Chapter 3

Mac was watching Stella; she was sleeping peacefully on her bed. They had just made love for the second time in their life. It wasn't exactly planned, like the last time it had just happened.

He had arrived around eleven the same day and gone right to her work place. Over the years he had been there a couple of times before, most for work, but also another time to see her. The other time she had also known he was coming, this time she didn't.

He had taken a cab there and asked the receptionist if Stella was in. The young woman had nodded and pointed her in direction as to where she was at and Mac had walked further into the lab, curiously looking around. He walked past the firearms lab, then to DNA where he saw her bent over a microscope. He smiled at her, her brown hair hanging loosely down over her shoulder as she was completely absorbed into what she was doing, not noticing the world around her, that was one of the things he loved about her.

He walked closer very quietly not to disturb her, when he was behind her; he bent forward and whispered, "See anything interesting?"

Just like that she startled and turned to look at him in disbelief; it took her a moment before she understood that he was really with her and that this was not a dream or a fragment of her imagination. A smile slowly spread over her rosy red lips as she walked over to hug him, saying, "Mac, it's really you, you're really here."

"I am, I figured as you wouldn't return my calls, I had no other choice than to come here to talk to you," he said as he held her close.

"I'm glad that you did," she said, smiling at him.

"So do you need my help for anything?" he said, nodding towards the microscope.

"No, I just need to document the finding and consult with some of my coworkers, then I'm good," she answered, slowly breaking free from his grip.

He nodded, tilting her head, looking at her with thoughtful eyes. She looked back in confusion asking, "What?"

"Just never noticed how beautiful you are before," he said.

She blushed shyly saying, "Could I meet you after work so I won't get distracted?"

"I can agree to that," he said.

"I'll give you my key so you can wait at home, I'll try to get done here as fast as possible," she said. Stella quickly walked out of the lab, most likely to fetch the key from her locker, only to come back and give it to him a moment later. He took it and put it in the pocket of his jacket, gave her a light peck on the cheek before he walked back towards the elevator, leaving a blushing Stella behind.

Mac had ended up reading one of Stella's books until she returned. He could hear her troubling with the key, then taking a long time in the hallway before entering the living room. He put the book aside and looked at her. She put her mail the dining table before looking at him. His kind blue eyes were looking at her with the same wondering as earlier that day.

"Mac…" she whispered, afraid to come closer, afraid that something more might happen. It wasn't that she didn't want it to, she just didn't feel ready.

"Stella," he answered her back, slowly getting up, walking over and placing two hands on her waist, holding her, allowing his lips to carefully brush upon hers. She knew she should back out, at least until they had gotten a chance to talk, but she couldn't. She felt drawn to him like a moth to the flame. And so they had again ended up in bed together.

She had slowly drifted away after a second powerful high, she was simply too exhausted to not do so. And now he was watching over her. Watching over his beautiful star, smiling, feeling content, knowing this was a start of something new, something great, something he wanted more than he had ever wanted anything.

He smiled at her, gently letting his hand caress through her dark curls, making her let out a moan. Figuring he could stay like this, with her forever. He smiled at her, knowing he would have to address the matter of taking it further when she again was awake, but for now he just let her sleep.

Stella fluttered her eyes, and then opened them slowly. Looking over at Mac, that now was asleep next to her. She smiled at him, and then came closer to rest her head upon his chest whispering, "Mac, we…should talk."

"Mph," he let out, opening his ocean blue eyes to look at her, she seemed troubled.

"There is something you should know," she said with a very heavy sigh.

"Which is?" he said, looking at her with great concern, he hadn't harmed her had he?

"Last time you were here we also…Please don't worry, I wanted it as well and you didn't harm me in any way now or then, it's just…" she stopped, looking away for a short second.

"Yes…?" he said, his face was puzzled. He was glad he didn't hurt her, yet something seemed very off.

"I'm…pregnant due to that night, I plan to keep it, but I wouldn't dream of forcing you into having any responsibilities if you didn't wish to," she finished.

Mac looked at her in shock. He had gotten her knocked up. It now made sense to him why she hadn't picked up when he called or returned it. She was probably terrified of his reaction and of being turned down. Not that he would ever do this. This child was after all half his. Knowing he had been silent a moment too long he said, "I want to be there with you every step of the way as this is my child as well."

"But Mac, we're not yet in a relationship, and we live in two different city's now," she said, looking at him for an answer.

"It's funny you should say that, as after that night I wanted to continue it. I wish to be in a relationship with you, and I want this baby. I would ask you to move in with me, but I understand if you want to live here as well and that that might be too rash," he said.

"I…don't know, in all the way of it happening, this was not how I pictured it, I know I want to be with you and that I will need you. It's just an inconvenience that it had to happen when I had finally settled here," she said, sighing heavily.

"Easy my star, we'll figure it out somehow," he said, gently caressing her backside.

"When do you have to go back?" she asked, worried he would have to leave too soon.

"Tomorrow at the latest," he answered.

Without having any control over why tears started to rush down her cheeks, she held onto him hardly, not wanting him to ever leave her, not how. He just did what any devoting man and father-to-be would do, he held her close for comfort as he considered whether he could stay longer than first planned.

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