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Mary had done it! She had figured a way back to her boy. Leaving the other legends was harder than she imagined but this wasn't her home. Natalie and Elliot especially seemed crushed and Mary would miss both of them dearly. She'd given Ash one last glance during her going away party. She'd started to tolerate her and they'd even had a couple pleasant interactions. She (or maybe it had been Leigh now that she thinks about it) had shined light on why Ashleigh had done what she had and Mary couldn't find herself being mad at her anymore.
It was late. Past any reasonable time to stay up considering she had a match the next day, but she just wanted to triple check all her calculations. She was close; she was sure of it. She got startled as a robotic voice talked behind her.
"You really should be asleep, but I guess you never were the best at keeping track of time while working," Ash (Leigh?) had said.
"I know it's late. I'm just checkin’ these calculations before lockin’ for the day," Mary had answered.
"You know I'm sorry, right? I never meant any of this to happen, but they gave me no choice," Ash said. She's pretty sure it had been Leigh now. Why would Ash ever apologize to her?
"So you've said. Doesnae mean it helps the way my heart winces every time I remember it."
If only Mary hadn't been so focused on her calculations, she would've understood that it had been Leigh talking to her and not Ash. But she had and she had been tired.
"You know it's funny. The night before all of it you told me you loved me for the first time. I knew already of course, but that was the first time you actually said it. I had been waiting for it for so long. I had told myself that once you say those words to me I'd start looking for a ring. I was planning a trip to the city to start looking for one once we'd get back home when you left me stranded in space. Nothing ever had hurt that bad before than to realize I'd been lied to by the woman I loved."
"I didn't! I- They gave me no choice! It was either I get rid of you or they will. And I knew their way would not give you any possibility to survive. They-" Ash's voice glitched loudly. Mary winced from the sound and finally turned to look at the simulacrum at the corner of her lab but she was gone. Mary thought she had finally lost it and that she'd imagined the whole thing if it wasn't for the very outdated thumb drive she found on her pillow that night. It contained very little information on Apex Predators and even less on Kuben Blisk. It also had some prototype files on something called "Time Gauntlet", which ended up helping her with her project.
Like she said. She should've realized then it was not Ash but Leigh that came to her that night.
Couple days after her party as she steps out of her ship, that she crashed on to the far end of Olympus (near where Lifeline's Clinic would be built almost a century later), and comes face to face with Ashleigh Reid after so long. Ashleigh looks exactly like Mary remembers her, and she can't stop herself from running towards her. Ashleigh looks like she'd seen a ghost (and Mary couldn't blame her) and about to take a step back, as Mary crashes into her, hugging her and almost knocking both of them over. Ashleigh flinches at first before relaxing again. Mary pulls from the hug reluctantly to look at Ashleigh before cupping her face and kissing her. Both of the women melt into the kiss which seems to last forever until Mary takes a hesitant step back and punches Ashleigh to the shoulder.
"Ow, what was that for?" Ashleigh says probably more from surprise than anything else. Mary knows it'd take more than that to actually hurt her.
"Oh, ye know well enough what it was for! I might've forgiven you but there's some explainin’ left to do."
"I guess it was too much to hope you wouldn't know or remember. Perhaps somewhere more private?"
At this point Mary takes notice for the first time of all the guards around them. She flushes red and hides her face into Ashleigh's shoulder.
"That's one way to let everyone know I'm back," She murmurs quietly.
Ashleigh lets out a low chuckle, which is rare enough on its own that it warms Mary's heart.
"Alright, you're dismissed. Clearly wasn't anything threatening, just Doctor Somers returning home. Get someone to clean this up," Ashleigh orders the guards. Then more quietly adds to Mary, "you want to go home? There's someone special waiting for his mum. Also you could use a shower."
"Ya tellin' me I smell?"
Mary raises her head to give Ashleigh a pointed look. She smiles and shakes her head and cups Mary's cheek. Her thumb swipes along her cheek and she shows her blood smudged thumb to Mary.
"Never, but you've got a little blood on your face. You didn't hit your head did you?"
She had. Her landing hadn't been the softest, but Ashleigh didn't need to know that. Mary smiles, she really did still care.
"Och, it's nothing. Where's Lillian? I'd expect her to be the first one comin' to see what was happening," Mary wonders aloud.
"She's with Newton. I've been with him when I haven't been working and Peck is with him when I can't."
"I'm afraid tae ask but-"
"It's been a year and 289 days since I returned without you. Newton's been well. Misses his mum, but that was to be expected. He's been determined that you'll be back, as have I. You came back earlier than I imagined though and I'll need your help to fix some things," Ashleigh tells her.
Almost a year and 10 months. Not ideal but better than what some of her calculations had said.
"Whatever ya need Petal."
They start their walk towards Mary's home. Mary fidgets about with her pen. NEWT peeps on her back, worried.
"You aren't going to tell anyone about what actually happened, are you?" Ashleigh wonders aloud.
"No. Ya did what you had to do to keep all of us as safe as you could." Mary answers immediately.
"You actually know. How's that possible?"
"Like I said. There's some explaining we both have to do."
"Alright. Newton is going to be so happy that you're back. As am I of course."
"Me as well. I've wanted to see him again for so long. I've never been away from him for more than a day. And now it's been almost two years for him and almost five for me."
Suddenly Mary realizes Ashleigh wasn't following her anymore. She turns around and sees her a few paces behind looking at the ground.
"I'm so sorry."
Mary goes to her and gently places a hand on her shoulder. When Ashleigh doesn't react to it she pulls her into a hug.
"I know love. You were just trying to protect all of us the best you knew how," she whispers to her hair.
"I love you," Ashleigh says with desperation in her voice.
Mary smiles. That was the second time she'd said it to her. Clearly it was easier for her now. Yes the relationship definitely will need some work, but she was back where she belongs.
"I love you too."
When they finally make it home ( home! Mary still couldn't believe it), Mary starts crying the second she's through the door. She can hear Lillian addressing Ashleigh but she doesn't register it at all as she sees Newton. He's facing away from her but turns around when Mary whispers his name.
“Mummy!” He yells and runs to her. She kneels on the floor and wraps him into her arms. She's quite full-on sobbing at this point and can feel Newton crying against her chest as well. She cradles him until he starts to squirm in her arms, which is when she loosens her hold to look at him. His hair is a little longer than she remembers and he's wearing clothes she's never seen before. His little hand comes to rest on her cheek, pulling her from her thoughts.
“You’re back! I told auntie Lilian you would come back. Are you hurt?” He asks her.
"No, no sweetie. Mummy's alright,” she chuckles and kisses his head.
“Mary, you're actively bleeding,” Ashleigh says.
Mary turns to look at her. She's smiling and there's even a couple stray tears that have managed to escape her eyes.
“It’s alright. I'm home now.”