Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire
Title: Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire
Rating: T
Fandom/Pairing: Independence Day; Marilyn Whitmore/Thomas J. Whitmore
Word Count: 2,917
Author’s Note: Written for the mary_mcdonnell Month of Love Challenge: lesser known Mary characters.
Disclaimer: Independence Day (1996) and the characters used here all belong to Twentieth Century Fox and the writers, directors, producers, etc responsible for the film. No copyright infringement intended and no profits are being made from this story.
1. Vow of Silence
“Marilyn! Wait up!” The slender brunette spins on her heel and Thomas has to pull up short to not run into her.
“What?” she snaps out.
“Geeze, you walk fast!” Marilyn stands glaring, arms crossed, one brow poised high on her forehead. Thomas stumbles on, his eyes flitting between the cement walk and the students pushing past on either side of them.
“Right, well see, I wanted to ask if you’d attend the 3L formal with me. I know it’s not the most illustrious event on campus but there’s dancing and an open bar and I promise you’ll have a good time.” He grins, flashing perfect white teeth.
“Seriously?” Thomas’ blue eyes snap up.
“Yes. Of course. Why not?” Marilyn relaxes her stance but only to begin waving her arms about as she gesticulates through her response.
“Let me count the reasons Thomas Whitmore. First, you added inappropriate sound effects to my moot court oral argument, disrupting my speech and making the entire judging panel break out in laughter. Then you began writing sarcastic rebuttals to every one of my Law School Review editorials. And just last semester, you convinced all the 1Ls to draw angel wings and halos on my student government campaign posters!”
“Aw come on Marilyn. Can you blame a guy for getting a little silly when it comes to the most beautiful, intelligent, future Supreme Court Justice on campus?” Thomas’ face-splitting grin has charmed more than a few females on campus and he turns its full power on Marilyn now.
“Yes. Yes I can.” Thomas’ grin flips upside down.
“Fair enough.” He pauses and Marilyn hikes her satchel up on her shoulder in a gesture indicating impatience. Thomas feels desperate and reaches out to still her. “So then let me make it up to you. One date, that’s all I’m asking here. One chance to show you I can be more than the hot-headed class clown.”
“Really? And what else can you be, Thomas?” That brow is raised again and Thomas is beginning to despise it.
“A gentlemen, to start.” Marilyn snorts. “I can! And your loyal and devoted servant for all time? I’ll even do your research for you! Hours and hours digging through legal treatises any time you want! Just say the word.” Thomas is begging now, his voice pitched higher and a little rushed. His posture even seems to emulate a certain devotional worship.
“Oh stop it.” Marilyn’s eyes cast about to see how many people are staring at this spectacle. She pushes Thomas’ shoulder in attempt to make him stand up straight again.
“I’ll stop when you say yes.” His blue eyes are earnest. He is rather cute, after all. A strong jaw, thick tawny hair, and a pretty good backside when she’s had the chance to admire it discreetly. “Come on Marilyn. One date. If you have a horrible time, I promise I will never speak to you again.” Marilyn’s lips turn up in a flirtatious smile.
“Liar.”
2. Love at First Sight
“Will you marry me, Marilyn?” Thomas is down on one knee, his dress whites no doubt getting stained by the grass outside the Governor’s mansion. Marilyn stares at him, her red dress matching the red roses blooming all around them.
“Seriously, Thomas?”
“Weird, I just got a sense of déjà vu. Yes, I’m serious. I love you, I thought you knew that.” Marilyn tugs on Thomas’ hands until he stands up with her.
“Well I suspected. What with you coming to see me every leave you get. Causing your own mother to hurl insults my way.” Thomas pulls Marilyn into his arms, burying his nose in the curve of her shoulder.
“Aw, Momma loves you. She told me herself.” Marilyn shoves him back quickly.
“She does not. She still blames me for your joining the air force after law school. ‘What legal genius in their right mind would sign up to fly death traps when they could have a perfectly safe career with two feet on the ground?’” Her voice mimics Mrs. Whitmore’s grating accent.
“Did she really say that?” Thomas looks genuinely surprised and Marilyn softens her features and her tone.
“Yes. She worries about you, Thomas. So do I.”
“I’m fine Marilyn. Really. One of the best fighter pilots around! And I’ll be the happiest fighter pilot around if you’d just say yes.”
“Yes, Thomas, of course yes.” Marilyn runs her fingers down the side of Thomas’ face, along the collar of his uniform, and rests her palms over the new medals on his chest. She turns her sparkling green eyes coyly up at him, “Though you know I’m not going to be any more amenable to your charm.”
“It’s alright. I’ll always be your loyal and devoted servant. It was love at first sight, Marilyn.”
“Oh hush Thomas, don’t be so dramatic. I already said yes.” Marilyn laughs and rolls her eyes. Thomas softly touches her chin, bringing her face back close to his and places a barely there kiss on her rosy lips before grinning his trademark grin.
“Really, Mary. I knew I was gonna marry you the moment you stood up in Torts 101 and lambasted my half-wit defense in that ridiculously smooth voice of yours.” She grins.
“Liar.”
3. Move Heaven and Earth
“I have to go Marilyn. This is the big one.”
“Why you Thomas? Why now? Don’t they know I’m pregnant?” She’s only two months along but deployments like this are never brief.
“Yes, Mary. I told them I had a child on the way. My CO tried. But these are my orders, Marilyn.”
“We’ve been trying to get pregnant for nearly five years and now you’re going to run off to fly your planes and drop bombs on innocent people and miss the entire pregnancy?” Marilyn is pacing across the living room now. Anger and nervous energy a bad mix for a woman who likes to be in control.
“That’s not fair, Marilyn and you know it.” Thomas is seated on the couch. A look of defeat in his eyes.
“I don’t Thomas. Look, I’ve always supported your decision to serve. Goodness knows I want the Cold War to end as much as the next person. But why you? Why now?”
“Because I belong in the air, Marilyn.” He stands up now but keeps a distance between them. “This is what I do. I wish I could have found my place in the legal world like you have, Marilyn. You’re making a difference. Advocating for people who don’t have a voice in our political system. But me, I belong up there. I was never much good at fixing things here on the ground.”
“That’s not true Thomas. You’ve just never tried. Not really.”
“You’re probably right. And I will.” He moves forward now, running his fingers down her bare arms until their hands are clasped together. “But after. After this. The UN has authorized this coalition force. We have a chance to really change things in the Middle East. To free people from oppression. I know we can’t solve every problem with missiles, but we might be able to solve this one.”
“I hope so Thomas, I really do. Because what are you going to do if that doesn’t turn out to be the case? Huh?” Marilyn pulls her hands free as she shrugs her shoulders. “You aren’t going to be able to fly those planes forever.”
“I know. And I don’t want to. I’ve been thinking a lot about that, Marilyn. I want to retire. Leave the Air Force. I don’t want to miss our child’s life. Or you, Marilyn. We’ve been apart more than we’ve been together since we got married. So when this mission ends. When I come back, I’m putting in my resignation and I’m gonna find a way to make a difference here on the ground.”
Marilyn sighs deeply. She searches his face, sees his sincerity, recognizes her own fears and sinks down on the overstuffed love seat they picked out together for their first home.
“What do you want to do, Thomas?” She asks staring up at him. He moves quickly. Sitting down beside her, pulling her body close, entwining one of their hands again.
“I want to fix things, Mary. I hate how messed up the world is today. Everyone gets so hung up on petty differences when there are bigger issues. Much bigger. Starving children around the world. Persecuted women. Subjugated citizens. Why do we all hate each other so much?” His voice is sad, heart broken and Marilyn has always known this about him. Behind that brash, intuitive law student and the daredevil pilot has always lurked a heart bursting for the plight of others. It’s why she married him. Hell, it’s why she first agreed to date him. Well, that and his ass.
“Thomas. I love you. You know that right? Whatever happens, whatever you do when you get back - and you WILL come back - I will always love you.”
“I know Marilyn. I know.” He kisses her now. Tenderly but with passion and Marilyn doesn’t ever want to come up for air. When he finally does pull back, she’s breathing hard and she’s more terrified than ever. “I love you too. So much. And I love this baby growing inside you and I promise. Right now, I promise I will do whatever I have to do to make sure I am back in time to hold your hand and welcome this baby into the world we are going to make better. Together. Even if it means stealing an F-15 Strike Eagle and flying to the hospital myself.” She pulls him toward her with a hand at his neck and smiles against his jaw.
“Liar.”
4. Campaign Promises
“You know, when you said you were going to come back from the Gulf War and try to make a difference, this wasn’t what I expected.” Marilyn fingers a red, white, and blue campaign poster. One of many now competing against baby paraphernalia for the free space in their home.
“Is it bad? Is it a bad idea? It’s a big leap, I know. But when Connie suggested it, she just seemed so sure that I could do this. If not win, at least I can use the campaign as a platform on important issues. And it would be good for you, too, right? I mean you’ve always wanted to find a way to bring more attention to your causes and as First Lady, I mean you could do so much! Not that you can’t do it without me running for President. But it won’t hurt, will it? And I have so much to say, not that anyone wants to listen, but…”
“Wow, slow down tiger! Have a few doubts?” Marilyn pulls Thomas to her, her hands moving to either side of his face and holding his eyes to hers, effectively stopping his mouth from moving.
“Lots of ‘em,” he whispers. After several beats of silence, Marilyn pulls Thomas into a brief hug then pushes back to look him squarely in the eye.
“This is good, Thomas. Really good. You would be a wonderful President. You’ve always been a leader, even if you didn’t believe it of yourself.”
“Oh Marilyn, that was always you. You should be the one running. Who’s Who Litigator Awardee, Distinguished Public Service Award, Citizen Activist of the Year. This has always been your show.”
“And I’m happy right where it’s gotten me, Thomas. I’m happy being a victim’s advocate and working for social justice issues. I’m happy being a wife and a mother, too. I’ve always been ambitious, yes. But I’ve never had big ambitions. Not like the Presidency.” She smiles wide now, one eyebrow sliding up. “Besides, it’s your charm that’s your real ace in the hole. Young, idealistic, and still the hot-headed class clown I fell in love with.” She places a soft kiss on the side of his closed mouth. “No, this isn’t my show, honey. It’s yours and you’re going to do fabulously in this election.”
“Even if I don’t win?”
“Even then. Though America would be crazy not to elect you.”
“You sure you aren’t just eager for that White House cook and household staff and the personal helicopter at your disposal?”
Marilyn winks, “They have crossed my mind…mostly that helicopter. You think you could get clearance as my personal pilot, flyboy?”
“I fly jets, Marilyn. Not helos. And I don’t think the Secret Service is going to let the President of the United States fly anything.”
She hums, her fingers playing with the buttons on his shirt. “Sad.”
“I’ll tell you what, though.” Thomas moves his hands down her sides and over the curve of her hips, pulling her body flush against his. “Before this election gets too crazy, we’ll leave the munchkin with Connie, I’ll take you to the base and treat you to a real ride. Just you and me and the big blue sky.”
Marilyn is practically beaming now. Her perfect white teeth sparkling to match the merriment in her eyes. “I think I’d prefer my ride right here on solid ground, thank you very much. My ambition’s never aspired to join the mile high club.” Thomas is speechless for a moment when her tongue actually darts out and presses against her top teeth in a flirtatious, and frankly erotic, display.
“Well aren’t you a dirty girl! Although…”
“Although what, Thomas? That look on your face never leads to good things.”
“Oh this time it does. Very good. See, once I win this race and we have our own personal aircraft, with soft leather furniture and an office with a locking door, we can fulfill my ambition. Minus the dirty airplane bathroom and risk of getting caught.” There is a glint in his eye and his roaming hands are now kneading Marilyn’s backside as he rocks into her.
“Now who’s being dirty. And naughty.”
“You like it. And you’re gonna like sleeping with the President. Very very much, I think.”
“Well then I guess you better win this election.” She begins kissing along his jaw, her fingers tracing circles in the soft hair at his nape. When her mouth reaches his ear, her tongue darts out to lick it before her teeth sink into the taut flesh just below.
“That’s it! I’m calling Connie tomorrow. Change of platform. Forget my domestic initiatives. My new slogan: Vote Thomas J. Whitmore: He needs to get laid.” They’re stumbling far too noisily down the hall when she exclaims.
“Liar.”
5. I’ll See You When You Wake Up
“I was so worried. I didn’t know where you were.” Patricia clings to her mother’s body lying prone on the hospital bed.
“You got bigger I think.” Marilyn’s voice is muffled in her daughter’s light brown hair.
“I did?” Patricia tries to turn and look at her own body, oblivious to the grimace of pain the movement causes her mother.
Marilyn hums, “You just keep growing and growing.” Marilyn grimaces as she pulls her daughter closer to her broken body. Her eyes drift shut and she tries to match the even movement of her daughter’s tiny frame. But the attempt just causes a sharp pain in her abdomen. When her eyes open, Thomas’ hand is resting on Patricia’s head.
“I can’t, I can’t.” Marilyn motions for Thomas to take Patricia away. It’s too much. Her daughter is so alive. So beautiful. Has such hope and innocence even in the face of so much terror. She doesn’t want to say goodbye. Doesn’t want to tell her the truth. She’s never been good at lying. That’s Thomas’ domain.
Connie is taking Patricia’s hand, leading her away and Marilyn holds her hand out, wishing more than anything that she was holding her daughter’s hand. That she could walk with her out of this hospital room, out of this nightmare, back to a time when they had pillow fights and snuggle fests and braided one another’s hair.
Patricia is gone and Marilyn is brought back to reality by another sharp pain. She moans audibly and sighs, seeing Thomas kneeling with his head bowed beside her bed. She entwines her hand with his. “I’m so sorry that I didn’t come home when you asked me to.”
“Oh, it’s okay.” He tries to smile. His hand flutters out to run along her collarbone as he shifts closer. She tries to reach out for him, only managing to touch her fingers to his chest. “The doctors think that you’re gonna be just fine.” His voice cracks and he almost doesn’t make it through the statement. They’ve played this game so many times since they first met. Marilyn won’t ruin it now.
The corners of her mouth turn up in a slight grin. She reaches forward as far as she can and brushes his jaw before resting her fingertips on his chin. Her grin splits wider. Her heart spills open. Pain, love, regret, hope, laughter. It’s all there in her smile.
“Liar.” It’s barely a whisper. Their gazes lock in memories. She breaks first, choking back a sharp cry and his hands are on her, his fingers tangle in her thick hair, rubbing her cheek, holding her close as he kisses her lips and her forehead and holds her against him with a grip that says he’ll never let go.
She closes her eyes, safe in his reality at last. And goes to sleep.