He Stood Waiting

The Unknown Event

"Hey" he said as if he was greeting his long lost familiar love

"Hey" Heaven said back going in for a kiss

"We good?" he asked walking away with her

"Are you sure you want to come home with me you can stay if you want?" Heaven said

"I'm.." he said looking back to see everything behind him was black "What was there?" he asked

"Your life" she replied

"What and it turned out to be a black nothing?" he asked

"Yeah you can turn your back on it and come into the light with me" Heaven informed him

"You sound like poltergeist one of my favourite films come into the light there is peace and serenity in the light" he laughed as he waved his arms about

"There is" Heaven replied smiling

"But according to the film if I go into the light I'm dead" he said as he stopped walking and looked at her

"That's right but anything is better than the life you were living right?" she asked

"I wouldn't have said dead was better than alive" he said slowly coming to the realisation of where he was

"Look" Heaven said pointing to the light ahead of him "There are people waiting for you" she said as the mist cleared and he could see shapes, turning into body's and blurred turning into faces as he saw his Grandparents standing smiling at him, his Uncle Sam; who was a great inspiration to him when he was young, and Finn with others standing behind them

"Grandma" he said walking towards her to see she was crying "What's the matter Grandma" he said going in to hug her

"Don't touch me, any contact you make lessens your chances of going back" she said stepping away from him as he came closer to her "I'm sad to see you, you've had no life yet and there was so much lined up for you" she said looking at him

"Granddad?" he said looking at him for some words of encouragement

"Grandma's right son there is so much life left for you to live you need to go back" he smile "You'll enjoy it better next time, third time lucky"

"There's more good stuff the further in you go" Heaven informed him encouraging him to take that step

"Dude" Finn said flashing in front of him before he could take that next step he was being encouraged to take "You know I would never lie to you and, I know you think life is crazy lonely right now, but you'll get the courage and she'll say yes trust me she will just go back" Finn pleaded with him "It's good up here Dude I'm not going to lie, I've got my Dad but Dude if I had to choose between this and life, life wins every time" he said

"Uncle Sam" Sam said looking for some words of encouragement from him or at least a sign of what he should do next

"Everything they've said is true son and you know your parents are super worried about you right now, I know you know how that feels, just go back"

"Go back" Sam said with a heavy heart he was getting use to the feeling of freedom already and his don't care attitude was making him feel so much lighter "I don't have anything to go back for" he came out with after some consideration

"Surely you'd like to fall in love, get married, have a family all the things people want from life" he Grandma said making him look up and smile at her "You decide not to and that's our Clan finished no grandchildren no line" she said producing those sad Evans eyes he'd inherited, looking at him for the longest time

I'll bargain with you" his Uncle Sam said "If you're down there for 6 months and you don't find love we'll call you back and the choice will be yours no talking just what you say goes" he smiled looking at Heaven "Is that alright?" he asked her

"That's fine but I insist you don't help him in any way" she voiced

Sam

He stood there smiling remembering the events that had brought him to this day, as he waited patiently

"Damn" he'd said so many times as he'd walked back out of the café yet another day he hadn't built up the courage to ask that damn question. Sam had been going to the same café ordering the same drink for the past 4 months, in the hope that he'd get the courage to ask the one question he needed the answer to, that would hopefully make his life complete. 'Large mocha with extra cream and mellows please and an oatmeal cookie' was all he'd managed to say on the days when he finally got her attention and she was standing there serving him. Anyone else and he was full of conversation about his previous day his day ahead the weather, the news anything but dumb struck when it came to who he really needed to speak to, he'd give his order and sit in his usual seat.

He'd been doing the same thing that fateful day, walked out of the café deflated, telling himself it was never going to happen, he just didn't have the confidence to do it and god the rejection was more daunting than the actual asking what was she going to do, 'tomorrow is my day' he'd told himself as he stepped off the pavement and into the path of a car that of course took his legs from under him.

He remembered drifting in and out of consciousness hearing conversations about his serious head trauma, broken limbs, damaged something "Where am I?" he remembered asking before everything went black and he was in his world, his perfect world, everything was peaceful and it was a familiar place with familiar people and he was comfortable there for what seemed like an eternity, he just didn't know where he was.

Suddenly he was in that dark place again feeling vulnerable, his eyes wouldn't open, his mouth wouldn't speak, his body wouldn't move 'Help I'm alive' was all he could think as he moved his eyeballs frantically trying to get attention to himself.

"Okay so we don't need to move him anywhere remember Sam has multiple fractures and severe head injuries, are his next of kin here yet?" he heard someone say

"Still waiting for confirmation on that"

"So I'm in hospital now then?" his mind asked but of course no one could hear him

"Sam, Sam" he heard in his ear and wanted to say yes it's me I'm alive but nothing moved, he just moved his eyes inside his closed lids frantically

"Let him rest nurse and keep an eye on his stats every fifteen" a man said then there was silence

That became a routine for him for a while, people he didn't know talking around him, things happening to him he couldn't see and then he heard a familiar voice

"Son it's been a while now you need to wake up and come back to us because seriously we can't live without you" his Dad said

"Dad!" his mind shouted as it grabbed at the idea of his parents being there

"You've got to come back to us Sammy you're all we have in the world" his Mom cried touching his forehead with her lips

"Mom!" his mind shouted again

Hearing his parents cry was heart breaking and each day he reminded himself that if he died then three people would be dying and no way did he want to be responsible for that.

"Open your eyes" he'd tell himself so many times every day he'd lost count until one day he said it and a bright light shone in his eye "Light" he glorified in saying one second only to be brought to the poltergeist film and close his eyes again fast bringing back the darkness

"Did you see that?" his Mom asked

"What?" he heard his Dad say

"He opened his eyes, honest, he did just open his eyes"

"Sam, son, use everything you've got, and if you can, open your eyes for us mate" his Dad asked

'So I wasn't in hell then' he thought listening to the conversation 'or was that just a trick, should I try again' he thought as his Mom spoke this time

"Sam seriously, I know how your mind works and right now it's safe to let the light in" she said as his Dad laughed

'I'm going to try' he thought willing his eyes to open as they flickered for what seemed like an age before they actually opened and an eternity before they actually focused on his parents standing there "Mom" his mind shouted glad to finally see a face he knew

"Sam" his parents shouted together glad to see his eyes open, from then on it took 6 weeks for him to get it back together, with physiotherapy, regaining mental skills and speech therapy he was walking around on sticks for about 2 weeks before he got mad enough to throw them aside and get on with the task at hand himself. 2 months after the accident as Sam was still being treated with cotton gloves by his parents

Three Months

"You know what I'm going to say?" he came into the kitchen asking Tuesday morning, exactly three months after the date of his accident fully dressed and ready to hit the road

"Okay if you're going out will you just humour me and let your Dad take you where you need to go" his Mom asked

"No but I will get them to call you first if anything happens" he laughed

"Sam" she said giving her angry Evans look "Stop with the cheek" she said before adding "Now; you'll let your Father take you or you'll go nowhere and, I don't give a hoot how damn old you think you are, you're my only son I nearly lost you once, and that is something that is never going to happen to us again" she finished turning back to what she was doing, and Sam knew she really wasn't joking

"You ready Dad" was all he had to say

"Give me a minute and I'll be with you" his Dad said flatly not seeming happy about being volunteered for babysitting duties, as they finally got into the car his Dad asked him "So what's the urgency where are we going?"

"I just needed to get out but now you're with me could we go back to where this all started MJ's Café on 5th" he asked

"Are you sure about this we've only just got back to normal?"

"I feel like I'm wasting time about something Dad, I don't know what it is, but I'm definitely wasting time" he said a bit agitated

"Okay but one wobble and we leave" he warned as they set off on their journey, talking about fishing, BBQ's and music as usual

"Stop Dad please stop!" Sam shouted as they neared the café "Sorry I can't do this I don't want to see it" he said as his Dad put his hand on his shoulder and assured him he didn't have to do anything he didn't want to

"Mom always knows best don't you think?" his Dad finally said as they sat in the car a block away from the café Sam staring down the road and his Dad looking at him "Son you know if you don't get past this you can't move on don't you?" he asked a still staring Sam

"Will you park the car right outside the café and then I might be able to walk in it's just the road I can't step in the road"

"Sure" his Dad said starting up the car again and driving the block to park in front of the café as Sam looked in for a while before opening the car door "Do you need me to come in with you?"

"No" he said taking a deep breath before stepping out of the car taking the four steps across the path and opening the door to the café before breathing again

"Sam hi" he heard making him spin round

"Hi" he replied not quite knowing who he was talking to

"Rachel" she said "remember me I make your orders up nearly every other morning up until the accident"

"You saw the accident?" he asked

"Yeah we all did"

"What happened?"

"Well you'd just left with your regular order and we stood watching you talking about your fine ass and then bang that car just came straight out and hit you of your feet and into the road" Kurt informed him

"Well actually you were daydreaming and stepped straight out into the road" Jessie said "But we didn't tell the police that" he smiled

"It's good to see you're alright though" Kurt piped in

"There are a lot of you here today" Sam noted

"Its shift changeover, we're just off" Rachel replied as Sam looked around

"There's someone missing" he said looking around knowing full well who was missing he just didn't want to be the one to say it and blow himself out the water

"Oh yeah TJ" Kurt added

"And Michael" Puck said "They don't work here any more they've gone off to pastures new

"Here you go" Kurt said as he set down his order on the table he was standing in front of

"Thank you" he said sitting down "But I really meant the other lady" he said putting it all out there

"No this is it everyone" Rachel said looking around "I'll join you" she said grabbing the seat in front Sam to sit down

"There was" Sam said leaning back in the chair wondering if he'd dreamt it all "Long weave, full lips and beautiful eyes, she worked here?" he asked trying to clarify in his mind

"Oh yeah she's moved on too" Puck added

"To?" Sam asked not really caring what they thought at this point

"She went to Star Fellows just after the accident she couldn't face walking past where that happened to you any more"

"What she left because of me?" he asked alarmed

"And the 7K rise she was getting as a Manager over there" Rachel said laughing

Sam sat listening to the conversation and eating the free cookies and drinks for about 50 minutes before he remembered his Dad was waiting outside for him and jumped up "Shoot I forgot my Dad's waiting for me outside sorry guys I got to go but thanks for everything and for remembering me" he smiled as the girls actually melted in front of him with no shame holding their hearts as he left. 'Sorry guys but if I find my mystery woman, you lot are out the picture' he smiled back at them thinking

He got back into the car and sighed as his Dad looked on "You alright Son?"

"Yeah I'm fine I just need to go round to Star Fellows" he said

"That's like six blocks away"

"Yeah I know but it's…"

"It's a trip for another day Son" his Dad finished starting the engine and taking him back home, Sam didn't like to say he felt unusually tired just then so he let his Dad's word be final and went home

"You look tired Sammy" his Mom said as soon as he walked into the kitchen "Go get some rest I'll call you for food" she smiled. As he left he heard her questioning his Dad about the trip

"He's fine, wants to go to Star Fellows for something another day I'll take him" his Dad said while his Mom went into screech mode "He's fine Rose" he heard and smiled as he shut the door to his bedroom shutting everything out and finding that much needed sleep

He woke up the next morning still a bit worse for wear, secure in the fact that he really couldn't do as much as he'd anticipated but he still had this urgency to do something "I'll rest this morning" he said as he threw the last of his breakfast down his throat "But I need to go to Star Fellows later today please Dad" he said freezing the smile on his Mother's face

Star Fellows

He stood at the doorway looking through the window unable to see the person he needed to see, determined to at least find out when she'd be there as he put his hand on the door "You alright" his Dad shouted making him spin round shocked

"Yeah, yeah I'm good" he said pushing the door open and stepping in "Hi could I speak to the Manager please?" he asked the tall guy standing at the till

"Is it anything I might be able to help you with Sir?" the guy asked

"No I just need to see your Manager please"

"I'm afraid she's not in until 3.30 today Sir she's at another branch"

"Three thirty" Sam said looking at his phone "I'll wait" he said seeing there was only 70 minutes to wait

"Would you like anything while you wait Sir?"

"Large mocha with extra cream and mellows please and an oatmeal cookie" he ordered before finding a table with a view of the door and settling in

65 minutes later she walked through the door "Stand to attention" she laughed as she walked in as her team got excited at the prospect on her being on board, strange reaction to a boss Sam thought but he had bigger fish to fry as the young guy he'd spoken to earlier pointed him out and gave a brief recap of the conversation. He was still talking when she started making her way over "Hi, I know you face but I never did know your name good to see you're alright after the accident" she smiled

"Sam" he said standing up "My name's Sam, Sam Evans" he held his hand out for shaking

"I think we can do better than a handshake for the girl who rolled you out the road and gave you the kiss of life don't you?" she said going in for a hug

"I'm sorry I didn't know any of that" he said holding her in the hug "So I owe my life to you then?" he whispered in her ear before involuntarily letting her go

"Good hugs" she said smiling as she grabbed the seat opposite him "So what was it you wanted to see me about?" she asked

"Well it's kind of personal really" he said shuffling nervously in his chair "There's nothing like a near death experience to make you stand up and smell the coffee so to speak and I sure had one of those" he smiled "Well I've been coming to your place of work for a while now trying to sort of pluck the courage up to ask a question and well having my life flash before me make me realised life's too short so, I just had to find you and ask" he said looking straight into her eyes "Will you go on a date with me?" he asked holding his breath while his insides reeled, he couldn't believe he'd put himself out there like this and hey she hadn't slapped him yet "so" he heard himself say, willing he'd said that internally but he soon found out he hadn't

"I'm thinking" she said

"Thinking is good yeah?" he asked smiling at her

"Thinking is a yes maybe"

"Can a yes maybe become a yes?" he asked still smiling

"Can I trust you enough to go out with you alone?" she asked

"Only you can answer that question I'm afraid" he laughed "Sorry I didn't get your name" he stopped to say

"Mercedes, Mercedes Jones" she smiled warming his heart

"So can you trust me enough to come on a date with me Miss Mercedes Jones?"

"Date? Is that what we're calling this now, feels like Prom night to me" she laughed "It's been a while , I feel like I should be buying a five dollar dress from good will and making my own corsage from home grown flowers" she got out through her giggle "Okay" she said stopping her laugh suddenly

"So you'll go with me?" he said excitedly "You better be ready for this , it's going to be off the hook" he laughed "Is Friday 7pm alright for you?"

"Yeah fine" she said as he got up "Are you going?"

"Yeah my Dad's been waiting for me all this time" he informed her

"Okay Friday" she said as he stepped off

"Friday" he stopped to say with a smile

He giggled as he remembered getting outside the cafe and jumping so high his Dad opened the car door to catch him

Friday

They'd gone to the Night Out Entertainment Lounge fro their first date, he'd stood outside the car and showed his manners his Grandfather had learned him, opening doors, letting her go first, Taking her coat everything, he remembered taking her coat and checking it in to turnaround and find her standing there looking amazing in a silk and satin red dress with sparkles all over the boob area, it was hard keeping his eyes to himself that night but he managed it.

"Mercedes you look Beautiful" he'd managed to get out somewhere between his last breath and his gasp for air making her smile as she said her thank you. They ate a meal fit for several kings before he plucked up the courage to ask her "Would you like this dance?" to which she smiled held her hand out to grab his and that was it they laughed and crazy danced all night paying no attention to anyone else in the room, he giggled at the memory

He laughed out loud at the memory of them attempting to have their first kiss that night, looking around to see how much attention he'd just got while muffling his laugh

"We're going to have to plan this" Mercedes had said

"Plan what?" he'd asked as they walked along the bank of the lake making their way to Mercy's part of the town on foot

"Our goodnight kiss" she giggled

"Why?" he asked perplexed

"Because we both have big lips, you go left and I'll go right" she said before going into full belly laugh mode as he stood watching her laugh thinking she might just be the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen in his life. He loved her laugh, smile, angry face every damn face she produced he fell into it without exception, he knew on that first date he'd have problems winning an argument with her.

His smile widened as he remembered maybe their fourth date when he decided to take her to a karaoke bar, they were still under wraps as she called it and he was determined to unwrap them.

"Sam it's karaoke" she said smiling at him as they entered Jimmy's "What the hell are we doing in a karaoke bar?" she asked as he smiled like a cat getting cream

"I thought we could maybe do a vocal challenge I know you have the laugh, lets see what else we can find in there" he said

"Are you throwing a gauntlet?" she asked

"Yeah, whoever wins gets to plan the next date"

"Okay" she said making a B-line for the music book to Sam's surprise

"Why do I get the feeling I've lost this one? He laughed

"Do you want to go first?" she asked smiling

"Should I go first?" he asked

"I'd like you to"

"Okay I'll go first" he announced as she willingly gave him the song book "Okay here goes" he said handing his choice in and five minutes later he was standing on stage singing 'One Call Away' by Charlie Puth Mercedes stood bursting with pride as he sang his song looking at her for most of it. He remembered feeling comfortable in singing in front of her, he hadn't told her he'd never done that himself before either until much later in the relationship.

"Superman yeah?" she asked him still with a smile when he finally finished his song and rejoined her in the audience as everyone looked on obviously jealous as Sam purposely pulled her to him and kissed her, she looked around when he finally let her go before looking back at him and smiling her thank you smile at him

"Here we go" she said moving away from him to go select her song, smiling at him as the music started and she gave her rendition of 'My Heart' by Jennifer Hudson not just Sam everyone in the room was up clapping, whooping and praising this girls voice as Sam openly laughed

"You're a damn professional" he laughed hugging her when she came off stage

"Not yet but I plan to be" she informed him

"Your gonna light up the world Lady.." he got out before she grabbed his lips and they got lost "Let's get out of here" he said grabbing her hand and making his way to the exit

"Where are we going?" she asked when they got outside

"We could go round the corner for a hot drink and chat" he suggested

"Sounds good" she replied still being dragged as they neared MJ's she asked him"Sam if any of the guys are in there could we play this down I don't really want their noses in my business just yet"

"That's fine for today, but don't make that a habit, I don't intend on being anyone's dirty secret" he laughed as he pushed the door open

"Mercedes" Rachel shouted running from behind the counter to get to her "Long time, what you doing round here at this time"

"Missed you girl" she said coming out of the hug "We're just getting a drink" she said smiling at Sam

"Yeah we er ran into each other in the parking lot" he smiled at her saying

"Come on sit down, usual?" Rachel asked

"Please" they both said looking at each other

After a short conversation with Rachel they fell into themselves and really didn't notice anything else until Kurt was standing at the table saying "Ignore me then"

"What?" Mercedes said pulling out of her conversation "Oh Kurt hi" she said jumping up to hug him "Sorry deep conversation you know how I am when I get a bone"

"I do but, I don't" he said looking at Sam suspiciously "Is this a date?"

"Just getting a drink" she said as Sam followed awkwardly with

"We ran into each other in the parking lot"

"You parked round the back this time of night?" he asked alarmed as Sam and Mercy looked at each other, Kurt doing his I know smiled before leaving to go talk to Rachel

"Do you think they know?" Mercy asked

"Nobody knows" Sam said laughing as he thought 'I bet they do now' they left the cafe that night to whispering tongues

He remembered that conversation with her about their feelings and how she totally glossed over it saying something about just getting to know each other, her mouth was saying one thing while her body was telling him something totally different. He laughed and she wasn't happy about his response boy did she rip strips out of him and was she not just sexy as hell, he'd made it his life's work to get her ate up like that just to be responsible for calming her right back down again

He stood there smiling remembering the events that had brought him to this day, as he waited patiently

He smiled as he remembered that night they had the parents conversation, they'd been seeing each other for two months and, things had been moving along fairly fast. They'd been seeing each other nearly every day because Sam still wasn't working so his time was his own, he'd sit in the cafe pretending to be a customer when someone came in and grabbing kisses any time he could

"So Mercedes" he said grabbing her hand as she walked past his table one afternoon

"What are you doing?" she asked looking around to see who was watching

"Holding your hand" he smiled back at her almost dragging her to sit down in front of him

"As I was saying " he said shuffling in his chair "two months is a long time when you've been seeing someone like every day" he smiled

"Sam we're just having some fun"

"It's more than that" he smiled "For me anyway, I want more" he said getting a look of embarrassment on his face

What are you talking about when you say more?"

"Well I've got family, friends I'd like you to meet and I'm guessing you do too" he said nervously

"Sam you live on the other side of the lake, you know how that works, we're good here but getting people to accept us over there, impossible task" she said letting his hand go

"Is that why you want this to be kept secret?" he asked moving his hand away from hers more

"I'm scared of what could happen to you, to me even about us yes"

"We can't live being ashamed of who we are together, if the world is against us we need to show them it's us against the world, anyway half of what you think about over there is a myth" he laughed "Everything else aside what are we really doing here?"

"I'm gonna put my neck on the line here and say I hope we're falling in love" she said smiling with nerves 'She was so nervous to say that' he remembered smiling

"That's what I wanted to say " he'd replied

"What?"

"That I love you" he said as his mind stopped for the information he'd just passed over leaving himself wide open for all sorts of ridicule and embarrassment "I meant it but I'm not sure whether I meant to say it out loud " he smiled

"I wanted you to say it out loud" she smiled

"Why?"

"Because I think what I'm feeling is love too"

"So my suggestion is a go then?"

"Sam I'm not comfortable with what my family might say to you and I have no control over them or their mouths"

"I know what my parents will say but friends and wider family same for me"

"Are we ready for that?" she asked

"Listen I don't care how big or bad your Dad, Brother, Cousin, Friend is I'm going to fight for us to be together" he said grabbing her hand back

"You know what?" she asked as Sam looked on "Me too" she smiled, God did I fall into that simile he remembered

"Where is she" he asked himself looking at the entrance "Patience" he reminded himself smiling

Meeting the families

So he stood there smiling again, thinking on the events that had brought him to this day, as he waited patiently

"Sam Sam" he heard as he drifted back into his thoughts "Do I look alright ?" She asked as he spun round to see his girl dressed in Black denim jeans with a baggy t-shirt, heels, hair up, face on, nails perfect and looking as innocent as she was

"You carry on like this and that sex talk will be sooner rather than later" he laughed

"We get through meeting the other sides and it 's on" she said with not a laugh in sight Sam laughed out loud again at the buzz he got that day, in his mind he was there again. They'd took the drive over to the other side of the lake, Mercedes quiet, him humming the tunes on the radio to break the silence

"What are you humming?" she asked

"Oh just some courage" he laughed "it's called 'The Story of your life' by Matthew West it's really a song about taking control of your life and doing something you think is worthwhile with it and that's what I'm doing now and this is definitely the beginning for me" he laughed

"Okay anything I need to know?"

"If anything is said that I think is even slightly offensive we are out of there, my parents are fine but if anyone comes round I mean"

"Okay" she said as he grabbed her hand, it was really hard to establish who was sweating the most when they walked into the house

"Mom, Dad this is Mercedes Jones my girlfriend" Sam announced as his parents looked over from the couch not really taking in what he was saying until they actually saw her come into the room

"Sam" his Mom shouted "Some warning please, look at the place" she said walking towards them

"It's fine Mom" Sam said laughing as she came towards him as if she was going to slap him and laughed

"Mercedes, it's nice to finally meet you sorry for the mess" she said hugging her

"Hello Mrs Evans" she smiled saying before looking up at Mr Evans to say the same thing

"I know you won't but please call us Andy and Kate when you feel comfortable enough to" Kate said "You're staying for dinner yes?" she asked

"Oh thank you" she said looking up at Sam for approval

"Come on lets get acquainted" Kate said linking arms with Mercedes and marching them to the kitchen

"Son, what are you doing?" his Dad asked him, Sam got defensive straight away

"What do you mean" he asked standoffish

"You know its cover dish day, your baptising that poor girl by fire, you know some of the animals that come round"

"Oh I just thought it would be easier than doing this bit by bit, I'm hoping you and Mom have our backs because if this has to get hostile it will"

"Of course we've got your back Son but some warning wouldn't have gone amiss" his Dad laughed "She's stunning though" he said through his laugh

"Yeah she is" Sam smiled

"And you like her"

"A lot" Sam laughed when he remembered the look on his Fathers' face when he said that, he remembered thinking had he been 30 years younger his Dad would have given him a run for his money on this one

That night was like pigeons had been sent round to everyone on the block everyone was there to see the show called Sam and Mercedes and he kept her close all evening. They held in laughs as they watched his Uncle pouring his heart out in some song for his long gone ex-wife after she'd caught him with some young girl in their barn. It wasn't so much the situation as the song he sang as he angrily belted out his rendition of 'She's got a way with Words' by Blake Shelton as everyone clapped along before clapping him off stage patting his back for his balls

Sam's cousin introduced herself to Mercedes as soon as she walked into the yard as Mercedes was stood with Sam's Mom "Don't take that girl at face value she's sneaking" Kate had informed her and she took note

"Here's one for fun" she announced as she mounted the stage

"Take no notice of Quinn she thinks she's more than she is" he whispered in Mercedes ear

"Okay" Mercedes said not taking her eye off her as she got up and sung'Summer' by Cassadee Pope sweetly as everyone rocked along and clapped when she'd finished, even Mercy had to clap she could really sing he remembered her saying

"Not like you" he whispered to her

"Truth" she turned to say as Quinn shouted over the mic

"Sam come sing something"

"Shit sorry Mercy" he said as he let her go to grab her hand, smiling as he remembered the look on her face as they went towards the stage Sam sang 'The nights on fire' by David Nail which seemed to end really quickly and abruptly ending his song with "You want to sing something Mercy?" and pulling her forward by her hand

"I don't really know any Country"

"It can be anything you want"

"What about 'Dibs' by Kelsae Ballerini" she smiled

"What you say, you don't know Country?" he asked kissing her for the game she brought before letting her go to sing her song "Mercy this is Artie & Tina, Blaine and you know Quinn" he said introducing her to his small group of friends when she'd finished and got her cheers and he'd got his kiss

"Nice to meet you" Tina said hugging her in as she went down to hug Artie while Blaine was a bit awkward but hugged her anyway and again Quinn said a cold hello

"She fitted in just right" he said to himself smiling

About a week later they went to visit Mercy's Parents that was a treat in itself it was like a permanent singfest every word that was said her Aunts found something to sing about, he'd never laughed so much in all his life

"Hey Baby girl" her Dad said as they neared the front door as her Aunts started singing 'What can make me feel this way My girl' he remembered thinking they were mad at first but when he got the gist of it he could do nothing but laugh every time they opened their mouths. They kept referring to him as the white boy and didn't seem to think it was wrong and after watching Mercy blow up several times and calming her down with nods or a hand he'd decided to call them the black boys and they corrected him saying their name and he started doing the same thing adding Sam to everything they said. By the end of the second day they were all on first name terms and Mercy was smiling a lot more. After dinner they sung Christian songs mainly except on the last evening they sang whatever they wanted

Her Aunts sang their rendition of 'Stand up for Love' by Destiny's Child which was a Christian song in the main making Sam laugh again because when they sung their random songs they never sung religious songs, but the song was brilliant and he could definitely hear where Mercy got her voice from, her Mother was brilliant .

Her cousin, June got up and sung 'Into you' by Ariana Grande as Mercy stood wondering if it was all together appropriate as she seemed to be singing to Sam, while Sam stood open mouthed watching her for a while before her Mother shut her down with a slap

"That's abuse yeah?" Sam asked Mercy

"That's behave your damn self" Mercy laughed

"Mercy you gonna sing?" he Mother asked

Mercy got up and delivered her version of 'He is' by Heather Headley as everyone danced around to her song

"So that's how he got you?" her uncle asked

As proud as anyone could be she just said a simple "Yes, any which way he wants" and kissed him right there in front of everyone as everyone cheered and came up hugging them both. He wasn't quite sure what happened just then he just knew he was never called white boy again and Sam changed to Son within weeks.

He went to the cafe and officially told Puck, Rachael & Jessie and Kurt they were a couple, in the middle of their shift so they couldn't kick off

"Meet us in Sparkles later" Puck almost ordered "10 when we all finish"

"He thinks he's my big brother" Mercy informed Sam as they left the cafe, seeing the question on his face as to why she allowed him to speak to her like that "Makes me laugh because he's never been faithful to any girl" she laughed

"I'm sorry Mercy but I'm going to have to have a word with him he just can't do that not with me standing there"

"You do what you need to do but no fighting" she said looking at him seriously "Oh and Sparkles in a karaoke bar" she added as they made their way there

Her family had him in stitches, her friends had him in bits when they got on stage at the bar and went full blown into 'One day I'll fly away" Moulin Rouge style, Mercy had to keep kicking him to fix up, he just couldn't stop as everyone in the place seemed to see it as normal practice

"So" Puck who had been sitting with them watching the show said once they'd finished "What's your intentions for Mercedes?" he asked

"Please tell me someone else found that bizarre" Sam asked laughing

"That lot are fucking crazy everyone knows it, we just let them live out their fantasies" Puck replied as Mercy rolled her eyes "Intentions?"

"Well we know we have feelings for each other we've used the word love and so far that's it" Sam said shifting uncomfortably in his chair as he looked at Mercy before carrying on "I also want to say; and I'm not being confrontational here" he said using his hand action to ensure things stayed low key "But I don't like the way you spoke to Mercy earlier and I'm asking you not to do that again" Sam said as calmly as he could

"Consider him told" Kurt came from nowhere saying with a smile "I told you someone was going to mark your card about that one day" as the others arrived and the rest of the evening went well as far as he could remember

"We survived" Mercy said as he drove her home

"I could see Blaine with Kurt" he said laughing

"Yeah, we need to make that happen" she'd agreed

"Hey" Sam said getting her attention "I love you" he said grabbing hold of her hand with his free hand

"I love you too" she smiled back

The Unknown Conversation

"Yes" Sam's Grandmother said with tears in her eyes hugging onto his Granddad "Our boy did it and she's beautiful"

"She really is I know her from school" Finn said

"And it's within the 6 months you gave" his Granddad added

"Okay I grant you that his time is not just yet" Heaven said smiling

"You planned it all didn't you?" his Granddad asked her

"There's always a plan" Heaven smiled "Always a plan" she said as she faded away

"I have all the time in the world I'm going to sit and watch this bloom" his Grandmother announced grabbing hold of her husband "We live on" she smiled up at him before they kissed and sat to watch

End of Unknown Conversation

"This is nail biting stuff" Sam said fidgeting as they stood waiting for the others to appear

"Why?" Mercy asked looking up at him "It's just our friends meeting up" she said as she too stood there rubbing her hands together

"I really want Blaine and Kurt to hit it off" he said smiling

"Me too" she said with a long gaze broken by the sound of Kurt's voice

"Hi Girlfriend" he said as he neared them

"Why do you always come from nowhere?" Sam asked

"I always come from somewhere I just don't make a song and dance about it" he replied

"Hi" Mercedes said hugging him

"Yeah sorry Hi Kurt" Sam said fist bumping him

"Rachel and Jessie are right behind me and as usual only God alone knows where Puck is on his journey" Kurt said rolling his eyes "Wow" he said making Sam and Mercy look in the direction he was looking in "Yes please" he said looking at Mercy as she quickly turned and smiled at Sam

"Sam" Artie shouted from the group as they walked towards them

"Hi" Rachel said approaching with Puck and Jessie

"Aarr Good we're all here" Sam said smiling as they went about hugging their respective friends "Okay" he said getting some order "This is Artie who's with Tina" he said pointing to both as he said their names "This is Blaine single" he smiled " And this is my cousin Quinn also single"

"Okay" Mercy said grabbing their attention before anyone could say anything "This is Rachael who's with Jessie" she said mirroring Sam's introduction "This is Kurt single" she said raising an eyebrow "And Puck also single" she smiled before everyone went into hello mode

"I did something special for you" he remembered saying to Mercy as they entered Jimmy's as Mercy stood telling her friends no theatre stuff, after announcing they were going to the bar

"Oh My God" she said as she walked into the bar to see silhouettes of 1960's and 70's Mo-town singers around the place and a banner saying it was Mo-town theme night "Hands down one of my favourite genre of all time is Mo-town I planned on going to the immortal all star tour when it comes round" she announced

"Speaking of immortal" Sam smiled "seeing as we're going to be seeing your name up in lights for the rest of our lives, I thought we might as well start tonight" he said nodding at the DJ

"Sam Evans you are crazy" she laughed hugging into him as her name flashed up on the DJ's equipment in coloured lights

"Crazy about you" he looked into her eyes saying

"We need a serious talk and soon" she said as Sam stood wondering what she meant by that

It was really hard to get Puck and Quinn and Blaine and Kurt prized apart long enough to sort too many songs out so they just sang 'Where Did Our Love Go' by The Supreme's for the girls and the boys finally got up and sung their rendition of 'Just My Imagination' by The Temptations the rest of the night was taken up with Sam and Mercy making their own entertainment pleased that the guys had hit it off so well.

"She talked about that night for ages" he remembered as he looked at his phone again to see only 2 minutes had gone by since he last checked

Over those next few years he'd gone back to work at Marvel, she'd broken into the music business, small fry but she was good he'd got no doubts about her being the next big thing and they were ready for it. They'd had so many conversations, they all melted into one, they'd made promises, plans and their friends were getting on all to well

"I really think Puck likes Quinn" Mercy had said excitedly to Sam one evening "He's never really been a one woman man but I'm impressed"

"I'm impressed with her she's not a one man woman" Sam said laughing "But I guess everyone's adult enough to make their own choices, seems a good choice"

"We hardly see Kurt and Blaine any more, they're so tight nowadays" she laughed as they walked the short distance to the farewell celebration. Rachael & Jessie were finally going off to New York to do some show she'd been cast in and he was going to NYADA in a weeks time, Artie had finished Film School and had been hunted to do a film up in Colorado so Tina and he were on the move trying the whole living together thing at the same time. They'd agreed to do this thing joint because everyone only had this one last weekend off before every one split .

It was more talking than singing or even drinking but Puck had booked DeeJayz which had booths in so at least they could have privacy there, although they'd still have to shout over the music and stuff. They walked into the club with Tina and Artie, shocked because the first thing they see is Puck rubbing down on some random, who's lips were much too close to his for that to be just a friend. Of all the times for that to happen just that second, she kissed him and he didn't stop her.

"Shit" Mercy said looking at Sam knowing there was no way she was ever going to have any sort of conversation with Tina about keeping this snippet from her girl, diverting the party to the bar just then Quinn walked in obviously seeing exactly the same thing everyone else was drawn to when she stepped in

"How's your Man so fucking insensitive" Sam asked her as Mercy looked at him

"Responsible for" she said pointing at herself "Interested in" she said pointing at him "Let her deal with it"

They all stood at the bar watching this story unfold as Puck eventually saw Quinn standing there with her hand on hip ready to blow "Whooo that went all over the place" he remembered laughing as he thought, Quinn on the phone to me all hours of the day and night, Puck on the phone to Mercy the same and then they must have realised we weren't getting involved because they started phoning the opposite so Puck was on Sam's back wanting him to test the waters for him

"Hey" Mercy said one day when Sam and her were together and on their phones to Quinn and Puck "Look I'm telling you both to sort your own shit out" she said clipping the phone off before paying attention to Kurt & Blaine sitting on the other side of the table "So you say you've got something to say without the drama" she laughed

"Yeah and don't judge us it's just that well" Kurt said grabbing Blaine's hand "We've connected in a way we didn't think was possible and so fast" he said uncharacteristically taking a breath "We decided we want to go to New York and yes we will be living together and support please"

"Is it what you really want?" Mercy asked with caution

"Yes Diva it is" Kurt replied

"Then it's what I want for you two too, we rooted for you we saw the fit before you two even knew each other" she laughed

"It's true" Sam said smiling "So our work here is done"he announced

A year Later, 23 years old

"Sam" Mercy said as she'd laid in his arms in front of the fire at his parents home in the den "You know I said some time ago we needed to have a conversation soon?"

"No, but carry on" he'd said smiling at how long it had taken her to get back to this conversation

"And well all that stuff was going on with Quinn and Puck at the time and everything and I just didn't think it was the right time and everything but now I think it is and well I just want to get back on that page you talked about maybe near the beginning of us and well just I don't know just..."

"Okay, lets stop there yeah, because now I'm confused and seriously it takes a lot to confuse me" he laughed "Mercy we've been seeing each other for a year tomorrow and if we can't be straight with each other at this point we have a problem"

"Sex Sam I'm talking about sex" she blurted out

"Yeah I know" he said laughing as she slapped in the air after him for teasing her "So what are we saying ready or waiting?" he asked

"I think I'm ready" she said looking up at him

"I can work with that but I don't want anything planned, if we're just prepared and it naturally happens then I'd love that" he said excitedly

"Yeah I agree" Mercy said smiling "I used to get uncomfortable for how far to go, now I think I'm frustrated for when we stop" she laughed, he joined in, settling back down soon after

"Yeah Quinn and Puck I really can't believe she took him back after that" Mercy said out the blue

"On a technicality I think, he hadn't slept with her or something" Sam remembered saying as he smiled again at the memory of them making their life plans

It was a random night he remembered they'd been to the fair had a really good day and really didn't want it all to end "Come to mine" Mercy had suggested but he'd had a sketch to finish and he hadn't brought it with him so he couldn't

"You come to mine" he said "We can stay in the den have some quiet time" he smiled "Do something towards getting your name up in lights" he laughed "Remember the last time I said that you told me I was crazy" he smiled

"That's coz you are" she laughed

"Yeah, well you kind a love it don't you?" he said as she burst into a fit of belly laughing

"Actually yeah I really do" she got out in bits while she laughed "Hold up I'm trying to stop" she said tears now running down her face

Come on it's not that funny what you laughing at?" he'd asked her

"I was just trying to think of a nice way to tell you straight what I want and I came up with the most disgusting phrase, it's not even something I'd say" she said taking a deep breath to stop herself from laughing "And don't even ask because that is not coming out my mouth"

So they'd gone back to his said their hello's and informed his parents they were going to the den because he had art work to do he'd grabbed his things on the way through and he was busily sketching while Mercy was wondering around looking at art, pictures, playing the piano every now and again and generally looking pissed off.

"Stay still let me get a sketch" he'd called to her and she looked and smiled and moved again "Do you want to go home?" he asked

"No I'm fine" she said heading towards the music centre and fanning through the old records as she found 'Ice' by Kelly Rowland ft Lil Wayne and threw it on the mixer making Sam smile as she started dancing to the song soon getting his attention . He'd never seen her move that way before she was definitely asking for something without words and he was more than willing to precipitate. She got herself a playlist that he couldn't resist and at some point, which he couldn't actually recall, the art got lost and their love got deeper. He swore everyone knew they were sexually active, they never left each other, he'd drive unmentionable miles to meet up for an hour just to get their fix, they were almost obsessed. Mercy would fly in late at night and leave early in the mornings and hotel bills were getting ridiculous he remembered, catching himself drifting

"What am I doing standing here getting me a boner in front of all these damn people" he smiled to himself, making sure his jacket was covering him effectively.

20th March 11.45am

He stood there smiling remembering the events that had brought him to this day, as he waited patiently

Jumping A Year Ahead, 24 years old

"Babe" she shouted up the stairs as she entered the house

"Come up" he shouted back, too excited to wait in his room he met her at the top of the stairs "I thought you were coming in later tonight?" he asked as she flew into his arms

"I was given the opportunity and I took it, is this a moan?" she looked at him asking

"God no, I just made plans for this evening and stuff but we can adjust" he smiled before kissing her

"Parents?"

"They're just in the garden I'm afraid "

"Can we go to the den?"

"Babe they're in the house"

"Hotel then?"

"Yeah I guess, I've just got a few things to collect for this evening " he said finally putting her down "Let me just grab some stuff" he said walking back into his room

"I'm just going to say hi" she said backing down the stairs as she spoke

"Mercy, please turn round to go down" he said which she did

He smiled as he remembered that afternoon , how they made love rough with hardly any talking Mercy was thirsty, very actually, and by the time they finished with each other neither was in the mood to move an inch, but it had to be done, he had a plan

"I'll take you home for a bit and collect you on my way back in" he suggested

"Why?"

"I told you I have errands to run"

"We can do that"

"We could but I'm guessing you haven't been home yet"

"You're right, yeah I suppose I'll have to show my face at home" she said as they both lay there making no attempt to get up, still exhausted

"Come on" he'd finally said about 10 minutes later getting up and pulling her with him

Later that day he remembered calling her "Mercy, Mom just told me your parents are coming over this evening, so you might as well just come with them, that gives me more time to help Mom and stuff" he suggested

"Yeah I was just about to call you but I thought you'd still be driving "

"Okay I'll see you later"

"You will " she laughed

"I love you Miss Jones"

"I love you Mr Evans" she replied before they put the phone down

Mercy had done the backing singing on some random Indie labels, extension classes in the mean time and was now singing as an opening artist for various big names and also in the process of doing her own album she was busy, excited and seriously missing her man. She was away for weeks at a time, living in hotel rooms or sharing with other crew members and, after just six months of that life she'd already decided backing or opening act wasn't for her she wanted front and centre stage. "I was just excited to watch it all happen for her" he remembered. She was mighty upset at having to give up her job at Star Fellows, more for the people she was going to miss than anything else and it was clear they were genuinely going to miss her. He smiled as he remembered having to almost carry her out of that leaving party

"Sam" his Mom shouted "They're here" popped into his memory as he remembered sweating, his stomach rolling, his mind going blank, his mouth drying up, his feet were like lead and he couldn't think what to do with his damn hands as he glided into the living room where all the candles were lit waiting, leaving the door ajar

"Hey" Mercy said as she hugged Sam's parents before looking around for Sam "What's going on in there, looks like somebody lit a bunch of candles?" she asked looking at his Mom who just raised an eyebrow and smiled

"Go look" Kate said smiling at Paulette, Mercy's Mom

"It's okay" Sam said as her head came round the corner "Don't worry the fire service are on standby" he laughed more nerves than that being funny "Shut the door" he asked which she did questions clearly waiting to be answered on her face

"Fact Loving you is awesome, sex is through the roof, but we have so much more to do together like, I don't know skydiving, horse back riding and hearing you sing centre stage. I can live without almost every thing, but I can't live without you in my life so, I need to ask you this one big thing" he said walking towards her and dropping to his knee "Mercedes Jones will you do me the very great honour of being my wife?"

"Yes" she said grabbing hold of him and pulling him up "Yes" she said kissing him hard on the lips "God Sam Yes" she screamed once she let his lips go totally elated as the door opened and their parents came in

"You planned this?" she asked told him slapping his chest playfully

"Yep" he said laughing as congratulations were passed around before the six of them celebrated the occasion with a BBQ and some background music while the Mom's made plans