Same script, different cast

Coming around again

Four months later

I should have known better,  for the four months that I've been home everything has fallen easily back into place.  My relationship with Marshall felt stronger and more intense than ever.
He'd dropped the bombshell on me that he'd arranged our wedding, it was everything that he knew I wanted but we were now just four months away from being married and life was so hectic.

Working full time, planning a wedding, packing up our house and keeping an eye on the building work at the new house was exhausting.

Sitting amongst packing boxes labelling them up for our move at the end of the week I was beginning to feel overwhelmed. Marshall had left to go to the studio the mess of packing stressing him out, I had pointed out that he could help and he'd helped by trying to get me to have sex with him so he was quickly despatched otherwise we'd never get anything done.

My phone rang as I was busy wrapping fragile items in bubble wrap and I smiled seeing it was my man “Morning Peach,  what can I do for my husband to be?” I sing song down the phone and I'm greeted by silence “Marshall?” maybe he's butt dialled me, it wouldn't be the first time!  but then I hear him take a deep breath before he speaks “Annie, come to the studio please!” and then he hangs up,  he didn’t sound like himself at all. My heart sinks as I begin to worry.

Leaving all the mess I've made I grab my keys and run out to my car,  driving way too fast to the studio,  my mind plaguing me that something bad had happened to him or one of the guys or the girls.  I was so glad to finally pull onto the parking lot and rush into the building, but I don't see anyone, the place is unusually quiet there's always hustle and bustle.
Come to think of it there was only Marshall's car in the lot. It’s all really worrying and a bit strange, then it crosses my mind that he's got me here for one of his special lunch breaks, I should have just let him have sex with me amongst the packing boxes and avoided my trip out, laughing to myself I stand outside his office door.

I stop with my hand on the door handle when I hear him talking quietly to someone and my heart clenches in my chest as I finally find the courage to open the door and my world crashes to the floor around my feet and evaporates into thin air.
My heart stops beating for a second as I stand looking at Hannah sat on the couch with Marshall sitting on a chair opposite her,  I vaguely register him holding her hand. 

I try to speak but my mouth opens and my voice has gone she at least has the decency to not look at me instead she focuses on Marshalls hand in front of her, she looks like she's been crying and it's only when she lifts her arm to wipe her eyes that it becomes visible,  she's pregnant!  heavily pregnant. 

My knees shake and suddenly give way unable to hold my trembling body up any longer and I sink to the floor “Annie" Marshall says softly but he doesn't leave her to come to my aid. In that moment I feel like I've lost everything.

I can't cry and I won't cry in front of her. Marshall eventually moves to me, picking me up and hugging me tightly to his chest, his face buried in my hair as he sobs quietly, I remain impassive and unmoved by his tears and I can't help but feel that this is the end, maybe the end of us. “I'm sorry baby, I'm so fucking sorry!” he says over and over in my ear until I eventually find the strength to push harshly away from him. “You told me you used protection with her! Were you lying about that?” My voice is loud sounds accusing and I feel numb, I wait for him to answer.

“I did, I swear to you Annie I did!” he looks me in the eye as he says it and foolish or not I believe him. “He's telling the truth Annie, but he wore the condoms I gave him” Hannah stands up and approaches us “Only I needed a little insurance policy and so I made sure they wouldn't be effective"