Epilogue: One Year Later
"Stella, this came for you today," the receptionist hands her an envelope. She opens it, unfolding a piece of paper. A check falls out, and she gasps as she reads the amount. Then she reads the letter:
Stella,
It's time for me to move on. The money enclosed is for you and Elizabeth, and I suppose your husband can have part too. I know it won't pay for what Frankie did to you or for letting me live this past year. I'm sorry for the trouble the family has caused you. And now I must say goodbye. Remember, you are always loved.
Love,
Nick Mala
Crying, she enters Mac's office. "He died, Mac."
He gets up to comfort her, "It was time, Stella. Let him go."
"He gave us ten thousand dollars," she hands him the check.
"What? Why?" She gives him the letter. "Go home, Stel. Spend some time with your daughter."
"What about you?"
"I promise I won't work overtime. See you later," Mac kisses her before pushing her out the door.
"Are you taking the subway home?" she pokes her head back in. He nods. "I need the car key." He tosses his keys to her, expecting her to leave. "You might need that to get in," she smirks, laying the house key on his desk.
"Won't you let me in?"
"I don't know if I'll be home since I just got ten thousand dollars. We might go shopping," Stella smiles.
"Don't spend it all on yourself," he teases.
"I won't. I have to get your Valentine's present still. And it's to both Elizabeth and I, so we'll split the other nine thousand nine hundred ninety-five dollars," she sticks out her tongue.
"I'm only worth five dollars? You're cruel, Stella."
She kisses him goodbye, "I know."
CSI: NY
Mac enters his new house, finding his two girls asleep on the couch. It turned out he had to stay late because the police chief threatened to fire him if he didn't finish some paperwork. He could understand why the pair was asleep; it was after nine o'clock. Gently he kisses his wife of three months, then their one year old daughter on the forehead. Carefully he picks the toddler up and tucks her in bed. When he returns for Stella, she is not there.
"Stel?" he walks up behind her in the kitchen.
"You were supposed to be home four hours ago," she says angrily.
"I'm sorry, Stella. I had paperwork to finish if I wanted to keep my job."
"You couldn't have called?"
"I should have," he admits, hugging her.
"I was afraid something had happened, and I'd never see you again," a tear falls onto her cheek, and she wipes it away.
"I'm sorry I didn't call. And I'm fine. What did you have for dinner?" He looks in the refrigerator.
"I didn't eat. Elizabeth had macaroni."
"I'll make us a salad," he offers.
"Two separate salads, Mac. I don't like your French dressing," she smiles faintly, handing him the plates.
"Figures you'd like Italian," he teases.
"Taylor is not French."
"No, but I do have little bit of French blood in me from my mom's side," Mac explains. "Did you two go shopping today?"
"Nope."
"Well, I picked this up on the way home. It's an early Valentine's Day present," Mac hands her a box, which she opens.
Inside is a locket with Elizabeth's picture on one side and her and Mac's picture on the other. "Thank you so much, Mac. I'll have to wait until tomorrow to put it on since we're going to bed soon."
"You'll get the rest next week," he smiles.
"There's more?" He nods. "You're spending all this money on me, and I have no idea what to buy you."
"The usual box of chocolates is fine, Stella," Mac laughs, taking a glass of wine she offers.
"To a long and happy life together. And in celebration of Nick Mala." They hit glasses, and each takes a sip.
"I love you, Detective Taylor," Mac kisses her before taking a bite of lettuce.
"I love you too, Detective Taylor. That's got to be confusing."
"Who cares?" They laugh.
A/N: And now the story's over. It might be a while before I get the next story started. I still have five chapters to write, and none of it is typed yet. But I'll try to get the first chapter up sometime this week. Hope you liked this one.