Author's Note: Special thanks to redbrainbluebrain, Jayne Leigh (Mary, at least, having custody of Brandi's child factors in my next IPS story if I can ever get it written), JMS529, and JJ2008 for the reviews! And to BravoExpressions for the reviews on Facebook!

PROMPT #025 – MARSHALL/OC (BRANDI'S KID)

"Yeah, well. That's kind of a human thing. We tend to be afraid of things we don't know."

"Here you go," Marshall said, handing Mary a glass of wine. He glanced around Brandi's engagement party. "Where's Katie?"

"I don't know," Mary replied, waving the question off. "She's around here somewhere."

Marshall sighed. "I asked you to keep an eye on her."

Mary rolled her eyes. "She's fine. She's been laughing and playing the whole night. I don't know what you're worried about."

"I'm-" he stopped when a flash of pink under a nearby table caught his eye. He kissed Mary's temple. "I think you're sister is waving for you. I'll see you in a bit."

Marshall waited until Mary was firmly ensconced in her sister's latest drama before dropping to the floor. He crawled under the table to find his niece sitting there with her elbows on her news. She looked up at him with sad eyes.

"Hey, there, Peanut. What are you doing under here?" he asked in a soothing voice.

"Hiding," Katie replied, earnestly. She scooted closer to him. Marshall was her favorite person in the entire world; the only one she would really open up to.

Marshall gently tugged on her pigtails. "Why are you hiding?"

Katie shrugged. "Mama wants me to meet Brad's brother."

"You don't want to meet Brad's brother?" Marshall questioned. Katie shook her head. "Why not? He's going to be your new uncle."

"I don't want a new uncle," she protested. "I already have an uncle."

Marshall smiled, pulling her onto his lap. He wrapped his arms around her. "I am always going to be your uncle. You could end up with a million other uncles and I'll still be yours. And you, will always be my number one niece."

Katie laid her head against his chest. "Promise?"

"Promise."

"What if... what if I don't like living with Mama and Brad?" Katie asked, timidly. "What if Brad is mean and doesn't like me?"

He kissed the top of her head. "Brad loves you. And he's a nice guy, you know that. But, if he suddenly turns into the Boogeyman," Katie giggled as Marshall ticked her, "then, you can come back and live with us. We'll keep your bed all ready for you."

Katie turned in his arms. "You will?"

"Of course! You'll be spending the night all the time." Marshall brushed the hair from her face. "After all, we still have a story to write."

"Katie and Norah the Bear," she confirmed. Katie threw her arms around his neck. "I love you, Uncle Marshall."

Marshall held her tight. "I love you, too, Peanut."

PROMPT #026 – MARY/MARSHALL/MARK/ABIGAIL

"I don't go looking for trouble. Trouble usually finds me."

"What are you doing here?" Mary hissed as she hobbled on crutches down the hospital hallway towards her now-boss and once partner, Marshall. She had sprained her ankle after slipping on some of Norah's toys while catching her nephew from falling from the back of the couch.

"Brandi called me," he explained, a smile on his face. "She thought you might need a ride."

Mary sighed. "She shouldn't have done that. I'll make sure she doesn't in the future."

Marshall's face fell. "Mary... Let me take you home. It's the least I can do for one of my inspectors."

"I wasn't injured at work. I was injured because my sister can't seem to keep an eye on her kid. It's not your responsibility," Mary told him, stiffly.

"I-"

"Hey, Mary," Mark said, walking up to the duo. "Marshall, good to see you. Are you ready to go, Mare?"

Mary nodded. "As you can see, I'm quite capable of finding my own way home. Thanks for coming, Mark."

Marshall opened his mouth to respond only to shut it abruptly when the voice of his fiancee rang out. "Hi, honey britches! I heard you were here. How are you feeling, Mary?"

"I'll be much better once I can get out of her," Mary huffed, her eyes narrowing as she watched Abigail lay claim to Marshall by looping her arm with his. She missed Marshall's frown. "Are you ready, Mark? I need to pick up a prescription on the way home."

"Let's go," Mark agreed, solemnly, saddened to see what the friendship between his ex and her best friend had become.

Mary paused as she passed Marshall and Abigail. "I'll be out of the field for the next two to three weeks. I'll bring in the doctor's note on Monday."

Marshall shook his head. "You should take the day, recover."

"I'll see you on Monday. Boss." Mary nodded to Mark and they quickly made their way down the hallway.

"Everything okay?" Abigail asked, her eyes zeroed on his face as he watched Mary walk away.

Marshall felt his heart constrict. This wasn't the way things were suppose to be, but he wasn't sure how to change them. He gave Abigail a tight smile.

"Sure."

QUOTE #027 – MARY/MARSHALL – PREQUEL TO #018

"Nothing worth having comes easy."

Marshall exited his bedroom, expecting to hear screams. He was surprised, however, to hear nothing but silence. Slightly worried, he quietly walked into the kitchen. Marshall stopped suddenly at the scene at his table: Mary was easily feeding his one-year-old daughter, Cecelia, her lunch.

"How did you get her to do that?" Marshall whispered from the doorway, afraid that his presence would somehow disturb the serene scene.

Mary shot him an exasperated look. "I fed her."

Marshall rolled his eyes. "I feed her, too. Know what she does? Screams her head off and throws half of it back me."

"I mix it," Mary explained, her voice softening. "I had to do it with Norah, too. I mix the vegetables into the pasta and they'll it eat."

"Oh," Marshall replied. He flopped down on the chair next to her, stroking Cecelia's dark curls. "I don't know if I can do this."

Mary sighed. "Give me a break."

Marshall frowned. "What-"

"Marshall, you've had a rough couple of months," she interrupted. "So has Cecelia. But you love this little girl more than anything in the world. It's not wrapped up in whether Abigail is here or not. Cecelia has owned your heart since the day the stick turned blue."

"What if I'm not what she needs?"

Mary gazed at the tot that looked so much like her mother, but with her father's blue eyes. "CeCe, where's Daddy?"

Cecelia turned towards Marshall and gave him a scrunched up smile. "Da!"

"You're all she needs," Mary said, softly. She glanced at Marshall out of the corner of her eye. "And I'm here for whatever you need."