"You're so cheesy," Tyler observed. "But statistically, public declarations of commitment increase relationship satisfaction by—"
"Tyler, shut up," everyone said in unison.
"I'm providing useful data—"
"Nobody cares about your data right now, not even me," Jamie said. "We're celebrating Mac and Rachel getting back together!"
"Really? No more breakups?" Cole asked Mac seriously.
"No more breakups," Mac confirmed.
After the shower he found Rachel waiting outside the locker room with Sophie and Mrs. Henderson.
"Hi," Rachel said, suddenly shy.
"Hi yourself." Mac pulled her close. "Ready to go home?"
“Never been more ready for anything in my life."
"Yeah, me neither," Mac said, kissing her forehead. "Let's go home."
They walked into the apartment together. Mr. Darcy and Puck both came running, the cats had clearly been pining for Mac, meowing insistently.
"See?" Rachel said. "Even the cats missed you."
"The cats have good taste." Mac scooped up Puck while Mr. Darcy wound around Rachel's legs.
They stood in their apartment and felt everything settle back into place.
"I was so scared I'd lost you," Rachel said quietly.
“So was I.”
"We're both going to screw up sometimes, you know?" Rachel said.
"Probably. But we'll screw up together. And we'll fix it together." Mac kissed her softly. "I'm not going anywhere, Rachel. Ever. You're stuck with me."
"Good. Because I'm not going anywhere either."
They stood in their apartment, holding each other, and felt the pieces of their relationship healing.
Not perfectly. Not instantly.
But healing.
Rachel woke up to Mac making breakfast, or attempting to.
She found him in the kitchen, glaring at the French press like it had personally offended him.
"Still haven't mastered it?" Rachel asked, wrapping her arms around him from behind.
"This thing requires a physics degree." Mac glared at the French press like it had personally wronged him. "You have to measure the water AND the grounds AND time it? That's three variables, Rachel. At 7 AM."
"You agreed to learn the French press when you decided to move in with me."
"I agreed to a lot of things when I was trying to impress you. I'm regretting some of those decisions."
Rachel laughed, the first real, unguarded laugh she'd had in a week.
