A/N: I know, I know…. It's been a month but recent spoilers about season 3 made me think about the convenience of continuing this fic…. But after all, this is fiction, isn't it? So I've made this world mine. And …. I want to know how they end.

Chapter 6: Rest in pieces

Look at me… my deep perception must be off again

'cause this hurts deeper than I thought it then

It has not healed with time

It just shot down my spine.

You look so beautiful tonight

Reminds me how you laid us down

In gently smiles …

Before you destroyed my life.

( Rest in pieces – Saliva )

Strange looks were on the faces of the people that surrounded Stella. That news were like a bomb. She looked at them searching understanding and support but all she could see was her friends' astonishment. Danny was the first to say something.

"When? Who? How? … I mean I know how babies are made but… how?"

"Nearly three months ago. One night-stand. How? … I think it's obvious." It wasn't the whole truth but she hadn't lied.

"Three months ago I was at the hospital…" Flack observed.

"Yes."

"Sorry but I don't get it…" Danny said.

Stella looked at them. Sure they were her friends but they were men and it would be a lot more difficult to make them understand women also had one-night stands. They were on the 21st century but still, some things, hadn't changed so much.

"It's easy to understand Danny. I made love with someone and obviously our "protection" didn't work well enough. Come on Danny! You're not that hard".

"Do we know the father?" Flack asked.

That was the hardest question. And she was going to be asked it a lot. She could have said the truth but she was too resented with Mac to tell it. He had made it clear. Their night together had been a mistake, then, the baby was a mistake too. Plus, now he was with Lindsay.

"Stella…" Flack said again.

She closed her eyes finding it difficult to lie to her friends but knowing it was the right thing to do.

"No. I met him in a bar. We were together only once. I don't even know his full name."

"Are you goin' to tell him?" Danny asked

"No. That night was a mistake. It was only sex not the start of a relationship and I couldn't find him even if I would."

"So… you're goin' to be a mom?" Hawkes asked.

"Yeah…" Stella answered him smiling.

"Then… Congratulations are in order".

Hawkes stood up and went to where Stella was to hug her. He knew something was wrong in Stella's story but didn't want to pressure her at all. One by one, they all three hugged Stella and wished her all the best.

"Stel… Are we goin' to have a nephew or a niece?" Danny asked.

"It's too early to know it Danny boy but, I'm sure you all will make great uncles".

And finally they all breathed again and laughed.

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Sitting on her lab, studying the pics of her most recent crime scene, she couldn't help but to observe them together. They were flirting, laughing, sharing confidences and probably they were very involved by now. She could have been Lindsay.

Since they had first met, she had felt something for him. Sure, it wasn't love at first and even if it had been, she wouldn't have done anything about it because he was already with Claire. But with the years, that strange feeling from the first time had turned into a deep friendship and love. She enjoyed their moments together and gathered them in her memory only to replay them later at home. And she had done it too even while she was in a relationship with someone else.

Then, on a September morning, Claire died and their worlds were turned upside down. She spent with Mac the darkest hours and helped him through all the process forgetting about her feelings for a while. Friendship was, then, more important.

They say that time heals everything. Five years later, things were slowly going back to normal and her love for him surfaced again. Finally, they had their night together. But the morning hadn't been what Stella had dreamt about.

"Stella…"

"Yes" she said lifting her face from the microscope.

"I want to talk to you."

"Sure. I'll meet you later" she answered returning to the microscope.

"Now. It's important. It's something about what I've been told recently that involves you…"

It was obvious what he wanted to talk about.