I do not own any of the characters they belong to Csi New York!(Lucky people) I am just borrowing them! :) neither do I own the song 'your arms feel like home' that belongs to three doors down!! warning may contain fluff. Lol. This is my first fan fiction, so here goes...

I think I've walked too close to love
And now I'm falling in
There's so many things this weary soul can't take
Or maybe you just caught me by surprise
The first time I looked into your eyes

Stella woke suddenly from a deep sleep, looking around she noticed she was still at the lab, she was still in her office, sat in her chair, she sighed reaching for her coffee cup. Only to see it was empty. Stella gently rose from her chair and headed out of her office, it must be late she thought as she looked at her watch. 01;34. Stella paused outside mac's office wondering if he was still here. No not wondering, she was hoping, longing, yearning for him to be in there. Gently she knocked on the door. A muffled call came from inside. Stella pushed the door open.

"Hi Mac" Stella smiled, watching Mac fiddle about with the papers on his desk.

"Hi Stella" Mac looked up at her with a sleepy smile "What are you still doing here? It's late, shouldn't you be at home by now?"

Stella laughed a little and walked to Mac's desk, moving some papers so that she could sit on the edge. "I could say the same for you Mac, and I'm here so late because I fell asleep at my desk, then I came out on a coffee run" Mac rolled his eyes and laughed.

"Do you mind if I join you? I really need a break from this" Mac gestured towards all his papers. Stella smiled, jumping up off Mac's desk.

"Sure Mac, I was going to ask if you wanted to come, but now I guess I don't need to" Stella watched as Mac continued to move his papers around his desk "Mac are we going, or not?" she raised an eyebrow at him.

"We are Stella, just give me awhile to finish up here" Stella drummed her fingers impatiently on Mac's desk. Mac stared at Stella's hand, then reached out and cupped her hand in his. "Stop ok, I'll be done in a couple minuets" Stella nodded quickly and turned away as she felt the heat rush to her face.

There's a life inside of me that I can feel again,

it's the only thing that takes me where I've never been.

"Stella, Stella!" Mac was waving his hand in front of her face. "You still with me?" Stella shook her head in an attempt to pull her attention back. She laughed a little.

"See Mac, this is what happens if you keep me waiting for coffee!!" Stella smiled, whilst Mac chuckled.

"Well I'm all yours now" Mac blushed realizing what he had said. "I didn't mean it like that" Stella laughed.

"Don't worry Mac I know what you ment, now are we going to go or do I have to drag you out of here?" Stella questioned. Mac chuckled.

"Ok, just give me a second to-" Stella grabbed Mac by the arm and was dragging him out his office.

"No more seconds for you Mr. Taylor, I'm not waiting any longer for my coffee!!" Mac managed to grab his coat as they left.

They walked down the almost deserted streets of New York, occasionally seeing people, some alone, some in groups. But Stella didn't really take any notice, she felt safe, she was with him, Mac Taylor. She trusted him with her life, she had, had many bad things happen in her life, but he was always there, he was her rock, her shoulder to cry on, the one person she could always rely on. She didn't really know when her feelings towards him had developed, she supposed they had started when Peyton had started dating him. She had always liked Peyton, but when she found out Peyton and Mac were an item, it was like a monster had been born inside her, and that monster wanted Peyton gone, so that Mac would be hers. But she couldn't act on these feelings, how could she? Mac was her best friend, and he was happy, and that was all that mattered to Stella, even if it was Peyton that made Mac happy, not her. Then the day came when Mac got the letter from Peyton, Stella had seen the letter on Mac's desk. As soon as she had finished reading it she knew where Mac would be. She had sat and watched him play, a smile on his face, but he had pain hidden in his eyes.

Once again that night Stella had to drag herself back to reality. She turned her head to face Mac, she found him staring at her. Suddenly she was glad it was so dark, it hid her blushing cheeks. Stella rubbed her arms, she shivered. Mac smiled at her, taking his jacket of he slipped it onto her shoulders. Stella inhaled, the jacket smelt of him.

"I'm glad I brought my jacket with me now" Mac commented, Stella smiled.

"Thanks Mac, I forgot my coat, how are you not cold?"

"Well I did have a coat" Mac grinned. Stella stopped walking and looked at Mac.

"I'm sorry, if your cold you can have it back" Stella went to take his jacket off herself but was stopped Mac. He smiled looking deep into her jade green eyes.

"No Stella don't worry, I'm not cold" Mac let his hands rest on Stella's shoulders. "And I wouldn't want you to get ill and not come to work, I wouldn't be able to cope without you!" Stella smiled.

"Oh I know you wouldn't" she grinned, she took in every noise around them, she wanted this moment to last forever. But then no moment lasts forever, Stella felt the air around them change, Mac moved towards her, his hands slipping lower down her arms. Something in his eyes had changed too, it was harder for her to read them now, like he had put a barrier up against her.

"Listen, Stella" Mac sighed. "I need to tell you something" Stella nodded, she dared not talk, she knew if she tried, it would make no sense. "I don't want anything to change between us, ok, but we've been working together so long now, we haven't only been co-workers but we've been best friends. And don't get me wrong, I love every minuet I work with you, when Claire died It felt like I was suffocating, I just wanted to curl up and die-"

"But Mac-" Mac placed a finger to Stella's lips.

"Stella just let me talk, for once" He grinned. "Now as I was saying when Claire died, so did part of me, I just didn't want to live anymore. But you wouldn't let me give up, you gave me air so that I could breathe, and for that I am eternally grateful. But Stella the past couple weeks, I have realized how much you mean to me, I think in some ways I love you more then I loved Claire. And the thought of losing you kills me inside. And-" Mac looked at Stella she had tears running down her cheeks "Whats the matter?" Mac wiped the tears off of Stella's face. Stella shook her head and looked at her feet.

"What are you trying to say Mac?" Stella sniffed. Mac shuffled on his feet.

"Well I guess what I'm trying to say is.." Mac breathed deeply preparing himself for what he was going to say "I love you, Stella" Mac placed a hand on Stella's chin and gently pulled her head up to look at him, Stella was in shock.

"You, What?"

"I love you Stella I always have, its just taken me some time to realize" Stella's shocked expression softened, and she smiled. She pinched herself to check she wasn't dreaming.

"Ouch" Stella rubbed her arm in pain, she had forgotten how hard she pinched. Mac stared at her a nervous smile on his face.

"Please don't tell me you don't feel the same" Mac glanced at her. Stella moved closer to him.

"On the contrary Mr. Taylor, I'm scared that you may have been reading my mind" Stella smiled linking her arms around Mac's neck. Mac grinned and let his hands move down Stella's body finally stopping them at her waist...

It's funny how one moment can seem to last forever, isn't it? For if you asked Stella how long her and Mac had kissed for she would answer hours, but really it was only a couple minuets.

Once those minuets were over the two stood standing with their heads together, Mac could feel Stella shivering in his arms, he ran one of his hands though her hair, his eyes feasting on the beauty that was in front of him. For awhile they were both in a comfortable silence. But it was Stella who broke the silence.

"Can we get that coffee now?" she asked, a cheeky grin on her face. Mac smiled and put his arm around Stella's shoulders.

"Yes, I think we should, I don't want you falling asleep now!"

I don't care if I lost everything I have known

It don't matter where I lay my head tonight,

Your arms feel like home,

Like home.

Thanks for reading, please review! :)