Well, this is it. The last chapter of Mary Dugrey and all I have to do is say thank you. I want to thank everyone who ever reviewed and those ones that were loyal, you are absolutely amazing! All of you kept me writing this. I know this last chapter took me a while to get out, but I had started writing it one way, but it just didn't feel right, so I changed it. Well thanks for sticking with this off the wall story. Thanks again for all of your support and I hope you all are happy with the ending. Let me know what you think...

Thanks again,

Lauren (manydreams1216)

We moved to D.C. We were happy. At Franklin, I did all the right things. I didn't date anyone and even though that got questioned a lot, it was good. It sounds incredibly cheesy, but it gave me time to find myself.

Franklin wasn't the only place I was able to do that. College allowed me to continue what I had started. Just so you know, I didn't go to NYU. I went to Georgetown, not that that's a bad second, but it wasn't my first choice. Dad didn't feel comfortable with me going all the way to the big city by myself and I wanted to continue the good relationship with them that we had started after we moved from Hartford.

As much as it pains me to say it, I actually value their opinion now. Before I was just begging for their attention, whether the activity was good or bad. It didn't take a week for Mom, Dad and I to get to where we are today. It took not months, but years. Finally we are able to be on the same level and it's real this time. I can actually talk to them. We discussed the whole Alex Ryderstan thing and they know that we really had something and if I could do it all over again I would change it for the better.

But I'm satisfied. Like I said earlier, the whole relationship with Alex did what it was suppose to. It basically was a path that I had to cross in order to become who I am. I accept that and even though I know there will always be something there, I have to close that part of my life out.

And right now I am twenty-seven years old with a promising career and hopefully one day I'll find that one love that makes everything in the world fall away.

After I graduated from Georgetown with a degree in medicine, I went to UCSF and received my doctorate in pediatrics. I know it's not exactly what I expected to do, but a class I took in college made me change my tentative major of political science to a premed track. I realized that I love kids and perhaps the best thing I can do is to help them. So after graduating from UCSF's medical program I got a job at a hospital in downtown San Francisco and even though it's extremely challenging and time consuming, I love it.

There's a lot of pressure. Most of it's completely and totally true. From my colleagues and patients it's welcome and utterly understandable. The kind of pressure and attention that I don't exactly like is the one from the press. On my first day they were all outside the hospital, asking questions and being nosy.

Hey, I know I am the president's daughter and everything, but there are lines and frankly they are not well-respected. That's right my father became President. After six years of being assemblyman and becoming very popular, his advisors said it was an opportune moment for him to run for President. Mom and I both didn't exactly know what to expect. I was a junior at Georgetown, living in almost relative obscurity and then all of sudden after Dad won the primaries our faces were all over the place. Summer came and I was thrown into the press circuit. Next thing I knew, I was being recognized everywhere and people started acting different. It was really bizarre.

Then he had to win. I was really proud of him. Since Dad was born he was destined to take over Dugrey Enterprises and for the longest time he thought that would be the only way to gain his parents' approval. But when he won the presidency of the United States, Grandpa and Grandma finally gave Tristan the parental attention he's craved since he was a kid. I think they actually said they were proud of him.

In retrospect, I guess you can say that my relationship with my parents is a lot like Dad's relationship with his parents. We both did some things to get them to notice us and it didn't work, but there comes a point, when your parents have to be proud of you, in at least some shape or form. I am like him and for once I actually find that a good thing. We're stubborn and that's our only good quality.

Mom's happy too. She has this twinkle in her eye, that I've never seen in her before. She says it's because she's proud of Dad and stuff. But it's more than that. I can tell that she's happy and she's completely fallen in love with Dad again. I know that this might sound self-centered or something, but I think that Rory and Tristan fell in love all over again because of me. After so many years of being together, I think I allowed them to find some common ground or something. All I know is that they have been completely infatuated with each other after our first year in D.C. Maybe it was escaping the Hartford bubble or something. I don't know, it's just that whatever it is I am glad that it happened.

Still the only thing I want to do is find that.

In the middle of the crazy schedule that I have now, I find solace in the fact that I am doing something with my life that I love. I wouldn't change it for the world. I may be single, but honestly that's not something I dwell. Of course I want a meaningful relationship, but right now it's not a top priority.

There's a hospital benefit tonight. All the residents were invited and considering I didn't have anything better to do, I thought what the heck, why not? It's a good excuse to get all dressed up. It's black tie, so we all have to dress up. Mom came to visit to me and we went shopping in Union Square and I found a really beautiful blue dress. It has this silky feel that hugs my body. It makes me feel like I'm out of a fashion magazine, but that's not always a bad thing. This is a huge thing and supposedly everyone in town is going to be there.

One of the other pediatricians, Kelly, is going to be my date. Ever since I've moved here, she's showed me the ropes. She reminds me a lot of Hannah, except she isn't exactly the society girl. She got through college and medical school on full ride scholarships and she is perhaps one of the smartest people I know.

The limo takes us there and here we are. It's at the Fairmont hotel, which has a huge ballroom. The marble entrance way can only be described in one word, grand. It almost makes you feel like a princess. There are some reporters here and unfortunately they recognize me. I pretend to not hear the shouts of "Miss Dugrey!" I understand there is a responsibility associated with the first daughter, but tonight I am not the daughter of Tristan Dugrey. I am Dr. Mary Dugrey, who is just trying to help raise money for the hospital programs.

"Oh my God. This is huge," Kelly comments.

"I know. There are so many people here. I think the mayor might be here. That would be really cool to talk to him."

She gives me a look. "What?" I say.

"Mary, your dad is the freaking president of the United States and you think it would be cool to talk to the mayor of measly San Francisco?"

"Well yeah."

"You scare me sometimes."

I laugh. We go up to the bar and get some drinks. Champagne for me and a glass of red wine for her. We go explore for a little bit and then make our way over to our table assignments. There's going to be speeches during dinner, followed by a silent auction until 12. There's also dancing.

"Okay Mary, we are going to have a little contest," Kelly announces. She doesn't really think to run her genius idea by me, but what can I do?

"What kind of contest?"

"A dancing contest." I shoot her a disbelieving look. "No, we are not going to have a dance breaking contest. Between the two of us, we are going to see who gets the most male specimens to dance with them. Whoever wins, treats the other to dinner next week."

She does have interesting ideas and considering it's something I will probably never have the opportunity to do this sort of thing again I agree.

"Okay, but just so you know, you can't ask them, they have to ask you."

"No problem," I reply confidently. "You're on."

And like good sportsmen, or sportswomen we shake hands. After dinner, we start the competition.

An hour in, I'm still trying to find someone to dance with and Kelly is already on number three. How does she do that? I mean I'm attractive, right? That might sound a little egotistical. Well anyway...I decide to make my way over to the silent auction. There should be a good candidate over there.

Standing over Giants tickets with the opportunity to actually meet the players, sounds enticing, I feel someone hovering over me.

"Baseball fan?" a deep voice asks.

"Yeah," I respond. "Although I must admit, I'm more of Yankees fan."

"Over the Red Sox?"

I nod and turn to him. "Of course."

"And to think I was going to ask you to dance," he comments.

"Are you really going to let a baseball rivalry, distract you from your original purpose?"

He smiles. He's attractive. "No. Would you like to dance?"

"I would, but–"

He cuts me off, "But what exactly?"

Playfully I respond, "What I was going to say was, is that I don't know your name."

He smirks at me and then taking my hand, he leads me to the dance floor. After about a minute, he leans his mouth towards my ear and whispers, "My name is Jake Kyle."

"I'm Mary Dugrey." I smile.

"It's nice to meet you Mary."

"It's nice to meet you Jake."

After another moment, he looks at me and asks, "What do you do Mary?"

"I am a pediatrician at the hospital."

"Really?"

"Yep. And what about you Jake? What do you do?"

"I'm a lawyer," he responds confidently.

"What type of law do you practice Mr. Kyle?"

"Corporate law. Nothing too interesting." He is such the typical guy. I don't know if I like that about him or if it makes me not like him. He's trying to charm me and I find it oh so entertaining.

I decide to play a few games with him. "And what is a corporate lawyer like yourself doing here at a hospital benefit?"

"I like to donate money to worthy causes and this hospital is a worthy cause, especially if talented doctors like yourself are working there."

"Aren't you a charmer?"

He laughs. "And Miss Dugrey, aren't you a seductress?"

"Me, no!" I feign innocence.

Jake smiles. He does have a very attractive smile.

In the middle of our little interlude, the song ends and another woman comes up and dances with him. I let him go. It was nice while it lasted.

I make my way over to the bar and get another glass of champagne. I think I'm on my third. I should stop soon before I do anything that I might regret. I don't do this very often so why not indulge myself. Besides this is the best champagne I've ever tasted.

I better find Kelly. I wonder what her count is up to.

Looking around, I spot her, talking to our supervisor. I hope she's not trying to get a few extra shifts. No matter what that girl does on her time off, she still is always looking for that next opportunity.

I don't notice where I'm walking or who I'm walking into and I bump into someone. My champagne spills all over the floor.

"Shoot!" I exclaim.

"It's fine, it's just champagne," the gentleman says. That voice is oddly familiar. Do I know this person?

"I'm so sorry for bumping into you, I didn't get any on you did I?" I ask.

"Nope."

I'm trying to pick up the pieces on the floor when the man says, "Don't worry about it. Someone will come and pick it up."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm positive." I see his hand wave up to one of the servers.

He takes my elbow in his hand and helps me off the floor. "Thank you."

"No problem."

I look at him. It can't be him. No. That's not possible. "Alex?"

His eyes glide over me, "Mary? Oh my god, what are you doing here?"

"I work at the hospital. What are you doing here?" I repeat his previous question.

"I am on the board. I didn't know you were here."

"I didn't know you were here," I repeat again. I have a bad habit of that.

He keeps looking at me. I don't know why he's doing that. It's me. It's starting to make me uncomfortable.

"Don't look at me like that," I say softly. My eyes direct themselves toward the ground.

"Why?"

I look up at him. "Because you are making me uncomfortable."

"I always did a good job of that."

"Yes, you did," I affirm.

Another moment of nothing. It's him just looking at me. Then it seems a thought crosses him. "Mary will you dance with me?"

"Sure."

Alex takes my hand and leads me toward the dance floor that I had occupied a few just a few minutes earlier. His hand makes its way to the small of my back and we are the closest we have been in ten years. Wow that's a really long time ago. It's hard to believe that he's right here, dancing with me. Never thought that would happen. To be honest, I never thought I would see him again. And if I did, it would just one of those moments when you congratulate the other on moving on and living a happy life. You know something out of Splendor in the Grass. A satisfying closure, knowing that you could move on.

"Mary?"

"Yeah?"

I feel his chest rise as he takes a deep breath. "Do you want to go for a walk?"

"In the middle of San Francisco at night?"

"Please?"

At that I can't really say no. He always had a way of making me do things, that I wouldn't normally do. A lot of things I have done recently in my life are attributed to his adventurous nature.

We enter the brisk February air. I don't have a watch, but I can only assume it's after 11 o'clock. We don't really have a direction, we just walk and don't talk. There are so many questions I want to ask him. What he's been doing, how college was, what he does for a living, and most importantly is he over me. I know that sounds self-centered, but I want to know what he feels about me. It's important. It will give me complete closure. The kind when I can just move on and not have the occasional thought of Alex Ryderstan in my mind.

"I don't want you to take this a certain way Mary, but I missed you," Alex says snapping the silence between us.

"I missed you, too," I reply, surprisingly to myself. I didn't exactly expect those words to come out. What else was I suppose to say?

Changing the subject he asks, "What do you do at the hospital?"

"I'm a pediatrician believe it or not. In college I had this sudden epiphany to work with kids and a great way to do that is through medicine. Don't ask me how, but it just happened. Almost like a gut instinct, you know?"

"Yeah, I know."

"What are you doing for a living?"

"I ending up taking over the family business," he states almost sadly.

"In San Francisco?"

He looks at me, "The west coast headquarters are in San Francisco, so I took that over. My dad still oversees the east coast operations, but mainly I deal with it all."

"Sounds exciting," I say sarcastically.

"It is." He didn't notice the sarcasm. "I find it satisfying I guess. You obviously love your job."

"How can you tell?"

"Your face. You have a glow about you, that you never had before."

"Thanks," I smile.

"Your welcome," he pauses. "I like this new you."

I laugh a little. "It's not new. I just didn't know how to be happy before."

"I always knew you had it in you," he comments.

"Well you are a big part of why I am happy. You were right about the whole me not being happy thing. I realized that I needed to just take life what is was for and not overanalyze it and see all the faults. I needed to see the positives and right now I'm doing that."

"Good."

"I've never said it before and don't expect me to say it again, but thank you."

"For what?" he questions.

"For just being there. For putting up with everything. You opened my eyes to a lot of things that I never thought of before. The reason why I'm here today is because of you so take it for what it's worth."

"I will."

"Good."

I begin rubbing my arms. It's starting to get cold. "Are you cold?" Alex notices the try to warm up action.

"A little."

"Here take my jacket." He slides out of the suit jacket and places the jacket on my shoulders. His fingers graze my bare skin and I'm all the sudden a lot colder than a few minutes ago.

"Thanks."

"How's your family? I've heard you all have moved into the White House," he observes, breaking the tension.

I laugh. "True. We have. Dad advanced his political career to the highest point that is possible. Mom and Dad are great and more in love than I've ever seen them before. It's like it was always there, but rediscovered again. I'm really happy for them," I respond with a smile on my face.

"And you are getting along with them?"

"Yep. It's like how it should have always been. How about you?"

"Oh. It's okay I guess. When I got out of college it was all about how I needed to work for the Ryderstan Corporation and now it's about how I need to settle down and have a family. Every time I go back to Hartford they always have some girl that I have to meet. It's always something."

"Yeah, I know how you feel. My parents are starting to drop hints that I should be in a serious relationship."

"So your not seeing anyone?" he asks.

"No," I say softly. "What about you?" I have no idea why I just asked that. Although I have no idea why he asked me the same question in the first place.

"No, not really."

His eyes begin to focus on mine. "What?"

He pauses before answering and puts his hands in his pants' pockets. "Mary, can I ask you out to dinner? Not as just a friends thing?"

I tear my eyes away from him, "I don't know..."

"If you are worried about the family thing, it doesn't matter anymore. I'm the head of the family business and I'm starting to pull away from the rivalry between our families."

"It's not the rivalry I'm worried about."

"Then what it is? Please, just tell me," he pleads.

I look at him, "Alex to be honest, it's weird. Never in a million years did I think that I would be standing here with you having this very candid conversation. You are my first in practically everything and the whole you and me thing it's just, for lack of a better term strange."

"I know what you mean. And if we're being honest, I never really got over you Mary. I thought I did, but this meeting makes me realize that I haven't. I don't know if you have gotten over me, but I want you to know that if it were possible I would want the whole you and me thing again."

"Alex, I'm sorry, but I am over you. I'm not sixteen anymore. I can't jump into something right now. It's just not the right time. I'm sorry."

And with that, I kiss him on the cheek, hand him his jacket and walk away.

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Epilogue

"Lily, what a pretty name."

"Thank you," the nervous, small girl says.

"So what is it that hurts?" I ask.

The girl points to her throat.

"Your throat?"

"Yes."

I go over to the counter and grab the light in order to get a better look. "Say 'ahh, Lily.'" The little girl obeys. I notice the redness and make the suggestion of getting her tested for strep throat. She has all the symptoms.

"Ms. Long, is it all right if I take a sample off the back of Lily's throat for strep throat?"

"Yes, of course," the mother concedes.

I simply nod and take out the correct device to retrieve the necessary cells for test. "All done, Lily." I turn to the mother, "I'm going to have the nurse check these out and I'll be back in ten minutes to tell you if she's sick or not."

"What could it be if it's not strep throat?"

"If it's not then it's simply just a sore throat, but I just want to check," I explain.

"Whatever you need to do, Dr. Dugrey. Thank you."

"It's no problem. I'll see you soon." I wave to the little girl before I head over to the nurse to do the procedure.

"Patricia, I need this tested for strep throat," I order. I'm not sure if I like being someone's boss, but it comes with the terriority.

Eight minutes later and a few files reviewed, Patricia handed me the results and I went in to tell the patient and her mother the test results.

"Ms. Long, your daughter does have strep throat, but no need to worry there is a simple antibiotic that can take care of her cold in a matter of a couple of weeks. I can write a prescription and you can go down to the pharmacy. She needs to take it twice a day, once in the morning and once at night."

"Thank you."

"No problem. If her symptoms get any worse feel free to call any time and if you have any questions about anything the door's always open."

"Okay. Say goodbye Lily."

"Bye, Dr. Dugrey." She waves her little hand and walks out of the room with her mother beyond her.

After a deep sigh and turning off the light of the patient room, I walk to my desk to begin tidying up to be ready for the weekend. One of the nurses interrupts the ritual routine, "Dr, there's someone on line one that wants to speak to you."

"Thanks, Elaine."

I sit down at my desk and press the flashing one. "This is Dr. Dugrey."

"Hi Mary."

"Hey. I didn't expect you to call," I comment.

I can feel him smiling through the phone. "Me not call my beautiful wife-to-be to ask her how her day is? I'm offended you would think that of me."

"Well while you were in some fancy country, drinking wine, and making business deals, I was busy diagnosing kids with sore throats and fevers."

"Was it that bad?"

"No. I just wanted to complain."

"Thought so. Anyway, I just wanted to check up on you. I'm leaving tomorrow morning, so I'll be home tomorrow tonight and I am going to take you out to dinner," he announces.

"Are you taking me out on a date?"

"If that's what they are calling dinner nowadays, then I guess I am."

"Good. I've been feeling slightly neglected these days and I definitely need some wining and dining." I laugh.

"I miss you," he says suddenly.

"It's only been a couple of days."

"Well it feels like weeks and I am so happy to be coming home tomorrow."

"Is Italy treating you bad, baby?" I joke.

"You're just not here to enjoy it with me."

"Well we are going there for our honeymoon so we can make it up then, okay? Anyway you only have thirty six hours till you get to see me, so I think you can hold out till then," I tease.

He sighs, "I don't know."

I laugh at his childish side. "You're a big boy."

"And only you would know," he teases.

Immediately I feel the red flushing to my face even though he's not here to see it and no one else, I still find myself extremely nervous at the innuendo.

"Stop blushing," he commands.

His voice isn't coming through the phone though and how would he know that I am blushing? I look up from my desk and see him. At first I have trouble placing my words. "Wha-what are you doing here?" I stand up.

"I got an earlier flight out and I wanted to see you."

He walks over to me and I throw my arms around him. "I missed you."

"I missed you too. I'm starting to think that week long business trips are going to become things of the past."

"Good because you are not going away anywhere, anymore," I say into his shoulder.

"You really missed me that much?"

"Yes," I admitted

"I think I missed you more though."

"I doubt it." I look at him. That face just makes me fall in love all over again with him. That's what I missed: his face, the comfortable smile and just the feeling that he gives me. His eyes use to make me feel uncomfortable, but now I'm use to that look in his eyes and I love it.

"Let's go home. I could definitely use a shower."

"You came straight here from the airport?"

"I was incredibly desperate to see you."

"I can only imagine, Alex. I can only imagine." We walked out of my office and went home.

I suppose you're wondering how it happened. How we ended up together? Well it just so happened that after I told him I couldn't be with him, he coerced me into having a cup of coffee with him, just as friends. Even though I was hesitant, I gave in. I always give in. It kind of just went from there. We were only friends for six months, nothing more. It didn't happen fast.

We basically just eased into eachother's lives. And it was anything but easy. There were a lot of things we had to work on, but we did it. My parents even accept him. That was a big thing. I wanted to make sure that we could have family get-togethers and not have tension. There isn't any now and even when Alex asked me to marry him, he asked for Dad's permission first. That meant so much to not only me, but to Tristan too. Mom thought it was adorable and it was more than anything I could have wished for.

Alex Ryderstan and I are getting married and with a smile on my face all I can think about is him and me. It's going to have its ups and downs, but all I can do is look forward to the future and hope for the best. It's him and me forever and it will stay that way.