Author's Note: Special thanks to Adelled, KeiraCassidy, pandorabox82, Jena, and Guest for the reviews! I think it's pretty obvious at this point that this is going to be my last In Plain Sight story. I promise that I won't abandon this story, but I am definitely struggling to finish it.

Marshall's Mistake

Mary's going to kill me.

That was the first thought that flowed through Marshall's brain when he agreed to meet Abigail the night after she called. It was also the thought that continued to loop in his consciousness since then. It wasn't enough for him to hang up the phone on her, though he knew he should. Instead, his curiosity got the better of him and he agreed to meet with her, leaving Owen with Jinx for a few hours.

"Hello, Abigail," Marshall said when she opened the door of her hotel room.

Abigail frowned at both the name and the tightness in his voice. "Hello, Marshall. Come on in." She smiled as she attempted to lighten the atmosphere. "And no need to be so formal; we've seen each other naked."

Marshall simply nodded his acknowledgment at the "Friends" reference as he stepped through the door. "How did you know that I was out here?"

"Delia. I told her that I needed to find you to sign the divorce papers and she was just ever so helpful in telling me where you were," she told him, cheerfully.

"Where are the papers?" Marshall asked, briefly wondering why Delia sent her out here instead of simply telling Abigail that she would have Marshall get in touch. He took a stepped backwards when she moved towards him.

Momentarily thrown off by his aloofness, Abigail quickly bounced back and forced the optimism back into her voice. "Oh, they're around here. Don't you want to get caught up first, though? It's been awhile since we've talked to each other."

Marshall made a face. "And whose fault is that?"

"Mine," she admitted. Her eyes took on a gleam as she saw a softening in his face. "But that was a mistake. I... made a mistake." This time when she took a step towards Marshall, he didn't move. "I've missed you, Marsh." She tentatively placed her hand on his chest, holding back a smirk when she felt him shudder. "Have you missed me?"

"Of course, I have," he agreed, his eyes shifting away from her. "Missing you, loving you, was never the problem."

Boldly, she reached up and kissed his jaw. "I still love you, too. And if you love me and I love you, then maybe we can find a way to work this out."

Marshall sighed, but didn't stop her as she kissed his neck. "Abs..."

"Marshall," Abigail muttered, taking his earlobe in between her teeth. "We were always so good together."

"We were," he concurred. He closed his eyes as she pushed her body against his.

She nibbled on his bottom lip. "We could be that good again."

Feeling himself harden involuntarily, Marshall rolled his eyes into the back of his head. She felt so good pressed against him and she smelled just as sweet as he remembered. He sent out a silent apology to the universe before turning his head to capture her lips. "We could."

From there, it was nothing but tongue, teeth, and lips. Their clothes ended up intertwined in piles all over the room. They tumbled into bed together. It was over before Marshall had time to really know what he was doing. He lay on his back, trying to comprehend what had just happened while Abigail talked beside him.

"Once we get Owen settled with your parents and you back home, we can start trying to have a baby of our own."

"What?" Marshall asked, startled, as Abigail's babbling finally pierced his thoughts.

Abigail shot him a confused look. "I talked to your mother. She's setting up a room for Owen. Come on, sugar bear. You know that it just wasn't working out with us and Owen."

Marshall sat up, slowly. "You mean, it wasn't working out for you. Wow. Nothing's changed." He stood off the bed and began to dress. "Owen is not just my nephew. No anymore. He's my son! We are a packaged deal." He finished putting his clothes on and stalked over to the desk where the divorce papers lay. "You had no right to talk to my mother. This was a mistake. You were a mistake." Marshall signed the papers. "I'm done making mistakes with you."

With that, he stormed out of the room, leaving a shocked Abigail in his wake, calling out his name.

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Marshall returned to Mary's house just minutes after she got home from work. It was clear from the disappointed look that she shot him that Jinx had already informed her of where he had been that afternoon. For a brief moment, he contemplated keeping his meeting a secret; it wasn't any of her business who he saw. Marshall nearly laughed aloud at his brain for that one as it had never matter to Mary whether or not it was any of her business.

"Hey, Mary," he said, forcing his voice to remain even while his heart raced wildly. "Good day?"

"Not as good as yours, apparently," she retorted.

A flash of anger ripped through him. He kept his voice low so it wouldn't be overheard by the kids playing in the next room. "I don't think that is any of your concern... especially given your extracurricular activities the other night."

Mary's eyes widened. It was rare for Marshall to challenge her on her personal life. Her cheek twitched. She stepped close to him. "You reek of sex. Take a shower before my girls smell it on you."

Marshall opened his mouth to say more, but stopped when Mary stomped out of the room. He rubbed his hands over his face in near disbelief over how is day had turned out. He inhaled deeply, catching a sniff of the gardenia scent that Abigail always wore. His stomach roiled and he hurriedly took a shower to scrub the scent, and his day, away.

When he emerged from his room some forty-five minutes later, he found Jinx in the living room with Owen and Norah and Mary upstairs giving Teagan a bath. Marshall patted Owen on the head before sitting down on the couch. He turned toward Jinx to speak, but she talked first.

"There's a plate for you in the microwave, if you're interested."

"Thanks," Marshall muttered.

Jinx waved him off. "That was all Mary. I would have let you starve, but for some reason, my daughter had to make sure that you were taken care of."

Marshall's jaw clenched. "Yeah, well, she's a wonderful person."

"Hm," was all Jinx replied before turning her attention back to the television.

"I think my mommy's mad at you," Norah announced, popping up at Marshall's knee.

Barely stopping himself from rolling his eyes, Marshall asked, "Why's that?"

Norah shrugged. "Because we always eat dinner as a family. It's a rule."

"We're not family," Owen piped up.

"Uh-huh," Norah countered.

Owen shook his head, emphatically. "Nuh-uh!"

Placing her hands on her hips, Norah squared off with him. "Yes, we are!"

"Then who am I?" Owen demanded, also standing. Both Jinx and Marshall watched them closely, debating whether or not to intervene.

"You're my brother, stupid," Norah replied.

Jinx's jaw dropped. "Why would you think that, Bug?"

Again, Norah shrugged. "Because he lives with us and he's a kid, too, just like Lexi's brother."

"Norah," Marshall said, gently. He moved to the edge of the couch and took her hands in his, "Owen and I are just staying here for awhile, like on a vacation. We're not living here. We'll be leaving to go home soon."

"But you can't leave!" Norah cried out. She pulled away from Marshall and threw her arms around Owen. "You have to stay here and be a family with us!"

Jinx bit her bottom lip. "Norah, you don't even get along with Owen most of the time."

Norah hugged him closer. "We're not 'apposed to get along! Lexi doesn't get along with her brother, either!"

"I don't want to leave," Owen said, quietly. "I want to stay here with Mary and Teagan, even if I have to be Norah's brother."

"Guys," Marshall sighed.

"Who wants ice cream?" Mary asked, walking into the room. It was just the distraction that the kids needed as the dropped the previous conversation to rush into the kitchen. Mary, Teagan in her arms, glanced briefly at Jinx, but was unable to maintain eye contact. With a slight smirk, Jinx followed the kids into the kitchen.

"Mary..." Marshall trailed off as she looked at him.

Mary closed her eyes. "We'll talk later."