Friday
In your relationship you need to be selective with your battles, sometimes peace is better than being right
Artie
"Please let this day be over" Artie covered his face with his hands and walked away, he needed to remove himself from this situation before he said something he couldn't take back
"Don't walk away from me" Brittany shouted after him
He took that other step his mind was telling him walking away was the right thing to do, but his heart was stood back there and if she'd got a mind to, his next move could be the making or breaking of their relationship "Britt" he gasped turning to look at her
"There's no Britt about this Artie just admit it, you put too much butter in the damn biscuits, it's not that big a deal to admit I'm right, is it?"
"Babe shortbread supposed to be buttery, that's what makes them shortbread"
"Just like the fact that I'm always right makes me the mathematical genius I am"
"Seriously?" he looked at her
"Are you saying something different?"
"No" he huffed feeling himself falling into her well laid trap "I'm not babe, you are a genius for sure, a mathematical one" he reminded her "But one nevertheless"
"So, when I say there's too much butter in the damn biscuit, can we agree I know what I'm talking about?"
"All I'm saying is that when it comes to numbers, there's no one in the world that can tell you shit is wrong" he smiled at her "But babe when it comes to shortbread I require the same notoriety, no one beats my shit"
"So, are you saying your taste is better than mine?"
"What?" he looked at her confused "Where the hell has this come from?"
"From you standing there trying to tell me you're better than me"
"No" he held his finger up at her "I'm not getting into this with you today, you just want someone to play with"
"Do I look like I'm playing?" she snapped at him
"Wrong choice of words" he rolled his eyes "Listen" he walked towards her "Can we pick this up tonight, I've got a whole cast waiting for me right now?"
"If it's tonight you can pick it up on your own" her look told him there was more coming "I'd also like to get an understanding of how I started coming bottom of your shit pile"
"The bottom" Artie gasped "Everything I do is for you and our children; I work my fingers to the bone be…"
"Don't say to keep me in the manner I've become accustomed to, because you wanted things this way"
"I wasn't going to say that" he rolled his eyes "I was going to say because you guys are the priority in my life" he threw his bag down "I'll make a call, we can have the morning, how about that, we can argue till your hearts content"
"I'm not arguing" she rolled her eyes and sat down triumphant
"You know this just means I work later tonight?" he warned, knowing she hated his late nights more than his early mornings
"Go to damn work, we'll deal with this later" she flopped in the couch accepting the lesser of the two evils
Noah
"For fuck sake woman" Noah jumped out of bed slamming the sheets behind him "I've had no sleep last night because of…"
"Did you see, hear, or even feel me sleeping?" Lauren jumped up at him
"You're running on gas" he hissed at her "For the last time I didn't know that fucking woman at the airport
"So, it was just a coincidence that she had your name plaque in the air"
"There has to be millions of Puckerman's all over California, you of all people know my dad was a busy man"
"Don't be smart with me Noah, she smiled at you, I saw it"
"I pointed at the name, I thought it was funny until you punched me to the ground" he rubbed his cheek "I don't know her"
"So, the anonymous call to your phone last night, that was all a coincidence too?"
"Very much so"
"Which side of idiot do you think I'm at Puckerman?" she looked at him "Don't answer that because your stupid shit just makes me inclined to drop you again" she huffed "Let me see your phone" she held her hand out
"I'm not giving you my damn phone, either you trust me, or you don't"
"Give me your phone" she stood with one hand on her hip and the other waiting, while they had their stare off
"We've been married for nearly eight years, and this is how you do me?" he stood up and walked over to his charger "Here have the damn phone, keep it" he shoved it in her hand
"Code?"
"You, you know it's you" he stood watching her tap in her name "And before you start anything Jake used my phone the other day to call and text his girl so…"
"There it is" she smirked, throwing his phone at him "You know you're damn well guilty before I even ask the question"
"I'm not lying" he stared at her frustrated
"You're never lying everything just seems to happen for you at the wrong time, I kissed a girl, I was drunk, I took a number I was compelled, I fucked a tramp, I…" she sat on the bed and picked his phone up again
"That's never happened" he butted in "I've never been unfaithful to you"
"With your body maybe" she cut her eye at him "But that mind of yours wonders every minute of every day, don't deny it" she pointed at him
"Listen" he huffed "I didn't know the girl at the airport" he sat next to her "I swear on my life" he took the phone from her "The call last night" he opened his phone up to redial the missed call and put it on loudspeaker "Hello" he called when the woman answered "I got a call from this number last night"
"This is the airport lost and found Sir, could I have your name"
"Mr Puckerman, Noah Puckerman" they sat looking at the phone for a while before the lady's voice came back at them
"Sir, we found a piece of jewellery at the side of your seat while cleaning the plane and wanted to get it back to you"
"Jewellery?" Noah asked concerned "Oh" he looked at his wrist "Yes engraved with my surname?"
"Yes Sir" she giggled "I'm assuming this is for…"
"You're on loudspeaker about to spoil the surprise" he laughed looking at Lauren "I'll collect it this morning"
"Yes Sir" the woman said before closing the call
"Innocent till proven guilty?" he turned to his wife asking
"We're still not clear on why that woman had your name in the air" she tapped his shoulder with hers as if she were joking, but he knew she was going to carry that on for as long as she could
"I'll see you tonight" he leaned in kissing her cheek when she turned her face to miss his kiss
"Not there yet Puckerman" she watched him drag his trousers on, and sat planning her next argument till he was out the door
Sam
"I'll see you later" Sam smiled bending to give his wife a kiss before leaving for work "Much to do today?"
"Not much, just a well-earned rest and some packing" she stretched and sat up in bed
"Packing?" he looked at her blankly "I wasn't aware we'd planned something for the weekend"
"We haven't" she giggled
"So, what are you packing for?"
"Remember I told you I was booking a trip with my girls"
"Remember you didn't" he rolled his eyes at her "Not Santana and Quinn?"
"The exact same ones, and yes I did tell you"
"Mercy" she could hear the anger in his voice, but it was booked, planned and she was determined to go "I asked you not to book anything with those two, you told me you…"
"I didn't say I wouldn't Sam" she made the point of calling him by his name too "I said your concerns were noted"
"You led me to believe…"
"You know how your mind works babe, you assume what you want, when you want and…"
"Are you suggesting that at some point I said this would be alright?" he stood up shocked
"You didn't say it wasn't"
"Where is it you think you're going?"
"Florida"
"For the weekend?"
"For the week" she looked down at the covers, well aware of how many triggers she was letting off in her husband's head
"And you still insist we had this conversation?" he shouted at her "No way, this isn't happening, cancel it"
"I'm not cancelling it babe, you're overreacting"
"I'm overreacting?" he stepped away from the bed "You plan, and book a trip away, for a whole week, with the only two women in the world you know I disapprove of, and you have the gall to sit there telling me I'm overreacting?"
"But" she stood up "You do know I'm not my friends right?"
"I'm saying I don't want you hanging around for a week with them"
"And I said, I've heard what you said but, I'm not my friends"
"So, you're not going?"
"I'm going babe" she smiled at him "You know I'm going, unless of course you don't trust me enough to let me go?" she looked into his eyes "Is that it, you don't trust me?"
"Babe" he frowned for where this was going
"So, now I'm a fucking slut, you married a slut?"
"That's not what I said" he rolled his eyes wondering why a simple request had turned into a full blown argument on morals, trust, and loyalty "Babe" he got up to grab her
"Don't touch me, is that what you think of me?"
"You know it isn't I was simply asking you not to go on a trip with those two, this isn't about us, I have no issues with us, it's about them"
"And who the hell gives you authority to make assumptions about my friends, I mean yours aren't draped in holy clothing, and drinking wine with Jesus, are they?"
"You know what" he grabbed his briefcase "Do whatever the fuck Mercy wants to damn well do" he huffed seeing the corner he'd been thrown in "Maybe when you get back I'll do a little holiday of my own" he muttered walking towards the door "Have a nice week"
"I'm not going till tomorrow" she called after him
"You won't see me till you get back" he slammed the door behind him, sure there was enough work at the office to keep him busy through the night, he was behind on a lot of paperwork because he'd been running home early because she was home. He huffed at his thoughts as he made his way to the car, if he'd have known she'd got plans to be away for the week, he might have done something himself with the guys.
Work
"Morning Mr Evans" the receptionist called as he exited the escalator onto his floor
"It's Friday, that's all I've got to say about it" Sam responded grabbing his post as he walked past
"Mr Abrams asked if the morning call could be pushed to a 2pm visit Sir" she smiled
"Agree that" Sam told her
"Oh, and Mr Puckerman will be coming in at 2pm too Sir, he said he needed to pass something by you"
"Okay" Sam held his hand up letting her know he'd heard before closing his office door, he needed a minute to shut off from his life outside of the place before he could focus on work
"Coffee Sir" his office door opened slowly
"Thanks Kurt" he smiled at his PA walking into the office with his order "What are we doing today?"
"Mr and Mrs Schuester at 9 sharp, 10am board meeting, 11.30am Mr Hart, and this afternoon 4pm you have Mr & Mrs Lynn Sir"
"All the paperwork's ready?"
"Yes Sir" Kurt smiled "I've left fifteen minutes between each one for updates and coffee" he nodded "And as Mr Puckerman and Mr Abrams are coming in at around 2pm, I took the liberty of ordering pizza"
"Thank you" Sam smiled watching Kurt whip round the office tidying things "Leave that pile" he stopped him from taking the envelopes off his desk "I'm doing a long one tonight, I'll see how much of this I can get through"
"Sir" Kurt smiled backing out the door
There were no surprises through the morning, Sam sat in the board meeting wondering why his personal life could never go this smoothly, when it came to business he was totally in control of things. Smiling at the fact that he knew better, his wife was never one to be controlled, it wasn't something he'd ever wanted to do with her, but those two, he rolled his eyes at the thought.
14:00
"Hey" Sam smiled at his two friends stood in his office door "Come on in" he got up to greet them "We've got pizza coming, it's been a while since we ate together" he smiled hugging his friends "Sorry I didn't make it last week, Mercy's back and you know how that goes"
"Sure" Artie smiled at him "No problem, we had a good time" he looked at Noah
"Drink?" he asked walking over to the cabinet
"This time of day, just a cold beer for me" Noah told him
"Same here" Artie ordered
Sam opened the three bottles and went over to the couches where Artie and Noah were already sat "You used the SOS words this morning, what's up?" he handed the bottles to him friends before sitting down
"Oh, Lauren, when is it not about her" Noah rolled his eyes "Listen to this" he sat telling them about the situation he'd found himself in, the jewellery he'd brought her resulting in a random call, and the fact that he was going home later to discuss the chick with the name board yet again"
"Lauren was standing right next to you, you know how she is, we all know how she is, why did you even think about doing that?" Artie asked
"How does she expect you to solve that one, go back to the airport and wait until the girl collects someone else?" Sam looked at him shocked
"What?" Noah asked unclear what he was suggesting "I'm not going back to the airport"
"No dude" Sam laughed "I mean it's an open argument, which could go on for months"
"You better pray she's pregnant and this all goes away when the baby drops" Artie laughed
"Pregnant?" Noah's face drained "I can't do another nine months of this shit, not again"
"Cover up dude, that's the answer" Sam laughed
"Talking about pregnant, did you get to have that conversation with Mercy you talked about the last time we met?" Artie asked Sam
"No go bro" he laughed to himself "Been working myself up for it for just over a week, then this morning she announces she's fucking off for the week with Quinn and Santana"
"Are you letting her go?" Noah asked "You know how those two roll"
"We all know how those two roll, but I don't think I can stop her without causing trust issues, we're both big on that"
"So, you have nothing to worry about"
"It's not about Mercy, it's about those two, she has a reputation to think about, so do I, imagine if she gets caught up in their shit and that hits the fucking papers, I'm the one that's going have to mop that up, not them" he huffed "But we all know Mercy, trying to convince her there's danger when she can't see it, is damn near impossible"
"At least Mercy just shouts about it" Noah rolled his eyes "Lauren box's for a living, and she fucking flattened me, on the spot at the airport"
"Oh shit" Artie held his mouth giggling
"You missed that bit out your story" Sam laughed "You should never have told her your history, there's honesty then there's damn near stupidity and you hit that mark bro"
"You were honest, you said it was the best policy at the time" Noah snapped at him
"I was, it is, and will always be, but you went into detail dude, I never took life serious before you, might have done a better job"
"Now he tells me" Noah laughed shaking his head "So, how's your Friday treating you?" he asked Artie sat listening to their dilemma
"Fucking doomed" Artie laughed "I long to have a meaningful argument with my wife, and no she isn't pregnant again"
"Oh, to be in your home tonight" Noah rolled his eyes wishing
"I didn't say everything was coming up roses, I said I long for a meaningful argument" he laughed "We had a good ten minutes this morning, I was up for taking the morning it was that serious"
"Dude" Sam sat up, even Noah lost the smile on his face "That serious?"
"To Britt" he rolled his eyes "I didn't get in last night in time to get the children to bed so, although I was tired as hell, I made them some of my shortbread biscuits to make up for it" he smiled "I come down this morning to an empty plate, they'd cleaned them off and Britt's only comment was, there was too much butter in them"
"But everyone knows butter makes a shortbread" Sam frowned at the nonsense in the conversation
"Except a mathematical genius" Arie huffed "Who of course knows the actual milli-ounce that's required"
"Is that an actual weight?" Noah asked
"I dare not ask the mathematical genius" Artie replied rolling his eyes
"Hold on" Sam sat trying to understand the conversation "So you argued about shortbread and then what happened?"
"Oh" Artie laughed "I'm not really laughing, it's just too fucking ridiculous to relay it back to someone" he chuckled "Somehow me not accepting her comment, meant I thought I was better than her" he looked from one to the other "So she threatened to leave because I said I wasn't having the conversation, realising I'd talked myself into the corner she wanted me in, and I know she's at home now getting all worked up for part two when I get in tonight"
"Because of a fucking Shortbread mix?" Sam asked for confirmation shaking his head
"That whole being in your home thing" Noah waved his hand "I take it back"
"Sir" Kurt knocked the door and entered with the pizza's "Dinner is served" he smiled placing the boxes and napkins on the table "Should I order you something for later Sir?" he directed his conversation to his boss
"Please" Sam replied
"Enjoy gentlemen" Kurt smiled at them before leaving the office again
"Ditto" Noah frowned opening the boxes in front of them "Tuck in" they all dived in
"Why is he ordering more food?" Artie asked
"I'm not going home tonight" Sam announced
"I thought you said Mercy was going away tomorrow for a week?" Artie asked him shocked
"She is"
"So, why are you not seeing her off, you know how she gets just before she flies?" Noah asked
"I'm not sending her am I?"
"But dude, I don't care who those two think they are, she's your wife, you can't not see her off" Noah told him
"It's so fucking frustrating that we're always the ones that have to give in, it shouldn't always be like this should it?" Sam asked his friends
"Okay it's almost time to get back to work, so let's focus on our takeaways from this conversation" Noah checked his phone and picked up another slice of pizza
"I'll start" Artie finished what was in his mouth "I'm not on anyone's side, so don't get this twisted dude, but when was the last time Mercy went off and did something for herself other than work?" Artie asked
"She's away a lot" Sam told him "A hell of a lot"
"He said for herself" Noah confirmed
Sam sat thinking about it, he couldn't actually remember a time when going away wasn't about work, or them going off to see family "I don't think she ever has" he looked at his friends sheepishly
"So, think that response through" they all sat watching him eat and process
"And the one time she makes her move I come off with my bullshit" he raked his hand through his hair at the thought of eating humble pie, before picking up another slice
"Choose your battles wisely" Noah told him picking up another slice "I think you might have something with what you said earlier" he looked at Artie before taking a bite of his pizza
"Art" Sam looked at his friend "Next time you decide to do something nice for the kids, think about doing something even nicer for your wife, I think she's just pissed you didn't leave some special for her or something, you know how sensitive she is, they are"
"They should come with a fucking manual" Noah laughed
"I think it's just the way they come at us, confuses the brain, we don't get time to think anything through, it's just shots fired, and we instinctively fight back without seeing where the shots are landing" Sam laughed
"When you find a way to think before she speaks let me know" Noah knocked fist with him
"I'll pay good money for that, and make a film about it" Artie laughed
"Eat up" Sam laughed "I've got to save some space for pie" he rolled his eyes
"We can do this" Artie laughed
"Worst come to the worst we'll meet at the bar" Noah suggested
"Deal" Sam held his bottle up for the others to seal the deal
That Evening
Artie
"Hey" he walked into his home, the children were still awake tonight, it was Friday night after all, they ran at him as usual, happy to spend time before they went off to bed, they had two children; a boy eight, and a girl seven, who acted more like 17 and 18 year olds when they were ready. "Where's mom?" he looked around surprised she wasn't following them around as usual
"She's in the garden" their son told him
"I'll be back in a minute" he let them go and stepped off to find his wife "Hey" he smiled at seeing her face, she looked deep in thought "What's up?" he sat in the chair next to her
"I" she looked him in the eyes "I don't want this life Art" she grabbed hold of his sleeve "Fighting over flipping shortbread, what's all that about?" she asked him "I was being stupid, I knew it as soon as you left"
"You weren't being stupid" he smiled rubbing her hand "I dropped the baton, I forgot to make you feel special" he pulled something out his pocket "I need to remind you, every day" he handed her a small box, smiling at her surprised face when she opened it
"Shortbread" she laughed at the trinket for her bracelet
"To remind you, you're the best shortbread" he smiled leaning in to kiss her
Noah
"I went…"
"Please Lauren" Noah held his hand up
"Listen to me" she got up with the baby in her arms "I went to the doctors this morning after you left, something was wrong and I knew it, I'm pregnant again"
"Fuck" he hissed "I can't do this again it nearly broke us last time babe"
"I thought maybe I should go stay with my parents, or yours"
"And what about me?"
"Don't ask me to get rid of our baby, I can't…" she burst into tears
"Hey" he grabbed hold of her "I wouldn't ask you to do that, but I don't want you two going anywhere" he sat wondering what to do for the best "How about we agree I stay at Artie's or Sam's for the night if things get too bad?"
"And come back, whatever I say" she agreed, they both looked at their son crying in her arms
"Whatever you say" he kissed his son's forehead before kissing his wife
Sam
Mercy was up in their bedroom when he got home, he could hear the music blasting through the house, he threw his things down and made his way upstairs he stood in the doorway watching her singing along to 'Love Of Your Life' by Rico Love & K Michelle
How it feel, a different kind of real, wake up and dream about it still, baby
When you find the love of your life, my heart so hard to be still baby
Even when you on my nerves I can't ignore you, when you find the love of your life…
"Hey" she smiled turning to see him standing at the door
"Love of your life?" he smiled walking towards her
"The one and only, always" she smiled opening her arms to greet him "I'm sorry I didn't make things clear about this trip"
"I'm sorry I went off with myself about you needing space" he kissed her neck "I'll take you to the airport tomorrow"
"I'd love that" she pulled away enough to look into his eyes before they kissed "I wouldn't mind you taking me somewhere else first" she looked at their bed
"I need to get a week's supply before you go" he laughed "You can sleep on the plane"
"I need this week babe, I need to recharge, without work, you, life, I need to just be, I haven't done that in years"
"You do what you need to do" he kissed down her neck telling her he'd finished talking
"Right now, I need to do you" she lifted her neck ready to take what he had to give and more
Guys
"Hey" Artie smiled when they answered his call "How did it go?"
"Lauren's pregnant" Noah offered
"Knew it" Artie laughed "You two will work it out"
"We all will" Noah laughed "I've agreed to stay with you guys when it gets tough" he pointed at them
"I'm getting and giving apologies at the moment" Sam grinned
"And Britt was all made up with the gift" Artie nodded
"What a Friday" Sam chuckled
"You can say that again" Noah laughed
"Guy's, got to go, she's coming back" Sam clicked the phone off