A/N: Thanks for the comments! They get me in the mood to write and post so keep them coming ;)

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Harriet and Bud Residence

Virginia

Harriet bustled around the kitchen, hurriedly taking care of last minute preparations before the guests arrived.

She and Bud had invited their friends and co-workers over for a Saturday barbecue, and she had been running around like a chicken with her head cut off all day.

Harm was coming. with her. Harriet set a place for Kim beside Harm at the outside picnic table, but had to admit that it felt wrong to do so.

Harriet felt as though she had been very patient throughout the months following Mac's departure. She had tried her best to stay out of it, and for Harriet, that was saying a lot. Harriet had given them both space, respected their wishes, kept her opinions on the matter to herself.

If things were ever to work out, it would have to be effort and work on both sides…they'd have to do it on their own. If they decided to do anything at all that is. The thought both frightened and angered her. For being such intelligent individuals, their judgment sure could use a little tweaking.

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An hour later, the party was in full swing. Bud was manning the grill, the children were playing in the yard, and the adults were mingling with their refreshments.

Harm was nursing a beer, content to stand back and watch the people around him. Kim was sitting a few feet away talking to Varese, her hands resting on and intermittently rubbing her pregnant belly.

Harm had been dutiful…taking her to ultrasounds and birthing classes. He had immersed himself in literature about raising a baby, what to do and what to avoid. In all his preparations, he felt less and less ready. It was impossible for him to reconcile his new life with the one he had always pictured. Kim was a good woman…but she was never meant to be his. He loved Kim, 'loved' in the most basic sense of the word. He cared for her. After all, she was the soon to be mother of his child.

Harm had been attempting over the last few months to appear like a man eagerly anticipating the arrival of his firstborn, instead of the broken shell he felt he had morphed into the moment he had heard Mac's voice on the other end of the line telling him she was boarding a plane…and that she was sorry. At first, he thought maybe she had gone on some undercover mission and she was sorry she hadn't told him prior to being three seconds away from boarding and being whisked away to some secret location for God knew how long. Although the scenario still angered and worried him to death, he had failed to realize the reality of the situation. For weeks, his calls went unanswered and he had left messages.

He still remembers the drop in his heart when one day, instead of the ring he was so accustomed to hearing, he had heard the shrill tone of the automated voice tell him: "We're sorry, but the number you have called has been disconnected or is no longer in service."

He had been like a bat out of hell…calling Cresswell, Harriet, …anyone he could think of for answers. Harriet hadn't known anything, which sent her into a panic. Cresswell hadn't been prepared to tell him anything, yet Harm's unrelenting barrage of questions had backed him into a corner. He finally shared with Harm her request for privacy. She was safe, she just wasn't coming back.

He had been so overcome with emotion that he had thrown his phone at the wall. His anger had quickly dissipated into grief, a very empty and devastating ache cutting off his attempts to breathe deeply.

"I'm glad you could come Commander." Bud interrupted his thoughts with a pat on his back. "It's good to see you."

"Thanks, Bud."

"How are …things, sir?" Bud attempted to be smooth.

Harm gave a small smile. "I'm okay, Bud."

Bud opened his mouth to say something else, when he spotted a small fire on the grill. "Be..be right back, sir." He uttered over his shoulder as he made his way over to tend to it.

Harm took a long swig of his beer, the burn filling his chest and making the seconds that ticked by more bearable, if only a little.

Little AJ had taken to entertaining himself with his newest toy. He was currently peeking around the corner of the house, a mischievous grin on his face and a remote control in hand. His grin was infectious as he maneuvered his remote control Humvee through the groups of people with one target in mind: Uncle Harm.

The toy hit Harm's shoe with a 'THUD'. Harm looked down to find the source of the interruption, to see the car against his shoe, wheels still spinning. He searched the yard and caught sight of little AJ giggling.

Harm studied the car, and picked it up, smiling.

AJ ran over to him. "I need my car back, Uncle Harm." AJ reached out his hand, smiling up at him.

Harm handed it over to him, ruffling his hair. "Is that new kiddo? That's pretty neat."

"Uh-huh. " Little AJ nodded enthusiastically. "It's an early birthday present--"

Harriet, having heard the last bit of the exchange, looked over from the group she was chatting
with a few feet away. "AJ—" she started, panic and warning in her tone.

"From Auntie Mac." AJ finished with a huge smile on his face, unaware of the implications of his words.

Harriet was quick to excuse herself and make her way over. "AJ, why don't you go inside and wash your hands? It's almost time to eat."

She watched AJ trudge toward the door, before turning to face Harm. Oh, God.

Harm's jaw flexed, his expression revealing the underlying anger ready to boil.

"You know where she is." He stated, his voice pained. "You've known."

TBC. Don't forget to review!