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 9-A week later-
Stella groaned as she slowly stood up from the couch. She shuffled her way to the kitchen to grab herself a drink.
"Stella!" Mac reprimanded. "You aren't supposed to be moving around," he said sternly.
She sighed, knowing she had been caught. "But I'm so bored! I'd rather just get up and do things myself," she whined.
Mac smirked. "Guess that means you'll just have to rely on me more." He grabbed a water bottle from the fridge, passed it to her and helped her back to the couch. "Sit," he commanded. He pulled her legs up gently so they were horizontal with the couch. "Stay," he said, tossing a light blanket over her. "Do you want a book or a magazine?" he asked, smoothing her hair back.
"Umm, I think I was reading one of Nicholas Sparks' books. It's upstairs, on my nightstand," she answered. "Thanks!" she called out since he was already heading upstairs.
Upon his return, he handed the book over and headed back into the kitchen to finish making dinner. "Well, Emma, mommy's sure stubborn," he joked with their daughter.
Emma giggled and watched her daddy with rapt attention. "Dada? Jus?" she asked, holding up her sippy cup.
Mac grinned and dropped a kiss to her head as he took the sippy cup out of her hands. "Here ya go!" he announced a few seconds later. After making sure the lid was on tight, he returned the cup to her waiting hands.
Emma plopped down on the kitchen floor and started slurping her juice noisily. "Lexi?" she asked, dropping the sippy cup to her lap.
"Lexi isn't home right now. She's back at her apartment and at school," Mac explained cheerfully. "She'll probably come and spend the weekend with us though."
Emma giggled again and promptly stuck the cup back into her mouth and resumed her drinking. Soon, she got bored watching Daddy cook, so she pushed herself off the floor and toddled into the living room to find Mommy.
"Mama," Emma began. "Jus," she offered, holding her cup out to Stella.
Stella grinned. "Hi baby girl. No thank you. You drink it," she said, gently pushing the cup back in her direction.
"Up, mama," Emma requested. She squatted down to place her sippy cup on the floor and then straightened to hold her arms out to Stella.
"You're gonna have to help mommy get you up here," Stella said, gritting her teeth through the slight pain she felt still.
"Stella," Mac warned from the kitchen doorway. "What did the doctor say about lifting?"
"He said not to do it?" she responded sarcastically.
Mac rolled his eyes and came to her rescue. "Here," he said softly. He gently placed the toddler on her lap and Emma immediately snuggled up to Stella and held her hand out in a silent request for Daddy to hand over the sippy cup that was forgotten on the floor.
He handed it over with a smile and left his two girls with a kiss on their foreheads and again, returned to dinner. Half an hour later, he announced dinner as he entered the room to assist Stella. "Easy now," he said, helping her shuffle to the table.
After they ate, Mac assisted Stella with a bubble bath while he bathed their daughter in the front bathroom. He made her giggle with the bubbles he put on his face and on her head.
"Dada!" she squealed, reaching out for him. "All done!"
Mac chuckled and wiped the bubbles from his face and rinsed her hair. "Okay sweetie." He reached behind him and grabbed the towel that was tossed on the closed toilet. "Here we go." He had her stand carefully, wrapped her in the large, fluffy towel and swept her into his arms.
Once she was dried and dressed, they made their way into the master bedroom where they discovered Stella reading on the bed. "Hey you guys," she greeted, sticking her finger to mark her place. "You ready for bed?" she asked Emma.
"Yes! Night mama," she said, leaning out of Mac's grasp and reaching for Stella.
Stella accepted the toddler into her arms and squeezed her tightly. "Mmm, I love you!" she declared.
"Wuv you," Emma returned sweetly. She leaned up and kissed her mommy on the cheek.
Mac stood their grinning proudly as he lifted Emma into her arms. "You two are just too cute," he stated.
Stella laughed. "Go put her to bed and then you can join me," she directed slyly.
He shook his head. "Nope! Not until you get the all-clear from your doctor!" he sang as he walked out of the bedroom.
She smiled to herself as she picked the book up and began where she left off. Before she knew it, she was snoring gently from the pain meds they prescribed. Mac returned from the nursery and laughed softly to himself. Shaking his head, he lifted the book off her lap and set it on the nightstand. He pulled Stella down gently so that she was resting on her pillows and joined her in bed.
A/N: I apologize for how long it's been…it's taken awhile for my muse to return. Now I need to find my muse for my NCIS story and my SVU one. sheepish smile Anyway…I'm also sorry that it's short but I felt really bad that it's taken me this long. That and the fact that someone sent me a message begging me to update. Hehehe Well, hope you enjoyed!