Disclaimer: CSI:NY does NOT belong to me. The only characters that belong to me are Alexis and Emma. And this is a slightly AU story. Hope that's not a problem with anyone. And I hope people like this story!

Spoilers: None…maybe borrowed concepts, but that's about it!

Summary: What do we get when we give Detective Mac Taylor a niece? A little drama but mostly a whole lot of fun!

Chapter 3:

That evening, Mac took Stella, Alexis and baby Emma out to dinner. Alexis confessed to her uncle about adding forensics science to her major. That sent him into a rant. He didn't want his niece involved in something that was as dangerous as their job.

"But Uncle Mac!" Alexis whined. "I want to do this!" she took a sip of her water and set the glass back on the table.

"I don't want you getting hurt, or worse, killed while doing your job," he said calmly. "What's wrong with piano performance?"

"Nothing, I just admire the work that you and Stella do and I wanted to be included," she said already sounding defeated. She pushed the food around on her plate before speaking up again. Flicking her eyes to her uncle's, she studied him for a minute. "Uncle Mac, when I graduated high school, my parents tried to get me to stay at home in Chicago and just go to a community college."

"I told them no. I wanted to pursue music at Julliard so I went to one of the top music schools in Chicago until I got an audition for Julliard. Look where it got me! I'm here, aren't I? I made it!" she glanced at Stella before continuing. "And I'd like to add forensic science to my career, I know I can do it so please don't discourage me." She stopped her speech to collect her thoughts and give her uncle a chance to speak his mind.

Mac sighed and leaned forward. "Lex, I love you as if you were my own daughter. That's why it would hurt to see you in danger if you were to become a CSI like us. I really don't want to see you killed." He paused. "But, if this is what you want to do, then go ahead and do it. But don't be afraid to ask for help from me or the rest of the team, they'll be happy to help as well."

Alexis grinned. "Thanks Uncle Mac!" She glanced over at Stella who winked at her and checked on the bottle that she was feeding to Emma.

Mac shook his head and rested his elbows on the table and looked down at Emma. "She's such a cute baby. Why would anyone want her to die?" he mused. He grinned at the baby's antics.

Stella knowing it was rhetorical shrugged anyway. "So will you help me with the adoption stuff?" she wondered.

"Of course," Mac stated. "Maybe we could even adopt her together?"

Stella looked at him in surprise. "You'd do that?"

"So soon?" Alexis added staring at her uncle. She never imagined this side of him would ever show again.

"I think I would. And Lex," he said, looking at his niece, "would it be okay if I just put you under the care of me as if I were your father?"

"Isn't that adoption?" she asked.

"Not really since you are technically an adult," he stated. He leaned back slightly and watched Emma play on Stella's lap. "I just want to make sure I'm your legal guardian while you're in school. That way if you need a co-signature on a loan or anything, they won't question anything."

Alexis thought about it for a moment. "That'll work. Do I need to start calling you dad now?" she teased.

Mac rolled his eyes and threw his wadded up napkin at her. "If you feel the need to. It won't bother me either way."

Emma made some baby noises and held her arms out towards Mac who smiled as he took her in his arms. He raised her above his head and brought her down close before making her fly back up again. He played that with her for a few more minutes before settling her in his lap. Emma cuddled up against him, resting her head against his chest and closed her eyes.

"I think she's taken with you," Stella commented with a grin.

Mac laughed. "I guess so. But don't you think she's too young?" he teased back.

They all laughed at that as the conversation settled into more mundane topics and eventually they came across the topic of Alexis's Today Show debut next week. "Stell, you are still planning to come stay with us, right?" Alexis asked, just making sure.

"Yes, I'm still planning on that. We need to stop by my place tonight so I can grab some stuff though," Stella mentioned.

Mac handed Emma back to Stella who had finished putting the bottle away and packed up the baby's bag. He took out his wallet and threw some cash on the table for their dinner. "Let's go then!" he said, holding his hand out for Stella.

She took it with a smile and didn't let go as they headed outside with Alexis on the other side of Mac who wrapped his arm around her shoulders. "What orphanage did you grow up in, Stella?"

"St. Basil's Orphanage," Stella replied. "I had good times and bad."

Alexis giggled. "What kind of bad times?"

Stella shot her a look. "Times that don't concern you. I don't want to plant ideas in your head."

Alexis rolled her eyes, "I'm 19. I don't think I'd do that kind of stuff anymore."

They walked along in silence until they reached Stella's apartment. Stella handed Emma over to Mac and climbed up the stairs to the front door. "I'll be right back," she told them.

"Do you want some help?" Alexis offered.

"Nah, I've got it," Stella declined. She disappeared inside and returned twenty minutes later with a duffel bag.

"Is that it?" Mac asked. "That's all you want to bring?" he gestured to the duffle.

Stella laughed. "It's a pretty big duffel, Mac." She shouldered the bag waving off Mac's hand, but allowed Alexis to take the diaper bag.

"This is exciting!" Alexis gushed. "I can't believe how quickly I've gained another family."

Mac and Stella smiled at the young woman. "I can't believe how long it had been since we had seen each other last," Mac said somewhat dejectedly. "What kind of uncle am I?"

"A great one," Alexis said gently. "At least you still wrote, every now and then," she offered. "I just can't believe no one told me about Aunt Claire," she replied sadly.

"Hey," Mac nudged her gently. "It's okay. She knows you loved her."

Alexis smiled softly and followed the couple as Mac led them up his street and into his building. Mac led them through the security door and stopped by his mailbox, grabbing the random envelopes inside. Stella continued up the stairs while Alexis followed behind her. Mac met them at the door and unlocked it.

Once inside, Alexis dumped the baby's bag in her room and pointed to her uncle's room with a smirk. Stella blushed but shook her head. "I'll ask him where I should put it," she whispered.

Mac exited the kitchen and adjusted Emma to his other hip. "Lex, do you mind if Emma shares your bed tonight?"

"Not a problem," Alexis replied as she made herself comfortable on the couch.

"We'll go shopping for her tomorrow," Mac told the girls. He made Emma 'fly' over to Alexis and left her to watch the baby. He looked over at Stella who was still standing nervously by the dining table.

He chuckled and took her bag from her. "You can share my bed," he whispered with a wink.

Stella blushed. "You really have come out of your shell, haven't you?"

Mac grinned and led the way to his room. "Okay," he set her bag at the foot of the bed, "my bathroom is over there and fresh towels are in the hall closet, but I'll get those for you." He led the way back out into the hall. "This is Lexi's room and Emma's for now. This is my office," he said pointing to a cluttered room.

"Wow," Stella teased. "You sure are organized.

Mac shoved her playfully. "I'm thinking maybe we can turn it into a nursery for Emma until things are settled."

"That'll be great," Stella commented. "I know Alexis might appreciate that."

They chuckled as they headed back into the living room to join the other girls. They spent the rest of the evening sharing various stories from their memories.

"Mac, I notice you call Alexis by a variety of nicknames," Stella commented.

Alexis and Mac laughed. "It's been that way since I was four," Alexis recalled. "I've been Alex, Lex, Lexi, Kiddo…all kinds of names. All nice of course," she remarked.

Mac leaned back against the couch and sighed contentedly.

"You can call me whichever you want," Alexis offered to Stella.

Stella grinned. "I think I like Kiddo," she teased. They all laughed before Stella continued. "I'll just call you Lexi."

"I don't mind Kiddo as long as it's only from you guys or the rest of the team," Alexis commented. She shrugged. "Makes me feel," she paused to gather her thoughts. "I don't know, I can't really explain it!" she chuckled.

"Makes you feel special?" Mac asked gently.

Alexis nodded. "Yeah, something like that." She glanced down at the glass of juice she held. "Makes me feel like I belong to someone and somewhere," she whispered nostalgically.