A/N – Just a short romantic fiction. The settings and other events/places are real with the exception of the medical center from The Four Percent Solution.
Disclaimer – They aren’t mine. I’m just having some fun with them.
The Courtship of Harm and Mac
25 December
Pennington Medical Center
Sleepy Hollow, Virginia
“I’ve been pushing you away.”
“I know.”
“I’m sorry.”
25 December
Mac’s Apartment
Georgetown
Harm unlocked the door to Mac’s apartment and stepped aside to let her in. Mac was still a bit shaken from her accident but all things considered, she was doing pretty well.
“Thanks Harm. For everything.”
“I really didn’t do so much.”
“Of course you did. You spent the night in an uncomfortable chair, you stayed with me when I needed you, you didn’t go to the wall, you sacrificed your holiday for my stupidity.”
“You know I’ll always be there when you need me.”
“I know. I know.”
31 December/1 January
Outside the Robert’s Home
“Happy New Year Harm.”
“Happy New Year Mac.”
They gave each other a brief kiss.
“So, any New Year resolutions this year?”
“Just one.”
“And that would be?”
“To become your friend again.”
Mac smiled and held back the tears. “I was thinking the same thing. For me to be a better friend to you too.”
They smiled at each other and headed back to the party going on inside.
17 January
Harm’s Apartment
Near Union Station
Harm went to the phone and dialed her number.
“Hello?”
“Hello yourself.”
“Hey Harm. What’s up?”
“Well, it’s a beautiful day and I think it would be a good time to start working on that resolution of mine. And yours. How about a ride?”
“Sounds great.”
“I’ll be there in an hour.”
17 January
Reston Town Center
Reston, Virginia
The air was cold and crisp as they walked along the main street of the Town Center. After a while, they found themselves hungry and stopped in Panera Bread. They warmed their bodies with soup, sandwiches, coffee, and light conversation. After they ate, a quiet overtook them. They stared out the window watching people ice skating under the pavilion.
“Let’s go skate.”
Harm looked at her like she had lost her mind.
“Uh, Mac. I think there is something you should know.”
“Oh yeah? And what would that be?” Mac gave him a sideways grinning glance.
“Well, I have never been ice skating in my life.”
“So?”
“What do you mean ’so?’? I feel like living a few more years.”
“It’s not that hard. Come on. I’ll help you. Trust me. I’m your friend remember?”
Reluctantly, he agreed. And reluctantly, an hour later, he admitted that he had a great time although he had a feeling his ankles would be disagreeing with that statement by that time tomorrow.
30 May
Fort Ward Park
Old Town Alexandria, Virginia
Harm and Mac had been doing something fun, just as friends they always reminded themselves, once a month. Over the winter months when outside activities were limited, they had seen an IMAX movie at the Air and Space Museum, gone to the Kennedy Center to see Shear Madness, and had walked the trails of Rock Creek Park on an early spring day in April. Both of them were happier than they had been in a very long time.
Today’s outing was to the Memorial Day Jazz Festival. There were people wandering all around Fort Ward Park with friends and family enjoying the variety of musicians that were there to entertain.
It was a gorgeous day. The sun was shining brightly and there was a slight breeze. The flowers were in full bloom and spirits were high all around. Harm and Mac were making their way through the crowd to find a spot to sit and enjoy the music. They stopped briefly to look around and decide which way to go. All of a sudden Harm felt something squeeze and hang onto his jeaned leg. He looked down to see a little girl of about two or three years old hanging on to him for dear life. Harm motioned to Mac with his eyes to look down. They both then started to look around for the owner of this child who obviously in the crowd mistook one long jeaned leg for another. Quickly, they spotted a man frantically looking around for something which Harm and Mac assumed to be the girl stuck to his leg. They quietly motioned him over so as not to alarm the still unsuspecting toddler and quickly made a transfer.
Later, they found themselves at the Fish Market for dinner.
“Mac, you’ve been awfully quiet today. Want to talk about it?”
Mac looked down at the food she was pushing around with her fork and sighed heavily. “It’s just seeing that little girl hanging onto your leg. It really got to me. You deserve to have that. I wish, I mean I hope that you don’t regret…” She couldn’t finish her sentence.
“Mac, just a year ago, if someone had asked me what the chances were that we would be having a year like this, that we would repair our friendship, I would have told them that it was slim to none. We beat those odds. Now, it is my understanding that you and I, if we so decide, have a chance, albeit slight, but we do have a chance to have a baby and I would bet that we can beat those odds too just like we are doing now. And if that isn’t in the cards, all hope is not lost. I would be happy any way it happens, if of course, we head in that direction, come what may.”
31 December
Inn at Little Washington
Washington, VA
“This has to be one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen. I still don’t know how you got a reservation for dinner, let alone a room, especially on New Year’s Eve. This place books up a year in advance all year long.”
Harm smiled at her. “Let’s just say I have connections. A friend of a friend of a friend of the proprietors, a last minute cancellation, the rest is history. I hope you don’t mind it being one room though.”
Harm and Mac continued on their walk of the grounds. “Harm, did you see that room? It’s gorgeous! This whole place is amazing. I could never pass up this opportunity and I think I can trust you by now, don’t you? We’re friends again, remember?”
Harm gave her one of his big grins. “How could I forget? Just making sure though.”
They had continued their once a month “just friends” dates and had enjoyed each and every one. They had been up to the National Aquarium in Baltimore, down to Williamsburg, Virginia, out to Stribling Orchard to pick apples in the fall, out to Luray Caverns, and all over D.C. They had also started calling each other on the phone more frequently just to chat or say goodnight.
Over dinner, which both considered to be one of the best meals they had ever had, they talked easily about this and that and nothing in particular. At one point, silence ensued for a few minutes and Mac decided to break it.
“I really missed you, you know.”
“What? When?”
“Last year. I have to say that it was probably one of the worst years I have had in a very long time and I now realize that it was because you were absent from my life. I was so stupid to do that. I have never had a friend like you and I can’t believe I almost threw it all away. I’m so sorry.”
“Mac, we were both guilty in what had become of our friendship. I think we are finally getting it right. We’ve slowed down and learned to enjoy each other’s company with no strings attached. I haven’t been this happy in a very long time either.”
“Thank you for being, well, perfect.”
“Hmm. Perfect, you say?”
“Now, don’t let it get to your head, but yes, perfect. That’s exactly what this year has been and that’s exactly what you’ve been to me: the perfect friend.”
“Well, I don’t think anyone would be calling me perfect this year if I hadn’t spent it with you. You bring out the best in me you know?”
Another silence ensued as they finished their dinner. This time, Harm broke the silence. “I don’t think I’ve been this stuffed in a very long time but I don’t regret not one bite.”
“I know what you mean. How about we take a walk to try and work off a few of those bites.”
“Sounds good to me. You wait here and I’ll go back to the room and get our coats.”
Mac’s suggestion was what he considered to be perfect timing. He had something in the room that he wanted to get and this was the exact opportunity he needed to go get it.
They walked quietly in the peaceful night. After a while, light snow began to fall and they headed back to the inn. As they approached the building, they heard the sound of people getting excited for the ringing in of the new year.
Harm reached for her hand and held it tight. Mac was pleased and didn’t discourage it in any way. Both were somewhat afraid to tinker with what they had created in the past year but neither one would deny the fact that they were ready for more.
Once outside the inn, Harm slowed down and stopped walking. “You know, exactly one year ago tonight, my life changed. For the better.”
Mac smiled at his statement. She felt just the same way and told him as much.
Harm continued. “I know that we still have baggage from our past but this year has been so amazing. But recently, I realized that seeing you once a month, outside of work of course, isn’t enough anymore. I want to see you every day, all day when possible. I want to wake up and see you sleeping next to me. I want your face to be the last thing I see before I go to sleep. I want your voice to be the first thing I hear in the morning and the last thing I hear at night. I want to spend the rest of my life learning what makes you tick, what makes you smile, and what makes you happy. And I want to be the one who is always there for you, whenever you need me.”
Harm reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box. “Mac, please, will you marry me? I love you.”
Tears streamed down Mac’s face as she said, “This year has been incredible. I feel like I’ve come home, like I have finally found my way. You are not only my very best friend but you are also my world. I want to make you as happy as you have made me. I want to build a new life with you. I love you with all of my being and would love nothing more than to marry you. But first I have to know that you are OK, really and truly OK, with the possibility of us never having children. I know how much you want kids of your own and I don’t know if I will be able to live with myself if you commit to me and then that never happens. I can’t do that to you. You deserve more.”
“Mac, life is full of challenges and whatever is or is not in the cards for us is fine with me. And I can’t wait to start finding out what is in those cards.”
“Me too. There is nothing more that I would like than to become your wife.”
Harm took the ring out of the box, slid it on her finger, and gave her hand a squeeze. All of a sudden coming from inside they heard the sounds of the approaching new year. “Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one, Happy New Year!”
They stared into each others eyes and said, “Happy New Year” before falling into a long, slow kiss.
They parted and smiled at each other. Harm spoke first. “So, any resolutions?”
“Just one.”
“Really? And what would that be?”
“To love you with all I’ve got.”
“Hmmm. Funny. It sounds like we have the same resolution again this year.”
They smiled again at each other. “How about we go inside and warm up.”
“Sounds great to me.”
They walked inside to begin their new lives together. Come what may.