A/N: Nope, still don't own them. Reviews are great. I always enjoy constructive criticism. Hopefully I stayed somewhat close to character…
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Ten years she'd worked with the man! Ten years of working with him, and even longer that she'd known him and she could count on one hand the number of times she'd actually heard him sing. There was the year he sang to Claire on her birthday. The three friends had gone out to dinner and consumed more wine then was advisable. After they all returned back to Mac and Claire's apartment, Claire had begun joking with Stella that now she had turned thirty, Mac would be 'off in search of a younger model to replace her.' Upon hearing this, Mac pulled Claire off the couch, into his arms as he got down on a knee and began singing "My Girl" to her while Stella just giggled helplessly. That had been in May of 2001. He didn't have much reason to sing after that.
Then there had been that night Stella had dropped by to help Mac as he was watching his god-daughter Lucy while her parents enjoyed a much needed night to themselves. Stella had let herself into his apartment with the key he'd given her years ago. She found him in the living room, rocking the tiny infant in his arms, singing a lullaby to her as he brushed his thumb across her downy cheek. Mac had looked up when he noticed Stella in the room but continued the singing. She remembered how his eyes had shone with happiness.
But the way he looked tonight, up on stage with his band, put even that look to shame. He was softly singing to her, their eyes locked. The song was a favorite of theirs', Frank Sinatra's The Way You Look Tonight. Soon the song was finished and Mac set his bass guitar down. Slowly he made his way over to her.
"Have I ever told you how sexy you are when you're playing? It's even worse when you sing too; deadly combination you know," Stella said with a small laugh. She watched as he dropped his head down, a blush tinting his cheeks.
"It's true though, the words in the song. You're beautiful Stella. But not just tonight; when you're at work in the lab, running tests, when you're in coveralls sifting through garbage. It's every single day I see you; you become more and more beautiful to me. I love you Stella. I want to be able to tell you that every morning when you wake up, and every night before you go to bed."
Tears were running down Stella's eyes as she watched him get down on one knee, pulling a familiar blue box out of his pocket. "I'm pretty sure you know what I'm going to ask, but Stella, will you…process all crime scenes with me?"
Stella burst out laughing as Mac stood up, a wide grin on his face. He was beautiful when he smiled. She reached out to hit him in mock hurt. He was quicker though as he pulled her to him, wrapping his arms around her waist as they began to move slowly to the music the band was playing. Stella laid her head on Mac's shoulder as she let the moment sweep over her, feeling the vibration in his chest as he spoke.
"Seriously though Stella, you've been my partner for over ten years now. After I lost Claire, I thought my life was over, but you helped me to realize that there was still so much to experience. I don't know where I'd be without you. I need you beside me, as my partner at work and in my life. Will you marry me?"
Stella pulled her head back to look him in his eyes. She saw the mixture of emotions in his eyes; hope, fear, but mainly the love he felt for her. "Yes," she whispered. His grin grew as he leaned in, sealing the answer with a kiss that said more about how he felt than words could ever fully explain. After awhile they pulled back, Stella's head back on his shoulder as they continued to move to the music. Life hadn't been kind to either in the past, but they knew the future looked bright as long as they were together.