Mary Marries Lou
Chapter: 1
Pairing: Mary/Lou
Rating: PG
It was to be a small, intimate gathering. Or at least that's how it started out. What was suppose to be just a few people had turned into a near circus. So much so that Lou and Mary's wedding had turned into just a reception. After work on Friday evening they drove upstate and eloped in peace. It was just the two of them, the preacher, and his wife as a witness.
"I can't believe you cheated me out of a wedding." Rhoda said, making her way into the Grant's new house. "Are you trying to kill me?" she asked, doing her best impression of her mother. "That cuts deep, Mary."
"Sorry." she smiled, closing the door. "Everything was just getting so out of hand that we thought we would take control of the situation."
"I couldn't believe when Dottie told me." she said. "I mean poor Ted, he got ordained and everything."
"And yet another reason to add to the list." Mary sat down on the sofa. "The entire thing was turning into a huge, elaborate production. And that was the last thing either of us wanted."
Rhoda sat down on the sofa. "I understand." she replied. "All that stress for fifteen minutes time just isn't worth it. Just as long as you're happy. And you are happy, aren't you, Mare?"
"Perfectly." she said. "Mom on the other hand feels a little slighted, but I assured her we would show up for the reception."
"You got off easy." she said. "My mother would have made us get married again."
"You know I don't think that crossed her mind."
"I could suggest it to her." she teased.
"You'll do no such thing." she said. "You're suppose to be on my side."
"Always." she smiled. "So tell me, kid, how does it feel to be Mrs. Lou Grant?"
"Really good." she said. "I'm finding that married life isn't all that different from unmarried life. I keep waiting for something to change, but so far nothing has."
"That means that you picked the right man." she told her. "I'm so happy for the two of you. If someone would have told me seven years ago that the two of you were going to end up together I would have never believed them. Hell I wouldn't have believed them a year ago."
"Me either." she agreed. "I guess things always work out the way they should."
"They do." Rhoda smiled. "This is a really nice neighborhood, by the way. Very upscale."
"Don't say upscale in front of Lou." she told her. "I had to downplay the niceness of it to get him to agree to live here."
"Why? Where did he want to live?"
"The next town over." she replied. "It was closer to his favorite bar. But I fell in love with this house the moment I laid eyes on it."
"You made a good choice." she said. "I mean the livingroom is lovely. How about giving me the full tour?"
"Sure."
"You know, Mare, I was thinking that maybe I could move back to Minneapolis."
Mary smiled. "Yeah?"
"Yeah." she replied. "I've been in New York long enough to remember the reasons I left it to begin with."
xxxxx
Lou made his way into the bathroom where Mary was getting ready. "I have wonderful news." Lou announced. "Your mother says that she's willing to forgive us for eloping and cheating her out of her only child's wedding."
"Oh, really?" she asked. "That's very generous of her."
"But there is one tiny little catch."
Mary smiled. "Of course there is."
"Dottie said she would forgive us if I promised her a grandchild."
She laughed. "Did you tell her she was already gaining three?"
"No."
She detected a seriousness in his tone. "Well, what did you tell her?"
Lou shrugged. "I said okay."
Mary stopped what she was doing. "You said okay?"
"Yeah." he breathed out. "I thought it seemed fair enough."
"You thought?"
"Yes." he said, slowly. "Your mother seemed pleased with my reply. Why aren't you?"
She went back to doing her makeup. "I just assumed we wouldn't be having children." she said. "I mean you already have three grown daughters. And grandchildren."
"Oh." he exhaled. "I assumed you would want to have at least one."
"Hmm." she sighed. "How about that."
"So you don't?"
"I don't know." she replied. "I haven't really thought about it."
"You've never thought about having children?" he asked. "Or you've never thought about having children with me?"
Mary turned around on the vanity stool. "Of course I've thought about having children." she told him. "When I was younger I thought about it a lot."
"Younger?" he questioned. "You're thirty seven. That's hardly decrepit."
"Are you serious about this?"
"Very." he said. "But hey if you don't want to have a baby then I'm not going to stand here and try and talk you into it."
"There's no reason to get upset." she said. "I just need a little time to think about it, that's all."
"I'm sorry." he apologized. "I didn't mean to start an argument. I'm sorry for assuming that you wanted to have kids. And I'm sorry I told your mom she could have a grandchild."
Mary smiled. "You're amazing." she said. "How incredibly lucky am I to have you for a husband?"
"Very."
She kissed him. "I know." she replied, looking him in the eyes. "Hmm." she sighed. "I think I will have your baby."
He smiled. "Yeah?"
"Yeah."
"Good." he replied. "I don't think I could live with a mother in law that hated me."
Mary laughed. "Oh, I see." she replied. "This was all about making mom happy."
"Exactly." he said. "And when you're a mother you'll understand."
tbc...
