Inside, Mary was not fairing well at all. Since she still had not told them anything of substance, Annie and Eric were beyond irritable. A few nasty remarks had been passed back and forth, and it was beginning to get downright ugly.

"So what you are saying is that for the past six years you have done absolutely nothing with your life?" Eric said loudly.

"No!"

From the entrance to the kitchen, Wilson cleared his throat. There stood Wilson, Billy, and Hayley for Eric and Annie to see. Wilson had Hayley in his arms, because she didn't like being in a new place, and had one had on Billy's shoulder. Mary locked eyes with Wilson and smiled She really loved him.

After a few seconds, Wilson walked over to Mary with the kids.

"Who is this?" Annie asked.

It was time for Mary to won up to her life. "You remember Wilson, don't you? Well, he's my husband," she said, trying to sound as calm and collected as she possible could.

Hayley sat in Mary's lap.

"Don't tell me…" he said, letting his voice trail off.

"And you know Billy," she continued, "and this little one," Mary said with tears in her eyes as she rubbed the back of Hayley's head, "is my daughter- our daughter, Hayley." Mary turned to Hayley. "Say hi to Grandma and Grandpa, Hay," she instructed.

"Hi," Hayley muttered shyly.

"Isn't she precious?" Annie said, completely forgetting that she was supposed to be mad at Mary. "How old are you sweetie?"

"Four years old, I just had my birthday," she said proudly.

Before Annie or Eric could react, an eighteen year old Ruthie bounced down the stairs and into the room.

"Mom, when's dinner? I'm starving." Ruthie looked at the people seated at the table curiously. "Mary?"

Mary took Hayley off her lap, stood, and gave Ruthie a gigantic hug. "Look at you," she said once they parted. "You're gorgeous! How old are you now?"

"Eighteen, I'm a senior."

"How's school?"

"Good. I'm going to USC in the fall. I got in early acceptance."

"Congratulations," Mary said and hugged Ruthie again. "I knew you would make us proud."

"Ruthie, do you mind?" Annie said rudely.

"Sorry, I was just going back upstairs."

"Ruthie, wait," Mary called out. "Are Sam and David up there?"

"Yeah, why?"

"Do me a favor and bring these two up there to play with them?"

Ruthie bent down to Hayley's level. "Who's this?"

Hayley retreated to Mary's side.

"It's OK, this is your Aunt Ruthie. She's my baby sister."

Ruthie looked up at Mary. "You're daughter?" Mary nodded. "Wow."

"Ruthie," Eric said sternly.

"Ok, I'm going."

Ruthie went upstairs with the children and Wilson moved his chair closer to Mary's they linked hands- a united front.

"I don't understand," Annie said eventually. "Why would you keep all of this from us?"

"I didn't want to have to undergo the pain and ridicule," Mary answered.  "I wanted to prove I could do this on my own."

"That you did." Eric interjected.

"How long have you two been married for?" Annie questioned.

"Five and a half years."

"Well, this all explains a lot," Eric said.

"Yeah," Annie agreed.

No one spoke for a long time. The quiet was driving Wilson nuts.

"So…" he said, trying to break the tension. "It is so nice to see you both again."

"Neither the reverend nor Mrs. Camden said anything.

"Are you mad at me?" Mary asked.

Her parents exchanged glances.

'Yes," Eric said frankly.

"For what?"

Eric looked at Annie, who looked down at her watch.

"Would you look at that," she said, "time for dinner."

"Mom," Mary pleaded, "can't we just talk?"

"Funny, now you want to talk. Why the sudden change of heart Mare? My granddaughter's fourth birthday?"

"No, it was Lucy. Besides, I'm happy I'm here. I want to talk to you, both of you."

"Do you want to know the truth? I'm too angry to talk to you right now. I'm going to put dinner out."

Annie scurried off with a handful of dishes to the dining room, and after a disdainful glance her father did the same. She could hear them in there whispering about her.

"I thought that if I was positive, willing to open up to them, then it might be OK."

"They just need some time," Wilson said. "They'll come around." He smiled at Mary, but it didn't help her any.

Mary took Wilson's hand and dragged him upstairs to check on the children. Billy and Hayley were playing nicely with ten year old David and Sam.

"Want to go snooping with me?" she asked Wilson.

"If that's what you want."

Mary and Wilson walked around the upstairs, peeking into each of the bedrooms.

"is it just me, or is everything exactly the same here?" Wilson asked.

"This place is like a time capsule," she remarked. "I want to go see the attic."

"Mary and Wilson walked up the stairs to the biggest room in the house. The door was closed, so Mary knocked before entering. They looked around the room: only one bed, light blue walls, and a whole bunch of shelving.

"I love what you've done with the place."

"Really?" Ruthie said. "I wanted to paint the walls black but Mom and Dad wouldn't let me." Mary's jaw dropped. "I'm kidding."

Mary sighed in relief. "Billy wants to paint his room black."

"and how old is he?"

"He'll be twelve in four months."

"Sounds like you've got your hands full."

Wilson nodded. "Between them two and her…I never get any rest."

Mary giggled.

"So Wilson," Ruthie said, "I haven't heard too much from you. Talk to me."

Wilson laughed. "OK, what do you want to talk about?"

"What's it like to be married to my sister?"

"It's been a wonderful and exciting five and a half years."

"And what role did you play in her mysterious and probably purposeful disappearance?"

"All I know is that she begged me to leave her alone about telling you guys."

"Why didn't you want us to know Mary?" Ruthie asked. "Personally, I think it's great."

"Yeah, well…"

Before Mary had a chance to give Ruthie a proper answer, Annie called them down for dinner. Ruthie ran off with the kid, and Mary and Wilson went down together. When they reached the staircase, the smell of the food hit them. Mary ran into the bathroom holding her mouth and stomach. Wilson followed her.

"Are you OK?" he asked her when she finished being sick.

Mary looked down at the floor, then back at Wilson. Quickly, she checked to make sure no one was in the hallway and then closed the door to the bathroom.

"I have something I want to run by you," Mary said.

"OK…" Wilson said apprehensively.

"I'm not sure or anything," she said as she picked up his hand, "but I think I might be pregnant" Wilson kissed Mary's lips. "Because I am tired, and the food thing…"

Wilson kissed Mary again. "I guessed it, too, but I didn't want to come right out and say anything to you."

"Do you want to have another baby?"

"I would love to have another baby with you."

Mary smiled. "It's great that we an just talk about things like this- important things. Now, let's go eat. And don't say anything about this."

Mary and Wilson went down into the dining room and took the seats next to their children. Smiling widely, Mary didn't take notice to the rude and contemning looks that came from both of her parents. That night, Mary realized what she had already subconsciously known for years- that her parents' approval wasn't anywhere near as important as her own. It was a lesson that every Camden kid came to terms with as they grew up. Gaining this piece of knowledge was their key to self-actualization and freedom in their young lives. Finally, Mary had the opportunity to relish in her life. Once she thought about it, her life was perfect. A wonderful husband, two great kids, and from what she could tell another on the way. During that meal, Mary addressed her feelings for the first time in her life rather than running away from or suppressing them. What she found stunned but did not surprise her. Happiness; she was happy. Forget the reverend and forget Annie Watch out world, Mary Camden was happy.

The End

A/N: I know that was short, but that was all that was necessary for this piece. I hope that you all enjoyed it, but from what I read in the many reviews I received I think that you did.

If I come up with any more ideas, you'll be hearing more from me sometime soon. If you don't see me by Christmas, that's when you should get worried.

Thanks for all the reviews and please tell me you feelings on this final chapter.