Chapter 11

Mac stood there with her hand almost to the bell when the door opened and they stood face to face. "Hello Sarah, you look lovely tonight, won't you come in?"

Taking his outstretched hand, she followed him into the house saying, "Can you believe that I'm nervous?"

"About what, Darlin'?" he asked tenderly, as he allowed his eyes to caress her now that she was in the lighted room.

Mac looked around and saw candles everywhere, there was soft music on the stereo and the table was romantically set for two. "All this is beautiful, I can't believe you did it all for me."

"Why Sarah? I told you that I believed you deserve the best life has to offer and while I don't consider myself the best, I do know that no one else could ever love you as much as I do. I swear I will devote the rest of my days to making you the happiest woman alive."

That was all she needed to hear, going into his arms she sighed, "All I need for that is your love, AJ."

"You have that and more, my darling!" Gently drawing her closer, he kissed her sweetly and slowly.

When the kiss ended he led her to the dining room table and held out a chair for her, "I hope you're hungry."

Still in the pleasant haze of his kiss, she answered, "I am, but we should probably eat first since you went to all this trouble."

With a shout of laughter he replied, "Yes, it sounds like we might need to keep our strength up!"

Blushing, Mac said, "I'm sorry, AJ, I don't know where this habit of blurting out the first thing that comes into my head came from, but I don't seem to be able to stop it tonight."

"It's fine Sarah, I find it refreshingly honest and believe me when I saw you in that dress my first thought was to sweep you up into my arms and carry you to my bed. I was just trying to remain a gentleman and at least feed you first."

"Well then we should eat, as you said, we'll need our strength." And the meal began; she complimented him on everything, it all tasted wonderful.

Quiet reigned for a while as they ate and then AJ couldn't stop the question that had been burning on his mind from emerging, "How did things go with Harm?"

"He wasn't happy about it, but I didn't expect him to be. On the other hand he also didn't beg me not to break it off, or pledge his undying love for me either. That was how I knew that he would be fine eventually."

"And when you told him the other man was me?"

"He wondered if you…it's not important."

"He wondered if I could keep you happy? Was that it?"

"Actually he just demonstrated the fact that he isn't as attentive to the things I had to say to him, as he should have been."

"What was it Sarah?"

"Harm knows I've always wanted children and…"

AJ interrupted her, "And he wondered if I could give them to you."

"Yes, but what he forgot was that the problem would lie with me and not you. Do you remember the back pains I was having just before you left JAG?"

"Yes, you insisted that they weren't anything, but then you finally admitted they were and saw your doctor about them. You took the day of my retirement party off, then arrived late looking stiff and sore."

"You remember all that?" she asked, stunned at how much that touched her.

"I remember everything about you, Sarah. What was it all about?"

"I found out I had endometriosis and even after having it treated there is only a four percent chance that I could ever become pregnant.

"You told Harm that and he forgot?!"

"Yes."

"How could he forget something so devastating to you? Sarah, I've always regretted that Francesca was my only child and now knowing how much having a child would mean to you I assure you we will find a way. We could adopt, or look into artificial insemination, or even a surrogate, but we will find a way to be parents if that is what you want."

"Oh AJ! What did I ever do to deserve you? I'd love to have your child if we can find a way, but if not, adoption is okay with me too. There are so many children out there in need of loving families!" With a sly grin she asked, "Just how many children do you want?"

To be continued….