Please remember these are one shots and will vary in length, some shorter or longer than others. I was doing it for fun especially to pass time in class (oops). Hope you enjoy

STORY ONE:: "WE REMAIN". BY CHRISTINA AGUILARA

It was a bright and sunny New York City morning. Jo was starting her day off with a cup of delicious hot coffee. Mac had called right before she could pour her coffee to ask her to dinner later that evening. He had made reservations at a new Italian restaurant Jo couldn't stop talking about. They had become "official" two weeks ago after an after work dinner became more than just dinner. They were adults after all. Ellie broke her thought process when her spoon hit the floor.

"See you after school Mama. Enjoy your day off" Ellie called over her shoulder as she grabbed her bags and headed for the door.

"Bye Honey! Love you"

"Love you too!" Ellie said before the front door closed

Jo walked over to her bay window and sat down. She watched as Ellie met her friends and then they all disappeared around the corner off to catch the train to school. Jo kept staring out the window, evaluating her relationship with Mac. They had been friends for a long time, even before her move to NYC. She and Russ used to be friends as well, then look what happened.

All the ways that you think you know me
All the limits that you figured out, limits that you figured out
Had to learn to keep it all below me
Just to keep from being thrown around, just to keep from being thrown around

She had been called stubborn and independent before, she knew she was. She just couldn't help it but guard herself around Mac.

Yeah every single time the wind blows
Every single time the wind blows
I see it in your face (Mmm)

She couldn't lead Mac on while she was battling what had happened in her previous relationship. Mac was totally different in comparison to Russ. All Russ thought about was himself and Mac put everyone ahead of himself, just like she did. They were a match if there ever was one. She was the one who got Mac to walk away from a crime scene, she helped him overcome aphasia, as Don and everyone else told her she brought him back to life, what he used to be like.

In a cold night
There will be no fair fight
There will be no good night
To turn and walk away

So burn me with fire,
Drown me with rain
I'm gonna wake up
Screaming your name

Yes I'm a sinner
Yes I'm a saint
Whatever happens here
Whatever happens here
We remain

Jo quickly snapped herself out of her mini trance and went to go start cleaning the apartment up. She had let everything go the past two weeks and now she regrets it. There was clutter everywhere, she couldn't stand it. Ellie claimed double standard after seeing how cluttered Jo's office was. She figured she better get to it before she had to get ready for dinner.

LATER THAT NIGHT

Mac had arrived promptly at 630 to pick Jo up for their 7:00pm reservation. Jo had thrown on an elegant black LBD with lace trimming on the top and bottom hems of the dress. Mac had a casual suit on BUT without the tie, because that's how Jo liked it.

"You look stunning" Mac exclaimed as Jo let him in while she searched for a clutch to bring with.

"Thank you. You don't look so bad yourself" Jo said grabbing his chin between her thumb and finger.

"Shall we?" Mac said as he opened the door for her

"We shall. I've been dying to try this place!" Jo said kissing his cheek on the way out

Shortly the arrived at the restaurant and were seated.

"What kind of wine would you like tonight?" Mac asked reading over the drink menu

"Whichever you want. I'm not picky" Jo said studying her dinner menu

Mac studied her a moment, she was quiet on the way over. He decided to let it go. Their waiter came over with a bottle of wine and took their order.

Once the waiter left Mac reached his hand across the table and took Jo's. "Something on your mind?" He asked curiously

"No. Not really. How was work?" She said changing the subject to him

He got caught trying to read her. "It was actually kinda slow. Adam was bored stiff, I've never heard him complain so much before!" Mac exclaimed laughing

Jo laughed in return "Did he get a timeout?"

"No. I sent him home so he could take Michelle out"

"That was very nice of you" Jo responded before taking a sip of wine

"Jo, where do you see this going? I want to know what you're thinking before we take this relationship any farther." Mac finally spilled what was on his mind

"What do you mean Mac? We took it THAT far already." Jo said wiggling her eyebrows

Mac blushed. "I mean, do you see us with a future?"

Now we talk about a wasted future
But we take a good look around
Yeah we take a good look around

Yeah we know it, it hasn't been for nothing
'Cause we'll never let it slow us down
No we'll never let it slow us down
(Oh yeah)

"I do see us with a future Mac, but—"

"Here we go" Mac sighed. She always brings up Russ.

"Let's just not talk about this right now ok. Let's enjoy dinner" Jo said noting Mac's annoyance with her answer.

"Fine with me. Wait til you see the desert menu" Mac smirked

Yeah every single time the wind blows
Every single time the wind blows
I see it in your face (Mmm)

In a cold night
There will be no fair fight
There will be no good night
To turn and walk away

After dinner they decided to take a walk through central park since it was a gorgeous evening out. Jo stopped at one of the areas that overlooks the water.

"Look I'm sorry about what happened at dinner. I know you don't like me mentioning Russ" Jo said looking down.

"It's not that I don't like you mentioning Russ, he's always going to be part of your life. What bothers me is how you always have to draw comparison. What he did VS what I do, or who I am. It frustrates me that you need to constantly remind not only me but yourself of what he did. You are so damn guarded it took me this long to date you." Mac said frustrated

"Well gee I'm sorry if I have to constantly remind myself how bad it got with Russ, that I'm always afraid to let this relationship happen! I want this to work, I truly do. I just can't help it, but think it could end just as fast as it started"

"Jo, do you hear yourself? Miss independent that you claim you are wouldn't think this way. Wouldn't let one asshole ruin it for the rest of us decent men out there. I'm not that guy Jo, I would've thought you figured that out by now" Mac huffed

"Just take me home Mac" Jo quickly said as she turned and walked back towards the entrance

Mac and Jo didn't speak to each other the whole way back to her apartment. Mac would glance over, but Jo's eyes remained focused out the window. When Mac put it in park outside the building he took a breath and said what was on his mind. "Look when you figure out what you want, you can just let me know. I thought we had something great between us. You obviously have some things to sort out."

Jo turned for the first time the entire ride home "You mean Issues? They're not "things" they're issues. You were trying to be nice about it right? Fine when I sort of my "issues" I'll let you know. Good night Mac!" Jo said as she slammed his car door shut

"Jo—wait!" When the door slammed and she stormed into her building "I'm sorry" He sighed before putting his truck in drive.

Jo walked into her apartment and found Ellie asleep on the couch. She decided to leave her instead of disturb her peaceful sleep. With tears in her eyes she kissed Ellie on the forehead and proceeded down the hall to her room.

To burn me with fire,
Drown me with rain
I'm gonna wake up
Screaming your name

Yes I'm a sinner
Yes I'm a saint
Whatever happens here
Whatever happens here
We remain

Jo huffed as she dropped into bed. She knew Mac was right, he was nothing compared to Mac. Russ was ruining her relationship with him. She needs to let go of the past and start living in the future, at least that's what Sid had told her a few weeks ago after learning about his cancer diagnosis. She felt like an idiot, she figured Mac was asleep and still mad so she would call him in the morning. She needed to try and sleep so she wasn't a grouch at work in the morning.

Ellie was awakened around 3am to her Mom shouting. As she got closer to her mom's room she realized she was screaming Mac's name along with other muffled words she couldn't work out. She went in the room and jumped up on the bed behind Jo. She started rubbing her back shoulders like Jo does when she has a nightmare. Soothing her and quietly telling her it's ok. Jo didn't wake up, but did relax after a few minutes. Ellie decided to stay with her mom the rest of the morning to give her the company she obviously needed.

Jo woke up with a start and looked at her clock, she had another five minutes until her 630 alarm would be going off. She dropped back down and stretched out her arms until she connected with soft curly hair. She jerked her head to the side and saw Ellie curled into a ball facing the other way wrapped comfortably in Jo's comforter. Jo looked at Ellie puzzled, she decided to get up and make breakfast before waking her daughter up for school. With the first batch of pancakes going Ellie woke up and stumbled into the kitchen.

"Are you making pancakes?" She asked sleepily

"Yes ma'am. Chocolate chip and blueberry our favorite!" Jo said cheerily

"Mom are you ok?" Ellie asked not beating around the bush

"Funny I was just about to ask you the same" Jo said facing her daughter

"What do you mean?"

"I woke up and you were in my bed Ellie. Did you have a nightmare?"

"No. I heard you screaming early this morning. I wanted to take care of you, like you take care of me"

"Awh sweet Ellie. Yes I'm fine. Just a nightmare that's all." Jo said as she hugged her daughter "Now let's eat these cakes so you can go to school and I can go to work!"

"Yes ma'am" Ellie mimicked her mother from earlier

Once Ellie was safely around the corner from her building and out of her mom's view from the apartment, she dialed Mac's number.

"Taylor"

"Hi Mac it's Ellie"

"Hey Ellie. Everything ok?" Mac asked nervously knowing Ellie wouldn't call unless there was an emergency.

"Are you and mom ok?"

Expecting Ellie to be blunt Mac responded "Yes. Your Mom and I are fine. Why do you ask?"

"Well she started screaming early this morning from a nightmare. She was calling your name. She needed help. She started crying while she was sleeping" Ellie said picturing everything that happened early this morning

"I'll talk to her when she gets in Ellie. Thank you for letting me know. I'll take care of her, don't worry"

"Thanks Mac. See you later"

"Bye sweetie"

Just as Jo was getting off the elevator thinking of ways to approach Mac, she received a text from him asking her to meet him on the roof. She went and put her bags down in her office and then went up to the rooftop. She found Mac standing in the center with a beautiful scenic backdrop of the city.

"Hey"

"Hey Jo"

"Look I'm sorry—"they both started

"You first" Mac said

Said we remain, we remain

"I want to date you Mac, I want, no I know this relationship will work. I know we will have arguments and other quarrels, but at the end of the day I know that you'll be by my side" Jo said bravely

Burn me with fire
Drown me with rain
I'm gonna wake up
Screaming your name

"Jo, I know what Russ did to you, I know the scar that left behind on your heart. I should've respected that and not attacked you for it. I felt terrible after I said those words to you so harshly. I also want us to be able to have an open dialogue, where we can be honest with each other. I will always be by your side Jo. We will make this work." Mac said bringing Jo in closer to him

"I love you Mac Taylor" Jo said running her fingers behind Mac's head

"I love you Jo Danville, you're beautiful inside and out"

"Flaws and all?" Jo joked

"Especially your flaws!"

They sealed their love with a kiss, just as the clouds gave way to a rain shower.

Yes I'm a sinner
Yes I'm a saint
Whatever happens here
Whatever happens here
We remain