Title:  Winter Wonderland
Author: Celia "Squidlet" Stanton
Email:  xfilesdiva@excite.com
Rating:  PG
Category:  Harm/Mac romance, songfic, a little bit of humor…is fluff a category?
Spoilers:  "Goodbyes", "Washington Holiday" (very minimal)
Summary:  This is what happens when you don't watch the Weather Channel.
Distribution:  Sure thing, just drop me a note as to where it goes (I like to visit my children.)

Disclaimer:  I am but a poor boy with a poor family, and I'm definitely not cool enough to own Harm and Mac and cutie petootie AJ and all the other JAG characters. Donnie B. does. I certainly don't own Faith Hill or her songs from the amazing album "Breathe", although I like to pretend I'm her and dance around screaming…my neighbors really like that.  And I borrowed the "secret dream to be a squid" line (with permission) from Nicole.  Give credit where credit is due, right?  <g>

Author's Notes:  So, I was watching Once and Again last night and they start running one of those scrolling messages across the top of the screen that the entire VA/MD/DC viewing area of Channel 7 is under a winter storm warning.  So I wake up this morning and call the George Washington University weather line and screamed when they started out, "Due to inclement weather…" so after sitting in bed for an hour, I started this puppy.  And yes, I know there was an episode with a blizzard before, and I know there have been oodles of "Harm and Mac get stuck in a blizzard" stories, but hey, it's been snowing insanely (around a foot!) and I'm a little wacky because of this glorious news, so bear with me, okay?  Oh, and I refer to Dave Roberts, who isn't a meteorologist here in DC, but back in good ol' Philly…on channel 6, whose theme song I adore. He's also David Boreanaz' father, who stars on the WB show "Angel".  And they say fanfic isn't educational!  J

Oh, and I asked the question as to whether or not Harm was a devout vegetarian (no chicken or fish).  I got two different answers and decided to compromise.  I'm sorry if this bugs anybody, but I couldn't think if they had fully addressed this on the show.

Author's thanks:  To the BSU, JAG-XF Shippers, Nattie et al. for the laughs.  And thanks to the Weather Channel people for being SO beyond cool.

Dedication:  As always to Nicole…you bring out the Elvis in me. (HA!)  Thanks for all the help.

JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, VA
January 25, 2000
0315 PM EST

 The JAG bullpen was abuzz with activity.  People rushed back and forth and back again trying to finish paperwork and get the hell out of Dodge before "The Storm of the Century" hit.  Admiral AJ Chegwidden stood in the doorway of his office with a semi-amused look on his face.  "If it takes a blizzard to get my people to work this hard, I'm moving us to Antarctica," he commented to himself.

 Lieutenant Bud Roberts stood under the row of television monitors, staring intently at the continuous coverage from The Weather Channel, as well as the local news stations out of DC.  His wife, Lieutenant Harriet Sims came up behind him.  "What are they saying now, Bud?"

 Bud turned to her and then looked back at the monitors.  "They're saying a minimum of a foot, starting right around rush hour tonight."

 Harriet smiled.  "Baby AJ's first real snowstorm!"

 "Yeah, if we can make it home in time."

 Harriet scoffed at her husband.  "Of course we'll make it in time, silly."

 The Admiral walked over to the pair after a moment and began to watch the storm coverage.  After a minute, he bellowed to the staff, "Attention on deck!"
 
 The flurry that had been happening just seconds earlier became a dead silence.  "All right, people, the Navy has ordered all non-essential personnel to go home, which means us, so please drive safely.  Check the Naval radio stations regarding the work schedule for the rest of this week.  Dismissed!"

 A chorus of "Aye, aye, Sir!" rang through the bullpen and the activity started once more.

 "Mr. Roberts, have you seen the Colonel or the Commander?" AJ asked his junior officer.

 "Um, no, Sir, the last I heard they were still investigating the Taylor case out in Vienna." Bud replied.

 "Oh, right.  Well, call Mr. Rabb's pager and inform them that their presence is no longer required."  AJ said.

 "Yes, Sir."  Bud hurried over to the phone and called the pager company to relay the message.

 "Everyone drive safely!"  AJ bellowed as he put on his coat and headed out the door.

 Harriet walked over to Bud's desk as he put the phone down.  "You ready?"

 Bud nodded and gathered up his files.  He took one look around at the eerily empty bullpen and said, "Freaky."

 Harriet laughed and the two walked to the elevators.

Vienna, VA
0405 PM EST
 
 Lt. Col. Sarah MacKenzie got wearily into the rental sedan and rested her head against the headrest, eyes closed.  The interview with the AWOL sailor had proven less than informative, even after hours of negotiating.  As her partner got in and rested his head against the steering wheel, Mac commented dryly, "Well, that went well, don't you think?"

 Harm grunted in either annoyance or agreement, Mac couldn't tell which.  He sat up and checked his watch.  "By the time we get back into the city, it'll be quitting time…do you just want to call it a day?"

 Mac opened one eye.  "Sounds wonderful."

 Harm started the car and immediately started fiddling with the radio.  After a minute, the announcer's voice filled the car.  "Repeating our top story, the entire listening area is under a winter storm warning until tomorrow evening.  Most major roadways in and out of the district are already closed or clogged.  Folks, if you don't have to go out tonight, don't.  And if you do, well, the trip between exits 13 and 14 on the Beltway is 2 hours, so be prepared to stay in your car for a good long while.  Here to tell us what we can expect is meteorologist Dave Roberts.  Dave?"

 Both Mac and Harm stared at the radio in surprise.  Harm looked at his partner with an unbelieving stare.  "Did you know about this?"

 Mac shook her head.  "I've been working till 9 or 10 each night…by the time I got home, I'd shower and change and fall right asleep."

 "And the cable has been out in my apartment all week…this is just perfect."  Harm ran his hand through his hair.  "If the Beltway's already backed up…"

 "We'll never make it back to JAG, or to our apartments, for that matter."  Mac finished for him.

 Harm nodded despairingly.  "I noticed a few motels on the drive in, we could try there."  He suggested.

 "Sounds like the only course of action."  Mac agreed and Harm started the car.

 Thirty minutes later, the two lawyers trudged out of the office of their sixth or seventh hotel with still no luck.  The clerk at the Days Inn had told them the same thing all the other clerks had:  Because of the storm, all the businessmen decided to camp out at the town's hotels.  But this particular clerk had proven more helpful than the others and given them the name of her Aunt Cecile's bed and breakfast, only a few miles down the road.

 Harm leaned closer to the windshield, trying to get a better view as the snow began to fall harder.  Finally, The Pine Valley View Inn came into view.  Cautiously, Harm turned the car up the winding driveway.  He fishtailed several times, causing Mac to suck in several breaths, and a much deeper sigh of relief once Harm had parked the car safely at the top of a hill.

 Mac got out of the car and her jaw dropped out of the sheer beauty of the old Victorian house.  It was three stories high, white with green shutters and had two grand columns on either side of the large oak front door, surrounded by glistening white Christmas lights.  As the snow began to fall, the home looked exquisite.

 Harm whistled.  "Nice pad."  He commented dryly.

 Mac smiled and then rubbed her gloved hands together.  "Let's get inside before we become icicles."

 The pair hurried up the stone walkway and rang the doorbell.  The door flew open almost immediately and a short woman in her mid fifties clucked her tongue and wordlessly waved the two freezing people into her grand foyer.

 "You must be the Navy people."  She said in a raspy, oft-used voice.

 "Commander Harmon Rabb."  Harm held out his hand and Cecile shook it, looking the lawyer up and down.

 "Colonel Sarah MacKenzie."  Mac said, repeating the same gesture.

 "A Marine!"  Cecile declared happily.  "Michael, my brother, was a Marine."  As she went to close the door behind Mac, she peered outside and declared, "My heavens! Leslie—that's my niece—didn't say it was that bad outside."

 Harm began to brush the snow off his coat.  "It's started to get pretty bad out there, ma'am."

 The woman clucked her tongue once more.  "I'm Cecile, not 'ma'am'.  Now, let's get you poor dears out of these wet things!"

 Cecile began to walk down a short hallway and Harm and Mac followed, and soon found themselves in a beautiful dining room.  Cecile motioned them to sit down and hurried to the adjacent kitchen, returning only moments later with two cups of coffee.  "Now, Leslie didn't give me much time to get your room ready, but I was able to scrounge up some old clothes for you to change in."

 "Thank you, Cecile." Mac said appreciatively, warming her hands around the steaming mug.

 Harm took a sip of the coffee and sighed contentedly.  "Wonderful, Cecile…just what we needed."

 Cecile beamed at the praise.  "Now, your room is at the top of the banister…"

 Mac looked to Harm and then back at Cecile.  "Uh, room?"

 Cecile stopped, confused.  "Yes, dear."

 Mac said softly, "Um, Cecile…it's not like that."

 Cecile blushed.  "Well, honey, I do apologize!  From what Leslie described to me, I thought you were, um, involved.  No matter…I do have two adjoining rooms further down the hall, would that suffice?"

 Harm flashed his trademark flyboy grin.  "That would be wonderful."

 Cecile motioned for her guests to follow her up the grand staircase.  She stopped in the first room on the left and gathered the towels and clothes she had set out and then proceeded to walk down the hall, stopping in front of another white door.  She pushed it open and ushered Mac inside.

 Mac gasped when she saw the beauty of the room.  It was a very pale yellow color with a flowery yellow border around the ceiling.  In the middle of the room was a huge raised four-poster bed, obviously an antique.  In the opposite corner sat an oversized chair and a fireplace warming the room. On the left side of the bed was the closet was a beautiful wood bureau.  The two windows next to the chair held a breathtaking view of the Virginia countryside, and in the corner was the door that apparently adjoined Mac's room to Harm's.

 "I hope this is acceptable."  Cecile spoke up, breaking Mac's reverie.

 "Cecile…this is gorgeous."

 Cecile beamed once more and walked over to the door and swung it open, Harm following her inside.  His room was an exact replica of Mac's, only it was done in a dark hunter green.  Cecile placed some towels on his king-sized bed and then returned to Mac's to do the same thing.  Harm sat in the chair and reveled in its softness.

 "Now, it's about 5:30 now, dinner is normally served about 6:30.  Is chicken divan all right?  I wasn't expecting visitors, so it's all I had time to whip up…" Cecile stood in the doorway of the two rooms, smiling to herself at the partners sitting in exactly the same position in their respective rooms.
 
 "That's great, Cecile.  We really appreciate it."  Mac said.

 Cecile nodded.  "Now, don't hesitate to holler if you need anything.  I have two bathrooms at either end of the hall, and since you're the only guests, you get them both.  Phone's downstairs if you need to call anyone and the TV is in the den.  Is there anything else you need?"

 Harm spoke up.  "Yeah…can we move in here with you?"

 Cecile laughed.  "Do you cook?"  She bantered back.

 "Yes."  Harm replied as Mac shook her head and saying, "No."

 Cecile laughed again.  "Well, I'm off to check on the chicken."

 Wearily, Mac got up from her chair and stood in the doorway.  "What a great old lady."

 Harm nodded.  "Reminds me of my Grandmother."

 Mac yawned and stretched languidly.  "I think I'm going to hit the shower before dinner."

 "Need me to wash your back?"  Harm replied with his grin.

 "And if I said yes?"  Mac said, almost slapping her hand over her mouth as the words flew out.

 Harm, taken aback, replied the only way he knew how:  "Red light, Colonel."

 Mac smiled and then retreated to her room, closing the door almost all the way.  Walking over to the bed where Cecile had placed her change of clothes and towels, she thought to herself, "Why the hell did I say that?"

 Harm, still seated in the other room voiced the same thing out loud.

0630 PM
The Pine Valley View Inn
Outside Vienna, VA

 Harm smiled as Cecile came into the dining room for what had to have been the twelfth time, fussing over the table where her guests would be served dinner.  She stepped back and tapped her chin with her finger thoughtfully, then spun around and hurried back into the kitchen.

 Harm nearly jumped out of his skin when he heard a throat being cleared behind him.  He turned to look, and saw his partner looking stunning.

 "Nice threads, Marine."  He said after a moment of gawking.

 Shyly, Mac, who was dressed in an ankle-length velvet skirt and dark blue silk dress shirt, joined her partner at the table.  "Thanks.  You don't look so bad yourself."

 That was quite the understatement, as Harm was dressed in a pair of khakis, a black dress shirt and a leather jacket of all things.  "Well, thank you.  Cecile certainly has good taste."  He replied.

 Mac nodded as Cecile returned once more with a basket of rolls in one hand and a bottle of Merlot in the other.  She set both on the table and went to pour some wine in Mac's wineglass when Mac cleared her throat.  "Um, I don't drink, Cecile."

 Cecile stopped mid pour and simply picked up the wineglass.  "Water?"  She said.

 "If it's not too much trouble."

 Cecile shook her head.  "Harry—that's my husband, God rest his soul—had this condition that didn't allow him to drink, so I know all the alternatives, dear."  She patted Mac's hand.  "Commander, would you like some?"

 Harm shook his head.  "Water is fine with me."

 Cecile nodded and gathered his wineglass with Mac's and went back to the kitchen, returning seconds later with two new glasses filled with water.

 "Help yourselves to the rolls and the salads, which are over on the countertop.  The chicken will be done soon."  Cecile announced and disappeared once more.

 Mac looked at Harm.  "Are you going to be okay eating the chicken?" she said quietly.

 Harm nodded as he rose to go get the salad Cecile had set out.  "Yeah…whenever someone goes to this much trouble and it's chicken or fish, I'm fine."  He held out his hand to aide Mac in getting up from the table.  "Except Beltway burgers.  I hate those things."

 Laughing, Mac swatted him playfully on the arm as they walked over to the counter to get their salads.

 They had just finished when Cecile reappeared, carrying two bone china plates full of chicken divan.  As she set the plates in front of the partners, Mac's stomach growled in anticipation, sending Cecile into laughter.  "There's plenty more where that came from, just help yourselves.  I'll leave it out in the kitchen."

 "Thank you again, Cecile…you've been more than hospitable, and we really appreciate it."  Mac said earnestly.

 "It's truly no trouble.  I come from a huge family; six brothers and sisters, five beautiful children and thirteen grandchildren, so I thrive in full houses.  Since Harry died and the children moved away, this old house has been so quiet.  I love the company."  Cecile confided.

 "Well then, we're happy to provide it."  Harm said, nodding at Cecile.

 "Oh, one more thing before I leave you two alone," Cecile said, walking over to the wall cabinet that was next to the counter.  She opened the door, showing off the stereo system.  "If you want dinner music, help yourself.  I'm afraid I don't have much of a collection, although Leslie did add a few of her favorites."

 "Thank you."  Mac said again.

 Cecile smiled and quietly retreated to the kitchen.

 "Do you want to choose some music?"  Harm asked as he began eating.

 "Sure."  Mac got up from the table and started rooting around the CD collection.  "Barry Manilow's Greatest Hits."  She read.

 Harm made a gagging sound.

 "How about Pure Moods?"

 "It'll put me to sleep."

 "Sarah McLachlan?"

 "Which one?"

 "Mirrorball."

 "Nah, Surfacing is better."

 Mac quirked an eyebrow at that comment (because she knew Fumbling Towards Ecstasy was better) and then found the perfect CD.  "Here we go."

 She set the CD in the player and pressed 'random', and returned to her seat.  After a moment, soft music filled the air and a woman's voice began to sing.

 "Wow."  Harm commented between mouthfuls after the song had ended.  "Who was that?"
 
"Faith Hill."  Mac said as she continued eating.

 "You got me to listen to country?"  Harm said incredulously.

 Mac smiled as the CD scanned and another song started, louder and a little harsher than the other.

 Harm burst out laughing at the beginning of the song and stood up, holding his hand out to Mac.  "This song is begging to be danced to."

 Mac joined in his laughter and acquiesced, getting up from the table and joining him in the middle of the room.  She couldn't hold back a little huff of laughter when Harm proved that he wasn't such a terrible dancer, as long as Mac led.  But as Harm gathered her up in his arms, all rational thoughts flew from Mac's head.  There was just him and her, this funny song from Faith Hill and the tiny little dance space.

 "Mac, you certainly bring out the Elvis in me."  Harm commented as they sat back down, only to find Cecile watching, amused, from the doorway.

 "That was wonderful."  She said, applauding.

 Harm was delighted as a blush began to creep up Mac's olive skin.  Harm got up, bowed, and sat back down.

 Cecile's smile widened.  "Would you like some dessert?"

 Mac clutched her stomach.  "No, I'm more stuffed than a Butterball turkey, Cecile.  Dinner was wonderful."

 "Thank you."  Cecile said as she began to clear the plates.  "I've turned down your beds for whenever you decide to head off."

 "Wonderful."  Harm commented as he strode over to the CD player.  "Cecile, do you mind if we borrow this tonight?  I'd like to listen to it some more."

 Cecile waved her hand at him.  "Of course, dear."

 Harm placed the CD in its case and then looked at Mac.  "I'm ready to go lounge around upstairs."

 Mac stifled a yawn and nodded.  "Sounds good to me."  She followed Harm upstairs, checking her watch along the way.  She was surprised to find it to be close to 8:00.  No wonder they were so tired.

 Harm retreated to his room to change and Mac to hers, thankful to put on her sweats, a USMC t-shirt and warm wooly socks.  After a few minutes, she knocked cautiously and at Harm's response, pushed the door open, only to find her partner cross-legged on his bed, setting up Monopoly.  The CD was already in the player Mac didn't realize had been in their rooms, and another soft ballad was playing.

 <<How is it these CD players know precisely which songs to play?>> Mac mused to herself as the song ended.  She knew that she would wait for Harm no matter what happened, be it Brumby or flying or hell's high waters.  She wondered if he felt the same way but decided to derail that train of thought before it left the station and concentrate on whooping his ass at Monopoly.

 Two hours later, indeed, Mac was celebrating her victory.  As Harm cleaned up the game, Mac flopped down on his bed, mindlessly snuggling into the warm spot where Harm had been sitting.  She closed her eyes, imagining she could smell him when the CD played its final song.

 Harm watched his partner lie on his bed, close to sleep and listened to the song play and the CD finally stop spinning.  He saw Mac shiver a little bit and walked over to the bed.  "Mac?"

 Her only reply was to bury herself further into the pillows.  Ever so gently and without really thinking, Harm rolled her over away from him. Pulling the comforter down to the edge of the bed, he gently scooted her back on the sheets and drew the down blanket back up around her.  He walked over to the other side of the bed and climbed in next to her, curling up against her back and falling sound asleep.
 

Harm's Room, 0314 AM
 Mac's eyelids fluttered open and it took her a minute to get her wits about her.  She felt a hard form behind her and immediately tensed.

 "Calm down, Marine, it's only me."  The sleepy voice of her partner whispered.

 Mac shot awake but didn't move a muscle.  "I should go back to my own room."  She started to climb out of the bed when

Harm's hand on her arm stopped her.  "Stay.  I won't bite."  He said, humor lacing his voice.

 Mac thought of a thousand reasons that she should go…but those were all outweighed as she thought of how comforted, how right she felt next to her partner.  Sighing, she sat back down and lay down next to him.

 Harm propped himself up on one elbow.  "You're covered in goosebumps."  He observed.

 Mac shrugged.  "You're a cover hog, anybody tell you that?"

 Harm sat up and peeled off his Navy sweatshirt and handed it to Mac.  "You sure?"  She asked.

 Harm nodded and she gratefully slipped the far too big sweatshirt over her head and turned to face him.

 "You just wanted me for the sweatshirt."  Harm commented dryly.

 "Why's that?"  Mac said, not quite stifling a yawn.

 "Secretly, you want to be a squid."

 Mac laughed outright.  "Next time you need a career change, you should do Leno."

 Harm smiled and the two grew quiet once more, simply looking at each other.

 "Mac…" Harm started and then faltered.

 Mac placed a hand on his chest.  "What is it?"

 "You know that when I left JAG, I wasn't leaving you."  He blurted out.

 Mac looked at him, confused.  "I never even thought that, Harm."

 "Do you want to know the reason I didn't cry in your office the day I left?"

 Mac shook her head and he continued.  "I knew I was going to be a blubbering idiot once I started.  Couldn't give Brumby the satisfaction."

 Mac smiled again.  "Were you a blubbering idiot?"

 "The number of times I nearly turned my car around on I-95 are immeasurable, Mac.  But I think in my heart of hearts I'd
come back to you."

 Realizing they were on dangerous ground, Mac said, "You mean coming back to JAG."

 Harm shook his head.  "No, I don't."

 Mac couldn't suppress the small intake of breath brought on by his words.  Before either one knew what was happening, Harm was leaning towards her and she was meeting him, a quiet meshing of lips.  The kiss lacked a lot of things, but held so many promises of things to come.  It only lasted a few seconds, but long enough to make Mac literally see stars.  She pulled away and looked at her partner, best friend and everything else…and burst out laughing.

 Harm, taken aback, simply stared at her.  "You know, that's not really the best thing to help a guy's ego, Mac."

 Mac slapped her hand over her mouth but continued to laugh.  "I think Cecile spiked the chicken."  She said.

 "You think this is funny, Marine?"  Harm said, sitting up in bed and looking down at his partner.  At her nod, he grabbed her wrists with one hand and pinned her to the bed. With the other, he grabbed her foot and started tickling.

 Mac started struggling against him, laughing harder now until he finally let go of her foot and moved his hands up to her
stomach.  "You gonna keep laughing?"  Harm asked and Mac just nodded, tears running down her cheeks.

 But as Harm started to tickle her again, Mac wrapped her legs around his waist and rolled forward so they were a lawyer ball, Harm's head hanging off the end of the bed.  "Gotcha!"  Mac declared.

 Suddenly, Harm sat up and met Mac's mouth once more, using one hand to balance on the bed and running the other through her hair.  They sat this way for several minutes, tongues dueling until Harm finally said against Mac's mouth, "This is probably the most uncomfortable position I've ever been in."

 Chuckling, Mac rolled off her partner, allowing him to reclaim his side of the bed.  The two remained quiet for several minutes until Mac timidly said, "Harm?"

 "You want to talk about this in the morning?"

 She nodded.  "This is just kinda fast, that's all."

 "Four years is fast?"  Harm said with a twinkle in his eye.

 Mac nodded.  "Especially when dealing with you."

 "Okay."  Harm replied then said like a timid schoolboy, "Would it be all right if I just held you tonight?"

 Mac smiled beatifically.  "I want nothing more."  She admitted.

 Tenderly, he wrapped his arms around her and laid her head on his chest and his chin on the top of hers, and fell back to sleep.
 

Harm's Room, 0954 AM

 Mac woke up again to the sudden realization that Harm was no longer in the room.  She sat up, hair going every which way and rubbed her eyes.  There was a note on the bureau in what she deemed Cecile's, reading "Breakfast is ready when you are!"

 Quickly, Mac donned a pair of jeans and a beautiful lambs' wool sweater, provided again by Cecile and headed downstairs.

 She found Harm and Cecile sitting in the kitchen, talking away.  "Good Morning, Sarah!"  Cecile said, rising to get her a cup of coffee.

 "Morning, Cecile."  She said.  "Hey, Sailor."  She said quietly to Harm.

 Harm rose and gave her a quick kiss and returned to his seat as Cecile handed Mac the cup of coffee.

 "Now, Sarah, I wasn't sure what you'd like, so I made some eggs and belgian waffles…there's some fruit and juice in the fridge as well, and I can make some toast or pancakes."

 "Eggs sound wonderful, Cecile.  Scrambled?"

 Cecile nodded.  "That's what Harmon said you'd like.  I'll go reheat them for you."

 Mac sat down next to Harm.  "Harmon?"

 Harm shrugged.  "She's thriving on this."

 "I missed you this morning."  Mac said softly, regarding him over her coffee cup.

 Harm placed a hand over hers.  "I'm sorry.  Cecile knocked around 9, you were out cold, and I didn't have the heart to wake you."

 "Did you call JAG?"

 Harm nodded, taking a sip of his own coffee.  "We're closed for at least two days, the district got hit hard."

 "How much do we have out here?"  Mac said, leaning, trying to get a good look outside.

 "About 6 inches.  But the District got about 10 to 15.  Completely shut down."

 "You're kidding!"  Mac exclaimed.

 Harm shook his head.  "They say it's going to be two days to get to half of the side streets."

 "That means we have to figure out what we want to do.  Do we want to try and get back into the city or stay out here until conditions improve?"  Mac asked, silently hoping he'd choose the latter.

 "They're saying if you don't need to be anywhere, don't go out.  So I say we heed their advice."  Harm said, looking her
straight in the eye.

 "I agree."  Mac said calmly, even as her stomach was doing flips.

 The next two days were spent merrily at The Pine Valley View Inn (which Cecile later admitted was indeed named after the place on "All My Children", simply because she loved Erica Kane so much) and they included Monopoly tournaments, sledding, Marine vs. Navy snowball fights (which Marine won, of course) and lots and lots of hot chocolate and nights snuggled together in one of their beds.  On their last night, Harm reluctantly got a hold of Bud.

 "Hey, Bud, it's Harm…yes, I'm in one piece…no, I'm not frostbitten…the Colonel and I are fine, Bud, we're outside of Vienna…yes, I think we'll be able to get in tomorrow, the major arteries seem to have cleared.  The case proved a farce, really…yes, I'll tell the Admiral…Harriet wants to talk to Mac?  Okay."  Shrugging, he handed the phone to Mac.

 "Hi, Harriet!…You're kidding!  And I missed it?  Oh, what a shame!  Did you take pictures?…Two hours of snow fun with baby AJ all on tape, I can't wait to see it!…Yeah, I managed to enjoy the snowstorm," She said winking at Harm.  "Okay, right…mmhm, that's fine.  Okay, we'll see you then!  Bye!"  Mac hung up the phone as Harm wrapped his arms around her waist.  Leaning back she said, "We have to think about what this is going to mean when we get back to civilization."

 Harm sighed and buried his face in her hair.  "I don't wanna," He whined like a petulant child.

 Turning in his embrace, Mac rested her head against his chest.  "What do you want to do?"  She asked quietly.

 Holding her at arms' length, Harm stared at her, mouth agape.  "What do you think I want to do?"

 Mac threw her arms up in the air.  "I don't know!  One day you act like my brother and the next…"

 "I told you once, I NEVER acted like your brother."

 Mac shook her head.  "Whatever."  Taking a deep breath, she continued, "I don't want to lose you."

 "I know, Mac, and for the love of God, I don't want to lose you either."  Harm said, drawing her into a hug.

 "How about this."  Mac said, looking up at him.  "We spend tonight like we have the two previous ones and we'll deal with it in the morning."

 Harm kissed the tip of her nose.  "Sounds like a plan, Marine."

 Around 2:30 that morning, Mac woke again.  Turning on her side, she saw Harm sound asleep and quietly got out of bed and walked over to the window.

 She looked out at the back hills of the Inn and watched its tranquility as the moonlight glistened on the snow.  <<If only things could remain that pure and undisturbed>> she thought to herself.

 She sat down in the easy chair and stared at the wall.  <<I love Harm>> she admitted to herself, <<But I'm terrified that if we take that final step I'll lose him forever.>>  Angrily, she swiped at the tears that had taken residence upon her cheeks and finally stared at the man in bed.  She thought back to a conversation she and her Uncle Matt had had when she was drying out in Red Rock Mesa.  <<Everyday, we make choices, Sarah>> his deep voice had told her.  <<In my experience, the hardest choices to make were always the one that came out with the best results.>>

 Mac rose from the chair and looked out to the hills once again.  She prayed long and hard that this choice would come out for the better.  Gingerly, as not to wake her partner (in more ways than one, she noted), she climbed back into bed.

Pine Valley View Inn, the next morning

 Mac gave Cecile a large hug.  "Thank you again so much, Cecile.  We owe you a lot."

 Cecile simply smiled.  "You know, I do weddings on the property, Sarah," She said quietly while Harm came back in the foyer after loading their things into the car and digging the car out of a snowdrift.  Harm gave Cecile a hug as well and she handed him the "Breathe" CD the pair had been listening to for three days. "My preference has always been the second track."  She said, winking.

 Harm and Mac climbed in their car and popped in the CD, switching to track 2.  Because they had listened to the CD so many times, they began to sing along:

 As the Virginia landscape went by, Mac looked at Harm, who saw her out of the corner of his eye.  Taking her hand and lacing his fingers through hers, a grin spread across his face.

 <<Yup,>> Mac thought, <<I got my baby.>>

 Meanwhile, back at the Inn, Cecile was singing to herself as she went to get the phone.  She dialed the number and waited for the person to pick up with a grand smile on her face.
 

Feedback is better than another snowstorm.  xfilesdiva@excite.com

And everybody go out and get Faith's "Breathe" CD…best Christmas present I ever got.

And yes, before you start sending mail, there is a sequel in works…Nicole and me!  ::evil laugh::
 
 
 
 

 Back to Celia's page
 Back to the BSU page