Connection

Chapter 2

Mercedes stepped into the hotel and looked around in awe. It was beautiful. She went to the front desk and asked for her room key.

Once she had it, she went up to the room she was sharing with her siblings. If it weren't for press, she would have gotten there with them but it was what it was.

She opened the door. "Is anybody here?!"

"Mercy!" A crowd surrounded her.

She laughed and passed out hugs and kisses. "Hi!"

"Hi, Tia!" Beth and the twins got their greetings in.

Mercedes made sure to hug them tighter. "Where's my baby?!"

"Mama!" Raven yelled from Mike's arms.

Mercedes took her daughter and pressed kisses to her face. "Hi, my baby!"

"Mama." Raven hugged her mother.

Laura loved seeing her sister and her baby bond. "Okay, we're nearly all here-"

"Who's not here?" Mercedes had her eyes closed and rocked back and forth.

"You'd easily miss her. She's close to the ground and the devil." Mal spat.

Mercedes opened her eyes to coo at him. "You miss her, don't you?"

He sulked. "No."

Both Marc and Mike knew that was a lie.

"She'll show up." Mercedes soothed.

"Who?" Marcy scared the life out of all of them.

"Mommy!" The twins ran to their mother.

"Hi, babies!" Marcy dropped to her knees to hug and kiss them.

They giggled.

Beth waited her turn patiently.

Marcy pulled her over. "How's my Betty?"

Beth beamed. "Good!"

Raven gave a shout.

Marcy took her from Mercedes and danced with her. "Hey, Rae-Bae!"

Raven laughed.

Maddie cleared her throat, getting her patience from the sister whose attention she wanted.

Marcy gave Raven back to her mom and set her fists on her hips. "Who are you?!"

"Marcy?!"

"I wanted to see my Glowworm but I don't see her!"

Maddie laughed. "I'm not four!"

"No but you're getting so big! I bet I can't even pick you up anymore!"

Maddie wasn't sure if she liked that.

Laura either. "My baby!"

"Babe." Marc rubbed her back.

Laura ripped away from him and hugged all her sisters together.

Quad pointed to his mom.

"Are you supposed to be pointing so soon?" Marc wondered.

Mike laughed. "Laura, why are you crying?"

"I missed you!" Laura was crying.

"We missed you, too!" Mercedes and Maddie chorused.

Quinn and Marcy were noticeably quiet.

Luckily everyone was trying to get Laura to stop crying so no one noticed too hard.