AN: Since it isn't a school night and I had a great time over the Chinese New Year holidays, here's another chapter! Enjoy!

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Part 9

James and Pamela had made their excuses a little bit early, obviously opting to give Harm and Mac some time to themselves and neither minded in the least. They were by now very comfortable with each other.

"How's Kim been doing?"

Mac and he often talked about Harm's daughter. They of course understood how important her acceptance of their relationship would be, but Mac had already taken genuine a shine to the child she'd met only briefly, two times.

"She's been doing okay…Her grades are still good; she's doing well in school…But, something seems off about her…I don't know just what it is…"

"It's not 'us,' is it? I know she doesn't really know much, yet, but..."

"I don't think it is," Harm shook his head, "I mean, she doesn't ask questions whenever I tell her we're going out somewhere, but I'm sure she's figured out that we're dating."

"Is she still asking questions about my resemblance to her Mother?"

"No, not anymore. She doesn't really know just how different you really are to Dianne, because she was still so small when Dianne left, she doesn't remember her…but we've had several conversations about the matter. There's no doubt in her mind now that you and Dianne are very different people. She understands, for sure, now."

"Does she know where her Mother is, now?"

"Not exactly. But she knows that Dianne transferred back to the States. And she knows that our place is here. She knows about my prospects for promotion within the next year and a half, so she doesn't question why we're still here, even though Dianne isn't. But I can tell she's wondering why Dianne would leave, when we're staying here."

"She doesn't know about the divorce?"

"No," Harm shook his head, vehemently, "I just couldn't tell her…I couldn't find the words. At the same time as the divorce, Dianne chose to relinquish any parental rights she might have still had and I just couldn't bring myself to tell Kim that. It would destroy her."

"Poor kid," Mac taking Harm's hand in her own, "I know what that's like...My Mother never said goodbye either. But I had fifteen years with her, so perhaps I'm actually lucky…well, depending on how you look at it; I'm not sure my Mother instilled much in me that I could use. My Dad was hardly what you'd call a keeper, but she stayed with him for so long."

"How does a child get over something like that?" he asked, knowing of Mac's unique insight into the matter.

"I never really did…Even when I thought I had, in my early twenties. It wasn't until a few years ago, when I met my Mother at my Father's funeral that I realized that I'd never truly gotten over it…But now, even despite the destructive world my Father sucked me into, with his alcohol abuse, I realize that my Father was just as devastated as I was. He did his best, as poor a job as that was. You're a great Father to Kim. She knows that you'll always be there for her."

Harm shook his head with regret and Mac pulled him into her embrace, resting her forehead against his, to bring him some comfort.

"Sometimes it seems like she's in her own little world," Harm confided, "She's intelligent and out-going, but sometimes she just closes in upon herself. Some days, if she doesn't have school, she might not even leave her room. If I'm at work, I won't know anything about it until our housekeeper mentions something. But I know just what she's been doing. She'll read this book I got for her when she was five-years-old, soon after we got here. She's burying her head in all these local fairytales, rather than living in the real world…Do you think she's that unhappy with her life that she resorts to inventing a fantasy life, one that is happier, more fulfilling?"

"No, I don't think so. She seems like a great kid, from all you've told me about her, but the world can be a daunting place to a ten-year-old. She knows you love her and that you do your best for her and I'm sure she'll come out of her shell when she's ready."

"Sometimes I get so frustrated. I tell her to get her head out of the clouds. In a way, I worry that these dance classes are reinforcing these fanciful daydreams she has, because of the folklore behind traditional dance and music here, but it's her one opportunity to interact with other kids in a comfortable, relaxed environment. How could I take that away from her? I want her to grow up and start living in the real world, I don't want her to accidentally tumble into it and have a bad experience that might scar her for life. How can I reconcile both of those things as a Father who wants the best for his child?"

"I don't think you can force her to do anything she isn't ready for, Harm, whether it is for her own good or not. She'll fight it tooth and nail and your relationship with her will suffer as a result. I know she's approaching her teenage years and I know how uncomfortable they can be, but as long as you're there to encourage her and support her, I think she'll make the transition in her own time."

"I was thinking," Harm moved onto a happier topic, "That maybe we could take a trip out somewhere, this weekend…The three of us, if you'd be comfortable with that?"

"Yeah, sounds good," Mac readily agreed, "I'd like that…As long as you think Kim is ready for it…"

"I think she is," Harm pondered, "I've told her plenty about you and she seems receptive to getting to know you better…You realize that was the reason she left her toothbrush and her video here, tonight? I think she wanted to get the chance to see you again."

Mac smiled; she'd had that feeling at the time, had seen Kim peering down at her from an almost out-of-view place on the upstairs landing. It was amusing how well Harm knew his daughter! Early on in their courtship, he'd attempted to be similarly devious, yet wound up being completely obvious, without realizing it!

Harm cut off Mac's chuckle with a slow, deep kiss, which quickly led to an enjoyable round of necking. Such simple intimacy was something they had both quickly become used to, despite the long amount of time they'd previously spent leading a single life.

They had chosen to take things slowly, though, so their session didn't progress to anything more, not yet. Despite how comfortable they had quickly become in each other's company, they were both aware of the transition that they'd need to guide Kim through, first, before they let the relationship get too serious.

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