BACK		All You Wanted

Mark! Mark! I love you so much! Won?t you sign my bra for me?? A young teenage girl pulled onto Mark?s leather jacket and screamed at him.
Mark could only smile at her, but deep inside, he really wanted to go home and just be alone ? away from all the noise, away from all the screams, away from all the bright lights and annoying people.
He pretended to laugh and signed her bra strap in a matter of seconds before being whisked off by Paul and Anto into a limo.
?This has been a long week,? Bryan moaned and rested his head against the back of the seat. ?I can?t wait to get home to Kerry and Molly.?
?Ditto.? Shane quipped and let out a deep breath.
?What are your plans for the weekend?? Kian asked Nicky and Nicky looked up from his cell phone, which he had just clicked off.
?I?m off to the country with Lusia. I haven?t seen her in over three weeks and we?re going to be alone in my family?s country cottage.? Nicky replied with a sly smile. ?How about you Mark?? Nicky asked Mark.
Mark looked away from the window and at Nicky. ?Huh? Oh? I dunno.? He shrugged his shoulders.
?Oh God Mark. You?re just as stubborn as your girlfriend!? Kian laughed. ?It?s not your fault that you forgot your anniversary!?
Nicky and Shane gasped.
?You forgot your own freakin? anniversary?? Shane glared at Mark, making Mark fidget uncomfortably.
?Yes, I admit it! I forgot my own anniversary and pissed Mattie off, okay?? Mark yelled back at Shane and Nicky.
?Well, you have a whole weekend to make up for it!? Nicky protested and pushed his phone into Mark?s hand. ?Call her.?
Mark grunted. ?After she called me the most insensitive jerk in the whole world??
Bryan threw his hands up in the air. ?Mark, take it from me, a married man, women never apologize to their other half. That?s the way it has always been.?

***** Meanwhile *****

?Grrr?. Mark!? I muttered to myself as I picked up a dark blue shirt that he had left behind three weeks ago. ?You ?.jerk?..? I sighed. I couldn?t help myself. ?You handsome jerk,? I flopped myself onto my big bed and stared up at the ceiling. ?Why did I ever have to get mad at you for your busy mind??
I hugged the blue shirt and I could even smell his cologne on it. The only thing I could imagine him doing at the very moment was sitting somewhere with the other guys, all stressed out from the endless promotion tours. I knew that Mark was coming home this weekend but I didn?t want to make his life harder by picking another fight with him. But a stubborn part of me couldn?t forget about the things that he had forgot as well.

***** The next night *****

Mark slowly unlocked the door to the condo he co-owned with Mattie. It was 3 in the morning and he was dead tired from the non-stop flights. Mark took off his jacket and tossed it onto a recliner and dropped his keys on the coffee table. Mattie was probably in bed, he guessed.
?I need to remind myself to buy a two bedroom flat next time.? Mark thought as he remembered there was only one bedroom and even worse, one bed. He had not made up with Mattie yet.
?Couch or bed?? Mark couldn?t decide but a bed seemed more appealing so he carefully tiptoed down the hall to their comfortable room. It was a good thing that Mattie was an extremely sound sleeper and she could sleep through a nuclear bomb.
Mark opened the door quietly, although a creaking sound could be heard, but nothing happened. ?Whew.? Mark breathed a sigh of relief and stepped into the room.
?What the hell is going on?? he heard Mattie scream and a lamp was suddenly turned on.

I sighed when I saw it was only Mark. ?Oh God Mark, you scared the shit out of me.?
He looked at me with a weary look on his face. ?Sorry.? He mumbled and yawned. My cheeks grew red. I felt the urge to kick him out of our room. I was far too stubborn to let him sleep in the same bed as me. ?I?m not talking to you Mark.? I crossed my arms and looked away.

Mark?s jaw literally dropped to the floor. ?Excuse me? Mattie, for two weeks, I?ve been trying to apologize to you but you wouldn?t return any of my calls!?
Mattie flipped her red hair over her shoulder. ?Yeah! Because you forgot our two year anniversary! Duh!?
?I?m sorry okay? I just had so many things on my mind that I completely forgot! But I didn?t mean to! I love you!? Mark protested. All he wanted to do was jump into the very comfortable waterbed and just sleep the next 24 hours away.
Mattie looked at him, with her green eyes shimmering. ?Well Mark, it hurts okay? Not even a single phone call, a card or even flowers!? She shook her head. ?You need to sleep on the couch tonight.? Mattie reached over to the lamp on her night table and flicked it off. ?Good night Mark.?
Mark could not believe what she had said. ?Fine Mattie!? He yelled at her and stormed off to the living room to have a hard night?s sleep on the stupid recliner.

***** The next morning *****

?Wake up Mark!? Mark felt someone shake him as he slept on the recliner.
Mark groaned. ?What??
It was Mattie. ?Wake up, it?s 7 in the morning!? She exclaimed.
Mark rolled his eyes. ?Mats, I just got home four hours ago and you?re waking me up? Are you torturing me or something??

I rolled my eyes. ?Yep Mark. I?m torturing you.? I sarcastically said and ripped the blanket off his lap. ?No, I?m not. Your agent just called saying he?s coming here in an hour so you can sign some papers.?
Mark yawned and grabbed the blanket off. ?Screw Jay. I?m going to be sleeping.? He argued and turned his back on me to go back to sleep.
?Mark!? I protested and sat on his lap. ?Please. Jay?s really desperate to get you to sign the papers for the adidas contract.?
Mark turned over and pulled me into a long hug. ?Mattie, please, I?m really sorry that I forgot. I would never forget a beautiful woman like you or even your little charm you unfortunately possess.?
I smiled at him and saw his blue eyes twinkle. ?Me too Mark. What are you going to plan for our already passed anniversary though?? I asked him with a raised eyebrow.
Mark sighed. ?You don?t stop, don?t you Mattie??
?Nope,? I put my arms around his neck as he held me in his lap. ?You know me.?
Mark laughed and pulled me even closer that my head was resting on his shoulder. ?I really missed you. I thought I was going to sink in a bottomless hole during the whole trip.?
?Oh Mark,? I touched his cheek. ?I know it?s hard baby.?
Mark lifted me off him and stood up, stretching his tired arms. ?I guess I better get washed up before Jay comes here.?
I still remained in the recliner. ?Yeah.? I said as he walked off to our bathroom.

***** Later in the night time *****

?Mark, you home?? I called out after dropping my purse on the floor. I had spent the day doing my rounds at the veterinary office.
?I?m in the dining room honey!? Mark?s voice rang out.
That gave me a curious feeling. Mark absolutely hated the dining room because he never liked to eat in a formal atmosphere. It didn?t feel comfortable to him.
?What are you doing in here?.? I started to say before I stepped in. All of sudden, I saw candles everywhere and the entire dining table was bathed in all of my favourite foods and including a massive marble cheesecake that looked so delicious right in the middle of the table..
?Oh!? I gasped and saw Mark grinning as he wore a black blouse and black trousers.
?You like it?? He asked me as he pulled out a chair for me.
I nodded my head, nearly in tears. ?I love it. Thank you.? I pulled his neck towards me and kissed him passionately on the lips.
?There?s more later.? He whispered huskily in my ear and gave me a wink.
?I can?t wait!? I squirmed into my seat and started to dig in the aromatic food laid out before me.

?Care to dance with an imbecile like me?? Mark grabbed my hand as I polished off my slice of cheesecake. The music suddenly came on and a beautiful song started to play.
My mouth was still full with cheesecake. ?I don?t dance.? I mumbled and tried to wriggle out of Mark?s grips.
?Oh no, you don?t!? Mark laughed and grabbed me. ?After all, it?s our anniversary and I think you could at least spare a dance.?
I swallowed the remaining bits of my cheesecake. ?You?re still an imbecile though, but I?ll dance with you.?

I wanted to be like you
I wanted everything
So I tried to be like you
And I got swept away

I didn?t know that it was so cold
And you needed someone
To show you the way
So I took your hand and we figured out
That when the tide comes
I?d take you away

?It?s not that bad isn?t it Mats?? Mark murmured and gripped me tightly.
I looked up at his glistening blue eyes and smiled. ?I still don?t dance.?
Mark chuckled. ?That?s what I love about you. You?re the weirdest person in the world and I love you for every bit of it.?
I leaned my head against his chest and closed my eyes. Mark?s feet were moving along with me and I could only just follow him as the music wavered over us.

If you want to
I can save you
I can take you away from here
So lonely inside
So busy out there
And all you wanted
Was somebody who cares

I?m sinking slowly
So hurry, hold me
Your hand is all I have
To keep me hanging on
Please, can you tell me
So I can finally see
Where you go when you?re gone

Mark looked down at Mattie and saw that her eyes were closed and traces of shimmery champagne eye shadow could be seen on her lids. She was truly one of a kind ? someone who had a smart mouth and yet can be the most romantic person in the world. People often wondered why Mark would date someone who hated having to show her affection to certain people, but when he was alone with her, he realized she only wanted to show her affection towards him. He was exactly like her. He wasn?t an emotional person but whenever he was with Mattie, he felt as if he could tell her anything.
?Thanks Mark.? Mark heard Mattie whisper and a giggle come out from within.

If you want to
I can save you
I can take you away from here
So lonely inside
So busy out there
And all you wanted
Was somebody who cares

All you wanted was somebody who cares??
If you need me, you know I?ll be there??
Oh, whoa, yeah??

Mark leaned his head down to give Mark a soft kiss and she smiled as he stared into her eyes.
?I love you.? He whispered to her. ?I may be forgetful as Bryan, but I would never forget you.?

I touched Mark?s hair with my hand and ran my fingers down his cheek. ?I know.?
I replied and continued to dance with him.

If you want to
I can save you
I can take you away from here
So lonely inside
So busy out there
And all you wanted
Was somebody who cares??

Please, can you tell me
So I can finally see
Where you go
When you?re gone??

***** The following Monday morning ? Dublin International Airport *****

?Hey Mattie, are you still pissed at us for the blindfold thing?? Lusia walked up to me holding Nicky?s hand.
Mark?s cheeks grew red, making me laugh.
?Nah, I think we can find something else to use.? I laughed and showed Lusia my garnet necklace that Mark had bought for me to make up for that incident.
?No more of those sex things? Mark held his hands up. ?You?re only going to trick me into buying your more jewelry.?
I pretended to pout and Mark gave me a cheeky grin.
?Maybe I should use that excuse with Nicky.? Lusia whispered into my ear.
?Hey!? I exclaimed and pretended to push Lusia away. ?That?s my excuse, you know??
?Everyone, get in line for the flight!? Anto?s voice boomed out.
Mark turned to me and held my hands. ?Since we?re flying to Dallas, I guess I can pick up a cowboy outfit and maybe put it to good use when I get back home.?
I blushed. ?God Mark! You can be so horny sometimes!?
Mark decided to go along with the act by licking his lips. ?Well, I can?t help it when you make me like that!?
?Come here you!? I pulled him to me and kissed him passionately. ?How?s that??
Mark wrapped his arms around me. ?Still like the cowboy idea better though!?
I kissed him again, and this time, it was a little bit deeper that Nicky and Lusia pretended to gag.
?That?s better.? Mark teased me and quickly kissed me before following the other guys. ?I love you Mats.?
I stood by Lusia. ?Love you too, you imbecile!?
?You?re the imbecile!? Mark shouted back and blew me a kiss.
It was only a matter of seconds before he was gone through the boarding gate on his way to Dallas, Texas.
?You and Mark are the strangest people I know Mats.? Lusia commented as we stood by ourselves in the empty waiting area.
I smiled at her. ?He?s all I ever wanted though.?

~ Lyrics ~ All You Wanted ~ Michelle Branch