So I know you are thinking, come on a new story but I can't help the ideas the good thing is this one is finished so yay! I am going to post the chapters asap so enjoy it. Is It Love and A Passion Rekindled as well as Coming Back Togehter will all be updated as well so enjoy

Mercedes Jones had had enough! Her mouth twitched in annoyance and her body shuddered in anger. It was decided, her mother and sister wouldn't stop until they drove Mercy crazy! Her mother spent most of the year trying to set Mercy up on date after date, so she shouldn't have been surprised when she called her the other day wanting to set her up so she wouldn't be alone for Christmas.

Her sister went the more sisterly approach and tried to guilt her into a relationship with her husband's friend. It was becoming an issue and Mercy had no idea how to stop it, she was getting tired and fed up with the whole thing.

Was it so wrong for her to want a peaceful Christmas? Was she being a bad daughter and sister, for not wanting a guy as her Christmas present? Knowing her mother, he would be wrapped in a bow standing beside the tree. Knowing her sister, he would be wearing nothing but the bow. It wouldn't be the first time Mercy walked into her room and found a man with next to nothing on. Her sister had set Mercy up on a date, it went fairly well and when she invited him up to her place for coffee, he took that to mean something else and when she returned to the living room he was half naked. Mercy didn't even let him get dressed before she kicked him out.

Mercy was finally content with her life, she had a great job, her own house and car. She was on the right track and happy not to have a man to mess it up. Yes, it was a little lonely sometimes, and when she saw her sister with her nieces and nephews she wanted that, but if being alone is what it took to control being hurt, that is what she intended to do. Unfortunately for her, Mercy received her stubbornness from her mother. And if her mother had her way, it wouldn't be possible for Mercy to remain single much longer, she was on her mother's hit list, and when her mother wanted something she often got it.

Mercedes looked over to her sister loading up her big bag of presents. Tina liked to wrap presents over Mercy's, so her noisy children wouldn't know what they received. Normally Mercy would love the company, but seeing how it was close to the Christmas, and Mercy was no closer to finding a man. She really didn't want to hear her mother's or sister's mouth about it, but it seemed she had no choice. They hid behind, loving her, and wanting what was best for her. If it didn't annoy her so much, she would be touched.

"All I am saying," Tina started, "Is you are not getting any younger. Mr. Right is not going to fall right into your lap. You may not find the guy who is everything on your list, but maybe, just maybe you will find one who makes you throw that list away."

Mercy sighed, rolling her eyes at Tina's 7th rant of the day. As Mercedes's God sister, Tina was always in her life. After her parents passed away, when she was 12, Tina came to live with Mercedes family and became a true sister to the girl and daughter to Mercedes parents. Tina who was Married for 8 years to her high school sweetheart Artie, loved to brag about how wonderful married life was. She loved being a stay at home mother of three (Kayla who was 6, AJ was 4, and Ariel was 2.) With her adoring husband Artie, who would do anything for his bride and in-laws, told Tina she wouldn't have to want for anything and she didn't, he owned his own contracting company, which was doing amazing.

Mercy glanced back at Tina noticing she was still talking. "You are the only one left and that is really saying a lot." She said nonchalantly, like it wasn't a big deal, though they both knew it was. Mercy's heart stung at the comment. Tina wasn't trying to be mean and she had a point. Her brother Jacob, who is twenty-five and a Marketing consultant, married his girlfriend Carla after knowing her all of 3 months, at a simple ceremony in Hawaii, two and a half years ago. They are expecting their first son in the New Year and again their mother couldn't have been happier. Even her youngest sister Jane had at twenty-two each had someone special in her young college life. All that was left was a very stubborn and hard headed Mercy and her even more stubborn and more determined mother.

Tina tied up the last bag as she continued speaking. "And you need to get it together. I mean I see how you are with my kids, I know you want some of your own. I know you want that family. So why not just go for it?"

Mercedes groaned as she put the last bit of icing on the last cupcake she was making. All she wanted to do was disappear in that moment, why had she agreed to let her sister come over and wrap presents? And why had she agreed to spend the holidays with her family? Why couldn't she stay at her home approximately twenty point five miles away from her nagging overbearing mother? The answer was as clear as the reasons behind her mother's constant meddling, the reason her sister wanted her to have the best. They loved each other.

Tina walked to the counter and grabbed one of the yellow cake with chocolate icing cupcakes and smiled after she took a bite.

"Mercy I swear you are one of the best bakers I know, everything you make is just so good."

Mercy smirked at her. "You are pretty good too."

"Uh, no," Tina said smiling. "I can fake it not bake it. I am a good cook, but you can cook and bake. Why do you think you are making the cupcakes for church? Why do you think I have you bake all the kids' stuff for school? Because you have skills. I can't even lie about that."

Mercy beamed as she washed her hands. "Are you about finished? Because I need to head to the bank after we drop off these cupcakes."

"The bank, huh? And are you going to meet that guy?" Tina asked sweetly.

Mercy ignored the butterflies in her stomach thinking about the man she really didn't know. "What guy?"

Tina laughed. "Don't play coy with me. You told me about that guy you met. And I know you aren't going just to deposit something because you can do that online."

Mercy loaded the cupcakes in the holder shaking her head. "For your information the site is down and I need to get the Christmas cashier's checks for everyone. You know I prefer cash over gifts for the time being."

"Uh huh."

"I am serious." Mercy said stacking the five 24 cupcake containers.

Tina laughed as she threw the wrapper in the trash. "Yeah, ok, tell me anything."

Mercedes sucked her teeth as she walked towards the living room. Her phone began to ring and the moment she heard the ring tone she knew who it was. Tina licked her fingers. "You better answer it. You know, mama J hates to wait."

Mercy rolled her eyes and sucked in air before she got the courage to answer her cell phone. It was her mother calling for the fourth time that day, but with a caring and loving mother like hers it was hard to stay mad at her.

"Hi mama." She said, trying to ease the tension from her voice.

"Mercy don't forget eggs." Her mother replied, not noticing either way.

Mercedes looked at her list and laughed into the phone. "Eggs are on the list as well as everything else we need to make my famous sweet potato pie."

"Ha, famous you have only been making it for three years." Her mother said making fun at her daughter.

"Haven't heard any complaints about." Mercy said, smiling into the phone as she placed her black heeled boots on. Tina smirked grabbing her coat. "Maybe not to your face."

Mercy threw a pillow at her sister as their mom continued. "No you haven't and that is because you are a great cook. A man would be lucky to have you as his wife, I still wish you were bringing someone for Christmas, you know Macy's son is in town, he can come to dinner it's about time you started dating again."

Mercy looked at the time, throwing her head back. Thirty-three seconds and already mentioning a man, her mother had not lost her touch. At Fifty-five her mother was still as sharp as the day Mercy was born, maybe sharper and looked it too. Amelia Kirk and Jonathan Jones met thirty four years ago at a movie theater. Each, there with someone else, both unable to focus on anyone around them but each other. Amelia always told her girls that their father swept her off her feet the day they met and was proud to say her feet had never touched the ground since.

Jonathan, a once Master Sergeant in the Air Force, now, after a few right investments he can give back like he always wanted. Spending his days coaching high school football and his nights with his wife there was nothing he wouldn't do for her or any of his children. Except help Mercy out with her mother's matchmaking.

"No, Mom, I don't need a husband ok?"

Tina smiled widely. "Yes, you do." teasing her.

Mercy cut her eyes at her sister as she continued. "Look between the hospital and my volunteer work I just don't have the time."

She heard her mother huff, "It's not like you are a Doctor or even a Nurse they can make it without you while you go find yourself a husband."

Scoffing at her mother, she stood from where she was seated. "Mom you are so right I am just a lowly Hospital Administrator, who would need me? I only went to school for four years, am making 6 figures and was head hunted, but yeah they don't need me."

"You know I didn't mean it like that. I know you like your job a lot and you are making really good money, it's just that ever since you broke up with that Anthony guy you have completely shut yourself off."

A frown graced Mercy's face as she thought back to that train wreck of a relationship. Anthony Rashaad was a Doctor she starting seeing three years back. He was tall, dark and sexy. He made her think in the possibility of love, but six months into the relationship he wanted sex and Mercy wanted to wait until she was married. It's how she was raised, and her faith was important to her. Apparently, sex was more important to Anthony and he broke up with her, after she turned down his ultimatum. "Mom it we broke up over two years ago."

"That loser," Tina spat.

Their mother persistently continued, "Yeah, and in that two years you haven't had so much as a lunch date. What kind of man was he anyways? Breaking my baby's heart like that. -"

"Mom come on please we had this conversation an hour ago and the hour before that I can't do this right now." She could feel herself growing frustrated.

"Sweetie, I know you are getting upset, but let's be honest, you are twenty- eight and no closer to giving your father and me grandkids than you were when I thought you were going to get married."

"Hey mom, I need to get to the bank before it closes."

"Is Tina still there?"

Mercy stuck the phone out towards Tina and she smiled. "Hi mama J love you."

"Love you too Tina. Ok, so are you heading over here?"

"Yes, mom, we have to drop off the cupcakes, then head to the bank then we are all yours."

"God help us," Tina mumbled and Mercy couldn't hide her grin.

"Okay, look sweetie, I just, I just don't want to see you pass up on love because you are afraid of getting hurt again. Sometimes you have to suck it up and make the first move you never know it could work out to benefit you. I love you guys."

"We love you too mama and I will try." Mercy hung up the phone as she thought over what her mother had said. It was true, she never put herself out there, never made the first move. Maybe if she found someone before Tina and her mother, they would back off. She turned towards her sister as she grabbed her caramel faux leather trim chic cape coat, her blue Boston coach bag and her keys. "Ok, let's go. Can you grab the cupcakes while I take the bags to the car and clean the snow off. I remote started it about 20 minutes ago, so it shouldn't even take long."

Tina nodded, walking towards the kitchen as Mercy grabbed the bags and walked out to her 2016 Nissan Versa Note SV. They said the color was Peacock, she just thought it was pretty. The car was her birthday/Christmas present to herself last year. Opening the trunk she placed the bags in and grabbed the scraper. The defroster, had already gotten rid of most of the snow, once Mercy was finished, she stepped into her car, placing her hands in front of the vent to catch the heat. A few minutes later, Tina stepped into the car with her.

"So are we going to drop off the cupcakes first or are we going to the bank first."

Mercy looked at the clock on her dashboard seeing it was nearly 12pm. "We are going to drop off the cupcakes first."

"He must not be there yet."

Mercy started the car with a sigh. "It's not about the guy, okay?"

"Please like I buy that, look at you… you look beautiful, got your hair all curled and your hip hugging jeans that show all your curves. All we are doing is going to the bank and home with the family. So either you are going to impress us which is less likely or you are going for that man."

"Shut up. And I am never telling you anything ever again." Mercy said, shaking her head with a smile.

She turned on her Bluetooth, then started to drive and headed to the church. As she turned onto First Street, she sighed, thinking about what her mom said. Even though Mercy really liked Anthony, she knew he wasn't the one. It was just a feeling. She didn't love him, she just really liked him. So when he gave her the ultimatum, to either have sex with him or break up, she really felt it was no big loss. He moved on and went through the nursing staff until he got reported, she was glad she stuck to her guns, glad she didn't let him or any other man pressure her for sex, the one thing Mercy truly believed with all her heart, was the man she gave herself to fully, would be her husband.

Tina started to sing and Mercy began to sway back and forth as "I smile" by Kirk Franklin came over the speaker. She was determined to make today be a good day. She had the day off, was about to go over to her moms and start preparing for Christmas dinner. It was a tradition her mother started when her children moved out the house, she wanted them to come over a week or so before Christmas and make the menu's and set up the gifts they wrapped. She started to sing along with her sister and smiled a wide smile. Today was going to be a great day.