Friday was a very good day for Mary. George called early in the morning and said that he wanted to hold off on the radiation until Monday so that she could have some more time to recuperate from the procedure. Mary couldn't have been more thrilled; she really wasn't in the mood to feel awful all weekend long.

After Dr. George had called her, Mary called Wilson to let him know the good news. He was concerned, saying that he wanted to make sure that she was getting the proper care, but happy all the same. He didn't want Mary to be sick again either. After they hung up, Wilson got a wonderful idea. Mary had been pretty down lately, and with the exception of last night they hadn't spent that much quality time together. A romantic evening, he concluded, was long overdue.

Wilson called Mary that around five to tell her that he would be home a little late, but to be ready to go out when he came home. She didn't have to be dressed up, just dressed. He was wise to call her, too, because she was still in her pajamas. Mary was excited; she knew that Wilson would never do her wrong. She changed about an hour later, throwing on some casual sweatpants and a t-shirt. She pulled her hair up so that she would look halfway decent, her lips donning some very sheer gloss. She looked in the mirror and smiled at herself. Mary felt good about herself for the first time in a while, and she had to admit that dressing for Wilson was the cause. Mary was never Miss Priss, but she had to admit that making herself look good on the outside did wonders for how she felt on the inside.

The front door opened around a quarter to seven, and Mary was about ready to squeal with excitement. Wilson walked in, smiling mischievously at her. She could tell that he was up to something. He walked over to her and kissed her lips lightly, almost teasing her. "You look beautiful. Go sit in the car and I'll be there in a second. I just have to grab a few things."

Without questioning Mary did as she was told. She was taking full advantage of the ingenuity of her husband. Mary got into the passenger's side of the car, closing the door behind her, and waited for Wilson to come out of the apartment. She watched the door and when he finally emerged he could barely fit through the doorway; his arms were stuffed with three blankets, paper plates, and a sweatshirt. He wobbled down the stairs and put the items in the trunk before getting in himself.

"What was all of that?" she asked, no longer able to keep her questions at bay.

"Just some stuff. Don't worry about it." Wilson turned onto the main road.

"And I suppose you're not telling me where we are going?"

He smiled. "Nope. All I'm saying is that it's going to be a little bit of a drive."

Wilson was correct about the estimated time. It took them nearly and hour to get to their destination, but after Wilson saw Mary's reaction he was sure that it was well worth it. Wilson reached their target of a small, deserted beach that he and Mary could enjoy without interruption or worry. Since it was the end of January, there was no one around for miles. And it was also pitch black out, rendering the beach beautiful with the moonlight reflecting off of the salt water and stars above them.

Before they got out of the car, Mary leaned over and kissed Wilson passionately. "You know you're amazing, right?"

"I try," he said as he opened the car door. From the trunk, he got out his blankets, the sweatshirt, plates, and some food that he had prepared earlier. He walked onto the beach with Mary by his side and stretched out the blanket on the sand. Mary sat and Wilson draped another blanket over her shoulders. He put pasta salad onto two plates and handed one to Mary.

She ate her food and leaned against Wilson, taking in her surroundings- the scenery and handsome husband were very easy on the eyes. When they finished eating, he kissed her, and seemed to melt everything away. It was as if they were the only two people in the universe. Sometimes, Mary wished that they were. Life would be a lot easier that way.

The couple sat for a while as they listened to the sounds of the ocean and enjoyed being in love, in love with both the moment and their spouse. After several minutes of sitting in silence, Wilson pulled Mary down with him to the blanket underneath them. She rolled her body toward his, fitting into his side like a lock and key.

Wilson stared up at the stars for a while before turning to Mary. "I love you," he said and kissed her cheek.

Mary blushed as she placed her head on top of his muscular chest. "I love you, too. This was just perfect Wilson. I don't know how you did it all, but thanks. You've made me feel a whole lot better."

"Good. That was my intent." They were quiet for a while before Wilson spoke again. "What are you thinking about?"

She sighed and kissed his neck lightly. "You. You and me. Us." Wilson rubbed her back, coaxing her to explain. "I worry…about you. I worry that I'm not going to make it and that you're going to be alone. I worry that you'll get sick of taking care of me. I worry that even though we think we're strong enough to overcome this gigantic obstacle, we can't."

"Don't think like that. You can worry yourself into oblivion over scenarios that could never come up."

"Or they could all happen in an instant Wilson. Things change, dramatically, faster than you ever think."

"I know they can," he responded holding her closely, "but no matter what I'm going to be here for you Mary. I love you so much. What do I need to do to convince you of that? Because whatever it is, I'll do it. It kills me to know that you don't think our love is strong enough."

"I do think our love is strong enough; that's not what I was trying to say. All I was getting at was that I don't know if we are strong enough, I don't know if I am strong enough."

He squeezed her snuggly as he looked up to the heavens for guidance. "I know it is probably an unbelievably hard thing to ask of you with everything you are going through, but I want you to try to be strong…for me. I need you to be here for me later; I need for you to get better. If you keep on thinking that you're not strong enough, then you might trick yourself into believing that that's true."

"I'll try, but it's going to be hard."

He kissed the top of her head. "I know sweetheart, but if for nothing else, do it for me."

"Do you think I'm going to make it?"

His body stiffened and Mary felt it. He never expected her to ask that. "I don't know. What do you think?"

She laughed slightly as tears welled up in her hazel eyes. "That's the one thing I don't let myself think about. I think about the possibility that I might live, and the possibility that I might die, but I've never asked myself what I think is going to happen. I guess I could make an assumption, but I really don't want to know. Not now. But you know what I do think?"

"What?"

"I don't think its anywhere near over. I'm going to have a long road ahead of me, but I think you'll be there the whole way so it will be OK."

"What else do you think about?" he questioned.

"Having a baby." Wilson turned his head so that he could look into her eyes. Some of the things that went through her mind really did shock him. "Not that I want to have a baby yet or anything, but it's George's fault. He told me a while ago, right after we were married I think, that if I were to get pregnant I would have to, um, 'terminate' the pregnancy. He said that it would be nearly impossible, with all of the radiation and everything, for me to carry a baby to term right now, but if somehow I did there would either be severe birth defects or severe complications."

"Ah, but we don't have to worry about that," he said trying to lighten up the situation.

Mary pouted. "I know." Even though they had been matrimonial for almost two months, they still had not yet consummated their marriage. Quickly, she tried to change the subject, not wanting inadvertently start ranting about sex and spoil the moment. "What do you think about Wilson?"

"Besides you?" She nodded. "My dad, and Billy. I constantly think about whether or not I did the right thing with having Billy live with my mother. And I think about my dad being sick a lot, too. He's bedridden and he's not even at the age where most men retire yet. And on top of all that…I can't even imagine being that sick and having your wife move out on you. It would be as if I left you while you were going through all of this. That wouldn't be right. I still can't believe she did that to him."

"Do you think they'll get divorced?"

"Yes," he answered plainly. Mary leaned up and kissed his lips softly. She knew that that upset him; she couldn't see how it wouldn't. "And I think about being angry at my mom, because whether or not I admit it to myself or anyone else, I am. I try not to be, since she is being so great with Billy, but I can't let it go. Since she decided she had to separate from him, I've been furious. She's so disloyal toward him, but it's like she's overcompensating for that by being extra loyal to me. Frankly, I would much rather her be by my father's side than trying to be by mine."

"Maybe they'll get back together." She tried to be optimistic for him. "Maybe he'll get better, and they can un-separate, and things will work out."

"I don't think so, on all three accounts. It seems hopeless." He looked down at her. "You know, when you think about it, my parents situation and our situation are a lot alike. But you're not hopeless Mary. You're strong; you're a fighter and you have been since you were young. Hold on to that. It will only help you in the long run."

She nodded, absorbing his words of wisdom. Mary moved her head so that her lips were even with Wilson's and went in to kiss him. Wilson returned her kiss with amplified fervor, rolling her underneath him. The beach was starting to get cold, but together they were nice and toasty. They kissed like there was no tomorrow, because for all they thought there just might not be.

When they both ran out of breath and broke the kiss, Wilson went back in for more after a few deep breaths. Mary stopped him, putting her finger to his lips. She wanted him to turn it down for a second. Knowing what Mary meant, he kissed her cheek once more and then lay down next to her. They both looked up at the night sky as they held each other quietly. Sometimes words were not necessary, they were starting to learn, because the connection they were developing was spiritual. They loved each other from the inside out, putting their hearts first above all else.

The transition period between adult and spouse was different than either of them expected, but they liked the struggle. With great struggle came great rewards, and true love is one of the best rewards of all.

A/N: I know that this is a little on the short side, but I still like it. This was something I thought of a while back, and I have to admit that I am using it to stall, but I think it came out quite nice. There was some major character development here, that's for sure. Ah, to be young and in love. I also did a little bit of foreshadowing. Don't know when it will be, but Wilson and his parents…lets just say they'll be making an appearance sometime in the future. Maybe semi-soon, now that I think of it.

What are you thinking about? Please tell me, I am dying to know.