A/N Ok, so everyone has been asking for more of the "Appreciating Fate" Story. And you are in luck! As it turns out, I've been working on a prequel for some time. I have 3 chapters ready to post and many more mostly complete, but I wanted to get the first one up and see how it goes over before I post the others. Please note in this one, I ignore Mattie's accident. So it is AU

When I finished watching the series, I started two post series fics. The other one addresses Mattie's accident and how the couple responds to that. I hope to get it posted soon as well, so be looking for it if you're interested. :)

Harm couldn't keep from touching her. He didn't even know he was doing it sometimes. Holding hands. A hand on the small of her back. An arm hooked around her waist or shoulders. Or even the idle stroking of her arm or back as she stood next to him. It was compulsive. He figured it was some strange after effect of nine years of not being able to touch her like that. He was thrilled that was no longer the case as he found himself with an arm wrapped around her waist, one large hand splayed over her taught stomach, pulling her back against his hip. She was laughing at something his mother had said. They'd just gotten married that morning and were in the midst of a reception and farewell party before they left for San Diego the following evening.

"Mac, your phone is ringing," Chloe announced, offering her the cordless.

Harm looked down at his new bride, raising his eyebrows in question. She shrugged, she wasn't expecting a call.

"Excuse me," she said to Trish, pushing out of Harm's hold. "Be right back," she added, rolling on to her toes to press a quick kiss to his lips before finding a quiet place to take the call.

Mac stared down at the phone in her hand. If this hadn't already been the wildest week of her life that phone call would have put it over the top. Her eyes caught on the rings on her left hand. Last week this decision would have been hers alone, but as of eight hours ago, she had someone else to consider. She needed to talk to Harm.

He was right where she left him, talking with his mother. Mattie had joined them.

"Mac!" The teenager greeted.

"Hey Mattie," Mac smiled, pulling the girl into a hug. "I'm so glad you could make it today." Getting married in the middle of the week was a strange affair. Pulling people away from work and out of school was not without its challenges.

"Well, I couldn't miss my Navy dad's wedding," she sent a playful look in Harm's direction. "Plus now I get extra time to study for my bio test," she shrugged. Harm rolled his eyes. The girl still didn't love high school, despite the fact that she was excelling at it.

"Do you guys mind if I steal Harm for a second?" She asked, reaching for her new husband's hand. His eyes went wide, concerned. She was sure he was curious about her phone call.

"Honey, you don't have to steal him, he's yours now," Trish replied with a wink. Mac enjoyed the way Harm's cheeks went pink at his mother's teasing.

"I'll be back," he dismissed himself to the two women.

Mac tugged him into what was left of her bedroom so they could have some privacy.

"Sit down," she instructed and for once in his life, Harm did as he was told. He took a seat on the edge of the bed.

"Mac, are you ok?" He asked, looking up at her. Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes were alight. She seemed nervous, but excited and he wasn't sure how to take it. "Who was on the phone?"

"How do you feel about kids?" She blurted.

"In general or with you?" He thought she knew the answer to both of those questions. He had agreed to father her child awhile back.

"How would you feel about having a kid now?" She clarified. Harm was confused by the question. His mind whirred in a million directions. If she was pregnant, it wouldn't be his. They'd only started sleeping together a few days prior and there would be no way to detect pregnancy that soon. Plus, he thought her endometriosis curbed that possibility and would make it very difficult for them going forward, which was why he thought it would be strange for her to be randomly discussing pregnancy. Unless that phone call...

"Who was on the phone?" He repeated dumbly.

"A friend of mine who works for a child advocacy group I do some pro bono work for. She heard from one of her counters in Europe is looking for parents for a newborn orphaned by two naval officers. Apparently my name came up as a match."

"But how?" He was curious about how she ended up on their radar at all.

"Since my diagnosis, I've been exploring my options," she shrugged. She had every intention of telling him this, but they'd been together all of three days and most of that had been consumed by sex and wedding planning.

"When do we leave?" He asked. He wanted children with Mac. But he was prepared to wait a long time since their options were medical treatments for her endometriosis, surrogacy, or adoption and none of those were quick processes. So he wasn't about to hesitate when someone was practically handing them a baby.

"Wait, what?" She'd been expecting him to have a million questions.

"When do we need to be in Europe? And where, more importantly? I'll start making some calls."

"London. And you're serious?" Mac was shocked by his impulsiveness. That was twice in one week he'd thrown caution to the wind. Maybe what he said was true, he just needed a deadline.

"It's a baby, Mac. Could be our baby." He grinned, reaching a hand out an pulling her between his legs. "I made you a promise, I plan to keep it," he whispered against her lips.

"Well, you're a little late," she teased, kissing him gently.

"Better late than never," Harm returned with a cheeky smile.

"The Harmon Rabb Jr. life motto," Mac quipped, stepped away from him and pulling him back to his feet.

"Wait…" he tugged her back towards him.

"Something wrong?" her dark eyes went round with concern. She probably thought he'd changed his mind.

"Not wrong…" he shook his head. " It's just…I don't know if we should tell anyone just yet," his throat worked to swallow past a sudden buildup of anxiety. "What if it doesn't…" he trailed off. Mac nodded, she knew what he was thinking. Adoption was risky and full of uncertainties and given the lack of details they had and the whole ocean between them and this baby, Harm's concern wasn't unwarranted.

"I know," she breathed, giving his hand a gentle squeeze. "Maybe we keep it to ourselves. At least until we have more details."

"Yeah, they've had a enough big news from us for a couple days," he chuckled.