I didn't upload on Saturday because I was busy then I ended up sick (my niece sneezed on me two days prior). It was ugly yesterday and I'm not even better today. But luckily, there's a pause in the awful grossness I've been feeling and I can come out with a brand new chapter! Yay!
Enjoy and review!
NJPNJPNJP
Mickey pulled on Mercedes's sleeve. "Where's Mommy and Daddy?"
Mercedes's eyes widened. "Your mommy is…-"
"A little sick." Quinn thought up.
Mercedes gave her a look. "Right. Mommy's a little sick and Daddy is trying to make her feel better."
"Did she take some medicine?" Mally demanded.
"She took some last night." She knew that for sure.
Both twins shot up and ran out of the playroom. The adults looked at each other before trying to go after them. The twins were faster and ran upstairs.
Puck, Quinn and Santana ran after them. The twins raced into their parents' sitting room and burst through the door of their bedroom.
"Mommy!" They yelled.
"Guys!" Mal shushed them but it was too late. Marcy stirred.
"We're sorry!" Puck, Quinn and Santana apologized. "They got away from us!"
"It's okay." Marcy shifted away from Mal and reached down to pick the twins up one at a time. She set them between her and Mal.
"Mommy, you have to take medicine." Mally told her.
"The purple kind. It tastes the best." Mickey added.
Marcy smiled tiredly (her medicine made her sleepy). "Thank you. I've already taken some."
"Do you want soup? You make us soup when we feel sick."
"I'm not hungry, honey."
"It's been a while since you ate." Quinn lectured. "You should eat."
"Q,-"
"No, you need to eat. You were always such a bad eater."
"Q." Mal chided. "Lay off. Maybe she wants to go back to sleep?"
"And she can. After she eats." Quinn didn't care.
"You are so bossy."
"Mal,-!"
"Babe." Puck wrapped an arm around her. "How about we make her something and she can just eat on it?"
Quinn thought it over. "Well, as long as she eats something. Get something in her."
"Yay, Queen Quinn has decided." Mal snarked.
"Mal." Marcy patted his hand.
He narrowed his eyes at the Brit.
Quinn narrowed her eyes back. "Do you have a taste for anything?"
"Not really." Marcy shook her head. "But my stomach's unsettled so maybe some toast?"
"I got you, Mini Mama." Puck swore. "You know I'm a master at making toast."
"Thanks, Puck." They were about to leave when she spoke up again. "Can I have more tea?"
"What kind do you want?" Quinn picked up the empty mug.
"Can you mix blueberry and passion fruit?"
"Yes."
"Thank you."
Quinn kissed the side of her head and threw Mal a glare before leaving with Puck and Santana.
Santana waited until they were halfway down the steps to ask, "So what's up with you and Little Chang? That was pissy even for you guys."
Quinn frowned. "She's always had a weak appetite. She only overate when stressed or nervous or not paying attention. Any other time, she picked at her food."
"Isn't that against being Italian?" She smirked.
"It is strange. Plus she's a picky eater. She doesn't like most foods and only eats them because she has stomach pains."
"How did she get- what's that word Mama says? curvy? How'd she get all those curves?" Puck asked.
"You came up with the Neeson ad but you can't remember curves?" They made it to the ground floor.
"What does that mean? Where are the twins?" Mercedes looked for the duo.
"She put them in the bed with them. We're going to make her lunch." Quinn explained.
"Oh, she's hungry?!" Mercedes was pleasantly surprised.
"Wow, she don't eat, huh?" Puck's brows lifted.
"Huh?"
"Q was telling us how she doesn't eat a lot and Puckerman wanted to know why she was so thick if she ate like a bird." Santana explained.
"She's a nervous eater." Mercedes said. "A stress eater. She was never stick thin but around seven, she started eating a lot. It was mostly fruits and veggies but you'll still gain weight by eating a garden."
"Fruit and vegetables got her thick?!" Puck couldn't believe it.
"She ate meat and bread, too. A lot of dairy. Cheese is a killer."
"Wow. How much did she gain from her pregnancy if fruit and stuff can pack on the pounds?"
"She only ate apples and peanut butter. Breakfast, lunch and dinner. She gained only ten pounds."
"Was that healthy?"
"No."
"Why didn't she eat more?"
"Why does she never eat more?"
He was stumped. "She wanted me to make toast but now I'm thinking you should make her something more. Q was right; she needs to eat."
"I can make her a cheese plate." Quinn shrugged. "It'll help her nibble."
"I never got that." Artie spoke up. "I get that it's a plate with cheese on it but why do people like it so much?"
"Oh, Artie." Mercedes put a hand on his shoulder.
"What?"
"Artie." Quinn shook her head.
"What?!"
Puck shrugged. He'd never even heard of a cheese plate.
"I'll tell you later." Santana promised her boyfriend.
"That's all I ask." He pushed his glasses up his nose. "So if we're not stuck watching the Bernstein Bears, can we go to the den and watch something fun?"
"Please?" Puck begged.
"Go." Mercedes sighed.
"Thanks, Mama!" Puck kissed her cheek.
"Thanks, wifey!" Artie rubbed her belly. Puck got behind him and pushed him to the den.
The girls shook their heads.
"What was that about?" Laura's voice came from behind them.
Mercedes screamed in happiness and hugged her older sister. "Laura!"
"Hi, Mercy!" Laura hugged her. "Get over here, brat."
"I'm not a brat!" Quinn didn't want to hug her now.
"Just give me a hug."
Quinn hugged her although she wanted to call her a few names.
"How are my nephews?"
Mercedes smiled. "Still making me throw up. How's my nephew?"
"He's good. I'm no longer throwing up and my skin has finally cleared."
"I see!"
"Where's my baby?"
"Weren't you just with him?" Quinn sniped.
"Don't push me, Lucille!"
Quinn glared daggers.
Laura flipped her hair. "Where's Marcy?"
"In bed." Mercedes answered. "We were just going to make her a cheese plate for lunch."
"I'll help."
"Let's go. Maybe she'll be hungry by the time we finish?"
"Yeah right." Laura snorted.
"Dang, she really don't eat!" Santana's brows raised.
Laura, Quinn and Santana walked towards the kitchen while Mercedes went to the silent Mike. "Did your errand calm you?"
"A little. I have to get everyone else so it'll be more opportunities to fully calm myself." He glared down at his feet.
"I understand. I feel helpless, too."
"Yeah. I don't know what to say or do to make this right for her. I never do. She's always in pain."
Mercedes wiped away a stray tear and wrapped her arms around his neck. "She is. And I don't understand why this world seems so hellbent on breaking my baby sister. She was innocent and- and everything has seemed to make it its mission to destroy her. Why?"
Mike kissed her tears away and hugged her tight. "We're going to dig in deep and form a barrier around her. If life wants to kick her, it'll have to go through us."
"Are we strong enough to fight her demons? She doesn't seem to be."
"We are. She is. She just can't fight them on her own."
"She'll never be alone. Not again."
"Never again." He agreed.
She laid her head on his chest. "I should go help make her food."
"Maybe you should guilt her into eating?"
"Mikey…"
"Not a lot. Just a little. Remind her that Mickey is watching her relationship with food."
"That is a good point though."
"I'm just saying."
"Okay. You go watch TV with Noah and Artie. They're in the den."
"Alright. Come see me whenever you want some of this." He kissed her.
She smiled against his lips before moving back slightly. "Dirty man."
"You know you want some honey."
"Ooh, honey! We can drizzle honey over bleu cheese!"
"And I've lost her…" He swatted her backside and walked off.
She glared at his back before going to the kitchen. "Hey, guys! Have you started without me?"
"I boiled her water for tea but I can't find the agave." Quinn looked through the cabinets.
"Isn't it in the pantry?" She hooked a thumb at the doorway.
"Ah!" Quinn ran out.
"She didn't think to look in the pantry?" Laura shook her head with an eye-roll as she sliced cheese into small squares.
"Stop it, Laura. We bought it yesterday and everything is a blur." Mercedes went over to her and looked over what the blonde was doing.
"You bought it yesterday?"
"Yeah, we had to go grocery shopping for her. She had no food."
"Momma Rose didn't tell me much. She just said it was drastic. It sounds drastic."
"Did Mikey tell you what's been going on since this morning?"
"No."
By the time Mercedes finished telling Laura what happened, Quinn was back and finishing Marcy's tea.
"I'm not surprised."
"What?!" Mercedes, Quinn and Santana yelped.
"I'm older. I notice more things. A quiet person turning nearly silent? That's a red flag. A finicky eater bingeing? That's a red flag. She's cold blooded but wore sweaters in the summer."
"So you knew she never stopped? And you didn't say anything?!" Quinn couldn't believe it.
"I didn't know how to help. I just remember that case worker saying that Marcy had one more time to end up in the hospital and they were taking her away."
"It's not your fault, Laura." Mercedes whispered.
Laura brushed away the lone tear. "That doesn't matter. We're taking this one step at a time. Starting with lunch. Here. Cut these meats."
Mercedes didn't want Laura to feel guilty (even though she felt guilty herself) but did as commanded.
In the end, they had uniform bite-sized slices of deli meats, hard cheese, a wedge of soft cheese, grapes, sliced apples, blueberry-lemon jam, Soy-Nut butter, pretzels, spinach dip and water crackers.
Laura put the actual wooden board on a tray with napkins and a spreading knife. "Come on, Quinn. Bring her tea."
Quinn went to the freezer and got the cold mug. Together, they took the spread upstairs. Quinn knocked. "Hey? It's us."
"Come in." Mal called out.
Quinn opened the door and they came inside.
Laura put the tray on the nightstand and moved the books there out of the way. She sat on the bed and swept Marcy's hair back from her face.
Quinn set her tea down. "She's asleep again?"
"You know how it goes when you first start taking them." Mal nodded. "She's going to be sleepy for months."
Quinn sighed. "When she wakes up, tell her we're downstairs and we can do whatever she wants."
"Alright."
Quinn left.
Laura watched Marcy sleep. "How are you doing?"
"She's the one who needs help." He knew she was talking to him.
"But I'm asking you." She looked at him.
He sighed. "I'm stressed out and worried. And feeling so guilty."
She nodded and returned her gaze to the slumbering eighteen year old. "How are they taking this?"
He looked at the twins nestled between him and his fiancée. "They don't know. They think she's sick."
"She is."
"Laura,-"
"She is. I read up on suicide. The last time she was hospitalized. It really freaked me out and I prayed so hard that she wouldn't end up like this but the truth is that it's a disorder. Being actually suicidal is a lifetime thing. It doesn't go away. You just suppress it."
Mal didn't want to hear that. "Damn."
"The thing is, she's going to be fighting this every day of her life."
"She's fighting everything every day of her life."
"I know."
"When is she going to catch a break?"
"Probably never."
He looked at her heartbroken.
She cupped his chin. "The world may not care but we do and we're going to surround her with our love and support. She'll never have to fight alone."
"Not anymore." He nuzzled Marcy's cheek with his nose.
"Not anymore." Laura stroked her other cheek with her finger.
Marcy breathed deeply and opened her eyes. "Lady?"
"Hey, honey. How're you feeling?"
"Tired."
"You look tired."
Marcy smirked. "Thanks."
"Not getting any sleep gives you bags, dear."
"I'll just use some cucumbers."
"If you went to the spa, they'll give you all the cucumbers you want."
"We were supposed to go to one today."
"I heard. I blame Quinn."
Marcy grinned. "Did she bring my tea?"
Laura nodded. "Yes. It's cold as ice."
Marcy sat up and scooted so her back was to the headboard.
Laura handed her the mug and she drank. "How does that even taste? You know I've never been adventurous with my diet."
"It's good. Fruity. Really round flavor."
"Ooh! Round?"
Marcy chuckled. "Yes, round."
"Let me try." She pried the cup from Marcy and took a sip. She didn't care too much for cold tea but it was actually quite delicious. "Wow. I like it."
"Let me try." Mal held his hand out.
Laura gave it to him and he drank it. "Somehow, it tastes round."
"It does. This tastes better than wine."
Marcy beamed and took her mug back. "When'd the twins go to sleep?"
"A few minutes after you. I think they're worried."
Marcy ran a hand over Mally's head of (returned) curls. "This will blow over soon and I can tell them I feel better."
"Will you though?" Laura pressed.
"I'll lie if I have to."
Laura nodded. "Marc and I talked today."
"You did? When?"
"While I was in the air."
"Did you talk about me or did you talk about something worthwhile?"
"Marcy,-"
"You know what I mean. Did you talk about your relationship and your son?"
"Yes, we did."
"So what's going on?"
"We've come up with a truce. We promise not to fight."
Marcy sighed. "I guess that's better than nothing. How long are you staying?"
"For a while. I'm really near my due date."
"Was it safe for you to fly?"
"I don't know. I just know I needed to get to you."
"Thanks. You're thinking of having Quad here?"
"I know he will be born here. I'm not leaving until you don't need me anymore."
"I don't want to hold you up from your life."
"All of you guys are my life."
Marcy set her cup on the nightstand and scooted down in bed as she yawned. "Thank you, Laurie."
"Aren't you going to try to eat?"
"I'll eat later."
"Come on." Laura cajoled. "At least eat some fruit."
"No. I just want to lay here." She closed her eyes.
"Marcy, wake up. At least eat an apple slice."
"I don't wanna."
"Too bad. Sit up and eat an apple slice." Laura pulled at her.
Marcy sat up, grumpy. She snatched the slice from Laura and nibbled. She finished it and reached for another.
Both Laura and Mal were happy.
Marcy finished three slices before laying down again. She yawned and closed her eyes. She was fast asleep in seconds.
Laura sighed. "At least she ate something. How about you? Are you hungry?"
"Not really." Mal couldn't worry about food.
"Not you, too. I'll make you a sandwich."
"Are you sure you should be on the stairs and you're so pregnant?"
"I can make my baby brother a sandwich." She stood up and went to the door. "When she wakes up, make sure she eats more."
"Yeah." He scooted down himself and wrapped his free arm around his almost wife.
Laura watched the four for a few seconds before leaving. She was the big sister and she was going to make sure they thrived. It was her job.
MMC
Mike walked into the kitchen. "Guess who I got."
"Marc!" Mercedes and Quinn threw themselves into his arms.
"How are my girls doing?" Marc hugged them.
"Stressed out and worried about Marcy but good." Mercedes told him.
"How are my nephews?" He put a hand on her stomach.
"Starting to kick."
"Starting?"
"Yeah, they wouldn't kick at first. I can't believe I wanted this."
He smiled. "I'm sorry, Sis."
"It's okay. At least I know they'll be athletes."
"Yeah, you got a footballer and a basketball player."
"At least I'll be able to cheer them on."
"Good girl." He turned to Quinn. "Got any new info on Beth?"
"Shelby sent us another letter. Beth's almost finished with preschool and she's inviting the whole class to her birthday party." The blonde gushed.
"So she has a lot of friends?"
"Everybody likes her."
"That's my niece."
Quinn beamed.
Marc let them go and went to Laura. "How are you feeling?"
Laura inclined her head. "I'm feeling alright. How are you?"
"I'm good."
Mercedes's and Quinn's mouths fell open.
Mike shut them. "We're watching fútbòl in the den."
Marc kissed Laura's forehead. "Hey, Santana." He waved before following Mike out.
"What was that?!" Mercedes and Quinn demanded.
"What was what?" Laura sipped her tea.
"Why were you so polite to each other?" Quinn spelled out.
"We're mature adults. We can be polite."
"Is this the road to reconciliation?" Mercedes hoped.
"Mercy,-"
"Please?! Just say you'll think about it!" Mercedes pressed her fingers together and pouted.
Laura sighed. "Fine. I'll think about it. Now grab this mug so we can take Marcy her tea and tell her Marc is here."
Mercedes dutifully grabbed the full large mug and walked behind Laura. The duo, Quinn and Santana went upstairs. They knocked on the door and peeked inside.
Marcy and Mal were still on the bed with the twins but Marcy had her eyes closed while the twins explained some made up game to their father.
"Hey?" Laura led them inside. "Is she asleep?"
"No." Marcy answered.
"Hey, sleepybear." Laura went to her and felt her face. "You're burning up."
"I'm hot."
"Good. Did you finish your tea?"
Marcy turned her head and peeled open her eyes as she reached for the heavy clay mug. She peeked inside. "Yeah."
"We brought you another." Mercedes set the blue one in her hands on the nightstand and took the green one from Marcy.
"Thanks."
"You haven't eaten much." Laura noted.
"I'm not really hungry. I have a headache."
"Because you aren't eating."
Marcy gave a tiny sigh and turned her head slowly, tiredly.
"I want you to eat at least a third of this plate by the time I come back up here."
"Bossy witch…" Marcy muttered.
Quinn laughed.
Laura glared at both. "You, eat! You, shut up!"
Quinn stuck her tongue out before kissing Marcy's unusually warm cheek. "Have a nice nap, Sis."
"Do you need help going down the stairs?" Santana asked, concerned.
"Quinn will help me." Laura floated out.
Quinn made faces at her back and followed behind.
"Wheezy?" Santana offered.
"Just a minute." Mercedes wanted to say this in relative privacy.
Santana went to the door and closed it nearly all the way. She totally eavesdropped.
Mercedes switched to Spanish so the twins wouldn't overhear. "How are you feeling?"
"I'm fine, Mercy." Marcy looked at her. "Why is everyone acting like I have cancer?"
"Don't put that in the universe!"
Marcy rolled her eyes.
Mercedes's lips moved silently before she continued speaking. "I can host Lady if you want peace. I mean Momma is already here-"
"It's okay. The twins have their space, Rou and Yuri have theirs, we have ours and if we really need the room, we'll bring Rye in here and set up cots in her room."
Mal grimaced. "How's she doing anyway?"
"Momma has her in the laundry room with her." Mercedes replied. "She's doing all of our laundry now. It's a little embarrassing cuz we've slacked on our household duties ourselves. You should see the boys' clothes."
Marcy chuckled. "Not that I'm trying to work her but I know she's got to feel useful. She said she missed getting grass stains and blood out of our clothes."
"I surely don't miss getting them in!" Mercedes sassed. "I'm not playing another sport ever again!"
"So no more tennis?"
Mercedes stilled. "Um…-"
"No more volleyball?"
"But-?"
"No more basketball?"
Mercedes opened her mouth.
"No more dancing, swimming, karate or ice skating? No more skiing?"
Mercedes waved her hands. "Alright! I get in! I can't drop all sports!"
"Just the ones you don't play?"
"Nothing's wrong with you…"
Marcy smiled. "Where is everybody? I haven't seen Mikey since breakfast."
"He's downstairs. He and the guys are watching soccer. Guess what? Marc's here!"
"Where's Karou and Yuria?" Marcy wasn't fooled.
Mercedes chewed on her bottom lip.
"Tell me, Mercy."
"They disagreed and Yuria left. No one's seen her since this morning. Karou is in her room sulking."
"What was the disagreement over?"
"You." Mercedes reluctantly answered.
"Me? What about me?"
"This!" Mercedes couldn't believe her. "This situation!"
"What situation?" Marcy was clearly confused.
"Marcy, you're hurting yourself! They argued about that!"
Marcy scoffed. "Really?! Why?!"
"Because they both care about you and it's getting to them!"
"For what?! It's not a big deal and it doesn't concern them! Nothing even happened!"
"Marcy, your arms look like stitching!" Mercedes grabbed one.
Marcy ripped it away. "And it's my problem!"
"Actually-" Mal interjected. "It's our problem."
"Why are you trying to have a fight while I'm in the middle of a fight?"
"You cannot think your actions don't affect other people. You just cannot."
"It'd be different if I was doing something to you but I'm not. It's about me. It's my life and if I want to end it, that's exactly what I'll do!"
"That is the most selfish thing you've ever said."
Her mouth fell open and she sat up. She threw her legs over the edge of the freshly made bed and got up.
"Where are you going?!" He sat up, too.
She ignored him and snatched up her phone before throwing the door open. She raised a brow at Santana's caught face. "What are you doing?"
"Uh…" Santana stammered.
"Move."
Santana hopped out of the way.
Marcy stalked to the closet and slammed the door.
Mal followed her and banged on the door after finding it locked. "Marcy, open this door! I'm serious! Marcy!"
Mercedes went to him and put a hand on his back to calm him before knocking gently on the door. "Marcy, please let's just talk. Please?"
The door wretched open and Marcy was there in sweats and converses. "There's nothing to talk about. He said what he had to say."
"So what's this?" Mal indicated her attire.
"What does it look like, asshole?" She pushed past him and left the room.
He stalked behind her as Mercedes, Santana and the twins followed. Marcy stomped down the stairs and crossed the condo to get to the front door.
"So you're just going to walk out?! How is that different than what I did to you?!" Mal shouted.
"Don't worry. I don't plan on killing myself today." She slammed the door behind herself.
He pulled the door open. "You're such a crazy bitch!"
"You're a childish cunt!" She skipped down the steps.
"I'm not staying here while you go off!"
"Get the fuck out!" She jogged to the door.
"When you come back, I'll be gone!"
"Don't let the doorknob hit you!" She slammed that door behind herself, too.
He roared in anger before herding the twins back in and slamming the door.
"Mal?" Mercedes went to him as he paced in a furied circle.
"If she thinks this is over,-!" He was shaking.
"I know." She hugged him.
He broke away. "I need a drink…"
Mercedes picked up Mickey and held Mally close to her side. "Stop crying, babies. Everything will be alright. Shush now."
"Wow." Santana murmured. "I understood the language and I still don't get what just happened."
Mercedes blew out a breath. "Can you take them to my mother? I gotta get Marc and Mikey to talk to him before he does something he regrets."
"Well he called her a "crazy bitch" to her face and said he was leaving… Would that count?"
"Tana,-"
"I know. I know. Not funny. How much of that do you think they picked up?"
"Why would they understand any of it?"
"I've been trying to teach them some Spanish."
"Really?" Mercedes finally faced her.
"Just a little bit. She's good at colors and he's good at numbers."
"Like in every language. Wow."
Santana took a wailing Mickey from Mercedes and held out her hand for Mally. "Come on, kid. I'm taking you to your abuelita."
"Thanks." Mercedes put her hands on her lower back and stretched before going to the den. Laura was not going to like this.
MMC
"Would you slow down?" Marc shook his head. "You're going to be plastered and I'm not going to take care of a belligerent drunk."
Mal narrowed his eyes but tipped his tumbler back.
"Mal!" Mike snatched it out of his hand but Mal simply upturned the decanter. "Would you stop?!"
"Give me that!" Marc ripped away the bottle.
"You have no idea what it's like!" Mal wiped his mouth.
"What what's like?"
"Being with her!"
"We get it. There's Laura and Mercy-"
"That is not the same! That is not the same! Mercy is as sweet as sugar and never disagrees with anything!"
"That is not true!" Mike refused to let him think that.
"Oh yeah?! What's your biggest argument?"
Mike sputtered as he tried to come up with something. He stopped. "I can't think of anything."
"Laura and I argue all the time." Marc snorted.
"Because you provoke her!" Mal spat. "If you had just opened your mouth at her and Robert's wedding, you'd be on your second kid and never have another problem!"
Marc's jaw dropped as he looked at his youngest brother in utter betrayal. "How dare you?!"
"You could have had her but you wanted to be strong and tough! You couldn't let her tame you so you pushed her away and she found somebody else!"
"Hey! You don't know what you're talking about!" Marc's color rose.
"You're so damn proud! I'm trying my hardest to tell the woman I love I love her but she doesn't want it! want me! I hate you!"
"She does want you." Marc ignored everything else Mal said.
"She repeatedly states how her mind was altered during pregnancy. She threatened to leave me and then tried to walk out. She just told me to get out. She's trying to kill herself to get away from me!" His voice broke.
Puck and Artie looked at each other completely wrecked for him. His brothers looked away but they couldn't let him think Marcy was trying to escape him through death. Because she wasn't. Right?
Artie leaned forward from his chair. "Come on, Mal. You can't believe that. BT doesn't avoid people she doesn't like. She's in their face."
"Yeah, Mini Mama don't care about if someone likes her or not. She's not trying to get away from you." Puck added.
Mike facepalmed as Mal threw his head back and yelled. "Good going, guys."
"It didn't come out right, did it?"
"No. Mal, you're making this personal. Have you asked her why she wants to kill herself? If she wants to kill herself?"
"No." Mal answered sullenly.
"Then how can you talk to her and you don't know the facts?"
"So if Mercy started cutting and said she'd kill herself if she wanted to, you wouldn't freak out?"
"I'd kill her for even thinking about it." Mike frowned.
Mal made a face that clearly said, "duh!".
Marc huffed. "You're too close to this. We all want to jump in her face and make decisions for her because she said something we don't like but she's in charge of herself. We can't make her do anything. She can do what she wants."
"Not if I have her committed."
"Mal, that's not funny." Mike said.
"I'm not laughing. She'll be safe."
"And hate you until she dies." Marc pointed out.
"She'll get over it."
"When does she get over anything? Especially something as serious as having her committed? Which you can't do anyway."
"We're getting married next Saturday. I'll have the right then."
"Are you seriously trying to get her sent away?" Artie felt very apprehensive about this.
"I want her alive."
"She would never marry you if she heard this." Mike pointed out.
"Don't tell her…"
"If you think I'm going to let my sister enter a marriage with someone trying to lock her up, you're crazier than she is." Marc shook his head.
"It's life or death, Marc. Do you really want her to kill herself?"
Marc sighed. "Of course not."
"Then there's no other option."
MMC
"Hey."
Yuria turned around. "Hi."
Marcy slid into the booth opposite her. "Did you clear your head?"
"You followed me?"
"Wasn't hard."
"I don't know. I think so and then I'll remember something else and go into a tailspin. How long have you been following me?"
"Well they just told me you left so I checked every place I know you go when upset. I found you in Renaldo's sketching new designs."
"That was two stops ago. Why approach me now?"
"Just wanted to make sure you were all walked out."
"Did she send you to find me?"
"Would that make you feel better?"
"I know that game, Marceline Anne. It's hurtful."
"I realized that as soon as I said it. What I meant was; I'm sorry to say she didn't."
Yuria's eyes dropped. "Oh."
"I haven't seen her since earlier so she could be regretting whatever she said."
"You don't know what's been said?"
"No. Mercy just said you argued about me. This." Marcy stuck out a covered arm.
Yuria nodded before burying her face in her arms as she laid on the table. She spoke.
"You know I can't hear you."
Yuria lifted her head to reveal tears. "I don't know if I can do this."
"Do what?" Marcy took her hands and rubbed them to warm them.
"I love Karou. I do but she just doesn't understand."
"Understand what?"
"Us. Where we've been. She doesn't understand how you can be unhappy. She suspects it may be attention based."
Marcy was quiet for a while. "My cousin has been very blessed. Not financially (although she's very wealthy) but because she hasn't had much strife. I'm glad that she's had an easy life. She doesn't know what we've gone through and can't conceive it. I'm glad that she can't even imagine some of the crap we went through. It means she's innocent."
"Weren't we?"
"I-I don't know. I've been going to therapy for two years and I still feel like this evil monster. It's hard to undo all that we were taught and shown by this world. We know what it's like to be alone and lonely. To not be alone and wish you were."
Yuria shuddered. "I keep thinking about those times and I just want to break down. And I can't even do that because I'm so used to holding it all in."
"I understand. It gets to be so much that you allow yourself ten minutes to cry and you end up not shedding a tear."
"How are we supposed to live with that?" Yuria sniffed to keep from fully crying.
"I don't know. I'm terrified to go to sleep but staying up just gives me time to think. I think about the past so much and then I look at my kids. My beautiful, innocent, sweet kids. And I think about how I'm leaving them in this world. And it terrifies me. I get so scared, I have panic attacks."
Yuria turned her hands over and began stroking Marcy's. "You'll always protect them!"
"Not if my rubberband snaps. I'm really so very tired of living. Every day is a struggle. But if I don't live, who'll protect my babies?" Marcy closed her eyes briefly.
"I will." Yuria promised. "I will fight and live as long as they need me."
"Thank you, Yuria."
"You're very welcome, Marceline Anne."
"But you have to talk to Rou."
Yuria withdrew, literally and figuratively. "No."
"I didn't say snitch on yourself. Just tell her that you two believe different things on this issue but you don't want it to come between you."
"I do love her." Yuria wavered.
"She loves you, too. She's just hotheaded and reacts to things more than she should."
"Would you remember that about Mal?" Yuria gave her a knowing look.
"How do you know-?"
"You didn't let me walk to tire myself out. You needed to clear your head, too."
Marcy sighed. The worst (best) thing about going through hell with someone was it made you as close as close can be. "Fine. He just reacted and got angry. I guess I can forgive him."
Yuria looked around. "Are you hungry? I'm suddenly starved."
Marcy chewed on her bottom lip. "I do want some meat. I think I'm starving myself."
MMC
The door opened and Yuria shuffled inside. Karou was asleep on the bed so she set her things aside and climbed into the bed beside her.
Karou took a deep breath and her mind recognized the scent. She threw her arm over Yuria and pulled her close before her brain realized that not only did she recognize the scent, it was Yuria. Her eyes popped open. "Where have you been?"
"A lot of places." Yuria answered honestly.
"You just left and didn't check in!" Karou sat up.
Yuria did, too. "I know."
"How could you do me like that?!"
"You didn't call me either." Yuria pointed out.
Karou looked away.
"Look-" Yuria took her hand. "I'm sorry we fought. I'm sorry I walked out. I'm sorry I snapped at you."
"Really? It took you all day to realize that?"
"It took Marceline Anne."
"Marcy? Did you go see her-?"
"She found me."
"Outside? She went outside?!"
"Yes."
Karou let that go in favor of asking, "So what does this mean?"
"That I hope you can forgive me and we can put this all behind us."
Karou smiled and melted. "Of course. I love you."
"I love you, too." Yuria hugged her.
"I'm starving. I haven't eaten since breakfast. Want to go to the kitchen?"
"I'll watch you eat."
That's so weird. Karou shrugged and got up. "I'm craving eggs. Breakfast for dinner?"
MMC
Marcy sat on the bed and picked up her stone cold but not freezing cold tea. She sipped it before setting it aside and sitting with her back to the pillows.
The door opened and she turned to view Mal entering. He snorted. "I see you found your way home."
"We need to talk." She pulled her legs up to her chest.
"What? Are you threatening to leave me again? Going to tell me how you don't love me? Want me to write your suicide note?"
"Are you drunk?" She frowned.
"You'd like that, wouldn't you? Pin everything on me so you look like the golden child?"
"You need to lie down and sleep that off. We can talk tomorrow."
"No! Let's talk now!"
"I'm not going to have a serious discussion with you while you're hammered. Go to sleep."
"I'm not the boss of you. You're not the boss of me."
"Fine. Stay up. But I'm not going to stay here for this." She got up and walked past him but he caught her arm and swung her around.
"No, you listen to me! I have done everything, everything for you! I have begged and pleaded and done anything you've ever asked and all I wanted was for you to love me! But you're too selfish to love anyone! You don't even love yourself!"
She pressed her lips together in order not to gasp at those hurtful (maybe accurate) words. "Let me go."
"So you can run?! No, you're going to stay right here and listen to me!"
"Mal, let me go."
He shook her. "I have feelings, too and you always stomp all over mine like I don't exist! I'm tired of it!"
"We can talk about it when you're sober. Let me go."
"You're not listening to me!" He shook her again.
She broke away from him and pushed him. He fell back onto the bed. "Do not make me right. You spent your whole life proving me wrong. Don't make me right."
He laid there and ran his hands over his face.
The door slammed open and both came to attention. Rose stood there in anger. "Malcolm Benjamin Chang Sr.! have you lost your mind?!"
"He didn't hurt me." Marcy turned back to Mal. "At least not physically."
"What? What? No, Marc and Mikey told me that you want to commit my daughter!" Rose pointed to Mal, who was sobering up fast.
"What?" Marcy looked between them. "Commit me? Commit me to marriage?"
"No, sweetie. Commit you to a hospital."
Marcy stared at Mal, who was silent.
"Marc and Mikey said he wanted to marry you so he could commit you."
Marcy maintained eye contact with Mal. He said nothing so she did. "You're not going to deny it?"
His eyes lowered.
"You should stay with the guys for a while."
"Marce,-" He stood and tried to approach her but she backed away.
"Please go. I don't want you around the kids and you reek of alcohol but you can visit when you've sobered up tomorrow."
"I-I'm sorry-"
She shook her head slowly. "Just go."
Her calm, emotionless voice sobered him up more than sleep ever could. He didn't know what to do. He wished he'd gone to bed when she first told him to.
Rose pulled Marcy to her as Mal walked out. Marcy walked out of her loose embrace and closed the door softly. "Are you okay, honey? Do you need to talk or-?"
"I'm tired. I'm going to put the twins to bed then I'll go."
"I can do it. It's no problem."
"I need to do it."
"Okay." Rose didn't know how to fix this for her.
Marcy opened the door. "Where are they?"
"Playing in their playroom. We fed them already. They haven't had their bath."
"And Riley?"
"She's awake. It's not time for her feeding yet. She's still upset about not being around you. She's in her room."
"I'll feed her after I put the twins to bed." Marcy moved to leave the room but stopped, still not facing her mom. "Thank you for telling me. I'm glad you're here."
Rose wished she knew what to say. The last statement was something she longed to hear for so long but she hated that the first statement was needed.
Marcy walked out of the room then left the suite of rooms quietly.
Rose sat on the bed and sighed. What was her family going to do?
Next time on This Life I Lead… Mercedes expresses concern of her relationship with Mike as Marcy and Mal talk through their issues.