Its a Wrap
They'd just called wrap on the 5 year long sitcom, Sam Evans and Mercedes Jones had played lovers for the majority of the show and now it had come to an end they needed to jump into reality. Sam and Mercy sat across from each other, Sam rubbing the back of his neck Mercy wringing her hands both nervous for what was about to be said
"Sam we knew this was just acting, I'm sorry you developed feelings but I did nothing to make you think what we did onset was real" Mercy said
"I was going to say the exact same thing to you Mercy I thought you had feelings for me" he responded
"Get over yourself Sam, you're cute but not that cute" she said laughing
"And you really are that hot but, I'm not, well, I'm just not that into you" Sam forced out with a grin
"Corny but, I'm not offended Sam don't sweat it" she said laughing "Can I assume we're firmly in the friend zone" she asked
"Firmly" Sam said
"We had a good run through 5 years is a long time to be dating on one show" she said
"On and off like" he replied as they got up and gave hugs before slowly stepping away from each other
"It was fun while it lasted" she said giggling into her hand
"I'm gonna miss that giggle and yeah it was fun" he said as they both turned and walked away from each other
"God that was hard, you don't play someone's endgame for 5 years and not be affected I really thought I was in love with her, but that felt so easy. You really meant those kisses Sam, be honest, you were whipped, you dick. You gave her all the signals no wonder she thought something might be going on; you wanted her to think it, live it, feel it everything you did was full on flirt. Obviously, it was in your head Dude because she just told you it was all acting and it always had been. We wouldn't work anyway, chork and cheese, oil and water, Dork and Diva, just wouldn't go. Anyone who knows me knows she's not my type, "What do I mean by that, my type?" come on Sam are you really that shallow? Dude you're gonna have to be if you want her to get anywhere, once she starts singing you know her manager is not gonna allow her to have a fucking white boyfriend and be Miss R&B Diva don't trip, it's for the best, I go my way and she go hers that's what I agreed, and with time I'll get over her "I really can't believe she really didn't fucking love me" he said bringing himself out of his thoughts as he looked up to see her going through the studio doors for the last time
"Mercy did you tell Sam, put him in his place?" Santana asked
"I don't know about his place but we had a conversation, we're friends" she shouted not stopping from getting into her car "Bye" No gloating please I'm pissed she thought.
"I could see it in his eyes what he was going to say, I gave him the best part of 5 years for him to wanna sit there and tell me I wasn't shit, who the fuck does he think he is? So yeah I bit the bullet and told him first, broke my heart but I told him. His kisses meant nothing, that bastard made me feel something for him and he fucking knew it. The flirting thing what was all that about, he was just acting and I fell for it all hook, line and sinker, you stupid bitch. We don't fit anyway we're like Condoms sitting next to baby food in the grocery store, light and dark, love and hate and boy do I hate him right now, how could he not know I love him. Seriously Mercy what was special about us anyway? Why would I even think he'd want to be with me, I mean I'm not his type, he's not mine "What the fuck is my type?" You're talking like you sleep around girl, he's destined for bigger things anyway and you can be sure he won't need the insecure, shy, diva dragging along behind him his audience would have a field day with him because of me "I really can't believe he didn't fucking love me" she said jumping into her car determined not to cry for anyone to see her
So there was no one to consider when Mercy took up the record deal in LA and went off to start on her career as an Artist in the music world of Pop and R&B locking heads with celebrities and earning herself a Grammy in her short career for her number one hit a rendition of 'Cry me out' by Pixie Lott best new comer. She sung lots of songs like that in the beginning hoping Sam would finally know that she had felt something for him, she was never far away from him in her thoughts and she followed his career with pride, feeling she had done the right thing letting him go to achieve his dreams.
Sam dived into the world of modelling and became very sort after within the first year of snagging a contract with Vogue, he'd also done a music video cameo almost acting out their final act in the sitcom on the 'Don't you Cry for Me' by Cobi track, very emotional. He took sound advice from his Manager and pursued his academic qualifications earning himself a teaching qualification and put it to use on a part time basis in the primary school in Lima. He had attached himself to Lima because it was home for Mercy she'd always visit and maybe he'd get to see her but, that never happened, he watched her on TV and listened to all her music, fooling himself he was satisfied that he had done the right thing in letting her go.
4 Years Later
She spotted them from across the road as she sat in the coffee shop sipping her hot chocolate and made a B'line towards them leaving the last of her drink on the table. "Hey how is everyone" Mercy walked up to Kurt saying "And what are you two doing here" she said as she looked at Blaine all smartly dressed and still handsome "Is there an event?" she asked again "Wait; why am I the only one talking?" she said as she, let Kurt go, kissed Blaine, and stood back
"It's Sam's wedding this afternoon and well, it's his wedding" Blaine said
"Oh he's getting married that's great" Mercy said genuinely excited for him
"You should come Diva" Kurt said
"She's a lovely girl" Blaine told her
"I would but, I wasn't invited" Mercy replied "Plus I have Damone with me"
"Come on Sam would be so pleased to see you, come please" Blaine said "I'm part of the wedding party so you could be Kurt's plus two" he quickly followed with
"I haven't brought anything for a wedding we're only here for 4 days and we've done two already" she said
"Come on Diva you can't stand in front of a fashion trend setter and say stuff like that lead me to your dressing room" Kurt said spinning her round and back to her car "Blaine I'll see you later but say nothing, it's a marriage breaker" he said as he air kissed him and walked away
"So who else have you seen out of the crew?" Mercy asked as they got in the car and started their journey
"Rachel and Jessie, Artie and Tina that's it last I heard Satan and Britt were still in hiding at MIT and God alone knows what happened to Puck and Quinn" Kurt said before adding "Now we've done the boring stuff what you been up to, who's Damone?" he asked all mysterious like
"He's my fiancé we plan on getting married next fall and well, you'll see him when we get there so I'll let him introduce himself" Mercy said
"So what does he do?" Kurt asked as Mercy rolled her eyes
"He'll tell you when you get there" she said closing the conversation down 'I can't believe he's chosen today at 2 pm to get married' was all she could think
"Meany" Kurt said turning to sit looking straight ahead for the rest of the ride answering Mercy's questions with single word answers. They got out the car and went to the house but before Mercy could open the door it swung open
"Babe you left me with the in-laws their eating me for breakfast" Damone came out saying picking her up swinging her round and kissing her full on the lips "I missed you". Mercy had changed some from the girl that acted in that sitcom as the closeted Diva grateful for the attention from the junior Quarterback. She was confident, glowing, now she was a star she took care of herself, her clothes were noticeably tailored, obviously made for her and, her smile still covered her whole face when she genuinely gave it.
"I missed you too Boo" she said looking into the green eyes of the man she totally loved, from the side he may have been mistaken for a Will Smith look alike but when you got up close he was more Bow Wow lookin with a cheeky smile and fall into eyes that just said, well never mind what they said, his body was toned and with his string vest and shorts on, it was all on show.
"Boo" Kurt said in agreement, as he took in this man standing with Mercy in his arms, kissing on her as if nobody else existed
"Dam this is Kurt my oldest school friend, Kurt this is Damone" it was the way Mercy said Dam that made Kurt want to pick it up and run with it as if she should have followed it with 'you are so fucking fine' Kurt shook his hand thinking strong hands, warm too, Beautiful lips "Stop levitating on my Man" Mercy laughed as Kurt caught himself
"Nice to meet you Damone" he finally said letting go of his hand
"He's the nosy type Dam so you need to mind what you say" Mercy said as she walked into the house, as he watched her walk in "I know you watching me walk" she said flicking her hair as she looked back at him
"I know you know that Babe" he said laughing as he turned to Kurt "I love her" he said
"I .. I can see that" Kurt got out "So" he said swallowing hard "what do you do Damone?" he asked
"I rap, sing, act, produce, promote, I'm into real estate and I teach, not all at the same time" he said laughing
"Have you done any with Mercy?" he asked
"I've done lots with Mercy but nothing I'd want to talk to you about my friend" he said looking suspicious
"No I mean professional stuff sorry, I just thought how that sounded" Kurt said going a bit red
"Yeah nearly everything but lately she's getting into the teaching thing" Damone said "So you were in the singing club too then?"
"Yeah nearly all disbanded now but yeah"
"What you two doing out there come on in here let me catch up with my friend and, Dam we have a wedding to go to this afternoon, it's a club member so there is no discussion you know how that is" Mercy said as they walked into the house "Come get ready babe Kurt's come to sort my dress and hair"
"I'm assuming he's gay your telling me this man is up in our room like it's nothing?" Damone said openly to Mercy
"Kurt my God why did you not tell me you were gay?" Mercy shouted out dramatically
"Okay, I'm sorry my man my bad, please forgive the ignorance" Damone said embarrassingly
40 minutes later they were standing in the hall, dressed in their finest, ready to go "Leave a note for Mom and Dad Dam" Mercy said as they went to leave
"I thought they were in" Kurt said "Eating him for breakfast and all" he continued
"He wouldn't dare talk about my parents like that in ear shot he would be breakfast" Mercy said laughing as they got in the car and made the journey to the church
"Who's wedding is it?" Damone asked
"Sam you know the guy I was fake linked to for 5 years in that sitcom, it will be good to see him and on such a happy occasion" she said as Damone touched her knee "It's gonna be us next year Dam" she smiled
"I know babe and honestly I can't wait" he said doing an air fist punch
"What?" Kurt said sitting in the back seat watching the action
In no time they were sitting outside the church "Come on it should be starting like now" Kurt said looking at his phone while jumping out the car "come on Diva" he said pulling at Mercy
"No disrespect Kurt but, ask the Lady, don't touch her without her permission please"
"Jealous much" Mercy said laughing as Damone looked at her and she knew he wasn't even joking "Okay but I'm gonna get lots of hugs inside so please chill on the tude, their friends Dam" she said as they went into the church
"Hi" Mercy said as she saw Jake sitting on the back row and he moved up for them to get in while the congregation was singing, they hugged, and started singing as soon as they walked in and quickly got into the swing of the service. They watched on excited as Sam and his new wife took their vows "What's her name?" Mercy whispered to Kurt
"Sian" he replied
"That's nice isn't it babe Sian?" she asked Damone and he nodded "This is the bit" she said as the Minister recited the actual vows "We don't know if we want to say Obey" Mercy informed Kurt and soon after the ceremony was over and the service was finished
"Mercedes Jones" Mercy heard from behind her as she stood outside waiting for the Bride and Groom to exit the church for the confetti
"Shane, Shane Tinsley how are you?" she asked hugging him but not for too long with Damone in the place
"I'm good, you?" he asked as she nodded
"This is Damone my fiancé" she said as Damone stepped forward and shook his hand with a civil greeting as they stood talking, they never noticed Sam and Sian coming out the church
"Shane great you came" Sam said walking towards him for a man hug "I wanted all the old team to be here you know for Finn an… Mercy" he said totally winded
"Hi Sam" Mercy went towards him saying "I know you didn't invite us but we came as Kurt's plus two I just needed to see an old friend too" she said hugging into him "this is Damone my fiancé we were just saying this will be us next year you must come if you're around" she said stepping back towards Damone who was offering Sam his hand
"Nice to meet you" Sam said looking in Damone's face and then back to Mercy
"Could we meet your wife?" Mercy asked not wanting the awkward silence
"Wife yes, yes Sian come here please" he faintly asked, she appeared as if she was listening out for him to speak in all this noise "This is Mercy and her fiancé Damone, remember I talked about the 5 year fake relationship sitcom thing?" he asked her as she nodded "Well this is Mercy who played her, we haven't seen each other in like what 5 years or so, we'll have to catch up" he said looking at Mercy again before Sian dragged him off
"Maybe in another 5 years we're off tomorrow, wedding next fall, here in Lima" she shouted after him as they got in their wedding car and disappeared
"Diva" she heard and knew it was Mike, turning she held her arms out and hugged him in
"Great to see you Mike, what you up to?" she asked before saying "This is Damone my fiancé" and they shook hands and nodded at each other
"Diva if anyone had of told me that you and Sam weren't going to end up together, after the show, I would have called them a liar to their face"
"Come on Mike that was acting, really we have nothing in common"
"Does this fool see me standing here?" Damone asked Mercy
"Sorry Damone my bad" Mike said offering his hand as an apology and Damone took it
"Does that Sam Dude live in Lima?" he asked Mike
"Yeah he does he teaches at the school and he models" Mike informed Damone
"What does he teach?" Damone asked
"Music" Mike replied
So Sam got to his reception hall after the photo session in the gardens and went directly to Kurt "Where's Mercy?" he asked looking around the room
"She's gone, with her fiancé I might add" Kurt replied
"I just got married Dude" Sam replied
So pray tell, why have you left your beautiful wife over there to come over here to ask about another woman on your fucking wedding day?" Blaine asked him
"Dude I saw her and I was fucking speechless, I love my wife Dude and you know I don't roll like that but I just needed to talk to Mercy for a hot minute"
"About what?" Blaine asked
"Whatever she wanted to talk about I mean, I don't see her for like fucking 4 years and, she just turns up on my wedding day, did she want to stop it or something, was she trying to tell me something?
"She's getting married next year Sam" Kurt interjected
"You know Mercy actions always speak louder than words" he replied
"Get back to you wife Dude" Blaine said pushing him away towards where she was seated
Later on Sam broached the subject again "So Kurt did she leave you a contact number"
"Dude your wife is on to you" Blaine said dancing Kurt away from him as Sian closed in on Sam
"What is it with you and these frigging singing people today I need attention husband" she said grabbing him round the neck and dancing away with him. Sian had all intentions of drinking the bar dry on her wedding day and she went a good way into doing that, they had planned a short honeymoon because Sam had to get back to work the following week and Sian was off modelling. So it was no surprise that on his wedding night Sam sat on his bed in the hotel looking at a very drunk Sian wondering 'what was Mercy actually doing at my wedding today I mean she could have come and seen me at any time she knows I'm at the school I sapped her last month and although she didn't reply I know she read it. Is there a significance in it being exactly 4 years to the day we last kissed, spoke, anything, did she know that was exactly how long it had been since we'd been a couple on set? Seriously Sam I am you need to check yourself, that's not your regular girlfriend laying there it's your fucking wife, Dude you made this choice and it's a lifelong commitment she told you before you took the plunge to be sure. "I was fucking sure Mercy hasn't paid me the time of day since she left Lima" he said out loud making Sian stir just one single mention of her name and I'm like back in the fucking studio wanting her again, only there is no studio It's no acting thing it's real I love her and I've, out of pride, let her get away from me, settling for second best is what you've done? Is this fair on Sian, to want another woman this much' he thought as he sat humming 'Warning signs' by My Silent Bravery to himself "It's not fair but it hurts like hell to not be with Mercy"
Mercy had taken Damone home she could see that situation becoming some sort of blood bath with Sam's stubborn head and Damone's stubborn head nothing good was going to come of it 'So did he do that on purpose marrying her 4 years to the fucking day after our sitcom ended, the exact time we were together on set for our last kiss, he actually married the bitch, my bad I really didn't think he'd do it, hell she's a fucking super model what's not to marry. I don't know why I expected anything different he always chose the other girl, it was never me until there was nothing else to choose, I got me some Dam right here and this time next year I'll be getting some of what you're getting right now Mr. Evans. Oh and those fucking sapps had better stop, like now with your married man ass, I shouldn't be feeling like this after all this damn time she thought as she tapped out 'Bound to you' by Jocelyn Alice before she started singing is very loudly in her head 'don't mind me I'll break this one in just fine' she thought snuggling into Damone as they sat on the sofa watching an old movie
"Babe you know I don't like you huggin on me when you're thinking about someone else" Damone said nudging her with his knee as she lay on him
"I swear this old man is dead, nearly everyone in this film is dead, what you talking about" she said laughing, knowing full well he was talking about Sam
Next Fall
"Come on baby girl get your fine self in the car before Damone decides to leave the church and forget you there's late, fashionably late then there's see you next year late and you're getting to the latter" her Dad said trying to get her in the car. Today nothing had gone right for Mercy, her hair was all wrong, the dress was too big, her nails were the wrong colour and of course the cake wasn't big enough "Stop" her Dad shouted as Mercy spun around looking for nothing "Come on now" he ordered and she walked out the door after him
They got to the church and she couldn't stop shaking, everyone she ever knew was going to be there except for Quinn and Puck and Maybe Santana and Brittany she took a deep breath stepped towards the door breathed again and said "Open the door" as she started walking down the aisle to the song they'd chosen looking at the colours in the church they had chosen everything looked so perfect it made her cry. Damone saw the tears as she came towards him and wiped her eyes and kissed the tears away as if nobody else was in the room making sure she was alright before the service continued. The ceremony was beautiful and in the end they decided to take out obey and when they shared why everyone laughed.
Sam and Sian sat in the congregation, Sian smiling obviously remembering her day and Sam frowning at this oh so fucking charming man that was standing there marrying the girl of his dreams. There's nothing to be done about this situation now Sam you didn't tell her when you should have you didn't fight for her yet again and you chose your own career over her and now what? You want her back well tough shit you gave her to him you might as well have been the giveaway father or ex-boyfriend or whatever you ass. She actually looks fucking happy to be giving it up to this smooth mother, and what gives you the right to be thinking like this you're a married man Sam Evans 'with a heart that belongs to another woman, minor detail you forgot' I need to stop these internal thoughts I need to kiss her and let her go. Really, Really Evans any contact is gonna be about ripping her fucking clothes off and giving her what all that flirting, kissing and whispers promised, stay away. "Sam have you got any tissue? I said" he heard Sian saying as she nudged him
"What?" he asked
"Tissue" she asked putting her hand out for it
"No, No" he said shaking his head pissed that she'd stopped him thinking for that
"Come on then" Sian said nudging him to get up
"What?" Sam asked
"It's over" she said pointing to the bride and groom walking slowly down the aisle, making Sam spring up he needed to be in a prime position to get to have any conversation with Mercy
As they walked out the church they said hello to their guests and stopped a few times to have conversations before getting outside to the car as Damone opened the door for Mercy to get in Sam's hand covered the handle too "I'll get that" he said standing aside for Damone to get in too
"Sam you came" Mercy said hugging into him "We're not going to get that chat we're off straight after this reception thing so maybe another 5 years
"Never mind congratulations to you both" he said waving them off "I cannot fucking believe I just did that" Sam said to no one specific
"Just did what?" Sian said
"Shut my freaking finger in the car door" he lied holding his finger
"Stop it you baby" she said laughing and walked away saying "home soon yeah?" as Sam nodded
11 Years Later
"Chord you better be thinking of bed any time soon because if we have to have this conversation again your Dad will be on the phone" Sian said to her 10 year old son. Sian and Sam had gotten pregnant just over a year after getting married, they didn't plan children because of their careers but, in the end Sam really wanted the child so they had him. Sam called him Timmy when he was born but Sian wasn't having it, after about a day of thought Sam decided to call him Chord for three reasons, firstly; he thought he was perfect, secondly; he was the third person in the family and lastly because that was his name in the sitcom he did with the love of his life and every time he called him he'd be reminded of that time. Sam was doing less teaching initially and that had left scope for Sian to do more of the modelling thing, it meant she was away more often but, they had created a lifestyle that worked for them, they were happy with it.
It was Chord's birthday 25th August which was Sunday and Sian because she was at a shoot had hired a venue for it on Saturday 24th mainly because she felt guilty for not being there. Sam had been assigned Chaperone duties and enlisted his siblings and parents into similar roles for the event
"Mom do you have to go tonight?" Chord asked as he stood in the kitchen with his dirty blond hair and his green eyes a carbon copy of his Dad and really skinny like his Mom
"Yes Chor I have to but, dad will be here and all the rest of them and, I'll make it up to you when I get back" she said holding his face as she spoke to him
"Okay but I'll miss you" he said leaving the room solemn like, to go to bed. Sian's heart broke for his disappointment but her hands were tied there really was nothing she could do she was tied into the contract for some serious money.
Mercy had flown into Lima the previous day with Amber, their 10 year old daughter, named by Damone's mother because she loved the name, Mercy didn't argue it was her screen name in that sitcom she did with Sam and how ironic that the name should befall her daughter. They had caught with Amber on honeymoon and although she was due to be born on the 20th August she didn't make an appearance until the 25th it was a family joke that she was almost as late as her mother was for her own wedding. Amber had wanted a party for her 9th birthday but Mercy was due to go on a mini tour and Damone was doing his last day of his month long tour on the weekend before and the week they could spend together just happened to fall on her birthday week so she didn't get one. They had moved heaven and earth for one of them to be there for her to have one this year and Mercy had drawn the straw, Damone was on tour and it was Amber's 10th birthday he was pissed to be missing it but he had arranged against his better judgement for Amber to have her surprise birthday party in Lima with her Jones family and Amber always loved the quiet, slow life of Lima to LA so, that was two presents in one "No meal out tomorrow if you don't turn that light off now and get that sleep on girl" Mercy threatened hearing total silence upstairs.
Birthday Morning
Amber
So Amber woke up and had her skype session with her Dad first thing, he had brought her a necklace, bracelet and ring set with Amber stones set in them and the most beautiful dress to go with them for her party, she was bursting when she came downstairs to show her Mom and grandparents
"That's lovely sweetheart but you do know they are from both Daddy and I right?" Mercy asked as she hugged her and kissed her on her forehead
"Yes I do" she said rolling her eyes
"And this is from us" her Grandma said handing her a small box, in which she found the earrings to go with the set she already had and jumped with excitement before giving her Grandma and Pa a hug
"Thank you, thank you" she said backing out of the kitchen
"I'd better check if her friends are on their way" Mercy said picking up the phone, and calling Macy to check what was happening. As far as Amber was concerned her friends Jenna and Lea were coming to Lima and they were going for food, virgin cocktails and to a Teen disco, in town, in a stretcher for the afternoon and then they were going home later that day. In reality there was a classroom full of her friends coming via coach and they were going to party the evening away and stay in the hotel before returning home tomorrow
"Baby come get something to eat before your day starts Jenna and Lea will be here soon" Mercy shouted to her daughter
Chord
"Chor I just want to kiss you bye baby just go back to sleep" Sian said as she walked away picking up her case "Daddy's in bed" she said closing the door behind her Sam was so cold this time there was no hugs, no sex just bye as he turned over to get more sleep and she was going to be away for 6 weeks, maybe he wants me to start thinking about giving it up but what else will I do? She thought as she closed the front door behind her and got into the taxi. 'I knew I shouldn't have married him I knew he wanted that Mercy girl but she looked happy enough when we last saw her, he was hooked though I know he was. I never mentioned to him the amount of times he called me Mercy in bed and how that hurt or how I'd catch him daydreaming about her with that smile on his face, I knew it was her he never looked at me that way and, he fucking talks in his sleep to her, about her, for her and wakes up to me, damn him I love him so much' she thought as she pulled her bag out of the taxi and walked into the airport
"Dad, Dad, Wake up" Chord stood at the head of Sam's bed shouting as he came to his senses
"What's up Chor? What's happened" Sam asked his son
"You're doing it again" Chord said
"Doing what?" Sam asked
"Talking to Mercy in your sleep, Mom usually says leave you alone but, she's not here now and it's my birthday so I guess for my present I want to tell you this, you call her name in your sleep you always have, you call Mom that sometimes and you don't even know, and yeah Mom says when your being intimate sometimes, whatever that means, you call her that it's some sort of kinky game of something" Chord finished
"What?" Sam asked again
"I said you're talking to Mercy …."
"I heard that Son I just didn't know I was doing that" his Dad replied "Anyway forget that happy birthday baby boy 10 today and, we're gonna have some fun" Sam said stting up "The whole of Lima's 10 year olds have been invited so we should get at least 10 show up" he said laughing as Chord's face turned to sulk "Joke son come on keep up, the party is a present from Mom by the way"
"So what did you get me" he asked
"Come see" he said jumping out of bed and pulling Chord with him downstairs, opening the living room door to reveal the scaled down model of the New World
"Avatar's new world" he shouted over excitedly "Dad, this is"
"Great I know" Sam finished as Chord looked at the mother board that operated the whole thing "It all needs labelling your job" he said looking at Chord who had already started working out which switch did what
"I love it Dad thank you" he said hugging him
"Breakfast first" Sam said moving him from the controls through to the kitchen
Birthday Party
Amber
"Macy as long as they get to The Grape for 2 pm that will be fine" Mercy said putting the phone down
"Hon are you nearly ready we're meeting the girls for 2 at The Grape come on girl"
"What's the worst that can happen Mom the food gets cold" Amber shouted back sarcastically
"Well I'd say the worst would be everyone get their clothes off and go clean the back garden" Mercy said getting her Diva on Amber needed to see that sometimes
"Gosh, I'm here" she said running down the stairs
"Baby girl you know I love you an all but that attitude needs to step off before I have to step on it you hearing me?"
"Sorry Mom; what's that place called again?"
"The Grape" Mercy said as they went to the car her grandparents were already sitting in, and took the journey to the venue
Chord
"Chord its 1.15 come on we need to get there before the guest start coming in" Sam said "Get a rush on Son" he said seeing that Chord wasn't moving from the New World model
"Coming Dad" he said closing everything down "Dad don't go mad but, do you love Mom?" Chord asked as they went to the car
"What kind of question is that?" Sam asked
"A simple one that requires a yes or no" Chord replied
"Yes I do, I guess" Sam said as they got in the car
"Okay are you in love with her?" he said looking at his Dad to say "Man to man dad don't lie to me"
"My answer has no reflection on how I feel about you son, you know I love you don't you?" Sam asked as Chord looked on waiting for his answer, Sam knew he was stalling and looked at his hands before rubbing the back of his neck looking at Chord and saying "No sorry son but no"
"It's this Mercy chick isn't it?" he asked "How long have you been seeing her?" Chord asked almost shouting
"No; you've got it all wrong Son, I've never, we've never done anything like that and never since I've been married to your Mom" Sam got out
"What? I don't understand you're not having an affair?" Chord asked
"No I wouldn't do that and Mercy wouldn't allow me to do that" Sam said starting the car up
"So she's an old flame you never got over, like Mom said?" Chord tried to confirm in his head
"Well she's an on screen relationship that never got past the screen, really hard to explain" Sam said
"I don't understand Dad" Chord said
"Let's have the party and we can talk later tonight I'll explain everything" Sam said pulling off as they drove to the venue in silence
"What's this place called?" Chord asked as they got on the street
"The Grape" Sam replied parking up and turning the engine off and they sat for a while before getting out the car
Amber
"Come on get in here this meal will be cold by the time you get to it" Mercy said taking Amber's coat as she walked into the main corridor and in the door on the right
"Surprise" they heard really loudly as the lights went off and a lit up cake came from a door on the side of the room, as the room sang happy birthday
Amber stood with her hands covering her mouth and screaming into them, as the realisation of her having a party came into her. "Thank you, thank you" she said as they finished and the lights came back on and then a few seconds later she realised her whole school year was standing looking back at her "How did you all get here?" she asked through her cry "I'm so happy" she said hugging her Mom
So they had a 30 minute presentation for her in which her friends said what they wanted closed down by her grandma's speech and then party games, lie detector, prize for the best dressed, musical chairs, karaoke and truth or dare before the disco commenced for 3 hours
"I'm taking a breather Mom" Mercy said walking towards the balcony end of the room
Chord
"Okay so they come in and they can go to the rock climbing, laser quest with fancy dress, racing cars or Roller or dodge ball for starters and after food the disco; plan?" Sam asked
"Plan" Chord confirmed as the guest started arriving, the party got well on the way and after food the cake was cut and people swopped around on the games they played. Then all the games were removed and the disco commenced for 3 hours
"My cue for fag break Dad" Sam said as he wondered towards the balcony at the end of the room
Mercy & Sam
"I'm dreading this being over and having to explain things to him" Sam came out saying
"I just want it all to be over so I can rest my damn feet" Mercy replied smiling "Sam; what are you doing here"
"It's my son's birthday party in there" he said pointing in the hall Chord was in
"Daughters" Mercy said pointing into Amber's hall
"When's her birthday?" Sam asked
"25th August" Mercy replied
"And his" Sam said laughing "Get this, I called him Chord" he said laughing even more
"Her name's Amber but Damone's Mom named her honestly" Mercy said giggling
"You didn't try to stop her though" Sam said still laughing
"No I liked Amber she got all the fun in my life" Mercy let out before she realised what she had said and who she had said it to
"Yeah I'm big on the honesty thing with Chord seeings as I couldn't be honest myself you know" Sam said leaving Mercy to think what she wanted
"We're actually having a conversation" Mercy said surprised "Its only taken what about 15 years for us to get to this point" she laughed "So what's Sam Evens got to explain and to who?" she asked
"I want him to be honest, and I've got to tell him my whole life has just been one big lie" Sam said
"What have you lied about? You don't have to talk to me if you think it's too personal" Mercy said looking up at him from the bench she was sitting on
"I think I probably need to tell you first to be honest" Sam said rubbing the back of his neck before sitting on the bench next to Mercy
"You see I fell in love with someone who's not my wife and, well my son found out because apparently I talk in my sleep and I call her name all the time. Then he devastated me this morning by telling me my wife told him that I call her this person's name when we make love and, to top it in conversations, I've been known to call my wife her name and she's never said anything to me about it".
"So you're having an affair?" Mercy asked almost shocked "Really I didn't think that was you Sam, I'm disappointment if I'm honest, I had you up on such a pedestal I'm shocked" she finished
"That's not the best of it, I've never noticed or been aware of this until today" Sam said laughing nervously
"So you're having an affair with someone you don't know; I don't understand" Mercy said looking puzzled
"Okay I'll start at the beginning; I lied" Sam said shifting himself to look at Mercy in the eyes as he said it "I was madly in love with you after the sitcom but, I didn't think you felt the same so, I played the game. I had others in my ears telling me what was good for my career, for yours and, I caved and let you go, the hardest thing I've ever done but, I made a mistake and let you go" he said looking at Mercy again "It's your name I call, I'm sorry to put this on you and we're both taken I don't expect anything to happen from telling you this" Sam finished
"Nothing can happen Sam, we're married to other people it would break our families hearts, what the fuck are you thinking telling me this" she got up getting angry "I cannot believe you still think that fucking much of yourself to come up to me and say this cos now I'm pissed" she said walking back and forth across the length of the bench Sam was still sitting on watching her
"I'm sorry" Sam said flopping back onto the bench
"I gave you like 4 years to the day to come get me, I came to your wedding to say here I am and you still, married your fucking wife, had your child, made your life and fucking hell Sam, what do you expect me to do with this?" she asked stopping dead in front of him, her voice softening considerably "I'm still in love with you too, you know, I've tried to fight it and, don't get it twisted, I do love Damone but I can't lie I'm still in love with you Sam" she said her strong frame collapsing "I lied too" she said sitting on the bench beside him
"I think this thing for you is going to get bigger now I know you feel the same" Sam said "I swear I didn't start this to get you to do anything Mercy I wouldn't do that, I know better, with you anyway" he finished, sitting looking at Mercy waiting for more response
"Shit Sam one look at you and I'm back there in that sitcom doing everything for real" she said turning to look at him "I'm not going to cheat on my husband, I refuse to do that so, I need to ask you to leave me alone"
"I can do that for you I can do that Mercy but know this, I will never not be in love with you" he said "I mean th…."
Mercy & Amber
"Mom we need to give the party packs out you..com..ing" Amber slowed into as she saw this man so close to her Mother on the bench it looked invasive "Who's this?" Amber asked all Diva and Sass making Sam laugh as he looked on thinking he was looking at Mercy all over again
"This is Sam an old friend" Mercy said as Sam held his hand out to shake her hand and she gave it,
"You look just like your Mom, nice to meet you" Sam said
"An old friend that Daddy knows?" she asked looking between them
"Yes Daddy and I went to his wedding some years aback" Mercy replied "Sam this is Amber" she said looking at Sam wide eyed. "Let's go sort these party packs out sweetheart" Mercy said getting up to tend to her daughter "nice seeing you again Sam take care and say hi to the family for us" she said walking off not looking back
"He looks familiar Mom, where have I seen him before?" Amber asked
"That sitcom Mommy was in years ago that Dad showed you Babe, it was he and I that did that" Mercy explained
"Oh yeah, I can live without sex but, I can't live without you" Amber said putting her hand on her heart for effect
"Cold Amb cold" Mercy said as they laughed together
Sam & Chord
Sam went home that night and watched two episodes of the series he was in with Mercy, with his son before explaining how he'd fell in love with her on screen but how unprofessional it was to do anything about it so, he lied to her and told her he felt nothing because she needed to make a life for herself in the industry and mixed race couples didn't really get anywhere in her circles
"She's the singer Mercy Jones isn't she?" Chord asked
"Yes, and I reassure you Chor nothing will ever happen between us, as long as our partners are alive, she's not that kind of person to do anything like that" Sam said as he finished and waited for Chord to react
"She's married isn't she with children?" he asked his Dad
"Yes, which is why nothing will ever happen" Sam replied
"I understand Dad" he said
"Do you? Really?" Sam asked surprised
"Really Dad" he said looking at his Dad suspiciously
"What's up Son?" Sam asked
"Don't laugh" Chord said looking at him as Sam indicated he wouldn't "I met this girl today she was all that and a bit more and Dad I fell in love, I know I'm too young and everything Mom said it would hit me when I was about 25 or something like that but I felt it today Dad honest I did"
"Calm down Son and breathe" Sam said mimicking his breathing to slow him down "How exactly did you feel for this girl...?" Sam asked, laughing in his mind
"Amber Dad her name's Amber" Chord said shocking Sam into realisation
"So what attracted you to her?" Sam asked and sat back while Chord described a relationship that started some 20 years ago in a TV studio between Mercy and he. He wanted to scream at Chord leave her alone that girl's mother is going to be your Mom that might be your step-sister son, but everything in him wanted happiness for his Son and definitely a love that he himself couldn't have
"Where did you meet her?" Sam asked
"She goes to my school but seriously I've never really noticed her before or, maybe I thought she was out of my league or something but she came up to me today at my party and pow that was it" Chord rambled
Sam breathed a breath of air realising it really wasn't his Amber 'wait what do you mean you're Amber' he asked his internal self
So both party's went well, Sam gave Mercy his number, just in case, and two days later Mercy returned to LA without attempting to make any contact with Sam
1 Year Later
Sam's house
Sam hadn't bothered to have the conversation with Sian about the revelations that Chord had told him on his birthday the previous year, he didn't see the point if she was okay living that way, and he didn't know how he was going to stop doing it anyway. Chord had gone on a camping trip with 10 of his friends for his birthday this year, he wanted to do something without his parents and outdoors so, Sam sat in the living room fooling around playing his guitar and singing 'Stitches' by Shawn Mendes when Sian came in looking all 'I got to talk now so stop what you're doing cos right now it's all about me' and, that put his back up immediately so he decided he was going to ignore her until she spoke to him
"Sam can we talk when you get some time please" she said
"Oh please, this must be serious" he said putting the guitar down and looking up at her "I have time now" he said
"You know we haven't been well together for a while now and I'm not saying this is all your fault but, we've drifted haven't we?"
"I'm sorry about that, my heads been all over the place lately" he said Mainly over Mercy if I was to be really honest with you he thought
"I wouldn't have said it was just your head but I digress" she said looking back at him "I've been seeing someone else Sam and I'm sorry it's come out like this but he's moving to Washington and I want to go with him" she said looking at him like she was begging permission
"What about Chord, he's not going to Washington, how you gonna see him?" he asked
"He'll get holidays and stuff and I can come back here to be with him and everything we can work it out" Sian said
"So you're leaving me?"
"I'm in love with him, Sam admit it we haven't been in love for maybe 11 of our 12 years" Sian said crying "You're making this really difficult for me"
"I'm making this difficult for you?" Sam gasped as he asked "I'm not holding you here against your will I never have, you're free to go if you want"
"I just need to wait around until Chord comes back to explain things to him and stuff is that alright?" she asked
"What hang about here in this house?" Sam asked "Actually that's fine I'll stay as Mom's for the week" Sam said getting up
"Don't you want to know who it is or anything?" she asked as Sam moved across the room
"No I'll hear it all on the TV I'm sure" he said "Just one question why did you never question me about Mercy?" he asked
"That's old news Sam, you've been calling her name since we met I knew there was nothing going on and, I guess I thought with time, you'd replace her name with mine, but no"
"So why would you marry a man that did that Sian?" he asked
"I loved the idea of me and you and I didn't want her to have you" she said childlike
"The joke of that is until last year I thought she didn't love me but then we had a conversation and it turned out she lied too, we'll never do anything about that she loves her husband and I loved my wife" he said looking at her
"Just not enough to stop calling me her name and, I don't love you Sam, not anymore" Sian said
"What changed for us?" he asked
"I don't know, I guess we started out as the fairy tale couple you know, it was more about the image than the love at first for me, I thought I'd get further with you on my arm, and I did. When I got pregnant with Chord I just felt like I had no way out, I'd never want to have a child alone and so I just settled, I guess; Sorry" Sian said
"Be honest Sian has there ever been anyone else in our relationship except for this person you're telling me about now?" Sam asked
"Yes, but don't ask who or how many I'm just willing to say yes" she said
"I've been faithful to you all these years you know that don't you?" he said with tears in his eyes
"I know Sam and, I'm sorry but, that pedestal you put me up on has long gone" she said
"My favourite Producer would say, that's a wrap" he said his hand motion telling her he'd had enough, before he turned and left the room, the next thing she heard was the front door shut
Mercy's House
"Babe I'm on tour in a week and, Amber's decided to do this damn camping thing, which means I get to see her for about 2 hours on her birthday before she goes away and, I'm pissed about it, so can I have an hour?" Damone shouted to Mercy from the bathroom
"Take as long as you want" she shouted back "I need to have a conversation with you when you get out of there though" she added which was left hanging
Their favourite place in the house was their bedroom, it had everything in it they needed and, it was their little bit of heaven, on a really good day they'd stay in bed for 24 hours, have their food brought up to them, move between the bed and the bath and watch black and white movies until their time came round again. Mercy would do fashion shows, Damone would do poses naked or other wise and they'd give each other prizes, of the marital kind, for best performances in each category. So when Damone finally came out the bathroom Mercy was sitting patiently watching a movie on the TV.
"You okay now Babe?" she asked as he came to sit on the bed beside her
"Yeah I'm still a bit pissed but then I thought I've got you to myself for 6 days and I'm ready to wear that out" he said making them both laugh "what did you want to talk about babe?" he asked
"Now don't get illegal on my ass about this because, it was said and left in that park and, nothing is ever gonna come of it, trust me on that and, remember I love you yeah?"
"What's up babe?" he asked
"Sam" she said
"What about him?" he asked
"He's still in love with me and well, I just thought you should know"
"Do you love him?" Damone asked
"You know the answer to that babe"
"Okay do you love him more than you love me?" he asked
"Don't let me come at you with truth babe" she replied
"Are you leaving me for him?" he asked
"No never" Mercy said and Damone breathed a sigh of relief
"So how do you know he still loves you?" he asked
"He told me last time I was in Lima for Amber's party, his son had a party on the same day, actually their born on the same day, at the same venue and we had a comfort break together. I could have slapped him for waiting this long to tell me that because, well now I know it wasn't one sided and well that's enough for me I can carry on with my life now. Doesn't change the fact that I love you and I love our life together, I just didn't want you walking around not knowing this especially if you meet up again" she said before grabbing his hand and looking in his eyes to say "What are you thinking, feeling?"
"I'm good, we love each other and yes I too love our life, I'm good and, thanks for telling me" he said smiling before going in for a kiss "And if I'm angry you give good make up sex" he said laughing out of the kiss and Mercy slapped his arm playfully
"Where's your tour going?" Mercy asked as she got up to go to the bathroom
"California, Nevada, Oregon and up to Washington should only be like two months" he said watching her walk to the bathroom as his phone rang "What!?" he shouted frustrated with the intrusion
"What did you say babe" Mercy shouted from the bathroom
"Nothing babe" he shouted back "look I'll call you back to confirm the schedule" he said clicking the phone off
Mercy emerged from the bathroom to see a smiling Damone sitting on the bed "Get that mind out the gutter" she said walking towards him
"What, you mean yours isn't in there?" he asked
"I didn't say that I said get yours out" she said as she moved towards him "you ready to scratch my itch?" she asked as he grabbed her to him