Title: What Does Love Have to Do With Anything
Author: Heather Nabers
Summary: Harm's return to flying changes EVERYTHING for him and Mac.
Disclaimer: Don't own them. Although I would like to borrow DJE. Feed 
back 
PLEASE!!!


What Does Love Have to Do With Anything

Harm stared at Mac as the elevator doors began to close. The look on 
her 
face was enough to break his heart. Suddenly, he dropped the box he was 
open, pried the doors open and ran back into the bullpen. Her back was 
turned to him, so he wrapped his arms around her and turned her towards 
him.

Mac was startled, but was prepared to seriously injure her assailant. 
Before 
she could do any bodily harm (Authors note: no pun intended) she saw 
whose 
strong arms were holding her so tightly. Her knees went weak. Her heart 
melted. Her cases dropped to the tile floor.

Harm put his hand on the small of her back and pulled her to his chest. 
Lowering his head, their mouths met in a slow, soft, tender, but oh so 
passionate kiss. All activity in the bullpen had stopped, and was 
watching 
the former partners with great interest. Not that Mac or Harm were 
aware of 
this. Nothing could have taken them away from this perfect moment in 
time.

Finally, they broke apart, and their audience broke into applause. Just 
then 
did they remember they were in JAG HQ? Harm grinned his sexy flyboy 
grin and 
took a little bow, only making them clap and whistle even more. Mac 
grinned 
but hid herself partially behind her partner. Her cheeks were flushed, 
not 
from heat, or embarrassment, but happiness.

"Whose day is it in the pool!" Brumby bellowed.

Harm turned to face Mac and looked at her as if he was seeing her for 
the 
first time. He put his hand on her cheek, and wiped away the tears that 
still continued to fall. "We need to talk, Sarah." He said.

"I know." She said. "I'll be at your place tonight after work." Harm 
nodded, 
kissed her again and walked back to the elevator.

Everyone was staring at Mac. They had all been waiting for this almost 
as 
long as they had. Finally Admiral Chegwidden broke the silence and told 
them 
all to get back to work. "You too, Mac." He said, with a smile.

Mac nodded and walked to her office. How was she ever going to make it 
till 
tonight?



Harm was in his apartment, lighting candles and setting the table. He 
took a 
look around. Everything was perfect; beautiful. The room was bathed in 
golden candlelight and the table was set with sparkling crystal. A 
dozen red 
roses sat in the center of the table. "The room is perfect," Harm said 
to 
himself. He wandered over to a mirror. "Now, do I look OK." He was 
straightening his tie when the doorbell rang. He took a deep breath and 
went 
to open it.

Mac's eyes widened as she looked in Harm's apartment. She was glad she 
had 
dressed up. It was beautiful. Candles were everywhere and a vase full 
of 
roses sat in the center of a perfectly set table. Then there was Harm. 
She 
lit up as she saw him. His dress whites were immaculate and his gold 
wings 
were shined and positioned perfectly. He took her breath away.

Harm wasn't the only one having problems breathing. Mac was stunning. 
An ice 
blue silk dress draped perfectly over her body and hugged in all the 
right 
places. Several pale blue butterfly clips sparkled from her brown hair. 
"You 
look beautiful." He managed to get out.

Mac smiled and looked him down. "You're not to bad yourself." She bit 
her 
lower lip, trying to suppress her smile. "You know what they say about 
Dress 
whites and gold wings."

Harm smiled his patented Flyboy grin and held out a chair. Mac sat in 
it and 
Harm went to the kitchen to get the food.

"Harm, please tell me it isn't meatless meatloaf."

"You should be so lucky. But its roasted chicken." He brought the two 
plates 
into the living room and said, "So, what was that pool Brumby was 
talking 
about?"

Mac laughed. "It turns out for the past three years, the office has had 
a 
pool on when we would get together. Its up to a $1000 dollars." She 
laughed 
again as Harm dropped his fork. "Tiner was the one Lucky enough to 
win."

"Who started it?"

"Who do you think? Bud of course. Well, Bud and the Admiral."

Harm dropped his fork again. "The Admiral!"



Dinner was over and Mac and Harm were dancing to the soft music in the 
CD 
player.

"I never thought you would be one to listen to the Backstreet Boys."

Harm sighed. "I never thought I would either. But I was at Media Play, 
and 
this song was playing. It reminded me of you. So I bought it.

"What's it called?" Mac asked. She was curious. The song was really 
pretty.

"Don't want to lose you now.”

"I'll have to buy this CD, as a reminder of you. This isn't right Harm. 
We 
finally get to this point, after three years and you're leaving in 43 
hours 
and 37 minutes."

"I know." Harm whispered in her hair. "But we still have almost two 
days. 
Lets make the most of it." He pulled back a little and bent his head 
down to 
hers. Their lips touched in a soft, sweet kiss, which continued to 
build 
with passion.

"I love you Mac," Harm said once the kiss broke.

"I love you too."

***

The bright morning sunlight streamed through the windows, casting a 
light on 
Mac's face. Harm sighed. He had been awake, his face propped up, 
watching 
her sleep, for an hour. The sun on her face only made her more 
beautiful.

However, it woke her up. Rolling over to her side, she found herself 
face to 
face with Harm.

"Mmm. Morning Flyboy." She could definitely get used to waking up like 
this. 
The most gorgeous man she had ever seen just staring at her. And he 
wasn't 
just staring at her. He was staring at her with a look no other man had 
looked at her with. He looked at her, with pure love in his eyes.

He grinned and sat up. "Morning yourself, jarhead. I never imagined 
that 
tattoo would be there."

Smiling, she sat up too, holding the blankets tightly around her. "You 
better be good or your never going to see it again." Then her smile 
faded. 
"I guess we won't have to worry about you seeing it for a while anyway, 
will 
we."

Pulling a shirt of his off the floor, she pulled it over her shoulders 
and 
buttoned it. "After all, you are leaving for God knows how long in 36 
hours 
and 27 minutes." She walked over to the window, and tried to stop the 
tears 
she felt coming on.

Harm's smile faded too and he pulled on his boxers and followed her to 
the 
window. Wrapping his arms around her waist and putting his chin on her 
shoulder, he sighed. "Mac, last night was the best night of my life. I 
had 
never dreamed you would want to be here, like this, with me. It was 
something I thought would only happen in my dreams. But it happened. 
And 
hearing 'I love you' coming from your sweet mouth and your kisses and 
everything about you is more important to me then ever being back in a 
tomcat."

Mac's jaw dropped. "What exactly are you saying Harm?"

He turned her to face him. Putting his hand on her cheek and gazing 
into 
those stunning brown eyes, he said, "Mac, all you have to do is say the 
word. You tell me not to go, and I won't. I'll stay here with you. 
Forever."

Mac was speechless. "Are you serious?"

Harm grinned. "Yes, of course I am serious. I love you."

"But Harm," Mac started, "You love flying more then anything else in 
the 
world. It’s your whole life. You spent your life preparing to be an 
aviator 
and now you have that chance back."

He put his hand under her chin and tiled her face up so he could look 
into 
her eyes. "Mac, at one point, flying was the most important thing in 
the 
world to me. It was my reason for living. But not anymore. Do you have 
any 
idea how much I really love you. I told you I would give my life for 
you and 
I would. I will give up flying for you too. All you have to do is tell 
me 
that's what you want."

She smiled a teary smile. "I do want that. I want you to stay." He 
opened 
his mouth to say something, but was stopped by her fingers gently 
pressing 
against his lips. "But Harm, I love you too. I would give up anything 
for 
you. Even a piece of my own happiness for you. I know that being in a 
tomcat 
makes you happy. And I want you to be happy. I don't want you to ever 
resent 
me or hate me or think I kept you from perusing your dream. You can be 
a 
pilot and still have me. I'm here and I'm not going anywhere."

"I love you, Sarah." Harm leaned over and kissed her softly and slowly. 
There was one thing they both knew. They would never get tired of 
kissing 
each other. She parted her lips to deepen the kiss, when the doorbell 
chose 
that moment to ring.

"Ugh. Hold that thought." He quickly kissed her one more time and got 
up to 
answer the door. Opening it, the color drained out of his face. 
"Jordan." He 
said flatly.

Smiling, not noticing his lack of enthusiasm, she brushed her lips 
against 
his. Jordan welcomed herself in and casually dropped her purse on the 
sofa. 
That's when she noticed the room. The table was still set, and the 
roses 
were still in the center. The melted candles were still everywhere and 
pieces of clothing made a trail to the bedroom.

"What's going o..." She started, but stopped when she saw Mac coming 
from 
Harm's bedroom, dressed in nothing but one of his shirts. "On."

"Well," she said, once she got over the momentary shock of seeing her 
boyfriends partner in his apartment, "I guess its true what they say 
about 
y'all sailors having a woman in every port. Are you staying now? Since 
you 
finally have the woman you love, are you gonna stay."

Harm looked at Mac. "I don't know yet."

"That's nice, Harm. Real nice." Jordan was hurt now. "You wouldn't even 
consider staying for me, but you would do it for her. I'm out of here." 
She 
picked up her purse and ran from the apartment.

"Harm, you have to fly. There is really no other option. Go live your 
dream. 
I'll be here. Now and forever."

***

The next morning, was their final morning together. By the end of the 
day, 
Harm would be on a plane to Pensacola, and Mac would be partnered with 
Brumby, and both would be going to bed alone.

Harm sighed as he heard Mac's gentle breathing. He never knew he could 
love 
anyone as much as he loved her. And the fact that he would have to 
leave her 
was killing him. There was something he would have to do before he left 
her. 
Trying to get up as motionlessly as possible, Harm quickly got dressed 
and 
wrote Mac a note.

?


He placed the note on his pillow and put a rose on top of it. He 
grabbed his 
keys and left.

***

Later that same morning, Mac was up and dressed. She had read his note 
so 
she wasn't worried he had skipped out on her. Yet, anyway. All kinds of 
horrible thoughts were running through her head. Thoughts like, he'd 
meet 
some beautiful woman on his boat, or in Pensacola, and forget about 
her. Or 
that he'd crash and die. Or that he just didn't want to be tied down. 
Her 
head knew all these things were just part of her imagination. But her 
heart 
was terrified of each and every one of them. She had learned at a very 
early 
age, never to depend on a man, but she did depend on him. Harm was 
everything to her. Her reason for staying sober when a thousand 
temptations 
led her to drink. He was her reason for coming back to JAG. He was the 
reason she wanted a family and a good, simple, pure life. A life for 
him. 
That flyboy smile of his and those incredible blue eyes could 
extinguish the 
tough marine in her, leaving a vulnerable woman head over heels in 
love. A 
woman who would do or give anything to love and be loved by him.

As these thoughts and fears were running through her head, Harm stood 
outside the door. Slipping the contents of the bag into his pocket and 
putting the bag in the garbage, he hoped she liked his surprise. He 
just 
hoped more then anything that she would be able to resist Brumby or any 
of 
those other guys while he was gone. After the past day, he realized she 
was 
the center of his world. Everything good in his life revolved around 
her. 
Sighing, he opened the door. He grinned as he saw Mac up and dressed 
and 
sitting on the couch.

"Good morning beautiful." Harm smiled that flyboy smile, extinguishing 
the 
marine in her. She stood up and greeted him with a kiss.

"It would have been if you were still in bed when I woke up. Where did 
you 
have to go so early?" Mac pulled him down to the couch and leaned 
against 
him.

Harm wrapped his arms around her. "Its a surprise. I'll tell ya later." 
He 
sighed and looked at her. "So. What do ya want to do today?"

She shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know. How 'bout we go visit Bud, 
Harriet and AJ."

He nodded. "Sounds good to me. Lets go." He stood up, and extended his 
hand. 
She took it and they left.

***

"Oh, he's gonna be so big next time I see him." Harm held the baby one 
last 
time and looked at his precious face, then at Mac. "I bet now you're 
thinking you should have picked someone else to be godfather, huh?"

Bud and Harriet both shook their heads. "Of course not, sir." Bud said. 
"You 
are my mentor and my best friend. I couldn't think of anyone else to be 
godfather to my child."

Harriet smiled at the scene before her. Harm and Mac were standing 
there. AJ 
in Harms arms. They looked like a family. Realizing he was handing the 
baby 
back to her, Harriet said, "You know, Commander, you looked great 
holding my 
son. Maybe you and Mac can work on that soon."

Three sets of eyes widened. Buds with embarrassment, Harm and Mac's 
with 
surprise. Harm finally found his voice. "Mac, we should let the Roberts 
be 
on their way. Naples is quite a flight."

"Your Right." Bud said. Harriet, trying not to cry pulled Harm to her.

"I'm going to miss you, Commander. Good luck and be safe." Pulling 
back, she 
smiled a teary smile. "I'll see ya in a few days, Major."

"Bye." Bud said. He hugged both Harm & Mac, and then they all went to 
their 
separate cars and went their separate ways.

***

Harm had blindfolded her and had driven them somewhere. Once he took 
the 
blindfold off, they were in a rose garden.

"I know this isn't the White House rose garden, where we met, but a 
rose is 
a rose." Turning more serious, he took her hand and they sat down on a 
bench. "Mac, I have something for you."

Reaching into his coat pocket, he pulled out a forest green velvet box, 
and 
handed it to her.

Her eyes widened as she opened it. Inside, on the soft velvet, saw a 
huge 
glittering diamond on a platinum band. The ring must have cost a small 
fortune. "Harm..." she started.

He took the ring out of the box and pulled a platinum chain out of a 
tiny 
bag. Threading the ring onto it, he started explaining. "Mac, this 
isn't an 
engagement ring. Not yet anyway. It’s a promise ring. A promise that 
I'm 
coming home to you. A promise that we'll be together always. When I 
come 
home, in three months, if you still love me, I'll put that ring on your 
finger. What do ya say?"

Mac stared at him as he held the delicate chain out to her. She was 
stunned. 
She couldn't believe this was happening. The man she had loved for 
three 
years was telling her he wanted to spend his life with her.

"Harm..."

"What?" He was slightly confused. He thought she wanted to be with him 
forever. "Mac, what's wrong?"

She looked up, unfallen tears making her big brown eyes glisten. "Harm, 
I 
love you so much. I want this so much." He leaned forwards, about to 
put the 
necklace on her when she stopped him. "Are you sure this is what you 
want? 
Your going back to the thing you love most in this world. You may meet 
a 
woman who shares your passion for flying. She may be the person you 
were 
destined to be with. And you wouldn't be able to pursue that 
relationship 
because of me. And you would be miserable, and I couldn't bear that. I 
want 
you to be happy. And are you sure I'm the woman who can make you 
happy?"

"No."

That was his too simple response. Mac was devastated. She had hoped her 
little speech would make him re-declare his love for her. Instead, he 
told 
her he wasn't sure of his feelings for her.

Mac stood up. "I'll see ya around Harm."

Harm stood up and grabbed her hand. "I'm not sure you're the woman who 
can 
make me happy. I'm positive you are. Mac, I have loved you every day 
since I 
met you. There will never be anyone else for me. You make me happier 
then I 
have ever been in my entire life. You've been there for me throughout 
my 
obsession with finding my father. You've helped me with my problems, 
you've 
supported me, and you’ve stood by me... Mac you have been the best 
friend I 
ever could have asked for. And I want to spend my life with you. What 
do you 
say? In 3 months, will you become my fiancé?"

Tears now sliding down her cheeks, she nodded. "Yes." He pulled her to 
him 
and held her tighter then he ever had before. "I love you so much, 
Harm."

Pulling back, he fastened the chain around her neck and then held the 
ring 
gently. "Mac, this ring is my promise that I will come back to you. And 
when 
I come back, we will have the life we always dreamed of having. I love 
you, 
Sarah MacKenzie."

"I love you too."

***

Harm and Mac drove from the rose garden in silence. His flight left at 
10:00. It was 7:30. Mac had one of her hands twined loosely with his 
and the 
other was running up and down her necklace and ring. She was lost deep 
in 
thought when the car came to a stop. She looked around curiously.

"Harm, where are we?"

He grinned and got out, and walked over to the passenger side, opening 
the 
door for her. "This is the other part of my surprise." Seeing the 
confusion 
on her face, he took her hand and pulled her with him. They walked out 
onto 
a deserted, but beautiful beach.

"Are we still in Washington?"

He laughed. "No. About an hour out. Mac, most couples, it’s the little 
things they enjoy most. You know, watching the sunset, moonlight walks 
on 
the beach. Before we go, I want us to do each of those. I called the 
weather 
bureau. The sun sets at 7:42. We have plenty of time for that..." He 
turned 
her facing the beach and looked down. "And this."

She turned her face to his and smiled. A picnic was set up on a 
blanket. 
Beautiful China and crystal, she's guessing the same they had used the 
other 
night. A fat white candle sat in the middle, and a camera with an extra 
roll 
of film lay by its side. "Harm, this is so beautiful."

"Sit down so we can watch the sunset, then we eat." Taking her hand, 
and 
pulling her down to the sand with him, they laid back, just watching 
the sky 
as the pale blue changed into brilliant colors. "These have been the 
best 48 
hours of my life, Mac."

She looked into his eyes. "I feel the same way. God, I love you so 
much, 
Harm. I never thought we would make it to this point. Just lying here, 
doing 
normal, romantic things. I've never been this happy." He leaned down to 
kiss 
her. She responded enthusiastically to the kiss for a moment, and then 
pulled away. "Mmm, Harm, I'm starving." Groaning, he pulled back.

"I did promise to feed you." She nodded. The sun had set, and now the 
deserted beach was pitch black. The only lights were the stars and the 
huge 
moon. And of course, the candle Harm just lit.

After an amazing dinner of grilled salmon, vegetable soufflé and 
tiramisu, 
they stood up. Harm wrapped his arm around her waist and the walked 
down the 
beach. They walked for what seemed like forever. The, finally, they 
ended 
back up at the blanket.

"Its time to go isn't it." Harm asked regretfully.

Mac nodded. "Yeah. Its 8:30. We still need to grab your bags from your 
place. Lets go." She wanted to cry. This had been the best day of her 
life, 
with the man of her dreams. Now it was over. And God only knows when 
she 
would see him again. They joined hands and walked back to his car.

After driving for about an hour, they reached his place. The ride back 
had 
been just as silent as the ride to the beach. Their hands twined and no 
words needing to be spoken.

He unlocked the door to his apartment and Mac gasped when she saw it. 
The 
room was full of plants. And fish in the aquarium. Harm smiled and 
pulled 
her inside. "I had a feeling the comment about the plants was to ensure 
I 
had something that needed me to come back. So, I bought plants, fish. 
Ya 
know. Will you take care of them while I'm gone?"

With that, she flung himself into his arms. "You're the most amazing 
man in 
the world."

Harm pulled back and stared into those brown eyes that turned him into 
a 
puddle. "I'd have to be to deserve you."

***

Three months later...


It had been a long few months. Mac had missed Harm like crazy. She 
wasn't 
sleeping, tired and sick all the time. Finally, she went to see a 
doctor, 
see if she could get something prescribed. Finally Dr. Eve Lambert came 
in, 
a huge smile on your face.

"Well, I can't prescribe you anything. It wouldn't be good for the 
baby."

Mac's jaw dropped. "Baby. I'm pregnant."

Eve grinned. "Mm Hmm. About three months along." I couldn't give you 
any 
prescription like you were wanting, but here are some for prenatal 
vitamins, 
and stuff like that. You should probably schedule an appointment with 
Dr. 
Neumann soon."

"Thank you." That was all Mac was able to get out. The baby must have 
been 
conceived the first time they were together. The second night, they 
used 
protection. She stood up, thanked Eve and left. Once in her car and 
driving 
back to JAG head quarters, all she could think about was telling Harm. 
She 
knew she should call him, and tell him ASAP. But she really wanted to 
tell 
him face to face. And not just say it, but let him figure it out. And 
she 
wasn't that big yet; she could wait a few more days, till he got home.

At work, she sat in her office, thinking about the baby. And Harm. How 
could 
she not have noticed, after all, how many marines are three months 
pregnant 
and don't even know it. God, she couldn't wait to tell him.

All of a sudden, a loud, ringing phone interrupted her happy thoughts. 
"Sarah MacKenzie."

"Mac, Its Webb. I have news."

"What is it?"

Webb sighed. He was so happy to be able to tell her this. "Harm is 
coming 
home today."

***

Mac and Webb sat excitedly in the lobby of the airport, waiting for 
Harms 
plane.

"I can't believe I'm gonna see him again. I missed him so much."

Webb smiled. "Is that while you've been playing with that ring for the 
past 
25 minutes?" She was so happy. He wanted to find something like what 
Harm & 
Mac had together.

Mac laughed. "Yeah, I guess so. The night he left, we went to this rose 
garden and he gave it to me. It was a promise ring. He promised that 
when he 
came home in three months, he would put it on my finger and ask me to 
marry 
him. I was so scared that why he was away, something would happen, or 
he 
would meet someone else. I almost said no. But he convinced me and I 
realized Harm would never hurt me. And I loved him too much to live 
life 
without him. So I said yes." She stood up and started walking around. 
"God, 
I can't believe this. In a little while, Harm is gonna come through 
those 
doors and we're going to get engaged.

"I love seeing you this happy. I don't think I ever had before. We 
always 
knew that you two were meant to be together. You guys just took way to 
long 
figuring it out."

Tell me about it." She sat back down. "The two days before he left were 
the 
best, the most romantic days of my life. I never thought it was 
possible to 
love anyone this much."

She stopped when she heard the attendant say the plane was unloading. 
She 
jumped up and watched as men and women were reunited with the people 
they 
loved. She saw a young man run straight into pretty blonde girls arms. 
That 
made her all the more anxious to see Harm. "Hurry up, Flyboy."

Then her heart sank. The pilot came out and shut the doors behind him. 
Webb 
ran up beside Mac and grabbed the pilot. "Isn't there anyone else on 
that 
plane?"

The pilot shook his head. "I'm sorry, sir. There isn't." He looked at 
Mac. 
"Ma'am." and walked away.

Mac sank back into a chair while Webb began dialing on his cell phone. 
As 
Mac's face was buried in her hands, she looked up as an expensive cell 
phone 
hit the floor.

"Webb? What is it?"

"Harm missed the flight."

Mac laughed. "Oh, that’s okay. I waited three months; I can wait a few 
more... Webb, what aren't you telling me?"

"Harm wanted to get back tonight. And in Pensacola, they had to send a 
tomcat back to DC, so Harm volunteered to do it."

She realized where he was going with this. She stood up. "No."

Webb nodded. "His plane was shot down. There's no chance he could have 
survived."

"NO!" People in the airport turned to stare at the sound of the loud, 
anguished scream. She collapsed in her friend’s arms and sobbed.

***

Mac sobbed the entire way home. Webb kept his eyes on the road, trying 
to 
keep the tears from spilling down his cheeks. Sure, he and Rabb fought 
a 
lot, but he was the only friend he had. And Mac... How would Mac ever 
survive this? The man she loved more then life itself was dead. She was 
so 
happy earlier. Harm was going to come home, they were gonna get engaged 
and 
live happily ever. Now, her dreams were at the bottom of the Atlantic 
Ocean 
in the tomcat.

They arrived at her apartment, and he helped her inside. Where they got 
another surprise. In her apartment were Bud, Harriet and little AJ; AJ, 
his 
wife Nicole, Imes & Mattoni, even Brumby & Tiner. They were all there.

Each of them took turns hugging Mac. Her and Harriet embraced for a 
long 
time. "He's gone." Mac sobbed into her friends shoulder.

"I know. I know."

The door burst open and three more people ran in. Mac turned and saw 
Eve and 
her family. Eve Lambert pulled Mac to her, and just let her cry.

Serena and Scott, Eve's stepdaughter and husband just watched. You 
could 
tell Serena had been crying. She adored Harm. Always wanted Harm & Mac 
to 
get married so she could tell her friends that her “Uncle Harm” was a 
naval 
aviator.

When Eve and Mac finally separated, Mac turned and saw Serena. She 
knelt 
down and the little girl shot herself into Mac's arms.

"I'm so sorry, Aunt Mac."

AJ sighed as he looked around the room. Three people were missing. 
"Someone 
needs to call his mother and grandmother."

Mac stood up, and put her hands on Serena's shoulders. "I'll do it."

Mac shook as she picked up the phone and dialed in the familiar number. 
The 
phone rang, once, twice, three times. Finally a woman picked up. 
"Hello."

Mac opened her mouth to say something, but nothing came out.

"Hello? Is anyone there?"

"Mrs. Burnett," her tearful voice managed, "Its Sarah MacKenzie."

Trish smiled. "Mac, Darling, how are you. You and my son need to get 
yourselves up here for a visit soon."

She realized Mac was very quiet. "Mac, is everything okay? Where's 
Harm?"

She took a deep breath. "Harm was supposed to come home today, but he 
missed 
his flight. Pensacola needed to get a tomcat to DC, and Harm offered to 
fly 
it. He was shot down. He’s dead."

Trish didn't say anything. She was in shock. She was brought out of 
when she 
heard the younger woman quietly sobbing other side of the phone. She 
lost 
it. Tears began to flow. Hearing Harms mother cry made her cry harder. 
AJ 
came over and took the phone from her.

"Mrs. Burnett, this is Admiral AJ Chegwidden. I am so sorry for your 
loss."

"Thank you, sir." She managed to say. "How is Mac doing? I could hear 
the 
crying, but is she..."

AJ sighed. "She's taking this awfully hard. Harm was going to propose 
to her 
when he got back. He gave her a promise ring. She's devastated."

She sighed. "Tell her I'll call Sarah. I have to. And we'll be in DC 
tomorrow. Bye"

"Bye." AJ hung up the phone and placed it back on the receiver. Mac was 
balled up in a corner on the couch. Eve was beside her, trying to 
comfort 
her. "Mac?" He said. She turned to look. "Trish and Frank are gonna be 
here 
tomorrow. She's going to call Sarah. She feels like she should. Just 
like 
you felt you should call her."

Mac nodded. "Good. I don't think I go through that again."

***

The next morning, Mac awakened to the smell of coffee and bacon and 
eggs. 
Eve, Scott and Serena had spent the night in her guestroom. Serena was 
still 
asleep and Eve and Scott were talking quietly.

"I have no clue how she's going to get through this. Harm was 
EVERYTHING to 
her. She loved him more then life itself. If that was me, I'd probably 
die."

Scott sighed. "She has us, and the Roberts' and AJ, and everyone else. 
We 
all love her and will be here for her."

Just then, the doorbell rang. Eve went to answer it. Trish & Frank 
Burnett, 
and Sarah Rabb were at the door. All of their faces stained with tears. 
Trish hugged Eve and she pulled them inside.

"How's Mac?" Sarah asked.

Eve smiled softly. She knew both of them had lost their husbands. "I 
think 
you both know how she is."

They nodded. And Mac walked out of her bedroom. Her face was red, her 
eyes 
were puffy. The NAVY sweats she had slept in were 2 sizes too big. Eve 
couldn't bear seeing her best friend like that. In Harm's clothes, she 
looked small... and vulnerable.

Each member of his family hugged her. She stayed in his grandmother’s 
arms 
for a long time. When she pulled back she wiped her eyes and said, 
"There's 
something you should know." Mac took a deep breath. "I'm 3 months 
pregnant. 
We lost Harm, but I'm pregnant with his child."

Mac tried to read their faces as she told them the news. Harms mother 
pulled 
her to her and held her tightly. When she pulled back, she glanced down 
at 
her small stomach. "My grandchild. My only grandchild."

Mac nodded. "This must be hard, and I never meant for it to happen, but 
I'm 
glad it did. She put her hands on her stomach and a tear rolled down 
her 
cheek. The only child Harm will ever be the father of is in my care. 
You 
don't have to worry. I'll be a good mom. I promise." She was a little 
scared 
they'd try to take her baby away. Hers and Harms baby. And she couldn't 
let 
that happen. From now on, this baby was her life."

"Oh, honey. I know you'll be a great mom."

"I hate to bring this up," AJ said, "But what about your career, 
Major."

Sighing, she said, "I haven’t thought that far in advance yet, but I 
have a 
feeling I'm going to resign from the military. Get a safer, more secure 
job 
at a civilian law firm."

Frank looked up. "Would you consider being a corporate attorney? The 
company 
I work for told me to find an attorney. You're a brilliant one. And 
beautiful. They'd like you."

"Move to California?"

Frank nodded.

"I don't think so. I want my baby to be born here in DC. She looked 
around 
the room. "With my friends and my family."

***

The next two days went by in a painful blur. He was to have a tombstone 
at 
Arlington, even if there wasn't a body to go with it. An official 
Military 
service. Mac, Trish and Sarah made plans nonstop, trying to keep busy, 
trying to hold it together.

But, the day of the ceremony, Mac fell apart. A song on the radio 
played, as 
she got dressed. Its lyrics reminded her of Harm. Just like everything 
did 
these days.

She sat down on her bed as she listened to the sad lyrics. She lowered 
her 
head, crying softly. When she looked up, her eyes rested on a framed 
picture 
of the two of them. It had been taken the last night they were 
together. He 
had taken two rolls of film that night, and got two sets of the 
pictures.

***

3 months earlier...


Harm picked up the camera and snapped a picture of her.

"What are you doing?" She asked, laughing.

He put the camera down. "It dawned on me we never took any pictures 
together. Except the formal ones from the NATO ball. Now, smile."

"Hold up, Flyboy, you're gonna be in the picture too." Mac grabbed the 
camera and set the self-timer. Then, sitting it on the picnic basket, 
she 
settled back into his arms. He tightened them around her and put his 
chin on 
her shoulder.

"I love you..." he whispered softly.

***

Present time...


Mac cried softly remembering that moment. Wiping her tears, she got up 
and 
finished getting dressed. She pulled on the simple black dress she 
planned 
to wear, and then went to do her make up and hair. The dark brown locks 
were 
pulled back with a silver clip and simple silver earrings hung from her 
ears. Sighing, she went out into the living room to wait for Eve & 
Scott. 
They were taking her to the service.

She looked towards her end tables and saw another picture of her and 
Harm. 
This one had been taken at Bud and Harriets wedding.

***

1 year earlier...


"Come on you two. The best man and the maid of honor are supposed to be 
serious." The photographer sighed and pretended to be angry. But he 
wasn't. 
He had never seen "friends" as comfortable and playful around each 
other as 
the two of them were.

"Okay, okay. We'll be serious. Won't we Mac."

She smiled. "Sure thing, Flyboy." Harm wrapped his arm around her waist 
and 
she leaned against him. At the last moment, he whispered something in 
her 
ear that made her laugh. It mad him laugh too. And that’s what the 
photographer caught.

***

Present time...


Bud and Harriet gave them each a copy of that picture. A knock at the 
door 
interrupted her thought. Eve, Scott and Serena walked in. Mac hugged 
each of 
them and they left for the service.

***

At Arlington, Mac started to sit in the 2nd row, with Eve, but Trish 
pulled 
her to the front with her.

"Your were to be his fiancé. You're the mother of his child. You're 
family."

The two women hugged, and Mac took the seat between his mother and 
grandmother.

Mac kept her head down the entire service. Untill she felt the toe of 
Sarah's shoe nudge her ankle. A young Naval officer was holding out the 
traditional American flag... to her.

She was surprised to say the least. Glancing over at Trish, who was 
smiling, 
she reached out and accepted the flag.

***

Later, at Mac's apartment, Harm's friends and family were talking, 
reminiscing, when Trish and Frank finally came in. Mac walked over to 
them.

"Why did I get the flag instead of you? He wasn't married. The mother 
is 
supposed to get it."

Trish took Mac's hands. "Darling, Harm loved you more then life itself. 
You 
were his whole world. He would have wanted you to have it. You are also 
the 
mother of his child. And I think his son or daughter should know that 
his or 
her father died for their country."

She pulled Mac to her and held her tightly. "Thank you for loving my 
son."

Mac pulled back, her eyes teary and said, "Thank you for giving him to 
me to 
love."

***

After everyone had gone home, it was all over; Mac got in her new 
corvette 
and just drove. Finally she wound up at the White House Rose Garden. 
Where 
they had met. It had been opened to the public for father’s day, so she 
went 
in. Being 9:00, it was empty. Sitting down on a bench by some gorgeous 
pink 
roses she sighed, remembering the first time she met Harm.

"Don't get to familiar. You have to work together." Mac laughed 
remembering 
that. Even the Admiral himself couldn't have stopped her from falling 
in 
love with him.

"You don't wanna be in my dreams Major."

"Red Light, Commander."

"Mac, I don't think of you as a sister."

""I was always a sucker for dress whites."

"Are you afraid you're gonna lose me?"

"I'm gonna Miss you Harm."

"I'm gonna miss you too, Sarah."

"Mac, you've come farther with me then anyone I've ever known."

"There's so much I want to tell you, I just can't find the words."

"In three months, I'm gonna propose to you."

"We thank this brave young soul, for his courage and loyalty to his 
country. 
In the name of the father, the son and the holy spirit, Amen."

All these moments flooded her memory and she sat there, alone in the 
rose 
garden, sobbing, she was grateful to have loved and been loved by such 
a 
wonderful man.


The End