Author's Notes: I feel the need to clear up a timeline here before we get too much further into this tale. As I mentioned previously, this is a follow up to my fic Battle Scars and Broken Hearts. That story was meant to take place four months after the season one finale, at the ACN Christmas party. This story is meant to take place a few weeks after that party. Ok, now that we have all that cleared up…on with the show!
The smell of coffee was the first thing Mackenzie became aware of the next morning. And, while usually quite pleasant, this morning the bitter scent was turning her stomach.
"Ugh" she grumbled into the couch cushion. Wait…couch cushion? Why the hell was she on the couch?
"Will?" she croaked out through parched lips.
"Sleeping Beauty awakes" he shouted.
"Not so loud" she pleaded. "Why am I on the sofa?" she asked as he plopped down next to her.
"Because you collapsed onto it the minute we walked in here last night. I tried to move you but you told me you would castrate me if I forced you to take one more step. I figured I better listen. Coffee?" he asked as he offered her his cup.
"Oh God, get that away from me" she begged. He handed her a bottle of water and some aspirin instead.
"I knew there was a reason I loved you" she murmured as she threw the aspirin into her mouth.
"Apparently there are several reasons. And you enjoyed sharing them with half the staff last night Mac."
"What? When did I do that?"
"I believe it was after tequila shot number seven."
"Oh good lord! What did I say?"
"Something about a trip to Paris and that you enjoy having sex in the bathtub with me. Charlie was highly entertained."
"Will! Why the hell didn't you get me out of there?!"
"I tried Mackenzie. Charlie tried. Sloan tried. You aren't terribly cooperative after mixing tequila, scotch and wine."
"Oh God, don't remind me of what I drank" she pleaded, looking a little green at the mention of the previous night's activities.
"Do not throw up on this couch Mackenzie. Just because you want to buy some ugly monstrosity from Pottery Barn does not mean you are allowed to deface my furniture!"
He watched as she covered her mouth and ran for the bathroom.
"Thank you for avoiding the leather upholstery!" he called out after her.
"You're welcome" she whimpered when she trudged back into the living room a few minutes later. She collapsed back onto the sofa and pulled a blanket over her entire body.
"We're supposed to meet your parents for dinner tonight. Did you want me to cancel?" he asked, rubbing her back sympathetically.
"No. They're only in town for a few days and my father is so looking forward to seeing you again. I don't want to disappoint him."
"I think throwing up on his steak at Morton's will be a bigger disappointment Mac."
"Will! Please stop mentioning what I drank last night and what food I will likely be faced with tonight. If I have any hope of being presentable by seven o'clock you need to stop making me nauseous."
"Yes dear. I'm going to go check my email and leave you alone to your misery. Let me know if you need anything."
"Thank you" she mumbled.
"Oh, just one more thing. You do realize you outed us to Sloan Sabbith last night, right? I'm guessing you should be expecting a phone call at any moment."
"Fuck" she groaned.
"Sorry. Not trying to bring up anything else unpleasant."
"Not helping Will!" she called out to his retreating form.
"We have a doorman and an elevator that requires a passcode. She can't get up here if you don't want her to Mackenzie."
"You don't know Sloan Sabbith" she grumbled. Just then her cell phone rang.
"Hello?" she answered.
"Where are you right now? And is Will there? And do I want to know what he's doing to you?" Sloan threw out the questions in such quick succession Mackenzie wasn't sure that it wasn't all one very long word.
"Can you slow down please? My brain is still soaking in alcohol Sloan."
"I can imagine. Never seen a one hundred pound woman down so many shots of tequila."
"I weigh more than that but thank you for the compliment."
"So, is he there?" Sloan asked again.
"Is who here?"
"Stop being obtuse Kenz. Is Will with you?"
"Of course he is. He lives here. Is Don with you?"
"No, why the hell would Don be with me? He lives with Maggie."
"My point exactly Sloan. Stop questioning me about my love life until you figure your own out please."
"Where's the fun in that? Besides, I use you and Will as a barometer for how fucked up my relationship with Don is. I thought you two were totally off the Richter scale in terms of messed up interpersonal relations. Turns out you guys are practically Ward and June Cleaver."
"I wouldn't go that far Sloan. Do you see me in an apron with 2.4 kids and a dog?"
"No, but give it time Mackenzie. Give it time."
"Was there something you needed Sloan?"
"Yeah. Let me up" the younger woman instructed.
"What? What do you mean let you up? Where are you?"
"Downstairs."
"How do you know where I am?"
"I'm blind, not stupid Mac. You are at Will's, not that dumpy little loft you like to call home."
"Hey!" Mackenzie replied indignantly. "I liked that dumpy little loft!"
"Liked? As in past tense? Do you live here now?" Sloan demanded.
"Oh for God's sake! I'll tell the doorman to let you up."
"About time" Sloan grumbled and hung up.
A few minutes later Mackenzie heard the elevator door open and a loud wolf whistle.
"I'd heard it was nice, but damn Kenz! Look at this view!" Sloan called out as she walked toward the windows.
"I'd rather not right now" she groaned from the sofa.
"Oh right. How's the hangover?" Sloan asked as she flopped onto the sofa.
"Sloan! Please stop jiggling the couch."
"Sorry. So, where is your man?"
"In the other room. Where is your man?"
"I don't have one right now. Maybe Will could introduce me to someone. We could double date!" Sloan shouted as if she had just had the most brilliant idea in the world.
"We're going out with my parents tonight. I don't really think my father is your type" Mackenzie mumbled into her pillow.
"He's already meeting the parents? I thought you said you guys had only been back together for a few weeks? And already you live together and he's meeting your family?"
"Sloan, he met my family nearly eight years ago. Good lord, this isn't my first college boyfriend I'm bringing home for the weekend!"
"Who was the first boyfriend you brought home for the weekend Mac? I'd like to know what your father has been comparing me to all this time" Will asked as he headed to the kitchen for more coffee.
"I think Mark Atherton was the first boyfriend I brought home. He made a brilliant first impression. Drank all my father's whiskey and smoked pot in the guest room. My father was not amused."
"Then why does he have a problem with a Republican? I send the man bottles of twenty year old Glenlivet" Will wondered aloud.
"He never had a problem with you Will. He adores you. He just likes to goad you into an argument. It's fun for him" Mackenzie chuckled a little at the memories of her father and Will going head to head for hours over the state of the world. She'd never seen her father happier…she was looking forward to tonight, if only she could get rid of this damn hangover.
"Good to know Lord McHale approves. I'd hate to be on that man's shit list" Will mumbled.
"Lord McHale? As in hereditary title…Member of Parliament and all that? Doesn't that make you a Lady?" Sloan asked, staring at her friend as if she'd just sprouted an extra limb.
"Thanks a lot Will" Mackenzie cursed.
"Sorry. It's not like it's a state secret Mac. Jesus Sloan, you never thought to Google her?" Will laughed at the completely stunned expression on the financial analyst's face.
"Yeah, that's the first thing I do to all my friends Will. I Google them" Sloan mocked.
"You knew her father was an ambassador. Did you think they just hand that kind of thing out as a party favor? Margaret Thatcher was her godmother too. You should see the christening photos. It's like a fucking who's who of British monarchy and government. My baby pictures look like something out of the Great Depression compared to hers. I'm playing with dirt in the backyard and she's at the Queen's garden party!" Will exclaimed.
"Alright, have we covered my childhood sufficiently everyone? I'm going to take a shower. No more gossiping you two" she glowered at them and headed off toward the bedroom.
"When are you popping the question?" Sloan asked, stunning the news anchor into silence for a moment.
"What? We just got back together. Can we date for a little while before you have us walking down the aisle Sloan?"
"No. You two aren't getting any younger you know? Get a move on McAvoy!"
"Thanks for the advice Sloan. Last time I listened to you I ended up on the business end of a loaded .22 caliber pistol. Forgive me if I don't find you to be a trusted source for romantic counsel."
"You adore her" Sloan responded in a sing-song voice.
"Obviously. Don't you have anywhere else to be on a beautiful Saturday morning? You know, like in your own home?"
"Why? This place is so much better than my own home."
"That's why it's my home Sloan. Don't push Mackenzie, ok? She's dealing with some things right now and I'd rather not see her spend too many more weekends detoxifying from tequila."
"Are you guys ok?" Sloan asked, real concern showing on her face.
"Yeah, we're fine. Just tread carefully, please? You have an unusually well-developed talent for putting your foot in your mouth."
"Fine" Sloan huffed and sank back into the sofa cushions.
"Sloan?" Will asked quietly.
"Yeah?"
"If you do happen to stick your foot in it and you learn something that might be useful to me, you'd tell me right? I mean, if I needed to know…to help Mac?" he pleaded.
"I'm her friend first Will."
"I know that. I'm just saying….well, I'm asking as a concerned partner. She doesn't get drunk like that Sloan. Last night, while humorous at times, was an aberration. That wasn't my Mackenzie and I only want to help her, if I can."
"I know Will. And if something worries me I'll let you know."
"That's all I'm asking." He handed Sloan a cup of coffee and retreated to his study.