Dear Diary,

I should have known that I wouldn’t have the final say about telling everyone. There was one more surprise for me but at least everyone else was more surprised. All I can say is out of the mouths of babes…

We were too surprised to say anything before Little AJ walked out of the kitchen. Suddenly realizing that he was most certainly going to say something to everyone we hurried out behind him. I saw him standing in front of his mother before he said anything.

“Mommy, Aunt Jarhead and Uncle Admiral were fighting.”

“They’re fighting?” asked a surprised Harriet.

“We weren’t fighting, AJ,” I said trying to explain.

“We were just disagreeing about something,” AJ said as his namesake moved to stand in front of me. I began to get worried as Little AJ crossed his arms and began to glare at the larger man. A tiny flicker of a smile crossed the larger man’s face as he also crossed his arms and frowned down at my pint-sized protector. I knew what was going to happen next but I still tried to stop it.

“AJ…” I said not completely sure myself which one I was speaking to.

My protector looked back up at me and I heard the words I was expecting.

“Now you have to kiss and make up then,” he said matter-of-factly.

There was plenty of laughter and lots of smiles from that comment but the one that caught my attention the most was AJ’s and not Little AJ’s.

“Might as well,” he said with a crooked smile. I guess that there was a small chance that he would just give me a quick peck but then I saw the look in his eyes. I just didn’t expect what he actually did.

AJ held out his hand to me then much to everyone’s surprise he pulled me into his arms, dipped me backward, and kissed me passionately. At first, I tensed in surprise then knowing the he would never drop me, I relaxed in his arms and enjoyed the kiss. Forgetting about everyone watching, I wrapped my arms tighter around AJ reveling in the feel of his lips against mine. AJ finally broke the kiss, pulling back slightly.

“They know now, Sarah,” AJ said in the totally silent room.

“I would say so,” I said dryly.

“I guess they made up,” said Little AJ causing another round of laughter as I stood up still holding AJ close.

“Is there something you wanted to tell us Mac?” asked Harm before everyone suddenly asked more questions than I could understand. AJ held up his hand to get everyone’s attention before we both sat down on the couch.

We both took turns telling our friends how we had started dating and answering various questions. I decided not to mention AJ coming to my apartment and comforting me after Harm’s accident so I started with AJ announcing his retirement then going to Italy. When AJ mentioned the phone calls, Francesca interrupted to comment on her astronomical phone bill.

I looked over at AJ and thought back to those phone calls. That’s when we really started falling in love. I took his hand in mine then spoke softly to him.

“I guess we might as well tell them everything then, AJ.”

“Everything?” asked Harriet.

“Mac, I think this was a big enough surprise,” said Harm.

“Good. I’ve gotten enough surprises in my life lately, it’s about time I surprised you,” I laughed. “I’m not done either.”

“Oh, the fact that you are dating the Admiral isn’t a big enough surprise?” exclaimed Bud. AJ and I smiled at each other.

“Harriet, I had a question.” I saw the looks of confusion cross everyone’s face at the sudden change of subject. “Can you have a matron and a maid of honor at a wedding?”

“Sure, I don’t see why not,” she said before realizing what I was really asking.

“You getting married, Papa?” AJ smiled at his daughter in response.

“We want all of you to be there,” I said as I watched Harm and Renee look at each other before she nodded.

“Mac, Sir. First, congratulations, and second, would you like to have your wedding up at my grandmother’s? Renee and I have set a date to have our ceremony at the end of May,” said Harm.

“You are welcome to have your ceremony with us,” said Renee.

“Thank you, Renee. That’s very nice of you but we really weren’t planning on having anything too big,” I mentioned.

“Even though I retired before anything happened, we thought that it would be for the best to not flaunt our relationship. Of course, we won’t lie about it. We just want to keep things a little quiet. Besides, May won’t be a good time,” explained AJ.

“Why not?” asked Harm.

“Because I really don’t want to wear a maternity wedding gown.”

I looked around at the stunned faces of our friends, all of whom were speechless. I looked back over to AJ and thought about how lucky I was. This past year had been full of surprises, both good and bad. I knew that the New Year that was starting in just moments would be full of challenges but I knew that we would be able to be ready for any surprises that life threw our way.

“Happy New Year, AJ,” I said at midnight.

“Happy New Year, Sarah,” AJ said as he leaned down to kiss me as the clock stuck midnight.