Author's note:

Hi Dear Readers! Happy weekend! Thank you for your continued views and reviews.

Here is this week's chapter! It's a little bit shorter than the last two but I actually hadn't planned on this conversation. It just sort of happened when I started writing.

No Marshall in this chapter (Sorry! - he'll be back soon :) )

This is just a brief interaction between Mary and Jinx. I liked the Jinx was on a redemption arc in the show so I'd like that reflected here. Anyways this is also a little bit of an insight into Mary's head space.

Rating: T for language - nothing too bad.

Disclaimers: I own nothing. If I did I wouldn't have to fix it now.

Enjoy!

Mary was disappointed when she woke up and saw that Marshall wasn't in his usual spot. She knew that she had made him go to work, but she still wasn't happy about it.

"Honey, how are you feeling?"

Mary jumped a little a Jinx's voice, having failed to notice her.

"I'm feeling better."

Her eyes scanned the room reflexively.

"Marshall left this for you," Jinx informed her, handing over a piece of paper that had been folded in half.

She unfolded the sheet and quickly read the note.

Mary,

On your orders, I am returning to work today. Try not to terrorize the doctors and nurses too much. Please. I'll be back to see my two favorite girls after work.

Marshall

There was nothing overly mushy about it, but Mary couldn't help but smile at his parting line. There was something comforting about feeling like she was his. After reading it several more times, she remembered Jinx was there and looked up to meet her mother's intrigued stare.

"What?" she asked, her tone a shade sharp.

"Nothing. Marshall had to go back to work?"

"I made him. I want him to be able to take time off when I take Alexis home."

It was only after she said her name that Mary realized she hadn't officially told Jinx that she was keeping the baby.

"Mark told us you were keeping her," Jinx offered when Mary started to flounder. "He didn't tell us you had named her. He was a bit agitated when he came to move his things out."

"We didn't leave things on the best terms. I needed stability, and Mark couldn't offer that. I gave him the choice. I made it clear I would not stop him from being in Alexis' life but, I wasn't looking to play house with him. What?" she asked when she saw Jinx's concerned face.

"That's not exactly how he described it."

"What did the weasel say?"

"Nothing important. Something about Marshall. I'm sure he was just upset."

Mary ground her teeth in annoyance.

"He was convinced I didn't want him around because of Marshall. Completely ignoring the fact that he wasn't willing to commit to his daughter."

"So he's relinquishing his rights?"

"Yes. By his own choice."

"I am very proud of you, Mary. You are going to be a great mother. Much better than I ever was."

A wave of insecurity washed over her.

"I don't have a clue what I'm doing."

"No one ever does, sweetie. But you aren't alone. We're all here to help you and Alexis?"

Mary smiled and nodded.

"Alexis Michelle Shannon. Lexi for short."

"What a beautiful name. How did you choose?"

"I've always loved the name Alexis. And Marshall chose Michelle."

Jinx seemed surprised but didn't question it.

"An excellent choice."

There was a moment of silence as they both tried to make sense of their thoughts.

"How's Squish? Is she still around?"

"Yes, she's at home, trying to pull together the nursery."

Mary was surprised, and a tad emotional. Stupid hormones.

"She doesn't have to do that."

"We want to. We don't want you to have to worry about anything when you come home."

"Has she talked to Peter?"

"Once," Jinx explained. "To apologize and explain herself. She offered to help with the fall out, but he felt it was best she stayed away. His family wasn't pleased."

"Why did she run?"

"She really loves him. She thinks he might be the one."

"Then why the hell would she run the other way. She had a great guy and a great life sitting there waiting for her."

"That scared her. I never gave you girls a good example of love. Or stability. Brandi is scared of good things, because they've never lasted for her. I always managed to screw them up. And despite your attempts to raise your little sister, she's always been a little too much like me. She didn't want to lose Peter because she screwed it up down the line, so she decided not to take the chance."

"Damnit, Squish," Mary muttered.

Mary was sad for her sister. But she also felt an unexpected kinship with her. Where Brandi had chosen chaos Mary had chosen order. She "didn't like messy" as Marshall had once pointed out days before she ran away to the beach with Faber. Faber was easy. He meant nothing. They went on vacation. Did their thing. Then went their separate ways. Mary had always known it wouldn't last. No risk. Even with Raph. Mary had never intended for it to get to the engagement stage. She had assumed he would get picked up by a team and be travelling or relocated permanently. His injuries had derailed her plans for a natural relationship death.

Things were different now though. She had Alexis, and she already knew that she could never run from her. And maybe if she could accept that piece of goodness in her life she could accept more.

Jinx's phone beeping pulled her from her thoughts.

"That's Brandi now. She wants to go look at paint colors."

"No pink," Mary stated firmly.

"I'll see what I can do."

"Thank you for doing this. At least now I won't have to listen to Marshall's lesson on the history of baby colors."

"He has such a wide amount of knowledge."

"He has too much time on his hands," Mary laughed fondly.

"I should go. I want to pick up my granddaughter some outfits while we're out."

"No…"

"Pink. I know. Get some rest, sweetheart. I'll come by and sit with you tomorrow afternoon before my class."

"I'll see you tomorrow."

"I'm so proud of you," she repeated. "So very proud."

Mary gave her a small wave before opening Marshall's note again, contemplating how good messy might be.

Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed it. Reviews are lovely.

See you next week!