Summary: Harm. & Mac begin their life together, while both deal with the reality of Harm's decision to resign his commission. Spoiler alert: Mac doesn't handle it very well. (Continuation of It Started in Russia, and Everything is Going to Be Okay)
Part Twenty-Seven
'This is crazy,' Mac thought as the cab drove them through the suburban streets of Northern Virginia. 'Completely crazy.' But she also knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that it was the right thing to do.
She wasn't worried that Harm would change his mind or that she would get cold feet. Once upon a time, those would have been her fears. She knew marriage would come with its own set of challenges and struggles, but she knew they had what it took to actually go the distance and live happily ever after. So why do this? Why get married in the middle of the night instead of waiting one more week?
Because she wanted to.
The past week had been chaotic. First, there was the issue with their venue, and then on top of that, it felt like, every day, some new detail was wrong. Some of the issues were minor – like the programs having Maddie's maiden name and the 'maid of honor' title instead of 'matron of honor.' Some were less minor – like the Alaskan salmon they were offering for one of their entrees becoming unavailable, which had Trish and Sarah calling every single guest who had selected that option to give them an alternate choice. But every day, there was some new problem to fix. And every day she hated the idea of the big wedding a little bit more. She didn't want to look back on their wedding day every year and remember all the things that had gone wrong or how stressed out she felt. And now, hopefully, she wouldn't.
The house was quiet when the cab driver finally pulled up. Mac dug around in her purse for her keys, and she, Trish, and Sarah hurried up the walk and went inside. Everything looked the same, but there were lights on that hadn't been on when she had left, and she imagined Harm had beaten them here.
"Are you sure you want to wear your dress," Sarah asked. "I imagine it'll get filthy on the sidewalk."
"I want to wear it," Mac said. "Can one of you bustle it, so the train isn't dragging? That should help," she said. But she didn't care. If the bottom got dirty, it got dirty. She was sure she could pay an exorbitant amount of money to have it cleaned if it got that bad.
"Of course," Trish said, and they followed her upstairs.
They waited in the hall while she changed out of the outfit she had on and stepped into the dress, only coming into the room when she called out that she was ready.
"Oh my," Sarah said and walked in a slow circle around her. "It's stunning."
Mac beamed and ran her hands over the bodice. "Thank you." She looked at Trish and chewed on her lip, feeling slightly nervous. It felt silly, but this was a big moment, and for a second, she regretted that her own mother wasn't here. Trish was the closest thing she had – would ever have – and her approval mattered to her. "What do you think?"
Trish leaned in and kissed her forehead and then stepped back and smiled. "My son is a very lucky man. And you look exquisite."
The bustle was complicated, but between the three of them, they managed, and the dress had been so expertly altered that it barely touched the ground. They moved into the master bedroom, and Mac opened up her jewelry box and traded the trendy chandelier earrings she was wearing for the diamond studs her uncle had given her a lifetime ago.
"Do you have his ring," Sarah asked.
She nodded, rifled around in her nightstand, and pulled out a blue leather box. "Got it." She handed it to Sarah, who tucked it in her purse and took one last look in the mirror. Her hair wasn't how she had planned, but it looked nice, thanks to the evening out, and her makeup wasn't exactly right, but overall, she was pleased with how she looked. She was ready.
"I'm ready," she said.
Thanks to the late hour, they were able to find street parking reasonably close to the memorial, and they piled out of the car and headed toward the wall. They were silent as they walked, and Mac noticed Trish reaching out every so often to brush her fingers over a name.
They finally approached the section Mac knew well by this point, and she took a deep breath when she saw three figures standing by the familiar panel. She didn't recognize the shorter, stockier man and assumed he must be the 24-hour officiant she had found online.
The officiant looked at Mac in her gown and smiled before tapping Harm on the shoulder. "I think she's here."
Harm turned away from the wall, his eyes widened just a bit, and he swallowed hard. He had known she'd look incredible in her wedding gown, but this was better than he could have ever imagined, and he moved to her.
"Hey," he said softly.
"Hi."
Her reached for her, placing his hands at the top of her ribcage, and moved them down her waist to rest on her hips. "Wow."
She beamed and reached up to run her fingers over the knot of his silver tie. "Wow, yourself."
He shook his head, unwilling to let her brush away his compliment so easily this time, and moved her hand away. "I'm serious, Mac. You look incredible." He placed his hands back on her waist and then to the small of her back, and he swallowed again when he felt her smooth skin. "Turn around," he said softly.
She did as he asked and slowly turned, showing him the back of her gown.
"God, Mac," he whispered reverently and ran a finger over the edge of the material and the first few buttons. "You're so beautiful."
She turned back to face him and smiled, her eyes starting to feel wet. "Thank you," she whispered.
"Thank you," he said, and her smile widened. He leaned in to kiss her, tilting her face up to his and then brushing his lips over hers. They pulled back, and he traced her cheek with the back of his finger and licked his lips. "Ready to get married?"
Mac let out a shaky breath and then nodded. "Oh yeah." They joined hands and joined the rest of their group. Frank leaned in to kiss her cheek while Trish and Sarah fussed over Harm and how handsome he looked in the navy suit he had gone home to change into. Frank introduced George, the officiant, to the women, and they took their places to begin.
Harm took her hands in his and only partially listened to what George was saying. He didn't need to hear the traditional wedding spiel. None of that extra stuff mattered. All that mattered was the vows they would recite. They had gone back and forth on whether or not they'd write their own vows, and they had initially decided against it. He loved her more than anything in the world, but he still struggled with expressing his feelings and imagined he always would. So, instead of adding any more stress to an already stressful time, they scoured the internet until they came across vows they felt would work for them, and he was relieved he had remembered the printout of the phrases they had chosen.
"Harm?" He glanced away from Mac and grinned at George. He guessed he hadn't been paying attention even partially.
"Sorry," he said and squeezed her hand.
"Would you like to repeat your vows to Sarah?"
He nodded and pulled two slips of paper out of his chest pocket. He handed one to her and looked down at the other. "I stand here with you as your partner, in love with who you are now and who you will be in the future. I pledge to listen, learn, support you, and care for you through all that happens in our lives. I will celebrate with you and mourn with you, being ever at your side. I will love you through good times and bad times for as long as we both shall live."
He heard sniffling from behind them, pressed his lips together, and tried to focus only on her.
"Sarah?"
Mac glanced at George for a second and then turned her attention back to Harm. She repeated the words but didn't need the notes, instead keeping her eyes fixed on him.
"Showoff," he said softly when she was finished, but everyone heard him, and they all laughed.
George grinned and looked at Harm. "Harm, do you take Sarah to be your wife? Do you promise to love, honor, cherish, and protect Sarah, forsaking all others and holding only unto her for the rest of your life?
He nods and bites his bottom lip. "I do."
"And Sarah," George says, turning to her, "Do you promise to love, honor, cherish, and protect Harm, forsaking all others and holding only unto him for the rest of your life?
"I do," she says, her voice soft but without any hesitation or uncertainty.
"Do you have rings," he asks. Harm nodded, pulled an elegant diamond band from his pocket, and held it up. He begins to talk about rings being a symbol of this journey they're about to embark on, and Harm tuned him out again. He held her hands and ran his finger around the skin at the base of her finger, itching to slide the ring on.
"Harm, place the ring on Sarah's left hand, and repeat after me." They were all silent as he slid the ring into place and brought her hand to his lips for a gentle kiss. "As a sign of my love and that I have chosen you above all else, with this ring, I thee wed."
He did as he was told and then gave her hand a gentle squeeze.
"Sarah?" Mac grinned as she pulled a heavy hammered wedding band from her thumb and slid it onto his finger. She ran her finger over the metal and stared at it in a daze. She's surprised at how right it looks on him. "Repeat after me…."
She says the same words, and once she's done and the words are out, she feels as if the weight of the world has left her shoulders. Nothing else matters anymore because Harm is her husband. He's finally her husband.
George beamed at both of them and shut his thin leather book. "And now, by the power vested in me by the state of Virginia, I pronounce you man and wife. Go forth and live each day to the fullest." He turns to Harm and nods. "You may kiss your new wife."
Harm didn't need to be told twice and pulled her close, crushing her against him. He meant for the kiss to be chaste, but she was finally, finally, his wife, and he couldn't contain himself, and they only pulled apart when his family began to clap and whistle.
He lowered his forehead to hers and let out a breath. "We're married," he whispered.
"We're married."
They signed the marriage license, with Trish and Frank as their witnesses, and then George rushed off, leaving the five of them standing by the wall. Frank had told them a room was reserved for them at the Ritz-Carlton and had given them each a big hug. He glanced at the wall and then at his wife and smiled softly. "I'm going to go start the car," he said. "I'll see you both in a little bit."
Trish nodded and gave him a soft kiss. "You don't need to go," she said.
"I know, but I want you all to have a moment." He smiled at her and then at Harm and Mac before walking away.
Trish and Sarah stood there silently for a moment, and then each woman took a turn approaching the wall and running their fingers over the familiar name. "You'd be so proud of our son," Trish said softly. "I miss you, darling." She then kissed her fingertips and touched his name again before stepping back and giving Sarah a moment.
Sarah didn't say anything; she just rubbed her fingers over the name repeatedly as her eyes filled with tears. Her boy. Her precious, precious boy. Then she stepped back and smiled at her family. "Thank you for including us," she said softly. "And him." Mac and Harm both nodded, and she gave them each a hug and a kiss. "I love you both so much."
Harm held her tight and kissed her cheek. "We love you too, Grams."
They stood there in silence for a moment, then headed to the cars and said their goodbyes. Trish and Sarah climbed into Frank's rental car, and Harm and Mac climbed into hers.
"You okay to drive," she asked as he started the wheel.
He nodded. "I'm good, I promise." He started the car and squeezed her hand. "Ready?"
"I'm ready." They were quiet as they made their way the two miles across town to the hotel. "It was nice of Frank to book us a room," she said.
"Yeah. Unnecessary since we have a big, empty house at home," he said and grinned, "but it was very nice of him." They pulled up to the hotel's valet stand, and Harm hopped out and gave the young man his keys in exchange for a ticket. He went around the car and opened Mac's door, and extended his hand to help his wife – his wife! – out. They held hands as they entered the grand hotel and approached the concierge. He smiled at the young woman and pulled his wallet out of his pocket. "Hi, we're checking in. Harm Rabb."
He handed over his ID, and the woman accepted it and smiled at the two of them before taping a few keys. "Got it. One week in the Presidential Suite."
Harm and Mac looked at one another, then Harm shook his head. "No, it's just supposed to be one night. My stepfather booked it."
She smiled again and nodded enthusiastically. "Yes, sir. Mr. Burnett booked the room for the entire week. He also told me you'd try to argue, but he wanted me to tell you that he's already paid for it, and if you two don't use it, the room will go to waste." She glanced at a notepad and then back at them. "He wants you to have an incredible, low-stress week." She held up the notepad to them, and they saw low-stress underlined. "He emphasized that part at least three times."
Mac laughed and shook her head, and Harm took the key card he was being handed. "Thank you," he said and put his ID back in his wallet.
"You're welcome." She beamed and leaned back in her chair. "Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Rabb."
It was the first time hearing those words, and they both felt a rush of excitement. Mac thanked her, and then Harm moved his hand to the small of her back and escorted her to the bank of elevators.
"Mrs. Rabb," she said softly as they rose to the top floor. "I like the way that sounds."
He nodded and moved closer to her, kissing her softly. "Have we even talked about that? Do you want to take my name?"
She bit her lip and shrugged. "I don't remember if we've talked about it. I've thought about it, though." She reached up to stroke his cheek, her thumbnail catching on his stubble. "I was thinking I'd hyphenate."
"Sounds perfect," he said, moving his mouth to hers again. "Sarah. MacKenzie. Rabb." Each name was punctuated with a gentle kiss, and she was vibrating with love and want by the time the elevator dinged at their floor.
They stepped off the elevator, and his hand moved to the small of her back again as they made their way to the suite. "Wow," he breathed as they stepped inside.
She shook her head as she sat her purse down and spun around. "You know, sometimes I forget how much money your parents have."
He laughed and shoved off his jacket. "I sometimes forget, too." He looks around and lets out a soft whistle. "This place is bigger than my old apartment."
"It is," she agreed. "Should we take a quick tour?"
His eyes moved over her, taking her in. "All I want to see is the bedroom." She smiled, and he kissed her before slowly backing her through the open areas of the suite to what had to be the bedroom. He flicked on the light and grinned when he saw a bouquet of roses on the nightstand and a silver tray of chocolate-covered strawberries resting on the edge of the bed.
"This is beautiful," she said.
"You're beautiful," he said. She blushed, and he moved close. "So beautiful." He ran his hands over the low-cut neckline and then down the bodice. "I'm so happy I'll see you in this dress twice."
She smiled and turned her back to be him. "Be gentle taking it off."
"I will," he promised, and he began to unbutton the functional buttons. Once he reached the last one, he moved his hands to her straps and slid the material off her shoulders. The material pooled to the floor, and she carefully stepped over the crisp white material. He picked the dress up, gently laid it over a chair, and then turned back to her.
She looked down at her simple and decidedly unsexy flesh-colored panties. "Next time you take that dress off me, I promise I'll have something more exciting underneath."
He pushed her to the bed and grinned when the back of her thighs hit the mattress. "You know I don't need exciting lingerie," he said. His voice was thick, and his eyes darkened as he pushed her onto the mattress and tugged off the panties. He pushed her thighs apart and lowered himself to his knees before arranging her legs over his shoulders. "Guess what," he said, teasing her with one finger.
"What?"
He smiled and pushed his finger into her before pressing his thumb against her clit. "I'm about to make my wife come for the first time."
She gasped as she began to rock against his hand. "Say it again," she breathed.
He shook his head and pulled his hand back. "There are better things I can do with my mouth," and then he covered her with his lips and gave her a long, slow lick that made her nearly lift off the mattress.
End Part Twenty-Seven