Disclaimer: Not mine

Even though it had been late October when Mac had declared her love for Harm, they didn't consummated that love until Thanksgiving. True to his word, Harm, despite every urge his body had ever experienced, didn't want to make their relationship about sex. That was what he said in hospital the day of the fires and it still held true. If he wanted a life time of love and making love with Mac then he could wait. With all other relationships he'd fallen into bed too easily and too quickly, sometimes sex had been the only basis of a relationship, and it wasn't going to happen this time.

Mac wasn't as patient and while Harm seemed content to move slowly through their courtship, she decided things needed to be stepped up a bit. After a few suggestions on her behalf didn't seem to be heeded, Mac figured she'd go with something a little more direct. Harm had promised to pick Mac up by noon for their Thanksgiving dinner at the Roberts'. Not sure why he needed to pick her up four hours before he had intended to, Harm knocked on her door right on midday.

When Mac opened the door and let him in, he was surprised to find the apartment in near darkness except for the glow of candles scattered around.
"Mac?" he asked, closing the door behind him. "What's going on?"
"Come with me," she said, taking his hand and leading him to the seldom used dining table.

The table was beautifully decorated with a rich burgundy table cloth, two gold candlestick holders adorned with long burgundy candles which had been lit. The table had been set for an intimate meal for two, the pure white crockery in stark contrast to the tablecloth.
"Sit," she encouraged, pulling out a chair for him at the top of the table.
"Aren't we going to the Roberts'?" he questioned, sitting down as she requested.
"We are," Mac replied, "but that's for dinner." She picked up a white napkin and opened it before setting it on his lap.
"So, what's this?" he asked, taking her hand.
"Brunch," she said, kissing his hand. "It's nothing too heavy so won't spoil your appetite for later."

Soon, Mac brought in Eggs Benedict with salmon and rocket and placed it in front of Harm.
"Don't look so concerned," she said, kissing his temple. "I promise it's good."

After a first reluctant taste, Harm devoured the meal, more than happy to declare it one of the best things he'd eaten in a long time. Mac smiled as she ate her own meal, waiting for Harm to ask 'the' question. When he said nothing, Mac looked at him.
"Before you ask, yes, I did make it myself," she said with a proud smile.
"It was wonderful," he said, wiping his mouth. "Where did you learn to cook like that?" Mac's culinary skills had often been the butt of many jokes – mostly her own.
"I've...um...I've been taking some classes," she admitted shyly.
"Really?" he asked, dropping his napkin onto the table. "It's certainly paid off."
"Thank you," she said as she finished her meal.
"What inspired you to take cooking classes?" he asked as he drank his juice.
"You," she said simply before flashing him a smile. "You always seem so natural in the kitchen and it's something I wanted to enjoy with you."
"I could have taught you," he said, ducking his head to keep eye contact with her.
"I know," she replied. "But in one of my sessions with McCool she suggested I spend time on non work related activities...to take up a hobby or learn a new skill...I figured this one was something we could both enjoy."
"It is," he said with a nod. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"Thought you'd laugh at me," she admitted honestly. "And I wanted it to be a surprise."
"Well, I probably would have," he acknowledged. "And it definitely was a surprise."
"Good," she said with a satisfied smile. "Are you ready for the next course?"
"The next course? How many courses are there?" he questioned.
"Three in all," she said, her nerves starting to build.

While technically correct, only one of those courses involved food, the other was purely her.
"Bring it on," he said with a grin and before long Mac had placed a tall crystal parfait glass in front of them both.
"What is it?" Harm asked, surveying the fruity delight in front of him.
"Fresh fruit salad with honey vanilla yoghurt," she replied, watching as he picked up his spoon. "Made it myself," she added.
"Mmmmm," he said, one spoonful in. "Amazing."
Mac smiled; hopefully that would be his reaction to the next offering too.

When the fruit salad had disappeared, Mac stood and cleared away the glasses and spoons. Standing by the sink, she drew in some deep breaths; she wanted this more than anything but a sudden bout of nerves as to what Harm's reaction might be saw doubt rise.
"What's the third..." Harm started before taking in her concerned appearance. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," she said quickly with a shake of her head.
"Maaac, you want to try again?" he said, crossing the kitchen to her. "Is there a problem with the third course? Because if there is, it's okay." Scanning the benches he tried to figure out what the next course was, there was nothing there.
"No, no, nothing like that," she said, wiping her hands on the cloth beside her.
"Then..." he drawled, placing his arms on her shoulders and leaning in, "what else have you got for me?"
"Me," she said with quiet confidence.
"You?" he questioned, catching her gaze.
"Aha," she said with a nod. "Third course...if you want it...is me."

Pressing up on tiptoes, Mac placed a gentle kiss on his lips, pulling back only slightly when Harm didn't seem to reciprocate. Her retraction spurred Harm into action and he quickly wrapped her in his arms and deepened the kiss to impossible levels. When air became a necessity, they broke apart before Harm rested his forehead on hers.
"All meals should end so well," he said, quickly kissing her nose.
"The meal's not over," she said, taking his hand back out to the living room. Blowing out the table candles, Mac continued to lead Harm towards her bedroom. Stopping in the doorway, Mac paused and figured she's d lay it on the line. "I am thankful for you...so very thankful," she said softly. "I am thankful for your love...your understanding...your care...your incredible patience ... your commitment to this relationship..."
"I am thankful to you for all those things too," he echoed before tenderly kissing her.
"And now..." she said, pulling back. "I want to show you how much I love you...that's if..."

Not allowing her to finish her thought, lest she believed he wasn't as interested in this course as he was the previous two, Harm kissed her soundly as Mac backed them into her room. Slipping of his jacket, Mac made quick work of unbuttoning his shirt and jeans before pulling back and allowing him to toe off his shoes and step out of his jeans. As he did, Mac pulled off her sweater and stepped out of her shoes and jeans.

While her fantasies, on occasion, had Harm throwing her down on the bed in a heated rush of lust and desire, Mac took the opportunity to divest herself of underwear before sliding between the crisp blue sheets she had put on that morning. Curiously, she watched as Harm slid into the other side, still with his boxers on.
"What?" he asked when he caught her expression.
"What's with the boxers?" she asked, reaching under the covers and tugging on the fabric.
"I thought we were taking things slowly," he said. "Anyway, you're one to talk – you're still in your underwear."
"No, I'm not," she said, shuffling closer to him.
"Yeah," he protested before picking up the covers and realising she was telling the truth. "How did I miss that?"

Having been so preoccupied undressing himself and trying not to let Mac see his hands shake too much, he had missed her unveiling – something he vowed not to do ever again.

Deftly, he divested himself of the boxers and tossed them behind him onto the floor somewhere.
"Now, I'm ready," he said with a cheeky grin.
"Now you're ready," Mac said almost simultaneously.

As Mac had instigated this early afternoon tryst, Harm was happy to let her take the lead; after all, he was just thankful that she'd pushed things ahead. He'd been desperate for this encounter for a long time and he knew if he let his mind runaway with what was actually happening, things may come to a quicker than desired end.

Paying attention to the woman who was sharing his bed, Harm felt the soft kisses trailing from his mouth, down his neck and across his collarbone. There were soft, supple hands caressing his body as they went and the entanglement of legs deeper under the covers. With his own hands roaming freely before finding a suitable anchorage point, Harm started his own exploration of Mac's body.

It was of little surprise to either of them that their most intimate connections were fully in sync. Breathless moans and groans filled her bedroom as magic ensued and the realisation of a decade of missed opportunities and unresolved sexual tension was resolved in an extremely satisfactorily manner.

Even though it was her idea, as she fell back onto the mattress in a haze of orgasmic bliss after their second intense and fulfilling coupling, Mac had to admit theirs was the most magical and sensational encounter ever known to man...or woman, and she didn't care that she was biased.
"That was incredible," she said when she caught her breath. "I want to do it again."
"Didn't we just do it again?" Harm asked slumping onto what now would be his side.
"Yeah," Mac said, looking up at the ceiling as she caught her breath. "But I want to make sure it isn't an anomaly."
"What's an anomaly?" Harm asked, rolling to his side and facing her.
"You being incredibly good second time around," she said with a chuckle as she rolled towards him.
"Oh, I think you'll find I get better each and every time," he boasted before leaning forward and stealing a kiss.
"Exactly what a girl wants to hear," Mac said, rolling herself onto him and proving that third time is a definite charm.

Late to the Roberts' residence, both were starving by the time they entered the house.
"Sorry, we're late," Mac said as Bud took her jacket.
"It's okay, Aunty Mac," AJ said. "We always expect you to be late when you're with Uncle Harm."
"Hey, it wasn't all my fault," Harm said in his defence as AJ took his jacket.
"What was Aunty Mac doing to make you late?" Jimmy asked and Mac looked at Ham before raising an eyebrow.
"You want to field that one, Harm?" Mac asked with a smirk and Harm shook his head.
"Alright, it was me," he conceded. No-one in this particular house needed to know what Mac was doing to him to cause their tardiness...but it was well worth the delay.

After dinner, Mac was snuggled up on the sofa with Nikki who had taken a tumble and given herself more of a fright than any real injury. Caressing the child's head, Mac watched the animated face of the five year old as she tried to tell her godmother about the Thanksgiving Pageant the night before at school. Watching the pair from the doorway for a while, Harm padded across and Mac edged over so he could sit beside her.

Before long the child had drifted off to sleep after protesting she wasn't at all tired, despite her bedtime having been and gone.
"She's beautiful," Harm whispered as she caressed the child's head. "So are you," he added before kissing Mac's temple. "Love you."
"Love you too," she replied before stealing another kiss.

AJ stood stock still in the doorway. This was huge! Bigger than huge it was ginormous! Backing into the kitchen, he inadvertently bumped into his mother.
"Whatever are you doing?" she asked the 13 year old.
"Ssh," he said, peering back into the living room.
"What?" Harriet asked in hushed tones as she looked into the room with him.
"Uncle Harm just kissed Aunty Mac," he whispered loudly. "And, he said 'love you' and then she said "I love you too."
"AJ, haven't we told you not to spy on people?" she questioned, her eyes still fixed on her children's god parents.
"I wasn't spying," he said defensively. "I went to go in and they were all cosy and kissy."

With a broad grin she was trying to hide, Harriet made enough noise to alert the cosy kissy couple that they were about to be interrupted.
"I see you've worked your magic, Mac. Nikki doesn't normally fall asleep so quickly," Harriet said, scooping up her daughter. "I'll just take her to bed. AJ, it's your bedtime too; say goodnight."

Hugs and kisses were exchanged before AJ trailed his mother up the stairs to be met by his father who had just tucked in his brothers.
"Don't go down yet," AJ said as Bud went to pass them.
"Why not?" asked Bud, turning back to them.
"Aunty Mac and Uncle Harm are all lovey and kissy down there," he said with an air of distaste. "You don't want to see that."
Bud shook his head; no, no, he didn't.

Taking his daughter from his wife's arms, Bud went about the task of putting her to bed while Harriet saw to AJ – not that he needed help, she was just buying time before going downstairs.

Meanwhile, the Roberts' sofa had never felt as comfortable as Mac manoeuvred herself around to be facing Harm; thus allowing her to keep one eye on him and one eye on the staircase. Through conversations over recent months, Mac had disclosed to Harriet that she and Harm were working on things. This news had delighted Harriet but this development in the relationship was very new and she wanted to keep it to themselves, for a little bit anyway.

Harm had no such thoughts. Actually, he had no thoughts on any matter except his love for the woman in his arms. Engaged in a rather passionate kiss, Mac's focus drifted and before she knew it Harriet and Bud were standing at the bottom of the stairs looking at them.
"Oops," she said as she turned to look at them, their lips still connected. "Sprung."
"Definitely sprung," said Harriet moving over to them.

There were a million questions Harriet thought she'd want to ask when her friends finally got together but, as she looked at their faces, there was only one important one. "Are you happy?"
"Very," they answered in unison.