A/N: Hey guys. I know we are all upset and trying to get over Corys death. I know I am. I'm kinda still in denial. But anyways We got to go forward with life. Im sure he wouldnt want us to hold onto the the grief we feel. We know he's in a better place. :) Thanks to everyone who followed,favorited, and reviewed. Thanks Guys it really means a lot to me. On to the story.

Disclaimer: I don't own Glee

P.S. This has been edited ...hopefully there arent many mistakes.

"Mercedes can you please go help Aunt Agnis fold the sheets in the back?"

With the help of Agnis, Joslin had found a job. The pay wasn't enough for a place to stay but it brought food to the table. Agnis had taken pity on the girl and always saved a bed for them at the shelter. The elderly woman saw some of herself in Joslin. There was one night where Joslin had dropped of Mercedes at the shelter and didn't come back until 3am. When she came back, Agnis was waiting for her with open arms with a shoulder to cry on. Joslin had gone out and had decided to drown her sorrows in liquor. She had the hard exterior front that evaded all evidence of sadness and depression but that night her walls crumbled. When she wandered in the shelter early that morning Agnis was shocked but supportive and in her drunken state Joslin spilled her whole story to Agnis. After that night they grown close and Joslin had someone she knew she could come to. Someone who she could ,dare she say, trust. She had even gotten into the habit of calling her an aunt.

Often at times when Joslin had to work, Agnis would watch Mercedes. Mercedes hadn't had any schooling because of her life of running around. All she knew is what she got from her mother and observing other people. So Agnis taught her material for school. Sam would sometimes join them when he was there.

"Mercedes didn't you hear me"

"Yes 'Mam" She had been waiting for Sam to show up. He usually showed up around 1pm. Ever since their first encounter they were inseparable. At times Agnis wouldn't be at the shelter in the noon time Mercedes would have to go with her mom to work and Sam would tag along. The two of them would find someway to have fun while washing the dishes in the back and after helping her mom work the owner would give them a piece of pie which they shared.

At times where Sam's mother would be so drunk or high she didn't even recognize her own son, Mercedes and her mom would help him take her back to the shelter. Sam didn't like talking much about his parents. All he said was that his dad died from cancer when he was 5 and he didn't talk about much more after that. Instead they talked about games,music, and funny stories they experienced on the streets...Anything that would make them forget about their current lives.

"Mercedes!" her mom snapped.

"I'm coming" she said as she ran to the back. She wondered why he was late as she helped Auntie Agnis fold. After helping Agnis fold she went to porch of the building and waited. An hour later he arrived with his mom in tow. She went and got Aunt Agnis so she could help Ms. Evans who was stumbling on the steps. Agnis helped the women who was now puking on the steps. She took her inside and Sam sat on the porch with Mercedes. He blankly stared at the steps where his mom had just vomited. He never talked about her problems and they had silent pact to not talk about it. She would always be there to comfort him but silence was ,for now, the best comfort.

"Sorry I was late" he said breaking the silence.

"It's not your fault. I-I mean its not y-your moms fault either. It's no ones fault...I mean-"she stammered.

"It's fine. Sooo you wanna go to Roses Records or not?" he chuckled at her stammering.

Once on the way back from helping her mom work, they had spotted a record shop. It was one of the few ones still remaining in business and they had made it a routine to go there every Wednesday and Friday. They loved the old record shop. It was a vintage old shop with all the classics. Billy Holiday, Earth Wind and Fire, The Stylistics were just a few of the records they had there. Mercedes really loved going to listen to some of favorites like Aretha Franklin, Tina Turner, Whitney Houston and her new favorite Beyonce. They had just gotten the CDs for Beyonce and the owner let them have the first listen. She was in love with how fierce she could be but how none of her notes were flawed when she added attitude. Sam on the other hand was not not there for that. He was more of a country, rock and sometimes pop guy. And the record shop had everything so he could jam to the the Beatles,Queen, Guns 'N roses or maybe some Tim Mcgraw.

As they walked to the record shop, Mercedes spotted Rachel and her little possey of stuck up little snobs. Rachel Berry was the daughter of the owners of the shelter. They were entrepreneurs and philanthropist and were well recognized through out the city. They spent all their money spoiling their little girl. All of that went to her head which in turn led to her being a spoiled brat. After Sam and Mercedes clash with Rachel they avoided each other like the plague. There was those rare times where they had a confrontation but usually they would just exchange glares.

If Rachel was avoiding them them then all of her friends were too. Marley Rose was really a sweet girl but hung around with not so nice people. She didnt really call people out like her friends did. She used her friends to hide behind. No one really knew why she hung out with them. Next was Kitty Wilde a girl cold as ice and not ashamed of doing anything for anyone especially Quinn Fabray. Quinn Fabray was the queen bee of their group. Rachel even knew not to mess with Quinn. Quinn was seen as a perfect little angel in most peoples eyes. But that little halo is just for show. She could always find the perfect way to manipulate people into doing whatever she desired. Not to mention she knew exactly how to hurt you where it counted.

Now at the age of 12 Mercedes and Sam had both experienced the Queen Bee's rath thanks to Rachel. And now Mercedes could see out of the corner of her eye the little snobs headed there way. Apparently Sam had saw them too because he picked up his pace. They were almost at the record shop when someone called out to them.

"Mercedes! Samuel!" they looked across the street to see Pastor Joe calling them over to him. Checking for cars they ran across the street.

"Hi Pastor Joe" they said in unison.

"Hey I was just wondering if you and your mothers were coming out to fall festival this year?"

The kids looked at each other knowing that they couldn't go. They had always wanted to go. Agnis went every year and always raved on how they should go but their moms didn't care that much for events like that. Plus there would be a lot of police there and both moms feared that one would recognize them.

"Umm maybe-" Mercedes started.

"Yep. We will be there!" Sam interrupted avoiding Mercedes gaze.

"Thats great! Take one of these" he said as he handed them wristbands. " You can get in with those. So don't lose them okay?Well I have to get going but I'll see you two at the festival. Have a blessed day kids" he said as he walked off.

"See ya at the festival" Sam said waving goodbye.

Mercedes thumped him on his shoulder.

"Ow"he said rubbing his shoulder. "What was that for?"

"You lied to Pastor Joe. He's a pastor! That's like lying to God! " she said in a scolding tone.

Sam rolled his eyes" Well its not lying if I'm actually going" he said glancing across the street to see that the snobs had left. Then he started to cross the street to go to the record shop.

"What do you mean your going? You cant go!" she said chasing after him. Ignoring her he walked into the record store greeted by the smell of tobacco and the sound of Queen's "We are the Champions" softly playing in the background.

Sam went to the side of the shop that Mercedes music was on and put on a record for them to listen to. He decided to put on Superstitious by Stevie Wonder. He gave half of the headset to Mercedes and held the other part to his ear. The music was a distraction for now. Little did she know Sam had been planning on going to the fall festival for some time. Agnis had agreed a while back that they should go with her but Mercedes always wanted to stay with her mother and Sam wanted to stay with Mercedes. But this year was different. Yeah hanging out with 'Cedes was fun but the scenery was getting dull. And he had heard of all rides they could go on.

"Very superstitious, the devil's on his way "

He looked at Mercedes as she closed her eyes and focused on the music. She would understand. He was doing this for them. And their parents would have to let them go this year. They weren't babies anymore. They were almost teenagers. Suddenly her heard snapping and he saw 'Cedes trying to get his attention. He took the headphone away from his ear.

"Why were you staring" she asked " Do I have something on my face or mayb-"she brought her hands to her face.

"N-No its nothing. I was just thinking."

"About what you were staring pretty hard"she giggled.

"Fall Festival" he said slowly.

"Oh...You know what my answer already is"

"Come on 'Cedes. We're almost teenagers. We should be able to go to some fall festival. Everyone goes every year and 'Cedes they even have rides."

"I'm not everyone" she said simply as she looked for another record. She found the one she wanted and started to put it in.

"You should be more..." he tried to think of the word.

"While you're thinking you should look at the title of this record"

He looked and saw it was "And I am telling you" from Dreamgirls. He looked back up and saw she had a smirk on her face. She took out the headphones that connected to the record player and Jenifer Hudson's voice could be heard all across the shop. Mercedes sang along with the record swaying and skipping around the shop belting out every note. She sang the "I'm staying" part louder and clearer than the rest of the lyrics and he got what she was trying to say. Sure. She wanted to stay for now. But he knew they needed this.

It was going to take a little time but they were going to the fall festival.

Thanks for reading! Hoped you liked it. Sorry for any mistakes. I live for reviews.

AND BE HAPPY GUYS! Dont remember him in sadness. Go pet a puppy. Hell go buy a puppy. Maybe chase some butterflies or something. Im gonna go window shopping, eat something sweet or somethin. But be happy when you remember him. YAY!

Cory we love YOU RIP

Kenya-3