SoSoSo many apologies for the delay! I had hoped to have this done a week ago today, it being the 6th month anniversary of posting this, but it just didnt work out. But, in honour of you all sticking with me in this crazy ride...free cookies for all! xx

The plane was nearing the end of it's descent into JFK airport. The pilot had asked passengers to put their seats and tray-tables in the upright position and for the flight crew to take their seats, so until actual touchdown the only thing to do was watch the famed skyline come closer into view as the sun set behind it.

Mac blinked at the gaping hole in the landscape, trying not to make himself obvious. He succeeded, but Stella squeezed his hand regardless. The view didn't look to have changed any in the week they'd been apart.

The wheels skidded to a halt, and it didn't take very long to find their luggage on the belts.

Waiting in the arrivals lounge, Mac meandered through the crowd to the paper stall while Stella kept a keen eye for Natalie.

"Stel-" Natalie was cut off by a rude businessman who crossed her path, "Hi! Walking here!" she called back. "Stella! Over here!"

Stella grinned at the display, it was good to be back. "Hey! How are you?" She asked as the younger woman pulled her in for a hug.

"Oh my God, is it good to see you! How was it? Where's Mac? Did something happen?" Her mouth running away with itself.

"He's getting a paper, nothing happened! Well, no, something happened…"

Natalie's eyes practically popped out of her head, but before she could demand details, the man in question returned, causing her say "Lunch; me, you, tomorrow."

Mac smiled, "Natalie."

"Mac, good time?"

"Extremely."

Nat grinned an impressed look to Stella who couldn't help but chuckle. "Ready?"

Xx

"I'll see you both tomorrow?" Nat asked, opening the drivers-side door. Mac and Stella were on the side-walk outside of Stella's apartment building, cases in hand and the homeowner rooting through her purse for her keys.

"With the dawn," Mac said, pulling a hold-all on to his shoulder.

"And lunch, Stella?"

"Tomorrow," she nodded, finally pulling out the fob from the depths of her bag. "Thanks for picking us up."

"Anytime. See you guys," she smiled, climbing back into the car and driving home to Steven.

The sun had fully set casting New York into shadows, highlighted by the stars and rising moon above. Stella attempted to grab the remaining bag, causing Mac to steal it from her grasp. She loved that chivalry wasn't dead.

Stella unlocked the doors to her building and her apartment, keeping them open for Mac to manoeuvre into. He set the bags down as she declared "Home, sweet home."

"Not for much longer…"

"Ah, that's right. I'm going to have to figure out what to do with this place," she looked around the room. She'd lived there for so long now, it was going to be weird thinking of somebody sleeping in her bed and eating at her table.

"Well, I've actually been thinking about that…" Mac mentioned, following her down the few steps and onto the couch.

"Of course you have," she smirked.

"Connor. He's still commuting, or finding a woman to spend the night with to stay in the city, apparently, if he took this place, you'd know it was in safe hands. He wouldn't keep being late to work and I think he'd really appreciate it."

"He actually sleeps with women so he can get to work the next day?"

"So I've been told…"

"He doesn't need an apartment, he needs a slap upside the head," Stella muttered, rifling through her mail.

"As true as that is, I think the apartment might be a better idea…"

"I'll ask him tomorrow," she smiled. "Any other problem-solving ideas?"

He pretended to think for a moment, "Not for this apartment, but I do have a couple for World Peace."

She chuckled, "Of course you do."

Xx

"It's so good to have you back," Nat sighed, draping her jacket over the back of her chair in the small diner. "There's been a serious testosterone overload at the office."

"And you loved it," Stella smirked.

"I didn't say I didn't," she pursed her lips, her eyebrows blending into her hairline.

"So, come on then. What did I miss?"

"What did you miss? What did I miss?" Natalie suddenly remembered the cryptic conversation at the airport. She put her menu back down the table, all eyes on Stella.

"The vacation was amazing," she chuckled. "The pools were MTV-worthy and the food was just…" Her listener was eager for something else, apparently. "Oh, and Mac asked me to move in."

She practically had a seizure right there and then. "He asked you to move in? Why didn't you start with that? Did you say yes? Speak!"

"Only if you breathe! I am in fact moving in," she grinned.

"That is so great, Stella. Seriously, so happy for you two."

"Me too. But, I already know about that, I want to know what's been going on around here."

Natalie looked through her menu again, "Well, Connor and…I always forget her name…Marly? Yeah, Connor and Marly have split up. He was too clingy apparently," her raised eyebrow told of the absurdity of the comment.

"This coming from the woman who had her tongue firmly rooted down Connor's ear at the ball?"

"The one and only. He's not too beat up about it though, and Amy is very nice."

"There's an Amy?"

"There's an Amy," she'd only known the guy for three months, but already she was lost on his list of conquests. "Danny and Aiden are still going strong, still a bad influence on each other."

"That's not going to change."

"Not in this lifetime. And…Steven and I are trying for another baby…"

"Natalie, I'm so happy," Stella smiled, grabbing her hand over the table.

"Yeah," she grinned, "We haven't been trying for long, but I've enrolled the help of Victoria and her secrets…"

"Hey, you can have my 'secret' if you want it. Still in the box."

Nat chuckled, impressed. "No wonder Mac said the vacation went extremely well!"