1. Chapter 1 (1/2)

florida, may 2011

harm heard laughter coming from the back yard as he parked his car and got out. he found his mom and three very excited kids when he entered the garden, making him smile widely. almost five-year-old matthew came running to meet him and he crouched down and hugged him.

"how was your day?"

"great. we've been in the pool and i'm a really good swimmer, dad," matthew said with excitement.

"that's great, buddy," harm said as he stood. he greeted claire and nathan too, before he looked around for his wife.

"is the colonel running late?" he asked his mom.

"she was home an hour ago. she's taking a walk," trish said and smiled. "why don't you go meet her, tell her dinner will be ready soon."

"yeah, i need to talk to her about something," harm said thoughtfully.

"does this have something to do with her new orders?" trish asked with a clever smile.

"she got new orders? let me guess, headquarters virginia?" harm said proudly. "they want me as deputy judge advocate. i get my second star."

trish hugged her son. "i'm proud of you."

"thanks, mom," harm said and smiled. "i better go find her." he hurried inside to change before he walked down the trail towards the beach.

there were several people at the beach, but he'd pick her out in any crowd. he smiled widely as he watched her walk towards where he stood. she was so beautiful, and she was all his. six years of marriage and she still made his heart beat faster every time he saw her.

he lifted his hand and waved and watched as her face lit up when she noticed him. he hurried to walk over to her. "hey beautiful," he said and gathered her in his arms.

she leaned in and kissed him softly. "hey rear admiral harmon rabb junior."

he smiled proudly. "are you ready for another star?"

"i think i can handle it," she said teasingly and kissed him again. "i'm really proud of you."

"i didn't think they'd actually pick my name on that list," he took her hand and started walking. "we better go home and tell the kids."

mac nodded. "i'm not surprised. you've done great work, both here and in london. sure, many of the other candidates had served in positions at the pentagon, but your record speaks for itself. and i suspect that your likeability played a big role in the decision, and your media skills. when admiral young retires next year, you'll be the judge advocate general."

"you don't know that," harm said and offered an amused look. "let's just take this one step at a time."

mac smiled cleverly. "i have some news too."

"yeah?" harm questioned.

"i got promoted to full colonel," she said.

harm made her stop. "that's great. why didn't you tell me right away?"

mac shrugged. "it's not a big deal."

"mac, you've been out for four years, and you still get promoted. that's a big deal. that means that the

ass thinks that you're doing a great job on the judiciary," harm pulled her close. "i'm really proud of you."

"thank you," she smiled. "i'm proud of me too."

harm kissed her softly, then he started walking again. "you know what this means?"

"we have to move again, sell the house, buy a new one," she let out a sigh. "the kids have to leave their friends, start a new school and kindergarten. i talked to admiral foley about me staying at my current duty station until the school finishes for the summer. that way the kids will get to finish the schoolyear before they have to relocate."

"that means that i have to move alone," harm said and looked thoughtful. "but it'll be best for the kids."

mac nodded. "yeah, it will be. it'll be hell without you though, but it's the right thing to do."

"it is," harm agreed.

three days later

harm looked in on his sleeping children before he walked over to the master bedroom. he looked through his suitcase before closing it, and made sure his uniform was ready for the next morning when he'd be travelling to washington d.c.

"all done?"

he turned to the door leading from the master bathroom. mac was leaning towards the doorframe, her robe open, with

ight red underwear on.

harm smiled. "what do i have to do to make you drop the robe?"

she smiled widely and dropped the robe, before walking over to him. "what do you think?"

he looked her up and down. "i like."

"how about we make this memorable?" she put her arms around his neck.

"i love you," he kissed her deeply. the next month and a half would be hard for him. he hated sleeping without her.

later they lay in bed entwined. harm was running his hand softly up and down her back, she was caressing his chest softly. he could feel her

eath against his neck, she, his lips against her forehead as he kissed it softly.

"it's going to be hard for me being without you," he wrapped her in a tight em

ace.

she ran both hands up his sides and behind his neck, kissing him softly on the lips. "it will be hard for me too. at least i have the kids with me, you'll be all alone."

"i'll just have to keep myself busy looking for our new home, visit grams, catch up with bud and harriet." he started nibbling on her neck. "ready for round two?"

she smiled. "you recover quickly. shouldn't you get some sleep?"

"nah, i'll sleep on the plane." he kissed her deeply.

the next day

it was a sad family saying goodbye at the airport the next day. harm hugged the kids one last time.