The next morning, Stella was surprised to find Mac wasn't yet in the shower. She reached over and ran her hand along his shoulder blade. Mac rolled onto his side and reached for her. He wrapped one arm tightly around her shoulders and pulled her into his chest.
"We're both off today, go back to sleep," He mumbled. Stella smiled and relaxed into him.
"I hate it when you run late at night," She stated, knowing he hadn't quite gotten back to sleep. Mac laughed lightly at her choice of morning conversation.
"I'm sorry, I just work in a run when I can," he explained, burying his face into her neck.
"I still don't like it," Stella complained.
"Hon, if I don't run when I can I'm going to get squishy," Mac countered, using a very unusual word for him.
"Then we'll be a matching set," Stella replied with a hint of humor in her voice.
"You're not squishy, you're pregnant and gorgeous," he whispered, dropping a kiss below her ear.
"Whatever Mac," Stella laughed.
"I know it's cheesy, but I can't help it. I've thought you were gorgeous since day one, you know that. But since you've been pregnant, I don't know, you just look amazing," Mac stumbled through his sentences. Stella smiled to herself. She rolled over to face him. "I know , you think I'm being lame," he added.
"No, I think you're endearing," she grinned. "I love you so very much, Mac Taylor," she whispered.
"I love you too," Mac replied, kissing her.
"I'm going to go see if Elena is awake, I haven't exactly had anytime alone with her. Drew is always around," Stella mentioned.
"I thought you liked Drew," Mac smiled.
"I do, I just want some time alone with Elena," Stella explained.
"Ok, ok, I'll be down later," he laughed.
"what are you going to do?" she wondered.
"I am going to go back to sleep," he answered.
"I'm impressed, Taylor," Stella smirked as she left the room. She tiptoed towards the guest room and slowly opened the door. "Lena," she whispered. Elena's head popped up.
"What ?" she groaned.
"How about an early morning talk? There's coffee in it for you," Stella smiled.
"Oh coffee, how could I resist," Elena replied sarcastically, pulling herself from Drew's grasp.
The two women settled on the couch. Elena with her coffee and Stella with her tea. They started off their conversation with a bunch of random subjects, like they normally did. Stella really missed Elena and now with a baby on the way, she knew it would be even harder to visit her.
"So tell me, what's it like being pregnant?" Elena asked.
"It's weird and wonderful at the same time. I mean your body goes through a lot of changes and it seems like suddenly everyone is in your business because they all can tell you're pregnant. I'm really excited though. I won't lie, I'm scared too," Stella rambled.
"What are you scared about?" Elena wondered.
"I didn't have parents so, I'm worried I won't know how to be one," Stella admitted. Elena assumed her answer would be along those lines, hell when she has kids, she'll be in the same boat.
"Have you told Mac about this?" Elena questioned.
"No, but I think he's expecting it," Stella answered.
"I think you're worrying about nothing, you're going to be a wonderful mother and years from now you'll look back on this and wonder what you were so worried about," Elena noted.
"Thank you, but enough about me, tell me about you and Drew," Stella urged.
"I like him a lot, and he's good people," Elena started.
"I can tell, but I have to ask, why did it seem like he was mad at you yesterday?"
"Because he was," Elena giggled. "I didn't warn him about our inside jokes so he thought I was acting like a brat," she shrugged.
"Oh Queen Elena, he must not know you very well if he thinks you're not a brat," Stella laughed.
"Shut up, I just like to get what I want" Elena claimed.
"And Drew caters to that?" Stella smirked. Elena rolled her eyes.
"What did I do?" Drew asked coming down the stairs.
"Nothing, ignore her, she's being mean," Elena stated. Out of the corner of her eye, Elena noticed Stella visibly slump deeper into the couch. Drew had kinda interrupted her conversation.
"Morning," Drew murmured, kissing Elena's forehead. He sat down next to her.
"Morning," Elena responded with a tight smile. "Where's Taylor?" she wondered.
"He went back to bed," Stella said with a slight grin. Elena noticed her mug was empty, so she sent Drew into the kitchen to get her a refill.
"I'll get rid of him again so we can finish our conversation," she vowed.
"Don't worry about it," Stella shrugged. "Now, go in there and help him before he breaks something," she added with a light laugh.
"Are you alright?" Mac asked as he came around the staircase. Stella seemed rather distant, buried in the corner of their large couch.
"Yeah I'm fine," Stella smiled, standing to greet him. Mac took one of her hands. He brought his other hand to her face, running his thumb along her jawbone. He leaned in and captured her lips. Stella's free arm wrapped around her husband's neck as she gave into his kiss.
"They do make out!" Elena gushed upon her reentrance. As the two broke apart, Mac blushed furiously. "There's fresh coffee in the kitchen," Elena added.
"Mac can't have any," Stella noted.
"Why's that?" Elena asked curiously.
"He's sworn off of it until the baby is born," Stella explained.
"Did you force him to?" Elena continued.
"No, I did it all on my own," Mac stated proudly.
"And he hasn't cheated once in four moths," Stella grinned.
"Good man," Drew commented. Mac smiled and threw himself onto the couch. He pulled Stella down next to him. He discreetly slipped one hand onto her abdomen. Stella smiled and set her hand on top of his. The two couples sat there talking for the better part of an hour.
"Hey Drew, how would you feel about going for a run?" Mac offered.
"Sure, why not?" Drew shrugged.
As the men filed out of the house, Stella and Elena fell back into comfortable conversation.
"Why did you tell me about Mexico?" Elena wondered.
"I thought I did tell you?" Stella was confused.
"Yeah and you made it sound like a romantic getaway, you didn't tell me you were running away from Mac," Elena replied with a pointed look.
"I wasn't exactly running away, I was upset and needed some time to think things through, but that's all behind us now," Stella explained.
"Were you considering leaving him?" Elena wasn't yet satisfied.
"Not for a second," Stella answered without a second thought. "Lena, you don't need to worry about me and Mac. With our job, there are times we both get over stressed and that causes friction, but we've learned how to deal with that," she added. "Now, why did you tell me you knew Adam?" Stella turned the conversation on Elena.
"I didn't put it together at first, and by the time I did, I didn't really think it mattered," Elena shrugged. There was a comfortable lull in conversation as Elena looked around the room. Her eyes caught on the black and white wedding pictures hanging on the wall. "Do you have any idea how good you are for Mac?" she smiled. Stella quirked an eyebrow at her. "I will never forget the first time I met Mac. He was in his suit, tie and all, still wearing his wedding ring and clearly grieving. His eyes were cold and hollow. I was scared of him, to be honest with you. He shook my hand, gave me a curt nod and dismissed me so he could tell you to get back to work. I remember being confused because you spoke so highly about him and how great he was and once I met him I thought he was nothing to write home about, just a real hard ass detective," Elena began. Stella grinned a little, she remembered introducing her two best friends and she remembered how out of sorts Mac had been. "But so much has changed since then, hell, so much has changed since you guys got married. I mean I've never seen him be so publicly affectionate as I have this time and don't try to tell me it's because you're pregnant. Your love for him brought him back to life. He smiles so much more and his eyes are warm now. I don't find him the least bit intimidating anymore. I like to watch him around you, the way he looks at you could melt anyone's heart," Elena finished with a smile. She could see the tears trailing down Stella's cheeks. "He's been good for you too, he gave you the stability and the affection you've been looking for your entire life," Elena added.
"God, I miss having you around Elena," Stella said honestly, wrapping her arm around her pseudo sister.
"Well, I plan on being around more, especially once you have that godchild of mine," Elena replied. Stella's hand slid to her abdomen. "I do get to be Godmother, right?" Elena checked.
"Of course," Stella assured her.
A few hours later the men returned to find their women in what would soon be the nursery. It wasn't much yet, but they were working on it. They had furniture; they just needed a theme for decorating. Elena followed Drew down the hallway, leaving Mac and Stella alone.
"Thanks," Stella mentioned, not looking up from the catalogue she'd been flipping through.
"No need, you wanted to be alone with Elena, I was just making it happen," Mac replied. Stella looked up at him and smiled.
Days later, Elena and Drew headed back home with both Mac and Stella approval. They both thought Drew was good for Elena but neither of them let him out of the house without the threat of a gunshot wound if he hurt her.
Although, Stella loved Elena's visits, she was glad to have the house back and the opportunity to spend time alone with Mac. It was only a few more months and they would not have that luxury as often and she wanted to take advantage of every second she could.