I don't own Home Alone

A/N: After finishing Holiday Heists, I was thinking of having a continuation after the events that occurred from that story. I was inspired by the movie "Bushwhacked" which was originally supposed to be a spin-off of 'Home Alone' of Marv being a reformed man, though the movie went down a different route. I decided to do my own version and see how it goes in the upcoming future chapters. There may be some OOC'ness but I will try my best to keep everyone in character. Also, if any OC's go down the Mary-Sue route, please let me know and I shall do my best to change it.

Enjoy!

What year was it?

Serving time in prison was enough to make anyone lose track of time. Marv Merchants felt that he was slowly going to lose his mind seeing the same faces and doing the same routine for the past…he didn't know how long it had been!

His sentence had been served in 1993 due to a series of offenses that included robbing homes back in Chicago, breaking out of jail, robbing a toy store, and in potential possession of a firearm. Now that detail, Marv had refused to believe. That gun did not belong to him, nor did he steal it. In fact, that gun belonged to Harry Lime who had used it as a weapon to break out of prison in Chicago during a riot. As he served his sentence, Marv strayed away from Harry. It had all started with single words, to the silent treatment, and then to completely staying out of his way. During that time, Marv noticed that he felt a bit better without having Harry around him. He didn't miss the condescending insults or the kicks that Harry gave him every now and then. Just because he had a bumbling personality did not mean that he was to be used like a punching bag. He just hadn't been given the opportunity to show his potential because it was always overshadowed by Harry.

Now that he had found himself to be all alone, it was a moment of epiphany that turning into a life of crime was not worth it. He was going to commit a robbery, get caught, thrown in prison and serve his sentencing. It would be a never-ending cycle to the point where he would get a life sentence. He didn't want to spend the rest of his life in jail. He was not like Harry, who would thrive under that stamina. He had tried to do that when he and Harry planned to escape from Cook's County back in Chicago and he had gotten knifed in the arm. It was a painful experience that he was never going to forget, and he clearly remembered that Harry wasn't at all concerned about his wellbeing.

Sitting in his individual cell, Marv had just come back from finishing the laundry and he was waiting to be called for dinner. The fact that he had to face Harry down in the cafeteria almost made him want to skip dinner. Just the thought of being in proximity with that man did not help if he wanted to change his life for the better.

As he sat on his bed, a police officer came by his cell and looked at him. He was had a very youthful look to him, and Marv could see a bit of innocence in his eyes which would be erased by the years of experience he would gain working here. "Well Mr. Merchants," the young officer said as he unlocked the door, "it's your luck day today."

Marv furrowed his eyebrows at that sentence. The only thing that he would consider lucky was...no way! Was it happening? "I'm…I'm going to be released?" he asked.

"On account of your good behavior," the police officer said.

So, all those responsibilities that had been given to him and keeping out of trouble had worked. Marv didn't think that it would considering his reputation and being partners with Harry. "Really?" Marv asked as he slowly got up from the bed, thinking that was too good to be true.

The officer nodded his head. "Be ready in an hour for your release." He took a step back away from the cell and closed it shut, giving Marv the opportunity to gather his belongings.

After an hour and filling out the appropriate paperwork, Marv found himself standing outside in the crisp cold air of New York. Being out of the prison outfit and into his normal attire made him feel stripped away from being labeled as a prisoner. However, that word was always going to be in his permanent record. Holding onto the remainder of his belongings, he looked to his left and right, seeing which direction he could take. Without Harry being here, there was that feeling of emptiness.

No, no he thought to himself. He didn't need Harry and Harry certainly didn't need him. Harry only meant trouble, and he didn't want to wind up in jail again. As he finally decided to take direction, he turned his head and looked at the building one last time. Would Harry be wondering why Marv was nowhere to be seen? Or would he just shrug and call him a double-crosser?

Forget about him Marv thought as he tore his eyes away from the building. Forget about it all! He continued his direction, not bothering to turn his head back. The only question that remained was, where would he go? He had no place to stay in New York unless he was willing to find an abandoned apartment and sleep there with…ugh those rats. The only place that he could think of, which was equally unpleasant, was Central Park. How could he sleep there for the night without freezing to death? It was difficult trying to start fresh again without any form of preparation beforehand. He could go to an apartment and ask if there was a free room, but who would want to take him when he didn't have any money? Well, he could consider taping his hand again…but no, that would make him go back to his old ways.

As he continued his walk down the street, he passed by a diner and suddenly stopped. The aroma of food made its way to his senses, causing his stomach of growl. He needed to have something to eat. Something warm. He looked up at the small restaurant and saw the name, Tom's Diner. It wasn't anything fancy on the outside, but the inside looked very warm and welcoming. Marv took notice of the Christmas decorations that the diner was attired with one both the outside and inside. So, it was the holidays. How ironic that many years ago, he was arrested on the eve of Christmas and then let out during the holiday season.

He walked inside the diner and saw that it was nearly empty but still operating for the remainder of the night. He walked over to the bar and took a seat on one of the empty stools. At least it was warm in here and there weren't many people. He reached over for one of the menus and scanned his eyes through it. He didn't know when the last time was, he had some decent food and prison food was not that appetizing. There weren't many options on the menu other than the usual sandwiches, steaks, meatloaves, French fries, and burgers. A juicy burger sounded like something that he would want to sink his teeth into and celebrate now that he was out of jail.

"Coffee?" a voice suddenly asked as he looked up from the menu.

Oh God! Marv thought as he looked at the waitress that was standing in front of him holding a pot of freshly brewed coffee in her grip. After all these years, he didn't know that she would still be living in New York. The look of shock on his face suddenly turned into relief as he continued to stare at the woman. "Amy…"

Amy was equally shocked to see Marv sitting right in front of her. The last she had seen of him was 1992 where him and Harry were arrested. The events of that night, she had put them behind her but now that he was out, it was as if that year was coming back to haunt her. I don't believe this. It's been so long! she thought to herself. If Marv was here, then Harry couldn't be too far, and he was someone that she never wanted to see again. She had the urge to pass Marv to another waitress, but they were understaffed for tonight and one of them was too busy taking care of other customers on the floor. Just pretend like you don't know him she thought to herself.

"Coffee?" she repeated.

The smile that Marv had slowly disappeared. Was she playing or did she not remember him? The latter was unlikely. It wasn't as if Marv had changed that much. He still had the same hair, eyes, and mustache. He just probably looked a little tired and thin than before. "Sure," he answered her as he pushed the empty mug towards her. "Fill 'er up." He watched as the dark liquid splashed into the mug before he looked up at the woman. "How have you been Amy?"

Amy took a deep breath, keeping her eyes averted from Marv. "I don't think this is appropriate," she said to him in a low tone.

Appropriate? Marv thought as he frowned at that word. "I can't come to a diner for some food?" he asked her. "I thought places like this offered good customer service."

If her boss was hovering around, Amy would have gotten an earful of his lecture that it was important to give good service regardless on whom the customer was because 'the customer was always right,' he would proudly say. "That's not what I meant," Amy said with a shake of her head. "It's been six years since I saw you two and this is just…" Torture? Agony? Misery? "…painful to see either of you."

That was something that he hadn't expected for her to say. Had she not gotten over those events? Especially the betrayal that they had done. "How long has it been Amy…since you last saw us?" he asked her.

"It's 1999," Amy said as she motioned to a calendar hanging by the wall. "It's been six years. And I thought that I would never see either of you again."

"And look at how it turned out," Marv said to her, "it's a small world ain't it? Just like you, I didn't think I'd be out of jail."

"Due to what condition?" Amy asked him.

"For good behavior," he answered her.

A light chuckle escaped Amy's lips. "Really?" she asked when she saw the serious looked on his face. She slowly shrugged her shoulders before continuing, "then again, I shouldn't be too surprised about that. Your heart was in the right place, most of the time, but your mind wasn't."

He didn't know whether he should take that as a compliment. How many times did he feel that Harry was overdoing it with his schemes and the revenge that they had upon those two siblings? However, he only followed Harry's plans and hoped that it wouldn't end in a disaster. "I guess I had a title to live by. You can't be a Sticky Bandit and have a heart now, can you?"

"I wouldn't know," Amy said as she rose an eyebrow at the title that he had given himself, "I was never a bandit myself." Her eyes searched around the diner before landing back on Marv. "I'm surprised to see that Harry isn't here with you?"

"Nah," Marv waved his hand in the air before bringing it back down on the table. "I cut my ties with him. He's still in jail and I don't want to spend the rest of my life there. It was unbearable spending it in Chicago and it was it way worse here."

Any prison place was worse, under Amy's assumption and she didn't want to hear any details about it. Amy wasn't surprised to hear that her ex-husband was still behind bars. In a way, it made her feel relieved. "Where will you go now?" she asked him.

Marv shrugged his shoulders. "Don't know. I need to find a place to stay and then figure out what I'm gonna do. Then—" his stomach growled, interrupting his conversation. "I think I ought to have that burger now. Getting a little hungry."

The two had been caught up on their conversation that she had forgotten to ask him what he wanted to eat. She was really slacking off on tonight's shift. "Sure," she said as she took down his order and handed it over to the back of the counter.

Fifteen minutes passed and Marv had gotten his caffeine kick for the night. When the burger finally arrived, he immediately dug into it and enjoyed every bite of it. Amy watched as he hungrily ate his meal as if he had never seen a burger before. A wave of sympathy washed over her eyes. He may had done a terrible deed six years ago, but she had also cared for him when he had stayed with them at the apartment back in Chicago. Not knowing of their whereabouts, she had grown close with Marv and considered him as a friend.

"Is there anything else I can get you?" she asked him.

"No," Marv shook his head and ate the last bite of the burger, "man that was good. But if I can have some more coffee?"

"Sure," Amy said as she poured him another cup. A moment of silence passed by them as Marv pulled the coffee mug closer to him and took a sip of the drink. She tapped a fingernail on the counter and carefully considered her words. She shouldn't be too welcoming towards Marv, especially what he and Harry had done, but there was just something that making her reconsider. It was a foolish thing to ask but she couldn't help herself. "You said you don't have a place to stay. Do you want to stay over at my apartment until you get yourself settled?"

Marv almost chocked on his coffee upon her proposition. What?! He exclaimed to himself as he then looked over at her. "After everything you're asking me to stay over?" he asked her.

Amy didn't expect that reaction out of him. She could take back her offer and have him sleep out on the cold streets…but then she would feel guilty knowing that she had been the reason for his distress. "Like I said," she spoke, "your heart is in the right place, but your mind isn't." She leaned towards the counter and held her face inches away from him, "I think that's something that you need to work on."

A light scoff escaped Marv's lips as he looked down at his fingerless gloves. The warmth of his fingers had returned, and he was glad that he didn't feel the numbness from the cold. "I can always try," he said and looked up at her. "When are you off?"

"In twenty minutes," Amy said as she took the empty plate away and poured another cup of coffee for him.

Oh damn! Marv mentally kicked himself, not even considering that he didn't have any money to pay for the food. "I can't pay."

"Don't worry," Amy said to him with a small smile upon her lips, "it's on the house."