White Out

By Andie O'Neill

Summary: Indiana Jones' biggest regret is about to be erased.

A/N: Marion confronts Indiana as tensions rise! Will he be able to convince her to take a chance on him one more time? Read and find out! This chapter is a bit angsty, so be ready! Loved the reviews! Keep em comin'! :D

Disclaimer: I don't own it… but I certainly wish I did!

Part Three

When Marion had first seen Indiana, all she could think about was her son of all things. She had a son. When she'd first learned she was pregnant she'd wanted nothing more than to take care of her kid no matter what. She'd been sure she was up for the job, and she'd ignored the tiny fears in the back of her mind. Marion was a survivor, a fighter, and she was never one to back down. She knew it was what had first attracted her to Indy, he'd said as much time and time again. She wasn't like other girls. Marion was strong, and being pregnant had only made her stronger. Colin and Oxley had done nothing but give her their support, and she hadn't been willing to fight them. Even she knew she couldn't raise a child alone.

Indiana Jones. The name haunted her. She would never be rid of him; she'd accepted that long ago. No matter how hard she tried, he would always be the shadow behind her, the whisper in the night. He was good at screwing up her life, though she guessed practice made perfect. The first time he'd turned her life upside down, she'd practically asked him to. It hadn't mattered that she was only nineteen, and he much older. It hadn't mattered that he was a student under Abner, and therefore out of reach. Marion wasn't one to be told no, and Indy had always shared her sentiment. In the end Indiana had left her to pick up the pieces of her heart.

When he'd returned ten years later, she'd thought she was over him. It seemed his charm had no limits. He'd pulled her in as he always did… his power over her too confusing to explain. Marion always knew he'd come walking into her life once more, what she hadn't known was that he'd come walking into her heart too. She'd thought perhaps they'd both grown up. She'd thought perhaps Indiana was different. Years made no difference; even Indy had told her that. "It's not the years, honey, it's the mileage." She hadn't quite understood at the time, but when for the second time he'd left her to pick up the pieces, she'd finally gotten it. Indiana Jones would always be Indiana Jones. The first time he'd left her with a broken heart, the second time he'd left her… he'd left her pregnant.

She should hate him… Lord knew she'd tried. Marion had even convinced herself that she truly did hate him, but it hadn't lasted. She couldn't hate him… she loved him too much. Abner had tried to warn her, but as always she wasn't good at listening. When she'd awoken to his presence, she'd been sure it was just a dream. He'd handed their child to her and everything else had disappeared. She saw her son's eyes, and she'd forgotten her anger. In that moment there was nothing else but her son… the life Indy had in fact given her. It was the best gift she could ever have gotten, better than pearls and diamonds. They'd made a child together. Indy had in effect apologized for leaving her behind… again, but she wasn't quite ready to forgive him. She'd fallen asleep with her baby in her arms, too tired. She hadn't had the energy to yell and scream… to give Indy yet another deserving punch. Although she supposed a nice kick to his most sensitive area would have been more poetic.

When her eyes and fluttered open, she'd realized the baby was gone, along with Indiana. She knew he'd be back. "Marion?"

The voice belonged to Colin Williams. She knew it was crazy, but she'd fallen for Colin during the months after Indy had left. He wasn't much like Indy, which of course made him absolutely beautiful in her eyes. He was sensitive, and understanding. Two words Indy didn't know the meaning to. Marion smiled. "I'm awake."

"The nurse took Henry… so he could sleep. Indy went to grab some lunch with Marcus and Oxley," Colin explained as he gently stroked her face.

She knew Colin loved her. He'd never been one to hide his emotions, another quality Indy didn't share. Marion knew she could raise her child just fine on her own, but even she understood the need for a father. Colin had always seemed perfect for the job and had been more than willing to fulfill the roll. "He's beautiful."

"He looks just like his mother," Colin told her with a smile.

"Let's hope that's all he gets from me," she muttered with amusement. She was proud of who she was, but it made for a hard life. Being different was never a good thing in society. "Maybe perhaps my brains," she said as an afterthought, thinking back to a conversation she'd had with Indy… about the adorable little monkey that had clung to her back in Cairo.

"Do we need the monkey?"

"I'm surprised at you, Jones. Talking that way about your baby. He's got your looks too!" she'd teased.

"And your brains," Indy had grumbled.

"I noticed that," she'd agreed, ignoring his obvious insult. "She's a smart little thing. Smart!"

It would always come back to him, she supposed. Indiana Jones. She didn't know how he'd learned of the existence of their baby, but he had. It wouldn't have been hard to do the math since Indy had been the only one she'd been with in years. She'd not even gotten close with Colin… they were waiting until after the wedding. She'd expected to be raising her son without Indy's help. Indiana had walked out on them both… her AND her son. He was back, and Marion had no idea what she was going to do.

Colin sighed, sitting on the bed beside her. "What are you going to do about Jones?" he asked as if reading her mind.

Marion had no idea. "I really don't know… I haven't had the chance to even think about it."

"He loves you," Colin whispered sadly, looking away from her.

Marion stroked his face, forcing him to look at her. "Listen to me, Colin. His being here has nothing to do with us," she assured him, pulling him down for a gentle kiss. Her fiancé.

Colin smiled as he pulled up from the kiss and rested his forehead against hers. "Okay."

Indy turned and looked away, rushing out of the hospital hallway that had taken him to Marion's room. What had he been thinking?! Did he really think Marion would just drop Colin and be with him… one big happy family? He threw down the bag of food and rushed out of the hospital, gasping for air as he rested against the wall. Was he cursed? Cursed to see that his life would never be as it should be? What was the point of going back only to go back too late? Either Marion would be his, and Mutt would resent him, or Marion would never be his, and he'd watch his son grow up. He couldn't have both no matter how hard he tried. Part of him wanted to leave… forget everything he'd seen and just run away to the life he'd led before.

"Correct the regret!" shouted the voice in his head, making Indy pause.

"How?!" he shouted back. "I don't know how, damn it!"

Some passersby looked at him as if he were crazy… he probably was. Indy sighed, walking back into the hospital. Indiana Jones was many things, but he wasn't one to give up. Had he given up while trying to find the Sankara stones? Had he given up while trying to get back the Ark of the Covenant? Had he given up when the Nazi's got in his way of finding the Holy Grail? Had he given up while trying to find Akator? No! He'd never given up, even when things looked hopeless. He couldn't give up… not when he had the chance to make things right. He was suddenly feeling just a bit better, unfortunately that was about to change.

"As long as everything checks out, you should be able to go home tomorrow with you're son," the Doctor told them.

Indy smiled, looking down at his son who slept peacefully in his arms. Indiana was having a hard time letting his son go, and the nurses had been quite amused when he'd asked to see his boy. They'd immediately brought little Henry out to see his father. Marion was sitting up, feeling much better, with Colin and Ox sitting nearby. Marcus had left to get some rest at a nearby hotel. "Thanks Doc, we appreciate this," he said smiling before his attention was once more pulled to his squirming son who'd finally awoken. The giggle Henry made when he looked at his father softened Indy's heart. He wondered if his father had felt the same way.

The Doctor smiled and walked out of Marion's room to give them some privacy once more. "Oh Marion, he's simply adorable," Oxley commented with an excited smile.

"He really is quite handsome," added Colin.

Indy laughed when Henry clamped onto his finger once more, as if the baby's life depended on it. His son was staring at him… with Marion's eyes. "Yea," he whispered and stared back.

Marion finally spoke behind Indy. "Um… Colin, Oxley, could you give Indy and I a moment. I think there's a lot we need to talk about."

That got Indy's attention immediately. He didn't say a word as Colin and Oxley nodded their understanding. Harold gave Marion a warm hug and walked out the door. Colin gave Marion a gentle kiss, which Indiana immediately looked away for, and left behind the professor.

"Indy?"

Indiana turned in his chair, holding his son just a bit tighter; as if afraid she'd take him. He wasn't quite ready to let Henry go. "Yeah Marion."

"Colin's asked me to marry him."

Indy frowned. Marion… the older Marion had told him before that she'd married Colin during the same time her son was born. He should have known. "Are you?"

Marion folded her arms. "Colin's a good man."

"I introduced you," Indy reminded her, mirroring words he'd not yet even said, despite them being in his memory.

"He loves me and little Henry. He'd make a good father, Indy."

"I'm Henry's father," Indiana told her firmly.

Marion laughed at that. "For ten minutes, Indy! You've been a father for ten minutes! Colin was there for the morning sickness! He was there when Henry first started kicking! He was there when I had crazy cravings and my back would get sore! He was there for all of that! I've had a good life with him!"

Indy felt like a record, playing over and over again. "That's great but-"

"A damn good life!"

"Well so have I," he fought, the words slipping out just as before. She always made his blood boil.

"Oh yeah? Still leaving that trail of human wreckage… or have you retired?" she shot back.

Indy froze at that comment, remembered those same words being hurled his way weeks ago. He forced himself not to smile. "Marion, I'm not doing this with you," he told her, trying to stay calm.

"Doing what, Indy? Don't want to play the game anymore? Tired of fighting? Know what I'm tired of? You! At least Colin was there for me! At least he was man enough to BE there! What's you're excuse?"

Suddenly Indy snapped. "You think it was easy for me? All these years…" he paused at his mistake. "All these months, never knowing I was a father? You didn't even have the guts to tell me!"

"Why should I? You never even talked to me! You just turned tail and ran!" she fought back.

He'd never won an argument before, he supposed he never would. "You want me to talk? Fine! Wanna know why I left? I was terrified! That's why!" he shouted at the top of his lungs, making Henry cry.

Indy looked down at his son, hushing him. Poor kid. Would it always be this way? Marion frowned. "Terrified of what, Indy?"

Indiana hadn't even told the… other Marion the truth of why he'd left. It was hard to find the words, hard to say them allowed. He'd spent most of his life suppressing his fears. If he voiced them, he wondered how long it would take to suppress them once more. "It would never have worked," he stalled. He looked down at his son. The boy was whimpering now, sensing his parent's mood. "We both knew that. Who wants to be married to somebody who's gone half the time?" He'd said similar words back in the truck when he, Marion, and Mutt had been held prisoner by the Russians. He knew what she'd say next.

"I did!" Marion fought. "And you would have known that if you'd asked me."

Finally Indy found the words. "I watched my father spend his whole life in books, Marion. The past was his obsession, and for most of my life it felt like nothing else mattered to him. I saw what it did to my parents… to me! No matter how hard I tried I was never as important, neither was mom! She died and she never even told us what was happening! All my father ever taught me was that 3,000 year old antiques, collecting dust were more important than his family! You resented Abner for dragging you all over the world! No matter how hard I try, I will always be my father! I will always be an Archeologist! I haven't spoken to my father in twenty years, Marion. So yes, I was afraid! That night… I realized who I was turning into! I didn't want to put you through that! I didn't want to lose you the way I lost my mom! I couldn't ask you to spend most of your life alone, Marion! I couldn't do it! I didn't want that to be us! All I've ever wanted is for you to be happy, Marion. That's all I've ever wanted!"

Marion paused, her features softening. "I was, Indy."

Their eyes met, and he could see the honesty in hers. He thought of his wife… of the future. The day of their wedding she'd been so happy. Even before he'd left her she'd always looked happy. As he'd absently go along doing his research, she'd wait for him in bed. When he'd finally joined her she'd always curled right next to him, a smile on her face. It hadn't mattered what time he'd finally finish. All that had mattered were those nights when they'd lay in each other's arms. She'd always waited for him. The first time she'd waited ten years. She'd waited even longer the second time he'd left. Even when she'd moved on… she'd always waited. He supposed he'd waited for her too. He reached for a stray hair, tucking it behind her ear with all the tenderness he had. "I know… now. I didn't understand, Marion. I just didn't understand why," he finally admitted.

"Because it was you," she told him sadly, taking hold of his hand.

He couldn't look away from her, even when he felt his son squirm in his arms. Seconds seemed to turn into minutes, minutes into hours as they sat and stared at each other, neither quite sure where to go. "I moved on too," he finally admitted to her, hoping the words would mean just as much as they had before.

"I'm sure you did," she agreed with a sad smile.

With a laugh he shook his head. "They all had the same problem, you know."

"Yeah, what's that?"

Indy leaned in close, his eyes never leaving hers, making sure little Henry stayed close to his chest. "They weren't you, honey," he told her before his lips touched hers. The kiss was quick, but soon led on into another far more passionate kiss. Just when he was sure everything was okay he felt a hand push him away. Indy frowned, breaking the kiss.

Marion shook her head. "You had you're chance, Indy. You blew it."

To Be Continued….