A/N: A VERY special shout-out to ladypuercoloco who reviewed each of my chapters again from the beginning and reminded me of a "thread" I'd dropped. It is readers like you that boost me up and inspire me to keep writing M&M fic - and this one has been SO much fun to write.

And now, on with our story. Our beloved couple has had a magical night - but unfortunately face reality in the morning. . . .


Saturday morning 6:15 AM

Rietta's apartment

Rietta's phone beeped twice, signaling an incoming text message, and a hand groped for the offending object without removing her sleep mask.

"Hello?" she croaked into the phone and waited for an answer before it dawned on her that there wasn't anyone there. "What the-" she sat up and groaned, shoving her sleep mask up into her riot of red curls. Her eyes struggled to focus as her thumb swiped the screen to unlock it and the text message from her assistant Chanel popped up:

Turn on Channel 9 news now.

Biting back more colorful metaphors, she grabbed the TV remote from her nightstand and hit speed dial 2. Chanel picked up on the second ring. "Morning, boss."

"Somebody better be dead."

"Have you turned the TV on yet?"

"Just a minute- you woke me up from a delicious dream about-" the words died in her throat as the images and sound filled her tiny bedroom.

"This is Linda Brown with Channel 9 news and I'm reporting to you live from outside the Shannon house. We followed Marshall Mann here last night and he has yet to vacate the premises. . . ."

"Fuck!" Rietta swore as she threw back the covers and searched for the clothes she had discarded before falling into bed a few hours ago. "I warned him – I told both of them that they would be the death of me – but did they listen?"

Chanel giggled. "They're in love."

Rietta's eyes fluttered shut as she tried to rein in her emotions. "I don't give a rat's ass if they're Cinderella and Prince Charming, Chanel. He's on trial for murder one and this is publicity he does not need right now! Every member of the jury is going to see that story and no matter how hard they try, it's going to taint their picture of the evidence presented – not to mention how they perceive Marshall."

"What do you want me to do?"

"I want you to call that Detective – what's her name – Abigail something-"

"Abigail Chaffee?"

"Yes, her. Tell her to get over to the Shannon house and break up that press party-"

"But she's a homicide detective, boss, not-"

"I don't care! She's the only cop we have direct access to! She has the authority to kick people off private property, doesn't she?"

"I suppose so."

"Then I want you to get coffee and breakfast from Lindy's and meet me at the Shannon's to deal with this fallout-"

"Are you sure we can't give the lovebirds more time to-"

Rietta's scream of frustration was smothered as she yanked a sweatshirt over her head. "If you value your job, you won't finish that sentence. I don't care if I get over there and find them in the middle of sex, understand? I'm going to haul Marshall's ass out of there and talk some sense into him."

"Good luck with that, boss."


6:25 AM

Shannon house

Brandi patted PM's back, waiting for the burp, and watched with wide eyes at the activity on the street outside. Peter had warned her to stay away from the windows as soon as she had awakened but that had only made her curious. But his warning had done nothing to prepare her for the Channel 9 news van and the cameras and the reporters on the street out front. She saw several of their neighbors peeking around their curtains but only nosy Mr. Aplet had come outside and was casually chatting with the pretty Linda Brown from Channel 9 news.

Brandi whirled around to confront her boyfriend. "How long have they been out there?"

Peter shrugged. "I noticed the news van when I locked up last night-"

She gasped. "What? Before or after Marshall got here?"

He averted his eyes. "After-"

She groaned. "They must have followed him here. We have to do something, Peter."

He raised his eyes to stare her down. "Like what? Go out there and say, 'Nothing to see here- move along'?"

She rolled her eyes as PM gave a loud belch on her shoulder. "I have to at least go out there and stop Mr. Aplet from telling them our business. He's such a nosy, self-righteous b-"

Peter reached out and gently took the baby from her. "Not in front of our son, please?"

Brandi warmed at his use of 'our son', but didn't say anything. She was still too afraid that this was a dream and she'd wake up to find him gone. He thought she'd been asleep last night when he was talking to Marshall about how hurt he still was that she left – but she'd heard every word. She didn't blame him – she understood how much she'd hurt him and part of her was astonished at how quickly he'd forgiven her. But perhaps he hadn't – at least not completely. And if the past was something they couldn't leave behind. . . .

"Brandi?"

She startled at the sound of her name, not realizing how lost in thought she had become. "I'm fine – just worried about Mary and Marshall. They've both been through so much. I just want them to have a little bit of happiness."

"He's on trial for murder one."

"Yes but, he didn't do it – you know that, don't you?"

There was a heartbeat before Peter's answer. "Of course."

Brandi felt herself grow cold. "You – you have doubts. Oh my God, you actually think he might have killed Kenny." She took her son back, unwilling to let her baby be in the arms of a man who had doubts about Marshall. She cuddled him close, breathing in his fresh baby scent, trying to calm herself down.

"Brandi, listen to me. Mary's testimony yesterday was full of information that was new to me – I had no idea of the horrors she went through the day of Marshall's accident. I had no idea that she actually witnessed Marshall's accident – let alone was physically assaulted by Kenny-"

Brandi sighed. "You know Mary doesn't talk about-"

Peter held up a hand. "I know – and I understand. But hearing about it for the first time, and watching Marshall's reaction as she told her story, made me realize how deeply he loves her."

She snorted as she crossed the living room and set PM down in the bassinet. "You didn't know before?"

He shook his head. "No. Not like that – not that deep. That he would die for her – kill for her."

Brandi recoiled from the words. "No!"

Peter put his hands on her shoulders. "Are you so positive, deep down, that Marshall wouldn't-"

Brandi wrestled out of his grip, putting her hands over her ears. "I don't want to hear anymore. Get out, Peter."

"Brandi-"

"I said: Get out. Before you make me sorry I ever named my child after you."

A stricken look crossed his face. "You don't mean that."

Brandi's chin shot up. "Try me."

He sighed. "I'll call you later – after we've both had time to calm down."

She crossed her arms. "Better make it after you've changed your mind about Marshall – otherwise don't bother."

"Brandi, I didn't say I thought he-"

She held up her hands. "Just go now, Peter. I'm tired and I need to check on Norah."

He stepped into her space and tried to put his arms around her up she side stepped him. "I love you."

She turned her back and walked down the hall to peek at Norah, knowing that if she returned the words, her resolve would crumble. Brandi waited until she heard the front door open and shut before she let the tears fall and tried to keep the old fears away that told her that once again, she had thrown away the best thing that had ever happened to her, except her son.


6:45 AM

Warmth.

Mary hadn't felt this warm, this safe, this loved – ever.

She opened her eyes to mere slits and looked down to see a hand, an arm, draped casually over her hip, the long fingers stroking a slow, lazy pattern over her belly. The warmth was coming from behind her, and she could feel his body curled up, connected with her from shoulder to hip to thigh, stacked like two spoons in a drawer. She could feel his breath in her hair, each exhale ruffling it softly. She idly wondered where his other arm was, but then realized their hands were locked together above her head on the pillow. For as intimate as their position was, both of them were still fully clothed, only having kicked off their shoes and loosened buttons before collapsing in the bed. She took a moment to think about the fact that she didn't feel trapped and didn't want to move. The last lover who had wanted to snuggle had been Raph – and she hadn't been interested in lingering in his embrace.

But this morning she had no desire to move from Marshall's arms and he had done no more than kiss her last night. She couldn't imagine what it would be like once they actually had sex.

She felt Marshall's breathing change and then he said her name. She rolled over to meet his blue eyes, surprisingly clear for this early hour.

"Good morning – I think we fell asleep," she grinned at him.

He ran the back of his hand across her cheek. "Are we still?"

"I don't know-" his lips on hers stopped the flow of words temporarily. "If we are, it's the same dream."

He leaned his forehead against hers. "I can't believe I can kiss you now whenever I want."

She laughed. "Maybe not whenever- during work isn't a good idea-"

"Brat," he sassed and kissed her again. "Did you sleep well?"

She nodded. "No nightmares."

He smiled. "Really?"

"Last night was the first uninterrupted night's sleep I've gotten since before this whole nightmare started. I don't know how to say-"

He ran a hand up and down her arm soothingly. "Say what?"

She shrugged. "Thank you? I mean, I'm not naïve enough to think I'm out of the woods but the fact that you stayed with me last night when I tried my hardest to push you away-"

"That was your hardest?" He snorted. "Come on, you and I both know that you've put me through worse before-"

Her eyes were wet as she reached for him and pulled him into her. "But not now that I know how deep our feelings run – I don't – I can't – Marshall, don't let me run."

He cupped her face. "I won't."

She sat up in bed, crossing her legs, shaking her head. "I mean, this isn't going to be easy. I'm br-bruised, still healing from what happened and I don't know how long this process is going to take. I have no idea how long the nightmares and the flashbacks are going to last. On one hand it's not fair for me to say 'wait for me' but that's exactly what I'm asking you to do – I love you, Marshall, and I hope you can be patient-"

He sat up so fast that she didn't have time to prepare for his lips on hers. She fell backwards on the bed, cradling his head in her hands, moaning as his mouth moved softly and gently against hers. There was no urgency or sexual angst in the embrace – but Mary could feel the warmth of his body against hers and again marveled that it wasn't scaring her away.

Marshall pulled away enough to whisper in her ear, "I love you, Mary: all of you, the good, the bad, and the not so pretty parts. Six months ago I never dreamed that you and I would be together like this – so you asking me to be patient and wait for you because you love me?" He trembled against her. "Don't you know the power you have over me? You could ask just about anything of me right now and I'd do it."

The bedroom door flew open and Mary and Marshall jumped apart to see Rietta standing there, arms crossed and eyes blazing. "For Heaven Sake, do not let the press hear you make a statement like that, Marshall Mann, or it will be death by lethal injection for you. Now, both of you, get dressed and get your asses out here. We've got to do some damage control."

Marshall swung his long legs over the side of the bed and stood. "This is Mary's bedroom, Rietta. You can't just barge in here, unannounced-"

"And in case you haven't noticed, we are dressed." Mary added.

"And since you two were too busy fucking to notice the press outside-"

"We were not fucking-"

Mary held up a hand. "Press? Outside?"

Rietta nodded. "Channel 9 news – they're gone now, thanks to your friend Detective Chaffee."

Mary sneered as she stood and rounded the bed to stand beside Marshall. "She's his friend, not mine."

"At any rate, she got rid of them – for now. But they'll be back. The two of you have stirred up a hornet's nest. I warned you both-"

"I wasn't going to leave Mary alone last night – she needed me."

Rietta sighed. "I know this hard on you both-"

"Do you? Have you ever been accused of murder?" Marshall threaded a hand through his hair.

Mary laid a hand on his arm. "We'll be out in a few minutes, Rietta."

The lawyer nodded and left, but she didn't close the door.

Mary snorted and turned back to her partner. "Marshall, listen, she's just doing her job. And I told you myself when you came here last night that the press were most likely following you-"

He grabbed her hips and pulled her into him. "I didn't care then and I don't care now! I'm not going to let them fuck with my life, Mer!"

"But public opinion matters, Marshall – more than we would wish it to. We can't let them crucify you in the press over this. Rietta is right and you know it."

"So what are you saying? We stay away from each other until after the trial is over? I don't know if I can do that."

"I agree it's not the ideal situation-"

"Ideal! Hell, Mary, it would be torture and you know it! You said it yourself that last night was the first night you had no nightmares-"

She shuddered and laid her head on his shoulder. "I know – but it will all be worth it when you are found not guilty."

"You need me-"

She stepped back and cupped his face. "Yes, I need you to be found innocent. Norah and I need you in our lives for a good long time! And if that means you and I need to be separated in the short term – we can deal with that. What I can't deal with is you being sent to prison for life or sitting on death row for a crime you didn't commit!"

His lips gave her a series of short, deep kisses. "You won't forget how much I love you?"

She gave him a shaky smile. "Even when I wasn't admitting how I felt about you, I knew you loved me. You're more likely to forget how I feel about you."

He pressed his lips to hers one more time. "Not a chance. The words are imprinted on my heart."

She rolled her eyes. "You're such a Doofus."

Rietta knocked on the door. "Time's up, lovebirds. Let's have some breakfast and make a game plan."

Marshall shook his head, not breaking eye contact with Mary. "No need, Rietta, I'll come with you peacefully."

Rietta's eyebrows rose into her hairline as she looked from one to the other in surprise. "Well then, I'll be in the car." Her footsteps echoed down the hallway.

Marshall leaned in and kissed her forehead. "I love you, Mary."

She smiled up at him. "I love you."

He stepped back. "Call you later?"

She tipped her head to the side. "Is that wise?"

He groaned. "I can't do this without any contact between us, Mer. I need your strength to get through this."

She nodded. "I'll talk to you later."

He walked away and she waited until the front door opened and closed before she collapsed on the bed and let the tears fall.

Mary felt the bed dip a few minutes later and opened her eyes to see Brandi lying next to her, tear tracks still evident on Squish's face.

"Hi."

Brandi grunted.

"I see that your day is off to a great start as well."

Brandi grunted again.

"Want to talk about it?"

"No."

"Fine by me."

Several minutes passed before the silence was broken by PM's wail. Brandi groaned and climbed to her feet. "Oh. Marshall's lawyer brought breakfast – it's in the kitchen, if you want it."

"Maybe later – I'm not really hungry."

"Mary – are you OK? Did you and Marshall-"

Mary smiled. "We're fine, Squish. Now go get my nephew before he becomes inconsolable."


A/N: And once again the Shannon women are alone - don't worry readers, they will survive! What's next for Marshall's trial? Anyone else doubting Marshall's innocence? Reviews are LOVE.