Of Princes and Princesses

AvalonReeseFanFics

A/N: Hello my wonderfully readers! It's another Saturday update. In this one Marshall's finally going to admit something rather important and we're going to see if Kate actually donates her marrow to Paris. So, you know, exciting stuff this time round. Don't forget to leave a review and I'll see you guys next Saturday.

24.

Kate and Marshall argued all the way back to San Francisco. They argued every day, while she booked the trip, while she researched how to get Marshall with his criminal conviction to London, because there was no way she was going alone. They argued when Marshall went to Rose for back up and support, as Kate wasn't listening to him and reason.

They argued in the Taxi to the airport. They argued at the security desk as Marshall was given the correct paperwork and signed all the waivers and forms he had to, in order to be allowed to leave the country and get back in. They argued as they waited for the plane. And then some more while they were lining up to board. Then they argued while they boarded and most of the time while they were on the plane.

They argued when they disembarked and some more while they were at the security desk where Marshall signed a few more forms and got the permissions to enter the country.

They argued in the taxi to their hotel. They argued in the hotel lobby as they checked in. They argued in the hotel room, before going to bed. Where Marshall lay with her, unable to sleep, just holding her so very tightly to his chest.

The next morning, realizing that there was no way to stop her now, Marshall stopped arguing with her. He held her hand, and walked with her into the hospital where Kate led them to the receptionist desk.

"Hi. My name is… I suppose it doesn't matter what my name is... I… I'm here to donate bone marrow. It's imperative that I talk to Paris Carlton's doctor."

The secretary stared at them while Marshall stared at Kate with new eyes. She hadn't confirmed with the doctor yet? There was still time to stop this?

"I'm sorry. Is Doctor Fielding expecting you?"

"No. This is a surprise. I need to speak to him, it's important that this remain… anonymous."

Anonymous? She hadn't mentioned that. She didn't want her dad to know the truth. Why? What was the point of doing this if she didn't get to lord it over her father? To have him in her pocket for once.

The secretary pulled the phone to her ear and Marshall squeezed her hand. "We can still leave. They don't deserve your kindness."

He caught the horrified stare from the secretary as she listened to Dr. Fielding's response. Kate pinned him with a knowing look and he knew that even now he wouldn't

be able to talk her out of it.

"Dr. Fielding will see you. You're going to go up to the fourth floor, judging by the way his voice went high he'll be at the elevator waiting for you."

Kate thanked her for her time and together they walked to the elevator but he waited for them to be on it before he tried again.

"I know you don't want to hear this, but… we could… we could just leave Kate. Don't get me wrong, I am super proud that you want to do this, that you want to be this kind. But he tried to kidnap you, tried to blackmail and threaten you. He let your brother die, that kind of man deserves what's coming to him."

"And if I do what he did, I'm just as bad as him."

Okay that was true.

"I know what I'm doing, Marsh. I know that this is stupid, but I'm not doing this cause I'm a nice person. I'm doing it because I don't want to be like him and because… because if she gets her donation, he'll leave me alone."

"But then… tell him it was you… so he owes you."

"I don't want further contact with him, Marsh. I'm not doing this for the credit. I want him to get her donation and just have all of this be done with. Okay?"

He didn't quite understand but he knew that it wasn't going to help him to argue with her. They got off the elevator, and just like the secretary assumed, Dr. Fielding was waiting for them at the elevator.

"Are you Kate. You didn't give a name down at the reception desk, but you are Kate, Kate Axton… right?"

Kate nodded while Marshall rolled her eyes. "Quite uh… desperate for bone marrow these days, huh Doc?"

"Paris Carlton's case is terminal if we don't get her bone marrow and she took a turn for the worst last night."

Marshall sighed, of course she did.

"Please tell me you're Kate Axton, other wise all of this will be for naught"

Kate glanced towards Marshall a sort of nervousness around her. "I think. I think maybe we should talk in your office.:

-AR-AR-AR-AR-

The talk with Dr. Fielding went very quickly. Once she confirmed she was Kate Axton who was, in fact, a direct match to Paris Carlton, he was basically willing to agree to everything she had asked of him to get that donation.

They took a sample of her marrow, which was a harrowing procedure that was a great measure of how painful the actual procedure was going to be, tested her to make sure she wasn't some actor that the real Kate had sent to screw with her father. Once it was confirmed she was a match that was it.

They set her up for an over night withdrawal, to give her time to sign all the forms and waivers. To get Paris ready to get the marrow asap once it was essentially out of Kate.

Through it all, Marshall's attitude had completely changed. Instead of arguing with her, he suddenly became her stoic rock. He held her hand and didn't once let go. He asked questions, good questions, so he'd understand what was going to happen. He was most interested in whether not it was going to hurt her and was quite upset to find out that it would, and there was a long list of side effects he'd have to worry about.

Though he was clearly quite upset about this, he was suddenly supportive and positive for the first time since she had announced that she was going to do this.

Kate and Marshall were alone briefly as Dr. Fielding went to give the Carlton's the news. That they had received an anonymous donation that was a match for Paris. And while they were alone, Kate got something that she hadn't in a good month or so. Practically since their trip to California.

She got to have sex with Marshall. The quicky in the doctor's office, got out all the pent-up sexual frustration out of them. And some of the regular frustration too.

When they were done he whispered a million and one apologies to her. He explained again why he thought this was a bad idea and his worry about her wellbeing drove him to be so aggressive in his arguing with her.

She had forgiven him already.

By the time they were ready to take her marrow, Kate was nervous. She knew the needle would be large and she would be donating a lot. This process was going to take a while, it was going to take more than one needle, and it was going to hurt.

Dr. Fielding came into the small room, with his little clipboard. "Alright, Miss. Axton, It's time to get this started. I'm going to need your boyfriend to leave."

Marshall turned to him, apparently not expecting that. "Are you sure I need to leave?" he asked sending a worried glace at her.

"It's okay, Marsh, I'll be okay."

"I know, I'm worried more about me."

She let out a wry chuckle but Marshall turned back to Dr. Fielding and now the nurse who was standing beside him, tray of needles in her hand. "Can you give us a couple of minutes?"

"We have to be fast."

"Yeah, yeah, I'll be quick." He turned his back on them and leant in towards her to kiss her softly. "I'm really proud of you," he whispered to her and her alone.

"I'm proud of you too."

He laughed and she knew what he wanted to say. That he wasn't the one doing the thing to be proud of, but that didn't matter. She was proud that he came with her, proud that he stayed with her through it all.

But he wasn't done yet. Marshall squeezed her hand tightly, a worried look on his face for first time that day. "I… I love you, Kate Axton."

Oh my lord, he had said it. He had actually and finally said it. Kate almost burst into tears right then and there. She got a little weepy but she managed to smile at him. "You know I have very strong feelings for you, right?"

Marshall gave her a big grin. At least he got the reference, and besides he already knew that she loved him too.

"Sir, it's really time that you leave," the nurse said and Marshall sighed.

"I'll be right outside, okay?"

Kate didn't doubt him. The nurse smiled kindly at her. "He's quite the looker that one. And very sweet, I can tell that he dotes on you."

Yes, he did, didn't he? "He is. He's absolutely wonderful. I still don't know how I got so lucky."

When this was over, she was never going to argue with that man again.