Harm leaned down to lay a kiss on her hand, blowing lightly when he felt the chill of her fingers against his lips. Mac shivered. "Hey you're cold," He said, as he began to remove his jacket to give to her. Mac stopped him with a hand on his arm.

"No, keep it."

"But…"

"I know," She said with a glint in her eye. "You have to be a gentleman, but the truth is, I'd rather have your arms than your jacket."

Harm grinned, turned sideways on the bench, and extended his arms to her. She immediately moved to sit against him. Her back to his chest. Harm wrapped his arms around her, and placed his legs over hers in an effort to keep her warm. "Better?" He asked against her hair.

"Much."

They sat that way for a while. Basking in the feel of each other. It was a freedom they had never allowed themselves until now.

"So have you made any resolutions this year?" Harm asked against her ear.

"Yeah, I resolve not to be such a coward anymore."

"Hey, don't you think you're being a little hard on yourself?"

"No Harm, I've been a coward about everything that is important."

"No more than I have."

"Maybe," She conceded. "But it's going to stop."

Harm looked up into the hazy sky. "The hum of friendship is easier to dance to, than the pluck of heartstrings," He said softly. Mac turned to look up at him. "It's something that Harriet said to me a while back. When I went to see the baby for the first time, she asked if I had been in contact with you. That's what she told me when I said I hadn't." He reached out and smoothed a strand of hair away from her forehead. "It's not cowardice Mac, it's just…we don't know any other way to dance."

"I'm finished dancing."

"Dancing isn't so terrible as long as you have a partner who's willing to move his feet," He said, ducking down to lay his cheek on her forehead.

"Do I?" She asked softly. He drew back to look her in the eye. "Do I have a willing partner?"

"Yes you do," He whispered to her. Mac saw the light wink off of his ring, as he lifted his hand to her face, and leaned down to kiss her. For a split second, there was complete silence. The deep breath before the plunge. And then their lips combined, and they were home. In the beginning the kiss was reminiscent of the others they had shared. It spoke of friendship, desperation, passion, and thanks. Very quickly it melted into something entirely new, and yet achingly familiar. They relaxed into each other, reveling in the relief of surrender. When they pulled back Mac flashed him the first genuine smile he'd seen from her in almost a year.

"What about you? Have you made any resolutions this year?" She asked, breathless.

"I just made one right now."

"What's that?"

"I'm going to make you smile like that, as many times as I can. It's one of the things I miss most about you."

"You don't have to miss me Harm, I'm right here."

Harm sighed. "Mac, I've missed you for the better part of a year. Everything about you." He ran a hand down curve of her arm. "Didn't we used to touch more? Didn't we used to laugh more?" He shook his head. "It's odd the things you take for granted when everything is good. I don't know when we started to…separate. I don't really care to go back and find out. But if I can make you smile like that at least once a day, we'll be in good shape."

"I look forward to it." She moved out of his arms and turned to face him. For a moment she just stared. "Harm, what was the most frightening mission you've ever been on?"

He looked at her in surprise, and then dropped his head to study his hands. "That's a hard one Mac, I've been on a lot of dangerous missions in the last twenty years. But I think…" He raised his head. "I think Paraguay wins hands down. Not knowing whether you were dead or alive, was by far the most frightening experience I've ever had. I would have rather been there strapped to that table, knowing that you were safe at home, than to see you…." He took a deep breath, faltering. Mac reached out and laid a hand on his arm. She said nothing, but he acknowledged her silent tearful apology, with a tender nod.

Harm cleared his throat. "What's the most frightening mission you've ever been on?"

Mac's eyes twinkled in the light off the water. She managed to look smug and apprehensive at the same time. "The one I'm about to embark on right now."

Harm's brow furrowed. "Which one is that?"

"Taking you home, and making sure you never leave," She declared, as she stood and stretched her hand out to him.

Harm gaped at her, and then gave her an endearing smile. "That mission shouldn't be frightening," He told her softly.

"But it is…"

"Well it shouldn't be," He said, taking her outstretched hand and kissing it. "Because it's a sure thing."

Mac grinned and tugged on his hand, pulling him up from the bench. Her eyes traveled his body, and she slowly smoothed her hands over his arms and down his chest. Harm shivered slightly. She raised an eyebrow. "Oh no, you're cold. We better get you home and out of those clothes."

Harm laughed. "You don't beat around the bush do you?"

"Are you kidding? We've beaten that poor bush into kindling." She pulled him in close to her and wrapped her arms around his neck. "I think it's time we start the fire," She murmured against his lips, a second before delivering a devastating kiss. Harm held onto her body, as much to keep himself vertical as her. He wasn't used to being knocked off his feet, but he fully expected to enjoy every minute of it.

TBC…