A/N: Once again thank you all for the reviews and for reading and taking this journey with me. This will be my last update until about October 19, for I am off for a vacation in San Antonio. Enjoy this holiday with the Rabbs.
Hugs to Snugglebug for being the greatest. J
Before anyone knew it, it was Christmas Eve and Harm, Mac, and the children were standing at the Wall. Harm was having a bit of a hard time this holiday, and Mac wasn't sure why. Lucy had barely recovered from her cold, so she stood with her mother bundled up. DJ was in his Daddy's arms, gently touching his Grandpa's name. When Harm stepped back to join his wife and daughter he had tears in his blue eyes, "Honey?"
"Hmm?" he replied.
"You okay?" Mac asked reaching for his hand.
"Not really," he answered.
"Still want to go to Bud's?" Mac asked. "Or do you want to go home?"
"Bud's," he said. "I need some holiday cheer, not that I'm really in the mood, but I know I need it."
"Okay, Sweetheart," Mac smiled and together they walked to the SUV and drove to Bud and Harriet's.
The Robert's house was as usual full of holiday cheer and Harm's mood did improve a little bit. He even laughed when Bud in his usual holiday snafu dropped gravy all down his jacket. Still he only needed one thing that night, to be home close to his wife and Mac knew it.
Harm carried their children inside and put them in their beds while Mac set out a plate of cookies for Santa and turned off the tree lights and porch lights. She was all ready in bed when he came in, but she was waiting for him.
He climbed in to bed next to her, flopping his head forcibly into his pillow and putting his hands over his eyes.
Mac reached out and pulled it away, "Talk to your wife," she said simply.
He took a deep breath. "I miss Grams. A lot; but I know she was disappointed in me, and my Dad...hell, he'd drop kick my six from beyond the grave if he could. I screwed up so bad this year, Mac."
"But you did so many things right, as well Honey," Mac comforted. "And think, we're starting a new year now. Let's just put it behind us," she slid closer to him. "Let's start fresh. I got you a present."
"Oh yeah?" he asked, still feeling down and sad. "What is it?"
"Let me show you. It's just under the bed," Mac replied. "I'll get it."
Mac slipped out of bed and took a box out from under the bed. She handed it to him. "Open up."
Sitting up a little, he took the box from her and removed the ribbon and paper from the outside. Slipping the lid off and folding back the tissue paper, he pulled out a garnet red teddy with white lace along the upper edges. The straps were super thin, and the legs extra high cut. He looked at his wife. "You got this...for me? I mean, not for me exactly, but...Really?"
"Really," Mac replied. "If you'll just pass it over I'll go put it on."
A smile graced his face for the first time all day. "Here you go."
Mac took the garment from him and slipped into the bathroom. A few moments later she emerged, dressed in it. The red highlighted her olive skin and dark hair, while the white made her skin shine like an angel's wing. "Merry Christmas, my love," she whispered and leaned in close to him.
Harm leaned up and took her lips in a kiss. He kept the pressure light and gentle, softly moving his lips over hers. He reached out and touched her shoulders pulling her near him, the stopped, "Are you sure you can...?" he asked.
"Pretty sure," she whispered. "I want to try anyway..."
He nodded slowly. "Come onto the bed," he told her patting the spot beside him.
She did as he asked, sliding herself into place next to him.
Harm rolled over and moved himself on top of her. He kissed her again, just as gently, and ran his hands all over her body, across her shoulders, down her breasts, across her abdomen. "I love you so much," he whispered kissing each cheek. "So much."
He continued to touch her and caress her, while she allowed him access to her body, moving and stretching to give him access. He reached his fingers under the straps of her newly acquired night attire and started to move them aside, "I'm not hurting you am I?" he asked, now that his weight was on her body.
"Mmm...no," she whispered in reply, the feel of his touch making her heart skip a beat and her mind go all to pieces. "I've missed you."
"I've missed you," he replied and slipped the straps down bearing her breasts to her view. "I can't wait until you nurse another baby here, until I can see that. When can we start trying?" he asked, dipping his head to take her nipple between his teeth.
"Oh, that...mmmm..." she answered, unable to formulate a sensible reply at first. "Any...anytime we want to."
"How about now?" he asked moving his attention across her breastbone to her other nipple, only this time he licked instead of nipping.
"Oh, that feels...mmmm..." she answered once again in the process of putting together an actual answer. "You want to?"
"I do," Harm replied. "I want another little girl with Lucy's big eyes or another little boy with DJ's cute smile," he replied. "I want to try." He abandoned her breasts and kissed his way down her body until his lips were on her womb. He placed a loving kiss there, and lay his cheek upon her belly. "How do you feel right now, my love?"
"Like...like things are right with us again," she answered softly. "Like we're really going to be okay."
Harm lifted his face up and moved to take her mouth in another loving kiss, "We are. We're going to be okay Mac. I promise."
"Deep down," she said as a single tear fell from her eyes, "I...I never stopped believing that."
Harm reached out with a tender hand and brushed the tear away, "I did," he replied. "I really did. And I'm so sorry for that, for not believing in you, in us."
"I didn't make it easy for you," she said, emotion filling her voice. "I was so mean to you..."
"I deserved it," he replied. "I hurt you so badly. I betrayed your trust. I made you cry," he kissed each eyelid as he said this and settled his hips against hers.
"I made you cry, too," she whispered, her heart beating a little faster.
"Let's make a Christmas Resolution," he said caressing her cheek with his hand, his voice soft and low. "Okay?"
"Okay," she agreed with a gentle whisper.
"We won't make each other cry," he said. "We'll cry to each other, but we won't make each other cry. Not anymore."
"I'd like that very much," she replied as another tear escaped her eyes.
He kissed her tears, then her lips again as he let his hands roam all over her body, eliciting moans and whimpers of pleasure from her. He slid his hand down after a while, away from her chest and belly to check her, she was ready, oh was she ready for him. "You want me, Baby?" he asked, feeling as if he could hold back no longer.
"Yes," she answered, her breath heavy and her heart racing even more than before. "Yes...gentle though..."
"I'll be gentle, Baby," he whispered. "I won't hurt you."
Harm kissed her lips as her raised his hips over Mac's and slowly entered her body. He inched his way in, moving so slowly, as gently as he could...
"Oh, God," she said, drawing in a sharp breath.
Harm froze in place, not moving when he heard her gasp, "What?" he asked worriedly, fearing he all ready knew.
"Hurts," she gasped, feeling badly that she'd interrupted the Moment.
"Okay, I'm sorry, Baby," he whispered. "Want me to move or stay still. Just tell me what to do."
"Just...stay still for a sec," she said, focusing her mind on relaxing through the pain, hoping it would ease up.
He held himself still, not moving, barely even breathing as he watched her breath and struggle with the pain. "How you doing?" he asked tenderly. "Still hurt?"
"Mm-hmm," she nodded. "Little better though; try again, super slow..."
"You sure?" he asked. "I don't want you sick tomorrow."
"Yeah," she answered. "I'm sure. We have to get past this...go ahead, you'll know if it hurts again..."
He decided only she could know what she could or could not tolerate so he began to move again, even slower than before waiting for her signal on whether to proceed or halt.
She held her breath as he moved further into her body, feeling every centimeter, one by one. She took another deep breath, but didn't say a word. "This has to work tonight," she thought to herself. "We need this so badly, to try for our baby..."
Harm proceeded when Mac remained silent finally reaching the northern most part of her sex with his own. He pulled back quickly, then began to slowly reenter her to establish his rhythm.
"Oh God! No! Stop!" she cried the Moment he moved back into her.
He froze in place at her outcry, "What, Baby? What?" he asked. "Still or move, just tell me?"
"Move," she sobbed, gasping for breath as the pain overtook her. "Oh God, it hurts so bad!"
Quickly Harm moved out of her and to her side. He took her in his arms and cradled her rocking slowly, "Ssh. I'm sorry. I'm sorry," he apologized kissing her hair. "Just breathe through it. Do you want your pills? Pillows? What do you need?"
"I need this pain to stop ruining our lives!" she cried.
He gently began to rub her arm up and down, "Ssh. It's okay. Nothing is ruined. It's going to be okay. Just calm down," he coaxed.
She continued to cry. "I can't calm down! I...I know I can carry a baby...but...how can I do that if we can't get far enough into things to conceive one?"
"There are other ways," he told her gently. "Mac, try and answer me now. Are you crying because you hurt or because you're upset?" If she hurt he had to treat her, then he could hold and coddle.
She sobbed for a Moment before responding. "Hurt...but more upset...I wanted this to work so badly for you and I...I couldn't do it!"
"Ssh," he whispered. "Its okay, I love it. Just holding you that's enough," he assured her. "I'm going to let you go and lay you down okay, just for a minute."
"Why?" she asked in a tear-filled whisper.
"So I can get the heating pad and the pillows," he replied. "If you hurt you have to be treated Mac," he told her. "I'll be back in one minute."
"Okay," she said, reluctant to let him go, but knowing he was right.
True to his word Harm was back in a minute with three soft pillows and her heating pad. He gently put her legs up high then plugged in the pad, "Where does it hurt the worst?"
"Here," she whispered, placing her hand over her abdomen, over the very place Harm had kissed only Moments before.
"That's not the usual place," he observed placing the pad over the sore spot before gathering her close again.
"I'm sorry," she cried as she felt him snuggle in near to her.
"No," he said. "I'm sorry. I never should have tried it. Just hold onto me, the pain should pass."
"But you have nothing to be sorry for" she cried. "I wanted this; we needed this and I couldn't do it - again!"
"I wanted it too, but I want something else even more," he whispered. "You know what that is?"
She shook her head as she leaned as close to him as she was able.
"I want to see a smile on that beautiful face," he whispered and kissed her forehead. "I love what you tried to do, but...I would like it very much if you tried to stop crying."
With great concentration and a few deep breaths, Mac managed to stop crying, for the most part. She shifted herself just a little in an effort to get even closer to the man she loved. "Oh no..." she whispered as she laid her head against his shoulder.
"What?" he asked voice edged with fear. "What's wrong?"
"No..." she whispered, tears edging their way back in. "Not again...no..."
"Mac," he said firmly. "Mac talk to me. What's wrong? What's happening?"
"I'm bleeding," she whispered. "I can feel it...I'm so sorry..."
"Ssh," he whispered again. "Can I let go of you so I can see how bad it is?"
She nodded, her bottom lip quivering. "I don't wanna go to the hospital...it's Christmas Eve and the kids...Santa..."
"Maybe its not that bad," he comforted. "Let me see."
Harm slid out of bed and pulled the sheets out of the bottom of the bed. He lifted them up and manipulated her legs so he could see how bad it was. He gently eased a hand between her legs and pulled it back, finding only a tiny streak of blood. "It doesn't look too bad. How do you feel? Dizzy? Cold?" he asked.
"No," she answered. "Is...there a lot?"
"Not much at all," he replied. "Just a few spots. Do you think you could get on some panties and a pad if I get it and bring it to you?"
"Think so," she sniffed, feeling very relieved that she wasn't pouring blood like she often did.
It took a few more minutes but with Harm's help Mac managed to get her panties on so she did not leak on the bed. When he had her lying down again, he swore, "Crap!"
"Hmm?" she responded. "What?"
"We forgot to eat the cookies," he smiled. "Want some?"
"Chocolate chip?" she asked with a little smile.
"Coming up," he replied. "Mac, how's the pain? Do you need a pill while I'm up?"
"Probably be a good idea," she answered, still sniffling some.
"I'll be right back," he smiled and headed to get the cookies and the pills.
When they'd eaten Santa's cookies and left the dirty dish for Lucy to find, Harm climbed back in bed and gathered Mac to him. She was dozing off, the pills having taken effect, "I love you, Honey," he whispered against her hair.
"I love you, sweetie," she whispered in reply before falling into a solid nights slumber.
Harm and Mac's next conscious thoughts were of little hands and feet on their bodies. "Mommy! Daddy!" Lucy exclaimed. "It's Christmas!"
"It is? Really?" kidded Harm as he tossed back his covers. "How do you know?"
"Cause Santa came and brought the presents," Lucy giggled as DJ worked on poking Mac. "Daddy, why are you pajamas on the floor?"
"Oh, uh, Daddy got a little too warm last night," answered a slightly red-faced Harm, very thankful he at least had his boxers on. "Why don't you and DJ go see how many presents you have, and I'll be there in just a minute?"
Meanwhile Mac was waking up to her little boy's prodding. She had to bite back a laugh at Lucy's query. When the kids had scampered off she smiled at Harm, "Merry Christmas, Sailor."
"Merry Christmas to you, too, my love," he replied, leaning over to kiss her before his mood changed from romantic to concerned. "How's the pain? You feel okay?"
"I ache, but it's not bad," Mac replied. "You better get those jammies on; I have to change out of this thing. Someone needs to get out there before they tear open all the presents."
"Right," he agreed as he reached down for his pajama pants. "I'll go; you join us as soon as you can."
"Give me five minutes," she smiled and slid out of bed with no apparent difficultly.
Harm joined the children in the family room, finding that Lucy had already begun dividing up the packages by name; she could read plenty well enough for that at her age. DJ was busy ripping the paper off his third box - the last of which wasn't actually his - by the time Harm stopped him. Mac joined the group Moments later, and within thirty minutes there was nothing left of the gifts beneath the tree except a mountain of torn wrapping paper and empty boxes.
Harm made the family waffles, while Mac took care of the mess with DJ's help. Then she and Lucy put on matching read dresses, and did their hair in preparation for Christmas dinner with Uncle AJ. As Mac finished tying the bow in Lucy's hair she asked, "Did you get everything you wanted for Christmas this year, Lucy?"
"Uh-huh," she answered. "I did, Mommy."
"I'm glad," Mac smiled. "How about that new doll Daddy got? Did you name her yet?" Mac asked straightening the bow on Lucy's dress.
"I think," said Lucy. "That I'll call her...Susanna."
"That's pretty," Mac smiled and gave her baby a tight hug. She just released her to go play with her new toy when the door bell rang. "I bet I know who that is," Mac said. "Who is it?"
"Uncle AJ!" Lucy exclaimed and sprinted off to greet her favorite honorary uncle.
Harm got out of his recliner and looked through the peephole, forgetting that it was being blocked by the Christmas wreath. Turning the dead bolt, he slowly opened the door...
"Hi, Honey," Trish smiled when he son opened the door. "Surprise," add Frank.
"Mom? Frank?" stammered a very surprised Harm. "I didn't know you were coming! Did I? Was I supposed to meet your flight? I'm sorry..."
"No, no," said Frank. "I wanted to call but she insisted we surprise you," Frank smiled. "Can we come in?"
"Of course," said Harm, stepping back to allow them to enter.
Lucy ran from the bedroom to the living room squealing "Uncle AJ!" only for those to change to, "Nana!" when she saw Trish and ran at her grandparents.
Trish caught the five year old ball of energy and gave her a hug before passing her to Frank who did the same. Mac heard Lucy's exclamations and came out of the bedroom smiling brightly, "Mom, Frank, Merry Christmas," she greeted with a warm hug. Then to Harm, "Did you know they were coming?"
"I had no idea," he said with a smile. "But I'm glad they did. Aren't you, honey?"
Mac did her best to smile. Every phone call with Trish since Thanksgiving had been a strain, but she didn't want Harm to know that. "Of course I am. Lucy, why don't you show Nana and Pop to the Lighthouse room okay?"
"Okay, Mommy!" Lucy said and took her grandparents to the guest room.
"Harm, can I see you?" Mac asked and nodded to the kitchen.
"Yeah, okay," he said, knowing his wife was almost certainly not happy with the unannounced arrival of her in-laws on Christmas morning.
"What are we going to do?" Mac asked. "Do we have enough food?"
"I think so," he said. "They don't eat much. You're not happy about this, are you?"
"Not really," Mac sighed. "I didn't want a big deal this year. I wanted you to be able to relax some and now you can't do that. How long are they going to stay?"
Harm attempted to answer, but a coughing fit made it temporarily impossible.
Mac began to rub his back. He'd had these on and off since his bout with the flu, but some days were better than others. Colder damp days like today made it worse, "Easy, there. Do you still have that expectorant the doctor gave you?"
He nodded, his eyes watering. "In our bathroom."
"Do you want me to get it or do you just want to sit down and rest?" Mac asked him. "Do you think it's the bronchitis again?"
"I'm...okay," he coughed out. "Just a little drink and...I'll be fine."
Mac filled a glass with water and handed it to him. "I'm going to make sure I put Vicks on tonight incase though," she frowned. "Ever since the ocean."
He once again nodded as he slowly swallowed the water. "Wonder if I'll ever...shake this crap..."
"Probably not, you did some damage then with the pneumonia," Mac sighed. "I'm just glad the hip bounced."
"Me too," he whispered. "Me too."
"Why don't you go sit down, get your breath back?" Mac suggested. "I'll get some spinach dip and tortilla chips out for your Mom and Frank."
"I'm okay," he said, his voice clearly irritated from the coughing. "I'll go see what Lucy's got them doing; they've been gone awhile."
"Probably showing them all the new toys and clothes," Mac smiled. "Go sit down, I've got this."
Reluctantly, Harm took a seat in his recliner while Mac went to check on things down the hall.
Mac smiled when she found Lucy busily helping her grandparents put their things away. DJ was handing Frank his shirts, unfolding them in the process, while Lucy was putting Trish's things in the drawers. "Mac, how are you feeling?" she asked.
"I'm good," answered a less-than-excited Mac. "I trust you're both doing well?"
"We are," Trish smiled. "Was that you I heard coughing just now?"
"No," replied Mac. "It was Harm. He's fine now."
"When did he get such a terrible cough?" asked the worried mother.
"He had the flu a couple weeks ago," said Mac. "The cough just hung on for awhile."
Trish nodded, "Is he under a doctor's care?"
"He was for the flu," said Mac, growing weary of this line of questioning. "Would you folks like something to eat or drink?"
"Um, yeah some eggnog maybe if you made any?" Frank asked. "DJ, want to show Pop your new boats?" The tot had told him he got "lotta boats n stuff."
"I think we've got some out there," said Mac. "I'll go see. DJ, you make sure you pick up your boats when you're finished showing them to Pop, okay?"
DJ nodded and took Frank's hand while Lucy took Trish's. Harm was still in the recliner having just finished another round of coughing. Mac rubbed his cheek as she passed, "Do we have eggnog?"
He nodded. "Three cartons in there; bought them yesterday."
"You okay? You sound really bad," she frowned. "You feel okay otherwise?"
"Fine" he said as convincingly as he could. "Just this damn cough. I'll live."
Mac smiled, "You sure will." With that she went to get the drinks and put out the snacks.
Twenty minutes later, AJ arrived with a dish of his traditional sweet potato casserole, which was Lucy's all-time favorite holiday treat. The family sat down to a nice, relaxing meal of spiral-cut ham (which Harm, of course, passed on), mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, fruit salad, creamed corn and rolls, with pumpkin and apple crumb pies for dessert. Afterwards, the men and the kids retreated to the family room while Mac and Trish took to the task of cleaning up.
"I really am glad that you seem to be doing better Mac," Trish said as she washed the dished. "But I am worried about my son."
"Why?" asked Mac.
"He seems so tired and worn out," Trish replied. "I know your illness had been hard on him."
"It has," agreed Mac as she placed a stack of clean plates into the cupboard. "But he's handled it quite well in my mind."
"You don't know him as well as you think," Trish sighed.
"Is that so?" replied Mac. "I think I know him pretty well actually."
"Then you know he's been depressed, that he is hurting right now," Trish replied. "You didn't see his face..."
"Is this really any of your business?" questioned Mac, tossing her dish towel onto the counter. "I know he's your son, but he's my husband and there are some things that belong just between he and I."
"Like how sick you really are?" Trish pressed. "That isn't between he and you that is between all of us as a family. It is affecting my son, my grandchildren...Mac why don't you just have the surgery?"
"Because I don't want to!" exclaimed Mac.
"Come down, Mac," Trish soothed. "Its just I don't understand...You all ready have two children and this condition is so hard on all of you."
"Why does it matter how many children I already have?" asked Mac, clearly annoyed and upset. "That's not the basis for anything! We want one more child, and my doctor says there's no reason to think we can't have it!"
"No reason," Trish sighed. "Do you remember Thanksgiving?"
"Oh gee, let me see," said Mac sarcastically. "Hmm...nope, it doesn't ring a bell!"
"Be serious, please," Trish said in a parental tone. "You didn't see what I saw, that's all I meant. You didn't see Harm's fear or have to pull Lucy out of the closet."
"No, I was just the one lying in a pool of their own blood, fighting to stay conscious," stated Mac.
"You see," Trish sighed and sat down. "You're doing it again."
"Doing what?" asked Mac, growing more tired of this conversation by the minute.
"Being selfish," Trish said simply. "Yes, okay, you were sick and in pain, but you know that, you know that comes with this disease and yet you continue to insist on having another child. Do you even think about what it does to him? He told me he wants you to have the surgery."
"He may have felt that way initially," rebutted Mac. "But he's with me on trying to have one more; I know it for a fact regardless of what you think."
"He still feels that way. He's doing it for you," Trish sighed. "And I'm asking you to let it go, for him. He's your husband, give something up for him."
"Oh, you have no idea what I've given up for him!" spat Mac. "Tell me again exactly when this became a topic you feel you need to discuss with me, and better yet, when you decided you know what my husband thinks, wants and feels better than I do?"
"I'm his mother, a mother knows," Trish replied.
"Not this time she doesn't," said Mac, closing the last open cupboard and walking out of the room.
It was clear to Harm Mac was upset as she came to the living room and headed for their bedroom. His mother came out on her heels looking exasperated, "What happened Mom?"
"Mac and I were talking...Its nothing," Trish trailed off.
"It's not 'nothing' or she wouldn't be upset like she is," said Harm.
Trish sat down and leaned close to Harm, "I tried to convince her to have the hysterectomy," Trish told him. "I thought the voice of reason might reach her."
"Mom," sighed Harm, running his hand through his hair. "She doesn't see you as 'the voice of reason', and besides that, she's very sensitive about that topic. You shouldn't have said anything to her."
"Someone needed to," Trish replied. "You'll do anything she wants, someone outside needed to talk to her about it."
"The issue," said Harm. "Is between Mac and me, period. We've talked and we've made our decision, and that's our business."
"You...Harm sometimes I wonder if you are the son I raised," Trish sighed.
"Mom, please," he sighed. "I really can't deal with this right now, so if all you came here to do was upset my wife and question the decisions we've made within our marriage, you can leave."
Trish ignored that and pressed on, "Why can't you deal with it? What is wrong now?"
"It's Christmas day," he began. "And the last thing I need right now is another disastrous holiday having anything to do with Mac's illness, in this case you upsetting her over it. I've been sick myself lately, I've...I've been under a lot of stress and I don't need any more!"
"That's precisely why I want her to have the operation, to relieve some of the burden on you," Trish replied. "I love you Honey, and someone has to look out for you."
"She's not gonna have it, Mom," said Harm plainly. "We want one more baby, whether anyone thinks we should have one or not, and obviously that means the operation has to wait."
Trish rose from her seat, "I only mean to help you Harm," she sighed. "I'm sorry if I upset you further."
"I know, I know," he sighed. "Just...please, just leave this alone. You'll only make things worse for all of us if you don't."
Trish said nothing further and went to join AJ, Frank and the children playing near the fireplace.
"You okay, baby?" he asked, knowing the answer before asking the question.
"I want her out of here," Mac said firmly. "Now."
"I talked to her," he said as he approached Mac and reached out for her hands. "I asked her to leave this whole topic alone. She won't bring it up again, I promise."
She pulled her hands back and fought the lump in her throat, "I don't want her in this house. She's only going to start in on the kids with this nonsense."
"What did she say to you?" he asked.
"She...She pushed me to have the operation and she said...she basically accused me of not being a good wife to you and told me I'm selfish to want another baby," Mac replied as the tears leaked out.
He reached up and wiped away the tears from her face. "Did you tell her that we want the baby, not just that you want it?"
Mac nodded, "And when I said that she...She said something that really bothered me, Harm?"
"Tell me," he said softly.
"She said that you told her you want me to have the surgery," Mac said. "Recently."
"I didn't tell her that," he said. "What I told her, after Thanksgiving, was that you didn't want the surgery because you wanted to try for one more baby, and that I supported you in that decision."
"But you didn't say it was your decision," Mac sighed. "Do you...Harm what do you want me to do?"
He took her tear-covered face in his hands. "I want us to have our miracle baby," he said. "Just like I said last night, I want to try."
Mac smiled through her tears, "I love you. But if you want me to have the operation, I'll do it. It's not fair to you, what happens."
"You mean last night?" he queried in a whisper.
"Not just last night," Mac sighed. "Every time."
"It's not every time, love," he countered. "That night at Grams' place, it was so nice."
"And I was...I was miserable after it," Mac replied. "I just...you just needed me so much and I needed you. I was able to keep quiet."
"I'm sorry," he said. "I didn't know it hurt you so much that time. You're right though, we needed each other that night. We'll get through this, we just have to keep at it, keep trying and sooner or later, a night will come again that doesn't hurt you, sweetie. I'm willing to give it my all if you are."
Mac leaned against him, "Can you get the children ready for bed and say good night? I need some time and some rest."
"Of course," he answered, kissing her lips gently. "I mean it, baby; I'm willing to keep fighting this fight. I won't let nights like we've been having defeat me...if you won't. Are you with me?"
Mac nodded, "All the way. Love me?" she asked with a watery smile.
"Like you wouldn't believe," he replied with a gorgeous Flyboy smile.