Hey, guys! I know I promised this story months ago but with all the problems I had, I'm pretty sure you all forgot about me my ramblings. But I found a way to update I'm going to try to keep up with my updating this way.

Enjoy the first chapter please read the note at the bottom!

NJPNJPNJP

Mercedes Jones stretched as the morning sun hit her in the face. She sat up in bed looked around her room, trying to wake up. Once she had a bleary eyed assessment of her bodily functions, she climbed from the bed got on her knees to pray.

When she finished, she made her bed exited her sleeping quarters to go to the bathroom. Ozzie barked at her roughly as if he'd had a hard night sleeping. "Good morning, Ozzie baby!"

Ozzie yipped followed her into the bathroom. She checked her reflection in the mirror frowned. She had sleep running down her face from the corners of her eyes but it didn't matter. She'd wash her face soon.

She grabbed her toothbrush from its holder applied toothpaste. She mentally sang a song her father taught her as a child. When she was finished, she spat rinsed out her mouth toothbrush before putting it away. She swished mouthwash before flossing.

She grabbed her dove soap turned on the sink to wet it before rubbing it briskly. She applied her wet soapy hands to her face. She made sure to apply the suds to her neck as well. She let it dry somewhat before using a face towel to wash it away before using an exfoliating scrub to repeat the process.

She eyed herself in the mirror again but this time smiled. She went to the shower turned it on. As the water warmed, she stripped off her nightwear began singing one of her grandmother's songs to herself softly.

When the temperature was right, she stepped beneath the stream closed the glass door behind herself. She used a pouf her favorite burnt brown sugar body wash to bathe. She sang louder even gave an encore performance as she cleansed herself.

When she finished, she turned the water off exited the shower. She walked to the closet grabbed a body towel to dry off. She wrapped the towel around her body led Ozzie from the bathroom.

She went to her walk in closet looked over her multitude of clothes. She felt like being flirty but wearing pants that day so she chose a butter yellow pair of overalls. She paired it with a black shirt with silver cutout holes in the long sleeves.

She put on lavender underwear slipped into her clothes after applying her special body cream (each of her sisters had their own blend), deodorant her signature perfume at her pulse points. She pulled on black dress socks brown ankle booties with a 2" heel curved sides.

She put on her bracelet from Mike along with the daisy necklace he'd given her. She put in hoops applied Proactiv to her face before putting on makeup. She kept her look fresh appropriate for her light clothes such a beautiful July day.

Finally she used a brush to take her hair down from its wrap. She brushed it up into a high pony plugged in her curler to curl the ends.

Ozzie yipped growled.

"I know you're hungry, Ozzie. Mommy's almost done." She hummed to herself as she waited for the tool to heat. Once it was hot to the touch, she wrapped sections of her hair around the barrel curled.

When her ponytail was in loose curls, she turned the curler off got up. "Come on. Time to eat."

Ozzie barked as if cheering.

Mercedes left her closet then the suite of rooms to go downstairs. She began opening the shades downstairs the curtains. It was one of the first things she Quinn had done when they got to Italy in June; buy curtains, blinds shades.

She made her way to the kitchen started the coffee Keurig. She went to the pantry to get Ozzie's dog food poured him a bowlful. He happily got down to the business of eating.

She returned the bag came back to the kitchen to grab her ready coffee. She put Quinn's mug under the spout so her cup would be ready when she came down.

Mercedes opened the fridge tried to decide what to make for breakfast. She knew she wanted eggs but she didn't know how. She could want an omelette but the only two people she knew in Italy that knew how to make them were upstairs starting their day.

Scrambled was good enough. She grabbed a carton of eggs put it on the island. Today was the day Tina Finn were coming to visit so she knew she'd have to have a hearty breakfast before they went sightseeing.

Mercedes knew what she wanted. She grabbed cream shut the door before going to the pantry for spaghetti. She came back to the kitchen for a pot pan. She got butter from the butter keeper on the island added it to the pan.

She turned on an eye set the pan on top to sizzle. She added the ingredients one by one then added Parm cheese from the fridge herbs from the counter.

Quinn walked in. "Morning. Something smells good."

Mercedes watched her grab her coffee take a sip. "It'll taste even better."

"Can't wait." Quinn savored her drink. She went to the fridge for creamer added a few dollops.

"I like your outfit. We match. Kinda." Mercedes tossed the spaghetti once more before pouring it all into a large bowl.

Quinn looked down at her outfit. She wore blue overall shorts with a silver belly shirt Skechers. She also wore a plaid button up shirt over it in blue. "Thanks. You know we have to look the same."

Mercedes smiled. "Always."

Quinn grabbed two bowls forks before leading the way to the sunroom. Mercedes followed her with the serving bowl.

They sat at their Victorian table helped themselves to their breakfast before praying digging in.

"Are we going shopping today?" Quinn asked as she blew on her pasta took a bite.

Mercedes swallowed what was in her mouth. "We can. I thought they'd like to sightsee before the tasting."

"Oh we do have that today!" Quinn realized. "I can't wait!"

"You just want to eat dessert."

"Yes, I do!" Both girls giggled. "But I think we should buy more plants to go in here. Marcy has a head start on us."

Mercedes looked around the room agreed that it needed more plant life. "We should go to the nursery then. I'm sure Tina will like it. Finn will probably hang out with Mikey Puck then."

"I wonder what they have planned? We said we'd do all these things but I don't know if we'll have time."

"You mean because the opening is in two weeks?" Mercedes nodded. "I can't believe Marcy got everything ready in five weeks. She was on the ball."

"Yeah." Quinn nodded, too. "We're going to be busy with the shop you Puck still have to find band members."

"I know. We're keeping an ear out for talent but we want at least a drummer by August."

"You have two weeks."

Mercedes sighed deeply. "We need to start putting up flyers stuff. Posting on the Internet."

"So you need a drummer, a bassist a keyboard player. Find a keyboard player at a coffee shop a drummer at the music store."

"Right. Marcy did say that drummers liked to show off there."

"Yep."

Mercedes chewed thoughtfully before commenting. "That leaves the bassist for the Internet. I'll post it while we're at the testing."

"Hope it works out for you, Sissy."

"Thank you!" Mercedes kissed her cheek as Quinn giggled.

MMC

Mercedes finished her coffee. "Want another cup?"

"Sure." Quinn got up to take the dishes to the kitchen as Mercedes grabbed the mugs.

A whirlwind blew in. "Hey!"

"Hey, Marcy." They chirped on their way out.

Marcy followed behind them. "Are you ready to go?" Marcy was driving them to the airport.

"We're still thirsty." Mercedes fiddled with the coffee machine.

"Take your tonic in your water bottles come on. I don't want to be stuck in traffic all day."

The tonic she was talking about was a drink their mothers drank faithfully that was supposed to help with everything from weight loss to lowering blood pressure. It was made from apple cider vinegar, maple syrup, lemon juice, cinnamon, water apple juice.

"That'll work." Mercedes left the machine alone handed the mugs to Quinn, who washed the breakfast dishes.

Marcy leaned against the island. "I like you in yellow."

Mercedes perked up a smile blossomed across her features. "Thank you! I love what you're wearing! Emo chic!"

Marcy frowned. "What?!" She was wearing black skinny jeans with black doc martens a long sleeved dark purple shirt with the word fire printed in ash grey. She wore her rosary moon necklace along with many bracelets her ring from Mal. Her earrings were skulls crossbones her makeup was dark.

"You do."

"Doesn't Puck call you a dark fairy?" Quinn washed the last dish put it in the drainer.

Marcy rolled her eyes. "Your boyfriend's special."

Quinn shrugged. "I'll have to get my water bottle."

"Me too." Mercedes said.

"Mine's ready to go. Upstairs. With my purse keys." Marcy pouted.

Mercedes laughed. "Go!"

Marcy dragged her feet as she left the kitchen. "Ugh!"

Mercedes Quinn giggled as they went upstairs for their water bottles, phones purses. They came down exited the condo. As they locked the door, they saw Marcy getting off the elevator.

Together, they all walked to the garage got in Travis. Marcy plugged her phone into the car's sound system turned on swing jazz. She put the car in drive drove out of the cavern.

She turned onto the street started heading north. She took back streets shortcuts to get to the airport faster. On the way, the trio discussed their dreams from the night before. Luckily they'd all had good dreams.

"I'm telling you; that tea party on a cloud with President Obama was choice!" Marcy swore as she parked. "Nothing could beat it."

"I think my dream of opening up a ton of ice cream shops all over Italy was a pretty good dream!" Quinn argued.

They got out as Mercedes blushed. "I think my dream of marrying Mikey will come true before all of yours."

"That wasn't even a dream about the future." Marcy led the way inside. "You were five!"

"It still happened!" Mercedes blushed harder.

They kept up the banter until they reached the correct gate. They took seats waited for their friends' flight to be called.

"When is Rou coming?" Quinn asked.

"Friday." Marcy was actually texting Karou at that moment.

"I can't wait to see her but I'm glad Artie's not coming until next month. I'm already scared for when she Finn see each other." Mercedes blew out a breath.

"Don't worry. You know Rou doesn't go backwards. She's already had Finn. She might ignore him." That was a real possibility.

"I hope she does. T doesn't need to flip out."

"Better not tell Rou. You know how she is." Quinn rolled her eyes.

Marcy grimaced. "She'll tell Tina tease her about it for as long as they share the same space."

"You your twin." Mercedes twisted her lips.

"Yeah, we're bad." Marcy smirked.

"Oh! There's their flight!" Quinn pointed.

"It should take twenty minutes for them to make it out here. Do either of you want a magazine or paper?" Mercedes stood up.

"I'll take a magazine. Surprise me."

"Nah, I'm fine." Marcy leaned back closed her eyes.

Mercedes went to a kiosk bought two Italian Vogues. She debated it then bought another for Tina. She came back to where her sisters were waiting handed over a book. "Here you go."

"Thanks." Quinn took it gladly began flipping through the glossy pages.

"You're welcome." Mercedes sat down began reading.

Twenty minutes passed in near silence until Marcy opened her eyes sat up. "We should start looking for them now."

"Okay." Mercedes dog-eared her page closed her book.

Quinn did the same they both stood up. The trio went to the gate waited as people walked down the corridor.

It didn't take long for Tina Finn to walk through. "Hi!" Tina threw herself at Mercedes.

Mercedes rocked with her hug. "Hi, boo!"

"Oh my goodness, I've missed you so much!"

"I've missed you, too!"

Finn hugged Marcy Quinn. "Hey, guys!"

"Hey, Finn!" They patted his back.

"Okay, switch!" Tina let Mercedes go. She Finn switched places gave the others hugs.

Finn hugged Mercedes tight. "Hi, Sadie."

"How you've been, Finn?" Mercedes gave him a sturdy hug.

"I've been really good. I've been spending more time with my parents, I visit Kurt Tina I are doing great."

"I'm happy for you."

"What about you?"

"I've just been settling in. Mikey I are solid. Things are good."

"Good."

"We're standing in the way." Marcy said.

The quintet moved.

"We should get your things get out of here. Traffic will be a beast. Might as well get going."

They all agreed turned to walk to baggage claim.

MMC

"Are they here yet?"

Mike looked at Puck. "I'm ready to fight you."

Puck grinned. "Why?"

"Stop asking me if Tina Finn are here. Mercy said she'd text when they were."

"I know. But I'm used to seeing him."

"I know you miss your girlfriend but-"

"I didn't say a thing about Quinn."

"Neither did I."

Puck shot him a dirty glare.

Mike was pleased with himself almost didn't hear his phone go off. He checked the screen. "They are finally here."

Puck nodded. "Are you going to pause the game?"

Mike looked at the screen. "Yeah, why not?" He paused the game stood up.

Puck stood, too followed Mike out. They left the den walked out of their condo to the elevator. They took it down went to the garage to wait.

They didn't have to wait long. Seconds later, Marcy pulled into the dark space. The car's occupants exited its comfy interior got out bags from the spacious trunk.

"Hey!" Mike Puck waved.

Tina hugged Mike as Finn hugged Puck. Then they switched. "Hi!"

"How was your flight?" Mike asked.

"Who's plane was that?!" Finn exclaimed instead. "It was amazing!"

"He ate the entire time we were in the air." Tina faux whispered.

Finn's lips twisted. "I've never heard of half that stuff! I had to taste it!"

"Come on." Mike's lips twitched. "Let's get you settled in."

The group took their bags into the building. The guys headed upstairs while the girls went to the owned apartment downstairs.

Finn looked around the condo in awe. "Wow, this place is fancy."

"The girls decorated for us." Puck turned red.

"Want to see your room or do you want a tour first?" Mike asked.

"Can I just throw this stuff in there then have a tour?" Finn wanted to see the whole house.

"Sure."

MMC

"This place is so beautiful!" Tina gushed. "I love your dining room. It's like the fall harvest."

"That's exactly what we were going for!" Mercedes felt vindicated. "Marcy's is a burnt pumpkin looks so good. We had to go with this wine. Then she turned around used our extra paint to add decals to hers. So we did the same with a squash."

"I like it." Tina repeated.

"Let's show you the sunroom!" Quinn grabbed her hand led her out. Mercedes Marcy followed.

Tina's eyes widened when they got to the sunny room. "It's gorgeous!"

"You should see mine." Marcy smirked. "I have more plants than them."

Tina giggled. "Is it a competition?"

"Yes. I'm winning."

Quinn hit Marcy. "We're catching up."

"You're taking your sweet time."

Quinn hit her again. "Stop it!"

"I'ma have to if you're trying to catch up."

Quinn moved but so did Marcy. "Cut it out!"

"Guys!" Mercedes huffed loudly with an eye-roll.

"Why are you still here?!" Quinn ignored her. "Tina's here now!"

"I'm here to ruin your life." Marcy stuck her tongue out.

"Boy, is that the truth!"

"Guys!" Mercedes repeated louder.

"What?" They both looked at her.

"T's a guest. You're being rude."

"We are straight up ignoring you, Korean Fruit." Marcy apologized.

"I'm sorry, Tina." Quinn said meekly.

Tina giggled. "It's alright. Siblings fight."

"We don't fight. We disagree." Mercedes waggled her finger.

Both Quinn Marcy rolled their green eyes.

"I saw that!"

"Don't you want to show Tina your studio?" Marcy changed the subject.

Mercedes lit up. "Yes! That's the last room down here!"

They exited the conservatory walked through the house until they made it to the studio. It took five weeks to build but it was a fully functioning music studio.

Tina gaped. "Wow! I love it!"

Mercedes looked over her pride joy that Quinn had had a lot of say in. "We put carpet in here in spots so it'd be extra comfy."

Tina poked everywhere. "I see! Can I take pictures?"

"Of the carpet?" Marcy raised an eyebrow.

Tina giggled. "Of the house!"

"Sure." Mercedes agreed.

"So that's it for down here?"

"Yep. Let's show you your room then we'll show you ours."

"Show me yours then show me mine. That way I can unpack."

"You want me to hold your stuff?" Marcy asked.

"No. I got it."

Marcy took her luggage. "It's no problem."

Tina smiled. "Thank you."

Mercedes waved a hand. "This way." She led the way out of the room to the staircase.

They walked upstairs amidst Tina's cries of surprise at the pictures art on the wall.

They made it to the second floor Mercedes opened the room Tina would be residing in. "Put her stuff inside, Marce."

Tina peeked inside as Marcy set the luggage down. "It's so beautiful!"

"I thought you wanted to wait to see your room?!" Quinn chuckled.

"But it's so pretty! It's so soothing!"

"I picked out the color." Marcy said proudly. "All of my rooms have soft pastel colors they liked it. They copied my seafoam green idea."

"All the rooms are different colors?" Tina looked over the four poster bed, dresser, chest of drawers, chair table set, two nightstands, three bookcases closet.

"Yep. Just like at home." Mercedes said proudly.

"Okay, let's see your rooms so I can come back geek out over this room!"

"Let's show you the bathroom first."

"Good idea."

They travelled to the bathroom Tina marveled over the fixtures. She couldn't wait to try the shower tub.

Quinn showed off her room (that she finally found a sparkly grey to coat). "Isn't it beautiful?"

"Is this the master?" Tina peeked through what she figured Quinn would let her.

"Nope. Just the second biggest."

"I have the biggest." Mercedes smiled sheepishly. "I painted it to look like my room at home."

"So purple, black silver?" Tina remembered.

"Yep. I really liked my room wanted this room here to be like that one."

"Well let's see it."

Mercedes led them to the purple door. "Tada!"

"Is this a sitting room?!"

Quinn Marcy burst out laughing.

Mercedes ignored them. "Yes. What do you want to see first? The bed, the bath or the closet?"

"Bed." Tina decided.

Mercedes went to the doors opened them. "I have a lot of pictures of us up."

Tina looked over the pictures from various times in Mercedes's life, including the glee club years.

"What do you think?"

"Except for the TV pictures, there's very little clutter. I like that. My room's a disaster zone."

"Let's see the bath."

Tina was unprepared for the bath. "Whoa! This is a bathroom!"

"Thanks."

"Your closet is going to be to die for, isn't it?"

Mercedes smiled prettily. "You have to see for yourself."

Tina went to the doors threw them open. "Oh. My. Goodness."

"Mind-boggling, huh?" Marcy teased.

"Uh huh." Tina drooled.

"We def. have to go shopping to fill it." Mercedes bumped her gently.

"This closet is seriously amazing. I can't believe I liked your old one."

"My old one was pretty good. Just this one is bigger."

"I def. have to rest." Tina put her hand to her head.

Quinn Marcy giggled softly.

Mercedes wrapped an arm around Tina's shoulders led her to her guest room. "You rest. We can go shopping Thursday."

"Why can't we later or tomorrow?"

"They're helping me pick a head pastry chef today." Marcy spoke up.

" we have a photo shoot tomorrow." Quinn added.

"So cool! Can I come?!" Tina forgot all about her headache.

"Of course." Mercedes assured her.

Tina picked up her luggage set it on the bed. "You won't leave me when you go to pick out the chef, will you?"

"We'd never leave you by yourself in a different country!" Mercedes was offended.

"I just wanted to make sure. Wake me up when it's time to leave."

"Have a good nap." They waved shut the door behind themselves.

The trio traveled down the steps as the doorbell rang. They all went to get it because Marcy was going back upstairs Quinn wanted to see the twins.

Imagine their shock to see Laura.

"Laura!"

Laura smiled. "Hi."

They each gave her a hug. "What are you doing here?"

"We need to talk."

"What happened?" Mercedes fretted.

"Someone died." Marcy bit her lip. "That's why you showed up instead of calling."

"Oh no!" Quinn started hyperventilating. "Who died?!"

"Guys! Calm down! No one died!" Laura waved her hands. "Let me in I'll explain everything."

They stood back so she could enter.

"Where are you staying?" Mercedes asked.

"Hopefully here." Laura picked up luggage. "I need my sisters."

"What's Marc done to you now?" Marcy rolled her eyes.

"How'd you know?"

"That's what you do." Quinn sighed. "You pick at each other then make us choose sides."

"Well this one was both of our faults."

"Uh oh." Marcy blew out a breath.

Laura sighed. " I don't want you guys telling anyone. Not Nat, Lond, Rou or Paris. Nobody."

"Oh shit, this is big."

Quinn caught the giggles.

Mercedes shook her head. "Marce!"

"What?!" Marcy was still in shock.

Laura rolled her eyes. "Make tea, please. With bourbon."

"Oh come on! You don't think this is big?!" Marcy gestured to Laura. "Ms. Priss never wants to drink alcohol with tea!"

"You're doing this on purpose!" Mercedes accused. "She needs our help!"

"You don't know that."

Quinn laughed harder.

"She wouldn't have come if she didn't!" Mercedes stuck to her guns.

"Or she could want to rub something in our faces. She's just as sappy as you." Marcy said stubbornly.

Mercedes scoffed in hurt. "Hey!"

"Girls! Stop fighting!" Laura put on her big sister voice. "Just make the tea, Mercy. We'll be in the living room."

"Do you really want me to add liquor?" Mercedes was unsure.

"I got this sap we could drink." Marcy hooked a thumb at the door indicating upstairs.

Her sisters looked at her, bewildered. "Sap?!"

"It's fermented. You can drink it raw, which I do not recommend unless you like the taste of semen or you can put it in coffee. It tastes really good that way."

"Why would you put syrup in coffee?" Quinn wrinkled her nose.

"It's tree sap. Real sap."

"Why would you put sap in coffee?" Laura shook her head in awe.

"It sweetens the coffee. The coffee takes away that funky flavor."

" that flavor is…"

"Semen." Marcy interrupted Mercedes.

Mercedes gulped. "No."

"I'm telling you; it's good."

"No." Laura reiterated. "Just straight tea. Herbal."

"Let me help you with the tea. You know I hate herbal." Marcy grimaced. She drank herbal tea but liked to complain about it.

"I want shortbread. Breakfast was a while ago." Quinn said.

"Ugh!" Laura gave up. "We can talk in the kitchen!"

Mercedes threaded her arm through hers. "We get on your nerves, don't we?"

"Aw! What's wrong?" Marcy put on a baby voice. "You don't want to talk to us anymore?"

"You're not getting out of this, Moppet." Laura dragged her.

They went to the kitchen Mercedes put on the kettle for tea. Quinn grabbed four mugs the tea. Mercedes grabbed sugar milk.

Laura kept quiet as they worked. Soon she had a cup of tea in her hands inhaled delicately. "Marc I slept together five weeks ago."

Mercedes, Quinn Marcy blinked.

Laura waited but that was all they did. "Well?!"

"Well what?" Quinn rolled her eyes.

"You have nothing to say?"

"What do you want? a high-five?" Marcy snorted.

Laura glared. "Why aren't you surprised?!"

Mercedes pursed her lips guiltily. "We already knew."

"What?!"

"It was the Friday before we left, right?"

"Yes."

"We knew."

"How?!"

"You're not slick!" Marcy blurted.

Laura huffed. "I can't believe this. Who else knows? Tell me Sonny Jr. don't."

"They know." Quinn grinned.

Laura groaned loudly. "No! way!"

"Yep."

"I don't care. They'd know soon anyway."

"Were you going to tell them? Is this the thing you wanted us to know? Does this mean you're back together?" Mercedes fired off.

Laura waved her hands. "No! Mercy, stop. They'd know soon because there's proof of that day."

"Proof?" Her sisters stared dumbly.

Laura put her hand on her stomach.

Marcy reacted first. Her jaw dropped, her eyes widened she pointed at Laura. "Your baby's not gonna be in wedlock!"

"That's what you got out of that?!"

"You're pregnant?!" Mercedes Quinn shouted.

Laura nodded slowly. "Five weeks. I found out yesterday."

Marcy started laughing.

Laura hit her. "Stop it, devil!"

"You're unmarried, divorced, pregnant by someone you're not with he's a black man while you're a white woman. You hit every cliche there is. You're just not young."

Laura hit her again. "I am young!"

"I meant in high school." Marcy rolled her eyes.

Laura did, too. "Are you done laughing? I need help."

"You're pregnant!" Mercedes Quinn shouted again.

"Guys! Keep up! Yes, I'm pregnant! Help me!"

Mercedes shook herself. "I'm going to have another niece or nephew. You are keeping it, right?"

"Of course I'm keeping it. There's no reason for me not to." Laura sucked her teeth.

"You could just not want it." Marcy pointed out.

"You could not be ready." Quinn added.

"Well I do want it. I've been taking care of you three my whole life. I'm ready." Laura rubbed her stomach subconsciously.

"Then what help do you need?" Marcy's eyes widened as soon as she finished speaking. "You don't want to tell Marc!"

Laura pursed her lips.

Mercedes Quinn stared at her. "Laura!"

"He doesn't need to know! It might not even be his!"

"Who else's is it gonna be?" Marcy side-eyed her.

"It could be Johnny's."

"Sperm can only survive in the body for up to five days can take up to 72 hours to reach the uterus. You slept with Johnny two weeks before you slept with Marc. Are you sure you're five weeks?"

"That's what the doctor said but they make mistakes all the time."

Mercedes chewed on her bottom lip. "I think you're going to have to face the facts. You're probably pregnant by Marc."

"Let's call a spade a spade." Marcy spat. "You're carrying the next Jones heir. Woman up tell the blockhead."

"I don't want him to know!" Laura refused.

"Why not?" Quinn demanded.

"Did you tell Puck that you were pregnant?"

Quinn's face soured. "That was different!"

"How?!"

"I had a boyfriend!"

"That you didn't tell right away either!"

Quinn's cheeks turned red.

"You didn't tell Mal about being pregnant ever." Laura turned on Marcy.

Whose jaw dropped. "Wait a minute! I wasn't even in this!"

Mercedes grabbed Laura's hands. "Can we please just be happy about this baby?"

"I think I am glad to be having this baby but there's so many complications." Laura sighed. "I'll have to move out of London's Paris's find my own flat. I'll have to get a job. A real job."

"I thought you were interviewing at studios galleries?"

"I am but nothing's panning out. I might just have to set up my own design firm. I'll make my own hours there's a lot of people who just need my help."

Mercedes giggled. "You have a long way to go. Are you sure you don't want to stick it out?"

Laura pouted. "Yeah. I'll be on maternity leave soon enough I heard new jobs don't like that."

"Screw 'em." Marcy got over her attitude. "You'll be the best interior designer England has ever seen."

Mercedes Quinn, who'd also gotten over her anger, smiled in agreement.

"About that." Laura chewed on her bottom lip played with her fingers. "I was thinking I could move in with you guys."

The three blinked in shock before Marcy blurted, "No!"

"Marce!" Mercedes slapped her hand.

Marcy slapped her back. "No! She needs to stand up to Marc tell him he's going to be a father!"

"Why can't she do that stay here?" Quinn grinned, just wanting Marcy to spell it out.

"Because all she's doing is running away. You're going to be a mum now; act like it!" The last part was to the eldest of them.

Laura groaned. "You never support me!"

"You can stay a few days but after that, you have to go home tell Marc." Marcy wagged a finger.

"Why can't you tell him, Drill Sergeant?"

"That's an A B conversation."

"So not fair!" Laura whined.

"We can be there when you tell him." Mercedes offered.

"You're going to fly to London just so you can be there?" Marcy sneered.

"Can't I just tell him over the phone?" Laura sulked.

"No! That's an in-person private conversation!"

"Why are you being like this?!"

"Why are you?! You're always going on about being ladylike doing the right thing! Where's that prissiness now?!"

Laura bowed her head. "I'm not like you. I'm not brave like you are."

"But you're brave like you are." Marcy lifted her chin. "Marc is one funky little man. He can't hurt you. You two need to sit down put your history behind you like adults. Your baby's counting on you."

MMC

"Where's a marker? I want to draw on his face." Puck stopped playing.

Mike looked at him. "You did all this crying about wanting to see him but when the first opportunity arises, you want to draw dicks on his face?"

"I never said I wanted to draw dicks on his face. You're projectoring."

"It's projecting no, I'm not. I know you."

Puck grinned. "Alright. I want to draw mini penises on his face in permanent marker."

"You're a bad friend."

Puck's eyes sparkled. "C'mon. Where's a marker?"

"I'm going to go see what Mal's up to." Mike stood up.

"I'll go with you. He's not much fun asleep." Puck gestured to the jet-lagged Finn.

Mike turned off the TV left the room, Puck on his heels. They left the condo walked across to the only other one on their level. Mike used his key to open the door called out his brother's name.

Puck shut the door behind them. "Where do you think he is?"

"Let's check the playroom." Mike led the way there.

Mal was indeed in the playroom with his children. "Hey, guys."

"Sup, Mal." Puck inclined his head jauntily.

"Hey, Mal." Mike picked up his nephew tickled him. "Mally!"

"Tio!" Mally giggled.

Puck held out his fist. "Little Dude."

Mally touched his fist with his own. He didn't understand much English but he knew Little Dude meant him.

Mickey stood up set aside her play things to run to Puck. He swung her up in his arms. "Sugar cube!"

"Mine!" Mickey clapped.

Mal sighed. "He's not yours, Mick. He's Tia Quinn's."

She pouted. "Not mine?"

"Not yours." He confirmed.

She set her hands on her tiny hips.

Puck kissed her cheek. "What'd you say to get my sugar cube frownin?"

"I told her you weren't hers." Mal looked down at his nails, which Mickey had been painting a sparkly blue. "I wonder if I can wipe this off."

Mickey saw his interest pushed at Puck's shoulders to be let down. "No!"

"Daddy's going to be seen in public today, Mick." He rubbed at the spots on his fingers that she'd painted as well.

"No. Pretty Daddy." She resumed her task.

He sighed. "I never should have agreed to this."

"Shut up complaining." Mike had zero sympathy.

"Don't you think Tio Mike wants his nails done?" Mal asked his daughter.

She lit up. "Yes! Sit, Tio!"

Mike threw his brother an aggravated glare while Puck laughed. "You low down dirty rat."

Mal just smiled.

"Sit, Tio!" Mickey demanded.

"Ask her what color she's thinking." Puck nudged Mike's shoulder.

Mike swatted him. "Die."

Mal grinned. "I think Tio would like pink."

"Pink!" Both Mike Mickey yelled.

Mickey finished with her father's hands picked up pink nail polish shook it. She knew the majority of her colors loved flaunting it. "Still, Tio."

Mike huffed gave her his hands. "I really hate you, Mal."

"Shut up complaining." Mal inspected his nails. They weren't half bad.

Hey, guys! How'd you enjoy the first chapter?! A couple things if you don't know; I had a Dell computer that served me well for years but I'm not very computer savvy had no idea what I was doing it was probably my fault that it crashed. Anyway, I let it linger for months until my uncle put in a new hard drive. It was great but it still had some problems so I saved my money bought a new Mac.

I had no idea how to work it but found out that it used Pages (no Word in sight; should've asked for it but you live you learn) this website doesn't support Pages. Screwed me big time. So I continued using my old computer even though I gave it to my mom. But then it went out. I updated all the stories I could from school computers until I got out of classes.

I haven't been able to update until maybe a month ago when I realized I could use the app upload from my phone. Things have been up down since then today is the first day where I've been able to do this so long story short, I'M BACK!

Also, that tonic is a real recipe. If you want the exact measurements, message me I'll give it to you in the next chapter. It's a really good tonic I use 50/50 water to apple juice just because I'm an apple juice freak but it tastes like apple pie. You can actually use any juice you want my next step is to use watermelon juice.

Any other questions, leave a review. I'm happy to answer anything you ask. I'm just really happy to be back. This is a rockin day. Whoo!