Disclaimer: I own nothing

S&M

Glancing at the vibrating phone on the dining table, Sam sighed.

It was Quinn again.

"Are you fighting with your friend?"

Sam shook his head towards his brother and reached over the phone.

"No, I just don't want to answer and be distracted while I'm helping you with your homework"

Stevie returned to the maths problems in front of him and Sam debated wether of not to turn the mobile off. Quinn had been ringing for the last hour and Sam was no closer to wanting to answer it. Plus, if he turned it off there was always that chance that Mercedes would call and he would miss it. She never said she was going to call, but there was always a chance that she might and no way was he going to miss any hard-core friend time. Especially since with all this free time he didn't really have much of life outside homework assignments and Pixar movies. That was it though, he reminded himself. It was like he was longing to hear her giggle or teasing. That would be crazy, because he didn't have a shot in hell he reminded himself.

The phone stopped ringing and he placed it back on the table, only to have it start ringing straight away again. He groaned and picked up the phone again, accepting the call. He stood up and made his way to the kitchenette, frustrated that his time with Stevie was being cut short.

"What Quinn"

"Why haven't you been answering you phone? I really need to see you"

Sam looked at his brother before turning to face the fridge

"I'm on holidays Quinn, I told you this. I'm not taking any appointments"

"You are going to want to have this appointment. Trust me, I will make it worth your time. It's about our arrangement"

Sam sighed, lifting his head back frustrated.

"What is so important we can't talk over the phone? Plus I'm in the middle of something"

"Six hundred dollars"

"What?"

"Six hundred dollars for an hour of you time"

Sam turned around learning on the small fridge. Six hundred dollars meant new twin beds for the kids. Defeated he replied

"Fine, but I need like an hour before I can come over"

"Fine, just get here"

S&M

Sitting on her bed with a book in hand, Mercedes was feeling very lazy. She had accomplished nothing today and loved it. This is what she loved about time off, long days of doing nothing. The opening bars of "Crazy In Love" blared from her bedside table and she rolled over to pick it.

"Hey Sam, what's up"

She listened as Sam took a deep breath on the other side of the line and she perked up, wondering what was making him so nervous.

"So I know you are using tonight to get your laze on, but I really need a favour. I need someone to watch the kids for like an hour tops. I been trying to get a hold of Lauren, but she is now where to be found"

Mercedes glanced at the clock, wondering where Sam had to be so urgently at seven at night.

"It's nearly their bed time, so it apart from the teeth pulling experience of getting them to bed I promise they won't be too much of a hassle"

"Is this a work thing Sam?"

Sam paused

"Sought of, but not really"

"Is it a secret girlfriend?"

Sam chuckled

"No it's not that"

Mercedes stomach clenched at the thought and in a way that she wasn't really comfortable.

"Ok Sam, of course I'll help you out"

S&M

Pulling up to Quinn's lush home, Sam ran his fingers through his hair. He been rushed out the door and barely got a second with Mercedes. She been all smiles and happily shooed him out the door but he'd didn't even say thank-you. The whole drive to Quinn's he was running an inventory in his head.

Had he left a basket filled with clean washing on the dining room table? More worryingly was his underwear anywhere near the top? Knowing his luck it would be his worn out, holey jocks right on show on top of the pile. This was definitely not how he wanted Mercedes to first see his apartment. If had it been planned his favourite superman undies definitely would have been on display.

Shit, when was the last time he had vacuumed?

Thoughts about the state of the fridge (which he knew for sure needed to be wiped out) left his mind as he waved to Quinn who had come to great him at the door.

S&M

Sam definitely was gone for more than an hour and Mercedes was starting to worry. The twins were refusing to go to bed as they were so excited to see her. Mercedes had seen no harm in letting them stay up, all sitting together on the couch.

"Wow Stevie you are a fabulous drawer"

She wasn't lying either and was taken aback at the detail of his pictures. She didn't even think she could colour in the lines.

"Stop hogging Stevie and let Mercedes look at my pictures. Stevie rolled his eyes and took back his picture, allowing his sister to replace it with hers. It was crudely drawn woman with wings.

"Who is that Stacie?"

Mercedes asked curiously, noting the blonde hair of the angel.

"That's mum"

Oh, well that explains one of Mercedes many questions about Sam's circumstances.

"Stacie!"

Stevie admonished, reaching over Mercedes to thump his sister in the stomach.

"Hey! Hey! Hey! Now none of that Mr Evans!"

Mercedes scolded, although she was taken aback at the quiet boy's out-burst.

"I can show Mercedes my drawing if I want to Stevie! You did!"

"Yeah but not that one!"

Mercedes could see the little boy getting upset and wrapped her arms around him.

"Why not Stevie? What's wrong with the picture?"

She was dying to know, but didn't want to pressure the child. Stevie just shrugged, not knowing how to articulate his feelings. Luckily he had a twin sister that had a motor mouth big enough for the two of them.

"He is sad because Mum's dead"

She said in a business like tone

"Sometimes he cries"

She added, causing her brother to peak over Mercedes to glare at his twin.

"Hey now, it's ok to cry. I cry a lot when I'm sad too Stevie"

"What makes you sad?"

Stacie asked

Oh lots of things, she thought honestly with a chuckle. She wondered when life was going to catch her break. Although by the sounds of it Sam and his siblings seemed to have had a rougher road to travel down.

"When my favourite TV show gets cancelled"

The twins nodded in solemn agreement.

"Did you want to talk about your Mum Stevie? Some happy memories you have?"

Stevie shook his head and snuggled into her side more. Stacie happily took the reins.

"She liked yellow flowers and would always put my hair in plait for school. Sometime she was to tried to do my hair, so she just let us stay home. Sam never lets us miss school"

Mercedes pause at that, gathering that Stacie must not have told the story right.

"Was she a good cook?"

Stacie nodded

"Way better then Sam. My favourite is chicken"

"I liked it when she cooked spaghetti"

Mercedes glanced down at Stevie, smiling at his decision to join the conversation.

"She had a green car"

Stevie added and Stacie dropped her eyes to the floor.

"I want to go to bed Mercedes"

"Me too"

Her brother added.

She nodded and stood up with them, following them into their bedroom.

S&M

It was nearly eleven when Sam texted his apologises and that he would be home soon. Mercedes had pulled out his bed and was comfortable under the covers, watching television. She had been stressed and worried about his whereabouts imagining situations where the woman's husband walked in on Sam and his wife and beat the life out of him. Now she was just plain pissed, because clearly he was fine. She was also blaming him for the squirming feeling she was experiencing in her stomach. She snuggled into the pillow and decided to just get some shut eye. Her mind was whirling from everything going and all the things that she had learnt. Despite her annoyance at Sam, a little part of her wanted him home so she could give him a hug.

S&M

It was just after midnight when Sam slunk back home, expecting a fight. He laid the envelope of cash on the kitchen bench and smiled at the sight in front of him. The light from the TV lit up her sleeping form as she cuddled tightly to his pillow. He made his way over to her and sunk on the mattress beside her.

"Mercedes"

He whispered softly, shaking her shoulder gently. He bit back a smile as she slowly started to wake.

"I'm home"

"I'm going to kill you"

She answered sleepily. Sam chuckled and brushed her fringe from her face.

"I am so sorry and really grateful, but I have a wonderful explanation for it all"

"Tell me in the morning, oh I'm staying over by the way"

She whispered with a smirk

"Yay, our first friend sleepover! I'm going to your best friend a lot sooner than I thought"

Mercedes closed her eyes and snuggled into the pillow.

"You're such a fool. Now let me sleep"

He patted her arms and stood up, assessing the situation. Clearly he couldn't take the couch, since that was his bed. Sighing he accepted that he was going to have to jump in with the twins. Now his limited sleep was going to be filled with kicks to head and a barrage of questions if he accidently woke them up getting in.

"Just get in Sam. I can hear your mind stressing from here"

Sam looked down at her, but she hadn't opened her eyes. Silently he pulled off his jeans and shirt, leaving him in his wife beater and boxers. He gently lowered himself onto the sofa bed and lay down on his spare pillow. He glanced over to Mercedes, who now had her eyes open.

"Stevie and Stacie showed me drawings of your mother tonight, Sam"

Sam swallowed and turned to his side, facing her.

"She died"

Mercedes nodded

"I mean I had gathered, but they told me tonight"

"I don't really like talking about it"

He said honestly and Mercedes pulled out her arm to reach him.

"We don't have to talk about anything you don't want to. I just wanted to say I think you are doing and amazing job with them and she would be proud"

Sam stared into her eyes and saw nothing but honesty. He could feel the emotion pulsating in his small, cramped apartment. It was too late in the night to hide his sadness and he felt the tears starting to well.

"I wanted to make their life better than the one they had and I've just gone and fucked it up even more"

Mercedes hand brushed his cheek and he could feel himself moving closer to her. She snaked her arm across his chest and snuggled into his shoulder.

"Sam I'm glad we met and whatever decisions you have made it's been out of necessity. You're a good person and an amazing friend. I can't wait to see the places you'll go and those children are beautiful"

He dropped a kiss to her head.

"But if you ever make me worry about you again like I did tonight, I will hand your balls to you"

The tension lifted slightly at the joke and stared up at the ceiling.

"I had to deal with Quinn tonight. We had to have a conversation and it escalated"

"Did you have to-"

He cut her off quickly

"No, not tonight. We just talked"

He felt Mercedes nod and she lifted her chin. Theirs eyes met again and Sam suddenly had memories of her bare breasts and the touch of her skin. He wondered if she was thinking about the same thing as she kissed his jaw lightly. Taking the hint he snuggled down to meet her lips and Sam was amazed at how quickly his miserable night turned around with that kiss. Sometimes he wondered if he would never get this feeling again, because he pretty much spent his days kissing women. He had it down to a fine art and it was so technical that he stopped enjoying them. Here as he lay with springs poking into his back he felt intoxicated by everything about her.

She pulled her lips from his and then pecked him quickly before laying back down on her pillow.

"Goodnight Sam"

All it took was three minutes for Sam Evans to become quickly obsessed with everything Mercedes.

S&M

She should have known that Sam was a cuddle monster. His head was resting on her chest and Mercedes watched as his eyes flickered while he dreamed. Mercedes wasn't sure what had come over her last night. She put it down to the intensity of the conversation and her strong affection for the Evan's family. Although kissing him might have taken 'comforting' to the next level. She tossed her head back, embarrassed about how forward she'd been. Although she felt assured that Sam held no complaints. She rubbed her eyes, feeling stressed. What was she even doing? He was a sex worker with two kids and here she was falling in love with him. Damn Santana! She thought, she had totally jinxed her.

"Morning Curves"

Sam had lifted his head and was looking at her, a dopey sleepily smile spread across his lips. She smiled back, stretching as he sat up.

"Got to say, you are way more comfortable then that mattress"

"Is it still called a mattress if it's only an inch high"

She giggled when he turned to raise his eyebrow at her.

"Glad to see you still has a sense of humour in the early morning"

He jumped out of the way as she playfully tried to slap him.

"I'm going to get the kids up for breakfast. If you're lucky you might get to catch the Evans School Run Show. I here is heller entertaining, especially if one of them cries"

Mercedes laughed again, shaking her head. She sat up and stretched her arms out

"I can start breakfast if you want?"

Sam smiled

"That would be awesome"

Mercedes watched Sam disappear into the twin's room and made her way to the kitchenette. Maybe she was reading too much into last night because clearly Sam wasn't bothered. Kissing must be like shaking hands for him. She was slightly comforted and sad at that thought.

A white envelope with money poking out caught her eye. That had not been there when she went to sleep. She didn't want to pry but curiosity got the better of her and she glanced inside before dropping it quickly. There was hundreds of dollars in there! Mercedes felt really disgruntled at the fact that Sam had lied. Who pays that much money for just a 'conversation', even someone as affluent as Quinn? She shook her head at herself, trying not to get worked up as the kids were about to fly out of the bedroom at any moment.

She was 100% aware of Sam's 'job' so she couldn't think of any reason Sam would blatantly lie about what he did last night. Suspicion suddenly overcame Mercedes. What if it was something else? Something illegal like drugs dealing? She began opening cupboards trying to make herself busy, especially when she realised that she'd be more upset if Sam had had sex with Quinn last night compared to how she'd feel if it had been drugs.

Her phone rang from her handbag, which was slung on one of the dining room chairs. It was Santana.

Kurt's in town. Wanted to surprise you but I know you'd hate that.

Mercedes bit her lip. Fuck.