Month 12

Finally they'd reached their first Anniversary, they hadn't been able to book anything special, well, out of the ordinary because Sam was arriving back from a dig late that afternoon and Mercy was in the office all day, and to be truthful after three weeks on a dig it was all they could do to maybe eat something before they fell into bed anyway

Mercy had got dressed at work and gone straight to the restaurant because Sam wanted to eat early and if she'd have gone home before the meal it was going to be a midnight finish. She was sitting waiting for Sam to turn up on her second glass of wine and her third bowl of nuts looking at her phone again wondering if his flight had been delayed "Babe" he shouted across the room as their eyes met in the crowded restaurant, walking fast towards her

"Babe" she got up and flew into his arms "I missed you" she said in his ear as he held onto her

"I missed you too" he pulled away to look at her saying, grabbing her lips, he couldn't resist them just then "So much" he looked into the eyes saying a smile on their faces for seeing each other again "Let's eat and get out of here" he told her watching her sit down as he took his coat off and fiddled with the pocket for a while "Here" he smiled "Happy Anniversary"

"Babe" she jumped up taking the square flat box and giving him a kiss "Thank you" she smiled "Can I open it?"

"Yeah sure it's yours" he laughed as he watched her pick the lid up and gasp at the gold rimmed photo album "Paper yeah?"

"Huumm" she nodded as she looked through at their memories of the past year, some photo's she didn't even know he'd taken, laughing at their first morning together after the wedding, her angry face when they argued about the baby thing "You" she looked up at him saying when she saw herself asleep in their bed "You captured every emotion" she laughed "Thank you"

"I'm still to catch that ugly cry you talk about" he laughed

"Yours is at home" she told him laughing

"I hope so" he wiggled his eyebrows telling her

"Food"she said fast changing the mood

They'd eaten food and were in the process of grabbing their coats when Sam's phone rang "It's Stan" he told her flicking it open, he very rarely got calls off the boss, he'd never been in trouble at work, Mercy looked on concerned until she saw a smile on his face "Will do Stan" he told him finally finishing the call "Apparently he sent a memo about the sponsors for that Pitcairn Island dig, I've been asking about for the past year, they're in town tonight, sorry babe we've got to do some meet and greet, normally I wouldn't ask, but apparently your boss is there too so it might be beneficial"

"You're so lucky I changed off at work" she got up saying as Sam threw a tip on the table and they left

"You could wear nothing and still look better than anyone I know" he smiled at her

"I should hope so Mr Evans" she stepped into the car telling him "I feel funny meeting your work colleagues" she smiled

"They're not scary, just boring, so sorry in advance" he laughed

"let's see how you like this song"she sang and he knew she was nervous"You need someone you adore, find a place where you might belong"she carried on, he looked at her and grabbed her hand joining in with the song

"Ever since the day that I met you, my world's been spinning out of control, I just need you to hold" he sang smiling back at her, they drove in silence for the rest of the journey, thoughtfully revisiting conversations they'd had and feeling happy "We're here" he smiled jumping out to let her out, she got out and straightened herself up before grabbing his arm and walking into the building

"Sam" Wade called as he walked in, Sam made a b-line towards him with Mercy still attached

"Wade" he shook his hand "You remember Mercy" he looked to his left at her saying

"I do but I'd forgotten how beautiful she was, you're one lucky mother fu... sorry your a lucky man" he smiled red faced at Mercy

"Thank you" Sam laughed as Wade shook Mercy's hand "So were are the wigs?" he asked looking around

"In the board room, we might just get our dig" Wade rubbed his hands together excitedly

"Right" Sam looked at Mercy saying, thinking he didn't want to bore her "Should we go get a drink?"

"You go leave your wife here with me" Wade laughed

"No way, it's our anniversary today, I just got back, not an inch" he laughed clutching her hand in his arm to drag her with him.

"Happy Anniversary" Wade shouted as they made their way to the bar, got their drinks and went to speak to some of Sam's other colleagues each one impressed more with his wife than they were with him, he wasn't phased he was impressed with her too, she fell easily into conversation with everyone he introduced her to.

"Hello Sam" Mercy heard as she spoke to Stan and her Boss; Stephan, unable to turn to take in the voice as she was leading her current conversation

"Shawna wha..." was all she heard ringing through her ear as she stood talking, her concentration had gone all she wanted to do was turn round and slap this bitch hard, so much so she was shaking

"Babe" she heard as she felt Sam's arm slide around her waist "Sorry guys" he looked up at Stan and Stephan saying looking back at Mercy as he felt her shaking in his arm "Babe this is Shawna" he told her as she looked up at him smiling, he knew it was false, but there was a game to play

"Finally" Shawna screeched "It's about time I met this little miss perfect" she hissed as Sam looked around to see what attention had been drawn

"Shawna behave your damn self" he hissed back, Mercy's expression had moved from kill a bitch, through shock to disgust, now she was shaking with anger again

"It that it really?" she snarled pointing at Mercy as she spoke; this woman, despite the attitude had soft features, a beautiful figure and brilliantly white teeth, her blond hair tied back and curly, her hands larger than you'd expect and her eyes the most dazzling grey

"Shawna this is my wife Mercy" he said, realising where he was, wanting to keep himself civil, he pulled Mercy to him as he spoke to the woman in front of them "It's actually our first anniversary today so you could just say congratulations"

"Sam?" she asked her face still saying she couldn't believe Mercy was her competition

That did it for him he lost it, he let Mercy go and went close to Shawna pulling her hand to him with so much force her whole body followed "if you were a fucking man you'd be on the floor right now, that shit you've got in your head pertaining to me is never going to fucking happen, do you hear me, so drop it"

"Shit I thought you were going to kiss me again" she laughed rubbing her hand, where he'd just let it go

Sam went to go for her again, but Mercy, aware that everyone was watching by now, grabbed him "Sam I want to go home" she pulled him back telling him

"Sorry Mercy I didn't know she was going to be here" he said grabbing his wife's hand and making for the door

"Mercy" she heard as they rushed through the door looking up to see Don letting them through, she dare not stop Sam was already looking for someone to punch, she barely smiled and carried on letting herself be dragged along

"That's the type of girl you like is it?" she asked when they got in the car

"Where the hell has that come from, I'm married to you, you're my type of girl" he sat looking at her "Mercy" he called when she wouldn't look back at him "Mercy she means nothing to me babe, I don't lie to you"

"You pulled her and she thought you were going to kiss her"

"She said that for effect, I told you I'd kissed her a few times"

"It's me Sam" she sighed "It's just well... now I have a face to attach all your shit to it's a bit real now I guess"

"I don't think this thing about keeping our work life separate was a good idea babe, I think we need to mingle in both worlds, whenever we can, we leave ourselves open for so much, and I can't do this every time"

"Lets go home get your present unwrapped" she smiled "I need to forget"

"Okay" he said his mind on why she'd leave that just like that, but relieved that she had

They got in the door and as usual Sam went to the study first thing, Mercy smiled as she watched him, she'd left his present in there, she quickly ran to their bedroom to get ready for his response

"Mercy" he walked back out the study with a bottle with a letter in it, to an empty room, he smiled as he opened the bottle and took the letter out sitting down to read his Anniversary present

Hubby

Your the sexiest man I've ever known, when you walk past me my heart races, the way you kiss the back of my neck demands that I take all my clothes off and give myself to you. Mmm as I write this I can see your muscles under your shirt flexing making me lick my lips, giving me the most delicious thoughts, I might tell you about those one day. You know my favourite moment is when our bodies fuse, when my inner self tastes your inner self, I can feel it now, I have a vivid imagination when it comes to us "You hear me saying your name and laughing right?" I already know our night's going to be amazing, they always are, did I remember to thank you for that last mind blowing orgasm "Thanks" the thought of waking up to you all stiff and ready for me in the morning makes me want to hurry and get tonight over with, but then you know I need you slowed down too, real slowed down.

Now come to bed

Do you need a name?

Sam was laughing all through the letter, it was paper alright with the right amount of moist, to get him moving, he just about got to the end before he jumped up and made his way to their bedroom "I came to get my present" he laughed pulling her off the dresser chair and marching her towards the bed as he kissed her neck "Let's hear you noise" he nuzzled into her neck everything about him demanding attention

"I'd say our paper anniversary was a great success" Sam smiled as Mercy jumped up to visit the bathroom for the third time that morning "Are you alright babe?" he asked at how fast she'd gone off

"I'm fine just a bit sore" she shouted back "And it burns so I'm doing a bit at a time" she giggled

"I'm not even sorry, just near satisfied" he laughed "Let it all out this time" he warned and of course he showed her why when she got back into bed

"What do you say you come with me, if you're available on my next dig?" he surprised her saying a few hours later while they were in the shower

"I think I'd be bored" she looked up at him saying

"I mean I wouldn't stop on sight, we could go to a hotel, I'd like that and I think we just need some extra time"

"Are we still in trouble?"

"Not trouble, but I'd just feel better with you around right now, you could shop and stuff while I was off and I'd do shorter days and stuff"

"Okay" she smiled tiptoeing up to kiss him "I'll see what I can do when you get your next date"

"Thanks" he bent to kiss her back

"Did I say thanks for that last mind blowing orgasm?" he asked smiling

"Quite a few times Mr, stop it"

"Spoil sport" he slapped her butt saying as she walked out the shower cubicle, she turned giving him a sexy look

"Cheat" she smirked as he ran out after her, she screamed running around the house, unsure if she wanted him to catch her or she wanted to catch him, but sure it was all going down again"We find love, we get up, and we fall down, we give up, we find love, we get up, and we fall down" she sang running round, Sam walking around after her waiting for her to tire, he always won this game , they knew it, he walked around following her with a smile on his face

"We never give up" he grabbed her saying, she laughed rolling her eyes, stopping to look at his lips, she buzzed inside as he licked his lips, he was making her wait and she didn't like it, she flung herself towards him and he held her even closer to him than she was before but still not touching lips "I mean it Mercy whatever happens, we never give up, I couldn't lose you, I refuse to lose you"

"Never" she whispered as her eyes closed making him smile before he gave her what she wanted

"Slow enough for you?" he asked as they lay exhausted and totally satisfied some hours later

'Best Part' by Daniel Caesar ft H.E.R

Everything went along just fine for the next month, Mercy was working from home a lot as Sam hadn't been assigned and life for them was almost back to University days without the distance, Mercy sat in the study one day messing with Sam's guitar trying to strum some notes and make sense of his scribbles

"What are you doing?" he finally said making her aware of him sitting listening

She laughed "I was just trying to play this tune you'd written down and create some words to it"

"It's already a song I was trying to get some notes down to use, I like parts of the music" he walked over to her saying

"And I'd like some words, what's the song?"

"I'm surprised you don't know it" he took the guitar off her and started playing the song

"Oh" she said humming as she got the tune "It didn't come out like that for me" she laughed watching him put the guitar down, knowing that look in his eyes, smiling as he grabbed hold of her, she knew he was going to lay her out right there "You don't know babe, when you hold me, and kiss me slowly, it's the sweetest thing" she sang making him smile before he took her lips

"Is there something going on with you babe?" he let her go asking

"Like?"

"Well I noticed you changed your hair colour the other week and you've changed your lipstick, even though you know I like that cherry one and now this" he looked at her from head to toe saying "Why are you changing yourself?"

"I'm not I just fancied a change"

"As long as you're doing that for yourself babe because you know my preference already" he grabbed her to him smiling as he spoke before singing "And it don't change, if I had it my way, you would know that you are, you're the coffee that I need in the morning, you're my sunshine in the rain when it's pouring, won't you give yourself to me, give it all, oh" as his hands wondered to the warm parts of her body "What's up?" he asked while he touched her

"Okay I'm maybe feeling a bit insecure with Shawna being Shawna" she rolled her eyes telling him "And well if we should ever meet again I just want to be ready the next time, that's all"

"Ready?" he pulled his hand away asking

"Yeah ready" she nodded choosing not to elaborate on that "Can we get back to the giving yourself to me, and just give it all" he didn't answer he just carried on with what he'd already started

"Sam" she called a week later, while she was at the office "They've given me a week off in a week, can you do that?"

"Sorry babe I was waiting till you got home to say but I've got a dig coming up, I need you to see if you can change that to two weeks time"

"I'll be pushing my luck but I'll try"

"Please" he begged down the phone

"Will Shawna be there?" she asked nervously

Sam rolled his eyes for that woman still being on his wife's mind "I don't know, we never know who's said they want in until we get there"

"I'll speak to Stephan" she told him ending the call shortly after, she was scared for her actions with this damn woman, she'd never felt so threatened before about anything, or so protective, she actually felt a chill go through her at the thought of having to, but she would beat that bitch down for her man.

Sam sat thinking about his conversation with Mercy, she was seriously worrying him, surely she knew she had nothing to worry about as far as he was concerned, and what did she mean by ready the other day. He was happy he'd have her with him this trip, at least he could keep an eye on her, she was planning something and although he saw what he thought she might do as a big turn on, her getting hurt wasn't going to be any part of any plan she thought she'd got.

Two Weeks Later

Everything was in excited mode, Mercy had managed to get the two weeks off, they'd booked a five star hotel, everything was packed and for the first time since they'd been married they were leaving the country together.

"Grab that sack babe it's got all my tool in" he laughed knowing she couldn't lift it

"Sam" she moaned as she tried to lift it with difficulty "What the hell" she stood looking at the bag asking

"I'll get it babe" he laughed "I was only joking"

"No, no it's fine, I'll get it" she fanned his hand off putting all her strength behind her to eventually lift the sack "You carry everything else" she looked back at the three heavier cases sitting on the floor, it was her turn to laugh, the flight was quiet and 14 hours later, with one stop they were at the dig

"God this is baron" Mercy laughed as the car drove through the deserted country side, an hour later still looking at leafless trees, dust and bramble "Where are we going?"

"To the hotel"

"To find a bedroom?"

"You seem to have a fixation on bedrooms that's the third time you've mentioned that since we landed" he smiled

"I'm glad you're counting, I think I'm excited about being in another bed"

"What you're tired?"

"As if" she rolled her eyes telling him

They got to the hotel checked in, ordered a table for the evening and went directly to their room "Strip" she told him as soon as the door was shut, she leaned on it watching him do as she'd asked "God you're still the sexiest man I've ever known" she drooled as she watched him undress, he smiled before he went into full monte mode.

"Slow right" he laughed as he walked towards her, flipping her to face the door she'd leaned on, spreading her legs with his hands as they wondered up her skirt, pulling her underwear aside as he opened her up and fused with her body

"Mmm" he heard her gasp making him smile "Faster" she begged as he moved inside her,slapping her on her butt as he moved "Sam" she turned her head to say for the sting on her butt as he grabbed her lips, telling her he was in charge without speaking. She loved it when he got like this all he man on her shit, she loved being taken

"Faster right" he let her lips go to say as he hand wondered round to her button, she jerked for the sensation

"Harder" she pushed against him telling him, as her hand grabbed his butt to pull him in more, she needed more "Sam cover up" she looked back at him saying

"I want babies Mercy" he breathed heavy telling her

"Sam you promised me" he felt her pull away from him, he pulled her back onto him with force "Sam" she whispered "You promised" she told him again as she felt him pull out, walking them over to the case in the middle of the room, unzipping the side and taking out their protection

"Better?" he asked as she watched him put it on

"Yes thank you" she just about got out before her flipped her over the couch and slammed into her, her noise bringing a smile to his face

"Harder?" he asked but didn't wait for an answer before he ripped her underwear off her and slapped her again, giggling at her vexed face, he didn't care she'd said no again to their baby, and she was going to pay for that to his satisfaction, he wrapped his hand in her hair and pulled it

"Sam" she shouted "Softer"

"Don't tell me what to do" he hissed at her

"Stop with this angry sex Sam" she moaned

"You made me this way" he hissed, she knew better than to carry that conversation on, she let him do what he needed, knowing at the end of all this he was going to lick it better anyway, she reeled as he moved the couch with every thrust, not stopping until his anger was out "Babe" he whispered as he grabbed hold of her hips and stayed there for a while until his body relaxed, dropping to his knees as he spread her wide and brought her to peak stopping when her legs gave way and she fell forward onto the couch

That afternoon they read some brochures, made some plans for visits and had their booked dinner later on, returning to their hideaway for the evening, they needed sleep, Sam needed to do the three hour drive to work in the morning. They woke up early the next morning, had breakfast together before Sam left for work, he was only doing five hours each day and although Mercy had planned things to do, she took the opportunity to chill, ordering lunch in her room and binge watching her favourite drama

Nearly twelve hours later Sam returned to a sleeping Mercy, crashed out on the couch with the TV still on, he smiled at the picture, grabbed a drink and set about ordering some food before jumping in the shower, coming out looking as chilled as her. He sat in the chair opposite her watching her sleep for a while 'I just wanna see, I just wanna see how beautiful you are, you know that I see it, I know you're a star, where you go I follow, no matter how far, if life is a movie, oh you're the best part, oh, you're the best part, oh, best part' he sung in his head as he watched her, finally grabbing his journal to update it

"Hi" Mercy opened her eyes a while later to see him sitting there "You should have woke me, we had plans"

"Hi" he smiled as he watched her walk over to him for her kiss, he was happy to give it to her pulling her down onto his lap to take that a bit further "I'm sorry about last night"

"You said that already" she smiled looking around the room, he smiled because he knew she had something to ask and he knew what it was

"No she wasn't" he told her "Now go get dressed we have a table booked"

She didn't move she sat looking at him "Thanks for that, but did you have a good day?"

"Yes I did, made even better for coming back here and seeing you laying there" he kissed her again telling her "Go get dressed" he jerked her off his lap saying "We have minutes" he smiled at her sour face as she got up to do as he's asked "Wade and Simon are coming to join us, you don't mind do you babe?" he asked smiling as Mercy turned to look at him her face saying fucking off with a sarcastic smile on it "I'll take that as a no then" he giggled

Twenty minutes later Mercy emerged from their bedroom in a classy black dress hugging her figure so tight Sam felt a ping of jealousy, hair up in a neat bun with red high heeled shoes to finish the look strapped up to the knee, her make up light and flawless 'If you love me won't you say something, if you love me won't you, won't you' she stood smiling at him singing

" You're the best part" he sang back at her as she grabbed his hand and they left for dinner

'Loose' by Daniel Caesar

They were a few minutes early they sat in the bar waiting for the rest of the party to arrive "You guys better not be talking shop the whole damn night" she told him as she fixed her hair for the fourth time

"With you sitting there to look at, they may not speak at all" he laughed

"Who's Simon I don't think I've met him before?" she asked

"He's been on a few digs with Wade and I in the early days and he just happens to be..."

"Sam" they heard as they both span around "Sorry" Wade mouthed as they looked at him quizzically

"Wade" Sam got up saying leaving Mercy sitting on the stool

"Sam" Simon smiled from behind Wade as they greeted each other "Sorry I ended up being talked into bringing the ex" he smiled not knowing any of the history, Sam's eyes showed panic as he quickly looked back at Mercy, he knew she'd be thinking he'd lied earlier with Shawna turning up

"Mercy you know Wade" he smiled at her "And this is Simon he was like our coach when we were putting the hours in and of course you've met Shawna Simon's ex before" he pointed at her coming towards them

"Sorry she's half cut already" Simon informed Mercy as they watched her walking towards them wobbling

"Which generally means her mouth is not her own so ignore her, I mean totally" Wade told Mercy making her laugh

"Are you laughing at me" Shawna pointed at Mercy as she walked towards them

"No she isn't, I was and she joined in" Wade told her still laughing

"Just don't" she said as Mercy looked at Sam and rolled her eyes, this was going to be a damn night

"I guess we need to get dinner started" Mercy looked around the group saying, taking Wade's advice and totally ignoring Shawna, jumping down off her stool, they managed to change the seating to five and got a round table, Shawna was cut off from getting the seat on the other side of Sam and opted in the end for the seat opposite him, smiling as she looked up to see Mercy seething.

"So Mercy" Simon pipped up "Sam tells me your with the Foreign Service, what do you do there?" he asked genuinely interested

"There's a lot to it, but I get asked that question so many time's I've got it down to a sentence" she laughed

"And?" Shawna butted in her hand in the air "The question was what do you do, not what questions you're asked" she tutted

Mercy cut her eye and followed Wade's instructions "I attend diplomat meetings and interact with foreign governments" she smiled "Obviously the detail is confidential so I have to stop there I'm afraid" she looked at Sam saying, the look on her face telling him she had very little rope left for the other woman at the table

"And I guess you know what we do" Simon smiled, looking at Sam

"Very much so" she smiled as Sam grabbed her hand

"Should we order?" Sam asked the party trying to get things over with as quickly as possible

"I think you're right by the way Sam" Shawna looked between Mercy and him saying "She does need make up"

"What?" Sam screeched "We never had that conversation" he looked at Mercy saying

"Same applies to you Sam, ignore the drunk" Wade told him, Sam bit his bottom lip and pressed on making their order and getting some wine served before the table was free to speak again

"So I know you guys were dying to get on the Pitcairn dig, any news" Simon asked before tasting his wine "Good choice by the way" he held it up at Mercy saying

"Tart" Shawna said tasting hers "Talking about tarts, I'm guessing that fanny's not as tight as you'd like it any more is it?" she looked at Simon "Having your sprogs bust out of it and everything"

"My wife's insides are my business" Simon told her "And you'll do best to keep out of my business" he snapped at her

"Opps not a good time" she covered her mouth saying "But you guys seem to have got your timing right tonight" she looked over at Mercy telling her

"Timing?" Mercy asked looking at Sam

"I don't know babe" he shrugged his shoulders telling her

"You don't know babe" Shawna laughed "How ironic" she snarled "I mean it's still not the right time for that family you so desperately want am I right Sam?" she asked as Mercy looked on in shock pulling her hand away from Sam's, this information was too near the bone "As I thought nothings changed except.. I'm even more willing now than I was then" she smiled over her glass as she finished

Sam's face red with anger at Shawna putting that conversation out there in front of Mercy "That's... she's twisted that babe" was all he could find to say to Mercy's horrified face

"Did he tell you he'd broken your promise?"

"What promise?" Mercy asked, watching Sam close his eyes at that knowing she was going to tell her something else that was just for their ears

"That you guys would get divorced before you cheated on each other" she took pleasure in telling her

"That's a lie" Mercy stood up telling her

"Really so how would I know about that mole just under his pants line, mingled in with his pubic hair?" she asked as everyone looked on, Mercy looked at Sam for a second before grabbing her bag and leaving the table and restaurant for the hotel room

"Thank you very fucking much" Sam slammed the table hissing at Shawna "Guy's I got to go, maybe abandon the dig, this shit..." he walked off saying

"Shawna that was disgusting" Simon shouted at her "You've turned out to be such a bitch, I really don't know what I ever saw in you" he got up telling her "How did you know about the mole?"

"I peeped on him in the camp showers" she laughed "But the bitch really doesn't trust him if she believes me, so she don't deserve him"

"That's so fucked up" Wade shook his head saying getting up himself "You're paying" he told her as he walked away too

Sam & Mercy

"What are you doing?" he walked into their hotel room asking as he watched Mercy throwing things in her case "Babe, where are you going?" he walked towards her asking

"You lied to me Sam" she threw the comb she had in her hand at him saying "The one thing we said would break us, you lied"

"Babe I didn't lie, she's lying" he grabbed hold of her saying

"How did she know about your mole?" she screamed at him "And don't tell me you don't fucking know, that answer is unacceptable to me right now"

"Seriously babe" he shook her to get her to listen to him "I don't know, we've never been that close or that naked with each other" Mercy rolled her eyes at him giving her the answer she'd just told him wasn't acceptable

"Do you think I'm a joke Sam?" her face wet with tears "Do you think I'm a fucking joke?"

"Babe..."

"Let me go" she looked at his hands holding her tight "Let me go" she looked in his eyes shouting as Sam's hands fell away from her "Fuck this" she grabbed her small case and headed to the door, Sam ran to the door standing in front of it "You can do what you want with the rest of it , I'm done" she stood in front of him saying waiting for him to move from the door for her to get out

"Let me know where you're going I'll call when you've calmed down"

"Really?" she stared at him asking

"Really" he crossed his arms in front of him saying, he was getting mad now "Where are you going?" he asked as she stood defiant to answering his question "I never stop you doing much Mercy, but if you don't tell me where you're going, seriously, you are not getting past this door"

"Away from you" she finally hissed at him, he rolled his eyes and refused to move "Fine" she walked away from him saying slamming the bedroom door as she walked through it clearly telling him he wasn't welcome, she stayed in there while Sam threw himself on the couch listening to her shouting about him for a while before he put the TV on to drown her out before he started reacting, poured himself a drink he set the bottle on the table in front of him, his mind screaming before he threw the glass full down him throat, he sat in thought about how the trip had started off so romantic and got to this, he'd already told himself he was taking tomorrow off, this needed to get sorted, there was no point speaking to her when she was in this mood, but she'd climb back off that wall soon and he'd be able to get her to see reason, he fell asleep sometime during the night.

He jumped out of his sleep to his phone ringing "Sam" he heard Wade say on the other end of the phone "You need to get you're butt here, the investors for the dig are coming, they'll be here in less than an hour, I'll cover but get here" he said, before Sam could reply the phone was dead. He raked his hand through his hair, he really could do without this today of all days, and everyone depended on everyone to make these things happen, it really wouldn't look good if he wasn't where he'd been assigned. He jumped up to go tell Mercy he'd need to go to work but he'd be back early to sort this out, opening the bedroom door he was shocked that the bed was made "Mercy" he shouted through the room as he went towards the bathroom "Mercy" he said again opening the door to find no one.

Looking around the room he saw her large suitcase, the small one missing, he dragged his phone out and called her to hear her phone ringing near him picking it up and wondering where she'd go without taking her phone "The tracker" he hissed knowing she'd have left it because she didn't know how to turn it off "Shit" he sat on the bed defeated "She could only have gone home" he rubbed his temples telling himself "Fucking Shawna" he banged the bed saying

He sat for a while trying to figure out what to do; not lose his job or find his damn wife, he opted for going into work and explaining the situation and hopefully gaining sympathy enough to get time off to go look for her, if that failed he'd call Stan for clearance, he'd never asked for anything before, he should say yes

He got up and had a shower, coming out to grab his clothes for work he found a note from Mercy, his heart felt heavy, so much so he bounced off the bed a few times before he actually sat, he smiled thinking of the last letter she'd sent him not too long ago, scared to open it but needing to because it might tell him where she was. After some consideration he finally decided to open the letter he sat slowly peeling it open his mind confused with what to think for what he might find "Sam" he frowned "No dear, my love, hubby nothing just Sam, bad start" he shook his head before fully unfolding the letter to start reading

Sam

I smile as I write this note, it really wasn't that long ago I was getting into my wedding dress, singing proudly 'who would have thought I'd get you' ready to walk down the aisle and marry the man of my dreams. Seriously on that day I felt like the luckiest woman in the world, I mean who gets everything they ever wanted on one day. I know I, sorry we, promised to stand by each other forever, and I truly meant it, but this turmoil year has sucked the life out of me and all I know is that something between us has changed and I need space to make sense of it.

I wish I could hand on heart say all this was your fault, my eyes and heart strayed too and that leads me to believe that maybe, we're trying too hard at this thing we think is love, I'm grateful for all the moments we've shared, and the beautiful memories we've created in our short lives together, in those moment I was truly happy and I hope you were too.

I know you can't see it right now, but eventually you'll thank me for leaving when I did, it will make us both stronger people, I need to believe that. However as we've proved, even the strongest fires burn out, we're living proof that even good marriages can fade into nothing but also that love does exist and I have that for you always regardless of our future circumstances, distance or boundaries

I look back at the past five years from our chance meeting in Oklahoma, those painful University days, our first dance on our wedding day and all I can think to say is thank you for those good times, hard time, laughter and even these cries, Thank you for helping shape the strong person I've had to be today and will continue to be and for being a part of my life, even if it was only for a short while, you left an impact

Bye Sam

"God" he looked up to the heavens his face full of tears at what he'd just read, he'd actually laughed when he read the part when she said she was leaving, he thought it was some sort of joke. He sat for a while looking around the room, all her important things had gone, she was gone, he wanted to blame Shawna for the whole damn thing, in fact he started to, but on reading the letter again he realised Mercy hadn't even mentioned the incident. There had been doubts on both side within the first year, he had considered leaving her for Shawna and who knows what he would have seriously done had Wade not eventually told him about her history, he found that doubt Mercy spoke about and cried because even after all that, he still wanted her to be his wife.

Sam eventually got dressed and went to work as if nothing was happening for him "Mercy alright?" Simon asked as they assembled for their briefing

"Yeah she's fine, but she went back home this morning, hence the late arrival, before she killed we know who and lost her damn job" he smiled, that smile leaving his face as Shawna entered the room

"Sam" she smiled "No Mercy?"

"She doesn't work here" he snapped "If you ever start to wonder, why all the rain and all the thunder follows her around, you better cut that girl loose" 'I need to do that for my own damn sanity' he cut his eye at her thinking. He listened to the briefing, did his job and returned home two weeks later

Mercy

She knew she was no match for Sam strength wise, he'd have lifted her up and put her in that bedroom if she hadn't walked, and his touch would have weakened her, she had to outwit him, she'd finally calmed down and cracked the door to see him downing whisky and sat watching as glass six slid down his throat, she couldn't stop her tears from falling for what she was about to do "A letter" she whispered getting up to grab pen and paper to write her feelings down. Looking at the album he'd brought her for their anniversary she smiled "We had some good times" she told herself as she wrote her last letter to her soon to be ex-husband , it took a while because of the tears.

She didn't actually know how many drinks Sam had taken out that bottle by the time she looked up again but what she did know was that he was asleep and this was her time, she didn't want to risk running with a large case so she just grabbed the small one she'd packed earlier and left

She sat on the plane emotional, looking at the clock on the wall in front of her "He'll be waking up around now" she told herself as more tears left her eyes as she imagined him finding her missing and panicking, rushing to his phone to call her to find her phone sitting on the side before jumping into his shoes to run outside and do a he man search, she felt horrible and actually ugly cried right there on the plane in front of everyone when she pictured him finding her note "That was it, it was done" she finally wiped her face saying "What are you, a coward? who are you helping? You got the power, then do what you said you can, and do it for him, better cut that boy loose, set him free leave him be"

She got off the plane, went home collected some more things and called Jean "Can I stay with you for a few weeks Jean and I know you want to know but no questions please" she cried down the phone

"Mercy just get here" Jean told her concerned as she listened to Mercy cry before putting the phone down

She threw her bags in the car and sat looking at the steering wheel, finally looking at the clock "He'd be calling me now" she looked at it thinking he was maybe having his dinner right now, and cried again "You called this Mercy Evans" she shook herself saying turning the key and driving over to Jean's "Leave him be"

She'd got the spare room ready for her and although Mercy went through all the pleasantries, she soon found sanctuary in the bedroom, crying herself to sleep holding a pillow to her chest "You alright Mercy" Jean came running into the room shouting at one point

"What?" she jumped up asking

"Is something wrong with Sam, you keep shouting for him?"

"Sam, no nothing's wrong with Sam" she flopped back into bed telling her "Sorry Jean" she sighed

It took just over a week, but she moved some money into an account for herself and got herself a small furnished rental for six months down town, she still hadn't got Sam out of her system, it had only been three weeks she didn't expect to just yet, but it felt like he was never going to let himself be forgotten, she was still crying at night.

Sam

Sam got back home hoping, even praying, that Mercy had taken her time to think, decided it was all a mistake and she really wanted him, she'd be sitting on their couch waiting for him to come back just to jump into his arms and ask for forgiveness. His eyes filled with tears when he opened the door to find the house empty, pictures missing, her personal items missing from the bathroom and a box of unopened condoms on the bed.

He grabbed his favourite bottle of whisky, a glass and sat feeling sorry for himself "How the hell am I going to sleep in this fucking place?" he looked around before throwing a shot down his throat 'You don't love me any more let's see how you like this song, say you're walking out that door wonder why it took you so long' he sung sitting looking around their home, every corner producing a memory forcing him to take another shot to forget

On week four he started to take his life back, he needed his wife but that shouldn't stop him from having a life. He got washed, dressed and went to his head office as was usual for his days work "Sam" Stan shouted as he saw him walking past his office through the open plan conference space "Come have a word" he called him in smiling "It's been a while, should we be looking at the next step for you, I've had some good reports from your colleagues, even Simon"

"I can speak in confidence yeah?" he asked sitting down without being told to

"Sure" Stan sat down too saying, concern in his voice

"Well" Sam sat forward in his chair saying, as he sat and told Stan everything from the beginning when he met Shawna, to what happened in his hotel room finishing with finding himself at home alone and having no idea where his wife was "And I know I could go to her place of work to find her but she's asked for the break, and I love her enough to do that"

"So what's she thinking about you not pursuing her?"

"That I'm respecting her call, but it's killing me inside"

"Did you maybe think it was killing her too?"

"Maybe but it's her call, she walked" he smiled "I'm a prisoner of her love, I'll never give up on the fact that she'll come back to me"

"You really love her?"

"We find love, we get up, we fall down, but we never give up" he replied

"Over my head" Stan laughed as Sam got up shook his hand for the ear and left his office

Two months later and Sam had given up going to all their familiar places, it was clear she was avoiding them, he wasn't even hearing anything from Mel about anything and he wasn't calling her to hear she'd told him so, Mercy and his business was still none of hers. Dean hadn't called him either which sort of indicated that Mercy hadn't said anything to anyone, which gave him hope. Wade had called, he was in town and fancied a hook up, they'd agreed to meet at a wine bar, have a chat and down some beers, Sam had decided he'd maybe tell Wade about his situation

Mercy

Mercy had got stuck into work, ironically she was seeing less of Don now than she ever had, it was like the commitment thing with Sam stopped and everything that had been thrown at her as an obstacle threatening her married status had been suddenly removed. She'd linked up with a merry group of single girls now Wendy, Debbie, Linda and they were having a good time, out of town more than they were in and blowing off any opportunity they got, she was loving it, but nights were still hard.

They'd just got back from a three week excursion and decided that today was the first day of their two week holiday and they weren't going to waste a single day "Shots at Tabby's" Debbie suggested as everyone cheered, it had been a while since Mercy had gone out anywhere near home, she was apprehensive but excited

"See you guys later" Mercy smiled throwing her case in the back of the car before getting in and speeding off, they usually slept on days off because they were so few and far between but two weeks was like a holiday at home, however; her mind was still set on getting a nap

'Hold me Down' by Daniel Caesar

Mercy finally woke up to banging on her door "Mercy" Wendy shouted through the door as she looked at her phone to check the time "Shit" she jumped up saying she'd overslept and she could do with more, as she walked to the door and let her friends in "Sorry..." she frowned

"We know you overslept, it's always you" Linda laughed

Twenty minutes and I'll be ready" she ran off to her bedroom telling them, thirty minutes and some shouting later, she was emerging out of her bedroom in her sexy green number hanging off her left shoulder and draped across her hips as low across her breasts as she'd dare take it, looking all Nubian

"May I just remind you Miss Thing, no sex" Debbie laughed as they all got up and made for the door, making the thirty minute journey to the bar

"Fuck" she hissed as soon as she walked into Tabby's to see Don up on stage giving his rather sexy rendition of 'If' by Davido

"Something wrong?" Linda asked

"Work colleague" she said pointing at him on stage "Old work colleague" she rolled her eyes saying, he zoned in on her of course and left the stage to go sing to her, there were a lot of people on the dance floor all heaving to the sound, Mercy was smiling, as he sung his seductive words, but on the inside she was pissed at him.

Sam and Wade sat in the corner of the noisy bar rocking and trying to have a conversation, Sam telling him about the situation he'd found himself in following that great dinner that never happened. The crowd cheered as they turned to watch this really big guy on stage singing and dancing with woman playfully, suddenly he disappeared into the crowd to more cheers, Sam smiled and carried on talking.

They carried on in conversation as they watched the guy that had just been singing sit in the booth next to them laughing, Wade took his attention from Sam's conversation for a while to look at some of the girls that had crowed around him

"Mercy" Sam heard looking around to see the same guy calling someone across the room it was the name that kept Sam fixed on this guys line of sight, he gasped when he saw Mercy walking towards this guy "Bring your friends" the singer shouted as they moved towards him like groupies

"You know I meant that out there" he told her as she got close to him

"What?" she looked back at her friends asking him

"If I tell you say I love you oh" he sung at her

"Stop it Don, I told you all that shit stopped a long while ago, I'm a married woman remember" she laughed

"Did you just say you're married?" Linda asked her as they all sat down

Sam sat looking at Wade, who could hear as much as he could with them all shouting over the music "Leave it" Wade grabbed his arm telling him, seeing Sam was ready for something "We'll leave, just say hi and leave, no trouble" he warned him

Sam got up grabbed his coat and cut his eye at the guy "What's his problem?" Don asked as everyone looked in the direction his eyes were looking

"Hi Mercy" Sam said not even waiting for a response before walking off, Mercy sat holding her chest, she was having a panic attack of some sort, her heart had just missed several beats "Did you hear him telling her he fucking loved her?" he asked Wade when they got outside

"I heard her say all that shit needed to stop" Wade corrected him "And I know you heard that too, and besides did you see the size of that fucking guy" he laughed "We couldn't have done that Sam, that's a battle to walk away from to plan your war moves"

"Yeah" he smiled remembering the size of the guy

"Sam" he heard he knew who it was before he spun round "Can we talk that was weird" she pointed back at the door saying "Hi Wade" she smiled as he waved

"I'll see you sometime" Wade looked at Sam saying

"That cafe?" she said pointing across the road, before they walked off in that direction, got their orders and sat staring at each other for a while before she started talking "Sam I'm sorry the way things actually ended between us, I guess I took the easy was out, but it still hurt, and I hope one day we'll be friends, I know this is all raw for you, for us, I'm still not adjusted yet" she finally looked up at him saying

"Well you seem to have moved on pretty quick to me"

"Listen, and I don't really have to tell you anything as officially we're separated, but that's like maybe the third time I've actually been out since we split and that was definitely the first time I've seen Don since way before that, there's nothing going on with anybody for me right now"

"You're still very much in my head Mercy" he smiled 'I got this girl she's making me crazy, I nearly let her have all my babies, pussy so good it sets me on fire, I leave myself I elevate higher' he sung making her smile

"There's no denying the sex was love all the way, but somehow that wasn't enough for us" she grabbed his fingers saying

"It was enough for me Mercy, seriously, You're getting on a plane, and travelling far away, you left me with the pain I carry it everyday"

"I'm sorry Sam but we were destroying each other"

"What if I could make you a promise and stick to it, not that I've broken any you know that right?"

"I know that Sam"

'I never asked for much only that you stay true' I was wondering can you hold me down'

"I love you Sam I don't think I can deny that, but I don't think, right now we're what we need sorry" she got up saying

"Mercy" he called as he watched her walk away, she turned to hear what he had to say "Next time walk by, I can't feel this every time you reject me" he could see she was crying, but he couldn't help her he was broken too "Shit is that what they call closure?" he asked wiping his face some time later getting up leaving the two full cups of coffee on the table

Three months on and Sam was still living in the apartment, well living might have been an overstatement, his belongings where there, he was going to digs he hadn't even been invited to, just to get out of the place, Stan didn't say anything he knew he was working through some stuff and he needed holding down just now. He'd been and opened a new account for himself sending all the direct debits through it as Mercy was still paying half his bills until a month ago, shocked that her wages were still going into their joint account he did the same, scared to tether all ties.

Mercy had spent nearly a week explaining her husband to the girls who sort of called her a traitor for hiding the fact that she wasn't a single girl, like them, but hugged her saying they couldn't imagine going through love, a wedding and a divorce before they were thirty, and now she thought they felt sorry for her she put distance between tehm and her.