Title: Life Changing Gift

Disclaimer: I do not own CSI:NY, Anthony Zuiker and CBS do.

Author's Note: This chapter picks up seven years later. Okay so I have given some thought about it and have decided one thing, read on to see what it is. Sorry for taking so long to update, real life took over my time and I had a lot of details to iron out. Hope it is not too confusing, let me know via PM if it is.

Genre: Romance/ Family

Rating: T

Chapter 5: A Few Years Down the Line

Mentions of/Spoilers for: My Name is Mac Taylor (5.8), The Greater Good (5.23) and Grounds For Deception (5.24)

-September, 2014-

Stella Taylor had just finished making breakfast and then called out, "Ashlynn sweetie, breakfast is ready, are you ready for school?"

A short time later Stella heard, "I right here mom, I am ready and I helped get Anna and Donnie ready as well."

Seeing her oldest holding Anna's and Donnie's hand brought a smile to her face; she was glad Ashlynn was helpful around the house and had been since she was three years old.

As watching Ashlynn, Anna, and Donnie began to eat their breakfast she began to reminisce all that has happened.

It had been six years since Stella and Mac got married (Stella decided to keep her maiden name to prevent confusion) and it was a beautiful ceremony that took place outside by the fountain. They had Reed, Millie, Don, Jess, Danny, and Lindsay to witness the ceremony. The moment Mac saw Stella in a long one shoulder Grecian style gown and had her hair styled up, he felt like he couldn't breathe. After they exchanged their own vows and exchanged a loving kiss they were promptly issued the license allowing Mac got it to his lawyer and within two weeks Judge Hardland signed off on the adoption making it official. Stella and Mac celebrated with the rest of the team and Millie and Reed where Ashlynn was the main guest of honor.

Things were going really well and two years later Stella gave birth to twins, Alanna Chloe and Donovan McKenna Taylor. Stella decided she wanted to be able spend more time with Ashlynn so she stepped down at the crime lab and Danny was promoted assistant supervisor because everyone including Mac and Stella knew he had come a long way since starting at the lab). Stella had since accepted a teaching position at John Jay College of Criminal Justice teaching an undergraduate criminology course and a graduate forensic science course.

Stella remembered when Millie was first met her first granddaughter.

-July, 2008-

Up until Mac had proposed to Stella he only had told his mother a few things about Ashlynn and sent her a few pictures, and now he knew she would want to meet and hold her granddaughter; he was right the moment his mother got the first flight out and had exchanged pleasantries with Stella she said, "Okay, okay I want to see my granddaughter."

Mac smiled; once they had moved to where the arrival/departure screens, Mac put down the unbuckled the restraint on the stroller and picked her up and said, "Mom, meet Ashlynn Charisma Taylor."

Once he put Ashlynn put in Millie's arm and she was cooing away, "Why hello sweetie, aren't you just so precious, yes you are."

Stella and Mac smiled smile whilst watching Millie fuss over her granddaughter; they could tell Ashlynn was soaking up the attention by squealing happily and grabbing for Millie's nose.

With the good memories there were two bad times; one of them was shortly before Ashlynn's first birthday David Oka was hunting down anyone and everyone name Mac Taylor and it didn't matter if they were male or female because this included the no-nonsense head crime lab Mac Taylor was also a target. He had wanted to get revenge on the one who was responsible for his fiancée, Melinda Kitano's death. Fortunately the team managed to get the right Mac Taylor or Mackinely Taylor arrested for the crime but it didn't end without Stella witnessing what David did to himself. The other time was when Stella took off for Greece after disobeying Mac's order and Mac had taken off after her. As much as it would be a good experience for Mac to bring Ashlynn and show her to Stella's culture with him he thought it would be better for their eighteen month old stay with Don and Jess.

Stella shook her head and focused on the positive memories; like when Danny and Lindsay's daughter Lucy was born, she and Mac took her to visit Lindsay the next day and when Ashlynn saw her new cousin she was immediately loving and adoring.

Two other memories that both Stella cherished, when began walking and talking. The first event happened while they were at work.

-August 11, 2008-

Stella and Mac had gotten back from a horrible crime scene was feeling downtrodden. Stella was processing evidence when her phone rang.

"Bonasera."

"Detective this is Lina from the day center."

Stella went into full alert mode and asked, "Is anything wrong?"

"Um you can say that but it is not bad. I promise you and Detective Taylor need to be here."

"Okay we will be right up."

Wondering what it was be about, Stella took off her lab coat and had Lindsay help with the processing went in search of Mac and found him in his office looking for information on the victim. Knocking on his door she said, "Mac we need to go the daycare, Lina called and said it was urgent we go see Ashlynn."

The moment he heard their daughter's name Mac stopped what he was doing and followed Stella. During the elevator ride Stella figured out what was urgent; Ashlynn had been babbling a lot since she was seven months old and was on the verge of talking. When they reached the daycare center on the 39th floor, and right then they made eye contact with Lina and she nodded, turned Ashlynn around and whispered, "Ashlynn look whose here."

Ashlynn looked up and when she saw her two favorite people she broke out her adorable grin and said out loud, "Dada, mama."

As soon as Stella and Mac heard Ashlynn first two words they rushed towards and Mac scooped her up first and both he and Stella hugged her tightly; hearing Ashlynn say 'dada' then 'mama' made their day all the better. While the hug fest continued Ashlynn continued to say the words, 'dada' and 'mama' again and again.

The other memory happened right before Christmas

-December 2008-

It was Ashlynn's second Christmas and the first spent in Chicago. Stella and Mac were helping Millie with decorating the tree while keeping an eye on their thirteen month old. When they heard 'gwrandma' 'mama' 'dada' and all three turned around in time to see Ashlynn pull herself up and with hand on the wooden coffee table. Knowing that she had an audience she began to take a few wobbly steps before falling her bottom; instead of crying she smiled her toothy grin and clapped her hands.

They stopped what they were doing and went over to Ashlynn showering her with kisses all over face and a raspberry on her tummy, causing her to shriek with joy.

Stella continued to smile when she saw Ashlynn had finished and was helping her siblings. She almost didn't hear Mac walk in and give her a hug from behind.

With Ashlynn in their lives, it helped changed their lives forever.

A/N 2: Thanks for reading the final chapter. As always reviews are appreciated!