The Way We Were

The Way We Ring In

Marcy pulled her silver sheath dress down. It clung to all her good curves and bypassed the bad ones. She ran her hands over it to make sure the upper thigh length dress fell straight. It wouldn't go any farther so she was satisfied.

She slipped on her boots. They were black lace up heeled boots that was nearly calf high. She checked her makeup (silver eyes, blush and dark red lips) and hair (pin straight) in the mirror before leaving her room. She traveled downstairs.

"I don't know why you took that bath. You know you shouldn't go outside after taking a bath." Mal fussed.

"I wanted to be wet." She went to him and let him help her into her big coat.

"I could have made you wet."

An evil smirk crawled across her face. "You still can."

He turned her around and held her coat in his fists. "We can blow off this party and just go upstairs."

"We have to get the kids." She pecked his lips.

He deepened the kiss. "They can walk."

"My babies aren't walking in the cold by themselves just because you're horny." She slapped his arm.

He kissed her again.

"That won't work on me." She kissed him back.

Someone cleared their throat.

They broke apart to see Jude at the entrance. "Jude!" Marcy was far away from Mal in the blink of an eye.

Mal frowned. Thanks a lot, Jude!

"Your parents are wondering where you are." Jude knew he interrupted. "Mal? You're wearing lipstick, brah."

Mal wiped off his mouth.

"Thanks, dude." Marcy was willing away her blush. She waved self-consciously.

Jude nodded. "See you there."

Marcy nodded quickly. "See you."

Jude walked out.

"Your lipstick is stained." Mal said in the quiet.

Marcy quickly fixed her mouth. "Let's go. We've been here long enough. I already have to worry about wearing heels in the snow and ice at night."

"I'm sure you can make it around the corner."

The annual New Years Eve party was at the Fabrays that year.

Marcy sniffed. "You better hope or I'm climbing on your back."

Mal smirked. "I'll carry you anywhere."

W.W.W.

Marcy sipped her ounce of wine slowly. Being pregnant sucked. Around her, her immediate family drank and had a merry time. Even Maddie was having a good time as she invited Stevie and they were playing together.

She pouted and decided to text Karou to see what she was up to. She didn't really expect an answer so she texted Artie, too. She knew he would be home and he was.

They talked for a while until it grew near midnight. His texts started coming later and later. Until he just didn't text back for thirty minutes.

It was fifteen to one before he got back to her. She wanted to know the deal and he told her. Her mouth fell open and she dragged in deep steadying breaths. No one was paying her any attention so she was able to calm herself with little fanfare.

She texted him back immediately and they spend the next twenty minutes texting consistently.

Mercedes came and sat next to her. "You've been antisocial all night. What's wrong?"

Marcy ignored the first part of that. "I have something to tell you tomorrow."

"It is tomorrow. Tell me now."

Marcy glared at her. "Cute. Just for that; I'm telling you on the second."

Mercedes giggled. "No, I'm sorry. I can wait til later. What's it about?"

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you."

W.W.W.

"Okay, so what's the big deal about your secret?" Quinn asked at tea later on that day.

Marcy crossed her legs. "You know I don't like gossip and I don't tell secrets but this is insane and he didn't swear me to secrecy."

"Who and what are you talking about?"

Marcy took a deep breath. "Artie slept with Santana."

Mercedes and Quinn were blown away. "What?!"

"Yes! He did it after their big fallout last week. Apparently he invited her over to lay all their cards on the table and things got heated. In the not fun way. That made things heated. In the fun way.

Then just last night, she snuck over to his house and they did it again."

"Oh my lanta!" Mercedes sat back and fanned herself. "Drama!"

"What about Brittany and Finn?" Quinn asked. "How are they taking this?"

"They don't know." Marcy said.

"Going back to school should be fun."

"That's what I say."