Title: Pajama Party

Author: JAG Junkie (rondayoung@yahoo.com)

Rating: PG

Category: Christmas Vignette, Romance (Harm/Mac)

Disclaimer:  They are (sadly) not mine.  If they were, the Christmas episodes would have been much more “Christmasy”.

 

Summary: This is just a little piece of shipper fluff that came to me while, of all things, folding laundry.  It explores what could (should) have happened on Christmas Eve of 2002. 

 

You never know what could happen when you combine a cold snowy night, a warm fire, and matching pajamas.  Given the way I’ve portrayed Harm and Mac’s relationship in this story, it probably *should* take place after season 7’s “Answered Prayers”.  However, I couldn’t make this story fit with that episode the way I wanted it to, because of the fact that Coates and Sergei are there, and Harm and Mac are not in the same location at the end of the episode.  Therefore, I’ve set this at the end of season 8’s “All Ye Faithful”, which is still before the characters turned into pod people who didn’t get along.

 

So just assume that after the end of the episode, Harm, Mac, and the gang finish their Christmas dinner and attend the Christmas service at the church.  This story picks up as they are leaving the church.

 

Finally, this story is my response to Pixie’s December Fanfic Challenge.

 

 

 

 

 

The small crowd in front of the little church was quickly dwindling.  The bitter cold air was doing its best to drive everyone to the warmth of their cars.  As they waved goodbye to their friends, Harm and Mac suddenly found themselves alone on the sidewalk.  Mac shivered and nervously shoved her hands in her pockets as they began walking toward their cars.

 

“So, do you have any plans for the rest of the evening, sailor?” Mac asked hopefully.  The prospect of spending Christmas alone was a thought she didn’t want to entertain.  The one person she wanted to be with was standing right in front of her and she couldn’t bear to let him go.

 

All evening, ever since he arrived at the Roberts’ house, they had been inseparable.  He had walked her to her car when they left the house and had walked in with her when they arrived at the church.  She couldn’t help but notice his attentiveness.  He helped her with her coat and sometimes even placed his hand on her back as they walked.  Once they were at church, he sat by her during the service and walked out with her when it was over.  And now they were leisurely strolling together, each one not wanting the evening to end.

 

“No plans.  I already went to the Wall.  So I guess my evening is done.  You?”

 

“I was just going to go home and make some hot chocolate and snuggle up in front of the fire.”

 

“That sounds nice.”

 

“Which part?  The hot chocolate or the snuggling in front of the fire?” Mac was flirting and she knew it.  She only hoped that, for once, Harm would not be clueless or back away.

 

Harm grinned.  “Both.  Mind if I join you?  It sure beats going home alone.  Besides, we haven’t exchanged our gifts yet and I just happen to have yours in the car with me.”  Harm’s eyes twinkled.

 

“No, we haven’t.  And I’d love it if you joined me.”  Mac smiled sincerely.

 

“Great.  I’ll follow you there,” Harm said as he opened her car door for her.  And just as he had been doing all evening, he placed his hand on the small of her back as he helped her into her car.

 

Before he turned to get in his own car he flashed his signature Rabb grin at her.  For the umpteenth time that night Mac felt herself melting at the sight of his smile.  ‘It looks like this may turn out to be a nice Christmas after all,’ Mac thought to herself as she turned the key in her ignition.

 

*****

 

A little while later Harm and Mac were sitting on Mac’s couch ready to open their gifts.

 

“You go first.”

 

“No, ladies first.  I insist.”

 

“Okay, who am I to argue with a squid?” Mac laughed as she began tearing at the wrapping paper.  As she opened the box, she was delighted to find a gift basket filled with various bath oils, lotions, and creams.

 

“Harm!  You shouldn’t have!  You must have spent a fortune on all this stuff!”

 

Harm laughed.  “It’s nothing, really.  If you look closely, they’re all pretty small bottles.  It’s really more of a sampler pack,” he said with a chuckle.

 

“But, still, you shouldn’t have!”  Mac examined the basket more closely and a look of pleasant surprise crossed her face.  “Harm, you managed to pick out my favorite scents!  Are you a lucky guesser or did you have help?”

 

“Well, Mac, I snooped in your suitcase on our last out of town investigation---”

 

Mac’s eyes flew wide open.

 

Harm laughed at her reaction.  “Just kidding.  Actually, I have to admit it.  Harriet gave me some advice.”

 

Mac sighed in relief.  “Okay, that’s much better.”

 

“Why?  What were you hiding in your suitcase that you didn’t want me to see?” Harm crossed his arms in challenge.

 

“Nothing!  It’s just that…I don’t know…You just probably shouldn’t be going through my suitcase!” Mac stammered.

 

“Probably not, but I had to ask.”

 

Mac set the basket on the coffee table.  “Thank you for the gift, Harm.  It’s perfect.  Now open your gift.”

 

Harm tore open his present and smiled when he saw what was inside.  Mac had given him flannel pajamas with little yellow Stearmans all over them.

 

“Wow, Mac!  I’ve never seen pajamas like these before.  Where on earth did you find them?”

 

“I have my sources.”  Mac grinned impishly.  “I know you don’t usually wear pajamas, but I got myself a matching pair and---”

 

“Wait a minute!  How do you know I don’t usually wear pajamas?”  Harm set them down in his lap and looked at her curiously.

 

“Well, every time we have slept together,” Mac’s face reddened as she realized what she had said.  “In the same room…you have always just worn boxers.”

 

“True, but how do you know that’s what I *always* sleep in, Mac?”

 

“Well, I just assumed…Are you saying you wear pajamas when you’re at home?”

 

“Maybe.”  Harm’s eyes flashed mischievously.  “Or maybe I don’t wear anything when I sleep.”

 

Mac’s face reddened even more and she looked down at the floor, hoping he wouldn’t notice how flustered his statement had made her.  Two could play at that game, she decided as she boldly looked back up at him.

 

“So, does it just depend on what mood you’re in?  What you wear, or *don’t* wear, that is?”

 

“Yeah, something like that.”  Harm had a puzzled look on his face, not sure about her sudden change in attitude.

 

“Yeah, sometimes I’m in the mood to wear pajamas, and other times,” Mac paused and lowered her voice suggestively.  “Other times I’m in the mood to wear something lacy or silky.”

 

Harm swallowed hard and when he spoke next his voice was barely above a whisper.  “So do you ever get in the mood to sleep without anything on?”  He dared to ask.

 

“You’d like to know that, wouldn’t you?” Mac smirked playfully, enjoying the effect she was having on him.

 

Harm nervously cleared his throat.  Suddenly, Mac’s previous statement about having the same pajamas for herself registered in his mind.  “So, Mac, why the matching pajamas?  I mean, it’s not like we live together or anything.  So what’s the point if you’re in Georgetown and I’m near Union Station?”

 

“Well, they’re just for fun.  And they’ll make us think of each other.  When I put mine on at night, there’s the thought that you might be wearing yours too, so it’s just a fun way for us to stay connected, I guess.”

 

“Oh, okay.  I guess that makes sense.  But, if our pajamas match, it seems a shame for them to always be apart.  One without the other kind of loses the meaning.  They’re much better when they’re together.  Wouldn’t you agree?”

 

Mac knew he was talking about the pajamas, but his words could so easily apply to their relationship.  “Yeah,” Mac said hesitantly, not sure where his thought process was going.

 

“So maybe we should have a pajama party sometime.”

 

Mac snorted in laughter.  “A pajama party?”

 

“Sure!  To reunite our pajamas, of course,” Harm deadpanned.

 

Mac started giggling and Harm couldn’t help but laugh too.

 

“And just who are we inviting to this pajama party, flyboy?” Mac said between giggles.

 

“Just each other.  It’s a private pajama party.  We’re the only ones who have these pajamas.  So, just us.  No one else.”  Harm’s eyes darkened as he said this and somehow, the conversation took on a more serious meaning again.  Mac nervously broke eye contact and looked out the window.

 

“Well, we may be having this pajama party sooner than you think.”

 

“What?”

 

“It’s snowing pretty bad out there.  I don’t think it’s safe for you to drive home in this weather.”

 

Harm turned and looked out the window and nodded in agreement.  “You’re probably right.”  He turned his head and looked back at Mac.  “Well, we still haven’t had our hot chocolate, so why don’t you go take a nice bath with some of that stuff I gave you, and when you’re done I’ll have some hot chocolate ready for us.”

 

“Okay.  And be sure to wear your new pajamas,” Mac said as she picked up her gift basket and went into her bedroom.

 

After soaking in the bubble bath filled tub for a few minutes, Mac was completely relaxed and decided to get out and rejoin her friend in the living room.  She put on some of her new lotion and her new pajamas and emerged to find Harm walking in from the kitchen wearing his new pajamas as well.  Mac couldn’t help but smile at the sight.

 

“You look cute with ‘Sarah’ all over you.”  As soon as she saw Harm’s raised eyebrow she realized how that must have sounded, so she quickly added, “Sarah *the plane*, that is.”

 

“I could say the same about you.”  Harm grinned as he held her mug out for her.

 

Mac walked over to him to get her hot chocolate and as she took it from him, their hands touched.  They both momentarily froze and their hands lingered there before Mac pulled her mug away and nervously took a sip.

 

“You smell nice, Mac.”

 

“Well, I have you to thank for that.  This hot chocolate is delicious, by the way.”

 

“It’s even better if you stick a candy cane in it.  It gives it a minty flavor.” Harm said as he handed a candy cane to Mac.

 

It was then that Mac noticed that Harm had arranged pillows and blankets in front of the fireplace.  He followed the direction of her eyes and grinned sheepishly when he realized what she was looking at.

 

“Well, you *did* say something about snuggling in front of the fire,” Harm reminded her.

 

“Yes, I guess I did,” Mac said as she sat down and made herself comfortable.  Much to her surprise and delight, Harm sat down rather close to her and pulled the blanket up over them.

 

“This is nice,” Harm said quietly, just before gently slipping his arm around her.

 

Mac swallowed hard and managed to get out a whispered “yeah” as she leaned into his warmth.

 

They talked about everything and nothing in particular for a while.  When there was a lull in the conversation, they both noticed the loud howling outside.

 

“Wow, it sounds pretty nasty out there.”  Mac looked out the window.

 

“Yeah, but it’s pretty nice in here,” Harm said in a low voice.  When Mac turned her head back toward him, her face came within inches of his.  He was looking deep into her eyes and she could feel his warm breath on her skin.

 

Suddenly, the moment was shattered by a loud noise and then total silence.  The little lamp by the door was no longer on.  Mac looked toward her bedroom and noticed that the nightlight wasn’t on either.  Apparently, the room was now illuminated by just the fire and the candles on the coffee table.

 

“Well, it won’t be nice for long if the power doesn’t come back on soon.” Mac said sadly as she looked at the dwindling fire.  “It’s times like these I miss the wood stove that my grandmother had.”

 

“Well, we’ll just have to keep warm another way.”

 

“Another way?”  Mac gulped.

 

“Yeah.  We’ll just have to snuggle close together under these blankets and share body heat,” Harm said suggestively.

 

Mac playfully glared at him.  “You have said that before to get me to sleep in your arms at night. Twice.”

 

A sheepish smile formed on Harm’s face.  “Well, it worked, didn’t it?”

 

“Yeah,” Mac whispered shyly.

 

“And I have an advantage this time.”  Harm grinned.

 

“Oh really?”  Mac raised one eyebrow.

 

“You’re already in my arms this time.”  Harm didn’t wait for a response.  He just pulled her a little closer.

 

“Yeah, and I think I’ll stay,” Mac said as she snuggled up to him.

 

After a few minutes of peaceful silence, Harm quietly spoke.

 

“This Christmas is almost perfect.”

 

Mac turned in his arms to look at him.  “Why *almost*?”

 

“Only one thing would make it perfect.”

 

“And what’s that?”

 

Harm smiled.  “Mistletoe, so I’d have a good excuse to kiss you.”

 

Mac spoke next in an almost sultry tone of voice.  “What makes you think you need an excuse?”

 

A half-smile crossed Harm’s face before he leaned in and brushed his lips against hers.  The kiss was tender and sweet, much like their mistletoe kiss the previous Christmas.  They both pulled away slowly to break the kiss, but just as soon as they lost contact, their lips joined again, this time with a little more intensity.  This time when they pulled apart Mac wrapped her arms around Harm’s neck and he tightened his hold on her.  They continued to kiss again and again, each kiss building in passion and intensity while their hands began to roam freely.

 

The next thing they knew Mac was lying down on the floor and Harm was on top of her.  They were both practically gasping for air when Harm spoke with a ragged voice.

 

“Only one thing would make this Christmas even *more* perfect.”

 

“And what might that be?” Mac asked breathlessly.

 

“To hear you say you love me as much as I love you.”

 

Mac gasped.  “You mean--”

“Yes, Mac.  I love you.”

 

“Oh Harm!  I love you too!”

 

Mac threw her arms around his neck and kissed him with more passion than all the other kisses combined.  In the back of her mind a voice told her that she should have bought matching pajamas a long time ago.  She purged that thought from her mind and lost herself in the man in her arms.

 

When they came up for air again, a big smile was on Harm’s face.

 

“*Now* this is the most perfect Christmas ever!”

 

“I couldn’t agree more!” Mac exclaimed as she pulled him down and assaulted his lips once again.

 

And the two friends continued to explore their new romance as the weather raged outside.  But they didn’t even care about the cold weather--they had all the warmth they needed in each other.

 

*****