Logan let Dick know he had run the plan by Veronica, who was apparently completely on board and thought it was a great way to get Mac and Dick talking. Dick wasn't sure what to make of that, but he couldn't figure how it was a trap so he kept up the planning. When the night of the event came he was nervous as hell, but was thrilled to see Mac walk in looking amazing. Still, he didn't want to force her hand so he kept his distance, waiting for her to approach him.

Mac was surprised that all she got from Dick upon arrival was a smile and a wave. She had considered how tonight would go many times, and she still had no idea what to say or do with Dick. Everytime she closed her eyes she felt his arms around her, but in the harsh light of day she just didn't have the nerve to make that leap. She had been avoiding him but unwilling to cut ties, dreaming about him but too scared to make it reality.

There was no way she would have gotten away with missing Logan's party, which Veronica had made clear. Honestly she thought it was a little silly since she didn't think Logan even knew half of the people in attendance, and she had only been there forty-five minutes before the couple disappeared from the whole event.

Mac thought about just leaving but she just couldn't bring herself to do it. Dick seemed to be just out of reach at all times, either talking to other party goers or messing with some decoration or musical selection. He always acknowledge her but never made a move to talk. She tried to tell herself it was a relief but the feeling creeping up was definitely frustration. In her head seeing him tonight meant they would turn some corner in the relationship, good or bad. She was tired of being in limbo even if it was her own doing.

Eyeing him one more time in the kitchen before stepping outside to escape the crowd, she found herself contemplating once more when to leave. Dick was busy entertaining, Logan and Vee were holed up for the evening no doubt, and Wallace had been stuck to some girl's side all night. She didn't think she had the energy to make new friends so she considered going home and just agreeing to whatever Dick's next outing invitation was, assuming it came. Mac was so busy weighing her options she missed the sound of the door and the added smell of the ocean as Dick approached her.

"Hey," he whispered from behind, startling her slightly. Mac turned and gave him a small smile.

"Hey."

He walked closer to her. "Thanks for coming. You look… nice." He struggled not to let any of the more descriptive terms he was thinking of pass his lips.

"Thanks," Mac replied shyly. She seemed to be having a hard time coming up with multi-word responses now that she was in his presence.

"I've been wanting to tell you that all night. But I wasn't sure if you wanted to talk to me." He frowned.

"Oh. I did. I mean, I do I just… you looked pretty busy every time I saw you."

Dick smiled. "Not too busy for you. I mean, I only threw this stupid party to see you so…."

"Oh yeah, I'm sure you did all this just to see me." Mac rolled her eyes with a smirk.

"Yeah," Dick replied seriously. "I mean I figured if it was just a small group you would bail but if it was a party you could hide from me if you wanted and it would be harder for you to get out of it and Ronnie said it was a good idea so you know…" She looked so surprised Dick thought he should backpedal. "I mean, I wasn't trying to trick you or anything I just wanted to see you."

"Oh. So you and Veronica are like teaming up on me now?" Dick couldn't tell what she was thinking, but she didn't seem mad.

"No, it's just… well she seems to think that if I just keep telling you how fucking sorry I am and that I miss you and that I want to be with you, then maybe you would listen. And I'm really sorry Mac, I just hate not seeing you and not talking to you and stuff. So maybe, if you still want to talk to me or whatever, maybe we could do that?" She nodded, not trusting her voice. "Wanna go sit on the beach and get away from this shit?" he asked, nodding toward the access path.

"Sure."

Dick grabbed a blanket he kept by the beach path and laid it out when they reached the now empty beach. They sat in silence staring at the night sky for a few minutes.

"The beach is so much better at night," Mac finally chimed in, leaning back to look at the few stars that were visible in spite of the nearby city lights.

"Mmm…" Dick murmured, not quite agreeing but not willing to argue with her on any point right now. "Stars are cool. Do you think there are like, aliens out there on any of them? Like maybe some super sophisticated ones that have all this shit figured out? I feel like that would be cool, if somebody out there has a fucking clue, you know?"

"Well, there are a lot of theories on alien life. Some people think it must be out there, and others question why we haven't seen it yet. It's possible we are too early in the timeline of the universe for there to be as many aliens as would be needed to ensure we met, or maybe life is less common… I don't know, a lot of people have ideas on it. But I think it's pretty unlikely they would live on a star," she finished with a smirk.

Dick was staring at her blankly. "You make my brain hurt," he said with a laugh.

Mac's smile faded and she looked back out to the ocean. "You make my heart hurt."

Dick wasn't sure what to do with her sudden willingness to have this talk with him. "Mac…" he whispered slowly. When she didn't respond he tentatively put his hand on her back and began rubbing soft circles into her skin. Much to his surprise she leaned back into him, resting her head on his chest. Dick moved his legs so they encircled her, and brought his arms around her front to pull her closer to him. She still didn't speak, but she also didn't resist.

He nuzzled into her neck, his mouth inches from her ear. "Does this help at all?" he whispered, giving her a light squeeze.

"Maybe. A little bit. A tiny little atomic bit." Dick guffawed quietly.

"Ok. So we can just stay like this for like, I don't know, ever? I would be cool with that." His fingers ran up and down her arms giving her goosebumps. His lips grazed her neck underneath her earlobes. Mac sighed as on hand strayed from her arm to run over her bare knee and thigh. "Is this helping?"

"Mmmmhmmm," she managed, her eyes closed and her body focused on the light touches.

"Not being with you is what's so fucking hard." He kissed her neck and ran his hand farther up her leg, under the hem of her dress. She responded with a light moan. Whatever anger had been holding her back, whatever barriers kept her from forgiving him had started to fade with her conversation with Veronica. Every day was a battle not to call him, not to show up at his door and throw her arms around him while telling him she forgave him. That last bit of fear that he couldn't be the guy she wanted him to be had melted away in his arms, and now she surrendered fully to her desire to be with him.

"Oh, I can think of other things..." she whispered, rocking her body back into his. She felt his smile on her cheek, and he spun her just enough capture her lips in his, darting his tongue back and forth, kissing as though they had all the time in the world.

Dick eventually pulled back, his hand gripping her thigh tightly. "This is for real, right? I mean, it's not just... You want to be with me for real, like tomorrow and the next day, and the next day and shit, right?" He said it as though he was simply confirming the obvious, but Mac could see the trace of fear in his eyes.

"Yes. For real. Can we continue now? Maybe… inside?" She gave him a seductive smile.

"Oh, but I thought we could give those aliens a show," he said with a grin as his fingers slid up to her panties, finding them moist.

"I'm more concerned about the humans 30 feet away from us."

"Well, we can give them a show too." He saw a dark look cross her face as she caught her breath, and he knew his joking implication of someone watching had turned her on. He slipped his fingers under her panties to find she was incredibly juicy, her pelvis rocking as it sought out much needed friction. He easily entered her with one finger, his other hand moving to her breast to massage it through her cotton dress. He pumped inside her a few times before adding a second finger, using his thumb to rub her clit. Her legs fell open as her body seem to liquify under his touch, and knowing that they were on an open beach where anyone could walk by seemed to be pushing her to the edge faster than she would have thought.

Dick gently sucked on her bottom lip while gradually speeding up the pumping action of his fingers inside of her, pulling the tips forward until he found the spot that drove her mad. He picked up the intensity on his clitoral stimulation and pulled back slightly to look into her hooded eyes. Gently pinching her nipple with his other hand he felt her body start to shake with her impending orgasm. He could tell she was trying to hold back the full volume of her moans but he knew anyone near the beach access entrance would definitely be able to hear her, which just caused him to get harder. After her orgasm peaked she relaxed again into his arms, his hands stroking her lightly as he trailed his lips across her cheek.

"I'm starting to think exciting things can happen anywhere," she said breathlessly with a smirk.

"With you and me babe, they definitely will."

Thanks so much for the reviews! I hope you enjoyed this addition to the MaDi verse.