Getting to Know You… Again

Disclaimer: I do not own CSI: NY or its characters.

A/N: Sorry for another long wait. I had a few things come up with school. But the semester is almost over. My muse has also decided to take a vacation without telling me. So this chapter may seem a little off. I'm sorry, comments or suggestions are always welcome. This chapter does skip about some. So here's the last chapter.

Mac and Claire had met for dinner at a small restaurant. Dinner had, as usual, gone wonderfully. Mac told Claire about some of the things they had done together. Claire told him more about what she did in her spare time. They talked and laughed all through dinner and desert. After their meal they decided to take a walk in Central Park since it was still early and the weather was warm.

As they walked they would stop and Mac would tell her about something they had done their, like a picnic or another walk. He would also stop and tell her about the places where Stella would find him after 9-11.

When it started to get late they left the park. Mac walked Claire to her car where the shared another kiss. This one held a little more passion, but it was still short. They agreed to meet in a few days time, a Saturday. They were going to wander Times Square like tourists just because they could.

It had now been 10 days since Mac had received the DNA test results. Tonight he, Claire, and Stella were getting together for dinner. It was going to be the first time Stella and Claire saw each other in years. Mac was nervous… He wasn't sure why… But he was.

Just down the hall from Mac, Stella was nervous about meeting Claire. Stella still held a flame for Mac. She'd hoped that Mac would move on with her. But now she knew that would never happen. She saw how he'd changed in the last 10 days. He was as close to his old self as she'd ever seen him. So she was happy about that. But she couldn't help being worried that she may display some hostility toward Claire. She and Claire had been friends hopefully they could go back to that with ease.

The end of the workday came so quickly that both Mac and Stella were caught off guard. They packed up what they had been working on and went their separate ways. They were all going to be meeting at 7PM at another small restaurant that they'd loved to go to years ago.

Seven o'clock came and they'd all arrived at the restaurant at the same time. This caused them all to laugh a little. Mac introduced Stella and Claire, "Claire, this is my partner and best friend, Stella. Stella… Claire.

Stella turned pink when Mac called her his best friend. Stella reached over to shake Claire's and but Claire decided to pull Stella into a hug instead.

Claire said, "Thank you for watching out for Mac all these years. I can see why he calls you his best friend."

Stella replied, "It's not a problem. He's my partner and best friend as well. He'd do, and has done, the same for me."

Mac said, "Why don't we go inside and get our table before they give it to another group.

So with that they made their way inside. They spent two hours in the restaurant eating talking and catching up. Claire was also starting to be able to remember more things about her past. This made both Mac and Stella smile. After dinner they decided that they didn't want to part for the night yet, so they headed to Mac's since it was the closest to the restaurant.

At Mac's they opened a bottle of wine and made themselves comfortable in the living room. They decided to all sit on the couch, Mac and Stella on either side of Claire. Mac went over to a bookshelf and pulled out a photo album. It was filled with pictures of one or two of the NYPD's summer picnics. Stella and Mac told Claire the stories behind all the pictures. They were having so much fun that no one noticed the time slipping away. Before they knew it, it was 2AM.

Stella said, "Oh my… Look at the time we've been talking and drinking since 9:30PM. Wow… The time has just flown by.

Claire said, "I agree. This has been an amazing five hours. But I don't think either one of us would be safe to drive home Stella."

Stella agreed, "Yeah, we haven't had that much alcohol and it has been spread out but being a cop / CSI I know better than to push my luck."

Mac chimed in with, "Why don't you two stay here? We'll all camp out here in the living room. I've got enough blankets and pillows. We can pretend we're kids again and have a sleepover."

Claire and Stella smiled. Stella said, "Claire you've brought back the fun loving Mac in only 10 days. I've been trying for six years now. Thank you!"

Claire smiled, "No problem… Now let's have a sleepover!"

Mac got Claire and Stella things to sleep in out of what he'd kept of Claire's. They took turns changing and setting up the living room floor. As they wee getting ready to lay down Stella grabbed a pillow and started a pillow fight. Twenty minutes later they were in a heap on the floor laughing.

Stella said, "Now it's officially a sleepover. You can't have a sleepover without a pillow fight."

Claire and Mac laughed but agreed. Then, as they were all exhausted, they finally laid down to sleep. This time Mac was surrounded by the two women he loved the most. When this crossed his mind he questioned himself but agreed. He loved Stella as well as Claire. But he loved Stella as a friend and Claire as his wife. Although, as he thought, there were times when he loved Stella as more than a friend. But now that Claire was back he knew who he wanted.

Claire and Stella were both asleep already so Mac put his arm around Stella, kissed her hair, and whispered, "I love you Stel, but now that Claire's back, I love her more. I'll always love you though." With that he gave Stella a small squeeze. Then he turned to Claire and wrapped himself around her. 'Yes' He thought. 'This is right.' He fell asleep quickly after that.

When Mac woke up he had the strangest sensation. He was holding someone to his chest, but someone else was curled up against his back. He opened one eye and saw he was holding Claire and he remembered that Stella was also there. Instantly telling him who was attached to his back. He smiled and closed his eyes again.

The next time Mac awoke it was to Stella apologizing to Claire about curling up on the other side of Mac. Claire was trying to reassure Stella that she took no offense by it, but it wasn't working. Mac decided it was time for him to let them know he was awake.

Mac cleared his throat. This effectively got both Claire and Stella's attention. They looked over at him both looking guilty. He said, "I'd like to add my two cents." They nodded.

"Last night before I fell asleep, but after you two had, I had an interesting revelation. I realized that I was a damn lucky man because I got to sleep between the two women I love the most. But I also realized that only one of them would work out properly. That was the one I started with Claire all those years ago now. Stella, don't get me wrong, I love you the same amount I love Claire, but you're my friend and confidant. It'd be weird if anything happened between us. Though another sleepover on the floor where I wake up sandwiched between the two women I love would not be out of the question as long as neither one of you mind."

Claire and Stella looked confused. They looked at each other. Both understanding that this was the most forthcoming Mac had almost ever been with his feelings. Claire and Stella had a quick chat in hushed tones and when they stopped they both nodded. Claire spoke, "I would not mind sharing you with Stella as often as you want."

Stella spoke next, "I agree with Claire and with you Mac. If anything beyond sleeping next to you were to happen it would be awkward. I don't want to lose our friendship. So as we made it through last night with no issues this morning I don't see why we couldn't do the same thing once a month or so."

Mac smiled, "I knew there was a reason I loved you both. You're both very sensible people. Claire for realizing that I enjoyed waking up with her in my arms as well as being in Stella's arms. Stella for knowing that things wouldn't work out if things progressed further. But I think I should inform both of you… I was thinking about doing these sleepovers every week.

Claire and Stella looked at each other and just shook their heads in disbelief.

Mac added, "Claire I was also wondering if you wouldn't mind if every other sleepover I switched between being with you and being with Stella?"

Claire smiled, "Of course not. It'll give me the chance to curl up against your back."

Mac said, "I have one more question. Claire, would you re-marry me?"

A tear slipped down Claire's cheek, "Of course Mac, you didn't have to ask."

Stella watched and smiled as husband and wife were reunited. She'd gotten more out of this than she ever thought she'd get. She got two best friends and once a week she got to sleep with Mac… and Claire.

The all got ready to leave an hour later. They'd all had breakfast, coffee, and a shower. Now Claire and Stella were headed for their apartments to change and head to work.

The following weekend Danny, Lindsay, Hawkes, Flack, Mac, Stella, and Claire all worked to move Claire's things into Mac's. Mac, Claire and Stella had another sleepover the night they finished moving everything. This time Mac was wrapped around Stella and Claire was wrapped around him. Yeah Mac definitely had to admit, he was the luckiest man alive.

After a month, Mac and Claire were re-married; they'd filed all the paperwork showing that Claire had in fact not died in the attacks on September 11. And they still had weekly sleepovers with Stella, which always included at least one pillow fight.