This one has been teasing me for a few days, ever since I met the most gorgeous... anyway, I hope you'll enjoy.

This is set around the time Mama Ramirez comes around and goes off canon from there. Right now, the worst I'll get into is a little cursing.

"Marshal Mann," Marshall answered his phone while surreptitiously staring at his partner. She was agitated about something but didn't seem inclined to share in front of Eleanor. Maybe he could talk her into an early lunch.

"Marshall, it's Brandi. Don't let Mary know it's me," Mary's spacey sister greeted him.

"Okay," Marshall responded, keeping his tone light so Mary wouldn't get clued in. He didn't think anything about her tone because she always seemed semi-hysterical to Marshall. He had a feeling he wasn't going to like this conversation. Perhaps Brandi could shed some light on what was going on with her sister.

"You're the only person I know who can help. Raph is trying to manipulate Mary into saying she'll marry him and it's my fault she feels a sense of obligation to him." Marshall grunted and did everything in his power to keep his expression blank. He absolutely loathed Raphael and knew it was in large part because he was jealous of the man.

"I can't get into all the details because… I know it would be compromising. I learned that much with the whole Spanky thing."

"Go on," Marshall said and he saw Mary glance over at him, realizing it must have been harsher than he thought. So maybe he wasn't as magnanimous as he thought; he was still furious with Brandi for putting Mary in any sort of danger.

"Anyway," Brandi continued hastily. "Raph told his mother that he and Mary were engaged. She's here for a visit and she's been gushing all over Mary. And Mom is over the moon about it. Raph got Mary to agree to pretend until after his mother leaves but I know he's gonna push for more."

"Anything in particular?" How dare Raph corner Mary like this? He knew there was no way Mary would make a fool of someone in front of their mother unless absolutely necessary. Now how to make it absolutely necessary? And without Mary knowing anything about it…

Luckily Brandi caught the meaning. "He keeps insinuating himself into family situations. He keeps trying to find little ways to make himself indispensable to her. He tried fixing the holes and pretended he didn't understand what the issue was even though they've had lots of fights about it."

"And it doesn't work?" Marshall asked, annoyed that Raph was in that position to begin with. Was it just a pattern with Mary to respond to people who evidently needed taking care of? He'd have to reflect on that later as Brandi started speaking again.

"I may not be the brightest bulb Marshall, but I can see that they don't work. They have nothing in common except sex. Every conversation is strained and ends in Raph or Mary getting pissed off. And when it seems like she's going to show him the door he asks if that's fair after everything he's done. She feels guilty; like she does when Mom throws a tantrum. It's the same button I've been trying really hard not to push myself."

"He's also giving her blatant opinions on what she should wear and I caught him hiding clothes he doesn't like. He made a meatloaf and then poured out the ketchup knowing she likes ketchup on it. He insisted that she'd like it better that way. She didn't if you're wondering. He got rid of her soap and replaced it with some heavy floral scented stuff. She doesn't know about that. I bought more of the stuff she likes and got rid of what he bought."

"I may be crazy but it seems like he wants to own her, control her. You don't own someone like Mary and I can't let her get trapped because of something that's my fault."

"What's your plan?" Marshall asked and met Mary's gaze when it met his. He rolled his eyes in annoyance he didn't have to feign and mouthed 'crazy sister'. He'd told Mary stories about Heather and so was ready for Mary's smirk. Having a pain in the ass sister was a bond they shared and it was working in his favor because he had a hard time lying to his partner. He was also stunned at the information Brandi had handed him. Raphael was doing more than trying to control her; Raphael was trying to change her into something… someone she wasn't. He made a mental note to do some serious checking into Raphael's background.

"Raph's mother is cooking a big family dinner tomorrow night. You're family so you need to come. I need you to be… you know… you. You and Mary together are really strange but it works. Raph is always off his game when you're around. And I'm hoping it's as obvious to his mother as it is to me that you and Mary fit. Raph says her approval is really important and maybe if she doesn't give it, he'll leave Mary alone."

"You really think that would work?" Marshall was torn between feeling stunned that Brandi had noticed the chemistry he shared with Mary and wary of Mary's wrath. That and the fact that Brandi's plan was viable. How did that happen?

"It has to," Brandi said and he could hear the true desperation in her voice. "I can see Mary getting close to caving. If she says yes it won't be because she loves him. It will be to protect me. She can't ruin her life for me Marshall. I won't let her do that anymore."

"Alright," Marshall sighed deliberately sounding annoyed. "You win. I'll go in on her surprise. But she doesn't like it, it's on you." Internally he was impressed. Maybe Brandi Shannon was finally growing up. Maybe having seen what her actions had done to her big sister had woken her up to the world around her. He could only hope that it continued.

"Thanks Marshall! Bye."

"She planning something?" Mary asked, a knowing smile on her face.

"Yeah," Marshall said. "A surprise dinner for a very temperamental alpha female." Technically he wasn't lying and he wasn't going to give any further details. If Brandi was right this might be his only opportunity to preemptively stop Raph from taking Mary away.

"Mary, Marshall, get your asses down to the train yard," Stan barked as he came out of his office. "Need you to handle something mid-transfer. Jameson stuck his foot in it again."

"On it," Mary said and by her speed Marshall could tell she was anxious to be moving.

I hope you like... let me know please. ~K