12

Red walked into the kitchen and saw Cartman still sitting there. She was unable to stop the tears as she stood there looking at him.

Cartman went really white. He hated when Red cried. Her hazel eyes looked really full of tears, and there was an expression of the utmost sadness. He didn't think one precious tear of hers should be spilled because of anything. He smiled and motioned her to sit next to him.

"Listen to me, darlin'." Cartman said as he wrapped an arm around her. "Everything is going to be okay. We'll make it out of here, and everything will be fine." He muttered.

"Marshall's with those men." Red said as she looked down at her hands. "What if they hurt my little boy?"

"This is what I need you to do." Cartman said softly as he tried not to move. "I need you to leave the house and go get help. I knocked out the cameras, and so you shouldn't be seen. Just—"

There was yelling and a bunch of footsteps. Cartman and Red listened.

… …

"Who the hell removed all the fucking shit that was supposed to be here?" Thomas shouted as he pushed the button and opened the door to the panic room. "You!" he shouted to Marshall. "You better stay there and don't you dare try anything!" he shouted as he walked angrily out of the room.

Just as he was about to go down to the kitchen, he heard a gunshot and saw a flashing light. He was on the ground before he knew it.

There was a lot of commotion as three officers cornered the last man and took him down. They cuffed him, and dragged him off while another officer stayed behind to assess the damage. He found Shooter in the Panic room with Marshall and nearly arrested him.

"No!" Marshall said as he stood up on weak knees. "He wasn't one of the burglars." Marshall said looking at his friend. "He was with my friend, Cartman." Marshall said as he looked at a blank faced Shooter.

"Let's get this place cleaned up then." The officer said as he and Marshall led the way out of the room. Shooter smiled at his reflection in a frame that contained no picture.

They all met in the kitchen, and Cartman, Red and Marshall all told their version of events. Edmund finally got to speak, and as Marshall predicted, Cartman and his mom totally jumped to the rescue, and vouched for Edmund.

"We'll call you for more information when we need." The officer said sighing. "In the meantime, why don't you all get some sleep. It's been a long day."

… …

"Thanks for my son." Red said as she walked forward and hugged Edmund. "I really appreciate this."

"You're welcome." Edmund said as he looked over at Cartman. "Shouldn't you go to the hospital?" he asked.

… … … … …

Cartman went to the hospital and got the bullet removed. Token came to call on the residents of the mansion early in the morning, and found no one in sight. He discovered all the damage, and called Red on her phone. It rang in her room, and he saw that it had been left charging. He sighed as he picked up the phone and stared at it. He dialed Marshall's number, and it was picked up on the second ring.

"Hello?" said a groggy voiced Marshall.

"What the heck happened?" Token asked concerned. "Are you guys okay?" he asked looking at his watch.

"We're all fine. Cartman's gonna be okay. He's in stable condition." Marshall explained.

"Stable condition?" Token asked confused.

So he sat there as Marshall related to him the events of last night, and this morning. He sighed as he looked at his watch.

"Sorry I put you through all that, Marshall. I guess I wanted to help you guys so much, I didn't think of what kind of trouble living in a mansion that wasn't heavily guarded would be. Especially for a boy and a mother." He muttered softly. "How is she?" he asked concerned.

"She's fine." Marshall said softly. "She's sleeping right now." He muttered.

"When do they let Cartman out of the hospital?" Token asked softly.

… … … … …

Marshall stood in front of Cartman handing him a gift. He smirked.

"Don't say I never got you anything nice for a wedding gift." He said as he stuck out his tongue.

"I love you too." Cartman said as he took his gift and placed it with the others.

Red and Cartman were both smiling at each other as the guests started pouring in. The ceremony had taken place at Starks pond, and a big hall had been rented out to have the dinner afterword's. The wedding wasn't really that extravagant. Token and Cartman had paid for everything. It was amazing.

"Don't think I'm gonna start calling you dad from now on." Marshall said as he smiled at Cartman. "You still got a lot of growing up to do."

"Dually noted." Cartman said as he hugged his step son.

Cartman watched as Marshall went to sit with Ike and the rest of his class. Butters came up to him, and Sally and Red jumped into a conversation. Cartman hugged Butters, and smiled.

"I didn't think you had it in you, Butters." Cartman said as he smiled at his friend. "Setting up the drugs and making those two men come after them was a good plan. I almost didn't think it was you."

"I'm glad I could help." Butters said sighing. "Now you have Red, and Marshall has a new dad." He said smiling.

Marshall stared at his teacher and best friend and they both gasped.

"He didn't!" Marshall whispered gasping.