Hi Guys I am back with a new Story, I will work on the one's I have to update but we were writing this on Tumblr and Discord and I wanted my loyal readers who weren't on tumblr to get a chance to read this so enjoy!

They say you can never truly go home again, at least that's what she felt as she walked down the halls of McKinley, her old high school. She didn't want to be there and if her soon to be ex would have signed the papers he sent her, she would be back in L.A. planning her wedding, but as it was, she was here whether she liked it or not. Getting stopped in the hall she smiled as she signed a few autographs. She was a hero of sorts to the kids in this place, she got out and made something of herself. A few of her classmates did the same, she thought her soon to be ex was one of them but he loved the small town life. He loved it so much so that when she was offered a record deal he let her leave and had no intention of following her.

She sighed heavily as she glanced through the door watching him go over sheet music. Sam Evans, the love of her life broke her heart. They had met right here in the choir room when they were students, dated, fell in love and married right after high school. It was tough at times, her wanting to live her dreams and he just wanting to stay where they were. Eventually her dreams were too big for this small town and she had to choose. She chose to leave he chose to stay and now almost ten years later, he was where he wanted to be, and she, she was world famous, everyone who was anyone knew who she was, and that was great. She could face adoring fans and crowds of people, but as she opened the door and walked in, she realized, facing a 1000 screaming fans was easy. Facing your ex husband who basically abandoned you and your child, that was the hard part.

Sam's eyes scanned the sheet music which was meant to be for this week's lesson. He wasn't the best person to give a lesson on love songs. His own love life had crashed and burned years ago. It might have been naïve to think Mercedes would come back from LA for him, but Sam held on to the hope. She could fly out for her career then come home — to Lima. Then he got the divorce papers which lived happily at the bottom of the drawer in the old desk he'd gotten from his mom. Over the years, they'd been mostly forgotten. He went on dates; he moved on. Mostly. Or not at all.

His lips moved as he read the lyrics printed underneath the staffs. He stumbled over a couple of the words. There was a lot of noise in the hallway. He wondered if it was Sue causing trouble. It usually was. There were footsteps approaching the door, and Sam thought it was one of the kids in glee. They would stop in randomly, for advice or if class was too much for them. "Door's open," he called behind him without looking up.

Hearing him tell her that the door was open, she hesitated a moment. What was she going to say to him? What could she say to him? "Hey can i have the divorce papers?" or "Thanks for abandoning your child"? She sighed heavily. It was now or never. Never, I vote never, her heart sang, but she knew she had o do it. Opening the door, she stepped in, shutting the door behind her. Clearing her throat she walked closer to his desk.

"Sam." She said, not knowing what to add to it.

He heard the door shut and raised a brow. This was never good. Sam couldn't count the number of times the kids had tried to have him counsel heir drama. They were almost worse than they'd been during his high school years. Almost.

"I'm sure whatever's going on is —" he started as he turned around, the words dying on his lips as he saw Mercedes. "Mercedes. Hey. What are you… why are you… hi."

Mercedes straightened out her above the knee blue dress and leather jacket upon his gaze, she didn't know if he was staring at her because he was shocked or because he was wondering how she changed. Swallowing she nodded.

"Yeah hi… I am here because we need to talk and I figured if I called you of hung up."

Sam nodded slowly. He didn't get up from where he was sitting, but he did set the papers aside. There wasn't a time he would have hung up on Mercedes. He was, what most would call, in too deep almost from the moment he saw her for the first time. The feeling hadn't changed.

"Well, you've been busy. Of course we haven't talked. I get it. I mean, you knew where to find me." He shrugged. Logically, he shouldn't be upset but he was.

Mercedes sighed. "Yeah I knew where to find you and now i have." She stepped closer to him, pulling out a set of papers. "I am here because I need you to sign these papers. I will never understand how its been 8 years and you still keep dodging your decisions, but that is neither here nor there. Sign this and I can be on my way." she said placing the folder on his desk.

"My decision?" He was caught off guard by that. "I don't think you can blame me for this." Sam took the papers from her and glanced at them. They seemed identical to the ones he had at home. "Why exactly are you giving these to me again? I still have them."

"Yes your decision Sam, but none of that matters I am giving these to you because you can't seem to get the hint that this is over, I can't stay married to you Sam, hell we have been a part longer than we were married. Just sign the papers and let's go our separate ways." She said placing her hair behind her ears.

"It's all been your decision." LA, the divorce, coming back. Sam hadn't had a say in any of it. "You know I'd do anything for you," he said softly as he set the papers down on top of the sheet music. "But I won't do that."

Mercedes scoffed. "Funny." She moved closer pushing the papers towards him. "Sam I am not playing around right now. I have to go back and get- I have to get back on a flight to L.A. so just sign it and I will be out of your hair."

He licked his dry lips and took the papers back before setting them a little further away. It was far from mature, but he didn't care. "Yeah. I heard you were getting married. Maybe this one will stick." He laughed softly. "I don't have a pen anyway."

"How did-" She shook her head pulling out a pen, he didn't need to know about her life and she didn't need to know about his, all of this was just drama that she didn't want nor need. "Here use mines."

"Google." Sam shrugged. There was no reason to deny that he'd looked her up. It wouldn't make any different. What was she going to do — find him pitiful? It was probably done. He shook his head. "This is stupid. I haven't changed my mind."

"Google? Okay fine whatever." At his comment she rolled her eyes and ran her hands through her hair. "God Sam do you have to be so damn stubborn? Still?" Her phone rang and if it wasn't for the fact that it was her sons ringtone she would have ignore it. Turning away from Sam she answered. "Hey Sweetie what's up? What Movie? I mean sure I don't know how much longer I will be here, just tell Grandpa I said go easy on the candy. SJ you better not." She laughed shaking her head as the boy hung up quickly. God he was just like his dad. Turning to Sam she shook her head. "Can we please just do this."

When her phone rang, Sam couldn't help the rush of bitterness which washed over him. It was likely clear on his face. Grandpa? Okay, that was a little confusing. He swallowed hard. "Who was that?"

Sam asked who it was and she shook her head. "Like you care. Just sign the papers and I can be headed back to L.A. and out of your life for good."

Hadn't his asking made it clear enough he cared? Fine. If she didn't want to tell him, she didn't have to. As much as he wanted to know, she didn't really owe him anything. Married or not. He shook his head. "Glee is going to start soon," he said. As if holding this off would make her stop asking. She might not leave Lima until he signed the papers. Why'd he like the idea?

"Well then if Glee is starting soon, maybe you should go ahead and sign the papers. That way I can get out of your hair. Sure you have other things you would rather be doing right now." She said folding her hands across her chest.

A lazy smile spread across Sam's face. "No, I don't. I never really have anything I wanna do more than talk to you." He set the divorce papers to the side and held the sheet music again because he probably did need to get ready.

"Yeah I don't believe that." He pushed the papers aside and she moved over to him angrily. "Why do you have to be such a jerk right now! I can't believe you right now. Just sign the papers Sam it's not that hard."

"Me? You came to Ohio to yell at me because I didn't sign your divorce papers!" Sam sighed. "I have to read them over. It'll take me a while! You know me. Stupid."

"Stop it! No matter how I feel about you, I won't stand by, and listen to you telling me you are stupid. Joking or not. I came here because you act like its such a big inconvenience. Just sign the papers Sam, make things easier on yourself."

"How is it going to make things easier on me, Mercy?" he asked. "You're going to get married to some guy who doesn't…" Doesn't care about her as much as he does. "Doesn't matter. Don't pretend it's for me."

He called her Mercy and she frowned, he knew what that nickname did to her. "Sam," she said softly shaking her head. "Don't do this, you made your decision a long time ago and so did I. Sign the papers, let things go okay?" She moved over to him and sat on the desk next to him.. "Sam what we had, what we shared it was amazing and I don't regret it. But its been 8 years, we aren't the same people we don't live the same life or want the same things. I know you moved on so just sign the papers." She pushed them back looking at him. "Sign them and I will leave."

"I didn't decide anything," he mumbled, despite the fact he hadn't followed her. Maybe it was the decision she made. "I haven't, you know? I tried, but…" Sam trailed off and went back to scanning the sheet music. "I said I need to read them."

"Fine." She said standing up. "I will stay during Glee and when the class is over I will sit and wait for you to "read" and then sign them." She said. Now that SJ was going to the movies with her dad she had the time.

Sam raised an eyebrow. "You wanna be a special guest? It's all about love songs." The whole town knew about their past. It would be hopelessly ironic if she were there for this lesson. "It'll take me longer than that. It's a thick packet."

Mercedes shrugged. "Never said a guest, I said I will sit back and watch. And as for the papers. It's not the different. You even get some money out of this Sam. because no matter what I wouldn't have made it without you. I am almost up there with Mariah, Beyonce, and Whitney just like you said I would be. Let's end this right Sam and who knows maybe in the future we could be friends again. "

He shrugged. "If you're gonna be here, would it be fair to deprive the kids?" Sam rolled his eyes. "I don't want your money! I don't need it!" In theory, he didn't. He lived in a shitty apartment with a small dog so he didn't get too lonely. Which, the more he thought about it, seemed incredibly depressing. He was too proud to accept anything. "Your fiancé know you were married?" Still was.

"Fine I will sing a song, whatever." She sighed. "I know Sam, doesn't mean anything. My Lawyer thought it was fair." She rolled her eyes. "What he knows or doesn't know isn't any of your business."

Sam smiled a little, thankful he had a guest for the class. It was easy to convince Rachel to come. She loved the attention. "I'm glad. I haven't heard you sing in a while." Never mind the fact he owned all of her albums. She was close to his top played artist on Spotify. "It's kind of my business. Legally."

Mercedes nodded. "Yeah." She ran her hand through her hair again looking at Sam. "He knows I was married and he looks past that. SJ likes him too so that's a bonus." she said before she could stop herself.

"SJ?" Sam didn't recognize the name. Was he supposed to? "Is that your dog or something? I mean, I'm glad he doesn't bite your fiancé." It was a lie.

Mercedes sighed. "SJ isn't my dog." Was she going to tell him? Tell him that the baby was a boy names Samuel Joshua? She swallowed hard. He deserved to know the truth. "SJ is my son. He's 8." Before she could hear Sam's response the school bell rang and soon the door to the choir room opened and a bunch of kids walked in. "Guess it's time to sing."

"Son?" Sam wasn't much better with math than he was with reading, but eight years meant… he paled, felt like he was going to throw up. He couldn't show it though. "Uh, we're doing love songs this week. Here's Mercedes Jones." His words were rushed and he moved to sit off to the side and let himself panic however briefly.

She was introduced so fast and Mercedes glanced at the kids in front of her, most of them giggling and laughing taking her picture. She cleared her throat. "Hi guys, I am Mercedes. You gotta bare with me, it's been awhile since I was in this choir room. Sitting in the chairs like you." She cleared her throat. "Love songs are something that will never go out of style. You have those, baby come back love songs, the you give me good love. songs. I mean me when I hear love songs I immediately go to Whitney. She smiled. "I haven't practiced so bare with me." She said as she began to sing "Saving all my love."

His panicking subsided when she began to sing. Sam found himself relaxing. Something about this felt normal, like they were young again. As she wrapped up the song, the students began to clap and Sam knew he'd have to lead the class once more. "Um, this week, focus on what love means to you. When I was your age I was… dating Mercedes Jones." He laughed awkwardly and shook his head. "So. I'm sure you guys all have something going on."

Mercedes bowed slightly when the kids applauded. Taking a seat when Sam started talking. When he said they had dated some of the kids whistled while some didn't believe him and looked to Mercedes for confirmation. She nodded. "Believe it or not, we did. For a long time."

Sam grinned. "Exactly! There are pictures. I swear." Wedding photos, one of which he had framed and sitting on his bedside table. He'd lay it flat whenever he planned to bring someone home, a definite mood killer. "And I can think of plenty of songs I would've sang to her when I was your age."

Mercedes smiled. "Glee club was always a place where we could express ourselves. Sam sung to me once or twice, we even had a duet." She smiled thinking back on Human Nature. Someone yelled for him to sing and she smiled. "Yeah sing for them Sam."

Sam laughed a little. "I don't really know what I'd sing," he admitted with a shake of his head. He shook his head and grabbed his guitar. As cheesy as it was, he decided he'd play "This Town" by Niall Horan. It summed up his feelings for her fairly well.

Mercedes swallowed as Sam began to strum the song. She knew it well and knew what those words meant to him. She looked away feeling tears come to her eyes. "God Sam." She said to herself. Once he was finished the kids applauded and Mercedes did as well feeling a little misty eyed.

As he sang, his eyes subconsciously flickered to Mercedes a few times. He wanted to see her reaction. Though, when she looked away, he focused on the class. He wouldn't think about that. He stood once he was finished and smiled. "So think about what love means to you."

As the class droned on, she continued watching Sam and his students, it was great seeing him in his element, he was a great teacher and the kids really responded to him. She watched at the kids stood up singing their own love songs. A love triangle had her thinking of Finn, Quinn and Rachel, but she shook that off.

Most of the students performed, though the quieter ones seemed to be putting it off. Sam understood. Hell, some people might not even be dating in high school. As the class wrapped he called out, "It doesn't have to be romantic love, guys! I love my family more than anything! Think about it!"

Mercedes sat by the piano, and once the class was over, took some pictures and signed autographs as they filed out the room. She looked over at Sam and grabbed her bag. "That was fun, I forgot how much I used to love Glee."

"I get to do this every day!" Sam announced with a grin. It might be simple to a lot of people, but he liked simple. He wouldn't have fit in in LA Mercedes did. Losing her was the only thing he regretted. "It's no performing to sold out venues, but it keeps me occupied!"

Mercedes nodded. "Well you are doing a great job with them." She missed Sam, not realizing how much until she was this close to him, but what they had was over, he would never be what she wanted. "I am staying with my parents for the time being, if you could get the papers to me that would be great."

Sam nodded for a second before asking the question which had been on his mind. "How is your son eight? I mean, nine months plus eight years…" She was still here then.

Mercedes looked at him and shook her head. "Seven and a half months, SJ was early, and he just turned 8. What? Surprised I didn't get rid of it? I told you when I found out I was already four months. But it doesn't matter."

She had told him she was having a baby? His baby? When did this happen? "I'm pretty sure I would have remembered that, Mercedes!

"I am not doing this with you Sam, like I said, sign the papers and I will be out of your hair, you can go back to your life the way you wanted."

"This isn't the way I wanted! Can you just — why didn't you tell me you were having my kid? My phone numbers the same as it has been!"

"I did tell you! You are the one who didn't care!" she said, she was angry, she was hurt and she didn't want to feel that way anymore.

"I would not have forgotten that!" There were likely better places to do this. Anyone could walk in. Of course, he doubted she would go anywhere with him unless he signed the divorce papers, something he was pointedly not doing. "Mercedes, you know me! Are you seriously going to believe I would abandon a kid?" Overall, Sam thought he was a pretty good guy. A little goofy, but a good guy.

"I didn't think you would, until I saw it with my own eyes." Tears filled her eyes as she turned away from Sam. "I thought when you found out you would come for us, come to us but instead." She shook her head. "it doesn't matter Sam." she said sadly as she wrapped her arms around herself willing herself not to cry over him, over this, not again.

He shouldn't reach out to lay his hand on her shoulder but he couldn't help it. Sam just wanted to be close to her. "I didn't know… don't — I didn't know!" Why did she think he knew about this and walked away?

He touched her and her body betrayed her, it went weak at his touch and she cried. She turned towards him, just wanting to be in his arms but not going to him. She stared at him tears falling. "I don't I can't." she said not being able to speak anymore.

Wrapping his arms around her felt natural for Sam. He let out a soft sigh. He didn't know what to say. Mercedes seemed to truly believe he'd known, but he couldn't figure out why. There was no call, no voicemail, no anything!

As he wrapped his arms around her she did the Sam, giving in to his touch and laid her head on his shoulder holding him tightly as she did so many times before.

Sam concentrated on the rhythm of her breathing and let his eyes slip shut. For a moment, he could pretend things hadn't changed — pretend he wasn't ignoring the divorce papers she'd brought, like she wasn't only here to make her next marriage possible.

Her breathing showed as she was in his arms, her heart speeding up as she took in his scent. God it was so long ago since a man made her heart race like this. She pulled away looking at him, seeing not the cold heartless man she knew he was but the man he was so long ago.

Meeting her eyes, he didn't know what to think. There was a part of him which thought, knew, she hated him. Sam didn't know how she'd come to the conclusion and he couldn't figure out how to change it.

Being close to him again, it brought everything back. The love, the closeness. She couldn't take it, take the want to kiss him, knowing how much it hurt to be with him, how much he hurt her. She pulled away from him. "I should go."

He wanted to keep holding on to her, but she clearly had other plans. Sam cleared his throat. "Yeah, um. Yeah. Yeah. I get it. You have… other things to do. Call our son."

Mercedes sighed. "Look maybe you weren't ready, maybe you didn't understand but I told you." She said softly. Looking at him she could see the sadness in his eyes. "Here." she said picking up her phone and scrolling. She stopped on the picture. "Samuel Joshua. Thats his name or SJ for short."

"You didn't tell me," Sam mumbled. He would have been ready. He'd been ready in high school to watch Stevie and Stacey. Why wouldn't he be ready for his own kid? It wasn't worth arguing when he saw the picture on her phone. He gently took it from her hand. "Fuck, he's… beautiful. Is that weird?" People said it about babies and to him, SJ — Samuel Joshua — was one.

"No its not weird, he was a beautiful baby, he has your eyes. And reminds me of you all the time." She sighed taking her phone back.

He clenched his jaw. "Yeah. Why didn't you… bring him?" Probably because she was convinced he didn't want to see him for whatever reason she'd come to the conclusion.

Mercedes sighed. "I thought about it, I just didn't want him to be met with disappointment."

"I love kids," Sam said softly, gesturing around the room as if working with teens was comparable to being near an eight year old. "That's — that's about how old the kids were when I had to watch them while my parents worked!"

Mercedes sighed. She ran her hands through her hair, was she really about to do this? "Look my dad has a conference tonight so after I get home he and my mom are leaving why don't you come over and meet him, kinda like old time except we won't be fooling around in my room."

Sam nodded slowly. "Yeah, I can do that…" He assumed it would work best since he figured her parents had the same view on him as Mercedes did.

Mercedes nodded. "Okay, well bring the papers with you." She nodded before walking out of the room before she changed her mind.

[ timeskip ]

Sam couldn't remember a time he had been this nervous. He sat in his car outside of the Jones' house for a few minutes as he tried to calm down. It was more difficult than he would have thought. He eventually had to give up on it and headed to the door. He rang the bell, shifting from place to place. There was a box of Avengers' legos he definitely hadn't had lying around unopened. It would be nice to give to SJ, right? Who didn't like the avengers?

Mercedes had been nervous, but was she nervous to see Sam again, or was it because he was meeting SJ for the first time. She wanted to believe it was all about SJ but she wasn't sure. Taking the Lasagna out of the over, she looked over to the couch. "SJ go wash your hands for dinner." she said, he hesitated for a moment but then did what she asked. When the bell rang, she smoothed down the dress she wore earlier, this time just without the jacket and ruffled her hair. She stopped shaking her head, what was she doing? Opening the door she smiled softly. "Hey Sam." she moved letting him in. "SJ can you come here please?"

Sam stood awkwardly on the doorstep, deciding not to step inside until he actually met her son. Their son. It was a weird concept to get used to. He was a … father. Not a dad because he hadn't been there at all, but a father.

SJ ran to the room, the little sandy blond curly headed boy with his mother's smile and his fathers eyes look at her. "Yes ma'am." Mercedes smiled. "SJ there is someone I want you to meet. This is Sam." SJ smiled. "My name is Sam too."

He swore his heart stopped when he saw the little boy. Sam could see the resemblance she was talking about. He could also see so much of Mercedes in him. "Hi. That's pretty cool… um, good name. I brought legos?" Had he ever sounded this awkward? He looked towards Mercedes for assistance.

"Cool!" SJ said at the legos, he grabbed them and walked away. "Hey!" Mercedes said and then SJ turned around. "Sorry. Thank you…wanna play?"

"Yeah!" That, Sam could do. He smiled a little at Mercedes as he followed the young boy. "So… what do you like to do?" He looked back to Mercedes, as if expecting her to follow.

Mercedes watched SJ leave Sam into the living room and instead of following them, she shut the door and finished dinner. She looked in on them as SJ smiled towards Sam and told him how much he liked video games and comic books.

When Mercedes didn't follow, Sam found himself awkwardly standing near SJ. The more the boy talked, the more he found they had in common. He didn't think he'd ever been so glad to have things in common with someone. "I have to agree, Miles Morales is the best Spider-Man, but I'm old and I liked Peter Parker!"

Mercedes walked in on the tail end of the conversation and smiled. "Did you tell Sam we were watching In to the Spider Verse tonight?" She said shaking her head. "Dinner's ready if you are hungry."

"That's awesome!" Sam said, voice having gone from nervous to genuine. He wasn't going to ask to stay, at least not yet. "You know me. I'm always hungry."

Mercedes nodded. "Well we were going to eat and watch the movie, you can stay, won't hurt for you to hang with SJ before we leave for L.A. again." She said turning back towards the kitchen to make the plates. "SJ, grab some silverware for the three of us please." "Okay" he said jumping up.

Before they left. Right. They were still going to leave. Sam shook his head. "Yeah. If you want me to stay, I will."

Mercedes shrugged, it wasn't about her. "I mean it's up to you not me."

"No, I'm going to spend as much time with both of you as I can," he said simply.

Mercedes sighed, she didn't like the way he said that. As the night progressed it was hard not to fall back into the old patterns they had. By the time Into The Spider Verse was over, SJ had convinced them to watch both Infinity War and Endgame on the Firestick. After a few hours Mercedes awoke to a black tv screen. SJ was sleep on her lap and she was laying on Sam, his arm around her shoulder. When had they gotten that comfortable? She tried to sit up without waking either of them but in trying not to move SJ, she nudged Sam.

Things felt normal and Sam knew better than to let himself get used to this. He certainly shouldn't have fallen asleep during the movie. He didn't realize he had until something bumped into him. Someone. Mercedes. Right. He looked at her for a moment. "Uh, sorry. I should go."

Mercedes gently moved SJ off her lap and laid him on the other side of the couch. She ruffled her hair looking at her phone for the time. That's when she realized she had four missed calls. Had she just not heard the phone? Looking at Sam she nodded. "Yeah I am sorry I don't even know how we got to sleep." She glanced at SJ. "I am glad you got to see him though."

Sam stood, awkward for the second time that night. "Yeah, it's fine. It was… it was nice. I had a really good time." He leaned down and hugged her quickly before he lost nerve. After a smile, he walked out the door. It wasn't until he was on the doorstep that it struck him the divorce papers were at home. Oh well. Mercedes hadn't remembered either.