Mac arrived first at the party at the Mars residence, dressed in a baggy off the shoulder sweater over skinny jeans, that she had to use an elastic band to do up. Before knocking on Keith's door she took a deep breath and smoothed out her sweater. She was fine, no one could tell not ever her hyper-aware best friend, right?

Speaking of pixie detectives, Veronica answered the door "Q, we were wondering when you would get here. Big poppa was getting worried, what took you so long?"

Mac froze thinking that answering lying on the bathroom floor would probably raise alarm bells for Veronica. But then realizing that staying silent would also raise alarm bells she quickly replied "Just finishing up some work for the Maxeberg case"

Crap, now she had to do extra work to make sure she looked like she was working on this afternoon.

Veronica let Mac in leading her into the crowded living room and then disappeared into the kitchen. Wallace was sitting with Lisa on the couch while her wife was in conversation across the room with Cliff. Leo, Norris and Keith seemed to be having a serious discussion in the dining room. Leo's date Tami was sitting on the armchair talking to a woman she thinks is a sub at Wallace's school. Go B-man, she's hot she thought. Pony then made an appearance dashing across the room to the window as a car parked. Weevil was by the appetizers and the guest of honour was making his way over to her.

"Mac-attack, thanks so much for coming and thanks for looking out for the old ball and chain here while I was away."

"Logan, you and I both know that Veronica doesn't need anyone to look out for her, I mean other then her Taser. But thanks for the sentiment and thanks for coming back in one piece. Honestly thank you, now I can finally stop worrying about Veronica worrying."

"No problem, really I do it all for the coming home parties. Anyways it's always nice to know that she has a Q to her bond. So I know at least she won't work herself to death, thanks for keeping her sane….or trying." They both laughed at that one.

"Why are my ears burning? If you guys are talking about what to get me for my birthday the answer is always a pony but I mean don't tell pony that, god that dog has really ruined that joke, huh?" Veronica said as she saddled up to her boyfriend.

"Hey schnookums" Veronica said with slight southern housewife drawl, "I think I see your other half finally" pointing to the door. Even though Logan was a thirty-something old man his face light up as he looked for his best friend, it almost brought tears to Mac's eyes.

Mac closed her eyes to hide it. God he couldn't have waited like ten more minutes, she had told him to make it believable he had to wait at least half an hour.

Dick threw open the door not bothering to knock. "Honey, I'm home." Dick said as he threw his arms open. Mac couldn't believe her eyes as Logan nearly skipped towards Dick. The two boys were in a embrace whispering to each other for a good two minutes while all the other guests stopped and watched. If anyone asked it was dusty in here, that's why her eyes were watering.

"Well Q, while we watch Logan finally be welcomed by his true love, can I get you something to drink? Budlight or is it a whisky kind of night? I know looking at those two I need the hard stuff"

Mac tried to hide her gulp, she had been weary of this moment. If she said no Veronica would sense something was up, but if she said yes well that would be bad. "Yeah sure, uhh ya whisky I guess." As both her and Veronica made there way over to the bar cart. She looked over her shoulder quickly at the animatedly talking best friends trying to catch the eye of Dick.

"L-man, you look cut man. I mean if I was gay… I would."

"Don't finish that statement, Richard. How are you? When was the last time we skyped like five months or so? What you been up to?"

Dick instantly averted his eyes, he was never good at lying to Logan. "Uhhh yah sorry about the whole incommunicado thing, just shit got busy and such.. but we should go surfing tomorrow?"

Logan lowered his brow questioningly "Ya man, I thought I was the one 7,000 miles away in a tin box, I mean I know it was hard to fit me in between going to the pot dispensary and drinking at the '09er but…..?"

"Yesh, you have been hanging out too long with the pixie detective your getting all passive aggressively like her. Look I'm sorry I've just been busy with …..stuff." Dick tried not to look towards Mac as he said that last bit but he might have slightly leaned towards her. If he wasn't mistaken she was heading over towards them know, following Ronnie as she power walked towards the L-Man. What was Mac carrying anyways.

"Dick! How nice of you to join us…finally!, To think I thought I would have to be fighting you off from jumping into his arms at the airport." Veronica stated as she violently rolled her eyes.

Dick couldn't help but focus more attention on Mac who was know averting her eyes.

"Ya, well you know what with my drug dealings and my prostitute bookings life got real booked up around then." Finally Mac looked up at him. He looked at her worried eyes as she looked down at her glass. Oh, right he had to do his part in Operation Hide the watermelon under her shirt. He had lobbied hard for Operation Hide the dicklit but that had been shot down with one stare from Mac. Dick had stopped listening as Veronica rambled on to Logan about something. Dick made sure that no one was looking and then winked to Mac. Even though he saw her try and suppress it he knew he saw her smile at that wink. Then with an exaggerated sigh Dick made some pretty large movements that looked like a yawn of some sort 'accidentally' hitting Mac's drink and spilling it on the floor.

Veronica and Logan instantly hissed "DICK!" as Mac just looked on faking her best surprised and taken aback look. "What? It's your fault I was exhausted from having to fake listen to whatever you were talking about. God Logan couldn't you have picked a more interesting stalker?" And with that Dick grabbed Mac's glass from the floor and walked away throwing over his shoulder "I guess I can refill the offending drink, who am I to deny someone of their chosen poison?"

Veronica and Logan began to sop up the mess with the appetizer napkins as Mac went to the kitchen to get some bigger cloths. "Look under the sink" Veronica shouted as Mac made her way into the kitchen running smack dab into Dick.

Dick grabbed her shoulders to steady her and then with worry in his eyes said "Hey, you okay?"

Mac "Why do I look weird? Oh god everyone knows, don't they? Oh god I'm so fat and bloated and I feel a little like crying and puking at the same time, Veronica totally knows oohhh god"

"Mackenzie, we talked about this. We can do this! Remember what were saying this morning, put your big girl pants on. You look awesome, I mean a little green but that's only because I know you were lying on the floor of my bathroom nearly dying the whole afternoon. Stick to the plan, man. Hey that rhymes!"

"Right, the plan. Okay. You're right. Okay where's my…"

"Right here, flat ginger ale. And don't worry I'll wait five minutes to leave the kitchen."

"Thanks Dick" Mac says quietly as she tilts her head and plants a kiss on Dick's cheek. For a minute she forgets about everything else as Dick's hand wraps protectively around her back.

Mac is shaken out of it by continued yelling from the living room. Mac grips her drink and leaves the safety of the kitchen, letting the door swing as Dick's eyes watch her walk away.