A week had passed since Stella was discharged from the hospital and Mac had kept distance just as she had promised her. He understood perfectly her reasoning: she needed time- time to adjust to all that had happened and time to begin her recovery. Only then would she have the opportunity to think about what he had said. Although he was desperate to see her and his impatience was ever-increasing he had respected her wishes and not contacted her or visited her since their conversation in the hospital. Despite this, both Lindsay and Jess had updated him daily about Stella's condition. A

lthough the wounds had begun their healing, they still caused Stella a great deal of pain and she relied on Lindsay and Jess to assist her in certain tasks. But always stubborn, she was determined to push herself and Mac had ordered Lindsay to make sure that this was not happening. All the team had visited Stella, bringing her flowers, chocolates and films, books, and music to occupy her in the long hours she would be away from the lab. It frustrated him to be excluded but Mac knew he had to wait to honour Stella's wishes. After all that happened with Stella; he was willing to do anything to make her happy.

Finally after so long waiting, Lindsay came to Mac. 'Mac, Stella asked me to ask if you would like to come to her apartment tonight at 7. She understands if you're busy...'

'I'll be there.' He immediately interjected.

Lindsay nodded; smiling slightly as she did. She started to move away but stopped, turning back to face her friend and mentor. 'Be gentle with her. She's been through a lot and she doesn't want to be hurt anymore. She's taking a big risk by asking you to come. But she thinks she's ready.'

Mac nodded mutely, nerves already building in him as he thought of their approaching conversation and the consequences it could bring upon his life. He was going to fight for Stella, no matter the obstacles or conditions she would place in his way.

Mac pressed the buzzer outside of Stella's apartment, nerves and fear racing through him as he anxiously thought about the fast-approaching conversation and where it would lead. The doorman to Stella's building had smiled on recognising his familiar face and had allowed him upstairs without any delay, and now he stood outside of the door waiting for the fate of their relationship to be decided. At this very minute he was perched upon the knife-edge of a precipice. The rest of his life and his heart was wholly reliant on Stella's decision in the coming hours. It was a terrifying prospect- on the one hand he was to see Stella again after so very long of keeping his distance, but on the other hand if things did not go as he hoped then he risked losing Stella forever. They may have overcome the initial battle of her survival but there was still a war for her heart to be fought. And it was a war Mac would fight dearly to win.

Eventually after a long minute of waiting for Stella's painful and slow steps to reach the door, it opened, exposing the beautiful woman to his gaze. There was a minute of silence as the two partners stared at each other. For Mac it was a surreal moment; seeing the woman he loved, alive and back in her apartment. The short walk from her spot on the couch to the door had taken its toll on Stella and he could see the tiredness around her eyes. Her skin was still slightly paler than usual but she looked worlds away from the deathly and fragile woman that had lain in a coma for so long. It took all of Stella's willpower not to gasp on seeing Mac for the first time since he had revealed his feelings to her.

Oh she had missed him so! But she had been confused and needed space to sort out the mess of thoughts and feelings in her head and this distance had allowed her clarity for most issues. But there was some that needed still to be sorted out and that was why she had summoned him today. Stella noticed Mac's nervousness and it reassured her a little as she was feeling the exact same. They were both on unchartered territory.

'Come in.' She gestured to him before turning away and walking slowly and painfully back to her position on the couch. Mac closed the door gently behind, watching her as she went, noticing the look of pain as she moved and seeing her flinch from the pressure such movement placed on her scars on her back and on the stab wound itself.

'Can I get you a drink?' She asked quietly.

'Thank you I'll make it myself. Would you like?'

'Yes that would be nice.'

Stella sighed in relief as she carefully positioned herself back on the sofa, admiring the flowers and other gifts the team had brought her as a way of calming her nerves. Both knew that the coffee making was a delaying tactic and finally Mac brought Stella cup of steaming coffee before bringing over his own. They were both silent for a minute as they sipped the liquid, both waiting for the other to make their move. It was Stella who ventured, deciding that despite all that had happened, she owed Mac an explanation for asking him to come.

'Thanks for coming Mac. I wasn't sure if you'd come or not.'

'Of course I'd come.' Mac reassured her instantly. 'What I said was true Stella. I want to be here for you and I will be here for you. I'm not going to rush you.'

'I know.' Stella acknowledged. 'And thank you- I needed time to think, to adjust after what's happened.' She fought of a shiver of fear as she remembered her ordeal.

Mac nodded solemnly. 'I understand.'

The partners fell again into uncomfortable silence until finally Stella asked the question that had been haunting her since their conversation in the hospital; the question she needed answered the most. For too long they had been both dancing around their feelings and Stella was tired of this, all she wanted now was the truth.

'I need to know Mac... I need to know if what you said in the hospital is true. That you love me. I need to know if it was a lie.'

'Stell what I said was true. I do love you. I've always loved you. I know it's hard to believe- I know I haven't shown it but it's the truth. Stella Bonasera I love you.'

Stella couldn't believe her ears. For so long she had dreamt of him saying this and it made her heart leap with joy. But quickly she sobered up as she remembered all that had happened between them.

'How can you say that though Mac? How can you love me after everything that's happened? After everything I've done? I cursed Claire, I hurt you using her. And then I disappeared, leaving you with a vacancy in the lab and then I've caused the team hurt by what happened with the Taunter.' Her voice hitched slightly as she began to speak quicker, panicking slightly.

'Mac I don't want to be lied to anymore. I'm so tired of that and of being hurt...' Her voice trailed off slightly as memories of her ordeal once more threatened to surface.

'I'm not lying Stell.' Mac feverishly denied.

'I'm trying hard to believe you but I can't Mac. How can I? Look at me! I mean really look at me. I'm an orphan...I have a non-existent social life- hell I don't even have a career anymore because I gave it up! And now look at me I'm mutilated Mac! I'm scarred for life with taunts written by a madman who wanted to kill me!'

And with that Stella burst into tears. With this confession came a catharsis and Stella hunched over, sobbing violently as she started to deal with the horrible truth that she would likely be scarred for life from her ordeal. The emotional and mental trauma from what she had endured was bad enough and she would deal with it for a great number of years but seeing the wounds that had been cruelly inflicted upon her was torturous. Mac's heart broke as he watched Stella succumb to her fears. Gently, he pulled her into his arms and he held her as she sobbed.

'I just wanted to die Mac. I just wanted him to kill me. I was ready for it!' She continued sobbing.

The last thing she had ever wanted Mac Taylor to see her was as weak but in that moment Stella really didn't care. Mac held her tightly as she cried, stroking her hair gently as tears also poured from his eyes due to the pain of watching Stella like this. It destroyed him to hear such a strong person admit she wanted to die and he couldn't help the fury fill him. The thought of Stella dying was unbearable. He would never survive that.

He loved Stella and if anything he only loved her more after this ordeal as he had witnessed firsthand her strength as she battled to survive what the Taunter had inflicted upon her. A burning rage filled Mac as he once more wished that Damian Thomlinson could endure the same which he had inflicted upon his victims. It had taken all of Mac's willpower not to face the man and kill him but he knew that it was not what Stella wanted. Justice was what she wanted and he vowed to make sure that justice was gained.

Stella's sobs were beginning to subside and Mac carefully moved her head away from his embrace and spoke to her determinedly yet gently at the same time. 'Stella, you are beautiful. You're the most beautiful woman I've ever known. It doesn't matter to me what the Taunter did to you! Hell you could be the ugliest woman in the world and it just would not matter to me! I love you Stella Bonasera. I've always loved you and I always will. You are beautiful.'

The last part he spoke in Greek and Stella glanced up into his eyes in surprise. They stayed like that, staring at each other for a long minute as they became lost in one another's gaze. A part of Stella believed what Mac said but then all the betrayals she felt over the years came back to haunt her and she quickly broke his gaze. Mac felt himself despair as he saw this, knowing that Stella was beginning to pull away from him again. He would not give up on this. He would tell her the truth.

'It's the truth Stella. I think you're beautiful and what has happened doesn't change any of it! If anything it's made me see how much you really mean to me. You are the strongest person I know- nobody else could have survived what you did. I have been in love with you for so many years.'

He paused, breathing heavily as he decided finally to breach the forbidden topic. 'That night, all those months ago when I struck you I was so angry at you. I was angry at you for resigning and I was hurt because I couldn't face the fact of losing you. I couldn't bear the thought of not seeing you every day. And when you said Claire's name I just felt this wave of guilt and anger.' He could see the guilt over Stella's face but he continued, not allowing her to explain. Mac needed his catharsis now. 'But it wasn't because of you, it was because of me and allowing myself to be caught up in her memory. I know Claire's gone and she's not coming back.'

Stella looked at Mac in shock as he spoke, knowing that those words were the hardest things he'd ever said.

'And although I still miss her I know now what it is I want. I want you. And I know that Claire would be alright with this. Because she loved you to and she would want us both to be happy.'

Throughout their partnership, as his love for Stella grew, there had been a lot of inner turmoil for Mac as he thought about the fact that by loving Stella he was betraying Claire. But as time went on he realised that it was time for him to move on. Somewhere Claire would be watching and his heart told him that she was gone and no longer minded what Mac did in his life. He liked to think that Claire would be pleased for him to move on after so many years of wallowing in the grief. Claire had always liked Stella and so there was no doubt in his mind that she would approve of his feelings for Stella and would be happy.

'I will never forgive myself for striking you and I'm going to repent for that for the rest of my life if you will allow me to. Once you'd left I felt like I was dead and there was no point to living anymore and it's the truth Stell. You have been my light for so many years and when you were gone it was like I had lost purpose in life and I just didn't want to continue on. I'm so sorry for hurting you.' Mac was unashamed of the tears that ran down his face as Stella listened to what he said.

'I've never felt so scared before when you were kidnapped by the Taunter. It was terrifying and I've never felt as helpless before.'

Stella gasped with shock as she knew how difficult it was for the former marine to admit such a thing and it only caused her to love Mac even more and she desperately wanted to tell him so but she knew she had to let him speak.

'And then when we found you...' He couldn't continue as the image of her blood flashed through him. 'And then in the hospital when I thought I was going to lose you, I knew then that I am the stupidest man in the world for not telling you every day how much I love you. And I understand if you don't want to be with me...really I do.' The pain in his eyes at this thought was evident and Stella could feel her heart break a little.

'But I do love you and I will spend the rest of my life working for your forgiveness.'

Once finished, Mac stared at Stella who continued to cry as she thought about all he had said. She could not believe that Mac loved her but looking into his eyes she knew it was the truth.

'Mac I do forgive you. I love you so much but I just need time.'

Mac nodded in understanding, knowing that this was more than he had ever dreamt possible and certainly more than he deserved.

'I'll give you as much time as you need and I'll be here every step of the way.' The partners linked hands with one another. 'I love you Stella. I'm not leaving you.'

'I love you too Mac.'

They stared at one another, beaming in happiness. Carefully Mac moved gently towards Stella until their lips were mere centimetres away before Stella reached up to his face and pulled his mouth towards her, their lips crashing down in a gentle yet passionate kiss. In that moment they were the happiest people in the world. Eventually and reluctantly, they pulled away from one another and Stella snuggled into Mac's chest as he sat back, stroking her hair gently as she settled. Neither spoke; both content in that moment to be in one another's company. It was the start of a whole life for them and they were not going to take anything for granted.

Eventually Stella fell asleep on Mac's lap as he continued to stroke her hair lovingly. He felt like the luckiest man in the world; the woman he loved- beautiful, fiery, stubborn, fearless Stella had given him a second chance and he was not going to waste it. He would shower Stella with love for the rest of her life. For too long they had been dancing around one another; fearful to full embrace life. Too long they had been living on the outside and it was time to move in out of the shadows.

The nightmare had been overcome.

Fin