I'm back! I'm thinking of continuing this. Let me know what you think. I hope you enjoy.

I hope you enjoy.

Sam Evan was a grownman of 26 but here he stood in front of 62-year old woman talking down to him as if he was a naughty toddler. Unspoken smart remarks caused a bitter taste on his tongue, but Sam knew better than to utter those remarks aloud. Only a man with a death wish would be stupid enough to rebuke. The silver-haired woman pointed her thin brown wrinkled finger at him as she spoke and narrowed her eyes almost daring him to talk back. The woman may be short and frail; however, her mouth alone was imposing enough to make him swallow his words.

"...just because you're a big shot football player you think the world owes you something for blessing it with your presence. You think people will fall in front of you and worship you. Wrong. These people do not give a damn about you. These people have to worry about where they will sleep tonight-"

Sam gave an annoyed sigh as the woman continued her rant.

How did he get himself into this again?

Oh yeah, alcohol and 'the system' adamant on wasting tax payer money.

It started after a night of partying. He was wasted and all he wanted to do was get home so in his rush he might have missed a few red traffic lights and stop signs. He might of disregarded a few speed limits too in his journey back to his mansion. He then got the attention of a police cruiser. Rather than slacking off though, the alcohol in his system made him not only brave but also idiotic. Sam decided right then and there that he wanted to experience the thrill of being in a police pursuit. He sped through the desolate streets. Streetlights flashed past him. He could see the red pulsating light on the cruiser following him with loud blaring sirens. A cocky smile graced his lips as he accelerated his speed until he reached the maximum speed his Bugatti could handle. The police cruiser disappeared behind him. Just when Sam thought he could make a clean break, a prostitute stumbled into the road trying to cross the street. Sam swerved the car trying to miss her. He missed her luckily but in the process, he lost control of the car. The car landed on its roof on the sidewalk.

Sam was lucky enough to only walk away from the accident with minor cuts and bruisers. His car was not that lucky though, his baby would never see a road again.

Sam ended up in court charged with driving under the influence and reckless endangerment. After an unnecessary trail and wasting unnecessary money, in Sam's humble opinion, he was ordered to 100 hours of community service for his blatant disregard for the law. He was under probation and stripped of his license.

His probation officer told him to help out at a soup kitchen for his community service. That is how he ended up in here, being schooled by a short small woman who weighed probably half his body weight.

Sam was just thankful it wasn't football season.

"...boy, are you getting all of this? Nod if I'm getting through to you Samuel Evans. nod" The woman commanded drawing a nod from a submissive Sam. "You better be listening to me. I ain't about to waste precious oxygen. I'm too old to be wasting my breath-"

"Auntie Esther!" A cheerful child-like voice cried in joy cutting to woman off mid-sentence.

A small child ran through the open front glass door of the small establishment. The child avoided the obstacles of chairs and tables in her way, her dark brown curls tamed in a ponytail and hair ribbon on top of her head bouncing behind her as she ran. She nearly jumped into the woman's arms before throwing her cinnamon arms around the woman and waving her dangling black stocking covered legs in the air. Esther put the girl down on the floor again and asked the young girl how her day was. She gave a dimpled smile replying in graphic detail every single thing she did since waking up this morning up until this moment.

Before Sam could get the opportunity to be thankful for the distraction the child brought in with her and stopping Esther's ranting session, the child said:

"I'm gonna go say hello to Miguel in the kitchen."

The child, Sam guessed no older than five, ran through the double swinging doord leading into the kitchen, her white dress blowing behind her. Sam had to admit that the kid was super cute.

"Now, where was I-"

"Sorry I am so late," Another voice interrupted the woman. This time it was the voice that of a young woman.

Sam looked towards the source of distraction and felt his heart stop.

Mercedes' eyes were glued to her cellphone screen as she continued speaking:

"A parent forgot to pick their child up. Who forgets to pick their child up from pre-K? So I had I sent Maria home, it's her dad's birthday and I sat there to wait until his parents decided to come a freaking hour later to get him. I know pre-k teachers are nothing but glorified babysitters in those rich people's eyes but when that clock strikes the end of my school day the only snot-nosed child I want near me is my own." As she spoke, she walked closer towards the two people with her eyes still locked on her phone screen. "And now my mom lets me know she and the other first ladies of other churches are having a power luncheon so she can't look after Aria like always. Daddy is in the office so I had to bring her along, I hope you don't mind."

Thus far Mercedes has not been having a good day. She could feel an approaching cold, she was on her period and she just felt, as Aria would say 'icky' but she knew she could not bail on her commitments she had to the soup kitchen. Every Monday and Friday afternoon Mercedes helped at the Soup kitchen her father's church funded. As the daughter of the pastor, she had many obligations to the church; she was the worship leader in church, she was the Sunday school teacher and she helped at the Soup kitchen.

Mercedes looked up from her phone for the first time since entering the establishment. She froze from shock nearly dropping her Samsung when her she looked into those green eyes that haunted her for years. He looked as gorgeous as ever.

This was not the first time she saw him. He was a famous football player for the Cleveland Browns for the past year after playing for the Chicago Bears. But Cleveland was a massive place and she did not expect to ever run into him. This was however, the first time in nearly five years she saw him face to face. Her heart stopped. Her body felt numb.

The pain and humiliation she had to suffer nearly made her want to punch him so she prayed to the Lord for self-control. She could feel the anger run through every inch of her soul. She could see in his eyes that he was just as shocked as she was. She could also see the shame in them causing him to look down at his shoes.

"Mercedes, this is Samuel Evans the criminal I'm trying to scare straight."

If Mercedes was in a better mood, she might have laughed at her aunt. She straightened her spine, pushing her prescribed thick-rimmed squire hipster glasses up her nose before painting a tight smile on her lips. She offered her hand to him pretending that she had no idea who he was.

"Mercedes Jones. Nice to meet you."

Sam swallowed the lump in his throat before playing along and reaching for her outstretched hand. Immediately familiar warmth spread through his being, warmth he has not felt in nearly five years. Even though he and Mercedes Jones dated for only five months in college the woman left a lasting impression on him since the first time he touched her.

He knew she was a freshman. She screamed freshman. Her large eyes protected by the stylish frame of her glasses hovered over the map in her hands before looking around her trying to figure out where she was. She looked overwhelmed, ready to burst out in tears as she stumbled through the mass of students around her. A guy bumped into her causing her books she had clenched under her underarm to fall to the ground. The guy did not even spare her a second glance as he continued walking away.

Ever the Southern gentleman, Sam decided to help the girl. For he once was freshman from a small town thrown into the chaos of college.

"I'll be back." He told Jake before throwing the football at him and jogging off the grass he and his football teammate were practicing their throws on.

He kneeled down before her helping her gather all the loose papers that fell out of the books, now scattered all over the ground. She looked up in surprise, her brown gaze burning with appreciation. A beautiful shy smile adorned her lips. Sam noted she was kinda cute. She was not the hottest girl out there, no that title went to his head cheerleading girlfriend, Quinn with legs that go on for days. The girl definitely had some hips hiding under that loose fitting shirt.

"Thank you." She said softly slightly embarrassed.

Sam gave her a charming smile handing her the papers. His fingers brushed over the soft warm hand.

"It's nothing. That guy's an ass." He said getting up from his crouched position.

He watched her shove all the papers back into her book before getting off her knees. Only when she stood directly in front of him did he notice how short she actually was. He offered her his hand to shake as he said:

"I'm Sam-"

Before he could continue, the girl interrupted.

"I know who you are. Almost everybody knows who you are. You're the quarterback and golden child of the football team." She wrapped her hand around his outreached hand; a warm spark ran up the nerves in his spine. Weird. "Mercedes Jones."

"Well, nice to meet you, Mercedes." Sam let go of her hand. "You look a little lost; you need some help?"

"Oh hallelujah, my prayers have been answered." Mercedes said. "Yes please, my next class is in five minutes in block E. I have no idea where block E is. I do not even know where I am. Is this still planet earth?"

Sam laughed before offering his help like a Good Samaritan.

"Come on let me help you get to your class. I'm not good with giving directions."

"Thanks, I'm not good with directions either. This map is basically useless in my hands." Mercedes said as Sam started walking.

"So, what's your major?" Sam asked as they walked through campus.

"Educational Psychology. Yours?"

"Art and Art History but I'm here mainly for the football. I'm hoping of going pro." The senior told the girl.

"My dad was a football player in college. He was really good but after an head injury my grandparents and mom, who was his fiancé at the time, demanded that he stop before he ends up with brain damage. Football is very violent."

Sam shrugged knowing she was right.

"What does your dad do now?"

"He's a pastor." She answered trying her best to keep up with him. It seems like he failed to notice she did not have his long legs to gallop around with.

"So you're a PK."

"Jip, I'm a preacher's kid. People think it is like this big thing, it is not. People have this misconception that my childhood was filled with rules and regulations but it wasn't. My dad is one of those 'Come As You Are' preachers. He does not force religion or rules down my or my siblings' throats. He does teach us about God and the importance of having a relationship with Him and Faith, not memorizing the rules of the Bible. Don't get me wrong he's very strict at times but my dad's cool," Mercedes, said. "What do your parents do?"

"My dad owns a construction company, my mom is school teacher. I have two younger siblings."

"I have two older twin brothers; Vincent and Aaron. One is a surgical resident and the other is a police officer. I also have a younger twelve-year-old brother, Dante- he is as annoying as the day is long but he grew on." She joked. "I'm the only girl so my brothers and parents nearly burst a few veins when they found out I wanted to come to Utah." Mercedes said rolling her eyes." Enough about me. How old are your siblings and what are their names?"

"Stacy is nine and Stevie is ten." Sam answered. "Where are you from?"

"Ohio, Cleveland." She answered before raising a brow. "Wow, your parents sure didn't wait long to pop out the next one." A song suddenly made its way into her head. "Onto the next one. I'm onto the next one."

Sam chuckled.

In all honesty, this stranger he met two minutes ago knew more about him than his girlfriend, who was dating for nearly two years now, knew. His relationship with Quinn was nothing more than ploy of gaining popularity and reining the social hierarchy. He was the quarterback and she was the head cheerleader. There was an unspoken rule that they had to be together. Things with Quinn were just about the sex and popularity status. Other than that, they lived life as strangers. All she knew was he had two-sibling and all he knew about her was she had a kid she gave up for adoption in high school. Other than that, Quinn was a mystery to him.

"Why didn't you choose something closer to home?" Sam asked curiously, as he dug his hands in his pockets

"I've always been very protected. I love my family don't get me wrong, I love them a lot," Mercedes said. "But I wanted to start new where nobody knows me. I wanted to climb out of my comfort zone and be a little independent...that sounds stupid, right?"

Sam shook his head.

"That sounds brave." He said giving her a small smile.

She rewarded him with a bright smile, displaying a dimple on her left cheek. She was not Sam's type but Sam could not deny she was a really pretty girl in a innocent way.

"So, where are you fro-"

"Sammy." A voice called interrupting Mercedes sentence.

Both Mercedes and Sam looked towards the source of the voice to find a young blonde woman heading their way. Her long blonde hair was up in a ponytail bouncing behind her as she walked. Her short skirt and high heels accentuated her long thin legs strutting their way towards them. She threw her arms around the blonde man's waist before placing a kiss on his lips.

"Who's your friend?" She asked, her sultry voice slicing through the air. The woman did not even glance her way.

'Disrespectful' Mercedes thought.

"She's a freshman. Her name is Mercedes; I'm showing her to class." Sam explained.

"Well, helping the needy is always good but you and I have plans. Plus she has a map, I'm sure she'll find her way," She said in a sugary sweet voice.

If Mercedes weren't raised better she would slapped the girl silly.

'Lord, please give me some strength,' she prayed under her breath.

She could see Sam was conflicted so she took charge.

"Thanks for your help, Sam, but I'll be okay from here." Mercedes said giving him a small smile before turning to his girlfriend with tight-lipped smile. "Nice meeting you."

The woman made a little hand gesture.

"Ciao."

Mercedes walked away from the couple rolling her eyes at Barbie who felt the need to mark her territory. Mercedes was just having conversation with the man not trying to bed him. And anyway she knew she was not his type so she had no idea why the girl felt threatened.

"Mommy, Miguel said I can help!" A child-like voice said bringing Sam out of his recollection of the past. "He says I should clean the dinning room." She said running towards her mother pulling the broom behind her

Sam looked at the girl running towards her mother with a broom three times her size. Sam's blood ran cold. His heart stopped. Pure shock ran through every inch of his body. His limbs felt numb. Sam has never been good at math but he was sure that little girl was his. The child had her mother's beautiful features; small button nose, a dimple on her left cheek, her wild dark unruly curls. However, her light skin tone was a telltale of her mixed heritage. Then there were those big green eyes protected by a hedge of thick brown eyelashes. Those eyes were an exact replica of his.

Mercedes cleared her throat before painting a small smile on her face as she looked at girl, ignoring Sam's gapping gaze on the child.

Esther raised a brow at the two people in front of her. She decided to ignore the thick veil of awkward in the air and spoke to the child.

"Ari, baby will you please get him-" She pointed to a frozen Sam. "-a broom too. You can help him sweep the dinning room clean and then wash the floor while your mommy helps Miguel and James in the kitchen with the food."

"I think I should keep her under my nose." Mercedes quickly said. "I don't want her causing havoc-"

"Nonsense child, I'll be watching her while you work in the kitchen. Plus we don't want her close to all those sharp objects," Esther said interrupted her niece. "Now go, we have a deadline. The food should by ready by five." The woman said nearly pushing Mercedes through the double doors leading into the kitchen.

Mercedes spared a lingering glance at Aria and Sam swallowing the lump in her throat before disappearing out of the room. She sent a small prayer up for strength.

"Here, you can have my broom," The child said handing him the broom with a bright smile. "I'll get another one."

Sam watched the child run into the kitchen in her search. His feet were still rooted on the floor frozen in shock. He had a child...with Mercedes. He had a child he never knew existed. How is that even possible?

Okay he knew how it was possible but how could she not tell them?

A loud clap in front of his face brought him back to the present.

"This floor isn't going to sweep itself, now is it, Blondie? Get to it." The short brown woman said.

Sam nodded forcing his stone like legs to walk. His first steps were as graceful as those of a newborn gazelle until he gained control of his own body. He still could not wrap his mind around the fact that he had a child. A week ago, he was still living the single life without a care in the world now he finds out he has a kid. He has a beautiful energetic kid.

"What's your name?" The sweet familiar voice asked behind him as she tried sweeping under the table next to him.

Sam took a deep breath before answering the child.

"My name is Samuel but people call me Sam." He said trying to keep his voice calm.

"That's in the Bible." Aria said. "Did your mommy and daddy name you after the Bible?" She asked curiously.

"Yes, they did."

She nodded absorbing the information.

"My name is Aria Monet Jones." The child said proudly. "Aria is a song or melody in oper-oper-opera. Mommy says so. She said the first time she saw me her heart sang. Monet was a guy who painted pictures. Mommy says he was really good and that I'm a work of art so she named me after him but I'm a girl. It's weird," The child said. "Just Mommy and kids at school and Mrs. Smith call me Aria. Mommy calls me Monet when I do something I'm not supposed to do. My grandma and grandpa and uncles and all Mommy's friends call me Cinnamon Bun because I'm as sweet as Cinnamon Bun."

Sam smiled, his heart skipping a beat as a memory long forgotten replayed in his mind's eye.

He and Mercedes were lying under the covers of his bed in his dorm room (fully clothed) as the wind howled outside his closed window. Sam's roommate was away for the weekend so he asked Mercedes if she wanted to hang. They have only been dating for three weeks now though they have been close friends for the past few months now.

"Who is your favorite artist?" Mercedes asked looking up at him as she readjusted her scarf around her neck for extra warmth.

"That's a tough one," Sam said. "That's like me asking you who your favorite singer is."

"Yeah you're right but I have a shortlist: Aretha, Whitney, Mariah and Adele...and some Tay-Tay Swift, don't judge me."

Sam laughed before kissing her forehead.

"Well, my shortlist is; Renoir, Van Gogh and Monet. I like the impressionism and post-impressionism styles."

"I only know two of them. Who the heck is Monet?"

"You don't know Claude Monet?" He asked with fake-disgust. "Have you been living under a rock?"

She rolled her eyes bumping his shoulder. Sam smiled at her wrapping his arms around her waist.

"Monet was kinda the badass of art in the beginning. He was one of one of the leading artist of the impressionist period. Many artists criticized him for abandoning the classic techniques of painting." Sam said. "I plan on calling our first kid Monet. Our kid will be bad-ass."

"Our?" Mercedes asked in surprise. "You want to have kids with me?"

Sam smiled before pressing a short gentle kiss on her lips.

"One day, maybe like five or four years from now. I'll be a professional football player and you'll be my pretty WAG standing at my side." He joked.

"Hahahah," Mercedes said sarcastically.

"I'm just kidding you'll be more than just a pretty mindless wife standing on the sidelines. You will be an educational psychologist helping kids with learning disabilities. We will have a big home with a bunch of kids, each named after a painter and musician. We'll be the modern Brady Bunch."

Mercedes chuckled before resting her cheek against his loud beating heart. She closed her eyes as he drew circles on her back, imagining the beautiful future Sam wanted with her. She smiled as her mind painted a picture of four caramel-skinned children, each with green eyes and wild curly hair...

"You look pretty, Mercedes." The man said shyly.

He seemed to be the last person in the line waiting for food. Sam and Mercedes were standing next to one another, he dishing rice; she dishing curry chicken. The awkwardness in the air was suffocating. He knew Esther knew there was something weird between him and Mercedes and that she purposely put them next to one another. She did not say anything but the lingering looks she gave them betrayed her.

"Thank you, Carlos." Mercedes said ignoring Sam's gaze next to her.

Her aunt was bossing Sam around as if he was a maid so they haven't talked yet- not that she wanted to. She could feel Sam's questioning gazes. Even her smart beautiful Aria, who her younger brother picked up earlier to take to their parents' home until Mercedes finished here, felt like there was something wrong. Earlier her daughter wrapped her hand around her wrist and asked her what was wrong. Mercedes, of course said there was nothing wrong and only kissed her daughters' chubby little cheeks.

"I went to your dad's church yesterday." The man said taking the plate from her with shaking hands. "I heard you sing. You have a beautiful voice."

"Thank you, Carl," Mercedes said with a small smile furrowing her eyebrows as she looked at the fresh small puncture wounds in his arms. He felt her gaze and quickly pulled his sleeve down before walking away before she could say more. Mercedes gave a sad sigh as she watched the drug-addict walk away to sit by a table.

Sam cleared his throat next to her making her roll her eyes.

"We have daughter-"

She turned towards glaring at him with anger burning in her eyes.

"No, I have a daughter. You are nothing but a sperm donor," She hissed under her breath before grabbing the empty pot in front of her and walking into the kitchen.

She could feel their judgmental gazes as she sat on the front pew of the church. She placed her hand on her belly feeling the baby kick in response. Her mother put her arms around her as a form of support. Many were appalled at the fact that Mercedes Jones, the teenage once virginal daughter of Pastor Jones, was pregnant out of wedlock. They never said it to her or his family's face but she heard the whispers:

'Good girl gone bad.' they said

It was quite laughable in all honesty; these people, who knew nothing about her were judging her and ashamed whilst her own family accepted the child as an unexpected blessing from God.

When she first told them, she was terrified, hurt and hopeless. Her father, seeing how broken she was, took her in his arms and held her whilst she sobbed. She sobbed because of he broke her heart. She sobbed because she broke a promise she made not only to herself but also to God. She sobbed because she had no idea what to do. She sobbed because she was lost. She sobbed because she was afraid. She sobbed because she was so angry.

"I-I-I made a mistake, Daddy." She cried every inch of her broken. "I'm 18, Daddy. I am a child with a-a-a child. I gave my virginity to-to-to a boy who could care less about me. I made a mis-mistake and I ha-have no idea how to fi-fix it."

Her father kissed her forehead.

"That child growing inside of you is a gift from God," He whispered against his baby girl's forehead trying to keep in tears of his own. It hurt him seeing his little girl so hurt. "God does not make mistakes."

"Dad, I broke my pro-promise to God. I-I-" She sobbed against his chest.

"But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal of the Holy Spirit. Titus 3 verse 4-5"

"Daddy" she looked at him with wet broken eyes. "I don't know what to do. I cannot raise a child. I do not have a college degree. I do not have a future. I cannot be a mother. I don't know how." She rambled on. "I had dreams for the future. I had a plan."

"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'" Her father told her. "You will be okay. You can move back home and we will all help you raise the baby. You can do a few semesters from home and apply to college here after the child is born-"

"…Mercedes would like to say a few things."

Hearing her father say her name brought her back to the present. Her mother squeezed her shoulder before letting her get up. Her mother was the only person who knew the identity of the baby's father. Mercedes wobbled her way up the steps and stood behind the pulpit her father once stood.

Hundreds of beady eyes scrutinized her and her pregnant belly. She readjusted the microphone leaning closer to it. She spared a quick glance at her brothers and mother giving her encouraging smiles.

"I am human," she said straightening her spine. "Just like you I am human. I made mistake like every single person here. However, I have repented for my sins before my God and He has forgiven. Many have said that I should be ashamed that my parents should be embarrassed because of me. They are not because they know I am not perfect, no human is. I made the mistake of trusting somebody who I should not have and I ended up pregnant out of wedlock." She said even though her heart was breaking at the thought of Sam she refused to cry. She was strong. "He who is without sin cast the first stone." With those words said she went back to her family members.

Her only comfort was that she was not alone in this. She had her friends, she had her family and she had her God by her side. She and her little girl would be okay. Yes, she would be okay and she would heal someday.

"I can't, Mom." Mercedes cried out in pain. "I can't," she sobbed.

"Just one more push. Come on baby just one more push and then you'll get to hold your beautiful baby girl."

Mercedes never felt pain like this before. She took deep breaths as she nearly crushed her mother's hand jailed in her grasp. She took a few seconds to gather the last drop of strength in her body. She pushed crying out in agony, sweat rolling down her face her body shaking in pain...

Then she heard it- the most beautiful sound she has ever heard, her daughter's loud and healthy cry filling the room. She let out a grateful sigh thanking the Lord that her baby was breathing and healthy. She fell back onto the bed letting go of her mother's hand. She closed her eyes catching her breath. She felt her mother kissing her temple.

"You did so well." She whispered.

Her mother helped her sit up as the OBGYN walked towards her with a small bundle of pink.

"Here's your little girl." She said placing the baby in her arms.

Mercedes heart stopped as her eyes drank her in. She was so beautiful. The child looked up at her with big green eyes taking her breath away.

"She's beautiful. She has his eyes." Her mother said next to her gently tracing the baby's hand.

She and her mother were close. Her mother was the first person she called when Sam asked her to be his girlfriend. She told her that she first wanted to tell her father and brothers later when they were more secure in the relationship. Her mother respected her choice but searched his name on Facebook and found pictures of him so she knew what he looked like.

"She's perfect," Mercedes whispered placing her palm against the baby's warm rosy cheeks. In that moment, Mercedes finally understood what truelove was.

Hey guys, what do you think so far? I'm thinking of making this only a few chapters (4-5) but only if you guys like it.

Review?