This is the promised sequel to "Mistletoe And Crime" – it starts right after the end of that story. It's pretty fluffy, I wasn't too sure about the rating – I'd call it an extended "T", I think it's not yet M.

The story features another Jane Comerford song (further explanation see beginning of "Mistletoe") – it's called "Head Over Heels". I strongly recommend to listen to it – it should be available somewhere online (or ask me). It's a beautiful ballad, amazing voice, very slow song, just very little piano sound. I can't tell if the story works without the atmosphere of the song since I only know it with it (so does my guinea pig reader) – try it out ;-)

Hope you like it, please review if you do – final chapter will be out tomorrow or Friday.

Chapter 1

"Let's take my car, you won't need yours the next few days anyway," Mac said when they reached the parking garage level.

"And how am I gonna get to work after my vacation?"

"I'll give you a ride," he smiled.

XXXXX

"You know what?" he asked after a while on the road. "Let's get a real Christmas tree. I mean, not just such a little plastic toy, a real one, a big one…"

Stella gave him a surprised look. She wasn't used to such spontaneous actions, not from Mac. He noticed her wondering look and smiled.

"Well, I didn't have a real tree in years and… Don't know, maybe it would be nice?" he timidly asked.

She knew where he was going with this.

"Yeah, sure," she nodded with a smile. "Let's make this a real Christmas! If you stop around Rockefeller Plaza, there's a big Christmas tree lot, they should still have some trees left, even at this time."

XXXXX

"Mac! We will never get this monster into my apartment… Not to speak of the elevator first of all," Stella complained twenty minutes later after they had finally managed to stuff an enormous tree into the SVU and fix the trunk deck that wouldn't close anymore with a rope.

"It was the nicest one they had left," Mac defended the tree.

"It was the biggest one they had left," Stella returned reproachfully. "So much for 'Size doesn't matter…'"

"What was that?"

"Nothing…" she mumbled.

"But you're right about the elevator… Let's go to my house then, I've got more space in the living room anyway and we only have to get it through the front door. Shouldn't be such a big deal."

"Yeah, but…."

"I promise, I'll get you home in time – I know you have to catch an early flight tomorrow," he slowly said.

"I'm sorry, Mac… I can't cancel the trip now. I mean, I didn't know that…" she tried to explain.

"It's alright, you need your time off, you go on your vacation trip and get some rest, you deserve it," he smiled even though he wished she could have stayed with him.

XXXXX

"Congratulations, it's a Christmas tree!"

Stella groaned after they had finally pushed and pulled the big tree through the entrance door of Mac's place. She leaned back against the wall and pulled a strand of hair behind her ear.

"Giving birth can't be much harder…"

Mac was leaning against the doorframe, breathing heavily.

"I can't tell, I haven't tried that yet…" he returned with a grin.

XXXXX

Mac dropped her off at her place later in the night. He walked her up to her apartment door and waited until she had opened it. Stella turned around and put her arms around his neck.

"I'll call you as soon as I got into the hotel, I promise," she whispered into his ear, feeling a closeness she never imagined would ever be possible.

He nodded silently, then pulled her closer to him. After a moment, he lifted her chin with his left thumb and looked into her eyes as if asking for permission which he found. She closed her eyes and tenderly returned his kiss until he let her go with a sigh.

"You need to get some sleep, we'll talk tomorrow – have a good night," he smiled.

"Good night, Mac," she smiled back.

He watched her go inside and waited till she closed the door behind herself before he turned to leave. At the elevator, he turned around once more, looking at her door with a smile. Christmas had brought him an angel this year – and he was more than willing to do things right and make them work.

XXXXX

December 31 – around 8 am

Stella groaned when the sound of her cell phone pulled her out of her sleep. Due to a delay at the airport, she had only gotten home at 4:30 am wasn't really in the mood for conversation. No need to look at the display, only one person would call this early.

"Do you have any idea what time it is?" she complained.

"I missed you…"

Without wanting to, she had to smile about the whiny sound in his voice. That was so unlike him. She shook her head, apparently she would have to deal with this.

"We just talked a few hours ago before my plane took off, why are you not sleeping?"

"I did, I swear," Mac promised. "I can't help it, I just wake up by myself at 5 am every morning, then I go running, take a shower, have breakfast…"

"… and now you're bored," Stella finished his sentence.

"I was just wondering if… I mean, do we see each other today?" he carefully asked, not quite sure in what mood she was after he interrupted her sleep.

Suddenly Stella was very awake. This was an opportunity she couldn't let pass by.

"Do you take me to the New Years' party at Madison Square Garden?" she expectantly asked, knowing that the odds where closer that there would be snow in July.

"I'll pick you up at 6 pm, you go back to sleep now," he replied much to her surprise. "Sweet dreams…"

Stella looked at her cell phone which just gave a tooting sound with a puzzled look.

XXXXX

December 31 – 6 pm

He couldn't believe how incredibly sexy she looked when she opened the door for him.

"Stella, you look ravishing!" he exclaimed, his eyes immediately drawn to the deep plunging neckline of the short black dress.

"Like it?" she playfully asked, knowing from his admiring looks that this question was unnecessary. After he helped her into her coat, she grabbed her purse and they left the apartment together.

Out on the street, Stella looked around.

"Where's your car?"

He just smiled mysteriously. She followed his gaze to the left where a big black limousine approached and stopped right in front of them. The driver got out and opened the back door. Stella looked at Mac.

"May I help you in?" he gently asked, offering her his hand.

She just took it and climbed into the car, unable to say a word. This was way more than she had expected. Mac took place next to her, not letting go of her hand.

After a while, Stella looked out of the window and narrowed her eyes.

"Wait a second, where are we here? This is NOT the way to Madison Square Garden, we are…"

Mac quickly put a finger on her lips. He knew this was risky and maybe he should have told her before, but he didn't want to have an argument and figured that once she was in the limo, she didn't have much of a chance to back out. He didn't seriously expect her to ask him to let her out right away or to tell the driver to turn around and get her back home. Although there was still a little option for this…

"It's a surprise. Will you trust me?" he softly asked.

"Do I have a choice?"

"Maybe…"

He could tell from the sound of her voice that she wasn't mad, but rather a little curious and excited. He shook his head with a tender smile and touched her cheek with his fingers.

I've been looking for a shining light
I've been searching for so long
I've been dreaming every lonely night
For a place where I belong

TBC