I finally get to my house and I grab the key from my pocket. I begin to wriggle it in the lock, hoping that I didn't mess it up this time. The door soon moves away from my grasp and Jack stands on the other side giving me a puzzled look.
"Why are you here?" He questions. I

wrinkle my eyebrows at him in confusion.

"What are you doing here? This is my house, so that's why I'm here!" I answer him in annoyance.

"I was checking on Mark because of what you said. So, what are you doing here? I thought you living big with Shane now that he's your fiancé." Jack explains in a hushed voice.

"No, I have to get my stuff still and I need to talk to Mark." I say casually as I step up so I now stand on the same level as Jack. I try to go around him, but he puts his arm out in front of me.

"You shouldn't go in there right now. Mark took it really hard, Violet, you don't understand. Seeing you right now, for him, is like seeing a man who killed part of your family. He keeps saying that you broke his heart and that he won't love again. You should just go somewhere else right now, at least until he is calmed down." Jack demands sternly.

"Aye Jack! Don't leave yet, we still haven't sung the single song yet!" I hear Wade shout as he comes running around the corner to see Jack and I. His eyes light up with terror and he approaches me slowly.

"You shouldn't be here right now Violet." He whispers in a threatening manner.

"This is my house and I need to talk to him." I state angrily.

"I'm scared that if he sees you... That he might kill you." Wade admits in a voice full of honest terror. I gasp at his answer and try to push through Jack, but fail.

"I need to talk to him. That's the only way I can even hope to make anything right with him." I say sincerely. Wade sighs and looks down at Jack who then nods and lifts his arm for me to pass.

"I'll be right around the corner. Just call if you need me." Jack whispers as I pass by him.

"You've never seen Mark like this, just know that he's pissed and heartbroken and half the shit he says isn't true. Don't get too close to him, I don't want him to do anything that he'll regret." Wade explains before I can pass by him. I nod my head.

"Okay, I'll keep all that in mind and I'll call if I need you guys." I say, glancing at Jack for a brief moment.

"Okay, I'll go with you at first and then I'll go around the corner to listen if you need help." Wade explains as he takes a few steps forward with me.

"Is Jack coming back?" I hear Bob shout from my living room.

"Yeah, and we have another special guest." Wade says, his voice shaking slightly when he speaks.

"And who might that b-" Bob cuts himself off when I round the corner and see Mark sitting on one of my couches across from Bob. I see Mark clench his fists and eye me in an angered way.

"What's she doing here?" Mark questions in a voice that sends chills up my spine.

"It's my house, I was coming hone and I need to explain myself to you. I want to be friends with you again, even if we're not dating." I say as I take a mother few steps with Wade trying to stay in front.

"You broke my heart Violet, and I don't know if I can forgive you for that." Mark states in a calmer voice, but still chilling.

"We've worked through worse Mark, and we have a lot of history together. Just because I'm not marrying you doesn't mean that I don't care about you." I say in a soothing tone, hoping that it might help to calm him down.

"Fine, sit down and let's talk." Mark responds as he moves over on the couch for me to sit. I nod my head for just a moment before I walk towards him and sit next to him without any fear. Even after Jack and Wade's warning, I won't believe that Mark wants to hurt me. We've been through too much for that to happen now. I turn my head so I can look into Mark's gorgeous eyes and there they are. The chocolate brown has hints of anger and pain, behind a shield that is supposed to show that he's strong. I can see through it though, I know him too well to be fooled by that.

"Can you guys give us a minute?" I ask, tearing my eyes away from Mark to look at Wade.

"Yeah, we'll be in the kitchen if you need anything." Wade says, his voice still shaking when he speaks.

"Okay." I respond, without any fear because there doesn't need to be. Bob gets up from the couch, a worried expression on his face as he and the others walk away, around the corner. I turn my head back to face Mark and sigh.

"Go ahead, get your yelling out. Your friends don't need to hear it, I do." I state in a type of shame as my eyes come to see into his.

"Why the fuck didn't you marry Jack? And why was your next choice this weasel who runs this place? You never even talk to him or have a relationship for all I know... Wait, were you cheating on me with that piece of garbage?" Mark snaps the questions at me angrily.

"I was never cheating on you, with anyone at any time. I would never do that to someone. I didn't marry Jack for my personal reasons between me and him. And-"

"Did he propose?" Mark interrupts me.

"Who? Jack?" I question.

"Yeah. Did Jack propose? He told me that he found a stone in a river and got another ring and replaced the stone. He made it just for you and said that you were the only person allowed to wear that ring." Mark explains which just brings tears to my eyes and I blink them away.

"He did propose, but he didn't tell me that." I respond in a shaky voice.

"Why didn't you go with him?" Marl questions in a much calmer voice.

"My reasons are between me and him and I don't want to get into that right now." I state and Mark nods in response.

"Why'd you faint? I saw it, and a lot of people got pretty worried." Mark says.

"I got nervous when I saw you, and I really didn't get much sleep last night. I was up crying I guess." I mumble the last part, as I am almost ashamed of it.

"Why were you nervous from me? You know I wouldn't hurt you, right? Even if I'm mad, I won't swing a punch at people. Especially not with you, I will never hit you, you got that?" Mark says sternly.

"Okay, I got it. And it was because you still had tear stains and I don't like seeing you sad. Your smile looks much better than tears." I say as I look down at my hands in a slight embarrassment.

"Heh, thanks. Your smile looks great too. But you're not off the hook yet, why did you choose to marry that guy that owns the compound? And why'd he agree?" Mark asks curiously.

"First, his name is Shane and isn't going to be a real marriage. He and I are going to have the image that we are married, but it won't be real. He said that I can even have a boyfriend living in his house. My main reason for marrying him is because he has no real baggage. No one will really judge me too much if I marry him and you and Jack can stop arguing over me. Because he can hug me and hold my hand if I need it, but in the end it won't really mean anything. It will just mean that we're doing natural, marriage stuff together. But behind closed doors, yeah, we'll talk, but we won't truly be together. You get where I'm coming from?" I finish, still using a calm tone for Mark's sake.

"Yeah, I get it. I'm tired though, and I need some sleep, I think you do too." Mark says as he stretches his arms above his head and yawns widely. I stand from the couch and yawn after him.

"Goodnight. I'll probably sleep soon too, you can get me if you need anything." I say as Mark stands in front of me. He looks into my eyes for a moment before I put my arm behind his neck and drag him in for a hug.

"God, I'm gonna miss this." Mark whispers in my ear lovingly.

"It doesn't have to end." I respond in a whisper as Mark had spoken before me.

"For now it does... In public at least." Mark chuckles in response.

"Yeah, but right now we should just do this. I hope that you know that I still care about you and I always will, Mark." I whisper with my head laying on his shoulder lovingly.

"Love you too. Goodnight Violet, if you can't sleep tonight, my room is just across the hall and you can come whenever you'd like." Mark whispers as he backs up sligjtly to look at my face.

"I'll keep that in mind." I say in a hushed voice as Mark and I both know that the guys are just around the corner listening.

"Goodnight, I'll see you in the morning, Violet." Mark says. Before I can respond I feel his lips press against my cheek and his beard scruff against my skin. I hold his head there for a moment and he stays completely willing.

"Goodnight Mark." I say in a caring tone. "If you need me, just come on in, there won't be anything you haven't already seen." I chuckle quietly and speak in a hsuhed voice in Mark's ear. I feel a smile curl on his lips and he looks back at me.
"

Love you." He says as he let's go of me and starts down the hallway towards his room.