I'm back! I should warn everyone, there's only one chapter left after this. Then this project will be done. I've been working on it since the end of January… I don't really know what I'm going to do with myself after this (though ladymars, my beta, has requested that it not be quite so epic. She's so good to me I have a hard time not complying with her request.) Anyway, enjoy!

Marshall ate by himself, just like he knew he would be. He predicted that he'd be eating by himself a lot in the next few weeks or maybe months. He had promised himself that he wouldn't act any differently around Mary, but he couldn't go back. He couldn't spend the amount of time with her that he used to knowing… He shook his head. There wasn't hope any longer. He had screwed that up. Then again, maybe there had never been any real hope to begin with.

When he went back to work the next morning, things were quiet just as they had been the day before. It was like Mary had been stunned into silence. But by the time the afternoon had hit, she was tired of the quiet that had been permeating the office. She was once again babbling to herself as she wrote. Marshall even heard her curse at the computer screen a few times, making him chuckle to himself.

Finally, something frustrated her so much she picked up the folder she was writing in and chucked it across the office.

"That is the most convoluted thing that I have ever seen in my life!" she screamed at it.

"Filling out the 6-50W form?"

She laid her head on her desk. "Yes," was the muffled response he got. She picked her head up. "For all the good it's doing me."

Marshall didn't blame her for being annoyed. They practically had to teach a course on those forms. Marshall had figured them out so he had taken over Mary's too. At the end of the day she messed them up more often than she got them right, delaying the process even longer. She had asked him to fill out a few, but he had told her he had his own paper work to do.

Yet there was that part of him that couldn't stand to see her so aggravated. "Give them to me." He held out his hand.

"You said you were too busy."

"I forgot that you just end up making more work for everyone when you fill them out."

"That's your fault."

"How is it my fault?"

"If you would have let me do it myself, I'd know how by now."

"I don't think that's true," Marshall said, shaking his head. "I think that you don't have the patience for the 6-50s."

"I've been partners with you for eight years. What bigger test of patience is there?"

"Says the woman who just threw her paperwork across the room."

"Whatever. It's your fault I'm not the patient one in this relationship."

He knew she hadn't meant anything by it. They were in a relationship of sorts, just not the kind that Mary considered romantic. It didn't change the fact that she threw the word around so casually, like nothing had been happening between them. He got up and picked up her forms from the floor. He filled them out silently.

"How long are you going to be like this?" she finally asked. "I mean, can I mark on the calendar when Marshall is done with him temper-tantrum?"

Marshall looked towards Eleanor and Stan, both of whom were in ear shot. "Could we talk about this later?"

She stood in front of his desk and crossed her arms. "No."

"Of course not," he mumbled to himself. "Heaven forbid we do anything that's not on Mary's time table." He grabbed his jacket off the chair. "Let's go."

"Where are we going?" He was walking quickly and taking full strides. Mary could barely keep up with him. She hated when he did that.

He was silent until the elevator doors were safely closed. "We're going somewhere we can talk about it without the whole office knowing. It's bad enough they know we're fighting. They certainly don't need to know why."

"I'm not sure I understand why." The elevator had opened and Marshall was walking again. They went to his car and he opened her door. Mary just stared at him. "What are you doing?"

"Holding the door open. Will you just get in already?"

She did as asked but not without shooting him another look. Marshall got in the driver's side and drove. They didn't go anywhere specific, just drove around Albuquerque, silent.

"Are you going to say something?" he asked her.

"I already asked you something. You just didn't answer."

"Mare," he sighed. "Things aren't going to go back to normal." He hated saying it, hated admitting that their friendship was forever changed. He had wanted to go back to normal but the more he tried the harder it became.

"What are you talking about? You're going to let something stupid like this get between us?"

He abruptly pulled over into an empty parking lot. Mary was about to curse him out until she noticed his hands were white they were gripping the steering wheel so hard. "You think this is stupid?" he asked quietly. "You think it's stupid!" He screamed it, finally turning to look at her. "You think that I'm an idiot for letting myself feel anything for you. You think that everyone should close themselves off exactly like you do. Maybe I am an idiot. But I fell in love with you before I knew better." He got out of the door, slamming it so hard Mary was afraid the window was going to break. She got out, following him.

"Don't blame this on me!" she yelled at him. "So just because you decide to go and get all emotional on me, it's my fault I don't reciprocate?"

"No, but you could at least pretend that you give a shit about anyone else. Fine, you're not in love with me. Fine, I'm only good enough to sleep with. Fine, you don't want a relationship. But the least you can do is stop acting like it means nothing and that I'm a moron because of it."

"Maybe if you would stop moping around like a lovesick moron I wouldn't have to keep saying it!"

He trapped her against the car, his palms flat on the windows, one on either side of her. He stood close, enough that she could smell him, that same smell that used to linger in the bed every morning, the one she missed. Now it was right there, invading her senses and she had to stop herself from taking a deep breath. Marshall leaned down, his lips hovering above hers.

"So what if I am moping? So what if I did fall for you? Don't you want this, Mary? Don't you want to be able to feel like this every day? Heart pounding, breath coming quickly and every nerve on red alert." He kissed her, firmly and long. When he pulled back, his mouth was at her ear. "Who wouldn't want to feel that every single day?" He stepped back giving her space. He handed her the keys, walking to the passenger side. "You can drive."

But she didn't move right away. She was feeling every single thing he had mentioned.

And, damn it, he was right. She did want all those things.

When Mary walked in, Brandi stood in the living room in her wedding dress. There was a full length mirror in front of her as she scrutinized herself from every angle.

"You don't think that it being backless makes me look trashy?" Brandi asked Jinx, who was playing with the skirt of the gown.

"No, sweetheart, you look amazing."

"I don't know," she argued. "I might need to let it out a little."

"It looks beautiful, Squish," Mary told her sister. Brandi turned, smiling at Mary.

"You really think I look good?"

Mary walked over and hugged her sister. "No one has looked better in a wedding dress."

"Thanks, Mare," she said softly. "We brought your dress too."

Mary let her sister go, making a face. "You're not really going to make we wear that are you?"

"C'mon, it's not that bad," Jinx protested.

"You're only saying that because you helped pick it out."

"It's my wedding day," Brandi interrupted. "You have to wear what I say you have to wear." She picked up a second box by the mirror and handed it to Mary. "Go try it on so we know it still fits like it's supposed to."

"Fine," she complained, taking the box out of her sister's hands. She came out a few minutes later, standing in front of the mirror next to her sister. In terms of bridesmaid's dresses, it could have been a lot worse. It was a light blue dress with straps that were off-the-shoulder. It had a small line of embellishment under the bust and then the gown hung to the floor. It wasn't poufy or cumbersome and was made of silk. Mary's heels were low so that she wouldn't be taller than her sister.

"You look great," Brandi told her.

"I guess I look alright," she said, shrugging.

"Now that everyone is in agreement on the dresses," Jinx said, "I have to get to my meeting." She kissed each of her girls before grabbing her purse and walking out the door. Brandi nudged her sister.

"What's wrong?" Brandi asked.

"Who says anything is wrong?"

"Because I've known you my whole life and usually it takes a bulldozer to get you to do anything you don't want to."

"Like try on a bridesmaid's dress?" Mary suggested.

"Or compliment me on my own."

"Hey, that one was genuine."

"I don't doubt it," Brandi agreed. "But usually all your compliments are followed by an insult."

Mary sighed, wondering when her sister became so perceptive. Personally, Mary almost liked it better when she was self-involved. Having two people in her life that were so observant when she seemed to be completely unobservant was getting obnoxious.

"Have you tried talking to him?" Brandi asked.

"Talking to who?"

"Marshall, duh."

"How the hell did you know this has to do with Marshall?" Mary asked, turning towards Brandi.

"Who else would it be about? If it were about me or mom, you would just take it out on us. The only one left is Marshall."

"It could be about my job."

"Which would involve Marshall," Brandi reminded her. "Besides, with you and Marshall dating, something was bound to go wrong eventually."

Mary walked over to the couch and plopped down on it. Brandi followed, though sat a little more carefully in her dress than Mary. "Your vote of confidence amazes me. And Marshall and I aren't dating."

Brandi raised an eyebrow. "Really? You could have fooled me."

"We just… hang out a lot."

"Yeah, if hanging out means having sex," Brandi laughed.

"Ok, you couldn't possibly know that!"

"Never underestimate my powers." They sat silently for a moment before Brandi spoke up again. "Mary, what did you say to him? It's obvious that things are bad. What could have happened that made you so angry with each other?"

"I told him I didn't love him."

"That would do it," Brandi said. "…Why exactly did you say that to him?"

"Because I don't."

Brandi started laughing, loudly. She tried to stop herself but another round of laughter burst from her mouth. "I'm sorry," she said between chuckles. "It's just-" She couldn't even finish the sentence when another fit of giggles came.

"What the hell is so funny?"

"Oh, God, you really don't know do you?"

"What?"

"You're completely in love with Marshall. You have been for a very long time. Pretty much since you met him."

"You're deranged," Mary told her.

"Or I'm right. Ok, we're going to do something I learned in my psych class. I'm going to ask you a bunch of questions. Answer them one-hundred percent honestly and quickly."

"Do I have to?"

"Yes."

"Fine," Mary conceded. "But only to put to rest this stupid idea that I love Marshall."

"Who is the first person you think about in the morning?"

"I don't want to answer that one."

"Too bad," Brandi said. "Answer it anyway."

"Fine, Marshall," she said, sighing.

"Who do you spend the most time with?"

"Marshall, but I work with him, so it doesn't count."

"It totally counts," Brandi told her. "Person you confide in the most."

"Marshall."

"Person you yell at the least."

"Marshall."

"Best date you've ever had."

"Marshall."

"Best sex you've ever had."

"Marshall."

"Person you trust the most."

"Marshall."

"Person you're in love with."

"Marshall- Ohhhh, shit!"

"Told you," Brandi said smugly. "Now, get out of that dress before you wrinkle it."

"Hey, Marshall." Mary approached his desk the following morning. "Brandi wants to make sure you're still coming to the wedding this weekend."

"Is there a reason I wouldn't be?" He looked up from the papers on his desk. "Did you tell her to uninvite me or something?"

"No, she just wasn't sure if you'd still want to. You know, after everything."

"Does she know everything?"

"She's my sister," Mary said with a shrug. "It's not like I can talk to you, whether you were talking to me or not."

"I'm talking to you right now."

"No, you're speaking to me, not talking to me. Make sure you're at the church at three."

Marshall was early by about an hour. He knew that Brandi would be driving Mary absolutely crazy at this point and, if someone didn't intercede, this might turn into a funeral instead of a wedding.

"Because it's stupid, that's why!" he heard Mary yelling down the hall. He knocked on the door.

"Come in!" Mary screamed.

"Need any help?" When Mary turned around, Marshall had a hard time not reacting. He had seen her in a dress before but this time, with her hair done and make-up on, Mary just looked stunning in her blue gown. It took him a minute to remember that Brandi was supposed to be the center of attention.

"Yeah, can you drag my sister outside and knock some sense into her?" Brandi asked him.

"I'll figure something out," he promised, grabbing Mary's arm and pulling her out into the hall. "Whatever it is, let it go."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"You do to. It's Brandi's day. For once, just suck it up and do what she asks without yelling at her. If you're feeling overly ambitious you can tell her she looks beautiful."

"Do I have to?"

"Yes. Now get back in there and I'll be waiting in the chapel, ever ready to make faces at you from the congregation and watch you try not to laugh."

"I knew you'd come through for me."

He did make faces when no one was looking. Mary was smiling through the whole thing, appearing as if she were actually enjoying the ceremony. He didn't see her for the first part of the reception. The wedding party was busy meeting and greeting and taking pictures. Dinner was served and then, finally, dancing commenced. Mary sat at the head table, playing with her champagne glass. Marshall walked up behind her and leaned down to talk to her.

"Want to dance?"

"No."

"Will you do it if I promise to make fun of the rest of the wedding party?"

She smiled at him. "Ok."

Marshall pulled her onto the floor. "I didn't realize you could dance."

"I didn't realize that you could dance without the right kind of attire."

"A tuxedo is always proper attire for dancing. Besides, it makes me feel like James Bond."

"Sean Connery or Pierce Brosnan?"

"Oh, definitely Connery." He spun her out and easily pulled her back to him.

"In your dreams," she told him. They slowed to a steady sway, not really saying anything. "Look at her."

"Look at who?" Marshall asked.

"My sister. She's so happy. Peter is everything she's always wanted in life. They're two people who are genuinely good for each other. Brandi isn't the girl that moved into my house years ago. She's better. Peter made her better."

"Peter just brought out all the good qualities that were already there." Marshall looked down at her. "That's what happens when people fall in love. They seem to bring out the best in each other."

"Marshall-"

"Mary!" Brandi came over, Peter in tow, and hugged her sister. "Thanks for your help today."

"Yeah, just don't get married again."

"Did you just curse our marriage, Mary?" Peter asked her.

"No, I gave you compliment."

"If anyone but you said that, I wouldn't believe them."

"What can I say? I just have that kind of trustworthy face." Three people started coughing to cover up their laughter.

"C'mon, Marshall," Brandi said pulling on his arm. "You have to dance with me before the night is over. Much as I love my darling husband, he can't dance a single step."

Peter just shrugged at Mary. "It's mostly true. Would you let me try and dance with you anyway?" He held out his hand and Mary accepted, smiled pulling at her lips.

"She's dancing with you," Brandi said when they were out of ear shot.

"Only because I promised her I'd make fun of the dress she had to wear."

"It's not that bad."

"It is for Mary."

Brandi couldn't argue the point. Mary hated all things feminine, it seemed. Or at least anything that had frills and look remotely like a dress. "She'll come around."

"I'm glad someone thinks so."

"You don't think that she's going to figure it out?"

"Let's say she did love me and she did realize it, neither of which I'm conceding to. The chances of Mary acting on it are about as high as you getting mauled by a polar bear and a regular bear in the same day."

"Interesting analogy."

"I got it off an E-Trade commercial," he said, grinning.

"That may just be a sign that you retain too much useless information," Brandi muttered.

"Be careful. You almost sounded like your sister right there."

"She cares about you more than anyone I've ever seen. She'll figure it out eventually. Sometimes, Mary just… takes a little longer to get there than the rest of us. Not to mention she's so stubborn she gives a mule a run for its money."

Marshall smiled but Brandi could tell it wasn't a happy smile. "I'm not sure I can wait for her to figure it out."

Before Brandi could answer, Mary and Peter walked up to them. "He wasn't kidding when he said he couldn't dance," Mary commented.

Brandi gave Marshall a sympathetic glance before turning towards her husband. "Mary's not that great of a dancer," she told Peter. "Don't let her convince you that it was all your fault."

"I'm not that bad of a dancer," Mary muttered.

"I know. You're actually surprisingly good," Marshall reassured her. He started dancing with her again as if to prove his point. "So where are they headed for their honeymoon?"

"Somewhere in the Caribbean. I'm not completely sure where but I hear there's not much on it. Why go somewhere with no sight-seeing?"

"I think a deserted island is a perfect place to honeymoon," he answered, chuckling. "I don't intend to see much outside of the walls of my hotel room on my own honeymoon."

"Ew, I really don't want to think about that when it comes to my sister. I mean, point taken, but still. Ew."

"So think about me doing it instead."

Mary did, smiling at the thought. "Marshall?"

"Hmm?"

"Let me come over tomorrow night."

"Mary," he protested, "I don't know if that's a good idea."

"I think it might be just what we need."

"Is my answer really relevant? We both know that you're going to come over whether I really want you to or not."

"Then why are you arguing?"

"Because I am a master of self-inflicted misery."

"Everyone has to be good at something."

It was nearly midnight when Marshall finally managed to get home. He had left Mary right before the bouquet tossing, begging him not to leave yet. Well, she asked him to stay; Mary wasn't really one to beg. When he pulled into his driveway, there was another car there and someone standing at his door. When he got out, he could see the person more clearly and had to blink a few times to make sure he wasn't just hallucinating in his tired state.

"Sarah?"

"Hey, Marshall."

Don't hate me! You know you think it's awesome that I stopped there, leaving all of you hanging in the balance. :D Oh, come on, you can't blame me, really. It was pretty much the perfect place to stop. Until next time! (and subsequently the last time for this story.)