Disclaimer: I do not own CSI: NY or any of its characters, just the story. ;]

Summary: What happens when Stella meets Mac? They live in the same building and they don't know each other…well, not for long. SMacked AU Fic.

AN: I thought of this a while ago. Well, I decided to base this fic off of how my parents met each other so it means a lot to me. ;] Some of the combos are weird but what can you do? Ha. Here you go. Let me know how you like it. And I didn't make up the locations either, it's all real. :]

Closer Than You Think

It's August 18, 2000. It was a bright, sunny afternoon in Ashley, Pennsylvania. Birds fluttered all around outside. Stella Bonasera woke up to a bird chirping outside and it made her smile. This 26 year old has lived in Ashley for all of her life and she has a lot to look forward to.

Stella has a 7 year old daughter named Lindsay and a 5 year old son named Danny. She had to divorce her husband a few years ago. She just lost all love for him and he never treated her right anyway. That's the way it was.

Stella yawned and she stretched her arms high above her. She opened the shade and the sunlight poured in. Stella finally moved out of her mother's house and moved 2 blocks away. I guess it was about time. It was great too because the children could see their grandmother all the time like before.

Stella tiptoed past her children's rooms and made it down into the kitchen with her pajamas on: a red polka dot t-shirt and black sweats clung to her slimming figure. Stella worked herself to the bone to get to where her body was now. It took her a few years to get all the baby weight off. Every time she'd get off from work, her mother would watch the kids and she'd go to the gym. Sometimes she'd even take a jog with her kids by her side.

Soon, Stella felt like making her bed so she did exactly that. She slowly skulked past her children's rooms again with a cup of coffee in her hands. Lindsay and Danny loved to run around so it was good that they got their rest and also that they gave their mother a much needed break as well. Then, she got dressed into a lavender shirt and black jeans and finished her cup of coffee.

All of a sudden, she heard 4 little feet running toward her. Stella turned to the door with a smile. Then, Lindsay and Danny rushed in and jumped on the bed.

"Mommy!" they screamed at the same time and jumped on their mother.

"Hey!" Stella yelled back with a grin and kissed their foreheads.

"Can we go somewhere today? Please?" Lindsay begged her mother with puppy dog eyes while Stella sighed.

"I don't know honey, I have to clean around here and get stuff done." she told them truthfully, looking at her laundry basket that was overflowing and thought of how messy the kid's rooms were.

"Please?" Danny and Lindsay begged at the same time.

"Oh, we'll see, okay? If we go anywhere, you got to make sure your rooms are clean; I have a feeling what they look like now." Stella said with a smile as the 2 excited children nodded and ran out of her room. "They better be done when I'm done making breakfast."

"They will be, mommy." Danny said as he peeked out of his room as his mom walked past. Stella ruffled his hair and Danny smoothed it back. "Don't do that, I hate that." Stella just laughed as she headed downstairs.

Then, Stella started to make toast, eggs and bacon for herself and the kids. All of a sudden, the phone started to ring. Stella sighed as she ran over to the phone, which was across the room, and picked up the receiver.

"Hello." Stella said with a smile and walked back to the phone.

"Hello," said the voice of her mother, Aiden. "What are you doing?"

"Hi mom, I'm just making breakfast for the kids." Stella answered her mother and heard her children running back on forth.

"Oh yeah, I can smell that delicious food all the way from here." her mother said as she laughed.

Stella laughed after her, "Well, I learned from the best…so, did you call me for any particular reason?"

"Well, I was wondering if the kids wanted to spend the day with me, since I never get to take them anywhere." Aiden told her daughter while Stella listened with a smirk.

"I can ask them. Hold on." Stella said as she walked into the living room. "Lindsay! Danny!"

Lindsay and Danny were down in just seconds with huge smiles upon their faces.

"How would you like it if you spent the day with Nanny?" Stella asked them as they squealed with excitement. "Yeah Mom, they want to come with you. When will you come get them?"

"Whenever is fine with you, honey." Aiden said happily while Stella thought about what time. Then Stella asked Danny and Lindsay "Are your rooms clean?"

Lindsay and Danny nodded quickly.

"Well, how about an hour? We still have to eat and they have to get dressed too." Stella said in an excited tone. She could get all the work done she was hoping for.

"Okay, I'll see you then. Bye." Aiden said in a blissful tone.

"Bye Mom." Stella said as she hung up. "Well, this will take a few more minutes to cook, so why don't you both pick out what you're going to where and come back down?"

Soon, Danny and Lindsay were off to their rooms once again.

While she was finishing up the food, letting her mind wander, Stella noticed a U-Haul truck by her apartment.

New neighbor? Stella thought to herself as she watched a man unload a truck. Must be moving in the front apartment above the store, 'because I have the back apartment…probably just be an annoying guy that blasts music all the time. Soon, she just couldn't be bothered by her new neighbor.

Little did she know that this annoying guy would have a great impact on her life that would last a life-time.