MacKenzie had a plan, and when she had a plan it was best for everyone to stay the hell out of her way and let it happen.
It started as a little funny thing— wouldn't it be fun to have a party for the one year anniversary of News Night 2.0. A time where they didn't have to go to the karaoke bar to drink and be merry. Where though? Where could a group of highly respected journalists go to get wasted and celebrate in a safe and respectable manner? And that's when the light bulb went off for MacKenzie. Will's house.
Maggie and Jim raised their eyebrows and smiled in concern. As soon as Mac ran off into the direction of Will's office they shared a knowing look— this could either go really bad or really… better than expected?
As journalists they were naturally curious (not nosy— definitely not nosy), and so Maggie and Jim moved from her desk across the newsroom to Jim who was right by Will's office door. To do work, of course, and not try to listen in on Mac proposing a party at William McAvoy's house for all of the staff that he just learned the names of.
"Billy," MacKenzie said sweetly as she opened the door. She found him writing that night's script— good boy.
He looked up from his yellow legal pad with a smile, good. Will was in a good mood. "Hey Mackie," he said huskier than she had anticipated.
"Mackie?" Her heart grew three sizes as it swelled in joy— he used to call her that in the mornings as they made breakfast and fought over the paper or when they would pass the toothpaste or other little domestic things that flooded her all at once.
Will shrugged, blushing, "Yeah, I am being affable today."
"Good!" She said maybe a little bit too energetic. "Good," Mac tried, calmer.
"Why did you come in here?" Will asked softly, he was truly in a good mood it seemed.
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Jim and Maggie leaned over to try to see better. Maggie, ever the great whisperer, whispered to Jim loudly, "Did you hear him call her Mackie?"
Jim glared at her and waved her off, "Just listen! We can discuss it later!"
Don came over and asked in a normal tone of voice, "What are you two doing?"
Maggie angrily raised her eyebrows at Don and squinted at him. She 'whispered,' "Mac is asking Will if we can throw a party at his house!"
"Oh!" Don sat down in another one of the nearby rolling chairs, joining in on the spectacle.
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"I was talking with Maggie and Jim about how incredible it was that we all had made it through our first year all together…" MacKenzie started explaining.
Will raised his eyebrows in a surprised amusement, but he stayed quiet and let her continue.
"So, to celebrate our accomplishment— We are going to do a party at your house next Saturday night." She said as fast as she possibly could.
"Okay." Will stood up and put his hands in his pockets.
"Okay? Just like that, Billy?" She searched his face for something, anything to tell her what exactly was going on.
"Yes, just like that. We have good kids working for us, and we've managed to not kill each other— let's celebrate!"
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Maggie, in an effort to stay under the radar, was sitting at the desk and every so often leaning back to look in the door. This last time she leaned back, however, she went a little too far too quick and ——
THUD. Went Maggie and the chair. Stuck like a turtle on their back.
Will and MacKenzie ran out of his office— "What the hell, Maggie?" MacKenzie asked.
Jim and Don, both fighting back laughter, went to help her stand up.
Will looked at his staff and shook his head, "This everyone," he gestured around him, "is the media elite."
