A/N: Alright, so here's the follow-up...and it kind of demands another one. Which I've already got plotted out. So it shouldn't be too long before I post that as well. Enjoy!!

"Crazy couple of weeks, huh?"

Flack looked up to see Stella perched on the corner of his desk, her coat in hand. Giving her a tired smile, he nodded.

"You got that right. I feel like I've been living at my desk."

"Same here. I'm actually sick of the lab. I never noticed that it had a smell before…kind of like the science room in high school. And now it's everywhere…in my hair, my clothes…"

He chuckled. "Good thing we got a couple days off then."

"How did you know I had the weekend off?"

Flack shrugged, smirking. "I got my sources."

Stella rolled her eyes, mentally taking a breath before her next question. "So…you got any plans this weekend?"

"Yes I do."

She tried to keep her face from falling, but the smile she gave him was a sad one. "A date?"

He looked at her pointedly. "I wish I did."

She heard the weight to his words, and it gave her some hope. "Maybe you'd like some company?"

Don nodded. "I would," he said slowly. "But I gotta warn you, Stell. I've got some pretty specific plans."

"Oh? Are you going to tell me what they are?"

He grinned and shook his head. "It's a surprise. I'll pick you up at 10 tomorrow morning. Just wear jeans and sneakers, okay?"

Stella didn't know why, but she couldn't help but smile in return. "Okay."

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"Yorktown Heights?" Stella asked.

Don chuckled as he turned off the small road and parked the car next to a large barn. "Not a lot of apple trees in New York City."

Her eyes lit up as they got out and she got a full look at the orchard. Little kids were running in and out of the barn, buttoned up in their coats as they pointed at the animals inside. Turning, she found Don smiling at her.

"Apple picking?" she asked.

He blushed slightly. "It's somethin' I've always loved doing. And it's nice to get out of the city once in awhile."

She slipped her hand into his as they moved toward the trees. "Yes, it is."

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Don wasn't picking very many apples. He was too busy watching Stella as she moved from tree to tree, smiling as she picked the fruit and dropped it into their bag. The smile never left her face, and he found himself unable to look away.

Slipping his digital camera out of his pocket, he quietly lined up a shot. She looked so perfect as she reached up for another apple, and he pressed the button, capturing the scene. Hearing the click, Stella looked over at him and groaned.

"That wasn't very nice, Flack. You didn't even give me any warning."

He grinned. "That's the best part." He waved her over. "Come here. It's a great shot."

She moved closer, her body touching his as she leaned in to see the preview screen. Stella was always nervous about having her picture taken, but even she had to admit that it really was a great shot.

"See?" Flack said quietly. "Perfect."

She looked up just as he brought his lips down to hers. Her body automatically leaned into him, remembering how good this had felt the last time. Still holding the camera in his left hand, Don reached his right arm around and pulled her closer. They stood like that for a long time before they finally pulled back to breathe.

"Perfect," he whispered again.

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"So what does one do with all these apples?" Stella asked when they were standing in his kitchen.

He glanced up at her as he began pulling down a couple bowls. "One bakes a pie."

She stared at him for a moment. "You bake?"

He shrugged, a slight blush creeping up his neck. "Once a year. Me and my ma used to go apple picking and then make a pie with 'em when we got back home. Even after I was a cop, we kept the tradition. After she died…I did it on my own. It's a piece of her I can't let go."

Stella rested her hand on his arm and squeezed it gently, touched by the history he had just shared with her. "So how do I help?"

He handed her an apple. "You can start peeling," he said, his eyes twinkling.

They worked in a comfortable silence. Stella watched Don out of the corner of her eye, amazed at how well he knew his way around a kitchen. She knew he must have learned it all from his mother, and she found herself suddenly wishing she could meet the woman. Shaking her head, she chuckled quietly at herself and focused once again on the apples. But as she went to peel the last one, she felt something hit her jeans. She looked down to see flour on her leg and then looked up to see a grinning Flack standing behind her.

"Gotcha," he smirked.

Raising an eyebrow at him, Stella thought for a moment before making her move. She reached her hand into the bag of flour and went to throw it at him, but Don caught her wrist in his hand. Her other hand shot out toward the bag then, but he caught that one as well and pushed her back against the fridge.

And then he was kissing her again. Without realizing it, she dropped the flour she was holding and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer. She could taste the sweetness of the apple he'd been eating, and he smelled like apple blossoms and autumn. He filled her sense, and she pulled him closer, moaning as he pressed her harder against the fridge.

Stella wanted to cry when her phone rang. Sighing in frustration, she reached into her pocket and pulled it out.

"Bonasera," she answered, her eyes fixed on Don. As Mac explained that they had a crime scene to go to, she reached up and gently caressed Flack's face, and she could tell that he knew what was happening.

"I'm sorry," she said quietly after she had hung up. "I have to go."

He nodded. "I know. He's not callin' me in too?"

"Angell's already on the scene."

Don leaned in and kissed her softly. "I'll see you later?"

Stella nodded, and her eyes slid over to the apples she'd been peeling. "Save me a piece?" she asked.

He grinned. "Absolutely."