Author's Note: Special thanks to JMS529, BrittanyLS, Guest, Adelled (and for the catch-ups), JJ2008, Jayne Leigh, and BravoExpressions (also for the catch-ups!) for the reviews!
QUOTE PROMPT #151 – MARY/MARSHALL
"Sacrifice demands the surrender of things we cherish above all else. Only out of the agony of those losses can a new resolution be born. An undying devotion to a cause greater than oneself. And a moral duty to see a journey through to its absolute completion."
"I don't want to give it up."
Marshall sighed, knowing this wasn't going to be an easy fight. "Mary, we have to. We have to stop this."
Mary put her hands on her hips. "It's not like we're hurting anyone."
"We're hurting!"
"I don't feel hurt. In fact," she sauntered over to him and run her hands up his chest, "I feel pretty damn good." She nipped his ear. "I think I make you feel pretty good, too."
Marshall groaned as she found the sensitive spot on his neck and latched on. He wrapped his arms around her, stuffing his hands in her back pockets. As her fingernails scrapped his scalp, Marshall rocked their bodies, gently.
"We have a rule!" Stan shouted, walking into the office.
Mary and Marshall sprung apart, guiltily, muttering, "Sorry, Stan."
Marshall turned to Mary as Stan waved them off, shrinking into his office. "See, we have to stop. No more making out during the work day. Not," he held up a figure when she opened her mouth to protest, "even at lunch time."
"Fine," she huffed, stomping over to her desk. "You just better be ready for me after the kids go to bed." Marshall's eyes widened over the implication. "And I mean daily."
QUOTE PROMPT #152 – MARY/MARK
"No matter how much time goes by. No matter how hard living gets, we will remember. We will remember that it's not about how long we live, but how we live and what we leave behind."
"How could you do it, Mark?" Mary asked. "How could you be so stupid?" She rubbed her forehead. "I thought you were doing so much better. I thought you had finally grown up."
Mary turned away, wiping tears from her cheeks. "You were actually a good father; at least, I thought you were. I'm not so sure anymore. Did you drink when Norah stayed with you? Did you ever drive in the car with her drunk?"
She turned back around. "Marshall tells me that I should trust that you didn't; that we would have caught onto it, but I'm not sure that I can believe it. You hid this pretty well from me. How am I supposed to tell our daughter when she's asks about you? How am I supposed to tell her that you died because you got rip-roaring drunk one night and decided in your infinite wisdom that driving home was a brilliant idea? How could you do that, Mark? How could you be so stupid?"
Breathing a huge sigh, her voice softened. "She misses you. Norah. We keep your picture by her bed and make sure to tell her stories about you. Joanne comes to see her every month or so; it's still too hard for her to be in Albuquerque all the time. Marshall talks about you every night when he puts her to bed. They send good thoughts into the universe for you, almost like a prayer. Can you believe that our child is doing anything close to praying?"
Mary licked her lips. "I'm going to let Norah call him 'Dad'. I don't really know how you would feel about that, but she wants to. She's already slipped and done it a few times. Marshall would be happy just being Marshall, but I can see the thrill in his eyes each time she calls him 'Daddy'. Besides, he's a good one. He's not at all threatened by your role in her life."
She released a long breath. "I'm going to go. I'm still so angry with you, but I'll be back. Marshall's going to keep making me come back until I forgive you. Guess that means I'll be coming back for a long time." Her bit of humor fell away from her lips as soon as it came. "Bye, Mark. See you soon."
QUOTE PROMPT #153 – MARSHALL/STAN
"You're like the younger brother I never had. I figure someone should benefit from my experience."
"Stan the Man!" Marshall greeted, jovially, patting the suited man on his back. "Tell me: just how happy are you right now?"
Stan was unable to keep the grin off his face. "Marshall, honestly, I am the happiest I have ever been in my life. Have I told you that we're looking into adopting? An older child, of course. I think Ellie and I are a bit old to chase a toddler around."
Marshall shot him a matching grin. "That sounds wonderful, Stan. It really does."
"What about you? When are you going to stop pussyfooting around and take the plunge yourself?" Stan looked at him expectantly.
"Abigail and I broke up," he replied, uncomfortably. "You know that."
Stan nodded. "It's not Abigail that I'm talking about." He pointed past him to where Mary was dancing with her daughter and niece in a rare moment of buoyancy.
Marshall sighed. "She doesn't feel that way about me. She never has."
"Have you asked her? I mean, asked her straight out how she feels about you?" Stan pushed.
"I, um, I... no," he admitted.
Stan clapped his shoulder. "Let me tell you something, Marshall. I almost let that beautiful woman over there walk out of my life. I did let her walk out for awhile, but thankfully, she took me back. But I was the one that had to go to her. If I had known that I could be this happy, I would have done it years ago. Don't waste anymore time."
Marshall took a deep breath. He nodded once. He gave Eleanor a smile as he passed on his way to Mary.
"So, did you give him the push?" Eleanor asked.
"Just liked we planned," Stan assured her.
Eleanor kissed him, gently. "You're a good man, Stanley McQueen."
Stan pulled her onto the dance floor. "You're not so bad yourself, Eleanor McQueen."
