(It's a month before Mariska has to pack and finally complete her residency. She received an email asking if she would like to extend her residency. Her and Chris relationship has only become hot and deeper. She's the happiest she ever been and it wasn't just the sex or the man who's taking her to different dimensions.)
(Mariska was stressing trying to reside if she want to stay or go back home. She misses her family and best friend but she wasn't ready to leave. So here she was in her kitchen fixing lunch as she talked to her best friend.)
Mariska: Kelli I don't know what to do?
Kelli: Well what is your gut telling you?
Mariska: To stay, but I miss home and hanging with you.
Kelli: I miss you too, but Mariska this is important to you.
Mariska: It is and I've fallen in love with the kids here and this place. You really need to come visit because words can not express the feeling.
Kelli: Oh my god you got you some.
Mariska: What no.
Kelli: Marsh do not lie to me, I can hear it all in your throat.
Mariska: (rolls her eyes) What?
Kelli: Tell me?
Mariska: Your a mess Kels.
Kelli: Mmm so is it the tall, sexy one with the hulk body?
Mariska: Chris?
Kelli: See your voice changed.
Mariska: Your ridiculous.
Kelli: Yeah and I hope you're getting some dick.
(Mariska gasp as she almost choked on the tea she's drinking. Just as she was about to say something back there was a knock on her door.)
Mariska: Hold on Kels someone at the door.
Kelli: Probably Mr. Macho coming to blow your back out.
Mariska: Oh god you're relentless.
Kelli: Hey I'm just trying to see who is keeping my best friend smiling and happy.
(She opens the door seeing Chris and a bouquet of colorful peonies.)
Mariska: Hi.
Chris: Hi and these are for you.
Mariska: (takes them) Thank you, come on in.
(She lets him in as she goes to find a vase to put her beautiful flowers in. She is filling the vase with her cell between her shoulder and ear.)
Kelli: Is that him?
Mariska: Yes.
Kelli: Let me talk to him.
Mariska: What no.
Kelli: Please I promise to be nice.
(She can feel Chris watching her from the stool as she turns to him.)
Mariska: My nosey best friend wants to talk to you.
Chris: Oh, this should be fun.
Mariska: Kelli if you say anything out of line I'm hanging up.
Kelli: Ok just hand over the phone.
(She hands him the phone as she bites her nails.)
Chris: Hello.
Kelli: Well hello Chris, it's finally nice to hear the voice of the person my friend is acting all giddy over.
Chris: (chuckle) Like wise, it's finally nice to talk to you. Marsha speaks highly of you which tells me what a special person you are.
Kelli: Yeah yeah enough of all that. There are some thing I need to ask you before your relationship goes any further.
Chris: Ok, hit me.
Kelli: I want you to know that she is my best and only friend since we was babies. She's sweet, kind, and would give you the shirt off her back. She hasn't had many relationships that has her smiling and happy like this one. But I need you to know that if you harm one hair on her head I don't mind getting on a plane and coming to kick your ass.
Chris: (looks at Mariska) I can promise you that will not happened. Our relationship is fresh but it's been five months I've known her. I would never disrespect her in any way and I want nothing but the best for her.
Kelli: Good to hear, now can I talk back to Mariska.
Chris: Here, she wants you.
Mariska: (kisses him) Thank you.
(She takes the phone and can hear Kelli saying she heard them kissing.)
Chris: I'll be over here.
Mariska: Ok it'll just be a minute.
(She hangs up with Kelli and goes to sit next to Chris.)
Chris: Your friend Kelli is something.
Mariska: She's only looking out for my best interest. We've known each other since first grade and she can be very protective. She knows how I get when it comes to relationships and not want wasn't best for me.
Chris: (nods) I'm guessing the guy before me wasn't.
Mariska: No, he was rough around the edges and let's just say that it caused a lot of mental issues for me.
Chris: Well it's a good thing we haven't really put a label on this.
Mariska: I only have a month before my residency is up but I was asked if I wanted to extend it.
Chris: Yeah?
Mariska: Yeah, six months or a year.
Chris: Whatever you decide I'll support you.
Mariska: (sigh) Thank you, I just have a lot to sort out and it's driving me crazy.
Chris: (kiss her neck) How about I take your mind off of it for a while.
Mariska: (smiles) Mmm and what do you have in mind?
(Instead of telling her he shows her and it not only takes her mind off it but he blows her mind. Afterwards they are cuddled up in bed as he runs his hand through her hair.)
Chris: What's on your mind Marsha?
Mariska: A lot.
Chris: I'm a good listener.
Mariska: I'm going to extent my residency.
Chris: Yeah?
Mariska: Mmhmm, I love it here and it's the happiest I've been in a long time.
Chris: What about your family?
Mariska: It's only another year, and who knows once I'm done with school, I might come back.
Chris: You would move here?
Mariska: I don't know, I have to finish school first and see where it goes from there. What about you?
Chris: Well I want to make the clinic bigger and maybe add a pharmacy. I would love to have a family one day, build a house on the island.
Mariska: What happened between you and Rachel?
(Chris shifts a little from the very uncomfortable question she just asked. She watches him and rubs a hand over his chest and stops on his heart. They settled back down as she waits for him to tell her what really happened.)