AN: Hey all! This is my first attempt at Christmas Mac/Stella so enjoy!

Thanks to Kitty for all your encouragement - you're the best 'twin sister' ever! Thanks to AliasCSINYFriendsER and Steeldust-01, you guys convinced me to post this so thanks :0)

P.S. The song is Killin' Kind by Shelby Lynne
Anyhoo, read on and enjoy!

I didn't mean to hurt your feelings
It was so careless of me

"Oh my God what have I done?" He asked the empty room as he paced anxiously.
Why did he comment? Why would he say something so stupid? He knew that they were on a hair trigger since their last fight.

"God damn office Christmas parties!"

I guess I've gone and done it
It's just a matter of time

He supposed that eventually one of them was going to piss the other off, they couldn't keep walking on eggshells. The whole basis of their relationship was that they were honest with each other.

But still, he had to be the one who stuffed up. He kept telling himself that she could have just as easily done it but in the end he wouldn't have cared if she did.

He hurt her though, he hurt her and he hated himself for it.

"It's always the people you love the most that you hurt…" She said once. She was right, as usual.

Nothin' I can do but tell you I'm sorry
And that's the hardest part of all

He had gone through every possible scenario in his head and the only way he could fix it was to apologize sincerely.

But that, He thought to himself, is easier visualized than done.

'Cause your love's the killin' kind
Your love's the killin' kind

If she wasn't the best friend he ever had and he wasn't so madly in love with her then there probably wouldn't be a problem: he would just explain that it was a bad joke, he didn't mean anything by it (even though he did) and that he was very sorry. He was useless at lying to her and even if he was good at it he wouldn't want to, he valued their honesty too much.

I'd rather walk on glass
Than see teardrops in your eyes
And I'd fall to pieces just to hold you
The best thing in my life
It's just luck I get to love you
You're the one thing that's right
You're the light in my hell's darkness

How could he hurt someone he loved so much?

Why did I have to open my big dumb stupid mouth? He thought angrily to himself.

He truly would rather die than cause her any pain. She was the best thing in his life and he couldn't stand the thought of upsetting her. He wasn't sure his life had any purpose without her. She balanced out all of the horrible things they saw each day and now he pulled a stunt like this.

Nice going, Taylor. Nice going.

'Cause your love's the killin' kind
Your love's the killin' kind
Oh, yeah

Cry, I just might cry now
Die, lay down and die now
Why, 'cause you've done it to me
You're puttin' me under

"Why aren't you home yet?" He asked her. Part of him expected her to answer, even though he knew that she wasn't there. He began to pace faster, watching the door all the while.

"Please come home?" He begged desperately. Maybe he was being overprotective but it had been three hours since the unfortunate incident at the office Christmas party and he was worried, to say the least.

I close my eyes and I sit under the sky
I love you and all it's pleasure
Baby, it feels so right
My arms won't be any use at all
If I can't hold you

This is killing me! What if she doesn't come home? He thought anxiously. What if I've stuffed us up because I was being a jerk? Could I plead temporary insanity by means of eggnog?

He checked his watch,

Three and a half hours…

'Cause your love's the killin' kind

Your love's the killin' kind (killin' kind)
Oh, yeah

I'd die, baby
Ooh, I'd die for your darlin'
Just want to say I'm sorry
Oh, I'd do anything
Anything

"You're home!" He said and swept her up in his arms when she walked through the door. She gave him the same look she gave the IAB guy when he asked her out (When he noticed, he let go and took a step back).

"Please forgive me?" He asked and cringed.

"What?" She laughed.

"Please, please, please forgive me?" He begged as he knelt in front of her and took her hands. She had no idea whatsoever what he was talking about but she always enjoyed watching him squirm.

"Mac I don't know." She said and bit her lip.

"I'll do anything, just say you've forgiven me? I can't stand this!"

"Well if you're going to apologize properly I think you should make a full sentence at least."

"Stella, I am so, so, so sorry I laughed at your reindeer earrings with flashing noses." He said. She read the terror across his face and laughed.

"You thought that's why I left? I hate them too, I only wore them because Aiden asked me to." She shook her head. Mac stood up slowly.

"Then where did you go?" He asked curiously.

"You'll find out soon enough." She said secretively.

"What does that mean?"

"Did you see me get a phone call?" She waited for him to nod before continuing. "I had something on order that I had to pick up." She smiled.

"But then why were you gone so –?" Stella pressed her index finger to his lips to silence him.

"Mac, shut up. We're under the mistletoe." Stella smiled at him and pursed her lips enticingly. That was an offer Mac Taylor couldn't refuse.