Chapter 3

„Is he here yet?" Will popped his head into the kitchen, where Mac was preparing dinner for the two of them.

„Not yet, Honey, I would have called you if he was."

„Do you think I should run out to buy a gun collection and happen to clean the pieces when he picks her up?"

Mac laughed out loud. „Come on, Will. You've known Bobby almost all his life; he's a good kid. And also..." She turned around and winked. „...you'd have difficulties running."

„Yeah..." Will grumbled sulkily. „But I still think thirteen is way too early to date. Shouldn't we make her wait til she's, like, twenty-five?"

His wife giggled. „You're cute when you're trying to change the rules of nature, Billy."

„I will do that until she is eighteen. At least." He huffed and stepped up to the stove to peek into one of the pots. „And why didn't we volunteer to chaperone instead of his parents?"

„We could have done that, if you hadn't blown out our knee again. You really have to start making plans for that knee replacement Dr. Webster has talked about."

Right this moment the door bell rang.
Mac quickly turned down the stove before cleaning her hands on a dish towel and following Will, who had – for his standards – raced towards the door.

When she arrived he had already opened it and was staring at poor Bobby, who was nervously swallowing. When he saw Charlie's mother he visibly relaxed. „Good evening, Ma'am, Sir. Is Charlie ready? My parents are waiting downstairs."

Mac warmly smiled at him and opened the door further. „She'll be ready in a minute, I'll go get her. Why don't you come in?"

After Bobby had hesitently stepped inside she walked towards her daughter's room, not without quietly mumbling „Be nice" when passing Will.

With a knock at Charlie's door she entered and found her standing in front of the mirror, nervously tugging at her hair.

„Oh, Charlie, you look beautiful."

„Yeah?" Looking at her mom in the mirror she nervously smiled. „Do you think he will like the dress?"

„I'm sure he will love it. The color looks wonderful on you, that's why we bought it." Mac squeezed her shoulder and pressed a kiss to her cheek. „Come on, he's waiting, and we don't want to leave him alone with your Dad for too long."

„Oh God, right." Charlie quickly grabbed her little purse and followed her mother. When they reached the front door Bobby let out a relieved sigh, and his eyes sent a silent cry for help to Mac before they landed on his date.

„Wow… You look very pretty."

Charlie blushed, but took the little corsage he handed her to put on her wrist. „Thank you. Let's go."

„Hang on a second." Will hadn't seen her in the dress before and let his eyes roam over her petit frame, speechless for a moment before he finally found his voice. „You truly look gorgeous, Princess. Beautiful."

Before he could get all sappy, Mac quickly stepped in with her camera in hand. „Let's take a picture of the two of you and then you need to go. Come on."

Will just wanted to put his arm around Charlie's shoulder when his wife stopped him. „Not you! The kids!"

„Oh… right…." Quickly stepping aside he caught his daughter rolling her eyes, but wisely said nothing and stoically ignored Mac's smirk. After she had taken a handful of pictures and called it a wrap he opened the apartment door. „Have fun, you two. And don't do anything I wouldn't do."

„Daaad!"

„Alright, alright. Don't come home too late."

„Will, it's a school dance!" Mac waved the young couple out of the door. „Enjoy yourselves. And say hello to your parents, Bobby."

„Of course, Mrs. McAvoy. See you later."

Once the door was closed Mac chuckled at Will's expression. „She's not moving out yet, Billy, relax. She'll be back before you know it."

When he didn't take his eyes off the front door, she took his hand and pulled him behind her. „Come on, you can set the table, dinner is about ready."

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After they had eaten and done the dishes Will poured them some wine and they both settled on the couch in front of the TV. Although Mac had deliberately turned on a football game, he couldn't concentrate.

„Isn't it about time she comes home?"

Mac sighed. „She's not even been gone an hour, Billy."

„Are you sure?" He sounded surprised.

„Yes, Honey, I'm sure. We didn't eat a 5-course meal at Lorenzo's." Realising that Will still was on edge she decided to take a different take. Looking at the screen she put her hand on his thigh and slowly let it run up and down. „Who's playing?"

„Mmm…? Oh, the Packers are playing the Houston Texans."

„Who's winning?" Her hand moved closer to his hip and she ‚accidentally' let her fingers brush over his crotch.

„Mac..."

„Yes?" Her voice sounded innocent, but her actions now became more deliberate and she leaned into him to whisper into his ear. „Do you remember the day we bought this couch?"

„What?" Will looked at her and frowned at the sudden change of topic. „Why?"

„Because just like now we had the run of the place back then, and used the opportunity to christen it. We should try an re-enactment..." While talking Mac's fingers had undone the button of his jeans and she was now slowly pulling down the zipper.

„Now? Charlie could be home any minute."

His wife let her hand slide into his boxers and nibbled on his earlobe. „She won't be back for at least another couple of hours."

„Are you sure?"

„Yes, I'm sure. And you have a game on TV and your wife ready, willing and able right next to you, so kiss me!"

Will finally relented and let her guide him into a kiss, that slowly became deeper. Her hand in his lap never stopped, and when he started to react a moan escaped him. Suddenly, though, Will stiffened and stilled her fingers.

„What if they had an accident?"

„They didn't." Mac moved her lips down to his neck, to gently suck on his skin.

„Or maybe somebody spiked the punch?"

Now she pulled back and sighed. „Billy..."

His expression shifted to horror. „What if he tries to kiss her?"

„Then I hope she enjoys her first kiss." Mac could barely suppress her laughter now, although she was starting to get annoyed. „Come on, Billy, don't be such a stick in the mud. It's your daughter's first date, try to be happy for her."

Will looked shocked, almost a little outraged. „How can you be so calm about this? She is out with a boy! Doesn't it bother you that she is already old enough to date? Which I still don't agree with, by the way…"

Mac couldn't quite hide the smile that was threatening again, but this time she wasn't laughing about him. She loved that he was so protective of their daughter, and framing his face she looked at him fondly for a long moment, before she leaned in for a soft kiss. „Don't worry, Billy, she will always be your little girl."

For a moment Will almost appeared to be embarrassed, but then his expression shifted to hope. „Promise?"