It's Called Being Sassy

Don't Sleep Me Over PT1

Steps echo on the stairs. The large group turns to stare as Dr. Jones makes it into the vast space. "Hello."

"Daddy!" Mercedes and Marcy beam.

"Hey, Dad!" Marc raises his chin.

"Hey, Pop!" Laura, Mike, Quinn, Mal and Maddie smile.

"Hi, Dr. Jones!" Vic, Karen, Nancy, Sebastian, Mari, Chris, Sarah, Javier, Daisy, Anna and Carly wave.

"Hello, Dr. Jones." Puck, Sam, Tina, Ellen, Santana and Brittany nod.

"Daddy, this is Artie, Finn, Rachel, Joe, Sugar, Rory, Blaine and you've heard Kurt on the phone." Mercedes introduces everyone.

"Daddy, this is Lionel." Marcy says. "He's Carly's date but he'll be going home at a respectable time."

"And the others?" Marcus lifts a brow.

Mercedes pouts. "We wanted to have a sleepover."

"And where will everyone be sleeping?"

"The girls will be upstairs." Marcy vows. "The boys will be down here. You can even lock the basement door if you don't trust them."

"What?!" The boys don't remember agreeing to that.

Dr. Jones' lips twitch. "Aren't the twins asleep? Don't get too loudly."

"We won't, Daddy." Mercedes promises.

"Have you eaten?"

Marcy shakes her head. "We're waiting on pizza and Chinese."

His brows lift. "Hmm."

"I was thinking of herb to really get me there." She watches him warily.

It takes a moment but he narrows his eyes. "Not in the house."

"Please, Daddy! We won't set anything afire!"

Everyone but her siblings and friends look at her in shock but Dr. Jones is no fool. "You know the rules, Sweetpea. Smoke outside."

"But, Daddy, there's raccoons out there." Mercedes loves animals. Cute, harmless animals.

He frowns.

"We only had that rule because of Momma." Marcy pleads her case.

"Come on, Dad." Marc begs. "Please?"

"Please, Pop?!" Laura, Mike, Quinn, Mal and Maddie beg.

"We don't even have any ashtrays." Marcus is fighting a losing battle.

"We can use the ones Great Grandfather gave you for your birthday." Marc points out.

"Or..." Mike sneaks in. "If you don't want to ruin your crystal, we can use beer cans."

"You want my beer?" Marcus is distraught.

"Not your German beer. I know you're never parting with that but I don't think you have enough beer for all of us. Especially if we want more than one."

"And your solution is...?"

"You buy us beer."

"Sonny...!" Dr. Jones growls. "I just got home!"

"Please, Pop!"

"It's really a win/win." Marcy nods with wide guileless eyes.

"I'm not saying yes." Marcus fools himself.

Marcy draws in a deep breath through her angry face, body shaking in rage, her fists clenched.

Her siblings and friends cover their ears; Ellen, Sam and Puck cover their ears; Marcus covers his ears.