Author's Note: Special thanks to Hannanball13, Jayne Leigh, Meg, JMS529, and JJ2008 for the reviews!

QUOTE PROMPT #004 - MARY

"We stock up on our glories, keep 'em treasured - right here, in the hope that one day when we're old they'll keep us going, because they are our lives. If we lose our talents, we are dead men. You're gonna look back on today, it's gonna be one of your treasures, because we are gonna hold on, no matter what they throw at us. We don't die today gentlemen. We go out there and we live forever."

When she was young, before her father left, Mary considered it a good day when both her parents were home to kiss her good night. When she was slightly older, after her father left, it was a good day when it ended with just her mother, her sister, and herself in whatever apartment they were staying in that month. When she was a teenager, it was a good day when she came home from her waitress job with thirty dollars in her pocket and her sister in her bed instead of out running the streets.

When she was in her twenties, she thought it was a good day when she found a virile, young man to take home with her. Later, she thought it was a good day when the aches and pains of basic training allowed her to sleep at night. Later still, it was a good day when the fugitive she was after was locked up tight behind bars and she had a nice, cold beer in her hand.

After becoming a marshal for Witness Protection, she called it a good day when her witnesses were tucked in safe and she didn't receive a phone call after nine. As she and Marshall became friends, it was a good day when she exasperated him no fewer than five times. When her mother and sister came to stay with her, it was a good day when neither of them were fighting with her and hadn't been hauled off by the police.

There days, she deemed it a good day when she woke up to a kiss from her husband. If her daughter let them sleep in past six am, it was even better. When Marshall made them dinner and gave Norah her bath, it was a wonderful day. But the days that ended with the three of them cuddled on the couch or in bed were pure heaven.

QUOTE PROMPT #005 – MARY/MARSHALL/NORAH

"That's what's important, isn't it. He was wrong and you were right, and while you were arguing about it the little girl died."

"That's enough!" Marshall roared, shutting both Mary and Mark up. They looked at him, stunned, as the usual peacemaker lost his cool. In his arms, holding tightly to his chest, was their three-year-old daughter. "Listen to yourselves. You're not even trying to compromise anymore. You just want to win over the other."

"Marshall-"

"No!" he cut Mary off, forcefully. "You are terrifying your daughter and it has to stop."

"Norah, honey," Mark soothed, stepping forward. He placed his hand on her back only to have Norah kick her foot at him and bury herself deeper into Marshall's chest. Mark glanced at Mary and sighed.

Marshall kissed Norah's head as he rubbed circles over her back. "Norah and I are going to play in the backyard. You two need to figure this out now."

He marched Norah into the backyard. He calmed her down. After a few minutes, he had her running around the yard chasing a soccer ball. Marshall smiled as she giggled when the ball hit off the fence and bounced off her legs.

"Hey," Mary whispered, running her fingers through his hair. She sat down beside him on the back stairs, settling her gaze on her daughter. "I'm sorry. You were right. We were so caught up in getting our way, that we didn't stop to think about what it would do to Norah."

"So, have you come to a decision?"

Mary nodded. She intertwined their hands and leaned against him. "Yes. I'm going to let him have her for a month this summer, but we're going to visit her two weekends during that time. And if she hasn't settled after a week, we're going to pick her up and bring her home."

He kissed her temple. "It's a good compromise. He's a good dad. That won't change just because he's moved away."

"We've made one other compromise." She grinned sheepishly when he looked at her curiously. "It seems that our little Bug has been calling you 'Daddy Marshall' when she's around Mark."

"What?" Marshall whispered, sharply.

Mary nodded. "I'm just as surprised as you. But, Mark has decided that he's okay with her calling you that all time... as long as we make it clear that he's top dog."

"I-" He stopped when Norah ran over to him and wrapped her arms around his leg, laying her head on his thigh. "Hey there, Bug."

"I love you," Norah told him before running off again.

"I love you, too," Marshall croaked, overcome with emotion. Mary squeezed his hand. She laid her head on his shoulder as they watched her twirling around the yard. Marshall put his head on top of hers. "That's a pretty amazing kid we have there."

Mary smiled. "Yeah, she is."

QUOTE PROMPT #006 – MARY/MARSHALL

"Remember what you said. When you start blaming yourself for things that weren't your fault... there's no coming back from that."

"Mary, talk to me," Marshall begged.

"I have nothing to say to you. I've turned in my reports for the week. I just need to look up a few apartments for my witness and then I'm out of here for the weekend," Mary replied, keeping her eyes deliberately on the screen in front of her.

He placed his hands on the desk and leaned forward. "You can't keep shutting me out."

She glanced up at him, her eyes blazing. "I am talking to you. About work. I am talking to you about work because that is all we are allowed to talk about anymore."

"That's not true," he protested.

"That is true," Mary countered, "and you know it. You told me to back away. I backed away. You have done nothing but try to hold onto me since that. And look where that's gotten you."

Marshall threw his hands up in the air. "Finally! Finally, we are getting somewhere." Marshall groaned as Mary turned her attention back to her computer. He once again leaned forward. He took a deep breath. "It wasn't your fault."

Mary froze, though she kept her focus on the screen.

"I broke off my engagement with Abigail because I didn't love her enough to make a life with her." His voice was low. "You didn't do anything wrong."

"I-"

"You didn't do anything wrong," Marshall reiterated. "This isn't on you." He paused. "I need you to believe that. Do you believe that?"

Mary hesitated before nodding slowly.

Relief rolled over Marshall. "Good. Because there's one more thing that I need you to believe."

"What?" she huffed after a few moments.

"I am completely and hopelessly in love with you." Marshall smiled and stood up straight. "Have a good weekend."

She waited a beat after he left the office to leap to her feet. She ran towards the elevator where he was waiting. "Marshall, wait up!" She pushed him into the elevator and backed him against the wall. She looped her arms around his neck. "I think I'm going to need some convincing on that belief."

"You do, huh?"

"Yep. In fact, I think it may take all weekend long."

Marshall raised his eyebrow. "Norah's at Mark's?" She nodded. "Then, I think I can convince you." He captured his mouth in a tender kiss.

Mary was breathless by the time she broke the kiss. "Oh, I'm starting to believe already."