Thanks so much for all your lovely feedback! This one has been in my head for a while, it just took me a while to get the set up right. It takes place a few weeks after the quarantine episode and is slightly AU, as Mac and Desi did break up after the season 4 finale in this version of the events. Enjoy!

Quarantine + Neighbor + Prom

"When did you order pizza?" Riley asks, the tempting scent of melted cheese luring her into the kitchen.

"I didn't, this pizza is a preemptive apology from our neighbor." Mac explains, pulling plates and napkins out of a cupboard.

"A what now?"

"You know Brandon? The kid who lives next door?"

Riley nods.

"Well, tonight would have been his senior prom and his band was supposed to play. But since their prom got cancelled due to covid, the band is streaming their gig live from Brandon's backyard – six feet apart of course."

"So we're getting free pizza and a concert? Bozer picked the wrong night to see a drive in movie."

"Or the right one," Mac replies with a wink.

She raises a brow, not entirely sure what to make of his response. Of course she noticed how their dynamic had changed over the last few weeks: The lingering looks, the way he would invite her to cuddle up to him during movie nights, and not to forget the time Bozer threw a pillow at Mac's head for checking her out just a moment too long when she was doing yoga in the living room on a rainy day. Still, this was Mac, her best friend, and she can't tell if he actually has feelings for her or if all of this is just a perfectly normal response to being stuck in the house together …but then again, Mac never had to throw anything at Bozer.

"I mean, we didn't hear them play yet," he diffuses his statement, leaving her even more at a loss.

"Right," she nods, watching him take the pizza and plates outside before she grabs a couple of beers from the fridge and follows him.

xoxo

"Do you think we can call in a request?" Riley jokes. They're eating by the fire pit, enjoying the impromptu concert and the entertainment it provides. The band isn't perfect, but it's live music – and as endearing as Mac's song writing attempts on the ukulele are, they both know that he shouldn't quit his day job.

"Got any favorites from your own prom that you want to revisit?" Mac asks, trying to imagine a teenage Riley dancing with her friends in a gym.

"I actually never went to prom," she admits, taking a sip.

"Neither did I."

"How could I forget, Darlene Martin shot you down but it was ok because you didn't even want to go in the first place," she teases.

"What's your excuse? Did Jack scare your date away?" He jokes, oblivious to the nerve he's about to hit.

"That would have required someone asking me."

"Sorry Riles, I didn't mean to…"

"Don't worry about it, it wasn't exactly my scene," she shrugs, earning a knowing look from Mac.

"But at least I didn't get turned down," she continues. "That must have sucked."

"It did," he admits. "I guess, I just asked the wrong girl." They share another look, just as the band breaks up their set of originals with a cover of a familiar tune…

"I love this song," they both say in unison.

"Of course…" Riley laughs.

"It's about astronomy," Mac adds.

"It's really not…" she starts, ready to get into a discussion about the lyrics when he suddenly gets up and offers her a hand.

"Miss Davis, would you like this dance?"

"You're so cheesy," she laughs it off, but then she looks up at him and realizes that he means it. He's actually asking her to dance on his deck to a 20 year old song to make up for the prom experience they both missed out on. Only Mac.

"Come on, don't turn me down. We just established how much that sucks," he pleads.

She smiles and takes his hand, letting him lead her onto the makeshift dance floor where they fall into rhythm.

She rests her head on his shoulder as they sway to the music, their bodies in perfect alignment.

"This isn't so bad," she jokes.

"Mhmm, I guess I finally asked the right one…" he murmurs, and Riley swears she can feel his lips brush against her temple.

"You would have been an amazing prom date," she lifts her face, bringing it close to his.

"Ditto," he smiles, and she pretends not to notice that his eyes are focussed on her mouth.

"What are you doing?" She breathes as his fingers travel up and down her spine, making her shiver despite the heat that's building between them.

"Dancing," he eventually rests his hands on her hips, brushing his thumbs over the sliver of exposed skin above the waistband of her shorts.

She looks at him, eyes narrowed as all her questions about their changing relationship rush back into her mind. "Only dancing?"

"Would..." he blushes, backing away a little. "Would it be ok if it turned into more?"

The hope in his eyes makes it abundantly clear that this isn't just a response to being stuck in the house together.

"I'm no expert," she leans in, speaking, no breathing, the words directly into his ear. "But I think that's part of the whole prom experience…"

He breaks their embrace and spins her around, just to pull her in even closer.

She laughs, collapsing into his arms. And then the music stops.

"I think that was the last dance…" She whispers, feeling his accelerated heartbeat against her chest – her own responding accordingly.

It's Mac who leans in first, but Riley's the one to deepen the kiss. He runs his fingers through her hair and finds the curve of her neck, keeping his other hand on the small of her back while their mouths move against each other. She arches her back, melting into him when…

"I knew I should have gone for the double feature!"

They jump apart at the sound of Bozer's voice.

"Bozer!" Riley's the first to regain composure. "We were just… it's Brandon's prom and we got a little carried away."

"Yeah, the band played that song we like…" Mac added.

"What band? Brandon from next door? What is…" Bozer's eyes drift back and forth between Riley and Mac, but then he decides that this isn't the time for an interrogation.

"You know what, I'm just gonna go to bed. Have fun, be safe... and guys?" He pauses, giving them the sternest look he can muster before excitement takes over. "It's about damn time!"

He surprises them both with a quick hug and is gone before either of them can stop him.

"So, I think Bozer approves," Mac laughs after taking a moment to process what just happened.

"Well he didn't throw anything at you," Riley wraps her arms around his waist and looks up at him with a teasing gleam in her eyes

"You saw that?" He blushes. "Why didn't you say anything?"

"I wasn't sure what it meant," she answers truthfully.

"But you are now?" He's gently rubbing her arms, leaving a trail of goosebumps behind.

"Hmm, I think it might take a few more dances…"

"I think that can be arranged..." Mac leans in for a kiss when the music picks up again, but this time it's coming from a speaker. "Bozer's spying on us, isn't he?" He asks.

"Yup," Riley replies when Bozer gives her a thumbs up and gestures towards the bluetooth speaker he just set down on the side table by the stairs before he's gone again.

"Where were we?" Mac asks, and Riley picks up right where they left – making a mental note to thank Brandon in the morning.

That's it, I hope you enjoyed it! The idea is inspired by the song "Prom Night" by the Midnight... That is, however, not the song they're dancing to. Extra points for whoever guesses that one.

And please check out the SaveMacGyver website and help to bring the show back!

Love,

Laura