Chapter Two: The Talk

A/N: I am back and I am going to try to work on this rewrite of one of my favorite Angelic fanfictions Where You Least Expect It written by mattiwilda. It will have a similar plot but very different characterizations and actions and characters. In this chapter, I borrow songs that are not mine. Shout outs to websites, products, and songs mentioned I own nothing but the ability to type my thoughts and let the words run away from me. Remember I have no Beta so please forgive the wordiness, mistakes, and the hot mess of the entire situation. Trigger Warnings: mental illness, drug abuse, and strong Christian themes.

Sam used the data he had on his phone to try to understand what Mercedes was feeling. She was taking forever in the bath, and he found an interesting article on Psychology Today that helped him to understand what she was going through. The article mentioned how estrangement from family is among the most painful human experiences. As he looked to see what he could do to help her, the answer was having someone to listen to an estranged person and treating the person as a normal person, and Sam felt that he was able to do both of those things.

He wanted to reach out to the Jones' family and confront Mr. Jones, but Sam knew that he would not be welcomed at their home. When her father had found out that they were back together in New York, he didn't waste any time telling Mercedes how much he disapproved of the boy who kick-started her dream of becoming a recording artist into a reality. No matter how much time had passed, Mr. Jones lack of love Sam had not abated.

Mrs. Jones, on the other hand, was the total opposite of her husband. She worked for her husband as his receptionist and billing clerk and allowed him to run the practice as he runs the household. She was meek, kind, and one of the best cooks he had ever known including his granny who was no slouch in the kitchen department. She was always nice to Sam, and he knew if he was going to find out about how he could reconcile Mercedes with her dad, then it was going to have to be through her mom. Mercedes inherited her forgiving nature and nurturing characteristics from her mom.

When Mercedes finally came out of the bathroom, Sam could barely recognize her. She was still a little unsteady on her feet, but there was a calmness to her that didn't gel with the situation that they were now in.

"Mercedes, are you okay?" Sam asked wondering how he was going to get her to a hospital if something was seriously wrong with her.

"Oh, Sam I am fine. You didn't have bottled water in there and I didn't trust your tap water, so I just crushed up two of my medicines and snorted them up my nose." Mercedes said unable to lie and she didn't know why.

"What medication are you taking Mercedes?" Sam asked as he went into the bathroom and discovered the bottle beside her purse. It was Valium. Thank God it wasn't something illegal, and she had a prescription but snorting it was not a good sign at all.

"I have a prescription from my doctor, Sam, I am not a drug addict. I just need it to calm my nerves. When my mom called, I had a panic attack and the doctor told me that Valium can be addictive, so he only gave me five pills. I took one on Monday, one on yesterday, and I just snorted two today. And I feel a lot better now."

"Mercedes I am going to lead you downstairs, and I am going to feed you and wait for your meds to level off. Do you want to watch a movie with me downstairs?' Sam asked as he grabbed her purse including her last pill to make sure she didn't sneak and take it later.

When they made it downstairs, Mercedes smiled up at him and said, "Sammy don't tell me you are taking me to your sex dungeon. I have seen the advertisement of houses like this on the internet. I may no longer be a virgin, but I am not ready for any 50 shades or any crazy mess like that."

Sam couldn't contain his laughter and after he reacquainted Mercedes with his man cave, he led her to a recliner and picked out a movie for them to watch. Sam hoped she still liked watching Brandy in Cinderella. When she babysat Stacie the two of them had watched the movie repeatedly, and it was still one of his sister's favorite movies.

Sam watched Mercedes as she watched the movie. She barely touched the pop tart he had given her but she did drink the water. Mercedes barely made it to half way through the movie before she had fallen to sleep while singing along with the movie.

While Mercedes slept, Sam researched Valium addiction and was surprised to see snorting as one of the symptoms of addiction. He knew it was highly unlikely that Mercedes was addicted to the drug after only four doses of it, but he would monitor her and see if she began suffering from withdrawal.

She had so much on her tiny shoulders, and he knew what they did was another burden for her bear. He wanted to share her burdens, but he didn't know how he was going to convince her to trust him after the mistake he made last night. And they still hadn't talked about it. He was dreading the talk, but he loved Mercedes and knew it was best to be open and honest with her.

Mercedes woke up for the second time that day not aware of her surroundings, but as soon as she looked beside her and saw Sam looking at her face some of the memories from the night before slowly began to infiltrate her brain. Sam's mouth kissing her, licking her, and for that brief moment making all her pain and self-doubts disappear. She was half-way tempted to recreate the night that she could barely remember. She had a feeling that making love to Sam would make her feel better than the Valium she was taking.

"Sam, I …", the gurgling from her empty belly interrupted what she was going to say and they both burst out in laughter.

"How about I feed you some lunch and then we can have our conversation?" Sam asked as he got up and headed towards the micro-fridge. I got every type of Doritos known to man, popcorn, ramen noodles, canned soup, and of course Lucky Charms. What do you want?" Sam asked figuring he would eat some Doritos and be fine.

"How about the soup, I don't think I will be able to digest anything other than that or ramen noodles." After Sam heated the soup and tried to share his Doritos with her, Mercedes finally settled down on the recliner and waited for Sam to return from washing his hands and brushing his teeth. Although Mercedes liked Nacho Cheese Doritos the Cool Ranch Doritos smelled like feet, and Sam remembered her aversion to the smell and quickly went to rid himself of it.

When he came back into the room, Mercedes was sitting quietly as if she was in some kind of daze. "Are you alright, Cedes?" Sam asked again very concerned about her aberrant behavior.

"I am the opposite of alright, Sam, I am a hot mess, and I think I am beginning to self-fulfill the prophecy that my dad has on me and my life. I am having one night stands and snorting pills. I am obviously becoming the poster child for sex, drugs, and rock and roll. Next, my dad will claim that I have joined the Illuminati like my brother Michael believes."

"Mercedes, I still go the same church, I attended with Quinn and her family when I moved to Lima. There is no such thing as a big sin or a little sin. Lying is a sin, Gluttony is a sin, and I am sure disowning your daughter is a sin. Sex outside of marriage is a sin, but we sin daily and so does your father. It doesn't make us no longer Christians or no longer worthy of receiving and giving love. You know this better than both of us and so does your father. I love you Mercedes, and I don't regret expressing my love for you, but I do regret one thing." Sam said looking into her eyes with love trying to make her feel the honesty behind his words.

"Sam, I know what you are saying. I know there is truth in your words, but I don't see how you can love me when I am a disaster. Nobody else but my mom seems to love me and I think she is dying Sam. I think that is why I am back in Lima, and she is willing to risk dad's wrath in having me back home." Mercedes finally admitted what was causing her the most grief- her greatest fear and she dissolved in tears.

Sam moved from his seat on the bean bag below Mercedes and got up and picked her up and got in the chair underneath her and held her in his arms as she cried and cried. Sam couldn't help but to rock her to sleep and sing one of his number one hits that he had penned for Kane Brown.

This is perfect

Come kiss me one more time

I couldn't dream this up

Even if I tried

You and me in this moment

Feels like magic only

I'm right where I wanna be

Everybody's talking about heaven like they just can't wait to go

Saying how it's gonna be so good, so beautiful

Lying next to you, in this bed with you, I ain't convinced

'Cause, I don't know how, I don't know how heaven, heaven

Could be better than this

I swear you're an angel

Sent to this world

What did I do right to deserve you, girl?

I could stay here forever

I'd be fine if we never had to even leave this room

Everybody's talking about heaven like they just can't wait to go

Saying how it's gonna be so good, so beautiful

Lying next to you, in this bed with you, I ain't convinced

'Cause, I don't know how, I don't know how heaven, heaven

Could be better than this

Could be better than this

Everybody's talking about heaven like they just can't wait to go

Saying how it's gonna be so good, so beautiful

Lying next to you, in this bed with you, I ain't convinced

'Cause, I don't know how, I don't know how heaven, heaven

Could be better than this (heaven)

Could be better than this (heaven, heaven)

I swear, this is perfect

Come kiss me one more time

He had written "Heaven" after Mercedes and he had visited the church in New York and resolved their issues and he had been the happiest man alive. He had written more songs while he was in New York than at any other time of his life. Mercedes didn't even know that is was because of her inspiration that he had been pivotal in making the country and R&B hybrid music of Jason Aldean, Kane Brown, and Florida-Georgia Line a hit. It was a mixture of the two genres that were him and her and writing songs for these artists that had turned into a lucrative career for him.

His latest hit was the Bebe Rexha and Florida-Georgia Line, "Meant To Be." He had written that song when Mercedes had left him to go on her first tour. He had to change many of the lyrics, but he was glad that it was such a hit and had cemented his position as the so-called Urban Country specialist. He was set from the royalties of the music that he had written for the rest of his of life. Sam saved all the money from his paychecks that the school paid him. And even though most people didn't know his net worth, he was comfortable, not rich as Mercedes, but not broke enough so that people would think she married beneath her.

Marrying Mercedes would solve most of her present problems. Having sex without protection could lead to a pregnancy, and he knew without a doubt that it would be hard for her father to forgive her if she added that to his supposed lists of sins that she was committing. By marrying him, Mercedes could live with him and be with her momma during her last days without paying for a hotel. He could show her daily how worthy of love she was, and she could have what Emma had with Will and Daniel with him.

But how was he going to convince Mercedes that marrying him was the right thing to do?


"Sam where is your bathroom," Mercedes asked trying to wake Sam up.

The electricity was still off, Mercedes had texted her mother explaining where she was and checking on them to make sure they were alright. Her mom had replied that they were out of town in Columbus and that they would be back in Lima when the weather cleared and for Mercedes not to worry. Reading the text had made her feel a little better and brought her appetite back, but she had only one problem, she wasn't sure how to get to the bathroom and Sam was knocked out.

"What Mercedes," Sam looked around surprised to see her up and about.

"Where is your nearest toilet, I really have to go." She said almost breaking out into her peepee dance.

"Oh, it's the second door to right almost hidden underneath the stairs," Sam explained as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes. Sam watched her go to the half bath and got up and used a water bottle to wash his face and hands. He decided to cook for them ramen noodles in the microwave and bring out the Oreo cookies and milk that he had for dessert

"Ooh Oreos my nutritionist, trainer, and personal chef will have a fit when I tell them what I have been eating since arriving in Lima."

"Well as a former male model, I can assure you that as long as you burn off the calories, it really doesn't matter what you eat if you build in a couple of cheat days. I have a treadmill and weights in my creative lab, and you are more than welcome to use them while you are here. I may even join you."

"Thanks, Sam, I may take you up on your offer if I have to keep wearing Stacie's clothes and not my own. I am just glad that your sister likes stretchy material and baggy clothes because we are not the same size at all." There were five sizes between Stacie and Mercedes. Stacie was a size eight, and Mercedes wore a size twelve/fourteen. She was lucky that some of Stacie's clothes were mediums and larges. The shirt she had on was a large covering up how tight the medium jogging pants were on Mercedes' butt and gut.

"So, what has got you in a chipper mood. If it was the Oreos, I would have pulled them out earlier." Sam kidded with Mercedes as they finished their meals.

"I heard from my mom and they are out of town. Her text sounded positive, so I am going to be positive and wait to hear what the bad news is and stop trying to guess it."

"That's a smart thing to do. Mercedes, I know you don't need something else on your shoulders to carry, but I tried to tell you this last night, and I am going to have to tell you this now. I am clean. I have never had unprotected sex with anyone in my life before you last night. I would never put your health at risk by exposing you to any sort of disease. However even though what we did last night was incredible, mind-blowing, spectacular, a dream come true…."

"Sam Evans!"

"Okay, okay, I was unable to protect you from pregnancy. And I am so sorry Mercedes, I promise that if you are pregnant, I will marry you, and take care of you and the baby. I will even marry you if you aren't pregnant. Hell, part of me wants to tie you down and make love to you all night long to ensure that you are pregnant, but I love you too much to even dare try to trap you into a marriage and relationship that you don't want."

"Sam…., oh my, Sam…..I could be carrying a little Sam or a little Mercedes right now."

"Yep, but you won't be able to name her or him Little Mercedes or Little Sam."

"Why not Sam or should I even ask?"

"Don't you remember last night that I mentioned to you how I lost my golden and chocolate labradors right when I was telling you that you weren't the only member of the glee club that was still alone. I had lost my pals Little Mercedes, who I called Merc, died of cancer and Little Sam who I called S2 died of grief not long afterward. When I told you this, this started the one thing leading to another and us ending up in bed."

"Wow, Sam with that sad story I am sure you would be even able to make a nun's panty drop for you. I am sure I had no resistance when I saw the tears form in your eyes. Your puppy dog face and sadness have always been a weakness of mine."

"Mercedes are you okay, you are not responding to any of this like I thought you would?"

"I am not okay. That is what I have been trying to tell you. I am a hot mess. I am like high school Quinn, Rachel Berry, and Santana mixed into one person. The one thing I never had in common with them but I do now is parental rejection. Quinn's daddy rejected her when she became pregnant with Beth, Rachel always felt rejected by her birth mother no matter how much she tried to sell us her lies, and Santana was rejected by her abuela when she came out as a lesbian. My daddy has been disappointed in me, but he nor my mother had ever made me feel like those three must have felt. It is the shittiest feeling in the world."

"I can't say, I can relate. You know my parents love me like yours used to love you unconditionally. But I am here to listen to you like I know you listened to Quinn and Santana. I am here to hold you, love you, and tell you that you are normal. And if those three can deal with the rejection of a loved one, then I know that you will be able to. They got by with the support of their friends. You have friends, Mercedes. They are willing and waiting to have you back in their lives. Mike and Quinn and Tina and Artie, Kurt and Blaine, and Santana and Brittany would drop anything in a heartbeat to come be with you or you can go to them. Even though you distanced yourself from us, we still talk about you supportively, and we still love you and there is nothing you can do that can stop me from loving you."

"Sam, why do you say the most wonderful things and the exact things I need to hear when I need to hear to them?" Mercedes tried to stop the tears from forming but couldn't stop them.

"I truly believe we are soul mates. To the world we may seem like opposites, but 'you complete me'." Sam using his impressions to try to make her smile.

"And you are wondering how I could love you while you are a hot mess, please remember that is when you fell for me when I was a hot homeless mess. I was depressed, stressed, and humiliated by living in that motel with my family. Yet, you made me smile, you made me laugh, and you gave me a prom night that I would never forget. You listened to me cry, complain, and dream dreams at a lake an entire summer. I even bought this property because it is walking distance to that lake, just because of my memories of you. We have never been perfect, but we have found a way to find love regardless."

"Okay, Sam, I will marry you if I am pregnant because I truly believe that you believe that you love me. But if I am not, then I think we should use this time that I am in Lima getting to know each other and dating and doing something traditional. Dating you could be the escapism I need in dealing with whatever family emergency I have. But I love you, Sam, I don't know for sure if I am in love with you, but I love you too much to have you marry someone as unbalanced as I am right now."

"You know you said you wanted to trade lives with Emma. Be careful what you speak Mercedes. You know Emma battles with her OCD and takes meds and have good days and bad days. I have to babysit Daniel when her episodes get really bad and Will has to take her somewhere for treatment. Their life is not perfect, but their love is strong enough to overcome every obstacle. Think on that Mercedes Jones soon to be Evans." Sam told her as he had to walk away and not try to force her into bending to his will. He pretended to be interested in making a bowl of Lucky Charms while he secretly watched the expressions on her face.

"Okay, Sam, I am not where I need to be, but I am going to trust and have faith that I will get there. I am going to sing one of my favorite songs by Francesca Battistelli to me. and I want you to learn it and play and sing it to me when I let fear consume me. Fear of my mental state, fear of my mother's health, fear of my career being over, and fear of trusting myself to believe and fall completely and madly in love with you because I fear more heartbreak," Mercedes said as soon as Sam sat down with his bowl of cereal.

Sick and tired of being sick and tired

Had as much of you as I can take

I'm so done, so over being afraid

I've gone through the motions

I've been back and forth

I know that you're thinking you've heard this before

I don't know how to say it

So I'm just gonna say it, yeah

Fear, you don't own me

There ain't no room in this story

And I ain't got time for you

Telling me what I'm not

Like you know me well guess what?

I know who I am

I know I'm strong

And I am free

Got my own identity

So fear, you will never be welcome here

Take a minute, let it settle in

You probably never saw it coming

Something's gotta give so I give up you, oh

There's no room for you here

Yeah, I've had enough

The "No Vacancy" sign on my heart is lit up

In case you didn't hear it

Here it is again,

Oh, fear, you don't own me

There ain't no room in this story

And I ain't got time for you

Telling me what I'm not

Like you know me well guess what?

I know who I am

I know I'm strong

And I am free

Got my own identity

So fear, you will never be welcome here

Is there anybody out there just like me?

Anybody needing fear to leave?

If you don't know how to say it

Sing along with me

Sing fear, you don't own me (Sam and Mercedes sing the rest of the song together.)

There ain't no room in this story

And I ain't got time for you

Telling me what I'm not

Like you know me well guess what?

I know who I am

I know I'm strong, brave

And I am free

Got my own identity

So fear, you will never be welcome here

Whoa, goodbye, goodbye fear

Whoa, you will never be welcome here

"That was awesome a live private Mercedes Jones' performance is not helping your case at all. It just makes me love you more. Now let's get back to our serious discussion. You haven't mentioned getting your memory back, but I feel I am duty bound to remind you that you experienced more orgasms in one night, than I have ever witnessed outside a porno. Do I need to do anything like tell you in details what happened or recreate some of those moments to aid in your memory recovery?"

"Just when I thought you were perfect you just had to ruin it didn't you Evans?" Mercedes askes exasperated by Sam's remarks until she realized what he was doing. He was getting her riled her to take her mind off of things, and she couldn't help but give back as much as she was being given my this dorky, romantic, caring, and sensitive man.

"I am just saying. I rocked your world Mercedes Jones made you throw away your V card, and that was just our first tango."

"You are still crazy Sam Evans. You are lucky that the electricity is still out and there is probably six foot of snow outside or I would be headed back to the Schuester's home."

"I will always be crazy for your Mercedes Jones. And I would only follow you and bribe Daniel to get his help in wearing you down. Try to deny it all you want. You know I had you the first time I ever saw your face and didn't even know your name all I knew was there was a girl with an amazing rack and I couldn't help but smile."

"Boy…" Mercedes began as she began to trade quips with him that lasted until they both fell asleep on the daybed in each other's arm.