The Club

After much negotiation they decided to go to Frizz, apart from the amount they'd already spent on the taxi, which was just taking them from place to place, hearing 'Graffiti' by Youngboy Never Broke Again coming from the club they both started rocking as they paid for entry and found a spot to dance, once the tune finished, they went to the bar for a drink and back to the dance floor, the DJ kept them dancing for nearly 5 hours

"Sam?" he heard across the bar as they stood trying to get their next drink looking up to see Gavin standing there "Bro" he smiled at him, moving closer

"Gav" he said hugging him

"What no Christmas this year?" Gavin asked him pushing him off him

"Sorry Bro I can't do that shit no more" he said grabbing his shoulder "Hey this is Mercy my girl" he told him as he looked behind at her and pulled her forward to meet him "Mercy this is my little Bro Gavin"

"Hi Gavin" she smiled , looking up at Sam

"He's my Dad's son" he confirmed, as Mercy looked back at Gavin and smiled again, he didn't look like Sam at all with his brown hair, blue eyes and chubby build "How you getting a drink?" he asked him

"I'm 18 as of Thursday" Gavin replied holding his ID up

Sam held his face in shock "Shit yeah , sorry Bro I forgot all about it, happy belated birthday, did you get the usual?" he asked as Gavin nodded his head laughing "PS game?"

"You know that Bro, God forbid those two should have to think about something, I mean 18 yeah?"

"Welcome to adulthood kid, this is on us" he laughed grabbing his brother again as his attention went back to the bar, grabbing him a drink too

They danced some more and eventually Sam declared enough and they left the club just after 4 am "Mercy" Andrew called as Sam hailed the cab

"What Andrew?" she asked "I told you already leave me alone"

"I need..." he said pleadingly into her eyes, turning to anger when she didn't get her money out

"Andrew, seriously , you wouldn't even understand how much I need" she said rolling her eyes as he came closer to her

"Stop" Sam shouted as he turned to see what was going on "Don't touch her again, don't ever touch her again or there will be hell to pay" he stood in front of Mercy saying to her brother as passers by looked on "She used to give you money for your shit but that's stopped now and until you decide to be a positive in her life we don't need you"

"We?" Andrew asked looking at Mercy "Who is this damn fool?" he asked her "Tell him to get the fuck out my face before things get peak for him"

"Peak for you Andrew, leave me alone" she said getting in the cab as Sam stepped in, leaving Andrew standing there "He'll get it soon" she said cuddling into Sam as they finally made the journey home

Quinn's

'Q will you please speak to me' the message on her phone said as she stood telling Noah and Santana she'd had enough of his attempts at an apology and she really didn't want to hear it

"Come on girl, be truthful with yourself" Santana said looking at her "Seriously what do you want to happen?"

"I guess I want to talk to him, get his stuff out my flat and have a nice Christmas "

"So text him tell him to come, we can stay or be up at mine, just bang if you think things are getting out of hand, your choice"

"Will you stay till he gets here, I can tell once I see him if I need you to stay" she said as she texted him back to come now

"Yeah" Noah agreed

Shane was there in 20 minutes Quinn sat on the couch nervous for what was about to go down "Hi" he said as Santana opened the door "Q can I talk to you" he asked as he walked in seemingly undeterred by her visitors being there, he sat on the couch beside her "I've been a fool" he said looking at her not daring to touch her "I truly thought I loved Lauren, I really did, until 2 days ago" he paused "I asked her about presents for Marc, I was thinking of asking for him for part of the day tomorrow, and she totally told me he didn't exist" he gasped "I was like what that's my son how does he not exist , I left his mother for you, he exists" he nervously laughed "it was at that moment I realised I was the worst parent ever, giving my child up for what? I was fine giving you up, or so I told myself because I'd been with her for so long I've never looked at the prospect of anyone coming before her but you do Q, you and Marc do"

"Oh really, we do?" Quinn asked sarcastically

"I know you don't believe me and I've got a hell of a lot to prove but I want to prove this to you both"

"Shay you beat me, in front of Marc sometimes, our whole relationship has been about you being in love with Lauren and now suddenly you want me to believe something different just because you say it's so?"

"I know I need to prove this to you and I'm willing to do that just say you'll give me a chance?" he pleaded "Please, just one more chance"

"Come for Christmas tomorrow and see Marc" she said getting up signalling for him to leave

"Thank you" he said getting up too

"It's just Christmas Dinner Shay nothing else" she said looking very serious "Word of warning I'm nobody's fool any more"

Santana's

"We bringing Christmas in our favourite way?" Noah asked as their kiss finished

"There's like an hour to go" she giggled

"We could get started, do a bit of a marathon" he suggested

"We most definitely could" she replied, looking down on hearing his phone ping "Who's that?"

"My Dad" he said sitting up "He's outside"

"What now?" she asked jumping up herself "You going to see him?"

"Yeah we are" he said pulling her up with him as they exited her flat and went downstairs to let his Dad in "Dad" he said with a smile on his face "Thought you guys were out the country"he said holding the door open for him as he proceeded to guide him up the stairs and to his flat "How's Mom?" he asked once they got in

"Mom's not too well actually son, she's locked up in London" he said as Noah spun round to see if his Dad was joking, his journey to the kitchen forgotten

"What happened?"

"We owed big time and had to do some hustling, they didn't want me to do it so you're Mom did it to seal the deal, she got caught carrying, those are the chances we take" he said as if it was an everyday thing

"How could you let Mom do that?" he asked a cry in his voice as he crashed in the couch next to Santana, his Dad sat on the chair at the table

"We know what we're about son, it was always a possibility, granted we thought it would be me, so that sucks but we both knew the risks"

"So..." he started before he remembered Santana was with him "Dad this is my girlfriend Santana, Tan my Dad" he smiled at her

"Hello" the tan skinned, muscle rippling, brown eyed man with a thunderous voice said to her, she sat being grateful that this man was never her Dad, she wouldn't have been alive today if he continuously shouted at her or randomly punched her every now and again

"Dad" Noah said sitting forward to speak "We've never minced words and I don't intend to start now especially when you're sitting in my house" he said looking back at Santana with a sorry look on his face "I think it's a totally fucked up thing that's happened to Mom and I'm guessing right now you're looking for somewhere to rest your head but seriously, this is not it, I could lose my place for you being here now visiting stops at 10pm. All I can do is the same thing you did for me on a smaller scale obviously" he said taking money out his wallet and giving it to his Dad "See how you go on that" he told him as he handed it over

"Fair play son" he smiled as he took the money "So what you doing for Christmas?"

"I'm spending it here with my new friends"

"Good for you son, you got out and done something with it, I'm proud"

"Dad I didn't even get a choice in that, I didn't even know I was in until it was time to get out and that wasn't fair on me"

"I'm sorry son but, it wasn't plain sailing for me either I was a victim of circumstances myself"

"I really don't want to hear it Dad since I've come in here I've had to make conscious decisions about my life, and so far I think I've done well. Everyone has a choice at some point, you just chose the wrong thing, quick money always comes with a tag"

"Check you out, all grown and shit" his Dad laughed "I'm laying low so I can't spot you up I got to go but I'll speak to you again soon and son" he said getting up "I pray you make all the right choices" he said hugging him before walking out the door "Nice to meet you" he told Santana before closing the door

"Shit Noah" Santana said "You swore at your Dad and he didn't do anything, I'd have been dead by now"

"That world is a world I never want for my children" he smiled as he sat taking in what just happened "Come on lets got to yours, I got to get out of here and start our Christmas off properly" he laughed after a while

Sam's

"Do you want a hot drink" Sam asked Mercy as they got back from the club "It's Christmas we should be drinking your cocktail" he laughed

"No thanks, I need to get into this conversation we asked for earlier" she said sitting on his couch

"Okay" he said sitting down next to her

"I know we agreed we'd wait until, well until there was love and stuff but Sam, I feel that already and I don't mean to push you into anything you're not ready to do, I just need you to know I'm ready"

"You said that so much better than I'd planned" he smiled "I tried earlier but I chickened out" he blushed "I love you Mercy" he finally confessed grabbing her hand as he said it "I wanted to say it before Christmas but I guess, if we want this, it could be our first Christmas present" he smiled embarrassment in his face "I'm ready too" he said getting up to put some music on to mask his awkwardness

"I'd love that" she said as she heard 'Fire We Make' by Alicia Keys & Maxwell coming out of his Pod "You've changed your vibe?" she asked

"I'm catering for my mood" he said walking towards her as they set about getting to know each other for the first time

"Hey" Mercy finally said "I love me some Maxwell honestly" she smiled as her eyes closed again at his touch "But could we turn that off I need to hear me some Sam right now" she asked when another song threatened to play "Or put that mother, low and on repeat" Sam stopped long enough to press repeat before he was back on her lips

"How you doing" he asked his breath hitting her face as he spoke , making her close her eyes just when she got the strength to open them again

"I wanna tell you but..." she didn't finish before he grabbed hold of her lips again "Your good at this" she smiled into his mouth as his hand slid down her leg and back up to where she needed it to be a sound escaping her busy lips

"We need a bed" he pulled away from her saying as she got up making their way to his bedroom, she sat watching as he took his clothes off his hardness sprung out of his pants and stood to attention waiting "I'm shy" he said with a smile on his face

"Me too" she said getting up and taking her clothes off as he watched her, stroking himself

"Remember the guitar conversation?" he asked

"Something about going all night" she giggled walking towards him

"For the next 3 hours at least" he laughed

"I'll take that" she said before they locked lips again falling into bed and staying there until they were satisfied several times

25th December

Noah & Santana

"Noah" she shouted for the third time "We need to go get things ready at Q's"

"I brought the drinks down last night I'm done" he said rolling over for more sleep

"You know I've got the turkey to do and you promised to help after keeping me up half the damn night" she said pulling the covers off him

"Tan come on half an hour more" he said grabbing at the sheets

"No, come on it's 7am already, and it takes 6 hours to cook" she told him as he lifted his head up off the pillow

"Let me get dressed then" he said smiling as she threw the cover back at him for pranking her, before walking out of the bedroom, he jumped off the bed and grabbed hold of her

"Happy Christmas girlfriend" he said giving her a kiss

"It will actually be a Christmas for me, and I wish you a happy one too" she said kissing him back

Sam & Mercy

"Seriously, we're going to have to stop now little man will want to open his presents soon" Sam told her

"Yeah we'll stop after this" she replied pulling him back down onto the bed wrapping her legs around his waste "Come on then up" she jumped up some 40 minutes later "We're going to be late" she smiled as Sam shook his head for her cheek

"I'm sure someone sort of said that like nearly an hour ago" he smiled "Happy Christmas" he said kissing her as she lay on his arm "I love you"

"I love you too, happy Christmas" she said as they lay for a while just taking in the togetherness before Sam jumped up

"I'm so buzzed for today" he said running to the bathroom before remembering Mercy was there "Sorry do you need here first?" he asked as he stood at the bathroom door

"Go ahead, I'll burst in if I need to" she laughed

Marc & Quinn

Quinn lay on the bed watching Marc sleep and thinking of all the wonderful things he'd be seeing for the first time today, the presents and his face and she couldn't help but be excited for a new Shane she hoped would be turning up as icing on Marc's cake "I so hope he means this for you sweetheart" she told her sleeping son

It's 7.15am and Santana needed to be here any time now if dinner was going to be served anywhere near the agreed 1pm, she hadn't gone to Mercy's as planned because somehow she actually believed him last night when he rocked up cap in hand with his I'll always love my child thing. So she was going to see how today went, she had good friends if things went well she'd be happy but if they went bad, she'd call on the army to help with Mr's removal and she didn't see anything wrong in contacting the police to protect her child, he needed to know she'd go that far

"Morning Sweetheart" she said looking round to find her son looking at her, expecting food, she picked him up and made her way to the kitchen to do just that

9.30 am

"About time" Noah said as Sam and Mercy knocked the door laden with vegetables in pots and three different deserts

"Where can we put these " Sam asked ignoring his comment flicking the door shut with his foot with arms full as Mercy walked slowly in front of him "Move that ass" he told her

"Boy this ass has been moving all night, it's time to go slow" she turned to tell him making him smile "Santana is that turkey in already?" she shouted across the room

"Yep it's in" she confirmed "How was the club?"

"It was good we were there till about 5 this morning"

"Yeah Mercy met my little bro Gavin, on my Dad's side"

"My damn Dad turned up last night wanting somewhere to stay"

"Is he coming for dinner?" Mercy asked

"No way I gave him some money and sent him on his damn way"

"Fair enough" Sam replied knocking fists with him

"Shane came by last night too" Quinn announced "He's coming to dinner today , he says he wants to know his son" she said as everyone nodded in agreement

"Must be the ghosts of Christmas past or something" Mercy laughed "We saw Andrew at the club too still wanting money, we just left him standing there"

"God please don't let any of my lot turn up" Santana said looking to the heavens "They probably don't even know that I've gone anywhere just noticed the house getting dirty..." interrupted by the door bell ringing

"That will be Shane" Quinn told them, going to answer the bell and letting him in, he came in, said his hello's and sat playing with his son while they talked

10.30 am

Decision

"Present time" Quinn announced when Shane had settled in, everyone sat taking photos of Marc opening his presents and commenting on his expressions

"Okay Quinn, what was your theme for today?" Sam asked

"Decision aptly chosen for me" she said bouncing up "As I said earlier Shane came round last night" she said smiling at him "and as usual he had a lot to say for himself" she said still looking at him "there's nothing set in stone as yet but whatever I chose I know you guys have my back" she smiled at everyone around the room "I've chosen to sing my contribution to our alternative Day, I'm going to sing 'Fire Inside Me' by Ellie Goulding ft Kygo mainly because I think that's what I've learned over the past few days. I thought he was my life, I had that so wrong for so long and maybe that had something to do with my parents split or just home life in general, but I have a little one to look after and for him life has to be better, because there has to be something better out there for him, you know" she said before she started singing her version of the song "I have to make that something better for him" she said when she finished

"Thank you" Santana said "That really spoke to me"

"So you gonna hand your presents out now?" Noah asked as she went to sit down

"Yeah sure" Quinn jumped up to fetch everyone's presents, waiting until they opened them and said thank you, before anything else happened

Shane set about playing with Marc, Sam and Mercy wanted to all but leave Christmas to itself and go straight back to bed, but resisted because Sam kept reminding her it was rude, right after he asked her to leave with him every 15 minutes

"What time's dinner?" Mercy finally asked

"One" Quinn told her

"We'll be back at 12 to put the veg on" she told everyone dragging Sam with her

"Mercy" he said when they got outside the door unable to believe what she'd just done

"You shouldn't tease now that's rude" she said as she stood waiting for him to open his door, he laughed to himself as he shook his head and opened the door dragging her in

"You're pushing me" he said pinning her against the wall

"Obviously not far enough you're still talking" she said, he stared at her lips as she spoke before covering them with his

11.30

"Sam" Mercy sat up in bed a while later "We need to talk" she said getting his attention "Are we for real or are we playing at this?"

"What do you mean?"

"It just feels like, I don't know you've made me fall hard in such a short space of time, and I'm scared I guess, because to fall from this high, I don't know what it would do to me"

"I'm praying hard that this is real Mercy, because, well, the way I feel I've never felt this, I feel like I'm coming out of my shell and your making me feel free enough to do that, I'm scared of where free is with you, but I want to be there"

"That's how I feel"

"So you're willing to take this ride with me?"

"I'm holding on for dear life" she laughed as they lay silently in their feelings smiling and content

"It's nearly 12" his sad eyes telling her he wasn't happy about it "Let's get dressed and go back, veg remember" he forced a smile as they got ready and returned to Quinn's

12.30

Apology

"Noah I guess we're up for an apology just before dinner, yeah?" Sam asked

"That's me" he said jumping up "I guess, my song was initially about Tan accepting my apology for the other day but after the visit from my Dad the other day I think parts of it apply to him. I don't actually know how I feel about my parents at the moment, I mean I know I love them and everything" he said looking embarrassed for having used the L word "But how they influence my life I question, I don't want that for myself and it was hard to see anything else because I didn't know anything else" he stopped to make sure everyone was following his conversation "But meeting you guys over these past few day, which feels like years I might add, for everything we've shared, makes me believe that there is better out there and I want to actually apologise to Quinn for my statement at house meeting about Marc being in a hostel, this is a cool and safe place to be, and you're a cool Mom" he smiled at her "I'm going to sing 'Overnight' by Jake Miller ft Simone Biles" as he turned his pod on and started singing while everyone danced to his song, he danced with Santana of course

"I guess presents" Quinn told him when he finished, he got his gifts and passed them out to everyone

"Okay dinner is served" Santana announce

"We forgot the chairs" Sam said looking at Noah and Shane as they jumped up to get some from Noah and Sam's flats returning with chairs and poppers

"Crackers" Santana ordered as they sat about ready to start eating their Christmas meal, everyone grabbed a cracker and proceeded to pull and don hats, tell jokes and blow their respective whistles to the tunes they got from their crackers as they ate

"I like our alternative Christmas day so far, everyone's being listened to and I've had a proper present" Sam commented

"And no way am I doing the washing up" Santana added as everyone laughed

"Your fine, we've got that covered" Mercy told her looking at Quinn, who looked at Shane before they laughed again

"Okay" he said holding his hands up "My contribution, washing up" he offered as everyone cheered

"Gosh" Quinn let out in amazement "It really is Christmas"

2.30

Everyone sat around stuffed, they had thrown down the onion soup starter, killed the turkey several times with all the trimmings and ate the traditional Christmas pudding within 90 minutes "I know I'm not officially a part of this alternative Christmas thing so I don't have a theme but I do need to sing something to Quinn if nobody minds?" Shane asked

"Go for it" Noah said looking around the room

"I got to hear this" Quinn said smiling as he stood up and set his song in the pod and stood in front of her as he sung his version of 'So Cold' by Jah Cure as everyone was up slow dancing to his offering until he finished the song "Q I know I have a lot to prove but if you give me this chance..."

"Shane" she said holding her hand up at him to stop "I heard what you said yesterday and honestly, no I don't see my life with you but I want you to be up front and centre in Marc's life and I'll take that any way you offer it. We can't be together I don't even know how we'd begin to come back from all the beatings you've given me in the name of Lauren and all the times you've wished me dead" she paused as if still feeling the hurt "How does a relationship come back from that?"

"I really don't know I just know I'm sorry" he stood helpless in front of her his whole body begging forgiveness

"That's not enough maybe vulnerable Quinn would have taken that but this girl standing in front of you right now" she pointed to herself "Has changed, I have you to thank for that but no, right now I'm saying no"

"I guess I'll have to accept that, for now"

"Yeah because that's all I have to offer right now" she said staring at him when she finished

"I guess I knew you were going to say that, I did treat you bad, but I mean to change your mind about me, I don't know how but I plan to" he smiled

Noah looked at Santana while Mercy went off to play with Marc and his toys, Sam quickly followed her "What do you think?" she asked quietly

"It's totally up to Quinn it's an affair of the heart apparently we don't get involved" he laughed

"I agree but whatever she chooses I'll support her" she said as they played with Marc and sat talking for a while

"Time for another theme?" Noah asked some time later as everyone looked like they were ready for sleep, they were so relaxed

3.30

Breathe

"God yeah" Sam said looking at Mercy "How do you all fancy Breathing?" he asked

"I'm into that" Mercy said getting up "Breathe" she said looking around the room "I came here because I was lacking air, freedom, life I couldn't live the way I was living any more with my family, or should I say dysfunctional family. This theme is apt for me because when I fell on the steps of Amanda House I cried for the longest time trying to release all that pent up mess and I vowed I'd done all my crying for my past and I have, but recently and unexpectedly, I met my future, as in Sam" she smiled at him watching him hold his heart "I spoke to him for one night and after that I was able to breathe again. I'm learning how to live again, to be young, in love and dare I say happy, you guys have had something to do with that too, you've helped me fill a gap where my family should be, and I'll be forever grateful for that. I'm singing this song to Andrew because I guess, he's my brother and despite everything I love him, I hope he finds peace, I hope he learns to breathe again" she smiled and to Sam because after everything that's been thrown at me I can still take the time to find a new beginning or the ability to breathe as I see it" she said going over to the pod and putting on 'Praying' by Kesha and singing her version

"Mercy you have a beautiful voice, you need to do something with that" Brad said alerting them all to staff standing at the door listening

"We could hear you from outside and just had to come and look" Emma, a member of staff from the other block, said smiling at her

"Christmas looks cosy in here" Brad said looking around

"Thanks" Santana said, everyone looking around smiling at their accomplishment "How many of you guys are working on Christmas Day?"

"Just us" Holly replied, as Mercy went back over to Sam's lap "Brad's just taking over from us until night staff arrive so he'd be all over the place"

"That was emotional and beautiful babe" Sam whispered in her ear as he kissed her neck "You mean a new beginning to me too" he said as she held his head to her face and closed her eyes taking in the closeness

"Okay guys" Holly said "We also came to give you your presents, the boss is being super generous this year so here you go" she said handing presents out to them "Shane, sorry we didn't know you were still around, you didn't sign in" she said surprised when she finally got to where he was sitting

"I'm spending Christmas Day with my family, I'll be gone by curfew" he said so politely even Quinn had to look twice to see if it was really him talking

"I actually meant sorry, we didn't get you anything" Holly said as she handed Marc a present, surprised at Shane's manners

"I've already got the best present" he said holding Marc up and kissing his forehead as he brought him back down

"We'll leave you all to it" Brad said as they backed out, Brad making sure Sam and Mercy saw his smile as they smiled back at him

"I guess it's my presents now" Mercy asked getting up to go get them and pass them out, everyone sat around messing with their presents so far for a while and settled in to watch a Christmas movie

"Oh this looks good" Quinn said flicking through the channels "My One Christmas Wish" she said as they read the synopsis and agreed it was worth watching

"Mega Teary" Santana said wiping her eyes as the titles came up marking the end of the film "Jackie was so inspirational"

"Imagine there are people all over the world like us, without a functional family to spend Christmas with" Quinn said hugging Marc

"Image if there were groups of people all over the world like us, getting together to make Christmas the best they can" Mercy said as they sat considering

"There must be, and I must say I'm grateful for you guys" Noah smiled

"Aaarrrhhh" Everyone said before they laughed it off, none of them actually familiar with that kind of stuff

5.30

Feelings

"Stop with the internal feelings Santana and do your thing" Sam commanded

"Okay" she said jumping up to find the centre of the room "I'm still waiting for my past to come back and haunt me, but I guess they don't even know I've gone yet I was so insignificant in that house" she laughed

"We got you girl" Quinn encouraged her

"I guess love hasn't been something that's been in my life and when I first got here, as you all know, I was trying to make myself fit into that showcase footballers wife type, I'd seen it on TV and I thought they were happy and I could get that happy if I was one of them." she laughed "I seriously had to get to grips with my feelings really quickly I've felt alone all my life, it took Noah to show me different, developing feelings for him was so fast it scared me to be honest, and because I was scared I really had to follow through with this feeling I had for him" she giggled "Slowly he's helping me to feel, and I realise now I've been numb for so long, I didn't even know it 'Circles' by Jana Kramer says what I'm trying to say better than I can right now" she said as a tear left her eye and she turned to set the pod up "You guys don't even know what you've done for my self-esteem, confidence, self worth in these past few days just being treated like a human being and listened to is amazing for me" she smiled as she took a second before she pressed play and started singing her version of the song

"Truth" Noah shouted as she finished making her smile as he held his hand out for her to take and go to him

"Presents" Mercy reminded her just as she went to sit down

"Yeah" she said rolling her eyes, as she got her presents and handed them out

"Deserts Sam" Noah shouted across the room, Sam's screwed up face making Mercy laugh

"I got to let you go for a bit" he said in her ear "And I'm upset about that" he giggled in her ear

"I'll come with you" she said getting up as they both went to sort the deserts out, bringing them to the table, everyone gathering around to eat. Of course the men had thirds while the ladies contemplated seconds, Mercy being the first to dive in then the others didn't feel so guilty

"We'll dance this lot off" Noah suggested once they'd finished as Shane put his beats on and they started moving around the room to the cool beats of Aidonia, Vybz Kartel and I-Octane amongst others, smooching sometimes or learning each other new dances until the vibe damped down

7.30

Relationship

"It's nearly time for Marc's bedtime" Quinn announced "So party's nearly over for us"

"I guess it's time for the last theme" Sam announced as he moved towards the pod "My theme is relationships" he smiled looking at Mercy "Gosh I've developed a few of those over the past few days" he laughed saying "Anyway I hope we all feel like that's what we've been doing over the past week or so, I mean I'd never have thought I'd be best buds with a dealer" he said looking at Noah

"Low blow Dude" he laughed saying "A homeless dealer I might add, obviously business not so lucrative" making everyone laugh

"A single Mom with boyfriend issues" Sam smiled at Quinn saying "And I'd just like to commend you again on your Mommy skills, I can see Marc means everything to you and in the same breath I'd like to big up Shane for showing up for his son today we all know that that stuff means something"

"I have nowhere else to be me friend" Shane replied

"Thank you Sam" Quinn said, genuinely pleased with herself

"Then there's Santana" he said his smile resting on her "Nasty but nice turned into love of Noah's life and cleaning, seems like that relationship is healthy for the two of you, I like your fire girl, I guess that's been suppressed for an age but now you've found it again never let it go"

"I won't" she said hugging Noah

"It helps us all that the staff here are so cool, supportive and sincere, I guess for me anyway I felt straight away that Brad believed in me and that's made me brave enough to take steps the old Sam might have run away from, on day one. We've built some awesome relationships that right now feel like they're going to last a lifetime here"

"They will" Quinn assured him

"And right now the relationship that means the most to me in the world is the one Mercy and I have created, I know we're young and some might say circumstances may have something to do with the way we feel about each other, but these feelings are real for us" he said looking at Mercy "Before I get emotional I guess I'll sing my song which is 'Is this love' by James Arthur because I'm blown away by the way she makes me feel, I'd go as far as to put it out there and say, if it's got anything to do with me, and I hope it has, this relationship is forever" as he pushed the button and started singing his song

"I love you Sam" Mercy said when he finished

"I love you too" he said kissing her forehead

"Presents" Quinn shouted as everyone looked at Sam, he got his gift and handed them out

8.30

"We'll leave you guys to get Marc to bed, holla if you need anything" Noah said as Santana and he left Quinn's

"Yeah tomorrow" Mercy said dragging Sam with her as he grabbed another piece of cake

Santana & Noah

"So" Noah said once they got inside his flat "How was Christmas for you?" he asked

"Seriously" she bursting into tears

"Oh I'm sorry Tan" he said unsure what the trigger was as he grabbed her and hugged her while she cried

"I opened 5 presents today" she told him, when she calmed down

"Yeah we all did" he said unsure of what she was actually saying

"I don't remember ever opening a present before" she said wiping her eyes as she spoke "This, seriously, was my first ever Christmas"

"Tan" was all he could find to say as she hugged her again, unable to tell her his sadness was that this was his first Christmas without his family

"Did you miss your family Noah?" he sat wondering if he'd said it out loud

"I did, but I had you" he smiled as she looked up at him

"Come on bed, we were up super early this morning"

Quinn, Shane & Marc

"Can we talk after this?" he asked as he bathed Marc ready for bed while Quinn sorted his night clothes

"I really don't know what else there is to say Shay" she said her face sad for the repeat button she'd have to press to make this guy understand he'd put her though too much for her to want to look back

"No pressure" he said as he dressed Marc

"I'll sort his bottle" she said getting up, leaving him to carry on with Marc and give herself some thinking time "So what do you want to talk about?" she asked as she re-entered the room

"I guess I just need you to know that I understand where your decision is coming from, looking back I guess I might have said the same thing" he said before he looked up at her "But I really need to let you know I'm trying to change, I respect you and I love our son, because of that I'll work on your terms, so friends?" he asked

"We can be friends I guess, without benefits, I don't want to get pulled in again"

"Actions speak louder than words Q and I intend on proving myself" he said looking down to see Marc had finished his bottle, he sat him up cleaned his face and waited for his burp before laying him down again. Quinn made Shane a hot drink before she sat watching the TV as he got Marc to sleep, put him in his bed, before kissing her on the cheek saying goodnight and then he left

"Impressed" Quinn said as she heard the outside door shut, signalling he'd left the building

Sam & Mercy

"Your song" Sam said spinning her round to face him as they entered her flat "I just need you to know I understood and felt every word, even though I slagged my Mom off for doing that, praying I mean" he said kissing her, pressing her against the closed door "I wanted to sing something fitting like my Mom would have had me sing on an evening like tonight but I chickened out" he laughed

"Why?"

"For everyone laughing at me it's real Christmas stuff" he giggled

"Like?" she asked as she watched him pick his guitar up

"Like this" he said as he started playing 'Oh come all ye faithful' smiling as Mercy sat waiting for the words to come "I can't it's too painful" he laughed

"You worked me up for that" she said laughing with him when he finished "I guess we could have a go at working up a sweat instead" she sobered up saying

"So romantic" he laughed

"What the song?"

"No that was something my Dad always hated about Christmas, the damn so..."

"What the hell" Mercy said looking towards the door

"Shane" they both said at the same time as they got up and got to the door, getting to the corridor they saw a man banging on Santana's door and shouting things in a different language

"Hello" Sam shouted down the stairs

"Hello" he spun round saying "Sorry, I'm Santana's Dad, I've been looking for her for over a week now, and someone finally told me she lives here"

"She used to" Sam said looking at Mercy "She moved out two days ago, I thought she went back home or to a relative" he added looking at Mercy again

"Yeah she went to her cousin's" Mercy added shaking her head in agreement with Sam "Two days ago" she added before bowing her head for the shame of lying

"What's going on" Quinn came out of her flat saying with the baby crying as she stood at the door with Marc on her hip "You've just woke my baby up"

"Sorry" the man shouted down

"What do you want?" Quinn asked "Who are you visiting?" she asked before he could answer the first question "How did you get in?"

"I'm looking for my daughter Santana, a black boy that was leaving told me she lived on the first floor"

"She used to, she left" Quinn shouted up "He's my visitor he don't know anything" she smiled "She's staying with Laquisha is it?" she said as Sam and Mercy looked at each other

"Oh Lashawna" he said knowingly as he turned to make his way down the stairs "Sorry about waking your baby" he said as he passed Quinn and seconds later he was out the door, they watched as the car started up, turned around and left the forecourt

"Has he gone?" Noah came out of his flat asking

"Yeah he's gone" Mercy said as they watched the car park

"I'm gonna kill Shane" Quinn said angry

"It's not his fault he didn't know about the not letting in stuff" Sam said in his defence

"Where's Tana" Quinn asked

"She's inside, will you girls come and help her out" Noah asked as Mercy and Quinn made towards his flat, Quinn passing Noah her baby

Noah's Flat

"Girl" Mercy said as they walked in to see a crying Santana sitting on the floor in the living room "What's wrong?" she asked rolling her eyes for the silly question

"I heard his voice and I wet myself" she cried "I stood right here and wet myself, I'm shaking like a leaf, my heart's beating so damn fast" she said touching her chest still shaking

"What did those people do to you?" Quinn asked as she signalled to Mercy to grab her other arm and they got her up

"A bath always helps" Mercy said as they walked towards the bathroom, she ran a bath for her while Quinn cleaned the living room floor before they all sat in the bathroom talking about Santana's feelings

"My Mom had these mad tendencies" she told them as she let the hot water cover her skin "Doctor said she was Bipolar and I remember them saying she wet herself and walked around like a paranoid bitch" she cried at the picture "That's what's going to happen to me, it's started already" she cried as she threw water on her face

"I'm by no means a professional about these things Tana but being scared shitless does not equate to mad" Quinn assured her "When I was with Shane he took me to that place, I was wetting myself as the expectation of getting slapped around, at first I'd sit and shake like a little frail bird, much like you now" she smiled "Then it got to the I know what to expect stage and I just read the signs rather than think of it as wrong, it became my way of life, you're not mad girl your scared"

"I didn't wet myself but I'm familiar with the shakes" Mercy smiled "There was a time just before I left home that I looked in the mirror an saw myself outside of myself, if that makes sense" she stopped to check if she'd said that right "The stress of Andrew took me as close to the edge as I needed to go, I felt like the next time I wouldn't be able to come back and I just knew I had to leave the situation"

"I guess what we're trying to tell you" Quinn giggled saying as Mercy combed Santana's hair "is that it's alright to be scared and however that comes out at that time is not something you can control, it's not a condition it's a reaction to a shock"

"Yeah don't over think it" Mercy suggested

"But my Mom..."

"Exactly your Mom not you" Quinn reminded her "Come on lets get you dried off" she said as she grabbed the towel off the rail "You got any clothes here?"

"No only underwear" she said as she got up ready for the towel "Noah" she shouted as he came to the bathroom door "Could you go get me some clothes please?" she asked as he smiled at her and headed off to do as she'd asked "I'm so grateful I have you guys" she said smiling at Mercy and Quinn

"We've got your back" Mercy told her, a while later Noah came back with her clothes, she got dressed and they all went to Mercy's flat, hers being the furthest away from the front door, just to have some peace

Mercy's Flat

"Seriously, I don't usually but does anyone want a tipple of this in their nightcap?" Mercy asked holding up Noah's small bottle of Jack Daniels

"How did you get that?" he asked laughing

"I confiscated it, but we've all had such a night, I think we all need to at least big ourselves up once for the way we've dealt with things"

"Dealt with things this whole week" Quinn said smiling

"The whole week" Santana agreed

"It feels like an age ago when I walked into the office and Brad sat me down telling me about himself and asking me about myself I must admit I didn't listen to much of what he said about himself but I'm intrigued to know what you guys think about yourselves now after just one week in your own world" Sam laughed

Mercy giggled for the longest time, holding her belly as everyone looked on at first but her giggle was so infectious everyone chuckled or laughed along with her eventually she calmed down enough to speak "I cried for a full hour I think" she said "and my goal was to..." she thought before saying any more "use my brain; as in go to University, get some life skills and not hook up with anyone" she said looking at Sam "Uni is still on the cards I have every intention of starting that, We've done what two modules for life skills and well, I totally messed up on the third" she smiled "I not only hooked up I went and fell in love" she said leaning in to kiss him as he smiled "But" she said holding her finger up "My family's still fucked up, note my parents didn't make an appearance, and big bro is still a drug hound but I seriously can not deal with that shit if I mean any good for myself, he got to make his own choices, I deserve to too"

"That's right" Sam said hugging her to him again

"I" Santana said smiling "Failed miserably I wanted to loose my family, even my Mom's Bipolar, but family is for life I guess so right now I just choose not to be a part of that family. I'm making plans for myself now, that's something I've never done before, I mean proper realistic plans, that don't include being a footballers wife" she said making everyone laugh "Noah and I are planning, who knows how long we'll last but for now it feels like forever, I guess I've been looking in the wrong places" she smiled "I've lost the stay dirty mentality" she said rolling her eyes "Dad rocking up was major for me but I guess I'll deal with that better next time and hopefully one of these times I'll actually confront him, Yeah" she said loudly as everyone clapped

"You will and I'll be right there" Noah assured her hugging her

"Well" Quinn said sitting up as she spoke "All I can say is empowerment" she smiled "That first time when I asked Shay to leave when you guys were there and he left, red rag to a bull" she smiled "I realised I had a voice, that was what my Dad always called me mouthy, because I'd always have an answer for everything and somewhere along the way Shay took that away from me. But hell, at the prospect of losing my sanity or worse Marc I found it again with the help of you guys, and you know what?" she asked as everyone looked waiting for her to carry on "I'm never going to lose it again" she said as she jumped up clapping her hands at her own realisation.

"I'd say you were empowered girl the way you marched out the Mall the other day grabbing Mercy" Santana said laughing "Andrew's face was priceless"

"I'm sitting here thinking about my Dad's visit and I think I just cottoned on that they love me" Noah smiled to himself "I would have been the one making that run if I'd have still been around and that's why Mom was willing to do it" his face happy as he spoke for the sacrifice they'd made

"You had good Christmas' Noah, of course they loved you" Santana said looking at him for a while before he realised and looked back at her still smiling

"Anyway, where I was a week ago" he said hugging her as he spoke "I guess I was craving company, hence the group of guys that came around that first night or so. But I quickly saw the opportunities this place offered and I can't lie trying to fit into footballers wife world helped that along a lot faster" he laughed "I was all set to be something I wasn't only to find I've become exactly who I want to be. You guys are good for me and I hope I bring something that touches each of you too"

"You touch me" Santana smiled curling into him making him laugh

"I'd like to think we all touch each others lives in some positive way" Mercy commented

"We do" Noah acknowledged

"Yeah we do" Sam said looking at Mercy "I suppose I just came looking for sanctuary" he laughed "I've been living two very separate lives for all my life really" he looked at Noah saying "I had this normal white boy just living through it image that I showed everyone external even my brother all the time, then I'd get in the house and it would be back to early 1800's with my Mom quoting bible verses, talking sins I'd supposedly committed that day and asking forgiveness before the thirty minute blessing for cold food" he smiled nervously "My aim was to get out from under that so I guess I achieved it" he said looking around "My bonus is finding Mercy, I'm super shy really the jokes are to hide all that, but when I'm around her I really don't want or need to be shy, I love her, I really do and in some funny way I have my bigoted Mom to thank for that" he laughed "And I love the way you guys let me lead most the time, I've loved it"

"And we've got another 11 months of this guys" Quinn shouted across the room making everyone smile as Marc lifted his now sleeping head off her chest for a second before finding sleep again

"You gonna put him down?" Mercy asked

"Yeah"

"Do you want some help?" she asked

"Yeah" Quinn replied wondering what was going on there as Santana jumped up too "What's up?" she asked as soon as she put Marc to lay down

"It's all this together talk" Mercy told her "It's just, it's so raw with Shane and stuff and I feel like we're throwing this in your face all the while" she said looking at Santana to support her argument

"Don't stress that shit, I love him of course I do, maybe I always will he's the father of my only child, but he treated me bad and right now really, I'm over it and, I'm seriously happy for you guys, I'm confident I'll find the one for me and Marc" she smiled before hugging them "Oops did I just say I loved Shay?" she asked before they started laughing as Quinn quietened them down and left the bedroom Marc soundly asleep

"What you girls been up to?" Sam asked cheekily as they returned

"Quinn was just having an oops moment" they giggled

"As in 'Oops' by little Mix & Charlie Puth?" Sam asked

"Not really but it could be I guess, finish the night off with a song" Quinn suggested

"What about Marc? Noah asked

"He'll be alright just start the song"

"I'll start" Santana said jumping up front as if they were performing to an audience, as the music started and they sung their rendition of the song

Santana: Oops, my baby, you woke up in my bed Quinn: Oops, we broke up, we're better off as friends
Mercy: Now I accidentally need you, I don't know what to do All Oops, baby, I love you

Santana: It started with "What's up with you?" Quinn: I messed around and got caught up with you
Mercy: Yeah, yeah, I don't know what to do, I've got these feelings like it's nothing new
Girls: Now I can't get enough of you

Mercy: And when I think about the way you touch my body, I don't know how long I can wait
Santana: And when I think about the way you touch my body, this could be my greatest mistake
Quinn: You've got me singing

Girls: Oops, my baby, you woke up in my bed, Oops, we broke up, we're better off as friends
Now I accidentally need you, I don't know what to do, Oops, baby, I love you

Sam: We had a good run, we messed around and had some good fun, guess it turns out I lost a good one

'Cause now I'm wishing every morning would come, with you next to me, baby

Noah: And when I think about the way you touch my body, this could be my greatest mistake, you've got me singing

All (Mercy): Oops, my baby, you woke up in my bed, Oops we broke up, we're better off as friends
Now I accidentally need you, I don't know what to do, Oops, baby, I love you

Mercy & Santana: Now I accidentally know that you're in love with me too, Oops, baby, I love you

Girls: If it was up to me, I'd take a time machine to the day I said goodbye

Boys: So can we try again, we're official, more than friends, no, don't you tell me goodbye

All: You've got me singing
Oops, my baby, you woke up in my bed, Oops, we broke up, we're better off as friends
Now I accidentally need you, I don't know what to do, Oops, baby, I love you
Now I accidentally know that you're in love with me too
Oops, baby, I love you

"That was invigorating" Mercy said as she flopped on the couch with Sam beside her "And Christmas Day is officially over" she said looking up at the clock

"Sorry to say this guys, and I know it's totally selfish but tomorrow's a duvet day for us 24 hours of just us so don't even knock, for visitors we're not in and family we've left" Sam announced as he stood up and pulled Mercy with him "Back to work day after for both of us, so time is gold right now" he said as they hugged everyone and left for Sam's flat

Sam's flat

"Did you have a nice Christmas?" Sam asked as they kicked their shoes off and found their familiar couch

"I had a beautiful Christmas thank you" she said pulling herself up to kiss his lips "Thank you for helping me make it that way" she said looking into his eyes "Did you have a nice Christmas?"

"Brilliant Christmas yeah but" he said grabbing her attention with his pause "I'm seriously looking forward to Boxing day and night" he smiled, as he moved forward her eyes were already closed by the time he reached her lips making him smile "I love you Mercy Jones" he stopped a hair away from her lips to say as her eyes opened to take in what he'd said

"I love you too Sam Evans" she said as she started singing "And there's certain things that I adore"

Sam joined in with "And there's certain things that I ignore"

As they both finished the chorus "But I'm certain that I'm yours, certain that I'm yours, certain that I'm ..." as they got lost in each other again

"Sorry I forgot to turn it off" Mercy moved in the bed the following morning to grab her ringing phone "It's my Mom" she became alert

"Answer it"

"Duvet day?"

"Answer it" he said again

"Mom" she said quietly "What?" her face changing from scared to shocked as Sam jumped up "I'm on my way" she threw the covers off saying "Andrew's Overdosed, he's in hospital" she said before her voice broke, she didn't have time for much else as Sam dragged her to the bathroom, threw her in her clothes and they were out the door in under fifteen minutes

Hospital

"Mom" she ran towards her saying, coming to a standstill as she saw her step-dad come through the double doors the other end of the corridor

"I'm here" Sam told her, which seemed to move her out the spot she was stuck in and into her Mom's arms

"I didn't even know he was using drugs" her Mom cried into her shoulder

"For a while Mom" she pulled away from her saying "He's been beating me up for money for a long time now, and I just couldn't help him anymore I had to leave, it was killing me"

"I'm sorry, you should have told us, you should have told me" she shook her saying as Sam stepped closer

Mercy jerked away from her Mom and stepped closer to Sam "You were too wrapped up in your own life to be looking about what Andrew of I was doing"

"So what, this is all my fault is that what your telling me?"

"I'm saying..."

"Don't you dare speak to your mother like that" her step-dad jumped in

"Is Andrew alright?" she asked ignoring his command

"No, I mean I haven't heard anything yet" she replied looking from her husband to Mercy and back

"Mr and Mrs Jones" the doctor came out saying

"We're Stephenson, Mr and Mrs Stephenson" her step-dad corrected the doctor

"Sorry, Just to say Andrew is out of the muddy water this time, but it was close, we'll need him to see someone later today or tomorrow so we'll be keeping him in"

"So, I'm his sister, he's alright?" Mercy asked to confirm

"He'll be fine this time" the doctor confirmed "Do you want to see him?"

"No" she looked at her parents saying "This family hasn't given me much, but I can definitely say thank you for who I've become today, Bye Mom" she said grabbing Sam's hand and walking out

"Mercy what are you doing?" he asked as they walked

"My soul just changed Sam, I need to look out for me now"

"Hey" he stopped her walking "I'm looking out for you too"

"And until you tell me different, I'm looking out for you too" she kissed him before they carried on walking "Can't wait for new years eve"

The End