Acknowledgements:

Omi as always
The BTN8rs - with apologies
The Numb3rs dot org crew - since I did the whole alphabet inspired by their challenge

Disclaimers:

"A vague disclaimer is nobody's friend" - Willow, Buffy the Vampire Slayer
I do not own any Numb3rs characters nor do I have any rights to
anything related to the TV show Numb3rs. I plead fair use and claim
only my own writing and characters.

Margaret Mann bought bridal magazines. They were her guilty pleasure all through law school even though she never dated anyone long enough to get serious about them. She cared very deeply about her career, but there was always a part of her that loved the idea of being a wife and mother raising children.

Boys, she'd think. I'd love to have boys.

But she kept the magazines hidden in her briefcase even after she started working and only pulled them out during her lonely lunch hours.

Seeing how long the lunch line was she considered pulling it out to read it while she waited. She stood at the end of the line and sighed, looking at all the people in front of her.

"It is a pretty long wait," the man in front of her said. "You're welcome to go in front of me if you'd like. I know it won't help much, but please, feel free." The man gestured in front of him and Margaret was so charmed she went ahead and switched places with him.

"Thank you. That's very kind of you."

"Not at all," the man responded genially. "I'm Alan," he said. "Alan Eppes." He put out his hand and Margaret shook it, pleased with his firm yet gentle grip.

"Margaret Mann. A pleasure to meet you, Alan."

"The pleasure is all mine," Alan said graciously.

They talked all the way through the line up until the very end when Alan excused himself to step out of line briefly because a coworker called to him. He apologized profusely to Margaret for having to leave and she had to smile at how he kept looking back at her after his coworker pulled him away.

Once she got through the cashier, Margaret headed over to her regular table in the far corner of the lunchroom. She pulled out her new magazine and started flipping longingly through the pages, folding down the corners on the pages that had gowns she liked.

"Is this seat taken?"

Margaret looked up to find Alan standing there with his tray.

"No, please sit down!" Margaret gestured to the chair across from her.

"Thank you."

Alan sat and pointed to her magazine.

"Getting married?"

"Someday," Margaret answered wistfully. "Apparently you're supposed to have a fiancé for this sort of thing and I seem to be lacking one."

"Well," Alan said with a smile that made Margaret's stomach flutter. "Let's see what we can do about that."