Chapter 10: Setbacks

"When you look me in the eyes

I catch a glimpse of heaven

I find my paradise

When you look me in the eyes"

"So what did you want to talk about?" Mac asks her as their waiter walks away to place their orders.

She takes a sip of her Coke. "I need to know if we're good."

"We're fine… I think."

"So you don't care if I can't have kids?"

"Yes, I do care. But, no, it isn't going to stop me from loving you," he takes her hands. "It's just a minor setback."

"I don't see it that way. What if a guy I'm dating asks about kids? I can't tell him, or he'll break up."

"You're already thinking negative. First, any guy that loves you won't break up with you because you are unable to have kids. Second, you're with me right now. I'm not breaking up with you. You seem to think this relationship won't last."

"I love you and all, Mac, but things happen. It might not work out between us," Stella pulls away.

"You're trying to deal with the worst, and things can hardly be considered bad."

"Not being able to have kids isn't bad?"

"It is, but it's not rock bottom."

"What do we do about us?"

"We stay together and see if it works out. I love you, and I'm willing to try to have kids of our own. If we aren't successful, we can adopt or find a surrogate."

"Lindsay, uh, kind of volunteered to be a surrogate if I got married and wanted to have kids."

"We know her; we trust her. That might be better than letting some stranger do it."

"God, Mac, we haven't even been dating a week, and we're talking about kids," she shakes her head and looks out the window.

"Things will be okay, Stella."

"How can you be so sure?" she whispers.

The waiter comes back with their food. "I'll be back to check on you. Enjoy."

He watches her as she looks at the guy while he walks away. "Because I see no sense in waiting for bad to come instead of enjoying the good."

"I suppose," she steals a fry from him.

They eat in silence for a few minutes. He sets down his burger and swallows. "Hawkes said you wouldn't let the paramedic put the IV needle in you, that you wanted him to do it."

"Yeah, so? I hate hospitals and everything to do with them. And I can't say I'm too fond of needles either."

"They just wanted to help you."

"I trusted Sheldon more. He was doctor after all."

"You went to the hospital on your own when you thought you had HIV."

"Well, I thought I could handle it on my own."

"I'm here for you; I know you're used to taking care of yourself, but you don't have to anymore," Mac takes her hand and kisses her knuckles. "Let me care for you. I love you, Stel."

"I… I love you too."

The next ten minutes pass with little talking, just the finishing of lunch. Mac pays the bill, much to Stella's protest. "I suppose we should get back."

"Okay."

"Did you say that Lindsay would be a surrogate if we got married?"

"Not specifically us, just me and… whoever."

"So they don't know we're together?"

"I never told anyone."

"Let's keep it that way until we know how it's going."

A/N: So... not very exciting again. I don't think the next chapter is either... but the one after that is. Kind of sad too... Anyway... I didn't fall asleep during NY or LV this week. It was okay... the case wasn't all that interesting... but the guy is still stalking Stella. I didn't even think about the fact that they can't arrest him; I just thought they didn't have enough evidence again him to do so... But now I know why Mac and Stella are fighting again later in the season... She and Danny are going to try to take care of this without telling Mac and will probably get in trouble... At least that's my theory... I finished my CSI book already and the magazine but I don't want to start the next Bones book because I want it to last until Christmas... maybe I work on writing this week... when I get bored. I can't think of anything else right now... review and I'll update Sunday. Thanks.