I agree that the pic of Melina and Gary is very Smacked, I would love to see Mac and Stella like that.
You know, it's funny, not long ago I really didn't like the idea of Mac and Stella together but then I started reading all of your posts here, and re-discovered my love for them. I loved them in s1, and now being on this thread has made me remember why I loved them.
I do want them to get together, but I don't want it to go like it did with D/L - flirting then a non-date (Love Run Cold) and then sex on a pool table. I want to see their friendship deepen into something more, see more moments between them and see them be there for one another. I think that even though they trust each other totally, because they have both been hurt more than once in the past, they would want to take things slowly, be wary about moving too fast. Mac would never push Stella into doing anything she didn't want (if she hasn't been intimate with a man since Frankie, which I think is the case, she might be nervous about that) and likewise Stella would never expect Mac to tell everyone about their relationship, if he wanted to keep it secret, she would agree. If he was hesitant or cautious, she would understand. She would also understand how important Claire was to him, that a part of his heart belongs to Claire even though he is in love with her (Stella). Stella would not feel threatened by Claire, she would just want to make Mac happy. She would understand when he wanted to visit Claire at Ground Zero or talk about her, when he got sad around the time of 9/11, remembering Claire. Remember, she told Mac in Sweet 16 that Claire still exists in his heart, showing she doesn't mind that Claire is in his heart. Also, Stella would not be intimidated by Reed's presence in Mac's life, I think she would be lovely to Reed, because he is important to Mac, and also because she knows what it's like to grow up in foster care.
*takes a breath* Okay, Smacked rant over. Sorry about that, I just get inspired sometimes!