TITLE:  “Blessed with Love” 
AUTHORS: Anne [amrsecret@yahoo.com] and Pat Steiner [SSbpmn@aol.com]
SUMMARY:  A continuation of the “Blessings” series which began with 
“Thanksgiving Blessings”, followed by “Christmas Blessings”.  “Blessed with Love” 
commemorates Valentines Day.
DISCLAIMER:  JAG belongs to CBS et al.  No copyright infringement is intended.  
The following is for entertainment only.
AUTHORS’ NOTE:  As we always do with our work, we ask that you respect our 
efforts.  Thanks.  Our readers are the best!

 
 Friday, January 12th
 JAG HQ
 1:00 PM EST
 
 Mac smiled as she looked down at the ring on her left finger again. Harm's 
 ring. After all those months of wearing Mic's ring, the right one was 
 finally in place. She hadn't been expecting Harm's proposal on Christmas 
 Eve, and she still had a hard time believing this was real. The years of 
 waiting were finally over. She and Harm would be getting married in exactly 
 4 weeks. A momentary wave of panic swept over her as she realized there was 
 still so much to do before the big day. Even though they were having a 
 simple country wedding in Belleville, there was still plenty to worry about. 
 And with Harm having been out of town all week with Bud at the sub base in 
 Bangor, Washington for an investigation, she'd been left to take care of 
 things. She'd been on the phone nearly every night with Grams making sure 
 everything was arranged in Belleville. Grams had seen to the arrangements 
 with the church, and Pastor Jacob had been more than happy to preside 
 over the ceremony.  Grams and her ladies of the church were going to prepare 
 the luncheon that would immediately follow the ceremony, so Mac didn't have 
 to worry about the caterer. It had been exciting working on all the plans 
 with Grams, but she'd wanted to do all this with Harm. And she missed him. 
 She'd gotten very used to the feel of his arms around her at night, and it 
 suddenly seemed so cold sleeping alone. She was hoping he would be back for 
 the long weekend, especially since he'd promised to take Brandon to the 
 basketball game on Monday.
 
 "Any word from them yet, ma'am"
 
 Mac looked up to see Harriet at her door.
 
 "No, I was just going to call you and see if you've heard from Bud yet."
 
 "No" Harriet sighed. "I hope this means they're not going to be stuck there 
 all weekend."
 
 "If they do, I'm going to kidnap you and little AJ for the weekend" Mac 
 smiled. "I'm going crazy by myself."
 
 "Yes, and I bet you're going crazy trying to get things arranged for the 
 wedding right?"
 
 "Actually Grams has been a big help," Mac admitted. "She's taken care of 
 arranging everything up there. My biggest problem is finding a dress. I 
 stopped at one of the bridal stores the other night but everything is so 
 over done. Harm and I really want this to be simple."
 
 "I'd be happy to go out looking with you tomorrow" Harriet offered. "As long 
 as you don't mind little AJ coming along with us."
 
 "I'd love the company. Thanks Harriet."
 
 "I still can't believe you two are actually getting married" Harriet beamed. 
 "Course we all knew from the start you two belonged together. We just 
 wondered when you were going to figure it out."
 
 "We're a little slow" Mac smiled.
 
 "Well I'm just happy to see you two together. And if you need any help at 
 all with anything, let me know."
 
 Mac's phone rang and she reached to answer it.
 
 "Colonel Mackenzie"
 
 "Miss me yet" The sound of Harm's voice brought a smile to her face.
 
 "More than you know sailor" Mac said softly and Harriet smiled as she walked 
 out of Mac's office. "There's not much to be said for sleeping alone."
 
 "I know what you mean" Harm sighed.
 
 "How's it going out there? Please tell me you're coming home soon."
 
 "It's not going to be today, unfortunately. I'm hoping we can get everything 
 wrapped up and get out of here by tomorrow night. I'd at least like to have 
 some of the weekend with you."
 
 "Me too. And remember we've got plans with Mollie and Brandon on Monday 
 since we're off."
 
 "I hadn't forgotten. Were you able to get the tickets for the basketball 
 game?"
 
 "Done. And Mollie and I are going to going to go see 102 Dalmatians while 
 you and Brandon are at the game."
 
 "Sounds like my marine has taken care of everything as usual. How's the 
 wedding plans coming?"
 
 "Grams has been wonderful. She called last night and everything is all set 
 at her end. Reverend Campbell is happy to perform the ceremony and the 
 luncheon afterwards is being taken care of by the ladies from the church."
 
 "See I knew you could handle it without me."
 
 "Yeah, but I wish you were here. It’s not much fun planning a wedding by 
 yourself" Mac sighed.
 
 "Trust me, I'd much rather be with you than Bud" Harm replied. "But I've got 
 to run."
 
 "Promise you'll call tonight when we can talk."
 
 "It'll be late. You sure you're going to be up."
 
 "For you, I think I can arrange it" Mac smiled.
 
 "I love you" Harm said softly.
 
 "I love you too"
 
 Not looking forward to another night of frozen dinners, Mac called for a 
 pizza and picked it up on her way home. She missed Harm than she'd imagined 
 she would, and hopefully he would be home tomorrow night like he promised. 
 After dinner she decided to call Maggie and make sure everything was all set 
 for Monday. Since they'd gotten back from Belleville, they'd only had a 
 chance to briefly talk to Maggie and set up Monday with her.
 
 "Hi Maggie, it's Mac" she said when Maggie answered.
 
 "Hi Mac" Maggie said quickly. "Can I call you back later? Now's not really a 
 good time."
 
 Mac could here a man's voice yelling in the background and she guessed that 
 Maggie's husband must have come back to town.
 
 "Maggie is everything okay?" Mac asked. "Do you want me to call the police?"
 
 "No, I can handle Ken" Maggie said quietly. "But do you think you might be 
 able to come and take Mollie and Brandon out for a little bit."
 
 "Of course" Mac replied. "I'll be over in about a half hour."
 
 "Thanks Mac, I really appreciate this"
 
 Mac threw on a pair of sweats and a USMC sweatshirt and hurried off to 
 Maggie's house. The idea that Mollie and Brandon were being subjected to 
 their father's tirade didn't set well with her, and she hoped that things 
 weren't as bad as they'd sounded. A short time later she pulled up in front 
 of the small home and as she stepped out of the car, she could hear the 
 yelling and screaming from the street and hurried to the door. Maggie's 
 elderly neighbor stuck her head out the door when she saw Mac approach.
 
 "I've already called the police" the older woman reported. "He's been 
 carrying on like that for the past few hours. I don't know how soon they'll 
 get here but they said they'd send someone."
 
 "Thanks" Mac said as she took a deep breath before knocking on the door.
 
 A very upset Maggie opened the door a crack a few seconds later.
 
 "Mollie and Brandon will be out in a second" Maggie whispered. "It's 
 probably best that you don't come in. Ken will…" She was cut off as the door 
 suddenly swung open and a very drunk man stood staring at Mac.
 
 "Who the hell are you?" he demanded.
 
 "Ken, she's just a friend who's going to take Mollie and Brandon for the 
 night so we can talk" Maggie said as she tried to pull him away from the 
 door.
 
 "Nice car you got" he said looking past Mac at her Vette. "When did you 
 start hanging out with the rich folk Maggie?"
 
 "Mac, I'm sorry," Maggie said apologizing quickly as Brandon and Mollie 
 appeared. It was obvious that the two children were frightened and upset and 
 Maggie quickly pushed them out the door to Mac. "I'll be by later to pick 
 them up. I really appreciate this."
 
 "Why don't you two wait in the car for me?" Mac suggested to the two 
 children. "I'll be right out after I talk to your mom."
 
 "You two listen to Mac and don't give her any trouble" Maggie said firmly. 
 "I'll come and pick you up later."
 
 "Yes, mom" the two children said in unison before heading to Mac's car.
 
 "Where are Mollie and Brandon going?" Ken demanded as he watched the two 
 children climb into Mac's car.  "Why are you sending my children away?"
 
 "Because you're drunk and yelling and carrying on," Maggie shouted. "And all 
 you're doing is scaring them."
 
 "They're my kids, dammit" he shouted. "You're turning them against me aren't 
 you. That's why they're scared of me." Before Mac could react, his hand 
 reached out and smacked Maggie across the face hard, sending her into the 
 wall. Before he could raise his hand again to strike Maggie, Mac quickly 
 intercepted, and grabbed his arm, yanking it hard behind his back as she 
 shoved him against the wall.
 
 "Mac, please don't" Maggie pleaded. "It's okay."
 
 "No Maggie, it's not okay," Mac said firmly. "You don't deserve this."
 
 "You bitch you'd better let me go" Ken yelled. "You're sticking your nose in 
 something that ain't your business and you're going to be sorry."

"Better men than you have threatened me," Mac hissed into his ear.  "I'm a Marine 
and I'm a lawyer and you've just bought yourself a peck of trouble mister."

"Now who's threatening who?" Ken demanded.  "Let me go so we can talk about 
things."

"The only thing we have to discuss is how fast you're going to get your butt out 
this door.  And if you ever come around here like this again, I'll arrest you myself 
and I won't be particularly gentle."

"There you go with those threats again.  Let me go."  He jerked his arm violently, 
and this time lifted his leg.  The combination of moves was enough to throw Mac 
off balance and she fell backwards, her temple striking hard the sharp corner of 
the coffee table.  

Maggie screamed as Mac lay semi upright, trying to get her bearings after such a 
blow.  "Now I'm going to take care of both of you," Ken roared, reaching for Mac.  
His hands closed around her throat as if he was demon-possessed and two fat 
thumbs clamped down hard on her airway.

"Ken stop you'll kill her," Maggie shrieked and a second later the room was filled 
with the flashing red and blue lights of a police patrol car coming through the big 
picture window in front.

"This isn't over," Ken growled, releasing her and sprinting out through the back 
just as the police pounded the front door.  "Police open up."

Maggie stood and staggered to the door, holding her cheek where Ken had 
smacked her.  She swung the door open, taking a moment to be sure Mollie and 
Brandon were safe in Mac's car  before she hurried to her side, at the same time 
shouting, "My ex did this, he went out the back."

The male officer took off after him while the woman knelt next to Mac.  "I'll radio 
an ambulance."

"Oh thanks, but not needed," Mac panted.  "Nothing an ice bag and some Tylenol 
won't take care of.  Maggie you need to bring the kids inside though."  

Maggie nodded and hurried out while Mac accepted the woman officer's 
assistance to rise and sit in the nearest chair.  "I want to take out a warrant for that 
man's arrest," she said firmly, despite the croaking quality of her voice in the 
aftermath of Ken's attempt to strangle her.  "I witnessed his assault on Ms. 
Humphries and of course he attacked me as well."

Officer Lang wrote furiously as Mac detailed the evening.  At the same time she 
kept an eye on the back door, awaiting her partner's return and Mac smiled to 
herself.  Been there done that.

About fifteen minutes later, the object of Lang's worry reappeared at the door.  
"Lost him."

"I'm not surprised," Maggie said softly as she handed Mac an ice filled wash cloth 
for the growing lump on her head.  "He grew up on these streets.  He could be just 
about anywhere and you wouldn't know it, especially in the dark."

"We're going to make some extra sweeps through this area tonight then," Officer 
Gill nodded.  "In the meantime, lock up good and keep the kids close, but I doubt 
he'll be back."

Maggie leaned close to the man, noting that the kids were busily examining Lang's 
radio.  "If Ken said he wasn't finished, he means it.  The best we can hope is that 
he's so drunk that he'll go somewhere and sleep it off and won't remember this."  

"OK," Gill nodded.  "We'll do our best.  Remember both of you have to appear 
before the magistrate in the morning to complete the paperwork or we won't be 
able to hold him if we do find him."

"We'll be there," Mac said firmly.  "This man is not going to be allowed to terrorize 
this family.  I grew up like this and I won't allow....never mind.  Just find him 
please."

The officers left and Maggie took the ice cloth from Mac to replenish it.  "You've 
got quite a knot there.  You really should go down to the ER.  Oh Mac I am so 
sorry, so sorry that you got involved in my problems like this.  Normally I can 
handle Ken, but he was so drunk and so upset.  I think he was high on drugs too, 
maybe PCP.  It wouldn't be the first time."

"Well he's messed with the wrong Marine this time," she smiled slightly, her hand 
to her throat as she realized how badly she was sounding.

"I saw that movie too," Maggie smiled.  "But this is no movie."

"No it's not," Mac agreed, "but I am going to see it end."

"You'll stay here tonight then," Maggie said firmly.  "At least don't try to drive 
home.  What if you get dizzy or something."

"Oh please Mac," Mollie begged, her fright fading in the light of having her friend 
stay over.

"OK I can do that.  We'll make some popcorn and put on a movie.  I'll call Harm 
and tell him where I am."

"That man does love you," Maggie smiled.  "You know how lucky you are don't 
you?"

"I remind myself of it every hour on the hour," she answered, looking down at the 
ring.  "And it wasn't that long ago we didn't think it was going to happen.  I had 
foolishly considered marrying someone else."

"Brandon get Mac the phone so she can call Harm," Maggie ordered.  Mac dialed 
both his room and his cell.  No answer in the room and the cell was on voice mail.  
"Hi Harm.  I'm staying tonight at Maggie's instead--change of plans.  I love you."  
She knew Harm had Maggie's number in his cell and she clicked off.

"You didn't tell him what happened," Brandon pointed out.  "You lied."

"Brandon," Maggie corrected sharply.

"No I didn't," Mac said with a smile, "but I didn't lie either.  I just didn't tell him 
something that's going to worry him is all."

It was nearly 1AM before Harm called, and when she answered her cell phone 
from her makeshift bed on the sofa it was through the fog of sleep and her voice 
had grown even more scratchy.

"Mac what the hell's going on there?  Why are you at Maggie's and why do you 
sound like hell?"

"Hello Harm," she smiled into the phone, trying to divert his concern.  "I'm glad you 
called. I miss you.  And I'm sleepy is all."  She held her breath, hoping her voice 
would not betray her.  They were nearly three thousand miles apart, and having 
him worry about her was pointless, though at that moment she longed for his arms 
around her.

"I want to know what's wrong."

"Harm something does not have to be wrong all the time," Mac pointed out, trying 
to keep the edge out of her voice.  "I'm simply tired.  You know I don't wake up 
well.  Remember the night before you left?"

"Yes I have the cracked rib to remind me," he teased.  "OK Sarah.  I just wanted 
to know I just had to know you were OK, and besides I promised I'd call."

"OK, I'm fine and I miss you so much," she whispered.  "Now tell me you're OK 
please. You sound tired."

"I'm OK," he mimicked, "and I am tired, but remember it's only 2200 out here.  
Actually Bud and I are on our way out again.  We're meeting someone and that 
may be the end of this.  I'll call you when I know, hopefully with the news that 
we're on our way home."

A cold shudder went through her at the notion of him meeting someone at night.  
"Harm please, please be careful.  I need you.  Moreover I love you."  Her voice 
took on a slight wail despite her best effort to control it.

"Hey where's that coming from?" he asked softly.  "You know I will be.  And I love 
you too honey, very very much.  OK, Bud is waving frantically and we have to go.  
I love you.  Sleep well."

"Harm call me here at Maggie's as soon as you're back," she whispered.  "I love 
you."  Harm clicked off from his end and Mac sank back onto the sofa, feeling his 
absence more keenly that she had all week.  She finally fell back to sleep, the cell 
phone still in her hand.
=========================================
"Mac, Mac wake up."  Mollie's excited voice came into her ear and she opened 
her eyes slowly, squinting against the bright sun that now flooded the room.

"I'm awake sweetie, what's up?"  She groaned and sat up slowly, her voice still not 
back to normal, and her headache having increased in intensity.  

"That's up."  Mollie pointed to Brandon, standing with the cordless house phone at 
arm's length, and even at that distance, she could hear the unmistakable sound of 
Harm panic.

"Brandon told him about last night, how you got hurt and all," Mollie smiled, her 
eyes as big as saucers.  "I think he's yelling because he needs to know you're 
OK."

"I'm sure that's it," Mac smiled.  "Bring me the phone Brandon, but I wonder why 
he didn't call me on my cell..."  She had the answer to that a moment later when 
she looked at the now dead item in question in her lap.  Obviously in her 
sleepiness, she had not clicked off on her end, giving Harm nothing but a busy 
signal when he dialed it.

"Mac Harm wants to talk to you.  I was telling him about last night, how you stood 
right up to my dad."  Brandon held the phone out to her urgently, Harm's voice 
coming through clearly demanding to speak to her.


 

 "Harm" Mac started but was quickly cut off.
 
 "Mac, why didn't you tell me what happened last night?" Harm yelled. "You 
 didn't think it was necessary to tell me that Maggie's husband had come back 
 and was terrorizing her and the kids and that you decided to take on a man 
 high on alcohol and drugs."
 
 "Harm, calm down" Mac pleaded. "It wasn't that bad."
 
 "From what Brandon told me it was pretty bad. You got knocked out and god 
 knows what else you're not telling me. "
 
 "Harm, I'm fine. I bumped my head on the coffee table is all."
 
 "I don’t suppose you went to the ER and had it checked did you?" Harm 
 demanded.
 
 "It's just a little bump" Mac sighed as she rubbed her aching head. "I'll be 
 fine after a few Tylenol."
 
 "Why do I get the feeling you're not telling me everything?" Harm 
 questioned. "Mac, I want to know everything that happened last night."
 
 She was silent for a moment as she tried to figure out how to tell him what 
 had happened. She knew he was going to go ballistic when he found out.
 
 "Harm, can we discuss this later please" Mac said finally. "I've got a 
 headache that won't quit and Maggie and I need to get down to the magistrate 
 so that the police can hold him when they finally find him."
 
 "You mean they didn't arrest him yet?" Harm screamed. "Mac, I don't like you 
 being there. If he comes back.."
 
 "Harm, I'm not leaving Maggie alone" Mac said firmly. "You know I can't do 
 that."
 
 "Fine, I'm on my way home then" Harm replied. "I was calling to let you know 
 that Bud and I got our man last night. I was going to finish some paperwork 
 after I grabbed a few hours sleep and then come back sometime tonight. But 
 I'll get Bud to finish the paperwork and I'm going to see when the first 
 flight out of here is."
 
 "Harm, you don't have to do that. I can handle this. You've got to be 
 exhausted from being up all night. Get some sleep and finish things up. I'll 
 see you tonight."
 
 "No, I'm leaving now" Harm said stubbornly. "Bud can handle it from here. 
 I'll call you when I get to the airport and find a flight."
 
 "You really don't have to do this."
 
 "I don't want you handling this on your own. You don't know what this man is 
 capable of. I don't want anything to happen to you. I love you very much 
 remember."
 
 "I love you too"
 
 "Promise me you'll be careful today" Harm pleaded. "And if he comes back, 
 don't take him on this time. My god Mac, what if he'd had a gun or knife? 
 You could have been killed. Just promise me if he shows up again you'll call 
 the police and let them handle it."
 
 "I promise" Mac said softly.
 
 "I love you and I'll call you later."
 
 Mac hung up with the phone with a sigh and looked up to see Maggie standing 
 in the doorway from the kitchen.
 
 "I'm sorry Mac" Maggie started. "I shouldn't have told you to come over last 
 night. I guess Harm was pretty upset when he found out what happened."
 
 "He's a little protective," Mac said giving her a small smile. "But he 
 doesn't know everything that happened. I didn't want to get into it with him 
 over the phone."
 
 "He loves you a lot. That's why he's so protective. And I don't want you 
 keeping secrets from him because of me. If you don't tell him exactly what 
 happened last night, I will."
 
 "I'm going to tell him. I just didn't want to worry him anymore than he 
 already was."
 
 "How's your head?" Maggie asked. "You look like you could use a few more 
 Tylenol."
 
 "Yes, please" Mac sighed as she rubbed her forehead. "And I think a hot 
 shower wouldn't hurt either."
 
 "Why don't we follow you back to your place?" Maggie suggested. "I'd feel 
 more comfortable if I could keep an eye on you."
 
 "You're still going to the magistrate aren't you?" Mac questioned and Maggie 
 quickly looked away to avoid Mac's gaze.  "Maggie, you can't let him get 
 away with this."
 
 "Mac, I don't know if I can do this" Maggie whispered as the tears started 
 to fall. "What if I press charges and they find him not guilty? He'll just 
 come back and be more upset than he was this time."
 
 "Maggie, you have to press charges" Mac insisted. "If you don't, you'll be 
 living in fear the rest of your life. Do you want that?"
 
 "No" Maggie cried. "But I don't know if I can do this. I know you don't 
 understand and I'm sorry to have gotten you mixed up in all this."
 
 "On the contrary, I understand completely" Mac said quietly. "Maggie, I 
 wasn't always the tough marine you see today. The marines helped me to 
 become what I am, but I wasn't always like this. Like everyone else, I have 
 a past too."
 
 For the next hour, Maggie listened as Mac explained her abusive childhood, 
 her teenage alcoholic years and her disastrous first marriage that ended in 
 murder. If Maggie was shocked by anything Mac told her, she kept it to 
 herself.
 
 "You didn't have to tell me all this" Maggie said finally. "But if anything, 
 I'm just even more impressed with Sarah Mackenzie than I was before."
 
 "I want you to know that I understand where you're coming from," Mac said 
 quietly. "And that I'm not just saying it. I mean it."
 
 "Thank you" Maggie said with a sniffle.
 
 "So are we going to go to the magistrate and press charges?" Mac prodded. 
 "Maggie, come on."
 
 "All right" Maggie whispered. "But Mac, I'm so scared."
 
 "Harm and I won't let anything happen to you" Mac said vehemently. "We 
 promised you we'd help and we're going to."
 
 A few hours later they signed the paperwork officially pressing charges 
 against Ken Humphries for assault and attempted murder.
 
 "It's going to be okay," Mac said softly as she gave Maggie's hand a quick 
 squeeze.
 
 Her cell phone rang just as she'd finished signing her papers and Mac 
 quickly answered it.
 
 "Hello"
 
 "Hi it's me. How are you?" The sound of his voice was like music to her ears 
 and she headed to a quiet corner to talk.
 
 "I'm okay. Where are you?"
 
 "The airport in Seattle. My flight is leaving in a few minutes so I don't 
 have long to talk. I just wanted to give you the flight info and see how you 
 were."
 
 "I'm fine," Mac said softly. "We're just finishing up the filing of the 
 formal charges."
 
 "Did they find him yet?"
 
 "No, unfortunately not" Mac sighed. "And Maggie's scared to death. I had to 
 convince her to come down and do this. She wasn't going to press charges."
 
 "I'm glad I decided to come home right away. I hope Harriet will understand 
 why Bud's stuck out there for another day."
 
 "Oh no" Mac groaned. "I completely forgot about Harriet. We were supposed to 
 go looking for my wedding dress today."
 
 "I think you can do that another day. I want you taking it easy. In fact, I 
 can just grab a cab from the airport back to your place so you don't have to 
 come out."
 
 "Harmon David Rabb don't you dare start babying me" Mac said irritably. "Now 
 just give me your flight info so I can pick you up."
 
 "I'm not babying you I’m just worried about you" Harm countered.
 
 "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to snap at you like that" Mac sighed. "I'm just 
 tired and worn out from everything. But I really want to pick you up 
 tonight. I miss you, you know."
 
 "That's why I'm coming home now," Harm said softly. "And I miss you too."
 
 He gave her the flight info and they exchanged I love you's and good-byes 
 before Mac finally hung up. Remembering Harriet, she quickly dialed her 
 number, apologizing prophetically for forgetting to call her. But little AJ 
 was coming down with a cold and Harriet had been happy not to have to drag 
 him out anyway. They made plans to try again during the week and after Mac 
 hung up, she looked around for Maggie and the kids.

She gave a sigh of relief when she saw them, the kids being aptly entertained by 
the desk sergeant.  "Maggie those are great kids," she smiled.  "I hope to have a 
set just like them someday."

"Yeah well there are days when I'd sell them to you no questions asked," Maggie 
smiled.  "But Ken...well he wasn't always like this.  He had straightened up after 
high school--did four years with the Army, and came back a changed man. We got 
married and for the first few years things were good.  And then he started hanging 
out with some of those old high school guys again, drinking more and working 
less;  and even then we were managing OK, but he got into drugs too.  PCP 
mostly.  And that made him violent and then all the love I ever felt for him 
vanished.  I'd still like him to have a good relationship with the kids, but only if he 
cleans up his act; otherwise I'll raise them alone."

Mac smiled in admiration for the younger woman's courage and determination.  
"Maggie, you and these kids aren't alone any more.  You have Harm and me.  
And someday you may meet a guy who wants a family like the three of you."

"Thank you Sarah," she smiled.  "You're a good friend.  And right now I know your 
head is hurting.  Let's go back to your place for the afternoon before you're due to 
pick up that soon to be husband of yours."   

"That does seem like a good idea," Mac nodded.  "Maybe some McDonalds and a 
couple videos for the kids."
=============================================
Mac's Apartment
1300 Hrs EST

With the kids settled in front of a movie and enjoying Happy Meals, Maggie 
installed Mac on the sofa and made her some tea to finish off her lunch.  "Maggie 
stop fussing please, I'm fine.  In fact after the kids enjoy their videos I thought we'd 
walk down to the park.  It's not that cold and they'd enjoy the air,  as would I."

"You really do like kids don't you," Maggie smiled.  

Mac blushed. "Yeah, yeah I do.  I'm hoping Harm and I start...well I don't plan on 
using anything...I mean..."  She stopped speaking and blushed further.

"Well maybe the good Lord has already blessed you," Maggie smiled again.

"Not unless he's doing another miracle," Mac laughed lightly.  "Actually Harm and I 
are waiting."

"For what?" Maggie gasped before it hit her.  "You're waiting for the wedding 
night?  Are you serious?"

"I know that's not normally how things are done nowadays."  Mac laughed again.  
"But somehow it just evolved like that.  The night Harm asked me to marry him, on 
Christmas eve, we were in his old room at his Gram's house and not only did it not 
feel right, but we didn't feel.."  She shrugged.  "I guess we didn't seem to need 
that.  It was already special.  And now, we spend the nights together but we're..."  
She shrugged again.  "Just waiting."

"I don't think it's silly at all."  Maggie recovered.  "I think it's totally romantic and 
sweet."

Mac blushed more deeply.  "Well I've waited a long time to have this man in my 
life.  I can wait a few weeks to have all of him."
==============================================
"Wow oh wow," Brandon shrieked when he saw the park to which Mac had taken 
them.  There was an acre of swings, slides and all kinds of climbing equipment.

Mac frowned as the two children tore off to explore.  "Maggie, this is a city park.  
Your neighborhood has them doesn't it?"

"Oh sure," she answered softly.  "On a corner lot, with a few beat up swings, 
covered with broken glass and used syringes, and gang graffiti on the fence.  My 
kids don't play in my neighborhood Sarah.  There's nothing there for them but 
mean streets."  She sniffled slightly and held her head up high.  "These kids are 
going to school and to college and they're going to make something of their lives."

"Yes they are," Mac sniffled as well, vowing within herself at that moment that she 
and Harm would see to that.

What she did not see was the man in the navy blue hooded sweatshirt, watching 
them from the trees a few hundred feet away.  Kenneth Humphries knew the 
police were looking for him.  They had already been by his apartment his room 
mate had told him.  Now all he could do was pray the bus station was not being 
watched, and he would be out of the city as soon as possible, but first he had 
some unfinished business to take care of.
=================================================
DULLES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
1750 HRS EST

Mac held her breath as the big DC 10 rolled to the gate.  She had been waiting an 
hour in her anxiousness to see him.  To go a week without the man she cherished 
was agony.  She had stayed at the playground a while with Maggie and the kids, 
dropped them off at home, and then headed out to the airport, wishing his flight 
would be early, but naturally it wasn't.

It was a very anxious Marine who spotted a tall dark haired Sailor coming up the 
jetway and a second later she was in his arms.  "I missed you so much," she 
whispered, her mouth to his ear.  

"No more than I missed you," he returned and looked around the fast emptying 
gate area.  "And this hug is wonderful but I'm afraid I need a lot more than that."  
He took her aside a few yards and then his mouth found hers  in a long kiss. 

"I needed that too," she whispered when they broke apart, and it was then, with 
her neck turned up for a repeat, that he clearly saw the bruises left by the fingers 
of Ken Humphries.

"You want to tell me about your neck please?"  There was an exaggerated calm in 
his voice which she had heard many times before, particularly when he was 
questioning someone on the stand.

 
 
 "Not here" Mac pleaded, knowing he wasn't going to take hearing this very 
 well. "When we get home, I promise"
 
 The ride was in silence and as soon as they were in her apartment Harm led 
 her to the couch and sat her down.
 
 "Okay, we're home. Now I want to hear everything that happened last night. I 
 want to know how you got those bruises on your neck. "
 
 With her hand tightly wrapped around his, she told him everything that had 
 happened, how Ken Humphries had knocked her down and then grabbed her 
throat 
 as he'd attempted to strangle her.
 
 "Mac, you could have been killed" Harm whispered when she finished. Any 
 anger he'd had at her for not telling him about what had happened had been 
 replaced by the fear that he could very well have lost her last night. "If 
 the police hadn't arrived…." His voice trailed off and he pulled her into 
 his arms, hugging her tightly. "God, Mac, if I'd lost you I don't know what 
 I'd do."
 
 "I'm sorry" she whispered.
 
 "Promise me you won't do anything like that again" Harm said as he pulled 
 away to look at her. "And I don't want you going over to Maggie's alone 
 until he's put away."
 
 "Harm, you know I can't do that. What if you have to go out of town again? 
 I'm not going to avoid Maggie because of this. She needs our help."
 
 "I know" Harm sighed. "I just don't want anything to happen to you."
 
 "I promise I'll be careful" Mac said softly. "Now what do you say we get 
 some dinner? And then can we stop by and check on Maggie and the kids."
 
 "You're really worried about them aren't you?" Harm asked.
 
 "Harm, they were so scared the other the night" Mac sighed. "I've been 
 through it before. I know what's it like…both as a child and as a woman. I 
 just want to make sure they're okay."
 
 "Why don't we invite them to dinner then?" Harm suggested. "We'll spend a 
 little time with them and then make sure they get home safely."
 
 "You're willing to spent the evening with them when you just got home after 
 not seeing me for a week?" Mac smiled.
 
 "If that's what you want, yes" Harm smiled. "As long as I get to hold you in 
 my arms tonight, I can handle sharing you for a few hours."
 
 "But Harm, you haven't sleep" Mac started but was silenced with a light 
 kiss.
 
 "I slept for a few hours on the plane" Harm said when they parted. "I'll be 
 fine."
 
 "I love you Harmon Rabb" Mac said as she threw her arms around him. "You're 
 the best."
 
 Mac called Maggie and they decided on a small diner not too far from Mac's 
 apartment. Once there, Maggie settled Mollie and Brandon in one booth and 
 she and Harm and Mac in the other behind it.
 
 "You didn't have to do this you know" Maggie said as she leaned forward so 
 the kids wouldn't hear.  "Harm, I'm sure you would much rather have spent 
 some time with your fiancee here."
 
 "We wanted to make sure you guys were okay" Harm replied. "You holding up 
 okay?"
 
 "Thanks to Mac, I'm a lot better than I would have been" she said smiling 
 gratefully at Mac. "I didn't think Ken would come back. He'd been gone for 
 six months and I figured that was the last I'd seen of him."
 
 "Why did he come back?" Harm asked.
 
 "The usual" Maggie sighed. "He was looking for money. He keeps thinking I'm 
 going to hand it over to him. I know I should file for a divorce at some 
 point."
 
 "We'd be happy to help you with that" Harm offered. "You just let us know 
 when and we'll handle it for you."
 
 Dinner passed pleasantly, with Harm spending a bit of time with the kids 
 while Maggie and Mac talked. An unsuccessful attempt by Harm to stifle a 
 yawn caught Maggie's attention a short time later.
 
 "We'd better get going" she said as she stood up. "Thanks again for 
 everything."
 
 "We'll follow you home" Mac offered. "Please it'll make me feel better."
 
 "All right" Maggie sighed. "And actually it would make me feel better too."
 
 A short time later they pulled up in front of the little house. In her usual 
 exuberance, Mollie was out of the car and heading towards the porch before 
 everyone else was out of the car. She stopped half way as she saw a figure 
 behind one of the large shrubs, recognizing it as her dad.
 
 "Mommy" she cried. "Daddy's back." At her scream, he jetted out from behind 
 the shrubs, heading to the back yard, with Harm immediately taking chase.
 
 "Harm, no" Mac cried as she watched him take off.  "Maggie, get the kids 
 inside and call the police. Tell them he's in the area again." She turned to 
 run after Harm, but Maggie's arm stopped her.
 
 "Mac, where are you going?"
 
 "I can't let Harm go after him alone" Mac said quickly. "I'll be all right."
 
 "Mac, don't go" Mollie cried as she grabbed Mac's hand.  "I don't want daddy 
 to hurt you again." There were tears rolling down the little girls face and 
 Mac knelt down to her.
 
 "It's okay Mollie" Mac said gently. "Nobody's going to get hurt. I just need 
 to go find Harm okay. Now go inside with you mom. Harm and I will be back in 
 a little bit."
 
 "Come on you two" Maggie said as she gathered her children. "Let's get 
 inside. Mac, please be careful."
 
 "I will" Mac promised and turned and ran in the direction Harm had taken off 
 in. There was no sign of anyone, and she knew they had a good head start on 
 her. With growing fear and frustration and she continued down the street, 
 looking closely for Harm. Finally, she spotted him coming back towards her 
 and she ran to meet him.
 
 "Harm" she cried as she wrapped her arms around him.
 
 "Mac, you shouldn't be out here" Harm said as held her tightly. "You should 
 have stayed with Maggie and the kids."
 
 "I was worried about you" Mac whispered. "You took off after him without 
 even thinking he might have a gun or something. And he knows this area. You 
 don't."
 
 "I'm fine" Harm assured her. "But he got away. I lost him in between the 
 houses."
 
 "Let's get back to Maggie's" Mac said finally slipping out of his arms. "The 
 police should be there by now."
 
 With her hand tightly in his, they headed back to Maggie's.
 
 "Mac" Mollie cried as she ran towards her and Harm. "Are you okay?"
 
 "I'm fine sweetie" Mac said as she hugged the little girl tightly. "I told 
 you nobody was going to get hurt."
 
 "The police are on their way" Maggie informed them. "I guess he got away."

"He ran through those backyards and over those fences like he had on night 
vision goggles," Harm panted.  "I was no match for that, and I'm afraid the police 
won't be either.  It's very obvious to me he's planning some kind of revenge on 
you Maggie and on my fiancee the Marine without good sense here."  He ignored 
Mac's glare, but knew he would pay for that remark later.

"It's OK, we're not afraid of him," Maggie said staunchly, though when she looked 
at the children, her eyes shone with the terror she was feeling.

"You should be.  You should be very afraid," Harm told her.  "And that's why you 
and Mac and the children are staying at my place tonight.  He has no idea who I 
am or where I live and you'll be perfectly safe there.  It's got high windows and an 
alarm."

"And just what will you be doing while we have this little pajama party?" Mac 
demanded suspiciously.

"I will be here at this house, waiting for Mr. Humphries," Harm told her, holding his 
breath for her outburst.

He did not have long to wait. "Harmon Rabb if you think I'm going to let you face 
that man alone your brain needs a good dry cleaning.  We are partners, and were 
a long time before I wore this ring.  I wouldn't let you do something like that then, 
and I sure as hell won't now.  What the hell is the matter with you thinking that.  
Have you been up so long you're delirious or what?"

She finally stopped for breath and he shook his head, looking to Maggie.  "Well it 
was worth a try.  OK, Plan B.  Mac will take you to my place and come back here 
so that I can worry myself to death over her."

"Now that's a plan I can live with," Mac smiled, wrapping her hands around his 
arm.

"I'm not liking A or B," Maggie frowned.  "I don't like the idea of either of you 
putting yourself at risk for us."

"We'll worry about that," Harm smiled.  "It's going to be fine and neither of us is 
going to rest easy until we know he's in custody anyway.  And I mean to see that 
he stays there.  I want him charged with attempted murder for his attack on Mac."

"I'm so sorry," Maggie whispered.

"Don't say that again," Harm ordered.  "But let me ask you.  Do you keep a 
weapon here?"

Maggie shot a wary glance to the kids and motioned him aside.  "Shelf above the 
fridge.  It was Ken's but I told him I pawned it.  There's ammunition there too."

"Good.  OK, you get your things packed for the night and we'll call you in the 
morning."

A half hour later Harm was bundling the kids into the back of the SUV, Maggie into 
the front seat and lastly Mac into the driver's seat.  "Take care Sailor." she 
whispered.  

"So long Marine," he smiled, their words the same as that long ago morning on 
the Iranian desert when they were terrified they would never see each other again.  
"But it's going to take more than just a hug this time."  Their lips met in a long kiss 
and Maggie looked away, smiling slightly.  "Call me when you're on this block.  I 
want to walk out and meet the car when you get back."

"That man adores you Sarah."  Maggie was still smiling when Sarah pulled the 
SUV away from the curb.

"And I him," she smiled back.  "And we tend to be overprotective with each other 
because we've waited so long and we feel like what we have is fragile sometimes.  
That it could be snatched away from us despite our commitment to each other."

"I'm not sure one of you could live without the other," Maggie said softly and Mac 
nodded in quick agreement.
=================================================
Harm wasted no time in located the gun Maggie had promised and after a quick 
clean up, loaded a clip in.  He then turned on lights through the house, along with 
the TV to make it look occupied as normal.  Satisfied he had done all he could, he 
sank onto the sofa, willing himself not to fall asleep.

He was in fact dozing a little over an hour later when he heard noise out front.  
"Damn you Mac I told you to call me so I could walk you in," he growled, rolling off 
the sofa.  

The shadow on the front porch created by the street lamp was too large to be 
Mac.  His hand went to the phone, intending to call 911.  He had the 9 punched in 
when he stopped.  A police car would chase him off, and the whole game would 
simply begin again.  "No this ends here and now," he said to himself, reaching for 
the gun and crouching behind a chair.  There was at once a loud pounding on the 
door, followed by shouts of "Woman you better let me in."  That was followed by 
large thumps, the sound of Kenneth Humphries hitting his shoulder against the 
wood.  

The door held for only three tries.  On the fourth Humphries broke into the room, 
brandishing a sawed off shotgun.  

"Drop it Humphries," Harm shouted, leaning out from behind the chair and leveling 
his own weapon.  

Humphries broke into a gap toothed grin.  "I didn't know I was going to get to take 
out all of you."  Almost of its own accord the shotgun rose toward Harm and he 
could see Humphries' finger move on the trigger.

Harm dove for cover behind the sofa and the shotgun blast tore into the window 
behind him, showering him with glass and wood splinters.  A gush of blood 
blinded him temporarily coming from a gash across his hairline and he frantically 
tried to wipe it away.  He managed a few shots in the general direction of 
Humphries and for a minute all was quiet.  It was then his cell phone began to 
ring.  "Mac no," he gasped, fumbling in his pocket for the instrument.

"Harm I'm about fifteen seconds out.  You told me to call you," she said as soon 
as he connected, not waiting for his hello.

"Mac no," he screamed.  "No stay away from here.  Call the police but stay..."  

"Harm," she screamed back and a few seconds later he saw the head lights and 
heard the screech of tires as she pulled up out front.  There was the sound of 
running feet up the sidewalk and Harm stood up, wanting to be Humphries target.  
"Humphries here," he shouted as Mac reached the doorway.  

Humphries stood between the two of them, momentarily confused.  Deciding 
Harm with the weapon posed the greater threat, he again raised the shotgun 
toward him.

"NOOOO," Mac screamed and from behind her back her arm came up just as 
Humphries finger moved on the trigger.

Mac's scream was enough to throw off his aim and as he fired, Harm again dove 
out of the way, praying that Mac would not be hurt.

His answer came a second later as he heard shots, from a handgun this time, and 
he rolled to his feet once again, in time to see Humphries clutch his chest and fall 
to the floor, the victim of three bullets from the weapon in Mac's hand.

Mac leaned back against the ruined door, momentarily paralyzed by what she had 
done.  

"Sarah?" Harm called to her gently.

His voice immediately shook her out of her thoughts.  "Harm," she managed to 
whisper before with each taking two long strides toward each other they met in a 
giant hug of love and relief.

"Sarah I was so afraid you were going to be hurt," he whispered, nuzzling at her 
ear with his lips as he spoke and she could feel his body tremble within her grasp.

"I'm fine," she assured him quickly, "but you're shaking here.  Come sit down."

"No I'm OK, we need to call the police."

"Right away, but you come."

"I'm fine really, just a little shaken over what might have happened to you that's 
all."

"Still, come..." she ordered, lifting her head to look at him for the first time and 
seeing the blood on his face.  "Bleeding is not fine," she yelped.  "Why didn't you 
say?  My god were you shot?  Get over here and sit down.  I swear Flyboy I can't 
leave you alone for an hour that you don't get yourself in trouble."

"Guilty," Harm smiled slightly.  "But it's just from the flying glass and wood there 
from the window is all.  I ducked."

"If I had been here we would have taken cover," she retorted, planting him on the 
sofa and carefully ignoring the body of Kenneth Humphries. "I'm going to take a 
look at what you've done to yourself and call the police.  You'll be lucky if you're 
not spending the night in the ER."

"It's just a cut," he protested, "and if we came out of this with only that, then we 
were very lucky.  My god Mac if you had come two minutes before you would 
have walked right into the middle of..."  He left the thought unfinished as he pulled 
her down onto his lap.  

"And if you hadn't ducked, I might not be sitting here like this right now," she 
reminded him in a choked voice.   They clung to each other for another long 
minute before she resolutely pushed herself off of him.  "More of that later.  
Business now, and the police and your head are at the top of the list."




 
 They didn't have to wait long for the police as Maggie's elderly neighbor 
 had called them at the first sound of gunfire, and within minutes Officer 
 Lang and Officer Gill responded to the call. It didn't take long for them to 
 assess that Mac had fired in defense of Harm and no further investigation 
 was required. Harm declined a ride to the ER, and to his relief Mac hadn't 
 pushed the issue. She'd cleaned the cuts, breathing her own sigh of relief 
 when she realized they weren't as bad as she'd originally thought. They 
 stayed at the house while the coroner removed the body; Harm wrapping his 
 arms around Mac as they watched the body being wheeled away.
 
 "You okay?" Harm asked softly.
 
 "We need to tell Maggie what happened" Mac said quietly. "I promised I'd let 
 her know if anything happened."
 
 "Yes we do" Harm sighed. "Let's go"
 
 It was a quiet ride back to Harm's; both emotionally exhausted from the 
 evening's events. Mac remained in her seat after Harm had pulled into the 
 lot; not sure how she was going to tell Maggie that she'd just killed her 
 husband.
 
 "Mac" Harm said gently after he opened her door. "Come on honey."
 
 She melted into tears and he pulled her into his arms, gently stroking her 
 hair while she cried into his shoulder.
 
 "It's okay" he whispered. "It's over now."
 
 "I killed her husband" Mac cried. "I know I didn't have a choice.." Her 
 voice broke off as she started to sob. "He would have killed you if I hadn't 
 killed him."
 
 "I know" Harm said gently. "I'm sorry you had to do that. I didn't want you 
 to be involved."
 
 Finally her tears subsided and she took a few breaths to calm herself before 
 letting go of Harm.
 
 "I think I'm okay now," she said as she wiped her face and stepped out of 
 the SUV.
 
 "I'm right here with you" Harm said as he took her hand in his. "It's going 
 to be okay."
 
 A few minutes later they walked into Harm's apartment, neither surprised to 
 see Maggie still awake on the couch.
 
 "I'm so glad to see you two" Maggie said nervously. She noticed the bandage 
 on Harm's head and let out a gasp. "Something happened didn't it? I'm sorry. 
 This is my fault. I should never have gotten you guys involved in this. Did 
 they arrest Ken this time?"
 
 Mac swallowed hard before answering Maggie. "Maggie, I'm sorry. I don't know 
 how to tell you this." She stopped and Harm squeezed her hand in support and 
 she took a deep breath. "Ken's dead. He came back tonight just like Harm 
 thought he would. When I got back he was there. He had a gun…"
 
 "Oh god, he tried to kill you didn't he?" Maggie cried looking at Harm. He 
 nodded, but didn't say anything, knowing Mac needed to say the rest.
 
 "Did the police kill him?" Maggie asked.
 
 "I did" Mac whispered, the tears running down her face. "I'm sorry Maggie. I 
 didn't have a choice. If I hadn't shot him, he would have killed Harm. I'm 
 so sorry."
 
 For a second Maggie sat there stunned, her own tears starting. "No Mac, I'm 
 the one who's sorry" she whispered finally. "Because of me, you almost lost 
 the man you love. And because of me, you had to kill a man. I'm the one who 
 should be sorry."
 
 She got up and walked over to Mac, and the two women embraced as they cried. 
 "I'm sorry Maggie" Mac whispered.
 
 "It's not your fault" Maggie cried. "I should never have let you two do 
 this."
 
 "Okay, enough blaming each other" Harm said gently as he led the two to the 
 couch. "You two sit while I make you both some tea so you can relax."
 
 "Harm, you're the one who got hurt," Mac said as she suddenly realized she 
 should be taking care of him. "You sit down and I'll make the tea." She 
 stood up and gently pushed him down on the couch.
 
 She returned a few minutes later with tea for all three of them, and Mac 
 settled against Harm's shoulder while they chatted with Maggie.
 
 "I'm sorry it ended this way for Ken" she said quietly. "But I'm not 
 surprised. Somewhere along the line he got lost. And no matter what I did, 
 he just went deeper and deeper into the drugs. But mostly I'm sorry for 
 Mollie and Brandon. I had hoped at one point Ken would get his act together 
 and be some kind of father to them, but now that will never happen. I'm more 
 worried about Brandon than Mollie. He took it so hard when Ken walked out as 
 it was. I'm not sure how he's going to take this."
 
 "Just remember we're here to help" Harm said quietly. "Whatever we can do to 
 help, just let us know."
 
 "You done more than I can ever repay you for" Maggie replied. "But I 
 appreciate your offer. Brandon seems to like you and it might help if you're 
 around when I tell him."
 
 "We'll be here" Harm assured her before he unsuccessfully tried to hide a 
 yawn.
 
 "Harm, I'm so sorry," Maggie said suddenly remembering that Mac had told her 
 he'd been up the night before.  "I'm sitting here babbling and you're 
 probably about ready to drop from exhaustion."
 
 "It's okay Maggie" Harm smiled tiredly. "I was a little to wired after what 
 happened to sleep anyway."
 
 "It doesn't look like that now" Maggie remarked.
 
 "Come on, sailor" Mac said as she helped pull Harm to his feet. "Let's get 
 you home and get some sleep. Maggie, we'll be back in the morning."
 
 "Please don't hurry on my account" Maggie replied. "You two get some sleep. 
 I'll keep the kids busy until you get here."
 
 "You going to be okay alone?" Mac asked Maggie as she gave her a hug.
 
 "I'll be fine" Maggie assured her. "Besides, I'm not really alone. I've got 
 Mollie and Brandon. And as sad as I am for Ken, I'm just glad he can never 
 hurt me or them again."
 
 They left Maggie and headed to Mac's apartment, Harm falling asleep despite 
 his best effort to stay awake. He was still concerned about Mac, and how she 
 was handling what had happened tonight.  As she drove, Mac glanced over at 
 Harm, a small smile across her face when she realized he'd fallen asleep.
 
 "Wake up, Harm" she said gently a short time later after pulling up into her 
 lot. "We're home."
 
 "Sorry" Harm murmured as he pulled himself out of his slumber. "I was trying 
 to stay awake. How you doing?"
 
 "I'm fine" she assured him as she helped him out of the SUV.  "Lots better 
 than you."
 
 "I'll be fine after a few hours sleep" Harm said tiredly.
 
 "More like a few days" Mac retorted.
 
 It was past noon when Mac finally awoke, still wrapped tightly in Harm's 
 arms. He was still asleep and Mac gently tried to slip out of his grasp. But 
 he stirred at her movement, pulling her closer to him.
 
 "Where do you think you're going?" Harm said sleepily.
 
 "I just wanted to call Maggie and see how she's doing. But I guess I stay 
 here a little longer."
 
 "I'd forgotten how nice it was to hold you in my arms at night" Harm sighed. 
 "I really missed you this time."
 
 "Me too"
 
 "You okay with everything?"
 
 "If you mean last night, yeah I'm okay" Mac said quietly. "I'm not looking 
 forward to telling the kids that I killed their father."
 
 "You did what you had to do" Harm said gently.  "Somehow they'll 
 understand."


"Well I hope they can because I'm not sure I do," she sighed, picking up the phone 
to dial the familiar number to Harm's apartment.  "I'm not sure I do.  I'm not at all 
sure anymore I understand how the world can be such a cruel place, especially 
when kids are involved and....Maggie good morning.  How are you?"

"We've had a long walk and a McDonald's meal," she answered, "and now they're 
in front of a Disney Channel movie so we're OK."

"You haven't told them about Ken have you?"

"No I'm working up to that."

"Don't.  Please." Mac begged.  "I need to do that myself."  She ignored Harm's 
concerned glare and went on, "Maggie, unless you as their mom would really 
prefer to, I think it should come from me.  I want to come over in a little while and 
take them someplace quiet and talk to them about what happened OK?"

"Sarah that's very generous of you but really I can..." Maggie began, and then 
sensed that it was for Mac's own healing as well that she wanted to do this.  
"Sure, that would be fine."

"Tell her I have something I want to bring up too," Harm hissed.

"And Maggie, Harm wants to talk to you about something else." Mac said.  "So 
we'll be there in about an hour."  She hung up the phone and relaxed in Harm's 
grasp for a few more minutes, drawing on his strength and comfort.

"I hope I don't ever have to find out what I would do without you in my life," she 
whispered finally.  "I think back to Minneapolis now and all that's happened to us 
since and I feel blessed for each day that I have you."

"I'm not ever going to let you find that out," he whispered back.  "You belong to me 
now, and I don't give up easily what's mine."

"Thank you," she sniffled slightly.  "Thank you for being the best thing that's ever 
happened to me in my life."
===============================================
STARBUCKS
1 Hour Later
"What did you want to talk to Maggie about?" Mac asked, picking listlessly at her 
sweet roll in between swallows of coffee.

"Oh thanks for reminding me, " he answered.  "And please eat.  Enough has 
happened.  Our wedding day is upcoming.  We don't need you sick.  Just this.  
Her house is not livable right now until it's repaired; and that's no neighborhood for 
kids anyway.  Since I'm moving in with you, I want to invite her and the kids to stay  
on at my apartment."

"Oh Harm that's a wonderful idea," Mac brightened at once.  "It's not the best area 
either, but it's an improvement over where they are certainly."

"Yeah I think so and I'm sure she can manage the rent easily."

"You're a good man Charlie Brown," Mac smiled, taking a large bite of her roll.  
"You can talk to her while I talk to the kids.  I'll walk them down to the corner."

"Uh...Mac, please can you not tell them by yourself?  I feel like their mother and I 
should be there.  For one thing they may need her right then, but mostly I don't 
want you shouldering all the blame for this.  I had a big part, and Humphries set 
the stage for his own death anyway.  Please let's do it together."
==================================================
HARM'S APARTMENT
40 Minutes Later

"Mac, Harm," Mollie's delighted squeal greeted them.  "I missed you.  And this 
place of yours is great.  We love it here."

"Good I'm glad," Harm smiled, swinging the small girl up into his arms.  "We've 
missed you too, and we have something that we have to sit and talk about."

"Yes we do," Mac spoke up, squeezing Mollie's hand.  "Come and sit on the sofa 
with me.  You too Brandon, you need to hear this too."

"It's about Dad isn't it?"  Once again Mac and Harm were impressed with the boy's 
perception.

"Yeah it is," Mac said quietly, putting her arm around Mollie when Harm set her 
down next to her.  Brandon approached them, but took a place on the coffee table 
instead.

Mac took a deep breath, and then shook her head vigorously at Harm's mouthed 
words, 'let me'.  "Your dad came back last night just like we thought he would," 
she began slowly.  "He attacked the house, and he was about to kill Harm, and 
then he would have me."  She reached out and held onto Brandon's hand firmly, 
resisting his effort to pull away.  "I'm sorry Mollie, Brandon.  I had to shoot him.  
He didn't leave me any choice.  I killed him and I hate that I had to do it."

Two tears rolled down her cheeks and Harm started for her, only to have her 
shake her head again.  "And I don't know if you can forgive me or not.  In the 
same circumstance, I would do it again, but that doesn't make me proud or happy 
over it."

Mollie heard the tearfulness in Mac's voice and she burst into tears herself, 
jumping from Mac's arms into her mother's.

"I understand," Brandon said slowly, his eyes meeting Mac's , and with wisdom of 
one growing up in poverty, and seeing what crime and drugs can do first hand, 
added softly,  "it's not your fault.  That wasn't my dad you killed.  That was a 
stranger.  My dad hasn't been around for a long time."  The young boy then went 
to his mother and Mollie and put a hand on each of them.  "And now I'm going to 
be the one to take care of them."  

"Yes you are, and that's a big responsibility," Harm spoke up.  "And I know all 
about it.  I was only six when my dad didn't come back to me.  I hope you'll do a 
better job of being the man of the house than I did."

"Yes sir," Brandon answered.  "I plan to."

"See its going to be OK," Harm told Mac, finally giving in to his desperate urge to 
hold her.  "We're all going to be just fine."

Mac reached out and put a gentle hand on Mollie's back.  "Mollie honey I can't say 
anything more than I'm sorry.  You know I love you and it's hurting me that I had to 
hurt you."

Mollie sniffled hard and raised her head.  "I'm not...I'm not mad at you Mac.  I 
couldn't ever be.  You've been so good to us.  I'm just sad for my dad.  Drugs are 
bad."

"Yes they are," Mac said softly.  "And I hope that's something you always 
remember.  See have a drug  problem too.  My drug is alcohol though and I've 
been sober for a long time now.  That means I don't ever touch it and haven't for a 
long time; but it doesn't mean I don't want to sometimes."

Harm's eyes opened wide hearing what she just admitted to.  That he was aware 
of she had never told anyone of her alcoholism and he smiled at her courage in 
doing so.

Mollie thought over what Mac had said for a moment and then launched herself 
into her arms, hugging her tightly.  "Mac I love you," she sobbed, "and I know 
about my dad.  I know what he did, and I'm glad you and Harm are OK."

"If you didn't stop him he might have come back and hurt Mom or us," Brandon 
added."

"Thanks guys."  Mac looked up from where she was holding Mollie and blinked 
back tears.

"Now what?"  Harm asked.  

"Funeral," Maggie said firmly.  "Ken's mom will want to have a proper burial for 
him."
 
 
 "Of course" Mac said quietly. "If there's anything we can do to help."
 
 "I really should go see her" Maggie replied. "She was always very kind to me 
 and the kids. She knew what Ken was into but she never gave up hope that one 
 day he'd get himself straightened up."
 
 "We can watch Mollie and Brandon if you'd like" Harm offered. "I'm sure 
 you'll want to talk to her about the arrangements for the funeral."
 
 "Thank you, that would be nice" Maggie smiled. "Mac had said you wanted to 
 talk to me about something else too."
 
 "I did" Harm replied. "Unfortunately, there's quite a bit of damage to your 
 house. It's going to take some time to get it all fixed, and in the 
 meantime, I thought you and kids could stay here. I'm staying at Mac's now 
 so it's just going to be empty."
 
 "Harm, thank you. I don't know what else to say. You and Mac have done so 
 much already."
 
 "Just say you'll move in and we'll be happy" Harm smiled. "The kids 
 obviously like it here."
 
 "I like it here" Maggie admitted. "This place is really nice. I'll think 
 about it."
 
 Harm and Mac watched Mollie and Brandon the rest of the day while Maggie 
 went to see her mother in law about the arrangements for the funeral. They 
 took the kids back to the park near Mac's house and Mac watched as the kids 
 ran off to the slide and the monkey bars.
 
 "You okay?" Harm asked as came up behind her, putting his arms around her.
 
 "As long as you keep doing that, I'll be fine" Mac whispered.
 
 "What's on your mind marine?" Harm asked. "I can tell something's been 
 bothering you."
 
 "Harm, I won't go to the funeral" Mac said quietly. "I mean, I can't."
 
 "You don't have to go" Harm said softly as he turned her around to face him. 
 "We'll be there for them afterwards."
 
 "Thank you for understanding" Mac sighed as she buried her head in his 
 shoulder. "Do you think Maggie and the kids will understand?"
 
 "I'm sure they will."
 
 The funeral was Tuesday, a cold and rainy day that matched Mac's mood. She 
 and Harm had taken the day off from work, wanting to be there for Maggie and 
 the kids once everything was over. Maggie had understood her reluctance to 
 be at the funeral itself, but Harm promised they would be there once 
 everyone else was gone.
 
 They waited in the car, several rows away from where everyone was gathered 
 at the gravesite of Ken Humphries to pay their final respects. Mac had said 
 little since they'd left the house, and Harm now watched her worriedly. The 
 fact that she'd had nightmares the past two nights told him she was still 
 having a difficult time with what had happened, and he almost regretted 
 bringing her to the cemetery. But she'd insisted, wanting to be there for 
 them once it was over.
 
 "How you doing?" Harm asked gently.
 
 "I'm okay" Her attempt to keep her voice steady failed and Harm pulled her 
 into his arms.
 
 "It's okay" he whispered. "I'm right here."
 
 "I'm sorry" Mac said taking a deep breath and wiping away the few tears that 
 had escaped. "I told myself I could handle this and I can."
 
 "Yes but you don't have to handle it alone" Harm reminded her gently. "That 
 what I'm here for."
 
 "I know" Mac said giving him a small smile. "I don’t think I could have 
 gotten through this without you."
 
 The group began to disperse from the gravesite, and they waited until only 
 Maggie, Brandon and Mollie remained before driving over to the site. Mac's 
 knees shook as she stepped out of the car, and Harm hurried around to put 
 his arm around her. Mollie was the first to notice their presence, turning 
 and running to Mac.
 
 "Hi sweetie" Mac whispered as she gathered the little girl in her arms. "How 
 are you?"
 
 "I've was hoping you were going to come" Mollie said softly. "I missed you."
 
 "Harm, Mac" Maggie said as she turned around, wiping her eyes. "Thanks for 
 coming."
 
 "How you guys holding up?" Harm asked as he gave Maggie a hug and gave 
 Brandon a quick squeeze on the shoulder.
 
 "We're okay" Maggie assured him. "I'm actually glad it's finally all over. 
 Now I can get on with my life."
 
 "Hi Maggie" Mac said softly as she walked over to her, unable to hold back 
 her tears as she gave Maggie a hug.
 
 "Mac it's okay, really" Maggie whispered. "The worst is over. We're going to 
 be fine from here."
 
 
 Almost three weeks later
 Sunday, February 4th
 
 Things quieted following the funeral. They'd spent a day helping Maggie and 
 the kids get settled into Harm's place and had been over many times since. 
 To Mac's relief the kids seemed to have handled their fathers death well, as 
 had Maggie, who was finally able to relax and not be afraid of his return.
 
 Harm loaded the SUV, shaking his head at all the stuff. They were on their 
 way up to Grams' to spend the week before the wedding there. After all that 
 had happened the few weeks before, Harm had decided Mac needed a little 
down 
 time before the wedding. Although her nightmares over Ken Humphries death 
 seem to be fading, she still seemed a little quiet and he wasn't sure what 
 was wrong. He hoped that once they were at the quiet of Grams she's open a 
 little and tell him what was bothering her.
 
 "Anything else" Harm asked once he was back upstairs in her apartment.
 
 "No, I think that's it" Mac said quietly as she looked around the apartment. 
 "I guess we're ready to go."
 
 "Don't sound so excited about it?" Harm teased gently. "You know in less 
 than a week we're getting married."
 
 "I am excited" Mac sighed. "I'm just a little nervous that's all."
 
 "Nervous about spending the rest of your life with me?" Harm questioned 
 softly.
 
 "No" Mac said quickly. "I love you Harm. Please don't ever think that."
 
 "Then what is it?"
 
 "Nothing, really. Just call it prewedding jitters. All brides go through 
 them"
 
 "If there's anything I can do" Harm said softly. "I love you very much 
 Sarah. I want you to be happy."
 
 "I am happy with you" Mac whispered. "You're the best thing that ever 
 happened in my life. I don't know what I ever did to deserve you."
 
 "Hey stop it" Harm said firmly. "I love you. Don’t be telling me you don't 
 deserve me. You got that."
 
 "Yes sir" Mac said softly. "Thank you for everything. I sometimes forget how 
 blessed I am to have you."
 
 "As am I" Harm whispered as he pulled her into his arms. "Now what do you 
 say we head up to Grams? With any amount of luck we'll be just in time for 
 Sunday dinner."
 
 That brought a smile to her face and she gave him a quick kiss. "What are we 
 waiting for?"

 "If you don't stop asking me if I'm OK I'm going to...well I don't know what I'm 
going to do but it's going to be something both of us will regret," Mac screeched, 
pulling her arm from his when they stopped for gas and he was helping her back 
into the SUV.

"Sorreeeee."  Harm shook his head and withdrew at once.

She held her breath as Harm got in and started the car.  "Harm no, I'm sorry.  
Please.  I shouldn't have yelled like that.  I'm just on edge here and I don't know 
what to do about it.  My god you'd think I was pregnant the way I've been bitchy.  
And when I finally am you'll probably have super bitch on your hands."

He smiled softly and reached for her hand, bringing it to his lips for a gentle kiss.  
"Marine, I can take anything you can dish out---just as long as you don't stop 
loving me."

"Not a chance," she sighed.  "But honest Harm, I am OK.  I just feel quiet that's all.  
I'm just kind of...I don't know, taking it all in.  I love you, more than I ever thought I 
could possibly love anyone.  And I want to marry you, never a doubt there.  And I 
want to have your baby as soon as we can.  So can we leave it at that.  Please."

"Of course, as long as you promise you won't ever shut me out.  You and I are 
long past the stage where we can't talk about what's eating at us.  Aren't we?"

She nodded and resumed her stare out the window, watching the snowy 
countryside fly past.  They finally turned off the interstate onto the road to 
Belleville and then the country road leading out the Rabb farm.  Mac drew her 
breath in sharply, remembering about 6 weeks before and a near disastrous 
encounter with a deer.

Reading her thoughts he laughed lightly.  "No deer this time.  Besides I'm keeping 
a sharp eye out.  Precious cargo aboard."

"This is all your land," she said softly when they turned into the driveway and she 
could see the farm land spread out below them.  

"Ours," he corrected.  "it's all Rabb land, and in a few short days that's exactly 
what you'll be."  

When she stepped from the SUV she took a deep breath of the clear cold 
mountain air.  "It's so different up here," she sighed.  "So different from the city.  
When we were here before you said you saw us retired at some point..."

"And bringing our children here to grow up," he finished for her.  "And having a 
small law practice and turning a profit on this farm."

"Right now that sounds like heaven," she smiled, her first genuine one of the day.

"Do you mean that?" he asked intently.  "I mean could you see yourself as a wife 
and mother, living out here in the boonies?"

"At this moment, very easily.  Being active in the church, and the kids' school, and 
working with you on the farm, and in the law practice."  Her voice was full of 
conviction as she looked around and took another deep breath.  

"It would be enough for you?"

"Oh yeah."  

Before he could say anything further Grams opened the door and was striding 
across the porch.  "Sarah, Harm, welcome home."

"And that's what it feels like" Mac sighed just before Grams's arms went around 
her.

"I'm only your grandson over here," Harm laughed and a second later he was also 
being squeezed.

"I'm so glad to see both of you," she gushed.  "I'm not sure I ever thought I'd live to 
see today though.  My grandson is finally marrying.  Now if he'll just make me a 
great grandmother I can die a happy woman."

"Grams you're going to be running this place when you're a hundred," Harm 
admonished her.  "And hopefully we'll be living here then too, with your great 
grandchildren running all over making us all crazy."

"Please Jesus," she smiled.  "OK, dinner and Sunday night church are on the 
agenda."  
=========================================
Valley Community Church
1900 HRS EST

"I love this place," Mac whispered, holding tightly to Harm's hand as they walked 
to the Rabb pew.  "I get such a good feeling when I walk inside here."  Indeed the 
small church was almost majestic inside, its stained glass and dark wood, along 
with the soft organ music playing, lent a reverent tone over all.

Harm guided her to her place, his other arm looped through his grandmother's and 
for the next hour all was right with the world as singing and prayer temporarily 
washed away hatred and prejudice.
======================================
"I loved it," Mac said simply once they were back at the farm house.  "Maybe it's 
what's missing in my life."

"Do you feel like something is?" Grams asked gently.

"Yeah sometimes," Mac admitted, "and that I hate myself for thinking that when I 
have this wonderful man who for some unfathomable reason, actually wants to 
marry me."

"Maybe because I happen to be deeply in love with you," he told her, sliding his 
arms around her.

"I hadn't thought of that one," she teased.  "Listen I'm feeling a desperate need to 
soak in a tub and be alone for just a little while.  Is that OK?"

Harm bit back the urge to ask her if she was all right and simply kissed her cheek.  

"Besides you can use the time to talk to Grams."  Mac returned his kiss and 
retreated up the well worn staircase.

Grams watched her for a minute and then took Harm's arm, tugging him into the 
parlor.

"Harm what's going on if you don't mind an old lady prying?" Grams asked gently.  
"She seems different."

"I know."

"And," Grams prodded.  "You too are not having second thoughts or doubts are 
you?" 

"On my part not a one," he declared firmly.  "In fact for the first time since I can't 
remember when, I know exactly what I want.  The future seems very clear to me 
now.  What I want, who I want it with, and where I want are all well in hand."

"But?"  Again Grams's sharp glare.

"She's just a little...well hesitant I guess," he answered softly.  "I really don't know 
how to describe it.  Less sure of herself maybe.  Grams we had some trouble a 
few weeks ago.  To make a long story short, we've become friends with a woman 
who has two kids--two great kids--and her ex-husband came after her.  He was a 
drug user, and violent, and we got in the middle.  Bottom line, Mac had to kill the 
man to save my life."

"Harmon no," Grams gasped, a look of total horror on her face.  "I had no idea you 
too ever got into that sort of thing.  I picture you behind a desk or in court."

"And you go right on with that picture," Harm smiled.  "Because ninety percent of 
the time that's exactly what it is.  But we do occasionally get into situations where 
we have to defend ourselves.  Of course I was terrified she was going to be hurt.  
But it affected her pretty deeply.  I know it's not the first time, but never someone 
she was connected with like this.  She loves these two kids and it was horrible for 
her to have to kill their father."

"I'm so sorry Harm," Grams said softly, feeling tears in her eyes and then making 
the connection.  "These would be the kids who are coming up for the wedding with 
their mom?"

Harm nodded.  "They've bounced right back but then they're kids.  For Mac 
especially it's going to be hard.  But that's only part of the problem.  Call it my 
insecurity showing, but Grams I don't want her to marry me unless she's one 
hundred percent sure."

"And do you have reason to think that might not be the case?"

"It must be you I inherited my cross examination ability from" he grinned and 
quickly sobered.  "In all honesty, yes.  Sometimes I'm sensing hesitation on her 
part; and you see for a long time she wore another man's ring; not because she 
loved him, but because he bullied her into it.  The last thing I would do would 
become a Mic Brumby."

"I don't know what a Mic Brumby is," Grams laughed softly, "and for that I think I'm 
thanking God; but what I do know is that she loves you.  And she has for a very 
long time, and now that it's finally happening--now that it's finally going to be your 
turn--she's feeling some questions inside.  This is normal.  Son I was only sixteen 
when I married your grandfather and I wasn't scared--I was terrified.  And two 
years later, thanks to Pearl Harbor, I was an eighteen year old widow with a baby 
boy whom another war would take from me thirty years later."

Harm felt his eyes moisten at her words and he patted her hand.  "You're trying to 
tell me her fear is normal aren't you?"

"Something like that," Grams smiled.  "Look, take this week.  Just enjoy being 
together, maybe talk to Pastor Jacob a little.  The man a wonderful way about him.  
But if it's truly not right--well don't give up on it, just postpone it for a time."

Harm looked horrified at the thought and at the same time he knew the older 
woman was right.  He wanted Sarah Mackenzie one hundred percent, heart, 
body, and soul and if he could not have that right now he could wait.  "Good night 
Grams.  I love you."
 
 He headed up the stairs and to the bedroom they'd shared the last time, 
 relieved to find that she was waiting for him.
 
 "Hi" she said softly. "It's okay for me to be in here right?"
 
 "I wouldn't want you anywhere else"
 
 "I guess I'm a little used to sleeping in your arms" Mac admitted. "I need 
 that security right now."
 
 "And you've got it" Harm said as he climbed into bed, pulling her into his 
 arms. "I love you Sarah. Don't ever forget that."
 
 *********************************************
 
 Mac was up early the next morning, but to her amazement Grams was still up 
 before her.
 
 "Morning Sarah" Grams smiled as Mac walked in. "I didn't expect you up this 
 early. You and Harm are supposed to be on vacation."
 
 "I'm always up early" Mac replied. "Course this is early for me too."
 
 "Everything okay?" Grams questioned gently. "You seem a little out of sorts. 
 Course I know you've got a lot on your mind with the wedding and all."
 
 "Grams, did you know when you married Peter Rabb that you were doing the 
 right thing? I mean, did you ever have any doubts about it working."
 
 "Dear, we all have doubts when we get married. We don’t have the luxury of 
 knowing what the future holds for us. And yes I had my doubts. And fears. 
 Course I was a lot younger than you. I was just a young farm girl who'd 
 never known anything outside of Belleville. So yes I was scared. The only 
 thing I knew for sure was that I loved Peter and that he loved me. The rest 
 we'd worry about along the way. Course he was gone before I knew it, so I 
 really don't know how our lives would have turned out."
 
 "But you never doubted your love for him?" Mac asked softly. "Or his for 
 you?"
 
 "Not for a second" Grams smiled. "You just know when its right. "
 
 "I thought I knew" Mac said quietly. "But now all of a sudden, I'm just not 
 sure."
 
 "Sure of what Sarah? Surely not of Harm's love for you."
 
 "It's not him I'm unsure about, it's me" Mac sighed. "I know Harm loves me. 
 Though I still question why sometimes."
 
 "Sarah, Harm loves you because you're a kind and wonderful person. You've 
 brought a happiness to my grandson's life that he never had before. When I 
 look at him and see how happy he is now, after all those years of heartache, 
 I know it's because of you."
 
 "I don't know about that" Mac started but Grams promptly cut her off.
 
 "I do know" Grams said firmly.
 
 "I wish I did" Mac sighed. "I guess I'm afraid that I'm not going to be the 
 wife Harm deserves. I didn't learn much from my mother about love and 
 relationships. All I ever saw was my parents arguing or fighting. My parents 
 never had the kind of love that Trish and Harm Sr. or you and Peter had."
 
 "But you and Harm do" Gram smiled. "I know it. I know you're afraid of what 
 happened to your parents happening to you. But Sarah, you're not your 
 mother. And Harm is not your father. And you won't be alone. I'll be here 
 and so will Trish to help you through the tough times. We love you honey, 
 very much."
 
 "Oh Grams" Mac whispered as the tears slid down her face. "I wish I'd had 
 you around when I was growing up. Harm doesn't know how lucky he is."
 
 "I wish you'd been around too," Grams said as she wrapped her arms around 
 Mac. "But you're going to be all right Sarah. Your love for each other will 
 get you through. I know it."
 
 Mac stayed in the comfort of the older woman's arms for a few seconds before 
 finally pulling away. "Thank you Grams. For everything."
 
 "Your welcome dear" Grams smiled. "Now what did you and Harm have planned 
 today?"
 
 "Actually you're not going to believe this but I still don't have a wedding 
 dress" Mac said as she wiped her tears away. "All the stores in DC had were 
 these lavish gowns that just didn't fit the kind of wedding we were having. 
 I was hoping maybe there'd be a small bridal shop around that would have 
 something a little more simple."
 
 "Yes there is" Grams said thoughtfully. She looked at Mac for a minute, 
 studying her closely.
 
 "Grams, you still with me?" Mac asked worriedly.
 
 "Sorry dear" Grams laughed. "I was checking to see what size you are. It 
 might need a little altering but I think it might work."
 
 "What?"
 
 "Come with me" Grams said taking Mac's hand. She led her upstairs, past the 
 room where Harm was still sleeping and up the stairs to the attic. To Mac's 
 surprise, the attic had been finished off into two small little bedrooms, 
 one of which had a closet in it.
 
 "I didn't know you had all this room up here" Mac said as she looked around.
 
 "Well we'd always hoped to have bunches of children" Grams said quietly. 
 "Course we never got the chance. Fortunately I was blessed with Harm Sr. 
 before I lost Peter. I never thought I lose him so quickly either."
 
 "You've been through a lot and yet you're still so strong" Mac said softly. 
 "How do you do it?"
 
 "It wasn't easy. But somehow I learned to start being thankful for what I 
 did have and not dwell on what I'd lost along the way. I'd lost Peter but 
 had Harm Sr. And when I lost him, I still had Harm. Which is why my grandson 
 if very important to me. But it was never easy dear. Only with the help of 
 the Lord above did I get through those times. As will you. Now let me see if 
 I can find what I'm looking for."
 
 She opened the closet, and began pushing the hangers of clothes as she 
 searched for one item in particular.
 
 "Still here" Grams said as she pulled the dress out. "Is this what you had 
 in mind Sarah?"
 
 "Grams, it's exactly what I was looking for" Mac exclaimed as she looked the 
 simple cream colored dress. It has just a little lace around the arms and 
 neck, but otherwise was plain. "Who's dress is this?"
 
 "It's mine" Grams smiled. "I wore it sixty years ago when I married Peter 
 Rabb in the church where you and Harm are going to be married. Course I was 
 a good bit thinner then. It might need a trip to the cleaners but I think we 
 can get Mr. Wilkens to do a rush job if we need to. Course we need to see if 
 it fits."
 
 "You'd let me wear this?" Mac asked as her eyes filled with tears again.
 
 "I'd be honored if you did" Grams said softly. "Course you don't have too."
 
 "No, I want to" Mac said firmly. "Let me try it on. Please."
 
 A few seconds later Mac looked at her reflection in the full-length mirror 
 that hung behind the door. They would need to make a few alterations to make 
 it fit perfect but Grams assured Mac she could handle it in time for the 
 wedding.
 
 "Sarah you're going to look so beautiful on Saturday" Grams smiled.
 
 "Grams, Mac, what are you doing up there?" The sound of Harm's voice carried 
 as he came up the stairs.
 
 "No, he can't see me yet" Mac fretted. "It's bad luck for the groom to see 
 the bride in her dress before the wedding day."
 
 "Harmon, we'll be down in a minute," Grams yelled.
 
 "What are you doing?" Harm called again. "Is everything okay?"
 
 "It's fine Harm" Grams smiled. "Now just go wait for us downstairs, please."
 
 "Yes ma'am" and Mac breathed a sigh of relief when she heard him heading 
 down the stairs again.
 
 "Grams, I don't know how to thank you for this" Mac said as she looked at 
 her reflection in the mirror again.
 
 "The only thanks I need is seeing you two happy for a good long time and 
 seeing my great grandchildren one day."

"And I pray that one day will be soon," Mac sighed.  "At least I think I do.  
Sometimes when I think of children, I look around and think, why?  Why do I want 
to bring children into a world where there is so much unhappiness."

"Good lord child you sound like me.  Except for me it was even worse."  Grams 
shook her head with the memory.  "Summer of 1940 and the world was about to 
go to war, and here I am carrying a baby?  I thought God must be out of His mind.  
But you know what, I gave birth to a very special man, who of course fathered 
another special man.  The world can only change when good people outnumber 
the bad."

That brought a quick smile to her face.  "Thanks Grams.  No wonder I love to 
come up here.  Now let me out of this dress before Harm storms the door and 
demands to know what we're doing."
 
"Were you two up there planning my death so you could inherit my fortune," he 
teased.

"Yeah, an SUV that's not paid for, and your Navy insurance," she retorted.  
"You're not exactly Donald Trump there Sailor.  Now who does a Marine have to 
go through to get to the breakfast table?"

"Me for starters," he challenged and she stopped on the stairs, planning her 
assault.  

Deciding on a frontal attack she crouched low and barreled forward, hitting him full 
on.  By now he was laughing so hard at the sight of his intended bride in a combat 
position he barely caught her and they both tumbled to the floor in a tangle of 
arms and legs, accompanied by laughter from both.

She was so suddenly quiet he was afraid she was hurt and he rolled free of her, to 
come back an instant later to check her.  "Mac?"  His fingers touched her cheek 
and to his horror her eyes were closed.  "Mac my god what.." he gasped and her 
eyes flew open, no long able to maintain the charade.

"I had you," she giggled, pushing him away and scrambling to her feet to run to 
the kitchen.

"Oh man you are one dead Marine," he threatened, chasing after her.  

Grams stood at the top of the steps and shook her head, once again uttering a 
silent prayer for her grandson and the woman she knew beyond all doubt he loved 
deep in his heart.

In the kitchen Harm caught her around her waist, lifting her high off the floor and 
kissing the back of her neck.  "It's good to laugh like that," he panted.  "Especially 
after Humphries."

"Yeah it was," she said quietly, the reminder bringing her down to earth.

"Hey I'm sorry," he gasped.  "As usual I didn't think."

"Harm you need to stop apologizing," she told him.  "I mean I plan to see Maggie 
and the kids often and I can't go into a funk thinking about what happened.  I've 
gone over it so many times in my mind and I know there was no other choice."

"You did the right thing," he reminded her.  "It was like in combat.  You listen to 
your gut, because if you stop to think you're going to die."

She smiled and patted his cheek.  "Well are you going to philosophize all morning 
or feed me?"
===========================================
The morning passed with Harm doing handyman repairs around the place as he 
always did when he came up there and Mac working with Grams on getting the 
dress ready.

They were eating sandwiches when Mrs. Garson from the next farm called and 
asked if she could borrow Grams "handsome grandson" to help her move a 
freezer.  

"Tell her I'll be right there," Harm grinned and turned to Mac.  "You want to come 
meet the woman who yelled at me every summer for getting too near her cows on 
my ATV?"

"As much as I enjoy reliving your childhood, I think I'll pass," she smiled.  "Actually 
if you're going to do that, I'd really like to put on my running clothes and put in a 
few miles.  That's OK isn't it?"

"Oh honey I don't know if you should alone...why don't you wait until I...," Harm 
began and Grams gave him a quick shake of her head, sensing Mac was feeling 
the need for some alone time.

"Sarah if you want to run there's no danger around her, unless Mr. Jenks forgot to 
lock the pasture gate again in which case there could be a few cows on the north 
end of the road.  Watch where you step if that's the case." 

"Noted ma'am" Mac giggled.

"I've got these dishes and then it's time for my soaps.  You two go," Grams smiled 
and motioned them out.

"I won't be long," Harm told her, shrugging into his jacket, "in fact I'll watch for you 
along the road when I come back."

"You got it," she smiled and melded into his arms for a long kiss.  "See you soon 
and I love you."

"And I you," he answered at once.

He left and she quickly changed into a sweat suit and jacket and was soon 
pounding down the graveled road, her long legs eating up the miles before she 
even realized how far she had gone.

It was almost two hours later when Harm returned, finding Grams dozing in front 
of the TV.  "I close my eyes during the ads and forget to open them sometimes.  
How's Marilyn?"

"She was great.  And if she said, 'while you're here' once she said it a dozen 
times," he grinned.  "But I don't mind helping.  Mac upstairs?"

"I don't think she's back," Grams shook her head.

"Not back is she out of her mind?" Harm exploded.  "Doesn't she know the 
temperature is dropping like a rock out there?  The radio in the SUV said it was 
twenty and falling."

"Harm relax, she's not lost.  And even if she got turned around, all she's got to do 
is flag anyone down and ask for the Rabb farm."

Harm shook his head and went to the porch, hoping to see her.

The object of his concern did in fact know how cold it was for she had gone five 
miles and her skin dampened from the exertion was now chilled in the wind.  At 
first she hardly noticed as her mind was occupied with thoughts of her upcoming 
wedding and the doubts she had been able to keep below the surface had 
bubbled to the top while she was totally alone and able to think.

She had not seen another car for at least ten minutes and a quick look around her 
told her why.  The turn off her sense of direction had told her would take her back 
toward the farm was not a main road, but rather a narrow country lane, and she 
now feared it would soon dead end.  That fear was realized a minute later and 
suddenly she knew where she was.  The same weather-beaten sign she 
remembered from Christmas.  Valley Community Church.  

"Good thing you're not on recon Mackenzie," she groaned as she rested her hand 
on the sign to catch her breath.  Her mind went back to Christmas and she felt her 
engagement ring beneath her gloves.  She could hear Harm's clear strong voice, 
'And it came to pass...' and remembered his singing and at that moment she 
wished for his arms around her.

Almost of their own volition, her feet mounted the old wooden steps and she was 
amazed to find the doors unlocked until she remembered she was not in the city.  
A blast of warm air hit her and she hurried inside, closing the door behind her.  For 
a few moments she stood there, savoring the warmth and the aroma of old wood 
and burned candles.  Then drawn by a force she could not identify, she walked up 
the aisle, her eyes fixed on the large cross before her.

At the service the night before, she had sat in the Rabb pew, her hand in Harm's, 
not moving when Pastor Jacob had announced Altar Call.  Now his words and the 
words of the hymn echoed in her head and she sang softly as she walked, "I have 
decided to follow Jesus...no turning back....no turning back...."

"Hello Sarah," Pastor Jacob called softly and she jumped in alarm.

"Pastor I'm sorry," she gasped.  "Am I intruding?"

"Not at all," Jacob assured her.  "I heard you from my office just on the other side 
of the door there.  What brings you here?"

"Actually I was out running and I must have gotten lost," she admitted sheepishly.  
"I turned off the main road thinking it was the way back to the farm and obviously 
I've lost all sense of direction.  Some Marine I am."

"Maybe you were being guided by something bigger," Jacob suggested and 
patted her hand.  "I'm looking forward to your wedding Saturday.  Would you 
believe my father married Trish and Harm senior?"

"No I hadn't heard that," she smiled, "but that's wonderful."  Her voice trailed off 
and she looked around.  "Pastor I was going to go, but now that I'm here, well if 
you don't mind, could I sit for a few minutes.  I've...I've been looking for some 
answers...well more like reassurance...and I think I might find it here."

"You stay as long as you like," Jacob told her at once.  "And please, when you're 
finished come into the office.  I'll wake up the Mr. Coffee."

"Oh that would be great, thank you," she breathed and walked back to the Rabb 
pew.  Her eyes fell to the cross, and her hands absently rubbed polished wood 
beneath her.  When she closed her eyes, she pictured Daniel Rabb and his wife 
and children lining this very pew a hundred fifty years ago and recalled Harm's 
words about Rabbs farming the valley for years before that.

Tears that refused to be wiped away came to her eyes and she gasped aloud, "I'm 
home.  Lord I've come home."
==============================================
Jacob heard her soft sobbing and peaked out the door to her making sure she 
was all right.  He started to go to her, and then some sixth sense stopped him.  
Instead he closed the door quietly and picked up the phone.
===========================================
"Harmon instead of wearing a path in carpet that's already threadbare, please--go 
and bring her home," Grams finally ordered.  "I believe she's fine and perfectly 
able to take care of herself, but you're going to worry yourself into a stroke and it's 
going to be hard to say 'I do' from a hospital bed.  Go."

"Yeah I think I...."  His words were cut off by the ringing phone and when Grams 
went to answer he grabbed his jacket.  He was half way out the door when her 
sharp voice called him back.

"She's at the church Harmon.  That was Pastor Jacob.  She's fine, a little cold, but 
she's fine.  He'll make sure she stays there for you."

Flinging a thank you over his shoulder, Harm was out of the door and sprinting to 
the SUV five seconds later.

With the accelerator to the floor, he traveled the five miles to the church in five 
minutes, pulling up to the front door in a spray of gravel and bounding up the 
steps.  Once at the front door he forced himself to take a breath, remembering 
where he was and also that he did not want to overwhelm her.

As he suspected she was in the Rabb pew.  He saw her dark hair as it stuck out 
beneath her knit cap and as he observed her he could see her shoulders heaving, 
telling him she was crying softly.  He waited another minute, unsure if his 
presence was wanted, and then unable any longer hold back his desire to comfort 
her, strode quietly down the aisle.  

"Hey," he said softly, putting tentative hand on her shoulder.

"Harm," was all she got out before her tears took control and he dropped into the 
pew beside her.  She buried her head in his coat and as if the dam burst, 
everything came out of her at once from her alcoholism to Chris Ragle to Harm's 
leaving to Sydney Harbor to Mic Brumby and beyond.  She wept, soaking his 
jacket and he held her tightly, rocking her as she cried.  It seemed like hours to 
both of them but was actually only about ten minutes before she raised her head 
and wiped her eyes.

To her surprise there were tears on his cheek as well and she reached up to touch 
the wetness with her fingertip.

"When you're hurting, so am I," he explained softly.

"I love you Harmon David Rabb," she whispered.  "I love you and I want to marry 
you and I want to spend as many Sundays as we can sitting here in this pew with 
our family."
 
 "Oh Sarah" Harm whispered as he pulled her back into his arms. "I love you 
 so much. And we can spend as many Sundays as you want right here. I just 
 want you to be happy."
 
 "I am happy with you. I just had some things to work out first" Mac said 
 softly. "And I think I've done that now."
 
 "You're sure about us getting married?" Harm questioned, holding his breath 
 while he awaited her answer. He loved her more than life itself but if she 
 wasn't ready to be his wife, he wouldn't push her.
 
 "I'm very sure" Mac smiled. "Everything I will ever want or need is right in 
 front of me."
 
 "That's exactly how I feel" Harm said softly. "As long as I can wake up 
 every morning with you in my arms, that's all I'll ever need."
 
 He held her tightly, both enjoying the sanctity of the moment.
 
 "I take it everything is okay" The gentle voice of Pastor Jacob forced them 
 apart and Mac looked up at him with a smile.
 
 "Yes it is."
 
 "Good. I'm looking forward to the joining of two souls who obviously belong 
 together. And if there's anything I can do, please let me know."
 
 "We will" Harm assured him.
 
 "I'll leave you two alone then" Pastor Jacob smiled. "Stay as long as you'd 
 like. I'll be in my office if you need anything."
 
 "I like him a lot" Mac said when they were alone. "Did you know his father 
 married your mom and dad?"
 
 "I knew they'd gotten married here" Harm smiled. "And I'm really glad you 
 wanted to get married here too."
 
 "It just feels so right here. Like centuries of Rabb's are with us, waiting 
 for the next generation to return and carry on the tradition. And I want to 
 carry on that tradition, Harm. I want Grams to have the chance to know her 
 great grandchildren. And I want us to come back here one day, and live just 
 like all the Rabb's before you did."
 
 "I'd like that" Harm said softly. "Very much actually. Gramps and Dad never 
 got that chance."
 
 "But you will" Mac smiled. "And maybe one day our children will sit here 
 contemplating things just like we are."
 
 "Our children" Harm smiled. "I love the sound of that."
 
 "Good. I'm thinking maybe five or six" Mac grinned.
 
 "How about ten or twelve" Harm teased. "I love you Sarah. I want us to have 
 the life that mom and dad and Grams and Gramps never got the chance to 
 have."
 
 "We will" Mac promised. "We've got all we need to make this marriage work. 
 Our love and the Lord's love. With that, we’ll make it through anything."
 
 They sat for a little while longer before finally bidding goodbye to Pastor 
 Jacob and returning to the farmhouse. Grams was waiting anxiously at the 
 door, but at the site of the two hand and hand, she knew everything was 
 going to be okay.
 
 "Thank you Lord" she said looking upwards.
 
 The rest of the week passed quietly, with Harm and Mac enjoying the days 
 together. Long walks around the farm were a daily routine, a chance for them 
 to imagine what it would be like one day to live there.
 Trish and Frank flew in from California Friday morning and Harm spent the 
 morning picking them up at the airport, while Grams and Mac did a final 
 fitting for the dress.
 
 "Oh Sarah" Grams smiled. "It's perfect."
 
 "Grams I can't thank you enough for this" Mac said giving her a hug.
 
 "My dear, it's thanks enough just seeing you two happy. And I know that 
 you'll take good care of Harmon. I've always worried about him, but know I 
 know he's in good hands."
 
 "I won't let you down Grams"
 
 By Friday afternoon the house was a bustle of activity as the guests from DC 
 began to arrive. Bud and Harriet and little AJ arrived with AJ and Sydney, 
 followed by Maggie and the kids.
 
 "I love having a house full of people" Grams beamed happily as her and Harm 
 stood in the kitchen, enjoying a quiet moment.  "It's not often I get this 
 much company."
 
 "That's going to change" Harm assured her. "I think you'll be seeing Mac and 
 I up here quite a bit. Maybe we'll bring Mollie and Brandon up to spend some 
 time up here in the summer fishing in the pond and hiking through the 
 woods."
 
 "They seem to be handling everything okay" Grams said quietly. "And Mac is 
 so good with them. She's going to make a wonderful mother one day."
 
 "Yes she is" Harm said proudly.
 
 "Hey, what are you doing hiding in here?" Mac smiled as she walked in. 
 "Mollie and Brandon are ready for that hike around the property that you 
 promised."
 
 Ten minutes later the group of four headed out, Mollie and Brandon enjoying 
 the wide open space that allowed them to run freely. They passed the pond, 
 and Mollie and Brandon hurried towards it, before a stern warning from Harm 
 stopped them in their tracks.
 
 "Why can't we go on the pond?" Mollie asked.
 
 "Cause it's not safe sweetie" Mac replied. "It may look like it's frozen but 
 it's really not."
 
 "And I don't need to go through that experience again, thank you" Harm 
 shuddered as he remembered Mac's dunking in the pond when they'd been 
 skating in December.
 
 The fascination with the pond soon forgotten, they continued on to the 
 wooded part of the property, following the old hiking trails that had been 
 around for years.
 
 "Okay, I need a break" Harm panted as they came to rest a short time later 
 along side a small creek that was now filled with the melted snow.
 
 "Wore out already sailor" Mac grinned as she leaned up against a tree, while 
 Mollie and Brandon sat down on a large rock. "I guess we'll have to head 
 back."
 
 "I'm not tired" Mollie shouted happily.  "I can keep going"
 
 "Me neither" Brandon added quickly.
 
 "See guys I told you marines could handle more than sailors" Mac teased.
 
 "In that case we'll keep going" Harm said taking Mac's challenge. "We'll 
 cross the creek and follow the trail for a few more miles."
 
 "Let's go" Mollie said as she leapt off the rock. "Can I lead?"
 
 "Once we get across the creek" Harm smiled as he stepped onto the first 
 rock. "Now be careful. These rocks can be…" What ever else he was going to 
 say was cutoff as his feet slipped out from under him and he lost his 
 balance, landing in the creek water.
 
 "Harm" Mac cried as she ran to his side. "Are you all right?"
 
 "I think so" Harm grimaced as he sat up. "I'm just a little wet that's all."
 
 "Let's get you up so we can make sure you didn’t hurt anything" Mac fretted. 
 She pulled him to his feet and to her relief he was okay.  "You're going to 
 be freezing by the time we get back to the house. Mollie, Brandon, come on. 
 We're going to have to hightail it back to the house."
 
 With Mollie and Brandon leading the way, they headed back, Mac keeping her 
 arms around Harm to help keep him warm.
 
 "You okay?" she asked several times along the way.
 
 "Just a little cold" Harm smiled. "But otherwise, I'm fine. Stop worrying. 
 The only thing hurt is my pride."
 
 "And for that I'm extremely thankful" Mac sighed.
 
 The rest of the afternoon was spent quietly with their friends, after Grams 
 and Mac finished fussing over Harm. But a hot shower and the woman he loved 
 in his arms was all he needed. Instead of the usual rehearsal dinner, the 
 woman of the house had spent the afternoon cooking, providing a special meal 
 for the group to enjoy.  Grams beamed with happiness, the Rabb home finally 
 filled with love and laughter again.
  

"Mrs. Rabb I've never seen one person turn out so much food," Sydney smiled as 
she helped Grams bring out the vegetables to go along with the leg of lamb.

"Excuse me?" Grams frowned.

"I'm sorry, I mean Grams," Sydney smiled.  

"Thank you.  The only Mrs. Rabb I knew was Peter's mother.  A wonderful woman 
who was like a lot of my family taken much too soon."

"I suppose a lot of life is involved with tragedy," Sydney sighed.  

"So if I'm not out of line here, you and that handsome man my grandson is 'sir-ing' 
despite his request not to......seem to be pretty close."

"No it's OK," Sydney smiled and blushed at the same time.  "We're trying, trying 
very hard, to hold it together.  We had something special going and I allowed by 
son to come between us, very foolishly.  He has a drug problem, and for a long 
time I refused to let myself see it.  I've raised him alone and.....and I shouldn't be 
burdening you with this, but you're awfully easy to talk to.  My mother and I never 
had...and I'm doing it again.  Sorry."

Grams patted her shoulder.  "I'm a good listener and I've got very strong 
shoulders.  Seriously, I help with Pastoral Counseling so if you want to talk, I know 
we can find time this weekend."

"Thanks Grams.  I might take you up on that," Sydney smiled and hurried back to 
the kitchen.

"And child what's with you?" Grams asked Harriet gently.  She had come to see if 
she could help, but had stopped to stare at the family pictures displayed on the 
sideboard.

"Just admiring your family Mrs....uh Grams," she smiled.  "But they're all old 
pictures.  I would have thought your family....oh but Harm didn't have any brothers 
or sisters of course.  And you had just the one son?"

"I did," Grams smiled.  "Harm's grandfather was killed at Pearl Harbor, and I never 
found anyone to take his place, so Harm Sr. was an only child."

"That's not so bad for a child is it," Harriet murmured, looking to where AJ was 
happily playing with Mollie and Brandon.

"Maybe a little lonely," Grams said thoughtfully and then asked gently,  "Are you 
considering another baby in your house?"

"There was another," Harriet answered softly.  "A baby girl born in November and 
she died.  I never got to hold her."

Grams put her arms around the young woman at once.  "And you're terrified of 
trying again aren't you?"

"I can't go through that again," Harriet sighed,  sniffling softly.

Grams smiled sympathetically and squeezed her slightly heaving shoulders.  
"That's something only you can know of course, but if you want to know what an 
old lady thinks...well I'll just say that don't let fear ruin the future for you, or the 
present.  You have a beautiful little boy and a husband who obviously loves you."

"Yes ma'am," Harriet smiled.  "I need to know when to be grateful don't I."

"Let go dear, and let God," Grams whispered.  "And let's eat shall we."

A few moments later the wedding guests were gathered around the now full to 
capacity table.  "I think I'd like to hear from the men in this room with regard to the 
blessing," Grams announced.  "I need a volunteer to start.  Thank you Frank."

"I was hiding under the table," Frank teased.  "OK.  I can do this."  The room 
turned silent, with even baby AJ knowing something was happening.  "For this 
gathering of family and for the making of new friends Lord we are truly grateful.  
AJ?"

AJ cleared his throat and squeezed Sydney's hand.  "For second chances" he 
said simply, "and the wisdom to make the most of them.  Bud?"

"Amen to second chances," he said softly, his eyes never leaving Harriet's.  "And 
the courage to take them.  Sir....uh Harm?"

"I'm afraid I'm up to about sixth chances," he smiled sheepishly.  "So I'm just going 
to say this.  Dear God in Heaven, for this woman I've adored for so long that I 
can't even remember when I didn't, make me truly grateful.  And for this gathering 
of family and friends on the eve of the day Sarah and I will begin our lives 
together, we thank You.  In Your Son's name we pray.  Amen."

"Amen," AJ Roberts piped up.  

"Sunday school," Harriet explained.

"That's our godson," Harm grinned, "and let's eat.  Bride to be first."

"I don't have to be invited twice," she yelped, elbowing her way to the front.  

"You're not already pregnant are you Mac?" Trish laughed teasingly.

"Not possible," she replied seriously.

"Not possible?  Harm what's the problem?"

"We're waiting," he said softly.

"For hell to freeze over?" AJ screeched, and then reddened.  "Oh, waiting for..."

"Who's waiting for what?" Brandon demanded.

"You to get into the food line," Maggie told him, giving him a small push.

"Mixed company here," Harm laughed, gesturing to the kids.  "But waiting yes--
that's the plan."

"Well it won't be a problem tonight," Harriet told him.  "Thanks to Grams, you're 
being taken out by the men for a last night of freedom--and that is such BS but 
anyway--drink and then being dropped off...uh where Grams?"

"Harmon you will be spending the night with the Wilsons," Grams said.  "It's very 
bad luck to be with your bride after midnight and certainly you won't be seeing her 
until she walks down the aisle to you."

"Hey no wait," he objected.  "I'm not....that wasn't part....who's idea was this 
anyway?" 

"Give it up Flyboy," his mother told him.  "It's out of your hands."

"OK, but don't expect me to do any sleeping," Harm growled.  "We haven't slept 
apart since....since I don't even know when."

"That's why we're getting you drunk first son," AJ laughed.

Dinner passed quickly and afterward Harm and Mac went upstairs for him to pack 
his things.  "I can't believe I'm not going to see you until the wedding," he said 
softly as he zipped his duffel bag.

"Good for you Sailor.  It will make you appreciate me more."  She was sitting on 
the edge of the bed, swinging her feet and she looked up at him slyly.  "And you 
can also plan your seduction of me for the wedding night."

"Sarah I've had that planned for a very long time," he told her seriously.  "It's been 
the subject of my dreams many many times."

"Mine too," she whispered and tugged his hand pulling him down onto the bed.  
"I'm going to miss you tonight.  Don't go have a last fling now OK?"

"You my love are the only woman I want in this lifetime," he said seriously.  "The 
only woman I've ever seen myself with, and it's finally our turn."

His response was to hold her face between gentle palms and to kiss her longingly.  
"I'm going to miss you tonight."

"No more than I will you," she breathed, initiating another more deep kiss.

"Not a chance," he returned and another kiss followed.

"So much for waiting," AJ thundered from the open bedroom door and they broke 
apart.  "Rabb there's a beer with my name on it waiting.  Could we....please."

"Yes sir," he grinned.  "I'll be right there."

AJ closed the door partway and Harm loomed over her as she lay on her back.  "I 
love you Sarah Catherine Mackenzie, and the next time I say that to you, it will be 
with you as my bride."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


 With a final kiss he was gone, and Mac stayed for a minute, closing her eyes 
 and imagining his kiss again. Like Harm, she too knew she wouldn't sleep 
 without his arms around her.
 
 "Mac, you coming down" Trish asked as she stuck her head in the room.
 
 "Sorry, just zoning for a second" Mac said as she sat up on the bed. "The 
 guys are gone."
 
 "Yes, and don’t worry Frank will make sure they stay in line" Trish smiled. 
 "Not that you have to worry about Harm. He loves you too much to do anything 
 silly like that."
 
 "I know" Mac smiled. "Your son is a very special man. And I'm very lucky to 
 have him in my life."
 
 "As is he lucky to have you" Trish pointed out. "You make my son very happy. 
 Happier than I've ever seen him. And for that I am eternally grateful. You 
 two have a very special love, and that's more than most people get in this 
 life. And I hope that you and Harm are blessed with many happy years."
 
 "Me too" Mac whispered thinking of how many years Trish had lost with the 
 first man she'd loved.  "How did you ever get through losing Harm Sr.?"
 
 "It wasn't easy," Trish said softly. "But Grams was there for me. And of 
 course I had Harm. I couldn't fall apart even if I'd wanted to. He needed 
 me. Of course it wasn't any easier when he grew up. In a lot of ways it was 
 harder. He wanted his father and by then I'd realized I needed to go on with 
 my life. But I still think about him. Especially when I'm here. We had a lot 
 of good memories here."
 
 "Pastor Jacob told me his father had married you and Harm Sr." Mac smiled. 
 "I didn't realize you'd gotten married here too."
 
 "Like you and Harm, we loved it here too" Trish said as she sat down on the 
 edge of the bed. "Harm Sr. always dreamed of coming back here one day. But 
 like his father, he never got the chance."
 
 "Harm and I would like to come back here to live one day. With the 10 kids 
 Harm wants to have."
 
 "I was just hoping for one" Trish laughed. "But we've got enough love for as 
 many as you and Harm want to have."
 
 "I was thinking of four or five" Mac laughed. "Course that all depends on 
 what we're blessed with."
 
 "Somehow I have this feeling you'll be blessed with lots" Trish smiled. "And 
 Mac, I'm really glad to have you as a daughter."
 
 "Thanks mom" Mac said as she gave Trish a hug. "I'm glad to have you as a 
 mom. You and Grams have given me something I never had before."
 
 "You just remember that anytime you need anything, just call," Trish said 
 seriously. "We're always there for you."
 
 "That's what Grams said" Mac smiled.
 
 "I think we'd better go join the others," Trish said as she stood up. "I 
 think Grams has some more stories about Harm to share with you."
 
 "These I got to hear" Mac grinned.
 
 *****************************************************************************
 A few miles away in the one and only tavern in Belleville the guys were 
 telling Frank the story of how they'd ended up in jail the night before 
 Bud's wedding, and the story of Harm's dress whites.
 
 "A male stripper took your dress whites" Frank laughed in amazement. "And 
 you had to take the daughter of the owner of the dry cleaning store to get 
 them back."
 
 "It's all the truth" Bud assured him. "I was worried my best man wasn't 
 going to have his dress whites for the wedding."
 
 "Yeah Bud, but I didn't let you down" Harm grinned.
 
 "No sir, you didn't" Bud smiled. "I'm really happy for you and Mac. I hope 
 you'll still be working together," he said shooting a glance AJ's way.
 
 "Don’t worry Bud, I've taken care of that" AJ grinned. "You think I'm going 
 to let my two best people go."
 
 "So what did have to do to convince SecNav to let us stay working together?" 
 Harm questioned.
 
 "Nothing" AJ replied. "He was all for it. Something about maybe once Rabb's 
 married he'll stay out of trouble."
 
 "I appreciate you going to bat for us sir" Harm replied. "Mac's going to be 
 happy to hear that."
 
 "Least I could do" AJ replied. "I wish you two all the best."
 
 The celebration came to a close and AJ and Bud returned to Grams while Frank 
 dropped Harm off at the Wilson farm.
 
 "You've got a great lady there Harm" Frank said as they drove to the 
 Wilson's. "She loves you very much."
 
 "And I love her just as much Frank. She's my whole world now."
 
 "I'm glad to see you finally found that special someone," Frank said 
 quietly. "Just take good care of her."
 
 "I will" Harm assured him. "Frank, you're coming back in the morning aren't 
 you?"
 
 "If you want me too, I will" Frank replied.
 
 "I would"
 
 *********************************************************************************
 
 "Mac you look incredible" Trish smiled as she looked at her soon to be 
 daughter. "I can't believe that's the dress Grams got married in sixty years 
 ago. It's perfect on you."
 
 "Do you think Harm will like it?" Mac asked nervously.
 
 "He's going to love it" Trish assured her. "You about ready."
 
 "Been ready" Mac smiled. "I've been waiting six years for this moment."
 
 ***************************************************************************
 
 "Everything's all set sir" Bud said as he walked into the small room in the 
 church where Harm and Frank were waiting.
 
 "The guitar player is here?" Harm questioned. "And he knows the song I want 
 him to play."
 
 "All taken care of" Bud assured him. "Mac is going to be so surprised when 
 you sing to her."
 
 "I hope so" Harm smiled. When he and Mac had started planning their wedding, 
 Harm had decided he was going to sing a song for Mac while she walked down 
 the aisle to him. She was only expecting the traditional wedding march, and 
 he hoped she'd like what he picked. Something simple, that fit the ceremony 
 and wedding they were having, yet expressed how much she meant to him.
 
 "I think it's time" Frank smiled. "Harm, you ready."
 
 Harm took his place beside Pastor Jacob and nervously waited for Mac. He 
 glanced around the small church, now packed with friends and family, 
 suddenly feeling another presence with him. And in that instant his 
 nervousness passed. He knew he would never be alone, that his dad and 
Gramps 
 would always be there with him.
 
 "I think your bride is ready" Pastor Jacob smiled as he nudged Harm, who 
 looked up to see his beautiful bride standing at the back of church.
 
 Mac waited anxiously at the back of the church with AJ. She'd asked him to 
 walk her down the aisle, knowing he'd been more of a father to her than 
 anyone else had. At the first strum of the guitar, Mac looked at AJ with 
 surprise.
 
 "Where's the wedding march?" she whispered thinking that the organ player 
 had not shown.
 
 "There's been a slight change in plans" AJ grinned as they stepped into the 
 aisle and Harm began to sing.
 
 I'll walk in the rain by your side, I'll cling to the warmth of your hand, 
 I'll do anything to keep you satisfied I love you more than anybody can.  
 And the wind will whisper your name to me little birds will sing along in 
 time, leaves will bow down when you walk by and morning bells will chime.
 
 I'll be there when you're feelin' down to kiss away the tears if you cry, 
 I'll share with you all the happiness I've found a reflection of the love in 
 your eyes. And I'll sing you the songs of the rainbow, the whisper of the 
 joy that is mine leaves will bow down when you walk by and morning bells 
 will chime.
 
 I'll walk in the rain by your side I'll cling to the warmth of your tiny 
 hand, I'll do anything to help you understand I love you more than anybody 
 can. And the wind will whisper your name to me little birds will sing along 
 in time, leaves will bow down when you walk by and morning bells will chime.
 
 They'd reached Harm and without a word AJ pressed her hands into his before 
 finding his place next to Sydney.
 
 "Thank you" Mac whispered the tears of happiness sliding down her face. "I 
 wasn't expecting that and it was so beautiful."
 
 "I love you so much Sarah Catherine Mackenzie" Harm whispered. "I don't ever 
 want you to forget that."

"Never."  Mac shook her head solemnly, blinking away her tears.

"Friends in Christ we are here to day to witness the union of Harmon David Rabb 
Jr. and Sarah Catherine Mackenzie," Pastor Jacob intoned.  "Marriage is one of 
those rites instituted by God Almighty and blessed by His Son on earth.  A man 
and woman can do nothing greater than to declare their love and devotion before 
their God and their friends and family.  With that in mind, let us pray."

The gathering joined in the Lord's Prayer and Jacob  held his hand to both Harm 
and Mac for their hands which he joined as one and then nodded to Mac as he 
held their hands together.

"Harmon David Rabb I stand before you today to come into your life and your 
heart for now and for always," she spoke softly but clearly.  "A journey which 
began in a Rose Garden has ended here.  Two sets of footprints are now one. My 
heart, my body, and my soul are yours.  I love you and today I become your 
bride."

"I love you," Harm mouthed to her before clearing his throat and hoping his voice 
would not break.  "Sarah Catherine Mackenzie you have had my heart from hello.  
Your courage, your tenacity, your compassion, your strength have all impressed  
me over time.  But most of all, your capacity to love.  To love an arrogant 
egotistical ex-fighterjock who is often far too full of himself for his own good."  

A knowing murmur went up from the guests and Harm smiled before he 
continued.  "Now on this day, I freely hand you my heart, my soul, all that I am and 
all that I ever hope to be.  Make of me your husband, for you are my life and my 
world."

Jacob nodded to Brandon who stepped forward, carefully balancing the rings on 
the pillow.  There was the one that had belong to Grams which Harm had given 
Mac that Christmas Eve, now joined by two matching plain gold bands, their 
simplicity in keeping with the country wedding.  

"Thank you big guy," Harm whispered and the boy grinned ear to ear.

"Round is the wedding ring for it has no end," Jacob spoke again.  "And no end is 
how love should be.  Harmon and Sarah, put the rings in place and repeat after 
me.  "With this ring I thee wed."  Their voices joined in that ancient pledge and 
Jacob once again pressed their hands together.  "Almighty God and His Son 
Jesus have joined these two hearts as one.  So by the power passed to me from 
above, and granted to me by the government of this state, may I present Mr. and 
Mrs. Harmon Rabb.  Whom God has so joined, let no man tamper with.  Amen.  
Mr. Rabb, it's that time."

Harm needed no further urging.  He cupped Mac's face in a gentle palm, kissed 
each of her cheeks where they were damp with tears before lightly touching his 
lips to hers.  To deepen the kiss was his greatest desire, and then remembering 
there would be plenty of time for that tonight he simply settled for repeating it twice 
in rapid succession.  "I love you Mrs. Rabb," he whispered.  

"And I you Commander Rabb," she answered at once, her eyes going to her left 
hand.  For a long moment she stared at the rings now firmly in place there and 
remembered another ring that had been placed on her other hand a year ago in 
an airport in Sydney and she offered a quick prayer of thankfulness that God had 
intervened.

The organ music came up full, playing the bride's retreat and Mollie walked ahead 
proudly, casting her flower petals to each side.  Harm escorted his bride back 
down the aisle to the applause of those gathered.

Harmon David Rabb and Sarah Catherine Mackenzie were now united.
============================================

The women of the church had seen to it that the basement fellowship hall was 
filled with food and music.  Three hours passed quickly and Harm soon realized 
he had not seen Mac for the past twenty minutes.  A brief rush of panic later, he 
found her on the terrace, staring at the distant mountains illuminated by the 
wintery moonlight.  "You OK?  Your husband misses you."

"I'm more than OK," she smiled.  "I just needed a few minutes to take it all in that's 
all.  This has been the most wonderful day ever."  

He walked up behind her and wrapped his arms over her.  "For me too Angel," he 
whispered, "and we have a week of wonderfulness ahead of us."

"Where are we going anyway?" she demanded.

"You'll never get it out of me," he grinned.  "But for tonight, not very far."

She shook her head, and her eyes shone with the love she felt for him just before 
she closed them as he took her into his arms.  For the next thirty seconds they 
were the only two people in the world.

 Inside the music was playing soft and low as the evening was winding down.  

"Last dance?" AJ held his hand out to Sydney.  

"How can I refuse such a handsome man's request," she giggled and let him pull 
her to her feet and take her onto the empty dance floor.

Grams saw them and nodded wisely.  Her heart was telling her she was watching 
another couple in love, and that God would show them their way.

An hour later the evening was ending and Harm looked around anxiously.  

"Son relax it's all fixed," Grams assured him.  

"What?" Mac frowned in puzzlement.  

The sound of sleigh bells answered her question and Mollie and Brandon's excited 
squeals echoed through the hall.  "There's a sled and horses out there," Mollie 
yelled, jumping up and down. 

"Our transportation to our destination is here," Harm grinned.

"Harm what..." she stammered.

He just smiled and took her hand, opening the double doors at the far end.  "We 
will be traveling cross country to where we'll be spending the night.  And don't 
worry, thanks to our friends, I'm assured an overnight bag has been packed for us. 

He tugged her hand, leading her outside with the others close behind.  Sure 
enough there stood an old fashioned horse drawn sled, pulled by two dapple gray 
horses, their harnesses adorned with sleigh bells and white ribbons.

"I don't....how did you..." Mac stammered.

"I don't catch her at a loss for words very often," Harm chortled.  "OK we're outta 
here.  Honey up you go."

Carefully he helped her to mount to the front seat and then pulled himself up after 
her, holding his hands up for quiet.  "I just wanted to say....well I had a little 
speech thing prepared, and now I can't do it."  His voice choked and he hugged 
Mac to him.  "So I'll just say thanks and we'll see you in the morning for services at 
1100 hours."

There was a chorus of good-byes and Harm lifted the reins.  The well trained team 
moved out smartly, starting the sled across the snowy fields.  

"Harm where are we going?" she gasped, totally in awe of what was happening to 
her.

"In about twenty minutes you'll know," he promised.  "In the meantime sit and 
enjoy the ride.  You warm enough?"  Before she could answer he tucked the lap 
robe over her even more tightly, holding her close as he guided the horses.

"Since when is driving a team of horses one of your abilities?" 

"Since I was a kid," he drawled.  "I used to do plowing with horses to pick up some 
extra money around here anyway.  Followed the horses, walked barefoot, got 
yelled at for bringing in mud and horse sh...uh doo doo."

"You're a farmer at heart Rabb," she laughed.

"My dreams to follow my dad took me away from here," he said softly, "and led me 
ultimately to you so that's a good thing of course, but when I'm here with you, I 
feel like...well like I'm being called back here."

She said nothing, only snuggled deeper into his grasp, relaxing completely.

"Here we are."  His gentle voice broke into her reverie.

"Oh Harm," she gasped, seeing the small cabin ahead of them.  "I saw this in the 
old photo album.  

"The first home to be built on Rabb land," he smiled.  "And it's been kept up all 
these years.  Of course there's no power or running water, but that's part of it's 
charm.  My wife, for tonight, you and I have stepped back to the 1700's." 

He helped her down from the sleigh and guided her into the cabin.  There 
were several lanterns lit and a roaring fire in the fireplace provided all 
the warmth they would need for the evening. The one room cabin had just a 
bed and a table, but both were beautifully adorned. The large feather bed 
had was layered with several handmade quilts, the top one being a wedding 
quilt that bore their names and the date. The table had been decorated with 
a white linen tablecloth, and a bottle of sparkling grape juice was chilling 
in the ice bucket next to it. A pair of fluted champagne glasses stood next 
to it, along with a small tray of cookies and other sweets for them to 
enjoy.

"Harm this is incredible. Who did all this?"

"The town of Belleville" Harm smiled. "Course Grams was the orchestrator 
behind it. I think the top quilt is one of our wedding presents. So is it 
okay that we're spending the night here instead of the Marriott or some 
swanky hotel like that."

"Being in the first Rabb home for our first night as husband and wife is 
prefect with me" Mac said as she wrapped her arms around her husband. "As 
long as I'm with you, I don’t care where I am."

"Me neither" Harm whispered as he lowered his lips to hers, a long and deep 
kiss ensuing.  He scooped her into his arms; carrying her to the bed and 
gently placing her down A few seconds later a pile of clothes lay in a heap 
on the floor. "I love you" he whispered and a short time later, in the cabin 
where the first Rabb had been born almost 200 years ago, Harmon David Rabb 
and Sarah Catherine Rabb became one.

Hours later, they lay in each other's arms, thanking God for everything that 
had been bestowed upon them.

"This was the most incredible day of my life" Mac smiled happily. 
"Everything was wonderful."

"Just wonderful?" Harm teased.

"You my dear husband were more than wonderful," Mac said rolling over so 
that she was lying on top of him.  "Remember I told you once that Dress 
Whites and Gold Wings were overrated?"

"Yes"

"I was very wrong"

*************************************************************************************

After the church services they all gathered once more at Grams for final 
farewells.

"We'd like to thank everyone for making yesterday the best day of our lives" 
Harm said as he wrapped his arm around Mac's waist.

"Our pleasure" Harriet smiled. "Now will you please tell us where you're 
going on your honeymoon. We're all dying of suspense here."

"Come here Harriet and I'll tell you" Harm teased. "Mrs. Rabb is not going 
to know our destination until we get to the airport.

"Hey, your not being nice" Mac said smacking his arm playfully. "You said 
I'd find out today."

"Yes, but I didn't say when you'd find out" Harm grinned.

Their friends began their trek back to DC, and finally Harm and Mac made 
their good byes to Grams and Trish and Frank.

"Thank you for everything" Mac said giving Grams a big long hug. "It was a 
dream come true."

"You're very welcome my dear" Grams smiled. "You take good care of her now, 
Harmon."

"I will Grams" Harm promised giving Grams a big hug as well. "Thank you."

"You'll keep that promise not to be such a stranger right?"

"Grams, we're going to be up here so much you're going to get sick of seeing 
us" Mac smiled.

"I'll never tire of seeing you two" Grams smiled.

"And I hope you and Mac will be coming out to LaJolla soon" Trish said as 
she gave Harm a hug.

"As soon as we can manage it" Harm promised.

Finally all the good byes were made and they headed to the airport in 
Pittsburgh.

"Okay, where are we going?" Mac questioned.

"How does the sunny island of Antigua sound?" Harm grinned.

"Are you serious?"

"Very serious. We are going to be spending the next five nights at the Royal 
Antiguan Resort"

"I love you Harmon Rabb" Mac squealed as she threw her arms around him.

"I love you Sarah Rabb" Harm smiled before their lips met again in another 
long deep kiss.

"Oh Fred, look at them" the elderly lady said pointing to Harm and Mac. 
"Remember when we were like that?"

"We still are like that Nora" the older gentleman smiled. And to her 
surprise, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her.



The End...