Chapter 10: Moving On

"I don't do makeup, Stel," he follows her to the bathroom after helping her dress.

"I can manage," she glances at him. "But you have to open them for me."

Once she is done, he says, "You know you look just as beautiful without all that stuff."

"How sweet," she kisses him.

"Now I have lipstick on me," Mac wipes his lips repeatedly.

She pulls him in front of the mirror, "See, you're fine."

Walking out, he informs her, "We're going to be late if you don't hurry up."

Trust

Chris steps into the room, "Don't say another word."

Mac and Stella look at each other. "Will you be okay?" he whispers, knowing there was no way she'd leave now.

"Will you behave?" she counters.

"Care to share that with us, Detectives?" Chris asks.

"Not particularly."

"What evidence do you have against my client?"

"Fingerprints on the knife used to kill the victim."

"Your blood on both the knife and the victim."

"And a witness description that fits you."

"Why'd you kill her?" Mac asks.

The suspect doesn't answer.

"We don't need a confession to arrest you," Stella stands, her partner following.

"Wait, isn't there anything we can do?" Chris asks.

"You've lost," Mac says simply, putting his hand on Stella's back to lead her out.

He follows the two. "Stel, I need you. Please."

She turns to face him. "We're over. I don't know how else to say it. I don't love you so just forget it."

Defeated, Chris leaves the police department.

Trust

"Stel?"

"Hm?" she looks up at him.

He takes her arm and studies it. "How come no one has signed your cast?"

She shrugs. "I figured you'd be jealous if you weren't the first to sign."

After finding a marker, he sits back down and pulls her into his lap. He thinks for a moment before writing. "There."

"'Love you with all of my heart. Mac.'"

"Something wrong?"

"No, it's perfect," she kisses him.

"Sure?" he kisses her, trailing from her lips to her shoulder.

"It's fine, Mac," she leans up against him.

Mac stands up, lifting her with him. "Ready for bed?"

Her emerald eyes meet his icy blue ones as he gently sets her down on the bed. "I'm not ready."

"I didn't mean it that way," he informs her. "When you're ready, you'll let me know. Until then, I respect your boundaries."

She lies down, and he does the same, his arm drapes over her stomach. "Mac?"

"Yes, Stel?"

"I'm glad I have you."

He smiles, "Me too."

Trust

Entering the kitchen, Stella yawns. She stops in the doorway when she sees Mac. "That's a view I could get used to seeing every morning."

He turns quickly, "Oh, sorry, Stel. I should get my shirt back on."

"No, I like it," she fingers the scar on his chest. "Plus you've seen me; now I have something to look at."

Laughing, he sets his shirt down. "I've got a surprise for you. Sit down, and I'll bring it over."

Curiously she watches him put two large chocolate chip pancakes on a plate. With his back turned, she is unable to see much else. "What are you up to?"

Mac puts the plate down in front of her. On the top pancake he has made a smiley face out of whipped cream. "I figured it'd entertain you."

"Thanks, Mac," she shakes her head and smiles. "I hate to wreck it, but I'm starving."

He cuts her food for her and gets his own plate. "I know it was childish, but I couldn't resist."

"Where's your whipped cream?"

"I ran out."

"I'll share," she holds out a finger full of the fluffy substance. When he doesn't move, she pokes him in the nose with the finger.

"Stella! I'm going to get you back!"

She darts out of the room, "I don't think so!"

A/N: I think this was one of those I didn't know how to end... For some reason I don't like most of the endings for my stories... they all seem the same to me. I just had someone point out that I'm missing a D in the title of my story... thanks for noticing that. Now that this is done, I should be posting maybe Tuesday or Wednesday the story I wrote for my friend's birthday... as long as she gave me her feedback in the emails she just sent me. I didn't look at them yet. After that, I have a nine chapter thing with Mac and Stella fighting; they're already been dating a while when that one begins. I think I'm only half way through typing those so I better take a break from reading since it's nothing important really and get that done. Then the only other thing I have written is fifteen chapters... I wrote it like forever ago it seems like. Stella gets shot and of course Mac admits he loves her... but there's a twist that I refuse to tell you or it'll ruin the story. And it has nothing to do with her being afraid of dating again. And I have writing to do... I've got one story started and I know where I want it to go, but I've got a little way before it gets there. I guess that's it... I hope you enjoyed reading this story and will continue to follow my stories. Please give me final feedback. Thanks.