Mercedes: POV

I took another picture of Rae. She made a face at the flash but otherwise remained still. "Hi, baby! Hi, baby!"

Lucy leaned over. "Okay, how about this one?"

I looked at her then the book she had in her hands. "That's a good one."

We were looking over things to do in Switzerland next week. Classes were over now (I went up to campus to take my finals but that's it) and it was Christmas break.

We usually switch off cold and hot Christmases but I put in the request to go somewhere cold again months ago. I knew I was due in December and didn't want to be around bikini wearing girls after I just had a baby.

So we were going to Switzerland.

She flipped another page. "Okay, this place has snow rides. They'll pull you around the park in a sleigh."

"I actually like that." Marcy said before getting up. "I gotta go back for my last class. I'm so glad it's the last day of school!"

"Have fun!" We waved her off.

She kissed all the kids and left.

Beth and the twins leaned forward to kiss Rae. I caught it on camera.

Lucy smiled. "What about this place? It serves nothing but hot chocolate."

I liked that. "We should totally go there."

"Go where?" Noah walked in.

"There's this place that serves nothing but hot chocolate." Lucy told him.

"Humph." He lifted a shoulder. "Where is it?"

Lucy tried to pronounce the street name.

"Where is that?!"

"Switzerland."

"How are you gonna get there?"

"By plane." She sneered.

"You're going to Switzerland by yourself for a cup of hot cocoa?"

"I won't be by myself. Don't you know anything? That's where we're going next week."

"We? Who's we?"

"Our family, Noah." I said patiently. "We leave every year. You know that."

His mouth fell open. "No! You can't leave me!"

"Noah!" I ignored Lucy giggling. "I'm not leaving you! We're just going out of town for a week and a half."

"Nu uhn! Not with my less than two week old daughter!"

"Noah, I'm not leaving her here."

"You're not leaving me here!"

I sighed heavily. He was so impossible sometimes.

"I'm coming with you!"

I looked at him. "What?!"

"I'm coming with you. Or is there a rule against that?" He gave major attitude.

Lucy and I looked at each other. People brought other people with them all the time but we never had. I looked back at him. "You can come, Noah."

"Thank you." Somehow I doubted his sincerity.

"That means you need to get a passport and all your shots." I burst his bubble.

"Huh?!"

"You should hurry to City Hall before they close. You might have a wait. Luckily, we're not going until Wednesday. You have a bit of time but you should definitely do it as soon as possible."

I knew he was cursing in his head. "Fine!"

Lucy and I broke out in giggles as soon as he left.

MAP

Puck: POV

Getting a passport and then having to get up to date on all my shots fucking sucked.

But here I was, getting on a plane for Switzerland. I was a little excited. This was my first time out of the country. I felt bad for leaving Moms, Jake and Nic but they understood that Rae was too new for me to be leaving.

The plane ride was pretty boring. It was a private plane so that was cool but everyone was into their own thing and left me alone.

I was pretty tired though. Rae got up at all kinds of times to eat and shit so I needed my shut eye.

We landed and caught cabs to the hotel. Apparently there were a few close together so all of them were staying pretty close.

We got to the hotel and went inside. This pretty chick was standing behind the counter and welcomed us. She gave us our room keys and we went upstairs.

The adults had one room while us kids had another one. When we got in our room, they all went into motion. Like a clock.

Marc and Laura took a bed, Mal and Mini Mama got with MadDog while the other three put their suitcases on the last bed. Where was I supposed to sleep?!

I shut the door behind me and just watched them unpack. They were quick as hell, too. There was a crib set up between two beds and Mini Mama and Q put Beth and the twins inside it to trap them.

The nanny was on a cot with Rae.

"Get unpacked, Noah." Mama told me.

"I'll wait." I just didn't want to get stepped on while they were going around. But they never bumped into each other or anything.

When they were done, Mini Mama put her coat and gloves back on. "I want to see who else is here and go outside."

"Me too! I hope Ash is here!" MadDog copied her.

"We can all go. Joe is supposed to be getting here early." Marc frowned as he kicked his bags underneath his bed.

So they put their stuff back on and grabbed the kids. We bounced and went back downstairs.

We were walking across the lobby when some people came in.

Mini Mama screamed. "VB!"

Somebody turned and started screaming. "CC!"

They ran to each other like long lost lovers and hugged, falling to the ground. We walked closer and they got up, still hugging.

"Sorry I couldn't come see Rae." The cousin (?) said. "I had finals."

"No problem, Cuz." Mama hugged her. "Meet her now."

"Hi, baby!" She cooed at Rae.

"Let me see my new cuz!" A man said.

"She's so cute!" A little girl said.

"She's fat." A little boy said.

"Shut up, Ran!" The older girl snapped.

He sulked. "She is."

This quite frankly beautiful woman slapped him upside his head. "Stop it!"

"Noah, this is my Uncle Daniel and Aunt Kay-Lonnie. These are their children, Cur-Onee, Karoo and the twins, Karan and Kari." Mama introduced me. "Guys, meet Noah Puckerman. Call him Puck."

"I remember him from the baby shower." Karoo said. "George really liked him."

Mama glared. "Don't start, Roo!"

"I'm just teasing, Cuz."

"Twin!" This loud shout was heard.

"Twin!" Marc yelled back.

Joey showed up and they hugged. They started talking at the same time in- I think German?

"Joey!" The girls screamed and mobbed him.

"Hey!" He let them hug him.

"Penelope's not here, is she?" Mama drew back.

He sighed. "Stop it, MercyCat."

"I don't want my baby exposed to that."

Who was Penelope and why did Mama hate her?

"She's with her family." He told her.

"Good. We get you all to ourselves." She sniffed.

"Let me see your new baby, MercyCat." Joey's real twin said. "I need to see if it was worth it."

"If what was worth it, Joanna?"

"Getting preggers in high school."

Mama glared at her. "Don't start with me, Joanna!"

"I'm just teasing, Cuz. Lighten up."

"I'm light enough."

Joanna made a sound. "Eh."

Laura wrapped an arm around Mama and spoke in her ear. Mama calmed down. "Love you, too Cuz."

Joanna smirked.

"Well can I see my new little Cuz?!" A big, blond man demanded.

"Of course, Johnnie." Mama handed Rae over.

He held her high. "Look at her! She looks just like ya, Cuz! Don't look nothin like your bloke."

"Give me my baby back!"

He laughed and held her out of reach. "Nah!"

"Let me see my niece." Another man said.

He gave her over.

"How are you, Uncle Jonathan?" Mama asked.

"I'm well, gel." Her uncle said. "She does look an awful lot like you. Especially when you were a wee lass."

A woman smiled. "You were so happy. Is she just as happy?"

"I think she's smiling but the doctors say it's just gas." Mama hated that, too.

The woman stroked Rae's cheek. "She's smiling at ya. Those bloody doctors don't always know what they're talking about."

"Aunt Cara, we don't curse around the children!" Mama wagged a finger.

"Of course, dear."

"Let's go outside and have a snowball fight!" Mini Mama told Karoo.

"I love that idea so much!" She yelled.

"Guys, no-" I have no idea what word Mama just said.

They glared at her. "Boo!"

"You play too dangerously." Laura added. "Just have a normal snowball fight. Take Beth and the twins."

"This blows." Mini Mama kicked her foot.

"Get outside, demon."

"Make sure Beth has fun." Q said.

"You could come to watch your own child." Mini Mama bit off.

"Noah can go." Mama volunteered me.

I shrugged. I didn't mind. "Sure."

"Do you need Marionette?" Mini Mama asked.

"No, I'm fine." Mama shook her head.

"Come on, guys!" Mini Mama left with her brothers and cousins. Except for Joanna.

I kissed Mama and joined them. I went up to Mini Mama, who was down in the snow making snowballs. "Why'd you want the nanny?"

"I don't care what that old lady says." She kept making snowballs.

"What old lady?"

"Laura." Karoo said.

"Oh." I said dumbly. "Okay?"

"We're playing-" Mini Mama said that word I can't spell.

"I thought Laura said it was too dangerous?"

"Hence me not caring what she said."

I laughed. "So what's the nanny for?"

"To watch the kids."

Mini Mama was hilarious. "I can't wait!"

"Grab some snow and start making balls. It's going to be bloody."

MAP

Mercedes: POV

Switzerland is so much fun! I mostly stay inside so I can keep an eye on Rae but sometimes we go out with our cousins to see the shops and such.

Right now, Lucy and I were at the cafe she wanted to see. The one that served hot chocolate exclusively. Mikey was supposed to be meeting us here.

We were still mad at him for playing Yukigassen. They played for hours, three days in a row. It was appalling.

"When do you think we should start shopping for stuff for the house?" Lucy sipped her cocoa.

I shrugged. "Maybe start getting some stuff in a couple months but really wait for the big stuff after they finish building?"

"I can't wait. I've had fun this year but nothing is going to keep me from New York."

"Me too!" I agreed readily. "State isn't as bad as I thought but nothing will compare to being out on our own. Really free."

"Not that we don't love our parents!" She said quickly.

"Of course not!" I said fast.

"We just need to stretch our wings."

"Yes. Nothing wrong with that. Our parents came to a different country. We're just going across it. No harm in that."

Lucy set down her mug. "We're escaping and we know it."

"Leaving them behind as fast as we can." I returned.

We sat for a minute until the door opened, inviting in the bitter cold. It was Mikey. He looked around and saw us. We waved to him and he waved back before going to the counter to order. He came to sit down and rubbed his hands together. "Hey?"

"Where are your gloves?" I demanded as I took one of his ice cold hands.

Lucy took his other one. "Probably in the snow."

He scowled at us. "No! I just left them at the hotel!"

"What were you doing just now?" I challenged.

He pouted. "We were visiting an orphanage."

"Really? What'd you do there?"

"Danced with some kids. Marce thought it'd be good to introduce the twins to charity. Mally said his first word."

Lucy grinned. "What'd he say?! Why'd we have to miss it?!"

"Mal recorded him. He was playing with this little girl, who was like five. He called her beautiful."

My heart melted. "Aww!"

"He's such a flirt!" Lucy teased. "He's always giving us kisses and hugging us. He's going to be such a lady killer when he gets older."

"Not if Moppet locks him up." Mikey grinned. "She about had a heart-attack."

Lucy and I giggled. "Poor Marce!"

He took his now warm hands back from us. A Barista brought him his chocolate. "Thanks. So did you guys find anything on your shopping trip?"

"Yes!" Lucy's eyes sparkled. "I saw this sweater that I just had to get for Finn and this star necklace for Rachel. I bought Beth some things."

"And yourself some things?" He raised a brow knowingly.

She gave him a haughty look. "So?!"

He chuckled. "What about you, Merce?"

I shrugged. "I found some things for myself and Noah and Rae. But I did a bad thing."

"You don't do bad things. You're Chuckie."

I punched his arm. "Don't call me that!"

"Alright! I'm sorry. What did you do?"

"I bought something for Annie." I pouted.

He wrapped his arm around me as Lucy grabbed my hand. "It's okay, Merce. You can't turn love off like a faucet. She was a part of your life. It'll take time to heal."

"That's right." Lucy squeezed my hand. "Anna might be out of your life but that doesn't mean she's out of your heart. You'll be better one day. Don't rush it."

I smiled at these two lovable people. "Thanks, guys."

We were quiet until Mikey squeezed me. "I should confess something myself."

"What's going on?"

He sighed heavily. "Don't get me wrong, Chicago is amazing. It has a bright nightlife and great food and culture but…"

"It's not New York?" Lucy guessed.

"I think it's what New York represents." He frowned. "I miss you guys."

"We miss you, too." I leaned my head on his shoulder.

"No, I mean I miss you guys."

Lucy frowned. "What are we talking about here?"

He moved his hand so that he entwined their fingers. "I have been with you two every single day of my life since I was three. I am lost without you.

I think of stuff you'd like to go see at the movies or restaurants you'd love to try. I hear your voices telling me what to wear and how to act around new people.

I never thought it'd be this hard to be away from you guys."

We stared at him in shock. "You never said!"

"I know. I wanted to adjust to Chicago and I griped about coming back for the play and Thanksgiving and stuff but I really was glad to be here. Mostly. I found out that Lima really is too small for me. I want to go somewhere new, exciting and big but I don't want to be without you two."

Lucy came around the table and sat on his lap and wrapped her arms around him as I burrowed into his side. "Aww, Mikey!"

"It's lame, I know." He looked so adorable pouting.

"It's not lame." Lucy told him. "We miss you, too."

"No, you don't."

"Yes, we do!" I headbutted him. "Everyday we find some way to bring you up and we think about you all the time. We're a set. You don't get one without the other two. Life is just going to have to accept that and New York better get ready. The three of us are going to take it by storm."

He squeezed us. "How am I going to get through another four months without you guys?"

"We can have Skype dates." Lucy suggested. "Every week, we get on Skype and just talk."

"We should text every day." I brought up. "Even if it's just to say hello, good morning or good night. Constant contact is key."

"Want me to write you letters?" He teased.

We laughed. "Yes!"

"Alright. Go sit down, Lucy. We can catch up before I have to leave."

"Where are you going?" She sat across from us.

"Snowboarding with the guys."

"Snowboarding." I wrinkled my nose. "Skiing is better."

He stuck out his tongue. "Neh!"

"Why are you going so late in the afternoon?" Lucy wanted to know.

"We went yesterday but Marcy keeps wiping out on this jump. She's determined to get it."

"Keep her safe." I chided.

"Of course." He sipped his cocoa.

We finished our chocolate while talking about the things going on in our lives then Mikey stood up.

"You have to go?" I pouted.

He peeked out the window. "Yes."

"Why are you looking out the window?" Lucy turned to see what he was looking at.

"No reason."

The door opened and two people blew in. "I'm here. What do you want?"

I blinked at London and Natalia. "What are you guys doing here? And together?"

Both stood far away from each other. "Mikey asked me here. What?! He asked me here! Mike!"

Mikey grimaced. "You four need to talk. This feud has gone on long enough. Sit and talk. I gotta go. I love you all. Bye, Beth! Bye, Rae!" He fairly ran out.

Lucy glared at London, who glared at her and Natalia, who glared at her back.

I sighed. This was not going to go well.

MAP

Puck: POV

"This is a big mountain." I said.

I was ignored.

"Can she really snowboard down this mountain if she keeps falling down the one by the hotel?"

"She's got this." Mal had a camera around his neck.

"She'll totally crush this!" I learned her name was actually spelled K-A-R-O-U (her mom's was Kehlani and her brother's was Kerani).

"Are you ready for this, sprite?" Joey put his forehead to Mini Mama's.

She nodded (making them both nod). "Let's do it! Ready, Mal?"

"Yeah, I'm ready." Mal held up a thumb.

"I'm here!" Mike called out as he ran towards us.

"Where you been?" Marc asked.

"With Mercy and Lucy. I left them with Nat and Lond."

Karou- I gotta find a new name for her- grimaced. "Ouch! They've been frosty for days now."

"Cuz Lond's trippin." Mini Mama frowned. "She and her sister got that in common."

"Shouldn't you two set Paris down and get her to stop spinning out?" Marc suggested.

"I'm not talking to that crazy witch!" Karou said immediately.

"That bitch is erratic when she wanna be." Mini Mama added.

"You're her best friends." Mal said. "Don't think about her being high-strung. Remember she's your cousin and she's obviously going through something."

Mini Mama pulled this face that was hilarious. It called him a few names before basically agreeing. "Fine. Whatever. We'll talk to her tonight. Let's just go."

Karou smacked her lips. "Ugh! If we gotta!"

"Be good." Mal told her before picking up a board and walking to the ski lift.

Mini Mama rolled her eyes and mocked him silently behind his back as she followed.

"She's bad." Joey grinned.

"Nah." Karou wrinkled her nose.

"That's cuz you're bad, too!" Marc laughed.

She tossed her head. "Shut up!"

We all laughed at her.

We just stood around talking and goofing off until Mike whistled. "Hey! There she is!"

We looked up the mountain and saw someone in bright green boarding down. Someone in orange was a little behind and to the right of them.

It was Mal and Mini Mama. He stayed on the ground and just followed her but she kept jumping and getting air. She was pretty good. It seemed the bigger the mountain, the better she was.

They were doing fine until they got to this huge ass cliff. Mal went down easy. He kept his board to the ground and focused his camera on her. She, on the other hand, went high and did three flips in the air before coming down.

Hard.

And not on her feet.

"Marcy!" Her family called out.

We rushed up there as Mal skidded to a stop beside her. We made it to her as he was turning her over. "Marce! Are you hurt?! Talk to me!"

She groaned. "Don't touch me!"

He blew out a breath. "So no damage to your temper."

She swiped at him. "Stop hovering over me! You're making it worse!"

"Making what worse? That landing? cuz that was epic!" Joey laughed.

"Is your arm suppose to bend that way?" Mike frowned.

"No, you idiot! Get off me!" She yelled.

Mal ignored her and turned her completely over. We all reared back. That shit was gnarly. Her arm was bent at an impossible angle and there was blood everywhere. You could actually see her bone through her coat.

"Damn, Mini Mama!" I put my fist to my mouth. "You must have landed on your arm!"

"No shit, Sherlock!" Pain made her crabby.

"We gotta get you to a doctor!" Mal tried to help her up.

But she was fighting him. "I can stand up on my own!"

"Stop being a bad patient!" Marc swatted her.

She bared her teeth at him.

Mal helped her up anyway. "Let's go to the hospital."

We huddled around her as she limped to the cars. We got in and drove to the hotel to tell someone where we were going.

When we walked in, we found Mama, Q, London and Natalia. "Hey! I thought you guys were snowboarding?"

I kissed Mama. "We have to go to the hospital."

"Why? What's wrong?"

Marc rubbed the back of his neck. "Marce had an accident."

"What kind of accident? Where is she?"

"Don't freak out." Mike said.

"Mikey!"

"She broke her arm."

"What?!" Mama screamed. Rae started crying so she rocked her.

"It's no big deal." Marc said. "She just needs it reset. She'll be fine. The bigger fuss you make out of it, the angrier she'll get."

She huffed. "Fine. But call me as soon as you know anything."

"Tell her we're thinking of her." Natalia said.

"Will do!" Marc promised. "Tell Dad where we are. We won't miss later. Probably."

"Marc!" Mama snapped.

"We won't! Promise!" We ran out.

We hopped back in the cars and drove to the nearest hospital. We ran Mini Mama inside and to the front desk.

The nurses asked us to fill out paperwork and that they'd see her soon. The waiting room was full…

Marc filled out the paperwork and gave it back and we settled in to wait. Mini Mama kept trying to fall asleep but Mal wouldn't let her. He kinda got freaked out and kept kissing her to wake her up to fight him.

Mike suggested a game of something he called Whilst or something. They started playing to keep her awake but I just watched cuz I was confused.

Finally they called her back. She went with Mal. And then we waited. We waited for hours. Actually it was like two but that was one too many for me.

She came back with two casts on her arm, something wrapped around her knee and a bandage wrapped around her head. She looked pissed.

We waited until she limped over to us to surround her. "What'd they say?!"

"She broke her arm in two places. The first one was a clean break and will heal nicely but the second would have to be watched more carefully when we get home." Mal explained. "She has a concussion and sprained her knee."

"Dang, Marce." Marc grimaced. "When you go all out, you go all out!"

"Take me back to the mountain." She bit off.

"What?!" We looked at her like she was crazy.

"Take me back to the mountain." She repeated.

"No!" We yelled.

"I'll hitchhike then." She started off for the doors.

We followed behind her.

"Usually I follow you, Twin but this is crazy." Karou tried to stop her.

"The doctor said to stay off your leg and rest! He said no more sports for a while!" Mal lectured.

"Damned quack!" Mini Mama muttered.

"This is not a good idea, Moppet." Mike said.

"You're the ones forcing me to hitchhike."

Joey sighed. "Fine. We'll take you back to the mountain. But when you're back here with a broken neck, don't say we didn't warn you."

MAP

"I can't believe we're here." Mal shook his head.

Mini Mama lifted her snowboard. "Either shut up and come with me or shut up."

He glared at her. "A fine choice of options!"

"Bye!" She walked off.

He followed behind her. "I hate this woman sometimes!"

"This is bad." Mike said suddenly. "Our parents are going to kill us when she dies."

"They know how she is." Marc argued. "We can't be held responsible for her death wish."

"I've done some dangerous stupid stuff but this is ridiculous." The cousin that Mike hit at the baby shower shook his head. His name was Monty.

"She won't rest until she's dead." Joey shrugged.

We kept comparing the speeches we'd make at her funeral when I saw her coming down. "Look! There she is!"

She sped down the mountain faster than before, doing more tricks. When I say Mini Mama is badass, I'm underselling it. She ripped that mountain a new one.

She got to the cliff again and just like before, she went big. This time she did five flips and landed. On her feet! She sailed towards us and cut across to stop.

Mal pulled up behind her. "You didn't die."

"Nope." She seemed satisfied.

"Thank goodness!" Marc and Mike said. "This way Mercy won't kill us!"

"She's going to get after you about getting back on the slopes after you've hurt yourself." Mal pointed out. "Laura, too."

She shrugged. "Whatever. I proved my point. We can go now."

And we did.

MAP

Mercedes: POV

"How are you feeling?" I asked again.

Marcy sighed. "I'm fine."

"You need a little help mixing?" Paris asked.

"I'm fine!"

Heaven forbid Marcy ask for or accept help! "Be that way! It's bad enough you don't wear a helmet but you went back to that mountain after you left the hospital! What were you thinking?!" I scolded.

"Look here, Laura Jr.-"

"Don't you yell at her, you thoughtless child!" Laura waved her wooden spoon. "Did you ever stop to think what the twins would do if you had broken your neck? They would be without a mother!"

She glared at us. "I'm leaving."

"No, you're not! You're going to sit right there and let Paris and Karou help you make your blasted Christmas cookies!"

Marcy had to be calling her names in her head.

We talked about other things as we baked. Luckily, Nat, Lond, Lucy and I made up (even though no one had been mad at me). We talked about our lives in our individual countries and what we wanted out of life.

It was a good time. Aunt Violet came to get us and we went to the great room to open presents.

I made Noah open my present. It was a "dad" sweater. The kind Bill Cosby wore a lot on the Cosbys. I thought it was a great gag gift.

We went upstairs and turned in. We only had a couple more days to be in Switzerland and tomorrow was Christmas. The best day of the year! I couldn't wait!

MAP

School starts on Monday. Time flew by over break but I really had fun. I'm glad I got to spend time with my family. And I totally loved my new gifts. A lot of the kids my age got home supplies or credit to stores to get home supplies. A lot of us either graduated or are graduating soon.

It'd really help with New York.

I made Noah go home for a bit around New Years. I wanted him to spend time with his family and I wanted to bond with mine. We were… eccentric enough without having somebody witness it.

Mikey, Lucy and I came up with a schedule so we could always have time to talk to each other and we made plans to see each other every other weekend.

Only four more months to go!