A/N: OK, I had toyed with adding an epilogue, then decided not to, then a review mentioned one…and I decided I wanted to find out what happened to our favorite couple, so…jpstar57, this one's for you!

Lost and Found

Epilogue

January 2, 2011

It's incredible how mere seconds can change a life. If she'd left work ten seconds later or ten seconds earlier, she would have missed the little Toyota that hit the patch of ice coming in from the on-ramp. She wouldn't have had to swerve out of the way to avoid it as it careened into her lane, causing her to hit her own patch of ice. If she'd left ten minutes later the salt truck would have beaten her and perhaps that car wouldn't have slid out of control. Or if the driver of the Toyota had driven just a little slower…

She'd almost stopped off to pick up ice cream for the kids before picking up the twins at daycare; if she'd gone to the store, she would have gone to the daycare a different way and avoided that highway altogether.

Unfortunately, none of the if-thens mattered at this point. As her vehicle spun around, she was reminded of a moment several years ago when she'd slipped on some stairs, only to be caught by Harm's strong arms. He wasn't here this time to save her like he had so many other times before, and fragments of her life with him flashed in front of her eyes.

They married within three months of Harm's proposal, given she had gotten pregnant within a week of him putting the ring on her finger. She wanted to be able to fit into a real wedding dress and didn't want baby Rabb to be a bastard. Those were actually Harm's words; though only teasing, he hadn't counted on a hormonal Mac tossing him out of his own apartment because of them. He ended up spending the night at her apartment, and it was a contrite Mac who met him at their weekly therapy session the next afternoon.

Thankfully, they'd had no further incidents like that, which was good considering Mac was moving out of her apartment imminently and moving in with Harm until they could close on their new house. They sold Harm's loft and were soon settled in a lovely home in Reston, not too far from Bud and Harriet.

The wedding was a small affair; they were married by Chaplain Turner with Bud as best man and Harriet as maid of honor. Mac was thrilled that the navy had shifted to their winter uniforms; as she was escorted down the aisle by the recently retired Admiral Chegwidden, the sight of Harm in his dress blues made her heart flutter. During the reception, several guests told Mac she was glowing, and she and her new husband exchanged many knowing looks. They hadn't told anyone yet about her pregnancy, and though Harriet suspected another reason for Mac's glow, no one else seemed the wiser.

Mac had transferred to the judiciary and was enjoying it immensely, more than she ever thought she would, and Harm happily remained in his current billet.

To Mac's chagrin, her secret was revealed a lot sooner than expected. Much to Harm and Mac's surprise, it turned out they were having twins-identical twins, no less. Joshua and Justin were born healthy, four minutes apart, on April Fool's Day 2005, and Mac and Harm settled into the busy life of parenting.

When Mac reached her twenty, she retired as a full-bird colonel just in time to welcome their third boy, David. All three of their boys looked just like their father and they were just as mischievous. The family transferred to Hawaii shortly after David's birth, and though they enjoyed it, they were glad when Harm was called back to Headquarters two years later to be the current JAG's right hand. It was a stepping stone to becoming the JAG, if he wanted it, but after experiencing fatherhood and watching AJ deal with the political aspects of the job for all those years, he was pretty sure he didn't. Meanwhile, Mac went back to work at a family law firm.

Life had been good, great even, and as she saw the guardrail rushing toward her, Mac knew she would miss it. She sent a goodbye and and an I love you to her beloved husband and children, just as her car hit the guardrail with a sickening crunch.

1922 Local

Reston Hospital Center

Reston, VA

Mac didn't wake up in hell, not that she really expected to, but she certainly didn't wake up in heaven-at least not any heaven she'd imagined. There was nervous energy all around her; it was noisy, and the lights were blinding. She realized she hurt all over, more so in her head, her left arm, and her right leg. That, more than anything, finally convinced her she was alive, and it caused tears of joy to leak from her eyes. The doctor and nurses mistook them for tears of fear or pain, looking at her strangely when she told them she was happy.

Her car was totaled, and it took some time to extract her from it, but miraculously, she had escaped major injury. She had a concussion, fractures in both bones of her lower left arm, and a fracture of the tibia of her right leg, and though she would need a lot of help in the coming weeks, she would recover.

Once Mac was settled in a room, all she wanted was her husband. He'd gone to Norfolk early this morning, but her nurse assured her he was on his way back and had made arrangements for the boys.

She had much to tell him.

Mac must have dozed for a good while, for when she woke up, Harm was by her side, gently holding her good hand in one of his and stroking her hair with the other.

"Hey," she croaked out, her mouth dry.

"Hey, yourself," he whispered, reaching for the styrofoam cup of ice water on the tray next to her bed and holding it for her to take a sip.

"Thanks," she said, dropping back on the bed. "Where are the boys?"

"AJ has the twins and Harriet is keeping David."

"Good."

"What happened, sweetie?" He asked, resuming the light caresses to her hair.

She told him about the Toyota, her swerving to avoid it, and her eventual crash into the guardrail. "I'm sorry about the car, Harm."

"Oh, god, Mac, don't worry about it. I'm just so glad you're okay. You scared me, Marine."

"Scared me too." She paused, not knowing how she was going to tell him the rest of her news. Finally, she decided to just say it straight out.

"Harm, I—I lost my ring…or the paramedics did when they took it off. They can't find it, Harm. I'm sorry." She choked up and Harm swiped a tear from her cheek.

"It's okay, Mac. I'll get you a new one."

"Oh, Harm, I don't want a new one…"

"I know, baby. I'm sorry." He leaned down and kissed her forehead.

"There's more, Harm…don't be upset, but, um, I'm…" She looked up at the ceiling, stealing herself for his reaction.

"Sarah, honey, what is it?"

"Harm? I'm…pregnant." She watched his expression morph into one of shock, his mouth falling open while his grip on her hand loosened. Oh no, he must be upset. "God, I'm sorry, Harm, I know this is, well, unexpected."

Harm shook his head, looking like he was trying to clear it. "Mac, I don't understand…"

"I don't know how it happened…or I guess I do but I thought—"

"No, Mac. I'm just wondering why you're sorry."

"You're, um, not mad?" She searched his face. He certainly didn't look mad.

"Oh, Mac, no. This is…well it's wonderful…but aren't you a little…uh…"

"Old?" She smirked at him.

"Well, nooo…but you are forty-two…isn't that…you know…um…uh, how far along are you?" It amused Mac to watch him try to backpedal and change the subject. She considered messing with him a little, but she was too tired and just a little too overwhelmed.

"They think about eleven weeks."

"Eleven? Shouldn't you have known by now? Missed a, well, you know…"

Mac started to blush. "I, uh, kinda thought I was starting menopause…"

Harm laughed. "Aren't you a little young for that?"

She couldn't help but chuckle too. "Apparently, But I thought I was too old to…"

"Get knocked up? Well, maybe I'm just that good!"

Mac rolled her eyes, grimacing at the pain that elicited. She waved away Harm's concern. "I'm fine…really fine. I've been feeling great, none of that fatigue I had with the boys, and absolutely no nausea. If I hadn't seen it on the ultrasound, I wouldn't believe it."

Harm turned thoughtful. "Well, maybe we're going to get a girl this time."

Mac grinned at the thought. "I'd like that. I'm seriously outnumbered here."

"I hope she looks just like her mama. And has her mama's brains. I don't think we can handle a fourth kid with mine…"

"I agree. So, you're okay with this? Really okay?"

Harm bent and kissed her on the lips. "More than, my love."

Mac sighed in relief. She was secretly ecstatic about this unexpected pregnancy, and over the moon now that Harm was excited too.

As they had done a million times, they stared into each other's eyes, holding a whole silent conversation. Today had been rough, frightening, but also joyous, a day she'd never forget. Now, if they could just find her engagement ring, things would be perfect…well, as perfect as it could be with three broken bones.

Of course, thinking about the loss of her ring caused the tears to form in her eyes again. Harm squeezed her hand and opened his mouth to speak, but a knock at the door startled them.

Standing in the doorway with a big smile on her face was one of the ER nurses. She held in her hand a tiny golden object, and in an instant, everything was perfect.

"Excuse me, did someone here lose a ring?"

July 18th, 2011

0314 Local

Bethesda Naval Medical Center

Bethesda, MD

"It's a girl!" The doctor's triumphant shout was music to Mac's ears. She watched Harm lean forward to cut the cord and then a squalling mess of arms and legs was placed on her chest, ending nine months of her easiest pregnancy yet. Her arms immediately gathered her baby closer to her as she felt Harm's go around them both.

She was in heaven. She blinked back happy tears as she gazed down at her daughter, counting all her little toes and fingers. She could already see a hint of Harm's smile in the baby as she worked her tiny mouth, but everything else was all her.

"She's beautiful, Sarah," Harm said as he leaned down to kiss her on the cheek.

"We have our girl," she answered in awe.

"Yes, we do, honey. I am so, so happy." He kissed her again. "Although I think David is going to be disappointed…" He treated her to his flyboy grin and Mac chuckled at the thought of their youngest boy.

"Yeah, she's certainly not a hamster, is she, Harm."

Just then, the nurse from the newborn nursery came up and stood at Harm's elbow. "Sorry, Captain Rabb, Mrs. Rabb. We need to check her over and weigh her and then we'll give her right back."

Mac reluctantly handed her daughter over and the other nurse in the room busied herself with getting Mac's bed back together and her in a clean gown. That accomplished, Harm pulled a chair up to the side of her bed and took her hand. "So, think we can decide on a name?"

Mac looked thoughtful. "I know we've never talked about this one, but I think she looks like a Kate."

Harm nodded. "I like that."

"Kate Aubrey," Mac continued. Harm repeated it, adding the Rabb at the end of it. His face lit up.

"I think it's perfect!" He kissed her on the lips. "Just like her mama." He kissed her again. "You know, July 18th is a fitting birthday for her…seven years ago today I asked you to marry me."

"Or I asked you to ask me," Mac said with a grin.

He grinned back. "Oh yes, how could I forget. Seven years ago today you asked me to ask you." The nurse reappeared holding Kate, now swaddled in a blanket.

"Ready to hold your daughter, Captain?" He nodded and the nurse placed the little six-pound bundle into Harm's eager arms, Mac smiling as she watched him cradle the tiny baby against his broad chest. She could already tell that their daughter, their Kate, had her daddy wrapped around her little finger. And once the boys got over their disappointment that she wasn't a hamster, she knew they would be just as enamored of her. Mac's heart was full.

1601 Local

Bethesda Naval Medical Center

Bethesda, MD

Mac sat in the bed feeding her little girl. It was quiet now, but any minute her husband was about to return with three little boys, eager (for the most part) to see their new baby sister.

As she lifted Kate up to her shoulder the sunlight streaming through the window hit her engagement ring just right. It made the diamond and rubies sparkle even more brightly and once Kate was successfully burped, Mac laid the baby on her legs. She pulled the ring, which had been soldered to her wedding band, off her finger and tipped it so she could see the engraving. She ran the tip of her finger over the words, remembering the discovery of the ring, remembering a night and day of tears, the months of separation, both physically and emotionally, from her best friend, and then finally forgiveness and declared love. They still argued, they still got frustrated with each other, but over the years they had learned how to communicate, how to solve problems, without hurting each other. Life was good.

A commotion at the door interrupted her thoughts and she slipped the ring back on her finger, picking up Baby Kate as three Harmon Rabb clones peaked over the foot of the bed. It was hard to believe how much they all looked like their father, and if David were taller, the boys would be mistaken for triplets. Joshua and Justin wore uncharacteristically shy expressions, but the former baby of the family was scowling.

"What's wrong, David?" she asked.

His scowl deepened. "Daddy says we got a sister. I didn't wanna sister," the four-year-old declared, crossing his arms and looking so much like his father when he was irritated that Mac had to bite back a laugh.

"I know, baby, but I think you're really going to like her. Why don't you all come closer and meet your sister?" She motioned to her older boys as well, but while David inched forward, Justin and Joshua stayed back, obviously unsure about the situation in which they found themselves. Harm stepped up and put his hands on the twins' backs, gently nudging them closer to their mom. Harm then reached for Kate and sat down on the edge of the bed with her, the little boys gathering around him.

"Boys, I'd like you to meet your sister, Kate Aubrey Rabb. Kate, meet your brothers: that's Justin and there's Joshua, they're kinda hard to tell apart, so they'll try to trick you, but don't let them get away with it…" The twins both smiled identical half-smiles. "And here's David. He wanted you to be a hamster, but I know he'll like you much better-and Kate? You're going to love them."

Joshua and Justin finally smiled full identical flyboy grins, but David still frowned. He did, however, reach his hand out, his finger gently tracing Kate's dark, downy head. Before he could pull his hand back, his sister's arms started flailing, her tiny hand catching and then curling around David's finger. He looked up at his parents, his frown now a smile of unabashed wonder.

1832 Local

Bethesda Naval Medical Center

Bethesda, MD

"Boys all settled in at Grandpa AJ's?" Mac asked Harm as he slipped his cell phone back in his pocket.

He nodded, coming over to sit on the bed with her. Kate lay in her bassinet nearby, sleeping peacefully. He reached for Mac's hand, twining his fingers through hers. "They're going to be so spoiled by the time we pick them up."

She leaned over for a kiss. "I don't doubt it." The former Navy SEAL was a complete pushover for his surrogate grandsons. It appeared he'd be the same with his new 'granddaughter' as well, if his reaction to meeting her for the first time was anything to go on.

They sat in companionable silence for a while, then Harm held their entwined hands up in front of them. His thumb brushed over his grandmother's ring. "This looks good on you."

She smiled and leaned her head against his shoulder. "So you've said."

"I have a little secret, Mac."

"Oh?"

"Oh yes, Mac. When we sat together during your uncle's trial, I looked over and caught sight of your marine corps ring and for a second I could have sworn it was this ring." He brushed his thumb over it again. "And it—it seemed right, Mac."

She shifted closer to him. "Oh, yeah?"

"Oh, yeah. Scared the hell out of me."

She snickered at that. "You always did scare easy, Rabb. But boy, if you'd have just said something then, we could have avoided a lot of struggling."

"True enough, Mac. But then again, all of that shaped us into what we are today: a navy captain, assistant JAG, married to a retired Colonel and one of the most brilliant family law experts this town has ever seen, parents to the most wonderful little boys…and now to the prettiest little girl ever who looks just like her mama. If we'd have gotten together fifteen-sixteen years ago, if we hadn't had to face everything that we did…maybe we wouldn't be here like this today.

"I do know one thing though, Sarah…maybe we wasted a lot of time before I gave you the ring, but I loved you long before that, and on that ring, it says exactly how long I plan to love you."

Mac met his gaze, answering his special smile for her with one of her own. "For eternity?"

He nodded and leaned in to kissed her.

"For eternity."

End. For real this time.