Chapter 6

"Here you go!" Mac said brightly when she reentered the room and then almost dropped the glass that she tried to hand to AJ.

"Sarah, relax, I won't bite," he said gently as he took the glass from her and placed it on the coffee table. Reaching for her hand he led her over to the couch. "Please sit down, we need to talk."

"I know we do, but I don't have any idea where to start," she sighed, placing her glass next to his as she took a seat beside him.

"I guess there are a lot of different things to cover, but the most important, I think is that we love each other."

Mac looked at him with wonder dawning in her eyes. "I guess I still find that nearly impossible to believe." She gave a self-conscious giggle, "And you thought I loved Bud!"

"I seem to remember you indicating that I might have felt the same way about Harriett!" he protested.

"What a pair of home wreckers we would be!" she giggled again.

"Some how, I'm pretty sure that is one home that could never be wrecked."

"I think you're right. So…ummmm…now what?" she asked tentatively.

"Well, I think the first thing on the agenda is Harm."

"Harm? Why in the world…oh! You mean my being engaged to him?"

"Yes that would put a cramp in any plans we might want to make."

She got to her feet and paced back and forth in front of the couch. "AJ, I'm just so unsure of what you want or expect of me. If there is any chance I can have a future with you, then I want that with all my heart, but if that's not an option, then marriage to Harm is still what I told you before, an end to my loneliness."

"Can you really marry him when you love me?" he asked incredulously.

"Until I knew you loved me too, I didn't see any other choice."

"And now?"

"Now, I need to know if you see a future for us together."

"I've always dreamed of having a future with you, Sarah, but because of so many things it was always an unreachable dream."

"Other than our ranks and the fact that you were my CO, what was there?" she asked.

"Our age difference for one. You're only two years older than my daughter."

"Believe me, AJ, I've never looked on you as a father figure! Our ages have never been an issue with me. Was there anything else?"

"Well, I was pretty sure you had no interest in me at all when you introduced me to Meredith."

"That was a complete misunderstanding! I had no intention at all of fixing you up with her! You had assumed that because the others had been trying. Why would I have done something like that when I loved you myself?"

With a light chuckle, he answered, "At the time I had no idea about your feelings."

"No, it seems we were both very good at hiding those."

"Sarah, would you consider a future with me?"

"What kind of future, AJ? I know this is all still so new and fresh, but I'm at a crossroads in my life and I need to evaluate my choices carefully."

Taking a moment to consider how he wanted to proceed, AJ captured her hand and said, "I would be blessed beyond all measure if you would even consider marrying me. If you wish to remain in the Corps, and I think you should, I would also suggest that you take the transfer to San Diego. It would be wonderful for your career and if we were married, or even if you just wanted me with you, I could close, or lease, the house here in case we'd ever come back to the area, or even sell it."

"You'd give up your home to be with me?" she gasped.

"No Sarah. Home is where your heart is, so that means my home is anywhere you are."

"Then my answer is yes!"

"Yes?"

"You did ask me to be your wife, didn't you?" All of a sudden she was unsure of herself again.

To be continued….