As Marie spread out the blanket, Skylar carried the picnic basket and, when Marie was finished, she placed it right in the middle.

'This is nice," Marie smiled as she opened the bottle of wine. "Why don't we come here more often?"

"I don't know. I guess I've been busy with work and all..."

"And don't forget about your new boyfriend!"

Skylar laughed."Yeah. That, too."

"That too? This is the first time in ages that you've actually had a boyfriend. I was beginning to think that you secretly went and bought yourself a chastity belt!"

"Marie!''

"What? Don't tell me that you and Walter haven't done, you know...the nasty!"

Turning bright red, Skylar shook her head. "I am not going to talk about that, most certainly not with my sister!"

"Why not? We're sisters. We're supposed to tell each other everything. So how about it? How is he?" Marie persisted.

"I do not wish to talk about this with you or with anyone else."

"Let me guess- he's a missionary kind of guy. I bet he makes you turn the light off, and when you're done he takes about five showers just because he can't stand to be so 'dirty!"

"Okay, we're about finished with this conversation. Besides- I notice that you've been free on Friday nights. What's up with that?"

"I don't know. I just am tired of all the bullshit guys put you through. In the beginning, they notice everything about you. It's 'Marie have I told you how beautiful you are? Marie I really really want a commitment. Marie I can see myself spending forever in your arms. A few weeks later and you find out Mr. Right has a Mrs. Right and a baby on the way. I'm just tired of it all."

"Oh, Marie...I had no idea..." Skylar sighed.

"Yeah, well, that's the story of my life. I am finished looking for the one. I'm on my own, with no one to tell me what to do, who I can talk to or what to wear. I am happy, Skylar. Really."

Skylar looked at her doubtfully. "Methinks the lady doth protest too much."

"What?"

"Nothing. Anyways you're young. You have plenty of time." Skylar looked away, her glass of wine still in her hand.

"What? What are you looking at?"" Marie strained her neck only to see what it was that had caught her sister's eye. "Oh, my. Would you look at that?"

Skylar quickly turned her head. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Yes you do! I saw you watching those hunks over there playing football! Don't worry, I won't tell Walt,"Marie laughed.

"I was not looking!"

Marie patted Skylar's hand. "It's okay. You're taken, not dead." She turned her attention to the ball players again. "Oh, my, my. Would you look at that tight end on the tight end!"

They both laughed. "He is kind of cute," Skylar laughed. "I wouldn't have to worry about crossing the street at night with him. He's built like a house!"

"Yeah, but he's probably your stereotypical jock- all brawn, no brain."

"There's only one way to find out." |With that, Skylar stood up and before Marie could stop her, she headed over towards the playing field.

Marie was mortified. Usually she was the crazy one, the spontaneous one, but for now there was no stopping her sister.

She watched as Skylar waited until the guys took break and before Marie could protest she approached the man they were talking about only moments before.

Before Marie could retreat, Skylar and the young man were headed her way. This was so embarrassing!

"Hey there," he offered his hand. "I'm Hank."

Marie said nothing; instead she just shook his hand, not bothering to make eye contact.

"Anyways...your sister said you guys were watching me and my buddies play..."

"I don't know why she would say that. My sister is a pathological liar."

Hank laughed heartily. "It's all good. They're a bunch of good guys. Mostly they're the guys at work. We like to blow off steam after a hard day,"

"See, Marie," Skylar prodded. "He has a job! That's a plus, right?"

Marie wanted to strangle her sister. "Look, I don't know what my sister's told you, but I'm really not..."

"All she told me is that you just got out of school. Something about the medical profession?" Hank asked.

"Yeah. Yeah. "

"That's cool. Anyways, I should probably run. I just had to stop by and introduce myself to the prettiest girl in the park."

"Oh, please, you probably say that to all the girls," Marie huffed. "You probably said that to my sister until she told you she had a boyfriend."

"I'm saying it to you, ain't I?"

Even Marie had to smile.

"Anyways, one of you two gorgeous ladies got a pen?"

"I do," Skylar replied quickly. She handed it to him and then he proceeded to write his number down.

"My boyfriend and I are having a cookout next weekend," Skylar spoke up. "Maybe if you're free, that is, if you want to, you could join us."

"Yeah. I'd like that. Nice to meet you, Skylar. And you," he nodded at Marie. "I'm afraid I still don't know your name."

"Marie. My name is Marie."

"Well then, Marie...give me a call. Next weekend sounds like fun. And Marie..."

"Yes?"

"I don't know. I don't know. I guess I was just going to say it's nice to meet you. And hopefully I'll see you again."

With that, Hank walked away, leaving Marie to wonder just what her sister had gotten her into. He might have seemed like a nice enough guy, but one thing was certain: she was not about to give her heart away to him or anyone else.

Little did she know that fate had other plans for her and Hank.

0000

Marie woke up with a startle, automatically reaching for Hank. But this was not their home, and he was not there. Now all she had were her memories, and even Walter White couldn't take those away from her.

TBC