Ch08 of "Bringing up babies with Harm": "A birth in 2004"

A/N: AU. This is a fictional story, in a fictional Alternative Universe, about fictional characters who entertained us in a fictional TV series between 1995 and 2005. Mike. Characters borrowed with love and appreciation for the great team who brought us "JAG"; may your following careers blossom.

A/N: AU: "they aren't mine: I'm just playing with them - apart from any fictional character created by myself". See Ch01 of this story for the whole disclaimer A/N. Feel free to PM me if you spot any typos - my goal is 100% error-free. Feedback and comments are also welcome. Your opinions, critiques (and requests as PMs) are always helpful - and will be considered.

A/N: Publication date: 19-SEP-2023: summary: Christmas 2003 sees Harm propose – and Carolyn accept (or do they marry on Christmas Eve 2003 to commemorate Senior? Birth 06APR20-04. Mike, UK, 19-09-2023.

Update 19-SEP-2023: My wife and I continued to support two sets of friends who are dealing with terminal prognoses (see Ch07 A/N). This will, perforce, constrain my output until (we reckon) the end of 2023. I definitely *will* update every story which is currently unfinished, but updates will be fewer and farther between. As you may have seen, I shall pop out the occasional one-shot, as time allows and inspiration sparks.

A/N – link to Canon Episodes: nothing springs to mind.

Characters from FFNET – H Rabb; Carolyn Imes-Rabb: Jen Coates; RAdm AJ Chegwidden: plus others, TBD as my storyline grows.

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Ch08 of "Bringing up babies with Harm": "A birth in 2004"

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Sunday 21st December 2003, 12:00hrs (noon) EDT

Apartment of Harmon Rabb and Carolyn Imes, North of Union station, Washington DC, United States

Earlier in December - as part of marking the anniversary of the Japanese Sunday morning attack on Pearl Harbour in 1941 - Harm had caught up with Jack Keeter.

Keeter was acting as a more-active "sounding board" for Harm these days, with Harm's progression to fatherhood being somewhat mirrored by his USNA buddy's progression in his relationship with Katherine.

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It was becoming increasingly clear that Jack Keeter was on the path to domestic harmony – and that he was clearly realising the fact and enjoying the new experience and accepting the new reality. Katherine had managed to single-handedly achieve what no previous woman in Jack Keeter's life had achieved – making him think long-term about settling down.

Although Jack had not suffered anything like the tragic hammer-blow of Diane Schonke's unnecessary slaughter, his CIA exploits had begun to take their toll on his life-long confidence in longevity.

A few weeks earlier, he and Katherine had spent another weekend together and they had watched the original 1985 film "Highlander". Listening to the haunting theme tune of "Who wants to live forever?", Jack had found himself wondering whether Freddie Mercury had known at that point that he was dying. Then he had looked down at Katherine, snuggled in his arms - and thanked the Lord for this woman's presence in his life. Escaping the Webb-created SNAFU in Paraguay had given Jack a new view on life - a life which he intended to grasp for all it was worth.

He knew, right there and then, that Katherine was his future.

The flightpath towards marriage and marital bliss was clearly aligning rapidly, as Katherine had been spotted wearing a diamond engagement ring – on the correct finger – when the four of them had previously met up to discuss progress on the Rabb-Imes baby project earlier in November.

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Life was progressing smoothly for Harmon Rabb and Carolyn Imes, together with their friends.

Then Jack leaned across the table: "Hey buddy, how about a joint wedding?"

It would be a close debate as to which lady felt most aggrieved!

In the end, it was Katherine's airline-professional sang-froid which probably just edged Carolyn's flame-haired surprise!

She turned to Jack, lovingly caressing his hair as she composed her response.

"Hey buster, I love you dearly, but I am *not* getting pregnant just to marry you!"

All four friends chuckled, as Carolyn leaned into Harm and snuggled closer.

Harm closed the discussion, acting as the peacemaker: "Hey Jack, quit while you're behind!"

But at the back of his mind, a thought had sparked.

He would be bringing up the child (and maybe future children) with Carolyn.

So why delay their wedding any longer?

Harm – with Carolyn's approval – brought forward the wedding and they were married on the Saturday before before Christmas, at the Rabb family farm in Pennsylvania. They drove back home on the Sunday morning, ready to spend their first married Christmas together.

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Monday 4th January 2004, 08:08hrs EDT

Office of Adm. AJ Chegwidden, Main office floor, JAG HQ, Falls Church, VA United States

"Commander Rabb, welcome back from your honeymoon: how is your husband coping, now that he is officially your support mechanism for the birth?"

Carolyn smiled, slightly, adjusting her position in the Admiral's armchair. "Well sir, he is beginning to realise that, because I am now into my final trimester, he is going to need to do even more running around – of necessity now, rather than out of kindness last year."

She placed her hand in the small of her back. "I could imagine that I am carrying twins, but we are both learning lessons from this first pregnancy. Anyhow sir, my workload is still fine (as are my energy levels) and I am enjoying the experiences. Obviously, my mobility is slowing up a bit, as one would expect."

She frowned.

"Admiral, is anything amiss?"

"Oh no, Commander Rabb - and I just wanted to practice saying that to the former Commander Carolyn Imes." He smiled – and Carolyn picked up on the humour, chuckling gently.

"Well in that case sir - and by your leave - I shall start waddling towards the Conference Room so that I shall be ready for Staff call."

"Agreed, Commander – and Carolyn?"

She turned, eyebrow raised, at his uncommon term of address.

"Sir?"

"Keep your husband motivated: we have high hopes for him in future years – as well as yourself."

"As do I Admiral. As do I."

Carolyn turned away from the Admiral and resumed her slow and stately progress towards the conference room. As she reached out for the door handle, she smiled at the sparkles which emanated from her engagement ring, which was now fully at home alongside her wedding band.

January and February would pass quickly, with Carolyn staying healthy and active until she commenced her maternity leave in late March. All the indicators were that she had about two weeks left of her pregnancy.

Of course, only the baby truly knows the timetable!

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Sunday 4th April 2004, 02:23hrs EDT

Apartment of Harmon Rabb and Carolyn Imes, North of Union station, Washington DC, United States

"Harm? Wake up Harm?"

"Wazzamarra?"

Deep in slumber, Harm was barely surfacing.

"COMMANDER RABB, SNAP TO!"

Harm awoke with a start; his wife's elbow was registering regular impacts to his rib cage.

"OK Carolyn, I'm here."

"Good – my waters just broke". Carolyn had been at home for two weeks since commencing her maternity leave and she was glad to be moving on to the final stage.

Harm could never remember the drive across to the hospital and he was a little hazy on the details of the multi-hour labour which Carolyn undertook, in order to bring their first child into the world.

He was, however, very proud to introduce the next member of the Rabb family to Bud and Harriet, later that day:

"Anastasia Rosemary Patricia Rabb, born 09:15hrs, Sunday 4th April 2004."

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End of Ch08 of "Bringing up babies with Harm": "A birth in 2004".

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Mike: UK, 19-09-2023