Harm woke up slowly, a long lock of brown hair tickled his nose. Blowing the teasing strands away from his face, he lifted his hand to gently run his fingers through the soft hair. His smile so wide it was threatening to crack his face in two.
“She did it again.” Mac shifted slowly and wrapped her arm around the tiny child snuggled between them.
The quiet of the early morning hour was immediately replaced by the loud thunking of Brandie’s bushy golden retriever tail wagging against the hardwood floor. Sitting eagerly at the foot of the bed, she waited for the ritual invitation to join the Rabb clan in bed.
“Okay, girl. It looks like we’re getting up.” Harm chuckled waiting for the dog to hop onto the bed and crawl her way up until she could rest her head on Harm’s lap. It had been her preference for the last three years to lay against Mac, but now that Mac was almost seven months pregnant, it was simply easier for the dog to repose on her other master.
Abigail Rabb had been so excited about today that she’d been climbing out of her own bed and into her parent’s bed every night for the last week. Every morning she would wake up and ask the same question.
Stirring to the feel of fuzzy fur at her feet, a very groggy Abbie looked up at her mom. “Is it today?”
“Yes, dear. It’s today.” Mac watched happily as her daughter jumped up off the bed and ran out of the room, a blond four legged mass chasing eagerly after her.
“I wonder if all three year old flower girls are this excited about weddings?” Harm moved closer to his wife. Resting his head against her shoulder, he carefully laid his flat palm across Mac’s tummy as he’d done every morning for the last seven months.
Kissing the top of his head, “I don’t know about other three year old’s, but this three year old loves any excuse to wear a long dress with lots of flowers.” Mac shook her head, chuckling to herself. There was no way this child would ever be a marine.
“I hate to break this up, Navy. If we’re going to get to the church on time, we need to get started.” Mac ran her fingers through Harm’s tousled hair.
“I thought people were supposed to get married in the afternoon or evening.” Harm fussed, wrapping his arms tightly around his burgeoning wife.
“Not if you want to start your honeymoon in London and not in a Virginia hotel.” Mac tried to extract herself from her husband’s embrace.
Harm rolled his eyes. As long as he was with Mac, he could care less where they were. Climbing grudgingly out of bed, he reached for his robe and followed Mac into the kitchen.
A
few hours later
Rabb Kitchen
“Mrs. Rabb, Captain and Miss Rabb reporting for duty, ma’am.” Harm saluted his wife. Abigail stood as close to attention as a three year old could.
Mac laughed merrily at her husband’s antics. When Abigail was born she decided that she’d had a long and distinguished career as Lt. Colonel Sarah MacKenzie and was ready to do the same as Mrs. Harmon Rabb and mom. Still every once in a while, Harm would do something like this to show her how much he still respected her military history.
“Alright, lets get going. Harriet called to tell me she doesn’t know which one of them is more nervous, Jen or Bobby.” Mac announced, waddling her way out of the kitchen.
“You’re kidding? Bobby is an experienced FBI agent. Surely one little wedding hasn’t affected him.” Harm dismissed, leading Mac and Abbie towards the garage.
“No, no more than our wedding discombobulated a certain competent lawyer and fighter pilot I know.” Mac grinned cheesily.
“It’s not my fault all I could think about was making the most wonderful woman in the world my wife. You leave one little set of dress whites at your apartment and no one ever lets you forget?” Harm still couldn’t believe he’d spent hours pacing at the church waiting for it to be time for the ceremony without even once giving thought to the fact that he was in his jeans and his whites were in his apartment closet. Fortunately for him, Bud arrived unusually early to offer moral support and Mikey didn’t mind detouring over to Harm’s apartment.
“Look on the bright side, dear. Now, no one hardly ever brings up firing a weapon into the courtroom ceiling.” Oh, how she loved being married to this man. There was just so much to have fun with.
Crystal
Ballroom
Hyatt hotel
Alexandria Virginia
1230 Saturday April 10, 2009
“Married life looks good on you so far.” Harm chuckled.
“It feels good too.” Bobby grinned, his Aussie accent obvious to anyone around. “We’ll have to name our first born child after you for introducing us.”
“Good, lord. Whatever you do don’t name a child after me.” Harm laughed out loud.
It had been just over a year ago that Harm and Agent Bobby Manning had worked together on a weapon’s smuggling case. After months chasing down the key figures in the smuggling ring, the FBI had been taken by surprise to find the entire operation was being run by a Naval officer. Bobby had been one of Harm’s key witnesses in prosecuting the case.
He remembered the day Bobby and Jen met. Jen had come into Harm’s office to return some papers he had left for the General’s signature. Harm still chuckled at how everything froze when their eyes met. Bobby, being the gentleman that he was, stood when she entered and then proceeded to stare open mouthed for what Harm thought was an eternity.
Jen’s eyes worked like a spectator at a tennis match. They tried desperately to maintain eye contact with a superior officer while flashing sideways to get a better look at the man so obviously flabbergasted by her.
When Harm finally introduced them, they stared into each other’s eyes, their handshake still clasped tightly as if no one else were in the room. The next day Bobby came by to ask Jen out for lunch and the rest as they say, is history.
“Is he giving you a hard time?” Mac asked, sidling up next to her husband.
“No, we’re just discussing what to name their first born child.” Harm put his arm around his wife’s waist and squeezed lovingly.
“Gentlemen, don’t you think you’re rushing things a bit? If nothing else, maybe somebody might want to mention this to the bride. After all, she just might have something to say about it.” Mac teased.
“Say about what?” Jen asked, coming up next to them and kissing her new husband lightly on the cheek.
“Naming our first born after Harm here.” Bobby offered, taking his wife’s hand in his.
“Works for me.” Jen grinned.
“I’m telling you guys, if you want to make me happy, name the kid anything but Harmon.”
“Maybe we should postpone this argument until there’s something to argue over?” Mac suggested.
“Obviously the words of a truly wise woman.” Bobby smiled at Mac, turning to face Harm, “If you don’t mind mate, I’d be honored if your wife would join me for a spin on the dance floor.” Bobby looked from Harm back to Mac.
“Only if I get to dance with the bride.” Harm reached out for Jen’s hand.
The two couples made their way around the tables of guests to the dance floor.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you more radiant Mrs. Manning.” Harm smiled.
“I can honestly say I have never been happier in my life. I never dreamed after so many years of kissing frogs, I ‘d finally find my prince. Whoever says fairy tales don’t come true, don’t believe them.”
“I’m really happy for you, Jen. I hope you two are as happy as Mac and I have been.”
“We will be. I know it. A good friend taught me a long time ago I deserved the best, and to never settle for anything less. He was right.”
“Must have been good friends with the person who told me not to wait around when the best thing in life was right in front of me.”
“Must have been.” Jen agreed with a broad smile.
Dancing around the room, the two couples eventually circled around near each other exchanging to their rightful partners.
The
four friends, who had found happiness with their soul mates, danced the
night away in the arms of their one true love.