Disclaimer: It still doesn't belong to me…sigh…

A/N: Another chapter! Yay for no homework! I honestly just love my A day teachers! They never give homework and when they do, it's BS. So I think I'm going to write a little and then see if my bookstore has Without You. Ok so I should get started…

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Almost two months after Marli's birthday, and nothing good had happed since. Just everyday, dull things, like doctor's appointments and dinners and finalizing meetings for the film and such. Marli always thought that the way everything had happened so fast in previous months, things would continue to be interesting. However, much to her dismay, it hadn't happened. Nothing had happened. Nada. Naught. She was a bit of a whore for drama, but then again who wasn't these days?

On top of the fact that nothing was interesting and fast paced anymore, she was absolutely miserable. She was huge and fat, and she was so uncomfortable all the time. She hated being pregnant. She was so jealous of Mimi and Maureen, who seemed blissful and happy and not at all like Marli. Why couldn't she be having just one baby like them? Why the hell did twins have to run in her family? It just wasn't fair. Everyone else got to be happy about having a baby but her.

On the bright side, she did get to put her decorating skills to good use. The nursery was finished. When Mark saw it, he almost puked on the spot, but she happened to like it a lot. It was very girly and frilly and pink, just as a room for two little girls should be. It had baby pink walls and there were two white canopy cribs, as well as two bassinettes. There was a white changing table and two white dressers. Almost every piece of fabric was pink or white and frilly. She really didn't understand why Mark hated it so much. It was a very nice room. She wished she had a room like that. Except, after you turn eleven, you really can't get away with having a frilly baby pink room. At least not without being ridiculed.

She had a big package at the door waiting for her. She really wanted to open it, knowing it was a baby gift, but she thought that maybe Mark would be upset if she opened it without him. But it was so tempting…well, maybe opening the card wouldn't hurt. I mean she did have the right to know who sent it. Maybe it was a terrorist attack and she just had to dispose of it immediately. Mark certainly wouldn't mind her protecting her life, now would he? She took the card carefully from between the ribbons. Didn't want to disturb the rest of the wrapping of what may have been a biological terrorist agent. She opened the card carefully and read it. Oh. It was just from Alicia. Well, it was from Marli's sister. She should be able to open it…

Marli grabbed the gift and savagely tore the wrapping paper off of the gift. She opened all the packaging and found two beautiful cashmere baby blankets, monogrammed with the initials of each girl. No one knew the name, but they had told people the initials, leaving them to wonder until the babies were born. One blanket was pink and was monogrammed with the initials BHC in white. The other was white and monogrammed with the initials RAC in pink. Aw! She definitely had the best sister ever. These were the prettiest cashmere baby blankets she had ever seen. Not that she had seen many cashmere baby blankets…well, not that many. So she was sitting there staring longingly at the baby blankets, when someone burst into the door. Thinking it was Mark, she went into panic and began frantically babbling without ever turning around.

"Mark, this isn't what you think I really didn't mean to open the present without you it's just that it was waiting there and—"

"Marli, relax." She turned around, realizing that the voice didn't belong to Mark. She wasn't pleasantly surprised to see Mimi locking the door back up. Right. Mimi and Roger had a key now. After all, they did live in the same building. "It's just me. What's up?"

"Uh, nothing really. I just opened up a gift and I'm afraid Mark is going to be mad because I didn't wait for him."

"Why would he be mad? Oh, beautiful blankets by the way. I still haven't figured out what the names are though. There are no cool names that start with B. Except for Blake…but that's more of a guys name…unless you are going to name the baby Blake. Then it's a very cute and appropriate name for a little girl."

"No, the baby is not going to be named Blake, I will tell you that much. And yes, there are plenty of cool B names for girls. You just need to find them!"

"Whatever. Get dressed."

"What? Why?"

"Because I'm bored and I figured maybe I could count on you to go for lunch with me. You seem to be just as bored as I am. So get dressed. In something nice, preferably. I made reservations at this really cool new place I've been wanting to try, but Roger claims it's anti-rockstar and whatnot so he won't take me. Ok so get ready or we'll be late!"

"Fine. Fine. I'm getting ready!" Marli emerged twenty minutes later as ready as she could be given the short amount of time. "I'm ready! Now why are you so anxious to take me?"

"I told you! I really want to eat at this restaurant! C'mon! You're holding us up." She ushered Marli into a cab, rather forcefully. Wherever they were going, Mimi was very eager to get there, for what reason, Marli had no clue. As far as she was concerned there was no such thing as a spectacular restaurant, just because most of them were the same clone of each other. It made her sick.

Fifteen minutes later, Marli was very surprised to see them pull up to The Plaza. She was very perplexed as to why Mimi would bring her here. The restaurant in here was certainly nothing new. And it frankly wasn't all that great either. She prayed that it was some sort of cab mix-up, but Mimi pulled her by the hand inside. Ok, now she was getting really, really freaked out. Why the hell would she be dragged here? They walked straight past the restaurant, further confusing her. They walked straight to the grandest ballroom there.

"Mimi, what's going on? You're really starting to freak me out!"

"No worries. Just a small detour, that's all. It'll be a second." Mimi disappeared inside the door only to reemerge about five seconds later. "Marli? Are you coming in or what?" Without waiting for an answer, Mimi grabbed Marli's arm and pulled her inside.

Inside the room was pitch black. Marli was officially scared. "Mimi, what's going on? This isn't funny!"

As soon as she said it, the lights flickered on and before her eyes could adjust to the light, there was a collective roar of voices. "Surprise!" THAT was the whole point of this! It was a surprise baby shower! That was so thoughtful of everyone! That must've been why Alicia's card was so weird! Sorry I couldn't make it! Business in San Diego, ugh! Love you!

So now it all made sense. Marli had just assumed that her sister was being her odd self and all that jazz. Well, at least there was a logical explanation for all of the oddness that had been going on recently. Congratulations, Marli. Something exciting finally happened!

So as she was sitting there, playing stupid baby shower games with the guests. She realized that this was a much better way to spend her day than sitting at home, staring at those gorgeous cashmere baby blankets, trying to figure out if they belonged in the crib or the bassinettes. It really made much more sense to be here. And to be truthful, she had kind of given up hope on getting a baby shower. Everyone that mattered to her now was there, aside from her sister. Everything was perfect.

Maybe she had spoken too soon, because as soon as she had thought that everything was going perfect, the heavy door of the ballroom opened. Expecting it to be someone she cared about, she looked up. It wasn't anyone she cared about anymore. It was Alexandria. Alexandria holding a large box and wearing a huge smile. Marli was absolutely pissed that she had the nerve to show up here, at her baby shower after everything she did! Stupid whore!

"Hey. Sorry I'm late!" The nerve of that stupid whore to show up and then act like nothing had ever happened between them. Alexandria walked up to Marli, gave her a hug, and whispered in her ear, "I talked to Mark. I'm so sorry about everything I did to you guys. Congratulations! Oh and by the way, your mom invited me."

Marli nodded, unsure of what to say. It wasn't at all like Alexandria to act like this unless she wanted something. And that scared Marli…a lot. She had no idea what Alexandria wanted, but it was something big. She could feel it in her gut.

Finally, it was time for gifts. Gifts were always the best part of any party, in Marli's opinion. If it was your party, you were getting the gifts, which was delighting. If it was someone else's party, you got to watch them be delighted when they received gifts. All in all, no matter what, gift's were always the best part of a party that called for giving gifts. And now, she would get to open presents. Technically, they weren't hers, but they really were. She would be the one dressing the babies and feeding the babies, etcetera…you know, the soul purpose of most baby shower gifts. But that didn't matter. She would still be opening up really cute little presents, and that's all that really mattered to her at the moment.

She tore open the wrapping paper of most of her gifts, until she got to Alexandria's. Most of the gifts before hers had been just normal stuff off the register. Car seats (why she had gotten those, she'd never know), strollers…stuff like that. She grabbed the large box that Alexandria had brought and opened the elaborate wrapping very carefully. There, she found three blue boxes from Tiffany's all perfectly aligned. Marli grabbed the top one and read the card, which read: For Baby B. In the box, she found a silver Baby cup, and there was note beside it saying that Alexandria would pay for it to be engraved when the babies were born. It already had BHC engraved in elaborate cursive on the handle. The second box had a note that read: For Baby R. Inside the box was a note promising the same thing as the last one, and sure enough, RAC was engraved on the handle. The third box was what Marli assumed may have been a gift for both babies, but she was wrong. It was a present for her. The card attached said: Marli, I'm so sorry. I guess I just miss the way things were. Please forgive me. Hope this reminds you of how good of friends we used to me. XOX Lexa. Marli smiled at her old nickname for Alexandria. But it was just like her to try and buy back friendship. But then she opened the box. Inside was one of those gorgeous silver picture frames they used to admire on trips to Tiffany's, but never bought as it reminded them of their parents. It was engraved simply with a heart and the word friends. Inside was a picture of the two of them on a ski trip back in college, big ski jackets on, goggles covering their eyes, and their hair blowing back in the wind, Marli's blonder than blonde hair whipping against Alexandria's dark brown. They were smiling and having a good old time. Ah, the good old days…what she wouldn't give to relive those careless, worry-free days, once again. But then again, no she wouldn't. She really loved her life the way it was now.

Without thinking about it, she leaned over and gave Alexandria a hug. Maybe she could never forgive her old friend for breaking she and Mark up or for all the shit Alexandria had put her through. But maybe she'd regret it if she never at least took Alexandria back as a friend. Everyone deserved a second chance in life, after all. And their history as friends was so deep; neither of them could ever forget it, no matter how hard they tried to erase it from their memory.

After gifts, Alexandria pulled Marli outside to talk. "Listen Marli, I know I put you through a lot of shit all these years, but I still consider you my best friend. I'm really glad you're going to forgive me."

"Actually, I'm not really forgiving you. I really can't. But I'm going to try to get past it…it was all in the past. Lexa, I've missed you. That picture just brought back so many memories. Like our crazy late-night foods in the dorm!" Marli giggled and was relieved to see Alexandria do so as well.

"Like PB & J on Ritz crackers!" Alexandria remembered, suddenly shaking with laughter. "And jumping around to strange Icelandic pop music!"

"Yeah! And daring those freshman when we were seniors to ice skate to class one day!"

"Yeah! I've missed you so much Lee!"

"Yeah. We did have some pretty good times, didn't we? I've missed you too. Well, somewhat. Can't say I really missed you after you broke up Mark and I. But I did miss you for the longest time after we got back together. So how's life been for you?"

"Good. I have a date tonight with a really nice guy. Handsome, Wall Street trader, very nice and calm despite his job. I'm really looking forward to it."

"That's great Lexa! He'll be good for you. You need a powerful guy, you always said so. And besides, you haven't really dated much since Kevin, have you?"

Alexandria shook her head no. Kevin was her ex-boyfriend, whom, right after he proposed to her, went and slept with her assistant, Kendra. Marli happened to know that she now got Christmas cards every year from Kevin, Kendra, and their two demon spawn. "Kevin was an ass. I'm glad he found someone sleazy enough to marry him. They deserve each other. Stupid whores…but of course I don't really care about that anymore. It was three years ago. I was young and gullible. Point is, I'm about to go out on a date with Mitchell the trader and I'll see how things happen. I've been due for a new boyfriend for a while. Hopefully, it'll all work out well."

"I'm rooting for you!" The reason Marli was so happy wasn't really because her friend had found happiness. It was more because she knew that her friend didn't like Mark anymore, and if she did, she was doing a pretty good job of coving it up.

"Lee? I know this is in the past and all, but I have to explain. About everything with Mark…well I never really wanted him. It's just that after Kevin, I thought for a year and a half, trying to think of my last boyfriend before him that made me happy. And the only one I could think of was Mark. So I decided to find him and maybe I'd be happy again. I didn't mean to do anything bad. I'm just me, impulsive and jealous. But I never really wanted him."

"I know." Marli had said this even though she knew that deep down inside, she never had. She'd like to have thought it, but with Alexandria, you could never be sure of what was going on in her kooky and twisted mind.

Soon the shower was over and Marli was thanking everyone for coming and all that lame stuff. She was now wiped out and was very anxious to return home. She was very relieved once the last guest left and she got into the car called to take her and all the gifts back to her comfortable apartment.

Mark was sitting on the couch, reading a book, when Marli came in, along with a large cart full of gifts. "I see the shower went well," he observed playfully, smiling and kissing her lightly.

"Yeah, I guess you can say that. Alexandria was there. We talked. We're going to try to move past all the shit and everything. Truth is, I kind of missed having her as a friend."

"Um…that's good." He didn't know what else he should say. Even though Alexandria had called a week after the incident in Barney's to explain everything. He still didn't know how to feel about her. But he loved Marli and if being friends with Alexandria made Marli happy, it would have to do.

"I guess it is. So I got lot's of presents for the babies." She showed him each and every one of her favorite presents, including all of the cute little outfits. And then of course, the Tiffany's cups and the cashmere blankets.

"You know what? Maybe we should start calling them Baby B and Baby R. I mean since we won't tell anyone the names yet, that seems like a cute little option." Mark presented his little idea derived from Alexandria's card to Marli who just shrugged.

"I'm not the one against telling people the names. I think we should just call them," she whispers the names in a voice so muffled that the only person that could hear her was Mark (and that means that the readers of this story can't see it.). Marli was never one for keeping a secret. She was surprised she had kept the names quiet for two months

"No! No one will know the names but us. They'll find out the names once the babies are born. That's the only fair option!"

"Whatever. I guess we will have to call them Baby B and Baby R, won't we? It'd be kind of weird to call them BHC and RAC until the day they were born, wouldn't it?"

"Very." Mark agreed with his wife, giving her a kiss. "Do you want to go out for dinner?"

"No. I ate so much at the shower. Let's just stay in tonight ok?"

"Whatever you say, you're the boss!"

A/N: And fin! I spent two days on this chapter, and I'm sorry if the last part kind of sucks because halfway through the chapter, I finally got Without You and I've been reading it practically as I write. Ok, so feedback is much needed. Remember: Reviewsmore chapters. You heart more chapters. You also heart me and the story so yeah….review ! I tried to put this up yesterday, but it wouldn't work so you get it today. Ok? Cool!