What They Missed

Abby POV:

Abby walked around the empty house and thought of the day they moved in. She had been so happy. She thought Marshall had been also. Was he really trying to fool himself for that long? The thought plagued her mind and in her heart she knew the answer was yes. Marshall was trying to move on with her and had convinced himself he was happy. They were going to have a future in this house. She had missed all the warning signs.

A part of her questioned her detective skills. The looks Marshall sent Mary. The way he was careful not to be overly affectionate in front of Mary with her. It was as if he was scared to throw off the balance of things. Yet their relationship continued forward and it would have still if she hadn't gone to the wedding. She convinced herself that Marshall protected Mary out of habit like he said. It was more than that and she knew it now. When he ran to Mary at her cry of distress and handed her his phone there was too much pandemonium to realize the only person Mary would focus or listen to was Marshall. Marshall gave her all of him and she would be second place, but that didn't even register until the hospital.

Marshall had ridden with Mary to the hospital instead of Mark. Mary begged for Marshall to stay with her and he did. He was always her side; it seemed to be his permanent place. They had taken Mary into surgery, and she made damn sure that everyone knew the only person she wanted in her room when she woke up was Marshall.

Marshall was still at the hospital helping Mary grieve for the child she never wanted. Per Mary's instructions he was the only one allowed in. It was the look in his eyes that clenched the deal for her. It was a mixture of pride, love and sorrow that she'd seen. It was the look of a man in love. The problem was the look wasn't directed at her and somehow she had missed that it was always there for Mary.

Taking one more walk through the empty house, she laid the key on the counter so Marshall could give it to the realtor that was selling their house. The funny thing is it had never felt like home, maybe deep down she did know.

Mark POV:

Mark sat on Mary's couch drinking a beer and thinking about the child that was lost. It was going to be his permanent connection to Mary. It would have kept her in his life for as long as they lived. Bound by a child; he had been so sure he could win her back by reminding her of the things they had done in their youth. Hell, he even dealt with Brandi's constant crying to prove he could be responsible. He'd been ready to relocate to Albuquerque to stay with Mary. What was his reward? He was thrust to the side so Mary could have Marshall. What the hell was with that?

The minute he had heard Mary was in trouble he ran to be by her side, but she ignored him and kept searching and looking towards Marshall to make things better. It still annoyed him to no end. Then to be left out of the ambulance and hospital room; well it was then he saw the light.

He had truly thought he could win her back; especially with her wavering back and forth on the baby. It was his ticket into Mary's life. He could charm her again and make her fall for him. Brandi was pushing for him; he could use that to help him out. It never dawned on him that she was serious about him staying there not working or that their sleeping together was a mistake. He had let himself get the past and present mixed up.

Marshall was in the room comforting Mary and he wanted to be there, but she didn't want him. She made that point at every attempt he had made to see her. She finally asked security to make him leave and told him she wanted him gone by the time she returned home. Marshall needed a place to stay and he was going to be staying with Mary. His Mary wasn't his anymore and it was finally sinking in.

Mary didn't know her feelings yet or if she did she was in major denial; but even he knew that it was a battle he couldn't win. Mary made her choice several times over tonight. He would pack his things and leave for New Jersey in the morning. There was nothing for him here. Mary's future seemed to be heading towards a tall, geeky cowboy that had managed to earn a trust that he had never seen Mary give to anyone. It was a trust he could never earn from her. Mary had found a soul mate that wasn't him. The past had blinded him to what was right in front of his face. Whoever said reality sucks; sure wasn't kidding.