Sorry its taken me a while to get this up, I hope you enjoy it. Honestly I don't think its my best chapter, but hopefully you'll disagree!!!!

Thanks to the lovely people who reviewed :o) I love to hear what you guys think, whether its that I'm doing good or not so much!

Enjoy!

Harm stood for moment in shock. What was she doing here? He wondered. I've got to stop her. He ran quickly after her.

"Mac!" he yelled as he ran down the stairs as she reached her car. "Mac, wait! Stop!" To his relief, she paused, her hand on the door handle, and turned to face him, tears streaming down her face.

"I'm sorry Harm, I..uh I've got to go." She managed to get out, opening the door and moving to get into her car, her hands shaking slightly. He quickly crossed the space between them, reaching out to grab her arm and spinning her round to face him again. They stared at each other for a few seconds, their hearts pounding wildly.

"Mac," Harm started, "what are you doing here?" Mac looked down at her feet, to scared to let her eyes meet his. I can't do this now, she thought nervously, he was obviously on his way out; who goes out at this time at night, he must be going to see a girl. She took a deep breath,

"I just wanted to make sure you were ok." She said softly, "I haven't see you in so long, I.." she hesitated again, "missed you. We all do." She pulled her arm from his grip and got quickly in the car before he could stop her, "You were obviously on your way out, I won't stop you." She slipped her car into gear and started to drive off. Before she left, she glanced in her mirror to see Harm standing there watching her leave, his hands hanging limply at his sides. The hurt she could see reflected in his face almost killed her, making her want to stop the car and run into his arms. Sighing softly, she drove off, forcing herself not to look back again.

Harm stood there for a few minutes, hoping that she would come back. Part of him wanted to chase after her; to stop her and tell her he was sorry; that he loved her and to ask her if she meant what she said. The other part of him was scared beyond belief; both at what might happen if he were to chase after her and at the thought that she might have truly just walked out of his life forever. I wonder what she was coming over here for, he mused, turning slowly and walking back to his apartment. And why she ran away so fast. I know the Admiral has talked to her about it. He collapsed on his sofa and closed his eyes, remembering sadly the tears that had appeared in her eyes when she saw him. It broke his heart to see her crying. Mac rarely cried and it nearly killed him to think that he was the cause of it. He sighed quietly, making up his mind to go to the Roberts' for Thanksgiving. He missed them all, and he hoped that he'd have an opportunity to talk to Mac.

Harm walked nervously up the Roberts' driveway, a pumpkin pie in his hands, and rang the doorbell. He was absolutely terrified. It had been a week since Mac had appeared on his doorstep, and he was as nervous as hell about seeing her again; especially since they probably wouldn't have the chance to talk just the two of them. The door opened, and he swallowed nervously.

"Commander!" Harriet's smiled happily at the sight of him. "Please come on in. happy Thanksgiving!" Harm smiled at her, and leaned forward to give her a kiss on the cheek as he handed her the pumpkin pie.

"Happy Thanksgiving Harriet." He said, "Thanks for inviting me."

"How are you sir?" she replied, "We all miss seeing you." Harm laughed,

"Harriet, I'm not in the Navy anymore; call me Harm will you?!" he asked, trying his best to ignore the sadness he felt at his words. Harriet blushed,

"Sorry Harm, come in. The others are in the living room. Can I get you a drink?"

"Sure, a beer would be great." Harm replied, going to follow her into the kitchen. From behind him there was a squeal and a sudden thunk against his leg. He looked down to see little AJ, with his arms wrapped firmly around his legs, looking up at him with an excited smile on his face.

"Unca Harm, unca Harm!" he said grinning up at his godfather in excitement. Harm smiled happily at his and leaned down to lift the little boy into his arms.

"Hi big guy!" he said as he lifted him up, "God are you getting heavy!"

"haff you come tah see Jimmy?" AJ asked, looking at his godfather expectantly. Harriet smiled at that. AJ was so proud of his little baby brother, and kept on dragging visitors in to see him. Harm smiled at him.

"I came to see everyone!" he replied, as the four year old wriggled out of his arms and, once safely on the ground, grabbed hold of Harm's larger hand in his small one, tugging insistently.

"Come see Jimmy!" he said resolutely, trying his hardest to pull his godfather out of the room. Harm exchanged an amused glance with Harriet and followed after the toddler. He heard cheerful voices coming from the lounge and followed AJ, who was still pulling him by the hand, into the room.

"Auntie Mac, Auntie Mac, Unca Harm wants see Jimmy!" AJ called as they walked into the room together. Harm's eyes fell on Mac, who was sat on the sofa cradling the baby in her arms. They stared awkwardly at each other for a second, both slightly aware of the sudden silence in the room where Bud, Sturgis, Jen, Mikey and AJ's namesake were all watching them nervously. Harm swallowed nervously, forcing the corners of his mouth to turn up slightly in a smile.

The spell was broken when Jimmy gave a little cry. Mac tore her eyes away from Harm's and looked down at the child in her arms. She started to rock him gently, singing softly under her breath, trying to quiet him down. Harm started to make his way around the room, greeting his friends who he had not seen in so long.

When he finally got round to Mac, he swallowed nervously again and smiled at her.

"Hi" he said quietly, reaching over to tickle Jimmy under the chin. She smiled at him, although he was upset to see that it was a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes; she looked extremely uncomfortable.

"Hi" she replied, looking back down at Jimmy and AJ, who had come to join his godparents and was watching his brother trying to grab hold of his finger in his whole hand.

"How are you?" Harm said, anxious to continue a conversation with her.

"I'm fine." Mac replied, keeping her eyes trained on the kids. She looked up at him suddenly. "Can you take Jimmy for me? I better go and see if Harriet needs any help."

"Sure." Harm replied sadly, reaching down and lifting Jimmy easily into his arms.

"hello handsome!" he said in a singsong voice, gently rocking Jimmy from side to side to settle him. He felt Mac's eyes on him and quickly looked up, hoping to start a conversation with her. He opened his mouth to say something; anything to keep her near him for a moment, noting the fear in her eyes before she turned quickly away and headed out of the lounge. Harm watched her go sadly, an action that didn't go unnoticed by either AJ. Little AJ was confused; he had never seen his aunt and uncle act so strange around each other. They usually acted much like his mummy and daddy did with each other. As the Admiral made his way over to join Harm, he was amused when he heard a small voice ask,

"Unca Harm? Why auntie Mac sad?" Out of the mouths of babes, AJ thought ruefully to himself, wondering what Harm was going to tell the little boy. The two adults exchanged uncomfortable smiles.

"Because Uncle Harm said something silly to her." Harm responded quietly, knowing that wasn't exactly true on this occasion. Little AJ scowled at him.

"Bad Unca Harm." He said in his sternest little voice, much Harm's consternation and the amusement of the other adults present. Harm sighed.

"I know AJ." He said, amazed at the perceptiveness of the little boy. He really was his mother's son.

The rest of the evening passed by easily enough. Harm and Mac all but avoided each other, although when they did manage to join in the same conversation a couple of times, albeit while looking awkwardly at each other and refusing to directly address the other. Mac felt exhausted. Seeing Harm there tonight, although she had known he was going to be there, was emotionally draining. Every time she looked at his handsome face she heard her words from Paraguay repeating themselves in her head. She felt lonely, even standing in a group of her closest friends. It wasn't the same without her best friend; her soulmate. She excused herself from the conversation she was having with AJ and Bud and slipped quickly out of the room and out of the front door, unaware that Harm had watched her leave. Once out on the porch she allowed herself to sink down on the step, the tears that had threatened to fall since the moment she saw Harm finally making their way down her face. It was all so messed up. She really wanted to talk to him; apologise for what she said, but everytime she looked at him she got scared. She sat there for a few minutes, looking up at the stars, wishing her life could be simpler.

"Penny for your thoughts?" a voice came behind her. His voice. She heard him come closer, and saw him sit next to her out of the corner of her eye.

"I just needed some air." She replied, in a voice that she barely recognised as her own. She heard him chuckle uneasily.

"Me too." He replied nervously, "It's nice to see everyone though. I've missed you all." He turned to look at her, hoping to see her reaction to his words. He was not disappointed; the sadness was evident on her face as well as in her chocolate brown eyes when they turned to meet his. He offered her an equally sad smile and they sat in silence for a moment; each lost in their own memories of the same event. This was the closest they had been since Paraguay, and now they both felt tongue-tied, completely unsure of what to say, and how to act. They sat in silence for a few minutes; both wanting to speak, neither sure of how to start. Mac took a deep breath.

"I'm sorry." She said hesitantly, a solitary tear working its way down her face. She closed her eyes. Harm looked over at her in shock; he had come out here to apologise to her. He couldn't help himself, and reached over to gently wipe the tear from her face. Her eyes fluttered open in shock at his touch. "I didn't mean it." She said, lifting her eyes to meet his. Harm's jaw dropped slightly in surprise and she turned away, annoyed to feel more tears welling up in her eyes. She felt him lean over, gently taking her chin in his hand and turning her head to face him, hope suddenly surging within her at the gentle expression on his face. Hopeful blue eyes met nervous brown ones and the paused, staring at each other for what felt like the millionth time that evening.

"Really?" he asked huskily, his eyes flicking down to her lips for the briefest of moments, before returning to her eyes. Mac nodded imperceptibly. "I don't know why I said it. I've wanted to tell you I was sorry for so…" her speech was cut off by Harm's lips landing softly on hers.

Hehe, sorry I couldn't resist another cliffy, but at least I ended on fluff this time!!!!!!

One more chapter to come, I'll get it up asap!

Please let me know what you think!!! And forgive me for leaving it where I have!

Thanks for reading :o)

xxxx