Disclaimer: I am not connected in any way with the creators of any of the CSI shows. (I wish I was though, so Danny and Lindsay would get together already.) These are just my mind's version of the events that transpire on the show.

By six o'clock, the team had gathered in the lobby of the lab to go to Danny and Lindsay's. Danny did a quick scan. Hawkes and Cassie were there already, as well as Adam and Marty. Sid couldn't make it since he was finishing a report on a body that had just come in. Stella was there, but Mac was nowhere to be found.

Danny said, "Okay, so everyone's here except Mac. Is he coming?" For some reason, he directed his question to Stella.

Stella let out an exasperated sigh and answered, "Last time I checked he was." Releasing another sigh, she said, "You guys go on ahead. I'll drag Mac out of his office and we'll catch up, okay?"

Danny and the others nodded. As they turned to leave, Cassie asked, "Wait, what about Jordan and Flack?"

Stella heard Danny answer just as she turned back towards the elevators. "They'll meet us there."

Stella stabbed her finger at the button impatiently as she waited for the elevator car to arrive. It was a quick trip back to Mac's office and she barged in without knocking.

She found Mac seated at his desk, buried in a pile of paperwork.

"Mac Taylor," Stella started in a threatening voice.

Mac looked up quickly at the tone in Stella's voice. "What's up, Stel?"

Stella glowered at him, "What are you doing?"

Sending Stella a puzzled look, Mac gestured to the papers on his desk. "Paperwork."

Stella crossed her arms in front of her chest and glared at him. "Mac, it's six o'clock. Don't tell me you forgot."

Mac frowned and tried to remember what it was that he forgot. "I didn't forget." He rapidly tried to think of what he was supposed to remember.

Stella looked at him with a knowing glare. He barely resisted the impulse to squirm under her bright green gaze. After a moment, she sighed and said, "We were supposed to visit Lindsay tonight, remember?"

Mac's face cleared. "Yeah, I remember. I was just finishing some paperwork." He hurriedly stacked the papers together and grabbed his suit jacket.

Stella smirked at him and said, "You forgot, Mac. Admit it."

Mac raised an eyebrow at her. "You know I never forget about anything, Stel." Inside, he was thinking, I'll be damned if I let her know that I forgot.

Stella just laughed at him and stood in the doorway while she waited for him to grab the rest of his stuff.

Just then, Mac noticed that Stella stood under the mistletoe that someone had hung on his doorway as a joke. He sent a silent prayer of thanks to the heavens and walked over to the door, smiling slightly.

Stella caught the brief smile on Mac's face and wondered what caused it.

She was surprised when Mac stopped in front of her. He stood closer to her than he normally did and she found herself gazing into his eyes.

She was close enough for him to smell the subtle scent of her perfume. He could see the small throb in the base of her neck where her pulse beat. Her wide green eyes met his unblinkingly and he drowned in their depths.

"Mac," Stella said questioningly, her voice dropping unconsciously to a husky whisper.

Mac merely looked upwards. Stella followed his wry gaze and saw a sprig of mistletoe hanging above them.

"Oh," she said, strangely at a loss for words.

Mac just smiled at her uncharacteristic wordlessness and placed his hands gently on her arms, drawing her even closer.

"We have to do it, Stel," he said teasingly. "It's tradition."

Stella saw Mac's face come closer to her and her eyes drifted shut of their own volition. His lips settled on hers, gently coaxing her mouth to open for him.

The instant their tongues met, the kiss deepened and spiraled out of their control. His arms slid around her waist and settled on her hips, pulling her closer to his body. She buried her hands in his short hair, further intensifying the kiss.

Stella wasn't sure how this happened, but right now rational thought was the last thing on her mind. All she knew was that she was finally kissing Mac Taylor, and he was running his hands up and down her back and over her hips as though he was trying to absorb her into his body.

All the pent up longing between them was expressed in that kiss. Pretty soon, they had to draw apart, both of them gasping for air.

As he took deep breaths, Mac cradled Stella's head against his chest. She could feel his racing heartbeat and they both waited for long moments before they were coherent.

Mac asked in a dry voice, "Who put that mistletoe there?"

Stella answered shakily, "Lindsay, I think."

Mac said, "Remind me to give her a bonus."

Stella managed to laugh despite the thundering in her chest. After a while, she pulled back and looked at Mac, her eyes full of unspoken questions.

Mac sighed and said, "I don't know where we're supposed to go with this, Stella. All I know is that I'm happy when I spend time with you."

Stella shrugged gently at him. "Then let's just spend more time together, okay?"

Mac looked at her, and for the first time, she saw a look of uncertainty on his face. "Let's take it slow and see where it goes, okay?" Stella said, running her hand soothingly over the back of his neck.

Mac nodded and a slight smile tugged on his lips. "Alright," he replied, letting go of her waist to offer his arm. "Let's go, Detective Bonasera. I believe we're expected at the Monroe-Messer residence."

Stella laughed softly at what he said. "You know, I think that it will be the Messer residence soon."

Mac agreed with her. "Yeah, I think so too. You want to start another pool on when Danny will pop the question?"

Stella' laughter rang out as they made their way out of the lab.

This is for all the MacStella shippers out there. :D I hope you like it. They'll be keeping it a secret from the team. Next chapter will be set at the Monroe-Messer casa, so stay tuned. :D

Please review! I miss your reviews:D