Pairings: Marley x ? and Finchel… too many pairings to be listed right here.

Timeline: ten years from the current season

Warnings: Some confusion until later revealed the pairing, mild cursing and some sexual references

Genres: Romance/ Drama

Disclaimer: I don't own Glee

Authors Note: I'm glad so many people liked my story! Anyway, here's chapter two! Enjoy.

XXX

Marley frowned, scrubbing the counter with the dirty rag. Two years to date from the dreaded day where she made the biggest mistake of her life. When she ruined their chances at Nationals and left Jake. It may not seem like a huge thing, but to her, it was. The screw up at Sectionals that year earlier had left her feeling like a loser up until the blow up at Nationals.

As soon as she graduated, she moved out of her mother's house into a low rent apartment in a small town just outside of Columbus. It wasn't very nice, but it provided her with a roof over her head and that's what mattered. Her job at this local café (well, this one and the two other ones she had) helped pay the bills.

"Rose," the manager snapped, "aren't you supposed to be waiting tables?" Damn, she forgot. Today, unlike most of the other days, she was a waitress. Most of the time she worked behind the counter serving the bar men or worked as the cashier.

She nods, eager to please, and slips past him, grabbing an apron, pen and pad of paper. This was her main part time job, and the one she liked the most. Marley hated the one at night, it was dreadful.

She tucked the tresses of pretty dark brown hair behind her ear and took orders calmly. Coffee and baked goods almost always filled the air around her, a good feeling in the pit of her stomach as she waltzed around.

When the bell above the door jingled, Marley turned, her half smile freezing on her face. He shook the snow from his dark hair and went for a table. He hadn't noticed her yet. Good, perhaps if she snuck away, he wouldn't notice her.

Then her manager caught her trying to get into the kitchen. Wordlessly, he pointed towards the person Marley wanted to avoid most in the world. She took a chance and glared at him, shrinking back immediately.

"Hello! How may I help you?" She chirped, approaching the table. He squinted up at her, recognizing her.

"Marley…?" his voice was slow, deliberate. He couldn't believe he'd run into her here. She nervously tucked her hair behind her ear, playing with the tie on the apron.

"What can I get you?" Marley questioned, forcing the conversation along to as not have to really talk with him.

He cleared his throat, "Just a coffee. Black, please." Marley nods, scribbling his order down. Her hand halted. "I've missed you."

She smiled meekly, "I'll get your coffee."

Days of awkward interactions like this passed. He would try to speak with her and she would brush him off. It wasn't like Marley hated him, oh no, she did care about him, but after what happened, seeing him was hard. He left the glee club because of her choices. Well, hers and someone else's, but she would never put the blame on her.

The day of fate happened when she was closing up shop and he grabbed her arm. Marley jerked, cutting off the emotions on her face.

"Why are you avoiding me?" he demands. She simply stares at him with a blank expression. He couldn't read what she was feeling.

"I'm not," she forces out, smiling. His grip on her arm tightens, relaxing.

"Yes you are," he chokes out, "I don't know why though." He touches her cheek, and Marley steps back, not prepared at all for this confrontation.

Her voice breaks, "Aren't you mad at me? I covered up; I lied to you about being catfish."

He lets his fingers fall from her cheek, "I… no. Why would you think that?"

"You were so mad at me when I first told you. And your face was so hurt when Unique said she was, I don't know. I just thought you hated me. You left the glee club."

"That has nothing to do with you," he said firmly. "And I could never hate you Marley."

Marley dropped her eyes, "But… Ryder…"

"No buts," Ryder said gently. "It's okay." Then he kissed her.

XXX

Marley blushed, shaking her head furiously. "You guys are crazy!"

Tina frowned, "So it's not Ryder?" Murmurs of disappointment did a wave through the group. They were seated in the stands, having forgotten this was a party, attempting to pry information out of the brunette.

"No." Tina groaned.

"Why won't you tell us?" Kurt, even though not being close to the girl in question, asked. He loved gossip, and honestly, who didn't?

"It's none of your business," she replied, running her fingers over Alyssa's—her daughter—head. The girl remained quiet, her eyes locked on Artie's wheelchair. Tina noticed and shifted protectively in front of her husband. Bennett was fascinated with Quinn's earrings, sitting in her lap.

There was a simple ring on her finger, a gold band with a small diamond. "You're married?" Tina gasped.

Marley's eyes flashed, wringing her wrists, "Yes."

"Then why won't you tell us? Are you ashamed?" Jake snapped, suddenly regretting it. Tina knew he was still mad about their abrupt break up, but for some reason, she thought he wasn't mad at Marley. No, he was mad about the circumstance they broke up for.

"No," she spoke, "but I just don't think it matters." Marley paused. "Although, I was working three jobs outside of Columbus and I did have a talk with Ryder." She flushed. "Although none of what you described happened. He's happily married now."

So Marley and Ryder still talked…

"Is he coming? I couldn't find his address," Mr. Schue said. His eyes narrowed, "In fact, you're still listed as Marley Rose. Why is that?"

"We just got married…" she muttered. "I didn't realize coming would involve an interrogation."

Tina's eyebrow arched. Marley's got some fire in her. "But you have a daughter with him?"

Marley nodded, "That's right. But she was a surprise. So it kind of took us a while to get everything together before we could pay for a wedding in the first place." No one asked why they weren't invited. It didn't matter anyway. She probably wouldn't tell them.

"And he is coming," Marley confirmed. "With his wife and Unique. Unique insisted on going with them for reasons unknown."

"Ryder forgave Unique?" Jake asked, surprised.

A mysterious smile crossed Marley's face, "No, but his wife did."

Marley was full of riddles now. Tina interrupted before Jake could say something else. "Why don't we dance a bit before they arrive? Get this party started?"

Tina took Bennett from Quinn, holding him in her arms as she pushed Artie's wheelchair to the stage. The cluster of singers followed, gathering on stage. Mr. Schue held Emma close, dancing with her, their son Tim dancing with Quinn. Really, the couples were paired off and all of the awkward singles mingled in a circle. Marley spun with her daughter off to the side, smiling.

It took Tina a few moments to relax, and when she did, she was dancing like there was no tomorrow with Artie. As hard as it was to dance with him, she cradled Bennett in one arm and twirled with Artie.

It was like old times. Just the glee kids dancing in the auditorium.

"We're here!" Kitty cried out after she threw open the doors. Her blond hair was in ringlets about her head. Tina's eyes widened.

"Ryder, you married Kitty?" Jake exclaimed. Ryder bobbed his head sheepishly, scratching the back of his head. Unique beams, fluffing her hair. Tina spotted it immediately. Unique was a full blown woman now.

Kitty hurried over to Marley, hugging her first before everyone in the group. Tina stopped her, "Do you guys know who Alyssa's father is?"

Astonishingly, Kitty shook her head, "No. No one knows. She won't tell us. One day she just showed up with her daughter. I think they're still together." Of course, they already all knew Marley was still with this elusive husband of hers.

Everyone turned to Marley. She'd stopped dancing now, looking anywhere but the majority.

"Why is it such a big deal? Why won't you tell us?" Rachel snapped, crossing her arms. Finn put his hand on her shoulder, but the look in his eye told a different story.

"I just…" Marley trailed off. Her excuses have run dry. She knew she could easily tell them. However… it just seemed like too much.

"It's my grandparents," Alyssa said, hesitantly, her voice sweet, "They don't want anyone to know." But why? This didn't make sense… Everything seemed to click into place when Alyssa peeked up, her emerald green eyes glittering in the limelight.

"It's …?!"

So it wasn't Ryder… And surprise! It's still unknown! Haha, stay tuned for next chapter. (And so far, no one has guessed it.)

~Emerald~