Title: G-day, Invasion of the Grandparents
Beta reader: Lisa
This episode has Harm and Mac dealing with the family that gangs up on them after they bring Rabbit/Trey Home
This in part comes from the stories from a friend of mine nearly killed her mother-in-law after she gave birth to her twins in Feb. SO to you Jessica this is dedicated.
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Rabb Residence
0400
July 21st
Harm woke up with Mac in his arms and to silence, something that was odd at that hour of the morning for the Rabb household now. With some difficulty he untangled himself from Mac and got up to check across the hall at the newest Rabb. Harm found Trey awake and about to let loose.
"Hey there little fella," Harm cooed trying to calm the little tyke so that Mac could get some more sleep as he checked Trey's diaper, "Seems someone woke up wet and ooh, messy." Harm said as he grimaced at the mess in the diaper and then turned to get a clean one.
The voice of his father calmed Trey down and he did everything he could to follow his fathers voice as Harm rambled on.
"So you think that you might try a bottle today? Hmm? Your mommy made a few bottles so she could catch some sleep since you like being up at night."
After nearly being sprayed while replacing one diaper with another, Harm managed to get Trey changed, wrapped back in his blanket and picked him up to carry him to the kitchen. There Harm grabbed a bottle and following the strict Marine rules written down got Trey to accept the bottle. Harm carried the baby to his recliner and sat down with him sucking away.
Twenty minutes later a happy little boy was asleep in his fathers arms.
0620
Mac awoke with a start as she realized that Harm wasn't in bed and she hadn't heard Trey since midnight. Grabbing her robe she crossed the hall and found the nursery empty. She knew that Harm must have fed Trey sometime in the night because her son's appetite was like hers, endless. After a few days of breast feeding and then making bottles for Harm to feed Trey with made her appreciate cows so much more than as a burger or a pair of shoes. ' There is no way that I could do that day in and day out for my entire life.'
She finally found her two guys in the den asleep in a recliner. She quickly slipped away and found one of the many cameras they'd bought and placed all around the house for when the sudden special moments occurred and took a picture. That was definitely one for the baby book. The tear that started down her face surprised her as she headed to the kitchen to fix something for breakfast as she wondered when she became the mushy mommy she now was and where the gung ho marine went.
Harm awoke to the smell of bacon as he tried not to wake the baby in his arms as he got up from the chair. Of course his moving woke up Trey and the boy started to squirm around and make a face.
Chuckling, "Well big guy, it looks like Mommy is up and fixing herself some dead animal. Shall we go join her?"
And acting as if Trey understood everything he said Harm carried him into the kitchen.
"Morning dear, wake up hungry?"
Mac jumped at his voice, "Morning to you too, what time did he wake up?"
"I think around four, I woke up before him and went to check on him. He was seconds from letting us know that he was a wake."
"How did he take the bottle?"
"He wasn't happy with it but he took it seems he likes the real thing like his daddy," Harm said with a smile and waggled eyebrows. " And I am glad because you needed some sleep."
Mac shot Harm back a dirty look as she though over how long the next six weeks were going to be. Turning back to the stove, "I think that that six hours is the longest I have slept in ages."
"You do look better. But you know I love you no matter how you look." He leaned over to kiss her before she whacked him with the spatula. "Here let me finish breakfast for you."
She took Trey without argument and sat down at the kitchen table as she stroked the little boy's hair back down over his head. She smiled as he yawned and then closed his baby blues back up while he snuggled in closer to her.
"So what time are the masses coming over today?" Harm asked as he flipped a pancake.
"Harriet called me yesterday while you ran to the store, she knows that your grandmother is due in this morning around 10 and your mother and Frank at 2 this afternoon. So she said that they would provide dinner sometime around 5." Mac replied as Trey slipped back off to sleep.
Harm scowled, he enjoyed the silence with just the two of them with Trey and now they were about to be invaded.
Mac saw his face, "I know how you feel, let's just get this over with. Its just Bud and Harriet and the Admiral and Sydney along with your family. Clay is out of town."
"I know that he is, I called his mother to let her know about Trey since he calls her before he calls the office. She said congratulations and said she would pass on the news."
"Who all did you call the other day?"
"Everyone on the Christmas list, Harriet called all the others."
Mac shot her husband a ' you didn't did you look' and then with him busted out laughing.
Harm fixed their plates and sat Mac's down. "Need me to hold him so you can eat?"
"Nope, we are getting pretty good here at doing the one handed thing."
"You look like a natural." Harm said leaning over her shoulder while Trey slept secured in his mommy's embrace.
"Thank you dear." As another hormonal tear started to fall. Harm just smiled as he wiped it away with his thumb and then sat down to join her at the table.
1020 EST
Mac leaned back into Harm's chest as she watched as the elder Sarah Rabb played with her great grandson. A bit of yearning flowed through her as she remembered dreaming about wanting to have a grandparent ooh and ah over her when she was a child and if the great grandmother was like this she could only imagine what Trish was going to be like.
Harm, on the other hand, knew what his mother was going to be like. He remembered the over protectiveness that started after his father went MIA and now that there was a grandchild to spoil heaven help them. He also remembered what a good sport Mac had been when Mom showed up after they called her with the news that they eloped. Arms full of presents and a mouthful of advice for Mac and he remembered how she went on and on about how she wanted grandchildren, something he and Mac were planning a couple of years down the road, not in their first year of marriage. He loved his mother and would do anything for her but short visits were all he could handle because of the way she wanted to run his life. Two weeks with her there was going to drive him batty.
He also knew that as much as a strain having his mother around for two weeks would be that Mac would enjoy that attention his mother would give her. It was times like this that he wanted to find her mother and give her a good kick in the six for creating the insecurities in Mac over whether or not she was worthy of the love she received.
"He is so adorable Sarah and he is such a good baby."
"I am kind of prejudice but I agree with you Grandma. Except that he enjoys using his lungs in the middle of the night."
Sarah just laughed as she stroked the baby's cheeks, "Typical male Rabb, keep you up all night and then they goof off all day." She said with twinkle in her eyes.
"You are so right and I am just masochistic enough to put up with two of them."
Harm tried to defend himself, "Well that is what you ladies signed up for when you married Rabb men and from what little I have seen from this Marine here, she likes being up all hours of the night begging for my attention."
Mac swung her arm back whacking Harm across his chest as Grandma Sarah just laughed at the color that rose in Mac's cheeks. "Harmon Rabb Jr., you might just find yourself sharing a room with your son if you make anymore comments like that one."
Harm pulled Mac closer too him as they all started laughing.
Rabbit just looked at the people around him like they'd lost it.
Same Time cross-town
Roberts Residence
Carolyn looked on at Harriet while she rummaged around her kitchen cooking dinner that was to feed the Rabb's and their in-laws later that day. "So when are we going to have the baby shower? Everyone was ready for the surprise party today but it seems that one Marine Colonel decided to surprise us and beat us all."
Harriet smiled, "I have it all figured out, the first weekend in August is the Brickyard 400. All of the guys will want to get together and watch the race so you and I just have to figure out whether or not to get Mac out of the house or have Bud coerce Harm out to McMurphy's."
"You think that it will be that easy?"
"I am sure that by then Mac will be begging for sometime without her husband under foot with a baby. I know that I was ready for Bud to go out of town for a few days after AJ's birth."
Carolyn gave Harriet a shrug, "Wouldn't know, never been in the position where I wanted a man to leave."
Harriet just smiled, "When you finally find the right man and he lives with you twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week fifty-two days a year, trust me you will be begging for the chance of him taking a few days off from you. Trust me."
"Okay if you say so. Who all is coming to the shower?"
"I am trying to keep it small since I know what it is like to be bombarded by family and friends after having AJ and Sarah. So besides you and me, I have Kate Pike who is now at the Pentagon, Portia Webb, Harm's Mom and Grandmother, Sydney and Skates."
"Skates?" Carolyn scowled as she tried to remember who she was.
"Harm's RIO from the Henry. She transferred to Norfolk after she got engaged. Her fiancé is a friend of mine that I served with when I was fresh out of OCS. They plan to buy a house in between since he serves here in DC."
"Sounds like a plan to me then. What about the others from the office?"
"I told them that we would have another shower like lunch when Mac comes back, that way we don't crowd Mac now or leave them out. They all understood and said that that was fine."
"When is Mac due back?"
"Sometime after Labor day, like mid September. I know that Harm is due back after Labor Day."
Carolyn started to snicker.
Harriet looked at her, "What?"
"I now know who to hire whenever that 'man' comes into my life when I get married. You Harriet have to be the party woman of the office."
"After planning my wedding I know how to get things going and I also learned that baby showers and Christmas parties a breeze compared to a wedding."
Dulles International Airport
1400 EST
Harm stood pacing as he waited for his mother's plane to land. It was all Harm could do to control his opinion of his mother's sudden change of plans from just staying a little over a week to nearly three weeks. He knew his face must have said volumes as Mac looked apologetic, as she knew before hand that was the plan but knew that Harm would have fought against it if he knew before hand.
"Harm!"
Involuntarily his best smile came over his face, "Mom." He said as she came into his arms for a hug. His right hand reached out behind her to shake Frank's hand. "you guys have a good flight?"
"According to your mother it was too slow."
Pulling away from Harm, "I am just anxious to see my grandson okay, this is a day I never figured would happen."
Harm rolled his eyes as Frank defended Harm, "Trish give the boy a break. He just took his time in finding the right girl and you ought to be glad that they didn't wait like they wanted to."
The three of them started heading to the baggage claim, "I knew Mac was the right one a long time before Harm did, he was just like his father. Needed someone to push him along, it was just me both times."
Frank chuckled as Harm just shook his head and looked skyward for help from his father.
Rabb Residence
1445 EST
Mac heard the SUV pull up in the driveway and got up out of bed. "Grandma? Harm, Trish and Frank are here."
Sarah came from the nursery. "Well Trish will just get to look, Trey just fell asleep and as much as she may want to hold him there is no sense in messing with his schedule."
"Thank you and can you remind Mom of that?" Mac asked Sarah as she knew that when Trish got going that she was worse than Harm with an obsession.
"I will, I will just remind her about all of the times that Harm Sr. woke up Harm Jr. so that he could hold him before he shipped out. Took her days to reset the boys sleep pattern."
The two women made it to the door as the others came in. Sarah raised her hand to Trish before Trish could open her mouth. "The boy just went to sleep, it will be on his terms when he wakes up next so no you can't wake him up or hold him till then."
Trish stood stunned and then laughed, "Fine Sarah, can I at least look in on him?"
"Lead the way Mac and hello there Frank. Good to see ya." Sarah said as Trish hugged her and then Mac.
"Hello Sarah and good to see you too. I think I will follow Mac and Trish and get a peek. The internet photos just aren't the same." Frank gave Mac's arm a squeeze to let her know that he would stop Trish too.
Sarah and Harm watched as the trio disappeared, "Thanks Grandma, holding Mom back is going to be fun."
Sarah just smiled, "You forget that I have been giving her orders for a long time. She knew who was boss the minute she met me and hasn't forgotten."
"You are the only one Grandma that I have seen totally stop mom in her tracks."
"I had to be the one because I watched her chase after your daddy. He was a goner the minute that Trish set her cap for him." She said, as she thought to herself 'To bad Mac's past kept her from being the same and a few months of hurt would never have happened.'
Harm looked at his grandmother as she took a look of far away, "You okay?"
Patting his hand, "I am as right as rain Harm. I was just thinking about how we are going to corral your mom these next few weeks."
Harm just shook his head.
1800
Harm stood on the back porch with a beer in his hand wondering where did the quiet go?
"You okay Harm?"
"How did you do it Bud? Keep the in-laws at bay?"
"I just played with the train set the first time and surfed the web, the second time I just took AJ out to the park and stuff like that. And no," Bud grinning from ear to ear added," you can't borrow AJ."
AJ joined them as they laughed, "Your mother is something, Harm. Now I understand where you get you determination from."
"Thank you sir. I think."
"You're welcome." Feeling for the younger man as he remembered his ex-mother-in-law when Francesca was born. Never in his life was he so eager for a few weeks in the field than during that time. Of course he didn't know that a year in Nam was coming up either. "So how long is she staying?"
"Two to three weeks."
"You know sir, I feel for the commander here. I mean Harriet and I never told my dad. He found out through Mikey, but to be bombarded by your own mother must be hard."
Harm looked at the other two men as he realized that out of all of his close friends that only Harriet and Clay still had their moms around. Remembering that both of the men in front of them had lost their moms when they were younger. Then there was himself and Clay who lost fathers due to war and then Mac.
"I know what you are thinking Harm, that all of us save for Sydney and Harriet grew up in one parent households. Maybe the next generation growing up right now will luck out and grow up with both parents around."
Bud took another sip of his beer. "I know that I have pledged to Harriet and the kids that I will never beat them like I was."
"You and Mac are a lot alike Bud. She has made the same pledge to Trey. I heard her the night we brought him home." And it nearly broke my heart to watch my wife have to promise something like that along with a promise to never have him doubt her love for him, he thought to himself.
Seeing that a change in topic was due AJ asked. "So you and Mac going to call him Trey instead of Rabbit?"
Harm smiled, "I don't know yet, between calling him Trey and little Harm we lost track of Rabbit. I think that it comes from Mac not wanting our son in therapy for a silly nickname."
"You started it Harm and I think that he will be stuck with it since most of the gifts I have heard about from Harriet have Rabbit on them in some form or fashion."
"I believe that that was supposed to be a secret Bud." AJ glared at Bud.
Bud kind of cowered in an oops position, "Well then since the cat is out of the bag for the most part, how would you like to join me and the AJs for the Brickyard 400 so that Harriet can spring her small baby shower on Mac?"
"That sounds like it would be fun Bud. Who knows by then I may be living out of my office.
A Week later
0100
Mac was never so grateful to Harm when he suggested the second night that Trey be moved to into their room since the new distractions were causing the baby to be very cranky.
"Is he asleep yet?"
"Just about." She replied as she gently rubbed the little ones back.
"Can I be next and then I promise to return the favor?"
"I think that that can be arranged sailor. But I want to go first and then I will do the other significant man in my life."
"Deal, come here."
Mac stretched out over their king size bed and moaned when Harm started kneading a knot in her shoulder. "Can I be truthful about your mom and not offend you?" She asked.
Knowing what was coming, "Yes, you should know by now that I will answer any question you pose."
"Can I ask her to leave after the baby shower that Harriet has planned?"
"Why honey, does her rearranging the bathroom cabinets bother you as much as it does me?"
Mac laughed into her pillow then groaned as Harm hit another sore spot.
"I'm sorry Mac, I know that Mom has good intentions but she has driven me crazy for years with some things. Why do you think that I have never taken a duty station in California?"
"It just surprised me that’s all Harm. I have heard you talk about your mother in many ways before but you never put her down. Sorry that didn’t come out right."
Harm rolled over onto his back, "No honey, I never mentioned her habits because most of the time it is just a quick visit between us and I am able to stay out of her clutches. She was always on me about you though."
"Oh, really when was she on you about me?"
"When we went to Russia, I went out to California for a quick visit. She kept after me about you."
"Smart woman, too bad you took so long to listen to her."
"I know I took the long way but I am here and I don't plan on going anywhere else without you by my side. You and Rabbit are my life."
Mac started crying, "I love you too."
Sept 1st
Harm finally found Mac with Trey out on the back patio, "There you are, I have been searching for you two."
"Trying to hide so I can spend some time with my son alone." Mac said as she thought over the past two weeks with Harm's family there. Harm never mentioned how pushy his mother could be and now understood why Harm was the way he was. He loved his mother and would do anything for her, almost anything.
Mac and Sarah had talked endlessly when alone about the wars between Trish, Harm and Frank. Harm tired to be there for his mother the first few years after Harm Sr. went down but spent the remainder of his youth battling to get free from Trish's rule. Frank was the pawn between them that helped give Harm the ammunition to get his way. Harm loved Trish and would do anything to protect her but living the way his mother wanted him to was out.
"Grams just drug Mom out for some shopping so that we could have some down time in our own home without hiding out in the bedroom."
"I love your grandmother Harm, she can stay as long as she wants, she can even move in if she wants too."
Harm busted out laughing as he joined Mac at the table, "Sorry Mac."
Mac started laughing with him, "I never in my wildest dreams ever thought that Trish was going to be this way. If it wasn’t for the fact that he gets dinner from me I would never get to hold him."
"Frank promised me that he and Mom would be going home Tuesday and that he would help in keeping Mom reigned in from just flying out all the time."
Taking a deep breath, "Your mom is welcome anytime Harm, I am not going to deny my son his only grandmother but and I mean but she will visit next time on my terms.
TBC as I find the time