Okay, originally I was going to leave this as a standalone but I just couldn't leave it without some sort of closure. I'm sure, this isn't going to a popular choice of person to help try and get back on track but I have my reason. Please review and let me know what you think!

Enjoy!

Raphael walked into the bar, glancing around and was relieved to see the man he was looking for sat in a booth at the back. He made his way towards him, trying to work out what he would say once he reached him. Both him and his wife had been invited to the wedding and Raph was surprised that he genuinely felt happy for the couple but did wonder whether it was a little weird him attending the service. In the end, he decided he couldn't miss it after all those years of wondering about Mary and Marshall.

He was just as surprised as anyone when Mary never showed up and was actually worried something had happened to her when no one had heard from her. He would have never expected her to just let Marshall wait.

He slid into the booth opposite Marshall, who didn't look up from the tumbler of scotch in his hand. Raph had only been to this bar once and that was with Marshall a few days after Mary had been shot. They had been at the hospital, Mary still hadn't woken up yet, it was long after Jinx and Brandi had left and the two men began to talk. After they were kicked out for the night, Raph suggested a drink and Marshall brought him to this place. He said this was the only bar that he hadn't been to with Mary…the only place he could go without expecting her to walk through the door to meet him. That was the time that Raph confirmed his suspicions about their relationship going deeper than a partnership and friendship.

"I thought you might need a friend…" Raph broke the silence; now that he was there he suddenly felt a little awkward.

"Someone who knows what it feels like?" Marshall mumbled, still not looking up.

"At least your engagement got further than mine." Raph tried to joke.

"Yeah, I got all the way to the alter." Marshall downed the scotch in one mouthful. "Maybe the next guy might just be able to get her to actually say 'I do'."

"You're kidding, right?" Raph asked and Marshall glanced up at him questionable. "There is no next guy, Marshall….There is only one guy… always has been and that's you…You do know that, don't you? That you're the guy."

He sighed. "No, not anymore I don't…"

"I know Mary loves you."

"Sometimes that isn't enough." Marshall rubbed his eyes.

"What happened?" Raph couldn't help but ask.

"She kept pushing me away….For 12 years that's all she has done." Marshall told him. "But this time, it worked and I walked away."

"You could go back."

He shook his head. "It would make things worse..."

"So, that's it?" He asked. "You and Mary are done? How is that even going to be possible? You work together….You been a big part of each other's life for so long."

Marshall leaned back against the back of the booth. "I need to know whether that is the only reason we're together."

"What? Because that you can't live without each other?" Raph asked. "That seems like a pretty good reason to me."

"I can't live my life in fear." He shook his head. "Not anymore…"

"I don't understand…"

"I don't think I do either." He sighed. "I just know I'm tired of decrypting what she says to what she actually means."

Raph frowned a little bit. "I guess, that was my problem…I never realized that I had to do that."

"Do you want a drink?" Marshall suddenly stood up, pulling his wallet out of his pocket.

"I'll have a beer."

Marshall nodded before walking over to the bar. Raph sent a quick text message to his wife, telling her he wasn't sure how long he was going to be. He still couldn't work out what made him come here to look for Marshall. He knew that Marshall was a good guy and he did like him but Mary had been pretty keen on keeping them apart when they were dating. At the time, he had reasoned that she didn't want to mix work with her personal life but as time went on, he wondered whether it was because she didn't want Raph to see the connection she had with her partner….the kind that she should have had with him.

"She has changed, you know." Marshall sat back down, sliding a bottle of beer across the table at him. "Becoming a Mom has made her more open."

"I believe that." Raph nodded.

"You think I'm making a mistake…" Marshall said suddenly. "That I shouldn't have walked away."

"I didn't say that."

"I mean, I know her better than anyone…I know what she is like…I should know that the wedding wasn't what she wanted." Marshall continued, not allowing Raph to say anymore. "Maybe it was my own fault for allowing things get this far…"

"Marshall." Raph cut in. "What do you want? You're right, I was surprise when I heard that you guys were having a real wedding with the whole church and everything…none of that seemed like Mary so it made me think that it might have been what you wanted."

"It was traditional route...I was happy with the plans…Our families were pleased we didn't run off to Vegas…" Marshall answered. "But I thought she knew me well enough to know that I didn't need all that."

"And that's the problem?" Raph questioned.

"I hate that she didn't talk to me about this." He ran his fingers through his hair. "I hate she let it get to a place that made her so uncomfortable that ran…ran from me….I hate that I didn't notice before it was too late."

"Have you talked to her?"

He nodded, miserably. "She said it was all too much…"

"Well, that's something, isn't it?" Raph said, trying to sound positive which caused Marshall to look at him questionably. "That it was the wedding that was the problem…That her feelings for you have not changed."

"That's not the problem…" Marshall claimed and ran his hands over his eyes. "My head is spinning….I can't think about this anymore…"

"Maybe you should stop drinking then." Raph suggested, sliding the bottle of beer away when he saw the other man reaching for it.

"I don't know how to explain how I feel." Marshall sat back, one finger tracing the grain on the wooden table. "For years I've watched Mary hide the person she is because she's scared of putting herself out there and getting hurt…she hid behind this tough, badass image that hardly anyone got to see…."

"Except you." Raph interrupted.

"Yeah, except me…I thought I was different but in the end, she treated me just like everyone else."

"This can't be the end for you guys." Raph claimed. "I know if Mary was here and heard me say this, she'd punch me in the face but you're her happy ending, Marshall."

Marshall swallowed his eyes stinging with tears and refused to look up. "Mary doesn't believe in happy ending…"

"I think she does." Raph said boldly. "She just doesn't think she deserved it."

Marshall didn't reply. He had nothing to say to the other man's statement. 24 hours ago, Marshall would have absolutely agreed with him but now his head was all over the place. The silence between them was broken by Marshall's cell phone ringing. Raph watched curiously as Marshall looked at the call ID, hesitating for barely for a second before accepting the call.

"Hello?"

"Marshall?"

"Norah, is everything okay?" It was almost 10pm, she should be sleeping. "Does Mom know you're calling?"

"I borrowed Aunt Brandi's phone." Norah told him. "I wanted to say goodnight."

Marshall fell back against the booth, pain stabbing through his heart. He didn't know if he could do this. He didn't think he could not see Norah every day.

"Are you ready for bed?" Marshall managed to ask. "Pajamas on? Teeth brushed?"

"Uh-huh." He could imagine her nodding her head in reply. "Aunt Brandi read me two stories but I'm still not sleepy."

Marshall was relieved to hear that Brandi was there. Mary might not appreciate it but her sister has grown up over the past couple of years, mainly after becoming a Mom herself. Although, he did hope that Jinx wasn't there. Brandi would know to give Mary space but would stay nearby and take care of Norah…Jinx would hover, would want to fix things.

"Mom has been crying." Norah whispered, probably because she didn't want to be heard and Marshall felt the pain in his heart hit him sharper. He had to fight all his natural instincts not to get up and run to her.

"She's a little upset but she'll be okay." Even to his ears, it didn't sound convincing but Marshall was sure that with time Mary would be okay. She would have to be for Norah's sake. "So, don't you worry, okay? Now it's time for bed…"

"I'm not tired." Norah replied even though she yawned which made Marshall smile.

"Get into bed and lie down." He told her, he listened to the quiet rustle of sheets. "Comfy?"

"Hmm-mm."

"Now close your eyes." He whispered, completely forgetting his surroundings and the fact that Raph was sat opposite him. "Now think about something nice…"

"Like when we went on vacation to the beach?"

"Yeah, remember playing on the sand and in the water…" Marshall told her. "Remember building sandcastles and then knocking them down…"

Raph pretended he was busy checking his messages on his own cell phone but he couldn't help but listen into the other man's conversation. He really couldn't imagine Marshall ever walking away from Mary and he was sure it would be impossible for him to leave Norah behind.

Marshall kept talking softly until there was barely a sound on the other end of the phone and he was sure that Norah was sleep. He stayed on the line for a few seconds afterwards just to be sure before forcing himself to hang up.

"What are you going to do now?" Raph asked once Marshall had placed the cell back on the table.

"I told Mary I was going to New York." Marshall ran a hand over his tired eyes. "I have a friend who has been on at me for ages to go out and catch up."

"Well, it's late now so I don't think you'll be getting on any airplane and I don't think it's a good idea after what you've drunk." Raph started to stand up. "I'll drive you to a hotel."

"You don't need to." Marshall stayed seated. "I can take care of myself."

"I want to." Raph insisted. "Let me help…"

Marshall stared up at him, every part of him wanted to turn him down. He wasn't sure he was quite ready to stop drinking yet but he could tell that Raph wouldn't just leave him there. He sighed and pushed himself to his feet, grabbing the small bag that he was supposed to live out for the foreseeable future.

XxXxX

Brandi quietly crept out of Norah's bedroom so she didn't wake her niece. She had happily handed over her cell phone earlier when Norah told her she wasn't sleepy and asked to play a game on her phone. She would have given Norah anything to keep her quiet and so she didn't ask any questions like why her Mom was crying. When she went to check on her niece and find her sound asleep, the cell phone still clutched in her hand, she shouldn't have been surprised to see Norah had made a call to Marshall.

Now that she didn't have to worry about Norah, Brandi could focus all her attention on Mary. Her sister hadn't said much since she arrived and watched her break down on the floor. At first, Brandi wondered whether Mary had been sick and that's why she didn't turned up for the wedding. She had been reaching for her phone to call an ambulance when Mary had stopped her.

Fortunately, she had managed to convince Jinx to stay away. Mary hadn't been keen on Brandi sticking around and she flat out refused to let their mother join them. So, instead Jinx was at Brandi's apartment, looking at her daughter Summer.

When there was a knock on the door, Brandi groaned quietly. She really hoped Jinx had listened to her when she told her stay away for the night but when she opened the door she saw the last person she was expecting.

"What are you doing here?"

"I've come to see Mary."

"It's not a good time."

"Who's at the door?" Mary appeared; there was only one person she hoped it would be but knew the chances of Marshall returning that night were zero.

"Mary…"

"Raph?" She stopped dead in her tracks.

"Hi." He managed to give her a small smile. "I wanted to talk to you…"

Mary stared at him in disbelief before shaking head and turning to walk away. "I don't have time for this."

"I've seen Marshall."

Mary stopped once again and slowly turned around. "What?"

Raph glanced at Brandi, who had stepped aside to allow him into the house.

"I had a drink with him." Raph explained, walking further into the house.

"Tonight?" Brandi questioned.

Mary folded her arms, defensively and glared at her ex. "Why?"

Raph shrugged a little. "There was a bar we went to once…"

"Once?" Mary cut in.

"It was when you were in the hospital...He said….he told me it was the only bar he liked that the two of you had never been too." He replied. "I took a guess that he might be there tonight."

"Still doesn't explain why you went."

"I thought he might be a friend."

"Last time I checked you weren't friends." Mary commented. "So, what is it? You guys starting a group? Do you want Mark's number and all my other exes?"

"Marshall is not your ex."

Mary glared at him once more. "This has nothing to do with you…"

"You can fix this, Mary."

"How?" She threw her hands up. "He left….just like…"

"Just like who?" Raph questioned when Mary trailed. "Just like me? Just like your father?"

"Go to hell…You know nothing…"

"I know I asked you to stop me when I walked out." Raph followed her as she walked away. "I know I would have done anything if only you asked me to stay but you let me leave…You pushed me away…"

"So, is that what this is about? Pay back?"

"Wake up, Mary!" Raph said coolly. "We both know it was the right decision for me to leave and for you let me and that's because we weren't right together but you and Marshall…"

"Well, like I said, you don't know anything….Not about me and Marshall." She claimed. "I know I screwed up, he may have walked away but it's my own fault and it's the best thing for him."

"And your little girl?" He questioned. "Did you know she called him tonight? It broke his heart that he had to say goodnight over the phone instead in person."

Mary looked past him to Brandi, silently asking if it was true. Her sister just held up her cell phone and gave a small nod.

"Don't bring her into it." Mary warned but the truth was, she had no idea how she would cope being a single mother without Marshall, even with Mark around. More than anyone else in the world, she wanted Marshall in her daughter's life.

"Mary…" Raph voice softened slightly and he stepped closer to her. "I think we both know that after some time apart Marshall will come back….because he loves you…because he doesn't know life without you but if you love him and want a good future with him then you need to go to him…"

"And what? Beg him to come back?"

"Yes." He said simply. "He may understand your reasons for not wanting to get married today but he doesn't understand how you couldn't talk to him about it…how you could humiliate him in front of all your friends and family…"

"It wasn't like that…"

"You have two options….Go after him and fight for him…"

"Or?"

"Or do what you did for me…" Raph shrugged a little. "Let him go so he can find happiness somewhere else."

Brandi had watched the whole exchanged, silently. For once, she had not wanted to get involved in her sister's business because she didn't want to risk causing more damage. She knew that Mary loved Marshall and that there was no one else better matched for her but she was beginning to wonder whether Mary would ever be able to settle down with another person. Maybe their childhood had screwed her up more than Brandi realized. Maybe she would never trust a man to share a life with… not even Marshall.

"I dropped him off at this hotel." Raph placed a business card on the table. "You should probably leave it until the morning…Give you time to think about what you want plus he had quite a bit to drink tonight."

Mary didn't replied, instead she just stared down at the card, knowing it was a hotel near the airport…He wasn't lying about leaving New Mexico.

Raph surprised her by stepping forward kissing her cheek gently. "I don't want you to hurt him, Mary and I really don't want you to hurt yourself…"

She stayed rooted to the same spot as he walked away but when she heard the front door opening, she ran into the hallway. "Raph?"

He turned around to see her in the doorway, the hotel's card clutched tightly in her hand.

"Thanks."

He gave her a small smile. "I'll see you around."

"See you." She whispered, watching him step out of the house and disappearing into the dark night.

TBC

Yes, TBC; what was originally going to be a standalone has turned into a three part story. We can't leave it without seeing what Mary does. Chase Marshall or not.

Now, my reason for Raph going after Marshall. Of course, Stan, Bobby and co would all want to help out but I always curious about Raph and Marshall. Obviously, while Raph was in a relationship with Mary, there was a chance he could be jealous about their friendship/partnership but when we saw him in the final series, he had obviously moved on. He had also hinted that he suspected there was more to Mary/Marshall relationship then either of them would admit when he talked to Mary about Marshall's engagement.

Anyway, let me know what you think. Thanks for reading!