A/N: So I posted this story at like…four in the morning…no proof reading, no real review from myself. I think I'm putting the first bachelorette party at 4 months ago, and again, I have my reasoning, you'll see…but this is Mary, so I'm gonna roll with it. Sorry about that! I was really impulsive with this story. Well, continuing on…

All The Stars Have Gone Away

They say bad things happen for a reason
But no wise words gonna stop the bleeding
'Cause she's moved on while I'm still grieving
And when a heart breaks, no it don't breakeven, even, no
What am I gonna do
When the best part of me was always you
And what am I suppose to say

When I'm all choked up and you're okay

I'm falling to pieces

One's still in love while the other one's leaving
Cause when a heart breaks, no it don't breakeven…

She could remember the hurt, disappointed look on Raph's face when she postponed the wedding. After the bachelorette party, she'd gone to him, fear filled eyes and full of sadness.

"I…I can't do it," She'd whispered in a rush. She'd lost her best friend. He refused to be there for her on her most important day. When Raph had asked why, she'd been quick enough to come up with an excuse; it was too soon…she wanted a real wedding…she just needed time.

He'd given her time. He'd given her four months since the bachelorette fiasco, since the original date. And when her hope in Marshall's return had failed, she'd told Raph she was ready. She didn't want another bachelorette party. She didn't want a big reception. She just wanted something quick, something quiet. And that new wedding date was in twenty four hours.

She couldn't sleep. Wouldn't sleep. She put all the faith she had in something bigger to bring Marshall to her. All the wishing in the world wouldn't change how she'd hurt him, but she could try. And she could hope that he would give her another chance.

And, if she had to admit it to herself, her feet were colder than ice—and aching to run.

XOX

"Eleanor, if I wanted to be a pin cushion…" Mary glared at the second 'bridesmaid' viciously.

"Well, if you would stop dancing around I would be able to fix it!" She snapped back. Mary hadn't been the atypical bridezilla until today. Now nothing was right. The flowers were in the wrong places, the cake was late, the dress was too loose, her hair was wrong…and Eleanor had already figured out what the half crazed bride was doing. Eleanor glanced up at Brandi, the true maid of honor, who Mary had freaked at the thought of touching her dress with her untrained fingers. "Brandi, do you think you could get Mary a shot of anything with a decent amount of alcohol in it?"

"Sure, yea, that's a job I can do easily," Brandi answered, eager to escape from the torture chamber.

When she'd fled the room, Eleanor turned on Mary, standing and facing the reluctant bride. "Mary, why are you trying to ruin your wedding," Eleanor asked, but made it abundantly clear the wiser woman already new the answer.

Mary chewed on her lip, tears welling in her overly made up eyes. She couldn't even lie anymore. "It's already ruined," she whispered. "He's not here."

Eleanor sighed, placing her hands gently on either side of Mary's distressed face, forcing her to look at her. "Listen, to me, for once Mary. If you need him to be here, if his absence on this day is that crucial to your wedding, then I want you to think about who you're marrying—and why. Because I think you already have your answer, and because I think you are making a mistake. But like Stan, I will stand by and let you go through with this, if that's what you want. If that's who you want."

Mary didn't move. Didn't make a sound as she digested Eleanor's words, wrapping them around her mind over and over again.

"Now, I'm finished with your dress, and the flowers are fine and the cake will be here and you look beautiful. So I'm going to leave you now," Eleanor stated surely, leaving Mary alone in the room with nothing but the heavy words hanging in the air.

"Stupid," Mary whispered, frustrated at the day already. "Stupid, stupid, stupid, all of it," she cried, sinking down to the floor as the white dress floated softly down with her. She plucked at the bouquet next to her, pulling one of the roses out of it, twirling it in her fingers. She remembered when she used to pull the petals off, the aim of the childish game to end up with the last petal meaning 'he loves me.' Instead, she dug her manicured fingernail into the stem, breaking the connection and watching the pretty white bud fall. He wasn't coming.

No matter how many times she wished or bargained or played.

She swiped at the tears, brushed her hair out of her face, and stood. She really needed that shot right about now, wondering where Brandi had run off too—or if she'd already drank the bottle herself. When the door opened behind her, she sighed with relief. "Thank god, I need that right about—"

The door closed. Her voice caught as she turned.

"Sorry, I'm late. It took me awhile to get here."

XOX

She shook her head. Was she imagining this? Was he really there? For a moment, time seemed to slow for the pair in the room. He looked the same, immaculately dressed in a well made suit; sounded the same, seemed the same—if but for the resignation in his sad eyes.

"Why now?" she whispered the question, more to herself than to him. He looked away, faltering.

"I…I needed closure. You need closure. I couldn't leave us…that way."

"You left me, Marshall. You left. You promised you would never leave me," she said shakily. The anger and happiness converging over each other as she tried to work out the scene in her mind.

He swallowed hard, never moving from his position by the door. He needed the distance. "I think…you know…this is your day. I didn't mean to come uninvited. This was a mistake. I just wanted to…I just want you to know that I wish you all the best. You deserve the best, Mary…don't let anyone tell you any less. Don't let anyone give you any less. If…if you ever need me…I'll be here. I can promise you that. You can always find me."

She closed her eyes, breathing, thinking. Somewhere past the room she could hear the sound of the violins playing. Guests were being seated. Finishing touches were being made. Eleanor and Brandi would be coming to get her soon. Raph would be waiting at the end of the white rose trail. And yet, it didn't make her happy. It didn't seem right.

When she opened her eyes, Marshall was closer. Not close enough to touch. Not close enough to reach out to. Just close.

"I didn't know if you had the four requirements…you know, something old, something new…" he trailed quietly.

She gave a small smile. "The dress is new, the veil is old—it was my mom's; Brandi let me borrow her make up expertise, if that counts. But no blue."

"Well, then, good thing I brought this," Marshall said, sides of his mouth turning up slightly. Mary tilted her head to the side, curious. "It's not much, but I thought it…I thought it was perfect."

He set a small, white box on the side table where her ring sat, glinting in the afternoon sun. She stared at the inconspicuous gift, as if it would reveal what lie inside. The pressure of his hand weighed on the side of her face, brushing away the wispy curls her sister had styled earlier. "You look beautiful, classic Cinderella, you know."

She laughed lightly, blinking away tears. "Come on, I've cried enough." He nodded, dropping his hand.

"I know," Marshall replied, backing away from the Cinderella recreation. "Bye, Mary."

She heard the door creak open, and close behind his wiry frame. Gently picking up the white box, apprehensive about its contents, she counted to ten to calm down. There was no paper to unwrap; no ribbon to untie. Just the plain white lid hiding the object.

"Oh…Marshall…" she breathed, holding the necklace between her thumb and index finger carefully. The long, delicate white gold chain twisted and winked as she held it up to the light. But it was the thin charm dangling from the chain that caught her eye. A star—three pale blue gems blinking brightly in three of the points—for the three years, she knew, that they'd been partners, friends, and something more. She turned the star over, finding an engraving scrawled on the tiny surface.

Wishes come true

-M.

Engagement ring in one hand, necklace in the other.

She grabbed a pen from Brandi's bag, grabbed her wedding invitation from her own. The music outside increased, crescendo. They would be coming soon.

She picked the fallen bouquet up off the floor, laying it beside the invitation.

Decision made, she placed the burdening ring on top of the hastily written note, chanced a quick glance around the room, and took off running in the opposite direction.

She'd be long gone before they knew she left.