A snowy weekend full of
joy, children’s laughter, and love
Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Page 2
Rating:
GS – IM15
Classification:
Harm & Mac / Romance
Spoilers:
Everything up to Season 10 Episode 9 ‘The Man On The Bridge’ (Harm didn’t
get back his old office though)… the rest of Season 10 never happened in this
story…
Disclaimer: JAG and its character are the property of Bellisario Productions,
CBS, and
Authors
Notes:
-
Like always, I’ve used the internet to get information about the distance
between point A and point B respectively between point B and point C. I’m not
sure if those distances are correct or not, that’s why I could have used an AP
(author’s privilege) for this story.
-
A big thanks to my beta and advising team Vered and JJ. Having two Jewish gals
as my advising team for a x-mas story was truly a blast lololol. You gals are
amazing and I love you! Any left mistakes are mine…
-
Feedback
is always welcome.
This
story is in memory of my friend Kim, who I met thanks to JAG... I miss you, Mom.
*****
JAG
Headquarters
‘Will
this never end?’ Harm thought as he signed and closed yet another file in
front of him before taking a side-glance at the still large mound of papers
right next to him. Working together with Mac on the missing Navy’s top
bio-weapons scientist case this week was a lot of fun, but doing all the old
paperwork now wasn’t fun at all. Moreover, doing it alone didn’t help either.
He
was in his office for nearly two hours now, and it didn’t look like the
paperwork would be done any time soon. Thankfully it was Saturday, because he
was quite sure he could do the papers without any disturbance. Harm was the only
one in the office today and one look out the window showed him that it possibly
wouldn’t change. It’d snowed since last night and the ground and trees were
already covered with a thick blanket of snow.
Harm
chuckled as he remembered Mattie’s outburst this morning. She called around
Harm
took another file from the pile and opened it with a long sigh. He started to
read the papers when suddenly the thought that he’d heard a sound from the
bullpen made him stop. Harm stood up and walked slowly out of his office. The
nearer he got to the bullpen, the clearer the sound became.
“’Rudolph
the Red-Nosed Reindeer’?” Harm muttered bewildered to himself when he
figured out that someone actually was singing the latest notes of the
traditional Christmas song. Even more curious now he continued his way to the
bullpen. The moment he walked through the doors of the bullpen he heard the
giggles and laughter of children and “Mac?” Harm wondered aloud.
As
soon as Harm walked around the corner and was able to overlook the entire
bullpen, he saw that he’d been right. Right there in her office stood Mac. She
was searching through the filing cabinet while holding a babbling and bouncing
baby against her left shoulder. Right next to her stood a little child and even
though he stood with his back to Harm, the blond hair, which stuck out under the
pompom hat, gave the identity away. They were talking about something that made
them laugh and giggle the entire time.
What
he saw warmed his heart immensely and he couldn’t stop looking at them. For
him it looked perfect, like everything he’d always dreamed about. Sarah
MacKenzie with a bunch of children around her; his children. Their children.
‘God, I hope you didn’t take it away from her. From me. From us.’
It
was a thought that Harm had many times in the past few months, and it made his
heart sorrow. There’s a saying that time would heal all wounds, but could time
heal this deep and hurtful wound as well? Harm wished he knew the answer, but
for once he couldn’t come up with one. He couldn’t take away the pain she
felt; a pain he felt as well.
Harm
had no idea how long he stood there and watched them in awe, but suddenly he was
brought out of his deep thoughts by a nearby cry.
“Uncle
Harm!” Little AJ shouted as he recognized his godfather was watching them from
a few feet away. “Auntie Mac, Uncle Harm is here,” he continued to shout
while he ran right into Harm’s arms. “Hi, Uncle Harm,” he greeted his
godfather while taking off his pompom hat after it’d slid slightly over his
eyes.
“Well
hello, buddy. What are you doing here?” Harm asked him while he took Little AJ
into his arms.
“I’m
here with Auntie Mac,” Little AJ responded happily and pointed at his
godmother’s office.
“I
can see that,” Harm said softly as he and his godson made their way to Mac’s
office, meeting her halfway in the bullpen. “Good morning, Mac.”
“Good
morning, Harm,” Mac responded gently with a smile, quite surprised seeing him
there. “I didn’t know you would be here today. I don’t remember seeing
your car in the parking lot.”
“No,
I had to take a cab this morning. My car decided to call in sick.” Harm
chuckled. It surprised him that he actually could laugh and make jokes about it.
About two hours ago the last thing he had on his mind was thinking that his SUV
not starting was a funny thing. Since he didn’t want to drive the corvette
through this kind of weather, he had to call for a cab.
“Your
car is sick, Uncle Harm?” Little AJ asked sympathetically. “Then you have to
go to a doctor with it,” he continued so seriously that Harm and Mac
couldn’t suppress a chuckle.
“Yeah,
I guess I’ll have to do that,” Harm said softly before he sat Little AJ down
on his feet again and made a step forward so he stood right in front of Mac.
“And how is this little guy here doing?” He asked quietly, running his
finger down Jimmy’s rosy cheek. The little boy had buried his head in the
crook of Mac’s neck and was apparently asleep by now.
“He’s
doing just fine. I think he has a beautiful dream at the moment,” Mac
whispered and saw the question in Harm’s eyes. “He’s slobbering down my
neck,” she explained with a smile on her face. It was a smile, which Harm
returned eagerly.
“So,
what are you three doing here on a Saturday? And I sure hope you’re not here
with your ‘vette in this weather!” Harm said concerned with a raised eyebrow.
“And if so, I don’t want to hear about how you got all three of you into
that car,” he continued with a stern voice.
“No,
of course not. My ‘vette is parked in the Roberts’ garage. I brought Harriet
and Bud with their mini van to the airport earlier and decided to get a few
cases from my office so I can do some work while the boys are doing their
shuteye.”
“The
airport?” Harm asked astonished before he remembered. “
“Auntie
Mac, Jimmy and I’ll have a PJ party at her house this weekend,” Little AJ
explained happily and Harm could see how excited his godson was about their
plans. “And Auntie Mac said we would buy her a Christmas tree and decorate it
together. Are you coming, too, Uncle Harm? Pleeeaasseeee,” AJ asked with big
pleading eyes.
Harm
got down on his knee so he could look straight into Little AJ’s eyes. “I’m
sorry, AJ, but I can’t. I have to work this weekend. How about another
time?”
“Okay,”
AJ answered quietly. He sounded more than disappointed and it was clearly
readable on his face. “Auntie Mac, I’ll get my truck from your office,
okay?”
“You
do that, honey.” She ruffled his hair before he made his way slowly into her
office. Mac’s and Harm’s eyes followed him.
“Now
that went well,” Harm said quietly, feeling just as disappointed as his godson.
“Don’t
worry too much, Harm. It will be okay.” Mac squeezed his arm. “How is the
work going?”
“I
guess I’ll have to take half of the files home with me, so I can work on them
tomorrow as well.”
“When
is the deadline?”
“Tuesday
at the latest.”
“Here,
Auntie Mac, I got your briefcase,” Little AJ explained as he got back from
Mac’s office. He carried his truck in one hand while having Mac’s briefcase
in his other hand.
“Thank
you, sweetie.” Mac took her briefcase from Little AJ before she looked back at
Harm. “I guess we better let you go back to your work now. But don’t overdo
it, okay?” Mac said softly.
“Promise.
And you three have a lot of fun this weekend, okay?”
“We
will. Goodbye, Harm.”
“Bye,
bye, Uncle Harm.” Little AJ smiled and gave his godfather a bear hug before
running away to get the elevator.
“Goodbye,
AJ,” Harm called after him, watching his godson as he put on his blue pompom
hat again.
“See,
I told you not to worry too much,” Mac told Harm gently.
“He’s
a great kid.” Harm then chuckled. “When he doesn’t have his fits of raving
madness that is.”
Mac
laughed. “He’s five, Harm. He hasn’t started to have the real fits yet,”
she started to say and suddenly lost her smile the moment she said these words,
remembering the deal she and Harm had. Harm could clearly see the pain in her
eyes and wanted to reach out, just so he could tell her that everything would be
okay, that everything would work out for them. But then she started to smile
again and continued with a soft voice. “I’ll see you on Monday, okay?”
“Yeah,
see you on Monday, Mac,” Harm responded softly before he lifted up Jimmy’s
hood to kiss his head. “Goodbye, little fellow.”
Harm
watched Mac until she reached little AJ, who was already waiting at the elevator.
With one last wink and a sweet smile from her and AJ the elevator door closed
and Harm was once again alone in the office.
He
quickly got a mug of coffee from the break room before he walked back to his
office, hoping a miracle had happened and that, while he was talking with Mac
and AJ, the pile of files on his desk was gone. “Would’ve been too good to
be true anyway,” Harm muttered when he stood in his office and saw the files
still there. “Well, Commander, time to get back to your work,” Harm
commanded himself before he sat down in his chair and got back to his cases with
a quiet “Aye, aye, Sir!”
******
Harm’s
Office
“How
about a deal?” A voice suddenly asked a few minutes later from the doorway of
Harm’s office and made his head snap up in surprise.
*****
JAG
Headquarters
“Huh?”
Was Harm’s only response. He was too surprised seeing her so soon again.
“A
deal,” Mac repeated her statement and moved into his office. “You know, when
I buckled in Jimmy and Little AJ, I saw this box in the van,” she continued
and showed Harm the empty files box she was holding in her right hand. “And I
came up with an idea. I thought we should use the box to put all the files you
still have to work on into it and take them with us. Then I’ll drive you to
your apartment so you can pack some clothes, toiletries and most of all
something to sleep in for the weekend. And when you’re done with the packing
you’ll spend the rest of the weekend with Jimmy, Little AJ and me,” Mac
explained softly with a glimmer in her eyes.
“As
tempting as this sounds, Mac, I can’t,” Harm answered defeated while looking
at the pile of papers. “Right now it looks like I won’t even get a lot of
sleep over the entire weekend. Having a weekend full of fun with you guys would
make it impossible to get the files done by Tuesday,” He continued sadly.
“Well
you haven’t heard the most important part of my deal yet,” Mac told him
gently with a smile, while she sat down in one of Harm’s visitor chairs.
“I
haven’t yet, have I? Would the Colonel like to tell me about the most
important part of her deal then?” Harm asked with a raised eyebrow and crossed
his arms.
“Sure,
I would love to, Commander. I think you and I could work on the cases together
while the boys are either asleep or watching some cartoons on TV. I’m sure
we’ll be done by Tuesday, if not even earlier. There may be a few files I
can’t help you out with at all, but I’m sure there are enough things I can
do as well.”
“Sounds
really tempting.”
“It
does, doesn’t it?” Mac smirked. “Harm, I really would like to spend the
weekend with you and the boys. And you already know how much Little AJ would
love to have you around,” she explained gently. “Also I’m sure that as
soon as Jimmy is out of his dreamland he’ll be more than happy to see his
Uncle Harm.” Mac smiled and hoped she would finally get Harm to approve her
plans.
“Hmmm,
let’s see. A weekend with you and the boys…,” Harm started to say while he
looked into Mac’s smiling eyes. Then he turned his head to take another quick
glance at the pile of files. “Or a weekend with Johnson, Murphy and Co. You
know what? I would say, let’s get the hell out of here,” he decided with a
grin and in one swift motion got out of his chair.
“Okay,
that’s my flyboy. Now which pile is done and which one is still to do and has
to come with us?” Mac asked, waiting for Harm’s instruction.
“This
one we’ll have to take with us,” Harm answered defeated and pointed at the
three times bigger pile of files on the left side.
“Got
it.” Mac started to put the files into the box while Harm got his coat, cover
and briefcase.
“Where
are the boys?”
“They
are in the car. I didn’t want to bring them up with me, since I didn’t know
what your answer would be. There was no need to risk AJ’s hopes being
shattered again. I told him that I forgot something in my office and that he
should take care of his little brother. The private at the gate promised me to
watch them until I’m back,” Mac explained.
“Good
thinking. Okay, I’m ready. Let’s get out of here before fate decides to work
against me.”
Together
they made their way to the elevator.
“So,
what’s on the agenda for this weekend anyway?” Harm asked in suspense, while
they walked into the elevator. The thought of spending the entire weekend with
his two favorite boys and his favorite girl brought a nearly goofy looking smile
on his face. ‘But don’t forget that you have to work on the cases as
well,’ Harm tried to remind himself. ‘Yeah, that may be true. But I can do
that with my favorite girl.’ Harm’s eyes twinkled with happiness.
“Well,
AJ already told you about our plan with the Christmas tree. I think other than
that we’ll spend the entire weekend hanging around, watching movies, drinking
cocoa, reading stories in front of the fireplace or just cuddling together on
the bed. I also had to promise him that we would go sledding if there’s enough
snow, which I guess is very much a done deal,” Mac told Harm with a chuckle.
When
Harriet and Bud had asked her a few weeks ago if she would like to take care of
their boys over this weekend, Mac knew it would be a great weekend for her. Now
that Harm would spend it with them, she was sure it couldn’t get any better.
It’s as if a secret dream of her was coming true. ‘Harm and I will spend the
entire weekend like we have our own little family,’ Mac thought and it warmed
her heart immensely.
“Cuddling
on the bed?” Harm asked with a raised eyebrow and a smile as they made their
way to the car.
His
question brought Mac out of her thoughts. She smiled and looked over at him.
“Umm, yeah. Believe it or not, the boys like to cuddle. You should enjoy it as
long as possible, because sooner or later it will be history,” Mac explained
as she opened the trunk of the van. “Here you go, just put the box next to
AJ’s sled and the boys’ bags. Do you want to drive?”
“Sure,”
Harm said and took the keys out of Mac’s hand.
*****
Harm's
Apartment
North
of Union Station, DC
“Here
we go. Come on in,” Harm told Little AJ and Mac, who carried the still asleep
Jimmy in her arms, as he opened the door of his apartment. “I’ll just go get
changed and pack my bag for the weekend.”
“Uncle
Harm, can I help you pack?” AJ asked him quietly so he wouldn’t wake up his
little brother.
The
moment AJ had found out that his uncle would spend the weekend with them after
all, he’s wanted to shout in joy. However, Harm and Mac immediately told him
to be quiet since his brother was still asleep right next to him. Beaming with
joy, Little AJ only had whispered ‘cool’ and smiled brightly. A smile, which
held its place on his face through the entire ride to his godfather’s
apartment.
“Of
course you can,” Harm answered his godson’s request before he looked at Mac.
“We’ll be right back,” he told her and walked with AJ into his bedroom.
“Sure,
just take your time,” Mac replied softly before she made her way to one of the
living room windows.
It
was still snowing and Mac knew that if it wouldn’t stop soon, they would have
to change their plans for the weekend after all.
*****
“Hey,
you okay?” Harm asked softly when he walked out of his bedroom a few minutes
later and saw Mac looking out the window. Tenderly he caressed Jimmy’s cheek
and got a gentle sigh as response from the sleeping boy.
“Yeah,
I’m fine,” Mac answered quietly with a smile. “I’m just trying to figure
out what we’ll do if it doesn’t stop to snow soon.”
“It
is really coming down now, isn’t it?” Together they watched the thick
snowflakes dancing in front of them.
“Yeah,
it is. And if it doesn’t stop soon, there’ll be no way for us to go sledding
with AJ or buying a tree for Christmas. By tomorrow we’ll be snowed in.” Mac
explained with a sad tone in her voice. She knew how much Little AJ wanted to go
sledding and get a Christmas tree, but now she feared that she had to disappoint
him. “Where’s AJ by the way?” Mac asked Harm when she couldn’t locate
her older godson in the living room.
“He’s
still packing my bag. AJ told me that he’s a big boy and could do it all alone.
I thought I should at least give him a chance,” Harm said with a chuckle.
“When were you planning to get the tree?”
“Tomorrow
right after breakfast. Yesterday I saw an advertisement in the newspaper from
the grocery store near my apartment. They’ll start selling trees by tomorrow.”
“You
want to buy a Christmas tree from your grocery store?” Harm asked with a
disliked look on his face. “That’s not Christmasish, Mac!”
“Christmas
what?”
“Christmasish.”
“Harm,
Christmasish is not a word,” Mac explained with a chuckle.
“I
know it isn’t a word, but that’s not the point here! Mac, we can’t go with
our children to a grocery store and buy a Christmas tree. We have to do it the
right way. They have to feel the Christmas spirit,” Harm said thrilled and
obviously was missing his Freudian slip.
However,
Mac didn’t miss it and smiled at the thought that Harm was apparently thinking
the same about this weekend as she did. The thought of being together like a
family. “Okay, and what would be the right way? How would it be Christmasish,
Mr. Rabb?”
“Getting
the axe and some straps out of my garage before we’ll go hunting for the
perfect Christmas tree,” Harm explained confidently.
“Going
hunting for a tree with an axe?” Mac was so bewildered; all she could do was
repeat his words.
“Yes,
and I think we should do it right away, before we’ll get snowed in,” Harm
continued, now even more confident about his idea. “With the SUV it
shouldn’t be a problem to get to the farm.”
“I
thought you said your car’s ‘sick’.”
“It
was just the battery. Someone from my garage came and replaced it. So, what do
you think?”
“Going
hunting for a tree with an axe.”
“Yes,
Ms. MacKenzie. So what do you think?” Harm could hardly await Mac’s answer
and hoped she would like his idea.
“I
like it. I never had a self cut tree for Christmas in my life,” Mac told Harm
softly. Christmas was never a big event in her childhood, and most of the time
they had an artificial tree, if they had one at all.
“Then
we should hit the road and try to find a tree for us. Why don’t I get AJ and
my bag from the bedroom, while you entertain our little friend here?” Harm
kissed the now woken up Jimmy on the forehead who gurgled back at him, the
happiness of seeing his uncle was clearly visible on his face. With a last wave
at his younger godson and Mac, Harm was making his way to the bedroom.
“Sure,”
Mac replied quietly with a dreamy expression on her face while her eyes followed
him. ‘This will be a great weekend,’ she thought and kissed Jimmy’s
forehead. ‘A great weekend.’
*****
Choose-n-Cut
“Wow,”
Little AJ said astonished as he and his godparents stood at the entry of the
Christmas tree farm. However, his happiness had less to do with all the
snow-covered trees in front of them and more with the wide-open barn a few feet
away on their left side. In the barn stood one mother cow with a baby calf, some
goats, pigs, and even two donkeys. “Cool,” he continued excited.
“ool,”
Jimmy tried to copy his big brother’s words between giggles and started to
bounce in Harm’s arms while clapping his hands in delight.
Harm
looked taken aback at Mac.
“Don’t
ask, Harm. Harriet is just happy that Jimmy already knew how to say mama and
dada before he learned this word from AJ,” Mac explained and shook her head.
“Where
did AJ learn it anyway?” Harm asked quietly.
“If
you knew what’s going on in a preschool these days.” Mac chuckled and knelt
down so she could be eye to eye with AJ. “Why don’t we all try to find a
Christmas tree first? And when we’ve found one Uncle Harm can put it on the
car, while the three of us take a look at the animals over there,” Mac
suggested and pointed with her finger at the wide open barn.
“Yes,”
Little AJ yelled and threw himself into Mac’s arms.
“Ye,
ye, ye,” Jimmy happily answered as well while copying once more his big
brother’s words.
“Alright,
then let’s go and find our Christmas tree. Come on,” Harm said and held his
free hand to AJ so he could slip his own into it. The other hand AJ slipped into
Mac’s, who was carrying the axe in her left hand, before they made their way
into the little forest together. They could have used an offered hayride but
thought a walk through the forest would be much more fun and Harm was sure that
he could handle carrying the cut tree back to the car.
They
spent the next half hour searching for the right tree for Mac’s apartment.
Most trees were either too short, too long, too thin or simply too full. Little
AJ, who’d walked most of the time a few feet in front of Harm and Mac, was the
one who finally found the perfect tree.
“What
do you think, Mac?” Harm asked but knew the answer already.
“Perfect,”
Mac replied softly.
“Good
job, buddy,” Harm told Little AJ and squeezed his shoulder. “Okay, Mac,
let’s switch. You take Jimmy while I try to cut down the tree.”
As
soon as Harm had cut it down, they made their way back to the entranceway of the
farm, where Harm let the tree be wrapped up before putting it on the car. “Why
don’t you guys go visit the animals already? I’ll follow as soon as the tree
is fastened on the car,” Harm suggested as he paid for the tree.
“Sure,
why not. We’ll see you in a few minutes then. Come on, boys, let’s go visit
the animals,” Mac announced before she walked together with Jimmy in her left
arm and holding Little AJ by her right hand to the barn.
Harm
was following them soon and together they enjoyed a few quiet moments in the
barn. While Little AJ liked to pet every animal there was, Jimmy was a little
bit scared of them. Every time one of the animals got near him, he buried his
head in the crook of Mac’s neck. AJ on the other hand couldn’t get near
enough and wanted to be picked up by Harm so he could be on one level with them.
“Harm,
Jimmy and I will take a quick look at the cattle stall over there,” Mac said
and pointed to the backside of the stall. “We’ll be right back.”
“Alright,
have fun you two,” Harm called after her before turning his attention back to
Little AJ, who started to giggle hilariously when the baby calf started to lick
his outstretched hand.
“That’s
ticklish,” Little AJ said between his giggles, but never pulled his hand away
from the raw tongue of the baby calf.
Harm
laughed and got down on his knees so he could reach through the fence and fondle
the forehead of the calf. “I bet it is, AJ. She seems to like you.”
“Yes.”
Little AJ pulled his hand away from the calf and looked at his uncle with
wide-open pleading eyes. “Do you think Mommy and Daddy would allow me to have
one as a pet? That would be soooo cool.”
Harm
chuckled and took his eyes from the calf just to look at his godson. “I think
that won’t be…,” he started to negate his godson’s question when he
suddenly yelped out in surprise, at once jumping up and onto his feet.
Harm’s
hand immediately flew to his right cheek, which the baby calf had just licked
with its raw tongue, while Little AJ couldn’t hold back anymore and started to
laugh out loud, holding his belly. “She just kissed you, Uncle Harm,” AJ
told his perplexed looking uncle in between his laughter. “She really, really
likes you.”
Harm
just pet the baby calf and winked at his godson. “I think I’m a bit too old
for her,” he only replied jokingly and Little AJ had to laugh even harder now.
“You’re
silly, Uncle Harm.”
“I
am, am I?” Harm just responded and joined Little AJ in his laughter.
In
the meantime Mac and Jimmy were at the backside of the barn. The moment Jimmy
saw the rabbits in one of the stalls, he started to squeal. Mac got down on her
knees so he could see the animals better. Jimmy wasn’t scared of them at all,
since his big brother had one black and white rabbit called ‘Peanut’ as a
pet at home.
“Pea,”
Jimmy babbled cheerfully.
“No,
honey, that’s not Peanut,” Mac said softly before helping him to fondle the
trusting rabbit.
*****
“Come
on; let’s find Uncle Harm and your big brother. Auntie Mac is getting hungry,”
Mac said after a while and got a prompt confirmation from her rumbling stomach.
“’kay.
Bibi, pea,” Jimmy babbled and waved at the rabbit.
“Harm,
I think we should head back. I’m getting hungry and I’m sure you and the
boys would like to eat something as well. And it won’t be long before the
little guy here’s getting tired again and needs a good nap,” Mac explained
as she was back at Harm’s side.
“Sounds
good to me.”
“Auntie
Mac, guess what? The baby calf kissed Uncle Harm,” Little AJ told her in
excitement and with a bright smile on his face.
Mac
looked with a raised eyebrow and a smirk at her partner. “Really? Found a new
girlfriend, Harm?”
Harm
just grinned. “Nah, the kiss was a bit too wet for my style. Why, are we
jealous, Marine?” He asked jokingly with one of his flyboy-grins she loved so
much.
“You
bet,” Mac immediately answered him, trying her best to sound serious while she
had to fight her own laughter. “And if I weren’t so hungry right now, I
would have a talk with the Missy over there,” she continued and pointed at the
baby calf a few feet away from them. Then, without thinking twice, she got up on
her tiptoes and quickly licked Harm’s left cheek, surprising the hell out of
him and especially out of herself.
Now
she couldn’t hold back anymore and together with Little AJ she laughed out
loud and started to leave the barn and a dumbfound looking Harm behind. With a
last glance at her friend she winked at him with a wave. “Come on, Harm,
hungry marine here,” she told him while her thoughts were on overdrive about
what she’d just done, not believing she actually did it.
Harm
shook his head in wonder and then started to laugh as well. ‘This marine,’
he thought before looking back at the baby calf. “Sorry, girl, but her
technique was much better than yours,” he told the animal before following Mac
and the kids out of the barn.
“Do
we still need to pick up something from the grocery store?” Harm wanted to
know as soon as he joined them at the car.
“No,
I already did all the shopping yesterday. It should be more than enough for us
four,” Mac explained as she got Jimmy into his child seat. Little AJ was
already buckled up right next to him.
“Good,
then let’s get moving. It looks like Mother Holle has decided to take a little
break as well, so hopefully we won’t have much trouble getting back to DC,”
Harm said as he and Mac got into the SUV as well.
“She’d
better come back soon, so there’ll be more snow when we go sledding,” AJ
said sternly.
Harm
and Mac laughed. “There’s more than enough snow for going sledding, AJ,”
Harm said before starting the car. “Let’s go home.”
“Yeah,
let’s go home,” Mac softly copied Harm’s word with a smile on her face.
*****
Mac’s
Apartment
The
ride to Mac’s apartment took much longer than it normally would have due the
weather condition and the arisen traffic. By now Mother Holle was fully back in
her elements and it was snowing again, now even more than before.
Jimmy
had started to get fussy soon after they’d left the farm and Little AJ thought
it was best to start singing Christmas carols. However, it only made his brother
cry even more. Therefore, Harm started to tell them a Christmas story and soon
the little boy had stopped crying and got heavy eyes.
“Here
we are,” Mac said as they stood in front of her apartment door. “Are you
okay with the tree, Harm?”
“Yeah,
don’t worry. The tree isn’t heavy at all. And it for sure is a good workout
for me,” Harm explained and gave her his best flyboy-grin. As soon as Mac had
unlocked the door, he walked into her apartment to put down the tree.
“Oh,
hello, Sarah,” an elderly woman suddenly called from behind. She stood at the
doorway of her apartment, opposite Mac’s. “I heard a child singing ‘Let it
snow’ and some laughter. I thought my daughter, son-in-law and little Timmy
were here already.”
“Hello,
Mrs. Ebenezer. Sorry, but it’s only us. Little AJ was just performing his
favorite Christmas carol for today. I hope we didn’t wake you up?” Mac asked
worried.
“Don’t
worry, my dear. He has a lovely voice,” Mrs. Ebenezer responded gently.
“Thank
you,” Little AJ said a little embarrassed and giggled.
“Are
you having the kids for the weekend, Sarah?” Mrs. Ebenezer asked when she saw
the bags, which Mac was holding in her left hand, and the hardly awaken Jimmy on
her right shoulder. “If so, maybe Little AJ would like to come over sometime
over the weekend to play with my Timmy.”
“Oh
cool. Can I, Auntie Mac? Please?” Little AJ begged delighted. He already knew
Mrs. Ebenezer’s grandson from another sleepover at his aunt’s apartment. The
last time Mac even had some trouble getting him back into her apartment, since
he was having so much fun playing with Timmy and his grandfather’s railroad.
“I’m
sure we can come up with something, AJ. Thank you, Mrs. Ebenezer,” Mac said
and smiled at the elderly woman.
“My
pleasure, Sarah. I love having them around. Oh, this is my teakettle calling for
attention. I’ll see you soon. Bye for now,” Mrs. Ebenezer said before she
turned around and walked back into her apartment.
“Bye,”
Mac and AJ said at the same time before they walked into Mac’s apartment as
well.
“With
whom were you talking?” Harm asked curiously when he walked out of Mac’s
kitchen, while Mac closed the apartment door behind her. He’d heard Mac
talking with another woman in the hallway and didn’t want to interrupt.
“That
was my neighbor, Mrs. Ebenezer. She’d heard AJ singing and thought we were her
daughter’s family.”
“Mrs.
Ebenezer?” Harm asked with a raised eyebrow and laughed.
“Yes,
Mrs. Ebenezer. But she’s definitely not the female Scrooge,” Mac explained
with a chuckle. “Here, could you hold Jimmy for a minute?”
“Sure.
Why don’t I go and change Jimmy while you make some lunch for him and us?”
Harm suggested and took the little boy out of Mac’s arms.
“Thank
you, Harm. That would be great,” Mac said softly. She put down the boys’
bags next to the door before taking off her coat. “You can go and change him
on my bed. With him it is the safest way,” Mac continued with a chuckle and
walked into the kitchen.
Harriet
had told them more than once how much of an adventure it is to change the little
guy. Jimmy’s a rather active boy and never able to lie still while getting
changed.
“Okay,
will do,” Harm responded with a laugh of his own.
He
knew exactly what Mac was talking about due to his own experiences. However,
Harm wasn’t only aware of how much Jimmy was moving around while getting
changed. Oh no, he also got the world-famous shower from the little guy as well.
Back then, when Harm had told Mac about it, she only responded with a ‘See,
that’s a marine. He already has a good aim.’ Harm had to laugh as he
remembered their conversation in his office.
“Hey,
AJ, when you’re out of your coat could you bring Jimmy’s bag into Aunt
Mac’s bedroom for me?” Harm asked his godson.
“Sure,
Uncle Harm,” Little AJ answered with a grin before he started to take off his
pompom hat, gloves and finally his winter coat.
“Thank
you, buddy,” Harm responded and made his way to Mac’s bedroom door. He took
a deep breath before putting his hand on the doorknob. ‘There’s no need to
be nervous, Rabb. It’s not the first time you’re seeing her bedroom,’ Harm
thought, trying to calm himself down. ‘No, but the last time there wasn’t
much left of it. Thanks to Coster.’ Harm shook his head, chuckled at his own
nervousness and looked down at the little boy in his arm. “A man has to do
what a man has to do, right? Come on, Jimmy. It’s time to do our job,” Harm
told Jimmy and walked into Mac’s bedroom, followed by his godson AJ, who was
carrying his little bother’s bag.
*****
2:24 PM
Mac walked out of her kitchen just as Little AJ and Harm, with Jimmy in his arms,
came out of her bedroom. While she’d made their lunch, some leftover vegetable
lasagna, Mac could hear the giggles and laughter from the boys in her bedroom.
It sounded like they had a lot of fun while changing Jimmy.
“You guys are right on time because the lasagna is ready to be served,” Mac
told them as she put down the tray with dishes, glasses and some juice.
“Great. I’m hungry,” her godson announced with a grin as he sat down in
one of the chairs at the coffee table.
“That’s good to hear, AJ. Have you already washed your hands?” Mac wanted
to know while walking back into the kitchen.
“Yes, Auntie Mac. Uncle Harm told me so,” AJ called after her.
“And what about your Uncle Harm? Has he washed his hands?” Mac asked as she
came out of her kitchen again, this time bringing the lasagna.
“Yes, Mom,” Harm answered and rolled his eyes, trying to sound and look
annoyed, but failing totally.
“You’re funny, Uncle Harm,” his godson told him and giggled.
“Yes he is, isn’t he?” Mac said sweetly and stuck her tongue out at Harm
as AJ wasn’t looking.
“Very mature, Marine,” Harm whispered and laughed.
“What can I say? It’s the company,” she smirked. “Here, why don’t you
give me Jimmy, so you can start eating,” Mac said and took Jimmy from Harm.
“I’ll get his lasagna. I cut it up and cooled it off. I will join you guys
in a second.”
“Hmmm, this is great, Auntie Mac,” Little AJ said with his mouth full.
“Yeah, it’s perfect, Mac,” Harm agreed, having his mouth full as well.
“Thanks, guys. Glad you like it.”
“What about you?” Harm asked her as soon as Mac joined him on the couch.
“What about me?” Mac wanted to know while starting to feed Jimmy, who was
sitting in her lap.
“Don’t you want to eat?”
“I will as soon as this little guy here is fed.”
“Maybe we should put a part of the lasagna back into the oven? This way your
piece will still be hot when you’re ready to eat,” Harm suggested and took
another bite from his piece.
“Or you could feed her, Uncle Harm,” AJ told his godfather with a giggle.
“Just like she’s feeding Jimmy right now.”
“I don’t think that’s necessary, AJ,” Mac responded softly and smiled at
him.
“That’s a great idea, buddy,” Harm said at the same time and chuckled.
“What do you think, Mac? May I feed you?”
“Like I said, Harm, I don’t think that’s necessary.”
“Oh, you are such a spoilsport,” Harm told her with a smirk before looking
at his godson. “Isn’t she, AJ?”
“Yes, she is, Uncle Harm,” Little AJ agreed enthusiastic and laughed.
Mac groaned as she heard AJ’s answer while Harm started to laugh as well.
Before Mac knew what happened, Harm was waving his fork with lasagna in front of
her while imitating the sound of an airplane. “Air Rabb is ready for landing,”
Harm announced. “Requesting permission for landing.”
While Mac glared at him, Jimmy was very delighted about Harm’s doings. He
giggled and clapped his hands. “Bbbbrrrrmmmm, bbbbrrrrrmmmm,” Jimmy copied
the airplane sound and laughed, spitting out some of his lunch in the process.
“You have to open your hangar, Auntie Mac,” Little AJ enlightened his
godmother about the well-known procedure.
“My hangar,” Mac repeated his words and then glared at her partner.
“Just open your mouth, Mac,” Harm gently told her and finally could land the
fork just as she wanted to answer him. “Air Rabb landed safely.”
They spent the rest of the lunch with a lot of fun and joking around. Harm never
stopped feeding Mac while she continued to feed Jimmy. After a while, the little
boy got cranky and made it clear that it was time for his overdue nap. While Mac
got Jimmy ready, Harm went down to the parking lot and got his bag and the files
out of the SUV.
When Harm came back into the apartment, he could hear that Mac was still with
Jimmy in the guestroom. After setting down his bag next to the door, he moved to
the coffee table and placed the box with the files right next to it.
Then he took the tray from one of the chairs and brought the dirty dishes into
the kitchen. Just as he was filling the dishwasher, he could hear that Mac and
AJ came back into the living room.
“Auntie Mac, can I watch a movie now?” Little AJ asked hopefully with a
quiet voice.
“Sure. But you’ll have to watch it with the headphone so that Uncle Harm and
I can work a little bit. Is that okay with you?” She asked and placed the baby
monitor on the coffee table.
“No problem,” AJ answered with a grin.
“Okay. So, what movie do you want to watch?” Mac wanted to know as she
walked to her entertainment center.
“Umm, can I watch ‘Muppet Treasure Island’? Or how about ‘Muppets from
Space’?”
“Which one is it?”
“The Island,” Little AJ answered surely after a few seconds.
“’Muppet Treasure Island’ it is.” Mac took the desired movie and the
headphone out of the cabinet before putting the DVD into the DVD player. Then
she gave the headphone to Little AJ, who already sat down on the floor right in
front of the coffee table. “Here you go, AJ,” Mac said and kissed his head
before turning on the TV and the DVD player.
“Everything settled?” Harm asked as he walked out of the kitchen.
“Yeah. Jimmy is out like a light and AJ is watching the Muppets,” Mac
replied softly. “For the next hundred minutes we should have enough quietness
to get a few of your files done.”
“Sounds like a plan. Why don’t I start a fire and then we can attack the
papers,” Harm suggested and moved to the fireplace.
“Sure, why not. Just make yourself feel at home, Harm.” Mac smiled at him
and got one of his own in response. ‘I know, I feel like you’re here at home,’
she thought and made her way to the couch.
“I already feel like being home,” Harm murmured to himself while getting a
fire started.
For the next hour and a half, Mac and Harm were able to get nearly a third of
the files done. They’d started with the simple cases and therefore could make
considerable progress.
The quietness in the room was only interrupted when AJ had to laugh because of a
scene from the Muppet movie, which happened about every second minute. Ever so
often it brought a smile on Harm and Mac’s face. Sometimes they could even
hear a little snoring noise or a sigh from Jimmy coming out of the baby monitor.
Both thought these sounds were better than any music could be.
Harm and Mac were sitting on the couch. Harm obviously really felt like home and
had his legs outstretched on the coffee table, while Mac was sitting
cross-legged on the other side of the couch. They were delved into their work
but couldn’t stop themselves from looking at each other occasionally when they
thought the other one wasn’t looking. However, it happened more than once that
their eyes met and it was always completed with a shy smile from the both of
them.
“Auntie Mac?” Little AJ was calling from the other side of the coffee table.
Mac’s eyes left the paper in front of her to look at her godson. “Yes, AJ?”
“The movie is over,” AJ announced and pointed with his right forefinger at
the TV.
“The hundred minutes are already over?” Harm asked astonished and looked at
Mac.
“Obviously,” she responded, being slightly surprised herself.
“Obviously? Mac, where’s that human clock of yours? Don’t tell me this
work was so exciting that you forgot all about it,” Harm said jokingly.
Mac simply smirked at him before looking back at AJ. “Why don’t you look if
your brother is up already? And I think it’s time to start with the decorating
of the Christmas tree.”
“Cool. I’ll go and see if Jimmy is awake,” Little AJ told them and walked
into Mac’s guestroom, where he and Jimmy would sleep this weekend.
“Cool, huh? Has someone thought about telling him that he maybe shouldn’t
use this word?” Harm asked Mac with a raised eyebrow.
“Yeah. But you only get the answer ‘But why? It’s a cool word’ from him.
It’s pretty much pointless to tell him not to use it anymore,” Mac told him
with a chuckle. “Bud and Harriet gave it up after a while. I bet these days
you can even find the word in a normal dictionary.”
“It could be worse, couldn’t it?”
“Yes, it could,” Mac answered softly and got up from the couch. “Okay, I
guess we’re done with the cases for now. With any luck we can work on them
more tonight.”
“Sounds good to me. So, are we ready for the Christmas tree?” Harm asked and
stood up as well.
“I think so. At least when Jimmy is awake we’re able to start with the
decoration.”
“Do you want me to help you get the decoration?” Harm wanted to know.
“No, I’ll get it. But if you like, you could get Jimmy. Sounds like he’s
awake.” Mac grinned as she heard the giggles and laughter from him and Little
AJ through the door and even louder through the baby monitor on the table.
“I’m already on it,” Harm said with one of his flyboy grins and made his
way to the guestroom.
“Good. I’ll see you in a bit,” Mac responded and turned off the baby
monitor before walking into her bedroom to get the Christmas decoration out of
her storeroom.
*****
Mac’s Guestroom
“Hey, look who’s awake,” Harm said with a tender voice as he opened the
door to Mac’s guestroom, seeing Jimmy bouncing up and down while holding on
tightly the edge of his crib.
Jimmy squealed in delight while holding up his arms; showing Harm that he wanted
to get picked up.
“Hey, sport. What a nice crib you have here,” Harm told the little boy as he
took Jimmy into his arms.
Harm was surprised not seeing the well-known travel bed here, which Little AJ
already used every time he was spending the night at his apartment. He never
expected seeing this luxury solid hardwood crib in natural with straight turned
dowel sides here. It had a three-position mattress base in light blue, covered
with a smiling moon, some stars and a few clouds. The bedclothes were in the
same pattern. “Why should Mac use Jimmy’s hardwood crib?” Harm asked
himself aloud.
“This is not Jimmy’s bed, Uncle Harm,” Little AJ told his godfather as a
matter of fact.
“It’s not?” Harm asked slightly bewildered.
“No, it’s not. Auntie Mac bought it for her own children.”
“Her own children?” Harm asked, wondering about what Little AJ just told him.
At the same time he felt a twinge of pain around his heart.
“Yes. She bought the crib so she could use it for the children she’ll have
one day.”
“How do you know that, AJ?”
“She told Mommy about it. Jimmy and I were spending a weekend here, and while
Auntie Mac and Mommy were getting Jimmy ready for bed, Mommy asked her about it.
I was playing in the living room and could hear them talking,” Little AJ
explained softly. “I swear I didn’t eavesdrop, Uncle Harm. I know it’s not
a nice thing to do, but Mommy and Auntie Mac were talking loud enough for me to
hear them and the door was open as well,” Little AJ started to defend himself.
“Don’t worry, AJ. You didn’t do anything wrong,” Harm told him softly
and gave his shoulder a squeeze, feeling that AJ thought he did something wrong.
“Why don’t we get Aunt Mac and start with the decoration of the Christmas
tree?”
“Yes,” Little AJ hollered before running out of the guestroom. “Auntie
Mac! Uncle Harm said we’re going to decorate the Christmas tree now,” he
continued his screaming, trying to get Mac’s attention.
Harm laughed and looked at the wide-awake Jimmy in his arms. “I guess it’s
decoration time, huh,” he told the little boy before moving out of the
guestroom as well, taking one last look at the crib. “Oh Mac,” he muttered
quietly before closing the door behind him.
*****
4:52 PM
“Hey, guys, there you are,” Mac greeted Harm and Jimmy as soon as they
walked into the living room. She gave Jimmy a little peck on the cheek and
smiled at Harm. “I thought you were lost there for a minute.”
“Nah, a pilot never gets lost,” Harm told her self-confidently. “Give us
five minutes to get changed and then we can start decorating the tree. Deal?”
“Sounds good to me. Why don’t I make us some hot chocolate in the meantime?”
Harm gave her one of his flyboy grins. “You have marshmallows?”
“Yup, sure do. Get Jimmy ready and AJ and I will make us the hot chocolate.”
“Be right back,” Harm answered and walked into Mac’s bedroom. “Do you
have some Christmas carols, Mac? Decorating a tree without the right music
doesn’t work,” Harm hollered from the bedroom.
“You mean it’s not Christmasish, right?” Mac hollered back and laughed.
Then she got some milk out of the fridge and a pot out of the cabinet to set it
on the stove.
“Exactly. You’re learning fast, Colonel,” Harm answered and kissed
Jimmy’s tummy, who giggled in response. “Your Auntie Mac is a really smart
lady, did you know that, Jimmy?” Harm told his youngest godson, who gurgled
while looking very interested at his godfather. “And a really beautiful one as
well,” he softly added and took Jimmy’s happy babbling as his affirmation.
As soon as Harm had finished changing Jimmy, he made his way to the kitchen,
where Mac and Little AJ were still preparing the hot chocolate. “Hmmm, that
smells delicious,” he told them and tried to get near the stove.
“I made the cocoa, Uncle Harm,” Little AJ told his godfather proudly and
smiled at his godparents.
“You did a great job, buddy,” Harm let him know and ruffled Little AJ’s
hair. Then he looked at his best friend. “You never answered my question,
MacKenzie,” Harm told her. “Do you have some Christmas carols for our
decoration adventure?”
“The carols from the radio don’t work?” Mac wanted to know. “I mean they
start playing them soon after Easter is over,” she continued with a chuckle.
“We shouldn’t have problems getting a station where carols get aired.”
Harm had to laugh at her comment. “Very true. But no, I don’t think the
Christmas carols from the radio will do. Only if you want to hear ‘Last
Christmas’ from Wham each and every hour. Then you’re very welcome to turn
on the radio, Mac,” he told her and hoped she would disclaim his offer.
Mac made a face as soon as she thought about the torture that would await them.
Jimmy saw his godmother making a funny face and started to giggle. “Thanks,
but no thanks,” she answered quickly. “There should be some Christmas CD’s
in my CD cabinet. I think you can choose between Bing Crosby, Dean Martin, Nat
King Cole and Frank Sinatra.”
“What? You don’t have the King?” Harm asked astonished, not believing that
his best friend’s carols collection was missing the King’s version. He
opened Mac’s CD cabinet and was greeted by a full to the brim cabinet with
CD’s and DVD’s. “Wow, nice collection you have here, Mac,” Harm told her
and tried to find the Christmas selection. Then he looked at Jimmy, who was
still clinging to Harm’s shoulder. “Now where can we find your aunt’s
Christmas collection, Jimmy?”
“Thanks, and I think I do have Elvis’ version as well,” Mac answered as
soon as she walked out of the kitchen with two mugs of hot chocolate in her
hands. “Need help?” She wanted to know, putting down the mugs on the coffee
table.
“Nah, we already found it. I think we should go with Dean, Bing and Frank. You
still have the CD changer, right?” Harm wanted to know and looked up at Mac.
He got a short nod from her as response.
Soon some traditional carols, the sweet scent of cocoa, a blazing fire and fresh
fir were floating through the living room while laughter and happy giggles
around the Christmas tree completed the perfect ambience.
They all had a lot of fun with decorating the tree. While Little AJ, Mac and
Harm were putting the ornament on the tree, Jimmy was sitting on his blanket,
which was outspreaded on the left side of the tree, with some of his favorite
toys.
He was watching in intrigue what his brother and godparents were doing. All the
twinkling, caused by the strands of lights Harm had installed earlier,
fascinated him especially. His godparents often threw a glance at him, worried
that he would, unnoticed to them, crawl under the tree, but he wasn’t
interested in getting nearer the tree than he was.
Little AJ enjoyed the time decorating immensely. They had partitioned the tree
in three territories. While Little AJ was doing the lower part of the tree, Mac
was doing the middle and Harm the upper part. Sometimes they bumped into each
other, but that only provided more giggles and laughter.
Little AJ often ‘aaahh’-ed and ‘ooohhh’-ed when he got one of Mac’s
special ornament. Especially the snowman with the wool scarf, top hat and carrot
nose he admired. He found a special place for Mr. Snowman, so he always could
look at it if he desired.
“Wow!”
Harm and Mac looked at Little AJ after hearing his cry of fascination.
“What?” Harm wanted to know.
“Look, Uncle Harm. Auntie Mac has your plane for the Christmas tree,” Little
AJ told his godfather in amazement. Then he looked bewildered at his godmother.
“Auntie Mac, you’ll have to re-paint this one,” he said as a matter of
fact. “Uncle Harm’s plane is yellow, not red. Look,” he continued to
explain and as proof that the plane was red, he showed his godparents the
ornament.
Harm and Mac looked at the ornament he was holding in front of them before
looking at each other with a smile. “Yeah, I guess I’ll have to re-paint it
so it’s yellow in the future,” Mac agreed with him.
Little AJ was satisfied with his aunt’s answer, and found yet another special
place for his uncle’s plane.
“Wow indeed,” Harm suddenly said with a gentle voice while he looked at the
object he just caught from the box. Then he glanced amazed at Mac before
returning his gaze once more to the ornament he was holding in his hand. “Mac
this is beautiful,” he whispered astonished.
Mac walked over to Harm, so she could see what exactly caught his interest.
“Yeah, it is, isn’t it?” she softly answered as soon as she saw what he
was looking at.
“Can I see it too, Uncle Harm?” Little AJ asked, wanting to know what his
godparents were talking about. “Please?”
Harm nodded his head and got down on his knee to show his godson the special
Christmas decoration.
“Wow. Cool,” Little AJ whispered and looked at his godmother. “That’s my
brother,” he said in amazement and pointed at the object Harm was holding in
his hand. It was a crystal holiday ornament. A clear glass with a frosted
portrait of Jimmy engraved in the center. Below the portrait was his name
monogrammed in a very beautiful old scripture. It had a silk ribbon so it could
be hung up on the tree.
“Do you have one of me as well, Auntie Mac?” Little AJ asked while Harm
tried to find the right place on the tree for Jimmy’s ornament.
“Of course I have, honey. Here,” Mac answered with a smile and gave him his
own. Then she ruffled his hair before returning to her work.
Little AJ stared at it in astonishment before giving it carefully to Harm. Then
he walked to the box, trying to find out if his godmother had more of these
special Christmas decoration in it.
“These are really beautiful, Mac,” Harm softly told her, repeating his
earlier words. “Where did you get them from?”
“I ordered them from a specialty shop in Vermont,” Mac started to explain
with a gentle voice, never stopping to decorate the tree.
“Is there a story behind it?”
Mac stopped with her work, looked at Harm with a smile and nodded. “A few
years ago I found a picture of a Christmas tree my Uncle Matt had in his living
room. And I remembered that he always had one of these ornaments with my
portrait on it as decoration. I thought it was a very nice family tradition and
that I should take it over. That’s why I started to collect my very own family
ornaments.”
Harm responded with a smile of his own when Little AJ touched his arm. “Look,
Uncle Harm. Mommy and Daddy,” he explained happily and gave his uncle the
ornament with the Roberts on it. “And that’s Chloe with Jingo, right Auntie
Mac?”
“Yes, that’s Chloe with Jingo,” Mac answered him before picking up his
little brother, who was still lying on his blanket, having Winnie the Pooh
safely in his arms. “Well, I’m done with my part of the tree. What about you
guys?”
“We still have to get Uncle Harm’s on the tree,” Little AJ immediately
answered and moved to the box. “Here.” He took the last piece out of the box
and gave it to his uncle.
“Thanks, AJ,” Harm said and glanced at his own portrait before looking at
Mac with a smile on his face. Then he kissed her forehead, for a short moment
letting his lips linger on her soft skin. “Thank you, Mac, for letting me be a
part of this beautiful tradition of yours,” he softly told her before placing
it on the tree as well.
Mac took a step closer to Harm and kissed him on the cheek. “You are a part of
my family, and everyone who’s important to me has a special place in my heart
and my Christmas tree,” she told him tenderly with a smile before getting the
very last item out of the box. “And you’re very special and important to me,
Harm,” she continued with a quiet voice. Then she gave a now slightly
befuddled looking Harm the very last ornament she owned. “I guess it is time
for the major event of this evening. Who wants to do the honor?” She asked and
looked at the two men in front of her.
Harm looked at the item he got from Mac and smiled. “I think it is the perfect
job for Mr. Roberts, don’t you think so, Mac?”
Mac nodded at him and then smiled at her godson. “Yeah, I think it is the
perfect job for him.”
With that Harm gave Little AJ the Christmas tree topper, a lighted clear star,
before he uplifted him so he would sit on his shoulder. “Are you ready, Mr.
Roberts?”
“Yes, Sir,” Little AJ proudly answered and attached the lighted star on top
of the now fully decorated Christmas tree.
Harm took a few steps back and now stood right next to Mac, who was still
holding Jimmy and Winnie the Pooh in her arms. Together they all admired the
twinkling tree in front of them for a few moments.
“What do you think, AJ? Did we make a good Christmas tree for Auntie Mac?”
Harm asked his godson and tried to look up at him, since he was still sitting on
his shoulder.
“Uh-huh, it’s beautiful,” AJ whispered and threw his arms around Harm’s
neck to give him a bear hug.
Harm then looked at Mac. “What do you think? Did we do good?”
Mac smiled at him and nodded. “We did very good. It’s really beautiful.”
“Yeah, I think so too,” Harm said and kissed Jimmy’s forehead. “The
little guy seems to think so too. Now what’s next on the agenda?”
Mac looked up at his godson, knowing that he would be able to give the answer.
“AJ?”
“PJ party,” he screamed in delight and got a round of laughter in response,
while his little brother was clapping his hands in excitement.
*****
6:07 PM
“Do you guys want to get ready for the PJ party, or rather eat some dinner
first?” Mac asked Harm and Little AJ while they were still standing in front
of the beautifully decorated and twinkling Christmas tree in her living room.
Harm sat Little AJ down on his feet and only shrugged before giving her his
answer. “It doesn’t matter to me. AJ?”
“I want to wear my new PJ for dinner,” he promptly answered with a wide grin
on his face and ran away to get his bag from the apartment door.
“Sure, why not. Harm, why don’t you take a shower first, before we give the
boys a bath? I’ll take a shower later, while you could maybe make some
sandwiches with AJ for dinner,” Mac suggested and ruffled Jimmy’s head, who
was still cradling in her arms.
“Sounds like a good plan,” Harm answered with a smile.
“Look, Uncle Harm,” Little AJ called from behind and Harm turned around to
see what his godson wanted to show him. “This is my new PJ. Auntie Mac bought
one of these for me, Jimmy and herself this morning. This way we all have a
Christmas pajamas for our PJ party tonight,” AJ explained his godfather in
excitement and gave him his green suit so he could take a better look. “Mine
has Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer on it, and Jimmy’s has a rompers with Santa
Claus on it.”
“Very nice suit, AJ,” Harm commended with a smile and gave the suit back to
his godson. “I guess I’ll be the only one here wearing a non-Christmas
pajamas.” Then he turned around to look at his best friend with a raised
eyebrow and a grin. “So… what kind of PJ will you wear, Mac?”
Mac smiled and shrugged her shoulders. “I liked the one with the snowmen and
the children on their sleds on it.”
Harm sighed and shook his head. “I guess I won’t get to see you in your
cowboy jammies then?” He asked, sounding slightly disappointed.
Mac smirked and made her way to the bedroom. Short before she walked into the
room she turned around to look at him again. “The weekend is not over yet,
Harm. Be nice and you may see me in them as well,” she told him and giggled,
before disappearing behind the bedroom door.
Soon she came out of the bedroom again and placed Jimmy on the couch right next
to his big brother AJ, who browsed in one of the many children’s books his
aunt was having around. “I’ve put out some towels for you, so you can go
ahead and take a shower,” she told Harm and took place between her godchildren.
Harm smiled at her and took his bag from the doorway. “Good. Thank you and I
won’t take long. Promise,” he told her and made his way to her bedroom.
“Don’t worry, Harm. There’s enough hot water for us all. Take your time
and enjoy it,” she let him know and took the book from Little AJ, who wanted
to get a story read by his aunt.
“Auntie Mac,” Little AJ whispered into her ear, not wanting his uncle to
hear anything. “Can we give Uncle Harm his Christmas present tonight?” He
asked her with puppy eyes. “This way he won’t be sad tonight. Please?”
“Are you sure you don’t want to wait ‘til Christmas, AJ? You and Jimmy
bought it for him as a Christmas present,” Mac quietly asked, wanting to make
sure that her older godson was certain about his decision.
Little AJ strongly nodded his head and answered with a loud “Yes!” Then he
immediately put his hands over his mouth, hoping that his uncle hadn’t heard
him, even though there was no way for Harm to know what Little AJ’s outburst
was about. “Oops,” AJ said with a whispering voice and then continued.
“Yes, I’m sure, Auntie Mac. I want us to give it to him tonight,” he told
her quietly. He really wanted to give his uncle the present he, Jimmy and his
aunt Mac bought for him this morning. “Jimmy and I can draw him pictures or
something for Christmas. I’m sure Daddy or Mommy would help us come up with
something else. Please, Auntie Mac!”
Mac only nodded her head and got up from the couch. She could hear that the
water in the bathroom was running, and knew that Harm was already standing under
the shower. She held her hand to Little AJ, so he could take it and together
they walked into her bedroom.
She opened the door of her closet and took out the little cardboard box. It was
wrapped in a green wrapping paper and had a red bow on it. On top of it was a
little Christmas card, signed with ‘For Uncle Harm’. She gave it to her
godson. “Here, AJ. Why don’t you place it on my bed right next to his bag?
I’m sure Uncle Harm will see it when he comes out of the bathroom.”
“Okay,” Little AJ said and took the gift from his aunt to place it on her
bed. “Do you think he’ll like it?” He asked, sounding a little unsure now.
“I’m sure he’ll love it, AJ,” Mac told him and kissed his forehead. Then
she took his hand into hers again. “Come on, let’s go back to your little
brother and read some more ‘A Lamb’s Tale’ before it’s time for your
bath.”
“Yeah.”
“Oh, wait,” Mac suddenly said and moved back to her closet just to get yet
another little present out of it. Just like the bigger one, she placed it on the
bed before finally moving out of the bedroom.
*****
6:31 PM
Mac’s bathroom
Harm took Mac by her words and enjoyed the shower and the hot water. Therefore,
he’d showered a bit longer than planned.
It felt so good. Not so much the hot water, but the feeling he had about the
outcome of this day. It’d started for him as a really unmotivated day with not
much hope for an enjoyable weekend. And now? Now he stood here, in Mac’s
bathroom, wearing only a towel around his hips nonetheless, and felt relaxed. He
felt plain and simple happy.
He always knew that a family life with Mac and children would be like a dream
come true; something to treasure. And this day wasn’t a disappointment at all
and confirmed his knowledge.
It was so much fun to spend the day with Mac, Little AJ and Jimmy. It’d
surprised him though, just how much he enjoyed all the Christmas stuff and that
he felt the ‘Christmasish’-spirit again after such a long, long time. The
last time he felt so much happiness about Christmas was while he was still a
little boy and went hunting for a Christmas tree with his dad. Back then he told
his parents how much he loved the ‘Christmasish’-feeling.
But then his dad was gone and so was the ‘Christmasish’-feeling.
However, now it was so easy to love everything about Christmas and he was amazed
about the fact that it was so easy for the boys and Mac to get him to feel like
this. Harm chuckled about his thoughts and walked out of the bathroom to get
dressed in Mac’s bedroom. “They have way too much power over you, Commander,”
he told himself with a grin. “Way too much power.”
As soon as he left the bathroom, he saw the two nicely packed boxes and moved
closer to get a better look. That’s when he was able to read the inscription
on the card of the bigger one. “For Uncle Harm,” he read out loud and took
the gift from the bed. Just like a child he shook it, trying to find out what
was in it. It made no sound and he was only greeted by silence. “Hmmm,” Harm
commented in wonder and slowly opened the card. Just like the inscription on the
outside was the message on the inside written by Mac.
‘Merry Christmas, Uncle Harm! We love you. Hugs and Kisses, Jimmy and Little
AJ.’
Harm smiled and started to debate with himself if he should open the gift, or if
he should better wait. “If they wanted me to wait, they wouldn’t have put it
on the bed, where I clearly could see it, right?” Harm asked out loud. “Oh,
you’re one smart lawyer, Harm,” he told himself and was pleased about his
answer. With a wide grin he started to tear apart the wrapping paper; once again
feeling like a little child.
As soon as the paper was out of his way, he slowly opened the box and had to
smile. “Perfect,” he said and took his present out of the cardboard box.
Then he took the little gift from the bed and read the inscription on the card.
‘For Harm’ stood there and once more it was written by Mac. He carefully
opened the card and read out loud the message. “Just to complete the picture.
Merry Christmas, Harm. Love, Mac.” Harm took a deep breath, opened the gift,
and started to laugh. “Absolutely perfect.”
*****
6:39
PM
Little AJ was the first one who lost interest in the book when the bedroom door
opened and raised his head. With a wide grin he looked at his uncle before he
quickly touched Mac’s arm, trying to get her attention. “Auntie Mac look,
Uncle Harm is back,” AJ cried in excitement. Then he jumped up from the couch,
ran to his uncle and gave him a bear hug.
Harm chuckled about the little boy’s enthusiasm and took him into his arm.
“So, what do you think? How do I look, buddy?”
“You look cool, Uncle Harm,” Little AJ told him and then turned his head to
look at his aunt. “Don’t you think so, Auntie Mac?”
Harm followed his godson’s gaze, looked at Mac and was greeted by her bright
smile. She was still sitting on the couch with Jimmy in her lap. Mac was holding
the book she was reading to the boys in her hands, but had stopped reading it as
soon as she saw Harm coming out of the bedroom.
Mac grinned at the sight in front of her. Harm was wearing his Christmas gift
from Little AJ and Jimmy, a soft flannel pajamas covered with candy canes and
mistletoes. “Yes, AJ, I think he looks really cool,” she answered and then
looked into her partner’s eyes. “It really suits you, Harm,” she softly
told him, trying to not laugh out loud. He looked so cute in these pajamas.
Simply adorable.
“Yeah, I think so too,” Harm replied with a smile and gave his older godson
a hug. “Thanks for the early Christmas gift, AJ. I really love it.”
“Do you like Auntie Mac’s present too?” Little AJ asked in suspense before
he continued. “Now you look perfect for the PJ party,” he gladly said as his
godfather set him down on his feet again.
Together they moved to the couch, where Harm kissed Jimmy’s forehead.
“Thanks, Jimmy. You and your big brother really have good taste.” Then he
turned to Mac and gave her a peck on the cheek. “And I love your gift too.
Thank you, Mac. I always wanted to have one of these,” he softly told her with
a grin and pointed at the nightcap he was wearing. The flannel cap was just like
the pajamas, covered with candy canes and mistletoes.
“I’m glad you like it. While we were buying our Christmas PJ’s this
morning, Little AJ saw this one and was sure it would be perfect for you. Then I
saw the appending cap and knew I had to buy it too,” she told him and slightly
touched the fabric of his pajamas.
“Why don’t we bathe the boys now so the rest of us can get ready for the
party as well?” Harm submitted and took Jimmy out of Mac’s embrace. “I
already started to fill the tub and it should be done soon.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Mac answered and took Little AJ’s hand in hers. Then
they made their way to the bathroom.
*****
Mac’s kitchen
7:23 PM
Harm was preparing some sandwiches for dinner, while Mac was still taking a
shower. The boys were bathed and clad in their Christmas suits, waiting for
their godparents in front of the fireplace.
Harm wanted to make something special for tonight and had created a little
picnic place in front of Mac’s fireplace. A rug was laid out and the light in
the living room was coming from the blazing fire, the twinkling Christmas tree
and a few candles he’d lit around the room. It was already pitch dark outside
and just a few snowflakes were still falling down.
Harm took a quick glance to the living room, making sure the boys were okay.
Little AJ sat at the window and watched the snowflakes dancing in the
streetlight, while his little brother Jimmy was sitting on the rug, holding his
‘best friend’ Winnie the Pooh in his arms.
Harm was just filling their mugs with some fresh hot chocolate when he felt a
light touch on his shoulder. “Do you need some help?” Mac softly asked from
behind.
“No, all is done and ready for the picnic,” Harm answered and slowly turned
around to look at Mac. He gave her a bright smile. “You look beautiful, Mac.
The pajamas look lovely on you.”
Mac looked down at herself and blushed slightly. “Thank you,” she quietly
said before returning her gaze back to Harm. “Let’s eat,” she continued
and took the plate with the sandwiches from the counter. “These look yummy,
Harm.”
“Thanks. I hope they taste good as well.”
Soon they were all seated on the rug in front of the fireplace and enjoyed their
sandwiches and hot chocolate. Jimmy was having some milk and scrambled eggs
instead. They were having a blast with their picnic while making more plans for
the rest of the weekend.
Little AJ most of all wanted to go sledding tomorrow and maybe even build a
snowman.
“And what would you like to do when we’re done with our picnic here?” Mac
wanted to know and took another bite of her sandwich. “Any ideas?”
“Can we read ‘The Night Before Christmas’?” Little AJ asked and looked
at Mac before turning his gaze to Harm. “Oh, and maybe ‘Frosty the Snowman’.”
Harm and Mac laughed. “Why don’t we start with ‘The Night Before
Christmas’ and go from there?” Harm suggested and ruffled AJ’s blonde hair.
“Okay,” AJ answered and then looked at Mac with a glimmer in his eyes.
“Can we do Smores too, Auntie Mac?”
Now it was Mac who ruffled his hair. “Let me check if I have the supplies for
it, okay?” She replied and stood up to make her way to the kitchen.
Soon she came back into the living room. The smile on her face and the supplies
in her hands showed Harm and the kids that they could go for it and make Smores
in Mac’s fireplace.
“Okay, I do have some gram-crackers, Hershey bars and marshmallows of course,”
Mac told them and laid the supplies down on the rug. “Now I just have to find
something we can use as sticks.”
“Do you have some wire hangers from the dry cleaners? That should do it,”
Harm suggested and Mac’s smile gave him the answer.
“You bet I have,” she voiced her answer and walked into the bedroom to get
them.
A few minutes later they were preparing their Smores. Each of them took a
gram-cracker and broke it in half, took half of a chocolate bar and placed it on
top of the gram-cracker. Then they took two marshmallows and put them on their
sticks. Harm had been right about the wire hangers. They just had to burn the
paint off the tip and they could use them perfectly for making Smores. They
roasted the marshmallows and then placed them on top of the chocolate before
putting the other half of the gram cracker on top. Then they could pull the
stick out. The marshmallow melts the chocolate and both would ooze out while
they took their first bite. Together they had a lot of fun making and eating the
Smores.
When they were done with the Smores and well-fed, Harm and Mac brought the
dishes into the kitchen and filled the dishwasher. Then they refilled their mugs
with some more cocoa and Jimmy’s bottle with milk before walking back into the
living room.
Harm gave Little AJ his mug before taking place on the rug again. He placed
Jimmy in his lap and gave him his bottle.
Mac placed her mug on the coffee table and then walked to the entertainment
center to turn off the CD player. Walking to the bookshelf, she looked through
her library and finally found Clement C. Moore’s masterwork ‘The Night
Before Christmas’. She smiled and joined Harm and the boys on the rug.
“If it’s okay with you, I would like you to read the story for us,” Mac
told Harm softly and handed the book to him. Then she quietly added. “I love
hearing your voice.”
Harm smiled at her, nodded and took the book out of her grip. Mac took a place
right next to him, shoulder to shoulder, and touched Jimmy’s hand, which
he’d outstretched to her. She kissed his fist before letting go of it again.
Then she opened her arms so that Little AJ could lean on her.
Harm was holding the book so that Jimmy, Mac and Little AJ were able to see the
pictures in it without any problem. “All ready?” Harm asked quietly.
“Yes,” Mac and Little AJ whispered at the same time and Jimmy quickly
followed with a nod of his head.
Harm nodded his head, cleared his throat and opened the book. Then he started to
read slowly with a quiet and reserved voice, making several breaks so the boys
could admire the pictures.
“Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugarplums danced in their heads;
And Mama in her ‘kerchief and I in my cap,
Had just settled down for a long winter’s nap.”
Harm stopped for a minute and looked at Mac and then at Little AJ. He’d
changed his position a bit and his head was now lying in Mac’s lap, but he was
still able to look into the book. She was softly running her hand through his
hair in a soothing manner. Harm turned his gaze back to Mac and looked deeply
into her eyes. He was greeted by a soft smile, which Harm returned in all
eagerness. Then he gently kissed her forehead before returning his attention to
the book and continued to read the rest of the story.
It didn’t take long for Jimmy to fall asleep in his uncle’s arms, and it
seemed like his big brother would follow him soon into dreamland. More and more
he was yawning while listening anxiously to the story his uncle was reading.
It’d been a long day for them. A day full of adventure, excitement, laughter
and happiness.
“Happy Christmas to all. And to all a good-night,” Harm ended the story,
closed the book and put it on the coffee table.
“They are out like a light,” Mac commented in a whisper and looked down at
AJ and then at Jimmy, who was still held safely in his uncle’s arms. “We
should take them to bed. It has been a long day for them.”
“Just like it has for us. Maybe we should call it a night too,” Harm suggest
and slowly stood up.
“If you’re tired, Harm. But if not, then we maybe could work some more on
your files. The more we get done today, the less we have to think about it
tomorrow.”
Harm smiled at her and nodded his head. “I would love that.”
“So it’s a deal.”
*****
9:10 PM
Harm took one last look at the boys, who were both asleep in their beds by now.
He clearly could hear their even breathing and sometimes even a sigh or a little
snore. Then he switched off the ceiling light so that the room was only
illumined by the dim light from a street lamp and the little nightlight near
Jimmy’s crib.
Slowly he closed the door and moved into the living room to join Mac on the
couch. She was already seated cross-legged on it and worked on some more files.
She hadn’t bothered to turn on any lights, and it seemed like the lights
coming from the fireplace, Christmas tree and candles around the room were
enough for her to get done with the work.
Harm sat down on the couch and took a deep breath. Then he took off his nightcap
to lay it on the coffee table.
“Tired?” Mac asked in worry and looked up from the folder she was holding in
her hands. “I told you earlier that we could call it a night if you want. It
really was a long day and maybe some sleep would be good right about now.”
Harm shook his head and smiled at her. “Nah, it’s not that. I’m not really
tired actually,” he told her and chuckled. “I’m afraid that I am too full
of energy to get any sleep at all tonight.”
Mac smiled, closed the folder and took another one out of the files box.
“Don’t worry, Harm. As soon as your head hits the pillow you’ll be out
like a light and you’ll snore just like the two boys behind that door,” she
said and pointed at the door of her guestroom. Then she continued with a soft
voice. “It really was a great day, wasn’t it?”
Harm nodded his head and took one of Mac’s hands in his to give her a light
squeeze. “Yeah, I think we had a lot of fun,” he gently told her before
letting go of her hand again. “Thank you so much for coming up with this great
idea.”
“No, I have to thank you, Harm,” Mac immediately countered. “It was your
idea to go hunting for a tree with an axe. And you were right. We never should
go with our children to a grocery store and buy a Christmas tree. It’s not
Christmasish at all,” she told him with a chuckle. She really liked this word.
Then the smile quickly left her face and Harm knew that she caught her own
Freudian slip just like he did. Earlier, in his apartment, he’d made one of
his own as well and said ‘our children’ too. Back then he didn’t know that
she caught it, but now he was pretty sure that she’d heard him loud and clear.
“Hey,” he softly said and took the folder out of Mac’s hand and placed it
on the coffee table before taking both of her hands into his to squeeze them.
“I’m sorry, Harm. I… I shouldn’t have said that,” she told him in a
whisper.
“Why not? I’ve said it too, earlier in my apartment, and I know you heard me.
You did, didn’t you?”
Mac didn’t respond vocally but nodded her head.
“Mac, this day has been magical and it’s normal to feel the way we do.
There’s nothing wrong about that,” Harm softly told her.
“No, there’s not,” Mac quietly answered and gave him a little smile. “It
really was a beautiful day.”
“And a very tiresome one, but beautiful nonetheless,” Harm agreed and
responded with a smile of his own before letting go of her hands.
“So you are tired,” Mac concluded quickly and pointed her right forefinger
at him, slightly touching his chest. “Liar, liar, pants on fire.”
Harm chuckled. “Yeah, maybe a bit. These two boys have a lot of energy.”
Mac couldn’t hold back anymore and laughed, trying her best not to be too loud
so she wouldn’t wake the boys next door. “Harm, they are Bud’s children.
Of course they have a lot of energy.”
Harm laughed too and nodded his head. “Good point, Counselor. Very good
point.”
“Yeah, and just wait till the twins are born. I’m sure we’ve seen nothing
yet,” Mac pointed out with a smirk.
“Maybe Harriet will have at least one girl this time.”
“So?” Mac asked, curious about where he wanted to go with this statement.
Harm shrugged his shoulders. “Girls are…,” he started to say but didn’t
seem to find the right word.
“Yes?” Mac waved her hand, showing her best friend that he may continue and
that she was impatiently waiting for his answer.
“Calmer. They are calmer.”
“Calmer?” Mac only repeated his word.
“Yeah, they are more… quiet.”
“Quiet?”
“Why are you repeating my words?” Harm wanted to know and raised his eyebrow.
It wasn’t bugging him, but it somehow made him feel insecure.
“Bad habit,” Mac immediately answered and then continued. “Don’t worry
about it. Now you were saying…?”
“I was saying that girls are…. They are girls, okay. They like to play with
their dolls, doing their hair or having tee parties.” Harm saw that Mac was
only shaking her head. “No? You mean they’re not?”
“Well, I’m sure there are many girls who like stuff like that, but I’m
sorry to tell you this, Harm. Girls can be just like boys or are even worse,”
she told him as a matter of fact.
“They are?” Harm asked astonished. “Now that’s hard to believe.”
Mac looked flabbergasted at him, not believing what she was hearing. “Harm, I
never liked to play with dolls, doing my hair or God forbid having tee parties.”
“You didn’t?”
“No, that’s boring.”
“Boring?”
“Yeah, boring. Harm, I have to let you know that I was a tomboy through and
through. I liked to climb trees. The higher they were, the more fun it was to
conquer them. Or to get dirty. That was a blast. The muckier I got the better I
felt. I loved to jump into mud holes, they couldn’t be deep enough for me,”
Mac told him with enthusiasm.
“Oh, really?”
“Yes, really. Also, the only doll I ever had, I got from my Aunt Agnes. The
first thing I did was to cut her hair. I thought she looked much better with a
short haircut, rather than having this boring long, blonde hair. All in all I
played about five minutes with the doll before she ended up in the closet. She
was never seen again.”
Mac waited for Harm to say something, but he only smiled at her. “What?” Mac
asked.
“Thank you, Mac,” was the only thing Harm said in response.
“Thanks for what?” She wanted to know, not understanding what she’d done
to have him thanking her.
“For sharing this all with me,” he softly told her, took one of her hands in
his own and squeezed it. “It means a lot to me.”
“You’re…,” Mac started to answer and then it suddenly dawned to her.
“…welcome,” she continued slowly before getting one of the cushions from
the couch to smack him across the face. “You!”
Harm chuckled and barely could hold back his laughter. “What?” He asked, and
finally had to laugh out loud, trying to do it as quiet as possible. He just
couldn’t hold it back anymore. “What did I do?” He asked, trying to sound
innocent.
“Oh, you. Don’t act like you have no clue what I’m talking about, Mr.
Innocent,” Mac said while jumping on Harm, trying to tickle him. His laughter
was infecting and soon she had to laugh with him. “You really had me this
time, didn’t you?” she asked and finally found his ticklish spot right above
his hips. By now she was more or less lying on top of him.
“Big time, Marine. Big time,” he quickly answered, sounding slightly out of
breath. However, it didn’t take him long and he was able to fend Mac’s
tickle attack. In one quick motion he moved so that he was the one having the
upper hand now.
Both stopped laughing and smiled at each other. Thankfully, there was no sound
coming from the baby monitor, so that their playful banter hadn’t woken the
boys up.
Harm took a deep breath and held one of his hands to Mac, helping her sit up
again. “I’m sorry that I played you out, Mac, but I’m really glad you
shared all this with me,” he softly told her and tucked one loose wisp of hair
behind her ear.
It wasn’t often that Mac opened up about her past, especially about her
childhood, and he was glad that she’d shared this little something with him.
He hadn’t planned to play the silly-billy about the girl-topic, but it was
such a fun thing to do that he couldn’t stop himself. Neither was it his plan
to get away from his proposition to ask Mac about the crib in the guestroom. But
it wasn’t the right time to ask her about it. At least not at the moment.
“I’ll get you for this,” Mac promised and slightly slapped his arm. “One
day when you least expect it.”
“Bring it on, Marine. I can’t wait,” Harm told her with a smirk and then
stifled a yawn. “But, you know Mattie good enough to know that she never was a
‘playing with dolls and having tee-parties’-girl either. It’s not my fault
that you believed me,” he pointed out. “I have to admit though, your face
while I said it was priceless.”
Mac only stuck her tongue out at him. Then she looked at the folder he’d put
on the coffee table earlier. “Do you still feel like working on some of these
files?” she asked Harm, seeing that he was stifling yet another yawn. She was
getting tired herself, but wanted to let Harm decide if they should continue to
work or call it a night.
“Nah, I can’t see straight anymore. I think we should call it a night.
We’ve done enough for today.”
“Okay, sounds good to me,” Mac gently said and then pointed at the bedroom
door. “Do you want to take the bed? This couch doesn’t really give you much
room and I would fit into it much better than you.”
“No, it’s not a problem, Mac. I have plenty of space here. Just give me a
pillow, a blanket and I’m fine.”
“You sure?” She asked and got up from the couch.
“Very,” Harm confirmed and stood up as well. “Just give me five minutes to
use your bathroom and I’m out of your way.”
“You’re not in my way, Harm,” Mac tenderly told him and suddenly found her
carpet very interesting.
Harm smiled at her and gave her a quick hug. “I’m glad to hear that,” he
gently told her. Then he kissed her forehead before making his way to the
bathroom.
A short while later Harm came back into the living room, where Mac already had
prepared his bed for the night. The flickering of the fireplace was by now the
only light source in the room. Harm was still wearing the pants of his Christmas
pajamas, but he took off the shirt in favor of one of his undershirts.
“Thanks, Mac,” Harm said and made his way to the couch.
Mac turned around and came face to face with him and his smile. “You’re
welcome,” she replied before rising up on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek.
“Good night, Harm. Sweet dreams,” she said and walked to the bedroom.
“Good night, Mac, and don’t let the bed bugs bite you.”
They exchanged a last smile before she entered the bedroom and closed the door.
Page 2