...(5 months earlier)...
The street outside the pub was empty and quiet. It had grown late before everyone had reluctantly said their goodbyes and headed for home. All that was left now were the two silent figures, the night sky and the buzzing of the street lamps.
Harm glanced over at Mac who was gazing into the darkened sky; a strange, distant look on her beautiful face.
"Are you still with me over there?" He asked.
She turned her head to look at him, a soft smile on her face.
"I've always been with you," she said dreamily. "It's the only place I've ever wanted to be."
Harm reached out and gently took her hand in his.
"Then you're okay with the decision to go to London?"
"More than okay," she assured him.
"I want you to be happy, Mac. That's the most important thing to me," he said squeezing her hand.
"As long as I'm with you, I'll be happy."
She reached up and touched his face with her free hand; tracing his jaw line with her fingertips. Even in the dim light from the street lamps, she looked breathtaking. The red dress she'd chosen to wear hugged her body perfectly. She looked like a goddess standing in front of him, his goddess, and he wanted to worship her forever.
"Mac, I know it's late, but will you come somewhere with me?" He asked.
She nodded wordlessly. He gave her hand a small tug and motioned her in the direction of his car.
The drive was peaceful. They exchanged very few words. Both were content to just enjoy each other's company. Neither of them wanted this night to end. Harm reached over to take Mac's hand as he drove. She turned her head and gazed admiringly at him. He smiled in acknowledgement, but kept his eyes on the road.
The street lights flew by as they made their way into the heart of Washington D.C. Mac had no idea where they were going, nor did she care. She was with the man she loved. That was all that mattered anymore.
After what felt like a very short amount of time, they pulled into a parking lot and Harm shut off the engine. Mac realized that she hadn't been paying much attention to where they were going. Between that and the darkness, she didn't immediately recognize where they were.
Harm got out of the car and walked around to open the door for her. Taking his offered hand, she stepped out of the car.
"Let's take a walk," he said, taking advantage of their close proximity to brush his lips against her cheek.
She shivered just a little at his touch. After nine years, his mere presence still made her weak in the knees. She loved it. Whatever this magic was, she hoped it never faded.
As they found the path, Harm took her by the hand and pulled her close to him. Moving out from under the canopy of a large tree, the sky opened up around them and suddenly Mac realized where they were. She drew an awed breath as they came face to face with the Washington Monument, illuminated, piercing the night sky. She listened closely and could hear water lapping at a shore somewhere nearby. She smiled widely. The Tidal Basin. It was one of the most beautiful spots in the District; definitely a favorite of hers, although she didn't often find time to visit.
A little further along the path, Mac noticed that the trees up ahead looked strange and almost ethereal. The leaves were delicate and appeared to almost be glowing in the dim light. She wondered if she was seeing things.
As they drew nearer, a gentle breeze brushed by them and the ghostly trees shuddered, fluttering their gossamer wings. Some of the leaves blew toward them and landed gently on Mac's arm. It was then that she realized they weren't leaves at all. They were petals. Realization washed over her. They were approaching the grove of cherry trees that surrounded the Tidal Basin and the trees were covered in their famous spring blossoms.
They entered the canopy of delicate pink flowers and a wave of sweetness washed over them. It was like entering an enchanted forest in some wonderful children's fairytale. Mac inhaled deeply, marveling at the sweetness that surrounded her. It was no longer night in this other-worldly cocoon. The clumps of fragrant blossoms absorbed the light from the street lamps and amplified it, casting a pinkish-white glow over the earth beneath them.
Mac felt the urge to throw her hands out and spin around and around like she did as a child. Would Harm think her ridiculous if she gave in to such a childish impulse? He'd probably find it rather amusing, but she couldn't help it. The magic of this place was inspiring her to let go of inhibition. It was like some wonderful ambrosia; inexplicably intoxicating.
"Harm," she began, wondering if he felt it too.
But before she could say anymore, she felt his powerful arms lift her off her feet and spin her around as though he'd read her thoughts. Joyous laughter spilled out of her as she linked her arms around his neck.
Before she could catch her breath, Harm's lips were on hers. He kissed her with a passion she'd never experienced before in her life. The falling cherry blossoms caressed her bare shoulders as Harm drew her closer, enfolding her in his strong arms. Lacing her fingers around the back of his neck and into his hair, she kissed him furiously, pressing her body against his. She could feel him draw a sharp breath as she did so, his arms tightening greedily around her. His body radiated heat and she could feel his heart pounding in his chest.
Harm broke the kiss and stared at her, eyelids heavy, breath shaky. She smiled seductively at him, her head spinning.
"Don't look at me like that," he laughed, "or I'll lose my mind and forget what I came here to do."
Her cheeks flushed crimson and she dropped her gaze to his chest.
"God, you look beautiful, Mac," he added, not able to help himself.
"What do you mean 'what you came here to do'?" She whispered softly.
Smiling, he took both of her hands in his and led her over to a wooden bench underneath one of the glowing street lamps. He gestured for her to sit down and she did, expecting him to join her. To her surprise, Harm did not take the seat next to her. He just stood there in front of her, a funny little smile on his face.
She looked at him suspiciously. His eyes twinkled back at her. Just as she was about to protest and demand that he tell her what was going on, Harm dropped to his knee in front of her. Mac froze.
Gathering her hands into his once again, he caressed the soft skin on the back of her hands with his thumbs. Mac could feel the electricity in the atmosphere building. Anticipation hung heavy in the air. She stared at him expectantly.
"Mac," Harm began.
"Yes?" She breathed.
There was a pause and the silence of the night sang in her ears.
"There's something I've been meaning to do," he said and she felt as though she might jump out of her skin.
"Tonight at my apartment, things happened kind of quickly."
Mac felt her body stiffen at his words.
"I wouldn't change a second of it," he reassured her quickly, squeezing her hands. "But there is something I've been wanting to give you."
Mac watched in breathless silence as Harm reached into his pocket and fumbled nervously for something. Pulling his hand out of his pocket, he reached forward. Resting between his thumb and forefinger, a bright stone caught the lamplight and twinkled.
"Sarah, you're the girl of my dreams," he said, holding the ring out in front of her like it was a star he'd just pulled from the heavens.
"I didn't know it was possible to love someone as much as I love you."
She smiled back at him speechless.
"Will you marry me?"
Mac's eyes welled with tears and she clasped her hand over her mouth. She stared at Harm in disbelief. His eyes met hers, full of love and unwavering. Dropping her hand from her lips, she looked at him with conviction.
"Yes," she said calmly. "A thousand times, yes."
Harm's face lit with a radiant smile and leaning forward, he kissed her hands. Mac sniffed as the tears continued to roll down her cheeks. Harm looked up at her, then rising to his feet, he pulled her with him, wrapping her in his strong embrace. Holding tight to her, he fumbled for her left hand and finding it, held it close to his heart. Taking the ring, which was still clutched in his fingers, he smiled boyishly and slid it delicately onto her finger. Mac's small body shook as tears of joy flooded from her. Moved by the moment, Harm pulled her to him and kissed her furiously. Tears covered both of their faces as he kissed her over and over, the salt taste lingering on his lips.
Taking a breath, he stared at her, her eyes red with emotion, her lips swollen from kissing him and he knew he would remember this moment forever.
"I wanted to give you a real proposal," he explained. "Make it official. Every girl deserves to be swept off her feet."
Mac chuckled, voice still shaky. "Well you certainly did just that, Harmon Rabb."
As she regained her composure, Mac's eyes turned inquisitive.
"When on Earth did you have time to get this?" She asked, staring at the ring now encircling her finger.
"Well," he said sheepishly. "I've kind of had my eye on it for a while."
She stared at him curiously.
"About a month ago, I sort of wandered into Tiffany's," he confessed. "You know, like all guys do on their lunch break," he said, poking fun at himself.
Mac laughed, an amazed expression on her face, then waited for him to elaborate.
"I'd had visions of babies and families and the two of us running through my head, monopolizing my thoughts for weeks. Then suddenly, as if by a force of nature, I found myself standing in front of the display window at Tiffany's. Not exactly my usual stomping grounds, so I knew it had to be some sort of sign."
"I went in that first day and looked around, but I got nervous and left after only a few minutes. But then, a week later, I found myself right back on that same sidewalk, staring up at that gleaming gold sign. So I took a deep breath, walked in and actually found my way to the engagement rings. Once I actually started looking at the selection, my eyes instantly fell on that."
He pointed to the ring that now resided on her finger.
"I started talking to one of the sales people and he told me that the ring was part of a special designer gallery exhibit. It was specially designed by the artist for the exhibit and was absolutely one of a kind. After that, I was mesmerized. I had to have it. We began talking and I told him all about you. Then, the next day, I actually brought Bud and Sturgis back with me to take a look at it. Surprisingly, they were both more than happy, if not a little excited to make the trip with me. I showed them the ring, of which they both enthusiastically approved and then, almost in chorus, they both asked me what the hell had taken me so long."
Mac smiled in amusement.
"I bought the ring that very day, but I had to agree to leave it at the store for two weeks until the gallery exhibit was over. In the mean time, they would size it for me and have it ready when the two weeks were up."
Harm shook his head remembering the progression of events.
"Then of course, the day they called me to tell me I could pick it up was the same day the Admiral made the announcement that you were going to San Diego and I to London. It really threw me for a loop. I had no idea what to do. Here I had this designer ring that I had bought, but now you and I were moving to opposite ends of the globe. I felt a bit foolish."
Mac touched his face, overwhelmed by what she was hearing. She'd had no idea all that he'd gone through in the weeks leading up to this moment.
"I thought that if San Diego was what you wanted, then who was I to stop you? And me presenting you with this ridiculous ring only hours after our new orders had come through was just going to confuse and upset you. So, torn by indecision, I left the ring there at the store, not sure what to do next."
Harm's eyes softened a bit.
"Then of course, you showed up at my apartment tonight, looking exquisitely sexy and wanting to discuss 'us.' If I seemed nervous, it's because I was," he laughed.
"I was still under the impression that you wanted us to go our separate ways, so I held back. But then you looked at me with that mischievous twinkle in your eye, challenging me to make my move, to prove that I wanted you."
Mac reenacted the look she had given him only hours ago, the one that had sparked everything. Harm pinched her arm playfully.
"Yeah, that's the one," he laughed.
"So I jumped. For the first time in my life, I said exactly what was on my mind. I threw caution to the wind and told you exactly how I felt. It was fantastic. And once I started, it was like the gates were opened and I couldn't stop."
"I like you when you're like that," Mac said sincerely.
"Well, it felt great," Harm admitted.
"So how exactly did you find time between when I left your apartment and when I met you at the pub to go pick up that ring?"
"I called in a favor," Harm blushed.
"The second you left my apartment, I made an emergency call to Sturgis. I told him what happened and begged him to go to Tiffany's and pick up the ring for me while I organized our little gathering at the pub. Good friend that he is, he raced out there and got it for me right before the store closed. He made the handoff while everyone was busy celebrating and he knew you were too occupied to notice. He's good. You gotta give him that."
"No wonder he didn't look particularly surprised when we made the announcement tonight. I thought he was just playing it cool, but he knew."
Mac shook her head.
"I'll have to remember to thank him for helping make this evening perfect."
"It is perfect, isn't it?" Harm said, staring up at the cherry blossoms.
Releasing Mac from his embrace, he took a step back and held out his hand to her.
"Let's keep walking," he said. "I want to absorb as much of this perfect night as I can. It might be a while before we get a chance to see this place again. I want to make sure it's locked in my memory."
"After tonight, I don't think I could ever forget this place," Mac smiled, taking his hand.
He pulled her close and together they walked hand in hand, on through the trees, admiring the grandeur of nature coupled with the splendor of works created by human hands. As they disappeared into the night, the rustling trees waved their farewell as the Jefferson Memorial spilled its light across the water, a beacon guiding them on their way.