1300
EST
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, VA
Harm
watched his fiancé walk across the bullpen. She was the most beautiful woman
in the world – but then again, he was bias, she would kick his six if he didn’t think she was beautiful 6 months
pregnant with his twins.
“Harm!”
He
got up and ran to her side, she was hunched over in the bullpen with her hand to her stomach.
“Baby, what’s wrong?”
“You
did this to me!”
“What
did I do this time honey?”
“Your
twins decided to do some sort of acrobatic move, one that I don’t think is humanly possible.”
“So
then it is the twins fault, not mine.”
“How
can you blame them, they are just babies!” She said tears were streaming
from her eyes. She punched him in the arm and entered her office slamming the
door.
General
Creswell walked out of his office. “Attention on deck!” Coates yelled.
“As
you were people.” He replied quickly. “Commander, are you skating
on thin ice again?”
“Sir,
with a very pregnant marine fiancé, with twins for the first pregnancy, I am always skating on thin ice.”
“What
happened this time Commander?”
“She
wanted to talk baby names, and I basically said that the choice was up to her, I figured she has to carry them for nine months
she should get to name them whatever she wants. They will have my last name anyway.”
Bud
interjected for a quick moment. “Commander, you know mine and Harriet’s
feelings on names. She thinks a child’s name should emulate the rest of
their life, whereas I, well, she won’t let me name anymore of our children.”
Harm
smiled. “I just never really gave it much thought. I mean, Mattie was already named. One day I was curious and
looked her name up and it meant battle maiden, strength. Her name was well suited
for her considering everything she has had to put up with.”
“Speaking
of which sir, how is Mattie coping with all the changes?”
“Like
a trooper. I just got finished with the paperwork for the final adoption phase,
she is really looking forward to being a big sister, and is asking me when we can go house hunting.”
“Well
Commander, you can’t put things off forever. You need to get rid of the
bachelor pad anyway. You are the father of three kids, and none of them live
with you right now! Take the day, it’s slow anyway smooth things over with
your very irate fiancé.”
“Thank
you sir.”
“Trust
me, I am doing this for everyone. Mac is a bear when you guys are fighting. Have this resolved soon.”
“Yes
sir.”
The
general turned to go back into his office and Harm went to go meet his marine. He
steeled himself for the onslaught when he knocked on her door.
“Enter.”
Her icy reply came.
“Colonel,
General Creswell just ordered us to go home and work out our differences,” He sighed and looked into her eyes. “Baby, I love you, and I hate it when we fight.
So I have a suggestion.”
“What
is it Harm?”
“Let’s
go to you apartment, and I will draw you a bath, with lavender. That always calms
the babies from kicking right?”
“Yes.”
“And
while you are in the tub, we can read the baby name book that Mattie bought us last week.”
“What
if we don’t agree?”
“Out
of the million names, I am sure we can find on that we both agree on. If not,
we will name them Thing One and Thing Two.”
Mac
smiled, “So how was babysitting the Roberts clan with Mattie this weekend?”
“Mac,
I don’t know how many times I had to read The Cat in the Hat to get Jimmy to fall asleep, but all I could think about
last night was rhyming words.”
“Our
twins names will not rhyme.” She answered with a definitive tone.
They
decided to wait to learn the gender of the twins. “So I guess we can go
with Jack and Jill, Hot and Cold, Salt and Pepper.” He said smiling.
“Oh
yes, Harm pass me Salt! I can just hear the preschool teacher now. Salt and Pepper Rabb?”
“Okay,
so maybe going with pairs of anything is a bad idea.”
“Now,
that I agree with you on sailor.”
1345
EST
Mac’s Apartment
Georgetown
Area
Harm
helped Mac out of the SUV. She missed driving, but the corvette wasn’t
something that she could easily get in and out of in her condition, so Harm resorted to picking her up for work and going
places to run errands.
He
let her slip out of her uniform and got to drawing her bath. She walked into
the bathroom and the sight before her took her breath away. Harm just got finished
lighting the last candle.
“Harm?”
“Well
since you are so uncomfortable, and I am the cause of it, I figure I can try my damndest to help ease your discomfort.”
He
helped her into the tub and started massaging her swollen stomach. “Okay, I guess I won’t be able to call you
guys the twins much longer, so how about me and Momma come up with names that fit this family.”
“Are
you ready for this Flyboy?”
Harm
reached under the cabinet and pulled out Mac’s favorite sponge. “As
sure as I will ever be. But, lets find names that fit this family. Mathilda means battle maiden, strength. Harmon, of course
means soldier, and Sarah means princess.”
“So,
what are you getting at Harm?”
“Well,
these are names the babies have to live with forever. The names should be nice
and strong and have personal meaning behind them.”
“Why
the sudden about face? Yesterday we were fighting because I was too complacent,
the general and Bud helped me see the error of my ways.”
“I
see. Now what are your ideas for names?”
“There
is one name I really love – Gabriel.”
“Harm,
that is kinda old fashion.”
“Hear
me out honey. These babies are miracles.
We weren’t supposed to be able have children, and by the grace of God, I was able to find you on the mountain
and because of our love, that day we created these beautiful babies. Gabriel,”
Harm started.
“Was
the angel of God that appeared to tell Mary she was going to have a baby, God’s messenger.” Mac finished. “I didn’t know you felt that way.”
“Well,
I figured we could call him Gabe for short.”
“I
have the perfect middle name, Dustin, meaning warrior.”
“I
love it, Gabriel Dustin Rabb. He sounds like his daddy already.”
“Huh?”
Harm asked, lost in thought staring at Mac’s pregnant form.
“Your
middle name, Matthew, means God’s gift. Soldier, God’s gift. Our son, will be hero of God, warrior.”
“Okay,
Thing 2 needs a name.”
“I
know we said no rhyming in the office, but how about Justin.”
Harm
flipped through the baby name book, “The name means true and just, everything we fight for being in the military and
as lawyers. Well, if we put it as his middle name, then the names will rhyme.”
“I
have the perfect first name picked out.”
“What
is it Mac?”
“Jakob. After your grandfather.”
“Jakob
Justin Rabb. JJ for short?”
“No,
I think I like Jake for short.”
“I
love it.”
“What
if we have girls?”
“Mab,”
Mac said leaving no room for debated. “It means happy, and I want our little girl to have a happy life.”
“Agreed,
Mab Patricia Rabb.”
“Have
any thoughts on baby two’s name?” Harm flipped through the book and
got a huge grin on his face. “What is it Flyboy, I can tell you are already
in love with the name.”
“Marissa.”
“What
does that name mean?”
“Of
the sea. She can be a sailor like her daddy.”
“Middle
name?”
He
scanned the pages. “Jalen, it means bird of light. The night I was in the ocean, the helicopter finding me was a miracle, because of you. But when I saw the lights in the air . . .”
“Marissa
Jalen Rabb. It roles off the tongue. I
love it.” Mac said.
“Okay
so now we have two sets of girls names picked out, two set of boy names picked out.
So if we get one of each, then at least we have choices for the child.”
Mac
cracked a smiled. “You realize that if we have twin girls, all of your
girls will have M names, Mac, Mattie, Mab, and Marissa.”
“And
all of them will have me wrapped around their fingers.” He helped her out
of the bath tub and applied cream to her stomach, he leaned down talking to them, “So, what do you guys think of your
names, Mab, Marissa, Jakob, and Gabriel? I love you.” He kissed her stomach lightly.
“What
about their mom?”
“Words
cannot express the amount of love I have for you.”
He
helped her down took her out for dinner, and settled her back at her apartment. He
pulled up to his apartment and found Mattie curled up on the sofa.
“Hey
Baby.”
“Hi
Daddy.”
“Waiting
up for me?”
“Yeah.”
“Why?”
“Because
Jen told me about the fight at work today, and you normally need to talk about your fights after you go skating on thin ice.”
“Don’t
worry baby. Mac and I were discussing what to name the twins, and then I took
her out to dinner, and then put her to bed. It has been awhile since I have taken
her out for a night on the town, and she deserves it. But you young lady, you
have school tomorrow.” He watched her walk down the hall to her apartment
and heard the lock click. ‘Maybe skating on thin ice wasn’t so bad
after all’ he mused.
