So... this is the last chap of this story. As you know it's just a little sequel to tell you what had happened at the dinner date. And this is my last chap to finish this story.... sorry for that...

THANK YOU: to all the nice reviews and for adding this story to your favorits! I'm really proud of that :)

After they finished their dinner they sat in the restaurant for a while, drinking some wine and talking about everything and nothing. They were talking about some cases they solved together and Mac and Stella compared the way they're handling things now and how they handled them first. Stella came to the point that she had changed a lot. First she couldn't control her emotions that good as she could now and she was much more professional than she was when she started to work at the lab. It was nearly the same with Mac. He had improved his sense for knowing when a suspect was lying and when he was saying the truth. Of course they also realized how their relationship had changed during that time of working together. Stella remembered a scene when she was examining a dead body and then Flack came in and Mac was coming in and they were asking the same question at the same time. The answer that Don had given to them was just that he thought they were working together a way too long. But then he used the word 'Boom' that Danny often used when he found a match. And then Mac only said: 'You and Danny were working together a way too long.'

Sometimes when Mac and Stella were talking about something they ended the sentences of the other. They knew each other for such a long time that they had a special sense for each other. Stella was thinking of some other situations but she didn't want to talk about them but Mac could see that she was thinking about something.

"What are you thinking of?" Mac asked Stella. Stella looked at him in surprise.

"Nothing." She said.

"Come on Stell… I know that something bothers you. What is it?"

"Really Mac it's not important."

"But you want to talk about it. I can see it in your eyes, my dear."

Stella sighed. "You know me too well, Mac…"

"I know. So… what are thinking of?"

"I was just thinking about that special sense and feeling we have for each other. Sometimes you know when the other enters the room you're staying in without looking at him. You just can feel it. And sometimes you know me better than I do."

"But it's the same way with me. Sometime you know me better than I do, too. Τί δύσκολον; Tὸ ἑαυτὸν γνῶναι. (What is hard? To know oneself.)" Mac said.

"Wow, Mac! Someday you'll talk to me in Greek hu? Did I teach you to say that?" Stella asked surprised.

"Stell, I don't think that I'll ever talk to you in Greek for a whole conversation. I just read that somewhere."

"You're really good, Mac. But you're right. It's really hard to know oneself. But I have you who know me and you have me who knows you." Stella said with a smile.

"You know what? That why I can honestly say that I trust you. And I know that there is more behind it than trust. You know… I haven't said that a long time and I think it's hard to say it know, but… see… I think we… could take a step and try something new. If you want to and you're ready to." Mac said and he sounded very shy this time. Stella was a bit amused by that. She had never seen him that shy and nervous. But she had been nervous, too.

"You know… I know why you wanted that dinner. I know it was a date and it still is and… I was thinking about something like that earlier. You know… I haven't had a boyfriend the last two years and I think I'm kinda sceptic after my last boyfriends. But you're the one that I trusted in. And… I think I want to take that step but you have to promise that you'll be patient with me and that we'll be friends if this doesn't work out the way we want to."

"I promise. That's just what I want to. You're the best friend that I ever had you know that?"

"Now I know. And you're the best friend that I could ever have. I really love you, you know that?"

"I guessed it first and now I know it. I love you, too."

After that they sat in the restaurant for one and half hour again and then they decided to leave, because it was almost midnight now and they had to get up early the next morning. Mac escorted Stella to her apartment when they arrived at her place.

"Thank you Mac. This was the best birthday ever. It was a really nice evening." Stella thanked him.

"Can't say something else. So… have a good night then, Stell." He said and then she hugged him.

"Have a good night, too." Stella whispered in his ear and kissed his cheek before they broke apart. They stood and looked into the other's eyes for a few moments before she finally leaned over to wrap her arms around him and kiss him. He wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her back. And it felt so good to kiss someone you love again.

So... here we are. I hope you liked this story :) please let me know!!!!

And for those who are waiting for a sequel to the story 'Fabulous Wedding' : I'm on it and I've finished three chapters already so I'll put it up soon :)

Stay tuned!!! :) And thanks for taking the time to read this story :)

blackrose538®