Author's Note: Special thanks to redbrainbluebrain, JMS529, BrittanyLS, thena-ditey (welcome!), and Jayne Leigh for the reviews. I hope I didn't come off whiny about reviews. I swear, I was just joking! But I appreciate each one! I'd like to dedicate #052 to my niece, who actually did last Monday what Norah does in that drabble. LOL!

QUOTE PROMPT #052 – MARY/MARSHALL/MARK

"Do not pity the dead. Pity the living and above all pity those who have lived without love."

"Do you think we should be worried about this?" Mary asked Mark and Marshall.

"Nah," they both answered, shaking their heads.

Mary frowned. "It doesn't seem normal."

Mark glanced sideways at her, unconsciously leaning away from her. "Maybe, it's her way of rebelling against you. I mean, you are pretty much the antithesis of touchy-feely."

"I can pretty touchy-feely," Mary snickered, elbowing a blushing Marshall.

"Ugh," Mark grimaced. "I forgot how sickening it was to hang out with newlyweds. Anyway, Mary, I don't think you have much to worry about. Norah's just saying good-bye to her friends."

Mary shot him an evil look. "That would be fine, if she hadn't just them an hour ago. Look at her!" Mary waved her hands towards the four-year-old. "She's hugging and kissing each one of them good-bye!"

Mark shrugged. "She's an affectionate child." He looked at Marshall when Mary continued to glare at him. "Could you help me out here, Marshall? I mean, she picked up most of this friendliness from you."

Marshall looked from Mary to Mark and back again. He stepped forward, calling out, "Norah, sweetie! We have to go! We don't want to be late for Grandma Jinx's birthday dinner!"

"Well, don't you have him well trained," Mark commented with a chuckle.

"Damn straight! In fact, I think I'm going to reward him tonight."

QUOTE PROMPT #053 – ABIGAIL/MARSHALL

"You said before that for whatever reason, I seem to be able to exert some authority around here. I assure you it's not 'cause they like me. It's 'cause they knew two minutes after I walked in the door I'm someone who knows how to do something. I can help"

"She doesn't like me," Abigail announced, walking into the kitchen from the backyard.

"Abs," Marshall sighed. This was not the first, third, or even tenth time that they had this conversation, "she's three years old. She's shy around everyone. She just needs to warm up to you."

Abigail frowned. Marshall's niece was spending the month with them while her parents sorted out the details of their divorce. Riker, his niece, disliked Abigail nearly on sight. She refused to let Abigail touch her, talk to her, or when she was really tired, look at her. Currently, Riker was playing with a ball in the backyard with Delia. Every time Abigail ventured near her, she screamed at the top of her lungs.

"It's more than that and you know it," Abigail countered. "She's certainly warmed up to Delia and Ma-"

"Hello?" Mary called out, entering the backyard with Norah in her arms.

Abigail looked pointedly at Marshall as Riker squealed and flew at Mary, wrapping herself around Mary's legs. Abigail folded her arms across her chest. "You're right; she doesn't hate me. She just prefers Mary."

Abigail watched from the doorway as Marshall went out to greet his best friend and her daughter. He took Norah from her so that she could pick up Riker, laughing as the little girl kissed her cheek. Abigail sighed at once again being left out.

"Just like her uncle."

QUOTE PROMPT #054 – MARY/MARSHALL/NORAH

"And sometimes you have to let go."

"Marshall."

"Daddy."

"Marshall!"

"Daddy!"

"What?" Marshall demanded, looking at his wife.

Mary smiled, sympathetically, though inside was rolling her eyes. "It's time to let her go."

Marshall froze. "Just a little while longer."

"She's going to be late," Mary told him, gently.

"Please, Daddy, I wanna go play with the other kids," Norah begged, squirming in his arms.

Marshall frowned. "Just a little while longer."

Mary placed her hand on his shoulder, brushing the hair from Norah's forehead. "Marshall, it's her second day of kindergarten. You'll be here to pick her up in a few hours. Let her go to school."

"Fine," he grumbled. Marshall squeezed Norah one last time, kissing her cheek. He put Norah on the ground and watched as she joined her classmates. "Wasn't it just yesterday that we were sending her off for her first day."

"You're an idiot."