Sorry this took so long. Life got in the way. Loving all the new Fics! I don't own he newsroom.

Thanks so much for your reviews, as always.

Will slumped in his usual chair and looked right at Dr Habib, waiting for the inevitable question.

"So Will, tell me about your week-end away with Mackenzie."

"We're back together. I thought I would be coming to tell you that. I mean I thought it would be good…but"

Will was quiet. Visably upset and a loss for words, he just sat and stared out the window of Dr Habib's office until finally Jack broke the silence.

"Will, did things not go well?"

"The week-end was great. And then we came home and I think I'm fucking it up."

"Can you start at the beginning and tell me what happened?"

"We had a good time. We talked about everything and we played golf and did the client thing, and then we had time together, alone, and it was good. I was amazing actually."

"That's good to hear. You connected then?"

Will grinned. "Yah you could say that."

"Did you discuss your feelings?"

"Of course. Mackenzie was nervous about sleeping with me and then going back to New York and having to work together."

"Understandable"

"She was worried that it would be a one time thing. Ridiculous."

"And so you reassured her that it wouldn't be?"

"Of course I did. I told her that it was only going to be her …for me. "

"I'm sure that helped. What was her reaction to that?"

"Good, what did you think it would be?"

" I assumed it would be good, but this about you telling me what happened."

"Ok so I'm telling you. She was happy about it. We both were. In fact I did better than that. I moved her in with me as soon as we got home." Will said proudly.

"So soon?"

"If you call 10 years of this…look I'm in my fifties, do you think we're going to start dating again? The whole point of getting back together is to be together, isn't it?

"So you've decided to try again, and you're together now?"

"Yes, and it's good mostly. I just think I'm starting to wreck it."

"How?"

" I can feel myself screwing it up."

"Before we get into that, tell me more about what led to this decision to get back together."

"We never stopped…I mean we still love each other. We want each other. We're good together except like I said, I think I'm screwing it up."

"How? How are you screwing it up?"

"I'm nervous that she's going to change her mind I guess."

"Why do you think that?"

" I don't know. I just feel…unsure."

Dr Habib looked at Will's face and could see the fear behind his eyes. His usual gruff

ambivalence had been replaced by a look of genuine fear and Dr Habib felt compassion for him. It was obvious that Will had taken a risk and opened himself up to Mackenzie and now he was terrified that he was vulnerable again.

"Will, it's natural that you would feel anxious because this has happened quickly and you need time to feel confident and comfortable with your decision to try again with Mackenzie. It's my guess that she's just as anxious as you are. Would it be fair to say that?"

"First she was scared that we wouldn't be together when we got back. Now that we are she thinks I'm pushing too hard…I guess."

"Tell me why you were so happy in Palm Springs, on the week-end, while you were together?"

"Because…she was with me and I wanted her, and she wanted to be there, with me.

It just felt good."

"Has any of that changed now that you're home?"

Will thought for awhile before he spoke. "No, it's the same. She loves me and it's good to have her with me, at home. It's what I want."

"So then why not just let it be? Let yourself relax with it. If you feel yourself pushing then try and be calm and back off a little, but also try not to dwell on it. Just let it be.

Do you think you can do that?"

"I don't know. I thought that telling her how I felt and that I want to try again would be the hardest part. But it wasn't. I wanted to talk when we were away. She could hardly believe how much I wanted to talk. Not normally my strong suit."

"What is the hardest part then?"

Will thought for moment before answering. "What comes after deciding to live to together. I mean I just want to make it permanent so know that she won't leave again. Isn't that kind of the whole point of getting back together?"

"What does Mackenzie say about that?"

"That she wants things to grow, and not decide everything overnight and not decide for her. Look I know in my head that she's right, but then I wonder what she has to decide? Is she thinking about whether she wants to stay with me? Because if she hasn't figured that out yet, I don't want to wait around until she does and get my heart skewered in the process. Not again."

"So your fear is that Mackenzie will leave you then?"

"Look she's never stayed in one place longer than a few years, ever. Not in the same job or the same city and sure as hell not in the same relationship. I was the longest she ever had and that was over – before three years. I thought I was going to propose to her. I was so clued out I didn't even suspect that she was unhappy enough to start fucking someone else…for four months."

"Then you haven't forgiven her after all.."

"I have! But that doesn't mean I'm going to walk into another mine field."

"So you've forgiven her but you don't trust her?"

"I do trust her. I know she won't cheat on me again. She's sworn that to me and I believe her. But does she know her own mind? Does she know if she wants to settle into a life long…thing …with me, and not bolt again. I don't know that."

"Have you already discussed marriage? "

"Not directly except that she says she doesn't care if she ever gets married, she just wants us to be happy."

"Do you care, about marriage I mean?"

"Of course I do. I don't want to be someone's boyfriend forever! If that makes me boring and old fashioned, then I guess I am."

"Will, I'm hearing that you know it's Mackenzie, and you know you want marriage and you're worried about two things. One, that you will push her away by forcing things to move too fast., and two, that she may discover she's restless and she decides to leave you."

"Yah"

"Well you just have to live with those fears because everyone in a relationship fears the same things to some extent. You just happen to have an acute sensitivity to your fears. We need to work on helping you lesson that sensitivity. "

"Right" Will said, rolling his eyes.

"It is possible to do that. Starting with you that is. Can you try to focus on having quality time with Mackenzie, doing things together, enjoying each other and try and put the "plans" and the future on the back burner for awhile? You really need time to process what has happened between you, and to feel comfortable with it. Give yourself several months at least before you think about next steps. Can you try and do that?"

"I guess."

"Are you sleeping?"

"Yes. First she sleeps on top of me and it feels nice…safe somehow. And second she wears me out most nights so I almost pass out." He grinned.

"Ok" Jack laughed. " At least that's working as it should."

"No complaints there."

"Will there are worse problems to have then a women who loves you and can't get enough of you and just wants to enjoy your time together without worrying about

what's down the road..just yet..you know?"

"I guess."

"Look, you and Mackenzie have never been…casual, or had a relationship without it's inner drama. It's part of what attracts you to each other. Don't expect that suddenly you're going to have a calm, predictable pattern, when you've never had one before."

"Predictable is not a word for her. Never."

"Ok so let that go. Enjoy the ride."

"Yah, thanks."

"I'll see you next week. If you want to , bring Mackenzie along sometime. I'd like to meet her."

"Ok…if you think so,"

"I do."

"One more thing. We had drinks with her father last night."

"Okay, tell me more about that next week."

Will left Dr. Habib's office feeling slightly better. At least he had a plan to follow.

Keep it light, don't dwell on the dark thoughts that sometimes overtook him, and try and enjoy Mackenzie and their time together.

When he arrived at the office the morning pitch meeting had begun and all eyes were on him as he entered the room and took his usual seat. The team said good morning then resumed their discussion about the proposed gun laws and the discussions in Congress about the budget and the endless squabbling that was frustrating the entire country. Dry stuff, while the other networks were running a day by day replay of the trial of a mother in California, and a bizarre story about a ball player who thought he was engaged to a women he had never met who he thought had died, when in fact she was a hoax, who didn't exist.

The discussion was about whether or not to cover these stories. For once Mackenzie actually thought a few mins in the C block were a prudent idea, for the sake of the ratings. Will couldn't believe his ears. He actually agreed with her, but didn't say a word.

When the meeting ended he followed her into her office.

"So what brought on the change of heart?"

"I'm just trying to keep us on the air. A few mins on a light new day is not exactly a sacrifice for the sake of keeping you in your chair." she said sweetly. " So how was Dr Habib?"

"Ok. We sorted out a few things and I feel calmer."

"Good, because there is absolutely nothing to worry about. Not with us Will." she said before she kissed him.

"Right in the middle of your office. What's come over you?" he laughed

"I don't know. I just feel free to do that." She grinned.

"I'm sorry I messed it up with your father."

"Yes you did, but I'll explain it to him."

"No I think I should. I'm the one who spoke out of turn."

"Why don't you call him and see if he's free for lunch or a drink later? I think he'd love that."

"I will."

After that Will returned to his office and called Michael McHale and left a message asking him for a late lunch or a drink after the broadcast ended. I would be good to

have a quiet chat with Mackenzie's father and a chance to explain why he'd jumped the gun.

Lunch came and went and finally Will heard back from Sir McHale that he'd been tied up through lunch but would be happy to have a drink after the broadcast.

He suggested that they might invite Mackenzie to join them for a bite and Will thought that eating back at the apartment would be nice.

He found Mackenzie in her office getting ready to lock down the show and head off to the control room.

"So, your father and I are going out for a drink after the show and them meeting you back at home for late supper. Does that should ok?"

"Perfect…unless you tell me that I'm cooking…."

"Someday maybe. You're aren't that bad you know. But for now, let's order in." He laughed. I'll order and we'll pick it up on our way home. Lonny will drive you home first and then come back and get us later."

"I can find my own way home,thanks"

"Nope. Those days are over. Besides that fact that I don't want you taking subways or cabs late at night, when we have security and a driver…there is the fact that I'm a target and you might not be totally safe now either Kenz. We have to think about that now. I love you a lot. Come on let's go and do this show." He kissed her softly and pulled her up and out her door.

"You still have to change."

"Come and help me."he grinned…pulling her towards his office.