Mal didn't know why he woke up but something was telling him to rise so he did. He noticed Marcy wasn't in the bed with him so he got up to check the bathroom but noticed the closet door open. He went to it & saw the light on & her looking through her clothes.
He rubbed his eyes. "Marce?"
She turned around, frazzled. "Mal! What are you doing up? It's like six thirty."
"What are you doing?" He came closer.
She turned back to her clothes. "I don't know what to wear."
"That's incredibly girly." He wrapped his arms around her from behind.
"I don't know what to wear for my meeting with Pierre."
"So that's his name…"
She sighed. "I want to wear something nice but not too nice. You know?"
He didn't but he'd never mock her for her feelings. "What about this dress?"
She looked over the short floral A-line dress with short sleeves & a box neckline. "You like this?"
"I do. I want to see you in it. More importantly, I want to strip you out of it."
She blushed. "Okay. I need to go shower."
"Want company?"
She turned in his arms & kissed him. "What do you think?"
He kept his lips puckered but it became clear that she wasn't going to continue. "Yes?"
She moved out of his arms & gathered her clothes before leaving for the bathroom.
One eye peeled open. When it became obvious that she was gone, he opened the other eye & sighed. "I guess that's a no…"
M&MC
Mercedes, who'd slept in her own room, posed in her mirror. She was wearing an off the shoulder dress that clung to her good curves & skimmed her bad ones. It was a deep claret & reached her knees while the necklace was a light ruching at her collarbone.
She wore her daisy necklace, diamond earrings, a leather strap around her right wrist & strappy heels on her feet. Her makeup was light because it was daytime.
She liked the way she looked so she took a selfie & posted it to social media. Then she grabbed a lightweight jacket & her purse & left her closet to go to Quinn's room (as the blonde slept in her own bed as well).
"Q? Are you up?" Mercedes knocked on the door.
Quinn opened the door. "Hey. You look nice."
"You too!"
Quinn was wearing white Capri jeans with a design on the bottom & chain belt & a loose fitting shirt in a myriad of colors. The sides seemed stapled together & the sleeves were short. She wore strappy heels & her hair was in a high pony. "Thanks. Let me grab my jacket & purse."
Mercedes went to a spare room & saw if Laura was awake. She & Judy had stayed with them. She knocked on the door. "Lady?"
Laura opened the door wearing a flowing floral skirt with a black clingy shirt & heels. "Are you guys ready?"
"Yeah. Can you text everyone to meet us by the base of the stairs? Q's grabbing her stuff & we'll be there in a second."
"Go see if Mom is ready." Laura went to grab her phone.
Mercedes went to another room & knocked. A few seconds later, Judy answered wearing something close to what Quinn was. "We're leaving."
"Okay. Let's go." Judy had her matching jacket & purse in hand.
Quinn & Laura came from their rooms & the four went downstairs.
Marcy was wearing her blue floral dress with black knee high socks, doc martens, bangles on both wrists & a black leather jacket. She also wore her new necklace with a circlet in her hair. Maddie was wearing a grey skirt with a black turtleneck, knee high socks & saddle shoes with a statement necklace & lightweight jacket.
Rose & Jeanette matched Judy almost exactly while Nadine & Nic wore nice jeans with even nicer tops.
All were waiting at the bottom of the stairs.
Mercedes loved their looks. "We should take a picture, we look so good!"
"You sound like Marc." Laura said.
"Is that an insult?" Mercedes set her hand on her hip.
"Yes."
Mercedes went over to her & swatted her backside. "You know you love him!"
"I do not!" Laura was scandalized.
Quinn, Marcy & Maddie snorted.
"Are we supposed to believe that? Really?" Mercedes rolled her eyes at the blonde.
"I don't! He's super annoying & way irritating!" Laura insisted.
"All true things but doesn't change your feelings." Marcy pointed out.
"You loooove him." Maddie teased the blue eyed Laura.
"So in love." Quinn added.
"Ugh! You're all annoying!" Laura stomped a foot.
"& you're in denial." Marcy & Quinn said in unison.
"Girls. Be good." Jeanette kept her smirk small.
"We can't leave yet." Marcy said as a compromise. "I've someone coming over."
"Who?" Maddie asked.
"Pierre."
"Who's that?" Nic wanted to know.
"Is he the boyfriend?" Laura forgot all about her ire.
"Yes. He's my boyfriend." Marcy sighed.
"Not for long." Mercedes sang.
"How did you meet this person?" Jeanette asked.
"After one of my shows. He came to congratulate me & we struck up a friendship. He asked me out last month & I said okay." Marcy explained.
"Is he good to you?" Judy demanded.
"Yeah, he's a nice guy. He's a couple years older than me-"
"How much is a couple?!" All the moms wanted to know.
"A couple." She sighed. "He's a good man."
"Too bad you have to dump him." Quinn shrugged.
The doorknob twisted & a man in his early twenties stepped inside. He was neat & unassuming but attractive. He saw the group of women & lifted a brow but spoke. "Hello."
They responded.
Marcy walked to him. "We can talk upstairs."
"Who are these people? New tenants?" He asked.
"Sort of. I'll explain upstairs." She led him to the elevator & they rode it upstairs before crossing to her apartment & going inside.
"So he was speaking Italian?" Nadine wanted to make sure.
Quinn nodded. "Yes, that was Italian."
M&MC
Marcy debated on where to take Pierre but the choice on whether to introduce him to anybody was taken out of her hands when Mal sauntered into the foyer. She held her breath.
Mal cocked his head to the side. "Is this him?"
"Yeah." She released her breath.
"Sup, man." He held out his hand.
Pierre shook his hand & responded in Italian.
"He doesn't speak English." Marcy explained. "Just French & Italian."
Mal smirked. "Life goes on."
Pierre tilted his head in confusion. He'd understood the words (since they were in French) but he didn't understand the meaning behind them. "Okay?"
Marcy decided to introduce them to make this less awkward. "Mal, this is Pierre Coustua. Pierre, this is Malcolm Chang. The twins' father."
Pierre lifted his brows in awe. "It is enlightening to meet you."
"I wish I could say the same." Mal told him.
Marcy frowned. "Be nice." She said in English. "He hasn't done anything to you."
"He has had my girlfriend."
She sighed before turning to the lost Frenchman. "Let's go to the parlor."
The two walked off as Mal went to the kitchen as he was originally headed there.
She held her skirt down as she sat on the sectional. "We have to talk."
Pierre sat a respectable distance away from her. "He's back in your life."
"Yes."
He wasn't stupid. "You want to make it work with him."
"I have to. He's the father of my children & he didn't know about them. He deserves to be in their life. They deserve to have him."
"That doesn't mean you have to be with him. Many parents can do their job without being together."
"Not in my family. We don't divorce."
"You're not married."
She blinked. "It feels like it."
"But you're not. You're young & talented. Free spirited & beautiful. You don't have to be with anyone. Don't let him guilt you into being with him."
"I do feel guilty. Like I should have tried harder to tell him."
"You tried to tell him?" All Marcy had told him of Mal was that he wasn't in their lives & she didn't want to talk about it.
"He didn't know I was pregnant & I tried to tell him. We argued & I never got to tell him. I've been so angry with him all this time."
"But since he's apologized, you don't?"
She bit her lip. "He hasn't exactly apologized."
His brows lifted. "& you want to be with him?!"
"It's not that simple!"
"You don't have to be with him. You're a strong woman. What do you want?"
"I like you."
He cocked his head to the side. That wasn't what he'd asked. "What do you want, Marceline Anne?"
"I don't know what I want." She lied. "But I know what I don't want. I don't want to break up with you. You're an amazing guy. You're nice, accomplished & there for me in the way I need."
"Then don't break up with me."
"That means I have to break up with him." She was not looking forward to that.
"Remember you don't have to be with him. Don't feel guilty."
"It's hard. I don't want my kids growing up without a dad. I was without my father for many years & it was hard on me."
"How do you feel about this Malcolm?"
"Honestly? I feel so angry still! I want to hurt him half the time!"
He had never seen her raise her voice or act so hostile. "Angry? If he makes you angry, you shouldn't be with him."
She stood up angrily & began pacing. "I just want to slap him! He just overtalked me & didn't even apologize for his part! He's the one who yelled at me! It's his fault he didn't know! Not mine!"
Pierre was shocked by her ire but understood that a woman had the right to feel anger. "Then not being with him should be an easy decision."
She set her hands on her hips. It felt good to say. She'd been feeling so uncomfortable all week because of this. She hadn't wanted to be with Mal because she wasn't over her anger at him. She hadn't wanted to break up with Pierre. She knew she didn't have to be with Mal but she felt guilty of so much of what she'd done over the last year & a half that she felt like she had to go with whatever he said. That was over…"It is. I'm not breaking up with you. I'm breaking up with him."
Pierre smiled. "Okay."
Her frown didn't budge. "But I can't tell him yet. His family is here. He moved in. I believe that's a good idea but with our family here, I don't want to be mean."
He stood up & took her hand. "I understand. It's not in your nature to be hurtful."
She gave him a skeptical look. "I'll tell him tonight."
"Okay. So who are those women outside?"
"My family. My sisters & aunts & stuff."
"Really? I thought you weren't on speaking terms with your family?"
"I wasn't. That's a long story that I don't even want to explain. It was brutal."
He squeezed her hand. "As long as you're happy."
"It's an experience."
"Did you have a good graduation? I'm sorry I couldn't make it."
"It's okay. I had a good enough time."
"Do you want to go out this week? I have to leave again for two days but I'll be back by the weekend."
"Actually I won't be here for a month."
"A month?"
"I'm still seventeen so I have to legally do what my parents want & they want me there."
"You'll turn eighteen in a month?" He never knew how old she was.
"About. I'll come home then."
"I'll miss you."
She smiled. "Thank you. I have to go but I'll call you tonight."
He squeezed her hand. "May I kiss you?"
She nodded. "Yes, you may."
He leaned forward & kissed her cheek. "I'll let you go. Don't forget to call me."
She walked him out. "I won't."
They walked to the front door & took the elevator down. Her family was still waiting so she decided to introduce them.
"Pierre, this is my mother & sister. Rose & Mercy Jones. Jeanette & Maddie Chang. Judy, Laura & Quinn Fabray. Nadine & Nic Puckerman. Guys, this is Pierre Coustua."
"What'd she say?" Nadine was confused.
"I only introduced you. He doesn't speak English."
"Oh." That meant Nadine couldn't speak to him. "Tell him I said it's a pleasure to meet him."
"She said it's a pleasure meeting you." Marcy told Pierre.
"It's a pleasure meeting all of them. I'll talk to you later. Goodbye, Marceline Anne." Pierre smiled & inclined his head at the women before leaving.
"He's a very polite young man. You're still going to keep in touch? That's very mature of you both." Jeanette observed.
"Less than you think." Marcy didn't want to get into it. "Who's ready to go waste money- I mean shopping?"
M&MC
"I'm hungry." Nic said as soon as they walked through the door.
"Me too." Maddie complained. "When is lunch?"
"Soon." Her mother promised. "We just have to quickly set this stuff up for your sisters & meet the guys."
Mercedes set her bags down in the kitchen. "So we have ten minutes to put away our things in here. We can do this!"
"What are we doing first? Table settings?" Quinn asked as she looked through her bags.
"Yes."
The women set to work making up the rooms one by one then went upstairs to put away their new clothes. They exited the apartment to go upstairs & do the same in Mike's & Puck's condo. Then they repeated the process in Marcy's.
"Thirty minutes. I'm proud of us." Marcy danced in place. "Okay, let's go."
They caught public transportation to a nearby eatery where the guys were waiting.
"How much shopping did you do? It didn't seem to take you that long." Michael wanted to know.
"We sped through. We were on a deadline." Rose answered.
"Did you get all you wanted?" Mike asked as Mercedes sat next to him.
"Most. We're going to buy anything else we need or want in the States & have it sent here." She told him.
Quinn sat beside her. "We're going to be doing some heavy duty shopping back home so we will have to buy more luggage."
"More shopping?" Marcus winced, already feeling the money drain out of his account.
"Marcy has no clothes, Daddy." Mercedes explained. "You don't want her running around naked, do you?"
"Mal, why are your ears turning red?" Maddie asked.
Marc burst into laughter. Mal's whole face turned red. "Leave me alone, Mad. Marc!"
"You're so dirty!" Mercedes rolled her eyes lightly.
"I haven't even said anything!"
"Like you weren't thinking it!"
"You think it."
She stood up. "I'm going to kill you!"
"Witnesses!"
"Not on the plane." Her eyes promised a slow death.
He gulped.
M&MC
The women were in Marcy's room talking as they waited for their transportation to come pick them up for the airport.
"How did Pierre take being dumped like yesterday pad Thai?" Laura asked. They were all seated on the bed.
Marcy gulped before looking at Jeanette. "I'm sorry, Mrs. C but I cannot be with your son. I didn't break up with Pierre."
"What?!" The other women were shocked.
Jeanette smiled & patted Marcy's hand. "That's alright, dear. This is just not your time."
"Really? You're not mad?" Marcy thought for sure she would be.
"Of course not. I know one day you'll call me Mom. I can wait."
Marcy was floored. Doubly so. "I don't think that's going to happen. There's just too much between us. It won't work."
"Trust me, Marcy. Before this year is up, you will be engaged."
"Okay." Clearly Jeanette had her mind made up. Marcy looked to Maddie. "You okay?"
Maddie thought about it. "I've read about people who were together & then they weren't & they married other people only to end up back together again after years apart. I think that's true love & that's what you & Mal have. So I guess I'm okay with you dating the French guy until you decide you want to be with Mal."
"That's all fine & dandy but I'm not okay with some old Frenchman stealing Marcy away from my baby!" Mercedes put her hands on her hips.
"He did not steal me." Marcy tried to intervene but Quinn cut her off.
"I agree. You guys are the truth & this guy is just in the way of that."
"We're not meant to be. You know I don't believe in all that stuff."
"You don't have to believe for it to be the truth." Laura pointed out.
"Why do people steal my stuff?!"
"I think they're just sad to see the end of their favorite couple." Judy said. "But life goes on, girls. You can't make people be together if they don't want to be."
"Isn't that the truth?!" Nadine blew out a breath. "But sometimes the alternative isn't as bad as you think. Maybe this guy is who your sister needs?"
"She needs Mal!" Mercedes would not budge.
"Weren't you just mad at him?"
"Yes. He's a menace. But he's my menace & I want my menace with my sister! Is that too much to ask for?!"
"Mercy, calm down! You're getting hysterical!" Marcy pursed her lips. "Pierre may or may not be the one but I'm not getting with Jr. At all."
"At all?" Quinn pouted.
Jeanette made a face from behind Marcy as she nodded & mouthed the words, "Yes, she will."
Quinn relaxed. "Whatever you say, Marcy."
Marcy rolled her eyes. "I'll be glad when this is over."
There was a beeping outside so Nic went to the window. "The taxi is here."
"Where are the guys?" Rose asked as they got up to gather up their suitcases.
"Playing cards in the kitchen." Judy reminded her.
"I hope they have their things with them."
"They probably don't." Jeanette gathered up her jacket, purse & suitcase.
The women each grabbed their bags, jackets & purses before leaving the room & going down to the kitchen. The guys were packing up the cards & gathering their bags.
"Do you have everything?" Marcy asked.
There was a chorus of yes as they headed out. Marcy locked the door behind them as some people took the elevator & others took the stairs. They spilled out onto the street & piled into the taxis waiting.
The taxi ride took a while to get to the airport but made it on time. They were ushered through & got on the plane. They buckled in & prepared themselves for the long flight back home.
M&MC
It was late when the Jones' made it home. They all trudged upstairs & straight to their rooms to change into pajamas & go to bed.
Mercedes knocked on Marcy's door as she fluttered around her room. "Hey? I was just wondering. What are you going to sleep on? We have no beds."
"I was going to make a pallet on the floor." Marcy finished putting her hair in a bun.
"Like in China?"
Marcy smirked. "Like in China."
"I can do that." Mercedes leaned off the door & went to the hall closet to get sheets & pillows out. "What are you going to do after?"
"After I make my pallet, I'm going to change the twins out of their clothes. The good thing about them being asleep is I don't have to hear whining about them not being tired."
Mercedes chuckled as she made room for her sister to get into the closet. "They seem to drop off fast though."
"Half an hour before that, they don't."
"I can't wait to get to sleep. I would call Mikey or Quinn but I'm so tired."
"Call them in the morning. I told Pierre I would call him later but I mean later Monday."
"When are you going to break Jr.'s heart?"
"I'm not breaking his heart. But tomorrow. When he gets back from rugby practice."
"I hope he doesn't cry." Mercedes was half being honest, half guilting her sister.
& it wasn't working. "He won't."
Mercedes sighed. "Are you sure this is what you want?"
"Yes! I don't want to be with Jr.!"
Mercedes hated this. "Okay. I'll see you in the morning."
"Night." Marcy walked to her room & closed the door.
"Night." Mercedes whispered before going to her own room. She set a sheet on the floor where her bed used to be then two more. She laid a comforter down & turned down the top then put two pillows in the provided space.
Then she turned off the lights & plugged her phone up. She got under the covers & prepared to tie her hair up when she heard a mysterious sound. She looked to the open window in time to see a hand appear on the sill.
She wasn't sure what to do. She doubted it could be a burglar but who knew in this day & age? She opened her mouth to scream for Marcus when a head popped up.
She let out a relieved breath when she saw it was Mike. "What are you doing here?!" She hissed.
"Hey." He climbed through the window & dropped down.
"You scared me to death! I thought you were a bandit!" She hissed as he stopped by her pallet & squatted.
He gave her a peculiar look. "Why would you think I was a bandit?"
She hit his arm with each word. "Because you came through the window!"
He flinched with every word. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you. But I always come through the window."
"You haven't come through the window in over two years!"
"I'm sorry." He quickly snuck a kiss.
She swiped at him. "Well what are you doing here?"
"I wanted to tell you goodnight."
"Why couldn't you call or text?"
"Where's the fun in that?" He grinned.
She hit him again. "Not funny, Chang!"
"Ow!" He chuckled. "Come on! Forgive me already so we can cuddle."
"Who said I want to cuddle with you?" She folded her arms across her chest.
He pulled on her nearest hand until she was leaning over & kissed her lips gently. "Because we can do this all night."
She hated when he got like this. It was impossible to resist him. She pulled back the covers. "Get in."
He grinned & popped up to toe his shoes off then slid in beside her. He watched as she quickly tied her hair up then settled down. He laid down, too & wrapped his arms around her.
"Where's my kisses?"
He smirked before giving her a soft kiss. "One." Kiss. "Two." Kiss. "Three."
She smiled. "What possessed you to come over anyway?"
"Mal. I was going to call you when I decided to see what he was up to first. He told me he was coming over & I felt like calling wasn't as special."
"Wait? Mal? Mal's here?" She frowned.
"Yeah. Is that a problem?"
She bit her bottom lip.
M&MC
Marcy came in with the twins' dirty clothes. She was going to go to her closet & deposit them in a pile with hers but she looked to her pallet. "Geez! Mal! Not funny!"
Mal, who was under her covers with his limbs crossed, smiled. "I wasn't trying to be."
"What are you doing here?" She put away the clothes & came back to stand by the pallet & tap her foot.
"I'm used to sleeping next to you."
She gave him an unamused look. "Right. Go home."
"What's up? You've been prickly ever since that Pierre guy left. Did he not take it well or something?"
She really didn't want to do this now but there was no time like the present. She sat down on the pallet & got under the covers. "We have to talk."
"Yikes!" He sat up. "That's never a good sign."
"I didn't break up with him." She ripped the Band-Aid off. "I'm breaking up with you."
He blinked. "One more time?"
"I can't be with you. Too much time has passed. We're not good for each other. I'm honestly still angry with you. I might even be bitter. We shouldn't be together."
"We talked about this-"
"No, you talked. I just sat there like an idiot & let you railroad me into a relationship that's toxic for the both of us."
"What about the twins? They need us."
"& we're going to be there for them. We can be parents & not be together. People do it all the time. I don't want to ruin them or our lives. I don't want to feel like this anymore."
He nodded slowly. "You feel bad."
"I do. & Pierre is a nice guy. I'm sure you can get along."
"Am I still living with you?"
"Of course. You're still my best friend & the twins' father. You need to be available at all times."
"All times?"
"Yes. You have two years to make up. They know who you are & I want them to know you like they know me. I want you to know them like I know them."
He looked at her seriously. "That's what you really want?"
"Yes. I want my- our children to have their parents full time."
"I meant Pierre. I know I'm going to be there for my kids."
"Well good." She folded her legs under her.
"You haven't answered my question. Is this really what you want?"
She didn't want to answer that at all! She gulped & nodded. "Yes."
"Okay." He nodded, too.
"Really?" She wasn't sure how she felt about his easy acquiesce.
"Really. Hug for friendship?" He held out his arms.
She eyed him warily before going into his arms.
"Kiss for lost relationships?"
She broke away to look at him. "What?!"
"One little kiss. If we aren't meant for each other, you won't feel a thing."
She sighed & leaned in to peck his cheek. "I felt nothing." She lied with a straight face.
"No way." He cupped her cheek & kissed her on the mouth. It started slowly, softly then he increased the pressure gradually. He was thrilled when she kissed him back.
They went on & on, changing the kiss up every so often but never breaking from one another. He stealthily laid her down & put his hand on her hip, stroking it.
This lasted for quite a while until Marcy came to her senses & pushed him away. "Hey! What was that?!"
He laid on his arm, hovering over her. "I just wanted to see something."
"Oh really? & did you see it?" She asked sarcastically.
He just smirked mysteriously. "That & more."
She rolled her eyes. "You can go home now."
"Let me sleep here."
"No!"
"Come on, please?!"
She groaned. "Fine. But-" She pushed him further away from her. "Stay on your side!"