Dear Diary
The next few months was a good time for me.  I was doing very well in the courtroom and Admiral Regan assigned me more and more administrative duties whenever he was gone.  Not only was this a good time for me, it was a good time for us.  AJ and I were able to learn a lot about each other.  I was truly happy for the first time in a very long time.  Someone was bound to notice...

"So, Mac.  Are you seeing someone new?"  Harriet asked as we ate lunch one beautiful fall Saturday after I returned from a long case.

I know that I smiled a bit but I tried to play it off.  "Why ask that Harriet?"

"Well, you don't spend as much time at our place any more, you seem much happier, and last, it isn't cold enough to be wearing that turtleneck.  You must be covering up something."

I blushed furiously, remembering exactly how I had gotten that love bite and the corresponding one that I left on AJ.  "It doesn't leave this table, Harriet."  She nodded quickly.  "You are right.  I am seeing someone.  And before you ask, I'm not saying anything else about him.  I've had such bad luck before, I don't want to ruin this one."

"Sounds serious, Mac.  I'll only ask one question.  Is he as serious about it too?  I don't want to see you get hurt again," Harriet said protectively.

"Thank you.  He knows that he has to answer to my friends if he hurts me, just as I know I'll have to answer to his," I said.

"So, what's he like?" asked Harriet.

"He's very nice, he treats me well and that is all that I am going to say.  Besides, you already asked your one question," I said with a smile. 

"Alright," she laughed.  "I won't ask any more but you know that I will be glad to listen if you need to talk and I won't tell anyone."

"I know.  Now, about Harm.  Would you like to help me throw a welcome back party for him and Renee?" 

We talked for the rest of lunch about the party plans and even a bit longer as we decided to do a little shopping also.  Harriet decided that she was enjoying the girl’s day out and to be honest, so was I.  Before I knew it though, Harriet mentioned that she needed to get back home to her family.  We said good-bye and promised to talk about the party again in the next few days.

I went home and put away my new purchases as I checked the answering machine.  I smiled when I heard AJ's voice asking me to stop by if could.  I was still smiling as I quickly packed a bag, got Jingo's leash and then left.  I arrived shortly and AJ let me in as he took Jingo’s leash and removed it. After having gone out to dinner last night then dancing, AJ suggested that we stay in today. He sat down on the couch and opened his arms to me, where I gladly wanted to be. I sat down but before relaxing back against AJ’s chest I poured a glass of ice water that was on the coffee table.

“What’s with the catalogues, AJ?” I asked as I cuddled into his arms.

“I was thinking more about the garden and I decided to plant one. I borrowed these books from Lisa at the flower shop. She said that I could order anything that I wanted from her. Want to help me decide what to get?”

We sat there for the next few hours discussing the pros and cons of certain flowers. AJ decided to go with easy plants such as bulbs and perennials. I noticed that he often picked the ones that I pointed out as nice and he nixed the ones I didn’t like. Just as I was about to tell him how sweet he was, he stood up and pulled me to my feet.

“Let’s go outside and see where we are going to plant our flowers, Sarah.”

I had to smile, not only because I am still not used to him calling me Sarah but the fact that he called them ‘our’ flowers. After walking for a while, we fixed dinner. I was finally beginning to learn how to make good dinners with AJ teaching. The only problem was that every time I eat corn it gets stuck in my teeth so I have to floss right after dinner. I explained this to AJ, and then excused myself to the bathroom while he cleared off the table. Moments later, I was back in the kitchen.

“AJ, where do you keep your floss? I forgot to toss mine in my bag.”

“Check in the cabinet left of the sink,” he said nonchalantly.

I went back to the bathroom and check where he said but I didn’t just find floss. I found an entire basket full of toiletries, all my favorite kinds. I started smiling at AJ thoughtfulness when he slipped in the bathroom and wrapped his arms around me.

“Thank you, AJ. This is really sweet of you.”

“I was just thinking that you might want to leave some things here,” he whispered into my ear.

---