Thank you all so much for the reviews! I have absolutley no idea where this little thing came from, but I'm gonna blame it on the fact that it's about 2 am. Sound good? As always please tell me what you think and suggest things you wanna read!

Mac dropped his pen atop the folders with a sigh, and leaned back in his chair, taking in the view from his office as the last few lab techs shutdown machines for the night. He frowned slightly to himself, where was Stella? He re-arranged his desk for a moment and then exited his office, in search of the woman he loved.

They had been dating for nearly three months now. After Greece their dynamic had changed, it still felt comfortable and they shared a friendly intimacy, but after holding Stella in his arms while she cried over the traumatic loss of her mentor and friend, he knew he always wanted to be the one to hold her, but he also knew he didn't just want it to be when her world was caving in around her and she needed someone to hold her up. He wanted to be there to drape his arms around her waist in the morning when she was brushing her teeth, to place lingering kisses on her neck while she was making dinner, to take care of her and force-feed her cough medicine when she wasn't feeling well. He wanted to be there for every moment of the day with her, he wanted to watch all the little emotions cross her face, to see the humorous glint in her eye and the playful smile he wanted to see the empathy and compassion when she talked to victims, even though it pained him that she could identify so closely with some of them.

She had found him on the roof two weeks after Greece, contemplating what he was supposed to do about his feelings towards her. They had stood side by side for a few moments before Stella turned to him and place a kiss in the side of his chin, then one next to his mouth and one on his neck. He wrapped his arms around her and held on for dear life, and it had been all the conversation they needed, both had the answers to their questions in those kisses and that embrace. They went to restaurants occasionally, but mostly ate in and watched movies in the limited time they had in their busy schedules.

But something had changed last night. They had cooked together and eaten at his place, but when he went to kiss her goodnight it had turned into their first full blown make-out session. It had been tender and shy at first, then passionate and desire filled. But Stella had pulled back a few minutes into it and left abruptly, leaving a confused and concerned Mac with his own door slammed in his face. Had he crossed a line she wasn't ready for yet? Had he hurt her? Did she not want this anymore? Needless to say it had been a sleepless and agitating night for Mac, his mind refused to stop creating ways he might have hurt her and his body refused to forget the way her lips felt moving against his and the way her form felt pressed against his own.

She had successfully avoided him all day due to the fact that they had headed up separate cases. He knew she needed to talk it out, whatever the hell it was, and they hadn't told anyone about their relationship, they knew their friends would be supportive and love the idea of them being together, but they felt as if they were in their own little world and loved sharing glances over the heads of their co-workers, the secret smiles and small blushes and stomach fluttering had been fun the past few months. But it also meant she couldn't confide in someone about their relationship, she had no Lindsay to go to and share her secrets with, she had no Sid for creepy stories and no Danny for inappropriate remarks.

He neared her office and through the glass walls witnessed a sight he never thought he would see, it re affirmed that she was definitely worried about something. Her soft curls spilled over her shoulders and she brushed them back in annoyance and began clicking her pen. Mac knocked softly on the glass door before pushing it open, he watched her jump slightly at the intrusion. His heart warmed as a faint smile graced her lips, but he was reminded of his original mission as he watched apprehension cloud her expression.

"Hey Mac." She turned her swivel chair in his direction, still clicking her pen.

"Hey Stel. How goes the paperwork?" He moved to lean against the large metal bookcase that stood against the wall opposite her desk.

"I swear if I see one more incident report or have to file one more evidence log I'm going to burn the place." She said in a teasing tone, but the strain was evident to Mac.

"What's up Stella?" He knew she would evade him if possible, so it was best just to ask.

"Look Mac I'm sorry about last night, I was tired and it was late, it had been a long day. I'm sorry if I offended you."

"You didn't offend me Stella, I just want to make sure you're…we're ok."

"We're fine Mac."

"I don't think we are. Please Stella, whatever it is you know I'll do whatever I can to help, or if you need something or if I hurt you in anyway…" He dwindled off, not convinced his voice wouldn't break when he told her how much he cared for her, and how terrible he felt that she was in distress. Stella sighed and leaned back in her chair, eyes closed for a moment.

"Mac I know you would never hurt me, I just…we almost…well we could have…I mean…I just don't know…Dammit! You know what, never mind. It's really no big deal, just forget it ok?" She pressed the heel of her palms into her eyes and rubbed fiercely, trying to disguise the tears as irritated eyes. Mac was before her immediately, gently pulling her wrists and taking her hands in his bigger, more callused ones, silently urging her to continue.

"Mac I'm just…so confused, I haven't done this in a long time and…well I kind of don't remember how it works…crap that sounded wrong…I mean I obviously know how it works…but…are we going to use protection?...If so which one of us is going to supply it?...Geez I haven't bought condoms in a really long time…Whose apartment are we going to stay at or is it just going to be spontaneous?....Should we start keeping overnight bags at each other's apartments?...I mean are we even going to have sex?…crap maybe I'm way over reading last night…God I just…I just want this to be right Mac…I don't want to disappoint you." She ended her ramble in a soft voice and pulled away from him slightly, looking down at her suddenly vastly amusing shoes. All Mac could do was step forward and pull her into his tightest embrace, rocking her back and forth gently in his arms. He marveled at how she had kept all her concerns hidden from him so well and hated himself for not somehow being able to assuage her worries before now.

"Come here Stel." He pulled her over to the couch in her office and sat her down close to him, leaning her back against his chest so they could look out over Manhattan and talk about the statement she'd just made.

"I'm so sorry you were this worried Stella, but I'm so glad you told me. Please whenever things like this come up in our relationship, tell me, ok? We're in this together and I always want to know what you're thinking no matter how silly you might think it is, it's important to me, deal?" Stella nodded slightly and leaned back further into Mac's chest, amazed that simply by telling him her fears she felt so much better, but then to have him state that even her smallest whims were of importance to him…wow. Mac took a deep breath and forged headlong into the next order of business.

"Stella there's absolutely no pressure to do anything in our relationship you don't want to. If you don't think we're ready to have sex yet, or if you feel at all uncomfortable, please just say so. I'm very sorry that I let my attraction to you control my actions last night, and if I scared you in any way please forgive me. I'll try my best not to let it happen again without your express permission. Sex is a very big deal Stella; it's a big step and a huge commitment, not at all something to be taken lightly. Believe me I will treasure every minute our intimacy when the time comes, but more than anything I want you to feel comfortable and safe and I know that's going to take time, so I can wait. But…you have some very good practical questions that we need to address. I believe the first was what form of protection we plan on using?" Mac coughed somewhat awkwardly, this was a conversation he had never had before. With Claire they had been married so there was no need for condoms, though she did take birth control, and with Peyton there had been no conversation, it was just a given that they had used protection.

"I guess we don't really need to use condoms…I'm on birth control and we're both healthy and in a stable relationship." She listed off the clinical reasons somewhat distractedly…she had never been with a man without using a condom before. Mac noticed.

"What is it Stel?" He knew it wasn't simply embarrassment that had caused her far off look.

"I've never…not had latex between me and someone else." She stated softly, once again tensing against him.

"Then we'll use protection if that makes you more comfortable."

"No Mac I…I trust you."

"Stella there no pressure here…" Stella cut him off.

"Mac, I love you and therefore I trust you." She turned around to face him. He wore a slightly stunned expression.

"You love me?"

"More than anything. I would never have had this conversation with anyone else, I trust you explicitly Mac, with my body, my life and my heart." She kissed him on the lips tenderly. Hoping for the reply he willingly gave.

"I love you too Stella, you mean absolutely everything to me, and thank you for putting your trust in me, I promise to never take it for granted." He cupped her cheek with his hand and kissed her softly, only to have it be more than reciprocated by her. She ran her tongue gently over his lower lip and reveled in the feeling of him shuddering slightly. She pulled back and kissed him firmly before standing up, leaving Mac somewhat dazed but completely ecstatic.

"Dinner at my place? I'm thinking we order in pizza and maybe watch Casablanca?" She smiled broadly while grabbing her coat.

"Right behind you, well beside you actually." He snaked his arm around her waist as they walked towards the elevators.

I told you it was kinda odd. Anywho...please tell me what you thought and what you wanna see. I've got several other little chapters that I've started from your moment suggestion that should be up eventually. Tell me what you wanna see from our wonderful Mac and Stella!(Isn't that green button fun too? I mean you press it and this little box pops up...I mean who wouldn't wanna try it?!)