Hi, everyone! It's been a busy week here, and somehow it's already the end of November. I'm definitely still planning to finish this story by Christmas - I guess Harm and Mac just need to hurry up and get married! Hope you're still enjoying the story - thanks again for reading!

Hot chocolate

"I can't believe you and Harm are finally getting married. From the moment I met both of you, I knew you were meant to be together."

From the moment she had stepped off the plane that afternoon, Chloe Madison hadn't stopped talking. Mac had listened to her little sister chatter excitedly all the way home from the airport, and now she was still listening as they prepared hot chocolate for their traditional Christmas slumber party.

"I knew it was only a matter of time before you and Harm realized that you were in love with each other. The two of you were the only ones who couldn't figure it out," Chloe said a little smugly.

"All right, all right," Mac surrendered with a laugh. "I guess you were smarter than we were."

"My friends were so jealous that I got to start Christmas vacation early and go somewhere really cool like La Jolla," Chloe continued. "I told them, 'hey, my big sister is finally getting married. It's a requirement for me to be there!'"

Mac set four mugs of steaming hot chocolate on a tray, and Chloe added a dollop of whipped cream and peppermint to each serving.

"Perfect," she declared.

When they brought the drinks into the living room, Chloe handed a mug of hot chocolate to Mattie who regarded the whipped cream and peppermint skeptically.

"It's the only way to drink hot chocolate," Chloe explained. "This is how we drink it in Vermont."

"We're not in Vermont," Mattie pointed out, her tone of voice meant more to tease rather than state the obvious.

"We drink hot chocolate in La Jolla, too," Harm said from the couch, accepting his own mug from Mac with a smile of thanks as she settled down next to him.

"Well, if you were in Vermont where we have real cold and snow, you would drink real hot chocolate, too," Chloe argued. "So next time you're back in the U.S., stop in Vermont and I'll show you what I'm talking about."

Mattie's expression brightened. "Well, Harm, what do you say to a side trip to Vermont next time?"

Harm hummed thoughtfully. "We'll see."

Mattie rolled her eyes at Chloe and took a sip of hot chocolate. "That's such a parental answer."

Chloe nodded in agreement. "Harm and Mac totally have the parental act down. They've been doing it together for years. Back when I was young and immature, they both had to talk me down from the elevator shaft at JAG."

"Back when you were young and immature?" Mac repeated with a sharp laugh. "It wasn't that long ago."

Chloe glared at her big sister in annoyance.

"That just means they've had extra practice for when they have their own kids," Mattie declared, throwing Harm a suggestive smirk.

"Well, I guess we did all right with the two of you," Harm shot back with a grin.

The girls laughed, but Harm felt Mac tense at the suggestion of children of their own. It wouldn't have been noticeable if she hadn't been sitting next to him, but he could tell she was bothered by a second suggestion after Bill had already mistaken A.J. and Jimmy for their own kids earlier that day.

Harm knew there was only a four percent chance that their own children would ever happen now. While it was still a chance, it was a slim one. The thought weighed heavily on him, as it did for Mac, and when he reached for her hand, she gave him a weak smile, grateful for the silent comfort and strength of his hand in hers.