Prompt:Mary+/Marshall, Sangria

Mary woke up naked and spooned up against Marshall. Her mouth had the cotton ball feeling to it and her head was pounding. Slipping out from Marshall's hand she tucked the sheets around him before allowing her self to softly trace her finger over the side of his face.

Quietly she picked up articles of her clothing and slipped them on while making her way out of the bedroom and towards the living room. On the coffee table were four empty pitchers and one half empty pitcher of Sangria.

She had learned to make the drink in Mexico and was probably the only good thing about the trip. When she returned home she made her style. In short form more wine than normally used and a few added additional things to give it an extra punch.

Moving into the kitchen she grabbed a couple of aspirins and poured herself a glass of water. Grabbing some more water she headed outside to sit at the table by the pool.

Last night was the first time in a long while that her and Marshall hung out together. Marshall had taken time off after calling off his engagement to Abigail; while Mary and Kenny parted ways do to his latest single mother conquest. Marshall had asked her if she wanted to go out for supper. She readily agreed as she'd missed her best friend over the last year.

During dinner they discussed what happened with their relationships, how they missed spending time together and the latest in the many dramas of the Shannon woman. It had felt great. Not wanting it to end she invited Marshall into the house where she proceeded to make them the pitchers of Sangria.

Somewhere by the time they were half way through the fifth pitcher they ended up kissing and well and the rest was obvious by the clothes scattered over the house. The thing that plagued her now was would it destroy what they had just reestablished? Was she Marshall's rebound? Was he hers? At least she knew the answer to the last question. Kenny wasn't someone that was rebound worthy. Marshall was engaged so what did that make her?

The only thing that was certain to her at this point was she didn't regret it. There was no way that could happen. Her feelings for Marshall became clearer as they spent more time apart. It was destroying what little was left of it after her father died.

The sound of the screen door opening and closing brought her out of her thoughts.

"Hey," Marshall said softly.

Mary couldn't stop the slight smirk from coming on her face. After what they did last night he was nervous and it showed by his voice.

"Hey yourself, there's aspirin on the counter."

"Already took some, thanks. I figured you wouldn't mind. Mare…"

"We need to talk about last night. Let me go first."

Marshall nodded his ascent while moving the chair next to hers so that he could see her face during their conversation.

"The only things I can tell you about last night are that for me it wasn't a mistake. I don't regret what we did last night. Over the last year, I finally started to realize how I felt about you. I love you Marshall and I'm tired of denying it, hiding from it and being scared about it. I want to wake up in the morning next to you, I want to make love to you, and that should scare the crap out of me, but it doesn't. This might have been a one time thing for you. Maybe it's your rebound from the cheerleader, but I'd take you back to bed with me in a heartbeat and not just because the sex was that great. It was, but that's not why. You make me feel things, I never thought I could."

Marshall knew she meant it. It made his heart soar. The reason he couldn't go through with his wedding to Abigail was all the things that everyone tried to tell him began to register, his own feelings for Mary resurfaced even stronger when they were apart. He couldn't hold on to Abigail when Mary already held his heart.

Marshall leaned his head against her forehead.

"We've been lost for awhile now, but I never stopped loving you. I tried to, with everything I had. Never in million years did I think you'd feel the same. Abigail was a chance for happiness that I couldn't have with you. It wasn't enough though and I'm glad I realized it before the wedding. The only regret about last night that I have is that we were too drunk to really appreciate the moment. I love you, Mary."

"Show me," Mary demanded before capturing Marshall's lips.

"My pleasure," Marshall replied, removing clothes as he steered her back to the bedroom.

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A year later at Mary and Marshall's wedding they served Sangria instead of Champagne as they wanted to celebrate their wedding with what started their first time together. What the guest didn't know wouldn't hurt them. They just smiled when people asked, but never gave the answer to their little secret.