Author: Lace
Subject: HBX Challenge 2008 Family life

HBX Challenge November 2008

They don't belong to me and all that...

Mistakes are all mine.

Family life


Saturday evening
Rabb living room


Mac watched her husband rise from the couch to look out the window the fourth time in five minutes. “Harm, she'll come home soon.”

“She's over an hour late.” Harm argued.

“She's a big girl.” Mac rose and stepped close to her husband. “Relax Harm, breathe for me.”

“I'm breathing just fine.” He ran a hand over his head in frustration. “I'm stressed. Nerves I guess.”

Mac kissed his cheek. “She'll come home soon and when she does, you'll let her explain before you yell.”

Harm nodded. “Okay.”




The next morning
Rabb kitchen


Mac looked between her husband and daughter, the breakfast so far had been a quiet one. Usually Mac preferred a quiet breakfast, but at the moment she found it a little disturbing.

It had all started the previous night when Mattie had gone to a birthday party for one of the girls in her class; her date, Henry, had picked her up early in the evening and Mattie had promised to be home before 0100. She had been looking forward to the party for a long time, it was the first date she had been on since before her accident almost two years ago. The first six months after the accident she had been stuck to a hospital bed, the year after that she had fought her way out of a wheelchair and on to her feet. Finally, three months short of her eighteenth birthday, she was functioning like a normal teenage girl.

Mac decided that enough was enough. “What are your plans today Mattie?”

“Nothing.” Was her short response.

“No plans?” Mac tried to lure the girl into a conversation.

“Can't make plans when you are grounded can you?” Mattie glanced angrily over to where Harm sat as she said it.

“Should have thought about that before.” Harm mumbled.

Mattie put her glass down with a bang. “I'm almost eighteen.”

“In three months.” Harm responded.

“I didn't do anything wrong.” Mattie barked.

“I disagree.” Harm argued.

“You always disagree.” Mattie stood. “I'll be in my room.”

“Sit down.” Mac said in a voice that made no room for argument.

Mattie hesitated, but finally decided that the smart thing to do was to do as told.

“We will clean the air, right here right now.” Mac ordered. “Harm, you will let Mattie explain what happened.”

Mattie looked relieved. “Finally.”

Mac gave Mattie a glare. “And you will apologise for what you said last night.”

Mattie nodded. “Fine.”

“Now, there's thirty minutes until the baby wakes up and before he does you will have talked this through.” Mac ordered.

“I didn't do anything wrong.” Mattie looked at Harm.

“You came home at 0230 smelling of alcohol.” Harm accused.

“And if you'd let me explain instead of yelling I would have told you that Henry got drunk and I had to wrestle the car keys from him, while doing that he spilled beer all over me. Then Chris butted in and Henry hit him which led to a fight between them. I had to get Henry home and help him clean his wounds before he passed out on the couch, that was when I left to come home. I can't believe you thought I'd get drunk and be late home on purpose.” Mattie gave Harm an accusing glare.

“I might have overreacted a little.” Harm admitted.

“A little?” Mattie was amused. “You totally overreacted.”

“I'm sorry.” Harm smiled sheepishly.

“I'm sorry about what I said; I don't hate you.” Mattie apologised.

“See, this is what I'm talking about.” Mac smiled. “Now give each other a hug.”

Mattie and Harm both stood and hugged each other.

Mac stood when she heard the baby monitor spring to life. “I better go feed Matthew.”

Harm and Mattie watched her leave before Mattie turned to Harm. “She's scary when she get into full Marine mode.”

Harm nodded. “Tell me about it.”

“Are we okay?” Mattie asked.

“Yes, we are.” He smiled. “But the next time you are late you will call.”

Mattie nodded. “I promise.”



Later that day Mac heard someone talking when she walked passed Matthew's room. She stopped and listened.

“Why are men such jerks? I finally get a night out like a normal teenager and a boy ruins all the fun. When you grow up I'll teach you how to behave properly and don't be a jerk. You'll probably be well-behaved anyway with that mother of yours, she's scary when she get into that Marine mode. Even your dad gets scared then.”

Mac walked into the room with a smile on her face. “He's smart enough to realise that behaving is the best option when I get into Marine mode.”

Mattie smiled. “Maybe you can teach me how to get people to listen.”

Mac chuckled. “What are you doing in here.”

“Hiding from the world” Mattie smiled sheepishly. “And Matthew doesn't talk back, he just listens.”

“Yeah, he's great like that.” Mac agreed. “If you want to talk I'm here.”

Mattie sighted. “Why did Henry act like that? I thought he was one of the good guys.”

Mac nodded. “You have to kiss a lot of frogs before you find a prince.”

Mattie wrinkled her nose. “I never kissed Henry and I doubt there would appear any prince if I did.”

Mac laughed softly. “Probably not. You'll find a prince one day Mattie, but it can take time and even if he's right in front of you it might take a long time to realise that he's the one.

“Like with you and Harm?”

“Yeah, but we were extremely slow.” Mac took her son from Mattie and kissed his head. “But the point is that we made it in the end. Maybe you should give Henry a second chance, he might change.”

“I...can't. It was something about his behaviour that gave me the impression that he's not changeable.” Mattie sighted. “He's cute, but he's a jerk.”

“I'm sorry.”

Mattie took a deep breath and stood. “Yeah, me too.” She touched Matthews small hand. “He's pretty amazing.”

Mac smiled lovingly. “He really is. He's six weeks old and still I feel the same way every time I see him; your heart is racing, you forget how to breath, it's nothing quite like it.” Mac put Matthew down in his crib.

“He's lucky to have you as a mom.” Mattie gave Mac a hug. “We both are.”

“Thanks Mattie, that means a lot.” Mac smiled warmly. “But I'm the lucky one.”

Harm stepped into the room. “Why is everyone hiding in here?” He wrapped his arms around Mac from behind.

“Just watching the baby, but now I'll go meet Jenn for pizza.” Mattie said and walked to the door.

“Say hi to Jennifer.” Mac called after her.

Harm kissed her cheek. “Shouldn't you be sleeping when he's sleeping?”

“I like watching him sleep.” Mac turned in Harm's arms. “But I might be persuaded to take a nap if you'll join me.”

Harm kissed her sweetly. “Let's go.”

Mac took his hand and led him to their bedroom, they lay down on the bed and Harm wrapped his arms around her. “I love you Mac.”

“I love you more.” She responded.

“It's not a competition.” Harm argued. “If it was I would win.”

“You would not.”

“Sure I would.” He kissed her head.

“I'm putting you on ignore now.” She closed her eyes an let sleep come to her.