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Chasing Marcella

Disclaimer:  Still not my property, except maybe in my dreams.

Summary:  After Meredith leaves him at the altar, AJ tries to get some answers from his first wife, Marcella.

Spoilers:  Anything through Season 9 on TV.  It’s also a good idea to read “All’s Well That Ends Well  - Or Not?” to avoid any confusion.

Rating:  IM15 (Just to cover my bases)

Acknowledgments:  Again, I have my muse to thank for this idea.

Saturday Afternoon

University Classroom

AJ sat down in a student’s chair, shocked by what had just happened.  The woman he loved, and thought loved him, had walked out of his life – for good.  But before she left, she brought up feelings that he had though were long-buried, about his first wife.

**Flashback**

Meredith smiled a watery smile. “She still loves you, you know.”

“That’s long past.  She has her own life now, and I have mine.” AJ sighed regretfully.

“She came across the ocean to see you.  That’s not something you do for just anyone.”

AJ couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “Are you trying to talk me into chasing another woman?”

“Well … I want you to be happy, AJ.  I think you have unfinished business with her.  At least talk to her.”

**End Flashback**

AJ shook his head to clear his mind.  He figured he’d better head back to the library, to make sure Mac was coping with everything there.  And to see Francesca and Marcella.

When he got there, the atrium and reading room were nearly empty.  Owen and Sturgis were cleaning up the last of the mess from the cake table; Harm and Mac were folding chairs and taking down decorations.   Everyone else was gone.

“We’re almost done here, sir,” Mac told him.

“Where’s, uh, Francesca?” AJ asked .

Sturgis answered.  “She and her mother went to the Crowne Plaza hotel downtown.” He handed AJ a slip of paper. “She gave me the telephone number to give to you, sir.”

Owen came up by AJ’s side. “We can go now, AJ.”

AJ’s House

AJ sat by the phone, trying to work up the courage to pick it up and dial.  Owen had left only after AJ had insisted that he would be fine on his own.

Finally, he made the call.  Francesca answered the phone, as if she’d been sitting next to it, waiting for it to ring.

“I’m so sorry for the mess I caused,” she said to him before he could get a word in.

“It’s all right.” AJ found himself trying to comfort Francesca.  After all, it really wasn’t her fault.  They talked a bit more, and AJ finally asked her, “Is your mother there?”

“Yes.  Do you want to talk to her?”

Why else would I be asking? AJ thought to himself. Aloud, he said, “If she doesn’t mind.”

Moments later, he heard her voice. “Hello, AJ. Are you all right?”

“Not really, but it will get better with time.” An awkward pause followed. “Marcella, are you free tonight?  There are … things we need to talk about.”

“I don’t know.” She sounded uncertain, not of her availability, but of him. “I suppose so.”

“I’ll come by the hotel at about eighteen hundred, I mean, six o’clock.  Is that all right with you?” he asked her, not wanting to push her too hard.

“I’ll see you then, AJ.” And then she hung up.

Later That Evening

Crowne Plaza Hotel, Washington, DC

AJ pulled his SUV up to the hotel and had the valet park it – it was much easier than trying to find a parking space on his own.  He walked into the hotel lobby and saw Francesca standing there.

“What? She changed her mind and doesn’t want to see me?” AJ asked her.

“No,” and her tone indicated something worse. “She went back to Italy.”

AJ felt his legs begin to go out from beneath him. Not again.  He moved over to where there were some chairs and sat down heavily. “When did she leave?” he demanded.

“About an hour ago.” Francesca handed him an envelope. “She asked me to give this to you.” She stood up. “You should probably read that alone.  I’ll call you tomorrow.” With a hug, she left her father.

AJ held the envelope, rubbing his fingers across his name, neatly written in Marcella’s script.  He decided to take Francesca’s advice and returned home to read the note inside.

AJ’s House

AJ sat on the sofa in his empty house.  Dammit was at Mac’s – she had been planning on taking care of her while he was gone on his honeymoon.

It’s now or never, he thought himself, and slit open the envelope.  There was one slip of paper inside.  He pulled it out and began reading.

AJ,

I know I said we would talk, but I just can’t do it.

It will be too painful for both of us.

We need to move on with our lives.

Marcella

Down at the bottom, AJ saw one last sentence.

I never meant to hurt you.

“Why did you have to run again?” AJ asked aloud, putting his head in his heads.  Just then, the doorbell rang.  He got up to find Owen Sebring standing on the other side of the door, with a six-pack in hand.

“I thought you shouldn’t be alone.”

“And you’re right, as usual.”  AJ sighed and let him in the house.

“How are you holding up?” Owen asked, as they each popped open a beer.

“Shitty.” AJ handed him Marcella’s note.  “I went to talk to Marcella, and got this.  Along with the message that she had gone back to Italy.”

Owen read the note quickly and said, “So what are you still doing here?”

“Didn’t you read?  She said she didn’t want to talk!” AJ exploded.

Owen kept calm. “Yes, but I remember what you told me before.  That she’d wished you had chased her the last time she ran.  So, I’m asking you again, what you still doing here?”

“What do you propose?”

“Call your daughter and find out where Marcella’s going. And then you go there.” Owen handed AJ the phone.

AJ thought for a second, then nodded and took the phone.  He dialed a number. “Hello, Francesca?  I need a favor…”

Naples International Airport

AJ walked down the jetway, carrying a small duffle bag. He had packed lightly, not sure how long he would be staying, if at all.  Francesca had told him that Marcella had a villa nearby – he hoped he would be able to find her.

“Signore?” A young man walked up to AJ.

“Si?” AJ replied hesitantly.

“Avete bisogno di un tassì?” Do you need a taxi?

AJ quickly said, “Parlate ingles?” Do you speak English? AJ remembered some Italian, but not enough to get himself around the city.

“Yes.  Do you need a taxi?”  His English was unaccented.

AJ sighed with relief. “Yes, I do.”

“I can help you, then.” He held out his hand. “Pietro Salvaggio.”

“AJ Chegwidden.” AJ shook his hand.

“My taxi is right this way.” Pietro led the way. “So, Mr. Chegwidden, are you here on business or pleasure?”

“Neither,” came out of AJ’s mouth before he thought. “I mean, it’s personal.  I’m looking for my, for someone.”  He pulled out the paper on which he had written the address that Francesca had given him. “Do you know where this is?”

Pietro looked at the scrawls on the paper. “Ahhh, yes, overlooking the Bay of Naples.  A very pretty area.  I can take you there.”

AJ negotiated a price with Pietro and they started their drive.  They passed a few minutes in silence, then AJ asked, “How is it that you speak English so well?”

“My mother.  She’s American – came here on a study program thirty years ago, met my father and never left.” Pietro grinned.

“That makes sense,” AJ commented.  The rest of the ride passed in silence; AJ trying to figure out what he was going to say to Marcella, and Pietro thoughtfully did not interrupt his thoughts, until they arrived.

“Mr. Chegwidden?” He turned to face AJ. “We’re here.”  He had pulled up in front a simple, yet elegant, villa. “Would you like me to wait here for you?” he asked.

“Yes, please,” AJ replied as he got out of the cab. “I don’t know what kind of reception I’m going to get here.”  He walked up the path to the front door and knocked.

The door creaked open and he saw Marcella’s beautiful face.  A look of shock replaced the smile as she realized who was standing in front of her. “I never thought …”

“You thought wrong.  May I come in?”

Marcella stepped back from the door. “I’m sorry.  How rude of me,” and she gestured for him to come in. “Did you want anything to drink – tea, wine or water?”

“No, thanks.” AJ marveled that, even though it was obvious he was an unwelcome visitor, she could still be a gracious hostess. “Let’s sit down.”

She complied, sitting on the edge of the chair, as if ready to take flight.

AJ smiled reassuringly at her.  “Don’t worry.  I’m not here to yell at you.” He paused. “Although I was mighty tempted when I got to the hotel and you were gone.”

Marcella said in a rush, “I know I should have stayed, but I just couldn’t bear to go over the past once more.  We were young and foolish, and we said such stupid things to each other and I-“

AJ cut her off.  “I don’t want to talk about the past.  Not really.” He took a breath. “Why did you come with Francesca to America?”

“I don’t … I don’t know,” she stuttered softly. “To say goodbye, maybe, to get one last look at you.”  She blushed as she spoke. “I guess it isn’t as easy to move on as I thought.”

“Marcella,” AJ spoke with feeling, “Maybe there’s a reason we can’t move on.” He reached out for her hand, and she let him take it. “We’ve got a lot of unresolved baggage we’ve been carrying around all these years.  And that scares me, probably as much as it scares you.  That’s why you ran, isn’t it?” He guessed at the reason for her quick departure.

“Yes, but you came after me.”

“I had a chance to correct the mistake I made all those years ago. You said we were young and foolish, and you are right.  We were.  But we are both wiser, and sadder, now.  Let’s not make another mistake.”

“What do you mean by that?” Marcella looked up at him.

“I want you in my life,” AJ admitted. “I don’t want to jump into anything too sudden – I mean, my fiancée just left me at the altar, and I don’t want you to feel like I’m doing this on the rebound.”

“What are you have in mind?”

“Let’s get to know each other all over again.  I know the reasons why I fell in love with you, and none of that has changed.  But let’s work on becoming friends and see where that takes us.”

Marcella nodded and kissed. “I like the sound of that.  Shall we begin now?”

“Yes.  How about we go out for dinner?  I have a driver waiting outside…”

“You were confident of yourself, then,  weren’t you?” she commented.

“Scared is more like it.  I had him wait around just in case you decided to start throwing appliances at me.”

“Luckily for you, I didn’t have any near the door, or I might have when I saw you standing there,” Marcella teased him. “Anyway, yes , I’d like to go out for dinner.”  He offered her his arm, and they walked out together, to begin a new chapter in their lives.

The End ... for now.