I thought this was over. Except that I had to sit in a waiting room and I was bored listening to my MP3 player.

I Would Walk 500 Miles - The Proclaimers

Peter studied Marshall as Marshall kept watch over a comatose Mary. In those few moments he knew that Marshall would do anything for Mary. Anything in the world. There was no distance he wouldn't travel, no obstacle he wouldn't move. The man would sacrifice his own happiness, repress his own feelings for Mary, just so she could have the chance at happiness with someone else. Someone who didn't understand her. Who expected Mary to travel any distance he demanded once the ring was on her finger.

Peter felt sorry for Raph because in the end the other man didn't understand what it took to love someone the way Marshall did. And he felt sorry for Marshall because it was going to take Mary more time to realize it when she woke up.

Peter recognized what Marshall was feeling because he could see it in himself when he looked at Brandi.

Sugar, Sugar - The Archies

Mary didn't want to say 'I told you so' to Brandi this time. She'd known that their half-brother was going to hurt her. It was another reason that Mary hadn't wanted to get close to him. And now Brandi was hurting. And Brandi would probably not be happy if Mary shot the jerk.

Inspiration from their past struck and Mary did a quick inventory of the kitchen. Knowing Brandi was sulking in her room, she threw together pancake batter and heated the skillet. When she was ready to start cooking she went to the stereo and plugged in the IPod Marshall had given her and cranked the volume.

Brandi was out in minutes and Mary was making pancakes, bopping along to the song. Brandi's eyes watered as she hugged Mary and began dancing along. No matter what their differences or problems, they had their history. And no half-sibling would ever be able to take that away.

Both of them were taken back to the times they had been left to their own devices and Mary would cook the one thing she knew how. When all they had was each other and that had been enough.

Be a Man - Mulan

Mary debated her options carefully. On the one had was Faber; smooth, suave and short-term and thereby safe. There were moments he reminded her of some of her mother's exes. But she knew that he was interested - very interested. He would go out of his way to have his witnesses brought to the ABQ office.

On the other hand was Marshall. Her brilliant, off-limits, out of her league partner. She knew he cared about her but she wasn't sure what he meant by she needed messy. Did he mean him? Could he possibly love her as much as she loved him.

So she reverted to her lists. Faber: scared little rich boy who she wouldn't trust to man up if necessary. Marshall: strong, smart and sincere. Faber: transparent and shallow. Marshall: layer upon layer that would take a lifetime to figure out. Faber: was an easily assessed threat who had gotten soft through his years behind a desk. Marshall: deceptively strong, fast, efficient and adaptable to everything life - and she - threw at him. Faber: very interested. Marshall: ?

There was a knock at the door. The last time there had been a knock at her door this late it had been Faber. Should she take it at a sign if it was Faber again? Opening the door did not reveal Faber. It revealed Marshall. Taking a chance on losing the most important person in her life, the most defining relationship she'd ever had, she reached forward and drew him down into a kiss.

Hours later he corrected her list. Marshall: Head over heels, completely, unequivocally, hopelessly, unendingly, perfectly in love with Mary Shannon.

Fly - The Wilkinsons

No doubt about it - Marshall was an absolute godsend. She didn't know what amazing thing she'd done to deserve him and she probably didn't show him that she appreciated him enough. But he was her partner, her best friend, her confidante, her keeper, her lover. Her guardian angel. He would vehemently deny the last one but it was the truest of all of them. He'd been sent from heaven and whether it was a cosmic mistake that he was with her or if it was ordained by God, the love they shared was the closest thing to heaven she knew to exist.

And she would do whatever was required to keep him with her.

Last Contestant - Nickleback

Note - Eleanor is still in the office for me. Bring her back please?

It took every ounce of Marshall's self-control not to shoot Faber every time he saw the agent. And this time it was made harder because the moron didn't know yet. "Hello Kitten," he heard Faber schmooze at Mary. How did she stand the endearment? It was demeaning and insulting and only an idiot would refer to a tigress as 'kitten'.

"I suggest saving your tired game for someone interested," Eleanor said idly as she walked passed. "And someone available."

Faber looked confused. Marshall thought it was an improvement. "What?"

"I believe Eleanor is subtly letting you know that Mary is spoken for," Marshall explained maliciously. "Off the market. Involved. Enamored elsewhere…"

"If you want me on that Alaskan cruise next week, you will knock of the running synonyms," Mary growled at Marshall to his annoyance. Had she wanted to tell Faber gently?

"Partner bonding trip? Or are you vacationing with witnesses now?" Faber said, the oily charm appearing again.

"The Federal Government couldn't pay me to go to Alaska on vacation," Mary clarified for him. "Marshall on the other hand can be very persuasive when he's driving me towards orgasm."

'So much for gentle,' Marshall thought gleefully.

Seasons of Love - Rent

"Did you know that there are 525,600 minutes in a year?" Marshall asked of his partner, wondering if she realized the significance of the date. What had happened on this day, almost to the minute, last year.

"Did you know there's a song with that fact in it?" Mary rejoined, knowing she'd surprised him by knowing that. She'd watched what she thought was going to be a crappy movie musical with Brandi during a sisterly bonding moment. It wasn't so crappy after all, though one of the actresses bugged the hell out of her. And the opening song was catchy enough that it still periodically played in her mind.

Marshall sighed, knowing he was going to have to remind her.

And then she surprised him again by tossing a wrapped box on his lap, the tasteful solitaire on her left hand catching the light as she did. There was a brief note that read 'You made it a year being engaged to me. Impressive. Now open the box Doofus.'

Inside the box was a frame. And in the frame - a sonogram picture. Marshall was speechless as he realized that the next 525,600 minutes were going to be busy. He wondered how long it would take to convince her to cancel the wedding arrangements and hop a flight to Vegas tonight.

~K