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Date Posted: 05:00:56 01/17/15 Sat
Author: Nettie
Subject: First Kiss / Last Breath 2 / Lily Series

AN: Thanks for the positive comments. Glad you're still with me.

First Kiss / Last Breath 2/

When Thursday morning dawned, Mac stirred and rolled over to kiss her husband only to find she was in bed alone. At first she thought she might be getting breakfast in bed for Valentine’s Day but when she was still alone 10 minutes later, she got up and pulled on her robe. Moving down the stairs, she found Harm at the dining room table with papers scattered around him.

“What are you up to?” she asked, moving around the table and kissing his head.
“Just trying to collect any documents we might need today,” he said, thumbing through another pile of papers.
“What sort of papers?” she asked, trying but failing to establish eye contact.
“Any related to Mattie,” he said. “You know, the Guardianship ones, reports from the hospital after her accident addressed to me...”
“Why do we need them?” Mac asked, using her hand to direct Harm’s attention to herself.
“Just to prove this isn’t a scam or anything,” he said glancing at her. “So the judge will know Mattie’s been part of this family for a long time now...that I have been her father, in some way, shape or form, for nearly two decades.”
“Harm, honey, stop,” Mac said, pulling the papers from his hands and stepping in front of him. “You’re really stressed about this,” she observed, caressing his face. “Just take a few breaths for me.”
“I’m fine, I’m fine,” he said quickly. “I just need...”
“You need the forms I printed out yesterday and Mattie and I,” she said calmly. “None of this will matter to the judge.”
“You never know...” he replied. “What if...”
“No what if’s, Harmon,” she said slowly. “Mattie is a happy, healthy, fully functioning adult. She can advocate on her own behalf and ...”
“Mac...” he said before resting his head on her chest. “I just...just...”
“What, honey?” she asked, very concerned about her husband.
“I just can’t believe she believed she didn’t have a family,” he said, wrapping his arms around Mac’s waist. “We have been a family of sorts for more than half her life and she didn’t think...”
“Ssh, shh,” Mac soothed. “Mattie is on a roller coaster of emotions at the moment and probably not able to clearly express her thoughts. The fact that she first called you ‘dad’ on her wedding day is a pretty good indication that she is acutely aware of the relationship between you. She loves you. Despite her recent words, she knows we are her family, she just needs it to be official.”
“Well, official it will be,” Harm declared. “Once the judge signs the paper, I’ll get Aldo Jones to skywrite the whole damn document if need be.”

Any further discussion was curtailed when Rosie and Harry came bounding down the steps.
“Happy Valentine’s Day!” they called not quite in unison.
“Happy Valentine’s Day to you too,” Mac replied, crouching down ready to embrace them both. “I love you both so very much.”
“Love you too, mommy,” said Rosie squeezing Mac tightly.
“Love you, mom,” said Harry, pulling back as Mac tried to kiss his cheek.
“What about me?” Harm said, feeling bad he hadn’t said anything to his wife.
“We love you too, daddy. Don’t we, Harry?” Rosie announced as she wrapped her arms around his legs.
“Yep, we do,” he concurred, hugging Harm’s legs.
In one swift move, Harm picked up a twin in each arm before kissing them both. “Happy Valentine’s Day to my favourite twins.”

Dispatching the dynamic duo to make sure Lily and Jessie were getting up, Harm wanted a few minutes to make amends.
“I am sorry I was so caught up that I didn’t wish you a Happy Valentine’s Day,” Harm said, taking his wife in his arms once more. “I love you so very much,” he whispered before capturing her lips with his.
“I love you too, Harm,” Mac replied as she pulled back, only to dip back in and return the kiss.
“Eww! Kissing!” Harry announced as he re-entered the room.

The ‘surprise’ plan was announced at breakfast and it was greeted by great enthusiasm amid the exchange of Valentine’s Day cards and kisses. Lily was excited because Harriet had said they could do some baking on her next visit and Jessie was excited to see Bud again so he could see how much better she was walking. Harm walked his five children down to the bus stop as Mac cleaned up and organised Frankie for the trip to the courthouse.

As they walked, he couldn’t help but notice Aidan seemed a bit pre-occupied.
“Something you want to talk about, son?” Harm asked, wrapping an arm around the boy’s shoulders.
“Nah, just thinking about the dance tonight,” he replied.
“Mattie said you have your clothes organised,” he said and the boy nodded. “And did you let Amelia know that I can pick her up and drop her home?”
“Yes, sir,” he said with a nod.
“Aidan,” he said, stopping along the driveway while still watching the four younger children go ahead. “I know you were a bit reluctant to go tonight but you haven’t changed your mind, have you? Because it wouldn’t be fair on Amelia you know?” he continued without giving the boy a chance to reply.
“No, sir,” Aidan said once more. “I kind of wish I hadn’t asked Amelia because I really don’t want to go...but Colin always says you have to be a man of your word, so I would never do that to her.”
“Amelia must be pretty special if you’re willing to do this for her,” Harm said as they resumed their walk. Aidan turned bright red and dropped his head, finding his feet suddenly fascinating; Harm could only grin. “Do you think she...”
“Bus is coming!” Harry shouted and Aidan breathed a sigh of relief.

There weren’t too many others in the waiting area in the courthouse so Mac allowed the two little boys the freedom to climb on a nearby row of chairs. Both had been warned about being quiet and sensible and both had replied with “Yes, mommy” and “Yes, gigi”. However, as they were too young to understand what they had agreed to, Colin stood nearby ready to intervene. Harm, meanwhile, was a man on a mission and from the moment they had stepped into the building, Mac had noticed that her more relaxed pilot, businessman, farmer husband was very much the Naval Commander she had fallen in love with all those years before. His words, his tone, his mannerisms were very much from his investigative and court room days. He was rigid in his posture and everything he said and did bore an air of formality.

“Has he changed his mind?" Mattie whispered as she sat alongside Mac. “He seems so...”
“No, honey, not at all,” Mac answered. “This is the Harm you would have seen when you first come to stay in DC.”
Mattie studied him for a few moments. “It is too,” she agreed with a slight smile. “All very prim and proper...”
“Well, proper, yes,” Mac agreed. “I don’t think he’d like the term ‘prim’.”
“What would you call it then, mom?” she asked as they both tracked Harm’s move across the room.
“Harm, the naval officer, was noble, had a strong sense of duty, of service, of justice...”she trailed as her mind flashed through some stirring images of said man in uniform. It wasn’t a surprise to her that most of her favourite images had him dressed in summer whites and gold wings.
“And was completely clueless about you,” Mattie added with a soft laugh.
“Well, those days are long gone,” she said, taking Mattie’s hand in hers. “We’ve all been together since then,” she continued. “And I know today is important to you and I am very proud to officially and legally be your mother, but you have to know that I could not possibly love you anymore than I already do. I know you considered Harm to be your dad from early on because you were his ward and I was just someone who came along, but even before Harm and I got a clue about us and acted upon it, I already loved you. I know your relationship with your mother was very special and I understood that it was easier for you to consider Harm to be your dad than for me to be your mother, but that didn’t stop me from thinking of you as my daughter.”
“Oh, Mac...mom,” Mattie said tearfully before embracing her. “I love you so much.”
“Now, we...” Harm started as he practically marched over to them but stopped when he saw the tearful embrace. “What it is?”
Mattie sniffled, shook her head and smiled. “It’s all good,” she said. “Just a mother-daughter moment.” Mac grinned and nodded.
“Oh...okay,” he said slowly. “Now, Judge McAvaney has agreed to see us in chambers in between cases. The clerk said he would send us in to wait just before this case concludes ...which he anticipates to be in an hour or so.”
“Good, good,” said Mac, “And then we can go have a celebratory brunch or lunch.”
“You ate five pancakes at breakfast!” Harm replied. “You can’t possibly be hungry.”
“One, since when do you keep tabs on how much I eat? Two, breakfast was finished by 0712. Three, Mattie hasn’t eaten at all today. And, four, if I choose to take my daughter out to eat on the day I officially become her mother then that is exactly what I am going to do, okay?” she retorted, getting to her feet.
“Okay, okay,” he said, holding up his hands. “Power down, marine.”
Mattie laughed. It seemed Harm wasn’t the only one reverting to his former self.

By 1130, the family were settled around a booth at a nearby diner and Mattie’s daughter status was official. It had been a complete non-event as far as court cases go and the judge’s role was merely to rubber stamp the paperwork. However, to Mattie it was everything and the smile had yet to leave her face. This was something she had always wanted but as it never seemed a possibility she hadn’t ever really considered it. Now it had happened, she felt a new sense of contentment she hadn’t experienced before. It was like a gap in her soul, that she wasn’t even aware of, had been filled.

Lunch was a bright, happy affair. Lots of laughs, reminisces of good times in the early days and times on the farm. It was joyful, delightful and all about family and love. When Mac went to the bathroom and Mattie took the boys to be changed, Colin reached for the bill.
“Nope,” Harm said, taking the black vinyl folder from him. “This one is on me.”
“You’re very much the proud papa, aren’t you?” Colin said with a grin, not fighting him on this one.
“That I am, son,” he said, beaming. “That I am.”
“I don’t think you know just how much this means to Mattie,” he said quietly. “And I don’t think she knew it either until Mac said she could be adopted.”
“I know,” Harm said with a nod. “We never intended to exclude her, officially or otherwise...”
“Oh, she knows,” Colin interrupted. “Aidan and Jessie’s adoption stirred up some things and then not falling pregnant this month added to the mix, but I think it’s been something in the back of her mind over the years, this was just the impetus.”
“Well, it’s all official now and nothing can change it,” Harm replied grinning.
“Sorry you didn’t get to do whatever Valentine’s thing you had planned for Mac,” he said quietly as he spied the family returning.
“Time for all that later,” he replied. “Valentine’s Day is about love and what better way than ‘officially’ welcoming a new daughter to the family, not to mention son-in-law and grandson.”

The afternoon and early evening was a hub-bub of activity. Jessie, Lily and the twins were babbling away about the activities of the day and trying to show their parents the cards they had received. Mac was trying to pack for their 3-day weekend in DC. It didn’t feel like all that long ago where she would have a small bag permanently packed and her uniforms at the ready and could depart for months at a moment’s notice. Now, she had to pack for herself and Harm and six kids, not to mention all Jessie’s extra equipment and supplies and she knew it would take her hours.

Meanwhile, Harm was trying to wrangle the kids, get their dinner ready and watch the clock so he wasn’t late taking Aidan to his dance.

Having just got Frankie strapped into his highchair, Harm looked up to see Aidan standing nervously inside the back door.
“All ready?” Harm asked, placing Frankie’s bowl of spaghetti in front of him.
“Ah, yeah,” Aidan replied. “But if you’re too busy...” he trailed as he fiddled with his dark blue pin stripped tie.
“Mac!” Harm called and she came down the stairs.
“Wow, look at you, Aidan!” she exclaimed adjusting his tie. “You look very grown up and very cute.”
Aidan blushed and dropped his head, muttering “Thanks, mom,” as he did.
Kissing his cheek, Mac wished him luck before taking on dinner duties while Harm and Aidan left.

On the way to Amelia’s Harm wanted to offer Aidan some fatherly advice but he didn’t want to add to the boy’s nerves. Pulling up around the corner from their intended destination, Harm turned to look at his eldest son.
“I feel I should say something,” Harm said. “But I don’t quite know what it is you need to hear.” Aidan shrugged. He didn’t know either. “Is there anything you would like to ask me?” Aidan shrugged once more. Colin had given him some tips for the night over the last few days but it was more man-to-man rather than father-son.
Finally he spoke. “Not now because we don’t have time but do you think you and me...well, could we kind of have a...you know...father-son talk sometime?” he asked, chancing a glance at his father.
“Of course we can,” Harm replied patting his shoulder.

Pulling up outside the school a few minutes before the designated end of the dance, Harm couldn’t help but smile at the memory of Aidan’s face when Amelia opened the door. Aidan didn’t have to say anything for Harm to know he was very smitten with this young lady and Amelia, for her part, seemed as nervous and smitten as Aidan. He could only hope they had gotten past their nerves and shyness to enjoy the evening.

It wasn’t long before teenagers began pouring from the school gates and Harm looked around to see if he could spy Aidan and Amelia. Eventually, after many had left, he saw a familiar looking couple walking out hand in hand and he couldn’t help but grin. Then, by the huge elm tree just outside the school gates, Amelia had tugged Aidan’s hand and pulled him in for a kiss. Harm knew he shouldn’t watch but he couldn’t help himself. When others came from behind they pulled apart and both looked a little star-struck. Harm took this opportunity to toot the car horn and wave them over.

Once Amelia had been safely delivered home and Aidan had walked her to her door, she gave him a quick peck on the cheek and disappeared inside her house. Aidan stood there for a few moments before returning to the car, Harm was trying hard not to smirk. After travelling towards home for a few minutes in silence, Harm had to speak.
“So, good night was it?” he asked, glancing across at his son.
“Yeah,” replied Aidan with a spreading grin. “Much better than expected.”
“Good music?” Harm asked, to keep the conversation going.
“Yeah,” he replied. “Everything was pretty good.”
“Amelia looked pretty,” he commented and Aidan nodded. “You made a lovely couple.”
“Dad!” Aidan exclaimed looking at his father for the first time.
“What?” Harm replied, fighting a smile.
“We’re not a couple!” he said adamantly.
“Could have fooled me,” he said. “I saw the way you looked at each other...”
“Dad!” he interjected. “It was just a dance. We’ve never gone on a date or anything.”
“What about all the ‘study sessions’ and the time you spend at, what is it... the debate club and quiz club?” Harm asked, his eyes flitting between Aidan and the road.
“We’re friends,” he answered. “We hang out together and stuff but we’re just friends.”
“Aha,” Harm replied. “Okay then,” he said and decided not to mention the kisses and to let the boy off the hook.

He couldn’t help but think of all the times he had protested about his and Mac’s relationship. Perhaps people were right, love could blind you to what was right in front of you.

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Replies:

[> ♥♥♥♥♥ -- coninay, 05:32:23 01/17/15 Sat [1]

More Please!!! so love the story :-)


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[> Another great chapter. Thanks Nettie. -- MAG, 07:20:20 01/17/15 Sat [1]


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[> Nettie, you continue to amaze, what a lovely and happy story! -- JoyZ, 09:54:38 01/17/15 Sat [1]


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[> Sometimes I just can't believe that I am still excited when I see a new chapter pop up!!! Love your stories!! Thanks!! -- MarilynM, 11:20:28 01/17/15 Sat [1]


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[> Another awesome chapter Nettie -- Bev uk, 11:51:46 01/17/15 Sat [1]


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[> Wonderful update on this amazing story. Nettie you continue to amaze me with your talents. Patiently waiting for more. -- beth, 11:00:07 01/18/15 Sun [1]


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