Hi, everyone, another ficlet today as the final days before Christmas are coming soon - and so are the final chapters of this story! Hope you like this ficlet and thanks again for reading!

Shopping

"Thanks for taking me shopping," Mattie said brightly, as Mac pushed the wheelchair down the center aisle of the mall. "I haven't had time to buy anything for Harm for Christmas. Mrs. Johnson is really nice, but she hates shopping." Mattie rolled her eyes and lowered her voice as if to tell Mac a secret. "She's a little old-fashioned, if you know what I mean."

Mrs. Johnson was the kind, retired neighbor who helped take care of Mattie after school and when Harm was traveling. Mac knew that both Harm and Mattie liked her a lot, but Mac couldn't imagine the elderly woman having a lot of extra energy to go shopping with a teenager.

"And I can't go shopping for Harm with Harm." Mattie wrinkled her nose in disgust. "What do you get the Force Judge Advocate of Naval Forces Europe for Christmas anyway?"

Mac laughed at the expression on Mattie's face as she recited Harm's official title. "Well, maybe you should try getting something for his non-lawyer side," she suggested.

"You mean like his pilot side?" Mattie asked doubtfully.

"Something like that."

"Mac, wait, stop!" Mattie suddenly twisted around in her wheelchair. "Look, in the window. Come on."

All of the stores in the mall were beautifully decorated for the season, with trees and lights and large holiday sale signs. But there was a tiny item in one of the Christmas displays that just happened to catch Mattie's eye, and it only took a few minutes for the cashier to ring up her purchase for a small Christmas ornament in the shape of a biplane.

"Number One Dad," Mac read the inscription on the side of the plane. "Well, I think Harm would be honored."

"It's for his dad side," Mattie confirmed as the cashier handed her the bag and wished them both happy holidays.

"Harm misses you a lot, you know," Mattie said casually as Mac wheeled her out of the store.

"Well, I miss him, too," Mac said a little more wistfully than she had intended.

"He's an awesome dad, and London's great, and I know he's really good at his job, but sometimes he seems lonely, you know?"

"Sometimes the military life just works out that way," Mac explained quietly. She understood the feeling well, as she often felt the same, being almost six thousand miles away from him in San Diego.

"Well, I bet that would cheer him up," Mattie said suddenly. "Maybe you should bring that on the honeymoon?"

Mac's gaze followed Mattie's pointed finger to another one of the shops, and she immediately blushed almost as red as the sexy lingerie in the window.