybe we should try it…we don't exactly fight fair…and for sure we've had our issues with communication. What do you think, Mac?"

Truthfully, it had crossed her mind before, but hearing Harm verbalizing it really brought the idea home. Mac readily agreed to it and within the week they'd had their first session.

It wasn't always easy, it certainly wasn't always fun, and they'd spent a few nights apart, not speaking, but the benefits far outweighed any of the rough parts. They were closer than ever, trust had largely been restored, and Mac knew she was getting closer and closer to being ready to wear her ring with all that it entailed.

Mac turned into Harriet's driveway and parked the car. Shifting toward Harriet, she thanked her for a wonderful day.

"You're welcome, Mac. And thank you! Someday you'll realize the sheer bliss of a day without any children."

Mac chuckled, knowing Harriet wouldn't trade her kids for the world, even if she never had a moment to herself again.

Harriet opened the car door and slid out, turning and grabbing the garment bag holding her new dress. She shut the door but then leaned down to poke her head through the window.

"So…do you think he'll ask you at the Willard?"

"Harriet!" Mac laughed.

"I know, I know," Harriet said as she straightened herself up. "It'll happen when it happens."

It happened one Sunday in July. They'd just gotten back to her apartment after an early morning run and, not quite beating the heat of the day, they both looked forward to a cool shower. Just as they were about to head in the bathroom together, Mac's phone rang. Harm answered, and after saying a brief hello to Chloe, he handed the phone off to Mac. She sensed Chloe had something serious to discuss, something about a boy, so Mac decided it was best to speak to her in private. Mac took the phone with her into the bedroom, leaving Harm to sit on the couch and turn the TV on while he waited for her.

When she returned to the living room, she found Harm still sitting on her couch, feet up on the coffee table in front of him, watching a nature documentary. Mac looked at the television set just in time to see two lions mating, the narrator speaking in a monotoned British accent while he described the action on the screen. 'Coitus is brief and perfunctory…'

Mac was about to ask him why on earth he was watching that particular program when she was taken in by his look of utter concentration. He could be such an intense man, and he brought that intensity into everything he did…flying jets, defending a client, arguing with her…making love to her…but he was also incredibly kind and gentle. Mac felt her eyes fill at the sheer beauty of him.

It hit her then that the time for him to ask her to marry him was now. She loved him, always had, and that love had continued to grow stronger by the day. It was time for forever.

Silently, without catching his attention, Mac crept back into her bedroom and took the ring in its box out of her top dresser drawer. Heart fluttering, she returned the living room and sat down beside him. Harm was still focused on the documentary as she set the ring down on the table next to his feet.

She knew the moment he noticed the ring. His body tensed and he sat up straighter, slowly lowering his feet to the floor. "Now?" He whispered, looking over at her with widened, stormy green eyes.

"Now," she whispered in kind.

Harm nodded and picked up the little box. He opened it and removed the ring. "Stand up," he gently commanded. She complied, and even though she knew what was coming, as Harm knelt down in the cramped space between the couch and the table her eyes filled with tears.

Harm cleared his throat and took her left hand in his. "Mac…Sarah, I love you…so much. Will you marry me?"

"Yes…yes I will, Harm." He slid the ring on her fourth finger, closing his hand over hers when the ring was in place. He stood then, pulling her into his arms and placing a slow, loving kiss on her lips.

He drew back and stared down into her eyes.

"I love you, Mac."

She smiled through the happiest tears she'd ever shed.

"I love you too, Harm…for eternity."

End

Well, there it is! Thanks for reading!