A/N: I'm so glad you all liked the fluff last chapter - there's lots more coming up! The muses had more to say for this story . . . but I promise the wedding IS coming.

"Now it's your turn to know what it's like to lose everything, Mr. US Marshal!"Tony roared.

"No!" I screamed as the bullet struck Sadie in the head and she fell from my arms, landing on the hardwood floor. I stared down at her in shock, watching as the life drained out of her, the light dimming from her gorgeous brown eyes. "You bastard!"I breathed, as I raised my eyes only to find that Tony had fled the room. "I'll be back for you, sweetheart, I promise." I grabbed the gun I'd dropped and raced down the hall.

I found the bedroom Jacen and MJ had been held in and slowly inched the door open. There was no sign of Tony but the beds were occupied. Racing to the first one, I found MJ and Emmy locked in an embrace. Reaching out a shaking hand, I touched their foreheads only to discover their skin was ice cold. I spun around and ran to the over to the other bed and found Jacen bound head and foot, a bullet hole in his forehead, his eyes wide open in terror.

"No," I whispered as I backed away. "NO! Where are you, Tony!"

"Marshall-"

"Mary?" I called. "Where are you?"

"Marshall-" her voice came again, whisper soft. "Help me."

"Where are you?" I shouted, running for the stairs. Looking down I saw blood, pools, rivers, leading down the stairs. I took them two at a time and nearly tripped over something at the bottom. Thinking at first it was a bundle of clothes, I almost kicked it out of the way, until I saw it had a face. "No!" I screamed, kneeling down and turning the body over. "Mary!"

She looked up at me with glassy, unfocused eyes. "Ma-rshall," she gasped. "Sadie?"

I shook my head as I tried to find her wound to apply pressure but there seemed to be too many. "Shh, don't try to talk now. I've got to get you to a doctor."

"Too late – for me."

Tears were running down my face, blurring my vision. "Don't say that – I can't lose you too."

"-too?" her lips could barely form the word and she frowned. "I can't feel-"

"What?" I asked, my heart pounding in my chest like a runaway train. "What can't you feel?"

She looked over my shoulder. "I'm – sorry."

"For what?"

A shudder ran through her as I cradled her on the floor. "No wedding now."

"No, Mary, no," I sobbed, burying my face against her shoulder.

Mary stirred as Marshall's arms tightened painfully around her, nearly cutting off her air supply. Her eyes popped open and she turned her head to look over her shoulder at him. She saw at once that he was still asleep, but he wasn't sleeping peacefully. His brow was furrowed and he was shifting around restlessly. She tried to loosen his grip so she could roll over and face him but he only tightened his hold, which caused her to suck in a breath and let it out slowly.

"No, Mary, no," he moaned softly, thrashing his head on the pillow.

She glanced over at the other bed but both Sadie and Jacen appeared to be sleeping peacefully. Wanting to keep it that way, she executed a swift kick to Marshall's shin and he moaned, but loosened his grip enough for her to roll over and face him. Reaching up, she began gently slapping his cheek. "Marshall, wake up. It's only a dream – I'm right here," she whispered.

He fought against her touch and moaned louder. Sighing in frustration, she moved in for her tried and true method of waking him up – but it also aroused him and it was something she didn't want to do with four children and their bosses in the adjoining room. Curling one hand around his neck and slipping the other just under the waistband of his sweats, she pulled his head down to hers. He moaned again, still in the throes of his nightmare but Mary took full advantage, thrusting her tongue inside his warm mouth and pressing her body against his, relishing the contact after being separated from him by scratchy Kevlar. She knew the moment he awoke, leaving the nightmare world for reality as his distressed moans became moans of delight and he wound his hands around her, up her back and through her hair. She didn't want to but she also knew that he wasn't awake enough yet to stop and so she had to be the one to put on the brakes.

She pulled away from him, panting softly in the darkened hotel bedroom. "Hi."

"Hey," he whispered, his hands trailing down to cup her backside to ensure that she remained on top of him. "Thank you."

She smiled, dropping another wet kiss on his lips before running her hands up to play with his chest hair. "Tell me," she whispered, laying her head over his still racing heart.

"Not yet."

"Marsh-"

He placed a finger over her lips. "Not – yet."

She could feel him trembling beneath her and so she didn't press him, just continued to trace idle patterns across his chest with her fingertip, something that she had enjoyed doing since the very first time they had made love, all those years ago in his bedroom in Albuquerque. She couldn't remember ever doing it with any of her previous lovers – hell, she knew she hadn't stayed in their arms long enough after sex, let alone just lay in bed with them like she did with Marshall. She fought off an attack of the giggles. If she was honest with herself, she and Marshall had slept together for years before they had actually slept together – and while their sex life was amazing beyond words, the very fact that she was content to simply sleep in his arms some nights was quite the testimony to how deep her feelings for this man ran.

"What are you thinking about?"

She tilted her head so she could smile at him. "You."

"Me too."

She arched an eyebrow. "You're thinking about yourself?"

He slapped her ass. "Brat."

She laughed softly. "Tell me about it – please, Marshall."

He sighed and one hand began to play with her hair, twirling the ends between his fingers. "He killed them all."

Mary shuddered against his chest. She didn't need to ask who 'he' and 'they' were; she glanced over her shoulder to reassure herself that Sadie and Jacen were indeed still asleep in the next bed.

"And you died in my arms."

Her fingers stilled on his chest momentarily before they resumed their drawing. "No, I didn't. I'm right here, lover."

With a soft moan, he rolled her beneath him. "You have no idea the anguish I felt as I watched you bleed out in my arms-" he paused to clear his throat, his eyes tracing her face. "And then suddenly you were kissing me and pulling me back to life – back to the real world-"

She reached up and caressed his cheek. "Where I'm alive and well and so are the kids. We're fine, Marshall. Tony is dead – everything came out OK."

"Carmen's dead."

Her eyes fluttered shut as guilt threatened to overwhelm her. On the one hand, she felt enormously guilty for being happy that Carmen was dead because that meant Sadie didn't have to go anywhere – she could stay with them, where she belonged. But on the other hand, the woman was dead! She had sacrificed her life for her daughters – to try to free them from Tony's clutches and give them a better life. And if she had anything to say about it, they would.

"I know," she whispered softly. "And I feel terrible about it – but Marshall, we can't bring her back. All we can do is love her daughters and give them the best life we can."

"I don't mean to lay a guilt trip on you, my love. You're an amazing mother, Mary. I just – my heart breaks for Carmen, for the mother she will never get to be."

"And yet, we owe her so much – for without her, we'd never have Sadie."

"STAR!"

"Ow, Dee!" Jay gasped, as Sadie's flailing arm hit him square across the nose.

Marshall and Mary were already on their feet and halfway to the bed when MJ cried out in the next room.

"Go on," Marshall urged. "I've got this."

Mary hurried through the connecting door and he heard her shushing MJ.

Marshall sat on the bed next to his daughter, who was still thrashing on the bed. He turned to Jay who was holding his bleeding nose. "Jay, there's a first aid kit in my duffle bag at the foot of my bed."

"Thanks, Uncle Marshall." Jay scrambled off the bed.

Marshall dodged his daughter's flailing limbs and gathered Sadie to his chest. "Sadie girl, wake up. It's daddy," he crooned as he began to hum.

Slowly Sadie quieted and after a minute or two, she opened her eyes. "Daddy?"

"I'm here."

She threw her arms around his neck. "Don't ever leave."

He smiled. "Never."

In the end, everyone except Eleanor went back to Albuquerque. Stan gave his wife a tender good-bye kiss at the airport in DC.

"We've got to stop parting like this," he groused.

She smiled. "You plan on retiring sometime soon?"

He paused. "Maybe."

"Stan, I was teasing."

"I wasn't."

She pulled him away from the group. "Don't make a major life decision like this on a whim – and not when we're coming off an emotionally charged case when we're both physically drained-"

"This is the final call for Flight-"

He gave her a swift kiss. "I love you, Ellie."

"Stanley!"

"I'll call you!"

"The plane's late."

"No, it's not."

"Yes, it is."

"Actually, Mrs. Alpert, they caught a tail wind, and are scheduled to land ten minutes early."

Brandi whirled at Charlie's words. "Then they're really late!"

Charlie sighed.

Peter squeezed his wife's shoulders. "Please try and relax, sweetie."

She glared at him. "Yeah, right. Our baby is on that plane as well as my sister who I haven't seen in-"

"Now announcing the arrival of Flight 5483 from Washington DC."

"Thank God!" Brandi laughed as the flight personnel opened the heavy metal doors and the first passengers began to disembark. She pranced from one foot to the other as more and more people filed past. "Where are they? Surely they would let those traveling with small children get off first-"

"MOMMY!"

"MJ!"

MJ flew through the legs of passengers and into Brandi's outstretched arms. Brandi was sobbing uncontrollably as she clutched her daughter to her, petting her hair. Peter stood to the side, touching as much of her as he was able. Finally, Brandi's hold loosened and MJ launched herself at him.

"Daddy!"

"Hi, pumpkin! How was your flight? Are you OK?"

MJ nodded. "Great – I sat with Emmy and Sadie, they are my cousins, and did you know I have cousins? And Aunt Mary is the coolest! Just like you said, Mommy!"

Brandi laughed. "Of course she is, baby. Where is she?"

"Right here, Squish."

She turned at the sound of her sister's voice. "Mary," she breathed her name softly as she crossed the distance between them. "I can't believe you're here."

Mary grinned. "Me either."

Brandi reached out a tentative hand and touched Mary's strawberry locks. "You changed your hair."

Mary laughed. "That's just the tip of the iceberg, Squish, believe me."

Suddenly Brandi's arms were around her and Mary couldn't breathe. "I missed you so much, Ray."

"Me too, Sis, me too."

"Hey mom, is this Aunt Brandi? The one Bee is named after?"

Brandi pulled away with a gasp and looked down into the dark eyes of a young girl. "You must be Sadie?" she guessed with a smile.

Sadie nodded.

"I'm very pleased to meet you. But who is Bee?"

"Bee is short for Brandi – my little sister."

Brandi frowned. "I thought your sister's name was Emmy."

"Oh, she's my sister too. But I also have a sister named Bee, and Ry, and two brothers named Cam and Cole."

Brandi's head was swimming. Could Sadie possibly mean – "Mary? Do you have-" she left the sentence unfinished.

Mary nodded. "Yes, Squish, I have other children – four, as Sadie mentioned just now."

Brandi felt like she needed to sit down. "But – who's the father?"

MJ reappeared at her side, tugging Peter by the hand. "Aunt Mary, what's taking Uncle Marshall so long?"

"Marshall?" Brandi squeaked and Peter's eyebrows flew up in surprise.

"Did someone call me?"

Everyone turned to see Marshall walking up to the group, a sleeping Emmy cradled in his arms. He held a finger to his lips. "Shh, she fell asleep just before our final descent and I didn't have the heart to wake her-"

"Oh my God!" Brandi gasped, swaying on her feet. Peter put a steadying arm around her waist, even though his own face was pale.

Charlie stared at him open mouthed. "We all thought you were dead."

Marshall nodded. "I know, but the rumors of my death- ow!" He rubbed the back of his head where Mary had back handed him.

"Don't start that again, Doofus – they can all see with their own eyes you're alive."

He grinned down at her. "Yes, dear."

Brandi looked between the two of them. "You've been together all this time?"

Marshall nodded.

"And the kids Sadie mentioned – those are yours – together?"

Marshall grinned and nodded again.

Brandi whooped and threw her arms around him. "I always wanted a brother – no, let me rephrase that: I always wanted you for a brother."

The movement startled Emmy awake and she sank fearfully against Marshall. "What's going on – where-" Her eyes landed on Charlie and she wriggled out of Marshall's arms. "Uncle Charlie!"

Charlie dropped to his knees and Emmy ran into his outstretched arms. "Emmy! Are you OK?"

She nodded. "I missed you."

Charlie's eyes misted. "I missed you too. Em, I'm so sorry."

She pulled back and looked at him. "What for?"

"For everything – if it wasn't for me, none of this would have happened. I'm the one who brought Rosie to the office – and I shouldn't have. I'll understand if you're mad at me."

Emmy dropped her head, tears falling. "I'm not mad, Uncle Charlie. I know she tricked you too."

Charlie scooped Emmy up and held her tight. "I love you, Em."

"I love you too, Uncle Charlie."

From a few feet away, Stan watched the reunion and smiled in satisfaction. It was going to take his junior inspector a long time to get over this – if he ever did. In time, he hoped Charlie would be able to learn from it, and use it to make him a better Marshal.

"Jacen! Stan! Let's go!"

The boy passed him, zipping up his back pack on the way. "Coming, Aunt Mary!"

Stan shook his head in amazement as he watched the kids fall into line behind Mary and follow her down the wide hallway like a mother duck.

"I can't believe you bought my house, Peter."

Peter smiled as he drove the mini-van down the familiar streets. "Why? Real estate is a good investment and your mom needed a place to live. It was a win-win for everyone."

He pulled the van into the driveway and the front door opened as Jinx appeared, waving madly.

Brandi laughed. "Brace yourselves, everyone. Incoming crazy grandmother in three, two, one-"

Peter opened the sliding door by remote and Jinx stuck her head inside. "Mary! Marshall! It's SO good to see both of you – but where's my –"

"Gigi!" MJ waved madly from her booster seat on the other side of Mary.

"MJ – there you are, sweet pea!" Jinx ran around the van and lifted MJ into her arms. "Oh, how good it is to have you home, you precious, precious girl!"

Marshall leaned forward from the back seat. "Guess I know where we rate on the pecking order."

Jinx turned her head, having overheard the comment. "Don't think I'm not happy to see, because I am. But MJ – she's - and I felt so-" Jinx broke off, overcome by tears.

Marshall had unfolded his lean frame from the back by this time and stood beside her in the driveway, feeling like a cad. "I'm sorry – that was insensitive. I do know how you feel, Ms. Shannon."

"Jinx, please."

He nodded. "May I introduce you to our daughter, your granddaughter, Sadie, her sister, Emmy, and her friend Jacen?" he reached out his hand and Sadie took it, her eyes wide as she studied the woman in front of her.

"I'm pleased to meet you, Sadie," Jinx smiled. "I've heard so much about you."

Sadie stared at her, trying to see something of her mom in the woman, but failing. She looked up at her dad for a cue and he gave her a slight push forward. Sighing, she whispered. "It's nice to meet you too, grandma."

Jinx laughed. "Oh please, don't call me grandma – it makes me sound so old. Please call me Gigi – that's what MJ, your cousin calls me."

Sadie shrugged. "OK."

Mary snorted. "Is that short for 'Ginger'?"

"Mary!" Jinx exclaimed, turning towards her and pulling her into a perfumed hug. "How I've missed you! How are you?"

"I'm fine – happy, in fact."

Jinx recoiled in surprise at the word. "Happy?"

Mary looped an arm around Marshall's waist, leaning into him, inhaling his scent to erase Jinx's heavy one. "Yup – happy. I guess hell finally froze over."

"I can't believe Sadie and Jacen packed their swimsuits."

Marshall laughed as they watched the kids swim in the pool from their shared lounge chair. "Did you pack yours?" he whispered.

She turned and narrowed her eyes at him thoughtfully. "No, why?"

"Too bad – I guess we can't join them."

"We could have our own private pool party later – after they're in bed."

He grinned. "I like the way your mind works, my little dirty-"

"Lemonade?"

Mary groaned and dropped her head to his chest as Marshall reached up a hand to take the frosty glass from Jinx. "Thanks."

"Mary, do you want one?"

"No, mom."

"Are you sure-"

"I'll just give her a sip from mine if she gets thirsty, Jinx, no worries," Marshall grinned.

"Okey, dokey. If you two need anything, I'm right inside working on my schedule for the rest of the week – so just give a holler."

"We'll do that."

Marshall held in his laughter until he heard the door slide closed and then he collapsed on the lounger, laughing hysterically. Mary took the lemonade before he could spill it, setting it on the small wicker table beside them, looking at him in astonishment. She waited until his laughter had subsided somewhat and he was wiping away the tears before she demanded to know what was so funny.

"Nothing."

"Yeah, right. Come on, tell me. Otherwise I'll cancel that private party I mentioned earlier-"

He pulled her down to him, giving her a short, fierce kiss. "Anything but that." He grinned. "I was laughing because something just occurred to me when your mother interrupted us-" he paused.

She nodded her head, urging him to continue. "Yeah, what?"

"Well, it just occurred to me why your sister and brother in law only have one child." He chuckled. "If we had lived here the past seven years instead of in England, we would probably only have one kid too."

She slapped his chest as the giggles rose inside her. "You're awful."

"But you love me anyway."

A shadow fell over them and the couple looked up to see Charlie nervously standing over them. "I realize I'm interrupting but there's never going to be a good time for what I need to get off my chest." He cleared his throat. "Can we talk?"

A/N: My heart just breaks for Charlie - will he ever forgive himself for what happened? Reviews are LOVE!