I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas! Sorry for the delay in update, I think I was being too optimistic when I first said I wanted to have this story completely before Christmas. Anyway, please review and let me know what you think!
Enjoy!
Three Ghosts
"Okay, I'm not doing this." Mary stated. "I don't even know you."
"Well, I'm the ghost of the Christmas future, Mary." Abigail replied, grinning cheerfully. "We're not set to meet for another year and a half."
"Maybe I hit my head at some point…" She said to herself. "Or need to make an appointment with Finkel…"
"Come on, Mary, this will be fun."
"Yeah, like a bullet to the head."
Abigail grin just widened. "I know you're interested in what the future holds."
"Yeah right," she rolled her eyes. "Like any of this is actually real."
"Then what's the harm in going along with it?" Abigail questioned.
Mary opened her mouth to reply but Abigail was already walking off.
"Come on."
Mary sighed but followed her, muttering. "Definitely need to see Finkel."
"Where are we?" Mary asked, following Abigail down an unfamiliar hallway.
"You'll see."
Mary looked around as they walked, taking note that they were in a nice, warm house. They passed a tall Christmas tree that reached the ceiling and decorated with elegant gold and silver ornaments. Presents expertly gift wrapped were placed all around it. The room looked like a scene of a Christmas card, with the tree and the log fire.
She was so distracted by it all that she was startled as three children raced by, giggling. She jumped out of their way instinctively but like her past visits, they couldn't see her at all and carried on running.
Her eyes followed the children, two boys who looked about 6 and 4. Both wearing matching Christmas jumpers but one was red and the other was green. Their dark hair styled in an eerily familiar hair style and their smiles were just as mischievous as someone else's she knew.
It was the third child caused Mary to catch her breath. She was no older than two years old, toddling after the boys. Even Mary had to admit she was cute in her festive red dress and her soft dark curls but it was the eyes that immediately caught her attention.
Her partner's eyes.
Without waiting for Abigail, she followed the children out of the room and into the kitchen.
"Wow, slow down."
Mary stared with her mouth opened at Marshall, reaching out to stop the boys going any further.
"Daddy!" The youngest of the boys throw his arms around his legs and looked up at him. "When can we open presents?"
Marshall laughed and knelt down to the kids' height. "It's not Christmas Day until tomorrow…"
"But that's so long awayyy…." The eldest whined.
"Well, I happen to know that Santa has a little helper this year…" Marshall continued. "He's asked Uncle Stan if he could help him deliver some presents…"
"Is Uncle Stan coming to the party?"
"Yep, he should be here soon." Marshall grinned. "And I'm sure he would like to see you guys open the presents he brings."
"Really?" The eldest eyes' widened with excitement.
"But only if you behave and stop running in the kitchen." He teased, reaching over and ruffled their hair.
"Dad." The eldest moaned and shoved his hand away while the youngest just giggled.
"Go and play for a while and everyone will be here soon."
"Okay."
Both boys raced off again, despite his request about their running but he just watched them, shaking his head.
"And what about you, little Miss?" Marshall looked to the little girl. "Why don't you go and play with your brothers?"
The girl smile and threw her arms around his neck. Even from where Mary was stood, she could see Marshall's heart melting.
"Merry Christmas, Daddy."
"Merry Christmas, Princess." He replied, standing up with her in his arms and kissed her cheek.
Mary couldn't tear her eyes from the scene in front of her. She remembered a few years back with she had watched her partner with a witness' baby and commented that she didn't get the deal with babies but now she had no explanation for the emotion she felt watching Marshall with his daughter.
"Little girls and their Daddies…" Abigail said, as if reading her mind.
Mary had almost forgotten she was there and turned to look at her to see she was watching the scene as intently as she was.
"Why am I here?" Mary questioned.
"Why do you think?" Abigail shrugged. "This is a potential future."
"Potential?" Mary repeated.
"Sure, Mary...There is a reason you're seeing this." Abigail stated. "Think of it as a heads up to what is to come if you carry on the way you are."
"This looks like a pretty good future for him." She whispered, looking back to Marshall, who dancing around the kitchen with his daughter.
"Keep watching." Abigail advised.
The doorbell rang followed by the sound of two pairs of little feet running down the hallway.
"Boys, let Mom answer the door." Marshall called out, setting the child in his arms down on the counter while he bent down to pull something out the oven.
Mary couldn't help but glance over her shoulder when she heard the front door being opened to try and get a look at the woman her partner would marry but instead of a woman, a familiar man joined them in the kitchen.
"Your sons just made some comment about me being Santa's helper." Stan greeted. "Is that some crack about my height?"
Marshall grinned widely, lifting the little girl into his arms again and walked across the room towards the older man.
"Stan!" He held out a hand. "I'm so glad you could make it."
"Me too." Stan gripped his hand tightly. "It's been too long. I hardly recognized the boys…Conner has gotten so tall and I thought it was impossible but Henry just keeps getting more and more like you."
Marshall grinned proudly. "Well, it's been over two years since you've come back in New Mexico…In fact, I don't think you've but the newest member of the Mann family."
"No, I guess I have not." Stan turned to the girl. "You must be Sophia, I'm Stan…I used to be your Dad's boss."
Sophia frowned a little. "Daddy doesn't have a boss."
Stan laughed. "Well, it's was a long time ago, before he became Chief."
Sophia still didn't look convinced but seemed to be willing it let it go for now. "I'm two."
"I know." Stan replied, smiling softly at her. "I remember getting the phone call at 3 o'clock in the morning to say Sophia Mary Mann had arrived safe and sound…."
"Sophia Mary?" Mary whispered, her eyes widening. "He named his daughter after me?"
She turned to the other woman. "Why? Why would he do that? Is this the part where you tell me I die and he's done this to honor me?"
Abigail let out a small laugh. "You don't die, Mary."
"Then why?"
"You're his best friend, aren't you?"
"Yeah but…"
"Uncle Stan!"
She was interrupted by the boys returning to the kitchen.
"Daddy said you brought us some presents…"
"Conner." Marshall gave his oldest son a warning look. "Wait until Uncle Stan is ready."
Stan just chuckled lightly. "They are in my bag in the hall…why don't you guys go and get them out while I talk with your father."
"Okay!"
"Don't open them until we get there." Marshall called after them.
"Daddy, I go…" Sophia wriggled in his arms a little.
Marshall set her down and the two men watched her chase after her brothers.
"She's really beautiful, Marshall." Stan commented. "I'm sorry it's taken this long to meet her."
"Come on, you're busy out in the DC, I understand." Marshall dismissed his concerns. "But I'm happy you managed to make it out to spend Christmas with us."
"I've been looking forward to it." Stan replied, watching as Marshall moved over to the oven. "Is there anything I can do to help?"
"No, I got it covered, just relax and have a good time."
Stan stood where he was for a few seconds, his hands in his pocket while rocking lightly. "Have you spoken to her?"
Marshall froze, knowing exactly who he was talking about. "I invited her to join us over the holidays but haven't heard back from her….For the past 5 years, all I get is her answering machine and then if I'm lucky a two sentence email in reply."
Stan sighed and shook his head slightly. "Don't give up on her, Marshall…"
"I haven't but it's been a long five." He sighed and rubbed his eyes. "I miss her."
"I know and I know she misses you too."
Marshall looked up at the statement. "Have you spoken to her?"
"Briefly, last week." He admitted.
"I'm guessing she told you she's not planning to visit any time soon." He predicted.
"She said she was working." Stan shrugged. "That she was staying in Jersey."
"So, she's not even planning on coming to Albuquerque to visit Brandi, Peter and the twins?" Marshall asked, although he already knew the answer and wasn't surprised.
"I guess not."
"This isn't right…" Mary claimed, looking towards Abigail. "This is wrong… They can't be talking about me!"
"People drift apart." Abigail said. "Marshall moved on, got married and started having children so you moved on to…"
"Back to New Jersey?! No way!" She shook her head. "And there is no way I would cut Marshall out of my life like that!"
"People change, Mary." Abigail replied. "Maybe you changed."
"He's my best friend!"
It felt like her heart was split in two by just the thought of not having Marshall in her life. On missing out on seeing him as a father, probably the only other job he was more suited for then being a marshal.
"Marshall, honey…"
Mary had to grip onto the counter when she saw who had walked into the room.
"Everyone is starting to arrive."
Mary looked from her to the woman stood by her side.
"You?" She asked in shock. "You marry Marshall?!"
She smiled softly. "Yes, I'm a detective, we meet while working a case when you were out of town on vacation."
"I don't do vacations!" She insisted and started to pace. "I'm losing my mind… this nothing…this is just a dream, that's all…just a strange, bizarre dream!"
"I better go and see the kids." Stan told them. "Let them open those presents."
"Thanks, Stan." Marshall watched as his old boss excused himself.
"Is everything okay?" Abigail asked her husband.
"Of course," Marshall forced a smile. "The food is almost ready and then I'll be right out."
Abigail hesitated for a second before speaking. "She's not coming, is she?"
"Work commitments, apparently." He shrugged in reply.
"I'm sorry, honey."
"Don't be." He told her. "We've asked her to come for the last five years and she has not come once…I didn't expect that to change that this year."
Abigail let out a quiet laugh. "Yes, you did."
"Abs…"
"Marshall, she was your closest friend and despite everything that has happened you still have faith that one day she's going to surprise everyone and actually turn up." Abigail replied. "And it hurts you every time she doesn't."
Marshall sighed and leaned against the counter. "I'm sorry."
She shook her head and reached out to take his hand. "You don't have to be sorry…Mary is important to you. I just wish she would realize that."
Marshall squeezed her hand gently before bringing it to his mouth for a kiss. "Well, let's forget all about it and enjoy Christmas."
"Okay." Abigail gave him a small smile but she knew he wouldn't just be able to forget about it. "I better go and check on Stan and the kids."
"I'll be right there." He promised, letting go of her hand but not before kissing her forehead.
"Don't be too long." She didn't want him hiding in the kitchen while everyone else had a good time.
"I won't."
"This is wrong!" Mary jabbed a finger in the direction of them and turned to look at Abigail. "What the hell is this? You rubbing my face in it?"
"No, Mary…" The other women shook her head. "Like I said, this could be the future."
"So, you expect me to believe that you turn up in Marshall's life and I just decide to ditch him and our friendship?" Mary folded her arms. "There is no way!"
"It's not quite as simple as that." Abigail claimed. "As I understand, your relationship with Raphael ends and Marshall attempted to tell you how he felt about you, admittedly he was a little too discreet with it but you understood what he was trying to do and ran…"
Mary stood and stared at her, there was no way that this was how her life was going to turn out.
"While you are away, Marshall and I start dating." Abigail continued her eyes following the man who was completely unware he was being watched as he moved around the kitchen. "There were other times when you both came close to admitting your feelings for each other but something always got in the way…"
"Marshall and I are friends…" Mary claimed. "It isn't like that with us."
"Then how do you explain the aching in your heart right now?" Abigail questioned.
Mary narrowed her eye at her and was about to protest but Abigail continued to talk.
"Eventually Marshall and I got engaged but before we could continue, he had to talk to you about your relationship." Abigail informed her. "He asked for your permission to move on…He asked you to release him…"
The ache in her heart grew tighter.
"I feel like I'm the keeper of this exotic animal, and I spend my time either protecting you from the world or the world from you; and it's just... it's just a lot of responsibility."
"Anyway, you took it to mean that he was picking me over you and that you couldn't be friends anymore."
"Marshall wouldn't do that." Mary whispered, shaking her head. "He's my best friend…"
"It wasn't want he wanted, Mary." Abigail claimed. "But he also wanted to be happy and to have a family…He didn't realize by us having that together meant that you would leave."
"I don't understand." Mary said. "I don't understand what I'm meant to do? What is it that you want from me?"
Abigail sighed. "This isn't about me, Mary…None of this has been anyone but you… Reminding you of how your Christmas used to be… How easy it could be for you to be able to enjoy them and what you have to look forward to in the future."
"What? Being the third wheel while watching you guys playing happy families?"
"It doesn't have to be like that, Mary." Abigail shrugged. "Those kids in there could have blonde hair instead of brown…"
Mary laughed. "Are you kidding me?"
Abigail smiled. "You tell me."
"Okay let's put aside the fact Marshall and I just friends...You really expect me to believe that you've done all this to convince me to start something with him? Which would then mean you'd lose out on all of this?" She gestured around the room.
"You can't lose something you've never had, Mary." Abigail said. "Beside, none of this is real, remember? This is all in your head."
"Yeah but…"
"Your dreams and your fears." Abigail added. "Hopefully it'll give you something to think about when you wake up."
There was a loud buzzing noise and Mary bolted to a sitting position, finding herself back in bed in her own bedroom.
"Oh my god." Her heart was racing and she tried to catch her breath. "Jesus…"
She reached over and shut off the alarm clock that was blaring. She was alone in the room but unlike the last three times she had woken, she could see the sun shining through a gap in the curtains. Looking at the time, she saw that it was already 8am. She couldn't believe she slept through the whole night….and she couldn't believe the dream she had had.
When she sure that she wasn't still dream and that no one else was going to enter the room to confuse her more, she forced herself to stand up. She was cautious opening the bedroom door but thankfully stepped into her own hallway.
"Mary?" Raph said sleepily.
She turned and saw him led on the couch, watching her.
"You slept out here?" She frowned a little.
"Well, we had a fight and then you went to sleep so I didn't want to upset you."
Mary sighed and joined him in the living room, sitting on the coffee table to face him. "I'm sorry, Raph."
"Me too…I know you and Marshall are friends…" Raph replied. "Maybe I should spend some time with him…Get to know him more…I know he's important to you."
"Yeah, maybe." Mary smiled a little; it was sweet that he was willing to make an effort for her.
"Anyway, what do you have planned today? You don't have work do you?"
"I'm not going in but I'm on call…" Mary explained, which reminded her to check her cell phone in case she had missed a call.
"Well, we should do something together since its Christmas Eve…"
Mary stopped listening to him list the actives they could that day when she saw she had a text message from Marshall.
'Sorry for running out on you last night. Hope you have a good Christmas and I'll see you on the 26th.'
She couldn't believe he was apologizing when it was her that ruined his Christmas but then that was who Marshall was. She was going to have to do more than say sorry to him to make it up to him but she had no idea what was she was going to do. It might have only been a dream but she couldn't get the image of him putting away his Christmas decorations or the look on his when Stan told him she wouldn't be turning up out of her head.
"Mary?" Raph put his hand on her to get her attention. "Is everything okay?"
"Yeah of course…" She forced a smile but it didn't convince him.
"Are you sure?"
'Blonde hair instead of brown'
Her eyes closed as the words ran through her mind.
"No, no it's not okay." She said then took to deep breath before looking at him. "Raph, we need to talk…."
TBC
I admit, probably a cruel place to leave it but more to come! Please review!