Yeah… life, man.

Enjoy and review!

NJPNJPNJP

Mercedes opened the door. "Hi, PR."

"Hi, MercyCat." Russell smiled at her.

"Shoes." She pointed to his feet.

He looked down and noticed her toes. He correctly deduced that there was a shoe ban. "Ah!" He slipped out of his shoes.

She moved to shut the door but he stopped her.

"No, I have a few things for the children." He opened the door wider and showed off the delivery men behind it.

"Oh!" She was surprised.

"Just set them here." He told them as he pointed to a spot within the "outside" perimeter.

Mercedes waited for them to finish then she shut the door. "We can go into the living room."

He picked up a few packages. They all were wrapped in brightly colored wrapping paper.

Mercedes helped him carry things to the living room. It took a few trips. "Do you want tea?"

"It is about that time." He checked his watch. "Yes, please. Thank you."

She left to go to the kitchen to put a kettle on. Quinn walked in. "Where is he?"

"Living room." Mercedes told her.

"Mal just got here with the twins."

"She's really not coming?" That hurt the brown eyed belter.

"I'm sorry, Sissy."

Mercedes wiped away a tear. "I said I'd support her so I will."

"You're such a good person. I'd make her talk to me."

"Oh, Lucy." Her lips twisted in amusement.

"I would." Quinn tossed her hair over her shoulder.

"Help me with the things for tea."

Together, they putted around the kitchen, getting things ready for a typical British tea. Then they went to the living room to set it out.

"We'll go get them." Mercedes said.

Russell nodded.

The Leos left and went to the den. Puck and Finn looked up. "Is he here?"

Anna and Mal looked over.

"Yes, he's here." Mercedes picked up Raven.

"Come on, sweetie." Quinn held her hands out for Beth, who went to her so the older blonde picked her up.

Mal straightened from leaning against the back of a couch talking with Anna. Mickey pulled on his jeans so he picked her up. "Let's go."

Mally wrapped himself around his father's leg. "Go, go!"

"Yeah, go." Mercedes cooed before steeling herself. "Let's do it."

"Do you want company?" Anna asked.

"No, we're fine." Quinn shook her head. "Come on, guys."

The trio and their kids left the den and traveled to the living room.

Russell pulled his teacup from his lips and set it down hastily. "Jr.!"

"Hey, PR." Mal nodded.

"Where's MarcAn?"

"She's resting right now."

He nodded. "Quite right. Quite right. Well let me see them."

Quinn set Beth on her feet. "This is Beth."

"Hello, Beth." Russell inclined his head politely.

"Hello." Beth whispered. She was really shy, especially with new people.

Mal set Mickey down and peeled Mally from around his leg. "This is Mally and this is Mickey."

"Hi." Mally waved. "You Pop-Pop?"

Russell chuckled. "I am Pop-Pop's son. He's my daddy like how he's your daddy." He pointed to Mal.

Mally nodded before smiling.

"Hair!" Mickey yelled.

"Hair?" Russell leaned forward. "You have pretty hair."

Mickey beamed. "Tank coo!"

"This is Rae." Mercedes held Raven out to Russell.

He took the baby. "How old is she?"

"Nine months."

He poked her belly and her stern countenance changed as she erupted into giggles. "She's as giggly as you were."

Mercedes smiled.

"Would you like gifts?" Russell asked the children.

They all brightened. "Yes!"

"Do you know how to read yet?"

"No." They pouted.

"That's okay. Your parents can read which ones are yours."

Quinn sank to her knees and pulled the closest present over. "This says Mally."

Mal took it. "This says Beth."

Quinn helped Beth open it. "Oh look, Beth! It's a violin! Like how Mommy has? Do you like it?"

"Yes." Beth nodded.

"What do you tell Gramps?"

"Tank coo." Beth told Russell.

"Look, Mickey!" Mal had unwrapped a present for his daughter. "It's a flute like Mommy! You like when Mommy plays her flute for you?"

"Yeah." Mickey nodded before trying to put her mouth on it.

Mercedes smiled. "Are they all instruments?"

"No." Russell shook his head.

Mercedes unwrapped one for Raven. "It's a baby harp…"

Russell grinned.

"You wanna play the harp like Mommy?" Mercedes cooed to her daughter, who laughed and reached out to strum the instrument.

"They're not all instruments although a few are. I didn't know if you were teaching them anything. I figured it couldn't hurt."

"I am teaching the twins and Beth the piano." Mercedes pointed to the grand in the corner.

Russell nodded. "There's a lot of toys."

The parents helped unwrap them before making a discovery. "This is for the kids?"

Russell smirked. "No. That's for MarcAn."

"And these?" Quinn raised a brow.

"For you."

"And these?" Mercedes lifted up tap shoes.

"For you."

"And this?" Mal held a massively expensive camera.

"For you."

"Daddy, you didn't have to buy us stuff." Quinn said.

"I've missed birthdays and Christmas. Besides, I wanted to."

Mal checked the camera and it had film in it so he started taking pictures of the kids playing with their toys (and quite honestly the wrapping paper).

"We thank you." Mercedes put a hand on Russell's arm.

"You're welcome." Russell nodded.

"So what does this mean?" Quinn wanted to know. "Seeing the kids and stuff?"

"I want to be in your lives. I've missed so much already by being a huge- jerk. It's going to take time to get everyone's forgiveness but that is my goal. I want my family back."

M-A-P

Mal set the twins down in the apartment and let them tear off as he went back and forth transporting their new gifts to the home. He didn't feel like putting them up when he finished so he hoped the dogs wouldn't chew on anything.

A smell assaulted his senses and he followed it to the kitchen. His brows lifted. "You're cooking?"

Marcy looked over before refocusing on her task. "Are you hungry?"

"No wonder the dogs didn't rush me at the door." Each dog, Lord Tubbington and Cupcake were sitting at attention around the island that was filled with food.

Marcy continued shifting pastries from the cookie sheet to a plate.

"What's all this for?"

"I thought you might want to eat."

"This is just for me?"

"Uh huh." She nodded.

"Marce, I can't eat all this food."

"We could do whatever you want with it." She made jerky movements as she put the pan in the sink.

"Marce, look at me."

"We could donate it to a shelter if you want. Whatever you want." She went about cleaning up.

He went to her and pulled her into his arms slowly. "Stop."

She held still.

He raised her chin. "Look at me."

She refused to.

"Look at me." He stated firmly.

She met his eyes.

"I'm not angry with you."

She sniffled. "Why not?"

"Maybe one day I will be but not today. You're hurting and I'm not about to add to that. So you can stop cooking and baking. We can sit down and talk though."

"About what?" Fear filled her eyes.

He knew what she was afraid of and sighed. "We can talk about all the presents PR bought the kids."

"PR bought the kids presents?"

He kissed her quickly. "Yep. He even bought us stuff…"

M-A-P

"Come on, Jude." Jade begged.

Jude just looked at her.

Mercedes hurried to come back around the counter. "Did I miss anything?"

Khandi, who she was whispering to, shook her head without taking her eyes off her best friend and her romantic interest. "No. She's still going strong and he hasn't said anything in ten minutes."

"It's a record." Barney, a coworker, cupped his chin. "Jude is quiet but this is ridiculous."

"Please?!" Jade continued begging.

A customer came up to the counter. "I'd like a refill please."

The trio behind the bar didn't react.

"Hello?" The girl faltered.

Jude noticed and came over to take her order. "I know what you're doing. Stop it."

They broke up and started performing different duties.

He handed a fresh mug of coffee to the customer with a smile. "Thank you for your patience."

She smiled brightly. "Thank you!"

Jade scowled at her as she went to resume her seat. She went up to the counter and leaned against the wood. "Jude!"

"Jade." Jude returned quickly.

The others stopped actually performing work and just made a show of it so they could concentrate on listening.

"Please tell me your secrets!" Jade pleaded.

"I don't like this." Jude told her.

Jade sagged limply. "I'm sorry. I won't bug you anymore."

"Thank you." Jude went to wipe down a newly freed table.

Jade's face cracked. She'd thought for sure he'd be the one to crack.

Khandi went to her. "Maybe you should give up, J. He doesn't want to talk about his past."

"It's not fair! How can we get married, have two kids (a boy and a girl), three dogs and a gerbil with an apartment overlooking 5th Ave. if he doesn't let me in?!"

"Jade, you do this all the time. You find a cute boy and you plan your future around him. It's not right. You don't even know if Jude's into you or any girls."

Jade whimpered.

"I think you and Jude could have a great relationship but maybe you can start out as friends?" Mercedes suggested. "He seems like he needs friends."

Jade pouted. "How long will that take?!"

"Jade!" Khandi chided.

Barney laughed. "You really want him, eh?"

"Yes!" Jade whined before getting a handle on her emotions. "I'll be good. I know it's meant to be. I feel it. I know Jude is different. So I'll be his friend."

The trio hugged her.

"But at the first sign of weakness, I'm kissing him!"

M-A-P

Puck picked up his phone and looked at the screen. It was a text from Mike. "Hey? You get this?"

Finn blinked before tearing his gaze from the television screen. "What? Huh?"

"Check your phone."

Finn searched for his cell then upon locating it, checked it. "Hey, Mike wants a guys night."

"Yeah. And he said not to do anything to piss Mini Mama off."

"She's talking to my girlfriend." Finn got back in the game.

Puck threw a couch pillow at him.