Title: All I Need is You
Chapter 9 - Short Tempers & Short Term Trouble
"Are you serious? His wife?"
"Stella Taylor," Stella confirmed. "His wife," she repeated with a hint of smug satisfaction.
His wife! Ella screamed inside her brain as she stared at the woman before her as her eyes dropped to the band of gold on her finger and then back up to the face of the woman who had a legal claim on the man she wanted.
"Did you want to see the license or maybe a picture?" Stella asked with a smug smile, not backing down; although her anxiety inside was racing.
"No."
"Any message?" Stella pressed with a hint of annoyance. "For my husband?"
"Actually yes. Tell him next time if he doesn't get off on the black then I can wear red."
"Pardon? Red what?"
"Underwear," Ella winked. "Just tell him."
Stella looks at her opponent, her anger starting to rise toward the young woman before her. However, she knows if she shows herself worked up, that'll just give Ella more fuel to work with. So as much as she would like to drop kick her out the front door, she knows she has to play the mature card.
"What are you talking about?"
"When I saw him yesterday. Didn't he tell you?"
"That you talked for sixty seconds and it meant nothing? Yes he told me."
Nothing? "Well we did more than talk," Ella lied with a wide smile. Take that!
"I am sorry but I don't have time for your lies. Now if you don't have a real message about a case or something else that is actually important, then I'm sorry you'll have to leave."
"Okay fine, just tell him the pizza suggestion he made yesterday was the best one yet," Ella stated, hoping her little lies would cause friction between Mac and his wife, her brain offered in contempt. And why the hell isn't she getting angrier? Isn't she hearing what I'm saying? I'm telling her I had quickie sex with her husband!
"Right. Anything important?"
"That's all for now," Ella states, trying to down play her anger and hatred toward the woman before her. Then to add insult to injury she hears her new opponent being called by a name she wants very badly.
"Mrs. Taylor? Sorry you forgot these also," the clerk rushes back up to Stella.
"Thanks, I'll make sure my husband get them," Stella emphasizes as she turns back to Ella with an arched brow. "Did you need something else Ella?"
"No," she states in haste, adding an obviously fake sweet smile before she turned on her heel and headed for the front door. She waited until she was around the corner before she allowed a heavy curse to escape her lips; her brain already pushing to the back of her mind her interview. "I hate her!"
His wife! She yelled internally, as her fists clenched tightly. And she's beautiful and pregnant!
"Mac...how could you do this to me? I thought you were lying about being married," Ella silently lamented as she slowly starts down the alley, her mind racing with panicked thoughts that her plan to have Mac Taylor back in her life was now in danger of never happening at all. She hears her phone ringing again and pulls it out and frowns at Carl's name on display.
"Mac doesn't have time to be a father," Ella grumbled as she reached the end of the alley. "His time is supposed to go to taking care of me!"
And as those twisted words started to dance around inside her heart, the rest of her brain has started to formulate a plan to get Mac's attention back where she feels it belongs with her.
Stella watched Ella take her leave, her fists finally started to uncurl but her heart was still racing. What the hell was the comment about him getting off on black? Black underwear? Knowing inside that she won't allow petty jealousy to dictate her actions she now wonders what Ella meant by her comments. Was she dressed in only her underwear? She knows she trusts Mac to be faithful and tell her the truth but why would Ella make that up? What is her game?
Stella felt her anger starting to rise as she quickly took her leave and headed back to her office, praying her emotions would calm a little by the time she sat down. However as she allowed her mind to dwell on Ella's words, time started to slow down but her anxiety started to build faster; her stomach starting to twinge.
Finally an hour later, Mac arrived back at the lab, an evidence bag in hand as he walked past her office. She caught his glance and offered only a strained smile and prayed he'd come back and fill her in so that she could spare them a public argument that she sensed was coming.
"Stella?" Mac greeted her as he finally made his way back and pushed his way into her office.
"How was the scene?"
"Looks like we might have two murderers..." Mac's voice slowed down as he gazed at his wife's expression and frowned. "What is it?"
"Did you do more than talk to Ella McBride yesterday?"
"What, no?"
"I asked you yesterday what was up and you said it was nothing. Did you lie to me?"
"She said she was there to thank me and that was it. I did not lie to you."
"And when she try to get you off?"
"Pardon?"
"Don't lie to me Mac!"
"Stella..."
"And the pizza you recommended to her?"
"What? I didn't recommend anything...how do you know all this?"
"She came to see you today!" Stella snapped her emotions getting the best of her. "Was she here to get you off again?"
"What? You have got to be kidding!"
"No I am not, and your wife...your pregnant wife I might add, was there to talk to your girlfriend."
"First of all, she's not my girlfriend," Mac huffed in frustration. "And secondly I don't know what the hell she means by getting me off."
"When a woman..."
"Yeah I know what it means but I don't know why she'd say that as nothing happened. Do you trust me?"
"Mac..."
"Damn it!"
"I hope that curse is directed at yourself for not telling me the truth. Did she show up in her underwear?"
"No, she's lying about that."
"Mac?"
"I didn't know she was there, I swear to you. Okay fine. I'm sorry if you thought I was lying or holding something back but in truth it was nothing and I treated it as nothing. Just as she means nothing to me."
"Nothing? Mac she said she showed up in her underwear! At our new HOME!" Stella's voice ended in anger.
"I didn't know she was THERE!" Mac's voice countered before he quickly calmed down. "And she was fully dressed!"
"So she's lying. Why would she say those things?"
"Stella, I swear I don't know her game but trust me, believe me nothing happened. I told you yesterday. And she wasn't wearing her underwear; she's lying for whatever reason, but she's lying. We spoke for like one minute and that was it, and I didn't recommend anything to her," Mac states in truth. "Trust me Stella I have no idea why she's here, nor do I have any interest in seeing or talking to her if she comes again."
"Again? Is she going to come and see you again? A married man with a family on the way?" She reminded him. "Will we see her again? Will I have to confront her again?"
"No! She won't because I won't allow it," Mac insisted and Stella just shook her head.
"Kinda hard to control someone like that."
"Do you want me to call her and tell her once more that this has to stop?"
"What do you think?" Stella countered and Mac felt himself wince at the sour tone in her voice.
"I think for the sake of marital unity and my own sanity I'll call her right now."
Stella picked up the phone and handed it to her husband. Mac dialed Ella's number and listened to the rings before it finally connected.
"Mac?"
"Ella, my wife told me you came by to see me today. Why did you tell her those lies?"
"Lies? Mac she's lying about..."
"She said you came to our apartment in your underwear and that you...well that your behavior was inappropriate. You know that is a lie."
"Mac you saw me dressed. I have no idea why she'd say that."
"What did you need?"
"To see you. Is that okay?"
"No it's not okay."
"Why Mac, I care about you and I know you care about me. I just want to show my thanks for..."
"Ella, I'm glad you got help but it's time to move on with your life. I have moved on and am married and expecting a family. Please don't come by my home or my place of work or I'll be forced to take other measures."
"Such as?" She playfully laughed. "You can't stop me from wanting to see you Mac. You can't put the whole city on notice."
"Ella, don't call me or come and see me again. If you need any kind of help, dial 911." And before she could offer anything in return, Mac hung up the phone and looked at Stella with a heavy frown.
"It's over," Mac states firmly as he looks at Stella in concern.
"We'll see."
"What does that mean?"
"It means you've told her before and she obviously didn't take the hint. Mac she was at our home yesterday! Our new home!" Stella snapped.
"I didn't invite her and certainly wasn't expecting her!" Mac countered with a low but angry tone. "And I certainly didn't linger around her if that's what your wondering. She's lying."
"Maybe next time red will get him off?"
"Damn it!" Mac cursed. "Why are you listening to a woman who is obviously jealous?"
Stella looked at him with a frown, Mac finally backing down a little, his body untensing as the minutes passed.
"I know this is upsetting to you as it would be to me, but I am not encouraging this," Mac insisted. "You have to believe that I am not encouraging it in any way. I love you and only you."
"I know you do and I love you too," Stella replied with a heavy sigh. "Just...frustrating. Hearing her...picturing her body as she..."
"Stella stop," Mac insisted as he touched her hand. "I love you and will always be faithful to you. Please tell me you trust me."
"Mac, I do trust you. Just right now I feel..."
"Stella, you are the most beautiful woman in the world. You are carrying my child and I love you more than anything. She was telling you lies. But I told her in a firm tone and I'm sure this will be it."
Stella looks at his expression before finally nodding in agreement. She had to take him at his word; knowing inside that Mac would never lie.
"I am sorry for getting angry and raising my voice," Mac offers in a soft tone.
"Me too," Stella agrees. "Mac..."
"I..." Mac started as his phone rang. "Taylor," he answered with a heavy sigh. "Right. I'll be right there." He hung up and then looked at Stella with a weak smile.
"We can talk later."
"Stella..."
"It's okay Mac," she offered in half truth. "I'll be fine, I just need some space. I'll talk to you later."
"I hate this...hate parting like this in anger and tension."
"Me too. But once again it's hard to just push aside as if nothing happened. Mac I talked to her face to face; listened to her lies about getting you off. Kinda hard to just push that aside as if meant nothing to me, when it hurt very much to hear it."
"Damn her!" Mac cursed as he started to pace.
"Mac you have to go."
"But..."
"Please Mac, I just need some space."
Mac offered only a heavy sigh as he turned on his heel and took his leave, hurrying back into the hallway in search of the CSI needing his help. Stella waited for a few minutes to ensure he was gone before she called Flack.
"She showed up again today?"
"And yesterday, Don this is just creepy. It's three days in a row and today she told these outrageous lies."
"You think Mac should be worried?"
"Think I can tell him that?" Stella replied as she rubbed her forehead and exhaled a heavy sigh. "I don't want to put wrong intentions on the young woman but..."
"But something about her just rubs you the wrong way," Flack finished.
"Very."
"I'll look into it and see what happened in that place she came from."
"Let me know what you find out."
Stella leaned back in her chair as she felt a pain in her stomach. She gently started to rub her belly before reaching for the phone as her stomach pain started to deepen. She quickly made an appointment with Dr. Marsh and then texted Mac a note and quickly took her leave. She had been feeling anxiety pains since she first saw Ella but didn't want to worry Mac anymore than she had. She also hadn't meant to argue with him as she did and knew that her getting so worked up probably didn't help either.
She reached their doctor and hurried inside, thankful that Dr. Marsh was able to see her on such short notice.
"And it just started today?"
"Well I've had it once before," Stella admitted; referring to the first time Mac told her Ella confronted him and then kissed him in the grocery store. "But it was never this bad. I just need to know if my baby is going to be okay."
"Okay tell me what's going on," Dr. Marsh started in concern.
XXXXXXXX
'Mac, just feeling a bit uneasy and am going to see Dr. Marsh. Nothing to worry about. Stella.'
"Nothing to worry about," he huffed in frustration as he pushed the truck toward their doctor's office in hopes of catching Stella in time. His mind now raced that this latest emotional confrontation would harm her or the life or their child and he vowed he would not let anyone hurt his family; no matter what.
"Damn it!" He cursed as he slammed his open palm on the dash of the black CSI Avalanche. He finally reached the doctor's office and raced inside, ignoring the elevator and instead rushing up all five flights and paused at the top, just to catch his breath before entering the doctor's office.
"Is my wife still here?" Mac questioned as he hurried for the reception desk. After being told which room he hurried down the hall and then gently knocked on the door.
"Mr. Taylor," Dr. Marsh greeted him with a warm smile.
Mac looked past her to see Stella sitting on the small examining table looking at him with a slight frown.
"Is she okay?" Mac asked in concern.
"Just some stomach anxiety. She'll be just fine, both of them will be," Dr. Marsh replied softly as she turned back to Stella. "You can tell your husband what I told you and then you can get dressed. You are okay to go home. But please go home and just rest."
"Thank you Dr. Marsh," Stella thanked her doctor and then waited for her to leave before she looked at Mac with a frown. Mac offered no words only walked up to her and pulled her into his embrace and rested his head on top of hers.
"Stella I'm so sorry," he whispered in torment as he pulled back and looked at her in concern. "What happened?"
"Ella McBride," Stella replied as she gently pushed Mac back and then slowly stood up. Mac offered himself a whispered curse as he helped her get dressed in silence.
"Stella..."
"Mac, I don't want to argue anymore. I just can't take it right now," Stella stated in haste as she pulled her dress pants back on after her exam.
Mac stopped her actions and forced her to look at him in concern. "I'm sorry."
Stella wrapped her arms around Mac and held him close. "I'm going home."
"I'm coming with you."
"Mac, you are going to go back to work and finish the day and I am going home to rest."
"But..." Mac started again in protest it as Stella pressed her lips against his and stopped him. "How on earth do you expect me to go back to work and just pretend like this didn't happen?"
"Because you are going to tell yourself that you are going to let me go home and just rest while you finish your job."
"My first job is to make sure my family is okay and you being here, without a regular appointment isn't okay," he told her as he gently laid his hand on her warm belly. "Stella, if something happened to our child because of something I might have done, I'd never forgive myself."
"Then let me go home and rest."
"I can't win this can I?"
"You can if you make dinner," she replied him weakly as she finished getting dressed. They slowly headed out of the doctor's office and the rest of the ride to their apartment was done in silence.
"Mac..." Stella sighed as she looked over at him in concern.
"What do you expect me to say?" Mac gently grumbled. "I'm mad at myself but I know I didn't really..." his voice trailed off as he looked at her sideways. "How the hell will I be able to concentrate on the rest of the day?"
"Coming home like this isn't going to help me in any way," Stella stated firmly and Mac finally conceded defeat as he brought the truck to a stop outside their apartment. Stella leaned over and gently brought his lips to hers and kissed them warmly.
"I love you Stella Taylor," he whispered as they pulled back. "Please don't ever lose sight of that. No matter what."
Stella gently caressed his cheek before she kissed him once more. "I promise I won't. See you after work."
Without another protest, Mac watched her get out of the truck and head inside and disappear from view before offering an angry curse in his own name. He then pulled out his phone and put a block on his cell number and called the phone company and gave them Ella's number and had that blocked as well.
Then he finally headed back to work to get the rest of his day finished. However, all his mind could dwell on was Stella at home because of a person from his past and he felt like it was Dario all over again. But while he knew Dario wanted to target him, he now feared that Ella could become jealous enough to do something stupid toward his wife and unborn child.
"I'll kill her if she ever hurt them," Mac vowed as he headed into his office sometime later, his mind still angry and his posture tense. The rest of the team tried to deflect his growing anxiety by keeping him distracted with case stuff but by the time came to leave, his anger was still fresh toward Ella.
However, determined not to take his anger home, he headed for a local florist to buy his wife some roses; something that worked to lift his mood and also something he hoped would lift Stella's. And while he knew he wasn't the world's best cook, not even close, he was determined to make Stella dinner and then just spend the rest of the evening relaxing together, not answering the phone.
As Mac reached home and pushed his way inside, he heard nothing and so headed into the kitchen to put the flowers in some water. Dropping his coat and suit jacket at the door he went in search of his wife; he reached their bedroom to find her asleep. He smiled as he gently eased himself into the warm bed beside her and allowed her body to naturally curl up beside him. He heard her softly mumbling in her sleep but frowned when it was a soft curse and knew it was the recent actions of Ella McBride that were causing it. I have to ensure she stays away from Stella, no matter what. How the hell did this happen!
"Ella I'm sorry the interview didn't go that well," Carl frowned as he leaned against the doorframe into her bedroom. "But I wish I could have taken you out for dinner."
"The interview was fine," Ella snapped in anger.
"So um what makes you think you didn't get it?"
"I'm not mad about the interview!" Ella shot back.
"What then?"
"Just had an upsetting encounter with someone from the past."
"Not this Mac guy again?" Carl asked in annoyance.
"Mac, is a great man!" Ella insisted. "The only man who ever understood me."
"Fine, was it him?"
"No, it was someone else. It's no big deal."
"Was it a he or she?"
"She!" Ella pouted, trying to erase Stella's pregnant and beautiful image. "I hate her!"
"What did she do to make you hate her this much?"
"She stole something valuable and very precious to me."
"Did you confront her about it?"
"No," Ella frowned. "It's...I'll handle it. It's kinda delicate now."
"Why?"
"Just not what I expected is all," Ella pouted. She's pregnant! Her mind screamed. Mac is married and his wife is pregnant you fool! But Ella knew that Carl would never understand her inner contempt for the woman that had taken away the man she falsely reasoned should be with.
"Can I help in any way?"
"Not right now," Ella told him in a glum tone.
"Okay well then just let me know when, okay?"
"Sure."
"So um..."
"You know I just need a few minutes to change and we can order in instead."
"Ella?"
"Carl, I just need to calm down a bit; today was very taxing. Please?"
"Chinese right?"
"Sure, fine."
Carl closed the door on Ella and thankfully didn't hear the angry curse she offered. His wife. "His wife! That bitch!" Ella growled as she allowed her anger to get the best of her. "And she's pregnant! Damn it! Mac should be mine. He helped me! It should be me!"
She picked up a small object and threw it across the room. Thankfully the object landed in a soft spot so as not to garner the attention of the young man in the other room. She continued her angry pacing, conjuring up Stella's image in her brain and then trying to erase that by looking at the small picture of Mac she kept on her phone.
"It should be me as your wife!" Ella spat at the picture. "ME!"
She quickly pulled on a pair of jeans, her brain still trying to formulate her next plan to get Mac's attention. She knew showing up at their apartment would only garner another showdown with Mac and his wife and that was something she didn't want at all. Think Ella, think, she commanded herself.
"By now, he's probably at home with his wife," she stated in contempt. "Well I'll just have to make sure that tonight he comes and see's me."
Yeah that's it! Her brain finally stated in triumph. "If I can't go and see him, I'll make sure he comes and sees me."
With that she quickly grabbed her coat and headed back outside; Carl on the couch watching TV.
"Babe?" Carl questioned as he watched her heading for the front door. "Ella where are you going?"
"To the corner store, I'll be right back."
"Let me co..."
"You have to wait for dinner. I'll be right back. I just need some air," she lied as she quickly stuffed on her shoes and was outside before he could get to the door to see when she'd be back. Ella hurried downstairs, racing down them so fast she landed at the bottom with a flushed face and racing heart.
"Mac will be mine," her warped mind kept repeating over and over again. She quickly glanced inside her purse and smiled when the glint of silver struck her eye and smiled back. "Let's go get him."
Stella slowly opened her eyes to see Mac still asleep beside her. She was quick, however, to notice that his face was flushed and his brow furrowed and figured he was probably having the same disturbed thoughts as she was.
"I'm sorry," Mac whispered as he hugged her closer, his eyes slowly opening to look at her in concern. "How are you feeling?"
"Better. The small twinges have completely subsided," Stella answered in a soft tone.
Mac pulled her close and pressed his lips to hers and offered a warm, firm kiss before he pulled back and looked at her with a small smile.
Mac rested his hands on her warm belly and smiled when their child moved to the warm once again offered by it's father's strong hands. "We pick up the crib this weekend."
"I know," Stella gently frowned.
"Are you still mad at me?"
"Mac, I'm not mad at you," Stella tried to assure him. "Just upsetting that she would even think that you were first of all joking about being married and that secondly she'd even want to come here and..." Stella voice trailed off with an angry sigh.
"Trust me Stella, I'm sure that after my call she's gotten the message."
"I hope so."
"Stella, I hated today," Mac sighed heavily. "Seeing you in that doctor's office and..."
"We're fine."
"I know you say that but..."
"I'm telling the truth. I feel a lot better now," she whispered as she touched his face. "And I do believe you Mac. It's Ella who's lying."
"I don't know her game but I have told you everything that happened and always will in any circumstance. That is the truth and I hope you believe me."
"I do believe you," Stella told him with a small smile.
"Are we going to be okay for tonight?"
"Hmm thinking about that already?" Stella smiled.
"I mean are we going to be okay? Any more tension or arguments?"
"As hard as it will be to just ignore anything, I will try to ignore her stupidity and enjoy my husband."
"How are you feeling?" Mac asked in concern.
"Much better thanks to the sleep."
"Hungry? I can order..."
"Nice try mister," Stella finally smiled. "You are making me dinner...in the nude."
"Right...I don't think so and the I'm pregnant bit won't blackmail me into it either," Mac lightly teased and Stella just pouted.
"Half naked?" Stella pressed and Mac just rolled his eyes. Mac finally pushed himself out of bed and started to change into something more comfortable.
"And who said you were no good at doing a strip tease for me?" Stella smiled and Mac looked at her with a slightly embarrassed expression.
"That would have been me," he assured her as he pulled on a t-shirt and then sat down beside her on the warm bed. "What do you feel like?"
"You," she replied and his nervous anxiety started to subside. "But if I must choose some real food before dessert..." her voice trailed off as she lowered Mac's lips to hers. "I'd say whatever you want to make, we'll happily eat."
"Hmm you're in a frisky mood right now?"
"Sleep gave me energy," Stella smiled.
"I'll remember that tomorrow morning when you wake up."
"Please do."
"Come when you're ready."
Stella watched him leave and then allowed herself to offer a heavy sigh into the empty room. She didn't fault him for Ella's behavior; assured inside of Mac's faithful fidelity but also knowing that Ella was misguided in her thoughts and intentions in going after a married man. She also knew the lengths that some young desperate women would through for the attention of a man they were fixated with and now worries that Ella will try that in her favor with Mac. Young women could also be very persuasive when needed and she remembered at one time that Ella actually cut herself to get Mac's attention. Mac of course brushed it off at the time, insisting it was just a mental imbalance which prompted him to seek help for her.
"She better leave us alone," Stella lightly grumbled as she finally pushed herself from the warm bed, changed and then headed into the kitchen to help her husband with dinner. She set the table and then walked back into the kitchen and then wrapped her arms around Mac's waist and planted a warm kiss on the back of his neck while he hovered over the stove.
Just as she was about to say something more, the phone rang and Stella hurried to open it.
"Millie, hi," Stella greeted Mac's mother.
"Just calling to see how my family is doing."
"Doing just fine. Mac is making us dinner right now."
"Trying not to burn the place down," Mac offered in veiled sarcasm.
"He say's he's going to try out for Iron Chef," Stella teased and Mac just shook his head. "No we are all doing fine," Stella mentioned and Mac looked back at her in concern. "Nope nothing to worry about, I'm feeling fine these days. We pick up the crib on the weekend and then we'll work at getting a few more things done."
"Stella, I know Mac will say its okay but if you think it'll be too crowded for me to be there right after the baby is born, you just tell me and I'll..."
"Nonsense, we'd be happy to have you stay here. Just hope you don't mind sleeping on the small futon in the office."
"Not at all. I know Mac will be on hand to help, but trust me honey, he's a first time father. He'll need some help also."
Stella talked a bit longer before she hung up and then looked at Mac with a small frown. "Mac, I wasn't about to tell her about all this Ella nonsense. I hope that after today, after you called her, that things will now die down and that will be it."
"I want that as well," Mac replied as he brought the finished meal to the table. "Iron Chef huh? I think I'd get my ass kicked by one of those guys."
"Well if I was the judge you'd win for sure."
"You are the judge tonight," Mac smiled as he gently squeezed her hand. "I just hope that you feel better after dinner."
"Your mother was asking again if we were going to get a Diaper Genie."
"A what?" Mac queried. "Does it make diaper's disappear?"
"Almost," Stella laughed. "It makes the smell disappear when you put the used diaper into the genie."
"Okay I'm lost. And we need this why?"
"Well somehow I doubt you'll want cloth diapers."
"That's a given."
"And unless we have something to disinfect the smell with..."
"Right and this thing does all that?"
"It does. You insert the used diaper. It encases it in plastic and deposits into a base that will mask the smell and bacteria."
"Whatever makes this easier for us I'm all for," Mac stated in a low tone.
Mac and Stella continued with their dinner, talking further about the baby's room, what else they would need in the way of larger items and how Stella's being off would further affect them both.
"Thank you for an amazing dinner."
"Just glad the baby liked it also," Stella replied warmly as they sat on the couch, just relaxing. "You know our baby is going to be brilliant right?"
"She'll have your looks and brains."
"She? Maybe he'll have your handsome charm and determination."
"Ah," Mac smiled as his fingers gently massaged her shoulder, her head resting on his shoulder. "But we aren't going to push our child into a path unless they want it."
"Mac?"
"Stella, I grew up knowing only one course. I studied sciences in school and university because I wasn't interested in anything else subject wise, but my father had instilled into my brain from a small boy that the Marines was the only logical career path. I want our child, boy or girl, to have the free will to do what they want. Promise me that."
Stella looked at him with a gentle frown before she touched his cheek and guided his lips to hers. "You never have to worry about that Mac. I am not going to push our child in any direction except the one they want to succeed at. I will back you on that."
"Thank you," he smiled warmly as he kissed her back. Mac wrapped his arms around her and gently eased himself back, pulling her on top of him. Her belly pressed into his stomach but he simply lifted her top over her head and smiled as he felt movement as the warmth from the two of them continued to heat their unborn child.
Mac's fingers entangled themselves in her curls as he guided her lips to his and started to hungrily devour them. Stella had already eased Mac's shirt off and her fingers now danced around the zipper of his jeans; her ears delighting in the soft moans of delight as her actions finally freed him.
"Stella are you sure? After today..."
"Mac I'm fine," she tried to assure him, wanting to make sure she let the night end as she wanted and not as Ella McBride wanted. "Please Mac...make love to me."
She felt Mac's arm hands on her back, holding her close while his lips nibbled on her ear lobe, forcing her own moans of delight to fill the room with contended sounds of two happy people making love.
"Make love to me Stella," Mac begged as his lips silenced her once more, his tongue gently pushing it's way into her mouth as she moved herself into a comfortable position and their union started; slow and steady at first, but as their passion increased, so did their rhythm.
With Stella's belly a lot more swollen than even a month ago, their movements weren't as in the past, but their love was still brought to the fore by moans of delight and gasps of pleasure.
"You feel amazing," Mac whispered as his lips tasted the sensitive skin below her soft ear lobe.
"Still feels strange," she gently smiled as she looked down at Mac, small beads of sweat starting to run down her forehead, thanks to the natural heat from their movements and from the child growing inside them.
"Come to me Stella," Mac groaned as her movements increased.
She felt the baby move and offered a strong push and Mac's body responded in pure ecstasy.
"Wow that was..." Mac offered almost out of breath.
"Amazing..." Stella moaned as their movements increased, nearing climax.
"Stella!" Mac offered one last time and the room was finally still, three hearts beating rapidly.
Stella flopped down on Mac, out of breath and glistening with sweat.
"You are hot," Mac whispered as he pushed some sweat soaked curls off her neck.
"The baby is a natural furnace," Stella replied with a weak smile. "I think I'll need a cold shower after this."
"So that's why the covers all end up on me in the middle of the night and I wake up half baked," Mac stated dryly and Stella giggled as she pushed some sweaty hair off his damp forehead before kissing him once more.
"Mmm a Maco taco. Good enough to eat," Stella teased and Mac just offered a slight smirk as he looked at her with a slight frown.
"I'm glad you're okay."
"Me too," she whispered warmly.
They lay in each others arms for a bit longer before they slowly pulled apart and then pushed themselves up. Mac gently draped her robe around her warm body and hugged her tightly against his chest once more.
"Let's go to bed," Mac suggested as he pulled on his underwear. They headed for the bedroom when the phone rang.
Mac looked at Stella with a frown and she just shrugged as he went to answer.
"Is this the home of Mac Taylor?"
"Yes it is. Who's calling?" Mac inquired.
"This is Dr. Keeble down at the union street medical drop in center."
"What's going on?"
"Do you know an Ella McBride?"
"Why?"
"Well we found her in the alley behind here, cut and bleeding. She won't let us near her however and has a knife. She says she only wants you to come for her."
"What?" Mac asked in shock, looking at Stella in horror.
"Can you please come? She's already lost a good amount of blood and we don't want her to get worse."
"Is there no one else that can help?"
"We asked and she was adamant that only Mac Taylor be called and that she'd only allow you to help her. Please. She needs your help."
"I'll be right there," Mac sighed as he hung up.
"Mac, what is it?"
"Ella McBride is in an alley bleeding badly and told the medics that she'll only allow me to help her."
"What? Mac you can't be serious."
"Stella..."
"Are you going?"
"Well I can't let her bleed to death can I?"
"Mac this is a game for her and you know it. She's done this before."
"Then I am going to face her in person and put an end to this game tonight!"
Stella looked at Mac in anger and crossed her arms in frustration. "Well then if you are going to see her, then I'm going with you."
A/N: okay so think Ella might take the hint? Think she'll be happy when Stella shows up with Mac? please review and let me know and thanks in advance!
PS: NY Stories updated tomorrow