Three and a half months later, Mary and Wilson fly back to Glenoak for Christmas, one week early. Mary has off from now until 2 days after Christmas, putting in for that time slot practically right after she got the job. Over this time period, Mary and Wilson decided to start dating again. The two of them are closer than they ever were. Wilson even convinced Mary to call her family, and she has started talking with all 7 of them once a week, plus Robbie, Matt and Sarah every so often. They have even been living together in the condo, sort of splitting the rent. Wilson found a job, not with his old company, but Mary thinks there is something odd about it. She feels an air of impermanence surrounding it, like their situation could change at any moment.
Billy is still with his mother's parents, and Wilson is really starting to miss him. That's one of the reasons they are spending the holiday with Mary's parents, to use the chaos of the Camden household to distract him. Billy means so much to Wilson, and he is upset that he doesn't have him for Christmas. Wilson has tried several times to reason with Brittany's parents, just to be able to get him for this one day, but they wouldn't have it. That upset Wilson even more; Billy is his life. He is the only one who has stuck by Wilson, through everything, for almost 7 years. Even Mary couldn't say she had done that.
The one thing that scared Mary, though, was the fact that her family was unaware of the fact that she and Wilson were living together. She was afraid they wouldn't approve, or jump to a wrong conclusion, or something along those lines. Mary knows she should have told them by now, but she never seemed to find the right moment to bring it up.
Mary and Wilson get off the plane, gather their luggage, and take a cab to the Camden residence. The whole ride there, they couldn't keep their hands off one another. They held hands, squeezed each other's knees, kissed the other's cheeks, just like a bunch of newly weds. Nonetheless, Wilson spirits seem to have risen, and Mary is glad. She hates it when he's depressed; it breaks her heart.
They arrive at the house, and try to sneak in through the back door. That is, of course, to no avail. Annie is in the kitchen with the twins, getting them an afternoon snack.
"Mary! You're here! Oh, and Wilson!" Annie shrieks. "I haven't seen you both in ages, let alone together." Annie embraces her daughter, throwing her arms around her.
"Whatever you do, don't mention Billy. Tell everyone else not to either, please Mom." Mary whispers into her mother's ear so low that her voice is almost inaudible.
She pulls back from her mother and smiles. Annie is confused, but does the same. Annie goes to greet Wilson when Ruthie bolts into the kitchen.
"Mary!" Ruthie yells, overly excited at her sister's arrival. She runs into Mary's arms, and Mary lifts her slightly off the ground when they hug.
"Hey Ruthie!"
"I'm so happy you're home. I've missed you so much!"
"I've missed you, too."
Ruthie and Mary had become very close through their newfound phone relationship. Lucy was too busy with Kevin, Simon was a guy, Sam and David were too little on carry on a real conversation, and her parents were still her parents, so Mary found herself clinging to Ruthie for family support. So she is only 12, so what? Ruthie still reminded Mary of home, the place she is constantly longing to be, though she won't admit this to herself.
Ruthie has told Mary everything. She gave her the play by play of the goings on of the household, every single detail about her relationship with Jake, school, her friends, the town- more than Mary would have known even if she was still in Glenoak. Mary's even told Ruthie about her relationship with Wilson, a little, but still it is more than anyone else in the family knew. Ruthie was the only one that knew that Billy wouldn't be joining them for Christmas, but she didn't explain to her the whole reason. She told Ruthie this in confidence, and she knew Ruthie wouldn't say anything. And judging by the look on her mother's face before, she hadn't yet.
The only person who was truly interested with Mary, throwing all of the qualms they had about her out the window, was Ruthie. No one else really seemed to care all that much, and this hurt Ruthie. She would protest sometimes and say that Mary is still their sister like Matt is still their brother, but they rarely found time to listen, let alone think about what she was saying. Sure, they all loved Mary, but deep down inside they were all still angry with her. They all forgave her, but none of the Camdens seemed to adopt a "forgive and forget" policy.
Even Robbie seemed to be mad at Mary when she talked to him. She couldn't help wonder what she had done to make them hate her so much. Was it "dating" Jack? Was it breaking up with Ben? Were they still angry with her about all of the stuff she did the led up to her being asked to leave two years ago? What? What was different now than before she moved to Ft. Lauderdale?
Hearing all of the commotion in the kitchen, the rest of the house comes in to the kitchen to see what is going on. To Mary's surprise, they all welcome her with open arms. Mary is surrounded by hugs while she tries to see if this is all an act. Mary decided though that even if it was, she wasn't going to let it bother her. This was going to be a good trip, an enjoyable vacation, and a memorable Christmas.
After each person said hello to Mary, they moved over and greeted Wilson. All of them, that is, except for Kevin. Kevin stood in the corner, behind the group of people gathered around the couple, not saying anything. He appeared to be taking in everything near him, assessing the situation using his police skills Mary found so annoying. Mary knew this would probably be difficult, but she didn't think Kevin would make it this hard.
"Hi, um, Kevin." She says to him after the rest of the family had left.
"Hello Mary."
"Kevin, I, uh, would like you to meet Wilson."
Wilson smiles and extends his hand for Kevin to shake, but he has the audacity to not accept it. Wilson puts his arm back at his side when he realizes this, and Mary grabs his hand to let him know that it was OK. Wilson knew why Kevin would not take his hand, because Wilson replaced his brother. Mary may keep things from her family, but not from Wilson. Wilson knew all about her relationship with Ben, how his old girlfriend came back, how she stayed with him longer than she wanted to because Kevin moved into the house, how her dad put her on the spot when she walked through the door that night, the whole shebang. Lucy realizes what Kevin is doing and elbows his side. She glares up at him, muttering "Be nice" under her breath.
"I'm sorry. I should be nicer to you, it's not your fault. " Now, Kevin extends his hand, and Wilson shakes it, wondering what wasn't his fault.
Mary, knowing Wilson too well, asks the question out loud. "What isn't his fault?"
"That you broke Ben's heart."
Lucy elbows Kevin once more. "Stop. Lets go." She says to him, tugging at his arm.
"No, I don't have to go. I want to meet this guy."
"You met him already, you shook his hand, let's go."
"I broke up with Ben nearly four months before I got back together with Wilson."
"But you used Ben to get over Wilson."
"I did not, and even if I did I guess it didn't work very well."
Kevin glares back at her.
"Look Kevin, Ben is back with his old girlfriend, I'm back with Wilson, and Ben and I haven't spoken since September, so can't we just drop it?"
Kevin gives Mary a harsh look, and then walks out of the kitchen without another word.
"I'm so sorry Wilson. I don't know what's gotten into him. He usually isn't like this." Lucy apologizes for her boyfriend.
"Its OK, I understand." Wilson says.
Lucy smiles politely, and then leaves the kitchen.
"He doesn't get a long with Robbie or Ruthie very well either. The only one of us he really likes is Lucy."
"Well I would hope so." Wilson says smiling.
Mary gives him a look that says "not funny", before beginning again. "Don't take it personally."
"I'll try to remember that." He says, grabbing her hand. "So, I gather we're not staying in the same room together."
"Probably not. Let's go ask where they're putting us so we can at least put our stuff down."
Wilson kisses Mary at the end of the sentence. "You're beautiful Mary."
Mary face turns bright red. "Why thank you. You're not too bad looking yourself." She counters, finishing by kissing him on the cheek.
The pair walks upstairs with their bags to find Annie or Eric. Mary finds her father in his bedroom, and knocks on the door. He comes out, and she asks them where they're being stationed for the next 9 days.
"Um, well let's see. Mary, you're going to be in your old bed." She nods. "And Wilson, um, would you mind being in one room for the time being, then switching on Christmas Eve when Matt and Sarah join us?"
"No, not at all."
"Great. You'll be in Robbie's room for now, Mary and Lucy's old room," he says pointing down the hall, "and when Matt and Sarah come then you'll move to Simon's room."
"Thanks Sir." Wilson says.
"Yeah, thanks Dad."
"No problem you two. It's nice to see you together again. You were definitely one of my favorites, son."
Wilson laughs. "Thanks."
Wilson and Mary knock on Robbie's door, and Robbie opens it.
"Did you know that Wilson is using your room?"
"Yeah, I know. I'll be out in five minutes."
"No, don't rush. You don't have to be out until tonight as long as he can put his bags down in here."
"Sure." Robbie answers, moving so that he is no longer blocking the doorway.
Wilson puts his bags inside, then helps Mary take hers up to the attic. They enter the room, and are happily surprised to see that neither Ruthie nor Lucy were in it at the moment. Mary closes the door behind them, and sits down on the bed, pulling Wilson down with her. She kisses Wilson, and they start to make out. They kiss for two minutes until Mary can sense that Wilson's heart isn't behind it. She stops and looks into his eyes.
"Are you all right?"
"Yeah, I'm fine."
"Don't lie to me Wilson."
"I'm ok, really."
They kiss again, but Mary quickly stops because she has something on her mind. "I didn't tell them yet. I wasn't sure if you wanted me to or not. Well actually, I take that back. I did tell one person- Ruthie. She hasn't told anyone though, I'm sure of it."
"Ok."
"I still think my dad can help. He could make a phone call, or talk to them or something. You need help, and if you don't want to ask for it I'll do it for you."
"I don't need help, Billy does."
Mary smiles and puts her hand on Wilson's back. "I know baby, I know."
"I don't want your father fighting my battles for me. I'm a man, I can do things for myself. "
"I'm well aware that you're a man." Mary says, raising an eyebrow. "But we still have to tell my parents."
"I know, but not right now. Maybe after dinner…"
"OK."
"…because right now…" Wilson kisses Mary with the same passion she was using before, making up for not being fully into it a few minutes ago. Wilson lies back onto the bed beneath them, bringing Mary on top of him. They're hands roam the others bodies, staying in check the whole time. Mary runs her fingers through Wilson's hair, as his hands go from her shoulders down her side to rest on her hips.