Hi guys! I wanted to thank you all for the wonderful feedback! I know some of you don't ship Finncedes and are worried about what I will do with Sam's character but trust that I cannot write evil Sam. EVER! Lol Also, in case the flashbacks throw you off: here are an order of events,
Mercedes and Finn meet as kids
Finn's dad joins the Marines and dies.
Mercedes and Finn become best friends and fall in love in their teens.
They date other people. (you will see in this update who they date)
Something important happens in Mercedes' life (read on)
Sam meets Finn (you will also read on more)
Finn's mom turns to alcohol and gets worse during his teen years.
Sam moves in with Finn.
Finn and Mercedes tell each other how they feel towards each other before he leaves.
So yeah, the flashbacks are a little scattered but there's method to my madness! Lol. Enjoy!
"You're a hypocrite and a liar!" Mercedes shouted as she packed her things.
"Don't talk to your father that way, young lady!" Patricia Jones said firmly. Every item Mercedes packed, Patricia took right back out.
"Fine! I'll just come back for my stuff!" Mercedes tried to leave her room but her father stopped her.
"Baby, please, we need to talk about this like a family." Mr. Jones pleaded with his daughter. He searched her face for any signs of forgiveness but Mercedes was stoic.
"Please don't call me baby and please don't pretend that we can talk about this like family! I hate you both!" Mercedes stormed out of her room and ran down the stairs. "I'll be at Finn's." She slammed the door, leaving her parents feeling useless.
Mercedes Jones couldn't cry anymore. She cried herself to sleep three nights in a row after she overheard the "D" word escape her father's lips. Divorce? She wasn't this girl. She wasn't the girl that had to ignore her parent's sneaking around behind her back with other people. The girl that knew her parents were separated but never made it official out of fear of hurting her. They stayed together for her and while she knew they were over a long time ago, the "D" word still stung. She walked three houses down to the Hudson home. She felt awful even bringing this on Finn. He was dealing with enough but she was alone and she needed her friend. Not even her boyfriend, Blaine, knew of her problems. Truth is, they were at a standstill too and she knew it had something to do with a certain Hummel boy. Still, she accepted it; she ignored everything, just so she can feel loved. Her mind was a whirlwind of problems and only one boy in Lima could help. She stopped at the blue house with the white picket fence. She stepped in and knocked the door.
"I'm coming!" Finn's voice echoed from the inside of the house. Mercedes' heart fluttered. It was a natural reaction. Even though she felt guilty, pinning over a boy that wasn't hers, she couldn't help it. Finn and Mercedes had been involved in this push and pull since they both realized they saw each other more than just friends. Unfortunately, no one pushed or pulled hard enough. Now they were both dating other people, even though everyone else saw right through them.
Finn opened the door and smiled brightly upon seeing Mercedes.
"Aren't you a sight for sore eyes?"
Mercedes giggled. "I could say the same to you, Mr. Big shot Quarterback."
"Please! I hate football. I'm only playing so I can get out of here. Truth is that new freshman, Sam Evans is pretty good. He has a lot of potential. If he wants, the spot is his next year."
"You'd give up a varsity spot for a sophomore?" Mercedes asked.
"Well, yeah, I hate football and I miss my friends. I miss you. Besides, there are other ways to get out of this hell hole."
"Teach me the ways, Finn Hudson!" Mercedes laughed.
"Bad day?"
"Try…bad week." Mercedes frowned.
Finn closed the door and stepped outside. "We can talk out here. My mom just fell asleep."
Mercedes sighed and took a seat on the porch. "Berry will have my head. I know I promised I'd back away…"
"You what?" Finn asked surprised at her confession.
Mercedes closed her eyes. If she was going to be honest with Finn, it would have to be about everything.
"Rachel told me to stay away from you but it's kind of hard. You're my best friend and I…"
"Merce, stop. Hold on." Finn sat next to Mercedes and shifted his body so that he was facing her. "This is why you haven't spoken to me or come by?"
"Yes" She whispered. "I just want you two to work out and Blaine and I have issues too so maybe it was for the best."
Finn rolled his eyes. Blaine. The mere mention of his name made him want to punch walls in. "Look at me; it will never be for the best if you and I are apart. We need each other." Finn leaned back. "Besides, that's one of the reasons Rachel and I didn't work out. Too jealous."
Mercedes almost stopped breathing. "What?"
"We broke up. A lot happens in a week, stranger." Finn smiled. "We're no more, thank God. Besides, I think she's seeing someone else already."
"Who?"
"Jesse."
"St. James?"
"Yup."
Mercedes rolled her eyes this time. "Match made in heaven."
"Tell me about it. So what's up with you and Tom Jones?"
"Blaine Anderson."
"Whatever."
Mercedes chuckled. "He's been distant. I don't think we're going to work out. But, that's not why I'm here."
Finn reached for her hand. "I'm all ears."
Mercedes closed her eyes and breathed in. She exhaled just as quickly. Her chest felt like it was going to explode. "My parents are getting a divorce and I'd really like to crash here tonight."
Finn stared at Mercedes' calm demeanor. Her composure scared him but he knew better than to question it. "Okay. Sure. You can take my bed. I'll sleep on the couch."
"Or…I can sleep with you?" Mercedes asked.
Finn's eyes widened. "What?"
Mercedes chuckled. "Like when we were kids! Please? For old times sake?"
Finn gulped. "Sure."
Mercedes rested her head on his chest and Finn put his arm around her. "The Bangles."
"Huh?" Finn asked, confused at her random outburst.
"The band that sings Eternal Flame. The Bangles. Remember, you and Rachel were arguing because she thought it was Air Supply?" Mercedes laughed. "It was The Bangles. I looked it up."
Finn laughed. Leave it to Mercedes to change the subject. She was famous for that. "Ahhh The Bangles. Good, I'll download it tonight."
Mercedes chuckled. "Maybe you can sing it to me?"
"I'm not the singer here, Merce!"
"Come on!"
Finn was a sucker for Mercedes Jones. He cleared his throat. "Mimimimimimi!"
Mercedes laughed hysterically. "Okay there Pavorotti! Let's hear it."
Finn tucked a rogue hair behind her ear and smiled.
"Close your eyes, give me your hand, darling
Do you feel my heart beating?
Do you understand?
Do you feel the same?
Am I only dreaming?
Is this burning an eternal flame?"
Mercedes laughed. "No one told you to stop. I happen to love this song, Hudson."
Finn stood up. "Ah well then the proper thing to do would be to share a dance with you." Finn extended his hand and Mercedes giggled before taking it. Finn hummed the rest of "Eternal Flame" as he twirled a laughing Mercedes on his front porch.
"And this is me at graduation!" Mercedes beamed over her pictures. Finn wouldn't take his eyes off of her.
"I am so proud of you." He smiled and took the picture from her. "I need a copy of this" Mercedes was posing with her hands on her hips, wearing her cap and gown on the UCLA campus.
Mercedes closed the album on her lap. "You can keep that one."
Finn's desire to lean in and kiss her was strong but he was going to be a gentleman. "Thanks, Merce." He said softly, tucking away the 4x6" in his jacket pocket. "So, top of the class, 4.0, own your own business. Why Lima?"
Mercedes leaned back and crossed her legs. "I'm happy I'm in Lima and God sent me here for a reason."
Finn moved in closer. "There are no lies between us, Merce. Why, Lima?"
Mercedes looked into Finn's brown eyes and bit her bottom lip. "I came back for Carole."
"You left your life in L.A. for my mom?"
"I had to. She needed me and she had done so much for me. Taking me in, feeding me, being the mom I never had, clearing things up with my parents. It was the least I can do. I can always go back. Things were great out here. Puck was happy to be back, I opened up the school and well, I'm happy."
"Those aren't your dreams, Mercedes." Finn said feeling guilty for leaving such a burden on his friend.
"Sure they are. My dreams were to make a difference."
"Your dreams were…ARE to sing." Finn corrected her.
"I did the right thing and I'm not beating myself up about it so you shouldn't either. I'm still young at 23. I can go back."
"Are you? Going back?"
"Maybe. Eventually." It had been a while since Mercedes had a heart to heart with anyone. Not even with Sam.
"Good. I'll support you."
"Finn? What about you? Are you staying? After Carole…I'm sorry. I don't know how to ask this question…" Mercedes felt uncomfortable.
"After my mother passes? I don't think I can stay in Lima. Too many memories. Too many demons." Finn stared absently at the carpet in Mercedes' apartment. "Unless you want me to stay."
Mercedes stood up and crossed her arms. Finn stood up too. "Sorry, too much. I know. I'm sorry. I'll behave."
Mercedes turned away and leaned her head back. "Me too. I'm sorry, too."
"You have nothing to be sorry about. I can't just expect to come back and you'd be waiting for me. I mean, seriously, how did I even know you'd be in Lima?"
"Because you feel me like I feel you? Remember? Soul mates and all that jazz? Those months we didn't hear from you, I knew something was wrong. I felt it."
"Do you feel Sam?" Finn didn't even know how he got through that question without wanting to beat himself up.
Mercedes turned to face him. "I don't know, Finn but he deserves me trying to figure it out."
Finn nodded his head. "I agree."
"He's a good guy." Mercedes whispered.
"I know."
"So…we're okay?" Mercedes asked full of hope.
"Always." Finn pulled her into an embrace and kissed the top of her head. "Always."
"That's the last of it!" Sam threw himself on Finn's bed. "Every single drop."
"I'm never touching the stuff." Finn said bitterly. "I can't believe we have to go through this every week."
"Addiction is tough, Finn, you're doing well." Sam smiled at his friend.
Finn pulled his hair in frustration. "I'm just…I hate that I bought you into this mess. You and Mercedes. It's not fair."
"We're your friends, that's what friends are for." Sam sat up. "Stop being so hard on yourself. Listen, Puck and I are going to shoot hoops after school tomorrow. Maybe you should come along?"
"I can't. I have to go to my therapist. If I miss it, Mrs. Pillsbury gets notification and she starts worrying." Finn sat on the bean bag in the corner of his room.
Sam looked around, thinking. "Fine, we'll go with you. Then we can get stop by breadstixx for a bite."
Finn laughed. "Go with me to therapy?"
"Yep!" Sam said cheerfully.
Finn smirked. "You're something else, Sam Evans."
"You too Finn Hudson. Taking in a broke sophomore, giving him your QB status…"
"You earned that!"
Sam laughed. "Do we have a bro-mance?"
"I believe we do! Can't tell Puck though…It will be our little secret romance!"
Sam laughed and threw a pillow at Finn. "Speaking of secret romances. Blaine and Kurt are a thing now. Is Mercedes okay?"
"Yeah, she said she knew all along." Finn smiled as he thought about his beautiful friend.
"So I hope this means you're finally going to ask her out?"
"What?"
"Oh please! We all know! Just ask her out already!"
"I can't."
"Why not? You guys are meant to be!" Sam said. He was a hopeless romantic too, always pinning after the wrong girls.
"I just can't, Sam. It's complicated."
"There has to be a reason, Finn. Don't tell me it's Carole. Mercedes loves her and vice versa. I just don't get it…you two are…"
"I'm joining the Marines."
Sam's jaw dropped. He crawled to the foot of the bed so that he was eye to eye with Finn.
"You can't." He said softly. "You can't Finn, not after what happened to your dad. Are you crazy?"
"I need a way out of here!" Finn confessed.
"So go to college! Go to L.A.! With Puck and Mercedes! I'm taking advanced classes, I'll graduate the winter after you and I'll follow you guys! We can be like the fantastic four! Don't join the Marines, Finn."
"Sam…have you ever had that incredible desire to do something because you feel it's your destiny?" Finn asked Sam seriously.
"You mean like Spiderman?"
Finn laughed. "Yeah, I guess. Like Spiderman."
"Yeah…"
"Well, that's how I feel about the Marines."
Sam groaned. "Nooo! You're destiny is to marry Mercedes! To finally be happy! To go to college and do what you want to do with your life! Come on dude!"
"I've made up my mind. This time around next year, I'll be enlisting."
Sam shook his head. "Fine! I have a year to get that stupid idea out of your head!"
0000000000000000000000000000
"Puck, what are you doing on my porch?"
Finn had just gotten out of his jeep and saw his crazy friend sprawled out on is mother's porch.
"Did you see her?"
"Yes."
"Well?"
"Well…nothing. We're friends. Puck, I told you. She's with Sam."
"You're an idiot."
Finn rubbed his eyes. "I'm exhausted. Go home, drink some black coffee, Sober up, we can do this again in the morning. How did you get here anyway?"
"Walked." Puck admitted to his friend, shrugging his shoulder. "No big deal."
"Come on, I'll drive you home." Finn went to try to lift Puck.
"I'm wealthier than that Face book guy and look at me. I have nothing. Even that dude's married and he's a douche!"
"You're 23. You have your whole life ahead of you, Puck."
"So do you."
"My days are numbered, you that." Finn smirked.
"That's not funny. You're not funny."
"Come on, I'll take you home."
"Sam comes back tomorrow." Puck said to Finn.
Finn put Puck's arm around him and carried his weight. "I know, Ugh, heavy. No more burgers for you, bro." Finn teased. He flinched slightly. His arm was hurting but he didn't tell Puck.
"Oh stop it, you're Iron Man." Puck smiled and kissed Finn's cheek. "Welcome back!"
Finn laughed at his friend's antics. "I sure missed you."
"DUCK!"
Finn threw Puck on the floor and covered his ears. He breathed heavily, kneeling next to him. "Dude, what the fuck?" Puck had fallen on his ass and was rubbing it.
"Corporal! Are you making fun of me?"
Finn covered his mouth trying not to laugh. Tears were streaming down his cheeks. "I am so sorry, Private but this is hysterical!"
Finn held up the Barney and Friends Boxers belonging to Private Heller.
"HA HA! You got your laugh! Laugh at the rookie!"
Finn put his arm around the younger boy. "I was 18 once, kid."
"Corporal, you're 22 not 82!"
Company Charlie burst into laughter and Finn joined them.
"MEN! We're being attacked!" Staff Sergeant Jackson rushed his men out to fight.
"You heard him! This is war!" Finn shouted, running out.
"HOO RAH!" They all shouted.
"On my word, we all move East." Finn whispered.
His men nodded their heads.
"DUCK!"
Bullets flew and screams went off.
Finn turned around to find one of his friends down.
"MEDIC! WE NEED A MEDIC! Private Heller, don't do this to me! MEDIC!" Finn shook the young man.
"Corporal! We need to move! There's a sniper!"
Finn stayed with the young man as the others moved out. He turned to see that he was ambushed by the enemy. He raised his arms.
"Corporal Finn Hudson! I do not negotiate with Terrorists!"
Three shots were fired and Finn fell to the floor.
"DUCK!" The kid from down the block yelled.
"Dude what the fuck?" Puck rubbed his ass.
"Sorry guys! Didn't want to hit you with the ball!"
The boy ran to pick up the baseball and ran back to his friends.
Puck stared at Finn intensely. He grabbed his shoulders. "Finn?"
Finn Hudson was shaking.