Tuesday, September 27th

Mattie opened the door to the gym and offered a concerned look in Mac's direction. Mattie had noticed that Mac had looked a little pale lately.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Mattie wondered.

"Mattie, I'm sure," she smiled. "I'm just a little tired. I think it's the weather."

Mattie nodded. "Okay, well you can sit and relax while I get tortured."

Mac chuckled. "Sounds like a fair deal. I have some work to do, so I'm just going to sit over there," she pointed to a table in the corner.

"See you soon," Mattie headed for her physiotherapist, while Mac sat down to get some work done before her lecture tomorrow. She had been feeling dizzy and sick all morning, so she'd gone to bed after seeing Mattie off to school. She was feeling a lot better as she went to meet with Mattie after school to take her to her therapy session, but she hadn't been able to eat much, so she lacked energy.

After Mattie's session they went to get a book that Mattie was dying to read, then they sat down at a diner. Mac had some pie with her tea and was starting to feel a little more energetic afterward.

"Want to check out that new men's store? I want to find something for Harm, for his birthday," Mac wondered.

"Yeah, sure," she smiled. "I have no idea what to give him."

"He'll be happy to have anything," Mac reassured.

"What are you giving him?" Mattie wondered.

"I'm taking him out for dinner, you can come too," she smiled. "And I thought I'd just buy him clothes because he hates to shop and giving him clothes would both be the gift of clothes and the gift of not having to go shopping," she chuckled.

Mattie laughed softly. "Sounds smart. I could buy him a new shirt or something."

"Sounds like a plan," Mac motioned for the waitress that she wanted to pay.

They went by the store, but Mac didn't find anything she really liked for Harm and his taste, so they decided to walk around a little.

"Can we go in here?" Mattie wondered.

"Sure," Mac followed her inside the store. Mattie looked around and found a pair of jeans she wanted to try on.

"Good choice," a girl reached for the same pair as Mattie. "I have a pair of these, and I never take them off, so my Mom suggested a second pair."

"Sounds like a good idea," Mattie smiled. "I'm Mattie."

"You're American too? I'm Jane," Jane looked around and reached for a sweater. "This is a nice sweater, right?"

"I like the green color," Mattie agreed. "How long have you been here?"

"Two years now. My Dad is working at the Embassy with Public Affairs," Jane explained. "Why are you here?"

"My guardian is the Force Judge Advocate Europe," Mattie explained.

"Jane, there you are," a blonde woman walked up to her. "Did you find what you wanted?"

"Can I try on this sweater too?" Jane pleaded.

"Sure," the woman smiled.

"I'll go try these jeans on. Is that okay, Mac?" Mattie wondered.

"Sure," Mac agreed.

"Mom, this is Mattie," Jane introduced Mattie.

"Hi, Mattie. Where do you go to school?" the woman wanted to know.

"ASL. I just started this fall," Mattie smiled. "Come to think of it, do we have classes together?"

"I think we do, actually," Jane smiled. "That's pretty cool."

"Yeah, I didn't remember you at first. I haven't gotten to know that many people actually," Mattie explained.

"Jane is a little shy, so it's nice for her to meet someone," the woman smiled.

"Mom!" Jane rolled her eyes.

"I can't say much right these days," the woman focused on Mac. "I'm Jane's Mom, Sophie."

"Hi," Mac offered her hand. "I'm Sarah Rabb, Mattie's guardian. We moved here this summer."

"We've been here for about two years now. My husband is working at the Embassy," she turned to Jane. "Just go ahead and try that on."

The two girls' left the adults alone and went to try on clothes. "It's so rare to see her so chatty right after meeting a new person," Sophie was in awe. "Mattie must be special."

"She sure is," Mac smiled lovingly. "She had a major accident last winter; her father couldn't take care of her, so we became her guardians. I think a new start has done wonders for her."

They talked for a bit longer. Mac found out that Sophie and her husband also had a younger child. When the girls' finished shopping they agreed to have coffee and tea. Jane asked if Mattie could come over for dinner since they discovered that Jane's house was just a few streets away from Mattie's house.

"I guess that would be okay," Mac smiled reassuringly to Mattie.

"Great," Mattie and Jane looked clever as they walked on, a little ahead of Mac and Sophie.

"So you work part-time at the university. How is that?" Sophie wanted to know.

"It's great, and it's a new role for me," Mac hesitated. "Sometimes I miss putting on the uniform, but at the same time, I find it refreshing to try something else. What about you?"

"When Jake and I decided that he should take the job at the Embassy I was wondering what to do about my career. Thankfully England also needs computer geeks," she laughed softly. "I love it at the firm. It's small, but the pay is good, and I have flexible hours, which makes it easier with the kids," Sophie hesitated. "But now that we're having another one, I'm not sure if I'm going to work or not."

"Congratulations," Mac smiled. "How far along are you. It doesn't show."

"Just past the first trimester," Sophie smiled. "It's a blessing, but we thought we were done, so it's also like starting up all over again, you know."

Mac nodded. "I can understand that."

Later that night

"When was Mattie supposed to be home?" Harm wondered as he reached for his phone.

Mac caressed his chest softly. "Relax, she's fine with the Jackson's. And she'll be home in an hour," she moved in to kiss him. "This was nice."

"Very nice," he said between kisses. "I just hope it's okay for the baby."

"Harm, we've never been this careful," she reassured. "It was pretty intense."

"I know," he agreed and kissed her again. "I love you so much."

"I love you too," she smiled. "More and more each day."

Harm put his hand on her still flat belly. "Our baby is growing in there. It's pretty amazing, Mac."

"Yeah, it is," she agreed as she relaxed into his arms. "We should finish dinner. I'm starving."

Harm kissed her softly. "Let me do that for you. You relax."

"I can make dinner," she argued as she watched him get out of bed.

"But I want to," he started dressing. "You can help if you want to."

She moved out of bed and found her clothes scattered around the floor. "I'm definitely helping."

Saturday, October 1st

They had enjoyed a nice dinner with the Jackson's. Harm could see how happy Mattie seemed as she and Jane moved over to the TV room after they had eaten. They were getting along really well, and he was happy that Mattie had found someone she really liked.

"Yeah, I worked with CNN for eight years. When I got this opportunity, I couldn't let it pass," Carl smiled.

"What's your role?" Harm wondered.

"I'm basically in charge of the press office. So, all the information goes through me, and I decide how to present it," Carl smiled. "It's an interesting job."

"I can imagine," Harm sipped his wine.

"How are you liking London?" Carl wondered.

"I think it's a place to live," Harm shrugged. "But not forever."

"I doubt the Navy will let you stay forever anyway," Carl joked. "Two, three years probably?"

"Something like that," Harm agreed. "We're happy here. The school seems to work out for Mattie."

"Jane has had a hard time," Carl admitted.

"It seems like it's looking better now," Sophie added. "Markus found his place right away."

"He's a different type than Jane," Carl explained.

"Mattie and Jane seem to have found each other," Mac commented. "Mattie struggled to find someone at school, but this week she's been looking forward to seeing Jane."

"Jane has been a changed girl since she met Mattie," Sophie smiled. "She's a very good student; sometimes she forgets that there are other things that are equally important. And she's so shy."

"Mattie isn't exactly shy," Harm smiled. "But it's been a difficult year for her."

"You can hardly notice the nerve damage. It doesn't look like she lets her accident hold her back," Sophie commented.

"She doesn't. She's been working so hard this summer to catch up on what she missed in school while she was in the hospital. She's amazing," Mac took Harm's hand. "We're really proud of her."

"I can see why," Sophie started to stand. "More dessert?"

"No thank you, it was lovely," Harm said just as his phone rang. He reached into his pants pocket for it. "Sorry, I have to take this," he kissed Mac softly and stood. "I'll be right back."

"The food was wonderful," Mac started to stand. "Let me help you clear the table."

"You're our guest," Carl argued.

"I don't mind," Mac smiled as she reached for plates.

Harm came back a few minutes later. "Just one of my people checking in from an assignment."

"Is everything okay?" Mac wondered.

Harm nodded. "Progressing nicely. I'm done with work for this weekend, promise."

They had a wonderful night and agreed to do it again soon. Mattie and Jane made plans for the next day when Jane would come over to their house.

Later

Mac excused herself to get some sleep. Mattie wanted to skype with Jenn, so Harm secured the house for the night and sat down with his guitar. He hadn't found the time to play that much since they moved to London and it was nice to sit down with it. It was therapy for him, and it always helped him when he needed to unwind. He thought about his life as it had become, and he couldn't believe how well things were going for them. He'd had fears about his new responsibilities. Not his new position as Force Judge Advocate, but more about being a father and a husband. He did not doubt taking on Mattie again, but he had doubts about being able to take care of her needs. It was going so well for the girl, both with her recovery and her new life in London. She seemed happier than ever.

Then there was his role as a husband. He'd been so sure that marrying Mac was what he wanted, but he had doubts about his ability to be a good husband. Mac had given up so much for them, and the last thing he wanted was to do anything to make her miserable and regret ever coming here with him. They were good together. Better than he ever thought was possible. He had a theory that they had both grown over the years, and that was why they could be so happy now. There was no fighting for the top. Instead, they were working together to make a fantastic life for themselves and Mattie. He had never been so open about his feelings before, and he knew that she hadn't either. They could talk about their fears without it turning into a fight. There was no blaming the other for past mistakes, just an agreement that the past was past them and to look forward.

Mac had been amazing with Mattie from the moment they decided to get married. She was by her side, taking over as Harm left for his new duty station. After they were married and she joined him in London, she did everything she could to make a home for Mattie. For all of them. He was amazed by the way she had planned for Mattie's homecoming. He had thought about it, and Mac had become a mother the minute they had agreed to get married. She had become everything Mattie needed.

The baby had been a surprise. He knew that carrying a baby was Mac's greatest wish and to be able to give her what she wanted the most was amazing. He had feared that he wouldn't be able to give her a baby, but as he saw her with Mattie, he knew that deep down it wouldn't matter because she already was a mother. He knew they would be able to adopt and that she would be happy with that too. Now that they had gotten their biggest wish fulfilled, something she didn't genuinely believe could happen, he knew that they would be together forever. Most importantly, that they would be happy together forever. There was so much love between them it seemed impossible that it could ever empty.

He was driven out of his thoughts as he noticed someone walking down the stairs from the second floor. Mac was smiling as she walked over to him.

He changed the song to one they had danced to at their wedding.

"I set out on a narrow way many years ago
Hoping I would find true love along the broken road

But I got lost a time or two
Wiped my brow and kept pushing through

I couldn't see how every sign pointed straight to you."

He smiled and ended the song. "What are you doing up?"

"I was lonely in that big bed," she sat down on the coffee table. "Did you ever consider dropping the Naval Academy and just play music?" she teased.

"Mostly I figured playing the guitar would get me, women," he chuckled and started playing Ring of fire. "I thought Johnny Cash was cool."

Mac chuckled. "I always liked hearing you play."

"Yeah?" he smiled. "I'll play for you any time."

She yawned. "Sorry."

"Hey," he put the guitar down and took her hand. "You're tired."

"The baby is sucking all the energy out of me," she stood. "I'm heading to bed again," she kissed him softly.

"Want me to hold you?" he wondered.

"Always," she tugged on his hand.

He stood. "Today was another great day."

"It was," she agreed as they walked up the stairs. "And another great month."

He nodded as they entered the bedroom. She slipped into bed while he went to the bathroom. Soon he was back and slipped in beside her. She snuggled into his arms and let out a contented sigh. It was so perfect to be with him.