This is a continuation of the the story Getting To US

It starts with chapter 12

I don't own the Newsroom or any of it's characters- of course!

Thanks for your great comments, as always

Getting to US

Leona Lansing's office was smartly elegant. This was the first time she had called them all to a meeting, since the night they blew the whistle on Reese. Will looked around nervously as he stood back and let Mackenzie walk through the door ahead of him.

"Good Afternoon. Will, I've been reading about your escapades. Riveting stuff."

"Leona, I apologize for my behavior. I was in a bad place at the time and I left my better judgment at home. . I wish I had a better excuse, but I don't."

"Sit down Will, Charlie, Mackenzie. We're on the same side for a change. I am just as displeased with this smear campaign aimed at our star anchor as you all are."

Charlie smiled. This was the Leona he adored.

"CBN is behind this story. It's a ratings grab, obviously. Erin Andrews will milk it for all it's worth. Will I trust you will do the same? "

"And tell my version of the story? How can getting down in the gutter with Erin possibly not make it worse?"

" Don't comment on her story. Change the subject and use the opportunity talk about why Obama should be re elected. Be the heavyweight who could not possibly care about Erin or any of the garbage in this puff piece.

If I have learned one thing in life, it's to use every opportunity I am given, to my advantage. Recognize this for what it is, an opportunity. And don't apologize, just don't do it again. "

" Leona, you are a great lady. Have I told you that?"

" Yes Charlie, you have, many times in fact. Now Will, keep shooting . I'll be watching."

Will smiled for the first time since Charlie's early morning phone call . Leona had shone a positive light on the situation. It was one he could run with.

Stepping into the elevator Will and Mac turned to see Charlie sauntering down the hall toward them, muttering happily to himself. They held the elevator door until he entered grinning mischievously

"Leona didn't get to where she is by being scared. She knows how to play the game better than anyone I know. Take her advice Will. Hold your head up and rise above it. No apologies. You too Mac."

The broadcast that evening was one of their best yet. There was no breaking news, and nothing of grave importance. But all eyes were on Will. They were looking for a crack in his armor.

If viewers were expecting to see a contrite Will McAvoy on the air that night, they would be pleasantly surprised. For once, Mackenzie said nothing. She watched and listened in awe of his calm demeanor. She smiled to herself: he's actually enjoying this, she thought.

He emerged from the studio to applause and cheers, and Mackenzie was so relieved that she forgot herself and threw her arms around his neck and hugged him. When she realized where she was and what she had done, she shyly pulled away. Will just laughed and put his arm around her waist, pulling her towards his office.

"Come on Mac, let's go home. Good night everyone"

Sloan chased after them and into Will's office where Lonny was waiting.

"Will, there's a mob of reports outside waiting for you guys. I think Mac should leave with me and come to my place for the night."

" She's right, and I should take you out the back door. I'm calling the car and telling Sam to meet us there. "

"No Lonny, we're going out the front door. Thanks Sloan, but Mac and I have plans for dinner. "

"We do?"

" Yes we do, now go in your office and get your stuff because we're leaving Mac."

" Where are we going?"

" I was going to surprise you, but clearly that's not possible, although it should be! We're going to Elios for dinner. We are not hiding. Come on Mackenzie. Put your coat on. We're going out on a date!"

"Are you sure Will?"

"Of course I'm sure. If I can't have Chinese, at least I can have a some decent Italian food. Remember that veal chop and the fried zucchini we always used to order? That's what I'm having. Now get your coat ! "

" I no longer eat veal, and you don't eat fried foods, loaded with salt…by the way…"

Sloan saw the look of pure exasperation on Will's face and decided to quietly go to Mac's office and retrieve her coat and bag.

Will stood in his office and stared at McKenzie while Lonny lowered his head and turned away, hand over his mouth. Laughing at this point would not be a good idea.

Will was starting to fume…

Sloan ran back in and handed Mac's coat to Will.

" Really? On my side for a change? Will grabbed Mac's coat and held it open for Mackenzie.

He's going to win this one, Sloan thought, smiling to herself.

"Anyway, food was not what I meant when I said it was a bad idea to go there"…Mackenzie mumbled.

"When have I ever not known what you meant Mac? Now put your arm into this sleeve – and do up your coat, and take my hand because we're supposed to be a couple now, and this is what couples do- they go out for dinner!"

"But Will, Elios? I mean of all the places…."

"Excuse me while I say good night to my bossy EP. I'm going out with my

GIRLFRIEND. By any chance, do you know her?"

"Fine. I'm not saying another a word."

"That will be the day."

" Bye Kenzie. Bye Will. Hope you don't kill each other on the way over."

Lonny grinned at Sloan and followed them out the door and into elevator.

Will and Mac walked through the mob of reporters with cameras flashing and into a waiting car. Will's only reply to the mics being shoved in his face was "no comment".

"Did you enjoy that Will? Because we are about to walk into a shark's is a bad idea and I really think…"

"Mac?"

"What?"

"Can you please shut up?"

Elios was the favorite dinner spot for the elite of Manhattan's media crowd. This would be their coming out as a couple. The room was buzzing when they entered holding hands. Heads turned and the noise level in the room quickly dropped to a hush.

Will spotted Anderson Cooper, and nodded to him. The room erupted in applause. Everyone knew what it took for these two to walk in together, and they respected them for it. They knew what Erin was trying to do, and that it could just as easily have been one of them. Will and Mac were seated at a quiet corner table, but soon enough colleagues and old friends began to make their way over to say hello.

"Nasty piece of business Will. No worries. It's yesterday's news."

"Thanks John, appreciate it,"

" Well I'll leave you two to your dinner. Good to see you Mac."

Eventually they were left alone. Will ordered a bottle of Mackenzie's favorite champagne and saw her delight when he raised his glass to for a toast.

"To us Mackenzie. I think we've earned it."

" I feel like we can finally get back to our lives Will. Touch wood, but maybe the worst of it is over. God I hope so."

" I have some things I want to say, and I want to say them before we get any further into this bottle of Champagne. I want you to know that this is me talking and not the alcohol."

" So long as you aren't trying to distract me from that salt shaker you've been eyeing all night, I will listen closely to whatever you have to say."

" I promise this is not a ploy. This is from the heart Mac"

" I'm all ears darling"

" I love you sweetheart. I am a 52 year old man deeply in love with a younger woman."

"Not that much younger Will"

" Young enough to have options. Do you really want a child Mac?"

Mackenzie looked down at her plate nervously trying to decide what to say. She looked up at Will with apprehension.

" I think so. Yes I do… I mean I want to be with you and if that means no children then it means….no children. If you are asking me if I will have moments when I wish we could have a child…well, I yes….yes I think I will, but if that's not an option then is just isn't. "

" Do you think you could be happy- with it being just us?"

" Of course I could be. Anyway I don't have a choice Will. People say that we have choices in life but there are some things that are beyond our control, they just are. We were apart for four years. Every morning when I woke up, you were the first thing in my head. Every night I fell asleep missing you. I have to live knowing that it will always be that way for me. So if you are asking me if I would rather be with some other man, and have his child, and still wake up every morning wondering where you are and missing you terribly, then no I would rather not do that. I would rather be with you, on your terms."

Will was silent. Everything she said was true. She was about as vulnerable now in this moment as she would ever be. She didn't dare hope for a child with him. She was too afraid to tell him how much she wanted one. If she did, he might just feel worse and then where would they be? She was scared that he would decide to let her go rather then feel like a failure. She couldn't bear the thought of that. He understood all of that.

There was a long silence while he searched her face...thinking. Finally Will spoke;

" We need to go and see Abe. I want to give you everything that you want. . I'm sorry that I'm messed up .. Maybe he can help . I really want to try Mac."

" I love you for saying that. I agree, we do need to go and see Abe. I'm ready to be open about something that I need to share with you Will. It's nothing about you or us. We're fine. We're better than fine. This is not anything that should threaten you in any way. It's just something that's hard for me to talk about. Just like you can't talk about your fear of being a father. It's like that. I don't want you to worry."

"Let's go and see him tomorrow. And one more thing. I don't want to sleep without you. I know that's selfish, and I should be making all kinds of promises to you first. I can't do that without help, at least not yet. But can we…"

"Stop Billy. I don't want to move in to your place. I want us to do this right, so that if I ever do live with you again, it's my life too…. not just me living in your place. Do you understand?"

"Yes but…"

"No I need to say this Will. This is brand new for us. We're starving for each other and so of course I want to sleep with you, every night. But for now, I'm a guest at your place. It can't be like that for too long, but for now, its perfect."

"Ok, let's go home so I can make love to you. How does that sound?"

" Like I said, perfect."

In the morning Will called Dr Habib and asked for an appointment as early as possible. Mac had given him a huge clue and he had understood it. She didn't mean that "they"should do some things right. She meant he should.

He thought about the diamond ring locked in his drawer, and how he had tortured her with it. He thought about how he had her in his bed every night making love to him, too frightened to tell him how much she wanted his child for fear of rejection. He was ready to kick his own ass…if she didn't do it first.

" I'm clearing two hours for you Will. Can you both arrange your schedules to allow for that time?"

" Yes, we can make that happen."

"I got the appointment. Abe says we need to allow 2 hours this time. He must think we have a lot of baggage. Mostly mine. "

" No, this time I think its mostly mine Will."

"Do you ever wonder if it's worth it Mac? I mean let's face it, I'm screwed up, I can't even talk about kids, I have anger management issues, I'm probably an alcoholic which means I will always have to struggle with my drinking to keep it under control, my blood pressure makes me a heart attack waiting to happen, and I'm losing my hair! Oh yes, and I'm a notorious womanizer ! Did you ever consider finding someone less complicated, you know, easier?"

" No, and anyway it's not true Will."

"What part isn't true?"

"You're not losing your hair."

"Mackenzie, your killing me. Come on let's go."