A/N: This is it, guys – THE END. It's been a long and very fun ride. All of you, readers and reviewers alike made it all worth it. I can't thank you guys enough for all the nice, encouraging, words. I hope you will still be around for my next works.
I'm really proud of this story – started out as a plan for a one-shot story, ended up as a 26-chapter mini-novel. And I'm happy that I managed to use a Filipino song as inspiration for this.
So for the last time here on "A Friend of Mine" -- ENJOY! And please review.
THANK YOU SO MUCH!
One sign that we Mac and I know each other for a long time is that we are able to weave in and out of situations intact… together. We know how to adjust ourselves and our relationships according to our surroundings.
This day wasn't an exception. One moment, we were intimate and as soon as we set foot in the lab, we turned professional. Danny, Lindsey and Sheldon were waiting for us in the break room with wide smiles on their faces. Plus, the indifference of the lab techs around suggested that they – especially Danny – haven't shared the information yet. Good.
As much as I know they want to interrogate us, cases began flooding in. All of them suggested that Mac and I work together in one of the cases. I thought our newfound intimacy would immediately get in the way of our working relationship but it didn't. We collected, interpreted, processed evidence, brainstormed theories and basically worked as we always used to. Even I cannot tell that just a few hours before, we were in bed… making lots of love. Now, we're in a heated debate as to who killed our victim.
It doesn't help that his office is a soundproof box of see-through glass. The lab has enough to acquire all the latest equipment but some sets of blinds could help, too. "Mac, the wife couldn't have done it because she's barely 5' tall, the murder weapon is actually heavier than her," I argued. I was pacing his office while he was sitting there as cool as a cucumber. "The brother-in-law is a former heavyweight boxer and could easily lift and swing that beam and bash our victim's head with it." He wasn't replying; just staring at me. I was losing my patience. "Mac, this is not the time to ogle," I huffed sitting down heavily on one of the couches.
"Don't turn around," he simply said. "We're being watched."
"What?" I started to say when we both heard a faint knock on the glass door.
"Mac. Stella." Peyton.
"Dr. Driscoll," I said starting to stand up, suddenly regretting the formality.
She entered his office and said, "No, it's okay. Please stay seated, Stella." She was wearing a slight smile on her face, looking at me then at Mac. "I am…uh, here to get these results to you and to… well… talk."
I took that as a cue to exit the room. But once again, she stopped me. Mac looked unsure as I was but kept his composure and said, "Peyton, about last night…"
"Yes, I have been thinking things over and…" she paused and walked towards his desk, "I think last night was for the best. You and Stella need to be together." She went over to me and continued, "Stella, you mentioned a couple of times that you want to make sure that Mac is happy." I nodded in understanding before she continued, "Well, he is now. With you." I stood there, surprised at what she just said.
Mac smiled and simply said, "Thank you, Peyton, for understanding." She smiled back and held out her hand to shake his.
"I'm looking forward to a great friendship," she replied. She turned back to me and gave me a hug. "Thanks, Stella." I hugged her back. "Well, back to work then," she said with a chuckle.
I was speechless through the whole thing. I honestly didn't know what to say until she left the room in search of either Danny or Lindsey. Mac sat beside me and squeezed my hand and asked, "Are you alright?" All Miss Stella Bonasera could do was nod.
I'm glad…
When we embarked on this relationship, we put several things on the line. Our jobs, for one. That didn't mean that it bothered our professional relationship – it's policy that there'll be no fraternizing in the office.
But you know what they say, "In every rule, there is an exception." We're that exception.
"Some time this year, Stella," I called out to her. We're going to the yearly NYPD dinner with the whole team and if we don't leave now, we'll be late. "Come on, babe. I'm getting hungry."
"Okay, okay," she said, her voice muffled by the bedroom door. I could hear her rummaging around our room for her 'necessities', which are nothing more than her power, perfume and Vaseline.
I was about to make another remark when the bedroom door opened and she walked out wearing a simple black dress, purse in hand with a shawl around her shoulders. Her hair was away from her face; her skin glowing. She always looks beautiful to me. Especially now…
"Mac Taylor, stop staring and help me with these shoes!" she cried out flopping onto the couch and tossing me her heeled shoes. "I can't see my feet anymore. Look what you did to me," she giggled.
I sat on the coffee table as she slipped on her two-inch heels. As I bent down to fasten the ties, I replied, "As if you didn't like it." She swatted me jokingly on my arm. When I finished tying the clasps on her shoes, we sat there for a moment, gazing at each other's eyes. I moved up beside her and kissed her softly.
She pulled back just when it started to promise a lengthy make-out session and said, "I remember it was you who wanted to get to this dinner early." Before I could say anything, she yelped and ran her hands over her stomach. "Clearly, there's another one here who wants to be fed, Mac," she said with a loving smile. "Here, feel," she continued, placing my hand atop her bellybutton.
I let my hand stay there and feel our little baby in her tummy. "He's hungry alright," I managed to choke out.
"What made you sure it's not a 'she'?" Stella said putting her hand atop of mine. This pregnancy was unplanned – but it was a welcomed accident. "Or both?" she continued. "After all, there are two of them in there."
Yes, we're having twins. As soon as we found that out, the department requested – more like demanded Stella to stay at home. Counting back, we think it happened eight months ago… when Lindsey offered their summerhouse in Montana for our vacation. That's where I asked Stella to marry me and she accepted.
We haven't set a date yet – probably months after the babies are born. Twins will surely be a handful, even for the both of us. Stella never looked more beautiful… glowing and healthy, smiling and happy. I can't even think of words to describe how much she – they mean to me.
All the things we've been through – losing loved ones, failed relationships, lost opportunities, personal tragedies – all came to this moment. A few weeks from now, we'll be welcoming the new additions to our little family. What we've lost, we're going to gain ten-fold.
I can't imagine life without Stella. She's been part of everything. And she's made me complete. And now, we're sharing our lives together. I'm ready for whatever adventure is out there for us.
"Let's go?" she asked, standing up and walking to the door.
I follow her to the car. Yeah… let's go.
11/23/2006
Thank you very much to:
mj0621, Cora Clavia, Volonta Forte, disneygal16, butterflygoodbye, Crazy Mokis, Mac's Girl, tvshowaddict, ath3ns, Galxychld, AliasCSINYFriendsER, Paly Messer Stokes, probysgirl, ChocoBetty, artigiano, CalleighWolfe, all the glitters, Princess-Leasel, thefirthyone, Ninfa-LostMD, Lu78, Aphina, I Can Hear the Sea, Soupbowl17, ItDBMe, ana, an-angel's-light, best thing since cookies, jules1031, nc, CalleighDelko
Love you all!