Disclaimer: not mine
The ability of the newlyweds to arise in time to shower and dress for lunch with Harm's parents was compromised by circumstances. It wasn't the overnight activities which had them fatigued; it was neither wanting to get up and effectively end their wedding night. Eventually, around 1245 and after three morning encounters, Mac conceded that their time was up as Frank and Trish were expected at 1300 and, as they were on a schedule due to their return flight to La Jolla that afternoon, they couldn't afford to be kept waiting.
Still, best intentions don't always come to fruition, especially when the opportunity arises to shower with your new spouse, and it was 1334 before Harm pulled out Mac's chair in the hotel restaurant after they'd greeted his parents.
"Sorry, we're late," Harm said, taking his place beside Mac.
"That's okay," replied Trish. "We had planned on a 1:30 lunch."
"I thought it was one o'clock," he said, his hand slipping into Mac's.
"That's what we told you," Frank said with a laugh. "Thought you might be running a bit late."
Harm grinned; 'running a bit late' that had been the story of his life and there had always been a reason. However, being in bed with his wife on the day after their marriage was the best reason he had ever had.
Lunch was filled with laughs, lots of food and loving glances. Before they knew it, it was time for Trish and Frank to head off to the airport and Mac and Harm to checkout. While they were all a little emotional, it was tempered by the thought that the newlyweds would be in La Jolla in seventeen days before heading up to Hemingway Mountain for the first anniversary of the fires.
"Thank you both for everything," Harm said, hugging his mother then father.
"No need to thank us," Trish said. "It's been a joy and an honour to be part of this wonderful occasion," she added, kissing her son and new daughter.
Mac hugged Trish tightly and whispered, "Thank you, mom."
It was all that was required to start Trish's tears. Wanting to avoid further tears, Frank wrapped up the goodbyes and helped his wife into their car before Harm and Mac headed upstairs to collect their belongings and check out.
Just after four, Harm pulled into their driveway and turned off the car. Climbing out, he rounded the vehicle and opened his wife's door. With Mac's hand in one of his and the bags in the other, Harm had Mac open the front door for them and then with one deft move, Mac was cradled in her husband's arms as he stepped over the threshold.
"Welcome home, my beautiful wife," he said, leaning down to kiss her.
"Welcome home, my beautiful husband," she replied, linking her arms around his neck.
One step into the house and Harm twirled around several times, spinning Mac with him as he went.
"Whoa, sailor!" she said when things got a little dizzy.
Slowly, Harm allowed his wife to find her feet but only for a moment before he kissed her soundly and her head spun once more. When Mac tried to deepen the kiss, Harm pulled back.
"As much as I'd love to take this further, we have an hour to be at the airport," he said, referencing their flight to Bermuda where their two week honeymoon would take place.
Fourteen sun and sand filled days and romantic and sensual nights with the two of them in a secluded villa away from the rest of the world. It was a vacation they were both looking forward to with great anticipation.
Mac looked at him and paused in thought; there was something nagging at her and she wondered if she should acknowledge it or just ignore it.
"What's up?" he asked before she could decide on her tactic.
"Fourteen days in paradise sounds wonderful, doesn't it?" she said and Harm nodded, not too sure where she was taking this. "Ten days would be just as great, don't you think?"
"Ten days would still be good, why? Did you have something else in mind?" he asked, rocking gently with her.
"Our itinerary for the next few weeks is full," she explained, still locked in his arms. "We fly out tonight for fourteen days, come back here for two days before heading to La Jolla for a couple of days, Hemingway Mountain for a few days then back here and straight back to work."
"It is very full," Harm agreed nodding. "So, what would you like to change?"
"We fly out tonight, have ten days in Bermuda, have a week back here and then to California," she said. "I just really want to spend some quality time with my new husband in our new home...does that sound okay or does it sound stupid?" she asked, tilting her head.
"I think it sounds wonderful," Harm said, kissing her nose. "I'd love to spend a week with my new wife in our new home."
"Really?" she asked, a smile spreading across her face.
"Really," he confirmed, kissing her once more.
The flight to Bermuda was uneventful with Mac sleeping for most of it, the cab ride to their resort was quiet and their moonlit stroll at midnight down to the ocean was in near silence. Standing on the cool white sand, Harm wrapped his arms around his wife from behind and kissed her head.
"You okay?" he questioned, kissing her head once more.
"Aha," she replied, watching the white streaks of the moon's reflection dance across the gentle waves.
"You've been very quiet,' he observed, holding her a little closer when she shivered in the cool night air.
"I think everything's just caught up with me and I'm feeling really tired," she replied, leaning her head back on him.
"Well, let me get you into bed," he said, turning them around and heading back to the villa.
"Your version of bed or sleeping bed?" she said with a chuckle.
"For tonight's purpose, I think sleeping bed," he replied, wrapping an arm around her waist as she leant her head on his shoulder.
"Sounds good," Mac said, slipping her arm around him and snuggling in.
On their first night Mac fell asleep quickly and slept soundly. Harm was awake by 0800 and lay with her for a while before getting up for the bathroom and to organise breakfast. It was nearing noon before Mac finally stirred and checked the bedside clock twice to ensure her internal clock was right.
"Morning, gorgeous," Harm said as he watched her pad out to the hammock he was swinging on.
"Morning," she replied with a yawn before crawling into the mesh sling with him.
"How are you feeling this morning?" he questioned, holding her tightly and kissing her head.
"A bit on the blah side to tell you the truth," she admitted, rubbing her hand on his chest. "Sorry," she added. "Not really the fun-filled companion you had in mind."
"Don't apologise," he said, kissing her head. "This is nice too."
An afternoon of lazing in the heat in the hammock followed and while Harm ate lunch, Mac played with her food. When Harm started to make plans for dinner Mac wasn't all that interested. Both knew there was something amiss; fatigue was one thing, a marine forgoing food was something else all together.
"Do you need me to go to the hotel pharmacy and get you something?" Harm asked, his fingers running up and down her arm.
"Nah, I'm alright, I think," she replied with a sigh. "I'm sure I'll be better tomorrow," she said, taking his hand in hers and squeezing it.
"You sure, gorgeous?" he questioned while trying to do some maths.
While Mac's period was highly irregular it had been better since the surgery subsequent to the ectopic pregnancy. By his calculations it wasn't due at this time but that didn't mean it wouldn't come early. Then it struck him that for a few days prior to the ectopic pregnancy Mac had been feeling off. Initially, they had put it down to the flu; her bloodcurdling scream in the early hours of the morning had put an end to that thought. Knowing they had had protected sex between the surgery and wedding day, Harm discounted the idea of her being pregnant. Maybe, he conceded, that it was only a physical response to everything that had happened, not only in the past week with the move and the wedding, and the celebrating thereof, but also everything that had happened in the past year or years. He knew that he was feeling all kinds of new and weird emotions having finally married the woman he was always supposed to be with but almost lost on occasions too numerous to count.
"I'm sure," she replied before drifting off to sleep once more.
The following morning, Harm awoke to an empty bed and noises coming from the small kitchen. Wandering out, clad only in his pale blue striped boxers, he stopped by the door to watch his wife prepare breakfast. On the bench, Mac seemed to have the entire contents of the cupboards and the fridge and Harm was a little confused as to what she was trying to prepare.
"Morning, Mac," he said, entering the kitchen and kissing her. "You look a little brighter today."
"I feel a bit brighter," she said with a smile. "And I'm hungry."
"Always a good sign," he replied, scanning the bench. "What are we trying to do here?"
"I was going for Eggs Benedict, I know you like it," she said as his hand wandered around her back. "But I couldn't find everything I needed. So, I thought pancakes might be good with a fresh fruit compote but..."
"Didn't have the things," he concluded for her and she nodded.
"That's right," she said nodding. "So, so far all we have is a mess."
"How about scrambled eggs on whole-wheat toast and a fruit platter?" he suggested, and Mac nodded. That's what she'd decided on just as he interrupted.
Before long, both were sitting at the small table on the porch enjoying their morning fare. There was already considerable heat in the day, the sky was cloudless and the perfect shade of blue to match Harm's eyes.
"What?" he questioned, catching her gazing at him.
Thinking it too corny to mention the sky and his eyes, Mac just smiled. "I love you."
"I love you too, gorgeous," he said before sipping his orange juice. "What would you like to do today?" he asked, wanting her to set the pace she was comfortable with.
"Maybe we can check out that local gallery your mom was talking about and have lunch in town," she said, wiping her mouth with the napkin. "And then this afternoon maybe just some sand and sea ...and um...tonight...sex..." she said quite shyly.
"Sounds like a good plan to me," he said happy there was nothing too arduous in her schedule of events earlier in the day, hoping it meant she'd have energy for the night's plans.
As planned, the morning was spent at Dockyard which was a decommissioned British Naval Base. There was an artworks place, clayworks and glassworks, shops, restaurants all of a native nature but in a place which had a very homey feel.
As they headed to lunch at the Bone Fish Bar & Grill, Harm's hands were full of bags from the various stops they'd made.
"Do you think your mom will really like the picture we picked for her?" Mac asked, looking at the postcard sized image of the tropical island sunset they had shipped to La Jolla.
"She will love it," Harm reassured her for the third time. "She loves sunsets, she loves the tropics and she loves you – what's not to love about it?" Mac smiled but wasn't too sure why she felt she needed Harm's reassurances, but glad he was giving it anyway.
Choosing the seafood platter for two with extra fries, Mac sat back in her chair and stared out at the North Atlantic Ocean as Harm ordered their meal and two glasses of lemon iced tea. Once the waitress had left, Harm turned to face his wife to find her engrossed with the view. Then, studying her face, he realised that maybe it wasn't being mesmerised as much as being tired. Standing and rounding the table, Harm slid into the chair beside her and wrapped an arm around her, drawing her into him.
"Beautiful view," he said, kissing her head.
"It is," she agreed, resting her head on his shoulder. "Just perfect."
"Has this morning been too much for you?" he asked, going for the direct line of questioning.
"A little," she admitted. "But I'm sure a bit of lunch and a rest here will do me the world of good."
"What exactly are you feeling?" he asked. "Just tired or flu-y or part of your cycle..."
"All of the above," she said as she entwined her fingers with his. "Maybe I just need a good dose of Vitamin D."
Harm kissed her head and hoped that the afternoon's time spend on the beach would give her all the Vitamin D she needed to bring her back to herself.
The beach closest to their villa was fairly secluded with a few other people visible but a fair distance away.
"This looks like the perfect spot," Mac said, shaking out her towel and laying it on the sand.
"Looks good," he agreed, putting down the cooler before doing the same with his towel.
"Want to start with a swim?" she asked, taking off her sandals and allowing the white sand to run between her toes.
"Sounds good," he replied, following suit.
Mac stripped off her shorts and shirt to reveal a stunning black bikini that Harm had never seen before. Instantly, he was glad there was no one else around him, his physical response becoming more and more obvious.
Grinning when she saw the effect she'd had on him, Mac sauntered towards the water. Like a little puppy, Harm went to follow before he realised he was still dressed. With his eyes never leaving his wife's form, he stripped off and jogged across the sand to catch up with her, linking his fingers with hers when he did.
Swimming was a loose term for their afternoon water activities. While there was lots of splashing and movement there wasn't a swimming stroke to be seen. Pulling his wife to him, Harm kissed her tenderly as she wound her legs around him and kissed him back. Deepening the kiss, Mac wanted to take it a whole lot further but Harm seemed a little reluctant.
"Perfect place to make love," she said, unwinding her legs and pulling off her bikini bottoms.
"Here?" he asked, scanning the beach for other people.
"Yep, here," she said, placing her fingers inside the band of his swimming trunks and easing them down. "You're not too shy, are you?"
"No," he replied defensively. "Just don't want you overdoing things."
"Then you'll have to do all the work, won't you?" she sassed, holding onto the discarded clothing with one hand and wrapping the other one around his neck as he lifted her up and began to celebrate their love.
AN: One chapter to go.