A/N: I did take into account many of the review I had received about being confused about where we are in refernce to time in this story. So I worked out the time as best I could and began adding time stamps as I had done before an I will continue to do so. If you'd like me to when I post the next chapter provide a more detailed timeline since let's say the Christmas chapter I will do so.

I also have taken into account some of the reviews, one in particular got my attention. It was from a reviewer that said and rightly so that when you write a story, especially one as controversial as this, you have to take the good with the bad and that is very true. I have received many reviews saying they dislike the plot line or they dislike the characters and that is in truth their right to feel that way and to express it just as it is mine to write this story or any other as I choose. What I don't feel reviewers or anyone has the right to do is to try to interpret my mind or my reasons other than what I have stated. I know there are people who have been hurt by this plotline and expression of Harm and Mac's lives…in fact I have read many stories where I felt that same way. I take issue though when reviewers or anyone else in any setting does not have the courtesy to keep their review to the material, the fictitious world of Harm and Mac, not the mind of the author, that is mine alone except for what I choose to share. This is for everyone's enjoyment and you do take the good with the bad and I do. If you have something negative to say about the fic…the review board is that place and I do listen and read them for constructive comments. I have readers who read me because they like my ideas or my style who might not necessarily like where I have gone and that is fine. I do know where this fic ends, I do know how I'm going to get there, and there is nothing in this story that has not been carefully placed where it is and how it is for very many reasons.

Why don't I just post the whole fic? I don't have the time to proofread all of that material. I proof a chapter or so a week, now that my life has some balance and I estimate there are probably about ten or twelve chapters left to go. Thank you once again and I once again say you won't be unhappy with the ending I have planned, I never promised anyone would like how we get there, but I did say that if you trust me and my partner and stick with us to the end you won't be let down.

Arlington, VA

May 26, 2006

2103 ZULU

Analisa with her daughter on her hip arrived home that next day at three minutes past four. "Did you have fun today, Sweet Girl?" she cooed to the chubby tot, who giggled and blew bubbles at her mother's query.

"Let's have some…" Analise began only to cutoff the ringing phone. She reached for the handset, "Hello?"

"Hi, is this Analise?" the caller asked.

"Yes, it is," Analise replied. "Who's calling?"

"It's Harmon Rabb. We, uh, met last night a…" replied Harm hoping she'd remember him.

She cut him off. "Of course, I wasn't expecting to hear from you."

"I told you I'd call at four," Harm reminded her.

"You did, but often what people say and do are two different things entirely," Analise replied with a lilt of laughter in her voice. "Really though, I'm glad you called."

"So am I," Harm replied.

They talked for a few more minutes about their day and about the mixer the previous night before Harm stated his reason for his call, "So uh, last night I'd mentioned getting some pizza with our kids sometime."

Analise's heart began to beat faster but she fought to keep her voice steady. "Yes, it was a good idea."

"Well I'm not so sure it was," he began.

"Oh. Oh, I see well…" Analise replied not letting Harm finish. "Well I have to go."

"Analise," Harm interjected. "I wasn't finished. I was just going to suggest we, if you feel comfortable that is, enjoy a quiet supper on our own to get to know each other better, you know, before we brought out kids along."

Analise was quiet for a moment. She knew she should consider this offer thoroughly before she dove into anything. Michael had only been gone six months and Harm the previous evening demonstrated he was no past his feeling about his divorce or his former wife. Still in spite of very clear and rational reasons not to agree to this she heard herself saying, "I don't see why not. It might be fun."

"Yeah," Harm laughed lightly. "How about Saturday at 7:00?"

"That'll be fine," Analise replied. "Have you ever been to a place called Roberto's?"

"Yeah, I love their veggie lasagna," Harm replied.

"So do I," Analise answered. "So I'll see you Saturday at 7:00pm. Though I have to warn you, I'm always late."

Harm chuckled again, "So am I. You want to meet then, or how would you like to do this? We can do whatever makes you comfortable."

Analise considered this, "I think meeting would be best," Analise told him.

"Okay," Harm smiled. "I'll see you then."

Their call ended and Harm pushed the talk button on the phone and dialed a familiar number.

"Roberts," Bud spoke into the receiver on the first ring.

"Hey, it's Harm."

"Hello," Bud replied cheerfully. "How are you doing?"

"I'm good. I'm very good," Harm replied. "But I need some advice."

"Well, if its mine to give it's yours you know that. I don't have too long though, I have to take a deposition in half an hour," Bud answered.

Harm smiled, "Great. This won't take long. I met someone."

Bud was intrigued. That was last thing he'd expected Harm to say. AJ had told Harriet a few days ago that Harm was living as a virtual recluse, so Bud was needless to say shocked. "Oh, someone at Georgetown?"

"No, AJ mad me go to one of those parents without Partners mixers last night," he told Bud.

"And obviously you mixed well."

"Not really, but I did meet a very sweet woman. We spent most of the evening talking and long story short I got her number, called her up, asked her out and she said yes," Harm outlined.

"Well you seem to have it all worked out," Bud replied, happy for his friend. "So what's the problem?"

"Mac," Harm sighed.

"What about her?" asked Bud. "Does she know this woman or something?"

"No," Harm said. "It's just I have a really good feeling about this and I know she'll want to get to know the kids, she knows I have kids."

"Well," sighed Bud. "I'm glad you have a good feeling about her, but my advice is make sure first before you involve Mac and especially before you involve the kids. Lucy and DJ have had enough changes in their lives for now."

"That's what I though," agreed Harm. "But the last time I didn't reveal something like this to Mac…"

"You were married then," Bud told him. "You aren't anymore, unless this woman is going to become part of Lucy and DJ's lives Mac doesn't need to know about her. She didn't exactly consult you before she go engaged to Brumby, did she?"

Harm sighed. Bud was right. The reason there was even a question in the first place was because he and Mac were no longer a couple. If that weren't true, there would be no Analise. "You're right. I still can help but feel I owe her."

Bud understood that. He knew his friend would never forgive himself for what occurred between him and Annie or for what happened between him and Mac even though Harm and Mac both had paid dearly for their mutual mistakes. "Well, you don't. You did more than your share of time for this, you both have. Mac's moved on, and if you feel you can do that now, go right ahead and do it. You deserve it."

"Thanks, Bud," Harm replied. "I guess I just needed to hear someone say what I all ready knew."

"That's what I'm hear for," Bud replied.

"How about a beer next week?" Harm asked, a request he'd not made in many months.

"Sure, just give me a call," Bud replied. "And Harm…"

"Yeah?"

"Welcome back," Bud told him smiling.

Harm expected the day until his schedules date with Analise to drag given his unexpected excitement but the time really flew by. Finally it was Saturday night and Harm in a pair of well fitting khakis and a midnight blue shirt waited outside Roberto's for Analise.He's arrived ten minutes late and still he did not see her. Finally after waiting another fifteen minutes he saw Analise's petite form approaching.

"I am so sorry," she apologized. "The babysitter was late. I'm so glad you didn't leave."

"No, though I admit I was getting worried," Harm said before he reached for the door handle. "Shall we?"

Analise smiled and stepped inside, "Don't mind if I do."

They were seated immediately and once their wine and cheese arrived the pair were talking and laughing like good, longtime friends. They stayed at the restaurant until midnight just sharing and talking about the different things they'd experienced. By the time they left Roberto's there was no question in Harm's mind that it would soon be very necessary to introduce Mac to the idea of Analise being involved in his life and their children's lives as well.

For the next six weeks, Harm and Analise spent every minute one or the other wasn't working or busy with their children in each other's company. They saw movies, went to local concerts and museums slowing but surely growing closer and more intimate with each other. Finally as their sixth full week of dating approached Harm called Mac to arrange a meeting at one of their favorite coffee shops.

Starbucks Coffee

Falls Church, VA

July 11, 2006

1712 ZULU

Mac was there waiting for Harm when he arrived at the coffee shop. She'd taken the liberty of ordering him an iced coffee and sat with a glass of unsweetened decaffeinated tea in front of her. She smiled when she saw Harm walk in wearing his uniform. "Hi," she greeted and started to rise up.

"No, no, stay there," Harm told her and gave her a soft kiss on the cheek. "How are you feeling?"

"Not bad," she replied. "I'm over the morning sickness but ahead of the beached whale stage. And how are you?"

"I am very well, thank you," he replied and took a sit. "This is just the way I like it."

"Six years of marriage, there are some things you don't forget so easy," she replied.

"That is the truth," Harm replied for he vividly remembered the way her body looked at this stage of pregnancy. Not overly detectable with the naked eye when she was clothed but in their private moments it was very much womanly and beautiful. "How are things with Mic. Is he still angry that you wanted to push back the wedding?"

"I'm not sure if he ever really was angry," Mac replied. "He's just very opinionated."

"Oh, that's what we're calling it these days," Harm quipped.

"Harm, don't start on Mic. I mean it," Mac said. "We have to all try to get along if we are going to make a go of things on far better terms than when we started. Mic is part of my life and by default a part of yours."

"I know that Mac and I can say for certain if he were just a little bit nicer to Lucy and to you I'd have an easier time swallowing that," Harm replied.

"He's getting better most days and when he's not, he knows I'm fed up with his attitude,' she replied. "Maybe rushing like this was a mistake, but we've all made a lot of them this past year."

"That is for sure," Harm replied. "Speaking of people being part of our lives, there was a reason I asked you here today."

"You want more time with the kids?" Mac asked figuring with that prelude it was something like that.

"Yes, but that's not the reason," he replied. "A few weeks ago AJ was on me to go out and stop taking root on his sofa so just for my sanity I agree and well I met someone."

"You met someone?" Mac repeated getting her mind around it.

"Yes. We've been seeing each other for six weeks now. She has a daughter about a year and a half and well she's is anxious to get to know Lucy and DJ and for them to get to know her and I am too," Harm explained.

Mac sat there a moment, inwardly flinching at Harm's words, but on the outside she smiled, "That is really great Harm. I'm glad you seem to have found someone. You do seem to be genuinely happy."

"I am. She is sweet and hard working, and I know Lucy and DJ, and you too will just love her, but I didn't just want to show up with her one day, I wanted to give you time to digest this and decide what we need to do as far as Lucy and DJ and explaining things to them," Harm told her.

Mac nodded, "I think they'll be okay if we just tell them that this…What is her name?" Mac asked.

"Analise," Harm replied and couldn't hide the smile.

"Analise," Mac echoed. " I think we can use that this is a new friend of Daddy's…"

Harm nodded, "I just wanted you to be aware of what was going on. She's like to go with us this Saturday for pizza and to the movies if that is all right?"

Mac nodded, "Yeah. It's your Saturday so that is fine. It sounds just fine."

Harm was glad Mac took things so reasonably, though he could see a bit of hurt in her big brown eyes. There was in his eyes as well for the easier it was for each of them to accept someone new in the others life, the farther buried the past they shared was going to be. They finished their drinks and talked some more about their children and such before they parted company, Harm home to AJ's to let Ana know it was a go and Mac back to Mic and her children. It was a bittersweet parting in so much that it seemed their past was truly becoming buried, but that was after all what was necessary for life as they had arranged for it to go on.