A Leap Year Tradition

Author:  Ava E-mail:  mmmThatAJ@yahoo.com Rating:  PG-13 Summary:  It's Leap Year Day!  The historical day for a woman to propose to a man.  And Mac does it! Author's comments:  For this story, "Persian Gulf" and "Take It Like a Man" didn't happen.  Characters' speaking parts are in double quotes ("text"); characters' thoughts are in single quotes ('text').     Disclaimer:  JAG and all its characters belong to Belisarius Productions, Paramount, CBS, Viacom, and probably endless others.

Thursday, 26 February 2004
1600 EST
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, Virginia

Lieutenant Colonel Sarah MacKenzie knocked on the doorframe of Commander Harmon Rabb's office.  Without waiting for him to answer, she asked, "Hey, Dad.  You have big plans for the weekend?"

Harm looked up from his papers.  "Not especially.  What'd you have in mind, Mac?"

She walked inside and perched herself on the corner of his desk.  "Chloe just called.  She's coming to spend the weekend."

"She hasn't been down here in a long time, has she?"  Harm tried to remember the last time he'd heard Mac mention her little sister's visiting.

"She sure hasn't," Mac sighed.  Then she tried to make excuses for her, "Well, she's in high school now, and she has her own friends to hang with.  She's gone through several boyfriends already..."

"Great... I guess I have that to look forward to, hmm?" Harm groaned, referring to his ward, Mattie Grace.  

Mac chuckled.  "Oh, yeah.  You certainly do."

"Hey!  Do you think Mattie and Chloe might hit it off?" Harm asked.  "Maybe we could all go to a movie together or out for pizza or something."

Mac grinned inwardly.  'Exactly what I was thinking and why I'm sitting here in your office!'  "What a great idea, Harm!" she agreed.  

Then Harm frowned.  "Oh, wait.  Mattie said something about a dance at school this weekend."  He reached for the phone and dialed her apartment.  "Maybe it's next weekend," he hoped.

"Hello?" Mattie chirped over the wire.

"Hey, Mattie.  It's Harm."

"School was fine, Harm.  I didn't get into any trouble.  I didn't make any teachers mad.  I didn't make any enemies.  I didn't..."

Harm chuckled, "Mattie, that's not why I'm calling."

She laughed.  "No?  You mean you actually called just to say hello?  Or to make sure I came straight home."

"You mentioned something about a dance the other day.  Is that this weekend?" he asked her, ignoring her other questions.

"Yeah, it's Sunday evening, actually."

"Hang on a second," he said into the phone and then turned to Mac.  "The dance in Sunday night, Mac.  How about we do something on Saturday?"

"I was kinda thinking tomorrow night, actually.  I thought we'd go shopping on Saturday," Mac replied.

"Shopping?" Mattie said into Harm's ear.  "Did I hear someone say we're going shopping?"

"Yeah, I guess tomorrow might work," Harm answered Mac.  Then to Mattie he said, "Mattie, Mac's little sister is coming to town tomorrow for the weekend.  We thought it would be nice for all four of us to get together and do something fun... like a movie or pizza.  How would you like that?"

"Mac's little sister?" Mattie said without much enthusiasm.

"That's right.  Her name is Chloe."

"And I take it, she and Mac are the ones going shopping on Saturday, hmm?"

Harm chuckled, "That's right.  But if you play your cards right tomorrow night, they might invite you along."

Mac turned puzzled eyes to Harm, but he just winked at her.

"So what movie would we go see?  'Brother Bear' or 'Teacher's Pet'?" Mattie asked.

Harm hadn't heard of either movie.  He looked at Mac.  " 'Brother Bear' or 'Teacher's Pet', Mac?"

Mac choked on a laugh and took the receiver from Harm.  "Hi, Mattie.  It's Mac."

"Hi, Mac."

"Do you honestly want to go see one of those movies, Mattie?" asked Mac.

"Are you kidding?  Of course not.  But those are the only ones for little kids that are playing at the..."

"Chloe is in high school, Mattie.  In fact, I believe she's a year ahead of you.  She's a Junior... she'll be 17 in May."

Mattie laughed.  "You're kidding!  And here I thought Harm meant some little kid!"

"No, Chloe is far from being a little kid anymore," Mac grinned.  "And assuming you two hit it off tomorrow night, you're welcome to come go shopping with us on Saturday.  It would be fun."

"Thanks, Mac."

"Just make sure you get..."

"Harm's credit card!" Mattie finished.

"You got it, girlfriend!" Mac laughed.  "Now what movie would you prefer, '50 First Dates' or 'Mona Lisa Smile'?"

Mattie replied, "How about 'Dirty Dancing, Havana Nights'?  It opens tomorrow night and it sounds really cool."

"Well, that actually might be best.  Chloe might well have already seen the other two, but if this one opens tomorrow, she won't have seen it.  Good idea, Mattie," Mac agreed.  "You picked the movie, how about we let Chloe pick the restaurant?"

"I thought Harm said pizza?" she asked.

"Harm always says pizza," Mac winked at him as she spoke to Mattie.

"Hey!" he complained.

"You're right, he does," agreed Mattie.  "Okay, Chloe picks the food."

"Great!  It's all settled then.  See you tomorrow!"  Mac handed the phone back to Harm.  "All set!" she quipped as she unseated herself and headed back to her office.

Friday, 27 February 2004
1545 EST
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, Virginia

Mac pushed the door open and Chloe preceded her into the bullpen.  "This place hasn't changed a bit," Chloe commented.  "People have changed," she noted as she looked around, "but nothing else."

Mac smiled, "I consider that a good thing."

"You're still in the same old office, hmm?" Chloe observed as Mac opened her office door.  

"Same old office."

"I guess Harm is, too?"

"No, actually, Harm is in a different office now.  Commander Turner has Harm's old office."

"Excuse me, Colonel," interrupted Petty Office Jennifer Coates.  "The Admiral would like to see you in his office, Ma'am."

"That's something that never changes," quipped Chloe.  "The Admiral always wants to see you in his office, Mac."

Mac sighed, "Are you going to start that again?"

Chloe grinned.  "Maybe I should.  It would light a fire under him!"

"Try to behave while I'm gone, okay?" Mac begged as she followed Jen back to the Admiral's office.  She could hear Chloe's giggle even as she opened the Admiral's door and walked inside.

Chloe decided to walk around the office and see if she recognized anyone.  After peeking in several offices, she finally saw Harm coming into the bullpen, his arm around a teenage girl.  They walked right past Chloe; he didn't even recognize her!  "Hello, stranger!" Chloe called after him.

Harm turned around and smiled, obviously not sure who she was.  Then it occurred to him.  "Chloe?!"  She nodded.  "Well, hello to you, too!"  He took two strides and was close enough to pull her to him for a hug.  "Look at you!  You're all grown up!"

Chloe beamed at his praise.  "i just wish Grandma and Grandpa would see it that way."

"To your grandparents, you'll always be a little girl," he told her confidentially.

She sighed, "That's what Mac keeps telling me."

Harm looked behind him and motioned for Mattie to come forward.  "Chloe, I'd like you to meet Mattie Grace.  Mattie, this is Mac's little sister, Chloe."

"Hi," greeted Mattie.

"So, you're living with Harm, hmm?  Lucky girl," Chloe winked.  Harm grinned causing Mattie to laugh.  "Mac tells me we're all going out for dinner and a movie tonight."

Mattie nodded, "Yep.  We're going to see 'Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights'."

"Oh, cool!!" gushed Chloe.  "I was hoping that's what we'd see!  What about food?"

"You get to pick that," Mattie told her.

She winked at Mattie and said, "How about Steak and Ale?"

Mattie giggled, "Sounds great to me!"

"Mmm, a nice big juicy steak... medium well..." added Chloe.

"I like mine medium rare," Mac quipped as she walked up behind the little group.

"Hey!  That's no fair," complained Harm.  "Watching three starving females chow down on red meat is not my idea of a fabulous Friday night date."

"Then why don't you stay home and I'll show these three lovely ladies what a good time is all about," Admiral AJ Chegwidden grinned, standing next to Mac.

Harm and Mac blinked hard and Harm cleared his throat to say something... anything!  But nothing came out.

Chloe turned and faced AJ.  "Hello, Admiral!"

"This can't be Chloe?" he replied with a smile.  She nodded.  "The last time I saw you was 3 years ago... you were still a little girl.  How'd you grow up so fast?"

"It just happened," she answered.  "I was a pretty bratty kid, wasn't I?" she asked.

"Not at all," AJ lied.

She laughed.  "For that lie, you deserve a hug!" and she flung herself into his arms and hugged him tightly.

AJ laughed, "For that lie, I deserve a kiss, too!"  Chloe surprised everyone by leaning up on her tiptoes and kissing his cheek.  "Thank you, Chloe; I needed that."  He smiled and started to walk out of the bullpen.  "As you were," he said to Harm and Mac.

"Won't you come with us tonight, Admiral?" Chloe asked.

He turned around with a sad smile on his face.  "I wish I could, Chloe.  You all have a good time."  And he pushed the double doors open and headed for the men's room.  

When he returned, he could hear Chloe and Mattie chatting by the water cooler.  "If you don't have to go back home until Monday, maybe you could come with me to our school dance on Sunday night.  It's a Sadie Hawkins Day dance... where the girls ask the guys!" Mattie was saying.  "They only have it once every four years... only on February 29."

"I've heard of that," said Chloe.  "Sounds like fun.  I'll ask Harm to go with me!" she giggled.

Mattie laughed, "You really like him, don't you?"

Chloe blushed.  "I always have.  I always thought Mac liked him, too... but I was wrong."

"She's dating some guy in the CIA now, Harm said.  I think his name is Webb."

Chloe nodded, "Yeah, she told me.  But they're not really serious.  Mac's in love with someone else."  AJ heard this and wondered who it could be.  "So, if I ask Harm to go with me, who would you ask?"

Mattie's eyes opened wide.  "You're serious?  You'd want to ask Harm?"

Chloe grinned, "Sure!"  Then she saw the Admiral approaching them.  "You could ask the Admiral!" she suggested.

AJ chuckled at Mattie's discomfiture.  He winked at Chloe, "Your friend doesn't share the same fascination for my bald head as you do."

Chloe looked at Mattie in amazement.  "You don't?"

AJ laughed outright at that.  Mattie blushed her embarrassment.  "Besides that, I would think you girls would want to go with someone closer to your own age."  

"I guess," agreed Chloe.

AJ cocked his head to one side and asked, "Anyway, how can you have a Sadie Hawkins Day dance in February?  Sadie Hawkins Day is in November."

Mattie corrected him, "Nope.  It's February 29.  Happens every four years... in leap year."

AJ shook his head.  "No, actually, February 29 is called Leap Year Day.  Sadie Hawkins Day is traditionally November 15.  They're two different dates."

Mac and Harm saw the Admiral standing by the cooler talking with the girls, so they quickly left Mac's office and joined the small group in the bullpen.  "Problem?" asked Harm.

Mattie said, "The Admiral says that Sadie Hawkins Day is in November.  But at school, they say it's February 29.  That's why we're having the dance on Sunday night."

Mac shook her head.  "The Admiral is right, Mattie.  Sadie Hawkins Day has only been around since 1937.  There was a cartoon strip in the paper called 'Li'l Abner'.  One of the characters was named Sadie Hawkins, and she was rather... homely."

"Ugly, you mean?" asked Chloe.

"Homely," replied the Admiral.  " 'The homeliest gal in the hills,' I believe is what she was termed.  So her father decided to have a race in which the unmarried girls chased the town's bachelors."

Mac nodded, "Right.  And if a girl caught the guy, they got married."

The girls laughed.  "You have to be kidding!"

"It was a comic strip!" Mac defended.

Harm piped in with what he knew.  "And soon afterward, colleges and then high schools were having Sadie Hawkins Day dances, where the girls asked the guys to dance instead of the other way around."

AJ continued, "But long before that, there was Leap Year Day.  Tradition has it that it started in the fifth century in Ireland when St. Bridget complained to St. Patrick about women having to wait for so long for a man to propose.  She said it wasn't fair to women.  So, according to legend, St. Patrick said that women could propose on the 29th day in February.  And of course, that only occurs in a Leap Year."

Mattie said, "Why couldn't they just ask whenever they wanted to, like we do now?  I mean, if a girl likes a guy, she asks him to go out, right?  If she wants to get married, she can ask him just as well as he can ask her."

Mac smiled.  "That's today's society... here in the U.S.  But that's not everywhere."

AJ continued, "Very true.  In some of today's cultures, it's okay for a woman to propose marriage to a man.  Society doesn't look down on them for it anymore.  But it hasn't been that way for very long.  Leap Year used to be the only time that women could propose marriage."

"Bummer," replied Chloe.

"Sure glad it's different now," agreed Mattie.

'I sure dreaded that day when I was younger,' AJ thought to himself.  'Can't remember the number of times I had to hide out on the 29th of February so I didn't get asked!  And that time when Julianne trapped me in an elevator... God, that was awful,' he remembered.

"How do you feel about it, Mac?" teased Harm.

Mac blushed lightly.  "I guess I'm still a bit of the old school.  I don't ask guys out.  I let them ask me."

"Then Sunday is your day, Colonel," quipped the Admiral.  "Go for it!"  He winked at Chloe and returned to his office.

Saturday, 28 February 2004
0015 EST
Sarah MacKenzie's Apartment
Georgetown, Washington, DC

Mac laid in bed listening to the soft snoring coming from the other side of her bed.  The four of them had a good time at dinner and the movie.  The girls really enjoyed both, especially the film.  Harm had endured it graciously.  Mac thought he secretly enjoyed watching the 'dirty dancing'... especially the way Romola Garai moved.

Chloe snorted in her sleep.  Mac turned to look at her; she'd forgotten that Chloe snored.  She smiled as she remembered several times when she actually took her pillow and a blanket and ended up on the sofa in the living room.  She wondered why it bothered her to hear Chloe snore, but it never bothered her to hear Mic snore... or John or Chris or Eddie.  She hadn't even minded Clayton Webb's snoring in Paraguay.  Her father's snoring had always kept her awake at night as a child, she recalled.  "I wonder if AJ snores?" she whispered to herself.

She played his words over again in her mind.  "Then Sunday is your day, Colonel.  Go for it!" 

She knew he would never have said that if he knew the truth.  If he knew whom she really loved.  If he knew whom she really wanted to be with... to be married to... to have children with... to grow old with...

Mac sighed heavily and punched her pillow.  "No, it's not my day, AJ.  Not until I don't report to you anymore.  I can't 'go for it'."

Chloe grinned as she faced the opposite wall.  'I knew she was still in love with him!'

Saturday, 28 February 2004
1430 EST
Tysons Corner Center
McLean, Virginia

Mac and the girls sat at a table in the California Pizza Kitchen waiting for the waitress to bring their change.  "I can't believe we ate this kind of pizza and Harm isn't even here to see it!" giggled Mattie.

Mac grinned, "You can tell him that we felt guilty for making him watch us eat steaks last night."

Chloe laughed, "You can tell him, but he won't believe you!"

"Too true!" agreed Mattie.

"So, how is it?  Living with Harm?" asked Chloe.

"Well, I don't actually live with Harm yet.  I live in an apartment down the hall... with Jennifer Coates.  She's the Admiral's secretary."

"She's the Admiral's yeoman," corrected Mac.  "And Harm's looking for a house.  He just hasn't found the right one yet."

"It'll be nice when we're together all the time," Mattie said.  "I'm really looking forward to it."

"What do you think will happen when he decides to get married?" asked Chloe.

Mattie shrugged, "I don't know.  I guess either she'll move in with us or I'll move out."

Mac laid her hand over Mattie's.  "She'll move in with you, Mattie.  Harm doesn't take his guardianship of you lightly, you know.  You're very important to him.  And anyone he becomes involved with will have to understand and accept that."

Mattie looked up at her, "You really think so, Mac?"

Mac nodded, "I really think so."  The waitress returned with their change, and Mac excused herself to the ladies room before they headed back out to the stores.

"I wish they'd get together," sighed Mattie, watching Mac walk away.

"Who?" Chloe asked, not catching on right away.

"Harm and Mac."

"Don't get your hopes up.  That's not gonna happen.  I thought it would for a while, too... they're such good friends, you know?"  Mattie nodded.  "But Mac isn't in love with him.  And I don't really think Harm's in love with her either.  Makes him kinda dense in my book," she muttered.

"You said that before... that Mac's in love with someone else.  Do you know who?"

"Sure, I do.  I've known for years," Chloe boasted.  Then she told Mattie all about Mac's engagement to Mic and how it ended.  "Everyone thought it was because she realized she was in love with Harm."

"But it's not Harm?"

"Nope."

"And it's not this Webb guy that Harm talks about?"

"Nope."

"Give me a hint?" Mattie begged.

"He doesn't think you like him very well," Chloe replied in an amused voice.  "I guess he is a little gruff, but that's only because he's got such a soft heart and you're not supposed to see it."

"The Admiral?" Mattie replied, her mouth agape.

Chloe nodded.  "But don't tell anyone.  It would get them both in a heap of trouble if anyone knew about it.  And to tell you the truth, I don't think he even knows it.  Mac's pretty good at hiding her feelings for him."

"For who?" Mac asked, approaching the table.

Both girls jerked their heads up and giggled nervously.  Chloe grinned, "My dad!"

Mac rolled her eyes.  "Yeah, right.  Who were you talking about, Chloe?"

"That's our secret.  Besides, if I told you, you'd just get mad and then our shopping day would be ruined."  She jumped up from her seat and grabbed her packages.  "Come on, Mattie!" 

Mac just shook her head as she watched the two teenagers rush out to do more shopping.  "Sure is a good thing Mattie brought Harm's credit card along," she mumbled as she followed them.

Saturday, 28 February 2004
2200 EST
Harmon Rabb's Apartment
North of Union Station, Washington, DC

"I can't believe you girls shopped literally all day!" Harm said in amazement as the teenagers collapsed on the sofa, each one loaded down with Mattie's shopping bags.  Mac set her load on the floor as she walked inside.  

She reached in her purse and pulled out Harm's credit card.  "I think she put a mighty big strain on this thing today, Harm," Mac chuckled.

He groaned.  "Well, I told her to buy anything she wanted."  He turned to his ward and grinned, "I did mean within reason, you know.  I hope you didn't buy a new car or something!"

Mattie turned to Chloe, "Uh oh. You think the dealership is still open?"

Chloe shook her head.  "No, they were closing as we left.  You'll have to call them tomorrow to cancel it."

"Yeah, you're right.  They probably open at 9:00, don't you think?"

"Probably later tomorrow; it's Sunday."

They both looked and acted so completely serious, Harm turned to Mac, "They are kidding, right?"

All three females burst into giggles at his concerned expression and worried tone.  "Yes, Harm, they're kidding."

He sighed his relief.  "So, did you and Chloe buy anything?" he asked Mac.

"Of course.  In fact, we'll need to move it from your SUV to my car before we leave," Mac remembered.

"Will it all fit, Mac?" asked Chloe.

"I think so; you'd be surprised how much stuff I can squeeze into my car!"

Harm suggested they stay for some hot chocolate, and the foursome ended up piled on the floor watching a movie on TV.  Finally a little after midnight, Harm helped them move their packages into Mac's car, and she and Chloe headed back to her apartment.  "That was fun," Chloe said, a bit sleepily.  "I really like Mattie."

"I thought you might.  Your personalities are a little different, but you have some things in common.  I hoped you'd hit it off."

"I think the dance tomorrow night is going to be fun," Chloe grinned.  "I just wish I could take Harm as my date."

Mac laughed, "Oh, you do, do you?  And have you told Harm that?"

She shook her head.  "Nope."

"Is Mattie taking anyone?  I thought you were just going to ask the boys to dance when you got there?" Mac asked.

"Yeah, that's what she said.  According to her, no one's going as a couple.  School rules or something."

Mac nodded.  "I see."

"Dumb rule."

Mac grinned, "They probably have their reasons."

"So, what are you going to do while we're at the dance tomorrow night, Mac?"

Mac shrugged, "Have no idea.  Probably work some.  I brought a couple of case files home with me..."

"Work!?  Mac, you work hard enough during the week!  You shouldn't work on the weekends, too!" Chloe interrupted her.

"Sometimes I need to, Chloe.  I don't do it all the time."

"You could always call this new guy you're dating."

"I don't call him; he calls me," Mac told her.

"Tomorrow is Leap Year Day, Mac.  You can call him.  Or Harm.  Or even the Admiral," she hinted.

Mac's head jerked to her right and she stared at Chloe.  "What's that supposed to mean?"

Chloe decided it might be better to play it safe.  "Just that you can call any man you want to on Sunday and no one will think badly of you for it... because it's Leap Year Day."

"I don't think the UCMJ acknowledges Leap Year Day as a valid reason to violate the regs, Chloe."

"Well, it should."

Mac chuckled, "I agree.  But it doesn't."

"Have you ever asked?"

"Chloe, I'm a lawyer.  I know it doesn't."

"Couldn't you make a case for it, though?  Like the Admiral said yesterday, the tradition dates all the way back to the fifth century!"

Mac pulled into the parking space in front of her apartment building.  "I don't think so, Chlo.  Now, let's get these packages inside and get to bed.  I'm exhausted!"

Sunday, 29 February 2004
1735 EST
Chegwidden Residence
McLean, Virginia

AJ pulled on a clean sweatsuit after his shower.  He'd spent most of the day cleaning up the yard.  Winter always played havoc with his yard, and he felt the need to clean it up several times during the cold weather.  Today, he picked up all the small pieces of limbs that the wind had blown down.  He'd cut back what was left of the iris bulbs in the front yard.  He got the ladder out and washed the windows.  And he used the power washer to clean the mildew from the front walkway and steps. 

He'd spent the entire day outside, and it felt great.  But it felt even better now that he was clean and warm again.  Realizing he hadn't eaten all day, he went to the kitchen and pulled out the ingredients for veal parmesan.  He cooked the veal and sauce, shredded the cheese, and layered the items in the oblong pan.  He put it in the oven to cook and pulled a loaf of garlic bread from the freezer.  He preferred to make his own, but he didn't have any fresh Italian bread in the house, and he always kept one of these frozen loaves, just in case.  He opened the package, sliced the bread, and laid it on the counter next to the oven.  It would go in after the veal cooked for a while.  He set the timer to be sure he wouldn't forget to put it in the oven.

He pulled out a large saucepan and filled it with water, setting it on a cold burner.  He opened a package of thin spaghetti noodles and laid it on the counter next to the stove.  He'd start the water boiling when he put the bread in the oven.  One thing he couldn't stand was overcooked pasta. 

AJ decided that a tossed salad would be the ideal addition to his dinner menu, so he opened the refrigerator and pulled out the lettuce, mushrooms, cucumbers, radishes, carrots, cheese, and Italian dressing.  He pulled off the lettuce he wanted and reached for a tomato.  Just as he was ready to make the first cut, he heard the doorbell ring.  He put the knife down and set the fruit on top of the lettuce and went to answer the door.

"Good afternoon, Sir," Mac smiled into AJ's surprised face.

"Mac!  Hello."  AJ stepped back and motioned her inside, "Come in."

"Thank you."

AJ could have sworn that he heard her voice shake as she spoke.  But why would that be?  She was never nervous when she spoke to him.  "Can I take your coat?" he asked, then wondered if she was just cold.

"Yes, thank you," she replied. 

'I guess she's not cold,' he reasoned.  As she unbuttoned her wrap, AJ watched her fingers.  She was trembling!  He took her coat from her shoulders and draped it over the easy chair in the living room.  "What brings you out here on a Sunday evening, Mac?"  He motioned to the sofa and she sat down.

She grinned and tried to sound cocky.  "My 'Vette."

"Very funny," AJ chuckled, sitting next to her.  "Is something wrong?"

She shook her head.  "No, Sir," she breathed.

"Mac, what is it?  Something's troubling you.  You're shaking like a leaf.  What's wrong?"

Mac decided this was a very bad idea and she jumped to her feet.  "I really should go, Sir."

"Go?  You just got here, Mac.  And you haven't told me why you're here."

She faced the cold fireplace and gulped.  "It's Leap Year Day," she almost whispered.  She heard AJ rise from the sofa and take a step toward her.  "And I decided to ask you..."

"Ask me what, Mac?" he said when she hesitated.  He now had a pretty good idea of why she was here.  He didn't quite believe his luck, but he wasn't going to question it.

"To have dinner with me," she blurted out.

AJ smiled as he turned Mac's face gently toward his own.  "I'd love to have dinner with you, Mac.  But I have dinner cooking in the oven right now.  In fact, I was just making a salad when you arrived."

"I'm sorry, Sir.  I never should have..."

"How about if we just dine here?  Would that be acceptable to you?"

Mac blinked a couple of times.  "Here, Sir?"

"Veal parmesan, spaghetti, garlic bread, tossed salad... and drop the 'Sir'."

Mac licked her lips.  "Sounds wonderful.  What's for dessert?"

"You tell me," he replied huskily.  Mac's breath caught in her throat and she blushed profusely.  "Of course, we do have to keep the regulations in mind, you realize.  We could make this a working dinner."  He thought for a second.  "How's the Lombardi case coming along?"

"Fine, Admiral.  It goes to trial on March 10."

"Good.  Now that business is taken care of..."

Mac smiled... genuinely smiled at that.  "Actually, according to Chloe, the UCMJ really ought to acknowledge Leap Year Day and make provision for it."

"How so?" AJ was intrigued.

"As you told her, the tradition has been around since the fifth century... far longer than the UCMJ.  So, any infraction of the UCMJ that is permitted by the Leap Year Day tradition should be exempted from prosecution.  Don't you agree?"

AJ grinned.  "Oh, definitely.  I agree 100 percent." 

Mac took a step closer to AJ, leaned up on her toes and placed a gentle kiss on his lips.  "That, for example."

AJ wrapped his arms around Mac's waist and pulled her closer to him.  "And this," he added as he lightly kissed her neck.

"And this," she whispered, running her hands up his chest and around the back of his neck, pulling his head down to hers and kissing him soundly.

AJ ran his tongue along the seam of her lips and forced her mouth open.  He kissed her deeply and passionately.  "And definitely that," he ground out when he released her mouth.

"Oh, AJ..." Mac moaned as she felt his hard body against hers.  "I've loved you for so long."

"Did you really come here to ask me out to dinner, Mac?"  She shook her head.  "What then?"  Mac lowered her eyes.  "No, no... it's your day.  You can ask me anything you want and not be ashamed or embarrassed..."

She lifted her eyes to his.  "Do you mean that?"  He nodded.  "Could you ever... love me, AJ?  Could you ever be happy married to someone like me?"

"Someone like you?  No," he answered quickly.  "But you?  Specifically, you?" he lifted her chin with his index finger.  "Most definitely."  He claimed her lips as his own again.  When their mouths separated, he groaned, "I only wish there was a way around the regs.  But there isn't, Mac.  And I don't think anyone else would agree that tradition exempts us from prosecution."

Mac bit her lips together.  "I know."

"But if you're serious... you really want this...?" he looked deeply into her eyes.

"More than anything," she replied.

"Then one of us has to leave JAG."

"Are you sure you want it, AJ?  That you want me?"

"I never thought it was possible that you could want an old buzzard like me, Mac.  But yes, I've dreamed of having you in my life, living here with me, raising a family...  I always thought they were dreams that could never materialize."

The timer in the kitchen chose that moment to ring.  AJ kissed her again lightly and said, "Let's have dinner and discuss our timetable for all this."

"Soon," Mac smiled.

"Very soon," AJ added.  They went to the kitchen and he popped the bread into the oven and turned on the burner under the pot of water.  Mac finished making the salads, and AJ set the table.  Soon dinner was ready and they sat down to eat the scrumptious meal.  By the time they finished, they had decided that Mac would be the one to leave JAG.  They would, though, call the SecNav  before finding her a new job.  It was always possible that Sheffield had something up his sleeve that no one knew about yet... for Mac or for AJ!

Dinner finished, Mac offered to wash the dishes while AJ put the uneaten food away.  He then fed the dog and started a fire in the fireplace.  Mac joined him shortly thereafter and they curled up on the sofa together.  "You know we can't..." he started to say. 

But Mac put her fingers over his lips.  "I know.  We've waited this long.  We can wait a little longer."

"Just not too much longer," he moaned as he nibbled on her neck.

Mac giggled, "You'd best stop that or I'll just have to seduce you right here on the couch."

"It wouldn't take much seduction, Mac."

"But I'd rather have you with me than in Leavenworth, thank you," she answered.

They sat cuddled on the sofa for the next several hours.  They didn't dare let their hands roam.  They didn't even let themselves kiss each other deeply anymore.  Just a quick, light kiss every so often.  And finally Mac said, "I have to get going.  Harm's bringing Chloe home at 2230, and I should be there."

AJ released his hold on Mac and they got up.  "I'll meet with Sheffield tomorrow, and we'll see what he says.  If he doesn't have anything, I'll call a few Generals who've been pestering me about you for the last few years."  He pulled her into his arms and kissed her hard.  "We'll find something."

"Soon," she said again.

"Very soon," he repeated.

Mac headed for home a happy woman.  She'd soon be marrying the man of her dreams!

AJ headed for his bedroom to relieve the pressure that had built up in him over the last few hours.  He couldn't quite believe it.  He was actually going to have Sarah MacKenzie as his wife!   She wanted him!  He laid down on the bed and chuckled to himself, "I guess my opinion of Leap Year Day just changed!"

The end.