disclaimer: not mine

It was in the closet of the spare room that Trish hung Mac's dress, making sure it was clear of other items and would be perfectly safe.
"I still can't believe you bought it for me," Mac said shaking her head. "It so wasn't necessary."
"I know it wasn't," Trish said, closing the door. "But you wanted me there as a mom and I wanted to do it for my daughter."
"Thank you," Mac said tearfully; so glad she was getting a mom in all of this...ecstatic it was this particular mom.
"You don't need to keep thanking me, Sarah," she said, embracing her. "Now, I think a nap is in order, it's been a very big day."
"I'm not all that tired," Mac said, still riding the wedding dress high.
"You might not be, dear, but I am," Trish said with a laugh. "I'm not as young as I used to be."

Squaring his things away for the day as early as he could, Harm was in the door a little before five, just after Frank had come in.
"Ssh," Frank whispered, pointing to Trish asleep on the sofa as he ushered Harm in. "Mac's asleep in bed."
"How is she?" Harm asked, dropping his briefcase and cover by the dresser.
"I don't know, I've just got in myself," he replied. "Why don't you go see?"

Making his way into the bedroom, Harm found Mac still asleep. Stripping off his uniform, Harm picked up his sweats from the chair.
"Prefer you stripped," Mac said as she rolled over to watch him.
"Prefer you stripped too," he replied, tossing the sweats on the end of the bed before crawling in alongside Mac. "Hello, gorgeous," he said before brushing his lips against hers.
"Hello, yourself," Mac replied, kissing him back.
"How was your day?" he asked as she snuggled into him, resting her head on his chest.
"Good," she replied. "Took your mom to Langford's for lunch..."
"Let me guess, you had the roast pork," he interjected.
Mac laughed. "How did you guess? Anyway, we had a lovely lunch and then did a bit of shopping..."
"Shopping?" he questioned, kissing her head. "Buy me something nice?"
"Nope," Mac replied. "Bought me something nice," she said grinning. "Actually, your mom bought it for me."
"That was good of her, what did she buy you?" Harm asked, closing his eyes and relishing in the warmth of Mac in his arms.
"My wedding dress," Mac said and Harm's eyes popped open.
"She bought you your wedding dress?" he questioned and Mac nodded. "Was it the one you wanted because my mom can go over the top at times and ..."
"It was definitely the dress I wanted," Mac said quickly, rolling over to caress his face. "I wanted your mom's opinion on it and when I was dressing again, she saw the associate and paid for it."
"Wow," said Harm. "I told you she loved you like a daughter already."
"I know you did," she replied, settling against him once more. "Is it okay if I love her like a mom?"
"Definitely," he answered with a smile. "You can even call her mom, if you like."

Mac smiled to herself; that would be nice...to have someone to call mom, someone who loved her and wanted the best for her...and she would call Trish mom one day, when it felt right.

By Sunday, Trish and Frank had left for home, promising to drop everything and come back to DC if either Mac or Harm needed it. Mac had her follow up appointment with Commander Reed scheduled for the following Tuesday and Harm had made arrangements to be there. She would follow up that appointment with one with Dr McCool and had asked Harm to attend that one with her too. All being well, she'd be back at work Wednesday which suited her just fine as it would allow her to ease herself into it rather than being hit with a full week and a lot of catch up.

Commander Reed asked a lot of questions, removed the stitches and declared Mac fit to resume work if she was still wanting to once she'd finished her appointment with Dr McCool. An understanding man, he was well aware that the physical impact of surgeries, such as Mac's, were often of less consequence to the patient's wellbeing than was the psychological impact. Rarely did he allow a woman to return to work without them taking up some sort of counselling option.

The visit with Dr McCool was also a fairly positive one. It was the first time since the surgery that Harm truly believed Mac was doing as well as she had promised him she was. While she was tearful at times when talking about the loss they had experienced, she also related that it had strengthened her resolve to become a mother and to look at their options sooner rather than later. It had also allowed her to open up to others, namely Harriet and Trish and gain a sense of support she hadn't experienced in her adult life.

For Harm's part, he admitted that he didn't think he was doing as well with it all as Mac was; that while he shared Mac's vision of looking into options and ensuring they meet their destiny as parents, he was still struggling with the trauma of the day. It took a few practised questions from Dr McCool to get to the real problem. It wasn't the loss of the baby which had traumatised him, it was his belief, even if for a split second, that Mac had bled out and was dead or dying in his bed.

At that disclosure, Mac's tears fell and she stood up from her chair and went to Harm. "Do you know how much I love you?" she whispered as she held him to her. "And how very sorry I am I gave you such a fright?" Harm nodded against her breast. "And while I can't foresee the future, I promise to try and never scare you like that again."

An early dinner and an early night saw Harm and Mac curled up in bed chatting about the events of the day, the wedding, her return to work, and the possibility of them getting away for a weekend or two in the coming month just to concentrate on them and their recovery.

By midday Friday, Mac was at her desk feeling the effects of two and a half days work and no afternoon naps. Yawning for the third time in two minutes, Mac tried to focus on her computer to no avail. Her mind, and eyes, drifted to the bullpen and then in the direction of Harm's office. She hadn't seen him all day and was missing him a bit more than usual.
"A penny for your thoughts?" Sturgis asked, poking his head in.
"Hey, Sturgis," Mac said with a smile. "Don't think they're worth that much. Come on in."
Sturgis sat across from Mac and smiled. "How are you doing? You're looking a little tired."
"I'm doing okay," she replied. "I can't believe sitting here for a couple of hours can exhaust me but it does," she admitted before her eyes drifted towards Harm's office once more.
"When's he due back?" Sturgis asked knowing full well where Mac's attention was.
"Later tonight," she answered with a sigh.

Harm had only been absent sixteen hours having been sent to Andrews the night before to investigate an assault on a major. The major was insisting it was a corporal he had reprimanded earlier that day, however, the corporal in question had a great alibi; he was doing extra PT with the instructor as punishment for turning up late.
"Have you got much to do here?" he asked, gesturing towards her desk.
"No," she replied. "Not really."
"Then why don't you call it a day and go home," he suggested.
"I got a ride in with Bud," she said, her car playing up on her that morning.
"Well, I have a meeting soon and it's out past your way, I could drop you off," he offered, getting to his feet.

Mac thanked him for his concern but decided she could tough out another few hours and Sturgis went on his way. Not five minutes later the General appeared at her door.
"All caught up," he said startling her. Mac jumped to her feet as he tried to wave off the gesture.
"Nearly, sir," Mac replied standing to attention.
"Sit, sit," he replied, pointing to her chair.
"Is there anything that can't wait until Monday?" he asked and Mac shook her head. "Then I give you permission to secure early."
"Did Sturgis come and see you, sir?" she asked as the General turned to leave.
"Yes," General Cresswell replied honestly. "But my wife has been through something similar to you a couple of times and two weeks of leave doesn't mean you are fully fit when you return to work. Six weeks later she was still grabbing an afternoon nap when she could."

Mac smiled gratefully. She hated feeling weak. She hated feeling like she was letting down the Marine Corps by napping during the day time. However, for once in her life, she loved the fact she didn't have to hide her feelings or her needs behind a false bravado.

Ten minutes later, Sturgis pulled his car out of the car park and turned east.
"Thanks once again for those flowers you sent last week," Mac said, "They are beautiful."
"You're welcome but I can't take credit for it, Varese organised them. I'm just sorry we couldn't get to see you and Harm," he apologised.
"Well, you were on the Patrick Henry for ten days and Varese is in New York," she replied. "Not exactly easy to pay visits in those circumstances."
"Still," he replied, "Flowers didn't really seem enough."

A little further into their drive, Mac steered the conversation onto Sturgis' final destination. When he told her where he was headed, Mac turned to face him. "That's nowhere near my place."
"I know," he replied. "But I figured a little white lie wouldn't hurt."

Before Mac could reply her phone rang and she answered it, it was Harm.
"Hey, Mac," he said, and she smiled at the mere sound of her name from his lips. "What are you up to?"
"Sturgis is taking me to bed," she said with a yawn before she realised how it sounded to both men. "I mean he's taking me home so I can go to bed," she amended quickly.
"Thank you for the clarification," Harm said while Sturgis laughed. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah," she answered. "Just tired."
"Well, I 'm glad you are going to bed then," he said before telling her how his day was going.
"So, when can I expect you?" she asked.
"21-2200," he answered and Mac sighed...another nine or so hours. "Sorry," he apologised when he recognised the disappointed tone of that sigh.
"Can't be helped," she replied. "Just missing you."
"Missing you too," he said and he did, desperately.

Mac had slept for a couple of hours in the afternoon and was back in bed asleep when Harm came through the door just after midnight. Moving around as quietly as he could, Harm wasn't surprised that Mac didn't stir until the bed dipped under his weight as he slid in beside her.
"Harmmmm," she half mumbled, half groaned as she repositioned herself against him.
"Love you," he whispered kissing her head. "Missed you." He kissed her once more.
"Harmmmm," she repeated with a sigh.
"I'm right here, gorgeous," he reassured her. "Right here."
"Harmmmmm..."

Harm reached back and flicked on the bedside lamp so he could see her face.
"Mac..." he said, patting her face. "Talk to me."
"You're on my arm," she groaned, pulling the squashed limb back when he lifted up a bit.
"Oh, sorry," he apologised, picking up the arm in question and kissing it. "Anything I can do to make it up to you?"
"Chocolate ice cream," she replied, sitting up in bed. "With chocolate topping and some Oreos crumbled into it."
"Would you like a blood sugar reading too or..." he started but stopped when she poked her tongue out at him. "One chocolate on chocolate on chocolate coming right up."
"Feel free to make your own," she said, watching his boxer clad six as he departed...it was almost as good as the ice cream concoction which he was going to get her.
"I'll just share yours," he called back and Mac laughed; 'Not likely' she thought to herself.

As Mac sat cross legged in the bed eating her favourite treat, Harm lay beside her rubbing her leg and eating the few spoonfuls she offered him. Years ago he had vowed that if he ever got the chance, he would indulge Mac with anything she wanted, the past nine months had reinforced that desire and if his beloved wanted to eat three pounds of chocolate in the middle of the night then he would do his best to make sure she did.
"Yummmm," she moaned as she scraped the last of the ice cream from the bowl. "Delicious."
"Can I get you anything else, gorgeous?" he asked, taking the spoon and bowl from her and kissing the remaining syrup from her lips.
"Kiss me some more," she said, laying back in the bed.
"Aye, aye, ma'am," he said, placing the bowl on the floor beside the bed and flicking off the light before returning his undivided attention to Mac.

Fifteen kisses and some gentle caresses under the covers and Mac sighed contentedly before slipping onto Harm's side of the bed with him drifting off to a very comfortable sleep.

It was midmorning before Mac stirred and she was sure it was only the aroma of bacon which caused her to drift from her slumber. Listening intently, Mac tried to discern whether she should join Harm in the kitchen or whether he was making his way to her. Two minutes later she had her answer as Harm came through the door with a tray for her.
"Breakfast is served," he announced, placing the tray on a nearby table. "Your napkin," he said, shaking out the cloth before placing it on her lap once she'd sat up. "This morning you will be dining on eggs, over easy, bacon, mushrooms and whole-wheat toast. I hope it's to your liking."
"You're amazing," she said, beckoning him closer so she could kiss him.
"I try my best," he said with a laugh as he placed the tray on her lap.
"Are you joining me?" she asked, looking up and fluttering her eyelashes at him.
"I am," he said, "I'll just go grab it."

Harm's breakfast was a lot healthier – muesli, yoghurt and fresh fruit. Mac pouted when he slipped into bed with his tray.
"What's up?" he asked.
"Healthy...unhealthy," she said, gesturing to the two trays. "How come you didn't make me the same as you?"
"Because you need your strength," he said, kissing her cheek. "And you deserve to be spoilt just a bit."
"And you don't?" she questioned, raising an eyebrow.
"I'm going to wait patiently until you are up to spoiling me and then I'll make sure I get all I deserve," he said with a grin.