Hi guysss, long time no publish :b
I'M SO SO SO SO X10000000 SORRY for being SUUUUPPEERRR late on this! Like, before summer break (I believe)! Ahhhh! I realllly apologize for that but I hope you all will enjoy this chapter. It [should] be longer then the other ones, at least by a little bit. I will try to get the next chapter up soon, but my schedule gets a little busy :b
Special thanks to my beta: Brii Taylor. (: Thank you so much for everything so far: your ideas, your edits, your compliments as well as your criticism! I know you're super busy yet I put my terrible writing skills for you to fix! *Mwah!* hugs and kisses to you ^^
All rights go to CBS ): -OMG! HAVE YOU SEEN THE NEW SEASON OF CSI NY? The latest episode, I actually quite enjoyed Jo. She's growing on me :O hahah But i LOVED the first episode with Claire. AWWW they were so cuteee! ((((: If only they could have an episode like that with Mac and Stella... -
Enjoy (:
PS-found a mistake :b it's all correct now (:
"AUNTIE STELLAAAA!" Lucy squealed, jumping off her father's lap and running over to the guests that had just came through the door.
Stella crouched down, opening her arms to the running Lucy.
"Hey baby girl!" Stella said, picking Lucy up and gave her little kisses on the cheek. Lucy giggled and wrapped her arms around her neck.
Lucy turned her head to look at her mother and said, "Mommy, Auntie Stella's here!"
While talking to Lindsay, Lucy's attention shifted to the man in the light blue dress shirt, standing in the entryway. Lucy released her stranglehold on Stella's neck and laughed again, clapping her hands.
"Uncle Macky!" Lucy squealed, as she struggled to get out of Stella's arms. Stella let go of her and smiled as she ran towards her godfather.
"Hi, princess," Mac said, taking Lucy into his arms.
Stella gave Lindsay a hug and a kiss on the cheek, and turned to see the rest of the team sprawled along the couch and floor, absorbed in a Ranger's game.
Lucy ran over to her father, and tugged on an arm that was hanging loosely over an arm rest.
"Daddy, Daddy, Auntie Stella's here!"
"Hey Stell," said Danny as he lightly slapped Flack in the arm who was sitting on the other end of the couch, yelling at the ref about the wrong call. "Watch it, Mess-oh, hey Stell. There's a spot between me and Dann-o for you if you'd like," Flack offered, then hitting Adam on top of his head who was sitting right in front of him. "What, Flack?" growled Adam, already frustrated from the argument coming from the two sitting next to him. Don pointed his finger in Stella's direction then went back to focusing on the game. "Stella! I'm so glad you're here!" Adam said while stretching his arms, getting ready to stand up. "I can't hear anything with these two-," Adam pointed to Sheldon and Sid, "-arguing about stupid head trauma that could come from the game!" Danny whacked his back with his hand and said, "And I can't hear anything from your yelling!" Adam quickly scurried aside and gave Stella a hug. It was too short of a hug for his liking but he noticed Mac glaring at him and decided he should go sit back down. Both Sid and Hawkes looked up, said hi, and then went back to talking about injuries. After he took off his shoes, Mac joined the others guys in cheering and shouting at the TV.
Stella helped Lindsay out with the last few touches on the meal, and then sat down at the table set for 9 and chatted with Lindsay, catching up and exchanging stories.
As soon as the game was done, all the men joined the ladies at the table, laughing and joking loudly, eagerly rehashing every detail of the game. The table, usually almost a perfect square, had been increased a little by a removable leaf for the occasion, and though everyone would be a little squished, it got the job done. Lindsay and Stella remained in their seats next to each other; Lucy hopped into her booster seat, which was two spots over from Stella. Mac quietly claimed the spot he presumed best: the one between Stella and Lucy. Danny sat down on the other side of Lucy and then Flack sat down next to him. Adam and Sheldon claimed the next two seats, and Sid sat down in the last open spot.
"Flack, grab the potatoes. Adam, you get the corn. Mac, could you get the steak? Lucy's is the thinnest piece. Danny, honey, the wine's in the fridge. Sid, get the salad; dressings are in the fridge. Hawkes, there's a marble piece in the oven along with the rolls. Take it out when you get the rolls, put it in this basket, put this cloth in over it, and then put the rolls in the cloth. Be careful, that marble's hot. Put it all on the table and then sit down," Lindsay directed.
"Now boys, we're gonna use our manners, right?" said Lindsay looking at Don, Danny and Adam.
In unison, they answered "Yes, mother."
A split-second later the table burst out in laughter, except for Lucy who had no idea what was so funny.
"Okay, dig in!"
They all dug in, talking and laughing, chatting happily. Lucy had steak and some green beans in front of her and a set of pink silverware. She turned to her father, and saw his bigger and better adult knife.
"Daddy, I wants a knife like yours," Lucy said, pointing to the knife in his hand.
"Mommy already cut up your steak, sweetheart," Danny replied, shaking his head.
"I wants a knife!" Lucy whined, slamming her fists down on the table and shaking her legs back and forth.
Mac recognized these actions, as they had happened many times before. He sensed a tantrum and needed to stop it before it started.
"Princess, knives are dangerous and Daddy doesn't want you to get hurt," Mac stepped in, trying to reason with her.
"I won't get hurt, Uncle Macky. Pretty please with a cherry on top?" Lucy begged. She wrapped her tiny arms around Mac's muscular one and hugged it tightly, hoping to persuade Mac a little more.
"I gotta go with your Daddy on this one," Mac said, not willing to budge.
Before things could get out of hand, Lindsay came to the rescue as she placed a butter knife in front of Lucy. "This or nothing, sweetie," said Lindsay.
Lucy gave Lindsay a kiss on the cheek, and told her thank you. She then took the knife in her hand and started imitating Danny. The knife, too large for her hands and far too dull, didn't work too great on a steak but she kept trying, letting out little grunts along the way. Finally, she managed to tear a piece away. The chunk of steak accidentally flew from her plate and landed in Adam's mashed potatoes just as he was about to take a bite, causing some mashed potatoes to splatter on his face. Adam stared at the piece of steak.
"What the…" Adam mumbled, looking around.
The rest of the team laughed as Lucy put her hands over her mouth.
"Sorry, Uncle Adam," Lucy apologized, looking at Adam with puppy- dog eyes.
"Ha ha, it's okay Lucy. Just scared me a little there," Adam said with a reassuring smile. Lucy grinned back.
Hawkes, who was sitting next to Adam, leaned over and grabbed the renegade piece of steak. "Mmmm, steak mixed with mashed potatoes; my favorite! He said popping it in his mouth with a grin. Lucy giggled then gestured for Mac to bend down a little.
"Uncle Macky, can I have some of your steak?" she whispered in his ear.
"You haven't even had a bite of your steak, Lucy," he said, looking at her plate.
"But yours looks yummier, Uncle Macky, please?" she asked, her voice still a whisper.
Mac nodded, then waited for Danny to turn his head before he put Lucy's hands in his, guiding her hands carefully, helped her cut a piece off his steak. Lucy clapped her hands in joy as he slipped it onto her plate, and then rewarded Mac with a kiss on the cheek.
"Hey, I saw that you two," Danny said playfully, wagging his finger at them. He then bent and kissed his daughter's head, whispering "Did you tell Uncle Mac, thank you?"
Lucy turned her head towards Mac, told him thank you and quickly started eating her steak.
The dinner portion of the night finally came to an end, and the team had settled into a talking mood. They asked Stella about New Orleans, new coworkers, and how it feels to be in Mac Taylor's place. Thankfully for Mac, the team never asked Stella about her romantic life. They knew that something was building between the two and no one wanted to mess that up. The team also talked about funny stories with cases and such.
"Yeah, one time Camille and I-" Sheldon started saying before Stella cut him off mid-sentence.
"Woah, Camille?" Stella asked, raising her eyebrows at him.
"She's my girlfriend," Sheldon said proudly, "Here I have a picture." The doctor dug into his pocket and took out his cellphone, showing a picture of him and Camille.
"She's very pretty, Sheldon," Stella complimented.
"Yeah," Hawkes said happily, looking at the photo with a smile on his face. "She is, isn't she?"
Stella smiled back at him. Meanwhile, Lucy was getting impatient.
"Mommy, dessert time yet?" asked Lucy as she grabbed and tugged on her mother's shirt.
"Yeah mommy, when's dessert?" asked Flack jokingly with a smirk.
Lindsay rolled her eyes at Flack before turning to her daughter and saying, "Wanna help me bring it out, sweetie?"
Lucy nodded her head enthusiastically and jumped off her seat, running to the kitchen with Lindsay close behind. Presently, they returned.
Lucy held her hands above her head and held the dessert while Lindsay supported it on the sides. Out came a strawberry shortcake that said 'Welcome back Stella' in blue frosting and neat cursive.
When Stella saw the cake made especially for her short return, she felt tears building up in the corners of her eyes. She missed the team. Though she loved her own team, her and Mac's team couldn't be replaced. They weren't just a team; they were family. She felt guilty thinking this, but she wished to be back in New York –for good -once again.
"I putted the strawberries on!" Lucy exclaimed.
The strawberries were placed in a disorganized heart shape, one half of the heart being bigger than the other.
The team complimented Lucy on her strawberry-placing skills and her round face broke into a wide grin. Lindsay sliced the cake into pieces and gave Stella the biggest one.
"This is good!" said Flack with his mouth full.
"Yeah it is! Did you make it?" Adam asked innocently.
Lindsay nodded, and then continued eating her cake. Danny scoffed.
"It was one of those from the box that you add water to. Linds can't bake a cake to save her life!" He said insensitively.
"I still did the work..." she mumbled, looking down into her plate.
"But she did write the 'welcome back Stella'," Danny said, smiling at his embarrassed wife.
"Beautiful penmanship, Lindsay," Sid said, putting his hands together for a soft applause.
"Thank you very much, Sid," Lindsay said, giving him a small smile.
The night continued with more cake eating and lots of small talk. Then it came to an end as Lucy had fallen asleep in Mac's arms and all of them had work the next morning.
Mac walked with Stella to the door; Lucy still asleep in his arms with her head resting on his chest. Lindsay and Danny followed to say their goodbyes and retrieve their daughter.
"Oh this is so adorable! Hold it one sec you two," Lindsay said, and quickly ran over to the counter where her red digital camera was sitting.
Lindsay motioned with her hands for them to get closer so Stella scooted over to Mac. Mac carefully put an arm around Stella, making sure not to move and wake up Lucy. Stella slipped an arm behind his back and let it rest on his waist while the other one was gently placed on Lucy's back. Lindsay captured the moment; smiles playing on all four of the adult's faces.
Mac returned Lucy to her mother's arms and while he was leaned over he whispered to Lindsay, "I want a copy of that picture."
As Mac and Stella were finally going to leave, Danny stopped them again and grabbed the camera out of his wife's hands.
"Woah, woah there. Stay there for a couple more seconds," Danny said.
The two detectives looked at Danny with a look of confusion, annoyance and frustration as they waited for him to continue.
"Just you two in the picture now," Danny said, motioning them together like Lindsay had done.
Mac put his arm around Stella's waist while the other rested in his pocket while Stella's arm went behind his back, gently grabbing his shoulder.
Danny snapped the picture just as Mac mumbled something to Stella making her laugh. Her head leaned back, and her other hand landed softly on his torso. Mac had a big smile on his face, his eyes glued on Stella.
"Perfect," Danny said with a grin. It was a beautiful picture, a perfect picture, with Mac looking down, his usually serious demeanor gone, replaced by a gentle smile. Lindsay peeked a look at the picture over Danny's shoulder and smiled. It was a beautiful picture; a picture that Lindsay already knew would be sitting in Mac's office, framed and in a place of pride, maybe his desk. He would look at it every day, and smile. She knew Stella would want one, too, to have in her own office, and maybe one at her apartment. She caught Stella's eye and smiled gently, and Stella smiled back, her eyes shining.
"Let me see it!" she said, laughing. Lindsay took the camera from Danny and showed it to Stella. Lindsay studied her friend's face as she looked at the picture, the way it softened something in her features, and knew something had changed. As Stella looked at the picture, she was reminded that even when things were most difficult, she had someone to depend on. And even when cases weren't going right, as would, she would remember his advice.
Everything's connected. It struck her as odd, in that moment—everything's connected. Maybe things were more connected than she thought. Maybe the whole thing—the case, having to go to New York, meeting up with Mac again—maybe it was all connected, as Mac so often said. She looked up at Lindsay and smiled.
"That's perfect," she said. "Print a copy of that, will you?"
"Of course," Lindsay said. "One for both of you."
Mac stepped quietly forward and slipped a hand around Stella's waist, sneaking a look at the picture and smiling. "That would be great, Lindsay, thanks."
"No problem," she said. "Good night."
"'Night," Stella said around a sudden yawn. Mac smiled.
"We'll see you guys tomorrow," he said to Danny and Lindsay as he led Stella out the door. Lindsay smiled and Danny and Mac exchanged nods.
"That really was a nice picture," Stella said as they walked down the hallway.
"You really did look beautiful," Mac said. "Why did you laugh?"
She shook her head, staring at him with a strange look on her face, and said nothing. After a moment, Mac's lips twitched a tiny smile and he brushed his lips against her temple. He thought of the picture and hoped she knew what he was thinking when the flash went off—that no matter what, no matter where they were, they always had each other.
So, what'd you think! You know what I think? I think you should drag your mouse towards the bottom of the page and click that little review button (: Sounds like an awesome idea, no?
I hope you guys thought it was amazingggg XD but even if you didn't, you should all still comment. Pretty please with whipped cream and cherry on top? (;
Merci beaucoup! Au revoir mes amis (: