A/N: So I know this fic is completely different from anything else I've written for the IPS fandom - and that's why M&M in the present time are coming across as a bit OOC. All I can say is, I'm really excited about this fic and I hope that the few of you that are taking the time to read and review stick with me because I believe it will be worth it in the end!

Now, who's missed Marshall and Will's interactions the past couple of chapters? Papa Mann arrives in Miami - hmm, things are about to get VERY interesting. . . .

They called it the redeye for a reason.

Marshall's eyes felt gritty and he didn't need to look in a mirror to know that they were bloodshot. He hadn't slept a wink on the flight, his mind too busy with memories and his heart too heavy with guilt for not coming with his son in the first place. He wouldn't win father of the year this time – an award that Will had made for him every year since he was four and given to Marshall on his birthday.

As he parked the rental in front of the hotel, he noticed someone swimming in the outdoor pool, but it wasn't until he got out of the car that he saw it was Will. Locking the car, he headed for the fenced in structure and stood in silence on the other side watching as his son did laps. This was something Will had done ever since he was twelve or thirteen to calm down. The first time he and Will had fought about Mary and why he didn't know where she was, Will had gone out to their pool and swam laps until he collapsed. Marshall had had to rescue him, carry him back inside, as his son cried like a baby in his arms. Watching as his son cut through the water, he knew how much he was hurting – and Marshall would give anything to take it away.

When Will finally sat down on the steps, he spoke softly through the fence. "Couldn't sleep either, huh?"

Liam whirled at the sound of his voice. "Dad! You're here!"

Marshall nodded and knocked at the gate. "Care to let me in – or are you mad at me too?"

The words hadn't even left his lips before Liam was opening the gate and throwing himself into his Dad's arms. "You came – I'm just so glad you came."

Marshall hugged his son tight, swallowing the emotion in his throat. "I'll always come for you, Will – don't ever doubt that."

"She doesn't even know me-" he whispered into his dad's neck. "I – I came all this way and she doesn't -" he choked on the words.

"Hush-" Marshall soothed his son as if he was eight instead of eighteen. "I'm here now and we'll deal with this together, all right?"

Liam nodded as he cleared his throat and stepped back, running an awkward hand through his wet hair. "Um, sorry about your clothes."

Marshall grinned. "I have more. Let's sit down-" he motioned to the loungers by the pool and sat down across from his son. "Tell me everything that happened once you got to your mom's place."

He listened without commenting as Will told him about Raph and Atlantic City, her broken ankle, and the fact that she didn't remember marrying Marshall or having a son.

Marshall frowned. "What's the last thing she remembers – did she tell you?"

Liam shook his head. "All she said was that you two broke up after graduation before you – you know," he blushed furiously.

Marshall nodded. "I get the picture – but we never broke up after graduation. Sure, she ran off but I caught up with her at our spot and-" his voice tapered off. "She doesn't remember that, does she?"

Liam shrugged. "I don't know, I don't think so. When I mentioned you guys making up on the beach, she had this blank look on her face-"

Marshall winced.

"I'm sorry, Dad."

"It's OK – amnesia or not, it doesn't change the fact that she left you."

"Us, Dad – she left us. But now that you're here, you are going to see her – talk to her?"

"If you think it will help-"

"Dad, you have to talk to her! She wants to see you – and if you don't, she'll marry that other guy."

"Will, listen to me. Regardless of whether or not I see her, your mom and I are not getting back together, OK?"

"How do you know?"

"Because it's been eighteen years! We were kids then and now we've grown into two completely different people with separate lives. I'm not going to let you believe that something magical is going to happen when I go see her, OK? We're not going to fall into each other's arms, kiss and POOF! Her memory comes back and we're one big happy family. That's not how this works."

"But you still love her-"

"Did you tell her that?" Marshall demanded, his blue eyes piercing into his son's.

"I –I may have hinted-"

"Shit, Will! That is the one thing-" He paused to take a deep breath. "Please, don't say anything else like that to her, all right? My love is based on the memory of a girl I knew back then – not the woman she is now. All I want is for the two of you to connect and have a relationship, if that is what you want. Is it?"

Liam took a deep breath. "I think so – I mean, when I was talking with her this afternoon, it was nice. I like her, Dad."

Marshall reached out and patted his knee. "Good. Then that's settled."

"But she wants answers from you about what happened – can you do that?"

Marshall took a slow, deep breath before nodding. "If Mary wants to know the truth, I can give her that – as much of it as I know."

Mary rolled over and fell on the floor. "Fuck!" she swore, as she rubbed her hip and tried to ignore the pain shooting up her leg from her ankle. She had forgotten she was trying to sleep on the couch since the bed had been invaded by a snoring drunk Hispanic man. When she had emerged from her shower earlier in the evening, all warm and relaxed and ready for bed, what had she seen in her bed? Raph, naked as the day he was born except for one strategically placed ice bag, sprawled diagonally across the spread, passed out.

"No sex includes sharing a bed with you, Ramirez!" she screamed at the unconscious form as she grabbed a pillow and blanket and limped to the living room.

Now here she was hours later, still trying to fall asleep. But every time her eyes closed, she kept seeing Will's face just before he ran out the door. They had been having such a nice time before Raph had come barging in- would Will come back? Or would Marshall call and say she had blown her one and only chance to know her son?

Marshall – her husband. She shook her head, trying to wrap her head around the idea. She remembered the kisses they had shared and how safe and protected and cherished he had made her feel – something none of her other boyfriends had done. He had never pressured her for sex, which was something the others had wanted from the very beginning. Marshall had been into romance and doing little things for her – and he had never complained when she had had to bring Brandi along on their dates. In fact, he always found a way to include her in whatever they did and Mary knew that her little sister had had a crush on her boyfriend because of it. He told Mary he loved her in a million different ways and never seemed to be bothered by the fact that she didn't say the words back to him. She wanted to – it was just that everyone she loved, she either hurt or lost. She remembered when he got his full scholarship to Harvard and though she was happy for him, she knew it was the beginning of the end. Because she couldn't go with him and she would never ask him to stay behind just for her.

Middletown High

June 1995

"Mary, sweet pea! There you are!"

Mary gritted her teeth and pasted a smile on her face as she turned on the lawn just in time to be surrounded in a heavily perfumed hug.

"I'm SO proud of you! I bet you thought this day would never come!" Jinx cooed.

Mary cocked her head. "What does that mean – didn't you think I'd graduate high school?"

"Of course I did, baby. I just meant you had senioritis so bad that it seemed like it would never get here!"

Mary relaxed. "Oh, well, thanks. I am glad to be done with high school."

"I bet you are, little darlin'," Earl boomed as he swung an arm around Jinx's waist. "Ginger, when can we get out of here? I'm parched – and there's no food around here."

Mary ignored her mother's latest conquest. "Where's Brandi?"

"I don't know – she was right by me a minute ago," Jinx waved a hand vaguely. "Maybe she's with your boyfriend. I swear that child has the biggest crush on your man. I'd be careful, Sweet Pea, or she'll steal him right out from under you."

"Mother! She's twelve years old!"

Jinx batted her eyelashes at Earl. "So?"

Fighting nausea, Mary muttered. "I'm going to go look for her. You – do what you want. See you later."

She moved away through the crowds, dodging families taking pictures and fellow classmates posing with friends.

"MARY!"

She turned in a circle at the sound of her name, but didn't see anyone waving at her. Suddenly she was attacked by a pair of arms around her waist and she smiled down into her baby sister's face.

"There you are – I was looking for you."

"I was with Marshall. I told him how much I liked his speech. Wasn't it dreamy?" Brandi gushed.

Mary tugged on a pigtail. "Dreamy? Are you talking about the speech or my boyfriend?"

Brandi blushed.

"Squish, did you even understand what he was talking about?"Mary asked as she captured her sister's hand and resumed walking through the crowd.

"Sure, I did. He was talking about hopes and dreams and some girl named Betty Nor."

Mary stopped and stared at her little sister. "Who?"

"Weren't you listening? He used to have bad dreams about some girl named-"

Mary bit her lip but it was impossible to hold back her laughter. "Oh Squish – he wasn't talking about a girl named Betty – he was talking about petit noir – that's French for nightmare."

"Oh." Brandi huffed out a breath. "Well, why didn't he just say that?"

Marshall appeared at Mary's side, winding an arm around her waist. "Because it sounds better in French, Bee."

"Marshall!" Brandi squealed. "What-"

"Could you get me a drink, Bee? I'm really thirsty from all the talking I did up front."

"OK!" Brandi saluted and ran off towards the punchbowl.

"Alone at last," Mary breathed as she wound her arms around his neck.

"Not for long-"

"Then you better shut up and-"

His lips met hers and the grassy lawn and all the people faded away until all Mary could hear was the pounding of her own heartbeat in her ears.

"Marshall!"

He broke away from Mary's lips to see his father standing a few feet away, his face red.

Mary looked up at him in concern. "Trouble?"

"Afraid so – meet me later at our spot?"

She gave him a short peck. "Sure – just let me get Brandi home."

"Now, Marshall!"

He rolled his eyes as he went over to his father and Mary went to find Brandi. She found her talking to Mrs. Evans, their upstairs neighbor, by the punchbowl.

"Hi, Mary. Congratulations!"

"Thank you – Mrs. Evans, would you mind taking Brandi home and staying with her if my mom's not there?"

"Of course not – you know I love staying with her."

"Hey! I'm twelve now – I can stay alone."

"Yes, I know – but I don't know how long I'll be."

Brandi pouted. "You and Marshall are going out. Can't I come?"

"Not this time."

"You always say that."

Mary leaned down. "No, I don't. You come lots of times and you know it. But today I want it to be just us, OK? You can do something with us tomorrow, all right?"

Brandi threw her arms around Mary's neck. "OK, love you sis."

"I love you too."

Mary winked at Mrs. Evans and meandered through the crowds, knowing that Marshall wouldn't be done talking with his father for awhile yet. But as she was walking back that way, she saw that they were locked in a heated conversation and her curiosity got the better of her. Moving closer so she could hear without being seen, Mary pulled herself up on a nearby stone ledge and listened.

"- she's not worth it! I won't have you throwing away your education over some girl!"

"I'll still be going to college, Dad-"

"But this is Harvard, son! You're throwing away a free ride to one of the finest schools in the country for what? Your girlfriend?"

Mary's hand flew to her mouth. Wait – he wasn't going to Harvard? This is what he wanted to talk to her about?

"I love her, Dad. She could very well be the one-"

"Oh please! You're eighteen years old – what do you know about love? You're obviously not thinking clearly. Just screw her and be done with it."

"DAD!"

"What?"

"Things aren't like that between us – I've never – we've never-"

"Why not? According to her reputation she'll spread her legs for anyone who asks-"

Marshall's fist connected with his father's jaw as Mary slid off her perch. "Marshall, stop!"

He whirled at the sound of her voice. "Mary-" he breathed. "How much-"

"Enough. Please, don't! I'm not – he's your-" she was crying, the tears falling fast and furious. "Don't throw your life away for me. I'm not worth it." She turned and fled.

"Mary, wait!"

That was the last time she remembered seeing Marshall – and up until yesterday she had thought that's where their relationship ended. Until Will had shown up and said they had gotten married and had a son.

Mary punched her pillow and closed her eyes. What had happened between that moment and her waking up in the hospital? She knew Marshall had some of the answers and if she had to torture them out of him, she would. But would he be able to tell her why she had pulled a James Wiley Shannon and abandoned her own family? She needed to know, even though the truth would hurt.

"Are you sure you don't want to come with me this morning?" Marshall leveled a serious gaze at his son over his coffee cup.

Liam shook his head. "I think it would be better if you saw her first, alone. I've already had my first meeting – and besides, what if that fiancé guy is still hanging around?"

Marshall grinned. "I'm not going to beat him up, Son."

"Come on, Dad. The guy's a total prick."

"That's not fair – you showed up out of the blue and blindsided them yesterday with this information. I'm sure in the light of a new day, we will be able to talk about things rationally."

Liam snorted. "Yeah, right. But there's something you should know about this guy, Dad – he was drunk when he got back to Mom's last night."

Marshall frowned. "She's engaged to someone who drinks?" He shook his head. "That doesn't sound like the girl I used to know – but then, I'm sure she's changed. Did she drink last night?"

"Not with me – we had root beer."

Marshall relaxed. "Well, that's good. I guess I just thought since Brandi made the decision not to drink alcohol that Mary would do the same but I can't do that."

"Do what?"

"Think of them as being the same – even at eighteen and twelve, Mary and Brandi were very much their own individuals."

"When did Aunt Brandi decide not to drink?"

"It was a promise she made over Jinx's grave – growing up with an alcoholic mother and then having the alcohol be responsible for her mom's death-" Marshall shook his head. "Brandi vowed never to touch the stuff, and except for unknowingly drinking some spiked punch in college, she never has."

"But Mom was long gone by the time Jinx died in that accident-"

Marshall nodded. "But when we were together, we talked about it – her past and how alcohol had affected her. We agreed never to have alcohol in our home. So I can't understand how she could be with someone who drinks, unless she's started to drink as well."

"I guess you'll just have to ask her."

Marshall shook his head. "I have no right – she's not-"

"What – your wife? Dad, come on, you have every right. Even if you're different people now, I know you still care-"

"Will, drop it, please." Marshall drained his coffee cup and slowly got to his feet. "What are you going to do with yourself this morning while I'm gone?"

"There's an internet café a few blocks from here – I'll go get online and chat with Jules for awhile and then just walk around some, maybe find a place the three of us can meet for lunch later. If I do, I'll text you, OK?"

"Keep your phone with you – I'll call you later, all right? And be careful."

"I will, Dad."

Mary was scrambling eggs in the pan when she heard a thump and a groan from the bedroom. "Guess the dead beat's up," she muttered under her breath as she pushed the button on the coffee machine to start the second pot of the day. She'd already drunk one pot herself at five this morning when she had given up on sleep for the night and it was threatening to come back up if she didn't put something else in her stomach. Eggs were one of three things she knew how to make and the only one that required a heat source. If she wasn't careful, her eggs came out burnt on the bottom nine times out of ten, but they still filled her belly and that was the most important part anyway. Today, since she was alone in the kitchen with only her thoughts to distract her, she managed to keep them from scorching.

She was just sliding them onto a plate when she heard feet shuffling behind her and she turned her head to peer over her shoulder. Raph was standing by the table, still naked, holding his head in agony, squinting his eyes against the bright light of the sun streaming into the room.

"Mer- is there any coffee?"

"Go put some clothes on, Raph."

He lowered one hand and stared. "Since when do we have a dress code in the kitchen?"

"Since now – go put some clothes on and I'll pour you a cup."

He grunted and went in search of a pair of boxers. "Why are you such a bitch in the mornings? Is it your time of the month or something?" he called over his shoulder.

Mary laughed. "No – you would definitely know if that was the problem."

He reappeared in the doorway wearing boxers and a T-shirt. "Then what – wait, I'm remembering something," he shook his head. "Was there a kid here yesterday claiming to be your son?"

"His name is Will and yes, he's my son."

"Mon Dieu, I'm going to need more than coffee." Raph stumbled over to the counter, reaching for his waiting cup of coffee.

"You had more than coffee last night and look at the sorry state you're in this morning." She slid into a chair and began eating her eggs.

"What are you doing?"

"Eating breakfast – I don't want my eggs to get cold."

"Eating – how can you eat at a time like this?"

Mary shrugged. "I'm hungry."

Raph's eyes fell to something sparkly on the table – her engagement ring. "What's this?" he demanded as he scooped it up. "Why isn't this on your finger?"

Mary took a deep breath. "Raph, I can hardly be engaged to you when I'm still married to-"

He held up a warning finger. "Don't. Don't even say it. You're not married – you can't be. This whole thing is some big joke – you'll see. This ring is going back on your finger-"

She shook her head. "Not until we've figured this out one way or the other."

Raph dropped to his knees beside her chair. "Mary, I love you. Yesterday I was ready to elope to start our life together – please say that you still want the same. Tell me nothing's changed – that you still want our life together."

Mary swallowed hard as she looked into Raph's dark eyes. "I – I – just need some time to figure all this out. Can you do that? Be patient and give me time to get my answers?"

Raph hung his head as the doorbell rang. "Are you expecting anyone?" he asked and Mary nodded. "Who?"

"Let me get it-"

"No – who's at the door, Mary?"

"Raph-"

He shot to his feet and with her broken ankle beat her to the door easily. "What do you want?" he demanded, throwing open the door in Marshall's startled face.

"You must be the fiancé," Marshall drawled, his face set in a blank mask.

"Yeah – and you are?"

"Marshall," Mary breathed his name as a smile broke out on her face. "It's been a long time."

He nodded tightly. "Hello, Mary."

Raph looked between the two of them, anger building inside of him at their connection. "You're the husband?"

Marshall blinked. "Yes."

"I don't believe it." Raph turned back to Mary. "You married HIM? Seriously? Why?"

Mary had been studying Marshall, noticing every little detail about him that had filled out since the last time she had seen him. Marshall cleared his throat and she dropped her eyes as Raph's words penetrated her consciousness and she turned back to him in surprise.

"Why?" she repeated, her voice hoarse with emotion. "I was in love with him."

A/N: dun dun dun - I know, I'm mean to leave it there! Want more? Leave me some love in reviews!