"I'm taking a break. I didn't know I even had so many books!" Mercedes came in & sat on Marcy's bed.
"Told you." The sisters had done their running around for the day & were now packing. Well Marcy still was. "Putting away this art work is a mess."
"Are you going to decorate your place with your art?"
"Maybe. I don't have much up." Marcy fit the top on a crate.
"I can't wait to go shopping for stuff. I've never decorated a whole house before."
Marcy broke down her easel & put it in a crate with loose supplies. "It shouldn't be all that different than decorating a bedroom."
"I can't wait to get started. Did you paint your place?"
"Yeah. Every room's a different color."
"Now that's cool! I want to do that."
"I'm sure the place is painted. Or you can hire an interior decorator & have it professionally done."
"Nah. I'd rather Quinn & I did it."
Marcy shrugged before sitting on a crate & reaching for her writing tablet to strike artwork off her list of things to pack. "I don't have much furniture in my house at all. I have a bed, dresser & a bunch of hangers in my room. The twins have a full suit. There's the play room. & I have a table & chairs in the sunroom."
"That's it?!"
"Yup."
"We really have to buy stuff now!"
"Oh! I have a card table & chair in my office."
"That's sad." Mercedes sat up. "What else have you got to pack?"
"I packed all of my bookcases. I packed all my artwork. Now I have my clothes. I'm leaving my desk locked & everything will just ship inside it. Then I'm going to pack all my stuffed animals & pillows. I have a ton of those so I'll have the kids help me with that."
"I'm nowhere near as done as that. I have so much to pack."
"Want help?"
"You just don't want to shop."
"One has nothing to do with the other."
Mercedes laughed. "How about I help you first?"
"We'll knock it out before Laura gets back with the kids." Marcy slid off the crate & walked to her closet.
"Are you going to pack the bathroom?" Mercedes followed.
"It'll take two boxes at most." She assured her as she began taking clothing off hangers & rolling them to put in boxes.
"Why are you rolling them?"
"They take up less space that way & I'll be able to pack more."
"Hmm." Mercedes started rolling clothes & stacked them in boxes.
The two worked quickly & before half an hour was up, they were done. Marcy grabbed scarves, hats, belts & the like. "Now a box or two for accessories."
"Shoes are going to be a hassle." Mercedes noted as they packed the boxes.
"Shouldn't be. I have mostly chucks & boots."
"Yeah but boxes with shoes tear."
"Which is why I have tubs." Marcy pointed to the blue plastic.
"Smart thinking! I was wondering why you bought those!"
"Okay, this is done. Let's pack up my vanity. I don't have much hair & makeup stuff so that'll just be a box."
"I'll do it. You start on the shoes." Mercedes went to grab a box then went to the lime green vanity that matched her lavender one. She sat down & opened the drawers. She took everything out & threw it in the box. She threw in hair ties, scrunchies, hair clips, claws, bows & ribbons. She tossed in a curling iron, two flatirons & a brush & comb set. Then she threw in all the makeup her sister had which mostly consisted of lip products & eye liner. "You know you shouldn't use this makeup."
"I'll go through it & pick out my favorites. I'll buy new ones & toss the rest." Marcy flung shoes at the plastic bins.
Mercedes went through the drawers to make sure they were empty & tossed in the combs & brushes she found. After, she swept through again. The vanity was clean. "Where's your brush & comb set that came with the matching mirror Momma gave us at thirteen?"
"I took it with me to the convent."
"Really? I thought you'd leave it for the sake of vanity & such?"
"Just because I was banished to the wetlands doesn't mean I had to go around like I stuck my finger in a socket." Marcy threw another shoe.
Mercedes laughed. "I'm done over here."
"Me too. I need to pack all my sports equipment & my musical instruments." Marcy put the top on the tub.
"Don't you have the cases for them?"
"Yeah. All except my drum-kit & keyboard are in their cases."
"Are you taking all of your things? Like everything from the house?"
"I should. That way I can get anything I want & don't have to worry about wanting it & it's an ocean away."
"Like what? Your old toys?"
"I'll donate those or give them to the kids. Let them pick out what they want & donate the rest. Unless it's something I really want. But all my kiddie movies that are collectibles now. Totally taking. Oh! I should buy a VCR!"
Mercedes laughed. "That's what you got outta that?!"
"I don't have any movies at home. I have a Netflix account."
"So you have a TV?"
"In my room. I don't watch it much because I don't have time. Or a TV stand."
"Buy one."
"I will." Marcy walked out & grabbed the Mardi Gras beads from around the closet door handle & put them in a random box. "So what are we doing? Oh yeah! You do the bathroom & I'll take apart this bed. I def. missed my bed!"
"What kind of bed do you have now?"
"A cot! I can't move or nothing!"
"You must not get much sleep." Mercedes took a box into the small attached bathroom.
"I don't really sleep a lot. I have a lot of nightmares & stuff."
Mercedes frowned at the casual way she said it. "Nightmares?!"
"My doctor calls them night terrors." Marcy stood on her bed & unhooked the bed-curtains.
Mercedes swallowed. "Oh. How long has that been going on?"
"Since I was about three. They get worse every year." Marcy stripped the covers off the bed & began folding them.
Mercedes opened the cabinet & put all the oral hygiene products in the box. There was also hair removal cream, soap, bath salts, bubble bath, hair products & bathroom cleaning supplies in the cabinet under the sink. She threw all those in then went for the body wash in the shower & pouf. "How come you didn't tell us?"
"I assumed you knew. Daddy & Mal know." Marcy went to the hall closet & grabbed all the bedclothes that belongs to her & packed them in the box.
Mercedes made sure she had everything before folding the tops of the box & setting it in the room. She grabbed another box & put all the decorations such as towels & the shower curtain in it. She repeated the steps to close the box. "I didn't."
"Oh." Marcy closed the box. "We need to mark these boxes. I have my books & stuff marked."
"Do you have a pen?" Mercedes wondered if she changed the subject on purpose.
"I have a sharpie." Marcy went to get it then tossed it to her. "You mark the boxes while I pack up my movies."
"How about we both do it then go down together? I should pack my movies at the same time."
"Okay." Marcy held her hand out for the marker Mercedes had yet to use. Mercedes gave it to her & she quickly scrawled MA's Bed on two boxes. She threw the marker back.
Mercedes wrote MA Bath on the two boxes she had packed. "Are you going to tape these boxes?"
"Yeah. I want to do it while the kids are asleep. They'll play with the tape & I'll get nothing done."
Mercedes chuckled. "They like tape?"
"If it's sticky & can make a mess, they're in it." Marcy took the sharpie back & went to label the boxes & bins in the closet.
"Weren't we the same way?" Mercedes sat on the naked bed.
"Not you. You wouldn't make a mess if your life depended on it."
"Hey! I made messes!"
"Yeah. After everyone else was already dirty."
Mercedes raised a brow crossly. "That is so not true! I remember making a mess at Maddie's fifth birthday."
"That was an accident! A very hilarious accident!"
"I still made a mess."
Marcy came from the closet. "I'm the disaster. Let's bring some of these smaller boxes for the movies. That way we don't over pack them."
Mercedes looked at her sister. How could she jump topics like that & not stay confused? "Okay. I need to grab some boxes from my room."
Marcy put the sharpie in her back pocket. "I'll meet you down there."
Mercedes nodded & went to her room. She grabbed three unformed boxes from a stack & went downstairs to the den, where all the movies were.
Marcy had already formed a box & was taking VHS tapes down from the walls.
"Are you taking mine or yours?" Mercedes sat on a couch to build a box.
"You know these are in threes." Marcy frowned as she picked over every third video & tossed it on the couch safely.
"All of them? I thought we set up a system years ago?" Mercedes stood up & went to a wall.
"Wishful thinkin, Sis." Marcy continued throwing.
"Why didn't Momma or somebody write our names on the inside or something?" Mercedes complained as she pulled A Goofy Movie down.
"Because that would devalue the tape." Marcy pulled a chair over so she could reach the top shelves.
"Are you going to sell yours?"
"Hell no!"
"Then why do you care about resell value?"
"Because when I die, the kids will be able to sell them."
"Good point. So you're leaving them for the twins?"
"Yeah. They don't know how it was for us. We're the last of the old Disney."
Mercedes giggled. "We are."
"This new ish is for the birds. The last one I saw was Tangled & I was bored through most of it."
"You didn't like Tangled?" She looked behind herself.
"I didn't say I didn't like it. I don't dislike it. I don't like it."
Mercedes outright laughed. "You could have just said that."
"I did."
Mercedes set a pile of movies on a chair & continued to pick from the shelves she could reach. "What movies have the twins seen since you don't have any?"
"What's on Netflix. They've seen the Aristocats, Mulan, Anastasia, Mulan II, Hercules, Pocahantus, Dumbo, all the Tinkerbell movies, 101 Dalmatians (both versions) & a few others."
"Wow. They've gotten a crash course- wait. Haven't you shown them Pocahantus II?"
"No way!"
"You can't still be mad at that movie! She really married him!"
"I know but I don't have to like it."
Mercedes looked at her sister like she wasn't taking her medicine. "Marcy!"
"You know it was an abomination! The only difference is I'll admit it."
Mercedes laughed. "I'm not about to argue with you!"
"Because I'm right!" Marcy stood down from the chair & went to the couch to start stacking the movies in the box correctly.
"Because you're a mess!"
"Now, now. Let's not start name calling. We'll be here all night."
Mercedes brought the movies from the chair she was using to put them in her box. "You're right."
"Told ya."
Mercedes hit her with a tape.
"Ow! Mean! I'm telling Laura!"
Mercedes giggled at the threat. It was one they've made since childhood. "Not if I tell her first!"
"I ain't did nothin!"
"I'll think of something. You've done too much for me not to have a list."
Marcy stuck her tongue out. "So how long have you & Sonny been an item?"
Mercedes smiled. "Since Valentine's Day."
"You two make me sick."
Mercedes lost her smile as her mouth fell open. "That! I'm telling Laura that!"
Marcy smirked. "I'm serious! You two are the most romantic people I know! Besides Mal & Laura. You have a serious fluff problem. You two are sappy. It figures you got together on the dumbest & most useless day of the year."
"I don't know why you hate V-Day so much! You always have a valentine!"
"So do you! It's called our parents. Not cute."
"We have each other."
"That's just as bad."
Mercedes swatted her. "It's a good thing!"
"It's a thing." Marcy admitted. "So I bet you have all that romantic junk couples have? Your song. Your first date. Your movie. Crap like that."
Mercedes thought about it. "We don't."
"You don't?!" Marcy was shocked.
Mercedes was, too. "We never talked about it. I can't believe we don't even have a song!"
"Ooh! Maybe you're not the perfect couple?" Marcy went back to packing.
Mercedes chewed on her bottom lip. She'd be damned if they weren't the perfect couple! As soon as she saw him, she was talking about it!
M&MC
"Thank you for your help, Laura." Mercedes said as she stacked the last box against the wall.
"No problem." As soon as Laura returned from the park with Mally & Mickey, the trio had helped Mercedes & Marcy pack. So far all of Marcy's room was packed & most of Mercedes's.
"I can't believe we did all this before you had to go." Marcy built another box.
"Mikey should be on his way." Mercedes looked for the clock on the wall before remembering it was packed away. "What time is it now?"
"Three o'clock." Marcy took her phone from her back pocket.
"How was living in LA? I never did ask." Laura sat on the sofa & crossed her legs.
Mercedes put on her shoes. "It was good. I never thought I'd miss winter but I didn't care for the snowless Christmas."
"Did you have fun?"
"I did. I made friends. I made connections. It was good for me."
"I bet it was good to have a familiar face with you. Pop told me-"
"Daddy told you Mikey & I were dating?"
"You & Mikey are dating?!" Laura sat up.
"No one told you?" It was barely a question.
Marcy laughed herself silly.
"No, no one told me! Why not?! This is big news! Who else knows?!" Laura reeled.
"Um… our parents; our siblings; Puck & his family; my friend, Santana."
"Outsiders know before me?!"
"I thought someone would have told you!"
"When did you get together?!"
"Valentine's Day."
"Aww! How adorable!"
"Our first date was salsa dancing at this club in LA & breakfast at a diner called Monkey Bananas."
"I've been there." Marcy said. "It's really good. Have you had their hot chocolate? It's crazy!"
"I haven't but if I'm ever back there, I will." Mercedes went to the window. A horn honked. "It's Mikey. I gotta go."
"You have to tell me more when you get home." Laura insisted as she stood up.
"I will."
"Where's this family meeting going to be?" Marcy asked as she got up, too.
"Our house." Laura said. "Mom & I have news."
Mercedes was sure she knew what Laura's news was. "Okay. I'll see you guys later. Bye!" She flew down the steps & out the house.
Mike was waiting in his car, bobbing his head to the music he could only hear.
She opened the passenger's door & got in. She leaned over to kiss him. "Hi!"
"Hey." He turned the music down. "Puck & Quinn are going to meet us there."
"Okay." She put her seatbelt on. Mike pulled off & drove to the school. Mercedes was silent for a moment before she remembered something. "Hey?"
"Yeah?" He drummed his fingers on the steering wheel.
"Why don't we have a song?"
"Huh?" His face scrunched in confusion.
"A song. You know. A song that defines our relationship, that when we hear it, we think of the other. Our song."
"Oh." Mike thought about it. "What do you want it to be?"
"I don't know. Something "us"."
Mike bit his lip. "How about Silk Freak Me?"
Her eyes widened & she turned to stare at him. "What?! No!"
He snickered. "Come on. Why not?"
"Mike, be serious!"
"I was."
She glared at him. "No nasty songs!"
He wracked his brain but couldn't come up with a song until they pulled into the lot. "What about Here & Now by Luther Vandross? It's not nasty."
She lit up. "Yay! I love that song!"
He perked up at doing something right & turned off the car. "Okay. Our song is Here & Now."
"I can't wait to rub it in Quinn's face that we have a better song than her & Puck!"
M&MC
"I'm sure you're wondering why I've called you here today." Judy took a deep breath. "Laura has some news."
Laura stood in the Fabray living room. "I'm moving. To England."
"What?!" They all shouted but one was particularly loud.
"You can't move to England!" Marc snapped.
"London & Paris want me to move in with them." Laura tucked a lock of hair behind her ear as she allowed a small smile to grace her face. "They're fresh out of beauty school by the time I move in & I think it'll be a good idea."
"No, you can't move to England because I'm moving to London!"
Laura's mouth fell open. "No way! You can't do that!"
"I'm moving to live with Joey!"
"Joey!" She hissed to herself with a clenched fist.
"I'm glad you'll be together." Rose said. "I don't want my kids to be alone."
Both groaned as Laura went to sit down & Judy stood back up. "I also have news. Since Laura & Quinnie are going to be gone-"
"Thanks for the heads up." Michael glared at his eldest.
"Maybe I shouldn't have told you before you had to go to work?" Mike grinned.
Michael growled.
"Anyway. Since my children will be out of the house & living in different countries, I don't need this big old house to myself. So I'm selling it."
There were a lot of gasps.
"I know. It's a change but I don't need to stay here by myself. I can buy an apartment in the city."
"That makes sense. Downsizing." Marcus stroked his chin. "We should consider doing that."
"You can't move!" Maddie protested. "Everybody's moving & leaving me!"
"Mad." Mercedes reached for her but she jumped out of the way.
"No! Why is everybody going off like we're not a family?!"
"Maddie, calm down. We're only moving. We're still going to be a family." Marc said.
"No, we're not! You guys already never visit! The only person I see is Mal!"
"& you'll see us. I promise." Quinn vowed.
"No, you're not! You'll be so busy with your new lives, you're going to forget all about me! Again!"
"Again? What do you mean again?" Marcy asked.
"When you guys went off to college!" She yelled at Mercedes, Mike & Quinn. "Laura & Marc never came home but you promised to be different. Every time you came home, it was for that stupid glee club! No one ever came home to be with family or even called me! I have a cell phone now & I bet none of you know the number!"
Her siblings gaped at her.
"Just forget it! I don't want to see any of you anyway!" She ran out of the room & they could hear the front door slam.
"Madeline! Madeline!" Michael stood up to go after her but Jeanette stopped him.
"She's a good girl. She'll most likely take a walk & go home."
"But she's a little girl-!"
"She's almost thirteen."
"I had no idea she felt like that." Laura murmured.
"She's really mad at us." Mercedes added.
"Why didn't she ever tell us?" Quinn didn't like feeling guilty.
"How? You were nowhere around." Marcy teased with a lifted brow.
"Marcy?!"
"Well you weren't. I had an excuse & Mal was here. You five left her."
"Thank you!" Marc snapped. "For the guilt!"
"She's right." Mike said slowly. "We only came back for glee. We have come back plenty of times but never to just see her."
"We have to make it up to her." Mercedes chewed on her bottom lip.
"Maybe we can buy her something?" Rose suggested. "We're going to the store anyway."
"That's your solution? Buying her stuff?" Marcy deadpanned.
"You just don't want to go shopping. Mercy told me how you didn't have anything in your house." Rose raised a brow. "She will get over it but a gift might make it faster."
"It's worth a try." Mike hoped. "I've never had her mad at me before. I don't like it."
"Well then let's go." Laura pulled Marcy up.
"You can't be serious! We're going furniture shopping! What are we going to buy her to stop her from being rightfully mad at you?!" The green eyed blonde snapped.
"Anything! As long as it happens, who cares?!" Quinn pulled her other side.
"Whose car are we going in?" Mercedes asked as she stood up.
"Mike, honey-"
"Mom, no." Mike interrupted his mother, shaking his head.
"Michael." She pleaded.
"Mom, I love Rhonda."
"You love that car more than your own mother?" She set her hands on her hips.
"Please don't make me choose."
Michael started laughing. "You're rough on a car, Jeanette."
"I am not!" She pouted.
"We can take Travis." Marcy didn't want Jeanette to have hurt feelings.
"Thank you." Mike was serious.
Mercedes slapped his arm. "You couldn't let your mother drive your car?!"
"You couldn't either."
Marc, Marcy, Mal, Michael & Marcus fell out laughing. Quinn's lips twitched.
Mercedes was offended. "Forget you & your precious car!"
"Baby, don't be like that." Mike touched her elbow.
"Come on, Mrs. C!" Mercedes threaded her arm through Jeanette's. "We're obviously not special enough for Rhonda!"
Jeanette stuck her nose in the air & led Mercedes out. "We know when we're not wanted!"
Rose, Judy, Laura, Quinn & Marcy followed. The laughing guys just looked at each other before looking down. Mally & Mickey looked up with innocent smiles.
"They did that on purpose…"
M&MC
"We'll go by room." Rose decided. "We're start with the living room first. It's easiest."
Marcy could see this lasting forever. "Do you have the room's measurements?"
"I do. I got them from the listing." Mercedes brought out a pad of paper.
"Let's head to the parlor section." Laura led the way.
They walked through the huge store until they came upon sofas, couches, end-tables & lamps.
Marcy pointed to the first thing she saw. "I'll take this one."
"Don't you want to try it out? See if you really like it? If it's kid proof?" Rose looked over the piece. It was a large sectional in soft blue.
"It's sturdy looking." Marcy had walked to an end-table & was circling it like a shark. "Don't you think we should have invited Puck & his mother here?"
"Why?" Judy asked.
"Because Puck's going to live with Mikey." Mercedes found a couch she really loved. "Look, Q! We can get two!"
Quinn sidled over (before her mother could catch her). "Yeah, I like it."
"Why didn't you tell me, Quinn?" Judy demanded.
"Because I didn't want you to lecture me. We both know I'm going to spend some nights in his bed & he'll spend some in mine."
"You already had his baby. What else could happen?"
Marcy snickered. "She could keep the next one."
Quinn's mouth fell open. "Marcy!"
"Sorry! Low blow!"
"She better keep the next one!" Mercedes & Laura sniped at the same time.
"I will!" Quinn threw her hands up. "Are we going to call Puck & his mother?"
Mercedes took out her phone & called Puck. "Hey. Where's your mom?"
"I don't know. Doing something. Why didn't you just call her?" He answered.
"Because it involves you."
"When has that stopped you?"
"Don't get hurt, boy!"
He snickered. "She's mad at me you know. It's your sister's fault."
"Quinn, what did you do to this boy?!" She turned to the blonde.
"What?" Her mouth fell open. "I didn't do anything to him! What is he telling you?!"
"No! Not that one!" Puck yelled. "The spicy flavored one."
"Spicy?" Mercedes smirked. "I'm telling her you said that."
"Did he call me spicy?!" Quinn took the phone from her. "Do you have something to say to me?!"
"I love you?" Puck was no fool. "I said Mini Mama was spicy."
"Oh. She's going to kick your butt for that." Quinn gave the phone back to Mercedes.
"Hello? How'd you calm her down?" Mercedes asked.
"I told her I loved her." He said.
"Aww!"
"Mama!" Puck shouted.
"Sorry! Geez! Go get your mom."
"Why?"
"Go get her before I jack you up!"
He sighed. "You're a bully, you know that? I would tell my mom but she'd side with you anyway."
"I got no control over that."
She could hear him breathing as he went through the house. "She's still pissed at me though. She gives me the stink eye & all that."
"I'm sorry."
"It's your sister's fault."
"You don't have to move if you don't want to, Noah."
"What I do now? You called me Noah."
"I'm just being serious. If you don't want to go, don't."
"I told the truth when I said it's what I want to do. I was bitching that I wanted a change & here it is."
"I can't wait to start the band." She teased.
"I don't know why you laughing! We're doing this!"
She laughed. "Okay!"
"Ma! Mama wanna talk to you!"
Mercedes could hear the phone being handed over before Nadine Puckerman got on the line. "Hi!"
"Hi, Ms. Nadine!" Mercedes said happily.
"How are you, sweetie?"
"I'm fine & you?"
"I'm great. If you call my only son leaving me & his sister to chase a girl halfway across the world great."
Mercedes winced & could picture Puck rolling his eyes. "I'll explain all this to you but I was wondering if you wanted to come to Amy's Furniture Store & help us pick out furniture for the house?"
"Oh. You're really doing this? Moving to a country where you don't know anyone or speak the language?"
"Shouldn't Puck have told you? I'm Italian. We know people there (my grandparents & stuff) & we know the language."
"What?! He didn't tell me that! Why didn't you tell me she was Italian?!" Mercedes couldn't hear but he sounded like he was explaining. "You're foreigners?!"
Yup. He told. "Yes."
"You're just going home! I guess this makes sense to you."
"I haven't lived in Italy since I was six." Mercedes shrugged as she walked around the couch she liked. She glanced around her & saw her family looking at other pieces.
"He said your sister lives there? The sister you were always telling me about?"
"Yes. She's here. All the women in my immediate family are."
"Well I guess I should help. My son will be living in this house, too."
"I can even show you the floor-plans when you get here."
"You said the women of your family are there. Where are the men?"
"I don't know. Probably back at the house with the kids. Tell Puck to call Mike."
"Okay. We'll be there soon. I'll have to bring Nic."
"That'll be amazing. She'll be able to meet Marcy & Laura. Too bad she can't meet Maddie."
"We'll see you soon. Here's Noah."
"Mama?" Puck's voice came on the line.
"Yeah?"
"I guess I'm dropping them off. Will you be able to drop them off at home or back at your house?"
"Yeah. Marcy's car is big enough. She's got her license now."
"Okay. Call you when we're close. Bye."
"Bye." She hung up & turned to her family. "They're on their way. How about we pick out stuff for Marcy first then come back around when they get here?"
"I already know what I want." Marcy said. She pointed to a few pieces. "I want the sectional & the couch & the matching chairs. I want these end-tables & this coffee table."
"That took no time at all!"
"I'm not shopping for no days!"
Mercedes's lips twitched. "No one is asking you to. Have you thought about if you'll like it in the long run?"
"If I like it now, I'll like it then. & if I don't, I can buy something new."
"Good point. What's next?"
"Lamps. I like these but I don't think they match." Marcy pointed to a couple of weighted lamps.
"I like them." Laura eyed them critically. "They're very Victorian."
"Guess they're yours, Mercy."
Mercedes swatted her. "Get the lamps!"
"Okay, for the den, I found this sectional. & these recliners. I want the den to be comfortable like here. Do they sell TVs here? I want a TV in there. A huge one. I want the den to be like a home theater."
"That's a good idea." Mercedes went to a black leather sectional. "I think Mikey would like this."
"I'm sure he would." Jeanette came over to inspect it. "Men love leather & this has recliners on either side."
"Think it's for the den?" Quinn asked.
"Are we helping them or are we decorating the whole house for them?" Laura wanted to know.
Judy rolled her eyes. "They're men. They don't care. As long as they have somewhere to pig out, we could decorate the whole place like a castle."
The women laughed.
"So we def. have to make them a mancave." Mercedes said.
"Should I make one for Mal?" Marcy never thought about it.
"No way. He can just go to the guys' if he wants to be a pig." Quinn set her hands on her hips.
Marcy laughed. "I'll see about building him a dark room in my studio."
"He'll love that." Jeanette put her hand on her shoulder.
"Okay, Mercy. I like your ideas for the living room. I like these tables & I think they'll match." Quinn pointed to the fancy scrollwork coffee table & matching end-tables.
"Oh, I love this!" Mercedes looked over the tables.
"You're going to need rugs." Rose pointed out. "So your hardwood floors don't get marked up."
"I like this one." Marcy pulled a rug from the many in a box & unrolled it partially. It was blue & gold.
"That's nice." Judy ran her hand over it. "It's very soft."
"Let's find you a dining set while we're waiting for the Puckermans." Laura suggested.
M&MC
Puck stopped his truck in front of Amy's Furniture Store. "Did you call Mama & let her know we were close?"
"I knew you didn't listen to me!" Nadine glared.
He huffed. "Forget I asked!"
"Come on, Nic. We're not worth your brother's time."
"You do this on purpose!" Puck accused.
Nadine just opened the door & got out.
Nic looked between them. "You guys have been fighting a lot. What's going on?"
"You haven't told her?" Nadine crossed her arms across her chest.
"I figured you would!" He threw out a hand. "You tell her everythin else."
Nadine glared before looking at her only daughter. "Your brother's moving out of the country to be with Quinn."
Nic's entire face crumbled. "No!"
"Don't tell her like that!" Puck was sick of the guilt.
"Well it's true." Nadine stuck her nose in the air.
"If I was movin with Mama, you'd pack my crap for me!"
"I guess we'll never know."
"I'm going to be with Mama. & Mike. Who I'll be living with. & Mini Mama & Mal. You're just sore about Quinn that you act like I'm chasin her."
"Where are you going?" Nic demanded.
"To Italy. You'll visit me, right?"
"Italy? That's where the shoes are from?"
"I gotta stop you from being around Mama…"
She grinned. "& you really will be with Mercy?"
"Not together but we'll live in the same building."
"You said Quinn is like her sister. So if you & Quinn get married, she'll be like your sister & she'll still be my sister?"
"You are not lettin this go, are you? Yes. Through all those connections, Mama will be your sister."
"Okay. I guess I can be nice to Quinn."
"Thank you, Runt."
She hit his arm. "I'm not a runt!"
"Get out my truck." He pushed her out. "Tell my girlfriend I said hi. & her family."
Nic stuck her tongue out & slammed his truck door.
"Hey!"
Nic giggled & ran to the store.
He glared at his mother. "That's your daughter."
"I know. & I love her." Nadine turned to follow her daughter. She caught up to her as Puck drove off. "Good job."
"Thanks." Nic smiled as she took her mother's hand.
They went inside to find Quinn & Mercedes talking by a wall of table lamps.
"Mercy!" Nic broke away to run to the singer.
"Nic!" Mercedes turned around & opened her arms wide. When Nic made solid contact, she lifted her up & twirled her around. "How's my girl?!"
"Good! I thought you were gonna visit me?!"
"Great. Someone else to apologize to." Quinn mumbled.
Mercedes pursed her lips & put Nic down. "Guess what?! You get to meet my sisters. Would you like that?"
"Yeah." Nic hugged her.
Mercedes danced in place so Nic would wiggle. "Good. Hi, Ms. Nadine."
"Hello, Mercy. Quinn." Nadine nodded to the blonde.
"Hello, Mrs. Puckerman." Quinn said politely. "Hi, Nic."
"Hi, Quinn." Nic hid her face in Mercedes's stomach.
Mercedes could see this being rocky so she pasted on a smile & led the way back to the family. "We're over here."
They walked in silence until they reached the dining sets.
"Hey, everyone! This is Mrs. Nadine Puckerman & her daughter, Nic." Mercedes announced. "Ms. Nadine, Nic? These are the women in our family. My mother; Rose Jones, my sister, Marcy; Mike's mom, Jeanette Chang; Quinn's mom; Judy Fabray & her sister, Laura."
"Too bad you couldn't meet Maddie." Quinn told Nic. "You'd like her."
"So she won't like us?!" Marcy crossed her arms.
Quinn made an annoyed noise as Nic giggled. "That's not what I said!"
"That's what I heard! That's okay, Fabray! You can walk home!"
"She's funny! You didn't tell me she was funny." Nadine poked Mercedes's arm.
"She's a mess." Mercedes corrected. "She's the one who tricked your son into moving."
"It wasn't hard. It's a good thing he's pretty." Marcy said.
"Marcy! How are you going to call her son stupid to her face?!"
"You have zero tact, darling." Rose rubbed her temples.
"What's that?" Marcy asked in all seriousness.
"Something you're sorely lacking." Quinn bit off. "Don't talk about my boyfriend!"
"Then I'll talk about you!"
"Please don't."
Mercedes laughed. "I'm sorry about them."
"It's fine. Sisters fight." Though Nadine had no idea. She was an only child.
"Yeah but we fight all the time." Laura rolled her eyes. "Mostly because of this monster."
"I hope Marc sleeps on your front porch."
"Why are you such a menace?!" Laura turned red.
"Why are you so uptight? Get laid, dammit!"
"Marcy!" Rose, Jeanette, Judy & Laura screeched.
"I had a feeling that would happen." She yanked on her ear.
"But you said it anyway!" Rose set her hands on her hips.
"I figured it was worth it."
"What's laid mean?" Nic asked Mercedes, who colored.
"Ask your mother."
"Oh no, you don't!" Nadine wasn't going to give her the talk until she turned forty, which is when she'd be allowed to date. "She asked you!"
Mercedes swallowed. "Ask Marcy. She said it."
Marcy rolled her eyes. "Getting laid makes mean people nice."
"Like ice cream?" Nic asked.
"It's better."
"Whoa! I wanna get laid!"
Marcy fell out laughing as Nadine paled. "No, you don't!"
"Why didn't you tell her what you told Maddie?!" Quinn demanded.
"Because that was the only sex talk Maddie was getting since I opened my big mouth & said sex in front of her." Marcy shrugged.
"What's sex?" Nic piped up.
"Well you gave one talk." Nadine didn't like to do it. She knew she screwed it up with her son.
"I'll tell you later. Kay, kid?" Marcy put her arm around Nic. "Let's look at stuff to fill our brothers' house up with."
"Okay." Nic was suitably distracted & was led to a dining room set.
"How did she do that? Every time I try to get her off a subject, she just digs in!" Nadine was in awe.
"That's the power of Marcy." Quinn explained. "She can convince anyone to do anything."
"I see!"
Mercedes giggled. "We were looking at stuff for the front room first but Marcy, Quinn & I picked out all our stuff. Then we did the dens. Now we're on the dining rooms. We'll go back for the boys. I found a couch I think they'll like & I was thinking we should do a mancave for them."
"The whole house is a mancave!"
Mercedes giggled again. "Good point."
"They're lucky we're doing this for them. They don't need a mancave." Nadine wrapped her arm around Mercedes.
"I like this table. It's square so I can buy two & put them end to end." Marcy said.
"How big are the dining rooms?" Nadine asked.
"Huge." Marcy looked over the chairs. "I don't like these chairs though."
"Pick different chairs." Rose told her. "You can mix & match."
Marcy walked around for a minute before stopping at a set. "I like these chairs."
"How do you make decisions so quickly?!" Quinn stomped a foot.
"I'm decisive." Marcy wrote down the serial number & name for the chairs & table. "I want a sideboard. Is that weird?"
"Makes perfect sense." Jeanette swore.
"I like this one. Now all I need is a hutch or two & I'll be done with the dining room." Marcy wrote it down.
"We're not as fast as you." Quinn grumbled.
"I know."
Quinn slapped her hand. "Come on. We're looking through these & choosing a color for the dining room."
"Shouldn't you do that with your flatmate?"
"What color is yours?" Quinn ignored her.
"Orange."
"That's nice." Mercedes thought it was. "I think ours should be burgundy."
"Nice!" Laura nodded. "Nice warm colors that make you think of the harvest."
Mercedes wrote down that she wanted the dining room to be painted burgundy. "Okay. I like this table but Marcy was right. These chairs don't seem to match any of the tables."
"I like these chairs." Quinn held one out.
"They don't have arms, Quinnie." Judy pointed out.
"It'll encourage people to sit up straight."
"How?!" Marcy made a perplexed face.
"Because they'll fall over if they're not properly straight."
"You make me sad."
"You make me sick!" Quinn shot back.
"Stop fighting. We're in public." Laura breathed deeply.
"Is that what you're going to tell Marc?" Marcy tilted her head.
"You are the devil!"
Marcy grinned. "Get the armless chairs. Bet people slouch."
Mercedes rubbed her eyes. "No one's talking about your choices."
"I also don't care what you think."
"Marcy!"
"About my house! Sheesh! Calm down!"
"We're never going shopping with you again!"
"Yes!"
"You know that was her plan all along." Jeanette pointed out.
Marcy grinned. "How you gon tell on me, Mrs. C?"
"Because you're torturing your sisters like Michael did." She put an arm around her.
"Ugh!" Laura groaned. "Don't mention that demon!"
"Is she talking about Mike?" Nadine whispered to Mercedes. "That nice sweet boy?"
"You don't know all about Mikey." Mercedes whispered back.
"How bad can he be? He's polite & never talks."
"That's because he's too busy thinking!" Laura ranted. "Thinking about ways to torment me- us!"
"He's mean to you?" Nic asked.
"The absolute worst. Be glad you don't have a younger brother."
"Don't scare her." Jeanette chuckled. "Mike wasn't that bad."
"Mrs. C, he was worse!"
"To hear him tell it, he wasn't bad at all." Mercedes smirked.
"Demon spawn." Laura spat.
"Relax. He's going to be a whole country away soon." Marcy lifted a brow.
"I cannot wait."
"Stop talking about my boyfriend!" Mercedes laughed. "He's not that bad!"
"You say that because there are no snakes around."
Marcy laughed. "He did terrify you with snakes, didn't he?"
Mercedes shuddered. "I don't want to talk about it."
M&MC
"Why are we at a jewelry store?" Puck asked as soon as he spotted his party.
Mike slapped hands with him. "My brother wants to buy Marcy a push present."
"A what?" He was lost.
"A push present. A present for pushing out your children." Marc said. "What's up, man?"
"Hey." Puck inclined his head. "Hi, Doc. Dr. Chang. Mal."
The three greeted him.
"Is that the thing Mama made me give Q in the hospital?" Puck asked Mike.
"Yes."
Puck nodded slowly. "Oh. Are you going to get her two because they are twins?"
Mal blinked. "I should."
"It'll help her get over her anger at you." Marcus added.
"She's not mad at me."
"She pushed out twins; she's mad at you." His father told him.
Mal grimaced. "Two it is."
Puck looked down as something collided with his leg. It was Mickey holding onto it. "Hi."
"Just wave." Mike advised.
Puck waved. Mickey released an arm to wave back with a shy smile. Puck picked her up & put her on his hip. "She's friendly."
"To only you." Mike joked. "I think she has a crush."
Puck smiled as Mal scowled. "I need to watch her."
"Just like her mother." Marcus sighed. "She was always moving too fast for me."
"Hello? How may I help you gentlemen?" A worker, whose name tag said Stuart, walked over calmly.
Mal stepped forward. "Hi. I'm looking for a push gift for my girlfriend. I'm a little late with it."
"How late?"
"18 months." Mal picked up his son.
"Oh!" Stuart was taken aback. "Well what does she like? You could get her a nice charm bracelet."
"She likes all sorts of things. She's a dancer. She likes music, art & literature. She likes sports-"
"She's narcissistic. Better put a mirror on there!" Marc teased.
"Ignore him." Mal waved a hand in his direction. "She's just confident. She also likes cars."
"Everyone likes a confident woman." Stuart said. "She likes cars?"
"Just like I showed her." Marcus stated proudly.
"She also likes flowers." Mal went on.
"That was her momma."
Stuart grinned.
"& she's smart." Mal added. "She's the most courageous, fun loving, beautiful person I've ever met. & she's a Gemini."
Stuart smiled. "I think I've got what you want." He left & came back with a charm bracelet with seven charms. A book, music note, ballet slippers, soccer ball, Gemini sign, tulip & car.
"She loves silver." Mal was thankful he didn't come back with gold. "Can you recommend something else, too? They're twins." He leaned away so Stuart could see Puck holding Mickey.
Stuart nodded. "Of course. What about a nice necklace?"
"She likes necklaces." Mal was on board.
Stuart brought out a few items. "This is a dragon made out of seventy-two diamonds. This is the half moon. It's made out of twenty three diamonds. This is a daisy made out of twenty eight yellow diamonds. & this is a cat made out of eighteen diamonds. All on twenty inch chains."
Mal looked over each choice seriously.
"What are you thinking, son?" Michael asked.
"Well she hates cats." Mal said slowly.
Stuart nodded as he waited.
"Her favorite flower is a lily-of-the-valley, not daisy."
"Maybe I should get the daisy for Mercy?" Mike wondered aloud. "It is her favorite flower."
Stuart brightened at the thought of the commission on these pieces. He held up the daisy so Mike could see it better.
"She'll like it but wonder why you bought it for no reason." Puck said as if warning his friend.
"Mercy likes presents." Mike hoped it still worked now that they were dating.
"Every woman likes diamonds." Stuart insisted.
"He's not wrong." Marc intoned.
Mal, who'd been thinking this whole time, made his decision. "I'll take the moon."
"Excellent choice!" Stuart snatched it up to box. He looked to Mike. "& you, sir?"
"I'll take it." Mike shrugged. "I'll just tell her it's a late Valentine's Day present."
"Stop! You're making us all look bad!" Marc snapped playfully.
The guys chuckled as Stuart set up the gift boxes & bags.
"Do you have a steady girlfriend? While we're on the subject." Mike taunted.
Marc narrowed his eyes. "No, I do not."
"Why not, son?" Marcus clapped him on the back. "You should have a serious girlfriend by now. You're getting up there in age."
"Dad, I'm twenty one."
"When I was your age, I was in a serious relationship with your momma."
Marc sighed deeply. "I'll try to find somebody."
"Good. You can't build your empire alone."
"That's an important lesson for you boys." Michael nodded. "No one works harder than a wife."
"The love of a good woman will make a king out of you."
"Alright. We get it. Get married." Marc rolled his eyes.
"Get married to the right woman." Michael corrected.
"Got it." The boys uttered.
"Remember the plan, Michael, Malcolm."
"Date for at least a year then propose, wait a year to get married & you should have your first business up & running by your first child." Both recited.
"That ship has sailed, Dad." Mal reminded him.
"Still. Stick to the plan & have your first business by your third child." Michael would not be deterred. "Always be prepared & have an idea for the ring."
Mal set Mally on his feet & dug in his pocket. He brought out a box. "I already have the ring."
The men crowded him. "Whoa!"
Mal opened the box & showed them the stunning ring. The ring itself was small. It was a slim silver band that was as thin as a keyring. The extravagant part came in the form of the many jewels. It was three layers of gems that would make any girl have a heart-attack.
The huge emerald was nestled in a circle of pear shaped diamonds. It was a circle to fit the band better but also because Marcy had a thing for circles. Beneath the diamonds was a chip of every gem she liked.
Jade, onyx, sapphires, rubies, topaz, rose quartz, diamonds, amethysts, abalones, diopside, rhodochrosite, kyanite, rainbow moonstones, agate, labradorite, marcasite, opals, lapis, garnet, lemon quartz, amber, mother of pearl, peridots, whiskey quartz, malachite & citrine in various natural hues. The band was reinforced so it wouldn't break under the pressure.
The jewels were shaped into triangles that stacked atop each other in a pattern to make a band. No two colors or gems were beside each other.
"When'd you get that?!" Mike was blown away.
"I've been working on it for years but I finished it last year."
"Why did you tell anyone?" Michael examined the ring. He whistled lowly. "This must have cost a pretty penny!"
"Saved from birthdays & Christmases." Mal stated proudly as he put the ring back in his pocket & picked his son back up.
"Won't Mini Mama think it's weird that you're giving her these gifts so late?" Puck asked as Mickey laid her head on his shoulder.
"Well I didn't have the chance before." Mal leaned against the counter.
"Why'd you call her Mini Mama?" Marcus asked.
"Cuz she's like a little Mama." Puck explained.
"& she let you live?" Michael wanted to make sure.
"It got dicey." Marc laughed.
"Here you go. Will these be together or separate?" Stuart came back with the bags.
"Separate." Mike said as he reached for his wallet.
"Cash, credit or check."
Who still writes checks? "Credit."
M&MC
"Come on, guys! It shouldn't be this hard! Pick one already!" Marcy shouted. They were nearly done shopping & Mercedes & Quinn were stuck on a table & chair set for the sunroom.
"You picked out one. Let us." Quinn stated calmly as she paced between a Victorian style & a modern style.
"You are driving me crazy! Er!"
"Hold your horses." Mercedes sat in one chair then another. "We plan on breakfasting in the sunroom as much as possible."
"Kill. me. NOW!"
Jeanette, who'd heard from Maddie hours ago, slung an arm around her waist. "Just think; you'll be able to go home after this."
"What types of plants do you plan on having in your sunroom?" Rose asked. "Maybe that'll help your decision?"
"I want a jungle." Mercedes said.
"As long as there are some flowers in there, I don't care." Quinn added.
"I think the Victorian will be a nice contrast to a flowery jungle." Laura eyed the piece seriously.
"Okay." Quinn held her chin in her hand. "We should get the Victorian."
"Agreed." Mercedes nodded.
Marcy cheered. Nic giggled.
Mercedes wrote down the info & stood up. "Okay, let's go pay for all this now."
The group walked to the front of the store, where they stood in line with nothing. When they got to the front of the line, the cashier looked at them quizzedly.
"We have the names & serial numbers of everything we want." Mercedes smiled at the perplexed boy.
"Okay. I'll need the manager." He breathed through his mouth.
"Well go get him." Judy ushered kindly.
He walked away stiffly as if he'd been standing in one spot too long.
"Never had a date." Marcy uttered.
"So true." Quinn agreed.
"Guys!" Mercedes hissed. "That's mean & you don't know that!"
"With the way he breathes, I know that." Marcy insisted.
"& the vacant look in his eyes." Quinn added.
"Leave the poor loveless boy alone." Laura sighed. "He has enough trouble."
"Laura!" Mercedes's mouth hung open as everyone else snickered madly.
"What? You can't say they're wrong."
Mercedes facepalmed as the young man returned with a man in his mid-thirties. An attractive man in his mid-thirties.
Marcy held out her hand. "Hello!"
Laura hip-checked her. "Hi!"
The man raised a brow before smiling. "Hi."
Marcy pushed her away. "What's your name? Your name-tag is fuzzy."
"It's Dick."
"Richard's a lovely name. It's my grandfather's name." Laura batted her eyelashes.
"He's my grandfather, too & you're married!"
"You have two kids & practically married yourself!" Laura sniped back.
"There's no ring on my finger!"
Dick looked at Quinn, who was closest to him.
"I have a boyfriend." She smiled.
His brows lifted as he looked to Mercedes, who blushed.
"I do, too."
"Girls!" Judy clapped once. "Dick is here to help us, not take you to dinner. Stop it."
"But he's cute." Marcy pouted.
"I know but that's not the purpose of this visit."
Dick ducked his head as his ears turned red.
"Mom." Nic whispered loudly. "His ears are red."
Nadine chuckled & patted her daughter's hand. "I see."
"Dick, we would like to purchase a lot of merchandise." Jeanette told him. "We have the serial numbers of each item."
"Okay." Dick tried to work past his embarrassment. "I'll grab the mobile scanner & we'll go through the store."
"Lead the way, Rick." Marcy smiled.
Laura groaned. "Why do you always rename people? His name is Dick."
"& our relationship is our business."
"You don't have a relationship!"
"Don't hate on what we have!"
"Girls." Jeanette put an arm around each. "How about you show him what we want?"
Marcy ran to him & took his hand. "We'll start with the beds."
Nadine's eyes bugged out as the others tried not to chuckle. "She did not!"
Mercedes threaded her arm through hers. "Yes, she did."
Sorry this is so late. I was going to upload last week but I went out & it was like midnight by the time I rolled in. Then my computer was on the fritz.