Through
The Eye Of A Shipper
S10
E23 For Eternity (The C&M Special)
Rating
– GS – IM15
Paring – Harm
& Mac
Spoilers – Season 10
Disclaimer – JAG belongs to DPB, CBS, and Paramount
.
Summary- The final trip and adventure for Harm and Mac is going to lead to the
best adventure of their lives. The
epilogue to Season 10, as seen through the eye of a shipper….
Author’s Notes-
1.
Our work is done.
We’ve revisited every episode from season 10. This story is our very own JAG
special. A special way of saying ‘goodbye’ to our favorite couple after
nine fantastic years.
2.
A huge thanks goes
like always to our dear beta-god Vered! However, we can’t post a FF without
our usual C&M warning. English is not our native language (yup, even Carol
wants to use this statement LOL). Take this as a fair warning!
3.
Feedback is always
welcome.
4.
The rest of the
series you can either find at Carol’s website http://www.fanfictionofcarol.com/
or at Michi’s website http://de.geocities.com/mp111275/
5.
A note about our
project ‘Through The Eye Of A Shipper – The JAG Classics’ you can find
at the end of this story.
Saturday
09
September 2006
Harm
& Mac’s house
Blacksburg
, Virginia
1:37
AM
“MacKenzie,”
she groggily answered while rubbing her tired eyes.
{“That’s
the last time I want to hear you saying that,” a cheerful and well-known
voice said on the other end.}
Mac
sat up and looked at her alarm clock to make sure that her inner clock was
correct. A few red numbers gave her the confirmation that everything was in
place.
Mac
shook her head and smiled. “Is there a reason why you’re calling me at one
thirty-seven ?”
She wanted to know, trying to sound sternly but lousily failing. It just felt
too good to hear his voice again.
{“I
couldn’t sleep,” came the prompt answer.}
“So
you had to wake me up?”
{“I
missed you.”}
“Harm,
we saw each other just three hours ago,” she told him with a giggle and laid
back again. She missed him terribly.
{“That’s
three hours too long,” Harm answered with a whine. “Why is it so damn
important anyway to spend the last night before the wedding separated?”}
“Don’t
ask me, Harm. It was your grandmother, mother, and Harriet’s idea. Something
about tradition, romance, and bad luck or so,” Mac replied with a groan,
feeling the frustration about this so-called tradition come back with full
force.
{“It’s
torture and it sucks,” Harm said with a lightly frustrated voice. “What
could possibly be more romantic than holding you in my arms?”}
Mac
held the phone between her shoulder and ear. “My poor baby,” she softly
said and started to play with her engagement ring.
{“Do
you know what I really would like to do now, Sarah?” Harm quietly asked.}
“No,
what?”
{“I
want to kiss that certain spot beneath your ear. I love the way you react
every time I’m doing that, Sarah,” he huskily told her. “I want to
slowly run my fingertips over your soft, warm skin.”}
Mac
closed her eyes and took a deep breath. ‘Is it hot in here?’ She thought
before speaking out loud, “Harm, you don’t want to do what I think you
want to do over the phone now. Do you?” She asked with a husky voice of her
own.
{“Have
you ever enjoyed it over the phone, Mac?” Harm wanted to know and asked
hoarsely.}
“No,
can’t say I ever have,” Mac quietly answered and took another deep breath.
“I prefer the face to face, skin to skin act,” she continued with a
slightly stronger voice.
{Harm
sighed. “I’m very glad to hear that,” he started to say. “Now please
open your window and let me in.”}
“What?”
Mac asked bewildered, looked at the closed window and was greeted by the
bright light of the moon.
{“Open
your window and let me in,” Harm repeated his words.}
With
a frown she got out of her bed and walked to the window. The moment she could
look out into the night she had to smile.
Directly
under the window and in the moonlight stood the man of her dreams, holding his
cell phone to his ear.
“Oh
Romeo,” Mac whispered into the cordless phone she was still holding in her
hands before she quickly opened the window. Then she turned off the phone and
threw it onto the nearby rocking chair.
Harm
turned off his cell phone and put it into his jeans. Then he slowly started to
move up the ladder, which was leaning against the side of the house.
Mac
took three steps backwards as soon as Harm stood directly in front of the
bedroom window, never breaking their eye contact.
Harm
grinned and quickly moved into the bedroom. Then he turned around and quietly
closed the window before he once more turned around to face the love of his
life.
They
looked at each other for a few seconds before they quickly closed the space
between them and crushed into each other’s arms. Without exchanging one word
they came together for a passionate and breathtaking kiss.
Mac’s
hands were running up and down Harm’s torso before she quickly started to
unbutton his shirt. “God, I’ve missed you,” she breathlessly told him
between the kisses they shared. As soon as his shirt was unbuttoned she pulled
it off his shoulders and let it drop to the floor and started to cover his
chest with hungry kisses.
“Told
you so,” Harm said and moaned before hooking his fingers under the straps of
Mac’s nightgown to move them down her arms. It slowly slid to the floor and
landed at Mac’s feet in a gentle puddle of soft silk and lace.
Slowly
they made their way to the bed while Mac’s hands started unbuttoning and
unzipping Harm’s pants. “Does Sturgis know you’re here?” she asked,
slightly out of breath.
Harm
should have been at the hotel in Blacksburg
with Sturgis and
the other wedding guests. Since the decision for him to spend the night away
from Mac was a last minute one, Grandma Sarah, Trish and Harriet couldn’t
get another room in the booked hotel, so he had to share a room with Sturgis,
who was a lone fighter for now. His girlfriend, singer Varise Chesnut,
couldn’t join before the wedding reception, since she had an engagement on
Friday night.
“No,
he was sawing off a forest with his snoring,” Harm answered with a chuckle,
which turned into a moan when Mac’s hand pulled his now undone jeans down
his hips.
“Good.
You’ll have to get out here before your Mom wakes up,” Mac told him as her
legs bumped against the edge of their bed.
“No
problem,” Harm shortly answered before lowering Mac down to the bed, just to
follow her and to cover her with his own body. “Now let us be done with the
talking so I can make love with my soon-to-be-bride.”
“Very
good idea,” Mac said, hooked her left leg over his right one and gave him
yet another passionate and breathtaking kiss which started their newfound
dance.
Saturday
September
09 2006
Harm
& Mac’s house
Blacksburg
, Virginia
7:26
AM
Trish
Burnett walked out of the house to get the newspaper out of the mailbox.
She,
Frank and Grandma Sarah had spent the last few days and nights at Harm and
Mac’s house to have some quality time with the children.
Trish
was just pulling the newspaper out of the mailbox when something on her right
side caught her interest. ‘A ladder?’ She thought and frowned. ‘Why is
there a ladder?’ Trish shook her head in wonder and wanted to get back
inside when another object nearby made her stop dead in her tracks. “Isn’t
that… Harm’s car… this son of mine,” she muttered to herself and
walked back into the house.
“Harmon
Rabb Junior!” Trish hollered as soon as she was inside and brought Frank
immediately out of the kitchen.
“What’s
wrong, Trish?” Frank wanted to know.
“This
son of mine used a ladder to sneak into Mac’s bedroom last night,” Trish
explained and Frank couldn’t hold back anymore and had to laugh.
Trish
glared at him. “You don’t
seem surprised.”
“I
heard him set the ladder against the house last night.” Frank took a breath
to stop his laughing, but failed as he looked at his flustered wife.
“This
is not funny, Frank Burnett,” Trish told him with a slightly stern voice.
“Sure
is, Darling. Sure is,” Frank answered, not able to stop laughing.
‘That’s my son,’ he thought and shook his head before trying to calm
down his wife.
Meanwhile
in the bedroom
“Shit,”
Harm said and quickly jumped fully naked out of the bed as soon as he heard
his mother’s holler downstairs. With this action he woke Mac up.
Mac
looked groggily around. “What’s wrong?” she asked bewildered, rubbing
her tired eyes and trying to wake up while watching her soon-to-be-husband
jumping naked around the room. “What are you searching for?”
“My
boxer shorts. Didn’t you hear my mom downstairs?” Harm asked, his voice
sounded slightly anxious. “Where the heck are my boxer shorts?”
“Under
the sheets,” Mac calmly answered. “Harm, are you scared of your mom?”
She wanted to know and couldn’t hold back a giggle.
“Am
not! And you think this is funny, don’t you?” Harm wanted to know and
started to get dressed. A little smile was covering his face. ‘Heck, this is
funny and it definitely was worth it,’ he thought with a glimmer in his eyes.
“Yes,
I think it’s very funny,” Mac told him, unable to hold back her laughter
anymore.
“Keep
on laughing, Tiger. Just wait and see. Should mom catch me here, I’m a dead
man,” Harm explained and chuckled. He actually started to enjoy the entire
scenario.
“Then
you better hurry up, Flyboy. There’s a wedding you have to attend in six
hours, thirty-one minutes and forty-three seconds, and you better be there and
on time,” Mac told him and got out of the bed as well, using the sheet as a
robe.
“You
better believe it,” Harm said and put on his shoes. Then he gave Mac a short
but passionate kiss before moving to the window.
“Harm,
why don’t you use the door?” Mac asked and pointed at the door. “We can
just tell Trish that you arrived thirty minutes ago to have breakfast with
us.”
“She
wouldn’t believe us anyway and the rule says that the groom doesn’t get to
see the bride before the wedding. Not to forget that I want to do it right.
Romeo walked in through the window and will walk out through the window,”
Harm explained with a smirk and opened the window before starting to climb
out. “I love you, my Juliet,” Harm whispered and gave Mac a short, sweet
kiss.
“I
love you too, my Romeo.”
Then
he started to climb down the ladder only to come back again. “I’ll see you
soon, Ninja girl,” Harm said and kissed Mac once again.
“See
you soon, Flyboy,” Mac called after him and watched as Harm moved down the
ladder and saw that he once more stopped and moved back up. “What now?”
She asked with a giggle.
“You
know, we should keep this scenario in our ‘What to play to have some
fun’-book. This acting thing is a turn on,” Harm huskily told her with a
smirk, giving her yet another passionate kiss before climbing down the ladder.
This
time he didn’t come back but made all way to the nearby parked car. Mac’s
eyes followed him for a short time before she quickly but quietly closed the
window. Then she made her way back to the bed to await Trish’s arrival.
Before she lay down, she picked up her nightgown. She held the soft silk and
lace to her chest, but decided against putting it back on. Instead she opened
the chest of drawers and pulled out a pair of her sleeping shorts and Harm’s
favorite ‘Go Navy’-shirt. She put them on and got back into the bed.
Mac
could barely hold back her laughter about this whole situation and felt
relieved as soon as it was clear that Trish wouldn’t come upstairs.
Obviously, something was holding her back. Unknown to Mac this something had a
name. Frank.
Mac
started to relax and closed her eyes. She had to smile as she thought about
the day which lay before her. Today was the day. Today she would say ‘yes’
to the man of her dreams, her Romeo. Today she and Harm would unite their
little family.
Nearly
one and a half years ago Harm had proposed to her and it signaled the
beginning of their new lives; lives which had brought a lot of changes with
them.
They
both had given up their military careers and their lives in Washington
. Together they had
started their own law firm, specializing in aviation, family law, and
occasionally they were even non-profit lawyers who fought for children’s
rights. It had been a rough start, but soon everything worked out and they had
found their place in the business.
Very
soon it was clear where they would live and grow old together. The moment Mac
and Harm had told Mattie about their decisions and the idea to keep Grace
Aviation, they knew their choice was right.
Mattie had loved both ideas, especially the one about her and Harm
perusing the business. Of course she wanted to be the boss, but in the end she
was fine with the ‘equal partners’-idea.
While
they’d talked about the idea, Harm and Mac could sense that Mattie got sad
and obviously doubted that she’ll ever be able to fly again. Both tried to
make her see that one way or the other she would definitely be flying again.
They would find a way, and that was a promise.
Mac
then surprised Harm, Mattie and most of all herself, as she told them she
might take flying lessons herself. Harm wanted to know for how long she’d
thought about that, and got a ‘oh, for about two seconds’-answer from her.
Because
of the decision to keep Grace Aviation it was clear that they would go
house-hunting in Blacksburg
. It had taken some
time, but after a while they’d found the perfect house. It was a simple two
story house with a large front and back yard.
It had plenty of room. There
was a living room, office, dining room, huge kitchen and four bedrooms.
Harm also felt that if needed, they could always expand the house.
He was playing with the idea of turning the basement into his and
Mac’s workout room, but Mattie had already claimed it as her workout room
slash rec room.
Mattie
also had been the answer to the question of when their wedding actually would
happen. Harm and Mac had both agreed that Mattie’s recovery was the most
important thing and they wanted to wait until she was well enough to be a part
of the ceremony. They were together and it didn’t matter if their engagement
would last one month or one year. Very soon they’d found out with all the
changes in their lives, and all the stress that was brought with it, it was
the right decision to wait for over a year to come to this day.
Mac’s
thoughts suddenly were interrupted when her bedroom door was pushed open and a
whirlwind ran into the room. “Up! Up! It’s wedding time,” the intruder
yelled and jumped on the bed with a giggle. At least that’s what Mac thought
she could make out of the giggled words.
Mac
groaned and threw the sheet over her head with a chuckle. Her laughter grew as
she started to become tickled by her friendly intruder.
“Alright, alright. Geez, I’m up,” she answered and soon found a
visitor under her sheet to start a little cuddle party.
Blacksburg
’s Hilton
8:23
AM
Harm
turned off the engine of his car and sat there for a minute before getting
out. He laughed as he thought
about the morning, then his thoughts moved to the night before.
For some reason whenever he and Mac were together it was perfect.
It was something he wished for his whole life, someone to complete him.
And Mac did that for him. She
made him human and whole.
He
slowly got out of the car and grabbed the bag of bagels from the passenger
seat. As he moved through the
parking lot a sound caught his attention and he looked in the general
direction of some SUV’s. The
sound wasn’t anything startling, just different.
He slowly moved to the cars and paused as he saw what caused the sound.
There,
about seven feet in front of him, were Mike Roberts and Cammie Cresswell.
They didn’t notice him since they were deeply involved with each
other. Harm wanted to chuckle,
but part of him also wanted to save his bestman’s younger brother.
Harm loudly cleared his throat and the couple stopped their intense
kiss, jumped apart and looked in the direction of the sound.
Mike
and Cammie swiftly snapped to attention.
Harm slowly walked over to them and grinned from ear to ear.
“You two are lucky I was only a Captain.” Harm chuckled, knowing
the young couple thought he was Cammie’s father, the General.
“Good
morning, Sir,” Mike said.
Harm
carefully inspected Mike and noticed a red mark on his neck.
“Cammie, even though your father has decided to let Mike marry you,
you might want to let Mike borrow your compact or your father might hurt your
fiancé.” He then smiled and
walked away.
Cammie
turned to Mike as he swiftly turned around and attempt to examine his neck in
the mirror of the SUV. But before
he could find the red mark Mike’s and Cammie’s attention was moved to the
former-Captain who was now laughing. Cammie
gave Harm’s retreating form a look, then turned to her fiancé and looked at
his neck.
She
chuckled. “There’s no mark,
Mike. He was joking with us.”
Mike
ran his hand over his throat. “Are
you sure?”
Cammie
got a gleam in her eye and pressed Mike against the car door.
“Positive.” She ran
her arms up his and wrapped them around his neck.
“But if you want me to, I can give you one.”
Mike
smiled, but soon his lips found themselves involved in a much better activity.
Upstairs
in the hotel
Harm
carefully unlocked the door to the room and walked in.
Sturgis turned off the TV and looked at his oldest friend.
Harm smiled and held up the bag. “Breakfast.”
Harm
set the bag down on the table and Sturgis walked over to it.
He carefully looked at the bag and pulled out a whole grain bagel and
cream cheese. The two then sat
down and enjoyed their breakfast. As
Harm finished his bagel, Sturgis leaned back in his chair and examined his
friend.
“So
when did you sneak out and went to your house?”
Sturgis asked.
Harm
almost choked on his bagel. “You
were sound asleep.”
“I
was, until your mother called this morning and woke me.”
Harm
chuckled. “She didn’t?”
“Oh,
she did and she wasn’t very happy.”
“What
did she say?”
“Not
much really. She just wanted me
to know,” Sturgis informed Harm.
Harm
threw the empty bagel bag in the trash can.
“You’re not going to tell your dad, are you?”
Sturgis
chuckled. “Nah, I think my dad
is just happy that Mac’s finally making an honest man out of you.”
“I
actually think your dad is wondering when you and Varise are going to tie the
knot,” Harm suggested.
“He
might be, but who knows when that will happen.”
“Well,
all I can say is that asking Mac to marry me was the best thing I’ve done in
a long time.” Harm looked at
the small black velvet box in the center of the table.
He picked it up and opened it. A
shinny gold band sparkled in the light. “I’m
changing my whole life today and I can’t wait for it to start.”
Sturgis
looked at his friend and could hardly believe this was the same cocky kid who
he roomed with at the Academy. “Congratulations,
Harm.”
Harm
gave his friend a sincere smile. “Thanks,
Sturgis.”
Harm
& Mac’s house
8:34
AM
“Salsa
, please,” Chloe said to Mattie who sat across from her.
Mattie
crinkled her nose as she handed her friend the jar of salsa.
“I don’t know how you can eat eggs with salsa.”
Chloe
smiled. “It’s an acquired
taste.” She looked at
Mattie’s plate. “I don’t
know how you can stand hash.”
“It’s
an acquired taste.” Mattie
grinned back, before the two girls broke up laughing.
Grandma
Sarah sat down at the table. “I’m
sure you two can think of more intelligent conversation besides who’s eating
what.”
Both
girls looked at the older woman and said; “Maybe.”
Sarah
chuckled at the girls as there was a commotion coming down the stairs. Mac and
her visitor from earlier entered the room.
“Morning,” Mac grinned.
A
round of greetings came from the crew in the kitchen.
Trish looked at Mac. “Mac.”
Mac
couldn’t resist herself. She
knew Trish was upset about Harm being there the night before.
So she walked over to her future-mother-in-law and gave her a hug.
“Do you still love me?”
Trish
laughed at the sad face Mac was giving her.
“Of course. It’s my
son that corrupted you.”
Mac
gave Trish a knowing look. “That’s
not all he did.” Then she
quickly walked away from Trish and gave Frank a kiss on the cheek.
“Thanks for keeping Trish at bay. It was you, wasn’t it?”
Frank
chuckled. “It’s okay. I just
reminded her of the night before our wedding.”
Before he could go on Trish shot him a look.
“I’ll better stop now.”
Mac
laughed and moved to the table where she gave Grandma Sarah, Mattie and Chloe
a kiss as well. She was about to
sit down when she heard a familiar call.
“Mommy, up.” She
looked down and there was her tickle-monster from earlier.
It was Annabelle, smiling a very cute smile.
Mac
leaned over. “Are you ready for
pancakes, Sweetie?”
Annabelle
nodded her head as Mac placed the two and a half year old in her seat.
“Yummy.”
Mattie
looked at the young girl and remembered the day she met Annabelle.
It was while she was still in the hospital recovering.
She was sitting out in the courtyard when a ball rolled over to her
wheelchair. She picked it up as a
little girl with chestnut brown curls moved slowly towards her.
The little girl was on crutches and one of her arms was in a bandage
wrap. The little girl looked up
at Mattie and smiled. They soon
became friends.
Mattie
asked the nurse about Annabelle, because it never looked like anyone was
visiting her. She was informed
the Annabelle’s mother and father died in a gas station robbery when she was
an infant. So when she was three
months old her aunt and uncle got custody of her.
But two weeks ago there was a car accident and Annabelle’s aunt and
uncle were killed. Once Annabelle
was recovered enough from her injures and had some more counseling sessions
she would be going to foster care.
That
night Mattie had told Harm and Mac about Annabelle, and the next day Annabelle
had joined the three of them for a picnic. As another week passed it was
learned that Annabelle would be leaving to her foster home.
However, when the social worker showed up Annabelle hobbled away and
screamed for Mattie. Mattie
wheeled herself down the hall and Annabelle threw herself in the arms of her
older friend. Mattie tried to
explain to Annabelle about her new home, but all Annabelle would say was,
“Mattie home. Mattie home.”
At
that time Harm and Mac were walking into the hospital to visit Mattie and they
saw Annabelle clinging to Mattie. They
asked a few questions and found out what happened.
They then spoke with the social worker and tried to work out a plan.
Within a few hours and a couple of phone calls Mac and Harm had gotten
approval to become foster parents for Annabelle.
It helped that they had gone through the training for becoming a foster
parent and the fact they were getting their lives ready for Mattie coming home.
By
the time that Mattie was released from the hospital, Harm and Mac had started
the process to adopt Annabelle. The
little girl with the chestnut brown curls had found a place in their hearts.
She added to their family and was the perfect addition.
“Mattie,
OJ,” Annabelle said to her sister who had a far off look in her eyes.
Mattie
grinned at the girl and poured her a sippy cup of orange juice.
“Here ya’ go, Princess.”
“Thanks.”
Annabelle said as she took the sippy-cup and drank her juice.
“So,
Mac, when will your chauffeur, Mr. Gorgeous, arrive?” Chloe asked, grinning
from ear to ear.
“Vic
should be here any minute. I invited him for breakfast,” Mac answered while
getting herself a cup of coffee. She just had to look into Chloe’s eyes and
knew about whom she was talking.
“Cool.
He’s sooo hot,” Chloe said as a matter-of-fact and got a groan from Mac as
answer.
“Yeah,
and he really has a cute butt,” Mattie added while both girls started to
giggle.
“Mathilda
Grace!” Trish, Grandma Sarah, and Mac hissed at the same time.
“What?”
Mattie asked innocent. “It’s true.”
“Yeah,
it is,” Chloe agreed. “He’s the living version of Adonis. I mean, have
you seen his abs and biceps?”
“I
have cute butt,” Annabelle interposed with a smile and made the elder around
her laugh.
“Yes,
sweetie. You have the cutest one,” Mac agreed and kissed Annabelle’s
forehead.
“The
man definitely knows how to wear a shirt,” Chloe continued dotting.
“Not
to forget how to wear pants,” Mattie said and sighed. “Who’re Tom
Cruise, Brad Pitt and Orlando Bloom anyhow?”
“You
got that right, sis,” Chloe replied before they both high-fived.
“Okay,
enough of that,” Mac told them with a stern voice, but could barely hold
back a chuckle about her girls behavior. “The only woman who has permission
to ogle over Vic’s body is his wife. Got it?”
“How
comes she stayed home and didn’t come with him?” Chloe wanted to know
while the doorbell rang. “Oh, I bet that’s him.”
“Because
she’s eight-months pregnant and believe me, I wouldn’t want to go through
a wedding while being eight-months pregnant either,” Mac explained with a
smile and made her way to the front door.
“Milady,
your carriage awaits,” Vic said as soon as Mac opened the door.
Mac
laughed as he took a bow before giving him a hug. “Good morning. Come on in.
We’re all in the kitchen.”
“Thanks,
Mac,” he said and walked into the house. “Good morning, ladies. Mr.
Burnett.”
“Hi
Vic,” Chloe and Mattie greeted him at the same time and slightly blushed.
“Hello
Chloe. Mattie.”
“Mr.
Galindez, would you like to have a cup of coffee?” Trish asked, already
getting a mug out of the cabinet.
“That
would be great Mrs. Burnett, thanks,” Victor answered and kissed
Annabelle’s head before taking a place at the breakfast table. “So, Mac.
Are you ready for the big day?”
“No,”
she immediately answered and promptly got six pairs of eyes pointed at her.
Only Annabelle was more interested in her pancakes, and didn’t really care
about her mom’s answer. “First I need a good breakfast in me, and then
I’m ready,” Mac continued and smiled as she got a chorus of sighs of
relief as answer.
“Let’s
eat and then we’ll get the show on the road,” Grandma Sarah commanded and
everyone chuckled before following her orders with an ‘Aye, aye, Ma’am’.
Assembly
of
1:45
PM
Chloe
laughed as she walked into the bride’s room.
“Harm looks so nervous.”
Mattie
grinned from her wheelchair. “This
I’ve got to see.” She tried
to wheel out of the room, but Trish stopped her.
“Oh
no, you don’t, young lady. You
can see him nervous when Jason helps you walk down the aisle.
Till then you’re staying right here,” Trish told her granddaughter.
Mattie
tried to look upset, but ended up smiling at her grandmother.
“Yes, Ma’am.”
Mac
smiled as she walked out of the bathroom after checking her make-up.
“Now if only Harm could get her to respond that well.”
“It
takes a grandmother’s voice,” Trish told her.
“I’m sure once Annabelle reaches sixteen you and Harm will have no
problem getting her to listen.”
Annabelle
looked up when her name was mentioned and laughed at her grandmother and
mother. Chloe walked over and
picked up the young girl. “Are
you all ready to walk down the aisle with Jimmy and AJ?”
Annabelle
nodded her head and clapped her hands at Chloe.
She then wiggled out of Chloe’s arms and ran over to her flower
basket, but before she could get to the basket Harriet quickly grabbed it.
“Not yet, Annabelle, in a few more minutes,” Harriet told Annabelle
as she placed the basket on the fireplace mantel, out of the toddler’s reach.
Annabelle
smiled and walked back to her dolls she was earlier playing with on the floor.
Mac
gave Harriet a looks of thanks. “I’m
glad you got to the flower petals before she did.
They were a pain to clean up last night.”
“It
wasn’t too bad,” Mattie told her.
Mac
looked at Mattie and grinned. “Need
I remind you of the time she got a hold of the confetti, which a certain young
lady had in her room.”
“Oh,”
Mattie giggled. Remembering the
time she went into her room and found Annabel covered from head to toe in
sparkly confetti. “I’m still
trying to get it out of the carpet.”
The
girls chuckled at the idea of a covered Annabelle, but their laughs were
interrupted as there was a knock at the door.
Trish
opened the door and AJ Chegwidden stood there with a smile on his face.
“AJ,” Trish smiled.
AJ
grinned back at her. “Trish,
how are you?”
“Good.
You look very dashing in your tux,” Trish commented as he walked into
the room.
Before
AJ could get too far into the room Annabelle ran to him and jumped up and down
in front of him. “Grandpa!
Grandpa!”
AJ
laughed and picked up his self-adopted granddaughter.
“Hey Annabelle, you look so pretty,” he said as he gave her a kiss
on the forehead.
The
two were a dream-team from the first moment they’d met. Annabelle adored her
Grandpa AJ and he often babysat her, giving her parents some time for
themselves. Even Mattie enjoyed the time together with AJ and her little
sister. It was always a
‘special night’. Soon she started to call him Grandpa AJ as well, since
Annabelle always corrected her with ‘This is Grandpa AJ, not Uncle
AJ’-speech.
“So
Mommy,” Annabelle responded as she pointed at Mac.
AJ
settled the little girl on his hip and looked at his former chief-of-staff.
His breath was taken away. She
didn’t look pretty; she looked like a vision in an off-white dress.
It looked like it was made for her.
The soft material made her look like an angel.
He didn’t know what to say, so he just walked over to Mac and gave
her a kiss on the cheek. Finally
the words came to him. “You
look perfect.”
Mac
blushed slightly. “Thank you,
AJ.”
“Pretty,”
Annabelle said as she ran her little hand on Mac’s dress.
“Very
pretty,” AJ said before setting Annabelle onto the floor. She quickly ran
over to her two big sisters and started playing.
AJ took one of Mac’s hands into his.
“Now, you know once you do this, you will be an aviator’s wife.”
Mac
chuckled at AJ’s humor. “I know, but I think it’s Harm who might need
some counseling. He’s going to
be married to a former Marine.”
The
group in the room enjoyed the laugh, until there was another knock at the door.
This time it was Chloe who answered the door.
Tiner
walked into the room. “Ma’am,
according to Chaplain Turner it’s time.”
Mac
took a breath. “I know,
Jason.” She gave AJ’s hand a
squeeze and he squeezed it back. “It’s
past time.”
Jason
smiled and walked over to Mattie. “I’ll
meet you halfway down the aisle.”
“Thanks,
Jason,” Mattie smiled before the young lawyer left the room.
“I’ll
meet you outside,” AJ said, giving Mac one more kiss on the cheek.
Mac nodded and he left the room.
Harriet
carefully looked at her friend and picked up Mac’s veil.
“Are you ready, Sarah?”
Mac
once more nodded her head and Trish and Harriet carefully attached Mac’s
veil to the piece already in her hair. Once
it was in place Trish looked at her future daughter-in-law and a tear fell
down her face. “I am so proud
of my son for making you my daughter. His
father would have loved you.” She
then gave Mac a kiss on the cheek and left the room, before Mac could say
anything else.
Mac
turned and faced the women left in the room. She took a deep breath.
“Okay ladies, let’s get me married.”
“I’ve
been waiting for years for this,” Chloe said with a laugh.
The
ladies then exited the room. They
were met in the hall by Jimmy, little AJ, and AJ.
Annabelle quickly walked to her escorts.
Jimmy took her hand as Chloe handed Annabelle the flower basket.
Little
AJ held up the white pillow holding the wedding bands.
“See Mommy, I haven’t lost the rings.”
Harriet
smiled at her son. “Good job,
AJ. You remember what to do?”
“I
give to Chaplain Turner, so Aunt Mac and Uncle Harm can stop living in sin,”
AJ informed the group with a grin.
Harriet’s
cheeks burned at her son’s choice of words.
“I never said that.”
Mac
laughed. “Yeah, sure,
Harriet.”
Chaplain
Turner walked into the hall and smiled at the bridal party.
“Are we ready ladies?”
Mattie
smiled and gave him a thumbs up sign. She
carefully got out of the wheelchair and held onto Chloe’s arm to balance
her. Before anyone could ask if
she was okay, she told them she was. “I’ll
be okay. There’s a nice chair
for me at the alter. After all
I’m a Rabb and I’m not going to miss my dad and mom getting married.”
“Let
Jason help you if you need it,” Mac told her in a motherly-tone.
Mattie
smiled. “I will.”
The
soft music started to play. “Okay
Jimmy and Annabelle, you two are on,” Harriet informed the children.
The
two walked to the entrance way of the church.
Jimmy straightened his shoulders and led Annabelle out.
As they walked down the aisle of the church the wedding guests
‘ahhhh-ed’ and ‘ohhh-ed’ at them.
Annabelle smiled as she gently dropped her petals on the red carpet.
Once they were half-way down Mattie slowly walked out of the hall and down the
aisle.
The
past year had been tough on the young girl, but once she learned that Harm and
Mac were getting married her goal was to walk down the aisle in their wedding.
She had made some great progress, but she was a long way from being
ready to run a marathon. When she
reached the halfway mark Tiner gently took her hand and helped her the rest of
the way. When she reached the
alter Harm smiled at his daughter and was very proud to see her stand, instead
of sit in the white chair provided to her.
Chloe
glided down the aisle, followed by Harriet.
Once Harriet stood in her place the bridal march played.
Mac and AJ stepped out of the hall and to the end of the aisle.
All of the wedding guests stood and looked upon the bride and her
escort. AJ carefully took Mac’s
shaking hand. He smiled and
whispered, “Left, right, left, right.” It was the mantra he used seven
months ago as he married the love of his life, Karen, on Valentine’s Day.
Mac
almost started laughing at him. She
just grinned and stopped shaking. They
started to walk down the aisle. Mac’s
eyes met Harm’s and all of her worries slipped away.
They were about halfway down the aisle when Harm nodded his head to a
spot in the front row. Mac looked
to where he nodded. Her breath
stopped in her throat.
Sitting
in a seat in the front row was Clayton Webb. However, he wasn’t the reason
for her astonishment. No, much more it was the figure right next to him. Tears
came to her eyes and slowly, as she got closer, she noticed the tears in her
Uncle’s eyes as well. Once Mac
and AJ reached the alter, Uncle Matt got up and stood on the free side of Mac.
Chaplain
Turner looked at the surprised bride and the two men flanking her.
“Who gives this woman to this man?”
“We
do,” AJ and Matt responded in unison.
AJ
then lifted Mac’s veil and gave her a kiss on the cheek.
“Hoohra, Marine.” Then
he stepped back.
Matt
kissed Mac’s other cheek. “Semper
Fi, Sarah.” Then he took a step back.
Harm
moved to Mac and took her hand. Together
they stood in front of Chaplain Turner. AJ
and Matt moved to their seats in the front as the wedding guests sat down in
the pews.
Chaplin
Turner looked at the couple in front of him and took a calming breath, before
giving them a warm smile. “I
could stand here and give the typical sermon about love and marriage.
I could mention that love is a gift, given to all of us by God.
I could tell you and this couple that they need to hold themselves and
their family together through hard times and bad.”
He paused. “But I
won’t. Harm and Sarah don’t
need to hear that, for they have lived through it.
Ten years ago they met and had their share of trails and tribulations.
After tears and separations they have found the path.
It’s a path, which will take them to their final destination of hope
and happiness, through life and love.”
He looked carefully at Harm and Mac, who smiled at him with faith in
their eyes. “Today we gather to
join this couple in wedded bliss.”
The
chaplain opened his bible and looked at the vows and notes in front of him.
“Before we start with the vows, is there anyone here who can think of
a reason as to why this couple should not be married?”
There
was no sound in the church, except for the sound of Jack Keeter giving a mild
warning under his breath as he sat in the second pew.
“If anyone says anything I’ll take them on my next flight.
I need a weight on the wing.”
Skates
who sat with her husband Donald, tried to stop herself, but as soon as Jack
Keeter said the words she lightly smacked him in the arm.
She was just glad that he didn’t do what he did last night at the
rehearsal. There he had ran up to
Harm and begged him to runaway with him and to remain in the
brotherhood-of-eternal-bachelors.
Harm
and Mac chuckled as they heard his words.
As did Chaplain Turner. “No
objections, good.” He smiled.
“Let’s begin.”
Mac
handed her flower to Harriet who smiled as she took them from her friend.
Chaplain Turner looked at the couple and then the congregation.
“Harm and Sarah have decided to share a few of their words with you
before they say their vows.” He
paused and then looked at Mac. “Sarah.”
Mac
took a deep breath and Harm held her hands tighter as he felt them shake.
“Harm, when you walked into my life I didn’t know what to expect.
You were standing there as a colleague.
I never expected to see you standing here as my husband.
The last ten years have been the most trying and unexpected times of my
life. The first nine are nothing
like the past one. You have given
me a life that I never thought I would live.
You have given me two daughters and I hope as our life grows we can add
to them. You have given me a hope
and a place to call home. You are
the reason I am who I am. You are
my lover, soul mate, confidante, and most importantly my best friend.”
Mac paused as a tear rolled down her cheek.
“You are all that I want in my life.
I love you.”
Mac’s
eyes never left Harm’s, but she was still surprised to see Harm’s eyes
tear up. She heard a sniffle behind her and glanced at her brides maids who
had tears rolling down their cheeks.
“Harm,”
Chaplain Turner said, getting Harm’s attention.
Harm
took a breath and muttered. “You
expect me to follow that.” Everyone
chuckled, but then watched as he spoke. “Mac,
you are the one who has caused me to be a better man.
You have been my friend for years and now you are my family.
You and our children mean the world to me.
You stood by me for so many years and have been further with me then
anyone before. You are the woman
who I will lay next to for the rest of my life and wake up to in the morning.
I can’t wait for each new day to begin, because I know I will love
you more then the day before. You
are my friend, my heart, and my soul. I
love you with all the air I breathe.”
Harm
couldn’t resist himself as he let go of one of Mac’s hands and wiped the
tears off of her cheeks. From the
corner of his eyes he could see his mother and grandmother dabbing their eyes
from the words that were just spoken.
“Thank
you, Harm,” Chaplain Turner said and moved on to the next part of the
service. “Sarah, if you will
repeat after me.” He read the
lines and Mac carefully repeated them with tears in her eyes.
“I,
Sarah MacKenzie, take you, Harmon Rabb Jr., to be my partner, loving what I
know of you, and trusting what I do not yet know. I eagerly anticipate the
chance to grow together, getting to know the man you will become, and falling
in love a little more every day. I promise to love and cherish you through
whatever life may bring us.”
“Harm,”
Chaplain Turner said, then he directed Harm though the same lines.
Harm
repeated them, but he had to pause to catch the emotion in his throat from
coming out. “I, Harmon Rabb
Jr., take you, Sarah MacKenzie, to be my partner, loving what I know of you,
and trusting what I do not yet know. I eagerly anticipate the chance to grow
together, getting to know the woman you will become, and falling in love a
little more every day. I promise to love and cherish you through whatever life
may bring us.”
“The
rings, please.”
AJ
Roberts smiled and walked over to Chaplain Turner.
He carefully took the rings off of the satin ribbon, holding the rings
onto the pillow. Then he handed
the pillow back to AJ before the boy moved back to his place standing next to
his father.
“This
ring will show your love and devotion to one another,” the chaplain
announced. He handed Harm Mac’s
ring. “Sarah, do you take this
man to be your husband?”
Mac
smiled. “I do.” Then Harm
slid Mac’s wedding band onto her hand.
Soon
Harm’s ring was placed into Mac’s hand.
“Harm, do you take this woman to be your wife?”
Harm
grinned. “I do.” Mac placed
Harm’s wedding band on his hand. Once
the ring was in place they both felt as if their lives were officially in
place.
"By
the power vested in me by the
Mac
chuckled and then learned up and shared her first married kiss with Harm.
Once the kiss was finished Chaplain Turner decided to let Harm have his
moment. “And you may kiss your
bride.”
Harm
grinned. “Yes, Sir.”
He then gave Mac a kiss filled with promise and hope.
Once the kiss was broken they both faced Chaplain Turner again.
He nodded his head and they turned to face their friends and family
sitting in the pews. Harriet
handed Mac her flowers.
“I
present to you Mr. and Mrs. Harmon
Rabb Jr., “Chaplain Turner announced. Harm
and Mac then took their first steps down the alter with the applause of their
family and friends.
As
they slowly made their way down the alter they looked at their guests . They
had filled the pews. In the front
were AJ, his wife Karen, Matt and Clay. While
on the other side sat Trish, Frank, and Grandma Sarah.
Behind them were Keeter, Skates, and Donald.
Some of Harm’s flying buddies were scattered around the church.
Some of Mattie’s friends made it to the wedding along with Chloe’s
father and grandmother.
General
Cresswell and his wife sat next to Cammie and Mike.
The younger couple held the wiggle worms, as Nikki and Thomas Roberts
were called by their family.
The
happy couple smiled at their friends as they passed by them.
They were surprised by the turn out, it ended up looking like a mix of
family, Navy and Marines, which pleased Harm and Mac to no end.
There were also some of their new friends in Blackburgs.
Varise and Jen Coates sat near each other in the middle of the church.
Varise picked the seats so she would have a good view of her boyfriend.
Only Sergei and his wife Galina sadly were unable to attend the wedding, since
Sergei got the flu two days earlier. But both promised to visit soon.
Once
they reached the end of the alter they turned to the left and walked into the
bridal room. Once in there Harm
wished he could lock the door and take his bride into his arms, but didn’t
have times as followed by them were AJ, Uncle Matt, Harriet, Bud, Mattie,
Sturgis, Chloe, AJ Roberts, Jimmy, and Annabelle.
Hugs and kisses were shared in the room as they started to celebrate
the wedding. Annabelle jumped
into her father’s arms and gave him a huge kiss.
Harm
placed his arm around Mac’s waist and pulled her to him.
They finally felt like a family, all that was left was the paperwork
officially making Mattie and Annabelle their children.
Harm kissed the top of Mac’s head as the door opened and in walked
the photographer.
“Everyone
has left the alter. We’re
setting up for the pictures,” he told Mac and Harm.
Harm
nodded his head. “Thanks
Dave.” He turned to his wife.
“Should we give you ladies a few minutes to check your makeup?”
Mac
chuckled, but before she could say anything Sturgis chimed in.
“Actually Harm you may want to check yours.
That’s a lovely shade of burgundy on you.”
Harm
looked at Mac who chuckled. “Brides
always wear lipstick.”
Harm
chuckled and wiped off the lipstick, then the gathering made its way back into
the alter. The pictures were
taken and conversations started. Family
and a few close friends of the family stayed at the church instead of heading
to the hotel like the rest for the reception.
As
the groomsmen were getting their photos taken Mac sat down next to her Uncle.
Quickly he wrapped her into his arms for a hug.
“Surprise,” he whispered in her ear.
Mac
chuckled as her voice cracked. “Hi.”
She
lifted her head from Matt’s shoulder and looked into his eyes.
Matt knew her question. “Mr.
Webb pulled a few strings and here I am.
You look beautiful, Sarah.” A
tear fell from her eye and Matt pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and
dabbed her eye. “None of those
now, Sarah. Today is a happy
day.”
Mac
kissed his cheek. “I am
happy.”
“You
know I had to be here.”
“I’m
glad you’re here.”
Matt
looked up at Harm who was laughing with Sturgis and Bud about something.
“He treats you well.”
Mac
laughed. “Yes he does.”
“You’re
happy?”
“Every
day I wake up.” Mac looked over at her daughters playing with the Roberts’
children and Chloe. “He’s
given me more then I ever thought I could have.”
Matt
kissed her temple. “I’m glad
Sarah; you are a princess and deserve so much.”
“I
have so very much, Uncle Matt.” Mac said as Mike Roberts walked over.
“Mac,
they’re ready for the family picture,” Mike told her.
Mac
stood up and took Uncle Matt’s hand. “Come on, Uncle Matt, I need to have
you in the picture.” Then she addressed Mike.
“Thanks, Mike. Oh, and
you might want to ask Cammie for her compact.
You’ve got a mark on your neck.”
Mike’s
hand slapped his neck as Mac walked off chuckling.
Matt looked at Mike’s hand once he removed it.
He chuckled. “She’s
joking Mr. Roberts.” Then Matt
walked away leaving an embarrassed Mike Roberts standing there blushing.
“We’re
going to take the picture right here.”
Dave the photographer instructed.
He quickly placed all the family members into their places.
In the center were Mac and Harm, while Annabelle stood in front of
them. Around them was the bridal
party, AJ, Matt, Frank, Trish, Grandma Sarah, and the Robert’s twins.
“Smile,” he said and the family did.
Mike
and Cammie, the General and his wife, Jason Tiner and Victor Galindez and a
few other friends joined in for the last picture of the day. The photographer
just wanted to say ‘smile’ again when a loud voice interrupted him.
“Midshipman
Roberts, is that a mark on your neck?” General Cresswell sternly asked and
got a giggle with an ‘oops’ from his daughter and a bright blush from his
soon-to-be-son-in-law as an answer. The rest of the gang couldn’t hold back
their laugher and it was a scene that would be perpetuated forever on yet
another wedding picture.
Sunday
September
10, 2006
The
Rabb Farm
1:25AM
Shortly
after the wedding reception began, Harm and Mac had left the party for their
honeymoon. They took Harm’s biplane ‘Sarah’ and flew to Grandma
Sarah’s farm, where they would spend a four-days-honeymoon, while Grandma
Sarah, Frank and Trish stayed with the children in Blacksburg
.
Harm
gave his wife a kiss on the top of her head.
Mac returned the kiss on his chest, which was under her head.
“I love you,” Harm told her.
“I
love you,” Mac responded. She then looked at the ground right next to the
bed and smiled at her wedding gift from Harm.
It was a snow white silk nightgown; she had worn it for a total of
twenty-five seconds before she was naked in front of her husband.
“Thanks for my wedding gift.”
Harm
chuckled. “I’m glad you liked
it.”
Mac
scooted up and moved to her side. Harm
rolled on his side and looked at his wife.
“I have a gift for you.”
He
gave her a devilish smile. “Really
what?”
Mac
took a breath. “I’m
pregnant.”
Harm’s
breath stopped in his lungs, just like it had when he saw her walking down the
aisle earlier. “Pregnant?”
She
nodded her head. “About two
months.”
Harm
quickly moved and gently kissed her still flat belly before he captured her
soft lips with a kiss of love and passion.
Mac responded in full force.
Their
love was one of dreams and hopes. It
already led them so far, across countries and oceans.
It was the force which drove them.
And now it was something that had created life. Their love was one of
happiness. It was the type of
happiness that only true love can create.
Their love will last through all and for all for eternity.
THE
END
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
And
now a note about the future of ‘Through The Eye Of A Shipper’. We asked
for your opinion and we got it. Thanks for all your responses! It was nice to
hear that everyone is excited to see this happen.
Well,
it looks like the majority of you would like us to start at the beginning and
so it will be. Due to some RL problems it might take some time, but it will
happen.
In
the near future we’ll start the ‘JAG classics’ with the first episode of
season two ‘We the People’. Please
keep your eyes out for it.
Thanks
Bunches-
-Michi
and Carol
Michi's
JAG Heaven - H & M Fanfiction Back
to the 'TTEOAS Season 10'-section
