"Will you spend the night with me?" Mary asks Wilson, still lying against him from their alleged nap. "Please?"

"I thought we were going to take things slower."

"Well, we are but…"

"But what? You said-"

"I know what I said. I just don't want to be alone tonight."

"How come?"

"I'm scared."

"Why? Because of this whole stupid Robbie thing? He probably was arrested by now anyways."

"It still doesn't make me feel safe. And besides, Lucy's staying over Shelby's tonight, so I'm going to be up here all by myself."

"Yeah, but do you really think that's such a good idea?"

"You know when I ask you to spend the night there's nothing sexual behind it. But I guess I could always sleep in Ruthie's room, not that she'd protect me much."

"All right, all right, I'll stay. But I can't keep dumping Billy on my mom like this. He's my responsibility, not hers."

"He could stay in Sam and David's room, like he did before."

"Yeah, I guess so. He does like playing with them."

"Great. But I still have to ask my parents if it's ok."

"Why don't I ask them?"

"Why? What else do you have in mind?"

"Nothing."

"Yes you do. But I guess I should trust you so go ahead."

Wilson walks downstairs and seeks Mrs. Camden.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Sure Wilson. What's on your mind?"

"First of all, Mary and I had a fight. I tried to straighten her out, big mistake. She just ended up getting really mad at me, so I had to apologize before I even got a chance to finish. And I also wanted to apologize to you for the way she acted. She gets really defensive when it comes to me, I don't know why."

"You don't have to apologize for her. And she didn't do anything wrong anyways. She meant well."

"I guess so. Well, because I apologized we made up, and now she wants me to spend the night with her because she's scared about Robbie. That's why I came down here, to ask you if that would be ok."

"You don't seem to be too thrilled with the whole idea. Do you want to do this?"

"Well if she really is scared then yes, but I can't tell if she is actually scared or she just wants me with her. Not that it's a bad thing, her wanting to spend time with me, its just that- I shouldn't be discussing this with you. I trust you, but I don't want to have to go through another fight with her today."

"You shouldn't have to worry about whether or not what you're saying will cause a fight between you two."

"I know."

"And if you don't want to stay, blame it on me and say I won't let you. I'll take full responsibility if you want."

"No, I'll stay. She says that she needs me."

"OK then, that's fine with me."

"Ok, thanks Mrs. Camden."

Wilson walks back up the stairs.

"Wilson, wait!"

Hearing Annie he comes back down.

"Where would the two of you be sleeping? I hope not in her bed."

"I honestly don't know what she had in mind, but I bet that's what she was planning on doing."

"I don't know about that. I trust you both, I just don't like the idea of it."

"I understand. We could stay on the couch."

"Yeah, I'd be more comfortable with that. I was going to suggest you take Lucy's bed but that's stupid."

Wilson laughs.

"Thank you Mrs. Camden."

"And don't forget, Billy is welcome here anytime."

"Thanks."

*************

Later that night, after Billy and the rest of the house is asleep, Mary and Wilson lay together on the couch.

Do I love her? Yes, I do. Then why am I so angry with her? I shouldn't be this mad if I love her. But I do love her. So all I have to do is stop being mad, right? Wilson lets out a heavy sigh as he ponders his mixed emotions.

"What's wrong?" Mary asks him.

"Nothing, I'm fine."

"You don't seem fine. What's bothering you?"

"Nothing's bothering me."

"Are we ok?"

"Yeah, we're fine." It's not that big of a deal. You've said it before. Just say it.  "I-I love you."

"I love you too. And I can't thank you enough for doing this. I could tell you kind of didn't want to, but you did it anyways. I just really needed you to be here for me tonight."

"You know what we should have done? We should have called Sergeant Michaels and found out if they actually did arrest him yet. Not that I'm not 100% sure that they did, but just to make sure."

"You're right, we should have. But it's too late to call now. I'm ok though. With you here, nothing can go wrong. Having you hold me is all I ever really need. Too bad you can't be here all the time to wrap your arms around me. I'd really like that."

"Well, I'm pretty content having you in my arms."

Mary shivers as Wilson holds her to him. He notices this immediately and pulls their blanket over her.

"Better?"

"Yeah, thanks. I'm sorry for being so rude to you before. I shouldn't have gotten so mad when you tired to talk to me. I just don't know what came over me."

"You had every right to be mad about us possibly breaking up."

"But I had no right to be mad about everything else you said, or tried to say. I'm sorry."

"Thanks. It means a lot to me that you apologized."

"Promise me you'll tell me next time I'm being a complete idiot?"

"Gladly."

They kiss softly, but it becomes more passionate. Quickly Mary breaks they kiss and kisses him one last time lightly.

"I would say good night but I don't think I'd be able to sleep. I'm not comfortable."

Wilson shifts his position in attempts to please her.

"Its not you, it's the couch. I don't understand why we can sleep together downstairs, but not upstairs in a real bed."

"Its just the idea of it all."

"I know, but we're not going to do anything. Want to go up there anyways?"

"I told your mom that we wouldn't, I can't."

"Yes you can, come on."

She stands up and grabs Wilson's hand, pulling him to a standing position.

"I don't want to go against your parents' wishes."

"You're not. We aren't going to do anything. We just weren't comfortable down here. And if they ask, that's what we'll tell them."

"I don't know how comfortable we'll both be in a twin bed, but suit yourself."

The next morning Mary and Wilson are sitting on Mary's bed, quietly talking. They haven't had a serious talk like this one in a while.

"…But it all couldn't have been mental pain, right? Tell me, I want to know the truth."

"I already told you the truth, a while ago when I showed you my bruises."

(A/N: I have absolutely no medical experience. I am just making up this stuff so that it sounds logical. I realize that Mary would still not be bruised 6 months later, but this is fiction. Please take that into consideration as you read the next section of my story.)

"Yeah, but you didn't tell me about them. I want to know- so that I can try to understand you better."

Mary turns her face away for his, but still speaks. "I don't want to get too specific, but basically he got very rough. You know that I am definitely not weak, so the amount of force he was using on me was pretty great. He pushed, he pulled, he hit, he kicked, he tied me down- anything that would prevent me from getting away until he was done with me. And when someone kicks your hips and your kidneys until you feel like your going to pass out, it kind of scars you for life."

"He did all of that to you, really?"

"Yes."

"How long did it take for the bruises to go away?"

"Well…come with me."

Mary grabs his hand and drags him into the bathroom, locking the door behind them.

"I'll show you, but you have to promise not to touch me."

Wilson is unsure of what she is taking about, but nods in agreement anyways. Mary slips off her t-shirt and pulls off her shorts, and stands in front of Wilson with only her underwear on. Wilson is shocked by her actions, but when everything finally registers he is scared. Her body has pretty much recovered- it has been 6 months- be she still has remnants of being maimed. Just looking at Mary's body in that state scares him.

"Are you okay?"

"Yes and no."

"I don't understand. Why are you doing this?"

"You said you wanted to know. I didn't know how to describe it, and I wouldn't want to, so I figured the best thing to do would be to show you."

"I-I"

"Give me your hands."

Wilson is confused but does as he is told. Mary takes one hand and runs it along one side of her collarbone, and the other side with the other. Wilson feels that one side is dramatically bigger and more pronounced than the other.

"Does it hurt?"

"A little, but only when you hit it or something. Honestly I think I broke it, or fractured it."

"I remember the bruise that used to be there. How did he do that to you?"

"He pushed down on it with all of his strength."

"Did you feel it snap or anything?"

"I don't remember."

"didn't they check you for that kind of stuff when I brought you to the hospital though?"

"No, they ran tests and took evidence that I never used. But they didn't really check to see if I was hurt."

"But didn't you want to get that fixed? You must have really been in a lot of pain to think you broke it."

"I was, but I didn't want to bring it up. It wasn't hindering my daily activity that much, but my hip on the other hand…"

"I forgot about your hip."

Mary takes Wilson hands once more and rubs them along her hips.

"There's a bump on this one," he says running his hands over them again, "and it feels swollen."

"I know."

"You really should go to a doctor."

"No I'm fine. Most of the pain is gone, and it's 6 months later, what can they do now?"

"I don't know. They probably could do something."

"I'm fine."

"I just wish there was something I could do, or could have done."

"There is and was nothing for you to do. And its all right, everything is fine."

"Do you think he did any permanent damage?"

Mary looks away. "He did, but I don't want to talk about it."

"Then show me."

"I wouldn't feel comfortable showing you."

"You know you can tell me anything. I'm not going to laugh at you."

"Its not that, although you probably might find it to be a little strange."

"No I won't. Just tell me.'

"Why do you want to know so bad?" Mary asks curiously.

"Because I want to make sure you're okay.''

"I already told you, I'm fine."

"Then why won't you tell me?"

"You really want to know?"

Wilson shakes his head yes.

Mary sits down on the side of the tub and crosses her arms. "I have broken capillaries on the underside of my breasts. Robbie squeezed them- hard. And then he started slapping them. I don't know why, but he did."

"Oh." Wilson says slightly embarrassed. "Sorry."

"Its OK, you didn't know." Mary closes her eyes tightly, as if in frustration. "I just feel so disfigured."

Wilson sits down on the tub beside her. "You are not disfigured. You're gorgeous."

"You're just saying that."

"No I'm not. Everything about you is gorgeous." Wilson stands back up. "Come here, I'll show you."

He holds his hand out to Mary and she meekly takes it. He walks over to the mirror and puts her in front of it. Wilson wraps his arms around Mary's waist and stands behind her.

"Look at you. Your hazel eyes, your brown hair, your cute little waist, your muscular arms. You are, by far, the sexiest person alive."

"You don't have to be mean about this."

"I'm being honest. I've never seen anyone more beautiful than you. I've seen you when your happy, sad, angry, sick, crying- everything, and I still believe that."

Wilson kisses the back of Mary's neck. She turns around and their lips meet. After a while, they pull apart from each other. Wilson leans his forehead against Mary's.

"OK?"

"I guess so."

"Wilson sits down on the floor of the bathroom with his legs out in front of him. He takes Mary and gently pulls her down with him. She straddles his body and puts her head on his shoulder after kissing his cheek.

"I love you. I love you so much." She whispers in his ear.

"Me too Mare."

They sit like that for a while, until Mary realizes something.

"What if someone comes looking for us and they don't find us?"

"Your right. We should at least go and sit in your room."

They both rise, and Wilson hands Mary her clothes.

Downstairs, Annie is in the kitchen cleaning some dishes when she hears a faint knock at the back door. She goes to open it, but something stops her. She pulls the curtains around the edge so she can see the person outside.

"Hello Robbie." Annie tries desperately to think on her feet and come up with a good plan. "I take it you're here to see Mary."

He nods.

"Ok, you wait here. I'll go get her."

Annie frantically runs up the stairs, in her mind cursing her husband who is once again absent from the household. As she reaches the top, she sees a tired Simon and Ruthie coming downstairs for their breakfast. Annie pushes them into Sam and David's bedroom.

"Listen to me. Something is going on. You two stay in here with the boys until I come and get you. Don't come out until I tell you its safe, got it?"

"Is everything all right?" 14-year-old Simon asks, trying to be the man in the situation.

"No. Just stay in here, and lock the door."

She pushes the door closed and runs back upstairs to get Mary and Wilson. She grabs Mary's hand and practically drags her off the bed from which she is sitting on. Wilson follows suit. Once down the stairs, Annie shoves Mary into the bathroom in her bedroom and locks her in.

"Stay there."

Mary opens the door. "What? Why? What's going on?"

"Nothing, just stay in there. Please."

Sensing the nervous tone in her mother's voice, she stops questioning Annie and does what she is told. Mrs. Camden pulls Wilson aside and tells him that Robbie is downstairs.

"Good. You know, I'd like to give this guy a piece of my mind."

"No you're not. You're staying right here. He threatened you, too. I don't want you to get hurt. I'm going to call Sergeant Michaels. Hopefully the police will be able to take care of this without it getting violent."

"Are you sure? I think I would be able to handle this."

"No, you stay here."

"Is there anything else I can do?"

"Yes, go and sit with Mary. Don't unlock the door or come out unless I say so."

"But Mrs. Camden…"

"Wilson, please just listen to me. I know you're a man and you want to help, but following my instructions I think will keep us all safe. This is for Mary. Just go and tell her something, but try not and make her too scared."

"I won't, don't worry. You do what you have to do. But if you need me-"

"I know where to find you."

Annie picks up the phone and dials the police as Wilson knocks on the bathroom door. Mary opens it, and he walks inside.

"What's going on?"

"Nothing, you just have to stay in here."

"Don't lie to me. I heard Mom tell you that Robbie's back."

Wilson doesn't answer; he just clutches Mary tightly to him.

"Everything is going to be okay Mary, I promise. If he comes anywhere near you-"

Tears silently run down Mary's face as she pulls Wilson even tighter to him. Wilson runs his fingers through her hair, at a loss for comforting words.

Mary begins to speak all of Wilson's unvoiced questions. "What if he breaks in the house? What if he comes to find me? What if he really hurts me? He's so strong, he could kill me."

"Don't think about that stuff. Everything is going to be fine."

"You don't know that."

"Your right, I don't. But I do know that I won't let anything happen to you or your family. I don't care what happens to me as long as you are safe."

The drama of the moment engulfs her, and Mary roughly pushes her lips against Wilson's. He returns the kiss, and it becomes more fervor. They continue to kiss until they begin to hear police sirens in the distance. Mary pulls back and leans her head on Wilson's shoulder, and sobs once more. Wilson pulls her away and wipes away her tears.

"I love you. Don't leave me, ever. Please. I need- I don't know. I need you." she says to him.

Hearing those words, as if on queue, Wilson gets down on one knee.

"Wh-What are you doing?"

Wilson takes Mary's hand, his own shaking with nervousness.

"Mary, even though I do not say it all the time, I feel the same way that you do. The thought of being without you, ever, scares me to death. I love you with my every being."

Wilson pulls out a small black velvet box from his pocket.

"I want to be with you for the rest of my life. So, Mary Camden, will you marry me?"

Mary is truly speechless. Her jaw drops open, and after about a minute Wilson stands back up.

"You don't have to answer me now, I can wait."

"I wouldn't do that to you. Yes, I'll marry you." She answers, throwing her arms around his neck.

Wilson picks Mary up and spins her around in a circle. They lips meet, as they become overtaken with joy. "I love you." is whispered by both of them, as they hear a slight knock at the back door.

The End