After dinner was eaten, the table was cleared, the dishes were done, and Billy was bathed and put to bed, Mary finally had time to get herself ready for bed. She hadn't talked to Wilson since she brushed him off while they were setting the table, and hadn't talked to Ruthie since their fight. Mary was still peeved from before and wasn't really in the mood to talk. She didn't want anyone telling her that she was ridiculous, or worse that she was right.

Wilson walked into the bedroom and found Mary sitting on the bed despondently. He walked over to her and she looked up at him.

"Now will you tell me what is going on with you?"

"If I have to."

Wilson sat down next to Mary and took her hand. "Well why don't you want to tell me? I thought you could tell me anything."

"I can, but I feel stupid."

"Why?"

"Because my fight with Ruthie was petty and the more I say it the more it comes off like I am a spoiled brat."

"What fight with Ruthie?" Wilson inquired.

"She told me that she wanted to go back home to GlenOak and I blew up at her. I took it like a personal insult that she would choose my parents over me. And I had to defend myself and my decisions again, and I'm mad at myself for constantly putting me in the same situation over and over."

"What situation?"

"The one where I get people to say what I want to hear: that my parents don't love me like they do everyone else. I just can't let that go. Apparently, moving on from that is not something I am capable of doing."

Wilson nodded like he understood, and that scared Mary. She was actually making sense; that was a first.

"And I think I know what is wrong with me. I feel like our life is a lie. Since my parents never really embraced our marriage, I kind of feel as if it doesn't exist. It's like we're playing house." Mary paused for a second as tears welled up n her eyes. "That's my fault, too. If I wasn't so stubborn we could have had a normal wedding and Ruthie wouldn't even be here. We could have had normal lives."

"Well, we could go back to GlenOak and renew our vows." Wilson suggested.

Mary huffed. "We haven't even been married a year."

"So? You're father could perform the ceremony, and we could do it in front of your family and my family and then it would feel real. And we could bring Ruthie back and everything would be OK," Wilson said optimistically.

"Too bad I'm not speaking to my parents."

Wilson frowned. "But you're still speaking to Ruthie, right?"

"Yes."

"Then I think you should go talk to her."

Mary looked at Wilson like he was nuts. "Why?"

"I think it will make you feel better."

Mary laid flat on the bed beneath her. "Maybe I don't want to feel better."

Wilson sighed. She always had to make things difficult for him. He turned to face Mary and put his hand on her stomach. "I really think it will help."

Mary put her hand on top of Wilson's and sat up. "I love you," she said, "and I'm sorry that I wasn't nice to you tonight and that I've been acting so crazy lately."

Wilson kissed the top of Mary's head. "Go talk to your sister," he instructed.

"Fine," Mary said as she walked to the door.

Feeling like he had done a good thing, Wilson got into bed and waited for Mary to come back so that they could go to sleep. Only five minutes after Wilson got under the covers, Mary's voice rang throughout the house. Then Ruthie's. Then Mary's again. Screaming and sobbing filled the small townhouse for a half an hour. Wilson eventually fell asleep, but awoke within seven minutes. When he reopened his eyes, he heard nothing. The yelling and crying seemed to have ceased for now. It scared him that they weren't fighting anymore, so he finally decided to go check on them.

As he entered, Wilson was not sure of what to expect. Happily, he saw that Mary and Ruthie had both fallen asleep on Ruthie's bed. Wilson smiled at the sight of how peaceful they looked, like in their dreams all of their problems disappeared. Wilson scooped Mary up, one arm under her knees and the other underneath her arms. He carried her into the bedroom and laid her down gently onto the bed. When he put her down, her eyes fluttered open. She looked as if she was unfamiliar with her surroundings.

"It's OK Mare. You fell asleep and I carried you in here."

Mary closed her eyes again as Wilson covered her with the sheets. "Thank you."

Wilson got into bed beside Mary and rubbed up against her. Mary snuggled into Wilson and put her head on his chest.

"Do you feel better?" he whispered.

"I feel tired; really, really tired."

Wilson kissed Mary's forehead. "Sleep then. Goodnight."

"'Night." Mary squeezed Wilson in a little tighter than she usually did. If Mary learned one thing form that night, it was that her and Wilson's love was unconditional and beautiful. She should never take it for granted and should always embrace the moment. You never know what tomorrow might bring.

(A/N: I know this was short, but deal with it. Next chapter is when all the action happens, if you catch my drift.)

Thanks for reading and please review.