A/N: I finished this one up this afternoon and wanted to get it posted before I headed off on my little mini-vacation to Manhattan this weekend (I'm so excited! lol). It's going to be cold, but it'll be worth it. And with any luck, I'll come back with lots of ideas for Mac and Stella ;)

As always, enjoy!

"You sure you want to do this?" she asked, suddenly wondering if she had pushed him faster than he was ready to go.

They stood in front of the movie theater together after work, attempting to go on their first date, nervous and afraid of messing up the one relationship in their lives that had always been right.

Mac nodded. "I kissed you, didn't I?" he replied with a shy smile.

Stella returned the smile, remembering how it had felt to finally feel his lips on hers. Then she became serious again. "That was once, almost a week ago, and you haven't done it since." She sighed and took his hand in both of hers. "I just want to make sure this is what you want, that you aren't doing it because it's what I want."

He leaned down and gently captured her mouth with his. "This is what I want," he smiled as he pulled away.

Stella found herself a tiny bit lightheaded, and grinned happily as the tingly feeling she had begun to associate with him passed through her body. "Well who am I to argue, then?" she giggled.

He chuckled and squeezed her hand, escorting her into the theater and over to the ticket line. They leaned against each other as they discussed what to see, deciding against the latest horror movie or the newest action film.

"How about that one?" Mac asked, pointing to the poster of a sweet-looking romantic comedy.

Stella laughed. "Mr. Marine-turned-NYPD-Detective wants to go see a chick flick?"

"Yeah," he replied, trying to keep the smile from his face as he defended himself. "No blood, no screaming victims, no on-the-edge-of-your-seat moments…just a nice relaxing date movie."

"Won't you be bored?"

He released her hand and slid his arm around her waist. "Not with you."

She giggled again girlishly, resting her head against his shoulder as they continued to wait in line, marveling at how the word 'cute' suddenly seemed to describe him perfectly.

Several minutes later they were finally seated in the theater, ticket stubs in their pockets, popcorn situated between them, holding hands again like timid teenagers. The house lights dimmed as the previews flickered across the projection screen, and Stella glanced over at Mac out of the corner of her eye. He looked so handsome, so happy, and she couldn't help but smile again as she leaned over and pecked his cheek softly.

Mac smiled shyly at her kiss, decidedly thankful for the darkness when he felt an embarrassed warmth creeping up his neck and into his face. A mixture of emotions flowed through him, the embarrassment blending with happiness and guilt as he discreetly studied Stella's profile. His heart actually ached as he sat beside her in the theater, loving her more than he had thought he would ever love a woman again, all the while missing Claire just as intensely.

Stella noticed the conflict playing out on his features, his forehead wrinkled in thought that had nothing to do with the movie. A memory floated through her mind of a story he had once told her, of his first date with Claire. They had gone to the movies as well, and Stella knew it had to be hard for him to sit with her now, no matter how he felt about her. She squeezed his hand gently and rubbed his arm, speaking to him without words as she often did, letting him know that she was there to help him through the transition.

Mac squeezed her hand back appreciatively, the pain on his face breaking long enough to reveal another small smile. If he had been out with any other women he'd have already left the theater, unwilling to deal with the feelings and memories that this new relationship was dredging up. But it was different with Stella. He would do anything for her, including this. It might not work, they might not get happily ever after together, but for Stella he had to try.

When the movie ended the pair rose from their seats, and Stella allowed Mac to help her with her coat, trying to suppress another girlish giggle. They strolled slowly out of the theater to the car, holding hands, brushing fingers across cheeks, taking each other's arms, maintaining some form of bodily contact as they moved.

The uncertainty was still evident in Mac's eyes and Stella once again worried that she may have pushed him too fast, despite the tender touches. When they arrived at her building, he walked her up to her apartment and allowed her to pull him inside, not wanting to say his good-byes in the hallway. The two stood together, gazing at each other with clasped hands, each trying to read the other's expression.

"I had a good time tonight," Stella smiled softly, delivering the classic end-of-date line.

Mac mirrored her smile. "Me too," he replied. He brushed a curl of hair back from her face and leaned in, but hesitated, guilt edging into his consciousness once again.

She rested her forehead against his and ran a hand over his face. "It's okay, Mac," she whispered. "If you're not ready, you don't have to…"

"We had this discussion," he chided quietly, some of the old twinkle returning to his eyes. "This is what I want, too."

He pushed the guilt away and bridged the space between them, his lips finding hers in a warm kiss. It wasn't deep or passionate or long, but it was theirs. And that, at least for the moment, was all they needed.