Title: Beauty & The Beast
Chapter 10 – New Friends & New Beginnings
A/N: Okay sorry for the delay but I did want to get that special post 9/11/BL death OS out. So hope you all like this and thanks.
As soon as Mac heard the door slam shut behind him and was instantly swallowed by darkness, he stopped in his tracks and just shook his head, his fists balled and his stomach tight. It was true that he wasn't yet prepared to openly discuss Claire or his misgivings surrounding her death, but it was a simple question asked by an innocent child and he was now showing his lack of maturity by once again retreating into his emotional cave. Stella didn't deserve that.
So with a deep breath, Mac turns and pulls the door open, immediately pulling Stella's wondering gaze to him. She stands fixed in place; they all do while silence was allowed to build thanks to his foolhardy actions. It was up to him to make amends and fast before he scared her away for good.
"Stella," Mac mentions her name softly, an almost pained tone accompanying her name as he slowly heads back toward her. Stella feels her heart start to beat painfully faster in her chest and wonders if this could perhaps be the end.
"I didn't mea…" Stella starts only to have Mac's hand gently touch her hand and stop her words.
"I messed up and…I'm sorry," Mac states with a small huff. "I um…Stella I don't want you to go. I want you to stay and your children and enjoy today and I feel that maybe I should just go and…"
"Mac this is your home," Stella insists. "None of us wanted to pry."
"And that's just it. None of you were prying," Mac tells her in truth. "Isaac didn't know, how could any of you have known. But I um…I just wasn't prepared to…well to talk about Claire today."
"And you don't have to," Stella's hand grasps his and gives it a small squeeze, Millie, flanked by a child on either side holding her breath for a happy outcome as the three of them stand on the patio deck and just watch the two adults before them. "I don't want you to go. But it's up to you."
"I don't want you to go either," Mac confesses in truth, his lips twisting into a small smile.
"So back to the bulbs?"
"Sure," Mac nods, both of them hearing a very audible sigh of relief from Mac's mother who then turns her attention back to the children and helps them to the large patio table. The three of them sit down at the table, Millie's heart more than relieved that Mac had come back and her mind more than delighted as the children start to talk to her, including her in their play; one with Barbie's and the other with Lego men. It had to be Mac this time and she knew. She had helped to arrange their meeting but when it came to his past; to Claire and anything that got him worked up it had to be him to pull himself back and see that he was indeed in control of his feelings but that it wasn't just him involved - Stella was too. And as painful as she knew it was for her son, it had to happen; someone had to ask. Now things would be okay, she was sure of that.
"I'm glad your mother is so accommodating with the children," Stella nods in the direction of the back patio.
"She was actually excited to have them coming," Mac answers with a fond smile.
But before Mac can say another word, Stella hears a car come to a stop and then looks up to see an attractive woman with long dark hair approaching them. Who is this? Stella feels her heart starting to beat faster at the thought that maybe there was now to be another woman vying for the handsome millionaire's time and attention.
"Hey everyone," Jessica greets them as she approaches, standing closer to Mac but not in an intimate way. But she quickly dispels any of Stella's fears by the way of an introduction.
"I'm Jessica Angell and you must be…"
"Stella Bonasera," Stella extends her hand to take Jessica's; her heart flooding her entire being with a wave of relief. Am glad she's with Don Flack, Stella's brain sighs in relief, otherwise you would have been going to jail for murder. Oh you are so weak. Look at him…can you blame me? Stella's mind wages another internal battle.
"I hear you work at the hospital," Stella tells Jessica.
"Yeah and they were a bit short staffed so I worked an early shift but thankfully the regular nurse showed up for her afternoon shift or I would have had to work a double."
"Is Don coming also?"
"He and Sully had a few things to finish up and he'll be here for dinner," Jessica answers. "Well Stella it was great to meet you. I have to freshen up but I'll see you both a bit later."
Stella watches her go and smiles, her stomach untightening. But as she ponders Jessica's words, she realizes that while she hadn't worked up much of a sweat, she wasn't sure if she would have time to freshen up before the others arrived. But as she was having too much fun alone with Mac she didn't want to jeopardize that by having to leave early and making herself seem high maintenance, which in truth she wasn't.
"Did you um…want to stop?" Mac wonders.
"I'll want to freshen up a bit later if that's okay."
"Well I have a few bathrooms that you can use if you'd like," Mac informs her. "So you can use them anytime."
"That sounds great. I would like to get the rest of these into the car if possible."
"Okay," Mac states with a small grunt as he lifts the two pallets into his strong arms and looks at Stella with a smile. "Where do you want them?"
"Showoff," she teases and his smile widens. "Alright, come with me."
The walk over to her car served to release the rest of the tension that his few minutes absence had created so that by the time they reached her truck and he was stowing the pallets inside, both were feeling happy once again. However, Mac wasn't completely back to himself as he now did worry that his outburst might have forced Stella to just appear to be over it but inside not really. He would just have to see how the evening progressed, if she pulled away by the end of the night he would know and would once again damn himself for his stupidity.
"Thank you my garden is going to be the best on the block for sure with all these."
"Yeah I can't wait to see them all in bloom and what you do with them," Mac blurts out and then looks away with a small blush. "Or you could…send a picture of them."
"I wouldn't mind you coming to see them Mac," Stella assures him in a soft tone, drawing his happy gaze back to hers. "I wouldn't mind it at all."
"I'll um…remember that."
Stella gives Mac a warm sideways smile, her heart racing. She wants to thank him for his kind generosity but how? Dinner? That might suffice. But would he want to have dinner with her family? She couldn't just shoo them out of the house but could she subject him to another night around the anxious twins? But she did want to get to know him better and having her father and her kids there didn't exactly count as quiet time.
They finally reach the garden spot they were at before, Millie still being happily entertained on the patio by the twins and now joined by Jessica, who also seemed taken by the happy but well behaved children.
Stella looks around the vast area before her, finally feeling Mac's watchful gaze and turns to him with a half smile. "Just admiring the space."
"Danny's suggested I put a golf course on it."
"Well when the weather is still warm a scavenger hunt would be a really fun idea."
"A scavenger hunt? Like with prizes and such?"
"Yeah you know small toys and candies, kids love that kinda stuff."
"That's an interesting idea," Mac ponders. "Never thought of something like that."
"It um…comes with the territory," she nods in the direction of her kids. But before she can say another word, they all hear a car door close and look up to see Don Flack approaching; a person that now all of them knew by name.
"Hey Mac. Hello again Stella."
"Hi Don."
"Hello," Stella answers as Jessica comes to greet her boyfriend, giving him a modest hug and then pulling back so as not to create a scene in public.
"So Mac showing off his gangrene thumb?" Flack quips.
"Very funny Don," Mac remarks dryly with a slight smirk.
"Well I brought the needed supplies. I'll talk to you guys later."
Stella watches Jessica and Don walk off arm in arm and feels a small twang of jealousy starting to rise but quickly pushes it back; she didn't want to feel any ill will or resentment toward her new friends, especially if she really had nothing to be jealous over. Except you wish Mac would put his arm around you! Her brain correctly reasons.
"Supplies?" Stella inquires.
"Beer," Mac answers with a small smile. "Don told me he's not good at picking out wine so would happily bring over a few cases of beer."
"Cases?"
"Trust me we aren't all heavy drinkers," Mac chuckles. "See Lindsay is making Danny bring stuff that kids can drink."
"Ah yes leave it to the mothers," Stella giggles. "We always get the boring wrap."
"I doubt you're boring," Mac states and then just shakes his head. "Sorry my um…comments aren't…"
"Why always be sorry for being honest?" Stella asks in a low tone.
"I don't want you to think me…"
"I want you to be yourself just as I want you to want me to be myself."
"I do want that," Mac gently frowns. "I meant that as a compliment."
"I took it as that," she winks and his face instantly warms. "So I guess we should call it a day right?"
"Sounds good. I'll show you where you and your kids can freshen up a bit if you'd like."
Stella gives him a small okay and then both head toward the patio stairs, talking about the rest of the left over bulbs and what his mother had for them.
"All finished playing in the mud?" Millie teases as they approach the large outdoor eating table.
"Look Mac!" Isaac holds up his latest Lego creation; a contraption that is supposed to resemble a speedboat.
"It's a…" Mac pauses as he looks at his mother who mouths 'boat' and then back at Isaac with a smile, "boat. That's really great Isaac," Mac praises, much to the delight of the enamored little boy.
"You can build one too," Isaac pushes a few pieces toward Mac's fingers that were resting on the table. Mac looks at Stella who mere shrugs in return and so the next half hour was spent with Isaac pressed up against Mac's frame, helping him build - 'something'. Stella just watching her son interacting with the new man in their life and her heart warming by the second.
"Look what we made mummy!" Isaac finally holds up a distorted Lego contraption that everyone smiles in approval.
"Okay, Isaac sweetie you and your sister need to clean up now as we have to get ready for supper."
"Okay," Isabella readily agrees.
"But mum," Isaac tries to protest.
"No arguments or no dessert," Stella lightly warns and both children quickly start to obey. "It's already been an hour and guests will be here soon."
"They are both very delightful. Isabella and I went on a trip to Spain and Isaac's men sunk…well something," Millie laughs as she gives both children a kiss on the cheek and then stands up. "I'll go and start getting a few snacks on the table for when the others arrive."
Stella puts her children's toys into their respective backpacks and then follows Mac into his large home and upstairs to where there was a spare large bathroom to use. But as they pass a room, Isabella's curiosity gets the best of her and soon she is tugging on Mac's sweatshirt.
"What's in there?" Isabella asks as she stares wide-eyed into the large dark room before her.
"That's um…my bedroom."
"Can we see it?" Isaac asks eagerly, Isabella already heading for the door.
"No you two may not," Stella sighs.
"I don't mind Stella, really," Mac looks at her with a small smile; a silent understanding in his warm sapphires.
"For a few minutes only and then Mac has to get dressed okay?"
Mac flips on the light and Stella and her children stand in shock at the massive room before them; it was practically the size of all of their bedrooms combined.
"Wow," Stella whispers as she turns and looks at Mac.
"It's just a room," Mac shrugs.
"Right…okay kids time to…" her voice trails off as she turns her kids around back into the hallway.
"It was the biggest room I ever sawed," Isabella gushes as they reach the large bathroom.
"Seen," Stella whispers to her daughter, making Mac smile.
"Just come down when you are ready."
Stella thanks Mac and then closes the door, leaning against it.
"What's wrong mummy?" Isabella looks up at her mother in question.
"Nothing sweetheart. Are you guys having a good time."
"Yes!" Both answer at once with eager voices.
"Now remember there will be other children tonight and I don't want you running or screaming or acting foolish and I don't want you to touch or heaven forbid break anything. If I hear of you guys doing something to make me embarrassed, we are going to leave and never come back again, is that understood?"
"Yes mummy," both answer with slightly glum tones.
"Okay now wash your hands and Isabella let me fix your hair." Stella had to redo her daughter's messy ponytail and then fix herself a bit more. She had brought a casual but still dressy top to change into from her working sweater and then applied a bit more makeup and some mild perfume.
"You're so pretty mummy, like a Princess," Isabella comments with a sweet smile.
"Thank you Belle, and you look very pretty as well."
"I don't look pretty, that's for girls," Isaac states in haste, causing Stella to look at him with a weak smile.
"Isaac you look handsome. Okay I'll be right out. Just wait in the hallway for me."
But as soon as the kids were alone, and Mac's door was open both of them headed toward the opening and peer inside. Mac was in his large walk in closet; wearing only a pair of dark casual pants and putting a few things away. But a feeling of being watched starts to consume him and he turns around and lets out a small gasp.
"Isaac," Mac gasps, prompting Isaac to just giggle.
"What are you doing?" Isaac asks as he walks further into the large space, his eyes darting around in every direction.
"Um getting dressed and…" Mac pauses as he looks up to see Isabella watching him as well. "I guess…"
"Isaac? Belle?" Stella's voice is heard. "Where are you?"
"In here mummy, Mac's naked."
"What?" Stella asks as she rushes into Mac's bedroom and see's Isabella half inside his closet and Isaac nowhere to be seen. "Isaac!"
"It's ok…" Mac starts as he exits the closet without a shirt on, his face instantly enflaming and Stella's heart skipping more than a few beats.
Wow! He's…hot? More than that, Stella's mind forces her lips to curl upward into an approving smile as her eyes continue to devour the perfect bare chest before her.
"I um…"
"Right I'll be…hold on," Mac darts back into his closet, grabbing a dress shirt and scolding himself for lingering in front of her as long as he did.
Stella looks down at her children, trying to get her overheated brain to give words to her lips to scold her children. If half of him is that tempting, is the other half? Probably more so! Stop it! Stella scolds herself. "Now what did I tell you? Isaac?"
"But we…"
"What?"
"To wait in…the hall…" his voice trails off as his eyes start to well.
"And did you listen?" She looks at Isabella who was also displaying a morose expression. "Did you?" Stella asks again with an exasperated sigh. Both of them shake their heads, their eyes on the verge of tears. "You know this is Mac's house and he has been very kind to let us stay a bit longer. But you don't just go into a room without asking to enter. Did you do that?" Stella asks again, once again being negatively rewarded with two shakes. "What did I tell you about adults rooms?"
"Knock before we enter," Isaac answers in sorrow.
"I think you both need to go home for this."
"No mummy please no," Isaac begs in misery, tugging at her heart strings instantly.
Stella looks up at Mac with a deep frown. "Mac I'm so sorry."
"Stella I'm not mad. I was suprised but not mad," Mac tells her in truth. He had put on a dark blue dress shirt that seemed to make his eyes ever more sapphire than before, just adding to his physical appeal. But she had already seen what he kept hidden underneath and the shirt did little to hide his well kept frame. He was edible indeed. "I see your children are just very curious."
"This is just all so new for them Mac and your house…right no more excuses. I'm sorry, they are usually polite."
"Well as you said it's all new," Mac approaches them with a smile.
"What do you say kids?"
"Sorry," Isabella mumbles first.
"Sorry," Isaac adds before he wraps his arms around Mac's legs and looks up with a teary expression.
"It's okay. I'm not mad," Mac smiles down as he slightly ruffles and then re-fixes Isaac's hair.
Stella takes a hand of each child and they head out of Mac's bedroom, Stella's heart racing so fast, it was her turn to wonder if it was about to give way and the day would be officially over. As soon as they near the top of the stairs, they hear lively chatter and the sound of children's voices.
"Lucy's here!" Isabella exclaims as she tries to break free.
"Belle you will wait for us," Stella holds her daughter back, a small penalty for her not listening a few moments earlier.
"Hey Mac," Danny greets them as they start to descend down the stairs.
Stella looks at all the new faces and feels her heart start to pick up the pace once again. They were making an entrance like a family, only they weren't one, at this point they weren't even that close to being one and she feels all eyes starting to examine her a bit more closely.
"Hi Stella," Lindsay greets them with Lucy as her side.
"Hey Lindsay."
"I'm Danny, Lindsay's husband," Danny gives her hand a modest shake.
"Can Isabella come play with me and Kara?" Lucy looks up and asks her mother.
"Millie when is…"
"They have some time," Millie calls out from the kitchen.
"Okay you guys can go and play in the living room."
"And this is Kara Hawkes," Lindsay introduces the beautiful little girl with chocolate skin and curly black hair.
"That would be my daughter, I'm Judy and this is my husband Sheldon," the tall woman resembling african model Alex Wek walks up to them with a warm smile.
"I work with Jessica," Sheldon greets. "Judy works for the Mayor."
"Think you'll remember all this at the end of the night?" Flack teases.
"You are asking a teacher Don. I remember names for a living," Stella retorts and Flack laughs, getting an elbow in the ribs from Danny.
"Right," Don deadpans as Danny laughs at his friend.
"Okay so what can I get everyone to drink?" Jessica asks and Stella's tension starts to subside a little bit more. But she still wasn't sure how to get a read on everyone just yet and so mostly hung back and listened until Lindsay started to include her a bit more; the conversation always light and friendly, Mac's past never being mentioned.
Every once and a while Stella would break away from the group and go to see where the kids had gotten away to and for the most part they were behaving. Isaac had naturally drawn the attention of the other two little girls, but Isabella also was their friend so the four of them just played together naturally. But that was soon about to change.
About half hour later, the adults were all in the kitchen, hovering around the large island that was covered with delectable finger foods and alcoholic beverages. Stella was more than delighted when everyone was telling her about her food, her mind settled that she had made the right choice in what to bring. She looks over at Mac, who was very contentedly enjoying her goodies and smiles. It was him that she wanted to like her offerings the most. Watching him relax as the night progressed settled her mind as well. His warm laughter, smooth tone and gentle touches as he moved around her in the kitchen, further cementing himself into her heart as the man she wanted to get to know more and more. He had now ruined it for anyone else; did another single man even exist?
Mac too had been very nervous at first, hoping that his friends wouldn't make a big deal about him and Stella coming down together but more than delighted when people just accepted her into his circle and started to talk to them about their day and conversational things in general, putting his mind and fears to ease instantly. He had caught his mother's glance a few times, only to get a warm smile and nod in return; his mind knowing that she was more than happy to be surrounded by warmth and love once again. He too had to admit that it was a great feeling. He hears Stella's musical laughter and looks over at her with a tender smile, she was amazing. Able to work beside him in the garden, getting dirty and working hard and then change into something more dressy and mingle as if she had been planning the perfect party all day long and it was no big deal.
But just before Stella can take another tempting bite of a chicken dip that Jessica had made, she watches as her son quietly enters the kitchen and walks right up to Mac, forcing her brow to furrow as she looks at him in wonder.
Isaac offers him a sideways glance but then uses his small hand to reach for Mac's and pull on his finger.
"Hey Isaac, what's up?" Mac bends down to the boy, the rest of the adults all watching in surprise, Millie in unspoken joy.
"Will you play with me? The girls only want to play princesses but I have no one to play with me," he states in a tone that is so sad it breaks everyone's heart.
Stella feels herself caught in a time warp. This was Mac's house and that was her son. He couldn't just go off and she didn't want Isaac to hog the host from his friends. Mac feels all eyes on him and the few seconds that it took for someone to speak up felt like a slow eternity. He looks at the face of the young child before him and feels his heart starting to melt. Isaac had sought him out, how could he say no? But this was his home and he had invited Stella and could just leave her there while he went off to keep her son amused. He glances up at Stella and frowns, his heart now racing at the consequences of him making the wrong choice.
"Hey Mac you know I think there is a Rangers pre-season game on TV," Danny's voice breaks the few seconds of tormented silence. A father coming to the rescue of a friend stuck in a tough situation; a man with no child experience caught off guard and floundering in front of his new lady friend - the boy's mother.
"Hey that's right, maybe we can put the game for a bit and Isaac can join us guys," Flack joins in. Mac slowly stands up and looks at Stella who only offers a small nod and shrug in return.
"I think he would like that," Stella smiles her approval.
"Yeah even Sheldon can watch, I mean he knows about hockey as Issac," Danny teases his friend, garnering a slap from Sheldon in return.
"Funny," Sheldon groans.
"Isaac do you want to watch the hockey game with us?" Mac asks with a small laugh.
Isaac looks up at his mother and after getting another nod looks up at Mac with a wide grin of happiness.
"Yes!"
"Alright, let's see if I still know how this thing works," Mac smirks as he takes Isaac by the hand and leads him into the sitting area, just off the kitchen but still attached. The game wouldn't be too loud but it would afford Isaac an opportunity to escape the female torment for a little bit.
"Just give him a few years and then he'll be asking the girls to play and won't care about male attention," Lindsay giggles and the rest of the females join in.
Stella watches Mac sit down on the large leather couch and Isaac climb onto his lap, pulling out a small Lego man that happened along for the ride. Danny and Don sit down as well and soon the once quiet area was filled with male chatter; the other three little girls very content to be playing princesses in the other room.
Millie comes up behind Stella when the other three ladies had turned to see an exciting goal and puts her hands on Stella's arms giving them a small squeeze. "Thank you," is all she says before she heads into the other room to see how the three little girls were faring.
Stella walks around the island and stands beside Judy Hawkes. "I don't get the thrill," Judy smirks.
"She'd rather watch Tiger Woods," Sheldon pipes up.
"Not anymore," Judy groans and the room breaks into soft laughter once more.
"Oh right then what's that basket ball players name?" Sheldon winks at his wife.
Stella watches a Isaac's little Lego man starts to walk up Mac's resting hand, up his arm and then rest on his shoulder, Isaac talking to Mac in soft words the entire time. Her son really didn't care about the hockey game or whatever else was on the TV for that matter, he cared about the warm looks of affection and attention he was getting from the man he was so taken with.
Mac would softly talk back to the little man, making her son's eyes sparkle and his smile to widen before he'd continue his story. Stella didn't have to look around to know that everyone else in that room was very well aware of the growing attraction not only between the two single adults but also between Mac and her children. It was something they were all pulling for but were not about to audibly voice right now.
"Okay so who wants to do the honors?" Millie comes out with a plate of steaks, the last items to be cooked before dinner would be served.
"I'll do it," Flack volunteers.
"Mac you have insurance right?" Sheldon teases.
"Well Dr. Hawkes since you are you know used to working with…" Flack's voice trails off as he gets an odd look from Jessica and the room erupts into laughter again.
"Raw meat?" Danny laughs.
"Yeah okay so…"
"I'll help him," Jessica just shakes her head and the two head toward the door.
"They just want to be alone in the dark," Danny teases his friend.
"Why in the dark?" Isaac looks up at Mac and suddenly asks, forcing Mac to look down at the young child in his lap and then frown.
"They um…" he stammers as the room falls silent.
"No pressure Mac," Danny pokes his side.
"Yeah thanks Danny."
"It helps the steaks to cook better sweetie," Stella rescues Mac, garnering a thankful smile and nod in return.
"Okay," Isaac shrugs and then goes back to playing with his little Lego man on the multi-button remote.
"Mum's always know best," Lindsay smiles at Stella, Millie nodding in the background.
Once the steaks were done, the little girls were called and a small table was set up for the children to eat at and they were of course served first. The adults would sit wherever they wanted. Since they didn't want to put pressure on Mac to be forced to sit beside Stella, although he wouldn't have minded, the adults were able to fill their plates and sit wherever they wanted. But as nature dictated the couples tended to gravitate toward each other leaving Mac and Stella to a couch on their own, with Millie on a chair beside them.
The friendly chatter continued through the casual dinner time, the guests each getting up when they wanted, going back for seconds of food or drink and then when finished, putting their plates into the dishwasher and waiting for dessert and coffee.
"Mummy can we play hide and seek?" Lucy comes and asks Lindsay as the adults wait for the coffee to arrive. Both Stella and Judy stop their conversations and watch their children file in behind Lucy Messer, who was rather impatiently awaiting an answer.
"Well sweetie, this isn't my home so you'll have to ask Mac. But if he says no then its no, okay?"
"Uh huh," Lucy agrees as she then looks over at Mac who is still sitting beside Stella on the couch, a respectable distance between them. "Uncle Mac can we please play hide and seek?"
"Sure but only up here," Mac tells them.
"Okay," Lucy says as she turns to the other three and off they go, rushing to the far end of the room to figure out their plan. Isaac had to count first as he was the only boy; but he was game and so turned around and started to count while the three little girls went to hide. All the adults pause in their conversation as the three girls finally find places to stuff themselves into and then Isaac turns around and races toward them.
Lindsay looks over at Danny who is about to give one of the girls away and gives his leg a small pinch.
"He's the only boy," Danny groans with a laugh as he sinks back into his chair. "Blame Sheldon, he was supposed to have a boy."
"Me?" Sheldon laughs in return. "Hey it wasn't my mother who told me what moves to use to make a girl."
"Ah you got that move from me," Danny boasts.
"I guess so, we both had girls," Judy pipes up and the conversation is up once again, leaving the four kids to their friendly game. A few minutes later, it's Belle's turn to garner some attention from Mac as she rushes up to him and whispers into his ear, prompting him to slightly move over and hide her behind his frame behind the couch.
"Mac's playing favorites," Flack teases Danny.
"It's his house, he's allowed," Millie pipes up and Flack and Danny just look at each other and laugh. Kara comes running into the room looking for Isabella but Mac doesn't budge and a few moments later Kara runs off in the opposite direction.
"You know Mac next time you need a band-aide, Sheldon might be busy," Danny ribs his friend.
But Mac didn't care especially when Isabella exited her spot and kisses him on the cheek and then runs off with a smile; drawing a silent aww from his mother and a skipped heart beat from Stella. Both her children had taken to Mac more than she thought they would. Mac looks over at her and smiles, a small gesture that was lost on the chattering crowd around them but the meaning not lost on the two people now sharing the very emotional connection.
"I think you got bigger problems Sheldon," Danny pokes his friend as both of them look at Isaac who had Lucy on one side and Kara on the other; Belle now sitting on Mac's lap and showing him her dolly.
"Yeah poor guy surrounded by all those girls," Flack chuckles.
"I think he likes it," Mac mentions softly, pulling Stella's eyes to him. Stella's gaze remains locked with Mac's and her mind finally comes up with an idea of how to thank him personally for the amazing day he provided her with. I just hope he says yes.
A/N: So how did you like the team interaction? Think their pasts will darken their future at all? And what is Stella's idea for thanking Mac for all he's done so far? Hope you are still liking this and thanks for reading. Please leave me a review before you go :D