Time for a new story. Don't forget to watch the Paley Cente tonight on Live stream, full news room cast for a whole hour! Just go on line to Paley Fest and follow the instructions to sign up for the live feed, tonight at 10:30 EST, or you can watch it taped, tomorrow.

This is rated M just in case something happens down the road...or not. You never know!

I don't own the newsroom.

The Palm Springs AWM Golf Week-end was an annual event where the media giant hosted their biggest advertisers and celebrities for three days of golf, partying, and spa spoiling.

ACN, the news division of the organization, was always well represented by various hosts and the better known reporters from New York, Washington and L. A.

Will never missed this week-end, officially because he was expected to be there, but more because he loved to invite his republican buddies for a week-end of golf and political gossip. This year after all the beating he'd given the party he wasn't sure all but the most liberal of them would want to be seen in his company. Regardless it was a good time and he was looking forward to it.

It's never taken a "date" per se. There were plenty of women at these things if he felt like some late night company. Not this year though. This year Mackenzie would be there and he was actually looking forward to spending some time with her either on the golf course, or maybe over a quiet dinner. They hadn't done that yet, unless you counted pizza and a bottle of wine in his office after a particularly good show. But they were close to it. He could imagine asking out for a bite which was a far cry from a year ago when they weren't anywhere near that. He wasn't dating and he didn't think she was either. After her hospital rant in front of Jim, he knew she still though of them as an "us" even if they weren't back together. Slowly things were warming up between them.

"Morning" he said handing her the skinny grande latte that he had gotten into the habit of bringing her most mornings.

"Thanks Will" she smiled

"So are you coming to Palm Springs this week-end?" he asked, plopping himself down in a chair across from her.

"Nope, not really my scene." She smiled

"Why not, you like to golf and as I recall you were pretty good,…back…" his voice trailed off.

" I don't know. It's been years since I played and I'm not great at those things. It's either cozy couples or a lot of drunk married men away from home, looking to get laid. Not much else " she grinned. "Of course you have to go."

"Yah, Well hope you change your mind." he smiled, standing up to go to his office.

By Wednesday Charlie had the final list of who was expected to attend, and Will knew that. They usually worked on the list together planning teams from the various news division for the golf tournaments and dividing up the client lists assigning various anchors the job of playing host for dinners and spa days for the wives and dates who wanted some pampering.

"Mac's not coming." Will said, as they went over the lists together in Charlie's office.

"Why not?"

"She says she doesn't like that it's mostly couples or drink guys putting the moves on her." he laughed

"Did you ask her to come?"

"No…it's a company event, she was already invited."

"Will, for Christ's sake, if you want her to go with you, you ask her." Charlie said, exasperated.

"You mean like a date?"

"Are you in high school? Yes, like a date!" Charlie shook his head.

Will listened and stared at Charlie for a few seconds trying to decide if this was a good idea. Probably it was. It would break the ice, away from the newsroom and New York where they had started up…back then…and she was a riot on the golf course, and it would mean he would get to see her in a bikini, am image he could fantasize about for the next few days…and… why not?

"Yah, I could do that." He said finally "Thanks Charlie." he grinned rising and striding out of the office like a man with a purpose.

Charlie sat back in his chair and sighed and thought about the hair and the turtle. He hoped the parable was true because he had never seen anyone take longer to follow his heart then Will McAvoy.

"Hi it's me. Did I wake you?"

"No, but almost."

"I looked for you after the show but you'd already left and then I popped in to that god awful place…but you weren't there, and then your phone was off…"

" I know. I actually had a mani pedi at one of those all night places. Only time I could squeeze it in…and why am I telling you this?" she rambled

"So you sound all ready for the pool…good cause I'm inviting you to come to the golf thing….ok? " he half mumbled

"We had that talk already. I told you I wasn't going. Are you losing it Will?" she teased

"You're not listening Mackenzie. I'm inviting you." He said in that tone that drove her crazy, as if she was a five year old. Normally she would throw him a witty come back designed to put him in his place, but not this time. Was he actually asking her to go with him?

"Have I shocked you into silence? 'Cause if I have, I need to ask you to things more often." he smirked

" Tell me exactly what this is Will?"

"This is a phone call asking you to join me at the AWM golf tournament in Palm Springs this Friday. Look at your email." He laughed.

Mackenzie flipped open her laptop and saw his name appear.

W-I-L-L Y-O-U C-O-M-E T-O P-A-L-M S-R-I-N-G-S W-I-T-H M-E XO ? W-I-L-L M.

"Very funny." she said in a deadpan voice.

She giggled when she read his attempt to write in the same sarcastic tones he knew drove her crazy. She thought more about the prospect of 3 days and evenings with Will…two days to get some resort and golf stuff, and maybe even a chance to talk about something more personal than the news and office gossip.

"MAC." he shouted into the phone. "This isn't hard!"

"Well….since my toes are freshly done…why not? Sure, I'd love to come Will."

He knew she was smiling now. Her voice was light and happy. Good, he thought. Might begin to make up for all those months of being such a shit to her.

"We can rent you clubs and you can buy all the other things at the pro shop. I'll put your name on the list and sign you up for stuff with Charlie, tomorrow. So, it's a date?"

"Yes it is. Night Billy. I'm blowing you a kiss."

Will hung up the phone feeling surprisingly happy. That hadn't been so hard once he got her to believe him. It was kind of sad the way she doubted his sincerity. He knew he had some work to do on that front.

Mackenzie tried to get back to sleep but her mind was reeling;part happy and excited and part skeptical. She wasn't sure if this was Will's honest attempt at trying again, or at least laying the ground for it..or just another chance to rattle her chain and tease her mercilessly on the golf course. Probably all of the above, she decided.

The next day he found her in her office, waiting for her morning cappuccino, making lists for the week-end.

"Madame." He smiled handing her the steaming cup. "What are you doing?"

"Just figuring out what I need to buy. Besides golf shoes and clothes, some resort wear..I haven't been south since I came back and I have no idea where my beach stuff is. Anyway, it's time for new things. " she smiled "Thanks for the coffee Will."

Will reached into his pocket and pulled out his wallet and flipped through his credit cards.

"What are you doing?"

"Here" he said placing his black American Express card on her desk. "My treat. It goes with the week-end. Buy whatever you need." He grinned.

"Will, put that away. First, I don't need money, as you know, and even if I did I'm not one of…"

"Ok Mackenzie" he cut her off. He used to love to buy her gifts….before…but that was different. She was right. The card was a gauche gesture on his part.

"Are we good then?"

"Fine. I'm looking forward to making an ass of myself on the golf course. You might be sorry if it's a couples tournament."

"I'll sign you up for a private clinic as soon as we arrive. We'll both go. I could use a tune up. Some of those guys play every day."

Next Will went up to see Charlie to sort out the arrangements for Mackenzie.

"Morning Charlie"

"So..what's the verdict? Did you ask her?"

"I did."

"Well judging from your face, she said yes."

"She did." Will grinned sheepishly

"Well now, that's good. Very good! There's still room on our plane. What about the hotel Will?"

"What about it?"

"How shall I put this…oh hell!" he barked "Do you need a second room?"

"Charlie.,…of course we do. Mackenzie and I are not together…in any way, ok? This is just…I don't know…a date I guess. Just get another room and sign her up for everything. I'll arrange a private her a golf lesson because it's been a while since she's played, and sign us up for the couples tournament…and we'll see if we get that far. And no jokes about this. I mean it Charlie. Give me a break would you?"

Charlie watched him leave and went to work. He phoned the hotel manager and requested that Mackenzie be given the room adjoining Will's suite. He made sure that Will's suite had a big tub and shower, and a well stocked bar. He ordered flowers for her room, and champagne on ice, to be waiting for them when they arrived. He moved himself down the hall and made sure that no other News Night staffers were in the rooms next to Will's and Mac's. He had done all he could. She was sitting beside him on the plane, and now it was really up to Will to seal the deal. He had a feeling that Will was finally ready to move forward and obviously Mackenzie had been waiting longer then Will deserved. He hoped Will realized that...

"Come on Sloan, we're going shopping." Mackenzie said, grabbing her bag right after the morning meeting wrapped. "The show is set, and we have at least 3 hours before you have to be back"

Sloan had come to see Mac to run through some stats but this plan sounded like much more fun.

"Shopping for what?"

"For Palm Springs. I know you're going because all the on-air's have to go, so don't look at me like that." Mackenzie grinned

"I know I'm going, but you said you weren't?"

"Well now I am. Come on, please?"

"Don't have to ask me twice" she laughed, grabbing her things and heading out to do some damage. "Barney's, Saks, and where else?"

"Calypso and that great bathing suit place on 7th, and Prada for some sandals.."

"This isn't going to be three hours Kenz."

"Ok , bring your notebook and we'll write your script over lunch, and then we can take another hour or two. Jim's got the line-up. It's ok, I promise" Mackenzie smiled

As they climbed into a cab Sloan started her grilling. "So how come all of a sudden you're coming?"

"Will asked me." Mackenzie smirked

"As in..like a date?"

"Yes. He actually dialed the phone and asked me to come with him." she grinned.

"Kenz, that's huge."

"I guess. Please don't say a word, ok?"

"Promise, but I think it's great."

"Well, we'll see how it goes, but at least if we end up at each other's throats I want to look good doing it." Mackenzie said flatly.

A little over four hours later they returned weighed down with bags from all their favorite stores. Will watched from his office as the two laughed, balancing their bags, and skirting through the newsroom to Mackenzie's office. He felt really pleased to see Mackenzie looking so happy and carefree. She needs more days like this, he thought to himself.

Mackenzie settled herself back at her computer and saw Will's message pop up.

STRING BIKINI…I HOPE?

He doesn't know about the scar, she thought, suddenly feeling panicked. He knew about the stabbing, but the jagged scar across her abdomen would shock anyone, especially the man who used to kiss her smooth belly and admire her porcelain skin… She couldn't think about that. She'd bought a sleek black one piece with a plunging back. That would have to do. Her bikini days were sadly over.

NOT TELLING ! she wrote back.

By Friday she was a bundle of nerves. Determined to act cool, Mackenzie was ready and waiting when Lonny and Will arrived at her place to pick her up. Will insisted that Lonny stay in the car while he went to her door. The body-guard thing had it's perks when there were fans nagging him, but sometimes he just needed a few mins of privacy and this was one of them.

Mackenzie opened her door to find Will grinning at her, standing alone.

"Where's Lonny?" she asked looking past Will.

"In the car. I wanted to come and get you and say how glad I am that you're coming."

He stepped forward and placed a tender kiss on her cheek, as he held her shoulders.

"Me too." she said teasingly.

He grabbed her bags and they were off to the airport to catch the AWM jet with the other network brass and their more important clients who were their guests on the flight.

Will did the rounds, greeting the various clients he knew and introducing them to Mackenzie. Eventually they settled in and Will watched Mackenzie set up her laptop and headphones, obviously getting ready to work.

"Put that away." He barked "This is supposed to be fun Mac. No work till Monday." He said, closing the lid on her laptop.

She tried to protest but he wasn't backing down.

"Look there's tv, let's see what movies they have."

"Oh god. Not one of your musicals" she groaned.

"Ok you pick then."

Mackenzie scrolled through the movie list and found Lincoln, the new film starring Daniel Day-Lewis.

"Great choice, I haven't seen it yet." he nodded

They settled in with their wine and snacks to watch. and part way through the movie Will looked over at her and winked. He wished he could pull her close, but here on the company jet the most he could do was take her hand. He pulled her hand down and tucked it discreetly under her tray table so he could hold it, away from prying eyes. When he glanced across the aisle he caught Charlie's eye, staring at his missing hand, grinning at Will, and he felt the blood rush to his cheeks.

Mackenzie was having a hard time focusing on the screen. She was acutely aware of the fingers laced with hers, tendering stroking her, that belonged the handsome blue-eyed man sitting beside her that she loved so much. Sitting on a plane soaring through the clouds, she closed her eyes and let her mind wander to thoughts of him running his hands over her naked body and wondered if he was having the same erotic thoughts. He was. He was thinking that maybe someday they'd get there, but for now, just to be able to do this felt really good. Part way through the movie she nodded off, her head on his shoulder. He closed up their tray tables, and took off their head sets and unfolded the blanket the stewardess had brought him and closed his eyes. When Charlie looked over at them, they were curled up under a blanket, heads together sleeping peacefully, looking for all the world like lovers.

"Mac, wake up." He nudged her. Soon they would be landing. They'd slept through the meal service, lost in their own private dreams.

"Wow did I sleep through the whole flight?" she said rubbing her eyes and stretching her arms.

"Yah, me too" he said sleepily

"I guess we needed that."

"I forgot how comfy you are." She whispered "I always slept best in your arms."

She was flirting with him now, and he loved it. She hadn't flirted with him once, even when he was in the hospital she had kept up her guard, not knowing then that he had tried to move them forward in that stupid voicemail that nearly ended all hope he had of ever getting close to her again

But now that was behind them and even though he hadn't told her what it said, she'd figured it out. He knew that. She actually knew it on New Year's Eve when he was so upset seeing her with Wade, looking so incredibly beautiful. She saw the look in his eyes when he gazed at her and the disappointment on his face as she left his office.

She had looked back at him, through the glass and her heart broke to see him close his eyes in pain. In that moment she wished she could tell him that Wade meant nothing to her and that it was only him she wanted. It would only ever be him. But she couldn't. She could only wait and hope that he would give her a sign that he'd forgiven her. She looked at down at the hand that was again holding hers and smiled. After all those years, he was touching her again. It was all she needed.

They arrived at the hotel check in and she watched as the desk clerk handed Will two keys. They rode up the elevator in silence as the porter delivered their bags unlocking the door to Mackenzie's room first. He placed her bags on luggage racks as Will looked around her room, frowning at first. Then the bell man opened a set of double doors, revealing the huge suite for them to share, if they wanted to.

"This is perfect, thanks" Will grinned, tipping the porter as he closed the door behind him.

"Come on. Let's have a drink and unpack." He said softly to Mackenzie.

This was exactly what he wanted. They could share the suite and be together but they had separate beds, if she wasn't ready to share his.

Mackenzie walked around the suite taking in the flowers and candles and champagne already chilled and waiting for them.

"Will, are you seducing me?" she teased

"I wish I could take credit for all this, but it was Charlie, the old sneak." He laughed

"Really?"

"He asked me if we needed separate rooms and I said we did. I mean, I didn't know if…"

"You were right to say that" she teased "But this is pretty perfect, isn't it?"

He walked over to her and looked at her shyly, slowly reaching to put his arms around her. She stepped into his embrace and reached her arms around his waist as his hand came up to her head, holding it against his shoulder.

"You feel really good" he whispered into her hair. "Does this feel…"

"Always" she said, smiling up at him.

"We have that golf lesson in an hour. Let's change and go to the pro shop and rent you some clubs" he said, stepping back from their embrace.

As she turned to walk through the double doorway into her bedroom he wondered if she would close the doors behind her. But she didn't. She scurried around her room, pulling out her new golf clothes and putting her things into her bathroom. Will was sitting on his bed pulling on his golf socks, when he caught a glimpse of her stripped down to her lacy underwear, stepping into her new golf shorts. She was leaving the door open, enjoying driving him crazy, he laughed to himself. Her body was as gorgeous and toned as ever. He closed his eyes and imagined those legs wrapped around his waist and felt a stirring in his shorts. His eyes were closed when she walked over to him, dressed and ready. When he opened his eyes she was standing over him staring down at the lump in his pants, laughing.

"Come on Billy. Golf now. Then later….we'll see. " She teased, her voice husky and taunting.

He stared up and down taking in her lithe athletic body in cream shorts and a soft pick polo necked shirt and let his eyes settle on the slim bright orange Hermes belt that encircled her tiny waist. "Nice belt. You look great" he smiled

"Thanks, come on handsome. Let's go." She smiled pulling him up and into a warm embrace. He kept his hips far enough away to keep his bulging shorts from rubbing against her. She laughed at his temporary distress, happy that she still had that effect on him.

By the time they reached the pro shop his brain had calmed down and his erection was gone. Thank god he thought. Seeing her in her underwear had sent a signal to his groin that was all her fault and she knew it, he chucked to himself.

"Mr McAvoy, great to see you again." The pro shop manager said warmly, extending his hand to Will.

"Thanks Paul. Meet Mackenzie McHale. Can we see those clubs we talked about?"

" Nice to meet you Ms McHale. I have your clubs all ready for you." he smiled. "Be right back."

A few mins later he rolled out a set of gorgeous new Callaway clubs in a pink golf bag with a silver name tag dangling from a chain. Mackenzie touched the bag and lifted the silver tag and saw the letters M. M. engraved on the tag.

"Will…since when do rental clubs come with personal monograms?" her eyes narrowing as she questioned him.

"These are a gift, and don't try and say no." he smiled "Gifts are allowed."

"Our pro helped me choose based on the information you send us Will. But after your lesson, we may want to change a few of them. So, try them out and come back and see me later."

"Thanks Paul" Will said, wheeling the clubs out with Mackenzie chasing behind him.

"You shouldn't have, but they're gorgeous clubs. Thank-you!" she smiled, pulling him down by the shoulder so she could plant a kiss on his cheek.

"You're welcome. Come on let's go and see if you remember your strokes."

She resisted the urge to jump on his choice of words, choosing instead to tuck her arm under his, bumping shoulders as they headed for the green.