"How do you guys feel about horseback riding on the beach today?"
"That sounds wonderful." Trish said.
"Fine by me." Frank answered.
"How about you Gram?"
"I do plenty of riding at the farm, so if you would so kind as to drop me off at the mall Frank, I'll do a little early Christmas shopping."
"Alright, I can do that." Frank said.
"Are you sure you feeling like riding Mac?" Trish asked.
"Yeah, I think so."
"Okay, well after eat I'll need to go change clothes, but it will only take me a minute."
"Okay Mom, we'll meet back in the lobby at 1010." Harm said.
When the food arrived everyone was surprised to see Mac's plate-- piled high with thick waffles, sausage, bacon and eggs. Complete with a glass of orange juice.
"Where the heck do you put all that Mac." Harm asked giving her a strange look.
"Normally I'd work it off with a run, but now it's all going to the babies."
"You're eating enough for 4 children!"
Mac grinned as she took another huge bite of her waffles. "We'll see when we get home."
"Oh yeah, that reminds me." Harm said putting his fork down. "We're going to leave tomorrow also. Mac is getting tired of Hawaii, and I don't want Gram to go across the nation by herself again."
"Harmon, I'm 83 years old, I'm capable of riding on a plane by myself."
"I know, but we're going anyway, and we were hoping to spend a few days at the farm, if that's okay with you."
"That's fine. I could use some help fixing some things around the house anyway."
"Then I'll call later today and change our flight." Mac said.
By this time, everyone was done eating and Frank and Trish went back to change clothes to go riding.
1013-
"They're three minutes and 17 seconds late." Mac said.
"Well not everyone has your great timing." Harm smiled.
Just as he said that Trish, Frank and Grandma Sarah stepped off the elevator
"We're late, I know!"
"Three minutes and 40 seconds late." Mac smiled.
"How do you know that? You're not wearing a watch." Trish said looking confused.
"Don't ask mom, I've been trying for years to get her to tell me."
"It's a Marine thing, you all wouldn't understand." Mac grinned while walking out the door.
"What time should I pick you up Sarah?" Frank asked when they reached the mall.
"1:00 will be fine."
"Then one it is."
"Get me something good Gram!!" Harm yelled to her.
"Have you ever been riding Mac?" Frank asked.
"Not since I was about 5. When my life was still pretty normal."
"What happened with your family?" Trish inquired.
"Well, my father used to be a Marine, and was discharged because he got drunk too much. That only made him drink more, and he would come home at night and beat my mother. He never actaully hurt me, but he was verbally abusive and would lock me in closets for hours at a time. When I was 15 my mom left, and I become an alchoholic like my father. I left home when I was 17, and eventully my Uncle Matt took me to Arizonia to dry out, and after that he send me to boot camp to make something of myself. I went to college and Law School, and was transferred to JAG, where I hope to stay for a long time."
"Where is your father now?" Trish asked.
"He died a few years ago. And I have have idea where my mother is."
Harm suddenly got an idea, and the more he thought about it, the more he knew it would end up good in the end.
"Do you ever want to find your mother?" Trish asked.
"I'm not sure what I'd say to her if I did see her again. What do you say to someone who leaves you on your birthday?" Mac said as they got out of the car at the stables.
"What color horse do you want Mac?"
"You make it sound like we're picking out a car, Harm, I'll take what they give me."
A half an hour later they were riding down the beach, away from most of the people visting the beach that day. Harm noticed Mac was going slower than everyone else.
"Are you feeling okay Mac? You're not sick or anything are you?"
"I'm fine."
"Are you sure?"
"I'm positive Harm."
"Okay, but let me know if you start feeling bad."
"I will." She smiled at his concern. "What are we doing for lunch?"
"My Marine is back! I have no idea what we're having, I'm still full from breakfast."
"Well I'm hungry."
"Eat some sand... You've seem to eat anything else."
"Are you poking fun at me Harmon Rab Jr.?"
"Yes."
"I'll telling!!"
"Who are you going to tell?"
"Uh.. let's see... your mother just happens to be 20 feet away!"
"You wouldn't..."
"I will." Mac said as she made the horse speed up, with Harm on her heels.
"Your son is making fun of my eating habits!"
"Harmon..."
"I was just telling her that if she's hungry she can eat some sand because she seems to like EVERYTHING else on earth."
"Harmon, be nice to Mac, or I'll turn your grandmother on you."
Harm gave a scared look and Mac laughed at him.
"Stop laughing! Gram isn't afraid to turn me over her knee."
"Exactly." Trish said.
"I'll be good."
"Good. Now go get me a hot dog from that cart."
"Do you know what they put in hot dogs Mac??"
"No, and don't tell me. Some things are better left alone."
"I think you should know your putting in my children."
"I don't. Now go!"
"You really should know.."
"Commander!"
"Yes ma'am."
"GO."
"Yes ma'am."
"You have that boy wrapped around your little finger." Frank laughed.
"It helps that I outrank him." She smiled.
"He'd do what you said even if you didn't. He's been talking about you since the day you met."
"Really?"
"Yeah, he called Trish the day you two met, and told her he met the women he was going to marry one day."
"It took him long enough to realize that he should tell me."
"He was too afraid you didn't feel the same way. Especially after you got involved with Mic Brumby."
"I can understand, although I only got involved with Mic because Harm went to Renee."
"What's important is that you have each other now." Trish added.
"Yeah." Mac said, while looking over at Harm, who was about half way between the hot dog cart and where they were.
"You guys talking about me?" Harm asked when we got back.
"Maybe..." Mac said taking her hot dog from him.
"Good things I hope."
"Awl good Fwyboy." She said with a mouthful of hot dog.
"Don't talk with your mouth full, it's very unbecoming." Harm teased.
"Sowwy." Mac said with with the last bite.
"Race ya' ninja girl!"
"You're on!" She said taking off.
An hour and a half later-
"I'm ready for a nap." Mac said falling onto the bed.
"Then we'll take a nap, I'm tired too." Laying down beside her.
She put her arm across his stomach, and they layed for 2 hours and 37 minutes.
At about 1600 Mac stirred alittle, wkaing Harm up, not that he really cared.
"Harm?"
"Hmm?"
"Do you think I'll be a good mother? I mean, I haven't exactly had the best example." Mac asked as she rubbed her stomach.
"I think you'll be a great mother. You know what your parents did wrong, and you won't make the same mistakes. Besides, it's a little late to go back now, wouldn't you say??"
"Yeah, I'd say so." She smiled. "When are we meeting your parents tonight?"
"We're on our own tonight."
"What in the world can we do alone??" Mac said with a grin plastered on her face.
"Well, I can think of a few things.."
"Oh, really?"
"Yeah, really." Harm said leaning down to kiss her.
And, well, everyone knows what they did next, so I'll leave the details to your imagination.
The next morning, about 1000-
Harm woke up the next day happier than a kid in a candy store. He was laying in the bed half awake, half asleep when he heard Mac's stomach.
"Shhh, you'll wake the babies up!" Harm said to get growling abdomen.
"Harm, why are you talking to my abs??"
"I was telling your stomach to shup up, or it will wake the babies up."
"I'm hungry."
"I'd imagine so, we never did make it to dinner last night."
"What time does our flight leave?"
"1320."
"Okay, you order room service while I take a shower."
"What do you want?"
"I don't care, as long as there's lots of it."
"Alrighty."
25 minutes later Mac was out of the shower and dressed.
"What did you get me?"
"Pancakes, bacon, eggs, and orange juice." Harm said uncovering her meal. "I'm going to take a shower now, I'll be out in a minute."
"Okay."
After Mac got finished eating she packed up what they hadn't already done, since check out was at 1130.
"Did you like your food?"
"Yeah, it was the best plate of pancakes I've ever had."
"Wait until you taste Grams, you'll change your mind." Harm smiled. "Did you fit all the gifts in our suitcases?"
"Yeah, I put most of them in yours, since you didn't bring much."
"I'm a light packer. I guess it comes from being on all those carriers."
"We have to be signed out in 45 minutes."
"I told my mother to call us when she, Frank, and Gram were all packed up. Let's go out to the balcony until they're ready."
"Okay." Mac said taking his hand in hers.
Harm cried out in mock pain when Mac sat on his lap.
"If you think I'm heavy now, wait until March when I'm eight months pregnant and have gained 25 pounds."
"Promise you won't sit on me then..."
"What? Can't take alittle weight, Stickboy??"
"Oh I can take it."
Just then the phone rang. "That will probably be my mother. Be right back."
Two minutes and 13 seconds later Harm came back out and said his parents and Grandma Sarah were ready to go.
"Alright, lets go!" Mac said grabbing a few small bags.
"You lead the way." Harm said as he leaned down to get the suitcases.
1800 that night-
"That flight felt like it was 12 hours long." Mac complained.
"You can relax when we get to Mom and Franks. It's an hour away though."
"I'll sleep in the car then. You can be my pillow."
"Alright, we'll be to the car in 5 minutes."
"Okay."
10 minutes later they were loaded up and on there way to La Jolla. Trish was leaned back slighty in her seat, Gram was in the back, leaning against a pillow, and Harm was on the other side with Mac leaning against him. When they got to Frank and Trish's Harm had to carry Mac in to bed. Not bothering to undress, he got in the bed beside her and gave her a kiss on the forehead.
"I love you, Harm." Mac said half asleep.
"I love you too, Sarah."