Spoilers: set in the year 2006 , Mother's Day.
Rabb Residence
Saturday Morning
Mac didn't even roll over as she woke up knowing that Harm wouldn't be there, it was Saturday and it was the boy's day out. At least for now till Jessie was old enough to join them and keep quiet. But there was an exception today; Harm was to take all three of the kids out to shop for Mother's Day. She snickered as she thought of Harm alone with their three kids, all who were the best and worst of their parents.
Mac got up and grabbed her robe to head downstairs to the kitchen where she found her coffee starting to brew and muffin on the counter top with a bow on it.
"How cute Mac, must be nice to get breakfast decorated like that."
"Harm does it every day when he leaves before me. How are you this morning Mom?"
Trish gave her daughter-in-law a hug as she passed by to grab her a mug from the cabinet. "Where is everyone this morning? The kids are way to quiet and I know that the Rabb twins are never quiet." She asked knowing that Frank mentioned something about breakfast with Harm and the grandchildren as they went shopping for mothers day.
Mac shared the laugh, "Harm began a father and sons day out after Jessie was born, mainly because the boys were too demanding along with her. He wanted to give me a day to sleep some after I put her back down." She grabbed the now finished pot and poured them both a cup. "Harm said that his father used to do the same with him."
Trish followed Mac as they sat down at the table, she smiled sadly as she remembered Harm Sr taking Harm Jr out for a day just before he shipped out for the last time.
"I'm sorry mom, I shouldn't have brought it up."
"No. No Mac, I was just remembering right before Hammer shipped out," she started with a small lean to the right with her head as she called her late husband by his call sign. "He took little Harm to the fair grounds, all he could talk about was carving their initials in the roller coaster car with his daddy. He was still going on and on about till we got the news about the crash. After that he never mentioned it again." She reached out to grasp Mac's hand, "I am glad that he is doing it with his boys."
"I feel left out at times though. I mean for three years it was just us till Harm was freed and now they leave me behind. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't change any of it but,"
"It is time they have that you will never have together. A bond that you don't get to be a part of."
"That's it."
"You and Jessica will just have to start something, a girls day out."
Mac laughed, "Ya, I can just see me and Jessica spending the day shopping at the PX."
"Well it is at least in doors and every girl likes to shop." Trish laughed back as she knew that Mac hated shopping when it wasn't necessary.
"I sometimes wonder here Harm takes them for the day. You should see them," shaking her head, "they will come back covered in mud or paint and all I get from them is it's a guy thing Mom."
Trish laughed again with a sad smile; "I got the same thing for most of Hammer and Harms outings. Some things weren't classified while most were."
Becoming somber again, "I am glad that Harm has been able to get close to them, for the first few months he was home I was really worried. "
"I told you it would be okay."
Trish gripped Mac's hand a little more as they each remembered the hard year after Harm was released from the POW camp.
10 am
Local Mall
Frank sat beside Harm as he rocked the stroller containing a very excited fourteen-month-old Jessica Rabb. "You do this every weekend?"
"Usually it is just the boys and me, but because I wanted Mac to have the morning free for mothers day weekend, I brought Jessie with us to do our mom's day shopping."
"Brave man."
Harm chuckled, "It gets easier as they learn just how far they can push old dad here. Most times it is an outdoor activity, not shopping."
"Dad, Pap paw, how about this for mom?" Trey asked as he and Matt stared in the window of a jewelry store across from where they were sitting. Harm told them to look at the necklaces and see if they liked anything.
Trey was pointing at a heart shaped pendent on a necklace. It had some rubies and small cut diamonds set around the left edge.
"Why that's pretty son, what do you think Matt?"
"Could mommy wear it to work?" The boy asked?
"I am sure she could as long as it was under her uniform. Why?"
"Since the present is from all of us it would be, it would be a way for her to keep us close to her heart."
"Why Matthew that's a great idea." Frank said as patted the boy on the shoulder.
"So you two are set on the necklace then?" Harm asked awed that the twin boys agreed on something.
"Ya daddy, it goes with the clay stuff we made last week."
Frank asked Trey, "clay stuff?"
"Ya pap paw, we made mommy some clay bowls and fig, fig." Trey said stumbling over the words with his missing front teeth.
"Figurines Trey."
"What daddy said," Trey added with Matt nodding. "We made them from our hand prints a few, a few weeks ago on our birthdays, daddy pressed Jessie's hand as we made hers too and we are going to give those to mommy and grandma."
"Well I can't wait to see them."
"I made a frame for my school picture." Matt said trying to add his own creations to the mix.
"Me too." Trey said taking a posture for a word war with his twin.
"We all made grandma some picture frames." Harm jumped in before 'the I did more than you' fight started up.
"And we even made one from Jessie." Trey finished sticking up for his little sister.
Frank shook his head, they were all amazed at how much more protective of Jessica Trey was than Matt. "Why don't you tell me all about them while dad here gets the necklace for you."
"Can we get a milkshake?"
"Matt we only had breakfast." Harm said in an exasperated tone.
"That was two hours ago and I'm thirsty." Matt replied back as he took a defensive stance.
Harm shook his head as the picture of his son before him reminded him of Mac. Even though Matt looked just like him he was his mothers son.
"Is it okay to spoil my grandsons?" Frank asked with a sly grin.
"A small one for both. I don't want your mother after me for ruining your appetite for lunch."
Frank laughed, "Right Harm."
"Go."
"You want me to take Jessie?"
"Nope, I score points with women when I take her with me." Harm said with a big grin.
"Come on boys lets get a shake."
"Stick by pap paw you two." Harm told the twins as they prepared to race to the malt shop.
Harm stopped for a moment and looked at the necklaces himself, trying to find something for Trish. After a few minutes of browsing he found the perfect one.
Sunday Morning
It was hard to stay in bed but Mac did it because she that her boys would be disappointed if they didn't get to fix her and feed her breakfast in bed. She thought back to how her childhood was so different to her children's. She was so happy that her kids had two parents that loved them and that no matter what happened to her and Harm, the three of them would always have each other. Something Harm didn't have either.
"Happy Mothers day mommy!" Trey and Matt shouted as the came running into the room and then launched themselves up onto the bed into her waiting arms.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you."
"How about a hand here guys?" Harm asked as he carried a tray in one hand and Jessica in the other, both were on the verge of being dropped.
"Sorry daddy." Trey said jumping off the bed to help Harm set Jessica on the bed.
Harm set the breakfast tray down and kissed Mac, "Happy Mother's Day dear."
"Thanks Harm."
He leaned over to her ear, "I hope you don't mind the food, the boys did most of the cooking."
Mac chuckled as she glance down at the runny eggs and almost black toast, "I am sure lunch will be early today."
Grabbing Jessica before she toppled the tray, Harm sat on his side of the bed while Trey and Matt took their places on either side of Mac. "Can mommy open her present now?"
"I thought that you wanted to wait till grandma and pap paw were around?"
"I do daddy but I want mommy to open her presents now." Matt countered.
"Well why don't we just join you and Mommy and I can open our presents here?" Trish asked as she and Frank entered the room. Frank carrying the tray Harm prepared for his mother.
"Sounds like a plan to me."
After some rearranging of bodies on the large king size bed, Trey handed Trish her presents and Matt handed Mac hers.
"Oh my," Mac said as she opened the box with the necklace in it. "Guys you shouldn't have." Awing at it as she pulled it out, then turning her gaze on Harm.
"I didn't have anything to do with the selection, your sons did."
"Ya mommy, its so you can wear it to work." Trey started with Matt finishing, "So we will always be near your heart."
"That is very pretty Mac, good job boys." Trish praised her grandsons as a tears threatened from Mac's eyes."
"Yes, thank you so much." Mac leaned over and kissed the top of both of their heads.
"Here's your mom." Harm said as he handed a similar shaped box to Trish.
She scowled at her son as she took the wrapped box from him, as she opened the box her face changed to a smile. The opened box revealed a beaded necklace with different stones separating the silver beads. "The stones are birthstones from each family member, Mac, Trey, Matt, Jessica, Frank and myself. Just as the twins wanted something for their mother to wear close to her heart, I did too."
"How sweet Harm." Frank said as Trish handed him the box.
Harm shrugged his shoulders as Trish leaned over to hug her son, tears falling down her face. "Thank you so much Harm, I love you son."
"I love you too mom." Pulling her close.
Mac wiped the tears from her face as she watched Trish and Harm wondering for a brief moment where her mother was and what she was doing. A brief flare of anger passed through her until Jessica decided to speak up, "Lov mama."
"Momma loves you too sweetie." Pulling the child close for a hug and a sloppy kiss.
Harm took in a deep breath to regain composure as he watched Mac with the kids and remembered how close he came to missing all of this, "Lets get this breakfast over with so we can get to the other presents the kids made."
"Alright." Matt added as he took a strip of bacon off Mac's tray.
"How about we just take this downstairs too so we can reheat this fine meal?" Trish asked.
"Lets go then. Frank if you will get moms tray, I'll get Mac's. They can get the kids."
"I get to sit by mom." Trey shouted as he sprinted off the bed.
"It's my turn." Matt shouted chasing after him.
Harm turned to face Mac to see her smiling brightly, "I think that it is my turn." He said quietly to the adults left in the room and then shouting, "Boys, slow down before you break something."
Frank was laughing as he followed Harm out the door and to the kitchen.
Mac got up out of bed, set Jessica on the floor and came up beside Trish and hugged her tightly. "Happy mother's day mom."
"Same to you mom." Returning the hug.