Introductions and Early Morning Runs - Chapter Two -- The HarmyBoard Extras Fanfic

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Date Posted: 03:38:30 06/18/12 Mon
Author: Dee
Subject: Introductions and Early Morning Runs - Chapter Two

A/N: Thanks very much for your feedback on Chapter One, here's the next chapter....

Chapter Two:

Harm’s POV:

I’m irritated. I just got off the phone with Admiral Trenton, who’s been speaking to the SECNAV, who as usual is trying to play political games with what really is an open-and-shut case involving one of the lawyers under my command. I love some aspects of my job, but I hate the diplomatic BS I have to put up with. I’m about to read through yet another boring policy document when a call from Mac is put through.

‘Hey honey.’

‘Hey Harm. How’s your day going?’

‘It’s one of those… I can’t wait to come home and to see Mattie… I’ve missed her.’

‘Speaking of which, please don’t be late for dinner… remember Josh is joining us.’

I roll my eyes. ‘Is he still staying at our house?’

I hear Mac sigh impatiently. ‘Harm, we’ve been over this….’

‘I’m just saying, he could be an ax murderer or worse… we really don’t know this man.’

‘You had him checked out, Harm, remember? I still feel a little uncomfortable about that, by the way. And all you found were a couple of parking tickets.’

‘Which could denote a lack of discipline.’

‘Harm!’

‘Mac, Mattie has known this guy for all of three months. He could be dangerous.’

‘Well, in that case, isn’t it obvious that the wisest course of action is to have him right under our noses where we can get a good sense of who he is? This week is the perfect opportunity to get to know Josh before Mattie goes back to Philadelphia – where he’ll be waiting for her.’

‘Most people don’t let their children’s friends of the opposite sex stay over until said kids are out of the house.’

‘And we always do what “most people” do, right?’ Mac sighs, ‘Look Harm, Mattie technically is "out of the house", isn't she? Besides, she’s really serious about this guy, and if the thought of them having sex under our roof bothers you, don’t worry – he’ll be in the guest room.’

‘I’m not just worried about Mattie; we have to keep the little ones safe too.’

‘Obviously we won’t be leaving him alone with them, Harm. And Josh works with children, remember?’

‘A lot of unsavory individuals work with children, Mac. What happens at night when we’re all asleep?’

‘Harm, you’re clutching at straws here. Listen, if it makes you feel better, Katie and Jack can sleep with us for the week. And then you can deal with the drama of getting them to go back to their own beds next week. Or we can lock Josh in the guest room at night and look like a pair of total psychos. Or you can sleep up on the landing with your gun in your lap and a baseball bat between your teeth. Either way, Harm, you know it makes sense for Josh to stay with us. Besides, I need a lot of rest these days, so it’ll be great to have Mattie and Josh around to help keep Jack and Katie occupied.’

‘But -’

‘No more “buts”, Harmon. You have to trust that you’ve raised Mattie well enough to have good judgment. Besides, I’ve met the guy and I like him.’

Uh oh. If Mac is already a fan of this guy, I’m hopelessly outnumbered and overpowered already.

‘Alright Mac, you win. I’ve got to go; I have to get back to work if I’m going to make it out of here at a decent hour. See you soon. Love you.’

‘Love you too. Bye’.

Mattie’s POV:

I really shouldn’t be this nervous. I’m almost 21, a full-fledged adult in every sense of the word. I’ve always been independent, and now more than ever, I have the right to choose my own path in life. And Harm is not just a father figure to me, he’s a friend. I can talk to him about anything – well, almost anything. But I can’t help being worried – I’m terrified that he’s going to hate Josh. And then what am I going to do? I guess I’m only just realizing how much Harm’s approval means to me.

Mac and I are in the kitchen. I’m making dinner tonight, and she’s keeping me company. Jack and Katie are watching cartoons in the living room. Mac’s been asking me lots of questions about summer camp and telling me about her 40th birthday and how the kids gave her an amazing surprise, but I know she can tell that I’m only half-engaged in this conversation.

She proves me right when she takes me the shoulders and gives me a little shake, saying, ‘Relax, Mattie. It’s going to be just fine.’

‘I don’t know why I’m so nervous.’

‘I do. This means a lot to you. I have to admit, I’m a little surprised at how… intense things seem to be between you and Josh. It seems like this is a really serious relationship.’

‘It is. It took me by surprise too, Mac. You know I went to work at the camp to help kids who are going through what I went through after my accident, and I guess to prove to myself that I could do it. The last thing I was expecting was to meet this amazing guy… seriously Mac, I knew this experience would change my life, but not on this level.’

Mac gives me a serious look. ‘Oh wow, we’re talking life-changing… slow down, Mattie, you’re still so young.’

I heave a sigh. If Mac is saying these things, it looks like I’m in for a battle with Harm. ‘You were younger than I am when you traveled the world, joined the Marine Corps, met people, did stuff… even got married.’

‘Yeah, but I also dealt with alcoholism and a failed marriage,’ she says, shooting me a dry look. ‘I know you have a good head on your shoulders, Mattie. All I’m saying is that it would be wise to give it time. Enjoy these years, don’t rush into anything.’

‘But I thought you liked Josh!’

‘I do like him. But I like you just a little bit more.’

We both have to laugh at that. Mac continues, ‘Seriously, he seems like a good guy. But I’ve only just met him. Tell me more.’

I start smiling – I always do when I talk about Josh. ‘Like you said, he’s a good guy… a great guy. We just started out as friends. I liked the way he was with the kids. He went above and beyond the call of duty… when everyone else was taking a break, he was watching them. He was so patient and encouraging – some of these kids have some pretty difficult challenges. We discovered we worked well together, so we ended up teaming up to work with the kids with a lot of the activities.’

I sigh, thinking about how much fun it was to work with Josh. ‘He always knew just what to say to make me laugh… when I was with him, I could almost forget that my legs were killing me and my neck was sore…. And then we just got… closer. One night after putting the kids to bed, we had a cup of hot chocolate outside, underneath the stars. It was so romantic. And then it became our thing – we would sit out there and just talk for a couple of hours every night. And then one night, he kissed me… and the rest, as they say, is history. We were practically glued to each other for all the camp cycles, and it was amazing.’

‘Sounds a bit like me and Harm, we were friends that worked together too,’ Mac says dryly, ‘although it took us a lot more than a few weeks to get to the kissing part.’

I roll my eyes. ‘Pretty much every couple on the face of the earth got to the kissing part before you and Harm did, Mac.’

We laugh together, and then I grow serious. ‘I know what I want, Mac.’

Mac sighs. ‘I’m not questioning that, Mattie. All I’m saying is this: don’t rush into a commitment. You have your whole life ahead of you. Have fun at college, keep things light. If it’s right, you guys will only get stronger as a couple over time. But you need to give it time. You’ll always have my love and support, you know that. And a lot of young couples like you and Josh really go the distance and build a great life together. But I just want you to be sure that you’re ready before you take any huge steps.’

‘Ok Mac. Ironically, that’s what Josh says he wants… to take it slow, blah, blah, blah.’

Mac laughs. ‘Well, there’s a role reversal for you – it’s usually the girl that’s trying to put the brakes on.’

‘Don’t I know it,’ I reply, thinking of the smooth-talking jerk who I dated in my freshman year and who got me into bed only to tell me afterward that he’d “always wanted to do a cripple”. ‘It took me forever to get over Adam. I wish I’d put the brakes on with him.’

Mac’s features harden with sudden anger. ‘You never did give me that loser’s last name.’

I laugh. ‘That’s because I’m over him. And because I don’t want him to get hurt by a rampaging Marine!’

‘I don’t want to hit him,’ Mac says, and then pauses for a second. ‘Ok, I do want to hit him, but I won’t. He and I just need to have a little chat about what happens when people mess with my family.’

I roll my eyes. ‘Now you’re getting melodramatic, Mac. Seriously, leave it alone. My pride was hurt more than anything else. I was just really flattered that he wanted to be with me – or at least I thought he did. I’ll admit that I felt like crap for a while, but now when I see him around on campus, all I feel is pity. It’s all behind me now; especially with Josh… at least I know for sure how he feels about me.’

‘Really?’

‘Yeah, he hasn’t said it yet but I know he loves me. Which is perfect because I love him too.’

‘You’re sure about that?’

‘Which part – me or him?’

‘Duh, you of course,’ Mac replies, ‘because he would be absolutely insane not to love you… anyone would love you.’

‘I’m pretty sure about how I feel,’ I say, ‘sure enough to take it slow like Josh wants, which should make you happy.’

Mac pulls me into a big hug. Her baby bump gets in the way, and we laugh. ‘It does. But you know what really makes me happy?’

‘What?’

‘Having you home with us. I love you, Mattie.’

‘Love you too, Mac.’

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Replies:

[>

Just loved this chapter, love the humor and I just love your Rabb family. -- Can Sheshe, 07:17:27 06/18/12 Mon [1]

Really enjoying the relationship that Mattie has with her family; dad Harmon mode about Josh and his oldest daughter is so cute and funny!!!

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[> Loved Mac and Mattie's conversation can't wait for Harm and Mattie's talk This is such a great story thanks for sharing -- Beth, 09:35:59 06/18/12 Mon [1]

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[> I also can't wait for what follows. :) -- Laurence, 10:55:04 06/18/12 Mon [1]

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[> Really nice chapter, just love Harm in protective father mode, conversation w Mac just too funny! -- JoyZ, 11:14:09 06/18/12 Mon [1]

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[> another great chapter -- Christa, 13:51:26 06/18/12 Mon [1]

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[> A good chapter looking forward to the next one Dee -- Bev uk, 13:56:48 06/18/12 Mon [1]

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[> Mac has matured into a mother. -- marye904, 14:53:35 06/19/12 Tue [1]

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