This part came about because I get weird catalogs in the mail. I have a small collection of fantasy knives and swords and I guess, because of that, I get this magazine about period weapons, clothing and jewelry. Some of it is really really really really nice. Expensive, but nice! So I was going through it and it gave me the idea to have them go to some costume ball.

I tried to be as descriptive as possible but it's not my forte. Hope you like :)

Jackie

Thanks to: e-dog, Macaroon, BeachChick, Dessler, dansingwolf, Maria, blueangel, Vrbinka, BiteBeccy, SarahRabb, my.evian, anna, Jaggie107, snugglebug, Manda, Lisa, cbw, Xblue, froggy, aserene, crazybum, VrbinkaCZE, sally, trooper, starryeyes, Martini, NavyBabe, jaggurl, Nix, joanoa, jagdreamer, Kinga, JAGChic, Jagfan 724, littlemaccyd, ninjaturtle, blueangel, Kinga, JK, zoomie, myevian, CathyF, CBW, jagdreamer, joanoa, alix33, arian, Lurkz, LiseGirardi, Beach chickJASSNL, Tracy, Lisa, roz, Peggy, Elizabeth Ayers, Disaster Child, trooper, LtCmdrFlygirl, Roz, Peggy, KJFlygirl, Roxie, ltcolonelnijgagrl, hellen, Jill, Kyizi, Broesel, and mizukimar for the feedback :)

PART 18 - Fairytales, Swords and Truths

I have no idea if it's the costume, or maybe it's Harm being secretive and cryptic about some aspects of tonight, but I feel like I am walking on air. This whole thing is really opening up my fancy for a fairytale life, though, I read that nothing about living in castles and being a fair maiden was all that fairytail-ish. They were hard times. Nevertheless, this is all charming.

Grinning, I study myself in front of the full length mirror in my bedroom. The gown is absolutely stunning. It's a dark green velvet, that hugs me in all the right places, then swoops down slightly reaching the floor. The collar is a 'V' accentuated in this gold trim that runs the length of the dress down. The center part of the gown and the arms have a slightly lighter green. The sleeves too were accentuated in gold. My neck is adorned with a necklace that came up close to my throat. It was covered in little, fake, emerald looking jewels, then came down to a final jewel that looked like a tear drop. The earrings matched the necklace, with teardrop and all.

I tried not to go too overboard with makeup, using just enough to bring out the natural glow of my skin. Pleased, I sit on the bed as I slip on the shoes which are actually from the same 'century' as the outfit. I was going to purchase a headdress as well, but decided to just curl my hair slightly. I have to admit, I look the part of a 14th century lady.

Grinning, I stand and head towards the living room, carefully sitting on the sofa as I wait for my man to arrive. Maybe it's stupid and I certainly don't know why it was happening, but I've had a flutter of butterflies in my stomach all day. Originally, I was going to head to his place, get dressed there and then we'd move on to the ball, but Harm objected and has been utterly mysterious since we went shopping for our costumes. He hasn't seen the dress, though he was trying to sneak a peak. And I haven't seen whatever it is that he was wearing. Okay, so yes, I am a sucker for all of these fairytale things, but, considering that the first twenty odd years of my life were so far from a fairytale, it's nice to dream every once in a while.

A knock on the door had me nearly jumping out of the gown. Calmly, I stand, taking a breath as I swoosh my way across the apartment. I am about to take a peak out of the peephole when I hear Harm from outside. "But soft! What light through yonder window breaks? It is the East, and Juliet is the sun! Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon, who is already sick and pale with grief that thou her maid art far more fair than she. Be not her maid, since she is envious. Her vestal livery is but sick and green, and none but fools do wear it. Cast it of. . ."

Opening the door, I find Harm at a sudden lost for words. "We're not Romeo and Juliet, we are Robin Hood and Maid Marion."

Those gorgeous eyes of him take me in slowly down then up. "Oh." He manages to get out as that flyboy smile graces his lips. "You look. . .indescribable. . stunning, gorgeous. . ." He brings his arm out from behind his back and presents me with one single, bright yellow rose. "For my lady." Bowing, he extends his hand and waits for me to take it before straightening up.

"Thank you, kind sir." Taking my own, slow look at his outfit, I find myself wanting him just a little more. How does he do that? Harm has on a dark green corduroy shirt with a leather front that has to be laced-up in order for it to close. His pants are slightly tight, brown and accented by chocolate colored, calf-high boots. On his arms are leather wrists bands and, of course, he has the belt with a sword hanging from it. The man just looks the part, cept, I don't think any of the men at the time had that military hair cut. No doubt the flyboy was a bit too self conscious to put on a wig. I lean forward and kiss him deeply, feeling the sword digging into my side. "I really hope that is just your sword, sailor."

Harm chuckles. "Yea, it's a bitch to get used to, so if I clobber you with it at any point tonight, forgive me." Taking my hand, he grins and adds, with an English accent. "Our chariot is waiting, my lady." God I can SO get used to this. Walking in, I search around for my keys, head out and lock the door.

Now, this brings up a bit of a logistical problem. What the hell do I do with my keys. I cram my neck slightly, trying to look down to my cleavage. "Okay, where the hell do you put keys with this outfit?"

"Oh, you can put them there, I can help you get them out later." Ah, that whole chivalrous guy went right out the window. Instead, he is leaning against the frame of the door with a grin of mischief. When I glare at him, Harm straightens up whacking the sword against the wall. "Ouch." He takes the keys from me, turns slightly to the side and places them in this pouch attached to the sword belt. "There we go, all set."

Stepping outside, I don't find a chariot, instead a sleek, black limousine. "You didn't have to do this, Harm."

"I wanted to." He leads me to the limo, allows me to get in first and then takes his time to get in. The sword's getting in the way again. I giggle slightly as he adjusts it then settles in with a huff. "Not one word Mac."

Not wanting my fairytale night to start on a bad note I stuff all of the words that I had for him and just lay my head on his shoulder with a happy sigh. Course, I get poked with the handle of the sword then look up at Harm. "I wasn't going to say anything, but. . .is that a sword in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?" Thankfully, he finds it amusing.

We arrive at the ball and immediately head over to Bud, Harriet, Sturgis and Varese who all seem surprised that we've come in together. Neither Harm nor I have managed to let that little detail that we've been dating slip out. Though, if we get into the groove of things, I doubt we'd be able to hide it any longer.

"Commander, Colonel." Bud greets us, and we exchange pleasantries with the gang. "You two look great!" He's wearing a red, long-sleeved cotton shirt, with gloves that come up to the wrists, calf-high boots with black pants and, of course the sword. Harriet has a gown, not too different from mine, but in the same red as Bud's outfit.

Sturgis has on a green tunic with black pants and that traditional hat with the feather hanging out of it. Varesese has on a very dramatic gown which is completely gold color with white accents, she looks beautiful. Actually, the three of us ladies look awesome, if I do say so myself. "I was going to wear a sword, but I couldn't stand it." Sturgis noticed Harm was fidgeting with his. Oh, yea, this night is going to get amusing. Instead, he opted for those short dagger, sword looking things, which he pats with a grin.

Harm, Bud and Sturgis were going to dress up as the three Musketeers and I imagine us three girls would have dressed like maidens. When we went costume shopping, the boys were trying on the outfits, complete with rapiers and the leather hat. All three looking dashing and debonair, but that came to a complete, slam on the breaks, stop. Several of the JAG crew had gone to the same shop and, while the guys were all Musketeered, Vukovic chose that moment to head in himself.

'You know? There were actually four Musketeers.' He interjects, grinning at me and then at the boys who were staring back at his audacity. 'I could be the forth.' His smile widens even more and I swear, he just doesn't get it. We've tried to consort with him, I've tried the friendly approach, but there is something very off putting about a JUNIOR OFFICER ogling a senior one. I have to admit, yes, it was flattering and I should have run him up on charges on zillions of occasions, but I see myself and Harm in him. Though, I don't think that neither me nor Harm have been this stupid. Granted, we've made mistakes but, just how DID he get through OCS? Food stamps?

Ah, as if on queue, Lt. Sleaze makes his way over to us. Oh no. Oh dear God, no. His date is non-other than Barbie, the countess of bimboville, the same woman who interrupted out first date. Harm and I stare at each other in disbelief. "Sirs, Ma'am." Vic goes for the pleasant approach and I notice he deliberately keeps his eyes off of me when Harm's around. Whatta wuss! "This is my date, Barbie Angelique Mardossa." He says the name as if she were royalty or something. Well, she is royal – a royal pain in the ass.

Barbie grins up at Harm in a way that could only be described as indecent. "Harmy!" Oh dear God, her voice, I swear is like someone running their fingers down a blackboard. Harm's good tough, I'll give him that. He manages to side step a hug or any other physical contact using that sword of his to whack her. I bite back a chuckle, biting my lower lip slightly. "I forgot your name." She says to me. "Sandra wasn't it?"

I plaster on my best 'I'm having the time of my life' smile and take her had, shaking with a bit too much enthusiasm. "Sarah. . . MacKenzie."

Vic seems surprised. "You three know each other?" Knowing Vic he's probably bringing up some tawdry scenario of just how well the three of us know each other. Eww! I'd rather be hanged.

Harm tries to answer, softening in the blow, but Barbie gives her own rendition. "Oh they were on a date together, he stood me up for her." You know, it's funny how one person could make such words sound nasty. I swear, it sounded as if Harm and I were having an illicit affair. "Apparently it's quite serious."

There is a collective silence among our small group. Harriet looks as if she is about to squeal, Bud and Sturgis have their mouths open, apparently trying to catch flies and Varesese, well the poor girl has no idea what is going on. Knowing the jig is up, Harm takes my hand in his, turns to our friends and smiles. "Mac and I have been together for a few months now. . .and it is getting serious. . . I love her." Wow. Wow. . .Did I say Wow? I never asked him to do that, to tell people that he loved me, I just wanted to hear the words to heal my own insecurities. But having him say that, in front of our close friends, with such conviction. . .sigh, I am on a high.

As I thought, Harriet does squeal, Varesese seems happy as a clam and Bud and Sturgis, well, they haven't recovered. Neither has Vic who, I think had a feeling we'd be broken up by now. I receive a hug from both Harriet and Varesese and the boys, once they are out of their catatonic state, give Harm a 'way to go' type of pat on the back.

"So, I guess you two told the rest of the crew." Turning around I find our CO with an amused grin plastered on his face and his loving wife on his arm. "I knew you'd come around to the Marines, Commander." He shakes Harm's hand then quickly gets a stern look. "Just keep it out of the office, am I clear?"

"Aye aye, sir." Both Harm and I call out, then he takes me into his arms and kisses me softly which elicits a few cat calls, ooooh's and aaaaah's from our friends.

Vic just seems perturbed and utterly disgusted with the whole thing. Did he actually think that he was going to get the girl, meaning me, this time? I don't think it would have happened in any lifetime and especially in this one because I have been taken, for a very long time, it just ok Harm a few years to figure it out. "Want to dance, Robin?" I move out of Harm's embrace, careful of his sword and reach out a hand to him.

"Sure, let's show these guys how it's done." He lets me lead him towards the ballroom floor and we fall into perfect unison. "So, no hiding around anymore."

Harm nods. "Was fun though. . .But, I guess it will be nice to actually go out with our friends and not worry about the glances we give each other." He pulls me closer and we are dancing like lovers not working partners. "I love you, Mac. . .With all my heart."

I lay my head on his chest and sigh happily until something hard pokes me. "I love you too, Harm. . .Now will you move your damned sword out of the way?"

TO BE CONTINUED. . . .