Thank-you so much for continuing to read and for your great comments. I'm hoping that some of you great writers will have time to post over the holidays... So many great stories waiting for new chapters!
I don't own the Newsroom...and just so you know...some smutty bits in this chapter...M++.
Part 11 Getting to US Chapter 22
"Listen up please. Will has an announcement to make."
"Mac and I are hosting Christmas Dinner at our place. So if any of you have no plans, you do now. We're doing it late on the evening of the 24th, after the broadcast, so none of you will be working then. Of course I'm cooking. Mac can't boil water."
Mac gave him a pointed look, hands on her hips...signalling something.
"Will …significant" she mouthed.
"Oh yeah. Mac seems to think that some of you might actually have "significant others'. I told her it's highly unlikely that anyone would have you. But then again, look at me! So bring them along. The more the better!"
Mac looked at the smiling faces around the table and smiled at Will for making such a generous offer. Clearly they would be having a full house.
"Is it dress up? Maggie asked, her eyes jumping with excitement.
"Sure why not. Now let's try to come up with tonight's show!"
There were the usual year-end dramas to report on. This year it was the fiscal cliff and President Obama calling for a vote on his economic plan, and the urgency of it.
And of course, aftermath of the terrible shootings in Connecticut. That had been the worst broadcast of any of their careers. Will was so shaken by it, they had to go to commercial early. Mac saw the tears starting to well up in his eyes and she quickly told Herb to cut the feed. Then she strung out the ads until he was able to compose himself.
That night at Hang Chew's, Charlie joined them and told them how proud he was of them all. It was a harrowing task to report this terrible news with respect and sensitivity, but they had done a good job. The whole team ate silently. No one felt like drinking. It was the saddest she had seen her team since they began.
The next night there was a memorial service at the school. President Obama spoke and they sent Elliot and Neil to report from the ground. This would be Neil's first on camera appearance. Mac had been pushing Neil to consider reporting for quite a while. She thought he would be very good at it and she was keen for their show to be more visually representative of the real multi cultural make-up of modern America. Neil was handsome and beautifully spoken, and with Mackenzie's coaching he was ready. But she had something much, much easier in mind, for his first time on camera.
"I want to go" he told Mackenzie during a meeting with Will and Charlie in her office.
"But Neil this not the one. Not for your first broadcast" Mac said
"Tell us why you want to do this son?
"Charlie, I have seen more than my share of misery and in particular the suffering of children, even babies. It's my chance to try and help save other children. I want to go."
"Mac, Charlie, let him go, "Will said softly. "We all admire you for doing this Neil. You'll be fine"
The whole team watched nervously as Neil and Elliot began. Neil did very well. They could all see that if he wanted a career in front of the camera, and even as an anchor, it could happen for him.
The pitch meeting concluded with Mac announcing that gun control was now their newest crusade. Sloan would report on the daily fiscal cliff updates, but Mac wanted them in the B block. They would always open the show with a segment on getting the guns. Will had insisted. He told the room that he wanted them to bring the same passion to this subject as they had brought to their campaign against the Tea Party.
"To borrow a line from Mac, we can make a difference""
She smiled" "Soup Ladle McAvoy. Soup Ladle ! "
The broadcast went smoothly. Will popped his head into Mac's office.
"Ready to go home gorgeous? "
He stopped, a gag at the huge bouquet of red amaryllis on her desk
"Who sent the flowers? Are you trying to torture me again Mac?"
"Don't know what you're referring to. They're from Jamie"
"Nice. They go well with the bottle of 12 year old Scotch that he sent me today."
"Nicely done Jamie ! He's obviously grateful for the introduction. I TOLD you Will !"
"It's not going anywhere. She won't go out with him. Give up Mac!" Come on. Let's go home. I do better apologizing when I'm horizontal"
This was his favorite time of day, stretched out on the sofa after a good dinner, catching the late night monologues, over a nightcap, Mackenzie nestled up against him draped in one of her soft wooly things. They were still so new, if you didn't count the whole six years that is. New enough that they still loved to neck on the sofa until their lips got sore.
"So how many are coming for Christmas dinner Kenz?"
"Almost all of them. Most are not from Manhattan and they all have to work so they can't get home. Did you ask Charlie?"
"Yeah. He has to go to his daughter's place , but said he would come for dessert. Said he would welcome any excuse to leave early"
"What's going on with that?"
"It's complicated Kenz. His kids never forgave him for the affair, but what they don't understand is that he gave up the love of his life. He was stationed over seas and he had one night with a young nurse. One mistake. When she told him she was pregnant, he did the right thing. He gave up the girl he loved back home and married Susan."
"Oh my god. So what was the affair?"
" Years later he ran into his ex and nothing had changed. They were in love Mac. He tried to be discreet and never told Susan, and eventually he ended it because he didn't want to break up his family, but not before Katherine, his oldest , found out. The kids have been punishing him ever since."
"But he and Susan broke up years ago. That's not fair. He gave up his real love…for nothing? You never told me any of this before Will. Who was the ex…the love of his life?"
" Can't Mac. That's one secret I have to keep. And... it wasn't for nothing. He did what he needed to do so his kids would have two parents at home"
So Charlie had a past... For the first time Mackenzie understood the sadness behind Charlie's eyes. . So that was why he was constantly at them to figure it out. He knew the pain of spending life without your soul mate. No wonder he was always medicating himself with scotch. He had a broken heart.
Exactly the reason she was on at Jim for gathering the wrong damn rosebuds.
That had to be fixed.
"What are you thinking about Mackenzie? You have that crafty look on your face. You're cooking up something. "
"I'm thinking about you telling the whole team that I can't boil water! I might just surprise you this year William!"
"Ok, well while you're scheming…let's at least plan the menu."
"You decide Will. Whatever…"
"Mackenzie you need to take an interest. We're entertaining, having our first real dinner party, and it has to be done right. For someone to manor born…LITERALLY, you sure don't act like it sometimes!"
" You're right I did grow up with all the traditions and fanfare. But in case you haven't noticed, I am not living happily on my country estate, married with 3 perfect children, ordering my servants around Will ! I chose to leave home and travel the world with a backpack that I later traded for a journalist credentials. I would rather be with the man I love, in a tent on Christmas Eve, then stressing out and fussing over the Christmas crackers. However, you are correct . WE are entertaining, so I will take responsibility for the table and the decorations. You do the food. Deal?
"Deal."
"If you're finished lecturing me Mac…let's do the damn menu!"
"They settled on Roast Goose, Standing Rib Roast, Potatoes Gratin, Roasted Carrots, Parsnip Puree and Sausage and Chestnut stuffing. Plus a green salad, french cheeses and for Dessert, Classic English Sticky Toffee Pudding and American Pecan Pie.
"You are not possibly thinking of cooking all of that are you Will?"
"I'll order the Goose and stuffing all done, from Daniel, but I'll do the Roast and veg myself, and the gravy of course. Dessert we can order from Sarah's Kitchen. I have a bartender, one waiter and some one to clean up coming in."
"Will, how in the world did you learn to be such an amazing cook?"
" I don' t know… "
Mac saw the sad look in his eyes. She needed to push him to open up and tell her and not keep these things to himself.
"Tell me darling"
"I guess it started in college when friends would invite me to spend the holidays with them. I saw how they lived Mac. Beautiful meals, delicious food, everyone around the table…happy, talking…all the things I never had. I wanted that for myself so I learned how to do it. "
" I guess that's why it's matters so much to you"
"Truth? None of it matters unless you have …this…what we have I mean. Come here. I want to hold you and tell you something"
"Mackenzie nestled into his arms on the sofa and waited for him to speak"
" I had a girlfriend for almost a year, when you and I were apart. The scene at her house was the perfect Christmas- like out of a movie. All I thought about that whole holiday was you Mac. I wondered where you were and if you were safe, and I prayed for you, and I missed you and wished I could be near you. I was miserable"
"Then why Will? Why when I came home, were you so angry and frankly, mean to me, for months and months?."
She sat up, clearly upset.
" I guess that after years passed I started to feel like it was hopeless and then I grew bitter and resigned, and then all of a sudden there you were, signed contract in hand, at MY network, to run MY show, beside me every day, and in my ear every night and I had no choice in the matter…
For all I knew you could have been in love with someone else at that point, and it would have been a living hell for me. Did you, or Charlie ever think of that?"
"No I guess we didn't" she said softly. " I guess because I knew that there was only ever you, and Charlie did too. "
"Well nice of you both to tell me that Mac. Charlie didn't say- 'Oh and by the way I hired Mac who is still in love with you and wants to come back to you"
" I cannot believe you didn't just know that. You would have if read ANY of my emails you know Will."
" I know. It was my own fault." He was rubbing her back now .
"And then when I saw you, Mac you know how it was. You were there. Didn't you know in that instant that it was all still there between us?'
"Of course I did, but you were as cold as ice and your eyes were like daggers Will"
"Because you terrified me. I was all set to call the shots. Christ I had just paid 2 million dollars for the right to get rid of you…and you walk in and my heart starts to ache the minute I see you. What did you expect? I had to protect myself Mac. I felt threatened, so I just shut down."
She just kept looking at him as he talked, He felt better. He had spilled his guts and she didn't fold or get upset. She just held her ground and reminded him of his own false pride.
"So you fixed all that by getting me into your bed every night, is that it?"
"Yup. That's it exactly.
"You Ok then?"
"Yup, I'm going back to working on my menu."
While Will was busy fine tuning his menu, Mackenzie made lists. She loved lists. She had lists of her lists. This new list was called "First Christmas Together"
It included all the things she would need to have sent to do the table. She planned to rent two long thin tables that she would join together to form one – that could hold everyone. She would dress it in true English Christmas style, like the ones she grew up with. In other words, "Over the Top"… Will would be so surprised- but she knew he would love it.
Next she had to call Jamie to thank him for the flowers and find out what he was doing for Christmas. She learned that he was going back home for Christmas dinner with his kids on the 25th, but had no plans for Christmas Eve. Of course her plot thickened..
And finally, she needed to order a tree. Lonny agreed to pick it up and the building Super was putting it in a stand, ready for Will to decorate. It was all going to happen while he was on air . Another surprise that she knew he would love.
That night they climbed into bed excited with their plans and tired from a long week of heavy, emotional broadcasts. Too tired to make love. They slipped into bed naked and he spooned her from behind, If he woke in the middle of the night ,aroused, he would start to make love to her while she was half asleep. Chances are that would happen. It often did.
Will woke first, just enough to feel his growing erection. He kissed her back and began to touch her. Mackenzie stirred in her sleep to the delicious feel of Will, kissing her and touching her. She moaned and he knew she was aroused when she began to move her ass against his erection. He lowered himself and lifted her up so he could enter her from behind. When they made love this way, he focused on squeezing her nipples and rubbing her clit until he knew she was getting close.
Then he would stop and keep his hand tight against her pussy and very still. This would make her beg for more, but he would wait until her breathing slowed down, and then he would start again, thrusting from behind, while he kissed and sucked her back, and ran his fingers around her clit, that by now would be engorged and erect. He would do this until she begged him to turn her over so she could come with him. When he felt her really close, he would flip her on her back and cup each of her buttocks in one of his has hands, lifting her ass and holding her still,while he thrust deeply into her until she started to come.
Once Mac's orgasms started, he always lost control. Her contractions were so powerful they brought him to orgasm within seconds.
Sometimes she made him come just by squeezing him and rocking her hips ever so slightly. She would prolong the exquisite pleasure of it and when she felt him on the edge, she would stop and kiss him until he was calm and then start again until neither of them could hold back their orgasms. That moment when he fell over the edge with her, was so powerful for Will that he could feel the euphoria right down to his toes.
When it was over they often told each other that they didn't know how they had lived so long without this.
The next morning the preparations for Christmas Eve dinner began, and in the afternoon Mackenzie had her first appointment with a fertility doctor. She felt that because of her age, she needed to find out if she was still fertile or if she needed drugs to improve their chance of conceiving.
After a morning of shopping, they stopped for a fast lunch at a favorite café.
"You know you really don't need to come with me Will. This is just a routine introduction to Dr Knoll, and a few blood tests."
"I'm coming with you Mackenzie. If we're doing this, we're doing it together, all of it."
Mackenzie giggled. " I suppose you're going to insist on having your blood tested?"
"Funny Mac. You wanted participation, well you're going to get it, no discussion."
Dr Knoll was a renowned fertility specialist. Of course he recognized Will and within minutes they were deep in conversation about political news. After a while, Mackenzie piped up.
"Hey, this is supposed to be about me and getting pregnant!"
"Sorry sweetheart. You're right. Dr Knoll, let's have lunch some time and continue our conversation."
Leave it to Will to charm our new doctor before I've even talked to him…she thought.
After a routine gyno exam and some blood tests, Dr Knoll took a brief history and asked them some questions.
"Mackenzie, Will, are you two sexually active?
"Yes Dr Knoll, you could say that" Will said grinning
"How often? Every week? And if so how many times a week on average?"
Mackenzie was staring down at her hands folded in her lap. Let Will handle this part…she thought, giggling to herself.
" Oh average, about 10 times a week, wouldn't you say Mac?"
" That's about right, sometimes a little more darling" She said sweetly
Dr Knoll smiled. "This must be a new relationship? How long have you known each other?"
"About 7 years now" Will said, grinning.
"Well then, good that things have calmed down somewhat…after all these years!"
"Actually Doctor, Mac and I were together almost eight years ago, then we were apart for over 4 years."
" I see, Mackenzie that would be when your records show you were assaulted and stabbed and underwent surgery in a field hospital. Your GP sent me your file in advance"
"Yes, but actually I was raped Doctor. However in London I was given thorough tests and was told that my chances of conception were not affected"
"I'm so sorry Mackenzie. But you are correct. You appear to be healthy and your tests will help me determine your ability to conceive. At this time we won't be testing Will. It's too soon. "
"Anything else we should do Doctor?"
"Not a thing Will. At your age I sometimes prescribe hormones to boost sex drive, but clearly you two won't be needing them. Just keep on enjoying yourself. "
"Thanks Dr Knoll. Did you hear that Mac? Doctor's orders!"
As they left to go home and start unpacking the car, Mac whispered to Will.
"Thank-you Billy This could have been the worst Christmas of my life. I miss father so much…But you have made it all…ok. I love you.."
" I love you too Kenz. Don't you think that Dr Knoll was surprised by my prowess? Made me feel rather good you know! Will said, puffing up his chest"
"Yes darling. And to think you did it all by yourself ! " Mac smiled.