Chapter 49

"Do you feel like talking Chloe?" asked Mac carefully.

"I already said no," said Chloe.

"Did something happen at school? Is everything okay?" asked Mac.

"I don't want to talk about it," said Chloe.

"Hon, no matter what, you can always talk to us. Harm and I are here for you," said Mac.

"Okay," said Chloe, still not inclined to talk.

Mac sighed. "Okay sweetie, just get some sleep then."

"I will," mumbled Chloe, getting into bed.

"Night Chloe, love you," said Mac, kissing her cheek.

"Love you too," said Chloe.

Mac left the room, going to the nursery to check on Emma who was stirring.

"Hi beautiful," said Mac, as Emma opened her eyes, letting out a cry.

She fed and changed Emma, Harm coming in to help her and kiss their daughter goodnight.

"I wonder if Chloe's actually asleep," said Mac as they tiptoed out of the nursery, leaving the door ajar.

"Did she talk?" asked Harm.

"No, she's pretty determined not to talk about it," said Mac.

Her worry about Chloe had kept her own sadness at bay and she felt relieved that she could rise above it and not think about it for a certain amount of time. It had also helped to discuss her feelings with the doctor earlier that day and Mac was feeling a bit lighter because of it.

Emma woke just once during the night and Mac woke up feeling well rested the next morning. She was safely coccooned in Harm's arms and watched her flyboy sleep for a few moments, not wanting to move out of his embrace.

However, she got up as Harm was stirring, getting herself ready for the day and checking on Emma who was asleep.

Chloe padded into the kitchen as she started on breakfast, wanting water.

"Good morning," said Mac.

"Morning," said Chloe.

She got herself a glass of water and drank it before leaving the kitchen and Mac called her for breakfast a little while later.

Harm had gotten up and gone to the gym and Mac took the opportunity to try talking to Chloe again.

"Do I have to go to school?" asked Chloe as she took a bite of her eggs.

"Yes you do. Are you sick?" asked Mac.

"No," said Chloe.

"I guess you're going to school then," said Mac with a smile.

"Do you feel like telling me what's going on?" she continued.

"No," said Chloe.

"Come on sweetie. I'm worried about you. Either you tell me or I call your teacher, which is it?" asked Mac.

"Fine," said Chloe.

"What happened?" asked Mac.

"Some kids were making fun of me," said Chloe.

"What about?" asked Mac.

"Not...not having parents," muttered Chloe. "They said I was a reject."

"Honey, whoever said that clearly knows nothing about you and why you're not wit your real parents," said Mac, shocked that kids could be so cruel.

"I told them but they didn't listen," said Chloe dully.

"They're right aren't they? I don't have parents," said Chloe.

"You don't have your real parents but sweetie you have a family that loves you very much," said Mac.

"You and Harm aren't even my family, you're pretending," said Chloe, upset.

"Pretending? Harm and I love you, and to us, you're our daughter already. The adoption will be finalised soon enough too and then it will be official," said Mac.

"The adoption's taking too long," muttered Chloe.

"I'm sorry Chloe, there's a process that we have to go through, but it will happen and then you will officially be our daughter," said Mac, stroking Chloe's hair.

"Why would they make fun of me...my parents died, they didn't just leave me," said Chloe.

"Kids are cruel sweetie, they don't think. You are so special and you've been through so much losing your Mom and your Dad and they don't know what that's like. They didn't leave you, they both loved you very much and still love you," said Mac.

"I guess," said Chloe. "They don't get it, they're stupid."

"Well, definitely silly to pick on something like this. That's wrong and I'm going to talk to your teacher," said Mac.

"No, you'll make it worse," said Chloe.

"Chloe, kids are kids but saying stuff like that is not on, your teacher needs to know that," said Mac.

"I guess if they get in trouble it's good," said Chloe.

"That's right," agreed Mac.

"Thanks Mac...I feel a bit better," said Chloe.

"I wish you would have talked to me last night, you shouldn't leave things like that bottled up. If there's a problem Harm and I need to know about it so we can help you, okay?" said Mac.

"Okay," ageed Chloe, managing a smile.

"Come on, you get ready for school and don't listen to anyone who says anything mean to you. You remember that you're special and very much loved," said Mac.

"I love you guys too," said Chloe.

Mac hugged her tightly.

"I'll drive you to school and I can talk to your teacher before class," said Mac.

"Okay," said Chloe.

She went to get ready and Mac shook her head, upset that Chloe had to deal with comments about her parents from her peers, when the young girl had already been through so much. She vowed to fix it by talking to Chloe's teacher and making sure Chloe knew she and Harm were there for anything she needed.

"Hey flyboy, how was the gym?" asked Mac, as Harm came home.

"Had a good work-out," said Harm. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm feeling okay," said Mac. "Not 100% percent but things are looking up."

Harm hugged her with a smile. "I'm so glad Marine."

"Hey, I talked to Chloe," said Mac, lowering her voice, although she knew Chloe was upstairs.

"Did she tell you what she's upset about?" asked Harm interestedly.

"Yeah. Some kids at school were making fun of her," said Mac.

"What about? She's such a smart kid, and pretty popular," said Harm.

"Not having parents, they said she was a reject," said Mac, shaking her head.

"No one rejected her, these kids clearly have no idea," said Harm.

"I'm not sure whether they know or not, either way I'm talking to her teacher later on when I drop her off at school," said Mac.

"Sounds like a good idea. No wonder she was in a bad mood," said Harm.

"She thinks the adoption is taking too long as well," said Mac.

"Oh. Yeah, it's a bit of hoop jumping that's for sure, but it will happen," said Harm. "We can explain the process to her so she understands more about it."

"Yeah, that's a good idea," said Mac.

"Okay, well, I've got to hit the shower and I'll see you in a bit," said Harm, kissing her.

"Love you," said Mac.

"I love you," said Harm with a grin.

He winked at Mac and then disappeared, heading for the shower and Mac smiled.

The rest of the morning passed quickly as Harm got ready for work and Mac got ready to take Chloe to school and got both Chloe and Emma ready to go.

At Chloe's school, Mac had a chat with Chloe's teacher and she was promised that the students Chloe had named who had bullied her would be spoken to and although she worried that Chloe would be further bullied due to speaking up, she knew it had to be done and leaving it to continue would only be more detrimental in the long run.