Disclaimer: not mine
The beginning of June indicated three things – the start of the sixth month of the year, two weeks to go until Harm and Mac moved into their Georgetown House and three weeks until the minister would declare them husband and wife.
Physically, Mac was fully recovered from the ectopic pregnancy and while she still had some down times and a few bad dreams, well, good ones which turn bad upon waking and facing the reality, she was doing quite well emotionally too. Harm had continued to work with Dr Robbins and now his heart didn't want to lurch out of his chest every time Mac moaned or groaned in her sleep.
They had resumed their sexual relationship after the six week mark but now Harm used condoms. It wasn't that they didn't want to get pregnant; they did, just not yet. With two life changing events happening in the coming month, Mac couldn't handle the fear associated with what could happen the next time she fell pregnant; thus, this time, she figured she could postpone the fear until a more suitable time.
Both apartments had been packed; they had sold Harm's and they were going to rent Mac's out – the demand higher in her area than his. The wedding details were finalised and both had taken a six weeks of leave, starting two days before the move and ending a few days after the first anniversary of the Hemingway Mountain inferno.
The night before moving day, Harm settled into Mac's bed for what would be the last time. From the there on in it would be their bed, and he was more than ready for it. Lying back with his arms folded behind his head, Harm waited for Mac to emerge from the bathroom, she seemed to be spending longer than necessary but he was being patient. When the door finally opened he couldn't miss the tear stains on her face and instantly he was out of bed.
"What's wrong?" he asked, taking a step towards her.
"Nothing, nothing," she said, waving him off. "It's all good."
"Mac, you've been in the bathroom for 25 minutes and you've been crying," he informed her, "So you'll understand if I don't quite believe you."
"It was nineteen minutes and if you get back into bed with me I'll tell you about the tears," she said, rounding the bed and climbing in.
"Well?" he questioned when he was laying beside her once more.
"I love you," she said, trying to reassure him.
"Love you too," he replied, caressing her face. "Now, tell me."
"I was in the bathroom and got to thinking about everything that has happened to me since I moved into this apartment ... all the good and bad..." she said, blinking back fresh tears.
"I understand," he said. "I did the same when I packed the last things in the loft. Are you happy about the move though?"
"Ecstatic," she replied, kissing him briefly. "This is what I had always hoped for but never truly believed was going to happen for me...for us..."
"I always believed," Harm said, shifting closer to her.
"Really?" Mac asked quirking an eyebrow. "After everything, how could you be so sure?"
"Because I just couldn't fathom what my life would be like if it didn't happen," he admitted, tears filling his blue eyes. "You, my gorgeous Sarah MacKenzie, are my destiny, and while it has taken us much longer to get to this point than I ever anticipated, I am overjoyed that we have finally gotten here."
When Mac rolled on top of him their conversation was clearly finished as they began expressing their mutual thoughts and desires in highly charged physical encounters.
"Wake up, wake up," Mac said insistently, patting his face.
"Few more minutes," he groaned into the darkness of the bedroom.
"No, now, wake up," she said, tugging on his arm.
"What's wrong?" he asked, opening one eye and catching the time on the clock; 5:21.
"It's moving day," she said bouncing on the bed. "It's moving day."
Harm laughed. The look on Mac's face was akin to that of a 5 year old on Christmas morning.
"The sun's not even up yet, gorgeous," he said, tugging her back to him. "Can't we sleep a little longer?" Mac pouted and Harm had his response. "Okay, let's get going."
Up, showered, dressed and ready to roll, Harm opened the door to go collect breakfast and was surprised to find his parents in the hallway.
"What on earth?" he said before hugging them both.
"It's moving day," Frank said, "We flew in last night and are here to help."
"Where's Sarah?" Trish asked before looking over Harm's shoulder and spying her soon to be daughter-in-law. "Sarah, sweetheart, how are you?" she gushed moving past Harm to embrace the younger woman.
"I think mom's more excited to see Mac than me," Harm groused good naturedly to Frank.
"I think you're right," he agreed. "Feeling left out?"
Looking at the joyful expression on his fiancée's face, Harm shook his head. "Definitely not."
Harm and Frank went to get breakfast from a nearby deli as Trish and Mac stripped off the bed.
"Is this bed coming or staying?" Trish asked as she put the linen into the hamper.
"Staying," Mac replied from the bathroom. "We have Harm's bed for the guest room and we get more rent on this place if it's furnished."
"Okay," she nodded. "So, what's next?"
Mac looked around. The bathroom was empty, the bedroom was devoid of all personal items and the closets were empty.
"I think these two rooms are ready to clean," she said, "But we can leave that til last."
Moving to the living room, Trish started to pack the last of the items from the bookshelf. As she picked up the final book a photograph fell out and fluttered to the floor. Bending down, Trish scooped up the photo and looked at it. It took her a moment to realise the two very gypsy looking people were Harm and Mac.
Placing the book in the box, Trish headed to the kitchen with the photo in hand.
"Sarah, when was this taken?" she asked, "Were you at a costume party?"
It only took a glance to recognise the picture.
"Um...no," she said. "It was taken when we were in Russia..."
"When you found out Harmon's fate?" Trish asked and Mac nodded.
"We were in danger and some gypsies helped us," Mac said. "Someone took the photo and sold it to us. I didn't want to pay the hundred dollars they were asking but felt it was safer in my hands than theirs. Harm doesn't know I have it."
"Why not?" Trish asked, staring at the photo.
"At the time, I didn't have the chance and then when we learnt about his dad I wasn't sure he'd want a reminder," Mac said with a wistful smile. She would have given anything for the result of that trip to have been different.
"Harm and I never really talked much about that trip," Trish said, leaning against the counter. "I found it all a bit hard."
"So did he," Mac said quietly as the men returned.
Trish nodded; perhaps on her next visit she'd talk to her boy about the man they had both loved.
A couple of hours later, the last of Mac's things were packed into the three cars and the apartment spotlessly cleaned. While there was still a bookcase and dresser she was taking with her, Harm and Frank would collect them when he picked up his belongings in a truck they were hiring.
"Ready to go?" Harm asked once his parents had headed downstairs and Mac was still standing in the middle of her living room.
"Yeah," she said with a sigh. She was, more than ready, more than happy. She was just finding actually leaving a little harder than she thought. True, she was very excited about the new house, the wedding the following weekend, the way her life was going. However, this apartment had been her refuge, the place she could run to, hide in, and held a whole lot of memories – good and bad.
"It's not like we'll never be back," Harm said gently. "You'll get to see it when the new tenants are here."
"Won't be home..." she said quietly.
"No, but you'll have your home with me in Georgetown," he reminded her, wrapping his arms around her from behind. "That's what you want, isn't it?" he checked, now quite concerned about her thinking.
"Oh, definitely," she said, turning in his arms and linking her arms around his neck. "I can't wait to start this next phase of our lives together." She pushed up on her toes and kissed him. "I guess I was letting the emotion of it all overwhelm me a little."
"Anything I can do for you?" he asked, leaning down and kissing her nose.
"Take me home," she said before kissing him soundly.
Driving up the driveway of her new Georgetown home, Mac grinned; this was really happening. The beautiful house in front of her was hers, well, theirs, and would be their home, their marital home. She laughed at the thought. This time next week, she and Harm would be getting ready for their wedding, their WEDDING! Shaking her head she couldn't believe it; when did things start going so right?
"If you sit here all day we won't get everything moved in," Harm said through her open car window as he opened the door for her.
Mac turned around to see Harm's car behind hers, Frank's hire car behind that and the Roberts' car pulling up at the kerb.
"Sorry," she said sheepishly before climbing out.
"Now, come with me," he said taking her hand and walking to the front door. "I'd like you to do the honours," he said handing her the key.
"I love you very much, Harm," Mac said, quickly kissing him as they stood at the door to their home.
"I love you too, gorgeous," he replied. "And I promise you I am going to try my best to make this the best home you've ever had."
"Wouldn't be hard,' Mac thought to herself but not wanting to spoil the day with the past, she just smiled. "And I'm going to do the same."
Inserting the key, Mac turned it and the door opened revealing a large empty room, one they would very soon make their own.
Before Mac could take a step, Harm scooped her off her feet and cradled her in his arms.
"What are you doing?" she asked, gripping his shirt.
"Carrying you over the threshold," he replied, taking a few steps into the house.
"Aren't you supposed to do that when we're married?" she asked.
Harm nodded. "And I will...but this is the start of our new life together, our marital home, the place we will raise our family, so I thought it was only fitting to do it today." Leaning down he captured her lips in his and it was only Frank's coughing a few minutes later that made him realise they should actually get back to the mundane things – like moving in.
Dinner, that first night, was Chinese and as Harm pulled out the boxes from the plastic bags the delivery boy had just left, frank poured the drinks and Trish put out the plates. The Roberts hadn't stayed for dinner so the only one they were waiting for was Mac. When she hadn't appeared a few minutes later, Harm went to find her and eventually did the bedroom by the master bedroom.
Wrapping her in his arms from behind, Harm leant down and kissed her neck. Saying nothing, he pulled her closer before kissing her once more.
"I'm being silly," she said with a sniff, using her hand to wipe away her tears.
"No, you're not," he replied, kissing her head. "It's allowed to get to you."
"What is?" she asked, not sure if they were thinking the same thing.
"You're looking at this room thinking it would be a perfect nursery and thinking that, in other circumstances, we would be using it for that by year's end." He tenderly rubbed her abdomen.
"Aha," Mac replied, tears choking her.
Spinning her in his arms, Harm held her close and kissed her numerous times.
"It will happen for us, gorgeous, I promise you," he whispered, tilting her head up.
Mac nodded. "I'm sorry for this...it's our first day here and I'm spoiling it with all of this."
"You're not spoiling anything, Mac," he replied, kissing her briefly. "You are being you...and I love every bit of you...this time next week we will be husband and wife, for better or worse, in good times and in bad, and we will be there for each other and get through these type of days with each other."
"Love you," she said pressing a kiss to his lips.
"Love you," he replied. "Now," he added, wiping the tears from her face, "Come and eat and then when mom and Frank go, you can have a bubble bath, then I'll get out your favourite massage oil and ease all the physical aches from today and then..."
"We can christen the bedroom?" she asked pulling him closer.
"We can christen the bedroom," he echoed. "And the bathroom...living room...kitchen..."
"I like your thinking," Mac said with a small laugh as she led Harm down to the dining room.
Sunday through Wednesday, Harm, Mac, his parents and sometimes Harriet, spent time setting up the new MacKenzie – Rabb house. By Wednesday afternoon the house looked and felt like home, and while there were other things that would need doing, they weren't urgent. Deciding enough was enough, Harm declared an end to the moving process over dinner that night and then told Mac, his mother and Harriet that he had arranged for them to have a day at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel luxury spa. When there was a slight murmur of protest, Harm just shrugged and said it was a thank you for all their hard work and a way to start the wedding festivities, nobody objected.
Frank played chauffeur and dropped the ladies off for their 9:00 am start while Harm ran a couple of his own errands. An hour later, Frank and Harm met up at the Rock Creek Golf Course and had a leisurely day playing eighteen holes, having lunch and friendly conversation. Over a beer at the nineteenth hole, Frank decided to impart some fatherly advice.
"I've been thinking of about what I should say to you on the occasion of your wedding," Frank began before clearing his throat nervously. "And, I came up with ten things and I'd like to share them with you."
"I'd appreciate that, Frank," Harm said, putting down his glass. While Harm had resisted a relationship with him when he was younger, he had relished it in recent months.
"Before I start let me say, you are a very fortunate man. Your mom and I have thought for a number of years that Sarah was the one for you. I'm so glad you both came to see that too. I believe you were truly meant for each other... Well, here goes...
One, make sure you say I love you everyday...whether it's in person, on the phone or in a note. Little gifts or flowers don't go astray either.
Two, make sure you find the time once a week to go on a date. It keeps alive the romance when life seems to overwhelm everything else.
Three, truly listen to each other...not only the words but the meaning.
Four, never go to bed angry. Forgive and move on, let it go. Admit it when you're wrong, and I know that's something you find hard.
Five, be patient with each other. You have both been through a lot in life; some days will be easier than others. Just remember how far you've come in the past year and what it was that got you there.
Six, careers are important but they are not the only thing. They may put money in the bank but they don't keep you warm at night.
Seven, advice my father gave me, the key to a happy marriage is two words – yes dear!
Eight, is another one from my father, in an argument let Sarah have the last word. Anything you add after that will be the start of a new argument – and believe me, after twenty seven years married to your mother, that extra word is just not worth it.
Nine, you will face a million challenges during your marriage, some will seem insurmountable, they're not, not if you remember to love each other above all else.
And ten, anytime you need me, for advice, help or just to vent as a husband done wrong, call me... day or night...understand?"
Harm nodded before reaching across the table and shaking Frank's hand. With tears filling his eyes, he looked at his step-father and squeezed his hand. "Thanks, Frank, I appreciate it."
"Always remember that I love you very much," Frank said tearfully.
"I love you too, dad."