Author's Note: Special thanks to JMS529, BrittanyLS, JJ2008, redbrainbluebrain, and Jayne Leigh (you are kinder than I because I HATED Abigail and not just because she was a Mary/Marshall spoiler) for the reviews.

QUOTE PROMPT #073 - PETER

"I've missed you. Not in a 'we're going to make out' way, not even in an 'I forgive you' way. Just in an 'I've missed you' way."

"Hello?" Peter said, answering the phone. He had been in the middle of preparing dinner when his cell phone shrilled. Exasperated when no one replied, he hung up only to have the phone ring again. "Hello?"

Peter paused when he heard a shaky sigh. "Brandi, is that you?" Peter waited fruitlessly for a few moments for her to respond before continuing. "Brandi, if it is you, I just want you to know that it's okay to come home. Your mom and Mary really miss you."

Peter stopped again, hoping to hear something from the other end. "They were hurt and upset when you first took off, but now, they just want to know that you're okay. Xavier is doing really well. He's a beautiful boy, Brandi. You should be proud of him. He's really taken to Marshall and Marshall to him. I think that there might be finally something starting there. Remember how we used to joke about that? Mary lets me come see him every so often. It makes me feel closer to you somehow."

"You see," he took a deep breath, "I know there's not a chance for us anymore, not after everything that's happened. But I miss you. I miss the crazy conversations that we used to have. I miss laughing until all hours of the night. I miss the way you used to draw me out on days that I just wanted to lock myself away. You are a stronger person than you think."

Peter rubbed his forehead. "I have to go. I have a friend coming over for dinner. I really hope you listen to what I've said. I really hope you come home soon. Good-bye, Brandi."

QUOTE PROMPT #074 – MARY/MARSHALL – FOLLOW-UP TO #070

"The things that you have done for me - to help me, support me, surprise me, to make me happy... go above and beyond what any person deserves. You're all I need."

"Mary?" Marshall gasped, opening the door. Of all the people he thought would be on the other end of the knocking, Mary Shannon, his former best friend and partner was not one. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm getting married in a few months," she blurted out.

Marshall grimaced, hoping she wasn't here to deliver an invitation. "I know. Brandi told me. She said that you're marrying that Kenny."

Mary briefly glanced downward. "Yeah. No. I don't know."

"What do you mean?"

"I agreed to marry him," she admitted. "But I was trying on wedding dresses with Brandi and she made me realize that he was my second choice, that I agreed to marry him for the wrong reasons, and that it wasn't fair to him." She paused. "I'm going to break it off."

Inwardly, Marshall breathed a sigh of relief. "I'm sorry."

Mary peered at him, closely. "Are you really?"

"I-" he cleared his throat. "I'm sorry that you're hurting."

"I'm not... hurting. At least, not over that," Mary admitted. She bit her lip as her eyes bored into his.

Marshall leaned unconsciously towards her. "What are you hurting over?"

Mary took a deep breath. "See, there's this guy and he used to be my best friend. He used to be everything to me, even though I never told him. I think he loved me at some point, even though he never said it, not directly anyway. I love him, too, but I was too stupid to admit it and I let him slip through my fingers."

Marshall's own breath hitched. "How do you feel about him now?"

"I have and always will love you, Marshall Mann. There is no one else for me," she told him.

"Good," he whispered. He pulled her into his arms. "Because there's no one else for me."

QUOTE PROMPT #075 – MARY/NORAH

"[You are a] Coward and a liar! I never asked you to do this for me, but you did! And now you're leaving, and I'm supposed to live with the fact that I killed a man, and that you helped and lied for me to cover it up."

"I hate you, Riley Nikols!" Norah shouted, stomping her foot on her mother's front porch. "I hate you and I never want to see you again!"

"Norah Elizabeth Shannon, what have you been told about slamming doors?" Mary shouted, rushing out of the kitchen. "If you wake your brother up, you are going to be in so much trouble!"

Norah rolled her eyes. "Sorry."

Mary bit back a smile. Her daughter was more and more like her every day. "Now, why are you throwing a fit?"

"Because Riley Nikols is a twit!" Norah exclaimed.

"Words!" Mary admonished. "Why is Riley a twit?"

Norah breathed in dramatically. "We were playing cops and robbers."

Mary frowned. Of all the games that the kids played, this was her least favorite. "And?"

"And, well, you see, me and Riley and Jaden were the robbers and see, me and Riley had to kill Jaden because he was threatening to tell the cops on us because we didn't split the money the way that he wanted. Then, Riley decided he didn't want to play anymore because some of the older kids were playing baseball. He left me, Mom, to take all the blame myself! What kind of partner does that?"

"That's it," Mary said, rubbing her face. "Absolutely no more playing cops and robbers! From now on, I only want you playing nice games and if I catch you playing anything like this, you're grounded for a week. Got it?"

Norah nodded, her eyes wide. "Got it."

"Good. Go read a book or something," Mary turned away, muttering, "while I kill your step-father for all the bedtime stories he's been telling you."