Mercedes: POV

"Thanks."

I looked up at Marcy. "For what?"

"Coming with me." She was staring at the door.

I shrugged. "No problem. It's an exciting day."

She looked at me and raised a brow with a smirk.

I grinned. "Getting your casts off is exciting!"

"I'll be glad to get to my arm."

"Maybe you'll sit down instead of jumping off mountains?"

She rolled her eyes and neck.

I narrowed my eyes. "Be good, monster."

She stuck her tongue out.

"I just can't believe you played soccer on that knee. You could have snapped it."

"You sound like Laura."

"Because she's right! We're just lucky you only had to wear it until March."

"Neh."

"Humph!" I readjusted Rae on my chest. "What if the twins were like you?"

"I don't know. I think Mickey's like Lucy." She frowned as she looked around for her.

I spied her rifling through a drawer. "Marcy, get her! She's in a drawer!"

Marcy hopped off the table and went to pull her out of the drawer. She started crying. Marcy set her on the table. "Stop it. Where's Bro-Bro?"

Mickey stuck her lip out and crossed her arms.

"Where do you get this from?" Marcy looked around the table and yelped.

"What's wrong?!" I jumped.

Marcy snatched Mally up and set him next to his sister. "Stop that! Don't you touch nothin else!"

"What was he doing?"

"He was trying to rip the wires out."

I stared at him in shock as he pouted. "Bad Mally!"

He dipped his head.

"Oh stop it." Marcy didn't care.

"Mommy." He reached for her.

She wrapped an arm around him. "Be good for Mommy. She doesn't want to pay for something else you've broken."

"What else has he broken?!" My eyes were wide.

"He pushed over a lamp at Ellen's house."

"Mally!"

"Tia Me." He turned to me with the cutest little contrite face.

I couldn't stay mad at him. "I know you're sorry, baby. You probably didn't know what you were doing."

Marcy cocked a hip and put a hand on it. She gave me a look.

"He doesn't! He's too little to understand "bad"."

"Well he is."

"Who does he get it from?"

"His father." She said without missing a beat.

I was going to refute that but Mal was bad. "What are you thinking for discipline?"

"I've started putting him in timeout. He only stays for a few minutes before he's up again and I have to put him back with threats of severe bodily harm."

I laughed. "Poor baby!"

"Humph!" She moved them to sit back against the back of the table then pulled herself up in front of them.

"I'm so glad we got through everything this week." I said.

"With the deliveries and stuff? Yeah. Now we just have to pack. I can go up there after and make sure everything's in it's right place."

"You wanna go alone?"

"It won't take anything. We can unpack when we get there."

"Why can't we pack and move on the same day?"

"You know I'm not staying here past graduation."

I sighed. I knew. "Fine. You know Noah's going to drag his feet. Lucy's going to take forever. Mal and Mikey won't want to do it until the last minute. What are you even going to take?"

"Most of my books and clothes. My instruments and personal effects. Most of the twins clothes and books. Their personal effects. We'll just live out of a suitcase until we leave."

"What about Marionette?"

"Rou said she can live with her. I was surprised she offered but she did."

"When is Rou moving in?"

"She graduates I think on a Friday but it'll be our Thursday. She's leaving the next day."

"I can't wait to be in the same city. I love Karou."

"I know I can't wait to be with my twin." She smirked.

"I want a promise from you two that you'll be good. You're a mother now and she's new to America."

"Blah, blah, blah." She waved me away.

I glared at her. "I'll call Laura and have her visit every week."

She shuddered. "Be nice to me or I'll take back your surprise."

"What surprise?" I changed gears immediately.

"I did something for each of your vanities."

"Vanities? In our closets?"

"Yes. You'll see. It's amazing."

"What about T and Kurt?"

"It's in their private bathroom."

I struggled to clap. "Yay!"

"You're going to love it."

"You already did our library for us. Why'd you do this?"

"It's kind of a thank you for coming to New York with me. Everyone had their own plans but switched to be with me. That's a big thing."

"Marcy, I was looking at being stuck in Lima for the rest of my life. Of course I jumped at coming with you. Besides I wanna be where you are. We've spent so many years apart. We need to be together."

"We're leaving out three people…"

"Nobody told Marc to be good at football!"

She laughed.

I smiled. "Are you feeling better?"

"Yeah, I haven't sneezed in like a week and I barely cough."

"No, I meant about moving to New York. You never said anything after."

She looked down before looking behind her at the twins, who had their heads together and were talking to each other. "Yeah. I was looking at it all wrong. It's not their fault I'm with their father. We made that decision together. I'll talk to Dr. Jackson at my next appointment."

"Good." I reached out for her hand.

She swatted me. "Enough, Dr. Phil! What about you? Do you still feel resentful towards 'Zilla?"

"Actually it's all gone now. I was so sore at him but us moving to New York solves that. Even if I don't become a performer, I'm out in the world, trying to better myself. I always wanted to grow and achieve. And I will now."

"How long did it take?"

"Um…" I thought about it. "It started around the time I stopped thinking of Rae as a trap and really started to loosen when you brought up New York. Then when you found the building. But it completely crumbled the first time I held Rae. Remember when you said that having the twins cleared your mind? I felt that. It was like I was cleansed."

She smiled smugly. "They'll get you."

"I was in such awe that I liked her first cry." I smiled down at my sleeping baby. "She's got the cutest giggle."

"Nah. I think Mickey's is infectious."

I looked up. "My baby has a great laugh!"

"So does mine!"

I giggled. "We shouldn't compare them."

"My baby would win." She reached out and poked Mickey, who erupted in giggles.

I sulked. It was cute. "If Rae was awake, she'd totally outcute that."

"Wake her up!"

"No!" I laughed. "Stop being so competitive!"

She was about to retort when the door opened and our pediatrician came in. "Marceline Anne? How are you?"

"Hi, Dr. John." She waved.

"Hello, Mercedes Catherine." He smiled at me.

"Hi, Dr. John." I always like him. He was a sweet old man.

"I see you have the little ones. I'm sure going to miss them. I received summons for your files to the pediatrician I recommended."

"Yeah. We hope she'll be a good fit." Marcy said.

"I'm sure she will be. Now we're here to see if this can come off."

"Yes."

"Let me take a look."

MAP

I handed Momma her presents. "Here you go. One is for Mother's Day and the other is a going away present."

"Ooh! Thank you!" She clapped. "I got you three going away gifts myself."

"Yes!" Marc fist-pumped.

"You didn't have to do that, Momma." I told her.

"You didn't have to do that for her. We accept presents."

I slapped his arm. "Stop that!"

Momma laughed. "I'm going to miss you."

"I have no idea why." Marcy stared at me and Marc.

Momma smiled. "How about we open our presents together?"

"Okay." I pouted.

We passed out the gifts and set them on our laps. "Ready? Open!"

I opened my present and gasped. It was a purple sweater that said, Mommies Love the Hardest. I held it up to my face. It was so soft. "Thank you, Momma!"

Marc lifted out a pipe. He laughed. "I'm not that old!"

"It was my grandfather's." Momma smirked.

He grinned. "Thanks, Momma."

Marcy just stared at the inside of her box. I prodded her. "What is it?"

"It's a necklace." She murmured.

"Take it out."

She picked it up and held it up to the light. "It's very delicate."

"It's very old." Momma told her. "It's been in my family for generations. More than 100 years in fact."

"Really?!" I got a sweater!

Momma smiled at me like she knew what I was thinking. "Yes. It's the Second Daughter Tradition."

"Second Daughter Tradition?" I never heard of that.

"It goes that the first of our line had many sons but only two daughters. Her firstborn daughter was beautiful, talented, graceful and demure. She married quickly and began producing heirs for her husband.

But her second daughter was quiet, bookish and plain. She was nearly thirty before she married. Her mother was so happy for her that she had this made to give to her on her wedding day.

Ever since then, it's been given to the second daughter at a great time in her life. Mother gave it to me when I won Miss Italy. I meant to give this to you when the twins were born but…"

She cleared her throat. "I was waiting for another perfect time and it seems this is it. May you have another daughter to give it to and keep the tradition alive."

Marcy closed her fingers around it while looking completely blank. "Thank you, Momma."

That was such a beautiful story! Why didn't they have a First Daughter Tradition?! I pouted.

Marc bumped my leg and gave me a look.

I hated when he was right. I took Marcy's hand. "Do you want me to put it on you?"

"It's really old. I don't want to damage it." Marcy dropped it back in the box. She looked up at Momma. "Show off what you got."

MAP

Puck: POV

I kicked a box. This fucking sucked! I hate packing!

"Noah, stop that!" Moms snapped. "Grab that box and put your books in there!"

"I don't have that many! Why I gotta take them anyway?!"

"You never know what you'll want and then you won't have it. So you might as well pack everything."

"I don't need my football stuff." I snatched up the box and started throwing books inside.

"Don't throw them! Stack them neatly! Goodness, it is like you grew up in a zoo!" She smacked her lips. "Besides, I'm keeping your football things."

"Why?"

"Maybe I want something to remember you by?!"

"I'm not going off to war!"

"Noah, you're leaving me all alone and I deserve to have a piece of you to hold onto! I was in labor with you for-!"

"Alright!" She always did this! She always trotted out that labor story like it was my fault it took so long.

She sniffed. "Good. I'm keeping your baby things."

I didn't want that worthless shit no way. "Whatever."

"When I'm finished with your clothes, I'll put in your personal things-"

"Personal how?!"

"Your hair products-"

"Don't say it like that! I don't have the same crap you do!"

She glared at me. "I do not use crap! I've been buying Marcy's miracle system and it's helped tremendously!"

I made a face.

"You could use more things. Do you want these pictures from your walls?"

I looked around. "Some of them. The pictures of the kids, glee club and football."

"I would like a few photos."

I sighed heavily. "Sure, Ma."

"I didn't think that was too much to ask for."

"I said sure!"

"Don't yell at me! I'm your mother! I'm the only one you're ever gonna get!"

"Thank everything for that!"

She gasped. "Well! I see you don't need my help!"

I dropped my shoulders as she went to leave. I caught her by the elbow. "Ma, I didn't mean it."

She sniffled. "I am going to miss my first baby. I was only a baby when I had you and now you're leaving me all alone."

"Aren't you forgetting about Nic?"

"I stayed home from work so I could help you pack."

I hugged her. "And I appreciate it. I do. Tell you what, I'll leave some pictures and I'll make sure to send you plenty more. Would you like that?"

She nodded into my chest. "I'd like to visit."

"Of course…" I wondered why it took her so long to get to that.

"And you'll come back often?"

"Yes."

"Good. Nic is going to miss you so much. You and Jake have gotten closer. I'm glad you made Vivian and I bury the hatchet. We've been angry with each other all these years and it's really Steve who deserved that. You brought us closer. We're a stronger family now. You're a better man than he'll ever be."

That made me feel real good. "Thanks, Ma."

She patted my back before moving backwards and drying her eyes. "Now come on. The moving people will be here soon. Mercy said they'd get your things today and will deliver them tomorrow."

"Yeah. Satan, Britt, Q, Rachel, Mama and Mini Mama are going to be there all tomorrow to put stuff up with Kurt and Mike. Mama said it should only take one day to try to get things at least partially set up. Mini Mama said we can finish when we get there in two weeks."

"That girl doesn't leave anything to chance."

"She says coincidences are just peoples way of not being afraid of fate."

Moms looked freaked out.

"I know. She scares me, too."

MAP

Anna: POV

I tapped my pencil against my book but I couldn't concentrate. I'd been feeling really restless lately. Which was an upgrade from how I'd been in months previous; depressed.

Now I felt trapped and isolated. I didn't spend time with friends or go outside much anymore. The only person I talked to was Marcy.

In fact, that's where I was now. In the fancy library in the Adjacent. The fourth floor. Studying. All I did was homework now. My grades (although usually high) have been killer. Principal Figgins said I was Salutatorian.

Marcy, Artie, Mal and Tina were sharing the Valedictorian title. He was terrified of/in love with Marcy and wanted to give it to her but the other three had perfect grades as well.

I sighed. Every time I thought about graduation, I got tense. MercyCat would be there. There was no way she was going to miss her brother and sister graduating. What would I say to her? Could I say anything to her?

It was so confusing but mostly heartbreaking. I still loved her and Noah. I thought about them all the time and Facebook stalked them constantly. I knew what Rae looked like sleeping, just after a bath, covered in baby food, just not in person.

And all because I wasn't strong enough to stand up to my parents.

I realized I was staring beyond Marcy and blinked before looking at her. "What are you doing?"

Her eyes flicked to mine. "What?"

"What are you studying? You've been typing for a while."

She narrowed her eyes. "I'm not exactly studying. I'm preparing for my last teaching lesson."

"Teaching? You teach a class?" Why was I surprised?

"Yes. It's what higher levels do for better marks. I have this, my marks test and the final exam."

"Marks test?"

"I shoot a gun, Anna."

"Oh!" Did the school think that was a good idea after Coach dropped hers?

She stared at me before focusing back on her laptop.

"So what lesson did you plan?"

Her eyebrow twitched. "It's about war strategies."

"What class is this?"

"JROTC."

"The military class."

She just stared.

"How's the final exam look?"

"I wouldn't know. It's a different test for every level."

"What level are you?"

"Four."

"How high does it go?"

"Four."

"Oh! You're high then."

"This conversation isn't amusing me enough for that to be true."

What did that mean? "So how's your plan look? How are you teaching?"

"You don't want to talk about my schoolwork."

"Yes, I do. It's interesting."

"No, you don't. You're spacing."

I wrinkled my nose. She was right. I sighed. "Just thinking about your sister again."

She didn't say anything.

"I know I should be over it. We've been broken up for months. But I still love them. It felt right. What if I never feel that again?"

"You'll only feel it when you let yourself feel it." She said after a while.

"What does that mean? I'm holding myself back?"

"In a matter of speaking. Nine out of ten times, we stand in our own way."

"So I should go out and find people to replace them?"

"No one is replaceable."

"You know what I mean."

"Do you know what I mean?"

I cocked my head. "I actually don't."

"There comes a time when you have to come to your own rescue. You have to depend on yourself and make your own decisions, no matter how hard they are or how many bridges you burn."

I thought over what she said but it was so confusing. What was she saying? I didn't like being confused so I shook my head and asked her something different. "Is New York still happening?"

MAP

Puck: POV

I checked my phone. I was texting Mike and Finn while watching an episode of Cops. Mama told me how she and the girls watched the same program together and texted or called each other during it to "comment on it". Apparently it was just like being together without having to leave your house.

I unlocked my phone and saw the message was from Mini Mama and not the guys. She wanted me to meet her at a corner store.

I asked her why and she told me to stop asking questions and move my ass. She named one by McKinley and said she'd be waiting.

I didn't have nothing to do so I turned off the TV and put my boots on before grabbing my keys and wallet. I slammed out of the house and jumped in my truck. I rolled the windows down and took off.

I made it there in about ten, fifteen minutes. I parked and got out. I walked over and saw her standing against the wall. "What's up?"

"What it do?" She slapped my hand.

"Why you wanna meet here?"

"Wait for it." She tossed her high pony behind her back.

So I waited. Something was bugging me though. It was like I forgot something…

When I saw Wheels pull up, it hit me. "Happy birthday, bro!"

She bowed her head and shook it. "Thanks."

I grimaced. "I didn't mean to space! I'm usually better at dates."

"No worries." She raised her head and smirked.

Wheels rolled over with Bowties, Jake and that Ryder kid. "What's up, Boo Thang? You just dipped after band."

"I had to see a man about a horse."

He grinned. "Love that movie."

She hitched a shoulder. "Nah, but really I had some business to do."

"Cool. So why we here?"

"You'll see."

Why was she so damn closelipped?! "You said to wait. Who else are we waiting for?"

She leaned over slightly. "Them for one."

We all turned to see Mike pulling up with Finn. "So us guys?"

"And another." She pointed to Mal crossing the street.

Mike and Finn made it over to us and Finn patted her shoulder (dropping his hand when she stared at him). "Happy birthday?"

"Thank you." She waited for Mal to join us before saying, "We can go in now."

"What are we doing here?" Mal pulled her to a stop and forced a kiss on her.

She looked pissed. "We're going inside."

"To buy what?" Mike asked.

"You'll see." She opened the door and we followed behind her. She walked up to the front counter and made sure she wasn't touching it. "Kings, slim, light."

The guy behind the counter frowned. "If you weren't born on the date or before it, I can't sell you-"

She opened her wallet and shoved her driver's license in his face.

"Oh. Happy birthday." He turned to get the cigarettes. He came back and set it on the counter. "Anything else?"

"A thing of papers and hang on." She disappeared then came back with a bottle of apple juice. "This."

He rang it up and told her the total.

She gave him her card.

He ran it through then gave it back. "Thank you. Come again."

"Thanks." She picked up her phone and wallet in one hand (where was her purse?) and the box of cigs, tiny orange pack of cigarette papers and bottle of apple juice in the other. She walked out.

We followed behind her dumbly.

She stopped outside and leaned against the wall again. She put her phone and wallet between her legs and pressed them together before reaching under her cheer skirt and taking out a lighter.

For one, that's some real pyro shit. Two, she just took a fucking lighter from under her skirt!

She set the apple juice on the ground and put the papers in her wallet before unwrapping the pack of cigs. She tore open the side and hit one out gently. She got it out and put it between her lips and used the lighter to light it.

She took a long puff and moved it to blow it out before putting it back.

Mal snatched it from her lips and then put it in his mouth! "Why didn't you say you wanted to buy cigarettes?"

"Because it's my first time buying them legally. Just thought I should have some pomp and circumstance. No big." She lifted a shoulder.

Mike hit Mal's shoulder and took the cigarette from him. "You had to flaunt your new license."

"So?"

He took a drag. "I did it, too."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" I waved my hands. "Time fucking out!"

"You smoke cigarettes?!" Wheels was just as shocked.

"Doesn't smoking stunt your growth?" Jake asked.

"Do you really think I'm going to grow?" Mini Mama snatched the cigarette from Mike.

He made a face. "Doesn't it mess with your breath?"

"I brush my teeth three times a day. I suck on lemon drops all day. My breath is fine."

"But you can get cancer."

"I'm alive. I can get cancer."

He threw up his hands.

"When did you start smoking cigarettes?!" Wheels demanded.

Mini Mama shrugged and looked at Mal, who took the stick from her. "I don't know. Ten?"

"You were smoking at ten?!" Finn gaped.

"It's a rite of passage." Mike said before snatching the pack from her. He tapped one out and searched his pockets. He came out with a lighter and lit the tip.

"At ten?!"

"In our family, we start smoking early. At least the boys."

"Um…?"

"Grandfather aced anatomy and still thinks I'm a boy." Mini Mama took her cigarette back from Mal and lit a new one for him. It was kinda cool to see her inhale both at the same time before she gave him the fresh one.

"So your grandfather gave you cigarettes at a young age?" Wheels asked.

"He gave us cigars." Mal shook his head. "We didn't smoke cigarettes until later."

"What about the nicotine?" Bowties asked.

"I don't do addiction." Mini Mama held out the pack to me.

I shook my head. "I've never smoked a cigarette before."

"You smoke weed." Mike looked at me like I was stupid.

"You smoke weed?!" Jake's jaw dropped.

"I haven't smoked in like a year!" I defended myself. "And it's different!"

"How?"

I didn't really have an answer for that so I plucked the pack from Mini Mama and took one. "How's it taste?"

"Like tobacco." She gave me her lighter.

That didn't tell me nothin. I held the stick between my lips and lit the tip. I pulled on it to get it to light fully and moved it to blow out. "Not bad."

"It's light." Mike sneered.

"Shut up." Mini Mama cut her eyes at him. "It's a smoother taste."

He rolled his eyes.

I took another puff and started coughing. I really was out of practice.

"See?! You don't need to be smoking!" Bowties freaked.

"Relax, Forties Reject." Mini Mama punched my chest that felt like a lung collapsed.

I caught my breath. "I'm fine."

"See? He's no bitch. Take a puff."

He obviously thought she lost her mind. His face said so. "No way."

I held the cigarette out to Finn. "It's not that different than weed."

He took it. "You know I'm not used to that either. I've only smoked with you."

"And nothing bad happened."

He took a puff and started coughing. He was out of practice, too…

Wheels made a face. "Can I try one?"

"Sure you want one?" Mini Mama taunted. "You might turn into a bad boy."

He smirked. "Let's light this bitch!"

"That's my musical sugar daddy." She gave him one and stuck it between his lips then leaned over to light it for him. "Breathe in slowly."

He did as told. He started coughing but got under control quick. "Not bad."

"I want one!" Jake whined.

"Don't you want to keep growing?" Mini Mama took another drag.

He stuck his bottom lip out. "Please?"

"I bet that face gets you out of a lot of trouble."

He grinned and wiggled his eyebrows.

She handed him a stick. "Don't take too big a breath."

He let her light it for him and took a small breath. "Okay. That's not that bad-" He started coughing. "Ah!"

Mike started laughing.

Ryder bit his lip. "Can I have one?"

"Sure, salt shaker." Mini Mama lit one for him then gave it to him.

He took a small puff and began coughing worse than Jake.

"Did you inhale before puffing?" She beat on his back.

He nodded as he tried to stop coughing.

"Yeah, don't do that. It'll fuck you up."

"I! see!" He wheezed.

"I'm not doing this." Bowties crossed his arms. "This is peer pressure. Nicotine is a drug. Say no to drugs!"

"Wanna get high?" Her face was blank as hell when she said that.

It was like she broke him. He just stood there with his mouth open.

"I do." Mike tossed his butt on the ground and stepped on it. "I say we go home and partake in Purple Hills."

Mal slapped his hand. "Great idea!"

"How about we smoke a bowl and watch My Bride's a Mermaid?" Mini Mama thought up.

"Yes!" Her brothers cheered.

"Hold up!" Wheels waved his arms. "You, Mike Chang, smoke weed?!"

He lifted a shoulder.

"He used to smoke with us." Finn told.

"Yeah but he kept coughing so we wouldn't give him much." I snickered.

Mini Mama smirked and shook her head. "Idiot."

Mike hit her hand.

"Well you couldn't handle your kush." I smirked.

"I'm calling you an idiot." Mini Mama burst my bubble.

"Why?! He's the one who couldn't handle it!"

"Have you ever wondered why he kept smoking with you if he couldn't handle it?"

Not until she brought it up… "Why then?"

"He's asthmatic, dipshit. He's going to cough if he breathes crisp air too deeply."

I frowned. "Asthmatic? Should he be smoking then?"

"Not really but we live life."

"Aren't you asthmatic?" Wheels asked.

"Yes."

"Why didn't you ever take more than a couple puffs if you could handle it?" I asked Mike.

"Being sober meant I could laugh and remember every dumb thing you did high." He had zero shame about watching us be asses.

"So did you smoke weed without us?" Finn asked.

Mini Mama laughed. Mal grinned.

"What does that mean?!"

"Mikey's a bonafied pothead!"

I raised a brow. "You're a pothead?"

"No." Mike rolled his eyes.

Mal nodded. "Yes, he is."

Mike pushed him. "Shut up!"

"Pothead!"

Mike took a step.

Mal stepped behind Mini Mama, who rolled her eyes. "You're fuckin up my vibe. Are we doing this or not?"

"How often do you get high?" Bowties stared at her.

"So you're talking to me again?"

He glared.

"Often enough. A few times a week."

"A few times a week?!"

"You don't even drink around your kids!" I was shocked. "You smoke around them?"

"Smell me." She stood close to me.

That was weird to ask but I sniffed her neck. "Okay?"

"What do I smell like?"

"Fruit, flowers, I don't know. Outside?"

"Exactly. I smoke outside. It's usually gone by the time I go to bed. Besides I do drink around the twins. Just not enough to get drunk."

Mike came alive and hit her. "Do we have a bar?! I specifically asked for a bar!"

"You have your bar. It's off the kitchen." She leaned against the wall again.

"How are you going to get alcohol now?" Wheels brought up. "We're going to be away from your parents and you're still under twenty one."

"Our parents bought us cases for a housewarming gift but they'll just send us stuff. We get Barnes Best sent to us anyway."

"And we really like Pop's beer so we have Grandma sent us that." Mike added.

"I thought you didn't like beer?" Wheels hit Mini Mama's leg.

"I don't. It's for them. Mercy and Lucy will drink it every once in a while but these two drink it like it's water." Mini Mama straightened and took her phone and wallet from her legs. "Let's go. I really want a shifter of whiskey and a joint."

"Are we just smoking a bit or are we going there?" Mike asked. "Cuz I could eat."

"You're going to get fat one of these days."

"I'm with Pop-Pop. I'll just be fat."

She smiled. "We can order food."

"What kind of food?" Mal put a hand on her arm. "I'm not eating no salad."

"We can pick up burgers from Sally's before going home."

"Good. If we're going there, I'll stay the night. No need to walk the twins home, lit."

"What about the kids?!" I hit my forehead. "What are they gonna do?!"

"It's Thursday, genius. You get them tomorrow." Mini Mama rolled her eyes.

I relaxed. "Then why is Mal taking them home?"

"He's not. At least not now. Mrs. C wants to spend her time with them before we leave so I leave them over there every couple days."

"Should I do that with my moms? She's trippin hardcore about me "taking her babies"."

She shrugged. "Let's go. I'm hungry as shit right now."

MAP

I parked across the street from Mama's house and walked over with Jake and Ryder on my heels. They came with me after getting food at Sally's. We rang the doorbell.

Mrs. G answered. "Hola!"

"Hey, Mrs. G. What's up?"

"How are you, Señor Puck?"

"I'm good. This is my little bro, Jake and his friend, Ryder."

"Hola." She nodded before opening the door wider. "Señorita Mercy is upstairs."

I opened my mouth to tell her I wasn't here to see Mama when I realized how stupid that was. Any time I could see my woman was a good time. "Cool."

She let us in and shut the door behind us. She went somewhere else in the house.

"This is their house?" Jake leaned over, looking all around.

"Yeah." I looked at the stairs. "You two hang out here. I'll be back."

"What?! We don't wanna stand here like chumps!"

"You can't go through their house! They'll kill me!"

Mini Mama appeared at the top of the stairs. "What are you two fighting about?"

"I want to see Mama."

"If you climb the stairs and go to her room, you'll have a better chance of that." She made it to the bottom.

I gave her a look. "They don't wanna stay down here while I go up."

"Stop being so nosy." She said. "I need to change. Go to the backyard."

"Where is it?" Ryder asked.

"I'm going to show you. I wouldn't leave you to wander around my house aimlessly."

"Thanks." He blushed.

"Go upstairs, 'Zilla." She walked out.

I took the stairs two at a time and went to Mama's room. She was on her bed, reading to Rae with the baby on her chest. I took a minute to eye what she was wearing. She had on just a jersey and panties. I whistled.

She jumped. "Noah!"

Rae started crying.

"Noah!" Mama frowned.

"My bad." I crossed the room and took Rae from her and laid her on my chest. "It's okay, Rae. Papa's here."

Rae laid her head against my chest and reached up to play with my ear. Her crying slowed.

"Why are you here?" Mama asked in the quiet.

"You don't wanna see me?" The doorbell rang.

She smiled. "I always want to see you."

I bent awkwardly to kiss her. "I always wanna see you, too."

"Is that why you're here? You wanted to see me?"

How to answer this…? "I actually came to hang out with Mini Mama."

"I don't think she's here."

"She is. She's showing Jake and Ryder the backyard."

"Jake and Ryder? She knows them?"

"She just thought all the guys should hang out."

"And she wanted to host?"

"We're hanging with her. Finn and Wheels are on their way."

"Did she leave Blaine out? She needs to remember he has feelings-"

"He's invited, too. I think he's with Wheels." I interrupted.

"Good. He's going to think she doesn't like him in a minute."

I smirked.

"Where's Mikey and Mal?"

"I don't know. Mal was with her the last time I saw her. Well not the exact last time. The time before that."

"I get it, Noah." She held up a hand. "What are you going to be doing outside?"

"Just eating and talking." I didn't know how'd she take the weed thing.

"Well good. I think you should have guys nights. Bond as men."

"With Mini Mama."

"No. She should bond with us."

"I'd rather she bond with us." I teased.

"She's a girl!"

"Is she?"

She twisted her lips. "Give me my baby."

I gave her Rae. "I should leave." I stuck my lips out.

She gave me a look before kissing me. "Get out."

"Lookin sexy." I winked before leaving.

I heard her huff but it sounded like that little one she did when she blushed. I took it as a win and went downstairs and outside.

Jake and Ryder were out there along with Wheels, Blaine and Mal.

"What's up?!" I sat on a chair.

"I cannot believe I'm about to do this." Wheels looked at each of us. "I've never gotten high before."

"I'm sure you'll be fine." Mal said.

Mike came outside with Finn. "I got everything we'll need."

"You should see his stash!" Finn had wide eyes.

Now I wanted to. "Was it huge?"

"It's crazy!"

Mike sat down and set a bag between his feet. "It's just a stash. No big."

I think he's lying…

Mini Mama walked out with a tray. Seemed she was channeling her sister because she wore a State hoodie with a pair of shorts and green chucks. She set the tray on a table. "Who wants a beer?"

I liked drinking her father's beer. It was amazing as fuck. "I do!"

She gave me one then her brothers. "Finn?"

"Yeah." Finn nodded.

"Artman?"

Wheels held out a hand. "Hell yeah."

"What about you two?" She looked at Jake and Ryder.

They looked at each other before nodding. "Yes."

She gave them beers. "You're the lone hold out, No Socks."

Bowties gave her an ugly look. "I don't appreciate being pressured like this."

"You're right. You want to be the biggest bore, you have the right. Don't let anyone make you have fun."

"That's so passive aggressive!"

"I want you to loosen up. Maybe it's not your cup of tea but you'll never know if you don't try it."

"I've never tried death but I don't want that!"

"Too bad it's going to happen anyway. Might as well go with a smile."

He sighed. "Fine."

She gave him a beer. "Sip it slowly."

"Why?"

"To make it last? I don't know. You're the one being a pansy over this."

He glared at her.

She picked up a bottle of something and poured it into a short wide glass. She filled it to nearly the top and took a tiny sip then a bigger one then an even bigger one. Then she took a large swallow.

I noticed she did that when drinking. It was weird. "So are we doing this?"

"Mikey?" She swallowed what was in her mouth.

Mike nodded and unzipped his bag. He took out containers of stuff and a bong. "Fill this with water, will you?"

"Sure. Use this one in the meantime." She handed him the one on the tray.

They switched and she went inside as he opened one of the containers and took out a bud of weed.

We watched as he readied the bong then he gave it to me. "It's strong."

I scoffed. "Sure."

He shrugged.

I took the bong from him and used the lighter to light it and breathed from the hole. I started coughing immediately.

He took the bong from me as Finn beat on my back. "You did good."

Was he mocking me?! I glared at him.

"Oh, don't look at me like that. I warned you." He took a hit. He started coughing, too.

Mini Mama came back. "Here."

He set the first one down and started preparing the second one. "Which do you want?"

"What's in that one?" She nodded to the one on the ground.

"Purple Hills."

"Gimme."

He handed it to her. "I'm putting Lily Green in this one."

She took a hit and coughed. "That's a good idea."

Mal took it from her and took a hit. He did not cough.

The door to the patio slid open. "What's going on out here?"

I almost died. I didn't expect for Doc to catch us.

Mini Mama turned. "Just smoking."

"Ah! I'll join you. My day has been trying." He came outside.

"There's Purple Hills in here." Mal held out the bong.

He took it with a frown. "I thought you were smoking cigars. Oh well. I suppose this'll do."

We watched as he took a hit. He blew smoke out lazily.

"We should call Marc." Mike said as he handed Wheels the other bong.

"Where is he?" Mal asked.

Mike shrugged. "I don't know."

"If we're trying to really unwind, I got some hash oil." Mini Mama pointed at the house.

"I'll call Michael." Her dad took another hit. "You two remember to take your medicine."

"We will, Pop." Mike took something from his pocket.

"Yes, Daddy." Mini Mama took the bong from him as he went inside.

"So your dad smokes with you." Wheels said when it'd been quiet a minute.

Mike uncapped whatever that thing was and put part of it in his mouth. He pressed down on the top and it was like he was taking a hit from another bong. Except he didn't cough.

Mini Mama hit his shoulder. "Let me get a hit. I left mine upstairs."

He switched it with her and took the bong. He took a hit and breathed deeply. He was fine.

Mini Mama took a hit off that red thing he gave her and took a deep breath before taking a hit off the bong. She blew smoke out softly. "Roll up some African Heat."

"For the oil? Yeah." He went to his bag as she gave the bong to Mal. He grabbed it and began preparing it to roll.

"What was that?" Ryder pointed to the red thing Mini Mama held.

"It's an inhaler." She looked down at it before giving it back.

"What's an inhaler do?" Finn asked.

"It's medicine." Mike pulled out his phone. "I'ma call Marc. You get the oil. It's to help our lungs work. It's steroids."

"You take steroids?" Wheels was shocked.

"We have to." Mini Mama said slow. "Our bodies need them."

"Why was Mike smiling when your dad told you to take it?"

She grinned evilly. "They don't know it gets you higher."

"So they be uppin yo high by accident?"

"Pretty much. Let me get the oil."

I waved to get Mal's attention so he'd give me the bong. I think I can handle it now. He gave it to me and I took a hit. It definitely went better than the first time.

"Where's Marc?" Mal asked.

"He said he was busy until I told him I rolled some African Heat and Marce went to get some oil. Now he's coming home." Mike frowned a little as he made sure the weed was alright.

"He wasn't doing anything important."

Mini Mama came back. "Here you go. Daddy's waiting for PM. Did you call Marc?"

"I texted him." Mike took the oil from her and squirted it like ketchup on a hot dog on the weed. He finished rolling it up and held it out.

She took it and put it in her mouth before sparking up. She took a long drag and blew out slow and steady. "There we go."

Wheels looked at the bong in his hands. "How do I do this?"

Mini Mama put the joint between her lips to the side of her mouth and went over to him. "Put your mouth here and light this. Start inhaling but slow at first."

He did as she said and took his first hit. She moved the bong so he could breathe. "How you feel?"

"Kinda calm." He breathed slowly and deeply.

Finn took the bong from her and took a hit. "I hope Quinn doesn't find out."

"Find out what?" Mal hit Mini Mama's ass. When she turned with a glare, he pulled on the under part of her jeans to make her walk over then took the joint from her.

"Quinn would freak out if she knew I smoked weed." Finn answered.

"For what?" Mini Mama looked confused. "She smokes hookah."

"What the hell is hookah?" Wheels demanded.

She slapped his arm. "No cussing!"

Mike told us what hookah was (I sure as hell didn't know). "I like the lemonade."

"It's pretty choice." She took the bong from Finn. "Here." She handed it to Jake.

"Help?" He asked.

She helped him and he took his first hit. "Holy crap!"

"Yeah, it's a trip the first time. Just breathe."

He breathed in and out.

She shook the bong and held it out to Ryder. "There's enough left for one more hit."

"Will you help me?" Ryder didn't look too sure.

"Yeah." She helped him. "How do you feel?"

"Wow."

"Yep." She gave the bong to Mike. "Refill it."

Doc came outside with Doc C and Marc. "We've got beers."

"We've got African Heat." She sat on Mal's lap and swatted him when he kissed her cheek.

"I need that." Doc C took the blunt from his son and took a hit. "So many colds going around. These kids have infections and their parents are still letting them go out underdressed."

"Alright, when they kids die of pneumonia, they can't get mad."

"I'm troubled all the way around." Doc took the blunt from him and took a pull. "There's a client that's willing to give me thirty percent of their company for resources but he doesn't seem willing to "compromise" his "integrity" in order to put his product out there. Man is an idiot."

"Your day couldn't have been worse than mine." Marc took a hit off the bong with the Purple Hills. "I had a meeting with the original founders and they wanna edge me out! Said I wouldn't have my head in it because I'm leaving."

"They can't do that." Doc C frowned.

"Get you a lawyer, son." Doc said.

Marc breathed and smoke came out. "I am. I'm looking into them now. I had the initial idea for KimchiStarz I'm not going to let anyone separate me from my baby."

"Who's doing it specifically?" Mini Mama asked. "There's three others."

"That slimy toad Jefferson." Marc sneered. "If I catch him,-!"

"Calm down, Marcus." Doc waved him down. "Don't let your temper overrule your good sense."

"It always does." Mike rolled another blunt.

Marc glared at him. "Shut up!"

Mini Mama picked up her drink and sipped it. "Let's not talk about everything wrong. Let's talk about good times."

Wheels grinned. "Let's talk about our worst drunk stories."

She blushed. "No!"

"Why?" I smirked. "Worried you'll lose?"

"Worried I'll win."

"Come on. Try us. What have you done drunk?"

She took a puff from the joint Mike finished and breathed deeply. "I'm banned from Siberia."

"You were drunk in Siberia?!" Doc and Doc C shouted.

"You're banned from Siberia?" Wheels wanted to make sure. "The middle of nowhere don't want you around?"

She looked so uncomfortable. "Yeah, I was drunk. We all were. That's probably why it happened."

Doc C chuckled until he laughed. "I can see that."

"Oh my goodness, that was a trip." Marc shook his head. "I can't believe we did that."

Mal snorted. "Yeah but you weren't first."

He laughed. "You did volunteer."

"I never did know the whole story." Doc said. "How did it even start?"

"Oh no. I don't think so." Mini Mama shook her head.

"Come on, BT." Wheels smiled. "Tell us."

"I'll do this if you tell us." Bowties offered.

Mini Mama sighed. "Fine. It's stupid."

"What is?"

"I've always wanted to pee standing up."

We just stared at her for a minute. "What?!"

"I've always wanted to pee standing up." She repeated.

"Why?" Bowties looked confused.

"Just seemed cool. You can hit a target, you can write your name in the snow, just seemed cool."

"Did you pee on somebody?"

She bowed her head. "We're not there yet."

"Oh my goodness, this is gonna be good, ain't it?!" I grew happy.

"It's gonna be something." Mike took a joint from his mouth and took a swig of beer.

Mini Mama took a deep breath. "I was feeling sorry for myself when we were playing *-"

"What's that?" Wheels asked.

"It's like extreme snowball fight."

"Alright." He nodded. "Go on."

"Anyway, I was in a sorry mood and Rou sat up and drank with me. I somehow got the idea that I'd been wronged in some way and I should get comeuppance."

"Wow." Jake blinked.

"I know but I was drunk. I got the idea to fill water balloons with pee. The guys were already drinking and carrying on so it was easy to convince them. We left them outside for about an hour as we drank and acted a fool." She stopped.

"What?" Finn asked. "What happened?"

"We started throwing them at people and things." Mal took up. "Sluggish piss is hard to clean."

"You threw pee at people?!" Bowties' jaw dropped.

"Not a shining moment." Mini Mama bit off.

"So what happened? Were you caught? Is that why you're banned from there?"

"Yes, the cops were called. We were hauled off and put in cells as they called around trying to find our parents."

"Well-"

"It's not over." She said flatly.

"How can it get worse?!"

"Rou and I were in a cell with women. Obviously. But not all of them were women. There were a couple drag queens in there."

"And?"

"I wanted to prove I could pee standing up." Her cheeks were seriously red and she wouldn't look at anyone. "So I tried it. It didn't work. I literally couldn't go standing up. So I climbed on the bench and squatted. Over a sleeping transvestite."

I knew my mouth was hanging open.

"Rou and I had to fight her cuz of course she didn't appreciate getting pissed on. The police ended up separating us. They put Rou and me in with the men. We were there all night because the elders wanted to teach us a lesson."

"I was so upset with Father." Doc scoffed. "We argued all night about leaving you down there. By the time he relented, it was morning."

"Wow. So you spent a night in jail. That's seriously messed up. You peed on somebody." Wheels laughed.

"Shut up. Luckily it was after Christmas so we were able to leave and the police contacted the mayor. He created a new law against throwing frozen pee balloons at people and objects then told us we were banned. Everyone with our name would be turned away at customs." Mini Mama sighed. "Now you know."

Wheels, Jake and I burst out laughing.

She did not look happy.

"It's okay, Sweetpea." Doc patted her knee.

"Man, that's classic!" I wiped away tears. "Why didn't you try that in Switzerland?!"

"I'm older now and no longer ruled by base desires and childish grievances." She snapped.

Mal kissed her shoulder. "Not all base desires, right?"

She elbowed him in the chest gently. "You better not tell nobody about this!"

"Lips are sealed." Wheels promised.

Doc C sighed. "Our fraternity used to throw parties every weekend. There was only one rule; you had to find a bed partner for the night or you had to drink your body weight in bad domestic beer."

This sounded good.

"I've never been a very good dancer and I don't like to make a fool of myself." He swallowed. "Jeanette's always been a wonderful dancer and she liked to dance. We argued over me dancing with her in front of a crowd then broke up."

"You and Mom broke up?" Mike frowned.

"Yes. I was so distraught, I indulged more than I should. I got so drunk, I called her sorority house and left 32 messages on the machine. I went through the party hoping to find her. And I did. Or I thought I did.

I began apologizing profusely and begged her to take me back. I heard an affirmative and promised to change my ways. I started at that moment. By dancing with her. In front of the whole party. All night."

Doc snickered. "I remember that night."

"Were you dancing so badly that everyone talked about you?" Finn asked.

"I was dancing with a coatrack." Doc C spat.

We fell out laughing.

"Everyone saw. And worse yet, someone recorded it."

"Oh my goodness!" Marc was red, he was laughing so hard.

"Yeah." He looked pissed.

"It cannot beat the first time I proposed to Rose." Doc took a long pull of beer.

Doc C winced. "That was a bad night."

"Please tell us." Wheels begged.

Doc sighed. "We'd just finished midterms sophomore year. We threw a huge party to celebrate. Everything was fine until I got so drunk, I climbed to the roof of our fraternity and proclaimed my love for her. I then asked her to marry me.

She was so drunk, she said yes. I tried to climb off the roof to get to her but fell. Luckily the bushes absorbed most of it and I just had a sprained ankle. Too bad I was so drunk, I didn't realize it.

Our friends rallied behind us and we hopped in cars to drive to Los Vegas in order to get married. We shouldn't have driven drunk. We know that now but they weren't as strict back then.

Anyway, we got in a fender bender with a travel sign and decide to walk the rest of the way. My foot was worse by then but I couldn't feel it. In our drunken state, we thought a nearby tree looked like Elvis Presley and asked him to officiate.

We said our vows and kissed to thunderous applause. It was all I remembered until I woke up in a field surrounded by naked people and the highwaymen taking pictures for evidence and my ankle swelled like a purple grapefruit.

Worse yet, there's a video of that. Floating around. A video of getting married by a tree."

I damn near fell off my chair, I was laughing so hard.

"Momma never told that story." Marc laughed.

"We try to ignore it happened." Doc hid his face.

"That's the best story I've ever heard!" Mike was grinning ear to ear.

"Ugh!"

"Don't worry, Daddy." Mini Mama took out a cigarette. "We've done a ton of stuff."

"Remember when PR burned down that state park?" Marc grinned.

The five of them laughed. "Oh yeah!"

"You burned down a state park?" Wheels whistled. "Ooh!"

"It was during a fishing trip." Doc C started. "We took a week off during spring break and went to Hocking Hills State Park."

"We were to spend time with our children, bonding." Doc went on. "It gave us one on one time with the kids and gave their mothers a chance to relax at an away spa."

"So we drove up there and everything was fine." Marc shook his head. "We fished all day and caught nothing."

"We were so upset. We just wanted to show our children a good time."

"So we started drinking around the campfire. It was the only provision we'd really brought." Doc C rolled his eyes. "We were on our ears quickly."

"PR left to go use a tree-"

"Use a tree?" I interrupted Mike.

"Pee at the base of a tree. We went real camping. Sleeping bags, tents, no bathrooms."

"So he goes to use a tree?" Bowties led.

"And the next thing we know, he's running towards us waving his arms and screaming."

"We're so drunk, we start to panic." Mini Mama snorted. "We ran around in circles like headless chickens."

"We finally realize there's no animal after us and try to calm him down." Mal said. "He's so relaxed that he forgets what it was that scared him so much- until we smell smoke. Then we grab our stuff, hop in the cars and floor it."

"We hightailed it out of there and got stopped by police for speeding. By that time, the fire had gotten so huge and combined with the fire at the campsite we forgot to douse and it went up like kindling. We got a fine for that."

"We swore never to talk about it again and took the children to an amusement park. We have no pictures of that time and we convinced the children to lie." Doc said. "We told the women fishing went great but we gave away most of our fish and ate the rest."

"We'll never tell." Doc C swore. "I will never admit that day."

I laughed hard. Maybe the bud was getting to me but that sounded hilarious. "What else have you done?"

Marc grinned. "Marce set Eliza Cunningham's party on fire."

She closed her eyes as her family laughed at her. "I wasn't drunk. I was trying to get high."

"Is that why you were behind the drapes?" Mal elbowed her.

She huffed. "That chick was totally boring and her coming out party was even worse. I needed something to take my mind off it. I didn't want to get lost in the house and I couldn't find anybody so I hid behind a curtain."

"And what happened?" Bowties whispered.

"A waiter bumped into me and the lighter touched the drapes. It burned a hole through them then spread like herpes."

"G-Ma was so embarrassed!" Mal laughed. "She made Marce attend etiquette classes!"

"Ouch!" I held my stomach.

Wheels winced. "Poor BT! Having to pretend to be a lady!"

The look she gave him made me laugh louder.

Marc smirked. "I'm hungry. Mrs. G cook?"

"We don't know." Mini Mama shrugged. "We got food from Sally's."

"I want a chicken quesadilla." Doc said suddenly.

"You should go make one." Doc C told him.

"No!" Marc and Mini Mama yelled.

Doc's mouth fell open. "Why not?! I could make a quesadilla! What's in it?"

"Daddy, no." Mini Mama was dead serious. "Just ask Mrs. Gonzales."

"I don't want to trouble her."

"She'd love to make it. If she doesn't, I'll do it!"

He sulked. "What are you trying to say, Sweetpea?"

"My children are here. I don't want the house burning down."

He glared at her.

"Dad, that was wrong." Mike lifted a brow.

Doc C grinned.

Doc hit him. "We're no longer friends!"

"We were never friends."

Marc, Mike, Mini Mama and Mal snickered as his mouth fell open.

"I'm kidding, brother." Doc C clapped a hand to his shoulder. "I will make you a quesadilla."

"Keep that infernal Siracha off it!"

They both got up and went in the house.

Marc stood up. "I should go. I just left Laura."

Mike took a blunt from him. "We'll see you."

"Peace!" He threw up his hand and kissed Mini Mama's cheek before bouncing.

Finn sniffed. "You guys have too much fun."

Mini Mama shrugged slightly. "We're not boring."

That was the truth if I ever heard it…