One of the last of the really long chapters. Next week's is definitely the longest. If you want, you can listen to Lil Nas X's Bring U Down. I really love that little dude and what he's about.

Enjoy and review!

NJPNJPNJP

Mercedes turned off her alarm clock with a yawn and pushed back the covers. She slipped out of bed and went to relieve herself before washing her face and brushing her teeth.

She started her shower and grabbed a shower cap to put on before going to grab her phone. She came back and played an energizing playlist then hopped in the shower.

She sang and danced as she washed her body. When she finished, she grabbed her towel and wiped her face before wrapping it around her body.

She grabbed her phone and left the bathroom to wake up Anna. She shook her shoulder gently. Anna blinked awake and moaned. "You have to wake up, honeycakes. It's morning."

Anna pushed her hair out of her face. "Morning?"

"Yeah. You want breakfast, don't you?"

"Breakfast?" Puck mumbled.

Mercedes chuckled. He was all about food. Just like Mike… whom she'd promised to shave. "Go get ready for the day."

Anna sat up uneasily. "Okay."

Mercedes kissed her cheek and went to the closet. She picked out her clothes the night before so she simply slathered on lotion and powder before slipping into her underwear. She spritzed on her favorite perfume before pulling on her robe.

She left the closet and her room to go to the black room. She barged in and saw Tina was just waking up. "Hey, T."

Tina blinked heavily. "Mercy?"

"Good morning. Where's Mikey?"

Tina pointed. "Bathroom."

Mercedes crossed to the restroom and barged in as Tina tried to warn her. "Mikey!"

Mike's eyes shifted before he spit out a mouthful of toothpaste. "What?"

"Are you ready for me to shave you?"

He looked at the shower. "Not really."

"Yes. Let me get a chair. You get your kit together and wash your mouth out."

"Mercy,-!" He called out as she disappeared from view. "Mercy!"

Tina watched as Mercedes pushed and pulled a chair from their sitting area before going for a different (lighter) chair. The fifteen year old was amused.

Mercedes finally brought the chair into the bathroom and wiped away sweat from her exertion. "Sit!"

Mike looked at her. "Mercy, we don't have to do this-"

"I promised and I keep my promises."

"It wasn't a real promise." He protested.

"Sit!" She ordered with a point.

His head rolled along with his eyes before he threw himself into the chair. He sighed heavily. "Come on. Let's get this over with."

"I'm the one doing all the work." She opened his kit and began preparing.

Tina wandered into the bathroom so she could see. "You know how to give a shave?"

"Yes." Mercedes prepared the lather. "We learned when we were little."

"That's cool." Tina watched as she warmed the lather then applied it to Mike's face and neck.

Mercedes shrugged as she made sure she hadn't missed a spot.

Tina sat on the toilet lid and watched avidly as Mercedes rinsed her hands then sharpened a straight edged razor. Her eyes widened in fear and she pulled in a great gulp.

Mercedes started on Mike's right side and carefully in one smooth stroke slid the razor over his cheek. She rinsed the razor in a pool of warm water in the sink before repeating her steps.

Soon she was done and wiped his face with a towel before slapping aftershave on him. He lifted a brow at her. "That was a little hard, don't you think?"

Mercedes beamed. "I don't know what you're talking about." She washed her hands. "I need to finish getting dressed. I'll see you downstairs."

"See ya." He stood up and examined his face in the mirror as she left.

Tina stood up and went up to him. She turned him and touched his face in awe. "Wow! She's so good!"

"Yeah, she has a steady hand." He rubbed his jaw before dropping a kiss on her mouth. "I gotta shower. Want to join me?"

She blushed and swatted him. "Oh, Mike!"

"I'm serious!"

cell

"We're still eating in the kitchen?" Finn was confused as he and his wives entered the large space.

"Yes." Quinn answered. She went to the fridge and grabbed a bag of cherries. She needed a pick-me-up for the day.

"Okay." He sat down.

"Why are you feeding the twins?" Felicity asked Mal.

"Because they're already dressed and if they get dirty, Marce's gonna erupt like Pompeii." Mal frowned as he spooned oatmeal into his eldest daughter's mouth.

"Where is she?" Puck wanted to know with a yawn.

"I don't know." Mal fed Mally a bit of eggs.

"I'm right here." Marcy walked in with Yuria. She sat on Mally's other side and adjusted Riley in her arms.

"Hello." Mercedes smiled at Yuria. "We haven't formally met. I'm Mercy."

"Yuri? this is my sister, Mercy, her husband, Puck and wife, Anna and his sister, Nic. This is my sister, Quinn and her husband, Finn and wife, Rachel. This is my brother, Mike and his wife, Tina. My wife, Ellen and our husband, Mal. These are our twins, Mally and Mickey. And this is our friend, Felicity." Marcy introduced. "Guys, this is Yuria Parker."

"Hello!" They waved.

"Hello." Yuria nodded.

Marc, Laura and Maddie walked in with Quad. "Good morning!"

"Morning!" Everyone spoke.

"This is my oldest sister, Laura and my oldest brother, Marc and their son, Quad. Maddie is my younger sister." Marcy said.

"Hello." Yuria nodded.

"Hi!" Maddie waved as she sat at the table.

"How do you do?" Laura switched Quad to her other shoulder so she could shake Yuria's hand.

"I'm well and yourself?" Yuria said politely.

"Oh my goodness, you have manners!" Laura was surprised.

Yuria looked at Marcy, who lifted a shoulder. "I do."

"Good. She needs good friends."

"I have good friends!" Marcy protested.

"You associate with thugs and hooligans!" Laura bit off.

Marcy snapped her teeth at her.

Marc chuckled. "How you doin, Yuria? I'm Marc."

Yuria shook his hand.

Karou walked in wearing a floor length gown and high heels. She posed against a wall. "Good morning!"

"Good hell!" Marcy rolled her eyes.

Quinn laughed. "What are you doing, Rou?"

"What are you wearing?!" Maddie giggled.

"Oh, Rou." Mercedes sighed.

Marc, Mike and Mal fell out laughing.

"Karou…" Laura wasn't sure she had the energy for her cousin this morning.

"I'm just here for breakfast." Karou sashayed to the seat next to Yuria and sat elegantly.

"What are you wearing?" Maddie repeated.

"Oh, this old thing?"

Marcy gave her a heavy lidded look. "You're really doing this?"

"Doing what?" Karou widened her eyes in faux innocence. "All I'm doing is sharing a meal with my family."

"Okay." Marcy licked her lips slowly. "You do this… alone. I'm not in this foolishness."

"Come on, Cuz-"

"Nope. You're on your own."

Karou pouted.

Mal laughed. "Hey, Rou? There's something hanging out of the back of your dress."

Karou sat straight up and reached behind herself and felt the tag. She snatched it off and threw it over her shoulder before leaning on her fist with a dazzling smile.

"I literally cannot eat around her." Marcy was exhausted already. "Can we go?"

"It's not time yet." Mercedes checked her phone.

"I will ride around until it is." She stood.

"You suck, Twin." Karou said in Japanese.

"And you're a slut." Marcy replied.

Karou's mouth fell open. "Just because you got married doesn't mean we're not one in the same!"

"I'm not like you. I don't have the stench of desperation wafting off me." Marcy walked out.

Karou blushed and stewed.

"She didn't mean that." Mercedes soothed.

"I think she did." Quinn volleyed.

Mercedes side-eyed her. "Stop it!"

Mal stood. "She'll leave us. It's been hilarious, Rou. I'm rooting for you to fall flat on your face."

"Shut up, Mal!" Karou yelled.

He grinned and pulled the twins up. "Let's find Mommy before she throws up her dinner from last night because Cousin Karou is a man-eater."

"Don't tell them that, Mal!" Laura scolded.

"And that's the man-put-you-to-sleep-er." His voice faded as they walked out.

Mike fell out laughing.

"Shut up, Michael!" Laura steamed.

"Ooh!" Quinn grinned. "He found out your alter ego. Now all the superheroes will know who you are."

"Shut up, Lucy!"

Mike high-fived Quinn.

"Don't make Mommy mad!" Maddie argued.

"She's already mad." He snorted.

"Quit it, Mikey!" Mercedes wagged a finger.

All four began arguing before Marc put two fingers in his mouth and whistled. "Hey! Cool it! We need to eat so we can go!"

"Fine!" The four sulked.

Laura eyed him. He didn't get it until her eyes widened and she gave him a certain look. "Oh! And Laura doesn't put men to sleep! I stay wide awake!"

Laura facepalmed as Mike, Quinn and Karou snickered.

"So you guys are done arguing?" Finn asked. The others were just as confused as him by their Japanese argument.

"Yes." Quinn flipped her hair. "We're done."

"We weren't arguing." Laura denied.

"Liar." Karou muttered.

"Go back to badly flirting." Laura leveled a look on her.

Karou lifted her chin. "I'm excellent at flirting."

"Sure." Quinn snorted.

Karou told her something in Swedish that had her bristling.

"Karou!" Laura and Mercedes gasped.

"Cuz." Marc gave her a disappointed headshake.

Mike's lips twisted as he tried to not laugh. "That's cold, Rou."

"What does that mean?" Maddie wanted to know.

"Nothing!" Laura shot up and pulled her up. "Let's go!"

"But I'm not done eating."

"We'll get something on the way. Come on!"

Maddie sighed and grumbled. "I never get to know anything." She stood up.

Marc chugged his coffee and stood. "We'll see you guys there."

"Bye." Mike, Mercedes and Quinn waved.

"Rou, you are so wrong!" Mercedes spat as soon as they were gone. She spoke in Spanish.

Karou rolled her eyes before looking at Yuria. "Would you care to watch a movie?"

Yuria blinked. She knew four languages but Japanese, Swedish and Spanish were not among them. "Um… Marceline Anne really wanted me to stay upstairs-"

"That's okay. I'll be with you. She'll understand."

Yuria thought it over. "Okay. I would like that."

Karou smiled and stood up. "Let's go."

Yuria stood as well and followed her out.

"I'm so getting her back." Quinn vowed.

"Lucy, don't make this bigger." Mercedes pleaded.

"Nope! She brought this on herself!"

"You're pregnant, Lucy." Mike sighed.

"And I'm not to be trifled with!"

"Okay, let's go. You need a drive to cool your head."

"No! I'm fine!"

Mercedes began whispering sweet words in French to her.

"Okay, I'll go. But I've barely eaten so I want food."

"I can do that." Mike kissed Tina's head before getting up. "See you guys later."

"Mikey, can you drop Nic off at horseback riding?" Mercedes finished her juice.

"Sure. You have your stuff?"

Nic nodded.

"Come on."

Nic hugged Puck and Anna and followed the trio out.

"Okay, seriously; what the hell was that?" Puck demanded.

"I have no idea." Tina looked back at the doorway.

"I can't think about this stuff right now." Finn had a headache. "I gotta get ready for work."

"Me too." Puck stood. Unlike the siblings, he'd eaten his fill.

Finn stood up, too and both kissed their remaining wives before going upstairs.

"I have to get ready, too." Felicity rose. "I'm spending the day with Ross and his mom."

"Bye." The rest of the girls waved.

"Bye." She left to go upstairs.

Ellen sighed and rested her elbows on the table and her face on her fists.

"What's wrong, Ellen?" Tina asked.

"Mike kissed you goodbye. Mal and Marcy didn't even say goodbye."

"Quinn didn't kiss me goodbye or say it either." Rachel pouted.

"Neither did Mercy." Anna said sadly.

"I'm sorry, guys." Tina felt for them. "Maybe they were just stressed out about wherever they have to be?"

"Mike wasn't." Ellen sulked.

"I don't know what to say to that. I just know that he says he forgives me for the other night and I'm trying to stay on his good side."

"MercyCat says she forgives us, too." Anna put in.

Rachel nodded. "Quinn said Marcy wanted her to."

Ellen sniffled. "She hasn't said she forgives me!"

Tina switched chairs and wrapped her arms around her as she cried.

cell

"Are you guys ready?" Laura adjusted Quad's blanket so it was over his face. She wasn't taking his car-seat, opting instead to hold him in her arms.

"Yes." Her siblings chimed.

"Good. Let's go." She walked forward and around to the ramp leading into the courthouse. It was the closest entrance.

They went inside and went to the lifts. Their parents had told them which courtroom so they more or less knew where they were going.

After a few turnarounds, they made it to the correct room and slipped inside. They saw their parents on the right side and went to sit with them.

"At least you weren't completely late." Michael hissed.

Mike's head dropped in exasperation. They knew the saying; early is on time and on time is late. "We're sorry, Dad. We got lost."

"You should have made plans to come earlier so you could find your way." Marcus gave no quarter.

"Seeing as we're exactly on time, I think we accomplished that task well." Marcy bit off.

Marcus turned around to stare at her but she raised her brows carelessly yet still recklessly. He narrowed his eyes.

"All rise for the judge!" A bailiff called out.

Everyone in the courtroom rose as the judge made it to his seat. He waved them down.

"You may be seated."

The judge adjusted himself in his chair and slid a pair of glasses onto his nose. "What do we have here?"

"A custody battle, Your Honor." The bailiff handed him a folder.

He read over the details quickly before shutting it and laying it on his desk. "Let's get this over with. A four year old is on the line."

And so the case began. Dana's lawyer outlined what was going on and threw a lot of shade at Russell. Russell's lawyer painted Dana in a bad light and pleaded that a child should know her father.

When the judge became weary of their by-play, he made them shut up and called Susan Garland to the stand. Russell's lawyer asked her about her opinion.

She stated quite clearly that she thought Lisa should be with her father because she had family she had no idea about and deserved to get to know.

Dana's lawyer asked her about Russell and his character. She said she didn't know much about the man but he was just a doctor and business man. He made a mistake and was trying to do the right thing and be there for his child.

The judge called for a recess and the courtroom became abuzz with chatter.

"Hold her." Marcy held out Riley. "I have to piss like a mad Russian."

"Marcy." Laura sighed. "Just say you have to use the restroom."

"Nope." Marcy handed Riley to her father and set her bags down. When she went to slide out of the pew, Mickey grabbed her. She looked down. "What?"

"I gotta potty, Mommy." The little girl said.

"Come on." Marcy grabbed her hand and helped her slide to her feet. They left.

"Darn it!" Laura frowned.

"What's wrong?" Marc asked.

"I have to go, too." She handed him their son. "Here."

Marc put away his phone and took the baby.

Laura raced out and to the bathroom. She heard Marcy and Mickey but kept silent as she used the bathroom. They finished at roughly the same time and went to wash.

"You had to go?" Marcy washed her hands first before wetting paper towels to wipe her face and hair.

"Yes." Laura did the same. "Just came over me all of a sudden."

Marcy cleaned herself before cleaning Mickey.

Laura watched her. "What do you think?"

"About?"

"All of this."

"The trial?" Marcy leaned against the long counter of the sink. "I think that this can go really wrong for everyone involved."

"I understand."

The door opened and they turned to watch Maddie come in. "What's up, Half Pint?"

"You okay, Maddie?" Laura put her arm around the eleven year old's shoulders.

Maddie nodded but she clearly wasn't. "I don't know how to feel."

"There's no wrong way to feel."

"I want Lisa but I don't want her mommy to feel sad."

"More than likely, we won't get her." Marcy said.

"Marcy!" Laura gave her a look.

"But I want her." Maddie's bottom lip trembled.

"I know, Glowworm." Marcy bent slightly to look her in the eye. "I meant that although we may not get her that doesn't mean we can't visit her. Dana knows us now and has to know we're not like Uncle Russell. She'll probably let us visit Lisa whenever we can."

"Really?" Maddie wanted to believe that so badly.

"Really." Laura hugged her to her side. "Marcy's right. It'll be better for Lisa to stay with her mommy and we visit her. But we can't tell our parents."

Maddie nodded before all three looked at Mickey, who was looking up at them with wide eyes.

"Mickey." Marcy trapped her between her arms and stared at her seriously. "You cannot tell your Grams and Gramps' about us visiting Tia Lisa. Got it?"

Mickey nodded solemnly.

"You have to say the words, make the promise. Repeat after me; I-"

"I-"

"Will not-"

"Will not-"

"Under any circumstances-"

"Under any circestampses-"

"Tell anyone-"

"Tell anyone-"

"About Tia Lisa-"

"About Tia Lisa-"

"Ever-"

"Ever-"

"No matter who it is."

"No matter who it is."

"Good." Marcy nodded.

"Good." Mickey nodded.

"You can stop repeating now."

"You can stop-"

"Mickey!"

Mickey pouted. "Sorry, Mommy."

Marcy picked her up off the counter and set her on her feet. "Let's just go back. Did you have to pee, Mad?"

"No." Maddie took Mickey's hand. "I just wanted to see you guys."

Laura smiled and ran a hand over the Asian girl's hair. "We liked seeing you."

Marcy made an incredulous look as she opened the door with a paper towel.

"Shut up, Marcy!"

Marcy stuck her tongue out and blew.

"Stop it, Mommy. Stop it, Daddy." Maddie gave them annoyed looks as she led them back to the courtroom.

Laura adjusted her dress and huffed. "I'm too old to be dealing with you, Marcy."

"You're too old to be doing much of anything." Marcy walked ahead of her as she stopped in pure shock then white hot rage.

"Mommy!" Maddie snapped.

Laura bottled her anger and caught up to them as they made it to the courtroom. She side-eyed Marcy, whose face was blank. "I won't forget this, Moppet."

"An elephant never forgets…" She picked Mickey up and slid into her pew.

Laura let Maddie push her to her own pew as she gave her troublesome sister a terrible look.

"What's with you?" Marc asked as he played with their son- against his will.

"Your sister just called me fat and old." She bit off between clenched teeth.

"You just sat down. When'd Lucy call you that?"

"Not Lucy!" She hissed. "Marcy!"

Marc nodded. "I believe it."

"I'm so getting her." Laura took their baby back and bounced with him gently.

"Don't go getting upset. That's all she wants."

She leaned her head against him. "I'm not old and fat, am I?"

"Of course not. You're young and hot."

She smiled. "I love you."

"Love you, too." He wrapped an arm around her. "Oh hey! The judge is coming back."

"All rise!" The bailiff called.

Everyone in the courtroom stood until the judge waved them down. "Okay, I've come to a decision regarding Lisa Cavanaugh. After all of the evidence presented here today and reviewing the case in my chambers along with Susan Garland's recommendations, I hereby grant Russell Fabray full custody of his four year old daughter until this case can be reexamined at a later date."

"No!" Dana cried. Her lawyer tried to console her.

The judge banged his gavel. "A man deserves the right to his child. Your daughter deserves to know her father and family members. You will have tonight and tomorrow to pack her things. The state will collect her and bring her to Dr. Fabray's home at nine o'clock Saturday morning. Court adjourned."

Dana's lawyer helped his client out of the room as the judge left.

Russell came back to his family with his lawyer, whom he shook hands with. He thanked her and she left with a smile. "Now that's what I call a success!"

"Oh my goodness." Mercedes was the first one to speak and her voice was a whisper.

"Oh my goodness." Quinn repeated.

"Oh my goodness." Laura blinked.

"Oh my goodness." Maddie's mouth was wide.

"Oh my goodness!" Marc, Mike and Mal exclaimed together.

"What a fucking idiot." Marcy deviated from the script.

"Hey!" Russell barked.

"He gave you custody?! You?! You can't even care about anyone but yourself!"

"I can so!" He straightened his suit tie. "I'm an amazing father!"

His kids looked at him.

"I'm an amazing father!" He took Judy's arm and led her out.

Marcus, Michael, Rose and Jeanette followed behind.

"But you said-" Maddie started.

"I didn't know the judge would be a stark raving lunatic." Marcy bit off.

"I can't believe it." Quinn murmured. "We have her. We really have her."

"Wait." Marc put up a hand. "We'll talk about this at the office. Are we changing or going in like this?"

Marcy pressed the heel of her hand to her eyes. "I need to change. I want to get started on painting and stuff."

"Are we painting?" He asked his wife.

"Yes. But we'll have to have a nanny there so Quad doesn't get sick." Laura said.

"Okay, let's go."

cell

Ellen looked over, excited that someone was coming into the room. "You're home!"

"For fifteen minutes at least." Mal told her. He looked at Marcy. "Want me to change Rye? She needs a diaper change anyway."

Marcy handed him the baby. "I'll tell Linda to watch the twins. Get back here!" The twins came back. "You are not to get those clothes dirty! Go upstairs."

The two pouted before trudging out.

"It's kinda hot out so put her in a sundress." Marcy bent slightly to pull off her shoes then tossed them by the bed before walking out.

Mal put Riley in her bassinet and went to the closet to find her new clothes. He tossed his jacket into a chair along with his tie and went through the few clothes Riley actually had. He found something and turned around and nearly had a heart-attack. "Elle?!"

Ellen waited for him to catch his breath. "Where are you going?"

"Work." He walked around her and to the room. He went to Riley and took off her clothes before changing her diaper. Then he put on her new pink and green sundress along with frilly pink socks.

"Will you still pick me up for Maddie's show?" Ellen lurked behind him.

"Uh… yeah." He made sure Riley was okay as he unbuttoned his shirt. He began walking back to the closet.

Ellen was on his heels. "What kind of show is it?"

"A horse show." He stripped off the shirt and pulled the undershirt from his pants to strip that off, too.

She just looked at him for a moment, marveling over his body before she remembered she was starved for attention. "What do you do in a horse show?"

"All kinds of things." He shucked his pants and toed off his shoes. "Look, I'd love to explain but I really have to get changed-"

Marcy blew in and threw the shoes she'd thrown by the bed into a collection of shoes. "I want to hurry up and get out of here before the twins notice we're gone."

"Why?" Ellen asked.

"They're doing that not-wanting-to-leave-us thing again, aren't they?" Mal pulled up a pair of jeans.

Marcy unbuttoned her wide legged pants and pushed them off her shapely legs before throwing them in a chair. "Yep."

He buttoned his jeans and began looking through racks for a shirt he wouldn't mind getting paint on. "I wish we could take them with us."

"It's bad enough we have to take the little one." Marcy didn't even unbutton her shirt. She just ripped it over her head before finding a pair of overalls and big shirt. She jumped in her clothes.

"Stop it. She needs us." Mal found a shirt and pulled it on before going for new socks and shoes.

Marcy changed her socks and pulled on Chuck Taylors that already had paint on them. She grabbed a sweatshirt. "Yeah, whatever. Do we need to pack anything else for her or can we go?"

"I used stuff we have here so she should still have stuff packed in her diaper bag." He finished lacing up his shoes and grabbed a jacket. "I'm ready."

"I bet we're before all those slowpokes." She grinned as she hooked a thumb at the door.

"Of course." He grinned back. "Lucy alone takes forever."

"And a day." She led them out of the closet and went to pick up Riley, who was asleep.

"When are you guys coming back?" Ellen asked, already missing them.

Marcy drummed her fingers on Riley's back in a vain pseudo search for her phone. "I don't know what time it is but I don't know. Like one? If you're going, be ready."

"Okay, I will!" Ellen tried to rush through talking as they swept out. "What do I wear?"

They already disappeared down the hall.

She deflated.

Doors opened and Marc, Laura and Mike exited. Mike banged on the red, purple and blue doors.

"We'll see you there, Mike." Marc said as he ushered his wife and quiet son down the hall. "Tell Carlotta we'll be waiting for her."

"Got it." Mike knocked again.

The trio left as the red door opened. "I'm coming! I have to get my stuff! Marcy said to bring it so I can get changed on site."

"Good idea." Mike knocked on the other two doors again. Both opened- by the husbands. "Come on! Where are they?!"

"I'm coming!" Mercedes' voice showed up before she did. "I'm here, I'm here, I'm here!"

Mike handed her his keys. "Take Maddie downstairs. Do not try to get behind the wheel of my baby."

Mercedes stuck her tongue out and took the keys as the door to the attic opened. "Come on, MadCap!"

The two went down the hall and downstairs as Carlotta (not her real name) closed the door behind herself.

Mike hooked a thumb to the stairs. He spoke in Swedish to the woman.

She nodded and followed Mercedes and Maddie.

Mike barged into the blue room and to the closet. "Hey!"

Quinn screamed. "No!"

"Come on here! We're going to be the last ones there! Again!"

She wrapped her arms around a stack of clothes. "No! You can't make me!"

"I'm not doing this, Lucy! Either come on or I'll call Marcy to get you! And if she's already gone, she'll be über pissed to come back and get you!"

She started crying.

"No!" He covered his eyes and turned around. "That's not going to work on me!"

"But-! But-!"

"I'm dialing!" He held his phone up.

"Fine!" She pulled on clothes and tied her hair back before slipping into shoes. She grabbed her bag and threw it into his stomach as she walked past him.

He bent over and wheezed but followed her out.

She blew kisses at Finn and Rachel before haughtily going down the hall and stairs. Mike waved to the others and hobbled after her.

"Well that hurt." Puck muttered.

"Did they tell you where they were?" Ellen asked.

"No." Puck, Finn and Rachel shook their heads.

"Me either."

"She just came in, stripped, threw on clothes and blew right the fuck out." Puck's lips twisted.

"Mike, too." Tina appeared.

Anna came behind Puck. "She did say she was in a hurry."

"So did Marcy." Ellen bit her lip before looking at Finn. "I thought you went to work?"

"I did but apparently some big order came in and on top of peoples' own workload, there was nobody to teach me anything so Burt wants me to come in tomorrow." Finn shrugged.

"Your job got canceled, too?" Tina asked Puck.

Who shook his head. "Nah. It was quick. She just wanted me to correct the balance of her pool."

Anna poked his back. "Isn't it time for you to get Nic?"

"Yeah, I should get going." He turned around. "I gotta get my keys and stuff."

She moved so he could enter the room.

"Want to go with me, Finn?!" He yelled so Finn could hear him.

"Sure! I can't find anything I want to watch on TV!" Finn yelled back.

Puck came back. "That sucks."

"I know. I think I'm just not looking hard enough but I don't wanna work."

"You ready?"

"Yeah." Finn lifted his hands.

"Let's go." Both kissed their wives and left.

"And now they're gone." Rachel sulked.

"This is getting ridiculous." Tina was put out. "Is this what summer is going to be like? Us trapped up here while they get to go outside? It's not fair!"

"Marcy did say she would take me to my parents'." Ellen played with her hands. "But I feel like she's trying to get rid of me."

"I have nowhere to go." Anna said quietly. "I'm stuck here until they remember me."

"That can't be true." Tina stuck her lip out.

"I can't drive, I've never ridden a bus, I don't have any money and I don't know this neighborhood. I'm from the Adjacent line. I'm literally stuck here."

"I think I'm in the same boat." Tina realized. "I can't drive, I've rarely been on a bus, I don't have any money and I know nothing of this neighborhood. I'm from central Lima."

"Me too." Rachel went off. "We're more near the line than central but I know nothing of the Adjacent and I've never ridden a bus in my life. I don't know how to drive and I don't have any money."

"We just moved here so I don't know anything about Lima, neighborhoods or not." Ellen shrugged. "I have no money, no transportation and no clue what I'm even doing in this situation."

The four huddled up together and tried to console each other. "What are we going to do?"

cell

"Hey?" Marc knocked on the doorframe. Marcy and Maddie looked over. "We're taking a break. Come out here."

"A collective break? Why?" Marcy continued to hold her paintbrush.

"Stop being so damn suspicious." He left.

"Come on, Daddy." Maddie set aside her paintbrush and climbed to her feet.

Marcy set aside her own and got up with difficulty. "This is bull-"

"Stop it." Maddie grabbed her hand and tugged her out.

The others sat in a circle on a canvas cloth on the floor. The duo joined them.

Laura passed out lemonade. "How far along are we coming?"

"Fine." Mike and Mal muttered.

"You can't give anything more than that?!"

"Nope." Mike took a pull.

She glared at him before looking at Mercedes and Quinn. "What about you two?"

"We sort of had a fight." Mercedes admitted sheepishly.

"You two had a fight?" Marc was surprised.

"Not a "fight" fight. We-"

"Had a paint fight?" Mal pulled on her pigtail. It had paint all over it.

She swatted him away. "So what?!"

"We're supposed to be working." Laura chided. "We're bosses at a real business and if we're trying to put a brand new issue out next Wednesday, we need to be ready. Not playing around."

"Sorry, Laura." Mercedes mumbled, chastised.

"It's alright, honey. Just think more like a boss."

"I will."

"How far along are you two?" Laura turned to Marcy and Maddie.

"We'd be further along if we didn't have to stop for this nonsense." Marcy stated baldly.

"We need to keep in touch with each other." Laura narrowed her eyes. "Besides, we need to talk about this morning-"

"What's to talk about?" Marcy stood and walked backwards to her office. "We wanted her and now we got her. An innocent child is being ripped from her mother and thrown into the hell that is our life. Go us."

They watched as she turned around and stalked into the office and slammed the door.

Mal sighed and got up. He brought both of their lemonades. "Give us five minutes."

"Ew!" Quinn wrinkled her nose. "Mal!"

He gave her a short look. "To talk! I can't even do anything! She had a baby last week, you sex crazed maniac!"

"Me?!"

Mike put a hand on her shoulder as she stewed and Mal went to the office. "Stop getting worked up, Lucy. You're nine months pregnant."

"We should have an open dialogue about how we feel about this Lisa situation." Laura said. "I feel like that judge was an idiot."

"She's going to go through what we go through?" Maddie looked up at her worriedly.

"Don't worry, little one." Marc told her. "Haven't I always protected you?"

"Uh huh."

"Don't I protect you now?"

"Uh huh."

"Won't I always protect you?"

"Yeah."

"I'll protect her, too. I'll protect all of you. Got it?" He made eye contact with each of his siblings.

They nodded solemnly.

"We should talk about this more but I think Marcy was right. We've a limited amount of time until this new issue goes out and we gotta get this done. We can talk about this at home."

"Okay." They all got up and went to their separate offices.

Mercedes closed the door after herself and Quinn. "I feel like Marcy was right. We wanted this to happen and it did."

Quinn played with her brush. "Can we really feel guilty when that judge let Daddy take Lisa from Dana? I mean, how could he do that? Who thinks Daddy is a good father? Besides Daddy?"

"I don't know." Mercedes brushed her flyaway hair back. "I wasn't Judge Owens' biggest fan when we went away but I understood that he was a good judge. He had morals. The guy today? it seemed like he lost his own children and wanted to punish all mothers."

"I wonder if there's a way we could get another judge to review the case?" Quinn perked up.

"How? And without Uncle Russell finding out?"

"Oh yeah." Quinn chewed on her bottom lip. "I don't know. We have to think of something."

Mercedes chewed on her own lip. "Can I say something way out there?"

"What?"

"Can't we just be happy we have her?"

"Huh?!"

"I know, I know!" Mercedes put up her hands. "I mean we have her. Can't we enjoy her?"

"But our life-?"

"I know. But you heard Marc. He's always protected us. Nothing will change that. Our parents are going to be the same, no matter who's in the house. Might as well be together and happy together."

Quinn thought about it. "Okay. From here on out; we'll be happy about this."

"Deal?" Mercedes stuck her hand out.

Quinn took it and pumped. "Deal."

cell

Marcy closed the tab on her phone and set it down. "Hey, go get ready."

Maddie looked up and over. "But-"

"It's time for you to go." She climbed to her feet.

"Will everything be okay while we're gone?"

"It's just paint." Marcy frowned as she touched a wall. "It should be well on its way to being dry by now."

"Okay." Maddie gathered her things so she could change in the ladies room.

Marcy rubbed her thumb over her finger-pads and bent over to pick up her phone before leaving the office. She wondered who she could deal with the most. Each office had their drawbacks.

She could take Marc but Laura got on her last nerve. Mercedes was usually a breath of fresh air but Quinn gave her a headache.

Mike was one of her favorite people but although she was married to him, Mal could infuriate her like no other.

So she chose Mercedes (because Mercedes would kept her from jumping on the still pregnant Quinn). She went across to their office and barged in. "It's time to go."

"It's one already?" Mercedes moved her face mask.

"Yup."

"How far along are you?" Quinn demanded.

"With?"

"Your office."

"I don't know! We've done stuff, still got a buttload to go!"

Mercedes jumped in before they could start. "What all have you done?"

Marcy's eyes flicked to her. Of course Mercedes would ask the correct question. "We're done painting and ordering furniture. We even had outlined where we're going to put it."

"Son of a bitch!" Quinn swore.

"Lucy!" Mercedes was bummed. They were a lot further along than the almost seventeen year olds.

"They're so ahead!"

"What about Mikey and Mal?" Mercedes hoped.

Marcy shrugged before leaning out the door. "Hey! What all have you done?!"

They found out that with the doors open, one could hear a pin drop in another office. The acoustics were amazing.

Mike's voice was heard. "We're done painting!"

"Really?!" Mercedes and Quinn sulked.

"That's it?!" Marcy frowned.

"Ours took longer!" Mal snapped.

"What were you even painting?! the floor?!"

"Hey! Just because you're Speedy Gonzales doesn't mean the rest of us are like that!"

"You're slow about everything! I hate it!"

"You like it in one area!"

Her eyes widened and she stepped outside of the office to shut the door behind herself.

Quinn snatched open the door. "What area is that?!"

"Shut up, Mal!"

"I don't want to hear this!" Mike yelled.

"You take it nice and slow, Mal?!" Mercedes giggled.

"Hey! You stop that!"

Mercedes, Quinn and Marcy giggled.

Laura's and Marc's door opened. "What's all the yelling?!"

"Mal's a freak!" Mercedes shouted.

"That's not even the top ten freakiest thing he does." Marcy played with the tip of her fishtail braid before throwing it over her shoulder.

"What?!" Marc sounded (and was) appalled. "Stop that right now!"

"I can't wait to be cleared to go. I need a good long-dicking."

"Marcy!" Marc and Mike hit high notes they haven't reached since their voices dropped.

Mercedes and Quinn cheered.

"I get it." Laura muttered quietly but those darn acoustics made it loud and proud.

Mal was noticeably silent…

"Hey, Mal?" Marcy chewed on her index fingertip.

"Yeah?" His voice cracked.

"Let's have a meeting."

"Where?" He cleared his throat.

"My office." She walked that way.

"What about Mad-?"

"Locks exist!"

"Got it!" He came from the office he shared with Mike and disappeared in the one she shared with Maddie. The lock clicked audibly.

"Oh my goodness…" Mike's whisper was loud and clear.

"They're so brazen with it!" So was Marc's.

Mercedes hugged Quinn. "She's emoting more!"

"Please! Wanting to get laid isn't an emotion!"

"You can't ruin this!"

"I can!" Mike bit off. "We gotta go!"

"Mikey!" She stomped a foot.

"Nope! Nobody wants to see that anyway!"

"They're behind a locked door!" Quinn sniped.

"Still!" Marc yelled. "Mike, go break them up!"

"What?!" Mike was incredulous. "How am I going to do that?!"

"Spray 'em with the hose! I don't know! Just do it!"

"What hose, genius?! We're in a newspaper building! And the door is locked!"

"I have to do everything myself!" Marc stalked out and went to bang on the door. "Hey! Stop that! Come on out here!"

A faint reply sounded.

"Hey! Don't tell me that! Stop doing- whatever it is you're doing-! No! Don't tell me!"

Mike, Mercedes and Quinn laughed.

"Stop laughing! All five of you!"

Maddie came from the bathroom. "What's going on?"

"Nothing." Laura spoke up. "Are you ready?"

"Yeah. I just need my helmet from my office."

"Hey!" Marc continued banging on the door. "Come out of there!"

Maddie went up to him and knocked on the door softly. "Marcy? I need my helmet."

The door opened seconds later.

Maddie slipped inside to grab her helmet while Marc covered his eyes. "I don't even want to know."

"We could tell you." Marcy patted his face hard as she walked past him.

Mal smirked as he followed.

Mercedes and Quinn raced to Marcy and looked her over. "You look the same!"

"I was supposed to change like Clark Kent?" Marcy raised a brow.

"No!" Mercedes swatted her. "Maybe…"

Laura walked over. "She does look different. Her hair is coming out of her braid, her lips are red and swollen, her skin is redder and she's wearing her sweatshirt." She tugged on the neckline and exposed a hickey. "Just what I thought."

Marcy slapped her away. "Leave me alone!"

"He works quick!" Mercedes poked at the bruise.

"Would ya quit?!"

"We're talking about this later!" Quinn bossed.

"Yay…"

"I'm ready." Maddie spoke up.

"Okay, let's get the kids." Laura looked back at Carlotta, who was on blankets with the two infants.

"Go with Laura and Marc." Marcy commanded. "We have to stop by the house for those guys. They want to come."

"Really?" Maddie was shocked.

Marcy shrugged. "You need time to warm up."

"Okay. I'll see you guys there." She hugged them as a group before following Marc and Laura (with Quad) out.

"Call Ellen and tell her to be ready." Marcy went to collect Riley. "You'll be with us."

Carlotta nodded.

"We should call the others." Mike walked over, rubbing his hands together to rid them of drying paint.

"We'll see you guys at home." Marcy left with Mal, their child and nanny.

"I'm just going to text them." Mercedes closed their office door and hoped the open windows would just air out the room and not draw in stray birds. "I have another phone call to make."

"Who are you calling?" Mike led them to an elevator.

"Nic gave me the number to one of her friends from ballet class. She wants me to call the girl's mother."

"Ooh." Quinn approved.

"It's good she's making friends." Mike let them on the lift before him.

"I think so. She likes this girl and Stacie so that's two more than she had." Mercedes pushed the button for the ground floor.

"That's great. She's really shy. She needs forward friends."

"Not like us?"

He chuckled. "Somebody made it easier for the other two."

"I know you're talking about me!" Quinn was not amused.

"Of course not, Lucy!"

"Don't patronize me…"

He kissed her cheek. "Stop frowning."

She wrinkled her nose but smiled anyway. "I don't frown."

"Good cuz they cause wrinkles."

She made a face like it was her first time smelling kimchi. "No!"

Mercedes laughed as they made it to the first floor. They left the lift and walked out, waving to the security guards. They went to the parking lot and climbed in Rhonda.

Mike texted Tina to be ready then threw the car into gear. He pulled out into traffic and merged.

Quinn did her own texting (so she wouldn't interrupt her sister's call) as Mercedes texted Puck and Anna.

When the brunette was finished, she dialed the number that she'd made sure to save to her phone. It rang three times before a woman with a soft, perfumery voice answered in a thick French accent. "Bonjour!"

Mercedes switched to French. "Hello, my name is Mercedes Catherine Puckerman. Is this Mrs. Beauelles?"

"Oui, this is she." Mrs. Beauelles giggled at her joke before reverting to her native tongue. "Puckerman, you say? Is this Nicolette Puckerman's mother?"

"Actually I'm her sister-in-law. Her brother and I have custody." Mercedes explained their situation as clearly yet concisely as possible. "Anyway, we're having a party on Saturday. It is like a festival but in our backyard."

"A festival!" The woman's voice lifted. "That should be delightful!"

"Yes, bring your whole family! It'll be amazing!"

"Yes! We accept! It's just myself and my husband- and Stella of course!"

"Do you have a pen and pad? I'll give you my address." The mother said when she was ready and Mercedes rattled off her address. "It was nice talking to you."

"Yes! Talking to another French person is very exciting. I thought we'd have no reminders of home but…"

"Nic didn't tell us much about Stella. She didn't even mention you were French."

"My accent gave it away, didn't it?"

"I like your accent!"

Mrs. Beauelles giggled. "I like yours, too. You sound just like me and that's amazing!"

Mercedes laughed as they pulled into their driveway. "I'll let you go, Mrs. Beauelles-"

"Please call me Gabrielle!"

"Okay, Gabrielle. We'll see you Saturday."

"Goodbye!"

"Goodbye!" Mercedes hung up and looked up to see Mike holding the door open with a smirk. "What?"

He shrugged as she got out. "Just you've made a new friend. Of course."

"You don't know! You don't even know what we talked about!"

Quinn got out after her. "I know and you did."

"You're always against me."

"Stop that, Mercy." Quinn hugged her.

Mike hugged them both. "No one's ever against you. If anything, you two are always against me."

"What?!" Both girls yelped. "That's not true!"

"If anything, you two are always against me!" Quinn pointed to herself.

"Lucy!" Mercedes gave her a look.

"You are! You're always shooting down my ideas and don't let me do anything!"

"Because you're bad and you want to do bad stuff…" Mike muttered.

Quinn gasped in outrage.

Mercedes hit Mike's abs. "She is not bad-"

"She ain't good!" He rubbed his belly.

Quinn made her crying face.

Mike hugged her. "You're bad and you know it. We have to keep you from doing something really bad."

"That's what you think of me?" She sniffled. "That I'm a bad girl?"

"You're a good girl underneath it. You just have bad ways."

Mercedes pushed his shoulder.

"See? You are against me. I can't even apologize to your standards."

Both hit him.

"Let's go get the others."

"I'm going to drive my car." Mercedes said. "We have to take Nic to tennis practice right after."

"I want to drive!" Quinn wiped her eyes daintily.

"Let me stay home if you're on the road." Mike quipped. She started hitting him as he laughed. "I'm kidding! I'm kidding!"

She hit him one last time before going inside. "Humph!"

"I sorry, Luce."

She ignored him as she climbed the steps. He and Mercedes climbed after her. He kept making jokes and she continued to ignore him, even as Mercedes kept pinching him for his humor.

They made it to their floor and went to their doors. "See you there." It wasn't a rare occasion for them to speak in unison.

Mercedes closed the door behind her. "Are you guys ready?!"

Anna came from the closet as Puck came from the bathroom. "Yes!"

"Okay, come on. We have to make sure Nic has her stuff for tennis." She opened the door and saw Mike leaving with Tina. "Rat!"

"Gerber baby!" Mike yelled back as they went down the stairs.

She left her room and went to Nic's. She opened the door and saw the little girl on her bed, flipping through a book on horses. "Hey, sweetie. Are you ready?"

"Uh huh." Nic sat up.

"Is your bag packed?"

"No." Nic admitted.

"I'll pack your bag." Mercedes went to do so and came back. "Come on."

Nic slid off the bed and came to hold her hand. "You have paint in your hair."

Mercedes shook her head and her ponytail hit her in the face. She could see the purple and white in her hair. She kind of liked the purple… "I do."

"Why?"

"I was painting." She continued to the stairs and led Nic, Anna and Puck down them.

"Was it fun?" Nic looked up at her.

"Yes, it was. Lucy and I had a paint fight even though Laura didn't want us to."

Nic smiled widely. "Did you get in trouble?"

"Yeah. Sometimes Laura doesn't know how to have fun. Don't tell her I said that."

"I won't."

They walked down the steps in silence after that and made it to the ground floor before hanging a right and going towards the garage.

Mercedes was shocked to see Rhonda was still parked and Mike's Lamborghini gone. She went to her own and put Nic's things in the tiny trunk before unlocking the doors and getting behind the wheel.

"Mama?" Puck started.

"Hmm?" Mercedes backed out of her space.

"Are you sure you want to drive?"

"Yeah. Why?" She concentrated on not hitting any other cars.

"Nothing. Nothing. Just that it must be uncomfortable."

"What?" She made it out and looked at him briefly before following the curve of the circular driveway out.

"You have to be up so far so you can reach the pedals-"

The car stopped suddenly and she whipped around to stare at him. "What did you just say?!"

He'd never known true fear until that moment. "Uh… nothing. Nothing!"

She glared at him before facing front and driving out of the driveway.

He relaxed and looked in the back seat. Anna and Nic had wide eyes. He felt just as freaked out. He wouldn't be calling his petite wife short for a very long time.

cell

Quinn led her spouses over to a large table.

"Where have you been?" Laura demanded.

"I had to change!" Quinn defended.

"No, you didn't. You're just going to go back to painting when this is over." Marcy pointed out.

Quinn pouted. "But I had paint everywhere."

"That's your fault." Laura glared. "I told you not to have that paint fight."

"I'm sorry." Quinn sulked.

"Holy shit, did Lucy just apologize?" Marcy gasped.

"The world is ending!" Mal whispered fearfully.

"Guys!" Quinn whined as the others laughed.

"Calm down, Luce. You're here now." Marcy waved her to sit. "Maddie's third."

"Yay!" Quinn sat. "Who's she up against?"

"No one spectacular. At least until Heidi."

Quinn winced. "Ouch! I see she's moved up, too."

"Oh yeah."

"Who's Heidi?" Nic asked.

"She's Maddie's biggest rival." Mercedes explained. "She's a very good horsewoman but we're always Team Maddie."

"Maddie'll destroy her." Karou was sure.

"We're not putting that kind of pressure on her, Karou." Laura lectured.

"Well I am! Kick butt, Maddie!"

Marcy pushed Karou and the Asian almost fell out of her chair. "Shut up."

"Whoa!" Karou teetered before regaining her balance. "Rude!"

Marcy ignored her. "Heidi's up. It's starting."

Everyone on the grounds shut up and watched as Heidi Fitzgerald went through her routine. When she was done, she came to stand with her horse in front of the judges.

She didn't get below an 8.4 or above a 9.6 so she had amazing scores and was the one to beat.

"Is that good?" Nic asked.

"Very good." Mercedes told her.

Nic grimaced.

A boy went next and got subpar scores.

Then it was Maddie's turn. She went through her routine and ended with her and her horse bowing. It was fantastic and the crowd went wild (especially her cheering section).

She dismounted and stood with her horse, Buttercup in front of the judges. The judges began revealing their scores and she was on par with Heidi until she got an 8.3. The crowd gasped as she got another score that matched Heidi's then the last judge stood.

He looked around before holding up his paddle. It was a ten.

Maddie's siblings shot up and went nuts. The crowd was loud but nothing beat the Fabanges.

Maddie shook the judges' hands and went to brush down her horse and feed her.

"Is that it?" Nic wanted to know.

"No, there's two more." Mercedes reclaimed her seat.

"Mommy, I'm hungry." Mally demanded.

"Me too." Marcy frowned before giving Riley to Mal. "Let's go get a pretzel."

"Yum!" He climbed out of the chair he was sharing with his twin.

"Bring me something back, Twin." Karou begged.

"Nope." Marcy walked off with her two and a half foot tall shadow.

Karou growled before getting up. "Come on, Yuria! We'll get our own food!"

"Bring me something back!" Mike called out.

"No way!" She made a face as she pulled Yuria off.

"They are just alike…"

Laura smiled before shushing them all. "The next rider is going on."

cell

"Maddie! Maddie! Maddie!" Marc, Mike and Mal cheered as they hoisted Maddie up, taking turns to give her kisses.

"Alright, guys!" She giggled. "It's only my first win in the young teen division!"

"Let us praise you!" Laura pulled her from Mike and gave her a one armed hug. "I'm so proud of you!"

"Me too! Me too!" Mercedes hugged her. "We have to go but we should totally go anywhere you want for dinner!"

"Promise?" Maddie looked straight at Quinn.

Who got offended. "Of course! It's your day!"

"Congratulations, Maddie." Nic smiled.

"Thanks, Nic." Maddie smiled back before Marc lifted her high. "Ah!"

"Allen's always win!" Marc yelled.

"Allen's never lose!" Mike, Quinn, Marcy, Karou and Mal yelled back.

"Guys!" Maddie laughed. "We have to go!"

"You're right, you're right." Marc set her on her feet. "You can put your trophy somewhere really prominent in your room."

"Come on, guys." Mercedes took Nic's hand. "We're already late."

"See you at work." Maddie waved.

Mercedes waved back and led her spouses and sister-in-law to her car. They got in and Mercedes drove to her family's country club.

She parked and they got out to walk Nic inside. They made it to the tennis courts so Mercedes hugged her. "I talked to your friend's mom. I invited them to Fair Day."

"Really?!" Nic's eyes widened.

"Yes."

"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" Nic hugged her fiercely.

"Okay, hug Noah and Annie so you can have your lesson."

Nic hugged both before running off towards her instructor.

Mercedes smiled and turned to her husband and wife. "I better get you guys home. I gotta get back to work."

They walked back to the car and got inside. Mercedes drove home and sat idle in front of the house.

"You remember we don't have keys, right?" Puck pointed out.

"Oh yeah!" Mercedes facepalmed. "We have to get you guys keys! I'll unlock the door."

They got out of the car and she went to open the front door.

"Thanks, MercyCat." Anna said.

"You're welcome. But you could have just rang the doorbell. Pendleton would have answered."

"Yeah but that dude's real old." Puck protested. "I feel bad every time he moves."

"Pendleton will outlive us all." She smirked. "I'll see you guys tonight."

"At dinner?"

"Oh. No. Probably- I don't know. I have no idea when we'll be done for today. Maybe you won't see me tonight. If you go to sleep before I get in, that is."

"Mama,-"

"I have to go." She stuck her bottom lip out as she cupped his chin. "I'll at least see you tomorrow morning. Don't forget to pick Nic up from tennis and give her a kiss from me at bedtime. She doesn't have any lessons tomorrow so you'll have to entertain her."

"What?!" That last part messed him up the most.

"Yes. Good luck." She waddled back to her car as he called out to her.

"This is crazy!" He turned to Anna.

"Noah, you don't want to spend time with your sister?" Anna's brows raised.

"I don't know what to do!" He sounded panicked as he let her in the house before him.

"When was the last time you spent the whole day with her?"

"How old is she?"

"Noah!"

He shut the door behind them and locked it before heading for the stairs. "I don't know! She was like four!"

"Well you'll have tomorrow." She followed him.

"Actually you'll have tomorrow. I have two jobs tomorrow."

"We'll go with you."

He stopped. "You'd go with me?"

"Yes."

He stared at her in shock. "Thank you." He started climbing again.

"Of course I would, Noah. I want to share in what makes you, you."

"Too bad Mama doesn't feel that way." He muttered.

"How do we know she doesn't? We haven't exactly asked her."

He made faces as he tried to refute that then came up with, "Why doesn't she just offer?!"

"You didn't offer for me to come with you tomorrow."

That's going to get annoying quick…* He huffed. "Fine. We'll ask her when she gets home."

"I need a nap." They reached the third floor and walked down the hall.

The black door opened and Tina stuck her head out. "Oh thank goodness! Anna, you're back!"

"What's going on?"

"Ellen is feeling a little… low. Marcy snapped at her and now she won't stop crying."

Anna sighed. "I'll see you later, Noah."

Puck grimaced. Tears weren't his kryptonite per se but he couldn't deal with them as well as other people. "Yeah, you do that. I'll just hang out with Finn."

"They're not home yet." Tina shrugged.

"I'll just watch TV then." He lifted a shoulder before disappearing inside his room.

Anna went inside Tina's. She saw Ellen crying on the bed. "Oh, Ellen. It'll be alright."

cell

"You gotta stop losing your temper." Mal heaved as he moved the desk again.

Marcy stared, stone-faced. "A little more to the left."

He and Mike picked up the desk and moved it. "She's still pregnant and feels things strongly."

"Your left, idiots."

"When does anyone ever mean someone else's left?!" Mike griped.

"Now! To your left if you please!"

He glared at her before lifting the desk and moving it to their left.

"Are you listening to me?!" Mal demanded.

"It's crooked!" Marcy complained.

"Look, you OCD, perfectionist neat freak-!"

"Can I give you a bit of advice?" Mike leaned against the desk to catch his breath.

"No." Marcy turned from them and went through her checklist.

"Well I'm going to give it to you anyway." He came up behind her and poked her in the center of her back. "You care about her. Act like it."

"Who the fuck said I cared about her?" She turned with a blank face.

"You wouldn't get married without her."

"I hoped Daddy would have dropped the whole thing but he called my bluff."

"You don't have hope." Mal bit off.

Marcy started forward but Mike stopped her by putting his hands on her shoulders and holding her at arms length to stare her in the eye. "Marcy. It's me. You wanted to marry Ellen."

"I didn't want to marry anyone but I (mistakenly) thought it wouldn't be bad to marry her." She glared at him.

"Well go with that. I know it's been a bumpy few weeks but things will get better."

"Really?" She gave him a bald look. "Our lives will get better?"

"I never said anytime soon." He admitted sheepishly.

She sighed and sagged in defeat. "Fine. Whatever. If in my deranged state of mind, I thought it wouldn't be a hardship to marry her, it couldn't be that different."

"Right. She's still the same girl you knew in juvie."

"Is that what you tell yourself about T-Bird?"

"Multiple times but I can still see it. In between the times she's flipping out about stuff. I mean I thought she could cry before…"

"Mikey!" She snapped her fingers.

"Huh?" He blinked.

"Come back."

"Oh right." He shook his head as Mal snickered. "What was I saying?"

"She's not that different from when I met her…?" She deadpanned.

"Right! She's still that same person but she's a little lost in hormones right now. And be honest; aren't you?"

Her face didn't change but it was suddenly different.

"Marce? Calm down. I'm not talking about you. It's normal. You just had a baby." He backed away. "Marce?"

She stalked towards him as he backed away from her. He ended up crossing the threshold of her office and she slammed the door.

He breathed heavily in relief and ran to help Mercedes and Quinn finish painting.

Mal was cracking up.

"Marcy." Maddie pouted. "You scared Mikey."

Marcy turned to her, still seething.

"Don't yell at me." Maddie sniffled.

Marcy mentally counted to ten before visibly calming down. "I'm not going to yell at you."

"Mikey probably thinks you don't like him anymore."

"I don't." Marcy went to the desk and lifted an end by herself, waving Mal away. She set it how she wanted it and backed away to make sure it was even with the window.

"You know you're not supposed to be lifting heavy objects!" Mal fumed.

"If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself." She gestured to the bookcases that needed to be built. "Am I doing this myself?"

"Will you at least do better with Ellen?" He held a hammer out of reach.

She licked her teeth. "Whatever."

"That's not a yes."

"It's not a no."

He blinked. She got him there. "Just promise."

"Why?!"

"I don't want to have our parents' marriages."

She crossed to him and pulled on his shirt to pull him down to her level. "I am nothing like them."

"You are if you keep being mean to her." He stared at her steadily.

"Fine." She let him go. "I'll try to keep my temper."

"Thank you." He straightened out his shirt.

"Bite me." She snatched the hammer out of his grasp and turned to get started on the bookcases.

He sighed. Loving her was not easy and he was starting to wonder if it was worth it. She bent over to go through parts and he eyed her round backside. Oh yeah. It was definitely worth it.

cell

"Okay. We're done." Mercedes was muffled behind her mask. "It'll dry and we can start ordering furniture."

"I wish you hadn't changed your minds so many times." Mike gave her a bitter look.

"I sorry, Mikey. But silver to purple ombré on my side and purple to silver ombré on Lucy's is our final look. Promise."

"You know your furniture might not be here until tomorrow."

"What if we order right now?!" Quinn panicked.

Mike checked the time. "It's already after five o'clock."

"No!" Mercedes felt like stomping a foot.

"The others can't be too far ahead of us." Quinn tried to rally.

"We can go check." Mike lifted a shoulder.

They left and went to his and Mal's office. The walls were dry (black on Mike's side, orange on Mal's) and the furniture was there. It was all just pushed inside though since the brothers had been helping their sisters.

"Okay, you're not that far ahead of us." Quinn was desperate.

They went across the space to Marc's and Laura's office. Their office had dry walls (pink on Laura's side, brown on Marc's) and they were still moving furniture around.

"You're not done?" Mercedes was happy.

"No, we have a lot to do." Laura blew out a breath.

"I had to stop to help Marcy put up her and Maddie's bookcases." Marc was pushing his desk closer to the wall.

"They have bookcases up?" Mercedes' eyes went wide. The female Leos ran as fast as their situation allowed them over to Marcy's and Maddie's office. Mike followed, already knowing they were going to be upset.

And they were…

"How are you done already?!" Both girls shouted.

"Shhh!" Marcy snapped. "Riley's in here!"

"How are you done already?!" They whispered.

"We didn't change our paint ninety five times." She lifted a brow.

Maddie giggled as they scowled.

"It looks so beautiful!" Quinn felt like throwing a tantrum.

The room was a starling crisp white with black ivy vines with colored leaves (green for Marcy's side, purple for Maddie's side). The furniture was up. Both had tall and short colored (green for Marcy, purple for Maddie) bookcases lined up behind their desks and along the wall with the windows and wall to the door.

Curtains hung on the windows. In between them was a white couch and thick white wooden table. There was a white end-table on either side of the couch that held a lamp each.

There were also file cabinets between the bookcases and the desks faced each other. Marcy's was dark green while Maddie's was light purple. Both had comfortable rolling massage chairs. In front of both their desks were two grey high-backed chairs and at the end of both desks was a short filing cabinet.

There were even lamps on the desks and a white rug underneath the coffee table.

"How did you do this?!" Quinn demanded.

"We got to work. Have you even noticed outside?" Marcy was sitting on her desk, writing out a list on her phone.

"Outside?" Mercedes went to the window.

"Outside the door." She spoke dryly.

"Oh!" They went back outside and noticed there were eight desks outside of the four offices, one on either side of the doors.

"Is Laura done? I want to hit OM and Apple."

"OM?" Mike wondered.

"Why Apple?" Mercedes didn't get that part.

"Office Max." Marcy gave him that but Mercedes didn't understand why she wanted to go to Apple? "We need computers. Or are you going to bring your computer from home and share with your assistant?"

"Oh shoot! We do!" Mercedes facepalmed. "Laura's still working but I'll go with you. We have to wait on our walls to dry and we don't have any furniture."

"We should work on our office." Mike pressed his hands together.

Mal nodded. "Right. I hate this. It's much better when she just tells me what to do."

"I can do it!" Maddie offered. "I'll be just like Marcy! Let's get going! Move it! Move it! Move it!"

Mike and Mal looked horrified.

"I said move it, maggots!"

They jumped and ran out.

Maddie grinned. "How'd I do?"

"Rock it, Half Pint." Marcy held out her fist.

Maddie bumped it with her own before running out after her brothers. "Put your backs into it!"

Mercedes and Quinn fell out laughing. "That's you alright!"

Marcy smiled. "Shut up. Are you ready to go? Have you two made out your emails?"

"Yes, I'm ready but no, I haven't." Mercedes answered.

"I haven't either." Quinn admitted.

Marcy sighed. "Then do so now! A work email. Laura said she's waiting on the phone company so we'll have phones soon. Which I need to buy… Fine! Just make them before tomorrow. I gotta print out business cards for us."

Quinn grinned happily. "We're going to have business cards!"

Mercedes squealed and clutched her hands. "Yay!"

"Is this done?" Marcy monotoned.

"Oh you're just a wet blanket." Mercedes wrinkled her nose. "Let's go."

"Lucy, remind Laura that she still has to do the kitchen and break room." Marcy pulled Mercedes out.

"Got it!" Quinn went to go see Maddie boss their brothers around.

cell

"Do we have everything?" Mercedes asked.

"Pencils, pencil sharpeners, pens, markers, highlighters, rubber-bands, paper clips, staplers, staples, staple removers, paper both lined and unlined, folders, paper protectors, binders, note pads, sticky notes, white out, tape, rulers, coffee mugs, cases, ink and trash cans." Marcy pointed at everything in the carts. "And lastly, phones and organizers."

"Great. I don't think we need anything else and we checked off everything on your list." Mercedes handed her, her phone back as her own rang. She answered it. "Hello?"

"Hey, Mercy! I just found the best picture to hang up! Should I get two?" It was Quinn.

"Send me a picture." A minute later, her phone buzzed and she looked at the attachment. "Ooh! That's super cute! Yeah, get two!"

"Okay, Sissy. Are you getting your furniture when you get back?"

"Marce? Do you have a book in your car?"

"A book?" Marcy went up in line.

"A decorating book?"

"Oh. Yeah, I got a couple. That's how I placed my order."

"While you were driving?!"

"While I was waiting on Ellen, Rou, Yuria and the twins."

"Oh. Okay. Lucy, I'll do it on the car ride."

"Are you guys done?" Quinn asked.

"At Office Max. We're in checkout. We'll see you guys soon."

"Bye, Sissy."

"Bye, Sissy." Mercedes hung up and realized Marcy was on her phone. She waited until Marcy's whispers grew louder in anger. "What's going on, Marce?"

Marcy hissed "hold on" to who she was talking to and sighed. "I'll just be a minute. Make sure you keep up with the line." Then she went back to her conversation.

Mercedes was very talkative but not nosy, which was an odd combination for a gossip but she could admit to wanting to know what was going on.

She'd just started putting things on the conveyor belt when Marcy stomped over and started helping. "Are you okay?"

"Your cousin gives me a headache." Marcy took special care to not damage anything in her anger.

"What'd Rou do now? I know it's Karou."

"And you're right! That fucking psycho-!" Marcy mentally counted backwards from ten. She blew out a breath. "I'm letting it go."

"What's going on?"

"I know I brought Yuria here for her but she's taking it too far. I want them to have fun but Rou's filling her head with nonsense."

"Like getting married?" Mercedes winced.

"Yuri's family is like ours and she's like you. She wants to do better than the last generation and thinks having a baby will fix everything."

"I didn't say "everything"." Mercedes mumbled.

"Now Karou wants my car to take Yuria on a date. I'm just glad she doesn't know where Arnold lives and you know that's not a determent. She could find out or heaven forbid, get knocked up by some rando."

Mercedes hugged Marcy as she whipped herself back up. "Karou has done some crazy things but I know for a fact that she would not do this. She's talking matrimony now but a week of living in sin with Yuria and she'll be fleeing back to Japan. She does commitment as well as you."

"I'm married…"

"Oh yeah." Mercedes was starting to panic herself.

"I'm not dealing with her shit." Marcy lifted her hands before getting back to work. "My life is complicated enough."

"I know that's right. Just mind your business and you'll make it out of this."

Marcy took a deep breath. "I'm not in it. It ain't my business."

"Good girl." Mercedes put more stuff on the line. "Which car did she want to borrow?"

"The lambo but she's not tearin up my car so I told her to take the BMW."

"But that's your car, too."

"I like the lambo better. It's green. Stupid Beemer has pink in it."

Mercedes laughed. "You know Momma isn't going to give a gift that doesn't say it came from her."

"That's yo momma."

Mercedes was glad she was calm. "That's yo momma!"

Marcy smiled. "You stupid. You know what I ordered for the break room?"

The break room had a large closet that would serve as the supplies closet. "No. What?"

"A printer!" Marcy did jazz hands.

Mercedes blinked. "Don't we need more than one?"

"No, it's a big one. A standing one that holds a gazillion sheets of paper and a billion cartridges of ink. That way we don't have to replace paper and ink so much and we'll get exercise walking to and from the break room."

Mercedes laughed. "You're always trying to do things the hard way!"

"If you learn things the hard way, think of how easy the easy way will be."

Mercedes smirked. "You're right."

Marcy put the last of the items on the belt. "Okay, we need sixteen computers."

"Sixteen?!"

"Eight for us and eight for the assistants."

"Oh. Right. That just sounds like a lot when you say "sixteen"."

"I get it." Marcy watched the pimple faced teen ring up their order.

"How are we paying for this stuff?" Mercedes wondered.

"I'll pay for this and the computers and you guys can just give me your share back and we can call it an investment and a tax write-off."

"That is so awesome!" Mercedes shook Marcy's arm. "You're always thinking!"

"It's a curse…"

Mercedes smirked.

The cashier finished with their order and took Marcy's debit card. He ran it through the machine and had her punch in her pin. He handed it back along with a fairly ridiculous receipt. "Thank you, shop again!"

"Yeah…" Marcy wondered if he were high then pushed a cart out to her car, her sister on her heels with the other.

They loaded the Lincoln up with their purchases and put away the carts before climbing inside the car and taking off towards an Apple store.

Mercedes looked through books to find her furniture and used one of the pens Marcy kept in the glove compartment to circle what she wanted. By the time they made it to the large store, she had most of her furniture.

They went inside while Mercedes was still flipping through the book she liked the most. A worker flew to them the instant they stepped foot inside.

Marcy was computer illiterate. She could handle Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Paint but knowing different things about computers, she did not. Marc was the best among them at computer knowledge but she was a genius after all and asked detailed questions. She found the computers she was looking for and because she was buying 16, they were willing to throw in a discount.

She was able to get their favorite colors (except for Marc; no one had a brown computer) but chose standard silver for the (as yet to be hired) assistants. The monitors were in their neon hues with matching light up keyboards and electric mouses (mice?).

By the time she was done, her sister had finished picking out what she wanted and was starting to order it. Ted (the Apple employee helping) concluded the sale and had additional help taking it out to the car.

Marcy beeped and waved as she drove away. "Are you done?"

"Almost." Mercedes was ordering items but also in the style and color she wanted. "Text Lucy and ask her if she picked out curtains."

"You want me to text while I'm driving…?"

Mercedes blinked, starting to pay attention. She realized what she said. Marcy broke many rules, too many laws but for some reason was a stickler for safe driving. She didn't do anything behind the wheel that could cause an accident… including texting and driving. "I'm sorry."

"Why can't you text her?"

"I can't exit out of this window or my progress will be lost."

Marcy pulled over and brought out her phone. She called Quinn. "Hey? Did you buy curtains yet?" She pushed speakerphone.

"Uh… no, I didn't." Quinn's voice came over the line. "Why?"

"Everybody else is taking a window each and getting curtains in their shade but I've yet to see silver curtains so I was thinking we get two purple ones?" Mercedes rambled.

"Are you sure, Mercy?"

"They have sparky ones. Get it in white or blue." Marcy suggested.

"Yes! Okay! We'll do that!"

Mercedes pouted that the windows wouldn't both be purple but her favorite color went well with both of those so she was happy again. "Okay, that's all I wanted."

"Okay. Bye, Sissy!" Quinn hung up.

Marcy made sure she was off the line as well and put away her phone (she usually had it plugged up to her car's sound system but was instead listening to the radio). "Are you good?"

"Yes. Thank you." Mercedes nodded. "I'll order the curtains."

"How long will you be on that site?"

"I don't know. Why?"

"We'll need the guys to help us carry this stuff in."

Mercedes grimaced before shrugging. "We can call when we get to the parking lot."

cell

And that was what they did. Marc, Mike, Mal and several security guards helped bring everything up. The girls stopped what they were doing and began sorting things out so everyone had an even amount of things plus the supply closet.

Except Marcy, who needed to feed a cranky-to-be-kept-waiting Riley.

The boys went back to building bookcases and moving furniture.

"I realized we have a problem." Laura said as she put stuff in a pile for her and Marc.

"What?" Her sisters asked.

"We haven't even thought of where we're going to put Lisa."

They all looked at each other and blinked before Marcy spoke. "She likes orange, right? Put her in the orange room."

"I knew you'd have a solution and since you're so smart and you're nearly done, I thought that while we're stuck here tomorrow, you could get her room together."

"What?!" Riley began fussing so Marcy bounced with her until she quieted down and went back to suckling. "What?"

"You and Maddie are nearly done. All you need are artwork, books and this stuff put away. You don't need to be here."

"What about interviews?" Marcy could have slapped herself. Oh my goodness, I'm fucking retarded…

"I've scheduled interviews for the morning. You can go right after."

"Why can't Maddie do it?"

Maddie recoiled. "I have karate tomorrow. You have to take me to that."

"You don't have karate all day."

"I also want to go riding to practice for my next show. It's in two weeks."

"You little muppet baby! You already had me do most of your work!"

"Please, Marcy?!" Maddie hugged her awkwardly, trying not to interrupt her niece.

"Fine. What am I supposed to do for this room?"

Laura brightened. "Just make it so a four year old would love it."

"When was the last time I was fucking four?"

"Stop that! And I know you'll do great. Thank you, Daddy."

Marcy grunted.

cell

"Do you feel like getting up?" Tina brushed Ellen's hair back from her face.

The redhead had cried herself to sleep and now it was time for dinner. She opened her eyes. "What time is it?"

"Six o'clock." Anna spoke up.

"Are they back yet?" She sat up.

"No." Tina shook her head gently. "Mike told me they'd be another few hours."

Ellen scrubbed at her face. "What am I going to do? My wife doesn't love me."

"I'm sure that's not it."

"Yeah." Anna tried. "It's just Marcy isn't very emotional."

"What am I supposed to do?" Ellen asked miserably. "I'm an emotional person, especially since becoming pregnant. I have all these feelings and it feels like she hates me for them."

"Of course she doesn't." Tina swore.

"What does Mal say?" Anna evaded that.

"He just seems so tired. They stay up all night with the baby and he tries to entertain the twins and now with them working- I feel like he's going to fall over." Ellen shrugged lightly.

"Maybe when they come home, you can watch the baby while they sleep? You know how to change a diaper, right? Just give them a couple hours where they aren't constantly moving."

Ellen perked up. "I like it. But I don't know. They haven't left me alone with a kid for two days."

"You have to show them that you're not your mistake." Tina warmed up to her speech. "You've got to let them know that you're a valuable member of your relationship and Riley's your baby, too. Don't take no for an answer!"

"Yeah. Yeah!" Ellen felt energized.

"Come on! Let's go eat before my baby decides to be born now just so she can get some food!"

Ellen and Anna fell out laughing.

cell

Maddie yawned. "I'm so tired."

"This guy is ridiculous!" Marcy spun in her chair. "What phone company comes out at nine?!"

"Shhh!" Mercedes shushed her. "What if he overhears you?!"

"I want him to! We've been waiting all day and he comes when we're closing up shop?!"

"He's almost done." Laura played peek-a-boo with Quad.

"I'm with Marcy on this one." Quinn groused. "I want to go home. I'm tired and sleepy and my son is tired and sleepy. I want a bath and my bed. And chocolate."

"Mmmm!" Marcy moaned. "I want chocolate! Did you guys eat all your MaryAnn's?"

"Yes." Came sheepishly from the other four.

"Me too. I was feeding Rye and was so mad at Ellen Tuesday that I ate all of it, one behind the other."

"I ate mine the next day." Quinn and Mercedes admitted.

"I still can't believe what happened." Laura shook her head. "You're a good woman, Marce."

"I am a saint." The naturally curly haired teen chewed on her index fingertip.

Laura side-eyed her heavily.

Quinn and Maddie burst out laughing.

Even Mercedes smiled.

Mike ambled from his office. "Are we done here yet?"

"We're waiting on him." Marcy pointed with her foot. "Did you make that email yet?"

"Yes." Mike sighed.

"Your phone is hooked up. Write down all you want on your business card. Oh and on paper."

"On paper?"

"Like a letterhead? Like our stationary?"

"Oh. Wow. That's kinda cool."

"I know, right!" Mercedes raised her fists and shook them.

Mike laughed and pinched her cheek. "You're so adorable."

Her excitement died a quick death as her sisters giggled. "What?"

"Oh no." He sagged in defeat. "Please, no, Mercy. I'm tired."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Quinn scoffed.

"It means I'm too tired to help her through a mood-swing." Mercedes reached out quick as lightening and smacked Mike's chest. "Ow!"

"I'm not having a mood-swing!" She yelled.

"Ooh!" Marc and Mal peeked from the Chang brothers' office.

"Mercy, please?" Mike begged. "All I want is sleep."

"I don't care about you. I don't care about your sleep." She crossed her arms and looked away.

He sighed deeply. "Mercy…"

"No!" She turned in her chair.

He squatted in front of her. "I sorry, Mercy. You're not having a mood-swing. I'm sorry I upset you. You know how much I love you."

"You do?" She pursed her lips.

"Of course I do. I love all my sisters. Even the ones that aren't you."

"Hey!" The four bristled. Marc and Mal laughed.

Mike ignored all of them. "Forgive me, MercyMe?"

Mercedes thought about it but she honestly couldn't remember what she'd gotten so upset about in the first place so she smiled. "I forgive you, Mikey."

He brightened and kissed her cheek repeatedly. "Thank you, Mercy!"

She giggled as her brothers groaned and booed. "You're welcome!"

The telephone representative walked over. "You're all set! You can use your lines now."

"Thank you." Laura said. "We can walk you out."

"I'll do it." Marc volunteered quickly.

"Thanks, pal." The man nodded.

Marc walked him out.

"Okay, guys." Laura stood. "Get your things together. I'll see you guys at home."

"Yes!" Marcy leapt out of her chair and pushed it back to where it belonged before coming back to Riley's car-seat. She picked it up.

"Come on, baby." Mal took her hand and held on when she tried to escape. "Let's get some sleep."

"I'm going to MaryAnn's before they close and getting me some chocolate!" She leaned away from him, trying to pry her hand loose.

"Oh, I want chocolate! I'm totally getting some in the morning! I'm too tired now but I'm going as soon as they open." Mercedes vowed.

"And I'll be with you!" Quinn promised.

"I want chocolate." Maddie laid her head on the desk in front of her and yawned.

Mike picked her up. "Nope! You're going to bed."

"Tomorrow?"

"Yeah, we'll go tomorrow. Hey!"

They all looked to him for his out of place enthusiasm. "What?"

"We can get cupcakes from Up with Frosting! We haven't had them in years!"

Marcy nearly dropped her daughter. "No!"

"I won't get Chocolate Madness." He swore.

"Mikey,-!"

"I won't. I swear."

She whimpered. "Let's go."

Mal glared at Mike. "We'll see you guys tomorrow."

"Bye!" The others waved the two off with their baby and nanny.

Marc came up in the other elevator as soon as their lift closed. "Where's Marce and Mal?"

"They just left." Laura told him.

"Ah. Well let's lock up. Mike, take Mercy and Lucy to their cars and sit with Laura, Maddie and Quad while I lock up."

"Marc,-" The girls protested.

"Ah! Nope! Get down there!"

"Come on, guys." Mike grabbed his light jacket. It was cooling off.

The girls got their things and they all left Marc to closing up.

They rode down to the first floor and went out to the parking lot, where Mike shut Mercedes and Quinn into their cars and made them promise to go straight home.

When they were gone, he sat in Suzy with Laura while Maddie and Quad slept in the backseat.

"Make sure you don't get the chocolate cake." Laura said out of thin air.

"What?" Mike hadn't been paying attention.

"Make sure you don't get the chocolate cake." She repeated.

He rolled his eyes. "I won't."

"Good. I know how you think it's funny that she can't control herself but this is not a time to be playing around. And especially not in public."

"It's the backyard."

"It's not just our family."

"I know. I won't. I promise."

"Good. There's Marc."

Mike looked up before opening the door and getting out. "See you tomorrow."

"Night!"

"Thanks, man." Marc slapped hands with him.

"It was no problem." Mike shook his head.

Marc climbed into his car and rolled the window down. "Go straight home."

"Nah." Mike walked to his car. "I think I'm going to go to the store."

"The store? What store? For what?"

"Just to find something for T."

Marc grinned wide and nodded. "That's my boy! Make her melt!"

Laura hit Marc.

"Ow! Ignore her! She just playa hatin! Ow!"

Mike laughed as he hopped in his car. He turned Rhonda on and left, honking the horn. Only his siblings…

cell

Ellen sat up when the door opened. "You're home."

"You're up." Marcy returned. "Here."

"What's that?" Ellen turned on the lamp on her side of the bed.

Marcy tossed it on the bed.

Ellen picked it up. "Is this chocolate?"

"Yeah. You said you've never had chocolate covered potato chips." She shrugged.

Ellen smiled. "Thank you."

"Welcome."

Mal smiled at both. "I'm going to go change. Come get me if she starts crying." He'd put Riley in her bassinet.

Marcy moved it to her side of the bed. "She won't."

"Actually, I could watch her." Ellen spoke up.

They blinked blankly before, "What?"

"I could watch her." She blushed from their intense stares. "You guys need more sleep-"

"Elle, you need more sleep than us." Marcy repeated.

"No, I don't. We're in this together and she's my baby, too. Right?"

"Not until you give birth."

Ellen sighed. "It's not fair."

"You'll see." Mal told her. "You'll be wishing for this sleep."

"At least let me go to sleep last."

"No can do." Marcy shook her head.

"Why not?" Ellen was getting frustrated.

"I don't sleep in front of people."

"What? What- what does that even mean-?"

"It means that I can't sleep if anyone else is awake. I told you this."

"But I've been awake while you were sleep."

"Because you woke up before me. Which is rare on its own. I'm usually last to sleep, first to rise. I can't do it. I have to be extremely exhausted-"

"Like giving birth." Mal helped.

She side-eyed him. "Yeah. Like after giving birth for me to go to sleep first. I'm not going to jump up out of sleep if you do wake up first. Well not all the time. I'm a difficult sleeper and usually awaken in the night. And I have terrible night terrors-"

"I have nightmares sometimes." Ellen cut in. "I dream I'm still in Sly's."

"Night terrors." Marcy corrected. "And it's not sometimes. It's every time. I rarely think about Sly's but then again I know something scarier."

"What?" Ellen was wide-eyed.

Marcy shook her head. "I just can't sleep in front of people."

"I'm not people. I'm your wife."

"I don't sleep in front of anybody. Not even Mal."

Ellen gasped. "Oh. Okay."

"It has nothing to do with you. You are very lovely. Just can't do it."

Ellen liked that she called her lovely and resolved to find a way to make Marcy fall asleep first. "I'll sit up with you for a few minutes then I'll go straight to sleep so you can go."

Marcy's lips twisted in amusement. "Thank you."

Mal chuckled. "I'll change then you can. Then we can snuggle."

"Mal Chang, we will fight."

He smiled ear to ear as he sauntered to the closet.