Always There Part 2 by Yinx
"Sam, can you just pick one, please" Linda sighed as she leaned against basket at Lima, Ohio's local Toys-R-Us. She watched her son pick up another toy in the pinkest aisle ever.
"What about this one" he asked chewing on his bottom lip as he held up another Barbie.
"I love it" Linda said in a bored tone starring but not seeing the figurine of the black Barbie as a famous singer.
Sam looked at his mother then back at the box "I don't think she'll like it" he set the box back and walked a few steps to the next section.
Linda caught a groan in her throat as she followed. "I'm sure she'll like anything you get her, Samuel" she chuckled at her son determination.
"But Cede is my best friend, and I have to get the best present for her" Sam sighed picking up a Skipper doll.
"How about getting her something for her doll house" Linda offered. "Didn't you say you had fun with it the last time you were over her house"?
"Sammy you can be the brother" Mercedes smiled handing Sam an African-American doll from her Fisher Price Dollhouse. "And I'll be the mommy" she smiled at him.
Sam looked at the doll in his hand then back at his friend who had started setting up the house. "I don't want to be the brother".
Mercedes set up the bedroom and nursery area before looking at him "Why not"?
Sam bit his lip shrugging "I just don't; can't I be the daddy"
Mercedes shook her head the multi-colored barrettes on her pigtails hitting her face; Sam wondered if it hurt. "No you're the brother I'm the mommy and daddy…"
"Why" Sam screwed up his face as sat back on his legs.
Mercedes looked at his as she lay on her stomach thinking, 'why'. "Cause I don't have dolls that look like you" she said simply.
"Huh" Sam cocked his head to the side.
"Like you" Mercedes sat up. "See" she pointed to the skin tone of the dolls then to hers.
Sam looked around her room. She was right the Jones made sure that each and every one of their child's toys looked like her. From the three Cabbage Patch Kids, to Barbie's, even her favorite doll which she didn't let anyone but him touch, Addy, looked like her.
"Oh" Sam sighed sadly.
Mercedes patted his arm trying to cheer him up; then grinning as an idea came to her "Sammy my brother has dolls that look like you"! She exclaimed.
"Really"?
Mercedes hopped up and held out her hand to him. "We have to be careful, Mykal doesn't like me in his room" she said concerned at what she was about to do.
"I'll protect you Cede" Sam grinned as he took her hand. She led him out of her room to across the hall, placing a finger to her lips and 'Shhhhed' loudly. Sam nodded and did the same. Mercedes turned the knob and tiptoed in.
Mykal Jones room was like a bomb exploded; clothes, papers, gaming controllers where everywhere. Sam wondered how he got to live like this and why his parents always made sure his room was clean. Sam followed Mercedes in. He watched as she made her way over to the bed or what Sam hoped was a bed. It was piled high with clothes and other things it just looked like a giant pile to him. Mercedes crept along the side of her brother's bed; slowly moved aside some clothes finding her brother asleep in his Saturday afternoon nap ways. She smiled as she made her way back to Sam.
"He's sleeping" she smiled.
"Is that good" Sam asked his green eyes looking past her shoulder to the pile that he could see was breathing peacefully.
"Great" she stepped away from him walking over to the closet. "Sammy, help me".
Sam made his way along the path that led from the bed to the closet "What"?
"Help me up. Mykal's toys are up there" she pointed to a clear plastic box on a high self. "Can you pick me up"?
He puffed out his chest "I can pick up my dog and he's really big…not that you're big" he said fast as she eyed him. Sam crouched down wrapping his arms around Mercedes legs and started to lift her. "Do you have it" he asked loudly huffing.
"Almost, a little higher" Mercedes cried her fingertips brushing the bottom of the box.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN MY ROOM"!
Sam turned around quickly causing him and Mercedes to fall the floor hard, but the clothes soften their impact. He looked up to see Mercedes older brother towering over them still in pajamas at two in the afternoon. He looked just like Mercedes father who he only seen a few times because he worked overseas.
Mykal Jones grabbed his sister's pigtails pulling her up screaming.
"Leave her alone" Sam yelled getting up and rushing forward at him. Mykal stopped him placing a hand on his head holding the blonde at arms- length; Sam swung at the air.
"I told you to stay out of my room" Mykal cried shoving Mercedes away. "Can't you take a hint I don't like you" he shoved Sam and he fell back at Mercedes side. "Now you're going to pay for waking me up" he cracked his knuckles coming closer to the children.
A scared Sam looked at Mercedes for guidance. He watched her calmly suck in a breath and scream "DADDY"!
A few seconds later a big burly man with a thick black beard, and hazel eyes appeared at the doorway. "What's going on" he asked calmly.
"Dad Merce is in my room again without…" Mykal crossed his arms glaring at his sister.
"Room, this is not a room" Carl Jones voice boomed over his son's who stopped talking immediately. "It's a sty"
"But, Merce" Mykal began again.
"Mercedes did you come in here without permission." Carl asked folding his arms.
"Yes, only because Mykal wouldn't answer my knock" Mercedes said quietly as she got up walking over to her father. Sam starred Mercedes was lying she didn't knock at all. Mercedes looked up sadly at her father "Sam and I wanted Mykal toys so Sam could play with them" she continued. Sam blinked as his jaw dropped. He didn't want them she did; she had brought him in on the lie.
"Can your sister play with your old toys" Carl asked his son.
"No, she can't. I…" Mykal started.
"Get the toys, boy" Carl nodded towards the box.
Sam watched as Mykal mumbled passed him on his way to the closet. He looked back at Mercedes who had a look on her face he only seen on Santana a look of pure manipulation. He followed her as she skipped happily back to her room toy box in hand.
"Look you have G.I. Joes, and Power Rangers and Transformers" she smiled at him. She was back to her sweet self. Sam wondered as he took one of the G.I. Joe's from her, could all girls get what they want by just using a sweet voice? Having their father's wrapped around their finger.
"I'm going to get her these" Sam smiled holding up and Caucasian family set of her doll house.
Linda sucked in her cheeks "Maybe get her this one" she pointed to the African- American one.
Sam shook his head "She already has them. I'm going to get her this; this way I can play and I can be the daddy" he grinned putting the box in the basket and climbing in.
Leaps 'n' Bounds was every parent's nightmare and every kid's dream. Three stories of colored tunneled mazes made it almost impossible to get your child out once incased.
Mark Evans followed his son in marveling at the sight and noise. He smiled down at his son, how had finally found a friend to call his own. They found the party room and one of the helpers took Sam's gift.
"That's Cede's gift" he said watching her put it in a bin.
"Birthday kids don't open their presents here, kid" she rolled her eyes.
Sam sighed starring at purple package. His mother had helped him wrap it and now he didn't even get to see Mercedes open it. His best friend's voice interrupted his thoughts.
"Sammy"! Mercedes beamed coming into the room followed by Tina, Kurt Hummel, and an Asian boy named Mike Chang who sat behind Sam in class. Mercedes grabbed his hand. "I'm glad you came, Sammy"
"I won't miss your birthday, Cede" Sam smiled squeezing her hand gently.
"We are playing Hide 'n' Seek" Mike smiled at him from behind her. "Everyone is waiting".
The children rushed out of the room.
"Don't run" the help called after them as finish her game on her Palm Pilot.
The group met the rest of Miss Wilkerson's class. Santana, Brittany and Quinn were trying their best to look bored of the situation but a smile crept across Quinn's face when she saw Mercedes as the rest come up.
"It's about time" she drawled smile fading away.
Santana crossed her arms "It may be your birthday, Cedes doesn't mean I have to be nice to you."
"Then you shouldn't have come" Sam snapped his green eyes narrowed at the Latina. "Your Grandmother's here just tell her to take you home". Santana glared back but didn't move.
"So who's it" Artie Abrams asked looking around at them.
Each child immediately placed a finger to their nose yelling 'NOT IT' everyone except for Finn Hudson.
"You're it Finn" Noah Puckerman smirked patted his best friend's shoulders. "Go over in the corner and count"
Finn sulked as he went and the class scattered. Sam grabbed Mercedes hand making sure they wouldn't get separated. The couple ran to a far end of the play area and up a latter.
"Guys"?
Mercedes peeked back over the opening seeing Artie looking around nervously. "Come on, Artie or you're going to get caught."
"I'm scared of heights" Artie bounced nervously on the balls of his feet as he placed a foot on the first bar" he looked up at her.
"Cede, we have to hide" Sam said behind her.
"Artie needs help, Sammy" she pointed down.
Sam crawled to the opening seeing a brightly colored vested boy looking back. "Come on" he said reaching his hand down. Artie grabbed hold and before long was smiling seated with the best friends.
"You want to hide with us Artie" Mercedes asked.
"Yeah okay" he smiled pushing up his horn-trimmed glasses.
"Thank you for coming to my party, Artie" Mercedes lead the way down a tunnel.
Artie was about to go next but Sam stopped him. "I'm next, I always go after Cede" he hissed quietly glaring at the small boy. Artie scooted back allowing Sam to pass him.
Mercedes looked out on of the portholes at "Look at Finn" she pointed.
Sam moved to look out the port hole. "Artie" Mercedes waved him over.
Artie started forward only to stop at the glare Sam gave him. He glanced over at Mercedes who was still looking at the chaos below. "Uh, I'm going to find someone else to hide with" he announced.
Mercedes turned back "Why Artie don't you want to hide with me"?
Artie looked from Mercedes sad face to the boy in front of her green eyed glares. "No" he turned and crawled back down the tunnel turning right.
"Why doesn't Artie want to hide with us Sammy" Mercedes asked her best friend.
"I don't know" he shrugged. "He's weird anyway, he talks about Chewie a lot". Sam grabbed her hand "Come on Finn is coming" he pointed to the tall kid making his way up the ladder near where they were.
The birthday party was over faster than Sam wanted it to be. He watched Mercedes hug all her friends and thank them for coming as they left. She came up to him and gave him a tight hug.
"Thank you for coming to my party Sammy" she smiled at him when she let him go.
"No problem" he grinned back. Looking over her shoulder he saw her brother picking up the trash bag with her birthday presents in them. "Stay here" he said to her as he rushed forward. "Can Cede open my present" he asked Mykal.
Mykal shrugged "I don't know" he looked over at his parents who were talking to Sam's dad. "Mom, Dad, can Merce open Sam present"?
Mrs. Jones smiled "Sure, but quickly we need to leave soon another party is in here".
Sam fist pumped the air as he ran back to his friend. Taking her hand he sat her at the head princess chair. Mr. Jones pulled out the video camera and started taping. Mykal handed Sam the present, which he gave to Mercedes.
"I hope you like it. I picked it out" he said turning slightly pink in the cheeks.
"I know I will" Mercedes smiled at him then started to open the present with his help. "Thank you Sammy" her brown eyes smiled at the gift then gave him a quick hug before hopping down to show her parents. Sam followed. Mr. and Mrs. Jones smiled politely at the Caucasian family in the box and thanked Sam and Mr. Evans for it.
"You see Cede" he pointed at the father doll "He looks like me, this way I can play the Daddy".
