So I am finally updating this story! I know, it seems like a miracle. I apologize for the delay but with work and getting ready to head back to school I have been swamped.
Note: I have decided how I will frame this story. I am going to incorporate what happens with new episodes of the show as they go along and still have each chapter build off the next. The further I get into this story, the more it will stray from the actual show and so I will have be more picky about what from the show is included or not. For this chapter though, it's easy: it follows exactly what happened in episode 5 and 6. The only difference is the scene I added to episode four (which is chapter 1) where Mac tells Will she was at Northwestern. So, chapter 2 takes place immediately after episode 6. Does that make sense? I tend to not make sense when explaining things .

Other note: Like I said, I am super busy and so updating at all is already a miracle. I am going to really try since there are so few fics for this show and people seem to want me to continue. But, the one thing I can't promise is editing. I write this fic usually at 12 a.m. or later and I basically just write it and post it and don't read over it. Trust me, I understand how obnoxious that is. I used to be a copy editor and so I promise, I know punctuation and grammar and such. But, I just don't have the time, so this is my official apology on the misspelling and crap you will most likely find. If there is something super wrong, let me know and I will fix it. Sorrrrry, but I just don't have the time; forgive me? :)

Disclaimer: ... Do I really need to put this? I do, because everyone else does, but is there anyone really out there assuming I own anything? I don't think so. :p

Setting: Mac's apartment the same night that we end episode 6

It had been too long of a day. Hell, it'd been a rough couple of months.

As Mac lay on her couch late at night, she flipped through channels not paying any attention to what flashed on the TV screen. All she could think about was that ring. That god damn ring and how wonderful and how messed up her life was at the same time.

They were doing a show the were proud of. Sure, there were a few bumps in the road now and then. Will's dating life ending up in the tabloids, Leona and Reese's disapproval of their choices, Sloan's mess up with her source, but at the end of the day, there were producing an honest news show with integrity.

Oh, and then of course, to top it all off there was the whole Wade issue. He used her. But what was worse was that he used her and she had no idea the entire time. She was Mackenzie Mchale. She was the best EP in the business. She survivedbeing embedded for years and was a veteran journalist. How could she have allowed herself to be deceived by that jack ass? That's what bothered her the most. A large part of her felt that she deserved it. She shouldn't had been so naive. She should've known that her and Wade could never be serious.

Wade seemed like a great guy. He was funny, nice, even tempered and smart. She could relax when she was around him; he didn't throw her a quip after every sentence she spoke. Being with Wade had been easy. But he wasn't Will. Will wasn't just smart, he was a rare kind of intelligent. He challenged her-constantly-and as annoyed as she seemed by it, she loved it. He knew her better than anyone else and she knew him. However, all of that was tainted. They had a history-too much history. She knew she hurt Will, but she also knew there was more to his pain than just her unfaithfulness, but she couldn't pinpoint exactly what…she hoped his time with Dr. Habib would help. She didn't know if he would ever let her in again and being with someone shouldn't have to be so difficult. 'Should it?'

They had moments, her and Will, moments that brought out the best in the relationship: the moments of bickering flirtation and the moments of genuine care of each other. In those moments, she could temporarily deceive herself that they had a shot, that they could be together again. But, those moments, as often as they came, never lasted. Quickly after they began letting each other in, they'd simply go back to work as if nothing had ever happened. She told him that she was at Northwestern and the next day, neither of them acknowledged that conversation. They had shared an embrace after the "Rudy" reenactment and had a drink together afterward, and once again, the very next day, they returned to their normal work-mode.

She desperately wanted to share a real moment with him and have it last.

Then there was the ring. The DAMN ring. Why did he show her that? Oh God, that was her own fault wasn't it? She had to stride in there and accuse him of something. She should've known it wasn't possible for him to be a villain in their story. He was the perfect guy and she had screwed that up. Then there was the ring-that ring could have been hers. Mac couldn't bear the thought of that ring weighing on her mind. She needed to say something to him-she didn't know what-she just needed to say something-anything.

*Setting: Will's apartment (or shall I say penthouse, because god damn, that apartment is nice! haha okay, back to the story…)

Fuck.

The clock read 2:30 a.m. and Will, once again, lay sleepless on his bed. This insomnia has plagued him for days and he just can't seem to shake it.

Didn't that young psychiatrist say that if I stopped eating bacon before bed I should be able to sleep? And what about that pill he gave me? Why isn't that working. I am going to have to actually go to my next session so I can personally file a complaint on his incompetence.

Before he could even add to his mental list of complaints about the young Habib, Will was interrupted by the doorbell to his apartment.

He quickly glanced at the clock again

Who the hell is paying me a visit at 2:30 in the morning? Hell, who pays me a visit at all, ever?

Annoyed by the fact the late night visitor, but extremely curious, Will stalked to the door to see who it was. When he swung open the door he found a soaking wet Mackenzie Mchale staring wide-eyed at him.

"Mac?"

"Hi, um, it's raining outside…quite a lot actually. And there weren't any close parking spots. You'd think that at a time like this, even in New York city, there'd be better parking but there isn't. New York is ridiculous."

"Mac," Will interrupted her rambling. "You're rambling."

"Right, sorry," Mac said, thoroughly embarrassed and blushing. "I…I just needed to apologize."

"For what?"

"For using the opposition research to try to find something to blame you for. That was petty and stupid and immature. I should've known there was no possible way you could've done something wrong. You are you and you are perfect. There is no way you could have been the bad guy in our story. I am the bad guy and I will always be that guy."

"Mac…" Will, interrupted her as he could see her tearing up, but she continued.

"No, really, I'm sorry. I just needed to tell you. I know it's late. Oh God, how late is it? I should go. Yeah. I should go."

Mac started to turn around to leave, but she felt Will's hand on her arm stop her.

"Mac, you're drenched and it's late. I don't care how good of a neighborhood I live in, I will not have you walk back out to your car at this time of night. Come inside."

He led her inside is apartment and he told her to sit on one of his armchairs while he fetched something in another room. When he reappeared, he had a grey sweater.

"Here, wear this, it'll be like a dress on you since you're tiny, but at least it's dry."

"Will, you don't have to do this."

"You're the only EP I trust so I'd rather you not get pneumonia, because I don't think I will be able handle having Don fill in for you."

She smiled at his joke and went into one of the bathrooms to change. She couldn't believe he was doing this for her.

When she returned to his living room he was pouring two glasses of red wine. He handed one to her and took a sip of his own. They simply stared at each other for what seemed like hours until he finally spoke up.

"I'm not perfect," He began. "I haven't lived life that is good and pure either."

Mac looked at him confused. What was he talking about?

Will continued. "That ring? I had an agent run to the store to buy it the minute I heard about the opposition research. I knew what you'd do and I wanted to one-up you. I told myself it was just a prank, but I knew that it would hurt you. I knew that you'd beat yourself up about it and that it would torture you in your mind, but I did it. It was a mean spirited thing and I shouldn't have done it."

WHAT? It wasn't real? Mac's mind exploded with such confusion she didn't know whether to be relieved or outraged. Does that mean he never wanted to marry me?

As if he could read her mind he continued to explain himself.

"That doesn't mean I had no intention of marrying you. I had every intention, I just hadn't gotten around to buying a ring. You didn't deserve what I did. You also didn't deserve that contract I gave you and you most definitely did not deserve what that prick Wade did to you. You hurt me and part of me still can't deal with that. But, the other part of me loves you very much."

Mackenzie stared at him. She could barely believe what he just told her. A few silent tears fell down her cheeks and before she knew it he had his arms around her, similarly to the way he held her on Valentines Day. She buried her face in his shoulder for a few minutes before gazing up at him again.

"Will…" She was at a loss for words.

He lowered his head and gently lowered his lips to hers and she quickly returned the kiss.

Once they came back for air she rest her forehead on his and whispered.

"I love you."

Once they finally removed themselves from their embrace, Will suggested they find a movie on TV since it didn't seem like they could get any sleep at this point. The moment they just shared was intense and special and emotional, but they weren't quite sure were they stood They didn't know where to go from there and neither dared discuss it right then because neither wanted to ruin the peaceful perfection of the moment. They laid on the couch for about a half hour, Mac resting her head on his chest, until they finally fell asleep with the TV on.

So what happens when they wake up the next day?…chapter three!
Let me know if this is even half decent and you want me to continue in a review. :) :D