Mercedes: POV

I closed my suitcase before flipping it back open. Did I pack my toiletries? I searched for the bag and found it on my settee. I put it in my suitcase then zipped it closed.

There! I was packed.

I put on my shoes and put on my jacket before grabbing my purse and the suitcase off my bed. I went to Marcy's room. "Are you ready?"

"Yeah. Hold on." She was on the phone. She began speaking in a language I didn't know but suspected was Russian.

I sat on the trunk at the end of her bed to wait. I didn't have to wait long before she hung up and stood from her desk. "What was that about?"

"Just some business." She put her phone in her back pocket and looked around absentmindedly.

"What kind of business? Are you creating your own business like Marc did? He was seventeen. You're seventeen."

She looked at me blankly.

"You just don't want to tell me." I pouted.

The corner of her mouth kicked up and she left to go to her closet.

I scowled at the closed door. She knew she could tell me stuff!

She came back with her suitcase and set it on her bed before grabbing her jacket and purse. She shrugged into her jacket and slung her purse over her head. "Come on. Call Lucy and Tana and tell them I'm on my way."

I stood up and gathered my things. "I'll do it in the car."

"You know you should call Lucy now."

She was right. Drat! I took my phone out and called Lucy. She picked up after two rings. "Hi, Lucy. We're on our way. Okay. See you in a bit. Bye." I hung up.

"Let's go." Marcy ushered me out and closed her bedroom door behind her. We went downstairs and shouted goodbyes to Mrs. Gonzales and Marionette.

We got in Travis, me in the back, and drove around to Lucy's. Marcy beeped the horn and Lucy came on out. She put her suitcase in the trunk then got in the back with me.

Marcy drove two blocks over and picked up Tana, who came right on out. She put her bag in the trunk then sat up front with Marcy.

Marcy drove to Kurt's and picked him up then drove to Blaine's, who wasn't far from the Hudmels. Both got in the far back.

Marcy then drove to get Britt who got in the front with her and Tana before getting Rachel, who got in the back with me and Lucy. Marcy drove to get Ellen, who got in the front with her, Britt and Tana. Marce had let her in on the driver's side.

Then she drove to get Annie. She beeped the horn and Annie left her house. She got in on my side and we kissed.

Then Marcy drove to Dayton. We were on our way to a same sex couples workshop that I talked everyone into going to. Some were more willing (Rachel, Britt, Ellen, Kurt) to go than others (Marcy, Tana, Lucy, Blaine).

I was excited to go because I wanted to work on my relationship with Annie. I felt we were solid but with the baby coming, we had to make sure we were airtight.

Anyway, we made it to Dayton by checkin at three o'clock. It was right before rush hour on a Friday so we got lucky.

Marcy parked in the lot of the retreat cabin and we all got out to go inside. It was beautiful. We were at an out of the way possibly man made wooded area. There were tiny cabins dotting the area with a large cabin right smack dab in the middle.

We went to that cabin and looked around inside. It was truly rustic. It was made of wood (obviously) and had a real hunter's motif. That was unsettling…

We went to the front desk. A man was typing away on a computer.

Rachel smiled brightly. "Hi. We're here for the weekend workshop."

He smiled back. "Hello! Welcome to Tommy Fields' Relationship Strengthening Workshop! What are your names?"

"I'm Rachel Berry and this is my girlfriend, Quinn Fabray."

He typed on his computer. "Ah! Yes! You're in cabin seven. Here are your booklets." He handed over two orange folders.

Lucy and Rachel took them and moved out of the way.

Britt went next. "I'm Brittany Pierce and this is my girlfriend, Santana Lopez."

He nodded as he clicked on his keyboard. "Yes! You're in cabin five. Here are your booklets." He gave them orange folders, too.

Kurt went next. "I'm Kurt Hummel and this is my boyfriend, Blaine Anderson."

He nodded again. "Here you go. You're in cabin eight."

Blaine opened his folder.

Ellen excitedly went next. "I'm Ellen Majors and this is my girlfriend, Marceline Anne Taylor-Jones."

The man smiled. "I remember that name. Here you go. You're in cabin six."

"Thank you."

I went next. "I'm Mercedes Catherine Taylor-Jones and this is my girlfriend, Anna Picos."

"I remember." He smiled at me as he checked us in. "You're in cabin four."

"Thanks." Annie said as she flipped through her folder.

"Now you have IDs inside your folders, please wear them at all times. Breakfast is at eight AM, lunch is at noon and dinner is at five PM. There are different workshops open at different times and they're clearly posted on your itineraries.

The wifi password is in there along with the names of all the workshop speakers. There will be team building exercises and down time. Each cabin has a bathroom and we also have bathrooms in here.

Please get unpacked and look around before meeting up for dinner in the cafeteria."

We nodded and turned to go. We left the main cabin and looked around for the little cabins before setting off.

We all found our cabins and shouted goodbyes before going inside. I closed the door behind me as Annie and I stepped inside our cabin.

I turned on the lights and we blinked as we looked around. The cabin was very sparse. There was a mirror and a calendar on the wall but that was it. There was a cubbyhole that had two white wire racks and a wooden dresser under it. There was an actual cubbyhole on the wall that would hold various objects.

There was only one door inside and it led to a sterile bathroom with no tub or shower. It held toilet paper and a plunger with a soap dispenser under the mirror. It had a window with a ledge behind the door.

Back in the room, there was a window, also. By that window was a trash can and a wooden nightstand with one drawer. There were two outlets by the mirror.

Finally there was the bed. It was barely big enough for one person let alone two. But it had blankets on it that would come in handy during the cold nights. If it got cold that is.

In unison, Annie and I got unpacked. We each took two drawers in the dresser and one shelf above it while putting our toiletries in the cubbyhole.

We put everything away then stood around looking at each other. "So what now?"

I shrugged. "Want to see if the others are unpacked?"

"Sure."

I took her hand and led her out.

MAP

Anna: POV

This was the first time I would ever get to really sleep with MercyCat. I was excited. We got ready for bed separately but I rushed through washing up so I could meet her in bed.

I left the bathroom light on but pulled up the door as I left. I went to the bed and sat on the edge. MercyCat was brushing her hair into a circle. "What are you doing?"

"Brushing my hair into a wrap." She continued with soft, strong strokes.

"What's a wrap?"

"It's to keep my hair untangled." She finished and wrapped her hair with a scarf. "The scarf is to keep it in place and to keep my hair from coming out from the pillowcase."

I looked at the pillow. "The pillowcase?"

"Yeah. Different fabrics will eat your hair out. You have to be careful." She set aside her brush and a bottle of something.

I pointed to it. "What's that?"

"Wrap spray. It's to hold it in place. I don't always need it but I haven't washed my hair in two weeks so I need it."

I nodded. I hadn't washed my hair in a week so I understood. "Want me to put it up?"

"Thank you." She handed them to me.

I put the brush and spray in the little wooden cubbyhole and turned off the lights. "Are you going to bed?"

"Yeah. I'm kinda tired."

I came to the bed and slipped under the covers with her. She wrapped her arms around me and I did the same with her. I smiled in the darkness. "What do you think Noah is doing right now?"

She chuckled. "Probably putting Beth to bed and fighting with her to do that."

I giggled. "She does seem to fight going to bed."

"She wants to know what's going on." She giggled.

"I couldn't do it. I like my sleep."

"I know that's right! I'm not trying to stay up to see what other people are doing!"

I laughed. She was so silly. "Are you okay? Are you comfortable?"

"Yes, Annie Mae."

I giggled at her name for me.

"Are you comfortable?"

"I am very comfortable."

She kissed me. "Good. Now close those gorgeous eyes and go to sleep."

"You have gorgeous eyes." I flirted.

She laughed. "Take your silly self to sleep!"

"Love you, MercyCat."

"Love you, too Annie. Goodnight."

"Goodnight."

MAP

Ellen: POV

I blinked my eyes and yawned. I stretched and sat up in bed. I was alone. I looked around the small cabin and noticed I was by myself.

Where was Marcy?

I got out and went to the door, where I'd seen her last. I opened the door a crack and there she was on the steps, reading a book in the wan sunlight.

That's where she was last night, except she was on her tablet and wearing different clothes. Did she stay up all night?

"Morning."

I started. How'd she know I was there. "Good morning."

"Are you ready for breakfast?" She turned a page in her book.

"Uh… no. I have to get dressed."

She nodded.

I waited but that was all she did so I went back inside to wash and dress. I thought about how weird it was that she obviously didn't come to bed last night as I brushed my teeth.

I grabbed my phone and put on my shoes before brushing my hair and leaving. She stood up as I closed the door and walked off.

I walked behind her as other people came from their cabins. We all conjoined in the dining room and grabbed trays to get breakfast. There were long tables set up and all our friends sat at one.

"How did everyone sleep?" Rachel asked.

Everyone commented good but I watched Marcy, who mostly read instead of eating. She picked at her food but mostly focused on her book. She didn't even participate in the conversation going on.

I wished I knew what she was thinking about. She was still a mystery to me. She didn't volunteer information about herself readily and she was really quiet. When we hung out, we did a lot of quiet activities like watching movies or TV or we listened to music or did homework.

I found myself loving her despite her closing herself off. She was like a whirlwind in public but the eye of the storm in private. It was hard to understand but I was slowly understanding that there was a lot to her. Things I didn't understand yet.

But I would. I'd make sure of it.

After breakfast, we decided to go to a workshop that boasted the ability to make communication simple.

We sat around a room and listened to the instructor outline the five steps to easy communication. He told us to turn to each other and have a simple conversation.

I didn't really know what he meant but others readily began talking so I tried. I looked at Marcy and realized she was watching the clock. That was not promising…

"How'd you sleep?" I asked.

Her eyes found mine and I was struck by how beautiful they were. Her eyes are easily the most beautiful I've ever seen. I felt like I was drowning every time we made eye contact. It was a little uncomfortable feeling like I was giving all of me but it was freeing as well. I've never felt like this before.

I waited but she didn't say anything. "Well? How'd you sleep?"

Her eyes narrowed and her head tilted. "Do you really care?"

"Of course." I smiled.

"I slept fine."

That wasn't encouraging. "I slept okay. I'm not used to sleeping in the woods. Are you?"

"Are you calling me a wild animal?"

My eyes widened. "No! No! Never! I just- Mal said you went camping a lot! I assumed it was the woods! I'm sorry!"

She just stared at me.

I frowned and tried again. "How do you think Mal's doing with the twins?"

She stayed quiet so long, I didn't think she'd answer. "Probably fine."

I nodded but she didn't go on. I was stuck. I didn't know what to talk about and she clearly wasn't going to help.

The instructor came around. "Why aren't you conversing?"

I blew out a breath. "This is hard."

"Having a simple conversation?"

"I don't know what to say." I lifted a shoulder.

"What do you want to say?"

I looked between him and Marcy, who was looking at him like he'd wronged her in some way. "I guess I want to talk about why she didn't come to bed last night."

She looked at me and I shivered.

The instructor looked at her. "That is a good conversation starter. Why didn't you come to bed last night,- Marceline Anne?" He read her ID.

Marcy looked at him but stayed silent.

We waited but she didn't say anything. He waved his hands. "In order to have a conversation, both parties must communicate what's on their minds. What's on your mind, Marceline Anne?"

She said something I had no clue about but it made Mercy gasp and Quinn giggle. "Marcy!"

"What did she say?" I asked.

The two looked at each other with wide eyes before shaking their heads.

"Would you please contribute to the class?" The instructor set his hands on his hips. "This is a course on open, honest communication."

Marcy spoke again but I still had no idea what she said.

Mercy's mouth fell open. "Stop that! Someone could overhear you and call the police!"

Marcy rolled her eyes.

"Marcy, just talk to Ellen." Quinn begged.

Marcy looked at me and said flatly, "I don't want to be here."

I deflated. I knew that. She had said countless times since first hearing about this place that she thought it was stupid. "We're here to work on our relationship. Does that not matter to you?"

"Our relationship is fine."

"I don't want it to be fine. I want it to be great. I still don't know you that well. I want to."

"There's nothing to know."

"Instead of shutting Ellen down, maybe you could address her concerns and wants and desires?" The instructor suggested.

"Get bent."

My eyes widened. "Marcy!"

Santana and Brittany laughed. The instructor's mouth fell open.

I swatted her. "Why would you say that to him?!"

She looked at me like I was stupid and I realized exactly why she said it; she meant it.

I steeled my resolve. "Why can't you just talk to me?"

"This is stupid."

"Talking to me is stupid?" My feelings were hurt.

"Talking is unnecessary."

Mercy pushed her. "Stop being yourself and talk to her!"

Quinn said something in another language that had her glaring at her. She rolled her eyes hard and looked at me. "I did come to bed. You were just sleep."

I blinked. "Really?"

"Yes."

"But you were outside when I woke up."

"Because I got up before you did."

"So you really came to bed?"

"Yes." I could tell she was starting to get angry.

I looked up at the instructor. "I don't know what else to talk about."

"That was like pulling teeth." He frowned. "Is this what talking to her is always like?"

I nodded.

He shuddered. "You must be in love!"

MAP

Santana: POV

That workshop was hella funny. Patti called that man all kinds of names in Spanish. I got all my laughing in on the inside so Aretha couldn't chastise me but I did laugh.

After that class, we went to one on trust. The instructor was this gorgeous brunette chick that looked like she could be Jimi's sister. Like his actual sister all grown up. But the only brunette I was into spun on wheels and I did like blonde chicks more.

She had us do trust fall exercises, which Patti said she was not doing. I understood that. I loved Britt, I truly did but she got distracted easily and she might let me fall because she was looking at a floating speck.

The instructor seemed flustered by Patti and asked her why not. Patti said that was obvious and she shouldn't have to explain all the ways it was a bad idea.

So the instructor had us all fall back into our partner's arms. I caught Britts and Patti caught Elle Woods. When it came time to switch, we didn't move.

The instructor begged and pleaded for us to do it but we refused. Britt promised to catch me. She looked so hurt by my refusal that I finally gave in. I leaned back and let her catch me.

She caught me and wrapped her arms around me. "I told you I'd catch you."

I smiled. She did.

"See?" Elle Woods said. "Brittany caught Santana. I'll catch you."

"Nope." Patti wasn't going for it.

"Marcy, let that girl catch you!" Aretha wagged a finger.

"Bite me."

"Stop that!"

"I'm not doing this."

"Okay." The instructor waved her hands. "We can just move on. Now I want you each to take a sheet of paper and write down a secret you've never told anyone. Then I want you to fold it and give it to your partner."

I grabbed a sheet of paper and a pen and thought about what I wanted to say. I didn't have many secrets from Britt. She knew so much about me. I scribbled something down.

"Now give your notes to your partners."

I gave mine to Britt and took hers. I opened it and read something I really didn't want to know. It was something I didn't know before but I could have gone my whole life without knowing it.

I waited for the next part when Elle Woods glared at Patti. "What's this supposed to mean?!"

"It's a simple word." Patti leaned back in her chair.

Elle Woods grew upset. "Why are you like this?!"

"What'd you put on there?!" Aretha took the note from Elle Woods. "No?! What do you mean no?!"

"What the hell does no mean?" Patti lifted a brow.

"Why can't you just tell me something about yourself?!" Elle Woods yelled. "It's like you don't trust me!"

Patti just looked at her.

Elle Woods grew quiet. "Are you saying you don't trust me?"

"Of course I don't."

"Of course-! Of course you don't?! What-?!" Elle Woods stood up and walked out.

"Marcy, go after her!" Aretha pushed her arm.

Patti shifted away from her with a frown. "I'm not talking to her while she's being all emotional like that."

"Marcy!" Wheezy snapped. "Talk to her!"

Patti groaned and rolled her eyes before getting up. "This is straight up bulls-"

"Marcy!"

Patti walked out.

I admit… I wanted to see. So I grabbed Britts and we left to go see the showdown. Turns out we weren't the only ones. The whole class came behind us.

Luckily, Patti didn't go far. Elle Woods was just outside the room.

"Why are you crying?" Patti was asking.

"Because my own girlfriend doesn't trust me and I've never given her a reason not to." Elle Woods rubbed her nose.

"If you think giving me a reason is the only precursor for me trusting you,-"

"Marcy, why don't you trust me?!"

"I don't trust anyone."

Elle Woods wiped her eyes. "That can't be true. You have to trust someone."

"Nope." Patti shook her head.

"Don't you trust Mal?"

"No."

Damn! I looked at Britts with a grin. This was getting juicy!

Elle Woods' mouth fell open. "What about your family?"

"No." Patti looked at her like she should have known.

"Your parents?!"

"Greatness, no!"

"Who hurt you?!"

I fell out laughing. Britt elbowed me.

Both turned as if just noticing us for the first time. Patti took Elle Woods' elbow and led her a bit away from us. "Look, I don't trust people. It has nothing to do with you. I just don't trust."

"Without trust, there is no relationship." Elle Woods told her.

"We've been having one for months."

"I trust you!"

"Oh no. No, no, no. Don't do that."

I fell out laughing at the horror on her face. Britt slapped a hand over my mouth.

Elle Woods ignored me. "I trust you. I trust Mal. Mal trusts me. Mal trusts you. You need to trust us."

"That's not going to happen and if Mal had a scrap of sense, he wouldn't trust me." Patti shook her head.

"Marcy." The fight seemed to go out of Elle Woods. "What are we going to do?"

"You lower your expectations and we get along swimmingly." Patti said promptly.

"My expectations?!"

"See Mal gets me. He knows I don't trust him and he's fine with it. Take a page from his book. It's not a big deal."

"It's a very big deal! Next you'll be saying you don't love me!"

Patti looked away.

Elle Woods looked so hurt. "Are you saying you don't love me?"

Patti tried to speak before blowing out a breath. "We're still really new and we don't know each other well-"

"Whose fault is that?!"

Patti bit her bottom lip. "I'm not trying to hurt your feelings."

"Because every girl wants to hear her girlfriend doesn't love her!"

"It's not you. It's me."

"Are you breaking up with me?!"

"Would you stop being so damned sensitive?! Glob, it's like talking to a bloody preschooler!"

"So I'm childish now?!" Elle Woods shouted.

"Man, Mal spoiled you!" Patti grew more upset. "That stupid Chang ruined you!"

"Ruined me?! With love and affection?! Like a normal human being wants and needs?!"

"Keep your love and affection! I'll reside over here in the world of grown ups!"

"Do you actually think love is for children?! What is the matter with you?!"

"I'm not doing this! You're driving me crazy!" Patti stalked off.

Elle Woods shrieked before walking off in the opposite direction.

Aretha wiped her face slowly. "Tana, you, Blaine, Lucy and Annie go calm Marcy down. The rest of us will see to it that Ellen doesn't run away."

I know it's wrong or whatever but I really wanted to laugh. Fuck if this wasn't the best retreat I've ever been on.

MAP

Brittany: POV

We rushed off to find Ellen. I felt really bad for her. I can't believe Marcy said she didn't love or trust her. If San or Artie had said that to me, I'd be so broken.

We found Ellen by a tree just inside the woods. She was crying at the base of a large tree, hugging her knees. We sat around her.

"I'm so sorry, Ellen." Sadie said.

"Why would she say that?" Ellen sniffled. "I love her. Why doesn't she love me back?"

Sadie wrapped her arm around the redhead. "Marcy's really complex."

Ellen leaned against her. "Either she loves me or she doesn't."

"Of course she loves you!" Rachel was sure.

"She said she didn't."

"Little Diva is just confused." Kurt offered.

"Yeah." I piped up. "She's been queen so long that she can't relax her guard or someone will try to steal her crown. She's the best queen for the fairies so she has to beware at all times."

They blinked at me. "Yeah, Britt."

Sadie turned to Ellen. "Marcy has been through a lot in her life and those experiences have left life long… lessons deeply entrenched in her mind. She can't turn that off overnight but I think that with time, you can get her out of it. You've already changed her."

"I have?" Ellen's tears slowed.

"Yeah. You got her to come here in the first place. She never would have come to a place like this before."

Ellen sniffed. "So I'm helping her?"

"Yes. Marcy is deeply complicated but I believe you and Mal are the key to unlocking her. One of these days, she'll tell you how she feels. And it'll be glorious."

Ellen smiled. "Thanks, Mercy. Thanks, guys."

We all put a hand on her legs. "No problem."

MAP

Quinn: POV

"Would you just talk to us?" I sighed. Why was my sister such work?

Marcy faced a wall and was insisting on ignoring us.

"Come on, Patti. This is getting old." Tana said.

Blaine touched her shoulder and she turned to give him an evil glare. He dropped his hand. "Do you want to talk about it?"

"No." She bit off.

"Why not? That was a pretty big fight."

She glared more until she suddenly took a deep breath and rearranged her features to neutrality. "I'm fine."

Uh oh. She was retreating behind her wall. I knew that wall well. I spoke up. "Marcy, it's just us. We would never judge you. We're your friends."

She opened her mouth but I held up a hand. "Don't lash out at us. We're not cornering you."

"I don't want to talk about it." She finally said.

"Why?" Blaine pleaded. "You really don't love her? How is that possible?"

"She shouldn't take it so personal. Love is a lie people tell themselves so life won't seem so hard."

He gasped. "You don't mean that!"

Of course I knew she did. "Marcy, she needs that lie."

"Quinn?!" Anna gasped next.

"You don't believe in love?" Tana sounded confused. "But don't you love Little Chang?"

"I'm very fond of him, yes." Marcy answered.

"What about your parents?"

Marcy stayed quiet.

"Your family?"

Marcy looked at me. "I'm fond of them."

"Wow. Even I love my family. You really are cold. Don't you love the twins?"

"I don't know what I feel for the twins. It's unlike anything I've ever felt before and is mostly positive."

"Mostly?" Blaine raised an eyebrow.

"There's some ugliness in there."

I could tell that really confused him. "But-?"

"Point is you should love us." Tana ran over him. "We're freakin amazing."

"Who's we?" Marcy gave her a look.

"At least me dammit!"

Marcy smirked. "I don't love you. But you don't love me either so we're even."

"Of course we love you!" Anna seemed hurt.

"You don't have to lie. I'm not soft."

"Marcy!" I glared. She knew better than to let people see the inside of her working mind. "Just tell Ellen you love her so this can be over!"

"I like her too much to lie to her."

"But you don't love her." Blaine threw up his hands.

"Even if I did believe in that horse hockey, we haven't even been dating a year."

That made sense. "Just tell her you're on your way to loving her."

"You say it. You know I'm a bad liar."

"I can't believe this!" Anna looked nauseous. "You going to have your sister lie and tell your girlfriend you love her when you don't?"

"If it will get you all off my back, yes."

Blaine facepalmed. "So you're going to spend your entire relationship lying about whether you love her or not?"

"Obviously she can't handle the truth. I didn't know she was like this. I have to reevaluate this relationship now."

"Are you really saying you don't want to be with her anymore because she insanely wants to be loved?!"

"It's a pretty big flaw."

My lips twitched. Only Marcy. "I will tell her you're on your way to loving her. This is cutting into our time here and I'm actually having a pretty good time."

"I don't understand how." Marcy sulked. "This place sucks."

"Maybe it's because I'm participating?"

"This-" She waved her hand, indicating the building. "Is straight bullshit! Communication my ass!"

"I feel like you're emotionally vacant." Blaine said.

"I know I'm morally bankrupt so let's find the red cry baby and tell this helacious lie so I can go about my day."

"Did you really call your girlfriend a cry baby? You're emotionally crippled."

"How many of these are you going to trot out?"

"You're also emotionally distant."

"A rough estimate?"

"I'm done talking to you. You're not listening to me."

"I got this at the mall." She lifted her scarf.

Tana fell out laughing as Blaine scowled. "You're going to regret ignoring me. Your relationship is going to crash and burn."

"Then grab a bucket of popcorn and watch the fireworks. Why do you care?"

"Because we're friends!"

She made a face that clearly said she didn't think so. "Are we?"

"Marcy!"

She shrugged and walked off. We followed behind her all the way outside. Ellen and the others were at a nearby tree. Mercy was hugging her and probably singing to her.

Marcy grabbed my hand and pulled me to right in front of them. "She has something to say to you."

"Are you serious?!" Blaine paced.

She ignored him and jiggled my arm.

I nodded and looked at Ellen. "Marcy isn't totally head over heels in love with you… yet. She needs a bit more time. But she does feel an overwhelming positive emotion towards you. She just doesn't know how to say it."

"Really?" Ellen sniffed.

"Really. She does love you. She just doesn't know how to say it."

She looked at Marcy. "Is this true?"

"Um hmm." Marcy pressed her lips together.

"Oh my goodness!" Blaine shouted in the background.

Ellen smiled. "I love you, too-"

"What?!"

"You don't ever have to be scared to tell me how you feel." Ellen went on.

"Good to know." Marcy nodded.

Ellen stood up and went to hug her. Marcy patted her back awkwardly.

Blaine was having a meltdown. "You've got to be kidding me!"

"I can't believe this." Anna whispered.

Tana started laughing. "Wow."

"Blaine, what is going on?" Kurt was worried about his boyfriend.

"I-I-I-I can't believe this!" He walked in a circle.

"What's going on?" Mercy asked.

I told her in Japanese.

Mercy pouted. "So she doesn't love her?"

"You know Marcy doesn't believe in love."

"I was hoping Ellen would change that."

"It could still happen."

"It's been almost a year."

"Yeah. Not even a full year. You really think she's going to fall in love before a year? As stubborn as she is?"

Mercy chuckled. "You're right. But after two years, we're sitting her down for an intervention!"

I laughed. "Deal!"

"I can hear you." Marcy muttered.

"Yeah but you need one." I waved her away.

"Bite me."

"You're mean." Merce told her.

"Rude!"

"You are mean! You could love that girl!"

"Just because you love every damn thing doesn't mean the rest of us have to be delusional."

"I'm not delusional!"

"Crazy."

I laughed. Marcy was just poison. "If you make her cry, you're going to have to make her smile again."

"Yeesh!" Marcy grimaced.

Mercy wagged a finger. "I don't like either one of you."

"But we love you."

"No, you don't."

"What are you guys saying?" Britt wanted to know.

"Nothing." Mercy said breezily. "Let's go inside and go to lunch. We probably shouldn't go back to that seminar. We did ruin it for all those people."

"We?" Tana taunted.

"Okay. You." Marcy said.

Tana glared at her. "You!"

"I think it was you."

"What?!"

We all giggled.

"Come on. I'm hungry." Marcy ignored all of us. She spoke to Ellen. "How about I buy you a milk, young lady?"

Ellen giggled. "I'd like that, ma'am. Thank you very much."

So we all went inside and to the cafeteria, even though Blaine kept shooting Marcy all these questioning looks.

MAP

Anna: POV

I waited for bed before I asked what was on my mind all day. "Is your sister dead inside?"

"Lucy does some pretty questionable things but no." MercyCat adjusted her pillow.

"I meant Marcy. Quinn does do some pretty questionable things. Like lying to Ellen for Marcy. Does she do that a lot?"

"You know she lied?" She looked surprised.

"Yes. She asked Quinn to lie to Ellen for her."

"Right. That's why Blaine was freaking out." She slouched down in bed. "Does that make you think of Marcy different?"

"A little. She doesn't believe in love. Who doesn't believe in love? That's insane."

"Marcy is a complicated creature with an extremely linear thought process."

"What does that mean?" I was confused.

"She's too smart to believe in love." MercyCat said plainly.

My bottom lip poked out. "So she thinks only stupid people believe in love?"

"More or less."

"If she were so smart, she'd know love is real."

"Love is an idea to her. An extremely bad one. You can't touch love. You can't see love. You can't prove love. So she doesn't believe in it."

"I don't get that." I freely admitted.

"I don't either. I see love everywhere. In flowers. In sunshine. In your smile." She cupped my cheek.

I smiled just hearing that.

"But that's her battle. She's the one who's going to have to deal with the fallout from her beliefs."

I wrapped my arms around her. "I just hope she doesn't miss out on Mal and Ellen."

"Marcy's extremely smart. She won't miss out on a good thing."

I smiled. That made me feel better. Marcy might not believe in love right now but that didn't mean she always wouldn't.

MAP

Mercedes: POV

I bumped Marcy's arm as we walked to breakfast. "How'd last night go? Did you go to bed on time?"

"I didn't know there was a set bed time."

I hit her. "You know what I mean! Did you go to bed with Ellen?"

She rolled her eyes. "We had sex then I went to go read."

"How long did you cuddle?"

"I don't do that." She looked at me like I should have known. And really I should have.

"You should cuddle with her. What does she think of you leaving her immediately after love making?"

"How would I know? I grabbed my tablet and split."

I gave a long suffering sigh. "You better quit before you mess around and lose her."

"This relationship isn't going to work if I have to make all the concessions."

"Are you making any?!"

"I've made plenty! Is anyone else making any?! I seem to be doing all the work and being asked to change. My life was working pretty well before I met her."

"Don't get huffy." I was glad we were speaking Swedish. "I know this is a lot. Everyone seems to have a problem with the way you do things. It's not fair."

"Don't patronize me." She bit off.

"I'm being serious. Thinking about it from your viewpoint, this relationship seems to be more trouble than it's worth."

She nodded.

"But you're staying."

She looked at me. "Yeah."

"Must mean you care at least a little." I didn't want her to bite my head off.

She made a noise with her mouth. "Why do people assume I don't care?! I care for her a lot!"

"You do?!" I grew happy.

"Yes! I wouldn't be with her if I didn't care for her!"

I gave her a look.

"I wouldn't be with her this long if I didn't care for her!" She amended.

I clapped, happily. "Yay! You should tell her."

"No. No way."

"She'd be happy to hear it." I begged.

"Nope. Not gonna happen."

"Marcy, you need to stop being so emotionally constipated."

"Ugh! You sound like Blaine!" She pulled a face.

"He called you emotionally constipated?"

"No but only because he hadn't gotten that far on the list he was reading from."

"Well you need to purge."

"That's just a movie."

I hit her arm. "Stop it! You need to release your demons."

"You sound like a fruit cake."

I growled at her.

"You're so cute. Pretending to be bad people." She chucked my chin with her index finger.

I swatted her. "I'm sick of you!"

She took her tray to a table. "As long as you love me."

"I do love you!" I sat across from her. "One day that'll mean something to you."

"It means something now. You just wouldn't appreciate the word."

I glared at her but she ignored me to start eating. "Laugh it up but my love will see you through the darkness!"

MAP

Our last full day at the retreat was as uneventful as the first full day was dramatic. Marcy promised to behave and went along with every activity the instructors came up with… in her own way.

But I suppose that was all we could ask for. Blaine and Kurt ran into some trouble about dealing with time spent apart and Tana and Britt bumped heads about what to do if they found other people to like during their time apart.

But the people there were able to iron out any and all difficulties. It was kind of relaxing. Annie and I didn't have any problems but they did teach us different coping mechanisms for how to deal with me being in college and her still being in high school.

We were supposed to set aside time during the week where we didn't talk about any differences. We wouldn't talk about school at all or the new people we were meeting. We would just connect over things we shared.

I thought that was a great idea. A way to reconfirm our bond. Annie agreed and we couldn't wait to get started.

Yeah, this weekend was filled with ups and downs but each and every last couple took something away from it.

I couldn't wait to tell Noah.