New Beginnings

Their reception in the newsroom about ninety minutes later had understandably been somewhat subdued, seeing that, just like them, most of the staff hadn't gotten more than three hours of sleep the night before. Still they were greeted by the smiling faces of their little work family; all of them happy that their long overdue reunion had finally taken place.

When Mac and Will entered the conference room for the first rundown meeting they didn't encounter the usual chatter and jokes thrown around the room, but most of the staffers were either clinging to their cups of coffee or had put their heads onto the table to grab a few more minutes of sleep.

While Will walked over to his usual chair Mac put her files on the table a little louder than necessary to get everybody's attention. „Okay guys, I know it's been a short night and believe me, I myself would love to still be in bed right now..."

The few people, who were a little more awake than the rest, snickered but were silenced by a stern look from Mac, who was heavily blushing nonetheless. „Sleeping, just like the rest of you."

She purposely didn't look into Will's direction but could see from the corner of her eye that Sloan was whispering something into his ear with a wide grin on her face. Rolling her eyes she went on.
„Let's try this again. It's gonna be a long day but we still have to put a show together. Election recap will of course be front and center; including the continuing division between the House and Senate and also approval of same sex marriage in Maine, Maryland and Washington. Tess and Gary, you work on that, Tamara and Maggie, you look at the legalization of recreational marijuana in Washington State and Colorado. Kendra, try and get one of the governors on each topic for comment on that, please?"

When her booker nodded Mac let her eyes roam across the room. „What else do we have to cover in the later blocks? Who's manned the assignment desk last? Any news we need to know about?"

Martin tiredly raised his hand to attract her attention. „Right before I came in here there was an alert for a magnitude 7.3 earthquake in Guatemala. No further information on damage or casualties yet."

„Okay, that will have to get a couple minutes. D block, maybe the end of block C if the consequences are really dire. Keep an eye on that and find out which field reporter will be dispatched there; I guess it will be Juan or Sally. Coordinate with dayside regarding footage we might use and bring me an update in an hour, okay?"

The moment Martin showed his consent Mac sighed and looked around the table, wishing she could just skip over the next part. „You all know that the Genoa suit will be filed today, probably already has been. Charly will brief us on the details later, and for now nobody is to give any comment to anybody on this. That is a direct order from Rebecca Halliday, understood?"

When everybody quietly mumbled their okays she sighed again. „Okay, everybody go get some coffee and then let's meet again in three hours. If anything comes up in the meantime I will be in my office."

The group shuffled onto its feet and slowly moved out of the room, so that only Will and Mac were left, the former getting up and strolling over until he was standing right in front of her. „That was pretty impressive, you know that?"

„What?" Mac looked confused and didn't object to him taking her hand in his.

„Hardly anybody is able to keep their eyes open, including me, I might add, and you gave a performance as if you just came back from vacation."

She grinned. „Then I really did good; I feel like I could fall asleep just standing here... Anyway, come with me."

She pulled him to the door of the conference room and then through the bullpen to her office, making Will wonder if she had forgotten that she had always – with a few memorable exceptions – insisted on not bringing their relationship into the workplace. Of course this didn't go unnoticed by the staff, and he really didn't want to know what they were thinking – and probably talking about – when Mac closed the door behind them.

Immediately he pulled her into his arms and she leaned against his chest. „God, I am so tired..."

„I know, me too." He pressed a long kiss into her hair, but then she sighed and took a step back, not without letting her hands run slowly down his chest. „We don't have time, Billy, we need to call my parents."

„What?" He hadn't even thought about that until now and actually wasn't sure if he was ready for this right it moment. „You want to do that now?"

„Of course, we need to tell them before they might hear it from somebody else. With everybody that has been around here last night I wouldn't be surprised if the tabloids already have their hands on our engagement."

„Oh, right." Will followed her when she went around her desk and sat down to open her Skype window. When he put his hands on her shoulders from behind she leaned back and looked up at him. „Are you okay with this?"

He hesitated a second too long. „Will?"

„I... Yes, sure. I wasn't really prepared for this, but you are right, they should here it from you."

„From us." She smirked. „But if you like to you can stay out of the picture when I start the call, so that I can ease in.."

Will seemed relieved. „That sounds like a sensible idea. Go ahe... No, wait!"

When Mac looked back up at him, the mouse hovering over the call button, she noticed that he appeared to be uncomfortable. „Why?"

„Uh... What do your... What did you tell your parents about why we broke up? How much do they know?"

„Don't worry, Billy." She took one of his hands from her shoulder and pressed a kiss to his palm. „I never went into details, but I told them it was all my fault. They will be so happy to hear that we are back together." When she saw some doubt in his eyes she squeezed his hand. „They will, trust me. They really missed you."

„Oh, Honey..." Will leaned down to press a kiss to her forehead and took a deep breath. „Okay, go for it."

He stepped to the side and half sat on her desk while Mac gave him a last smile and started the video call, not letting go of his hand. While the call was going through she let her thumb stroke over his hand, but when her parents didn't pick up her expression changed to disappointment. „I guess I should have checked in if they are home first, sorry."

„No problem, we can try again later." Will leaned in for a lingering kiss and cupped her cheek with his free hand. He let his tongue probe against her lips and she opened them with a content sigh. It was a slow, deep kiss that drove all thoughts of her parents from her mind, so that she didn't realize that the ringing sound stopped when the call was finally accepted.

„Honey, I'm sorry it took me so..." Claire McHale stopped mid-sentence when the video connetion was established a couple seconds after the sound, and she saw her daughter kissing a man that was unmistakenly Will McAvoy. „Oh my... MacKenzie? Will?"

Immediately Mac and Will moved apart, both blushing heavily, and while Will instinctively wanted to move out of the picture again, Mac quickly grabbed his arm to keep him next to her. „Hi, Mom..."

„Well, well, is there maybe something you wanted to tell us?" Her mother was smiling widely, though her surprise could still be seen on her face.

„Actually..." Mac started but was interrupted again.

„Wait a moment, Sweetheart, let me get your father first." Sensing that this was important Claire turned her head and called for her husband. „Edward, come here for a moment, please. Quickly."

While they waited she appreciatively looked at the man on her screen. „It is so good to see you, Will, you look well."

„Thank you, Claire, so do you. How are you?"

„Fine, thank you. But I have an inkling that you didn't call to... Oh, there is your father. Edward, come here."

Edward McHale appeared on the screen and smiled when he saw his daughter, but then his eyes landed on the man next to her. „Will, what a surprise."

He didn't go on but looked at his wife, who practically beamed at him and patted his hand. „Listen, I think these two have something to tell us."

When they turned their eyes back to the computer screen they were greeted by two faces sporting a slightly nervous smile, but then Mac lifted her hand to let them see her engagement ring. „Well, Mom, Dad, we actually called to let you know that there is a wedding to plan."

Claire's jaw dropped. From what she had seen at the beginning of the call she knew that good news were coming, but she had expected something like 'We are back together' and not a marriage announcement. „I... But... MacKenzie? We didn't even know that you are back together.

„That's a long story, Mom, we'll have to get into that later, we are at work."

„Oh, alright, Darling." She smiled at her daughter. „No wonder you look so radiant; congratulations, you two! Oh, I can't wait to hear the whole story!"

Will cleared his throat and looked at Mac's father. „Edward, I... Well, even if it might be a little late, I would like to formerly ask you for your daughter's hand in marriage."

„It is a wee bit redundant now, isn't it?" Edward winked, but still being incredibly nervous Will missed that.

„Yeah, I... I guess... It was a rather crazy situation last night, so..."

„Will, he's messing with you." Mac put her hand on his thigh, that rested on the arm of her chair, and leaned her head against his side, smiling reassuringly.

Edward chuckled. „Of course I am, you know we've always seen you as a part of this family. Just promise me that you will take good care of my little girl."

Will let out a relieved sigh. „With all my heart, Edward. I will never hurt her again."

He saw both of Mac's parents frown, but before they could say anything Mac butted in. „Mom, Dad, we don't have much time, we just wanted to let you know before you read it in some paper or on the internet. We will call you later this week, okay?"

„Oh yes, certainly, Honey. Don't wait too long, we want to know everything." Claire smiled. „We love you both very much and are very happy for you."

Mac returned the smile with a tear in her eye, while Will choked up and only managed to nod and put his arm around his fiancée's shoulder. „We love you, too, Mom. We'll talk shortly."

She disconnected the call and stood up to put her arms around Will. „See, I've told you they'd be happy."

„Yeah..." He sighed and pulled her closer again. „I've missed them, you know?"

Mac didn't reply but let her hand run through his hair and moved onto her toes for a kiss. This seemed to ground Will a little, whose head was full of 'what ifs' and regrets that it had taken him so long to get over himself. How much time had they wasted because of his stubbornness and anger!

Mac felt that he wasn't completely with her and was sure she knew what he was thinking about, so she whispered against his lips. „Don't, Billy."

Just hearing her voice helped him to put the negative thoughts out of his mind, and he immediately returned the kiss when she covered his lips again. She was here, in his arms, and she would always be from now on. So he deepened the kiss; after all, who was he to stop if she had been the one initiating it, although they were at the office. He had never seen is as strict as she had, and right now they definitely had some making up to do for lost time.

Mac though didn't make any attempt to break the kiss and quitely moaned when he let his hands run down to cup her ass. Neither of them heard her office door open and hastily broke apart when somebody slightly coughed behind them. Blushing once more they turned around and faced a smirking Sloan.

„Can't keep your hands off her, can you?"

„Jeez, you could have knocked, you know?" Mac rolled her eyes.

„Nuuh, but I get it. You're in love and you want to be alone..." Sloan let out an exaggerated sigh, but then grinned again. „You did good last night, big brother."

Will raised an eyebrow. „Are you talking about the show or...?"

Sloan snorted. „Definitely not the show, we will have a talk later about cutting me off all the time. Not nice!"

He grinned. „Well, then... Yeah, I did good, thanks."

„Don't brag about it, it was long overdue."

Throwing a look at Mac he pointed at the door. „I think I better go now..."

„Oh sure, leave me to the inquisition!" She faked outrage, but couldn't quite hide her smile.

„Trust me, she doesn't have any real power, Honey." Winking he turned around and left the room while Sloan moved to sit down in front of Mac's desk, getting comfortable.

„So, what exactly happened last night? And more importantly, what happened after you went home? I want all of the details, Kenz. De-tails!"

Mac sat down again and leaned back. „I am certainly not discussing my sex life with you, if that's what you're referring to."

„Oh, come on, we've been through so much with the two of you; we deserve a little reward, don't you think?"

„You're the one to talk, what the fuck was that last night? Kissing Don in the middle of the show?"

Sloan blushed heavily. „That was... I... We had... Hey, we are not the news, you guys are!"

„No, we are not. Our private life will hopefully not be part of the daily newsroom gossip anymore. And anyway, we got home after five a.m., what do you think happened?"

„Well, I can think of... Wait... Don't tell me..You didn't...?" Sloan almost sounded disappointed and looked at her with big eyes.

„I'm neither denying nor confirming anything." Putting on her glasses Mac took a file into her hand and pointedly looked at Sloan.. „Anything else?"

Her friend just stared at her, but when she realized that Mac wasn't going to give up any details she got up, mumbling incomprehensibly under her breath. At the door she turned around. „Oh, by the way, my segment tonight will be about Wall Streets reaction to the election results and the consequences for the debt ceiling, if that's okay with you?"

„Whatever you want." Mac waved her off, certain that Slaon knew best which economically important topics they had to cover. Holding her gaze she sighed. „Sloan, let us figure everything out for ourselves first, 'kay? We can go for drinks next week, if you like."

Her friend stayed silent for a moment, but then she nodded. „Okay. I guess it's all pretty overwhelming right now?"

„You have no idea."

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

The day went on with the newsroom being unusual quiet, a result of the exhaustion that was felt by all of the staff. Charlie had come down after lunch to give a pep talk to the team, avoiding the Genoa business for now, but it was clear that the bullpen would clear out as soon as the show was over.

Most of it would be a rehash of election night, but in the later blocks they did include the Guatemala earthquake, the worst since 1976 with so far 39 deaths, Turkey's plans to ask the US to station anti-aircraft missiles in the country as a protection from Syrian attacks as well as a mentioning of Carmen Basilio's passing at age 85, American boxing world champion most famous for defeating Sugar Ray Robinson for the Middleweight title in 1957.

Ten minutes before Will had to go into the studio for last lighting and sound tests Mac went to his office. „You all set?"

Looking up from his cue cards Will smiled. „Yeah, but I am really glad when it's over."

„I know." Mac moved further into the room and he got up to meet her. „But Shelly did a good job with your make-up, the audience won't notice how tired you are."

„I'm not just talking about being tired..." Will grinned lewdly and put his arms around her waist. „We should have taken today off."

„I wish..." Mac indulged herself in leaning against him and closed her eyes for a moment. She felt like she could fall asleep standing right here, and if she could only get a minute of rest now, she might be able to get through the hour in the control room unscathed.

The next thing she knew was that Will stroked through her hair and his chest was shaking with quiet laughter. „Mmmh...?"

„Did you actually just fall asleep on me?"

„Of course not." The way she fought to open her eyes betrayed her own words, though, and Will immediately changed into protector mode.

„Why don't you go home, Honey? Jim can handle the show tonight and you could use some sleep."

„Looking like I've been grown in a place where it's dark and damp, eh?" She tiredly murmered the words into his chest, but then she took a deep breath and pushed herself off of him. „I'm fine and you better get ready."

„Mac..."

Leaning up she gave him a kiss before moving towards the door, not wanting to discuss this. „Have a good show."