A/N: I'd like to ask all those of you, who haven't done it, yet, to go back to chapter 1 and read its edited version. I didn't delete it completely, but I replaced it and you didn't get a notification about the change. Thanks a lot.

CHAPTER 2

No relationship can be perfect all the time and Harm and Mac definitely didn't expect theirs to be so. There were always some trivial reasons or minor misunderstandings leading to a quarrel, or some outside circumstances influencing people's lives and making them difficult The news that Mattie wasn't going to live with them was just that and it caused a very tense and awkward atmosphere in their apartment. Harm became withdrawn and taciturn; more often than not, he was there physically but his mind was completely elsewhere. It was driving Mac crazy to hear him ask her to repeat what she was saying for the fifth time in half of an hour, and she could only hope for things to move forward faster. She understood perfectly that it was very difficult for him to accept the situation; he had already had almost lost Mattie in the accident and now the court had ruled against his petition for custody. But with Mattie being so far away the court's decision was tantamount to removing Mattie permanently from Harm and her lives.

Mac silently decided to query the court's decision although she also decided not to tell Harm that she was doing so, not wanting to raise false hopes. But for both their sakes she needed to find out just what was the real reason behind the rejection of his application. It had to be something truly serious but as long as they didn't know what exactly, they couldn't work on changing it. So, one morning as she sat behind her desk, thinking over the whole situation, and after some deliberation, decided to try to call again the woman who had dealt with Mattie's case. She had made a previous attempt a few days earlier, only to be told that person who was dealing with the case now had taken a few days leave and the individual with whom Mac was speaking wasn't familiar with it. This time, after a short delay, she was passed on to another person.

"This is Lieutenant Colonel Sarah MacKenzie. I am calling with regard to the Matilda Johnson case. I'm Captain Rabb's fiancée. Would it be possible for you to tell me why his application for custody was turned down?"

"Wait a moment please." was all she heard and she could only sigh in exasperation. She waited exactly five minutes and seventeen seconds before her interlocutor spoke to her again. "I am very sorry to keep you waiting for so long, Colonel. I also have to offer you our most sincere apologies. There has been an unfortunate mistake. Our new employee hasn't yet quite got the hang of his new responsibilities… We have two very similar cases and it appears that my colleague has transposed the telephone numbers of the applicants. Captain Rabb's request was accepted, but before everything can be finalized, we will need to arrange a home visit to ensure that your living conditions are satisfactory. There are also outstanding questions about school and therapy…"

"So, she is coming to live with us?" Mac asked, a bit confused.

Before she called, she had prepared herself for a strong exchange of views. She had rehearsed the arguments which she could use to convince the authorities that the rejection of Harm's petition was absolutely ridiculous. To hear that it was a mistake had been made was completely unexpected.

"Yes… Assuming that there aren't any grounds for reservations after the visit, the Captain will become her guardian officially and then you will be allowed to have her transported to San Diego, when her condition improves enough for her to travel."

"Thank you very much for your help. Goodbye."

Mac hung up and without wasting a second immediately sprung to her feet. She couldn't wait to go to Harm and break the happy news to him. She could hardly control her happiness and knew that he was going to be ecstatic to hear that his request wasn't rejected. She was so engrossed in the happy thoughts that she almost collided with Coates, who opened the door in the very same moment, when she reached for the handle.

"I'm sorry, Colonel." spoke Jennifer, taking a step back. "General Creswell is on the line."

"Did he say why?"

"No, Ma'am. He just said that it was very important, Ma'am. Oh, and Captain Rabb was here. He asked me to tell you not to wait for him and that you were to go straight home, because he has a very important matter to settle, Ma'am."

"And you didn't tell him to come in? I told you…"

"I know, Ma'am, and I told him to come in but he said he didn't have the time…"

"Okay, thank you."

Mac had no other choice but to go back to her desk, wondering what the General could want from her. From the day she arrived in San Diego, he hadn't even called once, so she didn't think he had any reservations concerning her work. She believed that if he had had any doubts he would have already called her. She had absolutely no idea what she could have done to merit his sudden interest, especially since that she had been in post for less than three weeks and hadn't done anything that she hadn't done before.

"Lieutenant Colonel MacKenzie." she spoke, finally lifting the receiver to answer the phone.

"Good morning, Colonel." sounded the General's voice. "I think you should tell your Yeoman that there are no more important call than when the General is calling…"

Mac smiled, trying her best to stifle a chuckle. Jennifer Coates was really good at what she was doing – she always performed her duties on time and everyone could count on her. However, she had to admit that there were times, when she said more than she should to the wrong people. By the hint of laughter in her CO's voice, Mac knew that he didn't feel offended, especially that he knew Jen's ways.

"Please tell me, Colonel, what are your thoughts about your subordinates?"

"Well, it's hard for me to give a really creditable opinion because I haven't worked with them for long… From what I hear and observe, though, I think they are good lawyers. Lieutenant Cooper needs to gain experience, so does Lieutenant Miles, but I think that when they get it, they will be really great. Lieutenant Martin seems to be a bit lost in court at times and has made some slips, but I believe it's just a matter of gaining a little more self-confidence. Lieutenant Smith…"

"I don't need a detailed run down of everyone in your office, I don't even know the people. I just want to know your overall opinion of them as a group."

"I am happy with them, Sir."

"Very well… Choose the best two of your people, then. One of them will temporarily assume your command. I want to see you here in two days; you have been requested by SecNav to prosecute a major, high profile case against Lieutenant Commander Wards. The other person chosen by you will sit second chair, so some experience on their part would be useful. Understood?"

"Yes, Sir."

"Good, return to your duties, then." he said and disconnected.

Of all the possibilities, being summoned to DC wasn't something she expected. She was certain, however, that if SecNav decided who he wanted to work on it, it really had to be a high profile case. Still, she had never heard about Lieutenant Commander Wards, but she quickly realised that she couldn't have. They have just moved in into the apartment, and most importantly, they didn't plan to live there long. It was small and rather tight, even for just two people and they were already looking for something bigger. So, they decided to have only the most important furniture brought into the place, keeping all the rest in the storage unit for the time being. TV was one of those things which were still packed in a box. And thinking about TV, she could only hope that the court proceedings wouldn't be transmitted on TV. She didn't want every interested person in the country to hear comments about her appearance, every word and the smallest details from personal and professional life, as it had happened some years ago.

She was also thinking about the General's request to take one of her people to sit second chair with her. Surely, there were enough JAGs on his staff to choose from, but she would find out soon, anyway. Meanwhile, she was left with a not so easy choice who should stay in San Diego, and who should accompany her to DC. She had no problems deciding that the two people should be Commander Watson and Major Johnson, they were the most experienced officers in her unit and had the highest rank amongst the staff. It was obvious that the person she left in charge of the unit should have the others respect and it was a no-brainer that it would have to be one of her two most senior officers. The problem was that both Watson and Johnson were unknown quantities as far as Mac was concerned, and right now she was completely undecided about who should stay, and who should go with her. But, since she didn't have to make the decision immediately, she decided to give herself a little more time.

When she returned home, she quickly realised that Harm hadn't yet come in and she started to wonder what was taking him so much time, especially since he hadn't left any messages. She also couldn't wait to share the news about Mattie with him. It was going to be so good to see him happy for a change - she had no doubts about his reaction! But until he returned there wasn't much she could do, so she passed the time until he came home by taking a longer than usual bath and even managed to read three chapters of her current book before he walked in.

"How was your day, Marine?" he asked, sitting down next to her on the couch.

She looked at him, placing the book on the small table in front of the couch. For a moment she thought about asking whether he overheard her conversation with social services, but she eventually decided that it was impossible. Then her suspicions moved to Coates, but that didn't seem probable either. Still, he looked much better than he had during the previous couple of days and her curiosity about the reason behind it was raised really high.

"Good, and yours? Jen told me that you had an important matter to settle, but I can't remember you mentioning any such thing to me…"

"Yeah, that's what I told her to avoid her questions… I didn't have court, so I decided to take a day off and finally visit my mom and Frank… We've been here for such a long time and I hadn't even visited them, yet. My mom kept reminding me about that every time she called."

"And you have spent your whole day there?"

"Trust me, if I hadn't told my mom that you were waiting for me, I wouldn't have gotten back until tomorrow! I had to tell her absolutely everything about my proposal, how I got my orders for San Diego and so on. And, of course, I had to listen to her complaining about me not coming to visit earlier and, when I finally had, not taking you with me."

"I see. But it's a pity that you didn't come in to my office before you left. I wouldn't have had to struggle all day not to share the happy news with Jennifer."

His facial expression changed immediately. He was trying to guess what it could be, but nothing came to his mind. She could almost see the wheels turning in his head, as he was thinking about it and a corner of her mouth moved up, when he glanced at her with his eyes telling her that he had absolutely no idea what she meant.

"What news?"

"I simply made a quick phone call today and found out that someone had made a mistake… A not very pleasant mistake, a small mistake in itself, but one that had major consequences."

"Maac."Harm protested while she chuckled, and rolled her eyes playfully.

"It's about Mattie. When the doctors say that her condition is good enough to travel across the continent, she will come to us. Unless we don't pass a home visit to check if the living conditions here are suitable.

Harm's eyes widened upon hearing her explanation and for a moment he simply stared at her with his lips parted slightly, his mind processing her words.

"Are you serious?" he finally spoke, and Mac simply nodded her head. "God, Mac! You did it again!" before she realised, she found herself in his arms, pressed tightly against his chest, as he was hugging her. "You were able to make me being Mattie's guardian possible again..!"

"That's something about you that I will probably never understand. When you don't have to, you risk your life even when there is no chance to win, even the smallest one. But when all you need is a bit more faith, or a phone call in this case, you give up."

"And that's usually the time when you come to my rescue!" he remarked, pulling back just a bit to look at her. "What would I do without you?"

"Who knows…" was the only thing she managed to say before he leaned closer and pressed his lips against hers.

"I really don't know how to thank you."

"You already have… But, you could tell me what you were doing the whole day. I don't believe you spent it all at your parents' and my curiosity is eating me alive…"

"But, it's actually true. I've spent the whole day at their place. Well, mainly because my mom was looking for this for over three hours…"

He reached to his pocked and took a small, dark blue box out of it. He opened it and she saw a gold ring with a diamond set in the middle, and much smaller diamonds set around it. He was watching her carefully while she was staring at it, the realisation what sort of ring it was quickly dawned on her.

"Harm…" she started, but two fingers, which he placed on her lips prevented her from continuing.

"I wanted to give it to in more romantic situations, but after what you have just told me, I know that I will never find a better reason to show you how much I love you and how much I appreciate what you're doing for me… I admit that back in DC, I hadn't planned to propose… It's why I wasn't prepared for it and I was a little angry at myself that I hadn't given you a ring for everyone to know that you're mine. I didn't want to run to the shop and buy you a ring because I knew that I already had the right ring for you but in La Jolla. It's sort of a family keepsake… My grandmother received it from my grandfather, then she passed it to my father, and he gave it to my mother. She passed it to me and I can't imagine anyone other than you to wear it…"

She was looking at his face, absolutely speechless. She could feel the tears appear in her eyes and they slowly moved down her face. She knew Harm well enough to know that talking about his feelings has never been easy for him and it only made this speech the more dear to her. She didn't know what to say and in the end, she reached to his face and tenderly stroking his cheeks with her thumbs, she placed a loving kiss on his lips.

"I take it you haven't changed your mind and still want to marry me..?"

"Do you really need to ask?"

He smiled, taking her hand in his, and slipped the ring onto her finger before placing his arm around her waist and pulling her close.

"I love you." she said and wrapped her arms around his neck, closing the distance between them.

"I love you, too." he managed to say before their lips met once again.

The kiss started as innocently as the previous ones, but they allowed it to grow way more passionate. It was just a matter of time before he made her lay on her back, his lips moving from her lips to her jaw line and down her neck. His kisses, licks and gentle nibbles combined with his hands moving all over her body were waking up all of her nerves and sending pleasant sensations through her body. She moaned out, when his tongue found just the right place on her neck to make her melt in his arms and he grinned, his own excitement growing very fast. She sighed, when she felt his hands slip under her shirt and take it off, dropping it to the floor before she felt him cup her breasts and gasped in response.

"Bed, immediately." she said in her command voice and his smiled only widened.

"Yes, Ma'am."

He didn't waste a second. She squeaked, when he suddenly slipped his arms under her and lifted her from the couch. She immediately wrapped her legs around him and leaned down to kiss him, his tongue slipping into her mouth and engaged hers in a duel. They slowly made their way into the bedroom and he carefully placed her in the middle of the bed and took off his jacket before climbing onto it as well. Then, he laid down on top of her, careful to support his weight and claimed her lips once again.