Author: usmgrad
Subject: HBX December 2007 challenge - Thank you Santa

Title: Thank you Santa
Author: usmgrad
Disclaimer: The only thing I get out of this is the personal satisfaction of writing and the joy of sharing with my friends.

A/N thoughts are in single quotes. This is another snippet of life with Harm, Mac and their adopted daughter Emily. It’s their first Christmas together.

Time frame – Thanksgiving to Christmas


Coming in from a late evening run Harm managed to slam the door and drop his bottle of water. Not the best way to enter a room when your goal it to seduce your wife.

“Would you please be quiet, you’ll wake Emily.” Mac said not bothering to look up from her work on the kitchen table.

“Sorry” Harm whispered. He stood there for a moment and just looked at his wife. Every time he saw her he fell a little bit more in love with her, if that was possible.

He approached her quietly, still whispering, “You know Mac you’re a wonderful mother.”

“Thank you Harm” she answered, ‘he wanted something’ she thought.

“And you’re an excellent Marine and lawyer.” He positioned himself right behind her and began to rub her shoulders.

Enjoying the relaxing massage, Mac put down her pen and paused for a moment before she responded, “I am not doing your report for you.”

“I don’t want you too” he replied and continued to massage her shoulders. He then started to work down her back, she leaned forward and laid her head on the table allowing him better access.

Trying, but not succeeding, to keep up a strong facade “What do you want, Harm?”

“Who says I want anything?” Finished with her back, Harm returned to massaging her shoulders.

“You're a good looking woman, Mac.” He whispered in her ear and then kissed her neck.

“You're smart”, she was not responding as he had hoped. Trying a different tactic, “Of course you do have a tattoo.”

She chuckled. At least now he was getting a response but not quite the one he wanted.

He pulled her up from the chair, turned her so she was facing him and moved in for an up close and personal ‘conversation’ when she stopped him cold in his tracks, so to speak, “Harm, you need a shower, you’re all hot and sweaty.”

Not giving up, “I thought you liked it when I was hot.”

Mac pushed him back a little, but not too far “Hot yes, sweaty no, go take a shower.”

“There’s room in the shower for two” Harm attempted to move in again but was interrupted.

“Mommy” came a voice from the direction of the hallway.

Turning toward their very awake daughter, “Emily what are you doing out of bed?”

“I heard a noise, it woke me up.”

“See I told you you were too loud.” Mac chastised Harm.

Moving out of his embrace and toward her daughter Mac explained, “It was just Daddy.”

Taking her daughter’s hand, “come on Em let’s go back in bed”.

Looking back toward Harm, “Daddy has to go take a shower.”

Harm was left in the kitchen alone, not what he had in mind when he entered the room.



With Emily finally in bed asleep, Mac entered their bedroom to find Harm sitting on the bed staring into space.

“Mac, I just thought of something.”

Walking to her side of the bed, Mac asked, “What’s that?”

“Were parents of a five year old.”

“You just now realizing this?” not sure what was going on in that flyboy brain of his, Mac began to get undressed.

“You don’t understand, it’s Christmas.”

“Ho ho ho.”

“Mac, we have no idea what Emily wants for Christmas.”

Mac paused for a moment, walked over to where Harm was sitting then replied, “Harm, we’re skilled investigators and lawyers, we’ve worked undercover, you’ve even worked for the CIA, I think we can figure out what a five year old wants for Christmas.”

Seeing Mac standing before him in nothing but her underwear Harm choked out, “Uh … Ok … how?”

“It’s simple, we ask her.” Taking his hand and pulling him up from the bed, “Now I thought you were going to take a shower, is there still room for two?”

“I think that can be arranged.”



The next morning at breakfast Harm, not wanting to waste anymore time with regards to Christmas, decided to takes the direct approach with their daughter, “Emily, what do you want Santa to bring you for Christmas?”

Without even thinking Emily replied, “A tattoo”.

Coffee and orange juice spewed across the table as both Harm and Mac were taken by surprise.

“A what?” Blindsided, both of them. That’s what happens when you ask a question you don’t know the answer to, rookie parent mistake.

Eating her cereal and not paying attention to her parents as they tried to recover from her answer Emily explained “A tattoo, mommy has one so I want one too.”

All kind of thoughts passed through Mac’s head, how does she know about tattoos, who told her about mine, has she seen it? Finally finding her voice Mac asked, “Uh, Emily, how do you know about my tattoo?”

Pointing to Harm, “Cause Daddy said last night you had a tattoo. Mommy, what’s a tattoo?”

‘Wonderful, my husband opens his big mouth and now I have to explain to our daughter what a tattoo is.’

“A tattoo is where someone draws a picture on your skin. But you have to be 18 years old to get one and that’s a long time from now.” Mac quickly changed the subject before Emily asked to see the tattoo, “It’s time to leave for preschool, go get your backpack.”

As soon as Emily left the room Mac turned toward Harm “You were a lot of help.”

Still sitting dumbfounded Harm finally found his voice, “Mac she heard us last night.”

“I got that part”, Mac wasn’t mad at Harm but she wasn’t happy with him either. “Now do you think you can manage to take her to preschool without getting into any more trouble? And while you’re at it come up with a plan B since you just crashed and burned with the direct approach counselor.”


Two days later and still no luck getting Emily to talk about what she wanted for Christmas, Harm decide to try the subtle approach. He had a family outing planned, it would provide an excellent opportunity to talk about the spirit of Christmas, giving, and Santa.

Harm pacing in the den, “Emily come on we’re going to be late.”

Mac sitting on the sofa chuckled, “Harm, late for picking out a Christmas tree?”

Still pacing and looking at his watch like had an appointment he was late for, “If we don’t hurry all the good ones will be gone.”

“From a tree farm where they grow acres and acres of Christmas trees?”

“Well, we need time to pick it out, cut it down, get it home and decorate it, so we need to get a move on, besides we have to have time for our little discussion … EMILY!”

Coming up behind her father unnoticed, “Daddy you don’t have to shout, I’m right here.”

Harm jumped at the sound of her voice ‘how does she always manage to sneak up and surprise me like that? Isn’t one Marine in the house enough?’

Getting up from the sofa and taking her daughter’s hand Mac chuckled, “Well let’s go then.”

Following his girls and under his breath Harm laments, “Who would have thought I’d be outnumbered in my own home, marines two, navy one.”

“That’s ok Daddy maybe when we get my brother he’ll like the Navy.”

Harm and Mac both stop, shocked and speechless. Emily not understanding why they suddenly stopped, pulled on Mac’s hand “come on lets get a move on. I swear if you want something done ask a marine.”

Harm, hearing her little comment and not letting Emily get another one over on him, scooped her up and replied, “Yea but it’s the Navy that provides the transport!”

Emily has once again thrown a kink in their plans, Harm and Mac needed to regroup.


The tree finally decorated and Emily in bed, Harm and Mac were snuggling on the sofa both quietly reflecting on the day’s events. Harm finally broke the silence by asking the question on both their minds “Do you think she wants a brother for Christmas?”

Laying her head on Harm’s shoulder, Mac thinks ‘I wonder what it would take to convince Harm a little boy would be a welcome addition …

“Mac?”

“I’m sorry, I was lost in thought. I don’t think so Harm. Remember the foster home Emily came from? Emily was the only girl in a house of boys. Maybe she misses them; she’s not used to being an only child.”

Harm waited to see if she would continue.

“But it did get me to thinking. We need help with finding out what she wants for Christmas. Maybe we should ask her preschool teacher if she’s said anything about Christmas and Santa.”

“Hum, I guess…” Harm doesn’t finish, he was already lost in thought about the possibility of a little boy joining the family, ‘I wonder what it would take to convince Mac …’


Emily’s teacher wasn’t able to shed any light on what Emily wanted from Santa and Christmas fast approaching, so Harm arranged with Mac for a long lunch to discuss Emily and Santa.

Sitting down at the table after getting their food, Harm hoped Mac had an answer to their dilemma “Well?”

“Well what?” she really had hoped he had an answer to their current problem after all it was his idea to have lunch.

Frustrated and unable to eat Harm pushed his plate away and asked, “What are we going to do about Emily and Santa?”

Seeing how upset Harm had become Mac realized it was time for a dispassionate plan. Summing up all her courage she quietly told him “We are going to get the things we’ve talked about, wrap some, put the rest under the tree and on Christmas morning Emily will open her gifts, we will ooh and ah and if she’s disappointed because Santa didn’t bring her what she wanted we will explain to her that Santa can’t always bring us everything we want because he has so many children to see in one night.”

Surprised at her answer, “did you breath at all through that?”

“I don’t think so,” Mac finally took a breath and relaxed, at least there was a plan on the table.

Thinking about what Mac just said Harm was curious, “Did you take a parenting class when I wasn’t looking?”

“No.”

“Well?” Harm looked at Mac, his eyebrows raised, waiting for an answer.

“Ok, 555-4769”

Puzzled and confused Harm asked, “What’s that?”

“The Harriet hotline.”

Sitting back in the chair Harm laughed, “Well at least we thing alike”.

Now Mac’s eyebrows go up.

“1-800 C-A-L-L-M-O-M”

Both laughed. They might survive Christmas after all. As Harm finally relaxed and began to eat his lunch Mac let him in on what she found out from Harriett.

“Harriet wasn’t any help about getting Emily to open up she said some kids are just tight lipped about Santa. But she did say to make sure Santa leaves us something. She remembers one year AJ was distressed because Santa didn’t leave her and Bud anything. Harriett seemed to think is was when he was around five years old.”

“And?” knowing there was more.

Reluctantly Mac confessed, “And she also told me what I just told you about gifts under the tree and Santa.”

Smiling, Harm seemed satisfied, “You know I’ve actually thought about a family gift, what do you think about bikes?”

“What about bikes?”

“As a gift for all of us. It’s good exercise and it’s something we can do with Emily.”

“I like the way you think flyboy.” Mac said, taking another bite of food and then asked, “Was your mother any help?”

“Mom really didn’t have any suggestions.” It was hard for Harm to talk about Christmas. Mac knew this so she was surprised he had called his mother for advice.

Mac was almost afraid to ask, “What about when you were little?”

Harm was deep in thought, a sad look crossed his face. He was remembering Christmases when he was young, before his father left and after he was gone.

Taking his hand in hers to provide the only comfort allowed while both were in uniform, “Harm, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have brought it up.”

Squeezing Mac’s hand to assure her he was ok, “She did said when I was five I wouldn’t talk about Santa or what I wanted for Christmas, drove her and my dad crazy. The next year, I just wanted Santa to bring my dad home. After a while she stopped asking. Sorry”

“Harm, its ok I understand” sitting back Mac made an observation, “at least we now know Emily’s more you than me.”

“How do you figure?”

Smiling at her husband, “At five you were both tight lipped about what you wanted from Santa.”


Harm was definitely in a better mood when he returned to his office. This change did not go unnoticed by his staff. Petty Officer Thomas, his yeoman, handing him his messages noticed the smile on his face “Good lunch sir”

“Better than expected.” Reaching in his coat Harm pulled out a piece of paper, “By the way here’s the itinerary you’ve been having trouble getting from the base commander’s office.”

The petty officer’s expression changed from smiling to puzzled as she took the paper, “Uh, thank you sir”

“What?”

“Nothing sir, just every now and then I catch you being nice.”

“Keep it to yourself, okay? I've got a reputation to protect.” As Harm entered his office, the petty office’s smile returned and actually looked relieved, ‘maybe he won’t be a bear this afternoon.’


Christmas morning finally arrived and Harm and Mac learned what all parents know, you spend weeks listening to everything your child says or hints at, that’s followed by hours of shopping, hiding and wrapping gifts until Christmas Day finally arrives and then it’s all over in a matter of minutes.

Emily appeared to be very happy with her gifts, but Harm was still unsure, had they missed something? “Emily Anne you must have been a very good girl this year for Santa to bring you all these things?”

“Uh huh, you know what? Sally and I got the same doll stroller and baby doll.” This she learned from an early morning phone call from her best friend.

Worried that maybe they did something wrong, Mac asked, “Is that ok?”

“Oh yes, now we can take our babies for a walk in the park together, and they can share clothes because they’re the same size.”

“What about the rest of the things?” waving at the rest of the gifts, Harm really wanted to be sure they had done everything right.

“I love everything.”

Thinking she didn’t understand the question Harm tried again, “But Em, did you get what you asked Santa for.”

Looking up from the coffee table where she was drawing a picture with the art supplies Grandma Trish sent, “Daddy I didn’t ask Santa for anything this year.”

Confused Harm looked at Mac and back at Emily, “But you talked to Santa every time we went out.”

Not understanding her parent’s confusion Emily responded with a ‘duh’ look, “I was telling him thank you for bringing me what I asked for last year.”

“You didn’t write him a thank you note after Christmas last year?” Mac asked.

“No, I didn’t get my gift on Christmas.” She got up to leave the room.

“Where are you going?” both parents asked.

“You’ll see.” Coming back just as quickly as she left Emily crawled up on the sofa into her mother’s lap and showed them what she had gotten. “Santa left me this last year.” It was a hand written note that said ‘I’m working on it. Love Santa’

‘Who in their right mind would deny a child the Christmas gift they wanted?’ Harm was livid. It didn’t matter that she apparently got her gift later. He would never, ever make a child wait for something they wanted, especially his child.

Getting his emotions under control Harm reached for Emily and taking her hand asked, “What did you ask for Emily?”

Nothing in this world could have prepared Harm and Mac for her answer. Their daughter of only a few months looked at them with her big blue eyes, reached to touch a heart locket that was around her neck, the gift from Harm and Mac and with honesty, sincerity and love she told them,

“A mommy and daddy to love me.”

Harm and Mac were overwhelmed. They couldn’t think, react, words would not come, what do you say to that? Mac had tears in her eyes as she hugged her daughter. Harm couldn’t have told you his name or his rank at that moment, he was too stunned. They had been so worried about what gifts to get Emily for Christmas it never occurred to them all she wanted was to be loved by parents. Harm made a silent promise right then and there to never let Emily doubt their love for her.

After a moment, Mac spoke quietly and calmly, “Emily, we met in the park remember? Santa didn’t bring us.”

“No mommy, Santa told me I was going to meet my parents.”

“You saw Santa?” Harm asked Emily “after Christmas, like in a dream?” he looked at Mac and silently asked ‘she doesn’t mean vision does she?’ Mac shrugged her shoulders, ‘I don’t know’

“Uh huh, he told me I was a special little girl, that’s why it took so long to get me my gift; he had to work really hard. He said I would see my parents in the park. I would know which ones were mine because they would be wearing my favorite colors, blue and green.

The day they met, Harm and Mac were jogging, Harm was wearing navy blue sweatpants and Mac was in her Marine green sweatshirt. When Emily saw them her reaction was just like her reaction this morning, she was excited about her finally getting her gift from Santa. Santa had brought her parents. So of course she had to tell Santa thank you, she finally had the family she had asked for. As Harm thought about it he realized he did the same thing, everyday he thanked God for his wife and his daughter.

Emily hugged and kissed each parent, whispered ‘I love you’, jumped off the sofa and went back to her drawing. Harm and Mac were left sitting in utter amazement.

“You do realize that our daughter is a little more you than me now?” Harm stated while looking at their daughter.

“Scary isn’t it?” Mac replied while grabbing Harm’s hand for moral support.

Harm leaned over and jokingly asked Mac, “Can she do the time thing?”

The answer came from the floor, “10:45.”

“And 27 seconds” a shocked Mac added.

Harm nodded his head, closed his eyes and smiled.