Title: As It Was in the Beginning

Author: rooster dawn

Pairing: Harm and Mac

Disclaimer: The characters of JAG are the property of Donald Bellisario and Bellisarius Production, Inc. Used without permission. No copyright infringement intended.

Summary: What if Harm and Mac met in law school after Harm's ramp strike and Mac's return from Japan? Would their lives be the same?

Good feedback is good for the soul and my happiness.

Author's note: Yeah I know Mac went to Duke, but for the purposes of this story they both went to the same school, Georgetown. Why else would Harm go directly to JAG Headquarters in DC?

part fourteen Revelations

"So what else do you think I want Harriet?" asked Mac.

Harriet gulped. She had thought or had hoped that Mac had gone in another direction and had forgotten about her. But she should have known better. Everyone thought that the Commander was the one who got target fixated, but the Colonel was the same, especially when she wore her lawyer hat.

"Well Ma'am ..... we have seen how wonderful you were with Chloe, and little AJ and Jimmy just loves you. You are so great with them. How can anyone not see that you want kids of your own?" wailed Harriet.

"How can anyone who has known you as long as many of us have, not believe that you want to be with Harm and have a family. You two belong together, you're soul mates." wailed Harriet.

"And what makes you think that I don't have all that now Harriet? What makes you think we aren't married? After all don't many of you believe that we fight like an old married couple.

What makes you think I don't have any children already Harriet? I'm not exactly a young woman just out of college. Why do you think I'm so good with children? Did the thought ever occur to you that I may have one or two of my own?" challenged Mac.

"You and the Commander are married?" asked Jen.

"You have kids?" added Bobbie.

"I didn't say that. What I did was challenge your perceptions of what kind of relationship you think Harm and I have. All any of you really know is what we have led you to believe. What is the truth? Does anyone really know? Does anyone really care?" proposed Mac.

"You know, what makes all of this very interesting to me, is that none of you think I'm completely happy with my life. I'm thirty six years old. Harm is thirty nine. We've lived long enough and experienced enough to know what makes us happy.

What I also find interesting is, your view of us is base on the last seven years. It's like you think we didn't have a life before we came here. Did the thought of who we are, may have been formed many years before coming here to JAG?

Would it surprise most of you to know that Harm and I both began law school in 1991, the same year. Harm was twenty seven. He had just survived a ramp strike and was starting a new career.

I was twenty four and was returning from Japan where my CO had been impressed with my negotiating skills and how I handled disputes with the local population. We both arrived at Georgetown in the fall of 1991." said Mac as she began her story.

There was a gasp "Ooh!" from the crowd as they listened intensely to Mac. Then they all quieted as quickly as possible to hear more.

"We met for the first time in an early morning class. He walked into the lecture hall wearing a god awful loud Hawaiian shirt. He saw me sitting near the front of the room and came over to sit next to me.

He asked me 'Diane, what are you doing here?' He gave me one of those flyboy smiles of his.

I looked at him with a surprised look on my face. Who is this guy? Who does he think he is? God's gift to women? I said 'Pardon me! I don't know who you think I am sailor, but my name is not Diane.'

He looked puzzled for a moment before replying 'You looked like an old classmate of mine from the academy.' I scoff at him 'Yeah right. I'm sure that line works wonders for you all the time sailor.'

He smiled at me as he pulled out his wallet. I told him 'And I'm sure all the blond bimbos and squidlets love that smile too.' He kept on smiling and opened up his wallet. He pulled out a picture of a woman in navy whites. I was shocked when I saw the picture.

The woman in the picture looked just like me. I was speechless. He told me all about her and that her name was Diane. They were good friends and that she helped him during his recovery.

It was at that time he introduced himself as Lieutenant Harmon Rabb Jr. I told him my name was Sarah MacKenzie. He then kissed my hand." sighed Mac as she continued the story.

Once again there was a gasp "Wow!" but this time it came only from the women present.

"I always knew you were a quick worker buddy, but that's even quick for you." smiled Jack.

"He told me he got the shirt from you Jack. It was the only way you could get any attention from the fairer sex." smiled Mac.

"He took me out to dinner and dancing that night. We began dating shortly after that. After the first semester we took all our classes together. We finished up in three years. After graduation he came here to work and I went to Europe." continued Mac.

"So let me get this right. You dated for three years before you went to Europe and Rabb came here. Two years later you were assigned here. Why haven't you two been dating since you both were here together?" asked Sturgis.

"Why would we do that Sturgis?" asked Harm.

"It sounded like you two loved each other." replied Sturgis.

"Maybe they were afraid to be charge with fraternization Sir." answered Jen.

"Jen, fraternization charges only refer to two people engaging in a sexual relationship while serving in a combat role while stationed in a combat zone. Besides they are both equal in rank so it wouldn't have made a difference." replied Carolyn.

"And here I thought it was because they were afraid of the Admiral." joked Bud.

"Lieutenant! They better be afraid of me, just like the rest of you!" bellowed the Admiral, who looked over at Tom and grinned.

Then it dawned on Harm. "Honey, I think you forgot to tell them the whole story." grinned Harm.

"Honey!" chirped Harriet, Carolyn, Jen, and Bobbie together. Mac looked a little confused at first and then realized he was right.

"Oh, That's right, I guess I forgot to tell you that Harm and I got married after the second semester. He proposed before finals of our last class together that semester. We got married at the end of the summer.

For some reason unknown to the class and me, Harm walked into the lecture hall in his dress whites and gold wings carrying a dozen red roses. He walked over to me and gave me the roses.

Everyone was buzzing about it. By that time everyone knew that we were in the military, but they didn't know he was a pilot. My girlfriends were thinking Top Gun, Officer and Gentleman.

Harm took my hand and the whole classroom became very quiet. I looked around the room a little nervous and very embarrassed. Harm got down on one knee and took my hand.

He then slipped an engagement ring on my finger and asked me to marry him. I was just sitting there. I was so stunned. I couldn't think or say anything. Everyone was staring at me waiting for an answer.

I'm sure it seemed like ten minutes to Harm, but it was really only fifty two seconds. I finally said yes to him. He pulled me up and kissed me like I've never been kissed before. I thought it was going to last forever, but the teacher had other ideas." she concluded

"Wow! That's a fantastic story Ma'am!" chirped Jen.

"I think we're going to have to have a talk in my office Monday." bellowed the Admiral.

"Why's that Sir? It's all in our personnel records. We've been married for eleven years Sir." replied Harm.

"Then why is this the first time that I'm hearing of it Rabb?" asked the Admiral.

"I don't know Sir. It's not really a secret. Most of our friends know that we're married." replied Harm as he saw the 'What about us' look.

The Admiral looked around the gathering as if he was asking who knew about this. Jack was the first one to volunteer.

"I was his best man."

Tom Boone was next. "Sure AJ, I knew. I was invited to the wedding. It was beautiful. They had the wedding in the Naval Academy Chapel at Annapolis."

A few more of Harm's flying buddies owned up to hearing about Harm getting married. The Admiral and everyone else sat there stunned never in the world did they figure that Harm and Mac were married.

They had all thought that Harm and Mac were in denial about their feelings. That they were denying the love that was so obvious to the rest of them. How could it be that they were so wrong? That what they saw was in reality Harm and Mac sharing their love with them.

Harm and Mac looked around and saw all the surprised looks on their faces. They thought that maybe they could play one more on them. Mac looked at Harm. Harm nodded his head. Mac stood up in an effort to get everyone's attention.

"I have an announcement to make. I know it's not April any more. That it is really July, but you know what? April Fool." yelled Mac.

Mac, Harm, and Jack began laughing.

The women; Harriet, Jen, Carolyn, Bobbie, and Meredith just to name a few, were very upset. They had thought that they had heard the most wonderful love story of their entire lives, only to have been told that they were fools for believing the story.

Harriet and Jen wanted to say something but knew better. Carolyn and Meredith wanted to say something too, but they realized that this wasn't the time or the place. Harm and Mac were their friends.

Bobbie however wasn't so understanding. She was one person who never liked to be embarrassed or made a fool of. She was more than capable of doing that to herself without the help of others.

Harm and Mac had embarrassed her one too many times before, but usually it was because she had been too lazy to do her homework and be prepared.

Not this time. But before she could say anything to Mac three young children ran up onto the porch with the youngest one jumping into Mac's lap. He gave Mac a hug. Then the other two hugged her as well.

"Mom! Is it time for dessert yet? We've been waiting forever for the cake and ice cream!" wailed the smallest child. Once again everyone sat there looking stunned.

It had been hard enough to learn that Harm and Mac had been married for eleven years. Then for Harm and Mac to tell them it had all been a joke. Now if they understood what they had heard right, not only were Harm and Mac married, but they also had three kids.

"What? You didn't think that after eleven years of marriage we didn't have a few children." laughed Mac.

"But when Ma'am? You've always looked so beautiful." asked a stunned Harriet.

"Well believe it or not I had two of them before I came here to JAG. The youngest I had the summer I went TDY to Fort Devens for six months." smiled Mac.

"Everyone, I would like to introduce to all of you, our children. The oldest is Matthew, he's ten. He was named after my Uncle Matt. I want him to be a marine, Harm wants him to be a squid.

The next is Victoria, she's eight. She's my little angel. She was Harm's special graduation, goodbye gift he gave me before I left for Europe and he came here to JAG.

The youngest one is Harm the third or affectionately known as Trey. He's five. As you would guess if ask, he wants to be a pilot like his father.

And finally just for your edification Harriet, this home or mansion as some would call it belongs to Harm and me. The kids lived here full time. Trish and Frank watch over them when Harm and I are working.

Harm and I spend every possible weekend and day off here with them. It's very tough. We miss them when we're not here. But it's a price we're willing to pay for serving our great country."