Fic: (It's Not) Jealousy.
Title: (It's Not) Jealousy
Pairings/Characters: Abigail, Delia, implied Mary/Marshall
Rating: G
Summary: Abigail wasn't jealous. She was concerned.
Spoilers: For the finale, I guess.
(It's Not) Jealousy
They were in front of the restaurant after Stan’s dinner, saying their goodbyes and Abigail found herself caught in a conversation with Stan’s girlfriend and Delia. It was something about muffins or some kind of food that she definitely didn't know how to make. Her cooking sucked. She didn't care. They whole time the detective was giving furtive glances towards her fiancé and his best friend. They were a little apart from the rest of the group, talking and Abigail felt her heart clench. Mary’s date had left early because of his kid. He was nice and everything but everyone there could see that he would be gone in a month. A few times during the dinner, just like Abigail, he was forgotten in his side of the table when Mary and Marshall got trapped in their little world without even realize. Kenny didn't seem to mind; he engaged a conversation with the other people there and looked happy. But Abigail had noticed. And now they were there again, their little bubble, impenetrable. Delia and Lia kept talking about food but Abigail were only half listening. She was watching Mary’s body language, she never saw the inspector acting like this towards Marshall. The smiles, the touching… Mary had her hand touching his arm. Abigail couldn't hear what they were talking about, but it was probably something really funny, taking by the way they were giggling.
“Abby, sweetheart, Stan and I are leaving” Abigail was so lost in her on jealous (it’s not jealousy, she recited inside her mind) thoughts, that she didn't notice that the valet had brought Stan’s car and Lia was trying to say goodbye. They gave each other a kiss in each cheek and Lia promised they would be at the wedding. Abigail nodded and smiled almost mechanically, because that’s what she was supposed to do. She couldn't tell Lia that God only knew if there would be a wedding because whatever “issues” her fiancé had with his best friend weren't solved yet. As soon as Stan and Lia left, Abigail turned to look Mary and Marshall again. Maybe they were both a little tipsy with all the wine, this would explain that behavior. But drinking or not drinking she would never give up without a fight. The detective straightened her shoulders, lifts her chin and was ready to walk towards them when she felt a hand on her wrist. It wasn't a tight grip but it made her stop and turn. Delia was there looking at her in a way she couldn't quite describe. It was a mix of affection and concern, maybe.
“Don’t do this to yourself, girl.” the older woman said with a soft smile. “You’re only gonna make it worse.” Abigail sighed, feeling tired. She could feel the tears starting to come, so she took a deep breath and Delia gave her wrist a light squeeze.
“What am I supposed to do?” she sounded like a child. The little girl that Mary always said she was (yes, she knew about that), the cheerleader, the Nancy Drew. Only Nancy Drew was a lot tougher than her.
“Oh, honey…” Delia sounded really sorry for her, great. “The mistake was already made. Now there’s not much you can do.”
“What mistake?” it was Delia’s turn to sigh.
“You really don’t get it, do you?” the clueless look in Abigail’s face apparently was a yes to her because she kept talking. “When you asked Marshall to talk to Mary, that was your first mistake.” Abigail opened her mouth to ask how did she know about the request, but Delia stopped her. “It doesn't matter how I know. What a matter is: Mary and Marshall are worse than conjoined twins; their bond is invisible and stronger than sharing some vital organs. You are not going to bring them apart only making Marshall ask Mary to let him go. And what you did… what you asked Marshall to do, it only brought them together. What kept them from trying something more was their fear of that if they confronted their feelings it would ruin their relationship. Their weird co-dependency. But they confronted it and here they are. What’s stopping them now? Mary’s dad is gone.” Delia didn't say it, but Abigail knew. The only thing stopping them now was her. And it was so easy to go through compared with the last two. She knew Marshall loved her. He only didn't love her enough. She didn't want to think that he loved Mary more. There was no doubt that he did though. Abigail was there staring at Delia with her eyes wet with unshed tears when the valet got there with her car. She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and walked over to where Marshall and Mary were.
“Please don’t use this word, ever again.” Mary said and Marshall shook his head, but he was smiling.
“Our car is here.” Abigail said so her presence could be acknowledged. Mary turned to the younger woman, her smile fading as she was coming out of their own private bubble.
“Uh, so… we should get going.” Marshall said. “Give Norah a kiss for me.” Mary Nodded.
“Will do.” And when they were already close to the car, she added louder so they could hear. “Chief!”
This made Marshall smile. Smile in a way Abigail never saw directed to her. She looked over to Delia, who had the same expression of before. Abigail decided she would shake it off for now. Marshall was with her and only her.
Later that night when she was lying awake replaying all those scenes from earlier inside her head, Abigail got a text from Delia. It said: “Let it go or let him go. Don’t drive yourself crazy over something that could be easy.” Abigail put her phone back on the bedside table and scooted closer to Marshall. She knew that this situation couldn’t get better so she would settle for enjoying what she had while she had it.