A/N : Thank you for the reviews and alerts. It's always helpful to know whether it's worth continuing or not. This chapter is still setting the scene so action junkies will have to wait a little longer and I feel that I should give you ... a MAJOR FLUFF warning! Good grief, did I really write this? Please forgive me.

Chapter 2

Lucy clattered across the terrace in her unwieldy boots and launched herself into her father's arms. "Daddy. Daddy. Did you see me? We went on the big slope and I went first." She squealed. "Uncle Mac said we can go again while you and Mommy have your lesson. Uncle Sid what's for lunch? I'm hungry. Phew it's hot. Can I have ice cream?" The words came tumbling out as Lucy excitedly tossed off her gloves and yanked at her scarf. Danny couldn't help but smile at his daughter. No mention whatsoever of the incident that to her mind was already forgotten. He was about to ask her if she was okay when she pushed away from him. "Auntie Stella!"

"How's my Lucy?" Stella wrapped her arms around the little girl. "Do like skiing?"

"It's awesome! We went on the big slope. Did you see me? I lost my ski but Uncle Mac got it for me ... Uncle Mac!" Half the occupants of the bar turned around at her yell making Danny wince as Mac and Lindsay came up the stairs having stowed the skis in one of the lockers in front of the bar. Mac paused to loosen the clips on his boots and unzip the front of his ski-suit to reveal a grey tee-shirt, having discarded hat and gloves and replaced his goggles with sunglasses.

"Mmm. Older than I thought but not bad!" came the voice of Blondie from behind them. "Besides you know what they say about more mature men! Why don't we have lunch here?"

"Hey I saw him first." hissed her friend but Blondie giggled and made an inappropriate suggestion regarding threesomes. Stella turned round to see the two women giving Mac the once over. Stella's hackles rose. How dare they talk about him like that? Stella got up and walked across to him.

"Hey!" Mac began only to be cut off as Stella threw her arms around his neck. If he was surprised to feel her lips on his he didn't show it. As she pulled away with a huge grin, he looked at her puzzled, a shy smile curving his lips. "So you missed me then?"

Stella's eyes sparkled as she whispered. "Just saving you from the ugly sisters at two o'clock." Mac arched an eyebrow and looked over her left shoulder immediately realizing that she wasn't referring to the time but to the position. He grimaced as he saw a short blond woman in a vivid pink jacket and white leggings with spiky blond hair, hard blue eyes and bright pink lips pulled into a pout staring at him. Her dark haired friend dressed in black and red and as their eyes met briefly she offered him an embarrassed smile and turned away. Blondie huffed and turned her gaze back to the slopes in search of other prey.

Mac wondered what he'd done to merit such attention but decided whatever it was it had unexpected consequences and he wasn't about to waste the opportunity so he pulled Stella into a hug and planted a kiss on her cheek. "Well I missed you." Stella felt the heat in her cheeks rise. "I'm glad you were able to get away."

Stella grinned at him. "Well even the boss has to have a vacation!" They joined the others at the table that Jack had laid for them. After introductions to their host and ordering food they settled in for a relaxed lunch.

Sid glared at Mac accusingly. "You never mentioned you could ski."

"Nor did you until you invited us all up here." Mac pointed an accusatory finger at Sid. "To be honest I wasn't sure I even remembered how but when I got the call to say this morning's meeting was cancelled, and on arrival I discovered you were all out and about, I decided to go out for a couple of quick practise runs. It's like riding a bike."

Sid nodded. "Touché! So what do you all think of the lodge?"

"It's gorgeous." Stella beamed. "How on earth did you find it?"

"Friend of my mine has a part share in it. Normally he comes up most weekends at this time of year but he broke his leg and the other owners couldn't make it so he offered it to me. They like to have someone there as much as possible. There's been a lot of break-ins."

"See. I told you skiing was dangerous!" Danny nudged Lindsay who stared at him in astonishment.

"We get break-ins in New York too you know!" she glared at her husband who seemed determined to put a damper on the holiday.

"No I meant breaking a leg."

Sid laughed. "Oh he didn't break his leg skiing. He slipped on the shampoo when getting out of the bath. Now don't think you can get out your lesson that easily Danny!"

Danny looked disgruntled as everyone laughed at his expense. "Should have volunteered to stay behind and man the shop." He muttered. "Could have had a quiet weekend in trace with Sheldon and Adam."

Mac patted him on the shoulder and gestured to the surroundings. "Look on the bright side Danny. This has got to be better than sitting around processing all that glass." Stella looked at Mac quizzically. "Guy got killed in a bar fight. Jo and Sheldon were on call. There has to be six boxes of glass shards to reassemble and process. I thought Adam was going to have heart failure." Mac chuckled. "That is until Cindy volunteered to help him." Danny and Lindsay both giggled.

"You are all incorrigible. Are you trying to set him up?" Sid admonished, shaking his head. "Sometimes I swear the crime lab is more like a dating agency."

Mac threw up his hands attempting to look innocent. "Hey don't look at me. Besides Danny and Lindsay started it now that Sheldon is off The List." Danny and Lindsay shot Mac dirty looks as Stella asked.

"The List?"

Sid laughed. "The crime lab's Eligible Bachelor List. There have been seven weddings in the last four years at the crime lab so they now have an official list of those that are left. And you needn't laugh Mac Taylor … you're on it!" Stella attempted to stifle her laughter at the look of horror on Mac's face. Mac glared at Sid and then at Danny who smiled at him innocently. "You may be the head of the crime lab but you're still a bachelor and eligible so you're on The List." Mac shuffled uncomfortably under their gaze but his embarrassment soon went unnoticed with the arrival of food. The rest of the meal passed happily as they caught up on news, discussed the programme of events and generally enjoyed a break from their usual hectic life-style. As the meal drew to a close, Mac picked up the bill and Sid excused himself as he was meeting up with some friends who were going to tackle one of the harder cross-country trails.

Lindsay pulled at Danny's sleeve. "Come along dear, time to pick up our equipment. Our lesson starts in thirty minutes." She purred as Danny's sulk deepened.

"Oh come on Danny. It'll be fun!" Stella got up. She leaned over to Mac and whispered in his ear. "I'll see you later so behave yourself." Mac smirked and watched them leave, Lindsay and Stella almost frog-marching Danny off the terrace and down the stairs. He looked like a condemned man being led from his last meal. As Mac turned his head back he noticed the two 'ugly sisters' staring at him. He flinched glad that he was already spoken for. He leaned across the table to his god-daughter who was finishing her ice-cream.

"So I guess it's just you and me. Are you ready to go?" Lucy jumped up.

"Yeah! Can we go all the way to the top Uncle Mac?" Mac smiled at his young charge and suggested they do the lower run a couple of times first for practise and then if she wasn't too tired they could do another slightly longer green run that was designed for families.

Sandra leaned over to her friend, brushing her dark hair behind one ear. "Did you hear that Em? 'Uncle Mac' is a bachelor and eligible?" Her little blond friend giggled as she wondered what the head of a crime lab did and who the curly-haired woman was. However her interest was fleeting as a group of young snowboarders stomped onto the terrace and proceeded to strip off jackets and sweaters and drag chairs to face the sun. Em smiled nicely at them and settled back to enjoy the view. Sandra, however, watched the man in the midnight blue ski suit help the little girl put on her skis. Suddenly he turned around and looked back at her as though sensing she had been watching him but the look was fleeting as he turned away and set off towards the ski lifts, his ski's over one shoulder and the little girl giggling as he pulled her along by his poles. Sandra sighed longingly as she wished that she had been going with them.

'*****'

Three hours later the door to the lodge pushed opened and Danny and Lindsay fell in. They giggled as Stella came through the door and shook her hair sending little droplets flying in all directions, her ringlets bouncing up and down.

"Not funny!" she announced with mock severity. Danny and Lindsay giggled even more. They kicked off their boots and hung up their coats and padded into the main room. A log fire was crackling and Cartoon Network was playing on the T.V. Spying a pair of stocking feet and jeans sticking out, Danny walked over to one of the couches.

A big grin came over his face before he put on a mock angry face and folded his arms. "Well I never thought I'd see the day when I catch my boss sleeping with my daughter!" Lindsay and Stella leaned over the back of the oversized leather sofa with big smiles of their own.

Mac opened one eye briefly and smiled. "I think I tired her out!" Lucy stirred but didn't wake as she rubbed her face into her godfather's sweater. Danny threw himself onto the second smaller couch next to the fire.

"I don't know about Lucy but I'm exhausted. I thought this skiing thing was supposed to be fun."

Lindsay threw a cushion at him. "Shut up! You know you enjoyed it really. Mmm, something smells good." Danny hated to admit it but it had been great fun and not as difficult as he had thought though he was a little perturbed to see a skier being brought down the slope on a stretcher pulled by a motor-sledge. However, he'd only fallen once compared to Lindsay's two which had annoyed the hell out of her especially as she had had trouble getting up the second time but perhaps that was because they were all laughing too much.

Stella wandered into the kitchen and lifted the lid of the pot on the stove. "Ooo … hot chocolate!" she purred. "Mac's speciality. He refuses to give me the recipe." She whispered to a surprised Lindsay as she grabbed some mugs. She opened the door to the fridge and took out a can. "And he remembered the whipped cream. Wicked man!"

Lindsay bent down to look at the oven. "Chocolate chip cookies too. Mac Taylor, you are evil."

Mac caught Danny's leer and shook his head. "You make it sound like I'm some sort of depraved maniac!" he moaned.

"I beg your pardon!" Sid stared in astonishment as he padded quietly into the room and peered over the back of the sofa. "Mac Taylor what have you been doing?"

Lindsay came in with two mugs. "He's corrupting us with hot chocolate, whipped cream and fresh cookies. Not to mention he's sleeping with our daughter." Lindsay passed a mug to Danny as she curled up next to him.

Sid leaned over the sofa looking at Mac and Lucy. "You bake?" Mac didn't bother to open his eyes again as he knew exactly what face Sid was pulling. He could hear the incredulity in his voice.

"Sid even I can cut up cookie dough." he answered. "Got a couple of rolls from Lina's Bakery across the road from my place before I left. Can someone get them out before they burn?"

Sid laughed as he headed to the kitchen. "I must say that does smell good." Stella had already pulled the cookies from the oven and was putting them on a tray when Lucy decided to wake. She rubbed her face against Mac's sweater. Mac sat up and pulled her onto his lap as Stella brought chocolate and cookies. She seated herself next to Mac. As he cradled his sleepy god-daughter in his arms he smiled at her and she realized just how much she missed him. New Orleans was great, the job was hard work, the cases were challenging and she couldn't have asked for a better team but there was always something missing and she knew exactly what it was.