Take Me Home

by NeneJPhilly

“I was enchanted to meet you.” Sequel to I Coulda Been Your Cellmate (LESS THAN 15 CHAPTERS LEFT!)

25. Chapter 25

You could listen to Anxiety by Julia Michaels feat. Selena Gomez while reading this chapter. It's a nice vibe and this chapter is pretty long.

Enjoy and review!

NJPNJPNJP

Marcy yawned as she left the bathroom. She'd just finished brushing her teeth, washing her face, taking her medicine and showering and was on her way to the closet to throw on clothes.

She picked out a OSU sweatshirt (of Marc's) and matching sweatpants with a pair of chucks. She dressed quickly and brushed her hair into a messy bun before slapping on Chapstick and leaving the closet with her purse.

She went to Riley, who she had gotten ready first and made sure she was still asleep before going to the bed. She crawled atop Mal and laid on his body. She kissed his face gently.

He stirred. "Marce?"

"Hey." She blew her minty breath in his face.

His short curly eyelashes fluttered. "What's going on?"

"I'm about to leave. I'll be back."

"Where are you going?"

"You'll see when I come back. Just get the twins ready by the time I get back."

His eyes narrowed as he tried to think and stay asleep at the same time. "What time is it?"

She blinked. "I don't know. I woke up at six."

"Did the baby wake you up? Why didn't you let me get her?"

"It's fine, Mal. I'm taking her with me-"

"What?! No!"

"Shhh!" She nodded her head towards a slumbering Ellen. "Go back to sleep. I'll be back soon."

He sighed and relaxed his muscles. "Alright, fine. Kiss?"

She rubbed her nose against his.

"I'm not Mike. I don't want that cutesy shit."

She snickered before kissing him.

He freed his arms and wrapped them around her. "Man, I miss you."

"It's been a week, perv." She sat up on him and knocked his arms away.

"I can't wait until I can be inside you again. And no condom as long as you're breastfeeding." He stroked her hip anyway.

"Well my vagina still hurts so keep your fantasies to yourself." She threw herself off of him and rolled out of the bed. She gathered her phone and keys before grabbing her purse and diaper bag and collecting Riley. "Bye!"

He watched her leave. "Bye."

She shut the door quietly and tiptoed down the hall then down the stairs. She was extra quiet on the second floor. She made it to the ground floor and went to the kitchen.

Mrs. Gonzales was surprised to see her so early. "Hola! How are you?!"

"I'm good. I just need my water-bottle and a piece of fruit." Marcy set the carrier on the table and went to fill her green and clear bottle with water.

"Surely you would like to eat before you go?"

"No, I have to move fast." She finished and went to the fruit bowl. She really liked apples but they rarely filled her up so she grabbed a green one and a pear.

"I must insist!"

"I'm fine." Marcy made eye contact with her before putting the fruit in her purse. She put the long strap on her shoulder, picked up her phone and keys, diaper bag and the car-seat. "Thank you. I'll see you later."

Mrs. Gonzales watched her leave, not happy about her eating habits. She noticed the girl didn't eat much breakfast, if at all, ate a sparse lunch and picked at dinner.

She liked children with hearty appetites and thoroughly enjoyed the boys. They made her feel good about her cooking.

She resolved to corner the young mother at some point in the day and force feed her. She nodded at this plan and continued cleaning from the parents' breakfast so she could start on the kids'.

cellish

Marcy made sure the car-seat was secure before she shut the backdoor. She climbed in the front and threw her purse and diaper bag in the seat next to her. She was taking the BMW because she would never subject Travis to a crowded parking lot if she could help it.

She didn't exactly trust the lambo with her children so the silver car won out. She turned the volume down low before turning the car on. She buckled up and turned the music up so she could hear it then changed the station. Her musical taste was eclectic but she usually listened to what genre fit her mood.

She was feeling oddly optimistic. She felt she was doing the right thing and that put her in a good mood. She adjusted the mirrors and seat before backing out of the spot. Unfortunately there were so many cars at their home, she had to maneuver so she didn't hit anyone as she followed the curve of the circular driveway.

She drove out and headed towards the airport. She thought about checking the time but didn't need that kind of negativity in her life.

She made it to the airport and got out with Riley. She shouldered her purse and diaper bag and grabbed her water-bottle before locking her doors and slamming shut the front.

Juggling carefully, she took a picture of her lot and went inside. She went to the right terminal and sat down. She set Riley in the chair next to her and forced the bags in the space before rifling through her purse for the pear and one of the books she always carried on her.

She crossed her legs and bit into the pear before opening the book to where she'd last left off and settled in to wait.

cell

Mercedes yawned as her lashes fluttered. She didn't know what time it was but the sun was up and birds were singing.

She sat up and looked around her room. Anna was sleeping in her slanted line and Puck was hanging off the sofa, snoring to high heaven. She was still mad at him but could acknowledge he was cute.

She threw back the light covers and slipped from the bed to go to the bathroom. She used the toilet then washed her face and brushed her teeth. She took a quick shower then went to her closet.

She found a nice sundress and flats to wear with a cute cropped knit cardigan. She packed her bag and put on makeup before doing her hair.

When she was finished, she went to the room and woke up Anna. "Hey. Do you want to get up?"

Anna pushed her blonde hair out of her face. "Huh?"

"You're tired. Go back to sleep."

"No, I'm up." Anna yawned.

"Are you sure?"

Anna nodded. "Yeah. I'll get up."

Mercedes kissed her cheek. "I'm going to go get Nic ready. I'll see you downstairs."

"Okay." Anna slumped against the bed.

Mercedes left the room and went to Nic's. She woke the little girl up and made her go wash up and brush her teeth while she went to pick out another ballet outfit for her and pack her bag.

Nic came from the bathroom ten minutes later, yawning.

Mercedes called her into the closet and let her get dressed before brushing her chocolate hair into a tight bun. "Come on. You need to eat."

Nic took her hand and leaned on her as they left the room. "Are you fighting with Noah and Anna?"

Mercedes looked down in surprise. "Why would you say that?"

"You're always gone and you were late tucking me in."

Mercedes' lips moved before they flattened in a straight line. "We'll be fine. We're having a little disagreement but I don't want you to worry, okay?"

"Okay."

"In fact, we're having a party."

"A party?" Nic looked up at her as they made it to the second floor.

"Yep."

"Whose birthday is it?"

"It's nobody's birthday. Well I'm sure it's somebody's birthday but we're not celebrating anyone's birthday."

Nic stared at her.

Mercedes sighed. "It's just a special day."

"Oh." Nic looked forward. "When is it?"

"Saturday."

"Who's going to be there?"

"Me and my siblings, our spouses, our friends, you."

"Can Stacie come?" Nic looked back up at her.

Mercedes smiled and tickled under her chin. "Of course she can. She is a sweet little girl, just like you."

Nic ducked her head. "Thank you."

"You're very welcome." They made it to the ground floor and walked to the formal dining room.

Mrs. Gonzales was there, setting out food. "Hola, Señora Mercy. Señorita Nic."

"Buenos Dias, Mrs. Gonzales." Mercedes pulled out Nic's chair.

"Hi, Mrs. G." Nic couldn't quite pronounce Gonzales so she went with Mrs. G like her brother.

Mercedes set Nic's bag on the window-seat on the big bay window and sat next to her. She began fixing both of their plates as others came in.

Mike and Tina were first. "Good morning, Lil Sis. Nic. Mrs. Gonzales."

"Good morning, Mikey." Mercedes poured Nic some orange juice. "Good morning, T."

"Good morning, everyone." Tina was a little shy because of the night before.

"Hola, Señor Mike, Señora Tina." Mrs. Gonzales finished up and left.

"Hi, Mike! Hi, Tina!" Nic waved as she munched on bacon.

Mike sat Tina before sitting himself. He yawned as he began filling his plate. "I'm so ready for today to be over with already."

"We have a lot to do." Mercedes acknowledged.

Tina wanted to ask what those things were but didn't want a repeat of yesterday. Luckily Mal walked in with Ellen and the twins. "Hello."

"Hey." Mal nodded as he sat his kids then his wife. He poured his children juice.

"You look like shit." Mike announced.

"Mikey!" Mercedes glared.

"Well he does…" Mike stuffed an English muffin in his mouth.

"Fuck you." Mal bit off.

"Mal!" Mercedes glared at him now.

"The morning just started and she's already yelling your name?" Marc walked in with Maddie, Laura and Quad a few seconds behind them.

"She's so bossy." Mal scowled as he started making his kids' plates.

"No." Mike pointed at Laura. "That's bossy."

Laura grew upset instantly but calmed herself. "You're not going to get to me today, Mike. We have too much to do."

He just smiled at her.

She narrowed her eyes. "Stop plotting against me!"

"You have no proof."

"Let me take him before you throw him at him." Marc took his son from his mother gently. The baby watched him with wide eyes as if to say he was glad for his dad's quick thinking.

Laura made a face at her husband. "I would not."

"Yes, you would." Mal finally sat down and poured himself orange juice.

"Shut up, maggot!"

"You are just a pain." Mercedes stared at him.

He blew her a kiss. The twins copied him. "Good kids."

"Don't teach them to be like you!"

"Better than them ending up like these two." Mal sneered at Marc and Laura.

Who were offended. "Hey!"

Mike snickered. "You both suck."

"They do not!" Mercedes and Maddie defended.

"You gotta be on my side." Mike wrapped his arm around Maddie. "We have the most in common."

"I can't believe you told a lie." Laura snorted.

He stuck his tongue out. "She's not like you!"

"That's because she's like Mercy." Mal scoffed.

Mercedes turned to glare at him. "So?!"

"That is not a compliment, wimp."

Her mouth fell open and she puffed up in anger.

Marc held in his laughter. "Cut it out, guys."

"Yeah, being upset makes it harder for you to digest your food." Laura lectured.

Mike and Mal gave each other dry looks as Mercedes and Maddie nodded. "Yes, Laura."

Anna and Puck walked in. Anna sat next to Mercedes as Puck, who knew he was still in the doghouse, sat next to Nic. "Good morning."

"Morning." Everyone spoke.

Felicity walked in seconds later and was in the middle of telling everyone "good morning" when Karou blew in. "Where's CC?!"

"Rou! You cut off Felicity!" Mercedes narrowed her eyes.

Karou rolled hers. "Yeah, yeah, sorry. Where's Marcy?!"

"She's gone." Mal told her.

"Where'd she go?!" Karou whined.

"She didn't tell me."

"Dammit, dammit, dammit!" She stomped her feet.

"Rou!" Laura and Mercedes scolded.

"I need her help!" Karou jumped in a chair and began fixing her plate. "I have a morning date!"

"Oh my goodness, Rou!" Laura was exhausted already. "With whom?!"

"I went out last night and I met this bloke-"

"And we're off to an auspicious start…" Mike quipped.

"Shut up! He's cute, he has his own car and he's taking me to some place called the Half Pipe."

"Gross." Mercedes wrinkled her nose. "Don't go there. It's in the Heights."

Puck frowned, wanting to know what was so bad about the Heights but he was from there and knew everything was bad about the Heights and he was still in trouble.

"Rou, stop hopping into the cars of every guy you meet." Laura lectured. "You know nothing about this guy-"

"I know what I need to know!" Karou snapped.

"What's his name?" Mal raised a brow.

Karou frowned as she thought. "I- uh- I swear he told me!"

"Good heavens, make better choices, Karou!" Laura groaned.

"You guys are buzzkills! That's why I need my twin. She understands!" A horn blew outside so she stuffed some food in her mouth and washed it down with juice quickly before jumping up. "See you lames later!"

"Rou!" Laura snapped as she sped out. "Rou!"

"She's going to end up on Dateline…" Mercedes gave up.

Marc massaged his temples. "We can probably find her if it becomes a problem."

"Isn't it already a problem? She's gone off with a stranger to the bad part of town."

"She can take care of herself."

"You never would have let me go off with some random guy!"

"And I'm going to check in on her. Don't worry so much."

She gave him screw face. "You like her better than me!"

"I do." Mal said.

Mercedes turned to him so quickly, the others had whiplash.

He smiled wide.

Marc chuckled, knowing Mal pissed Mercedes off to keep her from crying. "Why?"

"Marc!" Laura's lips twisted.

"I just wanna know. He must have some good reasons."

"Her style for one." Mal cooperated. "Animal print is ugly."

Mike's mouth formed an "O" and he grinned. Maddie covered her mouth. Laura's eyes widened. Marc almost laughed out loud.

Mercedes was heated. "Stop talking about my animal print!"

"But it's so ugly." Mal blinked innocently.

Mercedes stood up just as Quinn walked in with her spouses. "Good morning, everybody!"

Mike waved her to sit down. "Mal just said animal print is ugly."

Quinn's eyes widened and she hastened to a seat. "Get him, Mercy!"

"Is it that serious?" Felicity asked.

Mercedes took deep breaths and calmed herself. When she didn't need as many breaths, she pointed at Mal. "Come here."

"No." Mal leaned away from her.

"Come here."

"No."

"Mal, come here!" Her voice hit a high note.

He jumped before tossing aside his fork and standing up. "Fine!" He went to her and eyed her suspiciously.

She reached out (he flinched) and hugged him. She rocked with him slowly before releasing him.

"That's how you solve conflict." Laura told Maddie.

"What?!" Marc and Mike looked at her like she was crazy while Mal looked at Mercedes with fear.

"Stop it!" Laura snapped. "Now sit you guys. Finish eating. We have to go soon and Marcy's probably on her way home."

cell

Marcy checked her watch. The flight was late. At least she thought it was. She didn't hear the announcement about boarding and leaving but to be fair, she was into her book.

She stuffed the bookmark inside and put away the book before getting up to stretch her legs.

"Marceline Anne?"

Marcy whipped around. "Yuria!"

"It's so good to see you." Yuria smiled.

Marcy waved her over. "Come here. Let me look at you."

Yuria walked around the chairs and held Marcy's hands. "It's been so long! And you're out!"

Marcy broke her no touching rule and hugged her friend. "I missed you, dude."

"I missed you, too." Yuria didn't receive many hugs so she enjoyed this one.

Riley let out a cry.

Yuria backed away. "Is this your new baby?"

"Yeah." Marcy hooked a thumb at her child. "Watch out. She'll cry for no reason and throws up like the Blair Witch."

Yuria grimaced. "Do I want to get close?"

"If you were her godmother, you would have to."

"Am I her godmother?!" Yuria grew excited.

"We haven't actually picked one out yet. But you're on the short list."

Yuria smiled. "You haven't changed."

"People don't change, Yuri. Seasons do."

"You're still pessimistic."

"Realistic." Marcy put the straps of her bags on her shoulder. "Come on. Let's get your bags and blow this pop stand."

"What is a pop stand?"

"I don't know." Marcy picked up the carrier.

Yuria giggled as they walked to the baggage claim.

"How many bags do you have?"

"Is it bad if it's a lot?" Yuria winced guiltily.

"Not only did I bring the BMW, I can't carry a tonne and Rye."

"Just carry one. I'll handle the other four."

"Five bags?!" Marcy was near speechless. "Who are you?! my sister, Lucy?!"

"I don't know how long I'll be staying. My father isn't exactly in a good mood. I want to avoid him as long as I can."

"Please!" Marcy scoffed dryly. "My father was born in a bad mood."

Yuria giggled as they made it to baggage claim. She waited until she spotted her first bag and reached out for it. "Here's one!"

Marcy took it from her. It was a rolling suitcase. "Next."

Yuria found another. It was a duffle bag. She set the strap across her shoulder. "Two down."

"Is that one?" Marcy pointed to an old fashioned suitcase that matched the design on the one she carried.

"Yes!" Yuria reached for it. "Here's another one!" She grabbed it and put it on the floor.

"I think that's the last one." Marcy gestured.

It was another rolling suitcase and Yuria grabbed it. She put the penultimate bag over the handles of the last one and picked up the free suitcase. "I'm ready."

"Alright. Come on." Marcy led her out to the parking lot and loaded up the trunk and backseat.

They got inside and buckled up before Marcy left the airport.

"So how is America?" Yuria asked, nervously excited for her second ever trip to the States.

"How do you mean?" Marcy concentrated on the road.

"I mean, how different is America from Vietnam?"

"I've been to Vietnam twice, not even equally a month and the past two years have been the longest I've ever been here since I was four and I was behind bars. I don't know anything."

"Do you think there'll be cultural shock?"

"Most likely. Most people speak English so you know, you should probably speak it." They'd been speaking Italian this whole time.

"Got it. English." Yuria switched.

"Measurements are different but what exactly are you going to be measuring while you're here?"

"I may cook for you." Yuria pointed out.

"I forgot you like to cook." Marcy's lip curled in disgust.

Yuria smiled. "How does someone with your talent not like to cook?"

"I've got a fucked up relationship with food." Marcy told the absolute truth. "Some days I resent to the fact that I have to eat."

"I love food. Our cook taught me everything he knew. My sisters used to tease me about our strange relationship but he was a father figure to me until he died."

"You're not going to cry, are you?" Marcy leaned away as if she would simply open the door and roll out if she said yes.

"No." Yuria sniffed. "I know tears are your Achilles heel."

"A badass Greek warrior? I'll take it." Marcy nodded.

"Stop that." Yuria smirked. "You know you'd listen to me if I wanted to talk."

"Doesn't mean I wouldn't complain the whole time."

Yuria laughed.

"Are you hungry? We can stop for something."

"Such as?" Yuria was intrigued.

"Well nothing but breakfast places are open right now. We can go to a place with a breakfast menu."

"Like the Denny's?"

"That's a sit down place but yes, they have a breakfast menu."

"I have heard of the Denny's on the Internet. Sit down place?"

"A place where you sit down and eat instead of taking your food to go."

"Oh." Yuria nodded. "You choose."

"We can go to McDonald's. I'm not the biggest fan of their food but they know their way around a potato."

"Around?" Yuria frowned.

"It means they know what they're doing. Their fries are really great and so are their hash browns."

Yuria grinned. "I'm all in."

"I see you're still into poker…" Marcy drove to the nearest McDonald's.

"It gives me such a rush!"

"Everyone has their vices…"

"I still haven't figured out yours." Yuria looked at her slyly.

"When you crack the code, let me know." Marcy went to the drive-thru. "The menu is here. Get anything on the breakfast menu."

Yuria narrowed her eyes as she read the sign. "What is a McGriddle?"

Marcy shrugged.

"You don't know?"

"I haven't had McDonald's since 2007 and even before then, I only get the bacon bagel and hash browns from the breakfast menu."

"Bacon." Yuria hummed. "I want that. Will you order that as well?"

"I'm not really hungry but I could get a hash brown. Want a hash brown?"

Yuria nodded.

"What about coffee? Orange juice? Water?"

Yuria thought about it. "A small coffee."

"I can't drink that shit black." Marcy frowned as they pulled up to the speaker.

"Why not?"

"I don't consume bitter shit." She turned down the radio and lowered the window.

"Hello, welcome to McDonald's. I'm ready when you are." A voice crackled from the speaker.

"Yes, I'd like the bacon, egg and cheese bagel, two hash browns and a small coffee, please."

"Will that be all for you, ma'am?"

"Yes."

The voice told her the total. "Thank you."

Marcy drove around to the first window. She went to her purse for her wallet.

"I can pay." Yuria protested.

"Do you have any American money?" Marcy knew she didn't.

"No but-"

"I can afford to treat you to breakfast." She grabbed a ten from her wallet and leaned through the window to give to the woman in the building.

"Thank you." Yuria smiled. "I'll get exchange."

"No problem." Marcy said as the woman thanked her as she returned her change. Marcy drove up to the second window.

"Where exactly would I go to do so?" Yuria chewed on her lip.

"There's hotels but I usually just go to banks."

"Are you allowed inside of a bank now?"

Marcy blinked, having never thought of that. She hadn't been since getting out, just carrying her allowance on her because she was so busy. "I don't know. We'll see today."

"We will?"

Marcy ran down a mental list of everything she had to do that day. "Tomorrow."

Yuria smiled.

A man held out a bag and a small cup. Marcy took both and handed them to Yuria before rolling up her window and pulling out of the lot.

"Tell me more about your cousin and friend." Yuria sipped her coffee. She didn't actually prefer it black but would never make a fuss.

"She's more than a cousin and more than a friend-"

"No, I mean the boy."

"Oh, he's not exactly a friend. He's my friend's cousin. I've met him twice."

"Is he nice?"

"Seems like it but you know people can hide ugly well."

Yuria nodded.

"But Artman's good people and I'm sure his cousin is like him."

"Is your cousin like you?" Yuria peered at Marcy from the corner of her eye.

Marcy wrinkled her nose, not wanting to answer. But she did. "Yes."

Yuria waited but that was all she said. "In what ways?"

"Plenty."

"Marceline Anne."

"You have to just take Rou in. Like a shot of whiskey. It's rough as fuck the first glass then it gets smoother until it's like drinking water."

"So I must persevere through the first impressions?"

"If that's the way you want to look at it."

Yuria nodded and took another sip. "These homes are gorgeous."

They were driving through the Adjacent and Marcy was taking side streets to avoid morning traffic. "I suppose they are."

"You don't agree?"

"I can see fine. I just don't care."

"Hopefully that's only your attitude about possessions."

"Would that make you feel better?"

"Yes."

"No."

Yuria turned her head, giving Marcy her full attention. "You're never boring."

"Thanks." Marcy said dryly.

"It's a compliment."

"No, it's not."

"I would never insult you."

"I didn't say you did. But I know I'm difficult."

"You're not difficult!"

Marcy glanced at Yuria with her "bullshit" face before turning back to the road.

Yuria wrinkled her nose. "You're not. You're colorful. And uninhibited. And free."

"No." Marcy came to her driveway and noticed her parents' cars were gone. She pulled in. "I'm not free."

Yuria sighed. "I'm not either."

"One day?" Marcy parked and looked at her.

"One day." Yuria grinned.

Marcy unlocked the doors. "Let's go in."

They got out and grabbed everything. It was hard to juggle so Marcy put her arm through the handle of one of the suitcases and held the half drank coffee cup in one hand while holding Riley in her other. Yuria carried the rest of her bags.

Marcy went to the front door and put Riley down in order to open the door. They went inside and she locked the door behind them before leading Yuria up to the third floor carefully.

They made it and Marcy walked to the room on the other side of Mercedes'. She opened the door and allowed Yuria to go in before her then shut the door behind them.

Yuria set her things by the big four poster bed. "This is a beautiful room!"

Marcy set Riley on the bed and gave the room a once over. "My mother takes decorating seriously."

"What is in here?" Yuria pointed to a door.

Marcy opened it. "Bathroom."

Yuria examined it thoroughly. "It is stunning."

"This is the closet." Marcy opened the other door. "Want help putting your stuff in here?"

"I must admit I don't want to unpack this very minute."

"I'm not saying unpack. Just throw it in there."

"Oh!" Yuria perked up. Together, they pushed and pulled the bags into the large room. "I will unpack before nightfall."

"Unpack when you want." Marcy assured her as they went back to the room.

Yuria went to the car-seat and waved to Riley. "She's a beautiful child."

Marcy stood off to the side.

Yuria looked back at her blank face. "Don't you agree?"

Marcy barely raised a shoulder.

Yuria gave her a look before looking back at Riley. "I can't wait to have children."

"You sound like Rou." Marcy came forward and stared at her daughter, who stared back. "She's chomping at the bit to get pregnant."

"That is a horse reference, correct?" Yuria asked. Marcy nodded. "Well I can understand. Wanting a chance to prove you can do something, do something important. And not just do it but do it well."

"You shouldn't have a kid to show up your parents. Because it sucks. They get here and they're… here."

Yuria frowned at Marcy's frown. "Here?"

"Here. Alive. In the world." Marcy chewed on her lower lip.

"Where would you have them?"

"That doesn't matter. They're here now."

"Do you regret it? them?" Yuria watched her closely.

"It's the worst thing I've ever done."

Yuria's mouth fell open. "Do you hate your children?!"

"No, Yuria." Marcy looked at her before grabbing the handle of Riley's car-seat. "I have to go. I'm late. Just stay in here until I get back. It'll be a while but there's a TV and you brought your computer, right? I'll introduce you to Karou and Arnold and then I'll take you on a tour of the house before dinner."

Yuria searched her eyes, wondering if her friend didn't love her kids. "Okay."

"It'll probably be noon." Marcy held her hand out.

Yuria stared at it blankly.

"My hash brown."

"Oh! Yes!" Yuria searched through the bag and pulled out a hash brown. She handed it over. "I'll see you later then?"

"Yes." Marcy put the hash brown in her kangaroo pocket and went to the door. "You'll probably get tired from jet lag so maybe get some sleep?"

"I'll try." Yuria watched her.

Marcy nodded and opened the door. She slipped out and closed the door behind her.

Yuria sat on the bed and thought about her friend, who was still a mystery after all this time. Did she not love her children? Was she really that heartless? Yuria's own mother failed her so she wouldn't want anyone else to go through that.

She nodded once as she made up her mind. She'd just show Marcy how great it was to have children and she'd love them in no time. With that, she retrieved her sandwich from the greasy bag and unwrapped it to take a bite.

She blinked in surprise. It was delicious!

cellish

Marcy opened her door and shut it behind her. "Hey."

"Hey." Mal looked over from reading a book to the twins. Mally was close to his side while Mickey was laying on his chest.

"Hi, Mommy!" Both shouted.

"Hello." Ellen said from the other side of the bed.

Marcy set Riley on the trunk at the end of her bed and put the bags on her desk.

"What's that smell?" Mal sniffed the air.

"Just like a boy." She joked. "Can always smell food."

"Food?!" Mally perked up.

"Didn't you already have breakfast?"

He pouted. "Yes."

"Then I guess you don't want this." She took the hash brown from her pocket.

He brightened. "Yes!"

She came to the bed and broke it half before giving a piece to each twin.

"Thank you, Mommy!" They chirped.

"You didn't get me one?" Mal put on a sad face.

"I didn't think about you." Marcy peeked at the book title.

"Ouch." He played it off but that hurt.

She kissed him. "You know I did. It wasn't even for them. I wanted it."

He dropped the book onto his lap and took her hand. "It's okay. We literally just finished eating."

She shrugged and took her hand back. "Are we ready to go?"

He checked his watch. "Yeah. It's after nine."

"How much after?" She'd avoided all clocks so far.

"You said a quarter after."

She lifted a brow.

"It's a quarter after."

She sagged in relief. Punctuality was a thing for her. "Let's go."

"Was Rye alright?" He sat up and put the book on the bedside table.

"Yeah. I fed her and changed her. She's good. I'm surprised she's awake."

"She's awake?" He shifted Mickey to the bed and got up to go see his youngest.

Mickey scowled.

Mal brightened when he got to Riley. He turned her carrier to face him and made funny faces at her. She made a few faces of her own. He kissed her cheeks.

Mickey dropped her last bit of hash brown on the bed and started crying.

"Mickey!" Marcy jumped and rushed to pick up the piece. She swept away at the crumbs and scowled when she saw a grease spot on the sheets. "Dammit, Mickey!"

Mickey cried harder.

Marcy picked her up and set her on her feet on the floor. "Stop crying. It was only a small bit. I'll just buy you another."

Mickey pouted at her thinking that was what was wrong but realized she'd get a new hash brown.

Mally frowned. He wanted a hash brown. He started crying, too.

"What's wrong with you?" Marcy stared at him.

"I want a brownie, too!"

Marcy tried to keep the "I want to kill you" look off her face but could feel it anyway. "Stop crying. I'll get you one, too."

He stopped crying. "Promise?"

"A damn hash brown? Stop crying before I give you something to cry about."

He ate the last of his hash brown and tried to climb down from the bed to get to his twin.

"Mally!" Marcy groaned at the grease spots forming.

"You did give them a hash brown in bed." Mal continued kissing Riley.

"Shut up." Marcy ran a hand over her face before looking at Ellen. "Off."

"Off?" The redhead cocked her head and frowned in confusion.

"The bed. Off the bed." Marcy shooed her away.

Ellen climbed out of the bed.

Marcy began ripping the sheets off.

"I sorry, Mommy." Mally stuck his lip out.

Marcy raised a brow at him before finishing her task. She stripped the bed and kicked the sheets into a pile before going to the bathroom for replacements. She came back with a stack and dropped them on the bed.

"Do you need help?" Ellen offered.

"I'm not making this bed." Marcy gathered the sheets in her arms. "I'm going to drop this off in the laundry room. I'll be back with the others."

"Cool." Mal gave Riley Eskimo kisses.

Marcy left, the twins trailing after her.

Ellen sat on the bed. "Does she want me to make the bed?"

"No. That's my job." Mal wanted to pick Riley up but knew they were about to leave so why go through the hassle?

"Oh." She played with her fingers. "What- what am I going to do while you're gone?"

"What do you want to do?" He still wasn't paying her any attention.

Be with you. She chewed on her lip. "I don't know."

"Watch a movie."

"Downstairs or-?"

"No, you shouldn't leave the room. At least not yet." He shook his head quickly.

She wanted to ask why but knew she'd probably get the run around. "How many channels do you get?"

"Like all of them." He went to get the remote and tossed it beside her. "You'll find anything."

She picked it up and played with it. "So I'm supposed to watch TV all day?"

"Hang out with Tina and Anna." He shrugged before refocusing on his baby.

Ellen nodded even though he wasn't looking at her. "Okay."

His phone went off so he answered it… in a different language. Riley kicked her feet and waved her arms, liking the sound of his voice.

Ellen watched him split his attention between the child and his conversation. So he can concentrate on two things at once?

By the time he ended the call, Marcy was back with the twins. "Alright, let's bust it."

Mal spoke to her in a language Ellen didn't understand. He seemed calm to her with a slightly resigned aura.

She watched Marcy's face. The sixteen year old closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose before talking.

Mal replied before asking a question.

Marcy answered before waving her hands. "We'll deal with it later. Let's just go."

"Alright." Mal lifted Riley's carrier. "Do I need my camera?"

"You know you want it." Marcy rolled her eyes.

"I do." He went to a shelf and chose between cameras.

"We definitely need pictures though."

"You couldn't admit that? Had to make me feel bad."

"You know damn well you don't feel bad." She took the twins' hands.

"You don't know. You don't know me." He sniffed as he followed her.

"I wish I didn't."

He stuck his tongue out at the back of her head. "We'll see you later, Elle."

"Bye!" The twins waved with their free hands.

Marcy nodded.

"Goodbye." Ellen whispered as the door shut, feeling alone.

cell

Mercedes pulled into the line of cars dropping off children (mostly girls) to ballet. "Are you having fun so far?"

"Yes." Nic kicked her feet.

"Good. Ballet is a good form of expression. And you'll make new friends."

Nic stared out the window. "I don't have any friends."

"Well you're going to make them this summer."

Nic bit her bottom lip. "I think Stacie wants to be my friend."

"Well that's good. You'll see her Saturday."

"Really?!" Nic gasped, happily.

"Yes. Sam is bringing both of his siblings."

"Yay!"

Mercedes pulled up a spot. "It's Fair Day so maybe I can get your brother in the tub the night before."

"Noah doesn't like baths."

"I've noticed. Maybe if I run him a special bubble bath, he'll change his mind?"

"A bubble bath?" Nic's eyes widened. "He's so lucky!"

"He truly is…"

"I've never had a bubble bath before."

Mercedes turned so quickly, it scared Nic. "You've never had a bubble bath before?!"

"No." Nic shook her head. "Bubbie always just made me a regular bath and Mommy-" She sighed. "Mommy didn't give me any baths. Noah used to."

Mercedes knew how she felt. Rose never bathed her either. That was the work for a nanny. "I'll tell you what. I'll run you a bubble bath tonight."

"Really?!" Nic's eyes grew.

"Yes. I'll get the stuff and I'll make it extra special."

Nic smiled so wide, Mercedes thought her face would crack. "Thank you, Mama!"

"You're-" Mercedes stopped. "Did you just call me Mama?"

Nic realized her slip up and looked down. "I'm sorry. It's just what Noah calls you. I'm sorry."

"You don't have to apologize, sweetie. It's okay."

"Can- can I call you Mama, too?"

Mercedes waited for her to make eye contact. "You'll have to ask Bubbie but it's fine by me."

Nic grew happy. "Yay!"

A car horn blasted, disturbing the peace. Mercedes turned around and drove up to the front of the studio. "Go learn something new. Have fun."

"Okay, thank you!" Nic opened the door and climbed out with her bag. "I'll see you after!"

"Noah's picking you up! I love you!" Mercedes waved.

Nic slammed the door at the same time but she'd clearly heard what she said. She stood there for a moment in shock. Her mother had never told her she loved her.

She blinked and walked into the studio like a baby drunk. Mercedes waited until she was inside to pull off. She entered the address of the newspaper into her GPS and followed the directions to the building.

She parked in the covered parking lot and got out. Her siblings were waiting for her. "Sorry. I had to wait to get Nic in."

"No problem." Laura handed Quad to Marc. "Let's go inside."

The eight siblings and four children went around to the front doors and went inside. The security guard stopped them. "Badges please."

"Oh, we don't have badges- yet." Laura smiled.

"Are you here for interviews?" He went to collect guest badges.

"No." She upped her smile. "We're the new owners."

The badges fell from his grasp. "The new owners?"

"Yes. Our fathers bought the business last week."

"You're the new bosses' kids?" He gulped and exchanged nervous looks with the other guard at the station.

"No. We're the new bosses." Marc corrected. "They bought it for us."

Both men frowned.

"Is there a problem with that?" He raised a brow.

Both shook their heads but the first guard spoke. "Of course not, sir."

"We'd like a look around." Laura said.

"Of course, miss." He nodded. "Collins at your disposal. Larry Collins."

She shook his head. "Nice to meet you. These are my brothers and sisters."

"Hello." They nodded.

"Hello." He gulped. "I'll get started on that tour for you. You got everything covered down here, right, Marty?"

Marty nodded. "Sure do, Larry."

Larry cleared his throat. "Please follow me." He led them to two elevators.

Marty looked behind them as they got on. He waited for the doors to close before he picked up a phone and dialed the editor's line. "Sir, there's something you should know."

cell

"I just feel like I'm a stranger in a strange home." Ellen hugged a pillow to her chest.

"I understand." Anna nodded. "I was here for less than a week and I didn't understand anything. I still don't."

"It can't be us." Tina lowered her legs. "They don't talk to us."

"And they tell us what to do without explaining their demands." Ellen agreed.

"Demands?" Anna asked.

"Mal basically told me I couldn't leave the room."

"Mike told me not to leave this floor." Tina scowled.

Anna worried her lip. "MercyCat said it'd be best if I stayed up here or go with Noah on his job."

"Why didn't you go? At least you wouldn't be stuck here." Ellen pouted.

"I didn't really want to watch him clean pools. He's talked about it and it doesn't sound interesting."

Ellen shrugged. "I just wish they'd open up. Or at least stop treating me like a child."

"Yes!" Tina moaned. "Mike talks to me like I'm four years old!"

"At least they're talking to you." Anna lifted a shoulder. "MercyCat hasn't said anything to Noah besides telling him he had to pick Nic up from her dance class."

Ellen felt low. "I think they're really mad at me for last night. They won't even look at me."

"Mike says he forgives me but he won't look at me either." Tina sat back. "His touch isn't the same."

"He touches you?" Ellen was jealous.

"Nothing sexual. Just helping me out of the bed, holding my hand while I walk up and down stairs."

"Mal walks in front of me going downstairs and behind me going up. I guess he's still protecting me."

Anna smiled. "I think things will get better. We just have to work harder at letting them know we're here for them."

"Is it such a hardship to be with us?" Tina frowned a little. "We were pressured into getting married."

"Not me. My parents were kicking me out anyway. This just guaranteed I had somewhere to go."

"I wasn't forced either." Ellen admitted. "I really wanted to marry them. I stupidly thought it'd be like a fairy tale."

Tina sighed. "Yeah, me too. My parents just asked me if I wanted to and I said yes so fast, they didn't know if his parents wanted it more or me."

"Did they want to get married?" Anna wondered.

The redhead's and brunette's eyes widened. They hadn't thought of that.

"Is that why they seem so angry all the time?!" Ellen gasped.

Tina gasped next. "Maybe that's why they don't trust us?! They feel we trapped them!"

Anna didn't like this. "We have to try hard to make them not regret this. Us."

The other girls nodded quickly.

She hugged her legs as well as her stomach could manage. "We'll be the perfect wives!"

"Perfect!"

cell

Nic relaxed her stance and went with the rest of her class to their belongings so they could towel off and drink water. She sat on the floor by her bag and opened it to take out a towel and her water-bottle Mercedes bought her.

While she was sipping thirstily, a girl nearby leaned over. "How long have you been taking lessons?"

Nic blinked at her heavy accent. "Um… it's my first week."

The little girl nodded. "I have been here since last month. I studied last year but that was at home. I just moved here."

"Me too. I lived in Carlisle with my Bubbie."

"Bubbie?"

"It means grandmother."

The girl nodded. "Where is Carlisle?"

"I don't actually know. I just know it takes three hours to get here."

"We moved farther than three hours." The girl giggled. "We lived in Paris."

"Paris?" Nic's eyes widened. "Like France?"

She nodded. "Oui."

"We?"

"Yes. I mean yes."

Nic nodded. "Mama is from there." Mercedes had told her that she was born there.

"Really?!" The girl's eyes lit up. "Do you think she knows my maman and papa?"

Nic shrugged. "She knows a lot of people."

"My name is Stella Beauelles."

Nic blinked blankly. That name meant nothing to her. "My name is Nicolette Puckerman. But everyone calls me Nic."

Stella smiled. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Nic."

Nic giggled at her voice.

"Here." Stella went to her bag and retrieved a notebook. She ripped out a page and dug up a pen to scrawl her name and number. "This is my maman's number. Have yours call mine. Maybe we can see each other outside of class?"

Nic took the paper, in awe that someone wanted to be her friend.

"Mademoiselle Stella?!" Madam Lisette called. "Your papa is here!"

Stella stood and collected her belongings. She waved to Nic before running out. "Farewell, Nic! Do not forget to call!"

Nic waved even though the girl couldn't see her. She stared at the page, dumbfounded before changing her shoes.

"Mademoiselle Nicolette?! Your papa is here!" Madame Lisette called.

Nic hurried to her feet and slung the strap of the bag over her shoulder and threw on her jacket. She picked up her towel and water-bottle and put the paper safely in her bag before running outside.

Puck was waiting at the curb so she waved to her teacher before walking over. She opened the door to his truck and climbed in. She dropped her bag on the floor and buckled her seatbelt.

He looked at her as she continued to pat her face with the towel, dazed. "So how was class?"

She blinked and remembered he was there. She broke out in a wide smile. "Great!"

cell

The senior editor rubbed his hands together, trying to fight nervousness and bitterness. "So this is us. What do you think?"

Laura looked at her siblings before smiling at him. "You have a great setup."

"Thank you, ma'am." He nodded.

The Fabanges poked around the top floor, the eighth floor of the building. There were four offices and a break room, two bathrooms and a kitchen. The space was quite large and had plenty of windows.

He was a gruff man, who'd worked in journalism since he was fifteen. He'd had his share of problems with the last owner but didn't know what to expect from the new ones. They were just kids. His staff would be looking for work within six weeks!

He cleared his throat, capturing their attention. "I'm not sure what you plan on doing with the paper but I'd like to convince you keep us on until we can find new employment-"

"We're not firing anybody." Marc broke in.

"Yes, we are." Marcy disputed that. "We're not firing everybody. If you're competent and capable, you'll keep your job."

The man relaxed until he realized he had no idea what her definition of competent and capable were. "Oh. Well I assure you most of my employees- your employees are very good at their jobs."

"We've gone through old articles. Most is correct."

He wasn't sure if that was a good thing. "So you're keeping it as a newspaper?"

"Sort of." Mercedes went to him and laid a comforting hand on his arm. "We're turning it into a newszine."

"Newszine?"

"Yes!" She smiled excitedly. "It's a newspaper and a magazine! It'll be all the rage!"

His face clearly said he wondered about all this.

"It's not as stupid as it sounds." Mike assured him. "It's a gimmick sure enough but it's also the best of both worlds. It's the hard hitting news of a newspaper but the easiness of a magazine."

The man, Griff blinked. "Okay. So most everyone will keep their jobs though, right?"

"Yes." Marcy slapped Mally's hand when he reached to touch a wall. "We've looked at recent performance reviews, conduct and workmanship and we've got an idea on who stays and who goes. But we need your help."

"My help?" His brows raised.

"You know these people." Mal picked up Mickey. "You know their strengths and weaknesses and what they're capable of. We want to make sure everyone is where they need to be so we can work together towards a common goal: putting out a successful product."

Griff nodded, more than a little in awe. They actually did research and planning? They were spoiled rich kids; they weren't supposed to give a flying leap about this business. He'd worried that the takeover would mean the end of the paper but they weren't doing that. It was… surprising. "Do you have time now to go over some personnel files?"

Laura looked at her watch. "What time do you guys have to go back?"

"I think I told Artie one o'clock." Marcy frowned.

"And I have a lesson." Maddie piped up.

"Can we come back after?" Laura asked.

"After four?" Marcy nodded. "Yeah. We can just stay here until closing then come back tomorrow. Will you be here?"

Griff's eyebrows raised when he realized she was talking to him. "Oh, yes. I'm here every day."

"Okay, we'll bang out tonight and come in after court tomorrow."

"Don't forget my show tomorrow." Maddie wrapped her arms around Laura.

"We won't, sweetie. What time is it?" The blonde hugged her back.

"Two o'clock."

Marc scratched his eyebrow. "Okay, we'll go to court and we'll be able to make it here by what? eleven? We'll stay until one thirty and go see MadCap then we can come back here. Does that work for everybody?"

"What time is closing?" Mercedes worried her bottom lip.

"Nine o'clock." Griff answered.

"What's wrong, Mercy?" Laura wanted to know.

"I promised Nic I'd do something special for her." Mercedes rubbed her face.

"Just go home early."

"Are you sure? I don't want to stick you guys with all the work."

"Mercy, go." Marc reassured her.

"Thanks, guys."

Marcy checked her phone. "We really have to go."

"I'll walk you out." Griff moved forward. They followed him to the elevators and rode down to the first level. "I'll see you when you come back."

They waved to him and left.

Larry looked at him worriedly. "How did everything go, sir?"

Griff bit his lip. "We're staying open."

Larry smiled haphazardly. "That's good news, isn't it?"

Griff nodded, wondering about these kids. "They're not what I expected."

cellish

"I have to go to the store right quick." Mercedes unlocked her doors.

"What are you getting?" Mike hoped it was food.

"Some bath stuff for Nic. She's never had a bubble bath before!"

The girls gasped.

"I know! So I'm giving her a bubble bath tonight."

"That's stupid." Mal said flatly.

"Shut up! You're stupid!"

"She's eight. She can bathe by herself."

"I'm not actually going to wash her, idiot! I'm just going to run her bath."

He stuck his tongue out. Mally copied him.

"Don't do that, my angel." Mercedes wagged her finger at him. "Your daddy's a jerk."

"Daddy's a jerk?" Mickey looked hurt.

"Don't tell her that!" Mal frowned.

"Why not?" Quinn scoffed. "It's true."

He growled at her.

"Stop it." Marcy put a hand on his chest. "Just go get the stuff for Nic and meet us back at the house. I have to feed and change Rye again and make sure the twins eat before everyone gets there."

"While you guys hang out with your friends, we'll be getting things ready for Fair Day." Laura said.

"Oh, we have to do our jobs!" Mercedes remembered.

"Shoot!" Quinn scowled.

"We can do stuff Friday." Mike shrugged. "No big deal."

"Problem solved." Marc took Quad from Laura. "We'll see you later. Do you want a ride to your lesson, MadCap?"

Maddie nodded. "Bye, guys! See you later!"

"Bye!" Mike, Mercedes, Quinn, Marcy, Mal and the twins waved goodbye to them as they climbed in Suzy and left.

"Want us to go with you to the store?" Quinn asked.

"Sure." Mercedes chirped.

"I don't want to go to the store." Mike wrinkled his face.

"Why not?!" Quinn frowned.

He didn't want to explain all the reasons why it'd go bad for him.

"Mikey, will you help us with the kids?" Marcy threw him a lifeline.

"Yes!" He lowered his voice. "Yes."

"Can't you just give them to a nanny?" Quinn whined.

"Is that what you're going to do with your son?" Marcy raised a brow.

Quinn made a few faces. "I don't know."

"Well you've got a month to figure it out. Until then, mind your business."

Mike pushed Quinn over to Mercedes' car. "You ride with her. We'll see you at the house."

"Bye, guys." Mercedes blew kisses before getting in.

Quinn narrowed her eyes at them, sure they just wanted to get rid of her. "We'll be there soon."

"Just go away." Marcy sighed.

Quinn climbed in and buckled up as Mercedes pulled out of her spot. The brunette beeped the horn and drove out.

"Thanks, Moppet." Mike blew out a breath. "They shop too much and we'd be there all day."

"It's because you enable them." Mal said.

"Shut up!"

"Hey!" Marcy barked. "I don't want to hear that! Just get in the car so we can go!"

"You're lucky your wife saved you." Mike narrowed his eyes.

Mal flipped him off before putting Mickey on her car seat. Marcy put Mally in his before attaching Riley's to the seat. Both closed the doors before getting in the front.

Mike hopped in Rhonda.

Both cars took off towards their house.

cell

Ellen, Tina and Anna looked up as the door opened. "You're back!"

"It had to happen eventually." Marcy set Riley on the trunk at the end of the bed. She undid the straps and put the infant in her bassinet.

"Want me to go see if Mrs. Gonzales is going to make lunch?" Mal hooked a thumb at the open door.

"Yeah." Marcy rifled through the diaper bag for a diaper and wipes. "Ask her if she'll make sandwiches. I don't want to have to change them."

"I'll change them." He shrugged. "Come on, guys. Maybe Mrs. Gonzales will make spaghetti?!"

"Yay!" The twins jumped around before following him out.

Tina nudged Ellen. The redhead bit her lip and spoke up. "How was your morning?"

Marcy didn't know she was talking to her and continued changing her daughter's diaper.

"Marcy?"

The sixteen year old looked up as she picked up the baby. "What?"

"How was your morning?"

"I don't know. Busy?" Marcy went to the closet.

"See?!" Ellen sniffled. "She shuts me out!"

Anna rubbed her arm. "Maybe I can talk to her?"

"Good luck!" Ellen buried her face in Tina's arm.

Anna left the bed to go to the closet when the door opened and Marcy exited. "Oh! Hey! Um… did you do all you had to do today?"

"No." Marcy looked at her like she was weird before moving to the couch. She sat down and lifted her shirt and bra. She adjusted Riley so the baby could start feeding.

Anna waited but that was all she said. "Is that a bad thing?"

"Is what a bad thing?"

"That you didn't finish what you had to do?"

"No."

"So you'll finish tomorrow?"

Marcy looked at Anna. "What are you doing?"

"Nothing. I just- well you always say you won't know anything if you don't ask."

Marcy's head bobbed slightly. "I do say that."

"So I'm asking. What did you do today?"

"I went to the airport and to work."

Anna was glad when she looked down again. Her eyes freaked her out. She bobbed her own head. "Was it fun?"

"Was what fun?"

"You know? Work?"

"Work isn't supposed to be fun. It's work. If it was fun, it'd be called fun but it's called work."

Having never had a job, Anna couldn't say if that were true or not. "I'm sorry."

"Why?"

"You didn't have a good day."

"The day's not even over."

Was that optimism?! Anna blinked in surprise. "Yes! Things could get better!"

"They're not bad now."

"I- I'm confused."

"About what?"

"T! There you are!" Mike walked in breathlessly.

Tina's lips twisted. He would come in when Marcy was finally talking! "Where did you think I was?"

"You weren't in our room and I thought- it doesn't matter what I thought. You're safe."

"Why wouldn't I be safe?"

"You haven't been alive long, have you?" Marcy smirked.

Tina stuck her bottom lip out.

"Are you hungry?" Mike asked.

"Um…" Tina looked between him and his sister.

"You don't know if you're hungry?" Marcy looked at her. "I thought I was the only one like that."

Tina was prepared for scorn and now felt wound up. "Oh- I-I- yes."

"Yes, you're hungry?" Mike was confused.

Tina looked at him. "Yes."

He held his hand out. "Come on. I'll make you something."

"You poor girl." Marcy shook her head.

"Hey!"

"I'm kidding." Marcy's face was blank.

"I'll spank you!" He helped Tina out of the bed.

Marcy blew a raspberry as they left.

"Where's MercyCat?" Anna asked after it'd been silent a moment.

Marcy put Riley on her shoulder. "At the store. She went to pick up some stuff for Nic."

Anna brightened. "Oh. I'm hungry, too. Do you think she'd mind if I went downstairs for lunch?"

Marcy frowned in confusion until she realized Anna had taken Mercedes' warning seriously. On one hand, she was impressed but on the other, she was surprised. "Yeah, you can go. Just go straight to the kitchen."

Anna left.

Ellen watched as Riley let out a burp (and spittle) and Marcy wiped her mouth. "Do you need help?"

"No." Marcy laid her down and began taking off her clothes to switch with the outfit she'd gotten from the closet.

"Are you sure? I could hold her."

"This works better with her lying down." Marcy changed her quickly before rising and taking the dress to the hamper in the closet.

Upon her return, Ellen licked her lips. "Was work hard?"

Marcy lifted a brow before lowering it. "No."

"Will you be going tomorrow?"

"Yes."

"What time?"

Marcy thought. "I forgot."

You just don't want to tell me! Ellen sulked. "Am I just going to stay in this room?"

"What do you want to do, Ellen?" Marcy sighed as she looked up from gathering supplies to take downstairs. She put her hand on her hip and gave her wife her full attention.

It made Ellen feel like she was bothering her and in trouble. "I don't know."

"How about we drop you off at your parents' house?"

Ellen blinked back tears. They didn't even want her around the house?! "If you want."

"What do you want?"

The fifteen year old's lips trembled slightly. "I don't want to be alone."

"There's a thousand people in this house."

"But we're up here. Alone."

"What would you do any other summer?"

Ellen lifted a shoulder. "I would spend time at the park taking pictures."

"Then I will take you to Lima so you can take pictures at a park near your parents'."

Why can't you be with me? Ellen nodded. "Okay."

Marcy finished gathering Riley's things. "You should go downstairs if you're hungry."

Do you even care if I'm hungry? Ellen thought bitterly. "Okay."

"Go straight to the kitchen." Marcy lifted Riley in her arms and walked out.

Ellen wrapped her arms around her stomach and allowed herself a few tears before she dashed them and left the room to go to the kitchen.

cell

"How late are we?" Quinn asked.

"Not at all!" Mercedes shut the car door. "We set a time limit and stuck to it!"

"It was so hard!" Quinn moaned. "I saw so many things I wanted!"

Mercedes giggled as she led the way to the door leading inside. They walked in and around corners until they got to the staircase.

They went upstairs and to their rooms. Quinn opened her door first. "No one's here. Finn and Rachel must still be with his mom's boyfriend."

"Go see if everyone else is here. Where does Marcy even want us?"

"I'll go check." Quinn went to Marcy's room and barged in.

Mercedes entered her own room and saw Puck, Anna and Nic on the bed. "Hey! Guess what I got!"

Nic jumped off the bed and ran to her. "Bubble bath stuff?!"

"Bubble bath stuff!"

"Yay!" Nic cheered.

"Are you hungry?"

"Uh huh!"

"Let's put this stuff in your room and go downstairs and see what Mrs. Gonzales made!"

"Okay!" Nic took her free hand.

"Are you coming, Annie?" Mercedes looked behind herself.

Anna looked at Puck. "I'm sure Noah is hungry, too."

Mercedes looked at him briefly before focusing on Anna again.

Anna sighed. "Yes, I'm hungry."

"Come on."

Anna left the bed and followed behind her.

Puck leaned back against the pillows and swallowed. Yeah, it hurt to be ignored but he'd been ignored his whole life. Why would that change just because he got married?

cell

"Mal, will you get her bassinet?" Marcy laid Riley on a sofa and sat beside her.

"Yeah, give me two seconds." He jogged out.

Mercedes set a platter on a table. "It's nice of you to want to feed the guys."

Marcy shrugged. "I figured they would want to eat. Boys usually do. And pregnant girls."

"I know I'm hungry!" Quinn snuck a piece of cheese off her platter before setting the ceramic down.

"Go eat!" Marcy shooed.

"How would it look for you to be fielding attention while we're stuffing our faces?" Mercedes put her hands on her hips.

"You haven't eaten since breakfast."

"Neither have you!" Quinn returned.

"You didn't eat breakfast with us so it was probably just cereal or something!" Mercedes accused. "You have to be hungry!"

Marcy waved them away. "I'll eat later."

"When?!"

"I'll eat if you eat."

Mercedes searched for a loophole and finding none, agreed. "Okay. We'll go get a bowl of spaghetti and bring you one back."

"I don't want spaghetti."

Both Leos gasped. "What?!"

Mike laughed.

"Funny." Marcy bit off.

"But you love spaghetti!" The pregnant duo whispered harshly.

"How many times do I have to say I don't love anything?"

"Stop saying that!" Mercedes spat.

Marcy crossed her legs and poked Riley's stomach.

"Don't ignore us!" Quinn stomped a foot.

"Mikey, make them go eat."

"Come on, guys." Mike stood from the couch's arm rest. "Where's Puck?"

"Upstairs." Mercedes grumbled.

"He's not hungry?"

"I didn't ask." She lifted her nose.

"Mikey, go tell him to come down here and eat." Marcy rolled her eyes.

"Why do you care if he eats?" Quinn crossed her arms.

"Just because I'm mad at your spouses doesn't mean you should be."

"Are you kidding?! They were wrong!"

"They were. But-" She hunched her shoulders. "Who wants to sleep in a cold bed?"

The trio looked at each other before looking at her and nodding. "Okay."

"Now go eat!"

"Alright!" Mercedes and Quinn stomped out.

Mike smirked and shook his head as he followed.

Marcy rubbed her finger over Riley's little stomach. "Your aunts are so stressful."

"Her uncles suck, too." Mal came back.

"They're just awful to you, aren't they?"

"Yep." Mal set the white bassinet by her.

"Are the twins done eating yet?"

"I don't know. I could go check."

"Don't forget to change them when they are."

"I won't." He stuck his face in her face.

She pushed him back with a forefinger to his forehead. "What are you doing?"

"Come on, Marce! There's nobody around!"

"Hey!" Karou walked in.

"Are you fucking kidding me?!"

"What crawled up your butt?" She hopped on a couch and crossed her legs. "What's up, CC? You told me to come straight home."

"I have something for you." Marcy told her. "Go check on the twins."

Mal frowned. "Come on. It's just Karou-"

"Excuse you!" The single girl bit off.

"Just a small kiss?" He ignored her.

"No." Marcy refused. She didn't do public displays of affection.

He fisted his hands with a growl and shot up. He stomped out.

"He's mad at you." Karou noted.

Marcy lifted a shoulder but wasn't that cavalier. "People should be here soon-"

The doorbell rang.

"Or now. Now is good."

Karou chuckled. "Aren't you going to get the door?"

"Is that in my job description?"

Karou laughed.

"Pendleton will get it."

Karou nodded before noticing the cheese boards. "Yum! Food! I haven't eaten since breakfast and I completely burned off those calories!"

Marcy was alarmed. "Tell me you haven't fucked that dude you were texting me about!"

"No!" Karou scowled before twisting her lips. "He took me rock climbing!"

"I thought he wanted you to go to the Half Pipe?"

"That's what he said but his stupid self took me rock climbing!"

"And when you ditched him, where'd you go?"

"I did not-!" Karou sputtered before stopping at Marcy's heavy lidded look. "There was this guy that worked there. He said today was his last day so he cut out early and took me to the mall. It's where I've been all morning."

"The mall?" Marcy's face twisted in disgust. "Why'd you stay?"

"He was lame, too so I met up with this girl that worked at some frosting place-"

"Icing." Marcy corrected.

"Whatever. The point is, she let me have some free stuff and when she went on break, we hooked up in the family bathroom."

"That's gross as shit. You know public restrooms are gnarly."

"I can just take a bath tonight." Karou slapped her thighs. "So where'd you go today?"

"A Mr. Tinsley and Ms. Zizes, madam." Pendleton's voice rang out.

"Thank you, Pendleton." Marcy said. "Hey, guys. You're the first ones here."

The doorbell rang so the butler went to get it.

"Your house is crazy!" Lauren gaped.

Marcy shrugged. "Do you remember my cousin, Karou?"

"Hello." Shane offered his hand.

Karou stood and winked at him as she shook his hand. "How are you?"

Marcy clicked her tongue with a frown. "Sit your hot to trot ass down!"

Karou made a face at her and let him go. "What about her?"

"They're together and don't want to add you! Sit down!"

Karou scowled and plopped down.

Shane was rattled. He'd never been hit on before. At least not blatantly.

Lauren glared at Karou before pushing Shane to a love seat. "Karou, is it?"

"Yup." Karou crossed her legs.

"Hey, guys!" Felicity walked in.

Marcy had gotten her before coming downstairs. "You're done eating?"

"Yes." Felicity hugged her friends. "I ate so fast, I think I got whiplash."

"You wasn't playing, huh?"

Felicity laughed.

Pendleton returned. "A Mr. Adams, Ms. White, Mr. Karofsky and Mr. Anderson, madam."

"Thank you, Pendleton." Marcy said.

"Do you require anything else, madam?"

"Can you set Linda up with the twins?"

The doorbell rang. "Right after I open the door, madam." He left.

"Whoa, he's stiff!" Azimio hooked a thumb at the older man.

"He's British. What do you expect?" Marcy waved them to sit. "Are you guys hungry?"

"Yeah!" Azimio and Karofsky dove for food.

Shauna facepalmed. "Hi, guys."

The others spoke as she sat down. "Hey."

"Guys, this is my cousin, Karou." Marcy reintroduced them. "This is Shauna and her boyfriend, Azimio. This is Karofsky and Blaine. They're gay and will not have sex with you!"

Blaine raised a brow at the disclaimer. "I feel like we're missing something."

"Nope. So how do you like living in Lima now? You've been here two weeks, right?"

He knew she was changing the subject on purpose. "It's been almost three. It's great. We live near the Adjacent."

"Cool."

Mike walked in with Tina. "Hey, guys!"

The room responded.

Pendleton returned with more guests. "Mr.s Pikes, Evans and Hummel, madam."

"Thank you, Pendleton. Also, could you make sure Linda keeps the kids in the nursery?" Marcy added onto her request.

"Certainly, madam." He bowed and left.

"Wow!" Sam blinked in surprise. "He's really formal!"

"He's British." Mike sat on the arm of the chair his wife was in. "What's up, buddy?"

"Hey, man!" Sam slapped hands with him then Blaine before spying Marcy. "Bats!"

"What's up, Supes?" She smiled.

He nearly hurt himself getting over to her. "Hug?"

"What are you on? I'll take two."

"I guess hugging is over?"

"Completely." She killed his dream.

He lowered his arms before looking in the bassinet. "Is this her?"

"Yup." Marcy rubbed Riley's stomach.

"Aww! She's so cute!"

"She'll know it soon."

He cocked his head in confusion.

"It won't be long until she recognizes herself in a mirror." She clarified.

Mike and Karou laughed.

"Are you- are you saying she's going to recognize her reflection and know that she's cute?" Blaine tried to piece it together.

Marcy tapped her nose.

"Wow. I don't know if that's incredibly sad or honest."

"Beauty is only skin deep."

He was shocked she said that and smiled in happiness. "Yes!"

"That is not true!" Karou scoffed.

"You only say that because you're beautiful and nice." Marcy lifted Riley onto her lap. "Try being only one of those things."

"Which one are you?" Azimio asked.

Shauna hit him. "Az!"

"You can't look and tell which one?" Marcy lifted a brow.

He opened his mouth before closing it and looking down. "I won't say anything right."

Mercedes walked in with Quinn, Anna, Puck and Ellen. "Hey, guys! How are you?!"

Everyone spoke and let Mercedes hug them.

"Are you talking about my new adorable niece?"

"We're talking about her demonic mother." Mike ran a nail over his teeth.

"Lock your door for the foreseeable future." Marcy stared him down.

He whimpered slightly.

Quinn giggled. "Don't mess with him because you're bad."

"And what are you, Queen Bee?" Marcy mocked.

Quinn's mouth fell open.

"Lucy, calm down." Mike soothed. "Marcy, remember she's pregnant."

"Who the hell was nice to me when I was pregnant?!" Marcy bit off.

"I was!" Quinn snapped.

"Bullshit!"

"Marcy!" Mercedes chided. "Stop cursing in front of the baby!"

"This my baby!"

"Quit it!"

Marcy called her a name in Italian that had Karou laughing while Mike and Quinn forced themselves to not join her.

Mercedes glared at Marcy before her eyes filled. "I can't believe you called me that."

Marcy hated when she cried and rolled her eyes. "If I apologize, will that stop?"

Mercedes frowned adorably.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have called you a *. You're not."

Mercedes sniffled. "Thank you."

"Aww!" Karou whined. "It's not fun when you apologize!"

"Shut up, Rou!" Quinn spat.

Karou stuck her tongue out at her.

Pendleton returned. "Your husband and wife, madam."

"Thank you, Pendleton." Quinn said as she patted the space next to her. "Come sit. How was your day?"

Finn was thrown. She'd been icy that morning and hadn't communicated all day. Where was this nice Quinn coming from? "It was okay. I got a job."

"Congratulations!" His friends shouted.

"Where?" Karofsky asked.

"With Kurt's dad at his garage." Finn pointed discreetly at Kurt. "It won't be much because I don't know too much about cars but he's willing to teach me."

"That's great!"

"Thanks." Finn was actually proud of himself.

"I'm proud of you." Quinn echoed his thoughts, shocking him further.

Mal walked in before he could say anything. "Wow. Everybody's here."

"Almost." Marcy waved him over. "Hold her."

"Okay." He sat between her and Ellen and took his baby girl. Marcy stood. "Wait! Where are you going?!"

"None of your business." Marcy left.

"She's lucky she's still recovering." He glared at her retreating back.

"What'd you do?" Karou grinned.

"Throw a shoe at her."

Mike chuckled. "Good luck removing it from wherever she sticks it afterwards."

Mal had to admit that she would retaliate. "Yeah."

Quinn laughed suddenly. "Remember 1998?"

"The whole year?" He looked at her like she was stupid.

"No." She rolled her eyes. "Spring break."

Mike nearly laughed himself off the arm of his chair as Karou wiped away tears.

Mercedes' lips twitched.

"Mercy?!" Mal was hurt.

She let out a chuckle before pressing her lips together. "I'm sorry, Mal! I'm not laughing!"

"I- I- I am!" Karou couldn't breathe.

Mike pointed at his brother and laughed uncontrollably.

Mal blushed and took a deep breath to keep calm. "Why would you bring that up?!"

Quinn grinned. "Just remembering why you shouldn't mess with my sister."

Mal whimpered and held his daughter close.

"What's the joke?" Azimio asked.

"No-" Mike fell out anew before trying again. "No joke! Just- she- and he- never again!"

Karou held her stomach. "I needed that!"

Mercedes won her battle with her trembling lips. "Mal, don't worry. We won't let her do that to you again."

Mal laid Riley on his chest and sat back, trying to calm down but ended up muttering under his breath in Japanese.

They didn't even notice the doorbell ringing.

"I feel like Marcemallow did something to you that gave you night terrors to this day." Ross said.

"He laughed!" Mal yelled suddenly.

Mike fell off the armrest.

"Mikey!" Mercedes knew her older brother was a mess but it wasn't that funny. Truly it wasn't. She wasn't trying to convince herself. "And he didn't laugh! He said, "Ha"."

"That's laughing for him." Quinn's eyes sparkled.

Mercedes frowned at her for making it worse. "Stop it, Lucy!"

Tina helped Mike up. "Mike, are you okay?!"

He clung to the chair. "That was the best! You couldn't sleep for a week and locked every door you came in contact with!"

"I hate you!" Mal clenched his teeth so hard, Ellen was afraid they'd shatter.

"I didn't do it!"

"No but you and Marc teased him for months!" Mercedes was mad at him.

"It was funny!"

"Come on, Mercy." Quinn cajoled. "You have to admit that it was hilarious."

"It was not. Things could have gone so much worse than they did. They looked at Mal funny for the next two years!"

Karou laughed anew. "She had to have plotted it before we left! It's literally the best part!"

"Stop it, Rou!"

"What'd she do now?" Marcy's voice scared them.

Karou fell out laughing. "Not me, Twin! You!"

"I ain't did nothin!" Marcy's brows lifted.

"Remember Spring Break of '98?" Quinn smirked.

Immediately Marcy said, "No."

"Come on." Mike sniffed to get a hold of himself. "You don't remember what you did to Mal the first time he played a prank on you?"

"Why would I-?" Her eyes widened and her mouth formed an "O" before her face wiped blank. "Nope."

"I think you do!" Sam pointed.

"Too bad thinking's not your strong suit."

"Bruce?" He pouted.

"Stop being a bitch, Clark." She gave him a look.

Artie, who was with her along with his wives and cousin, laughed.

"Marcy, don't call him that!" Mercedes fussed. "Be nice to him!"

"For what? I'm not fucking him!" Marcy made a face.

"You're not nice to me either!" Mal bit off.

Marcy was quiet for a moment as they all looked at her to see what she'd say. They thought she wouldn't answer after a while then she said one word in Swedish.

Mal exploded in words.

The people who understood him had wildly different reactions. Mike was surprised- at Marcy, which was why his onyx brows raised.

Mercedes was very upset with Marcy and glared at her. Quinn was amused beyond belief. She knew it was a bad thing so she kept her face blank and her mouth shut but more than anything, she wanted to laugh.

Like Karou was currently doing. Loudly…

Marcy just looked at him benignly.

Eventually he ran out of steam and just glared at her, hurt.

"Are you done?"

"Whatever." He looked away.

She was quiet again until she said two words in Greek.

He side-eyed her. "You know I can't understand you."

Mercedes smiled. "I did!" She got up to try to hug Marcy, who kept her away with a finger to her chest. "Let me hug you!"

"No." Marcy stated clearly. "Sit down. I have a surprise for Rou."

"This isn't over." Mercedes sat down.

"What is it?" Karou wiped tears from her eyes.

"Close your eyes." Marcy commanded.

"No."

"Just do it."

"Why?!" Karou was filled with mistrust- just the way they were raised.

"I'll take it back."

"Okay! Okay!" Karou closed her eyes.

Marcy moved Arnold to stand in front of Karou then moved Yuria, who she'd gone to get from upstairs. "Open your eyes."

Karou opened her eyes and did three things in order. She blinked, she frowned then she undressed them with her eyes.

"Rou!" Mercedes was too done.

Karou smirked. "You're for me?"

Arnold blushed and rubbed the back of his neck. "Yeah, I guess, kinda."

She licked her lips slowly.

He looked back at Marcy and Artie with a little trepidation.

Artie grinned and nodded with a knowing look while Marcy watched Karou.

Karou held her hand out when the blond turned around. "Karou Seon."

"Arnold Abrams." He shook her hand and was surprised by how soft it was. It slid against his hand, creating little fireworks of sensation. He blushed again.

She nodded slowly before facing Yuria. "And you are?"

Yuria shook her hand, getting electricity as well. "Yuria Parker."

"A true pleasure to meet you both." Karou's eyes screamed sex.

"We did good, BT!" Artie hissed to Marcy, who was still watching her cousin suspiciously.

"Would you like to go somewhere more private to get to know each other?"

Marcy spoke in Japanese. "Don't you dare ruin their lives!"

"Would you stop?!" Karou kept her voice light so no one would know they were arguing. "I'm not going to do anything. I just want to talk."

Quinn scoffed. "Right!"

"Bite me, Lucy."

"Rou, I'm serious." Marcy wasn't playing. "Do not do what I know for a fucking fact that you're thinking of doing."

Karou tore her gaze away from her new love interests and looked Marcy in the eye. "I promise I will not do anything that will make you upset with me."

Karou was lying and Marcy knew it. She blew out a breath and just hoped Arnold could say no like he said he could. "Fine. Whatever."

Karou looked between Arnold and Yuria. "Would you like to go to the game room? There's plenty of things to play with."

Arnold nodded. "That sounds like fun."

It will be… Karou led them out.

"What was that?" Mal blurted out when they were gone.

"That's your cousin." Marcy ran her hands over her face as she walked over to him and plopped on the sofa.

"Whatever that was, that's your cousin."

Mercedes wrinkled her nose. "So you set them up?"

"Looks that way." Marcy reached for Riley but Mal twisted away from her. "What are you doing?"

"No." He frowned.

"Give me my baby." She frowned.

"My baby."

"Who went through sixteen hours of labor with her?"

"Sixteen hours?!" Santana and Lauren shouted.

"Labor can last for days. Give me my baby before I hurt you."

"I would like to hold my daughter." Mal sulked as he gave her up.

"When she needs a fresh nappy, she's all yours."

"What?!" Azimio yelped. "How is that fair?!"

"I'm sure Little Diva takes care of the rest of her needs." Kurt assured him.

"It's only fair." Mal shrugged and sat back before running his big hand over the baby's head. "She feeds her the most and gives her baths. Changes her when she spits up. I can handle diapers."

The other girls melted. "Aww!"

"Here we go." Mike muttered with an eye-roll.

Tina poked him. "Mike."

Mal gave him a dirty look. "So you're going to make Tina take care of Mina by herself?"

Mike gave his little brother a very much unamused look. "No."

"Then you'll have to change diapers."

"Your kids won't need you forever." Mike threatened in Swedish.

"I'll tell Marc on you!"

Mike bristled.

Quinn and Marcy fought tooth and nail not to show emotion.

Mercedes clucked her tongue at both of her hot tempered brothers. "Stop this now! We're family and we're going to act like it!"

"Yes, Mercy." Both boys bit off.

"Do you try to leave us out?" Artie's words made them realize they never switched back to English.

"Calm down, Sit and Spin." Marcy adjusted Riley's dress. "Nobody's talking about you."

"I feel like you are."

"I could." She said in Spanish.

"Stop threatening people!" Mercedes clenched her fists.

"Don't threaten Artie." Sam pleaded. "We're all best friends."

"What have I told you about that best friends bullshit?" Marcy pinched her nostrils together.

He stuck his bottom lip out. "I'm not your best friend?"

"Because I am." Artie told him.

Blaine cleared his throat.

"Hey!" Ross was offended.

Tina felt left out. "Me too!"

Anna scoffed in hurt. "What about me?!"

"Aren't we close?" Shauna picked at her conservative hem.

"We're super best friends!" Brittany announced.

"Nah, Patti and I are like this." Santana crossed her fingers.

Lauren scoffed rudely. "Please! Her ego's bigger than mine!"

"No offense, Lauren but she's one of us." Azimio said. Karofsky nodded. "She's a guy."

"You guys are too old!" Tina frowned. "We're her age and I'm her best friend!"

"No way!" Sam, Artie, Anna, Ross and Blaine denied.

"Marce, tell them who's your best friend." Mike sighed, knowing her answer would devastate them.

Marcy, who was barely paying attention, lifted Riley up and down to her face and pressed kisses to the little girl. "Riley."

"What?!" They all shouted.

Riley started crying.

Marcy lifted an annoyed eyebrow at them before setting Riley against her shoulder and rubbing her back.

"Your baby can't be your best friend!" Tina protested.

"Who said?"

Her mouth opened and closed.

Mike shook his head and told her quietly, "It's you. She just didn't want to hurt their feelings."

Marcy heard and looked at him as if to say he should be ashamed of himself for telling her that.

Mal took Riley from Marcy. "We should let the others see her."

Marcy frowned at him. "Why?"

"Isn't that why they're here?"

Marcy opened her mouth to tell the truth before closing it. "That's why they came."

He noticed the discrepancies in their sentences and eyed her warily. "Uh huh. Who's first?"

The girls fought over who would go first.

cell

"You gotta hit the bricks." Marcy said.

"Damn, BT!" Artie winced. "That's cold!"

"We got something to do. You don't have to go home but you got to get the hell up outta here."

"Marcy!" Mercedes chastised. "But we do have to go."

"Where are you going?" Brittany asked.

"Haven't your parents taught you about privacy?" Marcy set Riley in her bassinet.

"Yes."

"And have they taught you about respecting other peoples?"

"Yes."

"Do you think asking that question is respecting it?"

"No?" Brittany was confused.

Marcy shook her head. "No is correct. So you can leave and when it becomes common knowledge, we'll let you know."

"That's so mean!" Santana bit off before tears began falling from her eyes.

"I'm not pregnant anymore. That doesn't work on me."

"Boo Thang!" Artie rubbed his wife's arm.

"Get out." She waved a hand. "And take the rest of the chain gang with you."

"She likes to kick people out." Mike apologized.

"It's okay." Artie glared at Marcy as he slapped hands with him in farewell. "She's going to miss us."

"Does that make you feel good?" Marcy asked.

"I'm not doing that! I always come away with hurt feelings!"

"If you moved your ass, you wouldn't have to put up with it."

He growled. "Mal, yo woman is acidic!"

"Are you trying to convince me?" Mal raised a brow.

"Bite me." Marcy enunciated.

"Where?" Mal leaned close to whisper.

Marcy's eyes lightened and she stroked his wrist with her index finger. "Goodbye. See you later. It was fun. Let's do it again sometime. Whatever and so forth."

"Goodbye, Diva." Kurt hugged Mercedes.

Mercedes' lips twisted. "Ignore her. We'll see you guys Saturday."

"Can't wait!"

The group of friends left.

Marcy texted Karou to make sure she released Arnold.

"I'm going to go up to my room." Felicity gestured towards the door. "Will I see you guys later?"

"No. But dinner will be at six. Eat in the kitchen."

"Oh. Okay." She left.

Marcy looked at Mal. "I have to tell Linda to put the twins to bed at eight and get more stuff for Riley."

"We're taking her with us?" Mal frowned in confusion.

"We can't leave her. She needs milk."

"Did you pump at all today?"

"Just before the guys got here. But it's gone cuz I fed her what? a couple hours ago? Shit, she's going to want another feeding any minute now."

"I'll talk to Linda. You go feed Rye and pack the diaper bag." He put a hand on her back.

"Can we ask where you're going?" Tina asked meekly.

"Of course." Mike nodded. "We have work- are we still having our meeting or will it run together?"

His siblings made faces that clearly said they didn't know.

"I'll ask Marc later." He shrugged. "I'm sorry. What was the question?"

Tina played with her fingers. "How long will you be gone?"

He blew out a breath. "I don't know. Workday's over at nine but we might have our meeting after that and there's a bunch of stuff to do anyway."

"Am I going to see you tonight at all?"

"Probably not." He frowned. "Make sure you eat in the kitchen."

"All of you guys." Mercedes took Anna's hand.

"Why?" Finn ventured.

"It'll be better if you did." Marcy told him.

"Better for who?" Puck pressed.

"Whom. And you."

"Will we see you tomorrow?" Ellen asked, downhearted.

"Breakfast." Marcy said seriously. "You'll probably see us when we drop the twins off after our morning meeting then again when we pick up the twins for Maddie's show."

"Show?" Tina narrowed her eyes, bemused.

"Maddie has an equestrian show tomorrow." Mercedes explained.

"Oh? Is it- is it private?"

"No. I don't think so." Mike thought about it.

"Can we come?"

"You want to come?" Marcy blinked in surprise.

"Well yes. Maddie is our sister now, right? We should support her. Besides, I've never been to a horse show."

Mike was shocked… and pleased. "I'd love for you to come."

"Do you want to come?" Mal looked at Ellen like she was an alien.

She didn't appreciate his belief that she wouldn't want to go. "Yes."

"You too?" Mercedes looked between Puck and Anna.

Puck was shocked she was talking to him and nodded. "Yeah, I'll go."

"I've been to horse shows before." Anna nodded. "I enjoy them."

Quinn looked at her spouses. "What about you guys? It's not always fun when you're not competing."

Finn and Rachel exchanged looks. "We want to go."

"Okay."

"This has been… something-" Marcy's fingers moved. "But we need to go."

"We do." Mercedes rose. "Mikey, we're riding with you."

"Maybe I don't want to drive?" Mike argued as he stood, too.

"So?" Quinn got up.

His lips flattened. Of course she wouldn't care about anyone's desires but her own.

Mal made an amused face at Mike. "I guess that's what happens when you never tell her no."

Mike jumped at him but Mercedes threw herself between them. "Mikey, stop! Mal, go upstairs!"

"Why?!" Mal wanted to be contrary.

"Go see about your kids!"

"Fine. Come on, Ellen."

Marcy grabbed the redhead's hand as she made to follow him. "No, come with me. He doesn't need a shadow."

Mal rolled his eyes and left.

"Why didn't you want me with him?" Ellen asked.

"He's working himself up. He's itching for a fight." Marcy gathered Riley's things.

"He won't take it out on the twins, will he?" Tina fretted.

"No. They'll calm him down but he has to make it to them first." She had everything she needed. "Come on, Elle."

Ellen followed her out.

"Are you calm?" Mercedes patted Mike's chest in rhythm.

"Yes." He was not.

"It's very impolite to lie."

He looked down at her.

She continued to pat his chest and avoid eye contact.

Pretty soon he was calm. "I'm calm."

She patted his chest one last time before going to Anna. "Stop getting so angry. It's bad for your blood pressure."

"I don't know why you don't just kill him and get it over with." Quinn sniffed.

"Laura would be pissed…" Mike took Tina's hand. "Let's go."

"Go get a banana." Mercedes ordered.

"I don't want a banana."

"Yes, you do."

He sighed heavily. "I'm going. I'm going." He left with Tina.

"Does he get mad like that a lot?" Finn's eyes were wide.

"He tries not to but…" Mercedes shook her head.

"But what?" Anna led.

"Everyone has their triggers."

"What about Mal?" Rachel wanted to know. "Marcy said he's itching for a fight."

"Everyone has their triggers." She repeated. "Come with me, Annie. I want to change."

"Oh crap!" Quinn groaned. "I should change, too!"

"I'll call Laura and tell Marcy."

"I can tell Marcy."

"I'll tell Marcy." Mercedes gave her a look.

Quinn stared back before frowning and looking away. "I'm pregnant."

"She holds grudges."

Quinn sagged in defeat. "Fine. You tell her. I'll call Marc and ask him where he is."

"Yes, deal with Marc." Mercedes raised a hand. "Come on, guys."

Puck was surprised she meant him, too and followed after her and Anna.

"What was that about?" Finn wanted to know.

"What?" Quinn frowned as she picked at the remains of the spread. "I need to have Mrs. Gonzales clean in here."

"Sadie said everyone has triggers but it seems like your brothers got mad out of nowhere and now she doesn't want you to talk to Marcy because you're pregnant and she holds grudges?"

"No." She made a sound as she shook her head. "That's not why."

"Then why?" Rachel pressed.

"She doesn't like us fighting so she tries to intervene as quickly as possible. It doesn't always work as you could see with that little scene with Mikey and Mal."

Her blasé attitude surprised her spouses, who both raised brows.

Quinn finished picking at the room before going to the doorway. "Let's go. I'll call Mrs. Gonzales on the way up."

Finn and Rachel followed her out although Finn was the one to speak. "I don't know if I'll make it to Maddie's thing tomorrow. Burt is starting me off part time but all I know is I work tomorrow morning."

"That's okay." Quinn climbed the stairs as she dialed Mrs. Gonzales' cell phone number. "She never expected you to come anyway."

"Why not?" Rachel asked. "You're going."

"I'm her sister. Hello? Hey, Mrs. Gonzales. We're done in the back parlor. It needs cleaning. I started but didn't really do much. Okay. We won't be here for dinner but our spouses will be and they'll be eating in the kitchen. If our parents are home, they'll be in the dining room still. Okay. Bye."

"Why aren't we eating with your parents?" Finn questioned.

"No." Quinn said nothing further.

"No what?" He frowned.

"No." She shook her head.

"Quinn, that doesn't mean anything. You can't just say no to a question that's not yes or no."

Quinn made it up to the third floor and went down the hall.

"Are you ignoring us now?" He kept up with her.

"No." She opened their door and went straight to the closet.

Rachel shut the door behind them and followed him after Quinn. "We don't want to make you angrier with us-"

"I'm not angry with you." Quinn began looking through her clothes for something that said "work".

"You're not?" Finn was skeptical.

"No." Quinn pulled down two dresses and stood in front of her full length mirror, holding each up to her front.

"You were last night."

"I was."

"But you're not now?"

"No." She chose the paisley blue dress and laid the other in a chair to begin changing.

"Why?"

"Finn?!" Rachel facepalmed.

Finn flinched. "I don't want you to be mad at us but it's weird! You were really mad last night and now you're not? What gives?"

Quinn buttoned the bodice of her dress before smoothing down the sides and front. "Marcy wanted us to forgive you."

"What?" Both were confused.

Quinn turned to look at them before going to her vanity and finding jewelry to switch. "Marcy is better than me. I was fully prepared to stay angry for as long as I could but she didn't want tension in our marriages. So you're lucky."

"Wow." Finn breathed. "So she's not mad at us anymore?"

"No, she's still mad at you. She just doesn't want us mad at you. So I'm not going to bring it up again. Just know that she's not always that benevolent and I'm not so forgiving."

Finn didn't know what "benevolent" meant but figured it was something good. "What do we have to do to get back on her good side?"

"Just give her some space for a week or two then try." She began doing her makeup.

"Are we just not supposed to talk to her?" Rachel asked.

"You can say hi but don't push it." Quinn wrinkled her nose as she applied powder. "Mal either. Especially in his current mood."

"What about Ellen?"

"What about her?" Quinn widened her eyes to apply mascara.

"What about their marriage? Are they still angry with her?"

"Most likely." Quinn applied two coats to her lashes before doing her mouth. She smacked her lips together.

"She wants our marriages to be good but she's still angry with her wife?"

"Not wanting us angry with our spouses has nothing to do with being mad at hers." Quinn began brushing her hair. "Ellen will have to earn their forgiveness and trust."

Rachel looked at Finn. "Do we have yours?"

Quinn stood up and slipped off her shoes and forced her feet into new ones before picking up a lightweight sweater and purse. "Honestly? No. But I'm not going to let her know that."

"Shouldn't we talk about this?" Finn's brows drew together. "I mean she wants us happy or something so we should actually be. Don't you think?"

"I think that you're lucky that I was raised to preserve decorum." She barely looked at him. "I'm gone. Don't wait up."

Finn and Rachel watched her leave.

Rachel turned to Finn. "What are we going to do? She doesn't trust us, she doesn't forgive us. I feel like she doesn't even love us."

Finn wrapped his arms around her and buried her face in his chest. "I don't know how we're going to fix this but we will. Obviously they were brought up totally different than us and we just have to reach them. I promised to be there for both of you. And I will."

cell

Mercedes checked her phone and saw that for once, Quinn beat her getting ready. "Alright, I have to go."

"Nic said that you were running her a special bath." Puck brought up.

"I know. I'll be back at eight." She stood up and pulled on a lightweight sweater.

"I thought you said work didn't end until nine?"

"It doesn't but they're letting me off early so I can do this for Nic." She picked up her purse. "I want to talk to you two when I get back so after Nic's tuck in, I think we should have a sit down."

He grimaced. Having talks never meant anything good. This was the part where she said she wanted out. A dull aching started in his heart and he massaged his chest. "Alright."

"You should get going so you can get Nic from swimming." She grabbed her phone and left.

"This ain't good." He told Anna.

Anna worried her bottom lip. "I don't think so either. We wanted to do this and it seems like it's just been trouble all over the place."

"I meant what I said when I said I'd try. I'm not giving up. Are you with me?"

She nodded. "Yes."

"Okay. Come with me to get Nic. We'll come back and think of ways to get Mama back on our side."

cellish

Mercedes made it down to the garage and climbed in Rhonda. She put her seatbelt on. "I'm ready."

Mike nodded and pulled out. "Okay."

"Did you get your banana?"

"Yeah." He grunted.

"Mikey, stop getting so mad at Mal. I know he's the most annoying creature on the planet but he's our little brother. Our only little brother. If something happened to him, we'd be really sad."

"I know." He muttered. "He just gets on my nerves. I still love him."

"Good." She reached over Quinn to touch his leg. "We love you."

"We love you more than him." Quinn put in.

"Lucy!"

"You know you do!"

Mike grinned as Mercedes fumed.

Quinn leaned on Mercedes. "Love you, Sissy."

Mercedes side-eyed her. "When we get there, be nice to him!"

Mike and Quinn made noises.

"Guys!"

"Fine!"

"He's going through a lot." She sniffed.

"Like what?" Mike challenged.

"He has a new baby, three year old twins and a pregnant wife. He's stressed out."

Damn! that's good! He frowned. "Fine, I'll be nice but the first time he gets on my nerves, I'm giving him a swirly!"

Mercedes rolled her eyes, wishing for Laura.

Soon they were at the paper and he found a parking spot. They got out and went inside.

Larry was still there. "Hello! Mr. Stolm instructed me to take you directly to his office."

They followed him to the elevator and rode the lift with him up to the fifth floor. They got out and went through a maze of hallways until finding a corner office.

Laura, Marc, Marcy, Mal and Maddie were already there with Quad and Riley.

Larry knocked on the glass door and waited for Griff to bid them entrance before opening the door. "Here you are, Mr. Stolm."

"Thank you, Larry." Griff nodded.

Larry left, shutting the door behind him.

"I was just telling your siblings that we should conduct the interviews today." Griff steepled his hands.

"Here are employee records." Marc put his hand on the stack. "We should split up and do this. There's four offices on the top floor so we could share or-"

"I call Marcy!" Maddie flung herself on the sixteen year old.

Mercedes and Quinn clasped hands. "We're together!"

Mike held out his fist and Mal bumped it. "Called it!"

Marc frowned. "What?!"

Laura blinked, totally surprised. "I think I'm a little offended."

"More than a little!"

"Don't be like that, Marc." Mercedes and Quinn hugged him from behind.

"Be like that." Marcy picked at her nails.

Mercedes hit her and ignored her pointed look. "We love you very much, Marc!"

"I don't care!" Marc took Laura's hand. "I'll share with my wife!"

"None of my sisters want to share with me!" Laura sniffed.

"That's not true!" Mercedes and Maddie denied.

"Just half." Marcy ran her thumb over her nails.

"Those are good odds." Quinn agreed.

Mercedes glared at them. "Stop it!"

Laura stood and collected Quad's things. "That's alright. See if I do anything for you ever again."

"My life fell apart." Marcy pouted.

Quinn rubbed her fists over her eyes. "I'm in tears."

Mike and Mal tried to hide their laughter but they all still heard it.

"Let's go upstairs." Laura glared at all four. "We'll conduct the interviews up there."

"But wait." Marcy rubbed her hands over her thighs. "I can't do it without you. I mean, how will I make it up the stairs?"

Laura pressed her lips together and let out a muffled scream before storming out.

Mike and Mal fell out laughing as Quinn hugged Marcy from behind.

"Moppet!" Marc seethed.

"Your anchor just pulled up. Shouldn't you be going?" Marcy waved Quinn away.

Marc narrowed his eyes and opened his mouth but Mercedes pulled him up. "Just go see about Lady. Make sure she's alright."

He glared at his sister before leaving.

Mercedes turned on her. "How could you do that?!"

"You're her problem." Marcy pointed to Quinn before uncrossing her legs and standing up. "Come on, Mad. Let's get this over with."

Mal chuckled at Mercedes' face. "I guess I won't see you until later."

"That's how time works." Marcy made sure she had all of Riley's things.

He swatted her bottom.

She gave him a look before leaving, Maddie behind her.

"She makes me so mad!" Mercedes fumed.

"What if something happened to her?" Mike mocked in a high voice. "You'd be sad."

"Shut up!"

He laughed. "Come on, Mal. We gotta get up there before they take the best one."

Mal got up to follow him.

"Calm down, Mercy." Quinn put a hand on her sister's still tiny baby bump. "It's not good for Rae."

"We're not always like this." Mercedes peered at Griff desperately. "We know how to act in public."

"Mostly." Quinn corrected.

Griff was amused. He acted the same way with his own siblings. It was why he rarely saw them. Well that and he always worked. "It's fine. My assistant and I will bring up the files. It'll probably be easier to go by department. I'll call them up and you can just call my line to send up the next."

"Thank you." Mercedes took Quinn's hand and led her out. They went to the elevator and rode it up three floors.

When they made it, they saw the others had claimed their offices.

They went to the office on the left and opened the door. Marcy was sitting behind the desk with Riley's carrier on it. Maddie was in front of the desk with her feet on it.

"We picked this one." Maddie chirped.

"Why?" Quinn folded her arms.

"Because we did. Get out." Marcy swayed in her chair.

Quinn shook a fist. "Come on, Mercy! We don't need this!"

"Bye." Marcy wiggled her fingers.

Maddie giggled at the blonde's face as she stomped out. Mercedes glared at Marcy before following.

They went to the other office on the left and opened the door. Mike was sitting behind the desk while Mal was sitting on it. "Hey."

"Hey." They responded.

"What's so good in here that you picked it?" Quinn asked suspiciously.

"Get out." Mal echoed his wife.

"Mikey!" She stomped a foot.

Mike's lips twitched. "Aren't we getting started soon?"

"Humph!" She folded her arms. "I'll tell Marc on you!"

"Stop threatening us!"

"Come on, Mercy!" Quinn pulled her out.

"You big baby!" Mal yelled after her.

Quinn pulled Mercedes across the way to the next office. She opened the door and saw no one was inside. "They left this one for us? There must be something wrong with it."

"Lucy!" Mercedes smacked her lips.

Quinn began poking around, trying to find flaws.

"Lucy, calm down. I'm sure there's nothing wrong with this space."

"Humph!"

Mercedes rolled her eyes. "Let's go make sure Marc and Laura are alright. We hurt their feelings by not choosing them."

"Do you want to be stuck with Laura?"

"Lucy!" Mercedes opened the door.

Quinn stomped her feet loudly as she passed through. They traveled next door to the office sharing a wall with them and opened the door.

"Hey, guys." Marc turned from the windows.

"Are you okay?" Mercedes shut the door behind them.

"Why?" Laura narrowed her eyes at Quinn. "Because my own sisters act like they don't want to be around me?"

"Laura, that's not true." Mercedes swore. "We love you so much!"

"Yeah right." Laura sulked as she messed with Quad's blanket.

"Of course we do!" Mercedes went around the desk to wrap her short, chubby arms around her neck. "You're our mommy!"

"It would be nice if everyone felt that way but they don't."

Mercedes glared at Quinn, who rolled her eyes. "They do so!"

"Whatever." The green eyed girl traced shapes into the chair she was behind. "We don't hate you. All the time."

"Lucy!" Marc bit off.

Quinn made her crying face. Marc rarely yelled at her.

Laura decided to be the bigger person before Quinn cried. "Fine. I guess I can forgive you."

Quinn stuck her lip out.

A knock sounded at the door.

"Come in!" Marc bade entrance.

A nervous woman opened the door with a heavy stack of files in her arms. "Hello."

"You must be Stolm's assistant." Marc took the stack from her and offered his hand with a smile.

She tucked a piece of hair behind her ear and blushed. "Ye-yes."

"I'm Marc Jones. It's nice to meet you."

"It-it's nice to meet you, too Mr. Jones." She was completely flustered.

"I'm not that stuffy, am I?"

She tittered nervously. "No."

"We'll probably grow closer soon. No need for formality. Call me Marc."

"Okay." She ducked her head. "Marc."

"There we go. Thank you for these. We'll call Stolm and get started."

She nodded quickly. "Half of those files are for the other office."

"Okay. We'll see you soon-" He frowned slightly and cocked his head. "I didn't catch your name, sweetheart."

She gulped. "Lana."

"Lana." He smiled warmly. "That's a very beautiful name."

She giggled. "Th-thank you, Mr.- Marc!"

"Alright. You better get back to work before Stolm thinks I'm trying to steal you." He walked with her back to the door.

She turned with earnest urgency. "I could! I mean I could help you until you get your own assistant."

"That sounds good. I'll talk to Stolm about it."

She breathed out a giggle.

They just stood there until he leaned in and her eyes widened. "I need my hand back."

"Oh!" She blushed and dropped his hand. She pressed her own to her chest and tried to speak before giving up and running out.

He gave an amused chuckle. "Funny little thing." He turned to his sisters and found them giving him certain looks. "What?"

"I- I think we should get started!" Mercedes stood from her chair and ran to collect half the stack. "Come on, Lucy!"

Quinn crossed her arms. "I want to stay."

"Lucy!" She hissed.

Quinn smacked her lips and frowned before getting up and stomping to the doorway. She glared at Marc before Mercedes pulled her out and shut the door.

Marc was seriously confused. "What?"

Laura stared at him steadily.

"What?!"

"Call Mr. Stolm." She looked over at her son, dismissing his father.

"Babe,-"

She raised a hand. "Make the call."

"What'd I do?" He was lost.

She fussed with Quad's blanket.

He sighed and set the stack of files on the desk before taking out his phone to call the editor. This was going to be a long night…

cell

Mercedes checked her watch as the current interviewee left. "Are you sure you can do this alone?"

Quinn tossed aside the woman's file and grabbed a new one to peruse. "Yes, Mercy. Go home."

Mercedes was unsure and her face reflected that.

Quinn looked over and groaned. "Go take care of your kid!"

"Well, she's not really my kid. I love her to pieces though-"

"Mercy, just go before I call Mikey to carry you out."

Mercedes scrunched her nose at her twin. "Fine!"

Quinn rolled her eyes before paying attention to the file in her hands.

Mercedes gathered her things and kissed Quinn's cheek even though she was miffed at her. "I'll see you when you come home."

"Yeah, yeah." Quinn wasn't paying attention.

Mercedes slammed the door behind her and went across the large space to the Chang brothers' office. She knocked on the door and entered when they called out. "Hey."

"Hey." They returned. They were with an employee.

"Hello." She smiled at the man. "I'm leaving. I'll see you at home."

"Alright." Her brothers nodded.

Mike frowned. "How are you getting home?"

Mercedes blinked in shock. She hadn't thought of that. "I don't know."

"I'll take you."

"No, no. You're needed here. I'm ok-"

"Mercy." He gave her a look.

She sighed. "Fine. I'll say goodbye to the others and meet you at the lift."

He nodded.

"Bye, Mal."

Mal waved.

She shut the door and went along the way to Marcy's and Maddie's office. She knocked on the door then entered when they told her to.

"Hi, Mercy!" Maddie gushed.

"Hi, baby!" Mercedes went to hug her. "How are you doing?"

"Really good! Marcy even lets me ask questions!"

"What kind of questions do you ask?" Mercedes tapped her nose.

"It's different for everybody but I ask about their jobs and how it feels to work here."

"Those are great questions."

Maddie beamed.

"Well I'm about to go home-"

"How are you getting there?" Marcy spoke up as she flipped through pages in a file.

"Mikey's taking me."

"Good."

"Do you care about me getting home safely?" Mercedes teased.

"The twins are attached to you…"

Mercedes' face fell.

"Don't listen to her, Mercy." Maddie squeezed the mom-to-be. "She'd miss you, too."

Mercedes watched Marcy but the green eyed girl didn't react. She made a face at her stubborn sister and kissed her easygoing sister on her childishly plump cheek. "I'll see you at home, MadCap."

"Bye, Mercy."

Mercedes let her go and stuck her tongue out at Marcy before leaving quietly. She didn't know if Riley was awake or not.

She saw Mike at an elevator and hurried to tell Marc and Laura goodbye before meeting him. The oldest of them seemed to be at odds but the person they were interviewing seemed nervous on his own.

"You ready?" Mike straightened from his lean.

"Yes."

He pushed the button to go down (the only button actually since they were on the top floor). They waited in silence for the lift to come up then got on.

When the elevator got to the ground floor, they walked out, waving to the night watchmen as they left. They walked to the lot and climbed in Rhonda.

Mike drove towards their home. "Why are you leaving early again?"

"To give Nic a bath."

"Right. She's a good little girl."

"I know. She's so polite and grateful. I enjoy doing things for her."

"She's a special kid. She's lucky she's got you."

Mercedes smiled. "Thank you, Mikey. Just like I'm lucky I got you."

He made a face to keep from smiling. "You weren't bad to look after. Lucy and Marcy on the other hand…"

She giggled. "Stop talking about my babies!"

"They're so stressful!"

She grinned widely (because she agreed wholeheartedly). "Stop it!"

"Humph!" He pulled into their driveway and followed the curve to pull up to the front door.

She leaned over to kiss his cheek. "You need to shave."

He rubbed his jaw. "Maybe."

"No, definitely. I'll do it tomorrow. You don't want to scrape all of T's skin off, do you?"

He dropped his head and laughed soundlessly. "No, I do not."

"Good. We'll get up early in the morning." She opened the door and got out. When she went to shut it, she saw him lighting up a cigarette. "You just couldn't wait for me to leave!"

"I deserve this!" He took a long drag.

She wrinkled her face at him and shut the door before going to the front door of the house. She unlocked it and turned to wave him off before shutting and locking it.

She went to the staircase and went up the steps carefully. She was extremely tired and was determined to get a nap in before her siblings got home.

She made it to the third floor and went to her room. Puck and Anna were there. They were sitting on the settee at the end of the bed and the room sparkled.

She shut the door behind herself and walked forward. "What happened in here?"

"We just thought that you'd be tired after being at work and who wants to come home to a dirty room?" Anna explained.

Puck nodded nervously.

Mercedes chuckled lowly before looking around. Not everything was in their correct spots but she could overlook it for the effort. "That was incredibly sweet of you guys."

Puck breathed for the first time since she announced the need for a talk. "We thought about giving Nic her bath for you but she got-" He didn't know any other word but "bitchy" but he didn't want to call his little sister a bitch.

"Upset." Anna found the word. "She only wants you."

"Aww!" Mercedes smiled. "We can give her a bath together."

Puck sulked. "I doubt she wants to see me." He'd argued with her until she threw him out of her room.

"Come on, Noah." Mercedes set her things on a table and toed off her shoes.

Puck and Anna got up and followed her to the yellow room.

Mercedes opened the door. "Nic?"

"You're home!" Nic flew over like a tornado.

"Yes!" Mercedes caught her and wavered on her feet.

"Nic!" Puck steadied them.

Nic glared at him. "Why are you here?"

Mercedes ignored Puck's look at the eight year old. "Nic, stop that. He's your brother and you love him."

Nic buried her face in Mercedes' stomach. "Yes."

"Come on now. You sit on the bed while we run your water."

Nic went to hop into her bed.

The teens went to the bathroom and Mercedes collected everything they'd need. They ran warm water with scented bubble bath and a bath bomb that Mercedes thought the little girl would love.

They dropped in toys and a washcloth along with soap. Mercedes had two candles that she put on the sink and lit. She set her phone on the sink as well and played soothing music from Pandora.

Anna set a drying towel on the toilet lid. "This is really great."

"I love baths." Mercedes turned off the lights.

Puck wrinkled his nose. "What a waste. What does this stuff even do?"

Mercedes and Anna looked at him like he said he was a vampire and was going to suck their blood.

"What?"

"Do you not take baths?!" They whispered harshly.

"Ice baths after football." He shrugged.

"I'm running you a bath!" Mercedes vowed.

"Mama,-"

Anna stood behind Mercedes and waved her hands.

He stopped. "Sure. I'd like that."

Mercedes nodded. "Good." She went to the door and called for Nic.

Puck mouthed his gratitude to his blonde wife as the little girl came into the room.

She gasped as her eyes widened before letting out a scream.

Mercedes smiled. "How do you like it?"

Nic screamed again. "I love it!"

Mercedes giggled as Nic hugged her. "Good!"

"Thank you so much! I love you!"

"You're welcome, sweetie!"

Nic started crying.

"Don't cry, sweetie. It's okay." She rubbed her back.

"You're the best!" Nic sobbed.

Mercedes was tickled pink. "Okay. Get in the tub. We'll be waiting in the room."

Nic wiped her face as the others left.

Mercedes closed the bathroom door and went to sit on the bed with a groan. Her body was killing her.

"Wow." Puck dropped onto the bed. "She cried."

"It's so cute. She's so grateful." Mercedes smiled.

Anna sat at the bottom of the bed. "She's a really good kid."

"Right?! I wish all kids were like her!"

"She's too shy." Puck shook his head. "I worry about her making friends."

"Well she has Stacie so far. That kid is great. She's going to help Nic come out of her shell quick."

"Yeah, Sam's sister is out there. She danced with all the guys at Sam's party."

"She's such a flirt." Mercedes giggled. "She reminds me of Lucy. She was just the same way at eight."

"I can see that." Anna nodded.

"Yup!" Mercedes beamed. "She was a mess!"

"Seeing her get hit on before Rachel got to Sly's was amazing."

Mercedes giggled with her. "She's got an ego!"

"Just Quinn?"

Mercedes clapped gaily. "No! They get it honestly. You should see Marc sometimes!"

"Marc?!"

"Yes! He's been flirting since he was six!"

"Oh my goodness!"

"Yes! He taught Mikey and Mal how to flirt and seriously, we have tapes with them flirting with girls!"

"You do not!"

"Yes, we do!"

"Oh my-! We have to see that!"

"Totally! We have so many tapes. Pictures, too. We record everything. When we get old and grey, we'll have proper documentation."

Anna laughed.

Puck was just glad they were happy so he let them talk about the things the Fabanges had recorded until Nic left the bathroom. "You done?"

"Uh huh." The eight year old nodded.

"Go get dressed in your PJs while your brother cleans the bathroom." Mercedes commanded.

"What?!" Puck's head swerved.

"Go, Noah." Mercedes waved her hand.

He growled before getting up to clean the bathroom. When he came back, the girls were all in the bed, Nic under the covers. "What story do you want?"

Nic scrunched up her face as she thought. "The Frog Prince."

He grabbed the book and sat on the bed. He handed it to Anna, who began reading.

When she was finished, Nic requested that Mercedes and Puck sing to her. So they chose a rock song that Puck didn't even know Mercedes knew.

Nic climbed out of the bed when they finished. She ignored when they called her back and rifled in her closet for something. She found it and came back. She snuggled under the covers and held out a slip of paper. "I met someone today."

"You did?" Puck reached for it. "You didn't tell me that."

"Not you. Mama." She held it out of reach and gave it to Mercedes. "In my dance class. Her name is Stella. She wants you to call her mommy."

"Oh?" Mercedes took the paper and read the childish cursive. "I'll do it tomorrow."

Nic beamed.

"You go to sleep now. You have a full day tomorrow." Mercedes kissed her forehead.

"Okay." Nic yawned.

Puck and Anna kissed her forehead before turning out her lights. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight." Nic closed her eyes.

"Goodnight, sweetie." Mercedes shut the door behind them and led her spouses to their room. She opened the door and came inside.

Puck shut the door behind them and leaned against it. "Did she just call you "Mama"?"

Mercedes sat on the settee and laid back. "Yeah. She asked if she could call me that and I told her to ask Bubbie."

Puck's brows lifted. "So that's why she wanted me to call Bubbie. And why she disappeared with my phone."

Mercedes gave a strange chuckle.

"I'm guessing Bubbie said yes."

"I guess so." She shrugged before staring at him intently.

"What?" He felt on trial.

"Come sit here." She patted the space next to her. "Annie, you, too."

Anna sat next to her as she moved and Puck took her spot. Both stared at their wife in fearful apprehension.

"We need to talk." Mercedes paced in front of them.

"You want to get divorced, don't you?" Puck bit the bullet.

"What?!" She stilled.

"It's because we've been a bad wife and husband." Anna said sadly.

Mercedes blinked.

"We keep doing things to stress you out." Puck lifted a shoulder.

She chewed on her lip with wide eyes before blinking. "I don't want a divorce."

"You don't?!" Both were shocked.

"No."

"But we get on your nerves and act like we don't know what privacy is." Puck protested.

Anna swatted him. "Don't remind her!"

Mercedes giggled. "Guys, I'm just trying to tell you I forgive you."

"You forgive us?" Puck asked dumbly.

"Yes. For last night? Marcy wants us to have a solid marriage so she wants Mikey, Lucy and I to forgive you guys."

"She cares about our marriages?" Anna was dumbfounded.

"I think it's because she cares about us and doesn't want us to have dysfunctional relationships. She's still mad at you but she doesn't want us to be."

"Whoa!" Puck was blown away.

"That's really nice." Anna was still in shock.

"Marcy can be nice." Mercedes lifted a shoulder. "That's all I wanted to tell you."

"Okay." Puck was determined to get back on Marcy's good side. She was pretty awesome and this just made her a hero in his book.

"But if you ever do anything like that again, I'll look the other way while she makes me a widow."

He gulped. "Got it."

She looked at her watch. "I have an hour before they get home. Want to do something?"

"Like what?" Anna asked.

"Want to eat ice cream in bed and watch a movie?"

"What movie?" Puck knew better than to just agree.

"How about Imitation of Life? The original."

"What's that?" Both were confused.

Mercedes beamed.

cell

Mercedes entered the den. "Have you guys been upstairs yet?"

"Nope." Her siblings answered.

"What about Quad and Rye?"

"Rye's asleep." Marcy pulled her shoes off.

"Quad, too." Laura plopped very unladylike onto a sofa.

"Maybe we can just do this tomorrow?" Mercedes suggested.

"Nope." Marcy dropped, too. "We are getting this over with."

"So what exactly are we going over tonight then?"

"Interviews for new staff and combining our notes about who to keep." Marc began listing.

"Decorating." Laura added.

"Shopping for the decorating." Quinn went on.

"Creating business PR." Mike tossed in.

"New photos." Mal nodded.

"Rebuilding HR and the entire company policy." Marcy rubbed her eyes.

"And meeting everyone." Maddie finished.

That was a laundry list. Mercedes blew out a breath. "We might as well get started."