Mercedes trudged downstairs after putting on her clothes for the day - a flare skirt dress with purple Jordan's & knee high socks. She went to the den to wait for her siblings.

She encountered the twins watching TV. "Hey, babies. What are you watching?"

"Sofia!" Mickey shouted.

"Sofia? Who's Sofia?" She sat down.

"She's a princess."

Mercedes tickled her. "Princess? Is she pretty?"

Mickey thought about it. "I prettier."

Mercedes laughed. "You sound like Tia Quinn."

Mickey just smiled.

Marc walked in. "What are you guys watching?"

"Something about a princess named Sofia." Mercedes answered.

"Princess stuff. I don't miss that." He sat down.

"You're just mad you're not a prince."

"I could be a prince! Nobody ever gave me the chance." He sniffed.

"Laura gave you chance after chance but you kept refusing!"

"Boy, that sounds familiar." Marcy said by the door.

Marc ran a hand over his hair. "Not this again! What happened between me & Laura was not my fault! What are you wearing?!"

Marcy walked in with an orange gingham shirt on & a pair of blue jean shorts that put the shorts from last Friday to shame. She also wore chucks with a dragon on them, her moon necklace & her ring. "Let's fight now."

"You're not going outside like that. Period."

"I don't have to go outside." Marcy plopped on the couch. Mally crawled into her lap.

"You're wearing panties." Marc accused.

"Of course I am."

He frowned. "Go upstairs & change!"

"Into what? All I have are pajamas left." She played with Mally.

"Where are all your clothes?!"

"In the wash."

Marc sighed. "Fine. But you can't leave the house."

"I'm not going anywhere." Marcy put her feet on the coffee table.

"What time are the others coming over?" Marc asked Mercedes.

"Um…" She checked her watch. They could hear the front door open & slam shut. "Now."

Mike & Mal walked in. "Hey."

"What's up?" Marc threw up a hand.

"Hey." Marcy didn't take her eyes off TV.

"Hi." Mercedes waved.

Mike went to her & lifted her out of her seat & took her spot. He set her on his lap & encircled her waist with his arms. "How was breakfast?"

"It was okay. Momma has a wedding so she left early." Mercedes kissed him. "How was your breakfast?"

"Maddie's excited for the last day of school." He lifted a shoulder.

"She's also excited about camp." Mal moved Marcy so she was sitting with her back to the arm rest & opened her legs to sit between them. "Are you not wearing pants again?"

Marcy tried to snap her legs closed but he was in the way so she settled for slapping the top of his head. "I'm wearing shorts!"

"Where did you buy those things? I see everything!"

"Stop looking!"

Mickey crawled onto her father's chest & laid on him as he made himself comfortable on her mother.

Mercedes took a picture. "When do you think Laura & Quinn will be here?"

"Any minute." Marcy sighed before just lying back & readjusting Mally & Mal so they wouldn't interrupt each other's space.

"Hello, hello!" A voice called out.

"Should have said second."

Laura & Quinn entered the den. Quinn went to sit on Mercedes's lap while Laura sat at Mal's feet on the couch. "What are we watching?"

"Sofia the First." Marcy said.

"What's that about?" Quinn asked.

"An eight year old's mom marries the king so she's a new princess. She has a new dad, sister & brother & it's about her life trying to be royal. Plus her dad gave her a necklace that has powers & when she's in trouble, Disney princesses come to the rescue."

"I think I'll like this."

"Me too." Mercedes decided.

"So no princes?" Mike teased.

"There's plenty of princes. Like her new brother, James." Marcy took him at face value. "You'll like him."

"He must be bad." Laura curled up.

Mike growled at her.

Marc laughed. "We've been in here for a while. I haven't seen anything good."

"You've been talking." Marcy took the remote & pressed rewind so it would start from the beginning.

"Pause it." Laura sat up. "We need snacks."

"Great idea." Marc pointed to her.

"Get chips, dip & juice." She waved a hand.

He looked at her sourly.

M&MC

"Those shorts are really short." Laura said as she snapped green beans.

"I don't have any other clean clothes." Marcy huffed as she fried bacon.

"Do you want me to do laundry?"

"I can do it. I'll have to do it soon because of glee & the festival.

"Are we up to performing?"

Mercedes sliced cucumbers. "We should be. It's not the first time we have performed & it won't be the last."

Quinn sliced radishes. "Are you sure? With us in different countries, this might be our last festival."

"Don't say that in front of Maddie. She'll flip her lid." Marcy drained the bacon & began chopping it.

"She's going to have to get used to not seeing us but we have to make the effort to come see her." Laura dumped all the green beans into a pot & salted them before adding pepper & water & putting it on the stove next to a pot of eggs.

"It depends on if we get regular jobs." Marcy scooped her bacon bits into a bowl then cleaned her mess.

"She's right. Regular jobs don't allow for time off. We might even have trouble with Christmas & New Year's." Mercedes put all her cucumber slices in a bowl.

Quinn added her radish slices to the bowl. "We won't get regular jobs then."

"Easier said than done. Money." Marcy checked on the seasoned boiling chicken breast.

"We have money."

"That we have to live off for three years." Mercedes reminded her as she pulled out the spring mix.

Quinn pulled the eggs off the fire. "You have a good point but we can just model until we find what we want to do."

"Are you still going to work in my shop because I'll give you time off." Marcy diced the chicken.

"Are you absolutely sure you want to open a shop?" Laura sliced strips of bell pepper in various colors.

Mercedes poured an amount of olives into a small bowl. "We'd understand if you didn't want to or you changed your mind."

"I really want to do this." Marcy burned her finger on the chicken & put her digit in her mouth. "I can literally see it. & it'd be good to own my own business. Daddy does."

"Maybe we should invest so we can own a business, too?" Quinn diced the hard boiled eggs.

"How about you open your own shop in a few years?"

"Why a few years?" Mercedes asked as she poured the spring mix into the large salad bowl.

"So you can see how it goes with me. If it's too hard, you'll know & won't waste your money. If you think you can hack it after me, you'll know what to do."

"She has a good point." Laura waved her knife.

"Yeah." Mercedes set the bowl on the table & came back to slice red onion.

Quinn finished with the eggs & put them in a bowl. "Okay, we'll wait a couple years but then I'll open an ice cream shop. With all the gelato shops, I'll be a novelty."

Mercedes smiled. "I'll love to open a pie shop. It'd be amazing."

Marcy put all the diced chicken into a bowl & went to check on the rolls. "What about you, Laura? Are you going to open a cake shop?"

Laura wrinkled her nose. "I was thinking of opening an interior design office. I've done a few jobs this past year so I know what I'm doing & I have experience but I want to set up a brick & mortar."

"So you're not going to get a museum job as an art buyer?" Marcy asked.

"I'm going to try but if it doesn't work out in three months, I'm going to set up shop then I'll go back & do it again after I'm established."

"Solid plan." Marcy took the rolls out.

"Will you be happy?" Mercedes started chopping carrots. Quinn snuck a carrot stick.

Laura put her pepper strips on a plate. "I like design. It's my degree & I worked hard for it. I better be happy!"

Marcy snickered. "I'm sure you will be."

"What about you, Mercy? How are you going to juggle working & the shop?"

"I figure I can study in the morning or afternoon & go to the shop the other part of the day. I'll work whenever I get the chance." Mercedes shrugged. "I'll be busy but hopefully not too much. I still want my band."

"What kind of band?" Quinn asked.

"Well, I have Puck. We need a drummer, a bassist, maybe a keyboard player? It's going to be just like Grandmom."

"So you're going to have your own in-house band?" Laura wanted to make sure. "With you out front singing by yourself. Like Ms. Aretha."

"Yup!" Mercedes put the carrots next to the peppers.

"Maybe you can ask Grandmom for help? I know you want to do it on your own but that's the point of connections; using them."

"I don't know." Mercedes chewed on her bottom lip. "I don't want to be known as Christina Barnes' granddaughter."

"They're going to find out anyway. She's your grandmother. If you get any type of fame, they're going to find out." Marcy shredded cheese.

Mercedes grabbed croutons. "You may be right."

"Of course I'm right."

Mercedes thought about it. "She'd like for me to be a singer. She's always encouraged me."

"You know? people are going to know you're Rosie Taylor's daughter." Quinn pointed out.

"Like anybody even remembers her." Marcy scoffed.

"You don't know. Mr. Shue remembered Grandmom."

"Like a dog with a bone but his mother is the reason why. Just one woman."

"Marcy, stop being mean." Laura scolded. "& it doesn't matter if people know about Grandmom or Momma Rose. They're going to love your talent, Mercy."

"Thank you, Laura." Mercedes hugged her.

"I'm not mean." Marcy was offended.

"Are you going to talk to Momma Rose?" Laura set her hands on her hips.

"About what?" Marcy wrinkled her nose.

"About everything."

"No. That wasn't the deal. I said I'd stay until the festival & when it's over, I'm gone. Period."

"I think you need to talk to her."

"I don't want to talk to that woman."

"Not for her. For you. You need to get things off your chest."

"Does that even remotely sound like me?" Marcy stopped shredding to look at her.

"You're more British than I am." Laura shook her head. "This is going to bite you in the butt."

"Well I got a lotta butt for it to bite."

Laura sighed. "You need to talk…"

"Are you going to talk to Marc?" She shot back.

"About what?!" Laura recoiled.

"About what happened all those years ago. About your feelings for him. About how your entire marriage was just a holding place for him."

Laura burned. "Shut up."

"I thought so. Get off my back."

"Fine. Be that way."

Mercedes didn't want her sister to bite her head off but… "Maybe you should talk to him? You already admitted that you still love him to Johnny."

"No." Laura refused.

"Why are you so stubborn?" Marcy bit off.

Laura looked at her slowly. "What did you just say?"

"You heard me. You don't have a man, Marc's there for the picking & you're just sitting here like you're getting younger."

"I'm only 22!"

"That's old enough to not be with your one true love." Quinn muttered.

"He is not my one true love. I can find someone else."

"Here we go." Marcy threw up her hands.

"Don't you have a boyfriend?" She snapped.

"I got with Pierre before I forgave Mal. I couldn't just throw him to the side because I wasn't mad at somebody else."

"Aren't you just stringing him along?"

"No! I like Pierre! He's a good man & I deserve to be with him. I think." Marcy shifted the cheese to a large bowl.

"Of course you deserve a good man. It's just that Jr. is a good man. You deserve him. That's all."

"I can't be with Mal until I figure out things. It wouldn't be fair to him or me."

"But it's fair to Pierre?" Quinn asked,

"With Pierre, I have things figured out. I don't need to think anything over. I have a clear cut plan with him."

"So it's easier to be with Pierre?" Mercedes guessed. "No confusion like with Mal?"

"Yes." Marcy nodded.

"I guess that's fair. You don't have to be in a confusing relationship."

"As much as I want you with Mal, I think I get it." Quinn said. "It's one of the reasons I didn't break up with Sam when Finn started showing interest in me again."

"Oh joy." Marcy exhaled.

Quinn hit her arm. "What are you trying to say?!"

"I don't want to cheat on Pierre anymore. I'm trying really hard not to."

"What happened with Ellen last night?" Mercedes wanted to know.

"She wasn't happy but she wasn't as upset as when we got there. I don't know where we stand or if we'll even hear from her again."

"Do you want to hear from her again?" Laura started taking dishes to the table.

"I don't know. She's confusing, too. I don't like that."

"Well the good news is that there are just two days until we leave." Mercedes helped take food to the table.

"I can't wait. There are too many emotions wrapped up in Lima. Italy is easier. A simple life. Busy but simple. I know where I stand with everything in Italy." Marcy started cleaning up.

Quinn got dishes down. "It's called closure. You need it."

"& I'm getting it."

"Boys?! Lunch is ready!" Laura called out.

Quinn grabbed a bottle of wine. "I can't wait to eat. I'm starving."

"Do you think we eat too much?" Marcy drained the green beans & put the pot on the table.

"We have healthy appetites. That's considered a good thing."

Marcy grabbed dressing from the fridge. "It just seems like we're always eating."

"We're Italian." Mercedes shrugged as she grabbed sesame seeds & sunflower seeds.

"What'd you make?" Marc walked in with Mike, Mal & the twins on his heels.

"A salad bar." Laura put chopped ham & chopped salami on the table.

"Okay." Mike kissed Mercedes's cheek. "Sounds good."

"I made your rolls." Mercedes hugged him. "Now you can stop being mad at me."

"I was not mad at you." Mike was offended.

"Yes, you were. I could tell."

He kissed her. "Well you made them. That's all that matters."

M&MC

"Mal." Mercedes touched his foot with hers. He looked over. "Are you going to glee with us?"

He looked at her. "What? No."

"Why not?"

"Why would I?"

"Because you're invited!"

He chuckled. "Nah, I'm fine."

"Please, Mal!" She sat up. "We'd love to have you there!"

"I don't want to sing in front of people."

"You don't have to sing." She poked her bottom lip out & widened her eyes.

"Then why would I go?"

Marcy laughed. "Because all their friends want to gawk at you."

"One, they're your friends, too!" Mercedes bit off.

"I don't know those people!"

"You know Kurt & Santana & Brittany & Finn & Puck & you like Jake & probably Ryder & Tina & I know you're good with Blaine, Artie & Sammy."

"That's a lot of people…"

"You like Unique & Marley, right? Can you stand Kitty?"

"She's harmless." Marcy waved a hand. "Alright, so I don't hate those people. Doesn't mean I want to hang out with them."

"Be nice. We're trying to convince Mal to come to glee; not get you out of it."

"Well let's use your argument. He knows Puck & Santana & he's cool with Artie, Blaine, Finn & Sam after Friday night & he's met Jake."

"Yay. Thank you. You know almost everybody, including Tina, who wants to see you." Mercedes said. "Let's just go & hang out."

"Why would I want to?" Mal still needed convincing.

"Because you have nothing else to do." Quinn pointed out.

"I do have kids…" He said flatly.

"They can come, too."

He raised an eyebrow before looking at Marcy. "They want to see the kids, don't they?"

"Yup." She took a sip of water.

"Why?"

"Truth?" He nodded. "They're a bunch of weirdoes & you don't want to meet them."

He laughed as Mercedes steamed silently. "I should check them out."

"Quinn! Why aren't you offended?" Mercedes demanded.

"They are a little weird." Quinn shrugged.

"Little?" Mike was barely paying attention & he caught that lie.

"Fine. They're super weird."

Mercedes had her mouth open as Marc & Laura laughed. "How so very rude!"

Marcy smiled. "Everyone's friends are weird. Everyone's weird."

Mercedes sighed. "I guess I'll take that."

"We should go." Mike pointed to the clock. "We're going to be late."

"Why are we always late?" Quinn, who was sprawled across Marc, didn't feel like moving.

"Because we never watch the time." Mike stood up.

"Okay, get up." Mercedes got up & clapped her hands. "We have to go."

"I'm regretting my decision already." Mal moved from between Marcy's legs.

"You're going to put something else on, right?" Marc led.

Marcy sighed & rolled her eyes. "I don't have anything dry."

"Merce, do you have a dress for her?"

"Actually, my clothes are dirty, too." Mercedes said sheepishly.

"Mal, you must have a sweater,-"

"Why would I have a sweater in June?" Mal snorted.

"Mike? You live in hoodies."

"I have this one." Mike gestured to the black hoodie he was wearing.

"That'll work."

"Can I wear your hoodie, Mikey?" Marcy huffed.

Mike took it off & gave it to her. "Sure."

She put it on & zipped it up. "Come on. Let's go before he finds something else for me to wear."

"Ready for your first glee meeting, babies?" Mercedes asked the twins.

"What glee?" Mickey asked.

"It's singing. Like how Sofia does."

Mickey giggled. "I want to sing!"

"Then come on!"

M&MC

"We're so late!" Mercedes ranted.

"We're only five minutes late." Marcy tugged at Mike's hoodie.

"Why'd you stop for tea?!"

"Why'd you buy one?" Mal shot back.

Mike kissed Mercedes. "It'll be okay. We're not that late. They'll understand."

Mercedes smiled. "Okay. But no more distractions!"

"Blah, blah, blah." Marcy sipped her tea/juice.

"Come on here!" Mercedes stalked down the hall. "T's been calling me & I swore we were on our way."

"We're down the hall." Marcy made sure the twins were still following them. They were, holding onto their cups as they gazed at their surroundings.

"I can't believe you made us late. You hate being late."

"It helps that I don't care about these people…"

Mercedes looked back at her face that was entirely guileless. "I'm going to pretend you didn't say that."

"But I did."

"La la la la la!"

"Are you two?"

"Mal was right! You drive people to violence!"

Marcy laughed. "At least I have drive."

Mike laughed. "She's going to kill you."

"Bring it, Chuckie!" Marcy wasn't scared.

Mike & Mal oohed as Mercedes stopped in her tracks. "What did you just call me?"

"Chuckie. As in Scardy Cat Finster. As in you." Marcy kept walking.

Quinn giggled. "Are you alright, Mercy? You look like you're sick."

"We're no longer friends." Mercedes started walking again.

"We were never friends." Marcy sipped her drink.

Mercedes gasped.

"You're killing her." Mike stopped at the classroom.

"She'll be okay." Marcy stopped, too.

"How can you say that?!" Mercedes finally sputtered.

"Astonishingly simple."

"Now you know how I feel." Mal said.

"It's hurtful! We're talking about this after glee!" Mercedes went into the classroom.

"Cedes!" Tina called out. "You're here!"

"Marcy stopped for juice." She went to the table that boasted five chairs instead of the regular four.

"I did." Marcy walked in with the others. "Kill me for being thirsty."

"Hi, Mal." Tina waved.

"Hi, Tina." He nodded.

"What's up, Mal?" Puck hitched his chin.

Finn waved. "Hey, Mal."

"Hey." Mal said.

"Little Chang." Santana drew attention to herself.

"Santana."

"Hey, Mal." Artie, Blaine & Sam said in unison.

"Hey, guys."

"Hey." Jake performed the same move as his brother.

"Hey, Jake."

Mr. Shue stood & shook his hand. "I'm Mr. Shue. Welcome to glee club."

"Thanks. I'm Mal."

"Mal, this is Brittany." Mercedes pointed to the blonde first. "Unique & Marley. Kitty. Ryder. Rachel & Kurt."

"Hello." Mal raised his cup.

"This is the band." She pointed to the band members.

"Hey."

"Can we meet the kids now?" Brittany was excited.

"Sure." Marcy set down her cup & picked up Mickey. "This is my little princess, Mickey."

"This is my mini me, Mally." Mal put his hand on his son's head.

"They're so cute!" Tina gushed.

"They look just like you." Sam looked between the kids & their parents.

"Thank you." Mal & Marcy chirped.

"Well have a seat & we can begin." Mr. Shue waved a hand. "I thought Sue would be here but-"

"You're not wrong, Carrot Top." A voice said from the doorway. Sue Sylvester walked in & took a seat.

"Mal, this is Coach Sue. Coach, this is Mal." Mercedes introduced them.

"Nice to meet you." Mal said.

"You would think so." Marcy muttered.

Coach Sylvester glared at her. "I heard that."

"Is it cuz you're a bat?" Marcy said it so seriously; everyone just stared at her for a second.

Puck started the laughter. "Yes!"

Coach Sylvester scowled as other people started laughing. "Can it, Puckerman! You're lucky you graduated!"

"But I did & I'm free." Puck didn't care what she said.

She bared her teeth at him then glared at Marcy. "I was promised children."

"Hold your horses, Rumplestilskin. I'm not giving you my children to eat." Marcy was actually serious & it made the others laugh harder.

"I don't eat children! I'm not a witch!"

Mercedes slapped a hand over her sister's mouth. "We know that. Meet Mickey & Mally."

"What kind of name is Mickey?"

Marcy moved Mercedes's hand. "What kind of name is Susan?"

"How did you guess-?"

"I didn't."

"How do you know-?"

"Guess."

Coach Sylvester's eyes widened. "You couldn't possibly have gotten my private records!"

Marcy lifted a brow.

She sat back in her chair. "How?"

"They call me Shadow."

"That's what I named her horse." Mike sat down.

Quinn pulled at him. "No. We have to sit in order."

"Forget that. Let's go back to this horse business." Artie waved a hand.

"I bought her a horse for her birthday." Mike let Quinn pull him up.

"You didn't!" Sam blinked.

"Rich!" Artie threw a hand out towards the Asian. "Buy me a horse!"

"To do what? look at?" Marcy lifted a shoulder. Puck laughed.

Artie didn't care. "He can pull me in a sled!"

"Sit here." Quinn put Mike at the end of the table then guided Mercedes to sit next to him. She blushed.

"You should get a miniature pony. I think you could ride that. Kinda slowly & maybe difficultly but you could do it." Marcy let Quinn push her to a seat next to the end.

"You really think I could ride a horse?" Artie was shocked.

"I said a miniature pony."

Quinn sat Mal at the end then sat in the middle.

"That's so cool." Artie marveled.

"Have you ever ridden a horse?" Sam asked.

"No. Just the ones at the supermarket."

"Those were fun. Riding a horse, a real horse is the best."

"Too bad you couldn't bring in any of your trophies or ribbons." Artie looked to the Fabanges.

"They're all in Italy." Mercedes said. She looked straight at Artie so she wouldn't look at Mike. This was why she always had Marcy between them! So she wouldn't be tempted to hang all over him.

It didn't help that he was slowly tracing his initials into her thigh with his pinky… "When you visit, we'll show you." Mike said evenly.

"Can't wait." Artie rubbed his hands together.

Mickey turned to Mal & reached for him. He took her. As soon as he did, Mally put his arms up so Marcy would pick him up. She did so & let him sprawl on her crossed legged lap.

"They're the cutest babies I've ever seen!" Brittany squealed.

"Thank you." Mal & Marcy said in unison.

"You want to see something really cute?" Quinn asked, excited to show off her niece & nephew.

"Yeah." The class replied.

Quinn got up & picked Mickey up. She took her to Puck & gave her to him. Everyone watched as Mickey made herself comfortable on his lap before Quinn leaned in to kiss him. Mickey pushed Quinn away.

Laughter erupted.

"Looks like you've got competition, Tubbers." Santana crossed her arms.

"What's she saying?" Unique asked.

"Mine." Puck remembered the word. "She's branded me."

"That's so cute!" Tina giggled.

Marley noticed Mal's scowl. "I don't think her daddy thinks so."

"He'll live." Quinn leaned in to kiss Puck again but Mickey still pushed her away. "I'm the one unable to kiss my boyfriend."

Jake tickled Mickey under her chin. "How can you be mad at the little angel?"

Mickey giggled & ducked her head.

Puck scowled. "This is my little sugar cube. Go find your own!"

"You already have Ms. Lady as your mother. Let me have the baby!" Jake snapped.

"Let's get this straight; I don't look at Mama as my moms! That's gross!"

Quinn smacked his shoulder & put her finger to her lips before picking up Mickey. "Neither of you deserve her." She looked around before making a decision. "Here, Sam." She put the baby in his lap.

"I haven't held a baby in forever." Sam didn't know what to do with his hands.

"Like you would a football." Marcy instructed.

"Mine, Mommy?" Mickey asked.

Marcy's "yes" overrode Mal's "no".

Mickey took the yes & stood on Sam's lap. She wrapped her arms around his head & kissed his nose.

Sam's heart melted. "Aww!" The girls joined in. "Hello, lil darlin."

"Sam, what did we say about that word?" Marcy warned.

Sam blushed. "Sorry. How about I call her cherry?"

"Why does everyone want to eat my kid?"

Sam laughed. "She's perfect like a cherry."

"She likes you." Quinn laughed at Mickey getting comfortable on his lap.

"Surprise, surprise." Marcy uttered under her breath.

Mal crossed his arms. "Can I have my kid back?"

"Want to go back to Daddy?" Quinn asked her.

Mickey looked up at Sam before blowing him a kiss & nodding.

Quinn picked her up & walked back to the table to deposit her on Mal's lap. Then she sat down herself.

"What were you speaking just now to her?" Artie asked.

"Italian. It's all they understand."

"They don't know English?" Tina wanted to make sure.

"Nope." Quinn shook her head.

"They're little foreigners." Santana awed.

"Aren't you foreign?" Marcy narrowed her eyes.

Santana merely lifted a shoulder.

Mally patted Marcy's leg & pointed at Santana. "Pretty, Mommy."

"I know." Marcy got an idea. "Come here, Santana."

"Why?" Santana narrowed her own eyes in suspicion.

"Just come here."

Santana got up & came over to the table. "What?"

"To this side." Marcy deadpanned.

Santana huffed before coming around the table. "What?"

Marcy set Mally on his feet then grabbed Santana's hands & pulled therefore making her bend over.

"What are you doing?"

Marcy clicked her tongue & inclined her head.

"You're being weird- ow!" Santana straightened.

Mercedes's mouth fell open. "Did you just tell him to spank her?!"

"I never said a word." Marcy pulled on Santana's hands again.

Mally jumped up & smacked Santana on her rear.

"Ow!" It didn't hurt Santana as much as startle her. She ripped her hands from Marcy to cover her bottom. She straightened.

"I can't believe he spanked her." Tina was in stupefied awe.

Puck, Jake & Artie laughed & hollered. "Whoo!"

Santana glared down at the little boy that was leaning against Quinn with no remorse. "Who did he get that from?"

Mal looked at Marcy & coughed.

Marcy punched his arm. "I didn't teach him that!"

"Out of the two of us, who would smack a girl-?"

"Me all day." She interrupted.

"Smack a girl on her behind, Violent!"

"Humph! You!"

"I would not!" He was offended.

"Mal, think about our number one argument."

"How much you love me?" He was honestly confused.

"Below your delusions."

His mouth worked as his brain figured it out. "He does get it from me!"

The guys laughed.

"I'm sorry, Santana. I'm going to teach him that that isn't a very respectful thing to do to a lady."

"What did I say about apologizing for stuff you didn't do?!" Marcy snapped.

"I'm being responsible!"

"You're being the chump in a ponzi scheme…"

He reached out to pinch her cheek. "I'm not a chump."

"I'm the one who made her bend over, knowing what would happen. I did it on purpose. If anyone should apologize, it should be me!"

"Then apologize." He sat back.

"I'm not doing that." She refused.

"Why not?" Santana demanded.

"I did it for a reason. I wanted to see it happen. If I apologized, it would be saying it was a mistake & that's just not true. It also could be said that I regret it & that's just not true either."

"I wanna live like Mini Mama." Puck nearly squealed with childlike enthusiasm. "With no regrets!"

"Or inhibitions." Mal drawled. "Or concern for other people."

"Are you calling Ms. Lady selfish?" Jake was offended on her behalf.

"She is!"

"I am." Marcy affirmed.

Puck laughed. "I remember at the park when he called her selfish & she basically said duh."

"All over her favorite drink." Mike tsked.

"Second favorite." Marcy reminded him.

"Right. Your top five drinks are pineapple soda at number five-"

"Yay! I introduced you to that!" Tina was excited. Marcy smiled. "What was number five before then?"

"Pineapple juice." Mike, Mercedes, Quinn, Marcy & Mal said in unison as if it were common knowledge.

"Why?" Ryder asked.

"Have you had sex yet?"

"Marcy!" Mercedes was embarrassed by proxy.

"If you've ever had (good) sex with a girl, you would know why I drink pineapple juice." Marcy shrugged.

"She's right." Santana went to sit down.

Tina was bright red & wanted to get passed this line of discussion. "What's number four? Of your favorite drinks?"

"Vodka." Mike said. "Number three is whiskey. Number two is apple juice."

"So juice & alcohol?" Blaine shook his head. "I'm scared to know what number one is."

"Water."

The class looked at him dumbly before looking at her. "Water?!"

Marcy picked up Mally before he could go exploring. "Yes."

"You like water more than anything?" Artie couldn't believe it.

"Yup."

"Well I've heard of everything."

"That reminds me; did any of you think anything weird was going on today?"

"Any of us?" Artie was confused.

"Them." She pointed to her siblings.

"Anything weird like what?" Mercedes asked.

"Between Marc & Laura."

She thought it over. "She was nicer to him after lunch."

"Yeah, she didn't even get mad at him when he said she squawked." Mike realized.

"Wait. What are you saying, Marcy?" Quinn furrowed her brows.

"I'm saying I think they're glad we're gone." Marcy said.

"What do we have to do with-?" Mal's eyes widened. "No way!"

"You can't mean-" Mercedes stopped.

Quinn squealed. "Yes! Yes! Yes!"

"Hang on!" Mike was the voice of reason. "We don't know for sure."

"Oh come on! They were clearly happy when we left!" Marcy said.

"We get on their nerves! They're always happy when we leave!"

"That may be true but I bet they're up to something!"

"Like what?" Sam piped up. He & the rest of the class were in the dark.

"Why can't your sister be nice to your brother without it being weird & what does that have to do with being glad you're gone?" Artie's mouth fell open. "Are you saying- what I think you're saying?"

Marcy nodded. "I bet money they are!"

"They are what?!" Kitty snapped.

"How can we prove they are?" Quinn asked.

"Let's just call the house." Mike suggested.

"No way. They could just say they didn't hear it." Marcy shook her head. "We gotta call Maddie."

"Maddie?" Tina was confused. "Why would you call Maddie?"

"Because they're supposed to be picking her up. If they have her, I'm wrong. If she's still waiting, I'm right & I want money!"

"Nobody's giving you money, banker!" Mike frowned. "Just call Maddie. They're not doing anything."

"You're so wrong!" Marcy brought out her phone & called Maddie & put her on speakerphone. "Mad?! Can you hear me?!"

"Yeah. It's just windy." Maddie said. "I hope it dies down by the festival."

"Where are you?"

"School. Marc & Laura are late picking me up."

Marcy started dancing in her seat. "Have they called or texted? They haven't just left you there, have they?"

"No, Marc texted that he'd be here soon."

"Okay. Just wanted to make sure you're safe."

"I am. I'm not alone."

"Okay, we'll see you in an hour."

"Bye!"

"Bye." Marcy ended the call. She turned to Mike. "Told! you!"

"They- they could-" He tried. "Oh alright! They're up to it! What are we going to do about it?"

"I say we play it cool. If they know we know, I know they're going to stop, you know?"

"I can't pretend not to know!" Mercedes clasped her hands together. "She knows me & I know her. She's going to know I know & I know she's going to flip out that we know!"

"She doesn't have to know we know." Quinn pointed out. "Just don't act like you know & she'll never know. You know?"

"What's so wrong with letting them know we know?" Mal demanded. "They're always in our business."

"We got to think of the big picture, Mal." Marcy sighed. "Don't we want them together?"

"Is that what they're doing?" Sam asked. "Getting back together?"

"In a manner of speaking."

"Why couldn't they get back together with you around?" Ryder didn't get it.

"Ew!" Mercedes, Quinn & Marcy wrinkled their noses as Mike & Mal stuck their tongues out.

"Why is that ew?" Finn was lost.

"Because they're having sex." Puck rolled his eyes.

Quite a few jaws dropped.

"Just because they wanted you out of the house & they're late picking your sister up?!" Sam was incredulous.

"Yes!" Quinn snapped.

"Couldn't they have gotten a flat tire?" Ryder couldn't close his mouth.

"Both know how to change tires." Mercedes told him.

"& it doesn't take that long. Five minutes tops." Marcy checked her phone for the time. "They should have gotten Maddie by now."

"Wow." Tina uttered. "& you think they're getting back together?"

"Or at least on their way." Mal said.

"It explains why they didn't leave when we did." Marcy added.

Mike shook his head. "You know they're going to deny it."

"But we know!" Mercedes whined.

"I know but they can't know or you know it'd be over before it started."

"& we'll be back where we started." Marcy added.

"Which is convincing them they need to be together." Mercedes sighed.

"How are we supposed to act?" Quinn asked. "We know & we can't act like we don't."

"Why not?" Mal wanted to know.

"Because then they'll know we know! Keep up, Mal! What's the first thing we'll say when we see them?"

"Hi?" Marcy suggested.

"No! We'll smile & give ourselves away because they know us & we know them & they know we know them!"

"Just chill out. So what if we know? Unless they say the magic words, it doesn't mean anything."

"Magic words? What magic words?" Blaine was a step behind.

"We're back together." Marcy quoted.

"Well instead of having sex, they could be talking." Mike pointed out.

"That conversation would take longer than this weekend let alone the time before they pick up Maddie. They'd have to leave her there all night."

Quinn groaned. "She's right! A talk that big would take forever! We're not on that kinda timetable."

"Alright, fine. They're having sex & Marcy's right. We can't act like they're back together because they're not. At least not yet." Mike said.

"I got it!" Mercedes cheered. "We have to leave them alone!"

"Nobody want them!" Mal scoffed.

Mercedes rolled her eyes. "At the festival! We have to keep leaving them alone. So they can talk."

"In public?" Marcy couldn't see that happening.

"You can have a private conversation in a crowd."

"You never know who's listening."

"Probably nobody."

"Possibly nobody."

"Stop being paranoid!"

"I'm not Mikey!"

"Hey!" Mike snapped.

"You are wearing his sweater." Quinn pointed out.

Marcy played with the zipper. Mally took his straw out of his mouth & took it from her, unzipping the sweatshirt a little. "I am."

"Why are you wearing a sweater?" Artie asked. "It's hot as hell."

"Marc wouldn't let me out the house without it."

"What aren't you wearing now?" Puck smirked.

"Shut up! I'm wearing clothes!"

"I hope you're wearing another dress like Monday." Jake grinned.

"You're a dirty boy."

"Oh yeah."

Marley looked at him.

"But I'm getting better."

"**"

"Marcy!" Mercedes pushed her shoulder.

"What?! He is!"

"What did she say?" Jake wanted to know.

"I called you a kiss-ass."

"That's not nice, Ms. Lady." He wagged a finger.

"She's not nice." Mal said.

Marcy slapped the back of his head. "I am nice, idiot."

"You are the meanest person I've ever come across."

"You must only know Mercy & Mikey."

Quinn's mouth fell open. She coughed into her fist. It was dead quiet so she did it again. It was still silent so she hit Marcy. "Hey!"

"Hey." Marcy leaned away from her.

"What are you trying to say?!"

"That you're the meanest person I've ever come across."

Mal's shoulders moved as he laughed.

Quinn could strangle both. "You get on my nerves! I'm going to get you back!"

"For what?! Telling the truth?!" Marcy kept an innocent face.

Quinn hit her again. "Be glad you have my adorable nephew on your lap!"

"That's not stopping you from talking to me." Marcy said with a straight face. "Talk about your punishments."

Artie's mouth fell open & he laughed loudly. "Bwahahaha!"

Quinn turned red. "I'm done talking to you!"

"That's what she wanted." Mal pointed out. "You're just giving in. Punish her. Talk to her."

"Mal!"

"I said her!"

"Stop torturing me!" Marcy hit his shoulder. Quinn pinched her. "Ow!"

"Mercy, make them stop!" Quinn turned to Mercedes.

Mercedes looked at Mike, who was smiling down at his lap. Was she the only mature one? She rolled her eyes, shook her head & kissed her teeth before looking at her younger siblings. "Stop messing with her. You know it drives her crazy."

"Oh, just take your twin's side!" Marcy threw her hands up.

"Marcy!"

"We don't like you anyway, you frou-frou, sensitive-!"

"Marcy?!" Mercedes was a little hurt.

"Don't cry! It takes the fun out of teasing you!" Marcy frowned.

"I'm not crying! & stop teasing us! It's mean!"

"You are crying & as you & the uptight like to keep saying I'm mean."

"You're not mean; you're bad!"

"I'm not bad! You're bad!"

Mike fell out laughing.

"Just not as bad as him!"

Mike couldn't stop chuckling. "Why do you have to turn on everybody?! You're like a junkyard dog. You bite everyone."

"Did you just call me a bitch?"

"That's not funny." He stopped laughing.

"You're so uptight! I am a bitch."

"Stop that! No, you're not!"

"She kinda is." Santana shrugged.

"Tana!" Mercedes gasped.

"She's a bad bitch. No shame."

"Truer words have never been spoken." Mal muttered.

Marcy pushed him & he almost fell off his chair.

"Hey! I have Mickey!"

Marcy made kissy faces at her daughter. "You would have protected her."

"Even so; stop being so bad."

"I'm not bad. You're bad. You are bad!"

"I'm not bad." Mercedes & Quinn whipped around to glare at him. "I am not!"

"They say you pulled pranks on them." Tina said.

"Boyish charms." He shrugged.

"That almost got your block knocked off…" Marcy mumbled.

"It's not my fault they can't take a joke." He sniffed.

"A joke?! A joke?!" Mercedes & Quinn shouted.

"That's okay. Laura couldn't take a joke either." Marcy stirred up trouble.

Mike grinned.

Mercedes shook her head. "I don't know why I want to spend time with any of you!"

"Me either!" Quinn cosigned. "You're all bad!"

"I'm sorry, what did you tell Marc's third girlfriend from his junior year of high school?" Marcy twisted her lips.

Quinn sat back & crossed her arms.

"What'd you say, Tubbers?" Santana wanted to know.

"Nothing!"

"You said that he liked girls that acted like animals, including but not limited to barking like a dog, crowing like a rooster & snorting like a pig." Mal told.

Santana, Brittany, Unique & Tina fell out laughing.

Kitty was in shock. "Did she do it?"

"Yeah, she did." Mike nodded. "Marc thought she was weird & dumped her."

"I can't believe you did that!"

"We've blocked him a lot." Marcy admitted. "Like the girlfriend he brought on vacation with us in 2009."

"That girl went home early in tears." Mal snickered.

"What did y'all do?" Sam asked.

"It wasn't us. It was them. Those three & Maddie kept him & Mike from dating."

Mercedes's, Quinn's & Marcy's eyes widened as they realized he just told on them.

"What do you mean?" Mike frowned. "They've never kept me from dating."

"How about we talk about something else?" Quinn suggested.

Marcy clapped a hand over Mal's mouth.

Mercedes put her hand on Mike's leg under the table & swirled her thumb. "What would you like to talk about?"

"I want to know what he's talking about." Mike refused to be moved.

"He's not talking about nothing." Marcy grinned. "You know Mal. He's silly."

Mal moved her hand. "I beg your pardon!"

"You tell him anything & you'll be begging for a pardon!"

"He has the right to know!"

"& we have the right to beat you!"

"With a baseball bat?!" Puck grew excited.

"With whatever we pick up. Shut up, Mal!" Mercedes bit off.

"I want to know!" Mike demanded.

"He wants to know!" Mal grinned.

"No, you don't." Marcy hit Mal as she turned to Mike. "It was so long ago. Who knows what he's talking about-"

"I'm talking about Jamaica."

"Shut up!" Quinn yelled.

"Jamaica? What about Jamaica?" Mike moved Mercedes's hand, which had picked up speed.

"Nothing!" Mercedes swore.

"Remember that girl that you liked but she said that we ate cats & dogs?" Mal prodded.

Marcy wrapped her hands around his throat.

"Marcy, stop! What about her?!" Mike leaned across Mercedes & Quinn to try to pull Marcy off Mal.

"It- was- a- lie!" Mal gurgled.

"What did you do?!"

Mal was able to get away & ran away from Marcy with Mickey in front of him. "They coached Maddie on how to cry & told her to tell you that. That girl didn't say anything like that."

Marcy moved Mally to Mal's empty seat & got up. She ran out.

Quinn moved a little slower but she left the room quickly.

Mercedes moved slower as Mike was glaring at her. She got up slowly but so did he. She moved away from the table but so did he. She backed away to the door but so did he.

"Mercy!" He stressed the two syllables loudly.

She jumped & ran out but he was on her heels. She ran down the hall & passed a door.

Quinn whistled & she turned back to run inside. Mike burst into the room.

They screamed. "We're sorry!"

"You're sorry?! You're sorry?!" He yelled.

"It wasn't to be mean." Quinn pouted.

"We love you." Marcy stuck her bottom lip out.

"You-! You-!" He couldn't even speak.

"Why are you even so mad? We might have done something wrong but it was years ago." Mercedes moved side to side.

"Are you kidding me?!" He roared.

"Yes. No." Mercedes shook her head. "It's not like you're alone now."

"They don't know that!"

"But you know that." She crossed her arms. "Or do you still like her?"

He glared at her. "That wasn't fair & you know it. You guys ruined something that could have been good for me. Now I'll never know!"

"What are you saying?! That you wish you were with her now?!"

Mike ran a hand over his face & walked a few steps away.

"Okay, everyone just calm down." Marcy spoke soothingly. "Mikey, you're right. We were wrong & we're sorry but you're in a happy relationship now."

"That our friends know nothing about!"

"I have an idea on that. Does your friend, Matt still live in New York?"

"What does Matt have to do with anything?"

"You'll see."

Mike huffed. "I guess I can get over it. It has been years."

Mercedes came closer & wrapped her arms around him loosely. She lifted her lips. "Sowwy?"

He dropped a quick kiss on her mouth. "Uh huh."

Quinn & Marcy went to give him hugs. "We're sorry, Mikey."

Mike patted their arms & walked out. They trailed behind him silently as he walked back to the choir room. He sat down & began sipping his juice.

They copied him.

Mal was back in his chair. "Are you guys good?"

"Not until we get you, Snitch." Marcy side-eyed him.

"I had a feeling." He sighed.

"Are you guys really okay?" Tina asked, worried. "He was really mad."

"We're okay." Mike sat back. "It was a long time ago."

"Man, you should have seen you." Puck laughed. "A vein popped out on your head."

Mike rubbed his head. "Shut up."

"You were scary." Sam admitted. "I thought you were going to spank them or something."

"You still can." Artie said.

Mercedes, Quinn & Marcy glared at him. "Shut up."

"Let's see what you're wearing, Boo Thang."

"You gets to see nothing." She bit off.

"Oh come on! Please?!"

"No. Though it's hot." She waved a hand in front of her face. "Why'd you have to have a black hoodie? I'm dying here."

"Take it off. Just don't tell Marc." Mike uttered.

Marcy gave Mally to Quinn & unzipped the jacket. She took it off & fanned her hot face before taking her son back.

"That looks like a regular shirt." Artie deduced. "Where's your pants?"

"I'm wearing shorts, jackass."

He wolf-whistled. "Can we see?"

"No."

"This is a perfect time for a song." Mr. Shue didn't want to know how short her shorts were.

Unique stood up. "Marley, Tina & I have one."

"Good."

"We can sit with you guys so there will be room for you guys to move around." Mercedes stood up.

"Ooh! I want to sit by Finn!" Marcy raised a hand.

Finn beamed & flushed. Artie, Blaine & Sam sulked.

Puck & Mike moved the table while Mercedes & Quinn moved the chairs.

"Come sit by me & Britts, Little Chang." Santana moved down one.

Mal looked at Marcy, who smirked. "They don't bite. Unless you ask them to."

Mal grinned & went to sit down.