Sunday August 7th

The singing of the birds outside their window made Harm wake up. He smiled as he remembered waking up like that as a child, usually followed by grams knock on the door, wondering if he would sleep all day. The clock said 07.30 and he knew that his grandma had been up for an hour and a half already. They arrived yesterday at lunchtime in time to eat a huge meal prepared with love by Sarah, who was thrilled to have them there. They were to stay until Wednesday, then Mattie would go see her father and stay with him until Friday, while Harm and Mac moved into the house Trish had rented for all of them. They would spend Wednesday with Bud and Harriet in D.C after dropping Mattie off with her father.

Mac moved in his arms. As usual, they had woken up locked in an embrace, just like they had gone to sleep in an embrace. It had been that way since they decided that it would be the two of them forever.

"Good morning," he caressed her arm softly, kissing her cheek.

She turned in his arms so that she was facing him. "Good morning," she hugged him close. "This is the best way to wake up," she kissed his cheek then moved to get out of bed. "I'll be right back.

He turned his head to the window and as the wind blew the curtains away, he could see two riders with their horses crossing the field on the other side of the creek. He let out a happy sigh. He could hear the toilet flush and the water came on, then Mac peaked into the bedroom, her toothbrush in her mouth. He smiled as he too got out of bed. She walked over to the window and peeked outside as he headed for the bathroom.

Soon she came back into the bathroom and both of them finished brushing their teeth. "Are we getting up? Maybe a run before breakfast?" he suggested.

"It is lovely here," she let out a happy sigh as he pulled her closer. "Your grandma is amazing."

"She is," he agreed as he walked her back towards the bed. "I don't think she'd mind it if we sleep in today."

"Yeah?" she smirked as her legs hit the side of the bed and as she fell backward, she drew him with her. "I could get used to sleeping in," she whispered towards his mouth.

"That's the idea," he moved his mouth over hers as he pulled on her nightgown. "We need," he kissed her again," to lose this."

She giggled as he hit a sensitive spot. It was music to his ears.

A while later they were wrapped together in bed making plans for the day.

"Since it's your first time here, I'll show you around," he drew lazy circles on her back. "I'll show you my special place."

"You have a special place?" she was curious.

"I spent a lot of time there after my crash. That, and restoring Sarah, got me through it," he smiled by the memory. As hard as it was, it's a good memory."

She smiled. "I'm glad you have good memories, despite the bad things you've been through."

"I'm ready to make a lot of good memories," he cupped her face. "I think we're due."

Surprised by his words, she hesitated, trying to find the right words. "When did you get so… romantic?" she wondered. "Or have you always been a smooth talker?"

He chuckled. "I never seemed to be able to express myself well."

"I think you're doing great," she kissed him softly. "And I agree, we're due."

"I'm glad I get to share this place with you. I'm sorry I never brought you here before," he shrugged. "I should have."

"It's your special place, Harm," she reasoned.

"Yeah, but you've always been special to me," he smiled. "Even when I couldn't tell you how much…" he hesitated and found her eyes with his. "How much I really cared."

"Harm," she rested the palm of her hands on his chest. "I don't think that we should spend too much time in the past. I think it's more productive to focus on the future."

He smiled. "I agree," he chuckled. "I guess I just wanted you to know that I'm happy you're here."

"I'm happy about that too," she smiled sweetly and kissed him deeply. "I love you."

He rubbed his nose to hers. "I love you more."

"That's not even possible," she argued with amusement.

"Let's just agree to disagree on that one, Sweet Thing," he flipped her around so that he was on top.

"Slick move," she said between laughter.

"I have a few moves up my sleeve," he wiggled his eyebrows, then sobered up. "Hey Mac, speaking of the future."

"Yeah?" she was curious.

"Should we be doing more about the baby thing?" he wondered.

"Well, I don't think it's possible to try more," she chuckled. "At least not without one of us being hurt in the process."

"Hey, it was your idea to bring out that Kama Sutra book," he reminded her.

"Where did you get that anyway?" she hesitated. "Wait, I don't want to know."

"It was a gift from Keeter," Harm reassured. "It was a joke because I never seemed to be able to keep a girl. I had forgotten about it until you found it when we were unpacking."

"Well, you have nothing to worry about. It's not your bedroom skills keeping you from a long-term relationship all these years," she assured with a nibble to his lip.

"Right back at ya, Mackenzie," he kissed her deeply.

When the kiss ended she cupped his face "Let's see about the baby thing, once we're back home again."

"I don't want to pressure you," he assured. "We can do it when you're ready."

"Thank you," she kissed him again. "We should get the day started."

"I think the day started perfectly," he wiggled his eyebrows.

Later

"Finally, I thought I had to eat breakfast alone," Grams smiled when they walked into the kitchen hand in hand.

"Just enjoying our time off," Harm bent down and kissed her cheek. "No teenager yet?"

"Not yet," Grams stood. "Come on, let's set the table."

"I'll go knock on Mattie's door," Mac let Harm's hand go. "I have good practice in waking her up."

Grams studied her grandson as he watched his wife walk away. "You've got it bad, Harmon."

Harm chuckled. "I won't argue with you."

"I have never seen you so happy," Grams put her hands on each side of his cheeks. "It makes me happy to see."

Harm smiled. "Life is pretty good."

"Make sure you work hard for it to stay that way because that woman is spectacular. You can't do any better," she smiled. "And she is a lucky girl because you are such a good man."

"Thanks, Grams," Harm hugged her. "I won't disappoint."

Later that day

"Mac and I are taking a walk," Harm smiled when he saw what Grams and Mattie were doing. "You're learning to knit?"

"Well, Mattie needs to use her hands, and knitting is the use of hands," Grams smiled. "Besides, it's relaxing."

"I don't know about that, Sarah," Mattie let out a sigh. "It looks a lot easier when you do it."

"That's because I have knitted since I was four," she chuckled. "You'll get the hang of it. And this way you can train your hand and watch TV at the same time."

Mattie chuckled. "Great idea. Physiotherapy at home in front of the TV."

"Don't think you won't have to continue your sessions when we get back to London," Harm warned as he turned to leave the living room. He grabbed his jacket off the rack and stepped outside where Mac was waiting.

"Don't you just love a rain shower in the summer?" she let out a contented sigh.

"Okay, Mrs. Rabb, you've had too much country air," he took her hand. "Or maybe you've had too much time off and is starting to lose it a little," he teased.

She rolled her eyes. "I always loved a shower. I mean, back in Arizona it was rare, and when it happened the world just felt fresh again."

"I can see the charm of that," he agreed. "You hardly ever talk about Arizona."

They started walking down the stairs from the porch and ended on a path behind the house. "I guess I don't have that many great memories to share. Our house was always so tense, my Mom stressed, my Dad…" she hesitated. "He had his good periods and things were okay, but that was the worst part because it always meant that soon all hell would break loose. My Dad's temper started building up, my Mom was all polite, and then…" she shrugged. "Not many Hallmark moments."

"I'm sorry you had to live like that," he hesitated. "It doesn't help you that I feel sorry, does it?"

"No, it doesn't, but what else is there to say," she offered a half smile. "It was what it was, it's always going to be a part of my past. My own drinking problems, almost screwing up all my hard work to get through High School by partying too much, getting married… But I got away from it and I have managed to make a pretty great life for myself despite not having a family."

"The way I see it, there are two different types of family. The one we're born with, and the one we choose. You have a family, Mac. You have Uncle Matt. Mattie and me. All of your friend's. And now you have my family as well."

She smiled. "I do," she moved her arm behind his back. As he did the same and pulled her closer she rested her head on him. "It's pretty perfect."

"I agree," he smiled. "You've made life pretty great for me."

"Really?" she lifted her head and looked at him curiously.

"Yes," he leaned in and kissed her. "I have you, I have Mattie. Everything else seems less important."

She smiled as they walked on. He was right. Everything else seemed less important.

Tuesday, August 11th

Harm noticed that Mattie looked really happy as she walked back downstairs after spending some time in her room. He assumed that her friend Nick had something to do with that. Mattie had most likely been on Skype. She had met Nick in rehab, and they belonged to the same support group. He was a nice kid who had been in an automobile accident six months ago. They had some of the same issues and had bonded through their rehab.

Mac put her book down. "How's Nick?" she asked and beat Harm to it.

He continued massaging her feet as he cautiously studied Mattie.

"Who is Nick?" Grams wanted to know.

"Just a friend," Mattie slumped down in a chair. "He's on vacation with his family too."

"Nick and Mattie have physiotherapy together. "Mac explained.

"It's nice to bond with other people who go through the same things," Grams smiled. "Okay, time for dinner soon. Mattie, why don't you help me, and the lovebirds can get some time alone."

"Sounds like a plan," Mattie smiled cleverly as she stood and followed Grams to the kitchen.

"See, you're making my grandma tease me about being all lovey-dovey," he accused.

"Me?" she shrugged. "What did I do?"

"You're beautiful, which makes you hard to resist," he lifted her feet off his lap and moved over her, leaning in and kissed her. "See."

She laughed by his silliness. "Sorry," she said, not meaning it at all. She moved her arms around his neck. "You could go help with dinner and let me finish my book," she suggested.

"I could," he kissed her again. "But two chefs are probably enough."

"Probably," she agreed and drew him closer.

They had another great dinner and dessert. Harm was dreading leaving again the next day. He was looking forward to seeing his mom and stepfather again, but it was always sad to leave this place.

"I can't believe you're leaving tomorrow," Grams let out a sigh. "I demand a visit again soon."

"We'll try, Grams," Harm promised. "The travel distance is a little long for a weekend trip."

"I've loved our stay here, Grams. Thank you so much for making me feel so welcome," Mac started to stand. "Harm and I will do the cleaning."

"I'm just happy my grandson is so happy," Grams smiled. "I've never seen him like this, Sarah."

"Me neither," Mattie agreed. "It would be cute if he wasn't so old."

"Hey," Harm offered an amused look in Mattie's direction. "I'm not that old, thank you very much."

"Slow, some would say," Grams continued. "I mean, nine years to figure things out?" she questioned her grandson."

"Is this the pick on Harm day?" Harm stood and started gathering dishes. "Get out of here," he said with laughter.

Grams chuckled as she too stood. "Sarah, did I show you the albums of Harm as a kid? I'm sure I forgot."

"I would love to see them," Mac looked at her husband with a pout. "I bet he was super cute."

"Oh, he was the cutest baby ever," Grams turned to leave the kitchen. "I'll just get them from the library."

Mattie stood. "I want to see them too."

A little later they were in the living room watching photos. Grams was lively telling them stories from Harm's childhood. Mac and Mattie were laughing, while Harm was mostly amused.

"Thank you for telling all the stories," Mac reached for Harm's hand. "I'm sure there are more stories for another time."

Harm squeezed her hand.

"I have so many stories. "Grams smiled cleverly. "But we must save some for next time."