Title: Building A Family

Summary: Sequel to 'Raising Amelia'. Mac and Harm decide to have a baby, and learn about her endometriosis in the process.

Notes: I've been thinking about this for a while. I know it's a more popular choice to ignore her endometriosis and give them plenty of babies, but I want to explore the drama and angst that could go along with their attempt to build their family. Also. I haven't given up on my ongoing stories. They're just close to the end, and they always get harder to write at that point.

Part One

"You know, I think next year we should have her party at the beach."

Mac stuffed some more wrapping paper in a trash bag and grinned at her husband. "Harm, it's January."

"I know." He picked up a few more plates and started walking to the kitchen. "But isn't that the whole point of living in California? Beach weather in January?"

She rolled her eyes and stretched up to pull down the colorful banner that read 'Happy Birthday Amelia'. It had been expensive, and she hoped to be able to use it for a few more years, so she rolled it up and walked into the kitchen to look for a rubber band in the junk drawer.

Harm followed her and set the plates in the sink - loading the dishwasher could wait till tomorrow. He turned his attention to his wife. She had half of the contents on the countertop, and still hadn't found whatever it was she was looking for.

"What are you looking for?"

She glanced up and then went back to the drawer. "A rubber band for the banner."

"I have some in the office. I'll be right back." He brushed by her on his way out of the kitchen and returned a few minutes later with a rubber band. "Ask and ye shall receive."

Mac grinned and took it from him. "Thank you." She tossed the rolled-up banner to him and began putting stuff back in the drawer. "I think we have too much stuff."

He snorted and leaned against the island to watch her. "Oh, there's no question. We absolutely do." He watched as she twisted up cell phone chargers that probably wouldn't work with either of their phones. "Want some help?"

She shook her head. "No. I think I may have been about to organize this, but it can wait." She picked up everything on the counter and shoved it back in the drawer. A few photographs fell and she knelt to pick them up. The pictures made her smile. They were the ones of her and Amelia that Harm had given her years ago. They had lived on the refrigerator for years, but their new stainless model wasn't magnetic, and somehow, they had ended up in this drawer. She flipped through them again and then handed them to Harm.

"She was so little."

He nodded and swallowed hard, pushing back the rush of emotions. His little girl was growing up much too fast. "I can't believe we now have a four-year-old."

"Four going on fourteen." Mac smiled and moved to stand beside him. He groaned and she took one of the photos and looked at it. She and Amelia were in Harm's bed. She had been propped up against the pillows with Amelia in her lap and a book in front of them. It had been his favorite of the two of them until they had recreated it for a Father's Day gift the previous year. This time her hair and makeup had been done, and she and Amelia had been in pretty blue and white pajamas against immaculate white bedding. Jamie had taken the photos, so they had turned out stunning, and Harm had been awestruck.

Harm looked at her, and then down at the photo. "We should have another one."

Mac jerked her head up in surprise. "Excuse me?"

"A baby. We should have one."

Her eyes were wide and she set the photos down. "I thought we decided to wait until Amelia was a little older."

He rolled his eyes. "Yeah, we decided that two years ago. She's older now. She'll be starting school soon. I think she'll be more willing to share us now, and I think she'll be a great big sister."

She smiled and thought of their little girl holding a new baby. Amelia would be an excellent big sister. She was exuberant and seemed to have an endless amount of energy, but she was also the most compassionate and loving child imaginable.

"She'll be the best big sister," Mac agreed.

"So…" He trailed off and looked at her expectantly.

"You're really ready for another one? For the late nights, early morning, diapers, teething…" He raised an eyebrow and she sighed. She wasn't trying to talk him out of this. She wanted a baby and had for a while. But she was nervous at the same time, and needed to make sure he was completely sure. Once upon a time he had expressed concern that she may love her biological children more than Amelia, and she couldn't help but wonder if still had those concerns.

He nodded. "Remember how surprised Amelia always looked when she first started to laugh? And how amazing it was when she said her first word? I never thought that dada could sound so perfect." He reached up and cupped her face. "Remember hearing 'mama' for the first time?"

"Of course, I remember that." And she did. It had been one of the most perfect moments of her life. Especially since they never figured out where it had come from. She had said it before they had gotten married, and as far as either could remember, she had never been referred to as mama in front of the little girl. But when she had said it for the first time, Mac truly thought her heart would burst.

"So, let's have it again. I want to do it again." She swallowed and he grinned. "Mac, I'm ready to do it again."

"Okay." She let out a shaky breath and smiled broadly. "Okay. Let's have a baby."


Mac turned off the bathroom light and stepped into the bedroom. Harm was already under the covers, and she made her way to her side of their enormous bed. Since space wasn't an issue in their house the way it had been in their apartments, he had insisted on a king-sized bed. She honestly thought she'd hate it, but even though the bed was huge they still slept with his body curled around hers every-night, which was what she had always longed for.

"Is Amelia still out?"

He grinned and set his book on the nightstand. "Her covers are still in the exact position they were when we tucked her in. I don't think she's moved an inch."

Mac curled up next to him and rested her head on his chest. "She literally ran around for six hours. I think we've finally figured out a way to tire her out." He laughed and she closed her eyes. God, she loved this man. "I threw my birth control pills away."

Harm shifted, quickly apologizing for disturbing her. "Really?" She nodded and he smiled brightly. "Want to start now?"

She laughed and ran a hand over his chest. "It'll probably take a few days to get the pill out of my system."

He grinned and slid a hand under her tank top. "Well, then tonight can be about us, and not about making a baby." His hand traveled over her smooth skin, his fingertips grazed the underside of a breast, and he felt a rush of pleasure as her breathing quickened slightly.

Mac shifted and sat up. She placed her hand over his, stilling his fingers. "Promise me it'll always be about us." He frowned and she swallowed. "We're both nearing forty, Harm. It may not happen quickly. And I don't want sex to become a chore. You know… just a means to an end."

He shook his head. "It won't be like that with us, sweetheart. I promise."

She dropped her hand, grabbed the hem of her tank top, and pulled it over her head. His eyes darkened, and she instinctively licked her lips. They had been married for just over two years now, and she didn't think she'd ever get tired of the way he looked at her when she undressed. "Touch me, Harm. Please."

It was as if a dam broke, and suddenly both hands were cupping and kneading her breasts. His mouth fused to hers; kissing her deeply before taking her bottom lip between his teeth. He pulled away from her for a moment to push the covers off of his lap. He had planned ahead, coming to bed wearing nothing, and was now frustrated with the panties she still wore. "You're overdressed."

She looked down at the black boy-short panties she wore, and laughed at the absurdity of anyone considering this being overdressed. "I thought you liked these."

"I like them better when they're on the floor." He tugged them down and tossed them aside before hovering over her. "You are so damned gorgeous." She blushed the way she always did when he complimented her, and he smiled. He kissed her again; less frenzied this time. She opened her mouth to him, and he pulled her even closer before deepening the kiss.

When they finally parted, both were breathless, and she pushed her hands against his chest. "Sit up," she ordered. He did as he was told and she climbed in his lap, straddling him.

"I thought you didn't like this."

She grinned and leaned forward to kiss him. "You've made me a convert." She shimmied in his lap, making him groan. Harm's hands moved to her hips, holding her in place, and his lips moved over her throat. He was so hard, so close to where she wanted him to be, and she was so wet and ready for him. "Harm, please."

He closed his eyes and pushed into her. No matter how much they enjoyed teasing and games, when she asked like that, he was powerless to deny her. She let out a breathy gasp as he filled her, and she leaned forward, clutching him to her. Her nails dug into his skin, and her mouth closed over his shoulder, using him as a way to muffle her cries.


"Hey Mac?"

"Hmm?"

He smiled as she shifted closer to him. "Do you have a preference? Boy or girl?"

"I don't care. Just a healthy baby." She turned and looked up at him. "Do you care? Are you wanting a boy? Another Harmon Rabb?"

Harm winced. "God no. I mean, no to the name. Not no to a son." He shrugged and moved his fingers down her bare arm. "I would like a son, but another girl would be great too. Like you said – just a healthy baby." He moved his hand lower and rested it on her abdomen. "What if we were successful on our first try?"

The optimism on his face made her want to cry, and she sat up. "Harm, it may not be that easy."

He shrugged. "You never know. Amelia was conceived during very protected sex."

"Yeah, and Claudia was about ten years younger then than I am now." She chewed on her lip as some of the brightness dimmed in his eyes. "I'm sorry - I'm not trying to be a downer. I'm just being realistic. I'm 36, and it probably won't happen right away. I just don't want you to get frustrated if we don't have another baby by this time next year."

He leaned forward and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. "No, I'm sorry. I'm being pushy." He shook his head and took her hands in his. You know I can get fixated on things." She snorted and he grinned. "I will never be frustrated or disappointed with any part of our life together. Whether it takes days or weeks or months, it'll be fine."

"Yeah?"

"Of course."

He had just settled back against the pillows, her body nestled against his when there was a quiet knock at the door. "I thought she was asleep?" Mac asked quietly, quickly smoothing down her tank top, and pulling the covers over her waist.

He shrugged and climbed out of bed. "Maybe you woke her up; you were moaning my name pretty loudly." She turned bright red and he grinned before opening the bedroom door. Amelia stood there in her pink footie pajamas, her blonde curls an absolute mess. He knelt down to her level and brushed her hair away from her face. "What's the matter, sweetheart."

"My tummy hurts, daddy."

He pulled her close and then picked her up and carried her back to the bed. He sat her down, and she immediately curled up against Mac. He watched as she placed her head on her mother's lap, and watched Mac's fingers gently move through the curls.

"Too much junk food," she whispered to him.

He nodded, and bent to kiss her forehead. "We have some kid's Pepto in the medicine cabinet. I'll be right back." He went into their bathroom and rummaged around in the medicine cabinet. He came back with a cup of water and a box of chewable pills.

"Sit up, nugget," Mac said softly. "We have some medicine that will make your tummy feel better." Amelia whimpered, but pulled herself into a sitting position. She took the pink tablet from Harm and then the cup of water. Mac rubbed her back while she drank some of the water, and then Harm took the cup and set it on the nightstand.

"It still hurts," she whined.

"I know," He said, "It'll feel better in a few minutes though."

She whimpered again and curled up in Mac's lap again. They sat there in silence for a few minutes, and then Amelia jerked up, her cheeks puffed out, and she threw up on the bed and began to cry.

Harm closed his eyes for just a moment, and then pushed her hair back again. "It's okay, angel. We'll get you cleaned up. Come on." He stood and lifted her to his arms before looking at Mac.

"I've got this," she said. She watched them leave the room and then sighed. She tugged the duvet off the bed, and quickly pulled the insert out of the cover. Both would need to be washed. She pulled on a pair of pajama bottoms and padded down the hall to the laundry room. The soiled linens went into the washing machine, and she pulled a spare quilt from the shelf.

Harm was back in time to help her cover the bed in the quilt, and sighed as he settled in beside her. He ran his finger over the blue trim and smiled. "My grandmother made this one."

She smiled and nodded. "I know." She sat up and crawled to the foot of the bed. She pulled up one of the corners. "Look."

He swallowed hard. It was hard to see against the white backing, but her name was stitched in the corner in pale blue thread. "I've never noticed this before."

She put her hand on his thigh and squeezed. "I spotted it when I was folding it a few weeks ago."

"I hate you never got the chance to meet her."

"I hate that too." She rubbed his thigh and then moved back to their pillows. "Is Amelia asleep?"

He nodded. "Yeah. Out like a light. I got about 30 seconds into a story."

"And you're sure you want to do all of this again," she asked with a smile.

He smiled and leaned in to kiss her. "Absolutely."

End Part 1