Marian and Djaq frantically found last minute essentials. Phone, lip-gloss, blister plasters and shoved them into their clutch bags. The taxi beeped its horn for the third time and they ran down the stairs, one last check in the mirror. Hair and make-up touches then they were out the door and apologising to the driver for being late.
"No worries love" he reassured "you get used to waiting around for women after 30 years of marriage." The girls exchange looks of excitement as they drove off in search of an equally happily ever after for Marian as the taxi driver and his wife.
The guys agreed to meet the girls at the ball so Marian and Djaq gave directions for Alice's and Sally's house before their final destination. They each filed out one by one and each were adored by their respective boys.
Djaq in her black Sarah Jessica dress.
Alice in a black, high-waisted skirt and beautiful silk blouse that did everything for her amazing waist and made not so full breast look almost like double D's.
Sally wore a feminine tailored white suit with only a black tie to join the white jacket in covering her chest.
Marian was last to emerge and sported a floor length strapless white silk dress with beading around the empire waistline.
Robin stared in awe at his beautiful girlfriend so much so that Allan had to nudge him when Marian said hello and he didn't respond.
"She doesn't deserve me." Robin said to Allan as the girls walked away. It kind of reminded him of the boots adverts at Christmas. Here come the girls.
"You'll be fine" Allan reassured him as they walked a little way behind "just like we rehearsed ok?"
"Right" Robin took a few deep breaths
"Ok do you have it?" Allan asked for possibly the hundredth time that night. Robin just patted at his tuxedo jacket indicating to his inside pocket. "Right just remember you'll be fine. You deserve each other. We all saw how you acted in school together. It was meant to be" Robin ate every word and still didn't believe it. Allan was going to have to do it for him. He was too nervous.
They crossed the threshold into the hotel ballroom and we hit with a mass of black and white balloons then flowers and streamers, tables and chairs, even the carpets had been replaced. He couldn't see Marian anywhere. He just wanted to get it over with but it was all planned down to the last detail. He was handed a black Zorro type mask from the box of various mask at the front of the room.
"Great. A masked ball." He said thinking of all the films he saw when fights would break out because they had got the wrong girl whilst she was wearing a mask. He really didn't want that mistake.
All the girls were in the bathroom touching-up and chatting.
"So after I've sung, I'll ask him to come on stage and do my thing then …. " Marian motioned her hands in a kind of 'ta-da' movement.
"Right" Djaq smiled. The plan was perfect. He wouldn't suspect a thing.
"What's going on?" Alice asked wanting to be excited too. She hadn't woken up in the best of moods and needed something to brighten the evening or it would be a waste.
"I wasn't going to tell anyone because I wanted it to be a surprise but, I'm proposing to Robin tonight" the shriek that came from Alice at this point was defining. She jumped up and down and smiled and hugged everyone
"Marian that's amazing! Go you! Sally don't you think that's amazing"
"Great, that's great" she said doing her best to be happy but now knowing both sides of the story she wasn't sure what to do. She grabbed her feathered mask, excused herself and went in search of Allan. He would know what to do.
"Right ladies!" Marian grabbed Djaq and Alice's hand "show time"
She bustled her way though the crowd to the bar and found Will and Allan sitting and talking.
"It's about time you came out, the party will be over before it even begins" Sally ignored this and tried to keep her cool.
"Marian's going to propose to Robin tonight."
"What? I'm not being funny but Robin's proposing tonight"
"I know that why you have to do something," she said tugging at his shirt
"Right. First of all you need to just calm down" he said pulling her into a violent kiss. Sally staggered slightly from the blow but smiled "second. When is she going to do it?"
"She said after she has sung"
"And when does that happen?" Sally just shrugged. Just then a voice came over the microphone.
"Ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for attending this years annual Black and White ball of Walter & Walter" people cheered at the sound of their firms name. "Now to open tonight's events we have our very own Miss Fitzwater singing White Christmas"
"Shit" Sally and Allan said under their breaths. Marian came on stage she looked gorgeous.
"We have to go tell Robin," Allan said as the music started and Marian's voice filled the room sending shivers down everyone's spine.
"You can't it'll ruin everything"
"Sally he's already nervous enough do you think throwing everything out of order without telling his is going to help?" Sally didn't answer she knew they shouldn't tell him. It would ruin it for both of them.
Allan saw the pleading in Sally's eyes and caved. He thought how he might propose to Sally and if anyone gave the secret away he would be devastated.
"Not that I'm going to" he argued with himself silently.
"Fine we'll just sit here and watch the turmoil begin" they sat at the bar and listened as Marian finished her song. Everyone cheered and clapped and whooped. Robin stood in a dark corner of the room rehearsing his lines and trying to stop himself sweating.
"Thank you so much" Marian's voice came over the microphone "now I would like to ask a very special person to come up here with me. Robin?" she indicated to the figure in the shadows and a spotlight found him. He moved slowly towards the stage. A man in all in black handed him a microphone as he climbed the stairs.
"What does she want? No this isn't supposed to happen. She gets of the stage. I take her outside. We come back in we're engaged. Happily ever after" he was soon on stage and waved at everyone dimly and pulled Marian's arm to get off the stage but she stayed rooted to the spot. "Quick make a joke"
"Now as most of you know Robin and I are pregnant" the crowd below awed at them.
"We are?" Robin questioned. The crowed giggled and Marian nudged him in the ribs gently. At least it worked.
"So now as well as having perfect friends," she pointed round the room "and the perfect job. I'm only saying that because Jack's in the room." she whispered causing the crowd to giggle again "and the perfect house, I'll have the perfect baby" she smiled and held her slightly round tummy "but you know what? I'm still not happy"
Robin's mind clicked. This was it he would do it now. She had basically already said yes. Unless she was talking about wanting the perfect car. Oh shit. Ah well.
"I agree," he said into the microphone.
Marian smiled at Djaq standing in front of the stage to her right and swung round ending up on one knee. Eyes closed. As she opened them and looking up to Robin she couldn't see him. The crowd gasped and she looked down to see Robin also down on one knee.
Both gawked and spoke at the same time
"Robin … Marian" she bit her lip and he wiped his brow
"Will you marry me … me?" Marian started to cry and Robin's smiled grew wider
"Yes … yes" the crowd exploded with joy and claps and cheers could be heard in china. Marian blubbed and Robin picked her up and spun her round. He rummaged in his pocket. He produced the small blue box and opened it in front of her. Marian cupped her hand to her mouth and her took her other hand and slipped it on her finger.
"WE'RE ENGAGED," she told the world. More cheers and tears were heard around the room as Sally and Allan breathed a sigh of relief and shared in the romance with a kiss.
Marian proudly went around the room showing everyone the ring. She was stood with a group of girls from work, all congratulating her and saying this like.
"Look at the size of that" and "I wish it would happen to me"
Marian moved to the bar and saw Robin floating around he room talking to everyone with equal enthusiasm. She really wanted him. She was really horny. Just a quickie in the loos and she'd be fine. She laughed at her idea. But seriously she was going to shag the next living thing that touched her if he didn't get over here
Suddenly someone tapped on her shoulder and she spun round. "Can I buy you a drink?" His hear was greasy under his mask and his voice was that off some shoddy gangster film. She took back what she thought before but she was happy and wanted a little bit of fun.
"Just tell me one thing. Does your dick reach your ass?" she said cocking an eyebrow seductively.
"But of course" the masked stranger answered
"Then I suggest you go fuck yourself" she smiled, thinking she had done good to quote from Sex And The City the book, but it was soon wiped when he lifted the mask.
"A dance with the bride before I do?"
"Guy?" before Marian had a chance to respond she was being dragged across the room and onto the dance floor. Guy held her tight as they spun round the floor to some embarrassing 70's Christmas song.
"What are you doing here Guy?" she asked the whole excitement of the night had drained I a few short seconds but she was trying her best to stay upbeat.
"Little birdie told me you were pregnant. Why would you do that to me Marian?" he said quite calmly "Then get engaged to a man who proposes who did exactly the same thing. It confuses me Marian. What does he have that I don't?"
"You know I don't make it a habit to marry men that try to kill me," she said trying to sound confident but failing. At this Guy forced her out of the room and into a small corner of the lobby in that way that he could make people oblivious to what he was doing.
He pinned her to the wall with his huge hands and came face to face with her. "You know what I'm capable of when I'm angry Marian." He leaned in and whispered in her ear "you saw it with your own eyes" Marian shut her eyes tightly to block out the memories. She was engaged now. It was all about the future nothing to do with the past.
"Do you want to make me angry?" he said viciously "Do you want to see that man in there lying lifeless in a pool of blood? Because you know I can do it"
"No" she answered in a whisper holding back the tears
"No what?" he asked tightening his grip. She could face herself if she said it. It would mean going back all those years and re-living it only now he was angry with her and not someone else it was her neck on the line. No not her neck. Robin's. She didn't know which was worse.
"No Guy" she answered obediently eventually feeling another wave of horrific memories hit her mind
"Better" he said and pushed her into the wall with enough force to make her gasp
"I'll see you soon Marian. Don't forget to invite me to the wedding. Since I'll be the one waiting at the alter if you ever have one"
Marian collapsed to the floor in tears. But no one would ever find out what he had done. No one ever did with Guy. He was that type of man.
As she sat and tried to pull herself together the worst possible song came over the speakers. It was Auld Lang Syne. She collapsed again. She thought of how she should forget about Guy but couldn't and about Carrie running in the snow to Miranda's apartment when she was alone on New Years.
"Should auld acquaintance be forgot, and never brought to mind? Should auld acquaintance be forgot, and auld lang syne?"
Like she could ever forget. How can you forget so many deaths? So many crimes. Made to stand by and watch. No escape. No control.
The rest of the ball went by a blur. She explained she felt ill and sat in a corner trying to crawl out of the darkness Guy had engulfed her in again. She did it once before she could do it again.
Robin came to sit beside her and she snapped out of her trance for a few minuets. He was her salvation. He had been there the first time she escaped. She found comfort in him and had learned to break the walls. But this time it was a vicious circle.
Go to Robin and get him killed then forced to go back to Guy.
Or cut out the middleman and go back to Guy straight away.
"You know what?" Robin asked her slightly tipsy. Marian smiled but wavered at the thought she would never see him again. "We should get married tonight. You bought a new white dress and I have this tux until tomorrow."
"I don't think they allow couples to get married when the groom is off his face," she said sweetly stroking his cheek.
"Your right" he said sighing "do they let couples have sex when the groom is off his face?" he asked like a little boy asking for candy. Marian just nodded as a lone tear fell from her eye.
"Hey what's this?" he asked letting it trickle onto his finger and examining it up close.
"I'm just happy" Marian reassured. Robin got up and walked round the table to Marian picked her up bridal style and carried her out the hotel into a waiting taxi. As they walked Marian saw Guy behind some bushes and the little happiness she had drained away again.
"Because you know I can do it," the words echoed in her head.