Title: We’ve Got Some Explaining To Do

Author: JAG Junkie (rondayoung@yahoo.com)

Rating: PG

Category: Romance (H/M)

Disclaimer:  They are (sadly) not mine.  If they were, the 500 lb gorilla would have been forced to sit in a cage during seasons 9 and 10.

 

Summary: This is a sequel to “Running Out of Time” which can be found in the HBX archives: http://www.hbxarchives.com/JAGJunkie.html 

This story picks up the next day.  Harm and Mac deal with the effects of what happened after Mac’s engagement party.

 

A/N: I wasn’t originally planning to write a sequel, but so many people asked for one, and I started getting so many ideas, that I couldn’t resist.  I think that this story may clarify why I think Mac could have gone to Harm so quickly after breaking off her engagement to Mic.

 

Also, I am assuming that since “Lifeline” and “Adrift” aired two weeks apart, Mac’s engagement party and wedding were also two weeks apart.

 

And yes, my title was inspired from “I Love Lucy”.  However, I resisted the urge to call it “We’ve Got Some ‘Splainin’ To Do”  LOL!

 

 

 

 

Harm’s Apartment

North of Union Station

 

It was Sunday morning, and Harm was lazily sprawled out on the sofa watching Mac in the kitchen.  He had made breakfast for her, out of respect for a certain comment she had made years ago during their mountain adventure with the poachers.  Since he had cooked, she had insisted on cleaning up the kitchen, so he silently watched her from the sofa.  He couldn’t help but notice that it seemed like something was bothering her.

 

Once the kitchen was done, she came over and sat down heavily next to him.  She closed her eyes and let out a loud sigh.

 

“Mac, are you okay?  Is something wrong?”

 

“No, nothing’s wrong.”  The weary tone of her voice contradicted her words.

 

“Well, you sure could’ve fooled me.  You seem a little...um…distracted this morning.”  Harm lowered his voice and grinned impishly.  “And last night you were anything *but* distracted.”

 

The corners of Mac’s mouth turned up.  “Well, you were pretty focused yourself, flyboy.”  She opened her eyes and grinned mischievously.  Then, slowly, her smile faded.  Once again, she closed her eyes and leaned her head back.

 

Harm stared at her, knowing that something was wrong, but unsure how to proceed without being pushy.  He was saved by the sound of her voice.

 

“It all hit me this morning.  I just feel overwhelmed.  That’s all.”

 

Fear washed over Harm’s face.  “You’re not having second thoughts are you?”

 

Mac’s eyes flew open.  When she saw his panic stricken look, she blurted out, “No, of course not!”  Harm blew out a sigh of relief.

 

“It’s just that…well…we made some pretty big decisions, and they’re going to have some pretty big consequences.”

 

“Consequences?”  Harm swallowed hard.  This still didn’t sound good.  “What do you mean?”

 

“Well, in less than two weeks I’m supposed to be marrying Mic Brumby.  And *that* is obviously *not* going to happen now, thank God!”

 

‘Yeah, thank God is right!’ Harm thought to himself.

 

“So, I’m going to have to cancel everything.  The church, the reception hall, the photographer, the videographer, the caterer, the florist, the limo, the minister, the organist, the DJ, the rehearsal dinner--”

 

Harm laughed.  “Okay, I get it!  But…maybe you don’t have to cancel those things after all.”

 

Now it was Mac’s turn to be confused.  “What do you mean?”

 

“Well, everything’s in place for you to get married a week from Saturday, and--”

 

“But I’m *not* getting married next Saturday!”

 

“No, you’re not.  At least, not to Brumby.  But you *are* engaged to me now.  And you said yourself you wanted our wedding to be sooner rather than later.  So why can’t we just keep all the plans in place and use them for our wedding?”  Harm smiled.  Surely the logic of his argument would convince her.

 

Mac just stared at Harm with her best ‘I can’t believe you are even suggesting such a thing’ look.

 

“Why are you looking at me like that, Mac?”  Harm was completely baffled by her expression.

 

“Because…”

 

“That’s not a reason.  Because why?”

 

“Because we just can’t do that!”  Mac threw up her hands in frustration.

 

“Why not?”

 

“Because…”

 

“Ma-ac!”

 

“Because…it’s…it’s tacky!”

 

Harm was dumbfounded.  “It’s ‘tacky’?  Did I just hear my marine say ‘tacky’?”

 

Mac’s face reddened slightly.  “It’s something my grandmother used to say.”

 

“Your grandmother?  As in, your *Iranian* grandmother?  *She* used to say the word ‘tacky’?  That’s not a very Iranian word, Mac.”

 

Mac laughed.  “No, Harm, it’s not.  I think she heard it on a TV show or something.  Then she decided she liked that word and started using it.  I guess it just kind of stuck in the back of my mind or something.”

 

“So how exactly would this be tacky?”

 

“It would just be in bad taste, Harm.  Kind of like when a woman who has been married four times registers for a new pattern of expensive china each time and expects people to continue to buy things off her registery for each wedding.”

 

“Oh, okay.  I think I get it now.”

 

“Besides, those arrangements were for things that *Mic* wanted.”  Mac’s expression soured.

 

Suddenly, Harm was flooded with a wave of understanding.  “And they were *not* what Sarah MacKenzie wanted.”  It was more of a statement than a question.

 

“Exactly.”

 

Harm leaned closer to Mac and took her hands in his.  “So what *does* Sarah want?”

 

“You.  Just you.  Everything else is just unimportant details.”

 

Harm smiled at the sentiment and kissed her lightly on the lips.  “That’s sweet, and you’re all I want, too.  But you have the chance to plan your wedding without an overbearing, opinionated groom, so what do you want it to be like?”

 

Mac thought for a minute before she replied.  “Just something small and simple.  Nothing fancy.  No large crowds.  No huge production.  Heck, I’d be happy if we just eloped!”

 

Harm chuckled.  “Don’t tempt me, marine, unless you’re sure.  I just might go along with that plan!”

 

“Well, eloping wouldn’t be so bad.  After all, we might *have* to get married in secret anyway.”

 

“Why do you say that, Mac?”  Harm paused and looked at Mac with an odd expression on his face.  “You’re not pregnant, are you?”

 

“No, silly!  Think about it, Harm.  Night before last we were celebrating my engagement to Mic.  Now, all of a sudden, Mic is gone, Renee is gone, and you and I are engaged.  What is everyone going to think?  Either that you and I have been having an affair all this time, or that you deliberately broke up my engagement and I let you.  Either way, neither one of us comes off looking very good.  You know how complicated our relationship has been from day one.  No one will understand when we try to explain it to them.”

 

Harm nodded in agreement.  “You’re probably right.  Explaining this is going to be fun.”  Harm thought for a minute.  “You know, I didn’t *deliberately* break up your engagement.  That wasn’t exactly my intention when I kissed you or when I asked you to meet me at the Wall.”

 

Mac cocked her head to the side.  “So just what *was* your intention that night, Harm?”

 

“Well, when I kissed you, I’m not sure what I was thinking.  Maybe that’s just it.  I wasn’t thinking.”  Harm looked away embarrassed.  “At least, I wasn’t thinking about you being engaged to Brumby.  But when you kissed me back, all sorts of thoughts flooded my mind.  All of a sudden, I started questioning all the things I had been telling myself for a year.  Everything I had convinced myself to believe had been turned upside down.  I didn’t know what to think anymore.”

 

“Neither did I, flyboy.”

 

“I guess it’s no secret that I never liked Brumby.  But I respected your decision and I didn’t want to interfere in your life.  But the way you kissed me, I knew something was wrong.  And I knew that I was the only one that knew it and could do anything about it.  I felt like I was the only one who could stop you from making a possible mistake, so I needed you to convince me that marrying Brumby *wasn’t* going to be a mistake.  That’s why I asked you to meet me at the Wall--so you could put my mind at ease.”

 

Mac didn’t doubt his honorable intentions--that was one of the many things she loved about him.  But there was one thing she just had to ask.  “So what would you have done if I had told you that I truly loved Mic with all my heart and I was absolutely sure I was doing the right thing?”

 

“I would have wished you well and I would have been genuinely happy for you.  But I would have walked away the most brokenhearted man on earth.”

 

“Wow!  I’m glad I’m not a very good liar.  Otherwise, I’d be the most brokenhearted bride on earth!”

 

Harm pulled her close.  “Let’s just be thankful that we figured things out before we ran out of time.”

 

“I’m *very* grateful for that, sailor,” Mac said as she leaned in for a kiss.

 

“So you think we should get married in secret?” Harm asked when they broke apart a few minutes later.

 

“If we want to get married soon, then yeah.  I just don’t think we should tell people right away.  It’s so sudden that they won’t understand.”

 

“You’re going to have to tell them your engagement to Brumby is off.  Or else you are going to have a lot of people sitting in the church next Saturday expecting to see you get married.”

 

“Of course I realize I’m going to have to tell people the wedding’s off.  I just think we should be careful who we tell about *us*.  You know the rumors that would get started if someone like Singer found out?”

 

“I don’t even want to think about that, so I guess we are in agreement to lay low.”

 

Mac grinned seductively.  “I thought we already did that last night.”

 

Harm’s eyes widened with surprise.  This was a new side of Mac he was going to like getting used to.  His mouth formed into a sly grin as he leaned toward her.  “And we can do it again…and again…and again…”  He punctuated his words with small kisses to her jawline.

 

Mac laughed.  “I’m sure we will, flyboy.  But in the meantime, we need to figure out whom we are going to tell and how we are going to handle things back at the office tomorrow.  Obviously, we’re going to have to tell the Admiral about us.  I say we also tell Bud and Harriet.  Harriet can help me cancel everything and return all the gifts.  But we shouldn’t tell anyone else yet.”

 

“Good thinking.  But we probably need to tell Bud and Harriet today, *before* we get back to JAG.  It might make things easier at the office if they knew the whole story beforehand.”

 

“Maybe we can stop by their place later today.  I’ll call and see if they’ll be free.”

 

“And while you’re doing that, I have something I need to take care of.”  Harm squeezed her hand, stood up, and walked toward the bedroom.

 

Mac picked up her cell phone, hit speed dial, and was relieved when someone answered the phone.

 

“Harriet!  I’m glad I was able to catch you at home.  Will you be home later today?”

 

[Sure, we don’t have any plans to go anywhere.]

 

“Good, I…uh…we…need to come over and talk about the wedding plans.  When’s a good time?”

 

[Gee, anytime is fine.  Say, why don’t you two come over for supper tonight?  We can talk about it then.]

 

“Oh, Harriet!  I don’t want to impose.”

 

[It’s nothing.  Tonight is spaghetti night and, as Bud would tell you, I always make too much anyway.  So it’s not a problem at all.  Plan on being here at 1900.]

 

“Okay, sounds like a plan.  See you tonight.”

 

After they said their goodbyes and Mac hung up her cell phone, she realized that Harriet probably assumed that she and *Mic* would be the ones joining them for dinner.  She decided to just let Harriet be surprised.

 

“We’re eating spaghetti at Bud and Harriet’s tonight at 1900.  Is that okay with you?” Mac asked as Harm walked back into the room.

 

“Fine by me,” Harm said as he sat down next to her.  “When I asked you when you wanted to get married, you said yesterday.”

 

“Well, that’s *technically* what I said, but I said it yesterday, so I guess that really means I want to get married *two* days ago.”  Mac winked.

 

“And I said that didn’t leave me much time to get a ring.”

 

“Yeah.”  Mac spoke slowly, her curiosity piqued.

 

“Well, the truth is…I didn’t need *any* time to get you a ring.  Because I already had one yesterday.  Or day before yesterday.  Actually, I’ve had one for quite some time.”

 

Harm had moved from the couch to kneel in front on Mac.  She just sat there with a surprised look of anticipation on her face.  He pulled out a little velvet box and held it open in front of her.

 

“Marry me, Sarah MacKenzie?”

 

“Oh, Harm!  It’s…it’s…beautiful!  How long *have* you had this?”

 

“I’m not sure.  This is the ring my dad gave to my mom.”

 

Mac started to cry at that revelation.

 

“Mac?”  Harm was getting worried.  “Mac?  You still haven’t given me an answer and now you’re crying.  I’m dying here, Mac!”

 

Mac smiled through her tears.  “Yes!  Of course my answer’s yes!”

 

Harm quickly slid the ring on her finger and took her in his arms for a long, searing kiss.  When they pulled apart a few minutes later, they both had silly grins on their faces.

 

“So, we don’t have to be at Bud and Harriet’s until 1900?”

 

“That’s right, sailor.”

 

“So what should we do to pass the time until then?” Harm asked with a mischievous glint in his eyes.

 

“Oh, I’m sure we’ll think of something, flyboy,” Mac whispered as she pulled him down to meet her lips again.

 

*****

 

Roberts’ Residence

Rosslyn, VA

 

Harm and Mac stood at Bud and Harriet’s door anxiously waiting.  Suddenly, the door flew open and an apron-clad Harriet appeared.

 

“Colonel!”  Harriet greeted Mac with a warm smile and turned toward Harm, freezing in confusion when she saw him.  “Commander?”

 

“Can we come in?”  Mac prompted after a long pause.

 

Harriet snapped out of it and stepped aside.  “Of course, where are my manners?  It’s just that…well… I was expecting Mic to be with you.”

 

“Harriet, Mic’s not with me anymore.”

 

Harriet was baffled.  A look of disbelief crossed her face.  “Anymore?  That sounds kind of final.”

 

Bud walked into the room just in time to hear Mac’s response.

 

“I broke off our engagement.  That’s pretty final, if you ask me.”  Bud stopped in his tracks when he heard her statement.

 

Harriet was flustered and didn’t know what to say.  “But…everything seemed fine Friday night.  Um…If you don’t mind me asking, what happened?”  She didn’t appear to be nosy, but genuinely concerned.

 

Mac hesitated and Harm decided that was his cue to speak up.  “Something that should have happened a long time ago.”

 

Bud, who hadn’t said a word yet, and Harriet were both looking back and forth between the two officers trying to figure out what exactly had happened in the last 48 hours, when AJ came bouncing into the room with all the exuberance of a healthy two year old.  He immediately ran over to Harm and Mac and hugged their legs, chattering nonstop.

 

The moment now broken, Mac realized that this discussion should wait until AJ was in bed.

 

“Harriet, maybe we should finish this conversation *after* dinner.  You know, when things are less noisy.”  Mac hoped Harriet would pick up on her underlying meaning.

 

“That would probably be wise.”  Bud found his voice and spoke up, silently pleading with his wife to agree.  He didn’t want her to pressure Mac into talking about it until she felt comfortable, though he was dying to know what she had to say.

 

Harriet reluctantly agreed and smiled.  “Okay.  Make yourself at home.  We’ll be ready to eat in just a few minutes.”

 

Dinner progressed casually.  They talked about work, recent cases, other JAG staff, and current events, but at no time was there any mention of Mic or the wedding.

 

Bud was extremely curious, but he decided he would find out all the answers soon enough.  Harriet, on the other hand, watched them like a hawk.  She couldn’t help but notice that there was a certain familiarity between them that wasn’t there before.  It was subtle, but Harriet had noticed it from the moment they walked in the door.  Every touch seemed to linger.  Every glance lasted a little too long.  They seemed to notice each other’s every move. 

 

And Harm, ever the gentleman, seemed too chivalrous even for himself.  He kept his hand on the small of her back as they walked.  He pulled her chair out for her and waited for her to sit down.  When Mac started to get up from the table, he jumped out of his chair to assist her.  But the clincher for Harriet was that Mac was not protesting any of this.  In fact, she seemed to be enjoying it and smiling indulgently at his attentions.  Harriet knew something was definitely different and it was eating her up inside not to say anything.

 

Once dinner was over, the kitchen was clean, and AJ had been put to bed, the four adults settled into the living room.

 

“I have coffee, but I’m afraid that all I have for dessert is cookies,” Harriet announced as she entered the room carrying a tray.  She immediately noticed how close Harm and Mac were sitting on the couch--not scandalously close, but a little too close for “just friends”.

 

“That’s quite okay, Harriet.  Dessert is completely unnecessary, although I won’t turn down a cookie.  How ‘bout you, Mac?”  Harm turned and grinned at Mac, knowing what her answer would be.

 

“Harm, you know me.  I *never* turn down food, unless, of course, it’s some of that tofu junk you insist on eating.  Now *that* I’ll turn down.  It’s just not edible!”  Mac laughed as she reached for some cookies.

 

Harm shook his head.  “You never cease to amaze me, marine.  I don’t know how you do it.”  He looked at the tray of cookies and selected the smallest one of the bunch.

 

Harriet watched the playful exchange and bit her tongue.  If they didn’t explain themselves soon, she was going to *have* to say something.  She figured she’d start with the obvious.

 

“So, when you first got here you were saying something about breaking off your engagement to Mic.  I’m assuming that is the reason you’re here?”

 

“Yeah.  I’m going to need a little help canceling all the arrangements.  Not to mention returning the gifts I’ve already received.  And then there’s the whole matter of calling everyone we invited and telling them that the wedding is off.  I’m assuming Mic is contacting the guests that he put on our list.”  Mac’s face fell a little bit more with each statement and Harm gave her a reassuring smile.

 

“Well don’t you worry about a thing, ma’am, I mean, Mac.  I’ll help you take care of all of that stuff.  It’s the least I can do.  After all, I *was* going to be your Matron of Honor.”

 

“Still are.”

 

“What?”

 

“Harriet, I still want you to be my Matron of Honor.”

 

Harriet stared at Mac curiously, the wheels turning in her mind.  “I’m afraid I don’t understand.”

 

Sensing his cue, Harm put his arm around Mac and drew her closer.  “Mac and I are getting married.”  At that point, Harm and Mac were grinning broadly at each other.

 

Harriet’s mouth dropped open wide and Bud’s eyes nearly popped out of his head.  They both just sat there too stunned to speak.  Even though Harriet had sensed that something was going on, hearing the sudden news was still a shock.

 

Bud was the first to recover.  “Sir, Ma’am, that’s wonderful news!  Congratulations!”  Bud got up to hug Mac and shake Harm’s hand.

 

“And Bud, I would like for you to be my Best Man,” Harm said as he took hold of Bud’s hand.

 

“Wow, sir!  I’d be honored!”  A big smile crossed Bud’s face and he shook Harm’s hand even harder.  Harm just chuckled at Bud’s continued use of ‘sir’.  He had given up long ago in trying to get Bud to call him by his first name when they were off duty.

 

Meanwhile, Harriet had regained her composure and had walked over to the couch to exchange hugs and ‘congratulations’ with her friends.

 

“So how did all this happen?  It seems so sudden!”  Harriet took her seat again.  Her hand flew to her mouth when she realized what she had said.

 

“I’m sorry!  That just came right out.  I didn’t mean to imply…I mean…I don’t want you to think that I thought that…um…”

 

Harm and Mac both laughed at her discomfort.

 

“It’s okay, Harriet.”  Harm tried to reassure her.  “We figured we’d get a response like that.  That’s why we’re telling you here and now and not at JAG tomorrow.  We’re not planning on telling anyone else yet.  Except for the admiral, of course.”

 

Harriet’s face was still red (as was Bud’s), but she was relieved that they hadn’t taken offense at her exclamation.

 

“So, you’re keeping your engagement a secret?”  This from Bud.

 

“Yes.  We don’t want people to think that there was anything inappropriate between us to have broken up my engagement.”

 

“And there wasn’t, was there?  Anything inappropriate, that is.”  Harriet’s curiosity had gotten the best of her--she had to ask.

 

“Of course not!”  Harm and Mac both blurted out simultaneously.  Then they started to fidget nervously.

 

“Well,” Mac began in a small voice.  “There was that kiss on the porch.”

 

Harm grinned sheepishly.  “And *that* was rather inappropriate.  And don’t forget the kiss at the Wall.”

 

“Not to mention the little white lies we were telling that night.”

 

Harriet waved her arms in frustration.  “Whoa!  Slow down!  What are you talking about?  You mentioned a kiss on the porch.  Whose porch?  The only person that has a porch is…and the only time you were there was…oh my!  You two were…at your engagement party?  I mean…I noticed that you two spent some time together outside…a lot…but…oh my!”  Harriet’s hand flew to her mouth again.

 

“Wait, we can explain!  It’s not what you think!  We were just talking most of that time.  I guess you can say we were reminiscing a bit.  And talking about how my marriage may or may not change our friendship.  And then…I guess it was supposed to be a ‘goodbye kiss’ of sorts.”

 

“I didn’t mean it to be more, honest!”  Harm piped in.

 

“It just kind of got out of hand,” Mac, slightly embarrassed, finished in a low voice.

 

“I’ll say!  It turned into something entirely inappropriate for the situation,” Harm agreed.  He looked up to find Harriet and Bud sitting on the edge of their seats in anticipation.

 

“So, then what happened?” an eager Harriet asked.

 

“Nothing.  We just went back inside.”

 

“Just like that?”

 

“Well, I can tell you that walking away from Harm and going back inside to the party was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do.”

 

Harriet looked over at Harm to get his reaction to all this.  As if sensing her question, he spoke up and echoed Mac’s words.  “Watching Mac walk away from me and go back inside was one of the hardest things *I* have ever had to do.”

 

“So, how did--”

 

“I’m getting there.  I tried to act like everything was okay, but on the inside I was in turmoil.  Harm must have felt the same way because later he practically accosted me in the hall with a desperate plea to meet and talk some more.  So we decided to meet at the Wall when we left the party.  We had a pretty elaborate scheme.  The two of us, Mic, and Renee were going to go to Benzinger’s after the party, only Harm and I didn’t go straight there.  It’s kind of a long story how we worked *that* out, but that’s why I asked you not to leave until Mic and Renee were gone.  He thought I was hanging behind to talk to you.”

 

“Oh, I had wondered about that.  It seemed like a pretty strange request at the time.”

 

“Well, when Harm and I got to the Wall, he started asking me a lot of questions I couldn’t answer--questions like if I loved Mic and why was I marrying him.  He made me see that I had been fooling myself all along and was about to make a terrible mistake.  And somehow, in the process, we both realized that we were in love with each other.  So we both knew what we had to do.  The next day, which would be yesterday, I broke up with Mic and Harm broke up with Renee, and we’ve been together ever since.”

 

Mac looked at Harm while she was speaking the last sentence.  Harm squeezed her hand and smiled at her.  After gazing warmly at each other for a moment, they broke eye contact and looked at Bud and Harriet.

 

Bud had a silly grin on his face and Harriet was crying.

 

“That is just so romantic!”  Harriet gushed with a sniffle.  She dabbed her eyes with a napkin.  “Somehow I always knew you two were meant for each other.”

 

“Wow!  That’s some story!”  Bud beamed.  “So when are you getting married?”

 

“We don’t know yet.”

 

“But it will be soon.”

 

“Well, just name the time and place.  We’ll definitely be there!”

 

“Yeah, we wouldn’t miss this for anything!”

 

*****

 

JAG Headquarters

Falls Church, VA

 

The next morning, Harm and Mac made sure to arrive at JAG at different times, to avoid suspicion.  Mac hoped that by arriving early as she always did in the past, she would have some time alone in her office before she had to face anyone.  She tried to make a beeline for her office, but was stopped by a zealous Lt. Singer.

 

“Ma’am, I just want to say that the party Friday night was absolutely lovely and I’m so happy for you and Mic.  He’s such a great guy and I know you two will be very happy together.  If you need any help with last minute details, I’d be more than happy to assist.”

 

As usual, Mac wasn’t sure if Singer was sincere or had an ulterior motive in mind, but regardless, she knew she had to say something.

 

“Thank you for your kind words, but there is something you should know.  *You* may think that Mic and I would be very happy together, but *I*, on the other hand, know we will *not* be happy, so I broke off our engagement.  Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a wedding to cancel.”

 

Mac didn’t wait for a response and quickly brushed past her.  Once in her office, she closed the door quickly and sank into her chair.  Now that Singer knew, she probably wouldn’t have to worry about telling the rest of the office.

 

A little while later, she heard a knock and looked up to find Harm coming in her door.  Instead of shutting it back, he left it slightly ajar, not wanting to raise suspicion.

 

“How’s it going this morning?”  It wasn’t a casual question.  It was asked out of true concern.

 

“Well, I believe Singer is spreading the news for me, and Harriet is going behind her trying to soften the blows.”  Mac smiled weakly.

 

Harm chuckled.  “Well, a few people have tried to get information out of me, but I just told them that you realized your marriage to Brumby simply wasn’t meant to be.  Listen, I told Tiner that we needed to speak to the Admiral and he said now was a good time.”

 

“Yeah, might as well get it over with,” Mac sighed as she rose from her desk.

 

Both officers ignored the curious stares as they walked across the bullpen to the Admiral’s office.  A minute later, they were standing at attention in front of their CO.

 

“At ease.  Have a seat.  Colonel, your engagement party turned out quite well, if I don’t say so myself.  May I congratulate you again on your upcoming wedding?”

 

“No, sir.  You may not.”  Mac regretted the way the words came out of her mouth as soon as she said them.  “I’m sorry, sir.  I didn’t mean it to sound that way.  What I meant was that you can’t congratulate me for something that isn’t going to happen.”

 

AJ’s expression was one of complete surprise and disbelief.  “Colonel?” he asked, needing further clarification.

 

“My engagement is off, sir.  Mic and I have broken up.  There won’t be a wedding, ever,” Mac said, then quickly corrected herself.  “Not to Mic, at least.”  She cast a sidelong glance at Harm, but mostly kept her focus on AJ.

 

AJ took his glasses off and put them down on his desk.  Before he could say anything, Mac continued.

 

“Sir, I want to thank you for Friday night.  It was a wonderful party and you don’t know how much I appreciate your hosting it.  However, after the party I came to the realization that marrying Mic would be a mistake.  I don’t love him the way I should.  I never did.  I guess I just got caught up in the idea of marriage and for that I am ashamed of myself.”

 

“Well, I’m sorry things didn’t work out for you, but it’s better that you realize this now, rather than six months into the marriage,” AJ said after an uncomfortable silence.

 

“Funny, that’s exactly what I said and he agreed with me.”  Mac nodded toward Harm.

 

“Is that so?  And just what does the Commander have to do with all this?  I am assuming he has *something* to do with it since he is the one who requested this meeting.”  AJ looked at Harm with curiosity.

 

“That would be correct, sir.  I guess you could say I played a role in helping Mac to come to those conclusions.”

 

“Well, then.  I guess she owes you her thanks.  Will that be all, then?”  AJ started to put his glasses back on.

 

Mac spoke up.  “Actually, sir, there’s more.”

 

“Oh?”  AJ put his glasses back down.

 

“I’m engaged again.”

 

“You’re what?”

 

“To Harm.”

 

AJ looked at Harm questioningly and Harm nodded to confirm.  AJ began to rub his temples.

 

“Okay.  Let me get this straight.  Friday night we all celebrated your engagement to Mic, and now Monday morning you come in here and tell me that Mic is gone and now you’re engaged to the Commander?”

 

“Yes, sir.  I know it seems a little sudden but--”

 

“Sudden, my six!  You two have been dancing around each other for five years!  You should have done this a long time ago.  I could never figure out what in the heck you were doing with Brumby!”

 

“So,” Mac began timidly.  “You’re not mad?”

 

“Of course I’m not mad!  Why would I be?  I’ve waited a long time for this day.  I would have been mad if you had gone through with your marriage to that Aussie.  He wasn’t right for you.”

 

Mac couldn’t believe her ears.  ‘How come everyone else knew this except me?’ she thought to herself.

 

“So, you’re actually *happy* about this?”  Mac tried again.

 

“Of course I am.  And so will everyone else.”

 

“Uh, sir?  Except for Bud and Harriet, we’re not telling anyone else yet.  The rumor mill is already operating at full speed.”

 

“Hmm.  That’s probably wise.  So have you two decided when you’re getting married?”

 

“Soon.  Whenever the place we’d like to have our wedding at is free.”

 

After leaving Bud and Harriet’s the night before, Harm and Mac had talked about where they wanted to get married.

 

---The Night Before---

 

“So, Mac, have you thought any more about where you want to get married?”

 

“Actually, I have.  I don’t know if he’ll go for it, but I’d like to get married at the Admiral’s house.”

 

“The Admiral’s house?  That’s interesting.  Why?”

 

“Well, we were at his house when you insisted that we needed to talk.  We’re here together now because you were so persistent.  And besides, getting married at his house would probably be a whole lot easier than getting married at the Wall!”  Mac laughed.

 

“You’re right about that!”  Harm chuckled.  “And I like the idea of getting married at his house.  But I have one request.”

 

“What’s that, sailor?”

 

“Let’s get married on his porch.”

 

“On his porch?”  Mac was surprised by his odd request.

 

“Yeah.  It’ll be perfect.  Because *that* is the place where things really started to change between us.  When we kissed, *everything* changed, Mac.  And when I first kiss you as my wife, I want it to be there.”

 

Tears welled up in Mac’s eyes.  “You’re absolutely right, Harm.  It *will* be perfect.  I hope he’ll agree.  Maybe if we keep things *very* small…”

 

---Present Time---

 

“So where is it that you want to get married?”  AJ asked.

 

“Your house, sir.”  Mac braced herself for his reaction.

 

AJ was dumbfounded.  “*My* house?”

 

Harm spoke up.  “Actually, sir, just your porch.”

 

“My porch?  Why on earth would you want to get married on my porch?”

 

“It holds some significance for us.  It’s kind of a special place now.”  Harm grinned.

 

“*My* porch is special to *you*?”  AJ addressed both of them.

 

Mac decided to elaborate.  “Well, sir, I’m sure you noticed that we spent a lot of time out there Friday night.”

 

AJ crossed his arms and thought for a minute.  “Now that you mention it, yes.”

 

“That night we did a lot of talking and we came to a lot of conclusions.  But it all started when Harm kissed me on your porch.”

 

“Whoa!  Stop right there!  I don’t need to know any more!  I’ll take your word for it that my porch is important to you.  You can get married there.  Can I assume this is going to be a small wedding, since you want it to be soon and you’re not telling many people yet?”

 

“You would be assuming correctly, sir.  There won’t be many at all in attendance.  Just Bud and Harriet.  And a couple of people to film it and take pictures.  And, of course, I still want you to give me away.”  Mac looked up at AJ hopefully.

 

AJ was touched.  “I’d be honored.  At least this time, I know I’m giving you to the right man.”

 

AJ put his glasses on and looked at his calendar.  “Let’s see.  I’m busy this Saturday.  How about next Saturday?”

 

Mac giggled and Harm stifled a chuckle.

 

AJ looked back and forth between his two officers.  “Is something wrong with next Saturday?”

 

“No, nothing is wrong with it.  It’s just that that was the day I was supposed to marry Mic.”

 

“Oh.  Another time then.”  AJ began to flip through his calendar.

 

“No, Saturday will be fine.”

 

“Are you sure, Mac?” Harm searched her eyes to see if she really meant it.

 

“Yes, I’m sure.  It will be a good way to forget about the mistake I almost made.  And *this* wedding won’t be anything like what would have been.  Besides, that’s the day you originally suggested, Harm.”  Mac giggled again.

 

“Okay.  Next Saturday it is, then.”

 

*****

 

Angelo’s Italian Restaurant

 

The week went by without much fanfare.  Once the initial reaction to the news of Mac’s broken engagement died down, things stayed pretty quiet.  Mac spent much of that time in her office and most people pretty much left her alone, figuring that she needed some time to herself.