Life (and Other Things Like It)

Chapter 27

"I'm so happy to be home!" Mercedes took off her shoes.

"You were gone for two days." Puck pointed out.

"So?! I'm glad to be home now!"

"Okay..."

Quinn giggled. "I'm so glad Marc was able to make it. I missed him so much."

"I wish we could've seen him." Finn sulked.

"It was family time. Like what you had during Thanksgiving."

He pouted.

She hugged him. "You'll see him again."

"Mommy?" Beth pulled on Quinn's dress.

"Yes, Beth?"

"Picture?"

"You want to take more pictures?"

"Yeah!" Beth brightened.

"Okay, let's see if Tio Mal will take pictures of us!"

"Take Rae." Mercedes gave the baby up. "I have to see about the details of her party."

"Mama, she's turning one." Puck protested.

"Yeah and we have to celebrate."

"Please don't go overboard." He begged.

"When have I ever gone overboard?"

"Not a lot but you have."

She rolled her eyes. "Come on, Rachel, Annie. We've a party to plan."

Puck watched the trio go deeper into the apartment and the animals run inside. "She's going to plan some kind of extra crazy party, isn't she?"

"Probably." Finn watched Quinn and Beth go next door. "I should go see Marcy."

"Why?" Puck looked at him.

"Band stuff."

Hurt colored Puck's tone. "Oh."

Finn felt bad but he was forgiven. He didn't even want to do it in the first place. "See you."

"See ya."

M-A-P

"So what'd you do?"

Mike looked at Puck. "What?"

"This weekend when you went home. What'd you do?"

"Didn't Mercy tell you?" Mike was confused.

"She said it was a Christmas tradition but never got around to what it actually was."

"Didn't you notice last year?"

"Notice what?"

Mike sighed heavily. Puck would miss his own funeral. "Every year on the first weekend of December, we take our holiday pictures and put up decorations."

"Holiday pictures?"

"You've never taken a holiday portrait?"

Puck thought back. "Nope."

"Wow." Mike refocused on the game.

"Is that bad?"

"Why would it be bad? It's just weird."

"What holiday?"

"Mostly Christmas but there's a few other holidays in December."

"Do you wear ugly Christmas sweaters?"