"Otters and gators that way." Mercedes said checking the map.
"And a café." Quinn pointed out.
"We have a snack and then see them." Mercedes suggested to the group, it had been long enough that the others were starting to feel hungry and it would give Quinn a rest.
"Souvenirs." Unique pointed out a small kiosk with sunglasses and hats.
"We live here." Marley reminded.
"Yes but this is proof that you actually do leave the house for more than work." Mercedes explained.
"We work at the same place we live." Unique piped up getting a scowl from Marley. "It's true." Unique said unfazed by the other girl's scowl, linking arms with Marley she tugged her along "Let's get snacks, souvenirs and see your gator."
Baseball caps now being worn and a couple of postcards in a tiny bag tucked into the backpack Santana was wearing the group headed to the café that overlooked the alligators, "Just honestly answer, are you having fun?" Quinn asked taking a sip of her soda, she had picked to sit with Marley for the moment.
"I am, it's just..."
"We know you worry about your mom, it was just the two of you for a long time but you guys have us now and we won't let anything happen to either of you." Quinn promised.
"I know but it's hard to trust other people after what we've been through." Marley admitted sitting at the table.
"Same for Santana and me but for a different reason." Quinn agreed. "Believe it or not Brittany and Tina are new friends and I trust them and Tina's boyfriend Mike with Santana" taking Marley's hand in her own Quinn caught the young woman's eye "and I know Unique is a new friend and you trust her."
"She's been through her own 'stuff' I know she won't hurt me or mom." Marley picked at the hat on the table.
"Well Brittany, Tina and Mike won't either, I guarantee it." getting up and taking her drink with her Quinn gestured Unique back to her seat, Tina joined their table as well not wanting to be squished with the other girls.
"So I think elephants are cute, there's no way you think alligators are cute." Tina said pointing out the window to the alligator habitat before taking a bite of her po-boy.
Marley chuckled poking at her phone before showing the other girls a video that showed alligators from an underwater view, "I know they're deadly but knowing this is what they look like when just their heads are above water, I can't help but laugh."
"It looks like they're walking on tip toe."
"That one's tip of it's tail is barely touching the bottom of the pool." Tina chuckled when she finished her bite. "You know you're spoiled right?"
"Not by choice, they just won't stop spending money on me." Marley frowned. "I know they can afford it but..."
"You'd rather earn your keep?" Tina suggested.
"Exactly." Marley agreed before picking up her half of the po-boy they were splitting.
"Then explain that to them." Unique said picking up her half.
"After today, I promised mom to give them one last day to spoil me." Marley said when she swallowed the bite.
"Not gonna lie, I think you're being selfish" Unique said with a sigh "Mama's not had the chance to be properly spoiled and you're taking that away from me." taking a bite she smirked while she chewed letting Marley know she was kidding.
Sneaking a couple pictures of Tina, Marley and Unique laughing and watching the alligators Santana tucked her phone away. "How are you feeling?" Santana asked Quinn handing her a beignet.
"I'm okay, little tired but I'll nap when get back." Quinn promised, Mercedes pointed at her "I will drink or eat whatever I am given." as if to prove her point she took a bite of the beignet.
"Millie's are better." Santana whispered to Brittany.
"Mmm hmm." Quinn agreed still chewing.
"Spoilt bitches, the both of ya." Mercedes leaned back in her seat, she had sent them multiple care packages from Millie.
"See otters are cool," Mercedes leaned on the railing "all I know is they eat some of the same things I do fish and crawfish. Hi babies." Santana chuckled taking Mercedes photo, waiting for the others to get pictures she called everyone together "Group photo." bunching together like they did at the entrance they all smile while Brittany took the picture for Mercedes.
"On to the gator." Mercedes waved them forward.
"That's creepy as shit, it's like a ghost gator." Santana shook her head slipping behind the others.
"So the albinos have pink or red eyes but these guys have blue so they are just white, it's a condition called leucism." Brittany rattled off staying at the back of the group with Santana.
"They still float like the other alligators." Marley watched as the alligator slowly floated by them.
"I have to see if they have a photo of that in the gift shop." Tina chuckled.
"We need to hit the candy cart, gourmet taffy." Quinn piped up.
"You guys really do travel on your stomachs." Tina commented watching Quinn find the location on the map.
"Yep." Santana nodded pointing "Gift shop."
"Do they allow drinks in there?"
"I'll stay out, you girls go." Mercedes waved them towards the gift shop.
"They have your gator Marley." Tina pointed at a whole section devoted to alligators both green and white.
"Still creepy." Santana shook her head tugging Brittany towards the other areas. "Look sweetie, shirts."
"They have coffee cups." Brittany pointed to ones with the zoo's logo on them.
"Oooh." Santana's eyes lit up at the sight of the wall of coffee cups, Quinn chuckled following them.
"I think we should buy backpacks to carry all this in." Quinn brushed her fingers over one of the many backpacks that were on sale as she walked passed the display.
"Good idea." Santana agreed.
"Keychains, can we get my mom and Pierce key chains?" Brittany asked seeing the keychains next to the magnets. "Although he does like magnets."
"Sweetie we can get them everything you want to get them, Quinn and I get our moms postcards."
"But it's your money." Brittany whispered.
"And I have a ton, that just sits in the bank doing squat." Santana wrapped around Brittany from behind resting her chin on Brittany's shoulder "Like we told Marley and Unique just let us spoil you guys, and with the exception of one of those white alligators I will buy you anything in this and the other gift shops and kiosk."
"I'll buy you the white gator if you want it." Quinn chuckled knowing that Brittany would not simply because Santana found it creepy, Santana flipped her sister off before returning her arm around Brittany's waist.
"Brittany come see." Tina waved her over to the clothes.
"I'll be right back." Brittany promised slipping out of Santana's arms, giving her girlfriend a quick kiss Brittany headed over to Tina and the others.
Watching her walk away Quinn informed Santana "Two things. You do know that every cat they have in this zoo is watching you right? And Millie has agreed to expansion."
"Yes and really?" they'd been talking to Millie about getting her a place of her own strictly for the charity work she was doing and the woman always said no. "What changed her mind?"
"I think when Shane's friends showed up she realized people would actually help and it wasn't just us saying we'd help," Quinn shrugged. "whatever the reason she's finally agreed so we can get her set up, put one of ours in charge of the business side so she doesn't have to worry about it." it wasn't that they didn't trust mortals, they just knew one of theirs would stay with the job and not use it as a step up or try to take over.
"Look!" Brittany bounced over with a blue hoodie, it simply had the name of the zoo and when it was established printed across the front.
"Very nice, do they have a black one?"
"Or green?" Quinn glanced over to the clothes, her eyes were hazel but depending on what she wore they could look green.
"Yes!" Tina called from behind the clothes.
"Grab them please, extra large... we like our hoodies and sweat shirts baggie." Quinn added seeing three heads peek around the clothes at them. "Unlike you three we do not have men to steal them from."
"Tina's the only one with a man." Unique pointed out getting waved off by Quinn.
"Pick out back packs ladies so we have somewhere to put all this and whatever we get from the other shops. Marley find something for your mom, Tina something for Mike." Santana nodded when they looked at her. "We'll get something for Mattie and his wife too."
Mercedes smirked seeing all but Brittany and Santana step out of the store, Quinn held up her bags "Your turn."
"Is she buying the store?"
"She told Brittany to get anything she wanted so she's taking Brittany through the store to see what she wants." Quinn rested her bags on the bench next to Mercedes.
"So that's a yes, sit and rest." getting up Mercedes pointed to her seat, doing what she was told Quinn opened the backpack and started pulling out the stuffing.
"So we bought the backpacks just to carry things around?" Tina asked following Quinn's actions.
"It's a useful souvenir and we can keep the receipt with it." Quinn said tucking the folded receipt into the small front pocket. Tucking the postcards into the recipe book she bought Quinn grinned to herself as an idea for Millie came to mind. Packing the book along with the other items into her backpack she zipped it up ready for the walk to the elephants and tiger. She didn't watch the other girls but could hear them doing the same, the give away was the paper that was stuffed into the bags, she could hear it being shoved into the recycle bin.