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Sunday

The Berlioz Hotel

Marseille, France

“This deserves a celebration,” Harm announced with a grin as he and Mac entered their hotel room. Since Petty Officer Laael was found, he admitted to his crimes, including stealing the money that was missing from the brig. He was detained and kept under a close watch until he would be transferred back to the States to await trial.

Mac smiled up at him as she kicked off her heels and neatly placed her cover on the dresser. “What kind of celebration?” She wiggled her eyebrows and chuckled.

Harm walked up behind her, wrapped his arms around her, and rested his chin on her shoulder. “How about La Ferme at 1900?” he whispered in her ear.

“La Ferme?” Mac seemed surprised, “Harm, that place is one of the nicest restaurants in Marseille; we’d never get in.”

“Unless we happened to have reservations already,” Harm suggested casually.

Mac swiftly spun around in his arms and looked up at his face. “You already made a reservation?” she questioned, in aw at his sweet gesture.

Harm nodded, giving Mac a soft look.

“I didn’t bring any nice clothes,” Mac frowned.

Harm grinned. His plan was working perfectly. He released his grip on her waist and pulled a white box out of one of the dresser drawers. He held it out to her.

Mac took it, eyeing him skeptically as she placed the box on the bed. She slowly lifted the lid and dug through the tissue paper. Her hands found something silky. She felt her eyes tearing as she lifted up a red dress in front of her. It was the same one she had tried on in the boutique a few days earlier. Harm smiled at her reaction. “Oh, Harm,” Mac smiled and dabbed at her eyes. “You shouldn’t have. It was so expensive.”

Harm wrapped an arm around her waist. “It was worth it.”

Mac turned her head to kiss him.

“Oh, I almost forgot,” Harm said, breaking off the kiss. He walked back to the dresser and pulled out another box. “I was told you needed these too.” He gave her a wink.

Mac opened the box to find a pair of matching red heels and a red clutch. She chuckled. “Thank you Harm. I appreciate it so much. It wasn’t necessary, you know.”

Harm shrugged and glanced at the ground. “Can you try the shoes on? I hope they fit,” he tried to move to an easier subject.

Mac smiled and sat down on the edge of the bed. She reached in the box and slipped the strappy red heel on her foot. “Perfect,” she smiled up at him.

Harm grinned.

“Hey, how’d you know my size?” Mac asked with a cocked eyebrow.

“I’m sneaky,” Harm teased as he leaned down to kiss her. She grasped the back of his head and pulled him onto the bed with her. “We just have to make our reservation on time. They don’t hold tables for very long,” Harm said breathlessly.

“Oh they better,” Mac snickered, “Or they are going to have one peeved marine to deal with.”

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Sunday

La Ferme

Marseille, France

Harm smiled as he and Mac walked arm-in-arm into the restaurant. “Reservation for Rabb,” he said to the stately looking man behind the podium.

“This way monsieur,” the man said with much seriousness. Harm and Mac followed him to their table. Upon seeing the awed looks of men they passed, Harm wrapped an arm around Mac’s waist, making his presence known.

“Have I told you how stunning you look tonight?” Harm asked Mac once they were seated at their table.

“Not in the last 4 minutes and 21 seconds,” Mac grinned.

“Well, you look amazing,” Harm smiled back at her. “I can’t wait to show you off in that dress at JAG parties.”

Mac blushed and took a sip of her water. “About that. How are we going to, you know, break the news to everyone?” She wiggled a finger between Harm and herself.

“Haven’t really thought about it,” Harm answered, unconcerned.

“Well, I think Harriet might already have an inkling,” Mac said.

“Oh? How’d that happen?” Harm grinned.

Mac shrugged, “You know Harriet. She gets an idea in her head and-”

Harm finished her sentence with a chuckle. He sobered slightly, “What about Josh?”

“What about him?” Mac asked, although fully aware of what Harm meant.

“How do you think he’ll take it?” Harm asked gently.

“He adores you Harm. He’s never had a dad, or even a father figure for that matter, I mean, besides his grandfather, but, it’s different,” Mac replied. Upon seeing Harm’s relatively neutral reaction she continued hesitantly, “Unless, you don’t want to be that man to him…”

Harm was taken off guard, “What?! No Mac! I love Josh! I just don’t want to push him into anything that he doesn’t want.”

Mac smiled at Harm’s reaction. She reached across the table and grabbed his hands. “I love you for that.” Harm looked at her with soft eyes. They sat in silence for a few moments.

“So, you excited to go home?” Harm asked, knowing the answer but needing a new conversation topic to break the silence.

“Yes!” Mac exclaimed. “I’m so ready to go home, see my baby, sleep in my own bed, take a long, hot bath.” Mac smiled. She shook her head, “I don’t know what it is. We haven’t even been gone a week yet, but it feels like so much longer. Going out of town has never been this hard before.”

“You’ve got a little boy waiting for you at home this time,” Harm squeezed her hands. “Plus, out hotel sucks,” he added with a chuckle.

Mac leaned across the table. She gave him a soft kiss. “What did I do before you?”

“I’ve been wondering that myself,” Harm replied with a smile.

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Monday

Dulles International Airport

Mac squirmed in her seat as the plane taxied to the airport. She glanced eagerly out the window and then grinned at Harm. “We need to taxi faster,” She said impatiently and bounced up and down.

Harm smiled and put a hand on her leg in an attempt to stop her bouncing. “Be patient, Marine; we’re almost there.” She ignored his advice and continued to squirm. Five minutes and twenty-one seconds later, the plane came to a stop by the terminal and passengers started to get off. Harm and Mac grabbed their carry-on luggage and slowly filed down the aisle.

Mac struggled to keep the grin off of her face as she and Harm walked out of the gate. Immediately, she looked around for Josh. She spotted him amidst the crowds. He was accompanied by Harriet and Bud and held a poster-sized sign that said ‘Welcome Home Mommy and Commander Rabb.’ He saw Mac and began jumping up and down. Mac walked faster and Josh ran to her when she got closer. Mac dropped her carry-on bag and scooped him up into her arms. She hugged him tight and covered his cheeks in kisses.

“Hi baby! I missed you sooo much,” Mac tightened her grip on him. Harriet, Bud, and Harm smiled at the sweet scene.

“I missed you too momma!” Josh beamed.

Mac buried her nose in his hair. “Mmm, I missed that smell,” she muttered. She looked at Harriet and Bud’s direction.

“How was your trip ma’am, sir?” Bud asked with a smile.

“Interesting,” Harm chuckled and glanced at Mac. She rolled her eyes in response.

“We missed you both so much!” Harriet hugged Mac and kissed Harm’s cheek.

“We missed you guys too,” Mac said, “Thanks so much for taking care of Josh! I appreciate it more than you could possibly imagine.”

“Aw, ma’am, he’s a sweetheart,” Harriet smiled at the little boy still clung to his mother’s neck. “He was no trouble at all. You’re really lucky to have him, ma’am.”

Mac looked down at Josh and kissed his cheek. Mac knew she was lucky.

“We should go wait for out luggage,” Harm said as he motioned towards the baggage claim area.

Mac nodded. “Harm, could you get my bag?” She asked, not wanting to let go off Josh.

“Sure,” Harm smiled and swung Mac’s carry-on bag over his shoulder.

The group made their way to the luggage carousel and waited for the bags to arrive.

“Ooh, that one is mine,” Mac motioned to a green suitcase.

“I’ll grab it,” Bud said as he pulled it off the conveyor belt.

Harm saw his suitcase come around and swiftly snagged it. “I think that’s all the luggage,” He said.

“We’re parked over there,” Harriet indicated the far side of the airport. Mac adjusted Josh on her hip and followed Harriet and the others to the parking lot.

“I call shotgun,” Harm announced with a grin as they neared the Roberts’s mini-van. The two men loaded the suitcases into the back of the van as Harriet, Mac, and Josh climbed into the back seat.

“So, was Marseille nice ma’am?” Harriet asked to make conversation.

“Marseille, itself, was nice,” Mac replied, “But the hotel was awful, as was the case we were investigating.”

“I don’t know,” Harm interjected from the front seat, “I thought the trip was rather pleasant.”

Mac gave a single laugh, “Ha! You would,” she blurted out before she could stop herself.

Harriet raised her eyebrows and glanced sideways at Mac, “Why is that ma’am?” she asked.

Mac turned beet red, “Uh, you know, it’s… France. Harm likes France…”

Harriet squinted her eyes and noticed Harm’s ears were also turning a lovely shade of red. Something was certainly going on between them.

“Momma, can we have pizza tonight?” Josh asked, oblivious to the unfolding conversation.

“He must have inherited your sense of timing, ma’am,” Bud snickered as he glanced over his shoulder to negotiate traffic. Harm and Harriet chuckled. Mac didn’t look as amused.

Josh furrowed his brow and looked up at his mother, “What are they talking about?”

“Nothing, baby, just ignore them,” She leaned over and gave him a quick kiss on the forehead.

Josh shrugged his confusion off “So can we?” he asked again.

“Can we what?” Mac looked down at him, slightly confused.

“Have pizza,” Josh replied.

“We’ll see,” Mac smiled.

“We had pizza last night ma’am,” Bud informed Mac.

“Are you trying to trick me?” Mac tickled Josh’s stomach. Josh squirmed and laughed. His innocent laughter was infectious, and soon, everyone in the car was giggling.

Bud pulled the vehicle into a parking spot next to Harm’s apartment building. “Need any help with your stuff, sir?” he asked.

“I’ll help,” Mac said. She wanted to opportunity to talk to him alone before they parted ways. She opened the door and slipped out. “Just stay in here a minute, Josh,” she said when she noticed he intended to follow her. Harriet flashed Bud a curious glance as Mac and Harm unloaded his things from the back of the van. Bud shrugged.

Mac set Harm’s bag down near his couch and looked at him. “The last few days of the trip were really nice,” she admitted as she adjusted his collar.

“Yes they were,” Harm kissed her gently on the lips.

“I’ve gotta go,” Mac reluctantly broke off the kiss, “We’ll talk more tomorrow?”

Harm nodded and pulled her into a hug.

“Mmm,” Mac liked his strong embrace, “See you later.” She looked up at him and gave him a quick kiss.

Harm smiled and watched her walk out the door. ‘Later’ couldn’t come soon enough.

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