Let's Start the New Year Right

After returning from the USO tour that had led Will to Islamabad, Kabul as well as into Helmand Province, the latter especially dangerous and a completely different adrenaline spike after meeting MacKenzie again, Will had only returned to New York yesterday, December 30th. Now he was on his way to ACN's New Year's Eve party he was obliged to attend.

The company car was smoothly but slowly gliding through the New York traffic, simply insane this day of the year, but with a smile Will leaned his head back and thought back to the last days.

Seeing Mac again in Islamabad and talking to her had been so wonderful, invigorating and made him feel like a giddy teenager in love. They had spent the most amazing night together before he had to say goodbye in the morning to travel to the next location, and she had promised him to sort out her return to the States with CNN as quickly as possible and would join him in New York soon.

He missed her already and couldn't wait to be with her again, but it was only a matter of days, a couple of weeks at the most, and he told himself that he was surely adult enough to wait, more or less patiently.

When the car finally pulled up in front of the ACN building Will thanked the driver and asked him to pick him up about thirty minutes past midnight before moving inside. The party was taking place in the executive dining room and the adjoining rooms with the walls in between having been opened to make room for most of the ACN staff, their better halfs as well as a number of outside guests.

When Will reached his destination the room was already well filled, and a beaming Charlie was immediately coming up to him, a glass of Bourbon in one hand and slapping the other onto his shoulder. „There's our globetrotter, how was your trip?"

Will smiled. „Oh, it was great. It was really a privilege to play for the troops, thanks for recommending me. But Charlie, listen, I need to talk to you about..."

His boss waved him off. „Not now, no business anymore this year. Come say hello to Nancy, she is looking forward to seeing you again."

Being dragged across the room to meet Charlie's wife he engaged into small talk with them, which in this case wasn't difficult, as Nancy was one of the warmest and amiable people he knew.

While they were talking a number of different people joined them for a while, only to then mingle with the rest of the party again, but them continuously popping up out of the blue kept Will from telling Charlie about what had happened in Islamabad. Being his mentor Charlie was the only one who knew why Will had left CNN so abruptly in the spring, and he should be the first to know that he and Mac were back together.

After about fifteen minutes Charlie looked at his watch and suddenly interrupted Will, who was just telling Nancy about the USO tour. „I completely forgot. You need to go down to your office and sign the papers on your desk. Better go right now before you forget as well."

„But... I was just telling... You said yourself no more work this year!" He looked at Charlie and then back at Nancy, who shrugged her shoulders – In hindsight, Will thought later, maybe a little too innocently.

„Hogwash! Get the fuck down there, it's important. Otherwise you'll forget and a couple more glasses of this magnificent Bourbon and I won't remember either. Go!" Almost being shooed towards the door Will left with a last, confused look at Nancy.

Still shaking his head he entered the elevator and rode down to the Newsnight floor. As expected the bullpen was completely empty, so he was very surprised to see that his own office was lit. Quickly walking over he entered the room where he came to a sudden stop. „Mac!?"

There she was, leaning against the window frame and smiling at him. „Hi, Will. It's good to see you."

Will was flabbergasted. „I... But... How did you...?"

Mac's smile turned into a satisfied grin and suddenly she catapulted herself into his arms. „Surprise!"

Will's arms immediately found their way around her waist, and he pressed her against his chest. „I can't believe it, how did you get here?"

„Well, I've had five days to organize everything after you'd left. CNN wanted me in New York as soon as possible, so here I am."

Still a little dumbfounded, not in the least having expected to see her tonight, he let his eyes roam over her face and lifted one hand to caress her cheek. „But what are you doing here, at this party?"

With another smile that made her eyes crinkle at the corners Mac pressed a quick kiss to his lips. „Remember my favourite movie for the turn of the year? I came here tonight because when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible." (*)

Now Will smiled as well and moved his hand to cup the back of her head for another kiss, mumbling against her lips „Harry was so right about that..." before covering her lips and letting his tongue slide into her mouth.

Mac's chuckle quickly turned into a quiet moan and she tightened her arms around his neck, letting her hands run through his hair. How had she missed the feeling of being in his arms over the past nine months, of being so close to him, a haven of safety and love.

The kiss started to get more passionate, but before they both got carried away Mac pulled back and murmered „I think we need to go upstairs, Billy."

„Mmh... Yeah, yeah..." Throwing a quick glance over to his desk he grinned. „I assume there is nothing on my desk that needs to be signed."

„No." Mac laughed. „We just needed to get you down here."

„We? So Charlie was in on this little scheme of yours?"
He should have known that Charlie Skinner wouldn't have him leave the year end's party for work, unless there was a breaking story to be reported on, of course.

Absently nodding Mac started to re-adjust Will's bow tie, momentarily distracted by how incredibly handsome he looked in a tux. „I needed his help to get into the party and called him up; luckily you had talked to him about me. But I only told him that we met in Pakistan, talked, kissed and made up. I didn't say anything about you maybe wanting me as your EP."

„Not maybe, definitely. And he probably already knows."

Beaming Mac pulled him down for soft kiss before moving towards the door.
„You know what? We should go upstairs, thank Charlie for playing along, dance and then kiss at midnight."

Not letting go of her hand Will followed her. „Yeah, let's start the New Year right."

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Chapter Title: Let's start the New Year Right by Bing Crosby

* One of the most famous quotes from „When Harry met Sally"

Happy New Year!