A/N: Alas, the end - I'm totally biased but this chapter is totally the whipped cream or ice cream on the pie! I hope you all enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.

"'Cause all of me
Loves all of you
Love your curves and all your edges
All your perfect imperfections
Give your all to me
I'll give my all to you
You're my end and my beginning-"

-John Legend

2014 (cont.)

Mary woke to an empty bed and momentarily panicked before her other senses kicked in and she heard Marshall talking to Bug and the delicious aroma of coffee and breakfast. She smiled and buried her face in the pillow that smelled like him. Marshall was home – all was right with the world.

She and Norah had managed while he had been gone – but things went so much smoother when he was here. Bug had gotten used to Marshall's homemade pancakes and waffles and now refused to eat the frozen ones that Mary had grown up on. Mary was able to manage cereal and toast, otherwise her daughter would have starved in the mornings – and fortunately Marshall had frozen plenty of dinner options so the two of them had plenty to eat in the evenings.

But it was more than his culinary skills that she had missed. It was Marshall singing off-key to her daughter in the morning and when he helped put her to bed at night. It was their talks about the day and collapsing on the sofa to watch a movie until one or both of them fell asleep and woke hours later to find they had completely missed the ending.

She had missed her best friend – but deep down, Mary knew it was more than that. She was ready, had been ready, for more with him for quite a while now. She had been waiting this past year, partly out of respect for him to get over Abigail and partly to see if he would make a move and say something first.

Mary snorted as she threw back the covers and got to her feet. I'm done with waiting – brace yourself, Marshall. Gathering her hair into a loose ponytail, she walked from her bedroom into the living room and froze in the archway to the kitchen, smiling at the scene before her.

Marshall was at the counter, clad in jeans and a wife beater, Bug clinging to one of his jean covered legs. He was making waffles and humming off-key to one of her CD's – and looking down at her from time to time, making silly faces that made her daughter giggle. Without turning around he threw over his shoulder, "Good morning, sleepyhead."

Bug turned and spied her. "Mama!" she cried, but didn't release her hold on Marshall's leg. "Awfuls!"

Mary smiled at Norah's word for 'waffles'. "I see that Uncle Marshall is making you waffles – are you hungry?"

Norah bobbed her head and Mary moved to the drawer that held her daughter's bibs. "You should have woken me up."

Marshall frowned as he caught her eye for the first time. "Why? You needed the sleep. Norah and I went to the store, got the stuff for breakfast and her teething gel-"

Mary gasped. "How did you know we were out?"

He shrugged as he lifted another crispy waffle onto the stack. "I saw the empty tube in your trash. You could have texted me to pick some up on the way home last night, you know."

Mary lifted her daughter and placed her on the island so she could tie the bib around her neck. "That would have been a fine welcome home – hey honey, would you mind picking up some teething gel on your way home?" she laughed as she scooped Norah up and headed for her high chair.

Since her back was to him, she completely missed the slack jawed expression on his face when she called him 'honey'. He decided to let it slide, thinking she had just been role playing. "Since it's Saturday, I thought we'd take Norah to the zoo."

"Marshall, you're going to spoil her. Waffles and the zoo in the same day? Relax, you were gone for just five days, not a month."

He pouted as he carried the steaming platter of waffles to the table. "So no zoo?"

"ZOO!" Norah screeched from her high chair, slapping her hands on her tray.

Mary threw her own hands in the air. "I give up – I know when I'm beaten."

Mary and Marshall spent the whole day with their girl. They went to the zoo and Norah squealed in delight at all the animals – but her favorite by far seemed to be the monkeys.

"Maybe that's because she's being raised in a monkey house."

"Mary."

"Seriously – between my mom, Brandi and her kid, Mark, his mom, you and me – it's like a three ring circus!"

They passed a concession stand and Marshall pointed at it. "Hungry? Peanuts, perhaps?"

She threw a wadded up tissue at him and kept walking. He laughed and swung Norah onto his shoulders. "Well, at least your mom doesn't call you 'peanut'!"

"I heard that!"

Mark met them in the park at five, apologizing for being late. Marshall looked at Mary in surprise. "He's late?"

"I asked him to pick up Norah a little early today so that you and I could have some extra time together-"

"For what?"

"Our date."

Marshall's mouth fell open. "Excuse me?"

"Date – you do know what that is, don't you? Or has it been so long that I need to explain it to you?"

"No, I just – we don't – Mary, what's going on?"

But Mary ignored him as she packed up Norah's things. Separating Bug from Marshall wasn't easy. She clung to him and cried until Mary finally grabbed her daughter and thrust her into Mark's arms. "Just go. She's not going to stop until you leave."

"Sorry, Marshall."

"It's OK. I love you, Love Bug." Marshall kissed her head. "I'll see you tomorrow night."

Norah screamed until the car door slammed, muffling the sound and Marshall turned back to Mary. "All right, will you please tell me what the hell is going on?"

Mary smirked. "All in due time."

"OK, there are meatballs in the freezer, right? And thanks to your shopping trip this morning, we have pasta, stuff for salad, did you get pie-"

Marshall grabbed Mary's arm and pulled her against him, the movement stopping her running inventory. "Enough. You've been jabbering non-stop ever since we left the park to keep me from asking you what you've got up your sleeve but now that we're home you don't have any more excuses. Please, just tell me."

She grinned up at him. "If you wanted to skip dinner and go straight to dessert all you had to do was ask."

He released her so fast she teetered on her feet. "What the HELL has gotten into you?"

The smile slipped from her face. "Am I too late?"

He swallowed. "For what?" his voice hoarse.

But she had whirled away, dropping her purse and coat on the sofa. "I need to take a quick shower before I get started on dinner, is that all right with you?"

His eyes fluttered shut as the world righted itself again. Perhaps he had only imagined the words. "You don't need to cook – that's my job, remember?"

She smiled. "I can manage pasta and salad – and the meatballs will be yours. Do you want to run to the corner store and get some of that specialty bread to go with it?"

He stepped back into her space. "Mary, what is this? Is this a date – or just dinner?"

She bit her lower lip. "It's whatever you want it to be."

He threw his hands up in the air. "I'm not playing games with you –"

She grabbed his hands and held on tight. "I'm not playing games –not with you, not anymore, Marshall."

He stared down at her in disbelief. "Since when?"

"Since the day you moved in here." She stretched up and touched her lips to his, feeling the shock that ran through his body. It had been years since she had felt his lips against hers and every cell in her body was crying for her to prolong the contact, but she kept it light and short, pulling away almost as soon as it had started.

His lips followed hers before his eyes snapped open and his head reared back in shock. "A year? You've waited a whole year?"

She nodded.

"Why?"

Mary released his hands and took a step back. "I was trying to read you – take my cues from you. You seemed so happy with the way things were – being my roommate and best friend, Norah's godfather and uncle that I didn't want to rock the boat. But then, something happened while you were gone and I started thinking-"

"What happened?"

"You're not going to like it," she warned him.

He rolled his eyes. "I'm sure I won't – but tell me anyway."

"You should sit down."

"Just tell me this – am I going to have to post bail for you or put another letter of reprimand in your file?" he groaned as he lowered himself onto the couch.

"No and maybe."

"Maybe," he repeated slowly. "That's not reassuring."

"Look, she totally had it coming – and I've restrained myself for a year – hell, more than a year really-"

"She – Mary, what are you talking – Abigail," he breathed her name in sudden understanding. "Mary, what did you do?"

She hung her head so he wouldn't see her smile. "I punched her."

"You what?" he choked out.

"Marshall, you weren't there! You have to understand – she was goading me, telling me that she could say anything she wanted since I'd promised you I'd behave. And I was doing fine until-" she bit her lip, swallowing the rest of her words.

"Until what? What did she say?"

Mary waved his words away. "It doesn't matter. I punched a police officer and I'll be lucky if she doesn't press charges."

He held out his hand and when she placed hers in his, he pulled her down next to him. "Mary, talk to me. Whatever she said obviously upset you enough to punch her. So what was it?"

"Marshall, why did you call off your engagement?"

"I don't see what that has to do with-" his eyes met hers. "Is that what the two of you were talking about? Did Abigail tell you what happened between us?"

Mary shrugged. "Sort of."

He heard the pain in her voice and his hand tightened around hers. "Tell me what she said."

Mary licked her lips. "She said that I wasn't the reason you'd left her – is that true?"

He ignored her question. "Then what happened?"

"I told her it didn't matter, that you were happier with me than you'd ever been with her."

He groaned. "And then?"

Mary sighed. "Then she said that the rumors must be true and that we're roommates with benefits and that's when I punched her."

Marshall looked at her for a moment before grinning madly and pulling her against him. "I can't leave you alone for a minute. I leave town for a few days and you're having a brawl with an ex-fiancée over my honor."

"Hey," she protested weakly. "What about my honor?"

"Yeah, right. Keep telling yourself that, Sunshine."

"That was delicious. I'm glad to see some of my culinary skills are rubbing off on you."

Mary whipped her dishtowel and smiled when it smacked him in the butt. "Jackass."

He laughed. "More wine?"

"Please."

They carried their full glasses into the living room and set them on the coffee table as they curled up on the sofa, Mary sticking her feet on Marshall's lap. He looked deep into her eyes as he slowly began to rub her left foot. "Mary, remember what you were saying before about not wanting to rock the boat?"

"Mmm," she sighed, her eyes at half mast from the massage Marshall's hands were giving the sole of her foot. "What about it?"

"Well, what if I said I just wanted to be friends now?"

Her eyes popped open and looked at him, expecting to see the teasing light but instead saw only seriousness. "So you no longer love me?"

His fingers stilled on her foot. "I – wait, what?"

She smiled. "You don't love me? Because I love you."

His eyes fluttered shut. "Mary, you said no more games. Please-"

She moved swiftly, straddling his lap and winding her arms around his neck. "I meant it, no more games. I do love you."

He winced. "Yeah, like an eight dollar whore."

"Marshall, open your eyes and look at me."

He shook his head slightly. "No, I think I'll keep them closed for now, thanks."

She shrugged. "All right – if you won't open them – I guess you leave me no choice." She leaned in and pressed her lips to his. "Does that remind you of anything?" she whispered in his ear. "How many kisses did you give me while I was in a coma after my shooting? How many times did you tell me you loved me?"

His eyes flew open in surprise. "You heard me."

"Hi. Yes, I heard you."

"Then why – God, Mary-"

She shuddered against him. "I know – I screwed up, so many times. I was scared. You're the longest relationship I've ever had with a man and I didn't want to mess that up with feelings." She laughed bitterly. "So I ran from them – and in the process I hurt you and me and kept us apart. This past year you've been so content and I've been a mess. But I'm selfish, Marshall and I can't wait anymore – I want to be with you."

He was shaking his head before she finished and slowly unwinding her arms from around his neck. "I can't – we can't, Mary. I'm sorry." He slid out from under her and stood up.

"You're sorry?" she blinked in surprise. "For what?"

"For giving you the wrong impression – for leading you on. I'll start looking for a new place first thing in the morning-"

Rejected Mary wanted to sink into the sofa but Tigress Mary won out and she leapt to her feet as she grabbed his shoulder and swung him back to face her. "The hell you will! What's wrong? The chase was all you cared about? Now that I'm ready and willing to embark on messy with you you're no longer interested?"

He stepped back as if she had physically punched him in the gut. "God, no! That's not it-"

"Then what is it?"

He ran a hand threw his hair. "You're not the only one that's scared, OK?"

She blinked before she smiled in relief. "You too?"

"Don't gloat – it's not attractive."

"Sorry," she wiped the grin off her face. "What are you afraid of?"

"You – me – us!" He pulled her into him, cupping the sides of her face and breathing into her face. "I've wanted and loved you for so long – what if it doesn't work out? Don't you see? I'm finally at peace with things the way they are – and it took me forever to get here. I didn't think I would ever make it to this place – be able to be your best friend, your confidant, your roommate – be everything except the one thing I've always wanted with you for so long." He leaned his forehead against hers and drew a long, shaky breath. "I think it would be best not to rock the boat now. Shouldn't we just continue as we are – best friends and roommates and-"

Mary crushed her lips to his and Marshall moaned as he wrapped his arms around her. She opened her mouth and he deepened their kiss by pushing his tongue inside and Mary felt her knees grow weak. Kissing him undercover had never felt like this – if it had, she never would have wanted to stop.

Breathless, she pulled away to pant, "Do you hear yourself, Marshall? You're saying one thing with your words but your lips and your body are definitely giving me another message. I don't think we can ignore this any longer." She brushed her lips against his, smiling up at him when he leaned in for more contact as she pulled away. "We can't go back to the way things were – and I don't want to. Do you?"

He groaned and dove in for another kiss and another. She surrendered to his passion and it wasn't until she felt his hands on her breasts that she pulled away, laughing lightly. "Wait a minute there, cowboy. We're approaching second base here and we still need to get a few things straight."

Marshall tried to pull away but she snagged his hand and dragged him back to the sofa. She pushed him down and then sat down next to him, curling into his side. He draped an arm around her, pulling her close, kissing the top of her head.

Mary played with the fingers of his other hand. "She told me about Denver."

He stiffened beside her. "There was no job offer."

She tilted her head to look up at him. "But she said-"

"Oh, I know what she said. She told me the same thing. She told me she had been offered a job in Denver and what did I think about moving – actually what she said was if I loved her I'd move and leave Albuquerque behind."

"Bitch," Mary muttered, returning her head to his chest. "Didn't she realize how much you'd already given up for her?"

"Not enough, I guess."

"So that's what you meant when you said she'd asked you to give up the one thing you couldn't – the job."

He pushed her away so he could see her eyes. "No, Mary – not the job. Abigail thought that's what it was but it's always been you and Norah. I love you both so much. I could never leave the two of you behind."

She reached up and cupped his cheek. "I love you, Marshall."

He grinned. "I don't think I'll ever get used to hearing you say that."

"Not even after fifty years?"

"Maybe sixty."

She grinned. "So, we're good? You ready to try messy with me?"

He turned and pushed her into the sofa with the weight of his body. "Are you sure? Once I have you, I'm never letting you go, Shannon."

She wrapped her legs around his thighs, pulling his pelvis against hers, moaning at the delicious sensation. "Promise?"

Leaning down, he kissed the hollow between her collarbones as his fingers began to unbutton her shirt. "Promise."

2015

"Marshall? Is that you?"

He poked his head out of the bathroom to see Mary sitting up in bed, her eyes still half asleep. "Go back to sleep, Sunshine. I'll be there in a few minutes."

When he emerged from the bathroom clad only a pair of boxers, he wasn't surprised to see Mary sound asleep. She probably hadn't been awake when she'd called out to him. He crawled under the covers and she gravitated towards his warmth. Marshall pulled her close, dipping one arm low to caress her baby bump. This pregnancy was so different from her first one. She wasn't coming to see him in the middle of the night, waking him from another woman's arms. This time the baby was his and they were in it together: the cravings, heartburn, contractions, and her sleep talk and walking. Mary said this hadn't happened the last time – only with his baby. Marshall grinned as he caressed her belly. He was glad that something was uniquely different. He loved Norah like his own, but she had a dad, and he'd never take his place. This baby was his and Mary's alone.

Mary stirred and opened her eyes. "Marshall? When did you get home?"

He smiled. "About half an hour ago. Go back to sleep – it's late."

"Hm, don't want to sleep now that you're here." Her hand trailed down his chest. "I want you."

"Mary-"

"What?" her eyes were wide with innocence. "Am I too fat for you now?"

"You know that I think you're the sexiest woman on the planet-"

"So?" She leaned over and kissed him, long and slow, and he felt himself responding to her.

Later, the couple lay snuggled in their bed, Marshall feeding Mary a piece of chocolate crème pie. She sighed as the last bite disappeared. "At least this kid's taste buds are all right. Bug didn't like chocolate! She must get that from Mark's side of the family – I mean, who doesn't like chocolate?" she huffed as she leaned back against her pillow.

Marshall laughed. "Lots of people."

"Weirdos."

He laughed and kissed her, licking the corner of her lips where there was still a smudge of chocolate crème. "You taste delicious – like my favorite pie."

"You don't have a favorite pie."

He set the plate on the nightstand and turned to take her in his arms. "You still haven't figured it out yet, have you?"

"What?"

"You're my favorite pie."

Mary's eyes teared. "Marshall-"

He kissed her softly. "It's true that pie makes everything better but the most important part is the person you share it with – and I've shared more pie with you over the years than anyone else. I've never wanted to share my pie with anyone other than you. For the rest of our lives, you're my pie, Mary Shannon."

She kissed him until they were both breathless and the baby inside of her kicked in protest. "You're such a girl."

"True, but you looove me."

"Yes, I do."

A/N: That's all folks! Reviews are LOVE!