Title: All I need is You
Chapter 14 - A Small Reprieve & A Large Reward
The first time Mac was pulled from his tormented slumber his stomach once again heaved into the toilet, his body trying to get rid of the drugs this time mixed with food.
"Mac?"
"Maybe I shouldn't have eaten," he gently wheezed as he slowly stood back up, his head slightly dizzy and pounding.
"Sorry."
"Not your fault, as I hadn't eaten all day, too nervous."
"Should have forced you to have those mid-morning Cheezies," Stella remarked.
"Should have."
She handed him some water to rinse his mouth before looking at him in concern.
"Actually I feel better, maybe that's the last of it."
"My stomach hurts just watching you Mac. Are you sure you're okay?"
"The best thing for this kind of withdrawal is liquid intake and letting the body naturally get rid of it. I think the sugary iced tea was the catalyst."
"That and stress."
"And that," Mac agreed as they slowly headed back into the bedroom to once again try to get some much needed rest. "You know, those few painful hours forced me to think on what I would be giving up if she actually um..."
"Mac?"
"I didn't want to miss the appointment. I'm glad you rescheduled."
"Was scary walking in there all alone. I'm very thankful that I'm not doing his alone Mac. I'm happy I have you in my life and we are in this together."
"You'll never be alone Stella, never again."
"And with our baby on the way Mac, neither of us will ever be alone," she whispered as she kissed his cheek.
"Yeah even when we want to be," Mac gently grimaced and Stella just smiled.
"Don't worry Mac, we'll always have our alone time."
"I know," he mentioned with a slight yawn.
"Close your eyes and rest now."
"Okay."
Mac awoke an hour later with another stomach heave, but was thankful this time that he didn't throw up. Stella hurried to get him some water and then gently touched his forehead with her hand.
"I know I'm warm, morphine withdrawals can cause a mock fever."
"Mock?"
"Stella I don't have a real fever, I just need to rest," Mac huffed as he leaned back on the pillow and took her ring hand in his and tenderly kissed it with his lips. He looked up into her worried face and offered a loving smile before her gently pulled her back down beside him, her head resting on his shoulder. She took his hurt wrist in her hand and started to gently massage the skin around the chaffing, not touching the already tender area.
"Stella, I'm fine," Mac told her in truth. His hand reached out and tenderly rubbed her warm belly. When he didn't feel any movement he looked up at her with a worried expression. "Stella?"
"Our baby is asleep Mac, we are both fine."
"I will be there for the appointment Stella. I give you my word, we'll walk through that door together."
"Mac, I knew you wouldn't want to miss it, and I wasn't about to share this first time experience without you; no matter what. As I said before, I've worked too hard for my family to ever allow anyone to destroy it."
Mac smiled at her words and kissed the top of her head. "I'm glad we got Sinclair to agree to no more on call evenings or weekends."
"Will be nice to have some quality time with our baby. But have we thought about a daily babysitter for when I go back to work?"
"Stella, you know my answer."
"Mac, we can't ask your mother to move here and..."
"We both trust her and...Stella we hear so many horrible stories about the wrong baby sitter and...you know my mother wants this and..."
"It's going to be a lot of work for her Mac. Your mother is older than..."
"You know since my father died, my mother has only asked me once about giving her a true grandchild. I never pushed for the issue because Claire and I always thought we'd have time. But now...Stella when I talk to her on the phone...the tone of happiness in her voice. She wants this Stella, she really does," Mac's voice trailed off, forcing Stella to look up at him in wonder. He looked down at her with a warm smile before he continued. "She loves both of us very much. Trust me Stella, if she couldn't do it, she would say so."
"I agree Mac, I would love her to help us out an regular basis. I just don't want her to give up her life for..."
"We are her life."
"I would like her to help us."
"Then tell her," Mac lovingly urged. "It would make her happier than you can imagine. Just like you make me happy."
Stella beamed under his praise as she gently lowered his mouth to hers and tasted his lips. "You make me happy."
"I love you."
"More than anything," she finished.
Mac smiled as he turned off the light and closed his eyes, once again trying to find some small comfort in sleep. His mind wanted to show strained images of his capture by Ella but his heart finally won out and showed him pictures of his wedding and once again his mind was at peace, long enough to get some solid rest, his body finally free of all the chemical poisons that Ella had forced into him.
Stella opened her eyes the following morning but it was the smell of breakfast that forced her fully awake, the smell of fresh coffee and tasty bacon. A large smile played upon her face as she watched Mac slowly appear in the doorway, his pale color finally replaced with the regular handsome expression that greeted her every other morning.
"Smells wonderful," Stella commended as Mac eased himself down on the edge of the bed. He pushed some curls aside as he kissed her on the cheek. "Mmm breakfast Mac," she teased as she allowed herself to linger in his scent mixed with bacon and coffee. "Good enough to eat."
"Hello baby," Mac greeted their child as he placed his hand on her warm belly, taking instant delight as their child moved to the warmth it's father's hand provided. Mac smiled as he felt the movement beneath his fingers and then leaned in closer and whispered a few soft words before planting another kiss on the soft skin.
"How are you feeling this morning?"
"Angry, more than anything. Angry at myself and at Ella for even contemplating something like that."
"She's a danger to herself also Mac," Stella reminded him. "I don't think she'll try something like that again as she hopefully will reason that we'll be ready but she might take drastic measures against herself," Stella pondered, never realizing that she would be the next to feel Ella McBride's wrath.
"What a waste," Mac stated. "I tried to get her to think about that young man Carl but I don't think she's able to reason that he really might care for her. Are you sure you're okay?"
"Are we both just going to rest today Mac?"
"I need to finish up a few things and..."
"Then I am coming in with you."
"Stella?"
"Mac, I'm not going to stay home alone without you here beside me. If you're going in to work, then so am I."
"I can't win this can I?"
"Nope," Stella smiled as she leaned in and kissed her once more. She pushed herself out of bed and then both headed into the kitchen to enjoy their breakfast and fresh coffee. "My weight by the way is right on target."
"You were worried?"
"Well I mean I'm not as...well my figure has stretched a bit and..."
"Stella?"
"Mac was she naked for you?"
"Pardon?"
"You heard me."
"Why are you..."
"Was she?"
"Not completely," Mac frowned. "She kinda had me at a disadvantage but I never gave her what she wanted and I never would have. I love you," he squeezed her hand.
"Mac..."
"I think you are the most beautiful woman in the world, stretches and all," he whispered as he kissed her lips once again. "I noticed but didn't look. Does that make sense?"
"Yes," Stella whispered as she touched his face.
"Do you want all the details?"
"Not really. Mac, I think it would be too painful but my mind can't help but wonder what else she did."
"Then let me put your mind at ease right now. I took the call and went to see her. My biggest mistake was walking into her apartment in the first place and I went in because I thought she had done something with the original tenant. She offered me a hug, and then I felt the needle. I woke up cuffed to the bed and then she came home. She started talking nonsense and I could tell that she was losing her grip on reality and fast. She offered to make dinner and then she asked if we could have sex afterward," Mac continued and Stella could feel her anger starting to rise. "I told her I would agree if she let me hold her."
"Mac?"
"Stella, I needed to get her to uncuff my wrist so that both hands would be free and I could overpower her somehow. Trust me Stella, it was all talk, I had absolutely no intention of having sex with her or offering her a hold outside of a choke hold. Your love and trust I hold sacred. You have to believe me, I did not violate anything between us."
"I believe you Mac."
"Trust me, even saying to her I wanted to hold her was one of the toughest lies I have had to offer."
"Then what happened?"
"We thankfully ran out of time. She had changed into um..."
"Her lacy underwear?"
"Stella..."
"Did she?"
"Yes for the most part."
"For the most part?"
"It wasn't for very long. She was about to uncuff my wrist when the phone rang. She ran to answer it and I heard her yelling at Carl and then she came back into the room, with the needle and telling me she had to leave for a bit and would be back. I managed to break the needle but I still was forced to take some in. Thankfully I heard your voice calling and then and Don appeared and I knew I was safe. And that's it, I swear...all of it."
Stella looked at her husband with a strained expression.
"I never wanted to hurt you."
"She did Mac, not you."
"Stella, please go and have your shower and I'll clean up here and then we'll get ready and head into the office. Today we'll both just take it easy; doing nothing to jeopardize tomorrow's appointment."
Stella nodded her head in agreement allowing Mac to start with the dishes. But just as he's about to start washing the phone rings and he hurried to answer it, thankful that it's Flack calling and not Ella.
"Hey Mac, how are you this morning?"
"Better. Thanks for the help. Any word?"
"Got a tip that someone might have seen her on the subway so we are following that up. Stella okay?"
"She's going to be."
"She was really worried about you Mac. To be honest I was also."
"For a few minutes there so was I," Mac huffed as he ran his fingers through his short hair and offered a heavy sigh. "We'll both be in in a little while but if you hear of anything sooner..."
"Yeah I'll call, no worries there Mac. Just take care of Stella, okay? I mean Jess thought she was going to go into premature labour or something."
"What?" Mac asked in a strained tone as he looked toward the bathroom door just as the water stopped.
"Sorry Mac, but you know Stella, she puts on a brave face for everyone."
"Yeah even me," Mac sighed as he hung up. He watched Stella exit the bathroom and followed after her into the bedroom and watched her as she removed her robe, just a few touches of cotton covering her lush frame.
"I know you're there," Stella mentioned, not looking up.
"You are the most amazing woman in the world," Mac commented as he slowly walked up to her and carefully gathered her freshly body into his arm. "Mmmm shower Stella. Man you smell good," he mumbled as his brain started to play with thoughts of her tempting scent. "Stella, Don told me that yesterday you were in a lot of pain."
"It was just a few twinges."
"Stella? Please..."
Stella looked up at her husband, his arms still holding her tightly against his chest and finally nodded her head. "I just didn't want to worry you further. It was just stomach cramps and they weren't as bad as before, Mac I give you my word on that."
"But Don said it nearly felt like false labour."
"It was...painful."
"Damn," Mac gently cursed as he looked away.
Stella's fingers turned his face back to hers and brushed his cheek. "I wasn't going to let her win. I never will."
"You also can't fight..."
"Mac, we are both fine. Please no more of this? For me?"
Mac looked at her with a hint of uncertainty but knew that arguing with her would do more harm than good so simply nodded his head in agreement and let her finish dressing. His eyes lingered on her swollen belly as his mind once again took comfort and delight in the fact that child she was caring was also his; theirs.
"I can't wait until tomorrow," Mac mentioned after they were both ready and heading out the door to the lab. "To see the first images of our child."
"I remember when my friend Beth had hers done and I saw it and I couldn't imagine the happiness she was feeling inside because it wasn't my child I was looking at. Now my excitement is just as high as yours. I can't wait to hold a picture of my very own. To share that happiness with you."
Having no vehicle to be transported in, both got into a cab and then settled back as the cabbie carried them to their destination.
"We are going to leave an officer at the apartment for a few more days," Mac mentioned as the cab neared the lab.
"Think she's still in town?" Stella wondered as they both got out of the cab and headed inside.
"I hope she's decided to be smart about this and left town, but I'm not sure," Mac replied as his phone rang. "Don, what's up?"
"Just talked to Carl Franklin, Ella's so called boyfriend. He said that he called her last night and she yelled at him and the time of the call was just around the time Stella figured out where you were."
"Figured out?"
"Women's intuition," Flack laughed. "Trust me Mac, I have learned not to mess with it. In any case, he doesn't know where she went and actually sounds worried."
"Because I think this Carl actually cares for her," Mac replied as he looked at Stella with a frown as they lingered outside the entrance to their building. "What else?"
"That's it. Said she had a botched job interview and was mad about that and...Mac he said she mentioned your name a few times while they were having sex. A little obsessed."
"Her hold on reality is waning rapidly, that's what makes her such a danger to herself and those around her."
"He didn't know where else she could go, but Jess and I are at their apartment right now so we'll let you know what else we can find."
"Did she mention anything else that would shed light on where she might be?"
"No, he said she sounded hysterical and crazy, talking revenge but that's about it; nothing specific. I'll let you know."
"Don?"
"He and Jess are at Carl Franklin's place, the young man who Ella is staying with..."
"And probably used along the way," Stella added as they finally got off the elevator and then exited into the hallway, Danny rushing up to them with a heavy frown.
"Mac, you okay?"
"Yes, partly thanks to you," Mac praised and Danny's nervous tension started to ease a little. "What's going on?"
"How long you two here for today?"
"Long enough to be useful. What do you need?"
"Help with the new case."
"Mac you go and help, I have to finish up my paperwork from yesterday," Stella informed him as her fingers gave his arm a gentle squeeze. She watched him offer a slight nod before he took his leave and then she headed for her office to get started on some case files.
"Stella you okay?" Lindsay asked in wonder as she rushed into her office. "I just talked to Mac and thank goodness you were able to find him so fast."
"Don't kid yourself Lindsay, those few hours he was missing felt like an eternity," Stella groaned as she tried to erase the mental image of find Mac drugged and cuffed to the bed. And while part of her was naturally turned on by his helpless state, the fact that she could see visible marks of Ella McBride's advances on him made her stomach instantly tighten.
"Stella?"
"Tough remembering how I found Mac, nothing more," Stella told her in truth.
"Are you feeling okay?"
"I'm doing just fine now. What did you need?"
"Well..." Lindsay started as she approached Stella's desk with the evidence readout. But while Stella forced her mind to concentrate on the question at hand, she couldn't help but wonder what Ella McBride was up to and where she was lying in wait.
Where are you Ella, and what are you up to?
Ella sat curled in the same position she had been since she was jolted awake by a loud noise in the back alley and she knew she couldnt be discovered asleep or she'd be thrown out.
The small coffee shop across the street provided her the perfect place in which to just lie in wait until the heat died down a bit. She had spent most of the night running across town and then finally came to rest in the place she was last night, clear across town from where Mac lived.
But her plan for revenge against Stella Taylor was still fresh in her mind, her obsessive desire now taking hold of everything that sanity went against. Carl had called a bunch of times but she ignore each call; not wanting to hear his voice telling her to come back to him.
"I want to be with Mac," she chanted over and over again as she started into the dark swirling mass of steaming coffee in the cup at her fingertips.
As much as she wanted to go and see how he was feeling or to call and just hear the sound of her voice, she knew she might get his wife and that would incur her anger and she didn't need that right now.
"I don't even want to hear the sound of that woman's voice! Mac said he wanted to have sex with me...that he wanted to hold me while we made love."
"I want to be with Mac..." she went back to her chanting. "He does love me."
"Can't believe how late it is," Stella moaned as they finally reached their apartment and headed inside.
"So much for an easy day," Mac agreed with a slight grin as he took off his coat and helped Stella do the same before they both headed into the kitchen to get started on dinner. Thankfully the talk around this meal didn't revolve around Ella McBride, two new cases taking up most of their conversation.
After dinner Mac went in search of his wife, only to round the corner and once again catch her in a state of undress. "No matter how many times I see you like this, you the most beautiful woman in the world."
"Is that because I'm in mommy-mode right now?" Stella smiled as her husband walked up to her with a hungry stare.
"Well daddy is in I need sex mode right now," Mac whispered warmly as he kissed her ear, forcing a slight chuckle from her mouth before he silenced her with warm hungry kisses.
"I think I'd like that."
"Are you okay?" He asked softly.
Stella twisted herself around in his grasp and pushed him backward onto the bed and looked at him with a playful smile before she started to tug on the bottoms of his dress pants.
"I'd say that's a yes," Mac smiled.
"I want these pants off you...now!" She gently demanded and he was only to happy to comply with her playful demand. Stella tossed his dress pants aside and slowly climbed onto the bed, Mac had already removed his undershirt and had only his boxers on. She smiled as she slowly straddled his waist and for a split second Mac was back in the small bedroom, cuffed and at Ella's mercy. But as his brain was immediately filled with his wife's loving voice, Ella's face quickly faded and his wife's image appeared.
Mac's lips hungrily devoured his wife's mouth before he moved to her ear and started to nibble the lobe, forcing her lips to elicit soft moans of pleasure and delight. His warm fingers undid the clasp of her bra so that her now naked body was ready to move into position on his naked frame.
"Make love to me Stella," Mac begged with a husky tone as he moved her into a position that worked best for her. "Is this okay?"
"Yes," she touched his face tenderly. Her mind always was amazed that he did so much to ensure that her needs were taken care of first and that he did what he could to make sure she was okay; especially now.
"You remember...tell me if anything hurts."
"I will," she said lovingly. "Make love to me Mac."
And while Ella had used the term 'sex' very casually, his intimate act of love making with his wife was something more than just 'sex'; it was beautiful and sacred and something he cherished. He always delighted in putting her needs first, espcially right now, with the new sexual positions they had to try due to her protruding belly. But as their union started, all negative thoughts were quickly replaced with thoughts and sounds of delight.
"I love you Mac," Stella moaned as she felt the baby move the same time as Mac. "Mac...that was amazing," she gasped as his actions forced her to experience the new sensation once more.
"Stella?"
"The baby Mac...it's...it's, wow I've never..."
"Do you want me to stop?"
"Feels too good for you to stop," she breathed as her lips latched onto his once more. "You are amazing...we have to...damn..." she gently cursed and he smiled.
Mac's heart swelled at her praise as their rhythm continued. With the baby inside, he couldn't imagine what she was feeling but as her body offered new responses to his movements, he could only guess it was making her feel better than he thought.
Her back slightly arched into his once more, sweat now forcing curls to stick to skin and heat to grow between them.
"Mac!" Stella gasped one last time before the room was quiet and still. And while Stella used to love the feeling of Mac still inside her after they finished, she knew with her extra weight pushing down on him, her lingering time would have to wait until their child was born.
Stella's naked body spooned up beside his, her eyes now locked with his. Mac looked at her with a warm smile before he pushed some curls off her face and then planted a warm kiss on her damp forehead.
"Stella...what was that?"
"That was you and the baby joining forces to offer me something amazing. I swear to you Mac, I have never felt that good in my life," she praised and his face beamed with love.
"Well whatever you offered in return felt pretty amazing alsoso I'd say that baby and mommy also joined forces to offer me something equally as amazing."
"Not counting tomorrow, because I know tomorrow is going to be amazing in itself, and despite the few and I do mean few little downs, this pregnancy has been an amazing experience. The actual birth I think will be the only thing to be the icing on the cake."
"Well I for one am glad to hear that because I was worried," Mac admitted in truth as he gently brushed some damp curls off her cheek. "But I have to agree with you that aside from the worries as of late and then your unplanned visit to the doctor this whole experience so far has been amazing."
Stella smiled as she leaned in close and kissed his cheek. "And I wouldn't have wanted to share this experience with anyone other than you Mac. No one."
"Then I am happy both our dreams came true," he whispered softly, forcing her to look at him in happy surprise. "What?"
"Just like this romantic side of you."
"You thought I left it behind in Greece?" Mac raised his brows and Stella just poked his side which forced a soft chuckle from his lips. "What can I say, you bring out my good side."
Stella looked down at his warm naked body and then back up at him with an arched brow. "I like all sides of you," she teased and he just rolled his eyes. "Think you'll get any sleep tonight?"
"Stella I'm fine. The Morphine has worn off and..."
"I meant because of the appointment."
"Oh that?" Mac asked with a mock frown, causing Stella to poke his warm side once more. Mac countered with his own poke to her side before his hand once again found its way to the top of her warm belly and his face brightened when he felt the movement of his child beneath his fingers.
"I think our child is going to be a light sleeper," Mac noted.
"Your fault entirely for that trait," Stella stated in a matter of fact term.
"Oh really?" Mac arched his brows as he wrapped his arms around her naked body and pulled her close, kissing her lightly salty lips and offering her a warm smile. "Time for some real sleep."
Mac pulled the covers up over them with one arm while the other was still wrapped around the soft body of his loving wife. And while the night before he had trouble getting some sleep, tonight he just thought back to the amazing sensations his wife forced him to experience tonight and sleep was welcomed.
XXXXXXXX
Mac awoke the following morning, lying on his stomach with a smile on his face. He turned his head to the right to see Stella looking down at him with warm smile.
"Morning handsome."
"Morning yourself," Mac answered with a smile as his eyes wandered to her reading material.
"For the test this afternoon, just want to make sure I have done everything they told me."
"Will it hurt?"
"You asked that before," Stella gently ran her fingers through his head. "No it will not hurt. But it might hurt if I have to fill out another one of these forms."
Mac took the form and looked at the questions. Most were standard, is this your first baby? How far along are you? Estimated due date? Any current medical conditions? "Estimated date of conception? They want to know when we had sex?" Mac queried and Stella just laughed.
"Yes and they want details. Maybe it was the strip tease."
"Stella you are not..." Mac started only to have Stella gently touch his lips with her fingers.
"Dr. Marsh already gave us the estimated date of conception remember?"
"Right...I knew that," Mac frowned and Stella gently shook her head and smiled.
"Not looking forward to having a full bladder but..."
"Pardon?"
"A full bladder, while very uncomfortable helps to lift the baby and will give the ultrasound technician better views of our baby. What?"
"Like it when you say our baby."
"Our baby," Stella repeated. "Come on daddy, time to get ready for the day."
Mac smiled but could only nod his head in agreement as he watched her put down the reading materials and head for the bathroom, always allowing her to get ready first while he started their coffee to go. He exited the kitchen and then looked around their new apartment, not realizing that Stella was watching him.
"What are you thinking about Mac?"
"That I haven't really thanked you for all the amazing work you did in making this apartment look more and more like a home every day. I had told myself to always thank you for even the small things that you might not think important but that I value; making our home a place I want to come to every night is something that I cherish and I just want to say thank you."
Stella's eye glistened with happy tears at her husbands loving words; those warm words still dancing around inside her brain as she headed into the bathroom to get ready for the day, Mac heading back into the kitchen to start breakfast. Having a family on the way, also forced him to slow down a little and enjoy even the simplest of things like having breakfast with his wife; something he also cherished.
Finally an hour later, they were both dressed, well fed and heading into the city; the destination of the ultrasound clinic at the top of their list.
"Why again in the morning?"
"It's usually the best time as most ultrasound tech's are less busy so they can spend more time with us."
Mac held Stella's hand in his and looked at her when he felt it start to cool. "Stella? I thought pregnant women were hot all the time."
"Just a bit worried now."
"Why?"
"Just am."
They finally reached the clinic and slowly walked in hand and hand.
"Welcome back Mrs. Taylor. And is this Mr. Taylor?"
"Sorry for the inconvenience last time."
"Court delays, know all about them," the aide smiled. "Mrs. Taylor do you have a full bladder?"
"Oh yeah," Stella remarked and both ladies gently laughed, Mac looking on with a frown. "Okay so Angie is ready for you now. Please follow me."
"Hello, Stella right? I'm Angie Friedman, but you can call me Angie. Since this is your first, I'll give you a few details. No it will not hurt you or the baby. Yes I have warming gel so you won't have to worry about the cold shock which might tempt the baby to move away from the scope. It's going to be easy and simple and over before you know it. Now you can either completely change or just lower your pants and raise your shirt. This room is private and no one but the three of us will be here."
"I'd prefer not to change."
"Very well, then hop on this table and let's get to work."
Stella eased herself into position as Angie reached for the gel. "This gel helps the sound waves to be clearer and me to be able to get a better picture of your baby. There how does that feel?" Angie asked as she placed some of the warm gel on Stella's swollen stomach.
"Tingles a little," Stella smiled as her hand firmly held onto Mac's.
"Is this the first time for you Mr. Taylor?"
"Yes it is."
"Well then you are in for a real treat," Angie smiled as she pushed a button and a fast pounding sound was heard. "Ready?"
"Is that..." Stella dared to ask as she looked up at Mac.
"That is your baby's heart beat," Angie confirmed.
"Our baby's heart beat..." Mac whispered as his grip around Stella's hand tightened; a lump in his throat.
"The rhythm is normal and if you look here...this is your baby's heart. See the 4 chambers and I'm going to...measure them..." Angie's voice trialed off as Mac gently brushed away a happy tear as it escaped Stella's eye.
"Mac...that's our baby," she whispered as they looked at the tiny image of their child, Mac's eyes watering as well with happy delight. "Our child Mac."
"Ours."
"Okay so here is your baby's stomach...liver...kidneys...all looks normal and healthy. Well from what I can see here," Angie told them.
"That's our baby Mac," Stella whispered again in a happy tone, her sparkly eyes watching their small infant at peaceful rest inside her belly.
"This is um...truly amazing," Mac breathed as he too kept his eyes fixed on the screen before them. "A miracle," he smiled as he looked down at his beautiful wife. "I love you," he confessed and Angie looked at both of them and smiled.
"I do have one important question to ask you right now."
"What is it?" Mac asked in haste.
"Do you want to know the sex of your baby?"
A/N: Okay so, did you like their downtime? Some much needed smex? hehe Please review and let me know and hope you all liked this chapter also. Thanks again!
PS: NY Stories updated tomorrow
PSS: I just created a new poll. Please go to my profile and vote, it's a foregleam into 2010. Thanks so much to everyone who voted in my AU poll, those stories are being planned!