I want to apologize for screwing up on the continuity last chapter. It's been a while since I've seen the episode where Raph and Mary split. No, she did not call off the wedding. As Enfleurage commented, thank you by the way, it was a decision made through indecision, and I agree thats an important distinction. I considered going back and editing it but I think I'll let it stand. I prefaced the first chapter by saying it was slightly AU and I'll continue in that vain, though I believe that the details, particularly with Marshall and Mary are very important.

So Jinx... it seemed like she needed a chapter of her own. She's not the most observant person but I think even some things can't escape her notice. Because I like to think there's an ounce of good at least in everyone, even someone like Jinx, I've decided to depict her as sober, for the moment, and in a fleeting moment of introspection, remorseful.

Disclaimer: nothing belongs to me but my twisted imagination.

Through Jinx's eyes

They had fought that morning, she and Mary. A common enough occurrence that she was sure she couldn't remember the meat of it now. Something about the house and not doing her share of housework.

She'd huffed and puffed until Mary had shaken her head and marched out to the pool for swim.

She was there now, swimming lap after lap without ceasing. Jinx wanted to feel worried, but there was nothing unusual about Mary's behavior. She watched her daughter athletically glide through the water. Jinx thought, she is young and beautiful and it has been weeks she she broke up with Chico. He'd been here only yesterday morning to pick up the last of his things.How long would it take for Mary to find someone new? Jinx hoped it would be soon, she'd be a young grandmother and she could get the kids to call her something other than grams, or nana. Maybe auntie...

As her thoughts began to wonder, she heard a knock at the door. There was no one in the house so she shrugged and went to answer it. She was surprised to find Marshall on the front stoop. It was Mary's day off and she hadn't mentioned that she was doing anything with Marshall later. Not that she would ever tell her poor mother where she was going.

She told Marshall that Mary was swimming out back and shut the door behind him as he walked through the house. Taking him in from the back, she had to admit he was handsome in a geeky sort of way. He certainly knew how to wear a pair of jeans. Had they met in a bar she might've flirted with him and asked him to buy her a drink. As it was, she figured Mary wouldn't look highly on her propositioning her partner. See, she was trying to be good!

Her eyes followed Marshall as he slipped through the back door and out to speak with Mary. She followed him as far as the kitchen and took up a watching post at the window behind the sink. The dishes in front of her providing a good cover for her plans to spy on the pair. Just motherly concern of course.

She leaned in closer contemplating cracking the window so she could overhear the conversation. She decided against it realizing she'd probably be caught. But watching wasn't out of the question...

She watched Marshall watch Mary. He just stood there and took her in with his eyes. It wouldn't be hard to catch a man like that, she thought, he'd already swallowed the hook. She wondered if Mary knew that. Jinx blinked as she realized that Marshall wasn't trying to attract Mary's attention. He'd simply seated himself at the rim of the pool, pulled off his boots and eased his feet into the water. He sat there for a few moments unmoving, until at last Mary's strokes slowed and she came to him.

They spoke and Marshall must've said something funny because Mary started to laugh. Jinx watched her daughter's face light up, and a smile curl around her lips that she hadn't seen before. She was perhaps more surprised than Marshall was, when Mary pulled him into the pool with a splash. They splashed and rough housed with each other like children. Jinx had almost lost interest when Marshall at last managed to capture Mary in a bear hug and hold her until the water and their breathing calmed. Mary didn't leap away from him or even struggle much after a bit. Jinx realized that Mary didn't want to be let go.

When did that happen? she thought. Mary barely stood being touched by anyone, even her mother! But this must be something different.

The moment came and passed where she thought something more might happen between the pair. Somewhat disappointed she glanced down at the half washed dish in her hands.

Maybe it mattered who was doing the touching? She was beginning to realize that Mary reacted differently to Marshall's presence than to anyone else's, even Chico's it seemed. Still, she couldn't put her finger on the difference.

Looking up she caught sight of another rare smile blossoming across her daughter's face. Mary was... Mary was... happy. Could that be it? Marshall simply made Mary happy.

Jinx tried to think of the last time she had seen her daughter smile at her, really smile like she was doing now. Only coming up with fuzzy and disjointed memories of her daughter's life she felt... hollow. She didn't know how to feel anything but numb.

She turned away from the window, looking for an escape from these thoughts and feelings. The faster the better.

But before she stepped over the threshold and out of the kitchen she looked back. A tear slipping down her cheek as she took in this last image of the pair.

Marshall had removed his soaked tee shirt and shaken the water out of his hair till it stood up in disorderly points. Mary sat beside him on the rim of the pool water still running down the surprisingly open back of her red one piece swimsuit, and the thin scar too, too close to her spine. Mary's hand extended, fingers gently reaching to a place in the hollow of Marshall's right shoulder just as his came to rest just below her sternum. When her head dipped Marshall leaned forward pressing a light kiss to her forehead. TIlting her chin up Mary met his eyes and licked her lips.