Mercedes gave a succinct nod. "Kurt was here right outta McKinley. He came here to get away from Ohio. He ain't a fan of the sun or the beach, but he seems to have found some place to belong. We just all followed him really. Ain't like some of us weren't gagging for a seachange after the shallow minds of Ohio. I used to date Jeff, so it's nice having him around, and Mike Chang is Nick's room mate. Finn followed Kurt, which Carole was glad of 'cause he wasn't exactly willing to follow a straight and narrow path, so to speak. He's doing well, just probably not in the way anyone expected. Maybe that fact alone shows how much you need to... give a little."

"I am doing something," she clarified pointedly. "Just 'cause someone ain't prancing around on a stage doesn't mean they ain't doing something. In fact, I'm pretty sure I'm getting more worth outta my life now than I ever could getting my name in lights to only know I wasn't gonna stay in the spotlight forever. No performer ever does. I'm helping sick kids now and it's more rewarding than any time I stepped up to a microphone. I guess your job must be hell rewarding if you can give up other of life's gifts to maintain it. Not that I can talk, 'cause I ain't married or nothing, either, but a fag hag's job can sometimes be up there with mothering as to demands."