Hi, I had an idea for a fic which probably turned out to be a bit of 
a dud, but i thought i'd post it seeing how i haven't posted a fic 
for some time. If anyone has any ideas for a better title, feel free 
to let me know!!
See ya,
Louise.

Licence to wed
Author: Louise
Email: lj_brown2@yahoo.com
Disclaimer: I do not own stingers. Etc, etc, etc.
Coupling: Mac/Pete (of course!!!!)

The factory~
"Good afternoon all," Mac stated in a cheery voice.
"Afternoon Mac," they all replied, except for Pete. He just waited 
and watched until Mac closed the door to her office.
Pete scoffed, "is she in a weird mood, or what?"
"Pete, she says that every day when she comes in and she had a smile 
on her face. Why would that mean that Mac's in a weird mood?" Angie 
asked bemused.
"Because of something I told her last night. Mac was pretty pissed 
with me!"
Danni had an idea what he was talking about. "You told her about…?"
"What do you reckon?" Pete snapped.
Oscar and Angie stood in the middle of the room confused. "What was 
it that you told Mac to get her pissed off with you and why does 
Danni know what it's about?" Oscar asked Pete.
"It's personal!" Pete said shrugging Oscar's questions off.
"The only thing that would have Mac so pissed off, is if Danni and 
Pete are in a relationship together," Angie thought out loud.
"Well we're not in a relationship, okay!" Pete replied before walking 
off.
"Hey, wait up," Oscar called out, chasing him. "Want to grab a beer?"
Pete thought for a moment, "yeah, get in."

After Pete and Oscar drove off, Angie walked up to Danni to find out 
more information.
"Come on Danni, what's going on?"
"Pete and I had a one nighter, and now I'm pregnant," Danni replied 
almost in tears.
"Oh Danni!" Angie hugged Danni in support. "What are you going to do?"
Danni shrugged, "I don't know. Pete and I would never work out, so 
that's not an option. Besides, he loves Mac, and she loves him, 
despite being angry about this!"
"How can you be so sure?"
"When we got back to Mac's after the reunion, she said a few things 
about their relationship…how they were good together, and what 
happened to their relationship. You can see it in their eyes."
"Not to mention how he supported her after Bill's death," Angie put 
in.
Danni nodded, "exactly. Those two are made for each other. All this 
will do is put a wedge between them and both Pete and Mac will hate 
me for it!"
"Come off it Danni, Pete's also responsible for what has happened. By 
the sounds of things, Mac seems to be more angry at him than at you. 
They'll work it out, so stop beating yourself up. It won't do you or 
the baby any good!"
"Thanks Ange."
Mac came out of her office and was looking around the factory. "Have 
either of you two seen Oscar and Pete?"
"I think they went to the pub for lunch." Angie replied.
Mac shook her head annoyed, "nice of them to let me know. Now we have 
to wait until they get back for the brief!"
"I've got an idea!" Angie announced. "Why don't you tell us about the 
case now, and make the boys stay late to tell them?"
Mac nodded, "great idea Ange. With that, they can also do all the 
paper work for this case!"
"Pete's going to love that!" Danni stated sarcastically. 
"Serves that bastard right!" Mac mumbled before heading to her 
office, closely followed by Danni and Angie.

"Chatterley wants us to investigate John Reynolds, who poses as a 
wedding celebrant, but allegedly has fake credentials."
"So, the couples he's married aren't really married?" Angie asked.
"No, so unfortunately, once we have enough evidence to convict, 
they're going to have to be told and probably won't like it!"
Danni laughed, "I don't know, some might think it's a `get out of 
jail free card'!"
Mac and Angie joined Danni in laughing.
"But if he's got fake credentials, how does he get hold of the 
marriage licences?"
"Apparently those are fake too!"
"Who will be the lucky bride and groom?" Danni asked with raised 
eyebrows.
"Unfortunately myself and Pete. Danni, will you be right on 
surveillance with the new trainee we're getting?"
Danni nodded, "yeah that's fine, besides, that's the only way I can 
stay working, if I'm in the van!"
"Right, Angie you're the maid of honour and Oscar will be the best 
man."
Angie hesitated for a moment before speaking, "what if this guy's 
legit?"
"Well then, god help me! Chatterley is sure this is the guy, if not, 
I'll kill him!" 
"It'll be funny if this guy is innocent!" Angie laughed, but stopped 
as soon as she saw Mac's unhappy expression.
"Yeah, thanks Ange…We can't do anymore on this until Oscar and Pete 
know what's going on, so you two can go if you want."
"Thanks." 

Abbotsford Hotel~
"Oh, mate…talk about being stuck between a rock and a hard place!"
"Yeah, don't remind me."
Oscar looked at Pete, "what are you going to do?"
"I don't know!"
"Do you love Danni?"
Pete shook his head slightly, "not in that way, no."
"You mean, not to the extent that you love Mac!"
"Yeah, something like that. But now that this has happened with 
Danni, Mac will never forgive me. I'll be lucky if she even talks to 
me again."
"So she took it pretty bad, I'm sure it's just the shock of the news…
it has been a pretty tough year for Mac," Oscar stated matter-of-
factly.
"And I've made it worse!"

The factory~
A few hours later Mac walked out of her office to see Oscar and Pete 
finally arriving back. 
"Nice of you two to finally join us!" She stated staring right 
through them.
"Sorry, we lost track of time," Pete replied looking down at his 
watch.
"Next time when you want to go and have a few beers and a social chat 
on my time, I would at least like to know about it!" Mac stormed back 
into her office, slamming her door.
"Shit! I'm really in the dog house now," he said to Oscar, before 
reluctantly walking up the stairs to Mac's office.

"Don't you know how to knock?" Mac asked without looking up at the 
sound of her door opening.
Pete walked right up to the front of Mac's desk to talk 
amicably, "Mac, I'm sorry. I know Stone and I should have told you we 
were going, it's just that - "
"Don't bullshit around. There's no excuse for you and Oscar just 
taking off like that. I am getting just a little bit sick and tired 
of you undermining my authority all the time!"
"You've never worried about it before, why now?"
"Because I had a case to brief you on, but no, you and Oscar had to 
go out for `lunch', only to be gone for hours and arriving back at 
work half pissed!"
Pete scoffed, "how were we meant to know that you were going to give 
us a brief?"
"Oh gee, I don't know Pete…maybe because I had just arrived back from 
a meeting with Chatterley at headquarters!"
"When are we having this brief now?"
"Ange and Danni already know. Get Oscar in here and I will tell the 
two of you about it now!"

"When are we getting married?" Pete asked with a smile spreading 
across his face.
Mac ignored it, seriously replying, "the sting will take place on 
Saturday. Pete you'll have to organise for whatever family and close 
friends you have to come, I'll do the same for myself."
"So we're not having cover names?"
"No. In order to have him charged with fraud, we need to use our 
names. Otherwise, the judge can dismiss the charges."
Pete smiled, "so you'll finally be Mrs. Peter Church!"
"Sorry to disappoint you, but it will be a fake marriage," Mac 
replied dryly.
Oscar stood up ready to leave, "is that all?"
"No, sit back down," snapped Mac. "Because of your behaviour today, 
both of you will be doing ALL of the paperwork for this case, 
including Angie's and Danni's share. Is that understood?"
"Yes, boss," Pete and Oscar replied simultaneously. 
"Good. Now you may leave."

Saturday morning: The factory~
"Angie, as soon as the ceremony is over, you'll take the marriage 
licence to H.Q for Chatterley to look at, okay?"
"Yep, no worries," replied Angie who was getting ready.
"Danni, have you seen Pete and Oscar?"
Danni shook her head, "no they haven't been in all day."
"Bloody typical," Mac snapped as she picked up the phone and dialled 
Pete's number.

"Hello," said Pete.
"Pete, it's Mac. Where are you, you and Oscar were meant to be here 
to organise the wires over an hour ago?"
"We thought it would be best to do that at my place."
"Why?" Mac asked suspiciously.
"Because it's bad luck for the bride and groom to see one another 
before the wedding!"
"May I remind you this is a case so there is no need to play the 
marriage act by the rules!" Mac yelled as she hung up the phone. "Is 
everyone else ready?"
"Yeah, all set," Danni replied getting into the driver seat of the 
van.

Wedding ceremony~
Mac and Angie were waiting in the bridal room when there was a knock 
on the door.
"Come in," called out Angie.
Mac's mum and dad came in. Her dad had a smile spread across his 
face, but her mother, on the other hand was looking very annoyed.
"Mum, dad…thanks for coming."
Her dad laughed. "I wouldn't miss seeing my little princess getting 
married for the world!" He said before hugging Mac. "But, I am a 
little disappointed that we haven't met him yet."
"Sorry, we've both been really busy at work and didn't have the time 
to go up to Sydney…" Mac was cut off by her mother before she could 
finish.
"You're not pregnant are you?"
Mac was stunned by her mother's accusation, "what? No, I'm not 
pregnant. Why would you think that?"
"Well, you've never mentioned this man before, and it does seem a bit 
like a shot gun wedding!"
"I'm sorry to disappoint you, but there is no other reason we are 
getting married apart from the fact we love one another! So if you 
don't mind, I have a wedding to finish getting ready for." Mac wasn't 
sure if she really meant those words or not, but she told herself it 
didn't matter, because it was just a case.
Mac's father hung around after her mother had left. "You know what 
she's like. Don't let anything she says upset you…It's your wedding 
day, you have to be happy, alright!"
"Thanks dad," Mac smiled hugging her father once again.

The celebrant closed his book and turned to Pete, "you may now kiss 
your bride."
Pete placed a hand softly on each side of Mac's face and kissed her 
deeply, not wanting to let go because he knew she would never allow 
that to happen again, at least while he was in this mood.
Mac pulled away, continue to look in Pete's eyes not taking any 
notice of the guests in the room clapping their hands for the new Mr 
and Mrs Peter Church.

As soon as the ceremony was over, Angie rushed off to headquarters to 
show Chatterley the marriage licence, while all the guests went to 
the reception. It wasn't long before Angie got back and immediately 
went to Mac.
"Mr. and Mrs. Callum, sorry to interrupt, but I really need to have a 
word with Ellen."
"That's fine. Gives us a chance to have a quiet chat with Peter," 
replied Mac's father, while her mother looked on suspiciously.
"So, has Chatterley arrested Reynolds yet?"
Angie hesitated for a moment. "Mac, you're not going to like this…
Chatterley made a mistake with the target."
Mac laughed, "don't even joke about things like that!" But her 
laughter soon stopped when she noticed Angie wasn't laughing. "Please 
tell me you're joking?"
"I'm sorry Mac, but John Reynolds is a legitimate marriage 
celebrant," Angie replied shaking her head.
"So you're telling me, that Pete and I are legally married?"
"I'm afraid so."
"Shit! Chatterley will pay for this…so who is the target?"
Angie handed Mac a sheet of paper with information on it, "Jack 
Reynolds. That's probably why Chatterley got it ballsed up – John, 
Jack."
"Just great. Chatterley stuffs up an investigation and I'm stuck with 
being married to Church!"
"What are we going to do now? I mean, you and Pete are out."
"I guess that leaves you and Oscar." Mac replied. "I better go tell 
Pete."

Just as Mac approached Pete, it was time for the bridal dance, and he 
held out his hand. Mac obliged and they both started dancing closely 
as soon as they hit the middle of the dance floor. Because the music 
was so loud, Mac decided she would be able to tell Pete the news 
without anyone else being able to hear.
Pete's body tingled at the feel of Mac's warm breath on his neck.
"Pete, I have to tell you something," she whispered in his ear.
"What is it?"
"The marriage licence was real. In fact, the celebrant was real."
Pete took a moment for all this to sink in. "So, we're really 
married?"
"Yes."
Pete smiled, "lucky I booked the honeymoon suite then!"
"Pete, this isn't funny."
"I know…marriage is a very serious commitment…one which shouldn't be 
taken lightly."
Mac placed her forehead on Pete's shoulder, "what are we going to do 
then?"
"We could give it a go!" Pete suggested.
"Do you have any idea what those wedding vows mean?" Mac asked him 
seriously.
Pete pulled away slightly, "what are you saying? You want us to give 
up without even trying?"
"We're not even meant to be married. The licence and the celebrant 
were both supposed to be fakes, so this whole wedding should also be 
a fake."
"Except it turned out otherwise…Mac, the thing is, when I was saying 
those words to you, I was saying them as if I meant them. To me it 
wasn't a case. It was reality, and it is reality. Let me prove to you 
that I can be your husband!"
Mac hesitated, "I don't know Pete. I only just found out about you 
and Danni a few days ago, not to mention the fact she's pregnant with 
your child. How can I be sure you won't leave me once Danni has the 
baby? Shouldn't they be your priority now?"
"My love for you should be assurance enough! Besides, I don't love 
Danni." Pete leant in and kissed Mac deeply as the music was 
finishing. He pulled back and whispered in her ear, "just think about 
it, please?"
But Mac walked away without replying.

"Hey Mac," Danni said as she approached Mac who was sitting outside 
the reception centre. "Angie told me about the celebrant."
"Can I ask you something, Danni?"
"Yeah, of course."
Mac looked directly into Danni's eyes, "do you love Pete?"
"No I don't Mac. While I would like to bring this child up in a 
stable home, I know that's impossible. I don't love Pete…Pete doesn't 
love me."
Mac looked down at the wedding band, thinking that she would have 
discarded it by now had the sting gone to plan. But it was still on 
her finger. Placed there by the man she wanted to put a wedding ring 
on her for so long, but in different circumstances. 
"Mac, he loves you more than anything. He would risk his life to 
protect you and to be there for you." Danni watched as a tear began 
rolling down Mac's cheek. "The other night, when he waited for you in 
your office…I found him smelling your bottle of perfume. Then when he 
spoke to me about the baby, he looked like his whole world had been 
turned upside down. For once, there was nothing standing in his way 
to be with you until I told him about the baby. Mac, let this be the 
beginning of something special for you and Pete. Don't walk away 
without giving it your all."
Mac watched as Danni stood and walked inside, leaving her to think.

Honeymoon suite~
Mac hadn't said a word to Pete since she walked away from him on the 
dance floor, so he thought Mac didn't want this marriage to work. 
"Nice of your parents to drop us off," Pete said trying to break the 
silence, but it didn't work. "Ah listen, why don't you stay here so 
it's not wasted and I'll call a taxi and go back to my place?" He 
suggested.
Mac shook her head as tears stung her eyes. "Pete, stay…please?"
Pete walked over to Mac, lifting his hand to her face and gently 
wiping away the tears which were now rolling down her face. "I would 
be happy to," he replied moving his fingers away from her cheek and 
running them along her lips. 
"I want this more than anything," Mac whispered leaning into kiss 
Pete.
"You're not the only one…Mrs. Church!" Pete placed his hands on each 
side of Mac's face, caressing it gently as they fell into a deeper 
embrace, slowly making their way to the bedroom.

Next morning: the factory~
"Any word from Mac or Pete?" Asked Oscar.
Angie shook her head, "nope. We don't even know what Mac decided."
"I think I might," stated Danni.
"How?"
"Mac and I had a good discussion, although I did most of the 
discussing."
Oscar scoffed, "tell us something we don't know!"
"Hey, I'm offended!"
"Come on Danni, don't leave us in suspense," said Angie eager to hear 
what Danni knew.
"I think I may have convinced Mac to give the marriage a try."
Angie laughed, "well, I'll believe that when I see it!"
"Morning," greeted Mac as she walked in to where the others were 
talking.
"Morning Mac," they replied, staring at Mac and the ring that still 
shone on her left hand. Danni, Oscar and Angie smiled as Mac 
approached them.
"Still finding last night very amusing, I see."
Angie shook her head as she followed Mac into her office, "not at all 
Mac…ah, so how did things go last night after your parents dropped 
you and Pete off at the hotel?"
"You wouldn't want to know the details," Mac replied.
"Yes I do…so, what happened?" Mac gave Angie a suggestive grin in 
reply. "Ooh, right, no explanation required." 
"And yes, we still have a few things we need to sort out, but so far 
we're okay!" 
Angie began laughing at nothing. "What?" Mac asked.
"You have to admit, what happened last night with the sting was 
pretty funny!"
Mac couldn't help but smile back, "yeah, looking back, I guess it 
was."
"Stone has booked our wedding with Jack Reynolds. It's tomorrow 
evening, but we're not going to the trouble of inviting all our 
family and friends, we're just having an `intimate' gathering."
"Okay, I'll let Chatterley know when it is."

Angie and Oscar's wedding ceremony~
"If I could have both witnesses stepping forward to sign the marriage 
licence, please?"
Pete and Mac stepped behind the counter to sign the piece of paper.
"Definitely looks different to ours," Mac said as she checked the 
licence out.
"Just looks like he's done it on his computer, maybe Danni can check 
around the offices for a computer," Pete stated for the benefit of 
the wire.

After the ceremony, Mac caught up with Danni who was waiting near the 
van.
"Danni, how did you go?"
"Yeah good, found a computer in his office, which, surprise, 
surprise, has a template for marriage licences."
"Really?"
"Yeah…fraud are on their way. I told Chatterley I'd give him Oscar 
and Angie's licence when he got here."
Mac nodded, "good work. We'll see you back at the factory."
"Yep, see ya." Danni replied waiting for Chatterley.

The factory~
"So, where are you two going to live?"
Pete scratched his head, "we actually haven't thought about that…but 
I guess Mac's!"
"Will we still be calling you Mac?" Angie asked.
Mac laughed, "yeah, I won't be changing my name because of work 
reasons." Mac was interrupted by the sound of her phone 
ringing. "Won't be long," she said walking into her office to answer 
it.
It wasn't long before Mac reappeared full of smiles.
"Who was that?"
"Chief Commissioner Grodin," Mac replied continuing to smile.
Pete thought for a moment, "ah, the Head of Homicide application…I'd 
forgotten about that!"
"So had I!"
"Well…" Pete urged.
"You're looking at the new Head of Homicide, Detective Inspector 
Ellen Mackenzie!"
"That's great! Let me be the first to congratulate you," Pete replied 
leaning in to kiss his wife.
Mac pulled away quickly, "there's more…the new head of undercover is 
you."
"God help us," joked Oscar before being lightly punched in the 
stomach by Pete.
"So…you've taken the homicide job?" Pete asked turning back to Mac.
"Can I trust you?" He nodded, "well then…there's no reason for me to 
stay."
Pete put on a scowl, "what if I get lonely?"
"There's always Ange!" Mac replied with a hint of sarcasm, heading 
towards her office again.
Pete looked straight at Angie with a suggestive grin before he too, 
joined Mac in her office.
"Don't even think about it!" Angie yelled at him.