I own nothing. The only suggestion I have is that you listen to Michael Buble singing this sing while you read it. It really helps with the atmosphere. Enjoy!

Put your head on my shoulder

Mary cried when the song came on the radio. Marshall looked over at her, concerned. She wasn't known to burst into random fits of sobbing. He moved across the couch to wrap his arms around her shaking frame.

Hold me in your arms, baby

Mary instinctively froze but relaxed when she realized it was Marshall. She crumpled into him and wrapped her arms around his waist. She leaned her head against his strong chest and let her tears out while trying to breathe in time with his rhythm in an effort to calm herself.

Squeeze me oh so tight

Marshall tightened his hold on her; afraid she might run away. He asked her what was wrong and was barely able to make out her response. Apparently, her father had sung this song to her when she was a little girl. He asked her if she wanted him to turn off the radio. She said no. He simply held onto her and rocked her gently and placed feather-light kisses on the top of her head.

Show me that you love me too.

Ever so slowly, Mary felt him remove himself from her embrace and she was instantly embarrassed. She blushed, tried to rid her face of tears and didn't notice Marshall holding out his hand to her until he nudged her shoulder with it. She looked up at him, took his hand, and was brought to the middle of his living room. He pulled her close with his left arm tightly around her waist and his right hand holding her smaller one close to his chest. He nuzzled his nose in to her hair and let his cheek rest on the top of her head where he, just a second ago, he was placing comforting kisses. Gently, he led her in a slow swaying motion.

Put your lips next to mine, Dear

Mary buried her face in his neck in attempt to will herself to stop crying. She held onto him like he was her lifeline. With no one else was she able to just let go of her façade and show her naked emotions like this. Slightly, she pulled back just enough to look into his eyes. There was some confusion masked behind his concern. She leaned in to place a kiss on the closest part of him that she could reach: the corner of his mouth.

Won't you kiss me once, Baby?

Marshall's eyes fluttered closed as he experienced the feel of his lips on his skin. He turned his head just a little bit; just enough to kiss her lips as they left his skin. The sharp intake of breath from her indicated her surprise but this did not stop him. It was a short-lived, chaste kiss, but that didn't start the spark that went off his mind and reverberated down his spinal cord to his toes. He wondered if she had felt it too.

Just a kiss good-night, maybe

Mary stared into his eyes as he pulled away. Confusion had been replaced by fear. Even the fear was still masked by concern, however. Her tears had since ceased to exist. It was only them in the room. The music echoed in the background, but otherwise all that remained was the two of them. She felt him sigh against her as she stood on her toes to experience another kiss from Marshall.

You and I will fall in love.

This kiss was deeper, heady, and needier. He felt it and was pretty sure she felt it too. His right hand released hers and joined the other at the small of her back. He pulled her closer against him as he felt her fingers thread through his hair. The sensation of her fingernails scratching against his scalp was enough to make him shudder. Reluctantly, he pulled his mouth from its ecstasy and rested his forehead against hers.

Some people say that love's a game

She was breathless as they continued their dance. Their foreheads had ceased touching and they were now dancing cheek to cheek. Her arms around his neck and his around her waist in a tight hug; they continued their swaying motion. She giggled as he threw her off balance by dipping her slightly; her stress melting away. Only he could do this to her. She mentally kicked herself for taking so long to realize it. He was her best friend, her confidant, her rock. Without him, she was lost. Together they were unbeatable, no one could compete with them. It was then that she realized how much she depended on him to be himself; her Marshall, her knight, her partner. How had she not known?

A game you just can't win.

Marshall was elated to have her in his arms. He didn't worry that after tonight that they would go back to the way they were. He had her now and that's all that mattered. Long ago, he had learned not to plan things in regard to his fiery tempered partner; that he should just roll with whatever hand she dealt. If tonight was all he had, then he was going to enjoy it. He would be here for her; he would be anything she needed.

If there's a way,

Mary savored this moment. She took it all in: the emotions in his eyes, his scent, the feel of his body pressed against her own, and the comfort that she was protected; that Marshall would always protect, defend, and, dare she say, love her, because, damn, did she love him. No one had ever been with her like Marshall was.

I'll find it some day;

He held her close as they swayed. They could deal with everything tomorrow; tonight was about her. He brought a hand up to comb through her golden tresses. Brushing it aside, his fingers found the back of her neck. He began to lightly rake his fingernails in small circles around the pale, skin that rarely saw the light of day.

And then this fool will rush in.

Mary sucked in a breath as she felt Marshall's lips on the pulse point behind her ear. Her eyes drifted shut as he continued the light exploration of her neck His kisses were soft; as if he were afraid she would break. She hugged him tighter to her as the hand that was on her back began to rub circles along her lower spinal column beneath her t-shirt.

Put your head on my shoulder

He felt her relax against him as he continued his ministrations of her neck and back. Her head rested on his shoulder and he could feel her warm breath on the sensitive skin of his neck. Marshall held back a shudder as the action of his partner breathing on his skin gave him goose bumps. Reaching behind him, he grabbed her left hand in his right and resumed their previous dancing position. He began taking longer strides to bring her around the perimeter of the room. Her head remained on his shoulder and his arm remained tightly around her waist as he waltzed her in circles.

Whisper in my ear, Baby

Mary stumbled a bit when he attempted to twirl her but she regained her balance as he brought her back to him with a smile on his face. She reached behind his head to bring it closer and turned it so his ear was exposed to her lips. The words wouldn't come so she settled for kissing him on his cheek. He wouldn't know she faltered.

Words I want to hear tell me

As she turned his head, his eyes widened at the prospect of her whispering into his ear. He was not as disappointed as he thought he would be when he felt her lips on his cheek. He nudged his nose against hers and smiled at her. He saw the unspoken words behind the newer unshed tears in her eyes. Her eyes told him everything. Kissing her on the forehead before leaning his cheek against it, he moved in closer to her ear.

Tell me that you love me too.

Mary smiled in spite of herself at his confession and was relieved that he was able to discern what was on her mind by simply looking into her eyes. She let him lead her around the room. She let him do a lot of things that others weren't privy to. In response to his words, she pulled his head down and connected them with her kiss. No words needed, she let him know her feelings of reciprocation in this one kiss. She grinned against his lips as he moaned when she ran her tongue against his mouth. Taking the opportunity, she touched her tongue to his as electricity shot through her body.

Some people say that love's a game

Marshall continued leading her around the room as they kissed. His hands traveled up her back and held her tight. Many times, he had imagined his confession to his fair skinned partner; but never, in his wildest dreams, had he expected it to be like this. He groaned as he felt her fingers raking along his back. Their tongues dueled in their battle for equal contact.

A game you just can't win

Mary was the one to break this kiss. The smooth crooning of Michael Buble was faint in the background. She looked up at Marshall and gave him a small, yet sincere smile. Her eyes watered with unshed tears at the beauty of their actions this evening. What started out as a sad memory was developing into something she'd never forget. She would still cry with this song in the future; albeit not for the same reasons.

If there's a way,

Marshall returned her smile with one of his own as he picked up her hand to spin her again. Her laughter was little silver bells against the music that played in the background. He wanted to be the only one to make her laugh like that; the first and last person she would see everyday.

I'll find it some day

She knew the moment she looked into his smiling eyes that she was going to spend the rest of her life with him; one way or the other.

And then this fool will rush in!

For once, Marshall let his thoughts wander to the future. He thought far enough to thinking about how she would react to marrying him. A mental reminder of her needs this particular evening brought him back as he was reminded this began in heartache. He began to lead her back to the couch.

Put your head on my shoulder

Mary let him lead her and they fell back onto the couch with her lying half on top of him. His body was solid, yet soft as he held her. He held her hair to the side as she laid her head into the crook of his neck. She kissed his jaw line as she relaxed into him once again.

Whisper in my ear, Baby

She whispered a thank you in his ear as she closed her eyes and mumbled that she loved him as she was lulled to sleep by the feeling of his heartbeat beneath her hand and the soothing touch of his fingers threading through her hair from her scalp to the ends.

Words I want to hear, tell me

The feel of her steady breathing on his neck was enough to relax him into an almost hypnotic state. He turned his head slightly, so as not to wake her, and kissed her forehead and whispered promises of love and protection for however long she would need or want it. He felt her lips shift into a smile and he knew she understood.

Put your head on my shoulder.

And there you have it. This song was sung to me when I was a little girl by my mother. She died when I was nine years old so I'm imagining Mary's reaction to the song would probably be similar to mine. The only difference is that I don't have Marshall to comfort me :-P

I hope you liked it! No worries, I'm still working on "Situations"! This just popped into my head.

LP