Friday, June 11

Harm looked up when there was a knock on his door. It had been a busy week for him, but he was ready to wrap it up and go home. The kids were staying with the grandparents for the weekend, giving them a chance to spend time together as a couple. It was rare for them to be able to do that with their busy schedules and a house full of kids, but they tried to get a weekend alone each month. Trish and Frank were more than happy to have the grandkids over.

"Do you need me for something else, sir?" Petty Officer Larsen wondered.

"Nope, you're free to go, Petty Officer," he smiled. "Have a nice weekend."

"You too, sir," a knock on the door made them both turn their focus to the door. "Your wife s here," the Petty Officer focused on Mac. "Have a nice weekend, ma'am."

"You too, Petty Officer," Mac stepped into the office. "Almost ready to go?"

Harm started to stand. "Almost."

"Did you hear something more about Steve?" she wondered.

"Nothing," Harm hesitated. "It's strange for him to disappear like that. He wouldn't."

"Something must have happened to him then," Mac walked over and took his hand. "I'm sorry."

"Me too," he leaned in and kissed her. "Ready for the weekend?"

Sensing that he didn't want to talk about it, she decided not to push. "I am."

He put his free hand on her cheek and drew her in for a deeper kiss. "Me too."

"No necking in the office, Captain," she teased.

"I'm the boss, I can do what I want," he reasoned.

"Really? Is that the rule?" she smirked. "Just don't make out with anyone else."

He chuckled as he closed his briefcase. "Like I ever would," he took her hand after turning off the light on his desk.

Later

"Didn't you promise me food?"

Harm ended his attack on her neck. "Yes," he moved his hands down her body. "But who can think about food now?"

"I can," she ran her hands down his back. "Not that this isn't fun, but we could save round three until later."

"I'm actually a little exhausted," he kissed her softly. "A break would be good."

"It's getting late; maybe we should just order something," she suggested as he rolled off her.

"Sounds like a plan," he agreed as he reached for her and pulled her close.

"Weren't we getting up?" she wondered as she snuggled closer.

"In a minute," he kissed her head. "This is nice."

"It is," she kissed his chest. "But if you don't feed me I'll starve to death."

"I'm trying to be romantic, and all you can talk about is food," he offered an amused look.

"Sorry, but you know I need food to function," she chuckled. "You know I like romantic Harm. You've been all lovey-dovey this week."

"Just trying to make sure that you know how much you mean to me," he smiled.

"I like this side of you," she kissed him softly.

"You were gone last week, this week I've been busy," he cupped her face. "It's time we get a real anniversary celebration."

"We have all weekend," she ran her hand down his chest. "Unless I die of starvation," she added with laughter.

Harm grabbed her and flipped her around, making her squeal. "You are hopeless," he kissed her deeply. "I'm making the call," he announced as he let her go.

"Thank you," she said between waves of laughter.

"Any preferences?" he reached for the phone.

"Pizza. No, wait. Thai," she hesitated. "No. Chinese."

"Chinese then?" he dialed the number.

"That's fine," she reached out and tickled his chest.

He stilled her hand as the restaurant answered. He made the order and put the phone away. "Now," he moved over her. "We have twenty minutes."

"Let's take a shower," she suggested and pushed him away. "Come on."

He got out of bed and followed her.

The next day

The day had been relaxing. They had stayed home. Mac had done some cleaning inside and gotten some laundry out of the way. Harm had washed the cars and done some cleaning in the garage. He had finally put up the shelves he'd meant to do for months. Mostly they had spent time together.

Harm was busy making dinner while Mac put pictures into albums.

"Look at this face," Mac held up a picture of Matthew on the swing.

Harm chuckled. "He has the flight gene."

"Hey, worried mommy over here," Mac reminded him. "I thought he could find safer interests. Like collecting dinosaur bones or stamps."

"No way my son will turn into a geek," Harm argued.

"I collect dinosaur bones," she pointed out.

"I rest my case," Harm smiled sweetly. "Although, you're a hot geek. So hot."

Mac rolled her eyes and continued putting pictures into an album. Her phone beeped. "Probably your mom answering my text. Can you see?" she motioned for her phone on the counter by his side.

Harm picked up her phone and read the text. "John? Who's John? John Farrow?"

"Oh, I ran into him the other day," Mac started to stand. "Did he text me?"

"Yeah, saying how nice it was to see you again and to let him know if you're ever in Colorado," Harm looked at her funny.

"What?" she reached for her phone. "John is an old friend."

"Friend?" Harm shook his head. "Right."

"Harm are you jealous?" Mac was amused as she finished answering the text and put the phone down.

"No," he stirred the sauce. "Where did you run into him anyway?"

"I was out to lunch, and he was at the same restaurant with someone. He has family here," Mac shrugged. "We talked for about ten minutes; then I had to leave because I was due in court."

"I see," he turned to the sauce.

"What's the big deal? You had lunch with that Italian cop lady the other day," Mac pointed out.

"Gina Moretti?" Harm turned to her. "I never dated her. It was just.. you know."

"So if it's just a nasty weekend, it's okay?" Mac was amused.

"Who said that you having lunch with an ex wasn't okay?" Harm wondered.

"Your whole attitude," Mac pointed out. "And it wasn't lunch; it was a chat after lunch. I repeat, what's the big deal?"

Harm hesitated. "John Farrow is the only one of your exes that I thought were worthy of you. And in the same league."

Mac chuckled. "Really?"

"I could actually see it working out," Harm admitted.

Mac raised her eyebrows. "You could?"

"Well, not now, because you have me," he flashed her a sweet smile.

"You are so weird," Mac laughed softly and poked his chest.

"I'm weird?" he turned the heat down and peaked into the oven. "Weird? Really?"

"Yes, you," she chuckled.

Harm took the salmon out and put it on the counter. "Dinner is ready."

"You're not seriously jealous?" she questioned as she put her hand on his chest.

"No," he leaned in and kissed her.

"Good," she smiled. "You've been thinking about Steve? What did Gina Moretti say?"

"She didn't know much," he let out a sigh. "We just have to wait and see."

"I'm sorry. I know Steve was a good friend," she ran her hand up to his face and caressed his cheek. "If you want to talk…"

"I know, but there's nothing to talk about," he kissed her softly. "Let's just enjoy the night."

"I've been enjoying the whole day with you," she moved her arms around his neck.

"Me too," he wrapped his arms around her. "I have ice cream for dessert."

"Perfect," she smiled sweetly. "I didn't mean not to tell you about running into John."

"I know, and it's no big deal. We have a past," he shrugged. "It doesn't matter."

"It really doesn't," she agreed. "I love you."

"I love you more," he kissed her softly. "We should eat."

"Don't want your fancy dinner to go to waste," she agreed.

Sunday

Mac sipped her ice tea and watched the kids and Harm in the pool. She felt more relaxed than in a long time. The weekend had been just what they needed. With two busy schedules, the kids and running a household their days were packed. It took some work to find time for just them.

"Dinner is almost ready," Trish joined her. "Frank is on top of it."

"He's a good man," Mac smiled. "The kids adore him."

"And he adores them," Trish chuckled when Nathan took a cannonball. "So much energy. They are great kids."

Mac nodded. "Trish, do you think…" she hesitated. "Me going back to work and traveling as much as I do, do you think that's bad for them?"

"Oh, I don't think so. I think kids need strong role models. You did take time off when it mattered," Trish reasoned. "When Nathan and Claire first came to live with you, I think the stability of one parent at home was necessary. Matthew got to have you home for years too. Do you worry about this?"

"I guess I question myself now and then. Harm has a demanding career, and when I'm away, they spend a lot of time with the nanny. They love her of course, she is amazing," Mac hesitated. "They seem like happy kids."

"There's no doubt about that," Trish smiled. "I think good parents are supposed to question themselves. It's the only way to pick up if there's something wrong. You're doing a great job, Sarah."

"Thank you," Mac let out a contented sigh. "I love what I do. Both being a mom and being a marine."

"I know Claire has a great role model. She looks up to you, and I think that's important for a little girl," Trish studied the younger woman. "My son couldn't have found a better partner."

"That means a lot, Trish," Mac smiled.

"I love seeing him so happy. I always knew he'd be a great father and husband, although I did worry that he'd never be able to let go and move on," Trish admitted. "It all worked out in the end."

"It did," Mac agreed.

Later

Harm finished wiping off the countertops and turned to his wife. She looked thoughtful as she looked out the kitchen window, her hands in midair, one holding a casserole, the other a towel. He chuckled. She had her thinking face in place.

"What got you so occupied?" he wondered.

"Ah," she focused on him. "Just thinking."

"About?" he took the casserole and towel from her.

She smiled. "Just something your mom and I talked about earlier."

"Yeah?" he looked suspiciously at her as he finished drying the casserole.

"It's nothing scary," she reassured. "We talked about me working and time away from the kids. It just got me thinking about the past I guess. How we've changed our priorities."

"We have," he agreed. "What about you working?"

"I just feel like I'm not with them as much as I'd like to be," she hesitated. "It works out well with Trish and Frank helping and Anna is a great Nanny to them, but it's not us."

"You were home for three years," he reminded her as he walked to the freezer and opened it.

"I was, and I loved that," she smiled as he found two ice cream bars in the freezer.

"Come on," he motioned for the back porch.

She followed him out there, and they sat down on the porch swing.

"All this brought up the past?" he handed her one bar.

"Just thinking about our baby deal," she smiled. "I can't believe we did that."

He chuckled. "For me, it was my subtle way of suggesting something that would keep us connected forever. I really thought that a five-year plan would give me time."

"To grow up?" she suggested teasingly.

"Pretty much," he laughed.

"We did it," she smiled brightly.

"We sure did," he moved his arm around her.

"Was this really your plan all along? I mean, for those five years you planned to have a baby with me?" she wondered.

He looked thoughtful as he finished his ice cream bar. "I don't know," he answered honestly. I wanted you. I don't know when I started looking at you differently, but when we made that deal, I was definitely suggesting that one day we'd be more than friends. We never really talked about it."

"We didn't," she leaned onto him. "It's strange how we couldn't say how we felt."

"We know now, that's what's important," he kissed her softly.

"I love you," she kissed him again.

"I love you too," he smiled. "This is good. This right here."

"With our four percent miracle sleeping soundly upstairs," she added.

"Life is pretty perfect," he rested his head on top of hers.