Disclaimer: not mine
A thousand kisses, congratulatory hugs, and photos later, Harm and Mac slipped into the back of the limo to make their way to the reception. Knowing they weren't expected at Langford's for another hour, Harm directed the driver to the White House. When he caught Mac's confused look he smiled.
"Pulled a few strings and organised for the photographer to meet us there to get some shots of us in The Rose Garden. Thought it might be nice to revisit the place this all began," he said, pulling her closer and kissing her.
"Aww, you're such a romantic," she replied, kissing him back.
"Only with you," he said, caressing her face. "Thank you for today, I can't believe we're actually married."
"I know," she replied. "It seemed it was never going to happen and then all of a sudden here we are, husband and wife." She lifted her hand and showed him the ring he had slid onto her finger an hour earlier.
"Husband and wife," Harm echoed."Mr and Mrs..." he began but stopped. They'd discussed lots of things in the planning of their wedding, however, the choice of names for the marriage had missed the agenda.
"Mr and Mrs what?" Mac asked, slipping her fingers into his hair.
"Um...we never discussed it, did we?" he asked with a grimace, silently kicking himself for bringing the topic up. It had been the most wonderful few hours, he didn't want to mar their brand new marriage with their first argument.
"We didn't," Mac acknowledge, inwardly smiling at her husband's discomfort.
"Um...so...are we going to be Mr and Mrs or are you...um..." Once again Harm's articulation difficulties appeared. "I mean, either way is fine ... it's your choice, of course it's your choice..."
"Well, husband," she said, taking pity on him. "For all employment purposes I will be Sarah MacKenzie," she declared. "However, any and every off duty moment I will be Sarah Rabb."
Mac watched as Harm's face cracked into a broad grin.
"Are you sure?" he questioned. "I would love you to take my name but I know how independent you are and how hard you've worked to get where you are today."
"I'm sure," she replied. "Besides," she cooed, leaning forward before flipping the locket around her neck. "What would I do with this?"
"Introducing Sarah Rabb," Harm read and his eyes filled with tears. "This is Grams. Her dad gave it to her on her wedding day."
"It was Grams," Mac corrected gently. "It's now mine and I wear it proudly...very proudly. I love you very much and I'm more than happy for the world to know me as Mrs Rabb."
"God, I love you," Harm gushed before kissing her deeply.
With security heightened at their destination, they were only allowed 15 minutes in the garden but it was long enough for them to share an incredibly special and intimate moment and have the photographer capture it. Their minds were flooded with memories of that fateful day, some 14 years previous, and it was only at the guard's urging they departed.
By the time the limo pulled up at Langford's, Mac and Harm were horizontal on the back seat, neither considering oxygen as important as their passionate make out session. A quick glance through the rear view mirror and the driver decided to raise the privacy shield and let them be.
"I guess we should go inside," Mac said almost ten minutes later as she sat up and tried to straighten her dress.
Harm grinned at her swollen lips and glazed expression; she was absolutely beautiful and he couldn't resist kissing her a whole lot more.
Eventually, it was Frank's banging on the window which ended things.
"I'm so hungry," Mac said, as Harm helped her out of the limo. "I couldn't eat lunch and...This isn't The Rose!"
"No," Harm said, wrapping his arms around her waist. "There was a problem with The Rose – sprinkler system activated and the place is waterlogged."
"Oh no," she said, looking back at the building. "All the things we'd organised...the flowers ... decorations ..." Her eyes welled with tears. "The cake!"
"I have it all under control, gorgeous," he said, kissing her cheek. "I promise you, you will love it."
With Frank holding the door opened for them, Harm took Mac's arm and led them through the establishment to the beer garden. As she spied the immaculately decorated area, her eyes filled with tears once more.
"It's beautiful," she gasped as Harm kissed her head. "How?"
"I did it," he replied, wrapping his arm around her shoulders. "Well, I did it with some help..." He gestured towards the cake currently housed in a glass refrigeration case. "And we did that too."
"My god!" she exclaimed, "What sort of cake is that?"
"Chocolate on chocolate on chocolate," he replied proudly. "I know it's not what we picked but..."
"I love it," she said, turning into him. "I love the cake, the decorations, the fact you took care of everything and most of all, I love you." She kissed him soundly once more.
As they moved further into the beer garden, Varese hit play on the portable CD player she had brought with her and began to sing Etta James' classic 'At Last'. Mac smiled broadly as Harm took her in his arms, while this wasn't the song they'd chosen to dance to it certainly had the right title when describing this day and their formal union.
The food was delicious, the company was great and the evening delightful. When it came time for the first official dance, Varese stood to sing once more. This time it was Laura Brannigan's Power of Love and it was so powerful that even the diners in the restaurant came to stand and watch the performance of both the songstress and the loving couple. It was clear, even to them, that they were witnessing something special.
There were a few more dances before the wedding cake was produced and Mac's mouth watered. Smiling broadly, she had to acknowledge just how far her life had come. In front of her was the most gorgeous man who just happened to be her husband, loving family and friends, respected colleagues and now chocolate... could a girl want anything more?
"Aunty Mac," AJ called. "You have to cut it!" he said, drawing her out of her dreaming.
"Sorry," she said with a smile before moving into the table with Harm behind her.
Wrapping himself around his wife, Harm picked up the knife before settling his hand over hers and guiding it into the last minute concoction he'd made.
"Did you make a wish?" he whispered as he kissed her cheek.
"No need," she replied. "I finally have everything I've ever wanted..."
The evening faded away into the night and before Harm and Mac knew it, it was time to head off to the Ritz-Carlton deluxe honeymoon suite for the evening. Farewelling their guests was very moving, each one of them having played a role in getting them where they were tonight. It was when it came to his parents things were different.
"Go have a wonderful life with your wife, son," Frank said, hugging Harm and patting his back.
"Thank you for everything, dad," he replied. "I know I haven't been the easiest..."
"That's all in the past, Harm," he interjected. "Now it's all about the future..."
Meanwhile, Mac was being smothered in an embrace by Trish.
"I am so happy I finally and officially have the daughter I always wanted," she said, brushing Mac's hair from her face. "And I'm ecstatic that it is you."
"I'm happy it's me too," Mac replied tearfully. "Thank you for everything you have done for me..."
"It's been an absolute pleasure, Sarah," Trish said, wiping her daughter-in-law's tears away before she dried her own.
"I really do appreciate it ..." she started, willing herself to keep it together. "Mom." Trish's fresh tears were enough for Mac to lose it completely and she soon found herself being comforted by her new 'mom'.
It was General Cresswell taping Harm on the shoulder, then indicating the scene playing out behind him, which drew his attention to the crying pair.
"Hey," he said, padding over to the pair and wrapping an arm around each. "This is supposed to be a happy occasion."
"I am happy," Mac said, looking up at him with tears still trickling down her cheeks. "I was just saying goodbye to mom," she added, hoping he'd get it as she didn't think she was in any state to articulate it.
He got it. Not much Mac said got past him. Kissing Mac's head, Harm pulled her closer before leaning over and kissing his mother's cheek.
"Thank you for everything, mom," he said, rubbing her back.
"You're welcome, son," she replied, wrapping her arm around his waist. "Now, don't forget we're meeting you for lunch at the hotel tomorrow before we head home."
"I haven't forgotten," he said. "Now, before this gets too emotional for everyone, I think Mac and I might go."
"Good idea," said Trish, squeezing Mac's hand.
An hour later, Mac was wrapped in Harm's arms as they swayed to the soft music in their hotel suite. Physically and emotionally exhausted, she was slumped against him, enjoying their closeness and the serenity of the room.
"Do you want to take a spa?" Harm asked, kissing her forehead.
"Nope," she said, linking her hands around his neck. "Don't want to do anything but this."
"Really?" he asked, stopping their dancing.
Mac bit down on her bottom lip and nodded. "I always wanted to spend an intimate night dancing with my husband."
Smiling, Harm took Mac's hand before twirling her around and pulling her against him once more. A night dancing with his wife, yes, HIS wife – his beautiful, gorgeous wife... his wife who was still dressed in her stunning wedding gown, sounded like a plan...there would be time for everything else later.
Later came in the early hours of the morning, long after Mac had discarded her dancing shoes, preferring to dance barefoot with her similarly clad husband. When fatigue had taken the pep out of their dance steps, Harm and Mac finally sunk into the huge spa bath. The flickering candles and the jasmine and gardenia scent heightened the romantic atmosphere as Harm leant back into the bubbles and Mac sat between his legs and rested against him, his arms snaking around her waist while she craned her head towards him to kiss him.
"Perfect," Mac mumbled, edging around a bit more to make the kiss a bit easier.
"Tis, isn't it?" Harm said, kissing her back. "It's been the most amazing day."
"And night," Mac added caressing his face. "Love you so much."
"Love you too, gorgeous," he replied as she turned and rested on him once more.
Although they were surrounded by silence, it was the most special sound Mac could think of – just Harm, herself and the sound of their love.
When the water had cooled to an uncomfortable level, Harm had Mac lean forward as he climbed out before helping his wife out. Wrapping a plush white towel around her, Harm took another towel and tenderly dried her, grinning when she reciprocated.
Blowing out the candles, Mac took a step towards the door before Harm swept her off her feet and carried her to the bed. Placing her, almost reverently, in the middle of the bed, Harm kissed her feet before slowly and lovingly making his way up her body to her lips. Finding the undivided attention of her husband almost too much to take, Mac stopped him from exploring her body further by linking her hands around his neck and drawing him to her.
"Harm," she said with a soft, gentle lilt.
"Yes," he replied in the same tone as he rested his weight on his arms.
"You know I love you very much," she started with an almost embarrassed smile.
"I do," he replied, leaning down and kissing her nose.
"Well, I think that while this foreplay is nice..." she said, her voice taking on a sultry tone.
"You want to get on with other things?" he said with a smirk.
"I know we've made love before but this will be our first time as husband and wife," she continued.
"And we've waited long enough," he replied, kissing her cheek.
"Well, it has been 7,468,019 minutes since I met you and maybe 6,245,325 since I first dreamt of you being my husband, so I think I've waited long enough to make it a reality," she said, flipping him over in a move she had learnt in basic training.
Dropping down, Mac kissed him thoroughly and Harm's head spun.
"Incredible," he managed when she pulled back slightly.
"Glad you noticed?" she sassed, repositioning herself to get things underway.
"Now we're married, are you going to tell me how you do that time thing?" he asked, anchoring his hands on her six.
"Maybe one day," she replied, "A girl has to have some secrets."
Those were the last words uttered in full and grammatically correct sentences for the night by either of them. The ability to speak articulately disappearing as they repeatedly connected in the most intimate of ways and finally consummated their marriage in the manner both had been dreaming of for eternity.