It is the possibility of us that rests in

the sultry air.

It hangs suspended in the spaces

between our bodies

clinging deliciously to our skin.

-Excerpt from an original poem

Two weeks had passed since the Berkshires and had not spoken to Francis. Life had gone on; work became her partner, as she devoted her time there instead of thinking about him. If she did go out with their friends, he was never there. Apparently, his father had bestowed on him a new client that was extremely important. They didn't ride to work together anymore, eat breakfast, walk home from the bar together; there was no Mary and Francis. No one need question the definition of their relationship because it no longer existed.

When she entered the restaurant after work, she quickly found her girlfriends. Their greetings aside, a pinot noir ordered, she finally relaxed. "So the guys are coming?" Mary asked smoothing down her suit skirt.

"Well yeah, Bash and Leith. They should be here for dinner." Greer answered.

"Not Francis?" Kenna shook her head. Mary rolled her eyes. The girls knew the situation and were divided in their opinions of it.

"Bash says he's taking a client out to dinner." There were the eyebrows, high and questioning. Kenna shrugged, and Mary continued to question. "Yes, it's a woman. She's the client's daughter."

"Really?" Mary said with a sarcastic chuckle.

"Mary, how can you be upset by this?" Greer asked.

"Me? I'm not upset." Greer and Kenna shared a glance. "He can be with who he wants. We're not together and we never have been. End of story."

"But-" Greer.

"No buts. I'm going to get out of here." She grabbed her bag. "Tell the boys I said hello. Love you both." They echoed the sentiment and Mary left.

When Francis turned up later at the restaurant, Kenna and Greer shared surprise. He quickly explained that his dinner meeting had been cancelled, and therefore wanted to spend some time with his friends.

"Where's Mary?" He asked. Greer looked at Kenna.

"She was here earlier, but went home."

"Oh." Francis remarked looking disappointed. "Okay." He didn't stick around long either. This was uncharted waters for them. Yes, they had fought and been distant before, but their friends had never truly felt the cold front of their small estrangements. This was different. It was as if the golden era was ending, the Mary and Francis era was over.

She knew she was late, but Mary was always late, and it was a party, so who really cared. Francis's family was throwing their annual gala for charity and she was going. It would be disrespectful to his mother to turn down the invitation, especially because of her and Francis. So here she was, dolled up in her red gown, striding into the gala alone.

She found her friends. Kenna whispered something about a new blonde, the client's daughter and also Francis's date. Mary scanned to find her. She was certainly blonde and beautiful.

It was at the bar that she finally saw Francis. He was leaning over the top in his pressed tuxedo waiting for his drink.

"You used to bring me to these events, you know." She said quietly and with a smirk. He was startled by her, but sent her a genuine smile. They leaned in to kiss each other on the cheek. "You're beautiful." He said admiring her. "Red, my favorite color for you."

"I know." Mary looked over at Francis's date. "She's beautiful too." Francis nodded.

"Her name is Olivia."

"Ah, Olivia." Mary sipped her drink.

"She's not you." Mary looked up at his calm remark: a line of defeat, a statement of truth.

"Good." She said satisfaction playing across her lips. Olivia didn't need to be her; it was best that she wasn't. She turned to leave. "I wish you all the best Francy." She smiled at him, and he smiled back. Walking away from him was harder than she thought. Although, they hadn't spoken, and although their relationship had never really been defined beyond a friendship, they both knew it was more than that. She hated that she felt it was her fault that even their friendship was gone. And now, she felt as if she was walking away from him forever. She squared her shoulders and took a deep breath. Walking away from Francis may be the hardest thing she'd have to do for a long time.

The end of the night came quickly, with Mary and Francis spending little time near each other. She every so often glanced in his direction, watching him charm clients and family friends. He too found his eyes drifting through the room to find her. Each time she was grinning or laughing about something, and it only made him detest the gulf that separated them. Olivia was beautiful, but she was not Mary. Mary was the best of everything. She was equal parts uptown girl, ready to lean on his arm, hold his hand, be his beautiful supporter at any event, and also the girl who begged for his over-sized Giants jersey to wear with her black leggings when they watched the game. She was as easy as a walk in Central Park and as difficult as a Fifth Avenue traffic jam. In her goofy antics he could find himself rolling his eyes, and in her tears his lips were so quick to gently kiss them away. It was Mary that would distract him during important events in which they needed to be serious, and Mary who challenged him to anything. That was it. She challenged him, she was the same and different at once. He quickly realized it was always the constant of Mary that he wanted. Although, she had always been the problem, pushing him away, perhaps it was up to him to resolve that problem.

It was pouring torrentially outside the venue, and Mary huddled with Greer and Leith under the awning as they waited for their drivers.

"I cannot believe this weather." Mary commented. She shivered in the slight fall breeze. She had forgotten a coat and probably should be in the vestibule instead of outside. Leith had already wrapped his jacket over Greer.

"Hey." Mary turned to see Francis's tall frame greeting Leith and Greer. "What are you guys doing out here?"

"Waiting." Greer said with an eye roll.

"In the rain?" He asked looking at Mary.

"Some people like the rain Francis." She shot back with a smile, and he knew her again, unpredictable and challenging. It would be her that would make a smart remark back.

"Where's Olivia?" Leith asked. Francis shrugged.

"She left already." Mary caught his stare and bit her lip, averting her eyes. Greer saw the exchange between the two of them.

"Look Leith, our car! Let's go! Night you two." She ushered Leith off quickly, leaving Mary and Francis alone. Silence hung between them, and Mary felt herself grinning at the thought they had nothing and yet everything to say to each other.

"You're unbelievable." Francis said softly looking out into the glow of the city lights.

"Me?" She laughed. "What did I do now?" He shook his head.

"Nothing, Mary." He paused. "You never had to do anything, but be who you are." She turned to face him.

"I don't understand."

"I know. I know." It was his turn to chuckle. "You don't understand that everything about you is what I love." Her eyes widened. "I love that you lean on me when you've been drinking. I love that you always want me to kiss you goodnight, on the lips, not the cheek. I love that you want me as your friend. I love that you make me chocolate chip cookies and bring them to my apartment at midnight, and that you are grumpy in the morning when we go to work. All of that I love." He lightly grabbed her shoulders. "I especially love that you resist me time and time again, because it only proves how much more I need to fight for you." Mary's mouth dropped open. "Do you understand? Pushing me away only makes me love you more because you are it for me Mary. We can fight every day for the rest of our lives, make love, and fight again, but I will still love you." Mary studied him in his fury of words tumbling out to her. "I don't just want a friendship; I want the friendship and more. I want all of you." She wasn't sure what she should do because there were no words to say. He only repeated what her heart had been telling her for their entire life of knowing each other. Her hands found the collar of his tux, and he studied her as she adjusted his lapel, running her fingers down the edges.

"So," She started. "Are you saying that you want to be my boyfriend?" It was a coy question, and he immediately knew her impish grin was meant to bring some light to the situation. He didn't respond, instead his arms gathered her up and he brought her lips to his. They kissed. They kissed as if it was their first time and their last, as if they had not seen each other in centuries, as if their bodies were made to fit together.

When he pulled away, her arms still hung around his neck and they were breathless. He leaned his forehead against hers. "Is this end of our romantic comedy then? The one where the two people stand in the rain realizing they've always loved each other?" She asked. He had to roll his eyes at her. The smile played along her lips, and those brown eyes looked back up at him.

"It isn't the end Mary." He nudged her nose softly. "Will you be my girlfriend?" He asked with a smile. She nodded, her own smile spreading. "No more of this push and pull?" She shook her head no.

"No." She said softly. "You're all mine, and I am all yours." She leaned up and kissed him again. His hands clasped her face in their kiss, and when they broke he held her face close to his.

"Do you mean it?"

"I mean it." She said. "I mean it forever." He sighed letting out a breath. "Were you worried?" She asked with a grin.

"A little." She kissed him again and again and again.

"Does this mean you'll be picking me up again for work?" She spoke against his lips. He laughed pulling away.

"It means we'll be leaving my apartment together for work, okay?" She nodded, and found his lips again. Francis was happy knowing she was in his arms. Even though he knew she had always truly been his, he could finally feel it resting easy in his arms.

The End

A/N Just wanted to say thanks for all of the reviews! It is nice to hear when people enjoy your work. I do not own Reign or any of its characters, although that would be fun! Thanks again!