Author's Notes: After struggling a bit with writer's block these last few days, fellow author writingalone graciously suggested a new fic idea. Today is the third anniversary of the Deepwater Horizon/BP oil spill in the Gulf Coast region. And thus, by extension, today would be the third anniversary of NewsNight. We thought we would commemorate the occasion with a little joint writing project. Enjoy our effort!
"Mac? Mackenzie?" Will croaked hoarsely as he woke up alone in their bed. Where the hell was she, he wondered? He was usually the one forcing her into the shower in the morning. He looked over at the alarm clock and blinked wearily. It wasn't even seven o'clock yet! And on a Saturday morning no less! So, why the hell wasn't she curled up into a little ball, hiding under the covers?
"Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday dear NewsNight! Happy Birthday to you!" He heard the horribly off-key warbling before he could actually see her making her way down the hallway toward their bedroom. But suddenly, there she was, face aglow in the candlelight spilling off a very small birthday cake.
"What the hell is that?!" he said, pointing at the small plastic figurine sitting atop a rather gooey looking chocolate concoction.
"It's the Deepwater Horizon Billy! Happy Anniversary!" she shouted gleefully.
He couldn't help himself, he burst out laughing. Mackenzie had apparently doused a premade bakery cake in chocolate syrup and stuck on a miniature oil platform as the piece de resistance.
"Let me guess…the Hershey's syrup is supposed to be the oil slick?" he asked.
"Well, yes!" she exclaimed, as she stood back and admired her handiwork. "Blow out the candles Will. It's our anniversary…or birthday…or something!"
He did as instructed and blew out the three candles that surrounded Mackenzie's makeshift Gulf Oil spill tableau.
"Why are we celebrating a natural disaster Mac?" he asked, sticking his finger into some of the chocolate syrup and watching as she licked it off.
"Because it also happens to be the day you and I got back together."
"No, it's not. We didn't get back together for another year and a half Mackenzie. I believe we settled for not killing each other that day" he reminded her.
"Well, it led to us getting back together, so I thought it was important to mark the occasion. Did you make a wish Billy?" she asked, practically shaking with excitement.
"Was I supposed to? What does one wish for when celebrating a culture of corporate greed that leads to the desecration of millions of acres of wetlands?" he asked rhetorically.
"Will! I am not celebrating the oil spill itself. Jesus, stop trying to burst my bubble! I am trying to celebrate the birth of a true rarity in journalism these days: a group of people who do the news because they love it and who want desperately to bring the truth to the American electorate in a way that informs, elucidates, and educates. I am trying to celebrate the birth of our baby…NewsNight!" she exclaimed.
"And of our being in the same room without killing each other" he said sagely.
"Ok, fine. And of our being in the same room without killing each other" she reluctantly agreed. He laughed and pulled her into his side for a hug and kissed her temple as he looked at the cake still delicately perched in her hands.
"I love it Kenz. Happy Anniversary to you too" he whispered.
"So, what did you get me?" she asked.
He rolled his eyes. "How exactly was I supposed to know to get you anything? I would have sent my manager out if I knew this was going to be a yearly celebration. Is this the bronze or paper anniversary? I can never keep these things straight. "
She slapped him playfully on his arm and attempted to shove some cake into his mouth.
"No way, sweetheart. We didn't go without killing each other for 3 years just so I could die from food poisoning now."
"But it's store bought!" she shrieked, exasperated. "All I did was pour some chocolate syrup on it."
He laughed at her. "You'd think it wouldn't be this easy to get you riled up after all these years, but it is, and I love you for it. Now sit that cute ass of yours in bed and let's have some cake and coffee for breakfast."
"Does this mean you really don't have an anniversary present for me?" she asked, licking icing off her fingers and sipping coffee.
"Mackenzie, eat your cake and stop trolling for gifts."
She pouted silently and it took everything in him not to laugh. "Hurry up and finish, we're going out today" he told her.
"Where are we going?" she asked eagerly.
"Well, you told me I needed new ties and we have no food in the house and…" he trailed off at the crestfallen look on her face.
"That's it?! We're going grocery shopping?" she said in abject horror.
"Did you think the groceries magically appeared in our refrigerator Mackenzie?"
"Yes actually I did. How the hell would I know Will! We're barely ever here and when we are you do the cooking. I don't really pay much attention to what's in the refrigerator!" she shouted.
"Well then, today will be a learning experience for you won't it? You enjoy learning new things Mackenzie. Consider this my anniversary gift to you" he said enthusiastically.
"Grocery shopping is your anniversary gift to me? Please Will, when will these extravagant presents come to an end?" she asked sarcastically.
"Get in the shower please smart ass!" he laughed as he pushed her from their bed. When she was safely out of hearing range, he picked up his cell phone and called his secret weapon.
"Hello?" the voice answered after just two rings.
"Sloan? Is everything ready? Have you talked to everyone?" he asked, ducking down the hallway and into his study.
"Holy hell man, calm down! It's a surprise party, not the invasion of Normandy! I've got it handled Will" she assured him.
"Says the woman who almost got me shot on a blind date."
"Hey, that was nearly two years ago. Are you ever going to let me live that down?" Sloan asked.
"Maybe, depends on how you do tonight."
"But no pressure, right Will?"
"No pressure at all Sloan. Just don't fuck it up."
"See you at eight o'clock then" she replied and hung up the phone.
Mackenzie padded into the kitchen, and poured herself another cup of coffee. "Can't I just stay here and read the paper while you go to the grocery store? You know I don't care what you buy, and there is some work I'd like to catch up on."
Will gave Mac a kiss on the cheek. "Nope. If I have to go clothes shopping, you have to accompany me to the grocery store."
"This doesn't seem fair. YOU need clothes because before you met me you were wearing the same five pairs of pants and sweaters, and god-awful ties at events. I do not need to have any food in the house. All I need is coffee and tea, and I can order that on the internet and have it delivered."
"MAC! I am getting in the shower. I have never known you to want to give up clothes shopping. Is everything okay?"
"I'm fine, Will. Just would have been nice to have a gift today, that's all," she said, half-pouting, half-grinning.
"I'll buy you an 'I Heart New York' t-shirt on the street. Good enough?"
"Wow, you're really going all out. Fine. I'll go, but only so I can watch you take your clothes off. "
Will laughed all the way to the shower, shaking his head, and mumbling about the absolutely insane woman that he adored.