Marcy didn't want to get up but her phone's alarm was going off like a siren. She rummaged through last night's clothes for it & turned it off.
The body next to her turned & pulled her into its arms. "Good morning."
She accepted Mal's kiss. "Good morning."
He began pressing kisses wherever he could reach. She giggled quietly. He smiled against her skin.
"I have to get up." She whispered.
"I'm already up." He murmured roughly.
"I feel but I can't help you."
"I think you can." He nipped at her shoulder.
Then she showed him she could…
"I really have to get up now." She panted.
"Can I use your bathroom before I go?"
"Yeah." She watched him gather his clothes & walk to the tiny bathroom.
She waited a moment before going to her closet for clothes. She picked out a deep red plaid pleated short skirt, black tights, a black long sleeved shirt & her sleeveless blue jean jacket. She grabbed a grey slouch hat with three black vertical buttons.
She picked out her moon necklace, her charm bracelet, her diamond tennis bracelet (all gifts from Mal), & her special earrings to wear for jewelry. She'd be wearing her rosary around her neck as well. She liked the shoes she'd worn the day before so she would just put them back on.
Once she picked out underwear, she went back to the room to see if he was done. He was just coming out of the bathroom.
He smiled when he saw her & he pulled her into him. "I'll see you later, okay?"
"Yeah. I'll see you later." She leaned up to press her mouth to his.
He backed away to her window with their lips still attached. He broke away pitifully. "I really need to go. I have school."
She gave him a kiss that made him want to say to hell with an education. "You can go anytime you want."
He groaned. "Eight hours."
She smiled. "You can do eight hours."
"You've obviously never kissed you." He gave her one more kiss before going out of the window.
She smiled goofily to herself before going to brush her teeth.
M&MC
"You look pretty." Mercedes complimented as they went down for breakfast. "I didn't hear you come in last night."
"Thanks." Marcy walked slowly. "I was just quiet."
"Did you have a good time with Jr.?"
"Uh huh." They turned into the kitchen, the twins ran in before them.
"Good morning." Rose called out.
They greeted her as they sat at the table.
"Did you have a good birthday?" Marc asked.
"I think so." Marcy smirked.
"Good. I've never seen someone go so many places for their birthday before."
"You had fun."
"I did."
Rose brought over breakfast. "So what are everyone's plans for today?"
"Well I need to go shopping for more luggage. I need to buy my plane ticket. I need to pack." Marcy listed.
Mercedes & Rose looked hurt but Marc was the one to say something. "You're leaving today?"
"Yes."
"I thought maybe you'd like to stay a little while longer?"
She frowned. "I'm coming back, Marc. Relax."
Her elders were floored.
Mercedes was the one to speak this time. "You're coming back?"
"Yes. The twins aren't even going. I'll be back in a few days."
Mercedes shot over & hugged her so quickly, Marcy's head spun.
"What are you doing?"
"When did you decide this?!"
"Can you stop hugging me?"
"You hugged the guys yesterday."
"They gave me presents first."
Mercedes put a strip of bacon on her plate. "There!"
"Is this going to last much longer?"
Mercedes let her go. "When did you decide this?!"
"This morning." Marcy ate the strip of bacon.
"Well who cares?! You're staying! Yay."
"You would see me anyway. We live in the same place." Marcy side-eyed her.
"I know but I want to see you now."
"Nutball."
Marc smirked. "What about me? I won't get to see you."
"You get to snark then."
His smirk widened. "Want any help with your luggage?"
"Yeah. & can you drive me to the airport?"
"Sure."
M&MC
"She's staying!" Mercedes did a happy dance.
Quinn laughed as she put on a tire. "Yay!"
"That's what I said."
"So why is she going?"
"She wants to take all the stuff she bought shopping home & maybe unpack a few presents before we get there. She also wants to go food shopping a little. Some stuff that can survive three weeks."
"But the festival's in two weeks."
"You don't want to come home to spoiled food."
"Good point."
"She said it'll be easier without the twins although she's taking some of their things, too."
"Are they going to stay with you guys?"
"No, she wants the Changs' to have them. I think she wants them to spend as much time with them as possible before we do go."
"What about us?! Mom & I barely see them!"
"Stay home then!" Mercedes giggled.
"No way. I'm like a bird."
Mercedes raised an eyebrow. "Was that enjoyable for you?"
"Yes." Quinn let the jack down.
Mercedes just watched her work for a minute before asking, "Have you talked to Craig?"
Quinn stopped then continued. "Once. Have you talked to Aaron?"
"No. He's called once a day since Saturday, too."
"What are you going to do?"
"I don't know. I'm still trying to see what Sonny's going to do."
"I figure not talking's good. You can't break up if you don't talk."
"Is this even a relationship? I haven't said one word to him since Saturday. He can't even look at me." Tears welled up in her eyes.
Quinn looked down at the tool in her hand. "I didn't think I could make Puck look at me like how I felt more than a few times in my life."
"I didn't either. He yelled at me."
"What?" Quinn didn't know that.
"Yeah. He yelled at me." Mercedes told her all of that encounter. "I don't even know what that means. You barely did anything so why do you have so much to answer for?"
Quinn was seething. "How dare he yell at you?! This is between me & him. He had no right to do that to you!"
Mercedes raised an eyebrow. Even she wasn't mad about the situation. Why was Quinn? "Are you okay?"
Quinn whipped around & began working on her car again. "I'm fine. He's just a giant tool."
"Finn says he's hotheaded."
"Finn? I don't remember him saying that yesterday."
"It was Monday." Mercedes shook her head.
"Did you go to glee?"
"No. I went to his house. He can be quite the listener."
Quinn wasn't sure how she felt about that. "Since when are you & Finn like that?"
Mercedes shrugged although she couldn't see it. "It's def. new. I think it's because he doesn't have a girlfriend. He can be a better friend. & let's be real; he's a pretty good friend in the first place."
Quinn frowned before letting it go. "What did you guys do?"
"You know how Puck used to hold me?"
"What?" Quinn frowned in total befuddlement. Why would they hold each other? "No."
"Oh. We didn't have sex all the time, Quinn. Sometimes when I got upset or he felt overwhelmed, we'd just get in the bed & hold each other. It made it feel like the world wasn't spinning so fast."
"& you did that with Finn?"
"He was a little awkward with it at first but he'll get better in time."
Quinn digested that. She'd never had a male friend (barring Mike) that she could hold or could hold her. Maybe she needed one? She brought it up to Mercedes.
"I think you should just pick someone you feel close to. That you feel comfortable with. Someone that's seen you at a low point & still looks you in the eye."
"The last guy I was like that with was Artie."
"Artie?"
"Getting into that accident was a major low point for me & he was there for me in a way other people couldn't be. We had a lot of fun & we got close until the summer."
Mercedes thought about it. When Artie was himself, he was a pretty spot on guy. He called people on their bull & kept it "100". "I think Artie would be a great choice for you. You should reconnect before we leave."
"He's going to be an ocean away. What's the purpose of getting close just to leave again?"
"Finn's going to be an ocean away & I'm going to keep up with him."
Quinn worked quietly for a while before saying, "I'll think about it."
M&MC
"Is she coming?" Quinn asked.
"Yeah. She said she's not far away." Mercedes put four chairs in front of the others facing the audience in the choir room.
"You said you have a surprise. What is it?"
"I'm telling everyone the truth today."
Quinn's eyes widened. "What?!"
"Marcy was right. I hid my relationship with Mike so hard that even I forgot about it. I'm not ready to divulge my romantic ties but we can ease everyone into the Fabanges life."
"& you think that by telling, he'll see how you're trying to make this right?" Quinn knew Mercedes like she knew herself.
"Yes."
"Well I hope it works. For your sake."
"Thank you." Mercedes took her hand & sat her in one of the middle seats.
People started to trickle in.
"What are you doing?" Sam asked.
"I have an announcement." Mercedes said.
"Is it good?" He walked backwards.
"I suppose." She wasn't sure.
He sat in a seat. "Well I'm all ears."
"Thank you."
Marcy walked in. "Sup?"
"Sit here." Mercedes sat her on the other side of Quinn.
"Why?" Marcy was not comfortable being on display.
"I'm taking your advice & being honest."
Marcy blinked twice. "About what?
"Us. & how we are." Mercedes fidgeted.
Marcy looked at her for a long time before nodding once. "You're kissing butt."
Mercedes pouted. "Meanie!"
Marcy smiled. "Don't you still have your excuses- I mean reasons for not doing this?"
Mercedes set her hands on her hips. "Shut up!"
Quinn laughed. "She's mocking you. What are you going to do about it?"
"You shut up, too."
Quinn & Marcy laughed.
Mike walked in with Puck & Finn. Mercedes grew nervous as she went up to him. "Hi."
Mike was surprised. "Hi."
"Can you sit here?" She pointed to the other side of Marcy.
He wanted to ask why but that would just make them have to converse longer. He sat by Marcy.
"Hi, Finn." She was glad he did so but wished this wasn't so awkward & uncomfortable.
"Hey, Sadie." Finn hugged her.
She smiled at his gentleness. A friend was what she needed.
Puck raised an eyebrow. This was the second day that they've been like this. He crossed his arms across his chest & went to take a seat.
Mercedes let Finn go & sat next to Quinn to wait for everyone to come in.
Mr. Shue proved to be the last person in. He was confused. "What are you guys doing?"
"We have an announcement, Mr. Shue." Mercedes said.
"Okay." He sat with the students. "What's up?"
Mercedes took Quinn's hand. "We have been lying to you all."
It was quiet for a few seconds as the group digested that before a confused roar of what assaulted her ears.
"We've been lying to you for years about who we are." She repeated.
"But you don't lie." Sam was lost.
"Neither does Mike." Tina said.
"Quinn does." Artie smirked.
Quinn glared at him. Mike & Marcy snickered.
"Remember a few weeks ago when you asked how my brother knew Mike & I said it was just this past year? That was a lie." Mercedes admitted.
Artie gasped. "Well I never!"
She narrowed her eyes. "Don't make me take you to the carpet, Abrams."
"Come on. How'd your brother know Mike then?"
"We grew up together."
"What do you mean grew up together?" Tina crossed her arms.
"We met when we were three."
"You & Mike met when you were three?" Blaine was in shock.
"Me, Mike & Quinn." She corrected.
"Whoa!" Sam was blown away.
"How is this possible?!" Tina demanded.
"Our parents went to college together-" Mercedes started.
"Your parents?!"
"Yes."
"Wait if your parents met in college, why did you meet at age three?" Blaine asked.
"Because they went home after college & didn't stay in touch. When we went to preschool, we met & when we went to tell our parents about our new friends, they realized they knew each other." Mercedes explained.
"So you met way back then? Did you lose touch until high school?" Sam wanted to know.
"No." Quinn gave him a patronizing look. "We grew up together."
"This is crazy. I thought you didn't meet til glee?" Tina was trying to wrap her head around this.
"No, that was me. I didn't want us to acknowledge each other because I felt we were weird. They agreed, even when we joined glee." Quinn said with a sigh.
"Why'd you think you were weird?" Blaine figured it was something deep.
"Are we telling them everything?" Quinn asked Mercedes in Italian.
"We might as well." Mercedes responded in kind.
"Why are you speaking Spanish?" Tina felt left out.
"That was Italian." Quinn said. "We're not American."
"Not American?" Mr. Shue had been quiet so far but he was confused by this development.
Mercedes explained about their citizenship statuses. "We're here on visas."
The class was stunned.
Artie chewed on his top lip. "I want to say something but I don't want you to take me to the carpet, MJ."
"What is it?"
"I'm blacker than you."
She waved a hand. "Shut up."
"So you kept your friendship a secret because you're mixed?" Sam guessed.
"No, we're a family. After reconnecting, our whole families got together & we've been one big happy family ever since. It's really hard to explain to outsiders." Quinn tapped her lip. "We've also been in lessons since preschool so we've always been the freaky overachieving foreign family. I was sick of it."
"Lessons?" Blaine asked. "What kind of lessons?"
"Music lessons, sports lessons, marital arts lessons, lessons." Marcy said. "We're accomplished for young people."
"You should see them ice skate." Finn said.
"Did you know about this, Finn?" Tina demanded.
"Yes."
"So you're family?" Sam said slowly. "How come we haven't seen proof of this before?"
"We hid it." Mercedes shrugged. "It wasn't as hard as you'd think."
"But I've met Mike's parents. They never said anything about you guys."
"Yeah. I've been around your parents a lot & I've never heard a peep about Mercedes or Quinn." Tina added. "There's no proof, no pictures or trinkets or anything."
"We have pictures up." Mike spoke for the first time.
"Where? I've never seen any pictures."
"In the hallways, the living room, the dining room, the kitchen. Everywhere but the den."
"Why not the den?" Ryder asked.
Mike, Mercedes & Quinn looked at Marcy, who crossed her arms & scowled.
"Come on, BT. What happened? Give up the story." Artie waved a hand.
She sighed. "We played Little League when we were little & I was just practicing with my bat & there was this expensive statue in the living room & I missed the ball & I might've broke the statue & we were banned from playing ball in the house."
"Why can't you have pictures in the den? What does that have to do with the statue?"
"Because Marcy & the guys were rough all the time & it was decided that the den would be the only place it was okay so no nice or breakable things go in the den." Mercedes said.
"She beat that statue to death." Mike added.
"Shut up!" Marcy bit off.
"You said I saw pictures. What pictures have I seen that I apparently didn't see my own best friend?" Tina demanded.
"My mom likes our baby pictures the most so she's got those up all over the house." Mike said.
"Like the picture of you & two little girls dressed as trees?"
"Yeah. That was a school play in the first grade. Worst play ever."
"Your dad said it was someone named Pick & Blue."
"He said Vic & Que."
"The friends you were always talking about?"
"Yep."
"So you two are Vic & Que?" Tina pointed to Mercedes & Quinn.
"Vic." Mercedes raised her hand.
"Que." Quinn raised hers.
"What about Evie, Liz & Trey?" Tina asked.
"Evie." Marcy said.
"Liz is my sister." Quinn said.
"Trey is my brother." Mercedes added. "Because he's the third generation Marcus."
"Wow."
"Why does he call you all those funky names?" Sam asked.
"They're our middle names." Quinn duhed.
"Oh!" Sam got it. "Cuz your middle name is Victoria!"
Mercedes giggled. "Yes."
"Is your middle name Evelyn?" Blaine guessed.
"Eve." Marcy corrected.
"& everyone knows Que is short for Quinn." Quinn said.
"Why does your dad call them by their middle names?" Marley asked.
"All our dads have special nicknames for us." Mike said. "For my dad, it's their middle names."
"For my dad, it's what he thinks when he thinks about that person." Marcy said. "The only person that doesn't have a weird nickname from him is Marc."
"What are your names?" Artie wanted to know.
"He calls my sister, Laura Cupcake." Quinn said. "I'm Babygirl."
"He calls me Sweetpea, Maddie Sugarfoot & Mal is Jr." Marcy went on.
"Wait! Wait! Mal as in Mike's brother?!" Tina interrupted. "He's Jr.?"
"Yes. I'm Princess & Mike is Sonny." Mercedes finished.
Sam's mouth fell open. "He's Sonny?! You talked about that guy so much! I can't believe it's Mike!"
"So that's what you meant when you said we'd meet." Artie nodded at Marcy, who smirked.
"What about your dad, Quinn?" Kitty asked.
"He called Mike & Mal Sonny & Jr., too. Maddie was Maddie & my sister & I were our names but the Jones' have two first names so he renamed them slightly. All the people in my dad's family call them that." Quinn said.
"You have two first names? What are they?" Blaine never knew any of this.
"My name's Marceline Anne so the Fabrays call me MarcAn. It's spelled M-A-R-C-A-N." Marcy said.
"My name is Mercedes Catherine so they call me MercyCat, spelled M-E-R-C-Y-C-A-T." Mercedes said.
"& Marc's name is Marcus Donald so he's MarcD. M-A-R-C-D."
Sam knew Mercedes had two first names but didn't know about the nicknames. "I know you have two last names. Do you have any nicknames from that?"
"No. But we went by Taylor-Jones until high school." Mercedes said.
"What else don't we know about you?" Tina side-eyed the foursome.
"That's a loaded question." Marcy smirked.
"What do you mean, T?" Mercedes asked.
"What don't we know about you? Were you in a singing group before us?" Tina sniped.
The four looked at each other before facing the room & explaining their lessons. They told them about their instruments, what languages they spoke, the martial arts they knew, sports, their hobbies & skills like knowing how to bake & knit & farm & then they told them about their rules & diet.
"So you've never had anything sweet?" Ryder felt bad for them.
"Yes, we have. We've had pound cake, 7Up cake & orange cake before & we eat cookies every December." Mike said. "& we eat one doughnut every Halloween."
"Why can you eat cookies in December? Is it for Christmas?" Marley asked.
"Uh… kind of." Marcy answered. "At first it was just for Christmas but I learned how to make cookies when I was five & everyone's liked them since."
"So they liked them so much, you get to eat them all December?"
"Yeah. I showed a proficiency for baking cookies & really played with flavors. It of course took longer than a day to do so they let me go all December. But I'm not the only one."
"Yeah. I don't make it for us but I enjoy baking pies for the rest of the family." Mercedes said. "Unless it's fruit filled. I make fruit filled for us. So we've had pie but actually a crostada."
"What's a crostada?" Kitty asked.
"An Italian crisp."
"We all have our own specialties. Us girls." Quinn said. "Marce has her cookies, Merce has her pies, Laura has her cakes but I have ice cream."
"Why do you know how to make all these things if you can't eat them?" Artie demanded.
"To have the skill at first. But we like doing it for other people. & we have ice cream all the time. Our moms think ice cream is the best thing to have."
"They keep forgetting about Marcy & her Christmas cookies." Mike rolled his eyes. "There's nothing better on a winter day than a warm fruit cookie & her special hot chocolate."
"Thank you, Mikey." Marcy hit his arm.
"What's a fruit cookie? Is it like a fruit cake?" Kitty had a disgusted look on her face.
"How special are we talking?" Artie wanted to know.
"It's not like fruit cake." Marcy smirked. "I have three different flavors of cookies; orange, lemon & lime."
"They're the shape of a football & about as big as your thumbprint." Mike gestured.
"As to how special that hot cocoa is, it's really special." Mercedes said. "I've been in the kitchen with her while she makes it & I still don't understand how she makes it so good."
"What do you put in it?" Sam asked.
"I use whole milk, Madagascar vanilla beans, Italian coffee & salted caramel instant cocoa mix." Marcy said.
"That's a lot of stuff."
"For a kick, I sprinkle cinnamon on top."
"How do you make the cookies?" Mr. Shue asked.
"Rice flour, brown sugar, soy milk, sea salt & the entire fruit."
"That's how Grandmom makes her orange cake. With the whole orange." Quinn said.
"Their Grandmom is hot." Puck added.
"Dude!" Marcy gave him a bewildered look.
"Well she is!"
"You have pretty grandmothers." Finn said.
"No, they're not!" Mike snapped.
"If you're talking about Mamma, Grandmom & G-Ma, you're talking about the three vainest women on the planet." Marcy teased. "You don't have to tell them they're pretty, they'll tell you."
"Your Grandma is pretty, too but your Grandmother scares me." Puck said.
"She scares everybody." Mercedes rolled her eyes.
"She didn't scare me." Jake boasted.
"You liar." Puck snorted. "You said it felt like she was freezing your soul."
"I said that with the upmost respect, Ms. Ladies." Jake amended quickly.
"Dude, she's a terrifying woman." Marcy shrugged. "She scares people into doing what she wants. No big."
"So Jake & Puck know?" Tina felt betrayed.
"Yes." Mercedes knew it, too.
"Can we tell them about you punching that lady at the park?" Puck asked.
"No. That wasn't a shining moment." Marcy looked at him like he was crazy.
"Aw come on, please? It was amazing."
"Yeah, Mike & Puck told me." Finn grinned. "All because she called you a bully."
"She didn't call me a bully. She called Mally a bully. I don't play about my baby." Marcy sassed.
"Mal?" Tina felt less betrayed & more in disbelief. "Mal couldn't be a bully if he actually hit someone."
"Ain't that the truth?" She snorted.
Mercedes bit her lip. "Do you want to tell them about you & Mal?"
"What's to tell?"
"Your affair." Mike taunted.
"We gon fight, Chang."
Mike laughed. "I noticed he came home this morning."
Marcy blushed but kept her glare.
"What?!" Mercedes & Quinn turned to her.
Marcy really glared at Mike as her blush intensified. "I really don't like you right now."
"What happened?" Mercedes demanded.
"Are you & Jr. back together?" Quinn went on.
"No! What is with you two?!" Marcy shook her head.
"Is Mal the boyfriend you told me about?" Sam asked.
"No." Her entire face was red.
"You told Sam about Pierre but you left out everything about Jr.?" Mercedes accused.
"I barely mentioned Pierre." Marcy wanted to melt into the floor.
"You spent a lot of time with Pierre Monday. Did you finally tell him about Mal?" Quinn wanted to know.
"No!" Marcy took a deep breath. "Can we not talk about this?"
"No! Why did Mal go home in the morning? I thought you were mad at each other?" Mercedes wanted answers.
Marcy swallowed hard. "Not exactly."
"Did you or did you not have a huge fight Saturday?" Quinn folded her arms.
Marcy huffed. "Yes."
"Were you or were you not speaking?"
"No."
"Then what happened?!"
Marcy's leg jumped as she tried to keep quiet but everyone was staring at her. "He apologized all right?!"
"Apologized? Apologized for what?" Tina had her gossip hat on.
"For Saturday?" Mercedes added.
"He apologized for everything. Saturday & two years ago." Marcy said.
Mercedes & Quinn gasped dramatically.
"Wait. He didn't apologize for two years ago?" Mike was confused.
"For a genius, your brother's kinda slow." Marcy sniped.
"No wonder you haven't wanted him kissing you."
"I can't get over Mad telling him he had bad breath." She grinned.
"Wait, wait!" Unique waved her hands. "Why were you mad at him? What happened two years ago?"
"Are you telling them about the twins?" Quinn asked.
Marcy sighed. "I gave birth."
The whole class gasped.
"You didn't tell nobody you were a baby mama!" Artie sassed.
"By Mal?!" Sam was in shock.
"Wait a minute! That's impossible!" Tina said. "Mal has a girlfriend."
"They recently broke up." Mike offered.
"Mal cheated?!"
Mercedes nodded. "He did."
"I can't believe it." Tina sat back in a slump. "Mal seems like such a good guy."
"He is a good guy!" Marcy snapped.
Quinn & Mercedes beamed. "Aw! You're defending him again!"
"Aw crap!"
"You know they're not going to stop until you're married." Mike said.
"I gotta get away from them."
"How could you help a guy cheat on his girlfriend?" Unique pouted.
"I ain't got no morals."
"Stop that!" Mercedes snapped. "Yes, she does! They're just in love!"
"Here we go!" Mike, Marcy & Puck threw up their hands.
"Shut up! You're in love!"
"Explain this to us." Blaine said. "If they are in love, why'd he have a girlfriend?"
"Marcy & Mal have been in love since they were two." Mercedes started.
Marcy blushed. "That's not true!"
"Yes, it is! When we first met, you kissed him!"
"Mike kissed me first!"
"On the hand!" Mike sputtered.
"& I kissed him on the cheek!"
"It was the mouth!" Quinn rolled her eyes.
"Cheek!"
"Mouth!" Mercedes & Quinn argued.
"Cheek!"
"Marce, I was standing right in front of you. It was the mouth." Mike had to say.
She sat back with folded arms. "I don't care what you saw. It was my mouth & it was on his-"
"Mouth!" Mike broke in.
Marcy turned away from him.
"Are you giving me the silent treatment now?" He teased.
She crossed her legs & bounced the one of top.
"Come on. Don't be like that." He poked her cheek.
"Are you mad at us, too?" Quinn tried to take her hand but Marcy snatched it away.
"If we say it was the cheek, will you get unmad at us?" Mercedes asked.
"Don't patronize me!" Marcy bit off.
"Come on, BT. Get over your attitude & tell us about you & Mal. We want to understand how a standup guy could cheat." Artie said.
"Mal & I were just family." She dropped her scowl.
"Except you would kiss any time the mood struck you." Quinn batted her eyelashes.
"Shut up."
"Marcy & Mal did everything together. Walked together, got potty trained together, slept together, ate together, played together, everything." Mercedes said. "You didn't see one without the other."
"They shared everything & told each other everything. They went to the same classes & sat together in school. They were two peas in a pod." Mike went on.
"Everyone knew they were going to grow up & get married." Quinn continued. "In fact, when we were in what? first grade, they did."
"Francis O'Conner married us. It's not like that was official." Marcy gave serious attitude.
"It was so cute. One of the teachers at our elementary school got married & when she came back from her honeymoon, she told the kids at recess all about it. The wedding, not the honeymoon. Mal asked her what marriage was & she told him it was being with your best friend forever. He went to Marcy & told her he wanted to be with her forever & she just looked at him." Mercedes said.
"He said he wanted to marry her & she flat out said no!" Quinn giggled.
"Damn, BT. Shoot a man down, why don't you." Artie teased.
"Bite me." Marcy said flatly.
"He asked her why not & she said she didn't know what marry meant so he told her what the teacher told him & she still said no." Quinn went on. "The next day, we had a different set of teachers on the playground with us & one was a man who just proposed to his girlfriend."
"Mal figured out he had to ask her in a different way & he asked Mr. Tract how he proposed." Mike continued. "Mal went to Marcy & got down on one knee with a toy ring he traded his juice box for & proposed to her."
"Aww!" The girls cooed.
"She still said no." Mercedes burst their bubble.
The guys laughed.
"But his exact words were "Please I love you"." Quinn smiled. "She finally said okay."
"Mal remembered everything Ms. Palmer said about her wedding & he told Marcy he'd get everything ready. Next recess, he had a top hat & coat & a sparkly princess dress for her from the toy chest & he asked Francis O'Conner from the sixth grade to do the honors. We even picked dandelions to have for her bouquet." Mercedes said.
"All the kids in the school came to the wedding." Mike laughed. "Francis made up his own rambling vows & they repeated after him, promising to share their toys & to hold hands when they crossed the street & other stuff."
"Then he told them to kiss & Mal laid her on the ground & kissed her." Mercedes giggled uncontrollably.
"All the girls were blushing & laughing while the boys were gagging." Quinn rolled her eyes. "They were so immature."
"I'm sorry but that's so cute!" Tina squealed.
"They're leaving out the part about them getting three way married." Marcy raised a brow.
"Three way married?"
"Quinn wanted to get married cuz she thought it was so romantic & waited on her crush to ask her while Merce asked Mikey. Quinn's crush fell through (he never asked her) so she wanted to take Mike from Mercy. They fought over him until he suggested they just marry each other. Francis married them the next day."
"Big pimpin Mike!" Artie laughed.
"You have two beautiful wives, Mike." Unique giggled.
"Okay, okay." Mike said amongst the laughs. "We weren't talking about us. We were talking about Marce & Mal."
"Their love story is one for the ages & that Ellen girl was ruining it." Mercedes went on.
"She was." Quinn agreed.
"Ellen was a nice girl." Tina protested.
"They liked Ellen as much as we liked Robert." Mike explained.
"Who's Robert?" Artie asked.
"Laura's ex-husband."
"Laura is your sister, right?" Kitty wanted to make sure.
"Yes." Quinn nodded. "She's four years older than us."
"Why did nobody like her husband?" Artie asked.
"Because he was in the way of her & Marc."
"Marc, your brother?" Kitty asked.
"Yes."
"He's with her?! No fair!"
"They're not together." Mike tried not to grin. "They haven't been together in five years."
"But they're going to get back together." Quinn said quickly.
Marcy snorted. "Don't hold your breath."
"What does this have to do with Mal cheating?" Tina demanded.
"Because the four of them are soulmates." Mercedes said as if the senior were slow.
"You & this soulmate kick…" Marcy rolled her eyes.
"It was never going to work with Ellen because Marcy & Jr. are meant to be. It's why he wasn't faithful & why she isn't now." She ignored her.
"Hey!"
"& you've just had these kids with him?" Tina was still in an uproar. "Even though he had a girlfriend?"
"I didn't know he had a girlfriend."
Tina blinked. "I'm so sorry."
"Don't hurt yourself apologizing. I wouldn't have cared. I'm not a good person." Marcy shrugged.
Tina's lips flattened. "Why not?!"
"Why am I not a good person or why wouldn't I have cared? Or why should you not hurt yourself apologizing?"
Tina groaned. "Why wouldn't you have cared?!"
"Let's revisit that I'm a bad person situation."
"You're not a bad person. Mal is your soulmate & you couldn't stay away from each other if you tried." Mercedes rolled her eyes.
"I'm so done with you it's not even funny…" Marcy drawled.
"You said you didn't want kids." Sam said with a pout.
"I didn't. The twins were a surprise."
"Twins?" Blaine perked up.
"A boy & a girl."
"Are you going to have any more?"
"I'm going to try to avoid it the best way I can."
"Aww! Why?!"
"I'm not planning on having any more kids." She shook her head.
Sam was still pouting. "I can't believe you have kids."
"I can't either & they're a year & a half."
"What happened two years ago?" Unique asked. "That you were mad at him for?"
"It was actually a year & a half ago. I just rounded up." She shrugged. "Let's just say I found out about this Ellen girl."
"So who was the other woman? You or her?" Marley asked not unkindly.
"It would be me. We've been… like we are for years but she was his official girlfriend."
"I don't know. I think maybe she was the other woman." Unique crossed her arms. "You've been together for years & were even pretend married. Did you get pretend divorced?"
Marcy cracked a smile. "No."
"See? He was steppin out on you."
"I don't know." Kitty rubbed her hands together. "She was his official girlfriend. That gave her rights that she didn't have."
"Rights like what?" Artie snorted.
"Like dates & with his family & stuff."
"I am his family." Marcy pointed out. "& I don't need to go out to go on a date. I'm more of a at home person anyway."
"Did he give you his class ring?"
"No but he gave me this one." Marcy held up her left hand.
The entire class leaned forward to look at the huge ring.
Mercedes's mouth fell open. "When'd he give you that?!"
"Last night."
"Is it real?" Artie adjusted his glasses.
"Of course it's real!" Unique actually stood up to get a closer look.
"How'd he afford that?!" Ryder wanted to know.
Marcy shrugged. "Don't know, don't care. I just know he gave it to me & I took it."
Mike took her hand. "Why'd he give it to you?"
"For my birthday."
"Is that what he told you?"
"He gave it to me & said "happy birthday" so I assume so."
Mike looked at Puck. They shared a nonverbal conversation about what that meant. Both agreed that Mal had left out what the ring really meant.
"How did you ever thank him for this?" Quinn took Marcy's hand from Mike.
"I kissed him." She said simply.
"Is the ring the reason you slept with him? Because let's face it, we all know you two had sex." Kitty snarked.
"Of course not. I'm not a prostitute. I had sex with him cuz I wanted to. The ring insured I did that thing with my tongue that he likes."
"That lucky bastard! What thing with your tongue?!" Artie called out.
Kitty glared at him.
Ryder, Sam & Finn were blushing while Blaine hid his face & Jake & Puck cheered.
"Artie!" Mr. Shue chastised.
Artie was unrepentant. "I can tell you're skilled with that mouth, BT."
She licked her lips slowly. "Yes, I am."
"Alright, quit it!" Mike tried to cover her up as Puck & Jake made nuisances of themselves catcalling, Artie waved his praise hand & the other guys looking like they were going to fall out, especially Sam & oddly enough… Blaine.
"Find some shame!" Mercedes chided as Marcy pushed Mike away.
Marcy widened her legs & stroked her thighs from beyond her skirt all the way up to it then pushed the red fabric up slightly. Then she brought her hands down her legs again before repeating the gesture slowly.
"Stop that!" Mike pulled her onto his lap & wrapped his arms around her.
"Oh my goodness!" Tina had two bright red patches on her cheeks.
Marley was covering her mouth, her eyes wide.
Unique was fanning herself & muttering, "If only!" over & over.
Kitty glared daggers.
So did Mercedes & Quinn, albeit for a different reason.
Finn covered his face out of respect but couldn't help leaving a tiny opening in which to see.
Puck & Jake were on their feet, whistling, clapping & carrying on.
Blaine was like Unique. He was fanning himself & wondering why he hadn't met her during his bi-curious phase.
Sam had gone completely red & had to remember this was his friend that was doing these dirty things & not a woman he could actually have.
Artie was trying to stand up…
& poor Mr. Shue died & went to not-a-perv hell, where he was forced to continue seeing that display on a loop.
Marcy wiggled to get away from Mike but he was iron clad. "Let me go!"
"Not until you stop it!" Mike snapped.
She continued to struggle until it became clear that she couldn't get away from him without hurting each other. "Fine!"
He waited until she had been lax for a solid two minutes before he let her go.
She sat in her chair with a huff, crossed arms & a slump.
"What would Daddy say if he saw you do that?!" Mercedes reprimanded.
Marcy turned her head.
"Pop & Papa Mike wouldn't like that & you know it." Quinn added.
Marcy scowled.
"What is all this noise?!" A voice yelled from the door. "You don't even make this much ruckas when you're poisoning the American songbook with your talentless yodeling!"
"Sue." Mr. Shue spoke weakly.
"What's wrong with you, Carpet Head?" Coach Sylvester crossed her arms.
"Sue, meet Marcy. Mercedes's little sister."
Coach Sylvester swept into the room & eyed the young mother. "I'm seven time nationals cheerleading coach, Sue Sylvester."
"I don't like you." Marcy barely looked at her.
Mercedes & Quinn facepalmed as everyone else in the room gasped in shock. Mike shook his head as if to say he was officially done trying to curb her behavior.
Coach Sylvester for her part was completely taken aback. "What did you just say?"
"I. don't. like. you."
Not only had she said it but she said it twice!
"You don't know me."
"I've heard enough. From my sisters, Santana, Brittany, Kurt. You're a nightmare for no reason & you get away with more than you should."
"Marcy! She's a teacher!" Mercedes slapped her arm lightly.
"She's not my teacher!" Marcy leaned away from her.
"Be respectful!"
"Respect has to be earned & from all you guys told me, she's earned her way into a strait jacket."
"She's right." Quinn admitted.
Mercedes turned to her with shocked eyes.
"It's true. She made our lives hell here & she's always gotten away with it." Quinn shrugged.
"You might have a point, Moppet." Mike said slowly.
"Face it, you're a whackjob." Marcy told Coach Sylvester.
"Take that back!" The irate blonde yelled.
"Or what? I don't go to this school. You can't do anything to me."
"You do not want to cross Sue Sylvester!"
"Ooh! I'm so scared of the person whose house I'm going to burn down."
"Wait what?" Artie knew he heard that wrong. "How'd we get to that?"
"How are you going to burn her house down? You don't know where she lives." Ryder pointed out.
"I'm sure they have her home address on file in the main office." Marcy said.
"They're not going to let you just look at those." Jake said.
"Have we met? I have a habit of getting people to do whatever I want."
"Why?" Mike asked. "Why do you want to burn down her house?"
"Who said anything about want? It's just something to do." She shrugged.
"You'd burn down my house because it's something to do?" Coach Sylvester glared.
"Just imagine how I am when I'm being vengeful."
Coach Sylvester crossed her arms. "Marcy is it? I don't like that. It's too soft."
Marcy raised an eyebrow. "I have a plethora of nicknames. Puck calls me Mini Mama. Artie calls me Boo Thang. Santana calls me Patti-"
Coach Sylvester frowned. "Patti? Why?"
"Patti LaBelle."
"Can you sing?"
"A little bit."
"She's being modest. My Boo Thang can blow!" Artie bragged.
"Sing something." The ornery coach commanded.
"I don't do requests." The green eyed troublemaker told her what she'd told Artie.
"Why not?" Kitty sniped. "I bet you can't even actually sing."
Marcy rolled her eyes & pursed her lips before going over to the silent band. She whispered her choice in the lead guitarist's ear & his face lit up as he nodded.
She stood in front of the band & opened her mouth. She sang Mamma Knows Best by Jessie J with as much fire & passion as the British singer. Then she went back to her seat & sat down with crossed limbs.
Puck, Jake, Sam, Blaine & a smug Artie already knew how she sounded so they were just impressed with her performance & range. Her siblings enjoyed her performance & choice. Everyone else was blown away.
Since she couldn't give an honest compliment to save her life, Coach Sylvester raised a brow. "Patti fits."
"Wow, that was really amazing." Tina was floored. "Now I truly believe you're sisters."
"Thank you, Korean Fruit. That's the best compliment I've ever gotten." Marcy swung her top leg.
Tina blushed.
"I am your number one fan." Unique uttered.
"Me too." Marley sighed.
"You sound better than she did." Ryder blinked.
"Wow." Finn said it with his whole mouth.
Kitty was a ball of anger.
Mr. Shue blinked multiple times. "What school do you go to? Maybe you can transfer next year-?"
"I already graduated high school." Marcy interrupted.
"Aren't you her younger sister?"
"I graduated early."
"Damn!" Coach Sylvester muttered. "Could have used that!"
"& she was a cheerleader, too." Quinn teased.
Coach Sylvester snapped her fingers.
"You have a really nice voice." Mr. Shue complimented her.
"It's hereditary." Marcy said.
"What do you mean?"
"Your Grandmom, right?" Puck nodded.
Marcy did, too. "Yup. All her talent trickled down to us."
"Your grandmother can sing?" Unique liked the sound of that. A family of singers…
"That's what she files as her occupation on her taxes."
"Who is your grandma?!" Blaine wanted to know.
"Grandmom." Mercedes corrected.
"Christina Barnes." Mike said.
The kids were confused but Mr. Shue knew exactly who she was. "Your grandmother is Christina Barnes?! The real Christina Barnes?!"
"Is there a fake one floating around?" Marcy asked seriously.
"Your grand- she's really-? I can't believe this!" Mr. Shue took deep breaths.
"Mr. Shue, are you alright?" Mercedes was concerned.
"Why didn't you tell anyone you were related to Christina Barnes?" He would have told everyone!
"I want to get by on my own talents."
"Who is Christina Barnes?" Sam asked.
Mr. Shue was aghast. "She's a pioneer! She signed with Motown in 1963 & had four number one hits before going back to Italy & having fifteen top 10 albums in a near row!"
"How do you know that?" Mike was unnerved.
"My mother had her 45s because she was a young woman in the sixties. She played them for me when I was young then one day I was in a music store in the eighties & came across one of her Italian albums. I bought it immediately & we found out that she hadn't stopped making music but American music.
We scoured for her music ever since & when the Internet became big; I was able to download her albums. In fact, I preordered her latest album off iTunes."
"Mr. Shue is a fan." Puck laughed.
"Yes!"
"She'd be glad to hear that." Quinn smirked. "She loves meeting fans."
Mr. Shue couldn't close his mouth. "Meet her?!"
"Of course. She's coming here for Mal's graduation." Mercedes said.
Mr. Shue closed his eyes as he tried to take it all in.
"I think Mr. Shue died." Artie quipped.
"I'm fine. I'm fine." He opened his dazed eyes & tried to center himself. "Is it true though? All the rumors?"
"Rumors?" Mike asked.
"That she's enemies with Aretha Franklin & that she vacations with Sting?"
"Wow. No." Marcy never read gossip magazines so she'd never heard any of that before. "Ms. Aretha is her best friend."
"They just act like they don't like each other because they're such divas." Quinn added.
"& we vacation with Elton John; not Sting." Mercedes corrected.
"Elton John?!" The class leaned forward.
"Don't forget Uncle Phil." Marcy reminded them.
"Who's Uncle Phil?" Mr. Shue was confused.
"Phil Collins." Mike said.
"You're joking! You know Elton John & Phil Collins?!" Blaine gaped. "They're two of the greatest pianists in music history!"
"Uncle Elton had been a fan of Grandmom's before she came to America." Quinn explained. "He liked Italian music & she was a child opera singer. He likes all her stuff."
"So you've actually met them?" Artie was in love with the idea.
"Yes. Many times. They vacation with us. In the case of Marce & Mikey, they spend money on them." Mercedes said.
"Spend money? Why?" Tina was confused.
"She means we're in their wills & they send us money." Mike said. "Part of my inheritance is from Uncle Elton."
"Part of mine is from Uncle Phil." Marcy added.
"Inheritance? With Christina Barnes as your grandmother, you must have some money." Mr. Shue nodded as he thought about it.
The four in front looked at each other before saying, "There's more than that."
"Like what?" Artie demanded.
So they broke it down by grandparent & their legal revenue & then aunts, uncles & cousins. They went over how rich they really were without dropping a number.
"I enjoy Barnes Best." Coach Sylvester had pulled up a chair.
"She can enjoy something?" Mike whispered to his sisters, who giggled.
The coach glared.
"How do your inheritances work?" Tina was still confused.
"We get money from our parents but also the grandparents & any aunts or uncles that want to."
"So how much dough do you have?" Artie wanted to know.
"Artie!" Tina chastised.
"Do you mean when we receive our full inheritances or right now?" Marcy asked.
"You don't have your full inheritances?" Ryder didn't know how it worked.
"What eighteen year old needs billions of dollars?"
"Billions?" Sam looked sick.
"When Grandfather dies, I'm getting at least 3.2." By "at least" she meant legally.
"We get our inheritances in stages." Mercedes explained. "Eighteen, twenty one & thirty."
"On a scale of a house to a jumbo jet, what can you afford right now?" Artie asked.
"Jumbo jets." The foursome said.
"Even though we just bought real estate." Mercedes didn't want to get into their moving for at least another week. She told her siblings in Swedish.
Quinn patted her hand. "This was a big step." She responded the same.
"It is." For the first time in days, Mike addressed Mercedes.
She brightened. "I'll tell them next week. Promise."
"We should go over our pictures & home movies then, too." Marcy said. "I'm not sure how long I'm going to be gone but I know I'll be back by Monday."
"It's a plan. Maybe we can bring them here & they can see our stuff? It'll be fun to walk down memory lane with visitors."
"I think they're called tourists." Quinn joked.
"That was bad. Even for you." Mike shook his head.
"Hey!" Artie snapped. "Switch to a language we know!"
"Sorry." Mike wasn't sorry as he returned to English.
& Artie knew it. "Mmm hmm."
"What do you spend your money on?" Marley felt rude asking but she'd never met anyone with a disposable income.
"I usually spend my money on books or my children." Marcy said.
"Mercy & I shop a lot. We buy a lot of clothes." Quinn added.
"I don't buy too much stuff." Mike shrugged.
"So the money you got is just sitting there?" Ryder asked.
"I've bought some stocks. Marc is really good with that stuff & gave us advice."
"I'm with the wrong person." Kitty shook her head.
"He's rich; he don't want you." Artie waved a hand.
"Is your boyfriend rich, too Marcy?" Tina asked.
"No. He's a working man."
"How come you're not dating a famous man or a rich one?" Unique demanded.
"Pierre's nice. He doesn't need to be rich or famous."
"What about your kids?" Tina wanted to know. "Are they spoiled?"
Marcy thought about it. "I don't think so." She bought them tons of things, often going without so they could have something she wanted them to have but they didn't ask for much. They weren't the type to beg for everything they saw.
"Are you guys spoiled?"
"Totally."
"You said that fast." Artie grinned. "Don't need to think it over?"
"Nope. I know I'm spoiled. Not many people tell me no & I enjoy the hell outta that."
"I think I might be a little spoiled." Mercedes admitted. "Daddy gets me whatever I want & always does what I want."
Quinn sulked. "So what?!"
Mike smirked. "No, I am not spoiled. & they're more levelheaded than they're giving themselves credit for."
"Thank you, Mikey." They chorused.
"How did you stay so grounded?" Tina wanted to know.
"We were taught to have a strong work ethic." Marcy said. "Everyone in our family has at least two jobs. We're not a lazy bunch."
"Plus we were taught the importance of giving back." Quinn said.
"& we know it's just material things. You can't take it with you when you die."
"You said everyone in your family has at least two jobs. Do you?" Blaine asked.
"We used to model & act." Quinn said. "We're thinking of going back to that."
"Except I'm thinking of starting a band." Mercedes said. "I don't mind doing stuff but nothing that interferes with me singing."
"I'm a dancer. At the moment, that's all I care about." Marcy said.
"Me too." Mike added.
"Although I've always wanted to open a shop."
"A shop?" Blaine asked. "Like a boutique?"
"No way. A cookie shop, where I sell all the cookies I make."
"I'd invest in that." Mike said.
"Really?"
"Yeah. Your cookies are that good."
"Do you really mean that or are you being nice?"
"I'm serious. But I'd have to get half priced cookies for life though."
She squealed & gave him a big hug. "You won't regret this! I'll draw up the business plan tonight!"
"Wait a minute! You just decided this just like that?!" Artie gaped.
"I believe in her." Mike shrugged.
"What does she know about running a business?" Kitty raised a brow.
"You really don't want to know the answer to that question." Marcy was sincere. "Let's just say I know how to work, deliver a product or service, advertise, keeps books & handle employees. Plus, Daddy & Papa Mike are businessmen & would assuredly give me tips."
"No to mention Momma Rose has three flower shops in Lima & in four other countries." Quinn pointed out. "& my mom has her own business & Mrs. C is a lawyer."
"Can we make stuff in your shop, Marce?" Mercedes asked.
"Like tarts & pielets?" Marcy wanted to know.
"It'll give me a chance to work on new recipes & flavors."
"That'll be awesome. I was thinking of it being a tea shop, too. Like afternoon tea with all these amazing sweets?"
"Can I make ice cream?" Quinn asked.
"I need ice cream sandwiches." Marcy beamed.
"Oh! Make your peanut butter cookies with banana ice cream!" Mike licked his lips. "That'll be an amazing ice cream sandwich!"
"If we roll it in chopped bacon, it can be the Elvis Presley."
"I'd eat that!" Sam said.
"Ew." Blaine shook his head.
"I don't think so." Artie did, too. "I'm with Mike. I want to taste a fruit cookie with her hot cocoa."
"I can come over next week & bake some cookies for your family. Your mom did say come back any time." Marcy suggested.
"Why can't you come over tonight?" He wanted cookies!
"Wait a minute! She should come over my house!" Blaine said.
"She was at your house two days ago! & I've had her chocolate chip cookies. Right, Finn? They're really good." Sam remembered how good those cookies were. They didn't last the night.
Mercedes thought about it. "How about she visits Sam on Tuesday, Blaine on Wednesday & Artie on Thursday?"
"Why I gotta be last?" The soulful performer pouted.
"Haven't you heard of saving the best for last?" Mercedes chided.
He grinned. "Thanks, Wifey."
"Hey!" Sam & Blaine were offended.
"Let him have this. Please?" She widened her eyes.
Both boys were swimming in milk chocolate with light amber flecks before caving. "Alright."
"You know the party is Friday?" Marcy teased.
"This Friday?" Sam perked up.
"Next. I won't be here this Friday."
"Where are you going?"
"None of your business."
Tina grinned. So she wasn't the only person she said that to! "Yeah, Sam! Mind your own business!"
He sat back with a pout. "I was just asking!"
"Ask me next week." Marcy said.
He lightened up.
"Wow. As much fun as this has been, we've stayed passed our normal ending time." Mr. Shue checked his watch. "Go home, guys. They can tell us more tomorrow."
"I'll def. be sitting in." Coach Sylvester stood.
The others milled around as they tried to stay back to talk to the family.
Marley tapped Marcy on her shoulder. "You're unlike any person I've ever met."
"I believe that." The dancer said empathically.
"I can't believe you never told us about you!" Tina hugged Mercedes fiercely.
"Quinn wanted it a secret." She shrugged.
"Can you spot me a mil?" Artie joked to Mike.
"Never lend money to friends." Mike laughed.
"You're cooler than I thought." Kitty told Quinn.
"Because I have money?" The older blonde tilted her head.
"Because of everything you do!"
"Okay, we have to go!" Puck pushed Mike out. Finn followed behind.
Quinn took Mercedes's hand. "We have to go."
"I gotta go." Marcy hooked a thumb towards the door. "See you in a few days."
The class waved goodbye as they sped off.
"To think, we went to school with them…" Artie smirked.
M&MC
Marcy went to the house to pack the twins' things then walked around to the Changs'. She set the bags on the floor & went to the den, where she figured Mal was.
They needed to talk.
He was there. He'd just put in a video game & was glued to the screen.
She sat next to him. Unnaturally close. "Hi."
He paused the game & turned to face her. "Hi."
"So we should talk…"
He nodded slowly before taking her hand. She blushed. "We should."
They sat in quiet, just looking at each other before she gave an embarrassed laugh. "We're not talking."
He smiled. "I really enjoyed last night."
She smiled as she curled up beside him. "Me too."
He watched her play with his fingers. "But it can't happen again."
She stilled. "It can't?"
"I love you. I don't want to sneak around with you. I want to be with you. I don't want to have to but I'll wait for you."
"Wait?" Her mind was going a million miles per hour. "You're right. Sneaking around is wrong. I have a boyfriend & it's not fair to either of you."
"But that doesn't mean I'm not going to show you how it could be between us. Every chance I get, I'm going to show you how it could be. I plan to woo you slowly, respectfully. You're gonna leave him. I know we're meant to be."
"Uh huh." She smirked as she looked into his face with a lifted brow.
"Our love was foretold." He kissed her hand.
She burst out laughing. "You're so silly!"
He smiled. "So we're good?"
"We're great." She leaned away from him to fold her legs under herself. "I need you to watch the kids while I'm gone. I brought their stuff."
"Gone? Where are you going?"
"Home."
"You're still going home?"
"Yes."
"& you're going to leave the kids with me?" He felt both happy & upset about that. Happy that he'd have his children but upset that he wouldn't have her.
"Yes. I should be back this weekend."
His brows moved. "You're coming back?" He was afraid to hope.
"Yeah." She smiled at him. "I just want to take the stuff that's been accumulating to the house. I had my things sent over today so they should be delivered Friday. We've been here three weeks & we've gotten so much stuff. I don't want to lug a bunch of stuff home."
"So what are you going to do? In Italy."
"Check up on some business. Make sure the house is alright. Check on my dog. Clean the house. Put stuff away. Check up with my friends. Go shopping."
"Go shopping? Willingly?!"
She laughed. "For food. I have none. I'm going to get everything but perishables so when we get back; I won't have to get so much stuff."
"Oh! I was going to say…!"
She laughed again. "I also bought a desktop computer for my desk today. Will you put it up for me?"
"Sure." He squeezed her fingers. "I do have a question for you though. Do you think you'll be back by Saturday night?"
"I could be. Why?"
"I would like for you to accompany me to my senior prom."
"Prom?" She cocked her head.
"Yeah. It's a dance. The biggest dance of the year."
She thought it over. "I'll have to talk it over with Pierre but yes."
"Yes?"
"Yes." She nodded.
He hugged her. "Thanks!"
"No problem." She stood up & let his hand go. "I have to go. My flight leaves soon."
"Want me to walk you out?"
"No, I got it." She picked up her purse.
"Want to see the twins before you go?"
"I want to. Sure. I don't want to leave without saying goodbye."
He took her hand & led her upstairs.
M&MC
Mercedes was sitting on her floor playing with Ozzie & Smith. She was keeping the yellow puppy for her sister & wanted their dogs to get along.
It took Scary Ozzie a while to warm up but Smith was playful & patient.
At the moment, Smith was playing tug-of-war with a bit of rope as Mercedes let him pull it then pulled it back.
Ozzie was barking his encouragement from the sidelines.
Mercedes's phone rang so she let the rope go in order to answer it. At the same time, Smith ripped at the rope with all his puppy strength & didn't anticipate her letting go. He went flying backwards & rolled to the opposite wall.
Mercedes laughed as she answered the phone. "Hello?"
"Cedes!"
"T?"
It was Tina. "I wanted to talk to you. I know you're going to come back & talk to us tomorrow but you're my best friend & I should get first dibs."
"T!" Mercedes laughed again. "It's not dirt!"
"Says you! This is the biggest thing to hit our glee club since Quinn got pregnant!"
"You're crazy!"
"Come on! Give me details!"
"Like what?!"
"Okay, what about Mal & Marcy? I have to know more about that!"
Mercedes scooted until her back was against the wall & settled in for her favorite topic. "It all started when we came to America…"
MarcAn is pronounced MarceAnn while MarcD is pronounced MarkDee.