Secrets and Lies

Puck

Life had been hard for Puck, he'd climbed all the way to the top, getting his blockbuster part in Men in Black 7 almost as soon as he finished his rock album and that had carried him for a long while, he became picky with his work and nothing was good enough after that. Time had took it's toll and he'd ended up like every other has been actor, fishing for B grade adverts and the odd appearance here and there with people trying to remember what he'd been in.

At the height of his career he'd married Quinn, something that was always on the cards for them and when her books were selling and his acting was bringing in the money things were fine. Suddenly 20 years had gone by and she was standing, in a social house in Kentucky looking at an intoxicated Puck, living off charity and handouts from her older brother.

"The rent's late again" she snapped after him in reply to his question

"It shouldn't be you've got nothing to spend money on now the kids have gone" he barked back

"I guess you don't even know how much you actually spend on alcohol" she snarled

"You need to get off my damn back" he spun round saying making her step back for how fast he came at her "You're constantly nagging me"

"Nagging you?" she asked catching her breath "We've got final notices on every damn thing and you call that nagging?"

"What can I do about it?" he asked "Every damn day I wake up you're piling the fucking pressure on and then you wonder why I drink, fuck sake Q" he looked around the room saying "And what the fuck are you doing here, don't you have a home, are you paying into this place or something?" he looked at her friend kitty asking

"I'm just..."

"Get the fuck out if you're not the solution, you're part of the damn problem" he shook his head in the direction of the door saying

"Puck" Quinn shouted across the room "Leave her alone"

"Now I don't have a say in my own damn house" he rolled his eyes saying, walking over to her purse and taking what he needed

"Puck" she ran over to him saying struggling with him to get her purse back and retrieve her money "Puck, it's for the bills, give it back"she stood with her hand out waiting

"Fuck this" he pushed past her leaving her spinning as he went to their achievement wall and pulling everything down "What the fuck was all this for?" he shouted as he slammed them to the ground breaking the frames

"You walk out now and I won't be here when you get back, that's a promise" she shouted at him, he knew she meant it, but right now if he stayed he was going to lay hands on her and he'd rather leave her than do that, he opened the door and walked out. Leaning on the door taking in the response he'd just given her to her ultimatum, he could hear her crying and as much as he wanted that sound to touch his heart enough to make him go back in, he couldn't

"He needed time out, they both did, he was on his way to his local, but on second thoughts he booked a coach ticket to Lima, he needed time out, and when he needed that he was destined for home.

Sam

Sam had married a then pregnant Rachel years back, she'd gotten pregnant and forced the issue, he'd been a successful model for a long while, having not taken up the college route his options were limited. She'd had that Funny Girl thing which didn't last long due to her frequent absences and opted to be a teacher when she finally finished college, four years later.

They'd had a rocky time, she'd miscarried the baby at just over three months, a month after the wedding, which was a very traumatic time for them, it really tested their relationship, but they got through it, Sam dived into modelling and Rachel dived into college, she'd been further troubled with depression when they found out she couldn't have children, she had a hard time coming to terms with it, blaming Sam for everything, which had created a distance

"You were in that damn spot when I left this morning" she wolfed at him as she walked into the house looking at him reading Vogue for Men "What the hell are you still pinning all your damn hopes on modelling for, you need to jump into reality Mr, those day are gone for you" she laughed "What you need to do is find a damn job to bring some money in"

"Yeah so you keep saying, but if you remember, it was your idea that I, forget study and take up Modelling to make quick money for..."

"Yeah because it's always my damn fault" she rolled her eyes saying

"Sorry" he looked at her saying "I could just do without the judgement every time you come into the house"

"In case you haven't noticed, I have a right to moan we need the money" she laughed "By the way I'm off to a teacher conference next week for three days"

"And we need money?"

"They pay for the hotel" she told him sitting down

"But they don't pay for all the damn extras do they?"

"Me going is not doing you out of anything, and damn it, I need the time away" she sat forward saying

"Lucky fucking me, being subsidised by my rich working wife" he said throwing his magazine down, before getting up and leaving the room

"I need to get away from your shit too" she shouted after him

"Me too" he turned to say cutting his eye at her "I'm going down the road" he said grabbing his coat and he walked out the door "Don't wait up" he shouted through the shut door

"Well that went well" she stood watching the door saying

The Bar

"Blaine" he walked in smiling as he saw his friend sitting at the bar "Long time, you're back" he walked up to him saying as he stood up to greet him

"Sam" he smiled "Dude it's good to see you, I would have passed by but..."

"Yeah I know, she's still the damn same too" he laughed, Rachel didn't like him to meet up with the old crew, she kept saying they kept them stuck in the past, by past she meant back when she was fertile, had the world in her hands, was having their child and now she had none of that she didn't need the constant reminder of what she'd lost. The last time Blaine and Kurt had been in town together maybe 9 years ago, for some reason they'd visited unannounced, Sam ended up sleeping in their hotel room with them for the disrespect she showed. "So you guys still in New York?" he asked

"Well Kurt's just got something come up here in Washington and we might be there for four years so, we just sold up, we're in Lima for a few months" he told him

"Lima" he said as memories flooded back

"Yeah we're just closing on the sale of our place, then it's bye bye New York"

"So what you're off to Lima tonight?"

"I am, in about four hours" he patted his back saying "Drink?"

"Yep a whiskeyl" he smiled as they got into conversation, relaxation and laughter "You know what I didn't realise how much I missed the old times, I might come to Lima for a few days, I need the environment change"

"I'm sure some of the others will be there, someone's always about" Blaine laughed as they downed their fourth drink

"Right it's a plan, I'll see you in a day or so" he finally got up saying "Your flight" he told him looking at his phone

"Shit" Blaine jumped up saying throwing the last of his drink down before hugging Sam "Tomorrow" and he was gone

Lima

Conversations were had and Sam had announced his time out, much to Rachel's disappointment, he'd packed a bag and booked his flight to go spend time with his friends and family. Puck had took the cowards way out and called Quinn as his coach moved off to tell her he was going to Lima.

Sam

"Mike" Sam shouted elated when he saw him standing at the airport waiting "How did you know..."

"Saw Blaine last night when we both got in, he told me and I'm excited to see you guys" he said looking behind him

"It's just me I'm afraid, she's still got her thing" he told him knowing the word had got round about her damn behaviour

"Boys weekend of madness" he rubbed his hands together saying

"I need something like that" he smiled as they left the airport and found a bar

"Only a few tonight for me Tina's in town too, but tomorrow is set aside my man" he knocked fists with him saying

"You and Tina?" Sam asked shocked

"Well we finally got it together about 5 years ago and so far it's all good"

"Good for you, I guess I need to go see the parents you know, say hello and stuff so, that's it for me too" he said pushing the glass away from him after drink three

They jumped in a taxi, Sam dropped Mike off and carried on to go see his parents, it had been at least thirteen years since he'd found any time to do anything away form Rachel, her depression had taken over their lives for the past maybe 15 years. Babies were out and seeing as his siblings had children, she didn't want to know, most of their friends also had children and he watched as their social life slowly withered out. Every time she heard about someone else having a child, or even a child doing well, she'd go back into her depression, usually ending with an attempt at her life and he'd mop up the mess, but through it all she kept up the teaching job, those children had no effect on her. It had slowed down once the family children started to grow up but recently, Steve had announced his first grandchild on the way and about three weeks ago she'd gone off on one again, he was past pissed, he didn't sign up for this, now after almost 16 years of that life he wasn't feeling guilty for wanting time out.

He walked into his parents house and almost flew at them for how much he missed them, if it had been left to him they would have lived in Lima, but he had a wife and he needed to take her feeling, needs and wants into consideration "Mom" he finally got out crying "I missed you guys" he held on for the longest time before he realised they were holding on harder than him

"Good to see you son" his Dad finally replied, it was an emotional reunion

"Put your bags away" his Mom said once she let go

"In a bit" he told them as he made his way up the stairs to visit his old haunt "Shit" he smiled as he walked through a time zone into his school days bedroom

His eye caught the picture of him in the playground looking at Mercy sitting on the bench as he gave her his sexy white chocolate smile "Ha" he laughed out loud as the feelings came rushing back, Mercy wasn't in the picture, of course she wasn't but she was there in his head he giggled before catching himself

He looked up to see him in his prom suit, with his red rose "It's a prom miracle" he laughed as he looked again Mercy was missing out the picture but he could see her standing next to him with her blue dress on looking all shocked "Praise" he laughed hearing her talking now too

A picture of his desk, he saw next looking at it in some detail looking for an etched name, gum or something, puzzled when he saw nothing, as he looked on to see himself young, happy and sweating standing with a pair of drum sticks in his hand "Nationals" he smiled singing quietly to himself 'but I still haven't found what I'm looking for' throwing his hand up in the air as if he still had the sticks "Oh" he looked back at the desk "Cream rising to the top" he smiled remembering the kiss

He looked on his bed to see his Avatar DVD sitting there smiling at the times he'd made her sit through the damn thing on a technicality, they'd argue about concepts and really get into it, she was always beating me on that damn game, he looked at his out of date PS thinking.

He opened his draw to put his underwear in and found a picture of them standing in church, she'd just finished telling God she wanted me, everyone had clapped her decision and I was looking like the cat that got the cream, he laughed at the reality, that sex never happened, but he loved her he knew on that day that he loved her "Why, Miss Mercedes Jones?" he asked himself throwing his clothes in the draw

He got the banter over with his parents, freshened up and announced he was popping out on his way through the house

"Here" his Dad shouted throwing him the key "We're not waiting up for you to get in" he laughed

"Thanks" he said wiggling to make the catch and exit the house

Puck

Quinn had insisted she was gone, she'd told him even when he returned they were not going to be husband and wife and in all honesty, he was alright with that, her drama had reached peek for him. She'd moan about money then go out and spend like she was still getting thousands of dollars for her damn book, then it was his fault because he couldn't magic any more money out the air for her to keep up with the whoever the fuck it was she was keeping up with. They'd had to move out of their house because she insisted on buying a five bed mini mansion on their second wage and of course when money dried up they couldn't afford the extortionate mortgage, somehow that was his fault.

He sat on the coach finally feeling like he could breathe, he smiled even because he thought he'd forgotten, how to do that. In his entire life there had only ever been one woman that got him enough to make him think he could down all his guards and be who he really wanted to be, he smiled again feeling funny that after all this time he should think about her again. Maybe it was because he was making this trip back to Lima, hoping to see some old faces but definitely getting back some memories

That day when against all odds, she agreed to be his girl, he knew she knew there was an agenda and at first there was, he'd never taken any girl seriously, he'd never had to but Mercedes Jones came along and sort of gave him some morals. He laughed at how she'd begging him to stop throwing dorks in the bins and at first he hadn't listened but when she dragging him around by his damn lip he knew something had to change.

He'd got to the point where a kiss wasn't just a kiss any more, he'd have to grab a girls attention first, pay her some attention first, learning that had to be a feeling as well as had a reason. He remembered her sitting in the choir room stressing about some damn fool diet Sue had put her on and, recollected their talk in the nurses station when he told her she was sexy as hell and there was no need for her to do anything about that booty she was carrying because Sue was jealous "And I'm going to call you Sexy Mama every time I see you to remind you how sexy you are" he smiled saying

"Tickets please" the bus guy said, he realised they'd stopped, took his ticket out and showed it before sitting back down to his thoughts

"Empire State of Mind" he said god did she come out singing that with some gusto I was proud I'd done that for her he grinned and she was so own it, he fell asleep with that smile on his face, if there was anything he'd ever regretted in his life it was not treating her right, he actually loved her like a sister, maybe more, and missed her. "How did my life get to this?" he asked before his eyes finally closed

"Sorry is this seat free?" he woke up to some guy asking him, looking up he saw an old man reminded him of Will so he smiled moving across to let him sit "Thank you" the man smiled before sitting down "hope you don't mind me saying" the guy looked at him "You were having a right go at your Mrs" he laughed

"I was?" he sat up asking looking around the seats he could see to see everyone looking at him

"Yeah I just wanted to say, I've been there, and if you're where you think you are in that get out, don't waste time trying to fix something that's always been broken"

"You know when your young you see what you want and nothing and no one can move you, you don't think what you want could ever be bad for you do you?" he smiled "I wanted my wife, I love my children to death but I find myself at my time of life lonely, how can that be?"

"Easy if you have a consuming partner"

"I didn't actually realise I was being consumed" he giggled "But your right I have been"

"Everyone's allowed to make decisions good or bad, it's how we deal with them that makes the difference, life's too short" the man smiled resting his head on the back of the chair ready to sleep "I'm still fighting some of my demons" he smiled closing his eyes

Two hours later and the coach came to a halt, the two men woke up and smiled at each other "Going to look at a plan to rectify my situation" Puck told him

"Think time is always at the start of every well planned battle" he laughed

"I'm not ready to face the family just yet" Puck smiled, grabbing his luggage and stepping off in the direction of the local bar, one of his favourite haunts since school days "Nice talking to you"

"Have a good life" he smiled as Puck watched some woman run up to the guy and him catching her, bringing his mind straight back to Quinn

The Bar

"Sam" he shouted looking at the bar "Of all the..." he said as Sam jumped up hugging him

"I know, I met up with Mike earlier, we're out on the town tomorrow, you must come" he said before pulling away "What are you doing here?"

"I guess I'm looking for an answer" he smiled

"I know how that feels" Sam told him rubbing the back of his neck

"You need to talk too?" Puck asked watching Sam rub his neck

"Like a mother fucker"

"Me too, I mean we're still living above our means because she refuses to acknowledge that work has dried up for both of us, we're on stamps for fuck sake and every damn week, it feels like, her brother sends money" he called the bartender saying "She doesn't seem to think that does anything for my pride" he looked at the barman "Two shots please"

"Make that four" Sam added

"She's asked me to leave, and seriously I'm on the brink, I didn't think giving up was something I'd ever do, I made a promise and everything but hell Dude, this shit is rough" he grabbed his shot and threw it down his throat

"You don't need to tell me about walking, Rachel, as you know didn't manage to carry our first and then we found out she couldn't conceive and Dude have I suffered for her fuck up" he took his shot saying "I call her the big depression now, it's covered me too I have no damn life, I don't even get to see my family because my siblings have children and it's not her thing" he said as Puck grabbed his shoulder "Imagine only knowing your nieces and nephews via photo" he told him a tear coming to his eye

"We messed up, for two fly white guys" he laughed

"Love of my damn life" he smiled at Puck saying

"You know, I didn't know till much later my man, but she was pretty high up on my pedestal too"

"It's true isn't it?" he looked at Puck asking

"What's true?"

"You only get one true love"

"That's why the lady is a tramp Dude"

"A what?" Sam almost got up saying

"Our song Dude, before your time, we did a duet because I was trying to get her to go out with me, I needed my mojo back" he laughed "We sort of got together but she used the time wisely, she made me look at myself, I guess that's why I took Loren so serious when I finally got what she meant, and she was a dear friend" he went back in memory for a second "She became a friend, she played with Santana in a sing off about me, she had fun, we laughed about it even, and I confided in her when I found out about the baby situation with Quinn, she knew me you know the real Noah, not many people did"

"I've got so many memories of that woman I could talk for a week" Sam laughed "Starting at secret meetings, through to fighting to get her back" he laughed "I took her to the auditorium once, put her name in lights and we sung Human Nature" he giggled

"With a kiss to follow I bet" Puck laughed

"You guessed it" he laughed "Living together in New York" he said his mind obviously reliving the experience "She sung Colorblind to me there"

"She was fly, I thought you guys were it"

"She came back for me, but by that time, well that day actually, the same day Rachel announced the baby"

"Sorry Dude, I regret not listening to her, she told me I'd love the dream of Quinn forever but if I needed someone to stand by me I should choose Loren, I didn't listen, I thought I was the luckiest man in the world" he rolled his eyes saying "If I couldn't have Quinn I guess Mercedes should have been my next choice" he smiled "I knew she was yours Dude" he laughed "Don't get smug"

"Rachel knew I loved Mercy, she knew I never loved her, not like that anyway"

"Quinn probably knew that too, Rachel and I had pillow talked it once, you're not telling me your wife didn't open her mouth on that" he laughed "Do you ever wonder what life would have been like had we taken another path?" he asked calling for four more drinks

"Probably not Dude, you guys had babies, she'd have cut her off, Quinn knew nothing" he threw another drink down saying "I miss her smile, those damn phrases she always came out with, like hot mess, hell no" he said making them both laugh "Her voice, the kind of love she gave me you know?"

"Her words of wisdom" Puck added "To Mercy" he held his glass up saying Sam didn't hesitate to hold his glass up he missed that woman, they sat reflecting on life in Lima to life in their parts of the country now drowning their sorrows

"Fancy one?" Puck asked looking at the guys doing their karaoke "I haven't in years but no one knows us" he smiled

"Why not, one for Miss Jones yeah?"

"Yeah" they jumped up to go look in the book for a song, minutes later giving their choice to the DJ and were called up in no time, singing their rendition of

'King Of The World' by Blue

Puck: Take me back to the time, we would talk all night, those healing words I've never heard, put my world to right
She told me you don't see what I can see, this life is full of possibility, she gave me more than gold, gave me all I need, without her I'm a poor man

Chorus Both
I'd be the king of the world, If you were by my side 'cause when you gave me your love, I was the richest man alive
Now I'm broken, hopin' you'll come back in my life, I'd be the king of the world, If you were here tonight!

Sam: Remember when way back then we'd lie there in the dark, my best friend, we said we'd never end
As we looked up to the stars, she showed me how to be all that I could be, broke into my heart and set me free
She gave me a reason to believe, without her I'm a poor man!

Chorus Both

Both
Oooooh oh Oooooh oh come back in my life
Oooooh oh Oooooh oh I need you here tonight, without her I'm a poor man!

Chorus: Both

Both
I'd be the king of the world, If you were by my side

"Guys" they heard, over the clapping looking down to see Mr Jones standing in front of them

"Mr Jones" they jumped off stage saying, going for a hug "So nice to see you again" Sam said as he pulled away from him

"Likewise" he said looking more at Puck than Sam, which was odd because, Sam almost lived at his house when he and Mercy were seeing each other

"How's Mrs Evans?" Sam enquired of the family

"She's good" was all he said

"Drink?" Puck asked as they went to sit back down, waving for the bartender to provide more drinks "We were just remembering Mercedes" he looked at Mr Jones saying

"Yeah we were thinking about her today, missing her singing around the house" Mr Jones laughed saying "Even laughing, sitting in the den playing games with you guys, video nights everything, even crying over you" he looked at Sam saying

"Cookie maker" Sam laughed

"Yeah" Puck laughed at the memories

"Someday we'll be together" Sam finally calmed down saying bringing a quiet to the group

"It's been 21 years today since she's been gone and she was 21 too" her Dad said looking at the floor as he spoke "It was just getting too hard to be at home you know" he looked up at Sam and Puck saying

"I didn't even realise it was 21 years, I wonder if that's what brought up here subconsciously?" Sam looked at Puck asking

"Something did" he shrugged his shoulders saying

"Sorry I didn't get back for the funeral Rachel was..."

"What?" Mr Jones looked up at him saying "What funeral?" he asked looking between Puck and Sam for an answer

"Rachel told me she'd die..."

"She didn't die, she lost her memory, everything wiped out, every damn thing"

"She didn't die" Puck said looking between Sam and Mr Jones

Puck and Sam's eyes met for the longest time as they sat wondering why their wives would tell them she'd died if she hadn't "I don't even want to ask myself the damn question" Sam sat saying "So where is she?" he looked up at Mr Jones asking

"She's doing fine, she's where she needs to be, happy, and I'd prefer you to leave her alone" he looked at Sam saying

"You're saying that like all this is my fault, I didn't know any of this" he got up saying

"Sam" Puck jumped up grabbing his shoulder saying "It's Mercy's Dad"

"Sorry Mr Jones, it's the shock" he sat down saying "For 21 years I've thought she was.. well wasn't here and Rachel's led me to believe that"

"Quinn too Sir" Puck added

Sam and Puck sat through the pleasantries with Mr Jones for a few more minutes, not broaching the Mercy situation out of respect, eventually Sam was fit for bursting and excused himself saying he needed to get in before his parents went to bed. Puck suddenly remembered that he hadn't even told his Mom he was there yet so technically he had nowhere to sleep yet, they bid him goodnight and left the bar, exchanging numbers before grabbing cab's and promising to meet up the next day

Puck

Puck was mad as hell when he got in the taxi, how the fuck was Quinn going to lie to him like that, for what god awful reason did she think that was necessary. He knew Rachel had something to do with this, he'd told Lentil he'd loved Mercy more than he loved his sister sometimes years ago, and that she'd told him to choose Loren, and he knew that damn woman had put her nose in where it didn't belong. That's why Quinn had treated him like he was some second class citizen because she knew if he'd have ever took advice from Mercy he'd have chosen Loren "Bitch" he said looking up to see his family home in view "Just here" he told her cab as it pulled up he paid the fare and smiled for seeing the light on, knocking the door and bracing himself for her welcome "Mom" he said when the door opened to see Cooter Menkins standing there "What the fuck are you doing here?" his face ready for the fight "You better not be treating my Mom like you treated Coach, I'll fucking kill you" he stepped past him saying

"I was young and foolish then and she'd try any man" Cooter followed him in saying

"I don't give a shit what you were, don't let me hear you even speak to her out of fucking turn" he spun round telling him

"Noah" he heard spinning him round to see his Mom tears already down her face "Where the fuck have you been?" she grabbed hold of him asking "I missed you" she told him still crying

"Mom" he pulled her off him saying "I missed you too, but I had a bath already" he laughed as she pulled him back in

"He's a pussycat, he wouldn't dare put his damn hand on me, you know I'd chop that fucker off" she laughed looking at Cooter as she spoke. Conversation and alcohol went on into the night, he got up the next afternoon to a text telling him where everyone was meeting from Sam

Sam

Sam sat in his cab crying with anger, his life had been fucking heart breaking all because, his first love had been killed in some damn car accident in Ohio, he had no intention of staying with Rachel once she'd lost their child, he'd stayed with her because he knew there was no way Mercy would have let him do anything else. Yes they'd split up but they always knew even when they weren't together they belonged to each other, but he couldn't ask her to wait after this. He'd gone into this thing with Rachel because there was a baby on the way, he'd mourned Mercy, it had served him right for his constant bed hopping and he'd held it. But now to think that she knew Mercy was still alive and not tell him was unforgivable, he smiled, she knew he'd have been off at the first opportunity she was scratching her own damn back, but it had made him resent her and now all he could think when he thought about his wife was hate "Can we come back from this?" he asked himself "Fuck it, I don't want to come back from this"

He jumped out the cab at his house and smiled at the thought of sleeping in his bedroom after all these years, the idea of Mercy having spent many a night in there giving him a thrill, he lay in his bed thinking concluding, that's why I've never fully committed, she's still around

The next thing he knew it was morning and while he sat in the kitchen eating his breakfast with his family for the first time in many years, his phone pinged it was Mike sending him details for the meet up later, he smiled as he sent the details to Puck, he'd be stoked to see him there. Mike had chosen one of their old haunts, the pool rooms, they always found it easier to talk and sort stuff out in that room, he guessed it was the treat of the person holding the stick, being able to whack it off your head for dissing them, that made them take things serious in there. He spent time with his family, called his siblings to see if they could get down for a hot minute, and went out to see Mike

The Pool Room

Sam walked in to see Blaine and Kurt attempting to play a game, he laughed Kurt was still the same, all this stuff was pants to him "Kurt" he laughed walking towards him "Nothing's changed" he hugged him saying before going over to a laughing Blaine "Guys it's good to see you"

"You too if anything you're more distinguished" Kurt laughed looking at Sam with his hair pulled back into a neat pony tail and unshaped facial hair

"And you're more Kurt" he laughed hugging him again "What are you guys doing here?"

"Just hanging"

"I'm expecting Mike, we're meeting here, I saw him for a hot minute yesterday"

"Hot minute?" Kurt asked "Mercy still on your damn mind Dude, I thought you married Rachel?"

"I did"

"Sorry Dude but she turned out to be a right you know what" Kurt looked at him saying

"No sorry needed, she ….." he went to say but was interrupted

"Guys" Mike walked in saying arms open

"Mike" they all shouted together grabbing hugs

"Special guest" he said looking back at the door where they watched Artie speeding in "He's gone electronic" he laughed as they moved out the way of his classic shin dig

"Dudes" he said as everyone crowded him when he'd stopped

"Lets grab a table" Blaine suggested seeing this was going to be a session, looking around for a table he saw a familiar frame peeping from the far booth "is that..." he walked over to the booth asking as everyone stood watching him "Fuck it's Puck" he shouted back at everyone

"Oh that's my surprise" Sam told them as everyone rushed over to see him

The drinks came, food was ordered and the group sat catching up on the past maybe twenty years, getting as familiar as they were all those years ago

"I miss you guys" Mike told everyone

"I know" Artie agreed "It seems like Rachel lost the baby, Mercy passed and everything just went to pot, it should have brought us more together, I thought we were stronger than that, I get the girls they were all bitches to each other but us" he looked around the saying

Puck and Sam looked at each other uneasily "We saw Mr Jones last night at the bar, he sort of told us..." Puck said looking at Sam

"He told us Mercy hadn't passed, she's lost her memory"

"What!" everyone said to them looking from one to the other

"Where is she?" Kurt jumped up asking "She was my best friend, why did they not tell me?"

"He said he didn't want us to see her, he wouldn't tell us" Puck told them

"I don't understand, surely if she's lost her memory seeing us might have helped bring her back?" Artie asked

"Apparently she doesn't even remember them, her family I mean" Sam told them "It's been 21 years yesterday"

"21 years?" Blaine gasped "Where's life gone?"

"There was something about the way he told us he didn't want us to see her that made me want to find her" Sam told them

"With your history I guess you'd have wanted to see her anyway" Blaine smiled at Sam saying

"Guys that's what I do for a living, like Ironside but no blood and guts stuff" Artie announced

"Yeah right" Kurt looked at his saying

"Honestly I find people for inheritance really, but it's the same principles"

"Did any of us do what we said we were going to do when we were back in school?" Puck asked

"Well I wanted to marry Sugar or Tina so no" Artie smiled

"Tina was supposed to be mine" Mike piped up looking at Artie "Instead I got a quickie wedding to a random and an even quicker divorce once we decided after 11 years we didn't even like each other" he smiled "But 5 years ago I connected with Tina again and well I'm happy now"

"We got each other" Blaine looked at Kurt saying

"I sort of got what I thought I wanted" Puck smiled "But Mercy proved me wrong, life hasn't been how I thought it would be, but I don't feel like I can close the book on it yet"

"No" Sam told everyone, they just looked they knew what he meant

"I'll definitely see what I can find out about the Mercedes thing" Artie said sending a quiet over the group "What will you do if she's happy?" he laughed before he started singing and slowly everyone joined in

Happier" by Ed Sheeran

Artie: Walking down 29th and park, I saw you in another's arms, only 10 years we've been apart, you look happier
Saw you walk inside a bar, he said something to make you laugh, I saw that both your smiles were twice as wide as ours
Yeah you look happier, you do

Sam: Ain't nobody hurt you like I hurt you, but ain't nobody love you like I do
Promise that I will not take it personal baby, if you're moving on with someone new

All: Cause baby you look happier, you do, my friends told me one day I'll feel it too
And until then I'll smile to hide the truth, but I know I was happier with you

Sam & Puck: Sat in the corner of the room, everything's reminding me of you
Nursing an empty bottle and telling myself you're happier, aren't you?

All: Ain't nobody hurt you like I hurt you, but ain't nobody need you like I do
I know that there's others that deserve you, Sam & Puck: but my darling I am still in love with you

All: But I guess you look happier, you do, my friends told me one day I'll feel it too
I could try to smile to hide the truth, but I know I was happier with you

Puck: Baby you look happier, you do, I knew one day you'd fall for someone new
Sam: But if he breaks your heart like lovers do, just know that I'll be waiting here for you

"If it should ever happen that I see her again, I know I have work to do" Sam told him "But I'll do it, for her I'll do it"

"So you will take it personal then?" Mike asked

"Hell to the yes" he laughed

Several drinks, finished food and a few games of Pool later, Sam got a call from his Dad to say his siblings had arrived, he left excited to see his niece and two nephews "We'll catch up" he shouted to the others after shouting his contact details for everyone and rushing through the door

"What's the rush?" Artie asked when he was out the door

"I don't think he's seen is siblings for years, Rachel's banned him from seeing them because they had children of something" Puck told everyone "He was telling me yesterday"

"Shit man, life" Mike said shaking his head

"Let's forget about Berry shall we? I want to be happy, hell I want to see Sam happy again" Blaine announced "Artie do your damn thing, find Miss Jones, we'll pay"

Sam

He got home and cried at the sight of cars on the drive even, all this emotion he'd kept inside for the longest time, getting to talk to his friends even for the afternoon had been beneficial. He opened the door and didn't recognise the young man standing there for a second "Mark?" he asked going towards him

"Uncle Sam" 19 year old Mark smiled "Finally" he hugged him saying, Sam stood hugging crying like a baby

"Good to finally meet you" he finally said looking up to see Stevie crying looking at him "Stevie" he reached out for his saying grabbing his brother so hard it could have been mistaken for anger, and maybe he was a bit for allowing Rachel to keep him away from his family for so long "I missed you bro" he looked up shocked to see his sister coming out the kitchen too "Stacy" he really didn't expect to see her, he left his brother and nephew and ran to her god he'd missed these people "I can't do this any more, this thing with Rachel, I can't do it any more" he held onto his sister saying "I love you guys"

"We understand Sammy" Stacy held him saying "We hate it, but we understand it, you couldn't live with a death on your hands, and we wouldn't want you to" the conversation quickly got off Rachel and onto events for the family, "These are my twins Adrian and Hannah" she said introducing him to his 14 year old niece and nephew he'd never met, things he'd missed, pictures, hugs, kisses and family time, he'd really missed it and he cried when everyone finally had to leave, he'd taken contact details and promised to be back when young Mark's baby was born, vowing not to leave it so long before the exit visit which would include spouses.

Pretty soon the week was over and it was time to go back to their lives as they knew it

Puck in Kentucky

Puck knew how he'd left things with Quinn and he was reluctantly returning to Kentucky because over the past week he'd determined this was the last place he wanted to be. His problem was he didn't have an alternative, he'd never seriously looked outside this Quinn box he'd made himself and in the mix he had to think about their children, life had never been smooth sailing for them but nevertheless, it was family life as the children knew it. This really wasn't the time to go messing with their heads now they were at college, trying to make something of their lives, he needed to plan this right, although right now anywhere else, when compared to Rachel and Quinn's lie drama, would have been a walk in the fucking park.

Getting off the coach was hard but once he was off he made the journey home, stopping for a shot of courage on the way "Hi" he said as he walked in, ignoring Quinn's rolling eyes

"Noah we agreed you'd leave" she looked back at the sink saying

"You agreed I'd leave Q get it right, I needed time out, I took it"

"But we're agreed this isn't working?"

"Are we?"

"Look, I don't mean to start as soon as you walk through the door but, I didn't expect you to walk through the fucking door if I'm honest, I'm trying to move on, if you get what I mean"

"What, you found someone else in a fucking week?"

"No, is that what you think our fucking problems are, someone else?"

"More like great fucking expectations" he laughed sarcastically "Anyway I'm really not in the mood for this, I've been with my parents all week and sadly reminded it been 21 years since Mercedes passed last week, I've been on a downer, it brings things into prospective"

"That still doesn't say try again" she snapped at him

"For our sake, for the children even this is bad timing for them, and I'm not saying I don't agree with you, just well... let's at least try to get back on track until they're fine, say 6 months"

"It's not going to make a difference Noah I know how I feel" she stepped off saying, life was pretty much quiet after that until the 6 months was up and she came back still adamant that things had to stop and he finally agreed as he watched her walk out the room, end of a life together.

"Your phone" he shouted after her as he watched it ringing on the kitchen counter "Hi Brad" he picked it up and answered it saying seeing it was her brother, expecting he was talking about money again "She's just stepped out, can I help"

"Well yeah you could actually, you're never around to speak to" he laughed "You could try footing the fucking bill for these trips for Florida every six month"

"What trips to Florida, I thought she came to California to see you guys?"

"She hasn't been to see us for about 6 years now Dude, what the fucks going on up there?"

"What does she go to Florida for?" Puck asked

"I should be asking you that, why do you guys go there, what's there?"

"I can assure you we don't go to Florida" Puck told him

"I suggest you speak to your wife"

"Brad I got to go" he said putting the phone down "The Bitch, she's got some man in Florida, that's why everything's so fucking easy for her to leave" he threw the phone down thinking "There should be no fucking surprise Puckerman, she cheated on every fucking man she's ever been with including you" he looked at the door she'd not long walked out of "Quinn" he shouted waiting for a response "Quinn" he shouted again when he didn't get one, walking towards the door and through it to their bedroom to find her packing "What are you doing?"

"Packing, you won't leave so I will"

"Brad's just been on the phone, says I should be paying for all these fucking trips to Florida, what's going on?"

"Nothing's going on, not that I answer to you any more, we just made it clear we've finished"

"Because you have someone else?"

"No I don't"

"You can unpack, I'm leaving you can stay in the house and keep everything in it" he walked to the door saying "But you didn't deny you go to Florida" she stopped packing and looked at him, it was clear she wasn't about to give him an answer she so does have a fucking man there he slammed the door thinking and what the fuck is this Puckerman jealousy, honestly? "No pissed off" he grabbed his phone to make the call to his Mom and book the ticket to go back to Lima

Sam in Washington

Sam had opted for the quiet life, he knew two things for sure, he was going to see his brother's grandchild when it was born because he loved his family, and as soon as Artie gave him information about Mercy's whereabouts he was going to see her, somehow he could help her, he needed to help her.

Rachel had survived his trip away and he came back to her nagging because he hadn't called her for a week "Why what did you have to say?" he spun round asking her "Come home?" he laughed "I wasn't coming back till I was ready" he told her

"What the hell is wrong with you?" she asked almost stamping her foot

"Nothing is wrong with me I don't take pills every damn day to wake up, go to sleep, talk, eat that's you"

"So now I'm to blame because I'm ill?"

"Why are you ill Rachel, tell me why are you ill at home and every damn day you put your face on and go teach several classrooms of children about music?"

"I don't know I have to put a face on don't I?" she spun at his saying

"So you can put a face on it for the outside world but in the house you have to be manic every single minute, and you're telling me you can't control that"

"So what are you telling me I'm pretending to be ill?"

"I'm telling you, you turn it on when you need to and it's all been a ply to keep me here with you"

"How fucking sick, what the hell do you have to actually offer me?"

"What do you mean?" he stood up shocked at her question

"I mean, you have no profession and don't tell me that fucking modelling was something, we both knew that was going to fizzle out, you have no qualifications Sam, you came here on my damn back and you've continued to ride me ever since. Yes I allowed you to do that and maybe I had an agenda back then but that's long gone"

"What agenda?"

"Never you mind actually you knew there was competition amongst us" she looked at him saying, he saw something in her eye and he knew it was about Mercy but he wasn't going to be the one to bring her up just now

"I'm going out" he grabbed his keys saying as she shouted after him to come back but he didn't

Life was pretty much shouting for them for the longest time, there was always something left unsaid for fear of seriously hurting the others feelings, followed closely with regret for having not said it. Sam was in constant conversation with the guys and was forever hitting Artie up for an update on Mercy's whereabouts but six months in and still no joy. He woke up to news that morning which merited a visit to Lima, his Grandniece had been born and the family were making the trip to Lima to formally introduce the new addition, he'd promised he'd be there, he jumped up "I'm going to Lima today" he announced walking towards the bathroom

"What do you mean your going to Lima what for?" she jumped up asking

"I've got some business I need to take care of"

"What suddenly you've got business in Lima?"

"Look Rachel we more or less live separate lives, so my activities shouldn't really interfere with any of your plans" he popped his head round the door telling her as he stopped brushing his teeth. Before he made it out the bathroom she was up dressed and packing

"I'm coming with you" she announced

"Okay" he smiled going round to pack his things and get dressed

"Where are we staying?" she smiled happy there had been no argument

"At my parents house, everyone's going down because Stevie's granddaughter has arrived and she's being introduced to the family" he smiled back at a blood drained Rachel, he watched with a smirk on his face as she crumbled "So you still coming or are you going back into crisis?" he looked at her asking

"You're so fucking cruel Sam Evans" she spat at him across the bed

"I'm not cruel Rachel, I'm just not letting you dictate when I can and can't see my damn family" he told her still packing

"If you leave I'll kill myself" she shouted, he knew her performance had just started he'd seen the pattern so many times now he could almost count the seconds to the next level "I mean it?" she took her pills out the draw saying, Sam sat on the bed getting dressed paying no attention to her threat "Sam" she shouted as he heard her opening the bottle and emptying the tablets "I mean it" she told him again

"Well make sure you have your phone on you because you'll need to call the services" he told her without looking back

"I always knew you loved her more than me" she told him, waiting for a reaction but he didn't give her one "Sam I said do you love her more than you love me?" she was hysterical by now, he didn't even know if she'd taken the tablets and seriously, he wasn't getting into it with her, he'd maybe call the services but he wasn't going to be at the hospital, her Dads would have to come over, he was done with her shit. He became aware of her again when something hit him in the back and he turned to see she'd thrown the suitcase at him

"What the fuck" he got up saying looking at her in disbelief "I was going to ask if you were fucking mad but..." he laughed at his own joke

She was infuriated by his don't care attitude and the fact that he hadn't answered her question told her he was "Mercedes is alive you know" she smiled now it was Sam's turn to pop, his face was like thunder "I always knew she hadn't died, but I knew if you knew that, you wouldn't have stayed with us, the baby and me that is, then when she didn't... well I knew for sure you'd go back to her so I just didn't tell you, I had to win"

"You knew?" he gasped "Our whole life together had been a damn lie, that's why you couldn't have children because of those damn lies" he spat at her no care for the hurt he was causing this woman, she'd infected him, his life, he needed out "How could anyone love you, you're half a fucking woman?"

"How Dare you" she jumped across the bed at him saying, he grabbed her hands and flung her on the bed

"Rachel" he looked at her saying, so calmly she was scared "We are done, there will never be a reason why I'd come back to you, do you hear me?" he smirked "And for your information I found out she was alive the last time I went to Lima" he said grabbing his bag and heading for the bedroom door

"Sam!" she screamed after him several times, obviously she didn't believe what he'd told her but he meant every word, he could still hear her when he was standing outside the building screaming his name. He called her parents and told them he thought she'd harm herself but he was done, her Dad didn't seem surprised and actually commended him for the time he'd actually spent with her, he wasn't about to look back.

He got to the airport and called Puck "Dude" he said when Puck picked up "She admitted to me she knew about Mercy, can you fucking believe that, I couldn't stay the whole damn thing's been a lie"

"Dude I was just about to call my Mom, I'm going back to Lima tonight" Puck laughed down the phone

"I'm on my way to the airport too" Sam laughed "Two fly guys running back home to Mommy"

"Dude, if I'd have taken advise I'd have still been there now" Puck laughed "In a bit"

"Yeah later tonight" Sam said closing the call

Lima

Travel was done and they were back in Lima saying hello to family and friends, the first two days were taken up for Sam with meeting and getting to know all his family again and it took him a while after those two days to sit with his parents and actually tell them what was going on for him with Rachel. They were upset about his life, the fact that things had come to an end, even more so with Rachel's attitude towards them when all they'd ever showed her was acceptance, but he dare not tell them about the Mercedes of it all, not yet anyway

Week two and Artie was still coming up with nothing, Puck suggested they march up to the Jones residence as a group and find out what the hell happened to their friend, they laughed at the idea for about another three weeks until the truth hit them, if they were ever going to find anything out they'd need to speak to her family again.

"Let's just do it" Puck told Sam one afternoon as they sat in the pool hall thinking and talking about Mercy again "It's never going to go away"

"Seriously, I want to know but I can hear her Dad in the back of my mind, she can't even remember them, what are we expecting to change for her after all this time?" he looked at Puck asking

"So what do you want to do?"

"I don't know; why do you want to find her?"

"Dude our conversations weren't just one sided, I know how Sexy Mama felt about you, I want at least one of us to get our happy fucking ending" he laughed "I can't lie I love her, I always have but it's nothing like what you guys have, she's like the worlds best sister you know"

"I know that too, how the fuck did I get this so fucking twisted?"

"Dude, your wife told you, you could be anything you wanted to be, and for that second she sounded like Mercedes and you got suckered" he laughed "So what are we going to do?"

Come on let's go see Mr Jones" he jumped up saying

"King of the world" Puck jumped up to follow him saying