As Mark woke, he was immediately greeted to the scent of bacon, which made his stomach rumble loudly. Reaching up, he yawned as he stretched languidly, before reluctantly getting out of bed and making his way downstairs. As he walked into the kitchen, he could not help but to smile at the sight of Brandy working diligently at the stove as she softly sang along to a Billy Joel song playing on the radio. For a week now, she had been back home, and it was almost as if she had never left. Somehow, they had managed to pick right back up where they left off, and at times he found himself wondering if the scenario with Tom had even occurred, but the occasional nightmare or triggered breakdown always confirmed it had in fact happened.

"Good morning, handsome," Brandy said with a smile when she felt his arms go around her ribcage, pulling her back into him for a tight hug.

"Mm, morning beautiful," he mumbled, kissing the top of her head. "Whatever you're making smells great."

She cast a smile up at him. "Thank you. This is just about done, if you want to get some coffee going. I hadn't gotten around to that yet."

"You got it," he replied, and once more kissed her head before walking over to the cabinet where they kept the coffee mugs. "How I'm not fatter than what I am, I will never know. You're too damn good of a cook," he added as he walked over to the coffee pot, and began to prepare a pot of their favorite brew.

Brandy laughed at this. "You're not fat, you big dork."

"Yeah, and the only reason I'm not is because I work my ass off in the gym to prevent it. You're dangerous, woman," Mark commented as he got out dishes for them to use.

"Well I can stop, you know. Would you rather egg whites and salads? Because I can make that happen."

"Hell no, you ain't serving me that garbage," he shot back, making her laugh once more.

"Get your coffee, and sit down. This is done," Brandy replied with a smirk, and as he poured them each some coffee she prepared their plates. As they began to eat, Mark reached out to take her hand in his, his thumb idly running over where her engagement ring used to sit. "I'm sorry I couldn't save it," she commented quietly, guilt on her face and in her voice. "I have no idea what Tom did with it, and it makes me so angry to know he even touched it. I loved that ring."

Bringing her hand up, Mark kissed the spot on her ring finger softly. "A ring is replaceable, baby. You're not. I will gladly go get you a new one...as long as that's what you want, of course."

Brandy frowned at him. "Do...you not want to be engaged anymore? I obviously didn't mean it when I said I wanted to leave you that night. I still consider you my fiancé...but if that isn't what you want..."

"No! God no, babe. Of course I still want to be engaged to you. I guess...hell, I dunno, I guess I worry about saying the wrong thing. You're still healing, and I don't want to cause you any more distress than what you've already been through. I didn't know if that would somehow upset you. You're my girl, and I don't want that to ever change. I still want to be able to call you my wife one day."

Brandy smiled at this, and gave his hand a soft squeeze. "I like the way that sounds," stated, making him smile in return.

Reaching up, Mark took off the chain she had given him, and slipped from off of it the small band he wore on it. "It's not much...but until I can replace your old one, this will have to do," he commented, and as he held the small band out to her he added, "Will you still marry me?"

A look of surprise came to her face. "Mark, that is your grandma's ring. I couldn't possibly..." she started to protest, but when her words died off he once more grabbed her hand.

"I know for a fact my grandma would have loved you, and that she would be honored to see her ring on your pretty little finger," Mark reassured her as he slid the ring on her finger. Once it was fully on, he again pressed a kiss to her finger, and added with a smile, "See? Perfect fit, it was meant to be." Her eyes burning with tears, Brandy leaned forward to hug him around the neck. "Hey, come on, now, no need to cry," Mark tried to console her as he pulled her into his lap.

"I just love you a lot," she commented, her words muffled in his neck.

"Well I love you a lot, too, but you don't see me blubbering over it," he teased, chuckling when she playfully hit his chest.

Pulling back, she wiped her eyes as she said, "Thank you."

"For what?"

"Just...being you. You always try so hard to be patient and understanding, and I just...it means a lot to me."

Mark simply smiled at this, and kissed her forehead. "Let's finish this food before it starts getting cold," he commented, and once Brandy moved back into her seat the two of them continued to make light conversation as they finished their meals. Just as they finished cleaning up the kitchen, the doorbell rang, making them frown at each other. "Are you expecting anyone?" he asked as he dried his hands. Brandy shook her head, glancing over at the front door as she did so. Placing the hand towel back on the oven handle, Mark made his way over to the front door, and when he opened it he was brought back by the person standing there. "...Sara, what...what the hell are you doing here?" Mark asked, baffled by the site of his ex lover standing there.

"Now, is that really how you greet your girlfriend? You should be happy to see me!" Sara commented, and when she stepped toward him he held his hand out to keep her from coming any closer.

"Sara, I haven't spoken to you in over two months, now. Why would I go that long without speaking to someone I was seeing?"

"Well...I just...figured you were busy," she said with a shrug, and started twirling a strand of her hair around her finger. "Are you going to let me in, or what?"

"No, I'm not. Let me make myself very clear: we are done. We have been done. I don't want to see you anymore, so please go home."

Sara was about to say something, when a quiet voice suddenly called out from within the house, "Mark...is everything okay?"

They both looked behind him, and found Brandy standing there, a confused look on her face. Who was this platinum blonde standing in their doorway? Brandy immediately noticed how pretty she was, and what an amazing figure she had. When they made eye contact, she sneered at Brandy. "And who are you?" she asked, her tone far from kind.

"I'm Brandy, it's nice to meet you," Brandy replied politely as she stepped closer, and held her hand out to Sara.

Sara simply rolled her eyes, and brought her attention back to Mark. "Can you tell your maid to, like, go do something? I really need to talk to you."

Mark had to fight back the urge to backhand her. "Brandy is my fiancée, not my damn maid, and I don't have anything more to say to you. Now please, just go."

Sara laughed. "Fiancée, huh? Yeah, okay, like you would really choose this fat bitch over me. Come on, Mark, I'm not stupid."

"You obviously must be if you think I want to talk to you. Seriously, Sara, leave."

"No! Not until you talk to me!" Sara replied stubbornly.

"Hey, come on, Mark doesn't want to talk right now," Brandy stepped in, trying to help, when Sara glared at her and suddenly shoved Brandy back.

"Don't talk to me, bitch, this has nothing to do with you," Sara spat at Brandy, flicking her hair back over her shoulder.

"Don't you dare-" Mark started to warn, when Brandy took them both by surprise by suddenly stepping forward and kicking Sara in the stomach hard enough to knock her backwards and off of her feet.

"You bitch!" Sara shrieked, clutching her stomach as she looked up at them. "You just assaulted me, you dumb cunt! I should call the cops!"

"You put your hands on me first, and we have cameras to prove that, so go ahead, because all it is going to show is I was acting in self defense," Brandy replied, her anger flaring. "We both have been nice, but this is getting old. Please leave, or I will call the police, because what you are doing right now is trespassing."

Clearly fuming, Sara remained silent as she stood back up, her eyes narrowing as she watched Mark put his arm around Brandy's shoulders in a motion of pride, as if showing her off. "Give it time, he will get tired of you. I'm not dumb, Mark told me all about you, and how you left him like the dumb whore you are. He's only with you because he feels sorry for you. I mean, look at you. You know you're not his type, right? Mark likes his women tiny and blonde, which you obviously are not. He told me every single day I was the hottest piece of ass he has ever had, and if you don't believe me ask him." When she saw the look of hurt come to Brandy's eyes, Sara grinned smugly, and added as she brought her gaze to Mark, "So when you get tired of her fat, ugly ass, you know where to find me. Although, you'll have to do some begging by that point to get me back." Before anything else could be said, Sara once more flipped her hair over her shoulder as she turned around and flounced back to her car, where she quickly sped off.

Shutting the door, Mark brought his attention to Brandy and asked as he grabbed her shoulders, "Are you okay? Did she hurt you?"

"Yeah, I'm fine," she replied quietly, and shrugging out of his grip turned her back to him.

Mark watched her as she started to slowly walk away. "Brandy...I'm so sorry for all of this..." he started to say, but could not seem to find the right words.

Turning back to face him, her eyes shining with tears, Brandy asked, "What she said was true...wasn't it? You...you really said those things, didn't you?"

Mark hesitated, before softly admitting, "I did...yes..." When he saw her face begin to crumple, Mark stepped towards her and added, "Babe, I'm sorry, I was angry and hurt when I said those things. I said a lot of stupid shit I didn't actually mean while you were gone, and if I could take it all back I would."

Brandy forced a smile. "It's fine," she replied simply, and before another word could be said she made her way upstairs. Mark watched her as she walked up the steps, and hesitated before following her, sensing things were not fine as she claimed.

When he found her, she was standing in their closet, staring blankly at her section of clothes. Leaning against the door frame, he watched her in silence, and when she finally looked over at him he stated quietly, "Please tell me what you're thinking. I can tell you're not fine."

"You'll think I'm being dumb," Brandy mumbled, looking down at her feet.

Stepping toward her, Mark gently lifted her chin, forcing her to look back up at him, and said reassuringly, "Baby, I could never think you're dumb. Your thoughts and feelings are important to me, now please talk."

Looking up at him with sad eyes, she gave a weak shrug, before admitting, "I guess I'm just questioning everything now."

"Questioning what?"

"Us. Our relationship. If I'm not your type...how are we really going to last?" She hesitated, before adding softly, "What if you do get tired of me, and decide you do want to be with her again? She is obviously gorgeous, and I...I guess I feel like I don't compete."

Mark inwardly cursed Sara for the things she said. "I would be lying if I said I did not in the past have a type. Yes, I have tended to be attracted to a certain look when it comes to women...but that was all before I met you. In the past, it was superficial, nothing with sustenance, which is why I never really had a meaningful relationship. With you...darlin', your beauty is so much more than skin deep. You absolutely glow, and it's enough to take my breath away at times."

Brandy simply smiled at this. "I'm sorry, I don't mean to be like this. You're just...so damn handsome, I'm always afraid of losing you to someone prettier. What she said is only making it worse right now."

Mark smirked at her comment of him being handsome. "Let me make one thing clear: what we had was almost purely physical. Yes, I was attracted to her, and yes, I admit I said those things to her, but honestly it was usually just telling her what she wanted to hear so I could get her in bed. She might be pretty on the surface, but she has an ugly, ugly core, which is why we only lasted a couple of months. I never once thought about making her Mrs. Calaway...because, honestly, I never stopped wanting to make you Mrs. Calaway."

Again, she smiled at him. "Did you love her?"

Mark was taken back by this. "Love?" She nodded. Rubbing his neck, he commented, "That's one hell of a loaded word. Well...I guess...yeah, maybe at one point, there might have been love involved. She did help me cope with my heartache, after all. I promise you, though, whatever love I might have possibly felt for her in no way compares to the love I have for you. Hell, I don't think anything could ever compare to the love I have for you, so I hate to say it but you're pretty stuck with me, babe."

Brandy giggled at this, and leaned up to kiss him. When she pulled back, her gaze fell on her reflection in the mirror, and she commented, "I still think you're blind, though."

Mark gave her a confused look. "Blind? Why the hell would you think I'm blind?"

"For thinking I'm prettier than her, but...I mean...I guess they do say 'love is blind'."

Shaking his head, Mark stepped behind her so that he could also see her reflection. "Do you really not see what I see?" he asked, and shaking her head she looked down with a sad, almost ashamed expression. Letting a strand of her hair sift through his fingers, he commented, "You have the softest, sweetest smelling hair, and I love running my hands through it while we fall asleep." Once more forcing her to look up, so she was looking at herself again, he added, "You have the biggest, most uniquely colored eyes I've ever seen, and I could spend hours studying their gorgeous color. I love the way your cute little button nose is upturned, and how it scrunches when you laugh. I melt when I see those pretty little dimples, and I can never get enough of the taste of your full lips." Mark could see the blush staining her cheeks as he spoke, which only encouraged him to say more. He needed her to know how he viewed her. For a moment, he idly toyed with the hem of her shirt, before slowly pulling it up and off of her. He then did the same to her sweatpants, leaving her standing there completely nude. "I think I was a damn idiot for preferring skinny little bitches before, because there is nothing sexier to me than your curves," he murmured in her ear as his hands began to explore the flat plane of her soft tummy, and he could see her eyes wandering over herself. Reaching up, he gently covered her breasts with his hands as he added, "I love how perfectly these fit in my hands...it's as if they were made for me, and only me...and I love how soft your thick ass feels when I squeeze it." As he said this last part, Mark firmly squeezed both globes of her ass, making her give a small giggle, but that laugh turned into a soft gasp when he gripped her hips as he pressed his own into her ass. "You have the thickest, most sexiest hips and thighs I've ever seen, and all I want to do when I see them is bury my face between them." Brandy's face once more flushed a deep red at his words, and when he had her turn to face him she could see the distinct look of lust in his eyes. "I could go forever about the things I love about you...but right now, all I can think about is how bad I need you."

Brandy was suddenly very much aware of the pulsing between her thighs, and gasped once more when he cupped her bare sex, his fingers slipping between her lips to explore her wet warmth. "I need you too, Mark," she whispered, and pulled him down for a deep kiss. As his tongue demanded hers, he lifted her up with ease, making her legs wind around his waist, and carried her into the bedroom to lie down on the bed. Once above her, he rhythmically rolled his hips into hers as they once more kissed, purposely pressing his hard cock into her clit. Impatiently, she pushed his sweatpants down just far enough to free him, and gave a small cry of surprise when he immediately entered her with one long thrust.

"You're the only person who gets my cock this hard," he whispered in her ear as he right away set in a steady pace. "You turn me on so bad I can't even think straight. You're the biggest cocktease I've ever known, and you don't even realize it."

As he began to speed up his motions, Brandy held onto his hips, her entire being tingling from both his motions and his words. "Your cock is the only one I want to tease," she commented with a grin, her words making him shudder.

"That's exactly what I'm talking about," he said through gritted teeth, making her giggle. Bracing himself up on his elbows, he exerted the last of his strength into thrusting into her as hard and fast as he could, which made her again cry out as her eyes rolled back.

"Oh fuck...fuck...oh god, Mark, I'm cumming!" she cried out, her nails digging into his back as she squeezed around him tightly.

"That's it, cum on my cock," he panted as she fell apart, and with one final plunge he groaned as he joined her over the edge. Still breathing heavily, Mark rolled over as he collapsed onto the bed next to Brandy, and for a moment the two of them simply laid there in silence. "So do you believe me, now?" he finally asked, looking over at her, and when she looked back at him she could not help but to giggle.

"I think so...but I wouldn't mind a reminder like that from time to time," she replied, making him laugh as well. When she noticed he was moving to get up, Brandy grabbed his arm, making him stop and look back at her. "You're not going anywhere."

Mark raised an eyebrow at her. "Oh?" She nodded. "And why is that?"

Brandy suddenly pushed him back down onto his back, making him let out a small grunt of surprise. "Because I'm not done with you yet," she replied as she straddled his waist, and as she leaned down to kiss him, they both quickly got lost once more in each other, and knew the rest of the morning would be spent right where they were.