Penelope and Mac enjoyed lunch by the boardwalk. After many weeks of being apart it was nice to have a conversation face to face. Mac had missed Penelope more than he was willing to admit to her, knowing that she would only worry about him.

"So…" She prompted.
"So???" he mirrored,
"Mackenzie Taylor." Penelope warned as he laughed out loud,
"It sure is fun stirring you Mags."
"I miss you too Kenz. Now tell me what's going on with you." She admitted before proceeding to prod,
"I asked Stella out." Penelope's jaw dropped as Mac watched her reaction in amusement
"I take it you approve," He said dryly.
"Ugh, yes. What happened? What did I miss? How long has this been going on?"
"Calm down, we were just hanging out the other day as per usual and I don't know we were sitting at my apartment watching some random old movie, and I was just looking at her and I knew I was ready. I will always love Sarah, and I know that I have always had her blessing, but in my heart I was never ready to let her go, which is why despite what I was feeling for Stella I couldn't pursue it because I didn't want to go into it half heartedly and hurt her in the end, she means too much to me to take that kind of risk with her without knowing for sure you know." Penelope nodded and silently prodded him to go on,

Stella could feel that Mac had a lot on his mind, he had barely said a word all evening, and though they had never had an uncomfortable silence between them she was beginning to worry. She knew that he was missing Penelope, in fact they all were. It just wasn't the same without her, but she sensed it was more than that. She turned and caught him looking at her,

"Mac, are you okay?" she asked worriedly, as he hesitated
"Stell, I want to say something, and I need you to hear me okay."
"Okay," Stella said slowly encouraging him to go on.
"I know we've been dancing around our feelings for years now, well more me than anything. I know you've stood by patiently allowing me to go my own pace, and I really appreciate that. I care about you Stella, I really do. Not only as one of my best friends, but as someone who's in love with you. Throughout the years I've just tried to brush it off because I wasn't ready, and I didn't ever want to do anything to jeopardize our relationship and friendship. When Sarah came into my life, I didn't think it was possible to love anything or anyone outside her. She was my whole world, and when I lost her, it felt like I lost myself. Penelope got me off the ground, and she has been a consistent force in driving me out of that hole I fell in, as you have been. I don't remember a time when you weren't there Stell. I am who I am today because of who you have been in my life. You've not only allowed me to be my own person, but you encouraged and demanded nothing less. You've never pushed but just stood there and let me be. In the last couple of months, watching Pen take a risk in the name of True Love challenged me. I know I love you, I've always known, and I know I've taken my time, and I am hoping I'm not too late, but I really love you Stell and was hoping you'd give this, us a chance." Stella sat there for a moment in a state of shock waiting for her mind to process so she can react appropriately,
"Mac, I don't know what to say." She whispered clearly taken by surprise. Mac cupped her face with his hand as he drew his lips to hers softly but definitively. With tears in her eyes Stella found herself responding to his kiss matching the years of bottled up emotions that bubbled beneath them both.

"Wow…so that's why little Miss has been very evasive and quick on the phone."
"We drew straws on who got to tell you. If she won she would have driven up." Penelope laughed knowing that Stella would be bursting to tell her,
"She's going to tell Liv when they get in next weekend."
"Is she going to last that long?" Penelope asked doubtfully
"Well now that you know it the tally of the people who know just went up to three and you'd be the one she'd want to bounce off to the most so I think she'll be fine."
"Wow. I'm really happy for you Kenz. Stella is great. She brings out the best in you and she allows you to be you. She never pushes, well in an intrusive way."
"She's amazing. I can't believe she's willing to give me a chance."
"She loves you. She would rather wait for you than settle for something less than what she wants. She has always wanted you and she was never going to compromise with that."
"And I am so grateful."
"So she's your reason to drive back early huh?" Penelope asked with a cheeky grin while Mac Taylor blushed,
"Yeah, we're heading to the cabin this weekend."
"Then you have my blessing to leave early Friday so you have time to get ready."
"You sure?" he asked
"Yeah, I'm not one to deny my brother of a romantic weekend with his girlfriend."
"Aww, see that's why I love you," Penelope rolled her eyes and gave him a playful shove with her shoulder. Mac draped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her close, dropping a kiss on her temple.
"I want you to know, this doesn't change anything Mags. We're family and nothing can ever change that."
"I know,"
"But?" he said catching a look in her eye,
"There's just so many changes, with your life and my life, what's to say a day won't come and we're no longer us. I like us Kenz."
"Oh Kiddo, things will inevitably change, and they already have but it doesn't have to be for the worst. You know what you mean to me in my life, and I know my place in yours. Will it become harder, I'm sure it will be, but I don't need to see you and you don't need to see me to know that if you need me, I'm only a phone call away."
"I know, it's silly and it's selfish, but I've been spoiled. I've had you to myself for so many years that even though it's Stella and I love her and can't imagine you being with anyone but her, I just, I'm going to miss you more, if that makes sense?"
"Perfect sense." He said knowingly, and it hit Penelope what he meant.
"I'm sorry if I abandoned you Kenz."
"You never abandoned me Mags. I always knew you were there. Admittedly it was a little different after you were gone, but it forced me to reassess and realise I needed to go after what I want and let go of what I've been so scared to let go of."
"She'd be happy you're moving forward Kenz. Both of them."