So glad that the stories are starting up again...slowly... We need new chapters to all the old stories..please!

In the meantime I am just going on with this story...which is getting pretty long!

Thanks for continuing to read and for all your kind comments.

I don't own the Newsroom or any of these characters.

Part 11 Getting to US Chapter 18

The mornings were darker now that winter had arrived in New York City. Will woke to a hazy room, and a sleeping Mackenzie curled up in her usual ball nestled up against him. Her left hand was draped across his chest and even in the dim light he could see her diamond solitaire sparkling on her finger. Definitely a good choice, he thought to himself; a home run in fact. The whole day was pretty dame great, and last night his eyes were opened. She had done things to him that made him hard just thinking about it.

"Every time I wake up, you're lost in thought , with a delicious smile on your face. Are you thinking about what I think you are?"

" Absolutely. Good morning gorgeous. How are you feeling this morning?"

"Engaged "

"I see….and is that a good feeling?"

"The best"

Mackenzie noticed a difference in Will. He was more tender with her, and relaxed and most of all there was a kind of protectiveness that was sweet, as if he had won her hand and he was taking care of what was his.

"How about I make us breakfast and you figure out how we are going to break the news to the rest of the world."

"I say just keep it quiet for a little while and enjoy the peace."

"Good luck with that. Do you know how many times an hour you stare at your finger?"

" You're embarrassing me Will!"

" Why do you say that? It's exactly how I wanted you to feel."

Suddenly their playful teasing turned to tears, as Mackenzie began to cry. Will was stunned at this sudden outburst.

"What it is ? Tell me? "

He pulled her into a tight embrace, with no clue why she was so distraught.

" The person I would most want to tell is Father, and I can't. "

Of course, he thought, this must be heartbreaking for her.

"And Mother is a lost cause at the moment."

"What about your sister?"

"I can call Rose, and I will, but it's not the same."

" The first thing I want to do when your father wakes up, is to ask for your hand Mac. I did think of how I wished I could have done that first "

"He would have wanted that. What if he doesn't wake up Will?

"He will. Don't lose hope"

They stopped at the hospital on their way in to work. David McHale was sleeping quietly on a respirator. His body functions were getting weaker and his condition remained critical.

Mackenzie said good-bye to her mother who was leaving for England later that morning. She had been heavily sedated for the journey and Mackenzie wasn't sure that she even understood where she was.

Life felt surreal to her. Her parents were both so ill and the sadness of it, which normally would have overwhelmed her, was being eased by the happiness of Will's proposal and the comfort of his nearness.

They arrived at the ACN building in plenty of time for the morning pitch meeting, but first Will had something he wanted to do.

"Come on Mac. Let's go tell Charlie."

Mac looked down at her feet, clearly embarrassed.

She's blushing,. Will smiled at the thought. This was a new side to Mackenzie. The tough talking journalist was going to be his blushing bride. The realization of it tugged at his heart.

Charlie looked up from his desk and saw two of his favorite people shyly grinning, their faces glowing.

"Mackenzie, come over here and show me your finger! He bellowed, as he got up and walked around his desk and held out his arms to her. She stepped forward and proudly extended her left hand which Charlie took and inspected carefully.

"Now that's a real sparkler! " he proclaimed as she leapt into his arms for a warm hug.

"William, get over here." He barked.

"You done good boy ! "

Will and Charlie shook hands and then Charlie embraced Will in a fatherly way and Mac could have sworn she saw the older man's eyes grow moist with emotion.

"Mac how is the Earl today?"

"Still not awake. But still alive"...she said in a quiet voice.

"Best you can hope for. Have faith Mac"

Mackenzie smiled weakly at him.. "I know" , she said softly.

"But this is a happy day!" Charlie barked " I trust this means no more squabbling in the newsroom. Things are going to be a hell of a lot quieter down there…right?"

"From your mouth to God's lips… I wish, but I doubt it Charlie" Will's face was dead pan.

"Good ! Glad to hear it! Wouldn't want things to get dull down there! We need to celebrate this. You let me know when."

As the doors to the elevator opened, Will squeezed Mac's hand and whispered to her.

"Are you ready for the front lines?"

"I'm just not going to say a word right now"

"Ok Mac, whatever you say"

Will shook his head and smiled to himself. He wanted to call Charlie and ell him to come down and witness the fire works that were coming. But let Mackenzie carry on with her little plan.

Jim noticed first. He didn't say a word, just glanced over at Maggie who wiggled her nose and gave a little shrug in was busy leading the discussion on the forthcoming election coverage, oblivious to their silent signals.

Don shot a puzzled look at Will, whose small shrug revealed nothing.

Tara's eyes were glued to Mac's hand and Neil's eyes were sparkling with excitement.

Will watched the whole thing with secret delight. Mac was about to set off an explosion and she didn't even know it…What was taking so long, he wondered ?

And then Sloan arrived and Will almost laughed out loud.

"Sorry I'm late, she mumbled at she took her seat."

Mackenzie gave her a small nod and carried on.

Here it comes….Will thought.

"KENZIE ! WHAT IS THAT !? "

It took Sloan 3 seconds to realize that she had screamed… "Sorry" she said meekly.

"Mac, do you think we should tell them now?" Will asked with a comic grin on his face.

A stunned Mackenzie nodded at him to go ahead.

"Mac and I wanted all of you to be the first to know, before it goes out in a company wide email, or any other form of mass communication,that the rock on Mac's finger is a sign or our undying love and our intention to sleep together for eternity."

" Ok?" He looked over at Mac who smiled weakly back at him.

"Goosebumps"

Applause and laughter followed and a few hugs and handshakes.

Don slipped out and called Elliot. They ordered flowers for Mac from the team from 10 o'clock.

Sloan stood up, coffee cup in hand. Well it's not champagne, but for now I just want to say… that I' m happy for you guys and gee Will, that is one beautiful ring! Can we at least have the kiss now?

Will grinned and grabbed Mac around the waist and gave her his best movie kiss, tipping her back and swooping in for 'the kiss' to a chorus of whoops from his audience.

"Ok guys. That's it. Show's over. Let's get back to it or we won't have a show tonight." Will wanted the focus off this personal life as soon as possible.

The rest of the day was busy and would have been especially happy for Mackenzie if it weren't for the worrying silence from the hospital.

"Why don't you go home Mac. Jim can handle the show tonight. Or would you rather go to the hospital?"

"No, I want to stay here and do the show. I just wish they would call."

They did call. It was after the broadcast, as Will and Mac were packing up to go home. The Earl was not doing well. There were decisions to be made. Mackenzie needed to come to the hospital now.

"I need to call Rose. I promised her I would tell her if Father's condition changed"

"Go in my office. It's quieter. I'll get our things together"

Mackenzie emerged from Will's office with red, swollen eyes. Her sister Rose would be on her way soon. Will's protective arm around her was her saving grace and would be for all the difficult days ahead. She knew her father was not going to make it through this. The doctors had all but said it.

At the hospital Will and Mac were met by Dr Taylor whose kind, concerned face did not have it's usual smile for Mackenzie.

After a long and painful discussion with various doctors who came to speak with them, Mackenzie and Will were left alone to talk. Rose was enroute to the airport, and Eleanor McHale was not well enough to be told of her husband's condition. Mackenzie held the proxy. She knew what she had to do.

The decision was made to reduce the medication and allow Lord McHale to wake up. His critical organs were failing and without the ability to go off life support,he would not live.

Mackenzie had no choice but to allow the doctors to shut down the respirator. His living will clearly stated his wishes and she would uphold them. But first, she could speak to her father, one last time. He may not be able to speak, but maybe he could hear her. They couldn't wait for Rose to arrive.

"Shall I come with you Kenz ? Will asked as they stood at the entrance to her father's room.

"Please, he loved you very much"

Mackenzie put her face close to her father's ear and whispered to him.

"Father, I love you very much. I wish you could open your eyes and see how happy I am. I wish you could see who is here with me. Will is here. Will is going to take care of me now. We're going to be married Father."

Mackenzie felt her father's hand stir in hers.

"Will he squeezed my hand…he heard me! "

"Will bent down and put his head beside Mackenzie's and whispered to the dying man who would have been his father-in –law.

"David, sir, I love Mackenzie very much and I'm here to ask your permission to marry her. I hope you'll give us your blessing sir."

"He's squeezing my hand Will. He's saying yes, she whispered."

Will held Mackenzie's shoulders as they both cried until the hand she was holding went limp. Her father had passed away quietly and peacefully, knowing that Mackenzie would be with the one man he knew loved her and would care for her.

In that moment Mackenzie's life changed. The Hereditary tile of Lady McHale, Countess of Pembroke would fall on her shoulders if she chose to accept it.

She didn't know the implications of that, nor did she care. She soon would. But for now, she had Will by her side to help her bury her father. Thank god, she thought, as she sobbed in his arms.

The next day Will and Mac flew to London to accompany the casket home. The newsroom would be in capable hands. They had caught Rose before she left Heathrow to give her the news of her father's death. She met them in London and they all travelled together for the funeral services at Mallington Court, the estate of her late father.

They were in another world, very different from the one they had left behind.

The Estate was beautiful. Besides the main house, there were many other buildings including barns, stables, a chapel and various guest and staff cottages. Will knew that Mackenzie had not grasped that this was now hers. It was too much to take in. Peter Philips, her father's aide took control of all the details surrounding the funeral, and organized a meeting with executors of the Earl's estate. It was at that meeting that Mckenzie learned the breadth of her father's estate and the details surrounding the title that would now be bestowed on her.

She listened. Will took notes and asked a few questions on her behalf. She was not yet ready to deal with any of this.

"I want to go home Will. This is not my world. I just want to go back to work. Peter can run things for awhile, and hopefully Mother will get well and want to come and live here, and maybe Rose will too."

Will knew that in time Mackenzie would be ready to face the decisions she would need to make about the running of the estate. But for now, he could see that she had to go home and get back to their life in New York. It was the only thing that would ease her grief and help her to move past this terrible chapter in her life.

He also knew that it would just be a matter of time before the American press got hold of the story. On it's own, the death of an Earl was a story that only the British press would find note worthy. But back in New York, the news of Will McAvoy's fiancée, and her family story would be fodder for the press.

"Mackenzie we need to talk about this story getting out and brace ourselves for the fallout back home. I'm afraid it's going to be news because of me. I'm sorry Mac, I know you hate the whole title things, but it's not going to go away"

"I know. I've been thinking about that. I figured it will come out and cause us a few days of embarrassment and then it will die down and be forgotten. I have no intention of feeding it Will. I will not be using a title ever. I promise you that. I'm American born, it's only because I hold two citizenships that I can even inherit. I could renounce my British one and then the whole thing would pass to Rose. I might just do that."

"Now is not the time to decide that. Let's go home and get back to our lives. Come here, I haven't had a real kiss today."

He could protect her from a lot of things, but not this one. Maybe with time, he thought, she might stop being embarrassed and learn to accept that this was her birthright, and stop fighting it. Knowing Mackenzie that was highly unlikely.

But then look at me, he thought. If someone had told me two years ago that Mac and I would be going home to curl up in our bed…I would have said "wrong musical"

Just goes to show, anything is possible.