Raul is in the hospital after learning he has diabetes. Billy, Mac, and Rianna are all there giving their support. The scene starts in Raul's hospital room. Where Billy and Raul are talking.
Billy: "You're going to beat this thing.....I just know it."
Raul: "I hope you're right man." Raul looks tired and yawns.
Billy: "Okay buddy, I'm going to get out of here so you can get some sleep, see you in the morning."
Raul: "Alright." Billy gets up to leave and just before he gets to the door Raul calls his name. He turns to Raul. "Thank you." Raul smiles. Billy smiles back realizing their friendship is getting back on track. As Billy leaves, Rianna enters and realizes there's less tension between the two guys. She smiles at both of them and hugs Billy and says goodnight. She walks over to Raul and sits down holding his hand.
Billy walks out of Raul's room and looks around the nurse's station. All is pretty quiet since it's nearly one o'clock in the morning. Billy wonders where Mac went...he looks around and decides to go to the waiting room. He looks inside and finds Mac on one of the loveseat sofas. She looks terribly uncomfortable, squirming to find a comfortable position to get some sleep in. Billy goes in and closes the double doors to the waiting room, so it blocks out some excessive noise. He then takes off his blue sweater and walks over to Mac, who is half asleep. He places the sweater on top of her, covering her arms and part of her legs. He sits down beside her and pulls her closer to his shoulder so she can rest. Mac opens her eyes and realizes what he's doing.
Mac: "Billy....."
Billy: "Shhh Mac, just rest." Mac too exhausted to argue gives in and snuggles closer to Billy. Leaning her cheek on his shoulder. Billy takes his hand and moves her hair that has fallen in front of her face, and puts it behind her ear. He rests his head on top of hers.
The next morning Mac awakens still in the arms of Billy. She looks up at him and smiles, but a frown comes over her face when she realizes that they were still on together and he was still with Brittany. A few minutes later Billy awakens and looks down at Mac who is still in his arms. He smiles and notices that she's also awake.
Billy: "Morning Mac."
Mac: "Morning." They stay in each others arms a few more minutes and then Mac sits up and stretches her arms. She stands up and hands Billy back his sweater.
Billy seeing that she's still cold by the goose bumps on her arms says, "Keep it, you look cold."
"Thanks." She replies, putting his sweater on over her blue tank top. Billy stands up and indicates he's going to go freshen up. Mac decides to go see Raul. She walks out of the waiting room and goes to Raul's room, opening the door to find Rianna resting her head on Raul's shoulder, while the rest of her is just barely lying on the bed beside Raul. Mac goes over to wake Rianna.
Mac: "Rianna."
Rianna: "Humm? Hey..."
Mac: "Why don't you go freshen up, I'll stay with him."
Rianna agrees and gets up to leave. Mac sits down beside Raul and reaches out to hold his hand. About ten minutes later Raul wakes up and sees Mac beside him, he smiles. Unknown to both of them Billy is standing outside the door observing this interaction. Billy knocks on the door as both Raul and Mac's attention turns towards the door.
He enters and says, "I hope I'm not interrupting......" Raul and Mac both nod, and he comes to stand beside Raul's bed across from Mac. Billy and Mac are both looking at Raul, when Billy quickly looks up at Mac. He looks at her like she's all he wants in the whole world, then he looks back at Raul. A few minutes later, Mac does the same thing and Raul notices both their reactions. He sighs and realizes that they are truly in love. Raul reaches out for Billy's hand, Billy gives him his hand. Still holding Mac's hand, he takes both of his hands and pulls them together, interlocking Billy and Mac's hands, then he places his hands on top of theirs. After a few seconds he releases his hands and they are still holding hands. Billy and Mac both look at each other in disbelief at what Raul has just done. He had finally forgiven them both for what had happened over the last year, in a way giving them his blessing. Tears began to fall from Mac's eyes. Billy squeezed her hand tighter and she looked into his eyes and they both smiled. Finally they let go of each others hands and Mac leaned down to hug Raul.
He wrapped his arms around her and she whispered in his ear, "Thank you." They held each other for a minute and then Mac stood up. Billy stuck out his hand, in a way familar to Raul, as he took Raul's hand they did a funny handshake that they had made up when they were kids. All three of them laughed just like old times.
It was a month after spring break. Raul was discharged from the hospital two weeks prior. He and Rianna had never been closer. She helped him learn how to deal with learning how to test his blood sugar and giving him insulin shots. Billy and Raul hung out more now since they were friends once again. However, Mac avoided Billy everytime he was around. It was too hard for her to bear the thought of being around him, yet not being "with" him. She spent most of her free time working at Crimson Lights. Brittany is still being a spoiled rich kid, hanging on to Billy for dear life, knowing that if she doesn't keep her guard up, Billy would go back to Mac.
Setting: It's Saturday morning around eleven o'clock. The phone at the Chancellor Estate is ringing.
Esther: "Hello, Chancellor residence?"
Man: "May I please speak to either Mrs. Chancellor or Mackenzie Browning?"
Esther: "One moment please......" Just then Mac came down the stairs.
Esther: "Mac there's a man on the phone wanting to talk to you." Mac looked scared for a moment and then walked over to the phone.
Mac: "Hello? This is Mac."
Man: "Hi, I'm the private investigator your grandmother hired to watch your mother in St. Louis..."
Mac: "Oh wha....what's the matter?"
Man: "I've watched your mother for a few months now, and have come upon some new information."
Mac: "Well what is it?"
Man: "Over the last few weeks, your mother has been doing some investigating on her own. She's been asking around where you might have run off to. She has also been in contact with the investigator that Jill hired." Mac could hardly breathe.
She finally uddered, "Does she know where I am?"
Man: "No, not yet. I'm keeping a very close eye on her and your step-father. I'll keep you posted." Mac didn't know what to do or say. She stood there in shock, with tears building in her eyes. She didn't say another word and just hung up the phone. A few minutes later Jill walked into the sitting room. Mac looked at her with contempt and anger in her eyes. Jill notices Mac's odd behavior.
Jill: "What the h*** is that look for?"
Mac: "HOW COULD YOU! I KEPT MY END OF THE DEAL, WHY ARE YOU SO DETERMINED TO RUIN MY LIFE!"
Jill stood in shock at Mac's outburst. "I don't know what the h*** you're talking about Mackenzie, and don't you dare have that tone in your voice with me!" Mac couldn't stand being in the same room with her, so Mac just ran past Jill slightly pushing her out of her way. She ran up the stairs to her room and slammed the door. She couldn't breathe, the room felt like it was spinning. She felt like she was going to be sick. She had to leave, leave Genoa City as soon as possible. She quickly packed her suitcase and grabbed all the money she had. Her grandmother and dad had been away for the weekend, so she sat down and wrote them a quick note. After she was done she put it in her back pocket and grabbed her bags and quietly snuck out of the house so Esther and Jill wouldn't notice. Mac got in her car and drove to Crimson Lights. She entered the place looking like she was out of breath. She saw Raul and Rianna at a booth, and they called her over to sit with them. They both noticed she was acting strange, but she wouldn't say why. Mac said she couldn't stay and got up and hugged them both as if it was the last time she'd ever see them. Mac kissed Raul on the cheek and a tear rolled down her face. Before she got more questions, she ran out of the coffee shop.
Setting: Billy's house about one o'clock in the afternoon.
Billy came out of his room heading downstairs to get something to drink. He got approximately halfway down the staircase when he saw a strange yet familiar figure standing at the front door looking as though they were going to leave. Billy walked further down the stairs and realized it was Mackenzie. Mac turned around and faced the door, about to ring the bell when she saw Billy staring at her. They stood there staring at each other for a few seconds. Billy hadn't seen her around since she was avoiding him since their last encounter. After a minute Mac turned and ran towards her car. Billy ran toward the door and called after her.
"MAC WAIT!" But it was too late, she was already in her car driving away. Billy sighed as he heard the phone ringing inside. He came in and quickly answered the phone.
Billy: "Hello?"
Raul: "Hey man, have you seen Mac?"
Billy: "Yeah she was just at the door, but ran off.'
Raul: "D***it! I knew something was wrong. She was just here at Crimson Lights acting really weird. I have a bad feeling about this man, I would have gone after her, but...."
Billy: "What do you mean weird?" Billy asked cutting him off.
Raul: "She was out of breath and acting like we'd never see each other again. She was crying when she left. I think she may be leaving Genoa City."
Billy: "WHAT? NO, SHE CAN'T! I HAVE TO GO STOP HER!! I'll call you later." Billy hung up the phone and grabbed his keys and jumped in his car. He got to the end of the driveway when he noticed Mac's car parked at the side of the road. He pulled over and noticed she was gone, her suitcases was in the back seat. He drove back up to the main house wondering where she could have gone, he thought for a minute and then realized exactly where she was. He got out of his car and ran toward the playhouse. As he got to the door, he noticed it was partly open. He pushed the door open to find Mac curled up in a rocking chair. She was hugging her legs and her head was down. Billy could tell she was crying. He quietly came in and closed the door. He walked over and knelt down beside her chair, Mac didn't even notice he'd come in. He reached up to touch her arm, and she looked up realizing that he had found her. She put her legs down and leaped into his arms, kneeling beside him. She cried like she'd never cried before. Billy was afraid, but held her close, running his hand down her hair, trying to comfort her.
Billy: "Shhhhh.....Mac. I'm here." After a few minutes he pulled away holding her head in his hands. He wiped away her tears. "What's the matter Mac? Please tell me? You know I'm here for you."
Mac trying to compose herself said, "I....I couldn't leave without seeing you first." Tears streamed down her face again.
Billy: "Leave? Why are you leaving? Has your mom found you?"
Mac: "No....not yet, but she's asking questions about where I am, she has talked to the investigator your mother hired."
Billy: "What? My mother is responsible for this? I'm gonna...." Billy tries to get up, but Mac pulls him in her arms.
Mac: "Please Billy, just hold me." Mac asks resting her head on his chest. Billy wraps his arms around her.
Billy: "Mac don't worry....I'll take care of you, I'll protect you from your mom and my mom. I promise!" He said kissing the top of her head.
Mac: "No Billy I have to go, I have no other choice. If I wait any longer she really will find me and then I'll be sent back to live with her. I can't go through that again....I just can't!"
Billy stands and pulls her into his arms as he whispers in her ear, "I can't loose you, Mac you're my best friend. Without you in my life, there's nothing."
Mac cries, "You'll have Brittany!"
Billy cuts her off before she could say anymore, "Mac I don't love her.....I've always...." Mac realized he was going to say he loved her. She quickly pulls back and covers her mouth with her hand.
Mac: "Billy please don't say it, it will only make it harder for me to leave you!"
Billy holds her tighter and says, "What about us? What about your family? Friends?"
Mac: "My grams and dad are out of town, that's where you come in, I need you to give them this." She pulls the letter she wrote from her pocket.
Billy: "Mac, I can't break their hearts like that....."
Mac: "If I ever meant anything to you, you'll do this for me!" She hands him the leter and he reluctantly takes it. Mac looks at her watch and pulls away from Billy. She picks up her bags and heads for the door. She reaches the door and then turns back toward Billy who is now in tears watching her go. She rushed back into his arms for one last embrace, then she was gone.
After composing himself Billy walks back into the main house. He comes in and Mamie tells him that a package had arrived for him. He took it from her and looked at it. The writing on the large manila envelope was Mac's. He opened it quickly and pulled out the contents. Inside was an unmarked video tape. Billy looked at it carefully wondering what it was. He walked into the den and stuck it into the VCR. He sat in front of the television and began watching the tape. It was the last night of the summer campaign. He saw that Brittany had set both he and Mac up so that they would break up. He could barly breathe, his heart was beating a mile a minute. Brittany had ruined everything! If it hadn't happened, he and Mac would still have been together. The tape suddenly ended and his television went all snowy. Just as Billy was going to turn it off, the tape started again, but this time it was of Mac. Mac had made a final message to Billy. Billy began to cry as she spoke into the camera.
Mac: "Billy if you're seeing this tape, something bad has happened, or is going to happen. That's why I am leaving. I know you're in shock right now, just as I was when I discovered it awhile ago going through some tapes for Sean. I wanted to tell you sooner, but I had my reasons not to. It's better this way, because if we'd gotten back together, I knew I couldn't leave you. You mean everything to me." Mac starts to cry at this point. "You will always be in my heart. I'll never forget what we shared.....what we could have shared. I'm sorry I couldn't say these things in person, but I had to tell you one last thing.....I love you Billy and I always will." A surge of energy went through his body and Billy knew he had to stop her. He ran back into the sitting room yelling for Mamie.
She came as quickly as she could, "What Billy? What's the matter?"
Billy: "Mamie you have to do something for me......'
Mamie: "Anything Billy, what do you need?"
Billy pulls Mac's letter out of his pocket and gives it to her, "Go to the Chancellor Estate and give this to Mrs. C please!"
Mamie: "Okay I will.....Billy what's the matter?" She asked noticing he was upset.
Billy: "I can't explain now....Tell dad and Jack I have to go after my heart they'll know what that means." Without another thought Billy ran to his room, and flung open his closet reaching in the back where he had already packed his bag. He had known this day would come. He had packed it the day he had promised Mac he would go with her. He wasn't going to let her disappear from his life forever! He grabbed his keys, wallet, and cell phone and headed out the door. He called Raul and told him he was right, that Mac was leaving town. Just as he got off the phone his phone rang again. "Mac is that you?" he asked.
Brittany: "Mac? Why the h*** do you want to talk to her?" she asked. Anger rose in Billy's throat but he knew he had to deal with Brittany later.
"I can't talk right now." And without letting her respond, he hung up. Brittany knew something was up and she grabbed one of her many tacky purses and headed over to talk to Jill.
Billy headed toward the airport. Billy double parked his car, not even caring that it would be towed away. He just ran into the airport. Thoughts of Mac clouded his mind. He couldn't lose her, not ever. Billy ran through the airport looking everywhere for Mac. Out of breath, his heart pounding in his chest, Billy stopped and started spinning around looking for Mac. Just then out of the corner of his eye, he spotted Mac about to board an international plane.
Running, pushing everything and everyone out of his way Billy starts screaming, "MAC WAIT! PLEASE MAC!" Mac heard someone screaming her name, she turned seeing Billy running toward her. She was so happy to see him, tears started running down her face. She dropped her things right where she was at and ran toward Billy. After what seemed like forever they finally reached each other, and took each other into each others arms. Both of them were crying and shaking, both were relieved that they were together. Billy pulled back and reached both hands toward Mac's head, holding it for a second. He pulled her head toward his and he kissed her passionately. Mac raised her hands up to Billy's neck and ran her fingers through the back of his hair. Their kiss was so intense, so heart stopping, and so romantic that people passing by stopped to stare and started clapping. When they pulled away to take a breath, Billy looked into Mac's eyes and said, "I love you Mackenzie Browning!"
Mac replied, "I love you Billy Abbott!" They both smiled as the crowd continued to cheer. They reached over and gave each other another passionate kiss.
Setting: Scene at the airport through Mac's eyes.
Billy continues to hold me as close as he could, I do the same. When someone reached out and touched my shoulder I pulled away from Billy and turned to the person. It was the flight attendant telling me it was the last boarding call for my flight. I turned back to Billy, and then back to the attendant, and then back to Billy. I felt like I was between a tug of war. Then Billy reached out and took my hand and held it against his chest so I could feel his heartbeat. I looked at him and he stared deep into my eyes. I could see it in his eyes and he was begging me to stay. I took a step back and looked at both of them. My heart was telling me to stay, but I knew I had to leave. I took a deep breath and looked to the person on my left, nodded my head, and then looked at the person on my right and managed to smile. The person on my left walked away slowly, and then Billy lunged forward lifting me off my feet, spinning me around and around. I let out a scream and then started laughing. As he put me down he leaned in for another passionate kiss.
Billy and Mac gather her things and left the airport. As Billy is driving he uses one hand on the steering wheel and the other is holding Mac's hand.
Mac stares out the passanger window then turns to Billy and says, "Can you take me somewhere? Anywhere, I just don't want to go home yet."
"Anything you want beautiful. Just as long as we're together." Billy replied. Billy drove for awhile and the arrived at a secluded cabin just outside Genoa City and turned off the engine.
"Where are we?" Mac asked.
"My family owns this place, we come here during the summer sometimes. It's pretty quiet, and a good place to clear your head and compose your thoughts." Billy replied as he looked over at Mac. "You ready?" Mac nodded. Billy got out of the car and walked around to the passanger side and opened the door for Mac offering his hand to her, and she gladly accepted. They walked up to the front door, Billy unlocked the door and lead Mac inside. It was a small, cozy cabin with a big fireplace to the right, and a large twin size bed in the corner. In front of the fireplace was a couch with lots of pillows and blankets hanging over the back. It was the best place Billy could have taken Mac, she wanted to get away from all the hassles and this was the place to do that.
"Are you hungry? I can see if I can whip up something from whatevers in the kitchen." Billy asked.
"Umm, sure." Mac replied.
Billy walked into the kitchen and Mac went to lie on the bed. By the time Billy returned Mac was fast asleep. Billy smiled and noticed how peaceful she looked. As he watched her sleep he felt tired himself. As he laid down beside Mac, he put his arm around her waist and pulled her close, and he drifted off to sleep.
A few hours later, Billy awoke in an empty bed. He quickly sat up and saw that Mac had built a fire and was sitting on the floor in front of the couch. He walked over to her and sat down behind her, with her between his legs. He reached his arms around her waist and pulled her close. She leaned back into his chest and wrapped her arms around his.
They sat in silence for a little while, then Mac looked up at Billy and said, "I wish it could be like this forever."
Billy kissed her cheek and said, "It will be, I promise. I won't let anything or anyone get in our way."
"But Billy....."
"Shhhhh......No buts, not tonight at least." He leaned over and kissed her again. Billy looked over to the door, and noticed that Mac had brought in both of their suitcases. Confused, he turned Mac to face him and then shifted his eyes back to the bags and then back to Mac.
"Oh, I thought we could spend the night." Mac said. Billy looked shocked as he sat straight up. "Not like that....I mean just holding each other like we were before." Mac said. Billy smiled and pulled her into another hug. "I noticed you packed a bag too, were you really going to follow me if I decided to go?" Mac questioned.
"Mac, I promised you I would. I wasn't going to break a promise. You go, I go. Remember?" Billy responded. After a long pause.
Mac: "Billy...."
Billy: "Yeah, baby?"
Mac: "I'm sorry."
Billy: "For what?"
Mac: "Not telling you sooner about the tape, and for lying to you about being CleanQueen." Billy quickly turned Mac towards him so he could look into her eyes.
"No Mac, I'm the one that is sorry. I should have never gotten back together with Brittany, I should have fought harder for us. And about the whole CleanQueen thing, I really wasn't mad at you. I realized that those chats meant alot to me, you made me realize my feelings for you, and I'm thankful for that. I've hurt you so much, I can't stand to think of the pain I put you through. Please Mac, please forgive me." Mac knew he was not only apologizing for all the pain he put her through but for actually being with Brittany. She pulled him into her arms hugging him as tightly as she could, he did the same. In a way, it was like they were releasing all the painful things that had happened over the last nine months and in a way starting over. Mac kissed Billy gently on the lips. They spent the rest of the night together almost in complete silence, just enjoying each others presence.
~The End~
*Watch for another story, where the tables have turned on Brittany.*