A/N: My apologies for the delays. I've had some health issues of late, but I hope that will be ending soon. In the meantime, please enjoy.

Disclaimer: I don't own the Walton's. Too bad.

The Walton household was soundly asleep, except for Mary Ellen. Sleep eluded her as she was filled with excitement to see Curt. Saturday was two days away but it couldn't get here fast enough for her.

Sleeping alone was something that was harder to do in the last few weeks. Feeling Curt next to her the few times they laid together was soothing. She couldn't wait until marriage when they would be together every night.

Suddenly, her thoughts came back to the discussion that she had earlier with David at the hospital.

/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/

David lit up as he walked up to Mary Ellen at the nurses' station. "Hey Mary Ellen"

Mary Ellen looked up. "Hi, David, how are you?"

I've barely seen you around these parts"

"Well, I'm only part time here until school starts up again in the fall since I work for Curt during the week"

"So you're still with Doctor Willard, huh? How's that working out?"

"Good. I've been learning a lot" Mary Ellen said. She was young, but she didn't miss the double meaning in his words. "Since you're free, David, can I talk to you?"

"Sure, Mary Ellen"

She led him down to a private nearby hallway. When Mary Ellen saw no one in earshot, she stopped and turned to David.

"So did you get the flowers I sent?" David asked.

'"Yes, David I did. I've been meaning to talk to you about—"

"I've been trying to call you but you're always with Curt"

"David, I really appreciate the flowers you sent and the candy"

David walked up to his ex. "I love you Mary Ellen. My mother never should have visited you at Curt's office that day and said those nasty things and I apologize for that"

"That wasn't your fault, David, but I appreciate your concern. As I was saying—"

"I'm just hoping that this time apart has given you perspective. It has me."

"David—"

He came closer until he held the top of her arms. "Mary Ellen, I still love you. I still want to marry you"

"David I –"

"Mary Ellen, I want you to finish your college degree. We can delay having a family. You can come work for me and my father after you finish. I want to marry you. I love you"

"David! I can't marry you. I don't love you"

"That's ridiculous Mary Ellen, of course you do."

"David, I love you as a friend, but I'm in love with Curt. You know that"

"There was a time you were in love with me. I don't get how you can turn it on and off so quick."

"David, I would like to remain friends, but I won't unless you stop sending me gifts"

"Sure Mary Ellen"

"Okay, well I have to go. I'll see you around, David"

She debated on whether to tell Curt, but she decided not to. He would be upset about it. Besides, she took care of David and he promised no more gifts.

Curt lie upon his dorm bed too excited to sleep. He was missing Mary Ellen something fierce. He couldn't wait to see her again and show her how much he missed her during these last couple of weeks. He was also excited for June 12th. Some men started to get cold feet about their freedom, but he was looking forward to marriage.

The fact that he could be with Mary Ellen in the same bed without people gossiping about was a big part, but it was also to shut up the rumors in town. He knew there was one going around about him and Nora, but he recently heard one about Mary Ellen and David Spencer.

He knew that Mary Ellen loved him, but he wasn't sure about David. Yancy said he thought he saw the young doctor with Erin at the schoolhouse a few weeks back. He didn't think it was his place to bring it up to John and Olivia as the older man sometimes indulged in the drink more than he should have. Cora Beth put a bug in his ear about seeing his car in front of his house the night he argued with Mary Ellen.

He knew there were a few who thought Mary Ellen Walton was crazy for jilting a rich, young doctor for a country doctor who couldn't rub two nickels together, but he ignored them. For him, it just showed him how little material things really mattered to her. It would have been easy for her to marry the other man and live in relative comfort for the rest of her life. But she chose him instead. They bickered half the time and their fights….wow their fights…well, making up afterwards was always a bonus.

Suddenly, he realized he couldn't wait until Saturday to get back to her. He would head to the station first thing before the final class and change his ticket. If he couldn't, then he would hitch a ride or do what he had to. He missed his nurse and he couldn't stand to be apart from her much longer.

Mary Ellen arrived at the hospital for her afternoon shift Friday. It seemed time got slower the closer it came for Curt to come home. She knew that if she sat at home that she would do nothing but be under her mother's feet.

When she arrived at her locker, she saw there was a letter sticking out of it. Opening it, she smiled and began to beam as she finished what she read.

Come to the back courtyard after your shift. There will be a surprise waiting.

She was so excited to see her fiancée on Saturday that she didn't listen to the voice in her head telling her to heed caution. "Oh my God, Curt came back and has something planned. I love him so much!"

Mary Ellen could barely concentrate as the hours ticked away. When 7:00 PM came, she updated the charge nurse and went to get ready.

She was practically skipping over and when she saw the picnic in the back courtyard she shrieked in excitement. When she got there, she saw fried chicken and potato salad. As she settled in, she saw a pitcher of lemonade but what she saw next made her blood grow cold.

There was a stack of letters with a ribbon tied around them. A ribbon with her initials sewn onto each end. A ribbon given to her, but not by Curt. Those letters were tossed away several weeks ago.

"Hi, Mary Ellen"

She turned around, her anger boiling up inside her. "David, what the hell is this?!"

David flinched at her language, but shrugged it off. "What do you think it is? It's a picnic"

"David, I told you that I love Curt"

"But you said we can be friends. Friends have picnics" David said as he was confused about Mary Ellen's attitude. Erin gave him those letters earlier as encouragement to continue his campaign. Now he wondered if it was too soon.

"Friends do not have romantic picnics. Stop this David. I'm marrying Curt. There's nothing you can say to change my mind. Please leave me alone"

Mary Ellen tossed the letters to the blanket and ran away. David could only stand there dumbfounded as he couldn't fathom what went wrong.

Curt walked into the hospital looking for Mary Ellen. He got to the desk and was disappointed when he heard from the charge nurse that Mary Ellen just left for the night. He decided to check on one of his patients while he was there since he was updated by Doctor Scott before he left North Carolina. As a favor to the other doctor, he agreed to look in on his as well.

Finding the charts he needed, he decided to see the other patients after seeing his own. After checking in on Miss Emily, who was back with a touch of the pneumonia, he saw first a young man who was hospitalized with a concussion.

When done, he headed to the elderly patient who was hospitalized with heart issues. On his way there, he encountered Stephan. "Hey there, Doctor. How are you?"

"Fine, Curt. Just finishing my rounds before I go home"

"Say, we need to find a time to take the ladies to Charlottesville. How's your schedule next week?"

"All over the place. Listen I have to get going. Say hi to Mary Ellen for me" Stephan finished before walking away, leaving Curt confused. He knew when someone was giving him the brush off, but he would have to deal with that later as he headed down to Sallie Brown's room.

When he walked in, he saw the elderly woman reading a book. After he greeted her, he started examining her while she talked to him about her family scattered all over Virginia except for her daughter who visited every day.

"Now Miss Sallie, you know it's light out, soon. You're going to need your rest. Your heart is going to need your rest"

"I will Doctor"

Curt happened to turn around and he saw a stuffed animal, a beautiful picture frame, and other small gifts. When he saw the Sanders candy, he whistled. "Miss Sallie, someone sure loves you. These candies are not cheap"

"I wish I could take the credit, but there's from a sweet nurse here, Mary Ellen"

Curt hid his surprise. "Mary Ellen got these?"

Sallie didn't notice the look on Curt's face as she continued to talk. "Yes, her fiancé was out of town but this old beau of hers kept giving her gifts. She didn't want to waste them so she's been giving some to me and another couple of patients. She didn't want to say anything to her sweetheart because she didn't want him upset"

Curt's blood boiled, but he kept his cool. "Well, I'm sure she had her reasons" Curt patted her leg. "Now remember, lights out and Doctor Scott will be in tomorrow to check on you"

"Okay, good night Doctor Willard"

"Good night, Miss Sallie"

After he closed the door, he kept his composure as he dropped off the chart at the nursing station. He was almost out the door when he saw Mary Ellen come in a side door hurrying towards the exit.

"Mary Ellen!"

She turned around and pushed down her anger and nervousness as she ran to her fiancé and jumped into his arms. "Oh Curt! I thought you weren't going to be home until tomorrow"

"I wasn't, but I was able to get out early and wanted to hurry back because I missed you"

"Oh I missed you—"

Jealousy overruled common sense as he went on the offensive. "Mary Ellen, what the hell is this about you getting gifts from David Spencer?"

Mary Ellen was in shock for a second as she processed his words, but before she could, Curt continued his interrogation.

"It's a hell of a shock going into a patient's hospital room and see gifts my fiancée received from the man she almost married. Why the hell did you let David Spencer give you those things?"

"Curt—"

"No, Mary Ellen. I thought I knew you better than that. How could you accept them? I thought that you wanted me"

"But you don't un—"

"I can't believe this. I leave you for two weeks and already you and David Spencer are all friendly"

Mary Ellen heard Curt's last biting comments and blew her gasket. "WE ARE NOT FRIENDLY, CURTIS WILLARD! DAVID SPENCER IS NOT MY FRIEND! I LOVE YOU BUT IF YOU ARE TOO STUPID TO REALIZE THAT THEN I DON'T WANT TO BE AROUND YOU!"

Mary Ellen ran away with tears down her face. Curt stood for a second but then went to find her. As angry as he was with her, she shouldn't drive upset. When he got to the parking lot, he saw he was too late as the jalopy was gone from the parking lot.

Not wanting to cause an accident, he sat on the bench outside to cool down before driving home. As he calmed down, he realized coming at her with both barrels was not the best way to talk about it and at the least he owed her an apology. Knowing her temper matched his own, he decided to go talk to her in the morning. Still feeling mad, Curt took a walk around the hospital.