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 6:

Alexis looked up at her uncle. "So," she started casually, "do you guys have something to tell us?"

Mac glanced at Stella and nodded. "Go ahead," he prompted.

Alexis whipped around to look at Stella. She searched her left hand for a ring and saw something glinting in the light. "You said yes!" she exclaimed in acknowledgement.

Stella grinned and nodded. "I did. We're getting married!" she laughed.

Emma sat forward, clapping her hands, even though she really didn't understand the concept. She watched as Alexis leaned over and hugged Stella tightly. "Now you get to be my aunt!" the older girl said happily.

"Mommy!" Emma shouted, demanding Stella's attention. When she had her mommy's attention, she asked, "Wha?"

All three adults laughed gently as Stella got up and sat next to Mac, pulling Emma into her lap. "Sweetie, daddy and I are going to get married and we'll be together forever."

Emma nodded. "Oh!" She hugged her mommy tightly and then crawled back into her daddy's lap so she could get comfortable again. Once she did so, she sighed and stuck her thumb in her mouth.

"No thumb, Em," Mac told her gently, pulling her thumb out.

"Why?" the little girl asked cutely.

"Because it's bad for your teeth," Stella stated, returning to the floor next to Alexis.

"Why?" Emma asked again.

Mac and Stella laughed. "We already told you, cutie," Mac answered. "I think it's time for you to go to bed now."

Stella looked at the clock and nodded. "Yep. Let's go take a bath!" she stood and held her hand out for Emma to grasp on to.

The little girl jumped off her daddy's lap with Stella's help and started walking up the stairs. She looked back and called for Alexis. "Lexi! Come!"

Alexis glanced at her uncle. "Guess I'll come relax with you after her bath."

Mac chuckled as he watched his three girls retreat up the staircase. Sighing, he rested his head on the back of the couch and ran his fingers through his hair. Since when was his life so easy-going? Closing his eyes, he dozed a bit until he felt, rather than saw, Stella's presence. "Hey," he greeted.

She smiled as she crossed the room to meet him on the couch. "How did you know it was me?" she asked.

"Instinct," he teased, taking her hand in his and linking their fingers.

"I see," she nodded, going along with the teasing. "Lex said she'd take care of Emma's bath for me."

He nodded once in acknowledgement. "She's always helpful." He finally opened his eyes. "Everything okay with you?" he asked in concern.

"Mmm? Oh yeah," she answered. "I'm good. Just thinking about Danny."

Mac sat up a little straighter. "Oh really? Should I leave you and your thoughts alone?" he teased.

Stella laughed and shoved him. "Shut up. What I mean, is, that he was acting kinda weird today and I was wondering if it had something to do with him and Aiden."

"You've noticed it too?" Mac wondered. "I think they've gotten close too." He stood up and pulled her with him. "Want some tea?"

"Please," she accepted, following him into the kitchen. "I'll take peppermint."

He nodded as he filled the teapot and set on the stove top, setting the burner to an appropriate setting. He then took a couple of teabags out of some boxes and placed them in two mugs.

They sat in a comfortable silence while waiting for the teapot to whistle. Alexis came downstairs with Emma in her arms to bid her mommy and daddy goodnight. "Night," she said sweetly, leaning over to kiss them on their cheeks.

"Goodnight, sweetie," Stella said sweetly. Looking up at Alexis, she asked, "Are you okay with putting her to bed?"

Alexis nodded reassuringly. "Absolutely." She glanced between her uncle and Stella. "You two seem like you have something to talk about."

Mac chuckled slightly. "Only some work stuff, not too serious. Don't worry," he reassured her.

She grinned. "Don't think too hard now," she teased. She adjusted Emma in her arms and had her say goodnight one last time before they headed back up the stairs. She pushed Emma's door open and stepped inside. "Goodnight kiddo," she smiled.

Emma grinned back and stated her goodnight as Alexis laid her in the crib. She flopped onto her back and stuck her thumb in her mouth, watching as the older girl covered her with a light blanket.

Alexis ran her fingers gently over Emma's soft hair and leaned down to kiss her. "Sleep well," she whispered.

Upon entering the kitchen again, she found the same scene only this time completed with cups of steaming tea. "May I join you guys?" she asked as she grabbed herself a mug.

"Sure kiddo, go ahead," Mac answered, standing up and pulling out a chair for his niece. He stood behind it while waiting for her to fill her mug and plop a tea bag in it.

Stella took a cautious sip of her tea. "What are all your friends doing for vacation?" she asked, taking another sip.

Alexis glanced up from stirring a packet of Splenda in. "Oh, some are going home…some are staying at the dorms, and I think a couple are going on family cruises," she answered. She shook her head and laughed slightly, "I don't think I could do a cruise at Christmastime. I love this time of year too much."

Mac chuckled. "Well, it's not for everyone." He took a long sip from his mug. "This hits the spot," he sighed.

Alexis laughed at her uncle. "Okay," she said, shrugging. Lifting her mug to her lips, she grinned at Stella who winked in reply.

"Mac," Stella started, "I think that the girls and I are going to do some more Christmas shopping tomorrow."

He groaned. "Don't you think you got enough already?" he teased.

Stella leaned over and slapped his arm. "Maybe we're going shopping for someone else. There are others I'm getting gifts for, ya know."

He laughed. "I know. Are you sure you want to take Emma though? I could take her to daycare tomorrow and have her hang out with me at work."

Stella looked at Alexis who shrugged with indifference. "I don't care what happens," Alexis stated. "Em can come or she can stay with Uncle Mac." She took a few more sips. "You guys are her parents so you can decide."

Mac rolled his eyes at his niece. "Thank you Captain Obvious." He drained his mug and stood. "She can come with me to work tomorrow. Aiden will love to play with her at her lunchtime anyway."

They all laughed as they carried their empty mugs to the sink and rinsed them out. The three of them returned to the living room and settled into respective spots on the couch and recliner. Stella lifted a thick novel and opened it to the last page she had been reading. Mac had a few files from work that he was flicking through and Alexis turned on the TV, surfing through the channels before finding a rerun of NCIS and settling on that.