Disclaimer: I don't own Glee.

A/N: Sorry it's been a while, I was so blocked on where to take this story.

Chapter 13: The only love I know

Sam's POV

Sam had no clue when he and BB had become BFFs, but he guessed it had something to do with finding her crying in the hall the day after the party. He hadn't known what was wrong with the girl, but the southern gentleman in him couldn't just let her cry alone.

"What's the matter, Bailey?" Sam asked. He was on his way to grab his phone from Mercy's room, when he spotted her close to the bathroom crying. The poor girl hadn't even made it in before the waterworks had started.

She sniffed. "Last night, Matt and I slept together."

Wrapping one of his arms around her, Sam pulled her into a hug. "Darlin' was he that bad?"

That got her to laugh. "No, he was great. It's just…I never thought my first time would be on someone's couch with a guy I hardly know."

Sam sighed, thinking of his first time. He almost laughed. "My first time was with a girl that didn't really like me at all. She was in love with another girl."

"Wow!"

Sam pulled back to look at her face. She could very well pass as Rachel's sister. She was short, with dark brown hair, and expressive brown eyes. BB was a little less prudish than Rachel and much easier to like. He didn't know what compelled him to ask, "Bailey, what's your last name?"

The girl looked a little confused but still answered. "Corcoran. Why?"

Of course Sam knew that last name. Once Quinn told him about Beth, all she ever talked about in her rare moments when she let her guard down was Shelby Corcoran and how she better be treating Beth right.

"Do you by any chance know a Shelby Corcoran?"

"She's my aunt – my dad's sister. Do you know her?" Quinn would definitely be surprised when she found out that not only was BB her roommie, she was also part of her extended family.

"Only by name," he told her honestly. "Back on topic. Is Matt in need of a good ole fashion ass kickin'? He didn't say anything out of the way to you this mornin' did he?"

"He hasn't talked to me at all!"

And that's when it began. Sam became the official liaison between Matt and Bailey. He had lunch with Bailey on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and they talked about all kinds of things. She and Matt had hung out, but never plunged into actually going on a date. When Sam suggested it to her, she panicked. "Sam, I've never been on a date! I wouldn't know what to do! You have to come with me!"

He almost got choked on his sandwich. "Come with you? Girl, have you lost your mind. Bein' a third wheel ain't fun at all."

"Then you don't have to come alone. Bring Mercedes."

That idea he didn't like. He and Mercy hadn't set an official first date yet, and he really didn't want their first to be with Matt and Bailey. Yet she was looking at him with those big brown eyes, pleading. "Fine. I'll talk to Mercy and see what I can do."

"Can you also talk to Matt and get him to ask me out?"

"Now, you're askin' a little too much of me."

Even though the thought of being on a date with Matt and Bailey was weird, the call he got next threw him for a loop. He answered his ringing phone to hear, "Sam! Man, I'm freaking out. Leslie asked me out!" Puck told him.

"So…I'm not seein' the problem here."

"I don't date! Not since…Lauren."

"Well this is your chance to start back."

"What if I fuck it up? I asked Sexy Mama and she told me to talk to you about the two of you –"

"You want us to babysit you on your date too?" Sam sighed exasperatedly. "Look, man, Mercy and I haven't even gone on a first date yet. If we do this, it will be after our first date. So let me think about it."

Sam knew that their Fall break started next Friday after class, and they'd decided that instead of him taking the bus home, she'd drive him home on Monday. Mercy would stay until Wednesday morning then leave and make it home for Thanksgiving with her family and spend the weekend there. Sam's mind was churning on the perfect time to take her on a date was since the two of them were clearly in high demand.

Instead of talking to Matt about dating Bailey, Sam sent her a text telling her to ask him on her own. She was a big girl. She could do this. He borrowed Matt's computer and did some research and made a few calls. He hoped that Mercy agreed or else he would be donating the proceeds that went for this date to one of the two budding romances of their friends.

Going over to Mercy's place, Artie greeted him at the door. "What's up, Sam?"

"Not much. Merce home?"

"Yeah, she's having a heart to heart with Puck in her room."

Sam didn't want that to bother him but it did. He didn't want to be jealous, or feel inadequate, but the fact of the matter was she and Puck had had sex and they frequently slept in the same bed most nights. He knocked lightly on the door, and Mercy yelled for him to come in. Puck's head was resting in her lap and she was trailing her fingers through his mowhawk as he spoke. A smiled played at Mercy's lips as she patted the space beside her for Sam to come sit.

"What's goin' on, y'all?" Sam asked, trying not to sound jealous.

"I'm just filling Hot Mama in on me and Leslie."

"Yeah, I actually came over to talk to her about that, and get this, Merce, we've been invited on a date with BB and Matt too."

"Are you serious?" she asked.

"Yep, but…" Sam looked at Puck still resting in Mercy's lap. The boy looked up at him, finally sitting up.

"I get it. You want to talk. I'm leaving!" Puck left the room closing the door behind him.

"I wanna take you on a real date before we go with them. I wanna do this right." Sam was looking down at her blanket as he admitted this. It was still hard for him to completely let this girl back in but he was trying, because he knew life without her wasn't an option.

She placed her hand in his. "If you want to take me on a date first, then that's what we'll do. When?"

He smiled. "I was hoping for next Friday. That is if you don't mind driving down to Cleveland…I've got us tickets to Memphis the musical at Playhouse Square."

What Sam didn't expect was for her to jump on him knocking him backwards in a hug. "Sam, you didn't! I've wanted to see it so badly! How'd you know?"

"I didn't. I just googled attractions outside of Oberlin or Lima, for that matter. I figured we could check it out. From what I've heard it's a really good show," he admitted.

"This must have cost you a lot. You didn't have to do this."

"No, Sweetheart, we aren't doin' that this time around, okay? Don't worry about money. My responsibility here is to take care of me. I'm only workin' for myself and I can splurge sometimes. Besides, the beauty of Playhouse Square is to get Broadway shows without Broadway price."

She placed kisses all over his face eagerly before latching onto his lips. Mercy and Sam hadn't kissed since the morning after the party, and this was the first time he really allowed himself to appreciate her lips against his. She kissed him cautiously with her body on top of Sam's. Her tongue trailed his lips and his lips parted to eagerly meet hers for the first time in over a year. The feel of her body against his, her lips on his, and tongue caressing his sent Sam spiraling into a world of bliss. His hands stayed at her hips, though he wanted to roam to her ass, but he knew he needed to keep them at just kissing.

"God, I've missed your lips," Mercy said.

"I've missed your everything," Sam admitted.

"Tell me what you've missed." Mercy's eyebrow rose in challenge.

"I've missed your lips, your smile, holdin' you like this, and just feelin' whole when I'm with you."

"But it freaks you out still doesn't it?" she asked quietly, nuzzling her face into the crook of Sam's neck.

"Honey, I wouldn't say I'm freaked out. I'm just…gonna need time not to automatically assume the worst. When I saw you with Puck, on the inside, I panicked. I could lose you because you two have something special that I can't measure up to, but there's nothing I can do about it because –"

"Being without you is worse than the panic. I have it too. I need you in my life, but by allowing you to be there, I'm allowing you to walk away from me again. I'm giving you the power to break me by leaving me again."

"And I'm giving you the power to break me by giving up on us again."

The pair looked into each other's eyes. "We're really doing this, huh? Trying to get back to where we were?" Mercedes asked.

"Seems that way doesn't it?

That night, they cuddled and watched TV. They were even joined by Quinn and Artie. Sam was finding it easier to take things in stride and see things day by day instead of looking into the future. Right now, Mercedes wasn't going anywhere. She was right beside him, cuddled in his arms.

Mercedes's POV

To say she was excited was an understatement. It was finally the start of Fall break. She was going on a date today, and getting to see his family in only a few short days. It only took about fifty minutes to get to Cleveland. Mercedes drove as Sam was on the passenger side using her phone to submit some discussion board assignments that were due that day. She didn't mind the silence. Occasionally, she'd glance over at him, with his book out muttering to himself about a question he had to answer. Mercedes smiled. This reminded her of the times they'd studied together for finals, but one memory in particular hit her as she drove.

His hair was longer and it fell into his eyes. So many times she'd wanted to brush it from his eyes. He huffed out a frustrated sigh, looking up at her with a crooked smile on his face. "What are you studyin'?" Sam asked with a frown.

She wanted to say him, because clearly that was the only thing she was looking at. Since their kiss in New York, he was all she could think about, but he'd said it had been a mistake. Surely he wasn't interested in her that way. He was just caught up in the moment.

His fingertips trailed across her cheek. "Earth to Mercedes."

"Sorry, I'm just distracted."

"Me too."

Sam walked into the living room, grabbing his guitar. He'd brought it with him that day. He'd told her playing it calmed him and helped him clear his head. Sam absentmindedly strummed as Mercedes watched, mesmerized. When he looked up at her, he asked, "Wanna learn?"

Hesitantly, she nodded. Sam handed her the instrument and then came around behind her. He was so close and his hands covered hers as he showed her what to do.

That summer Sam had taught her how to play, and she'd kept his guitar when he left. Mercedes played it every day, holding onto that last remnant of him. It was as if she felt close to him as she strummed a melody. She saw that Sam almost never left his guitar. He'd even brought it with him today.

They arrived just in time to be admitted into the show. After they'd found a parking spot, Sam got out and opened Mercedes's door for her. He helped her out of the car and automatically laced his fingers through hers, holding her hand with a secure grip.

Mercedes giggled. "You like holding my hand, don't you?" Since they'd been back on each other's good side, Sam always reached for her hand no matter where they were together.

"We didn't get to do much of this before, and it was one of the things I was lookin' forward to, walkin' the McKinley halls with you. I'd have a shit eatin' grin on my face 'cause I had the most beautiful girl to ever grace those halls. Jealousy would run rampant as everyone took us in that first day."

"Oh something would have run rampant alright."

Sam looked down at her as they entered the building. "This is my fantasy. You can burst somebody's bubble in your own," he joked.

Mercedes rolled her eyes as they went to find their seats. She loved musicals and this one was no different. She laughed, cried, and danced in her seat as Memphis took her on an emotional rollercoaster ride. As it ended and the lights came up, she grinned up at Sam. "Thank you for this."

"You're very welcome. It's been a while since I've seen an adult musical."

The girl laughed. "Oh, you mean to tell me High School Musical with Stacy doesn't count?"

"Hahaha. I've had to sit through that so many times, I've lost count." He held out his hand for her to take. "Dinner?"

"Sam," she started to protest.

"Mercy," he countered. "I'm dating you, so let me do it."

Sighing she resigned not to fight with him. That was until he wanted to take her to the Star Café. It was one of the most expensive places, and Mercy wasn't having that. They argued the entire way. She didn't care if he did want to take "his star to a place for stars", she refused to have over priced food when all that really mattered to her was that she was with him. He could have taken her to McDonald's and she wouldn't have cared because she was with him.

Finally they agreed on the Hard Rock Café instead. Their dinner conversation was full of playful banter, and talk of the show. They'd sat there for over an hour just talking and enjoying each other's company. When their waitress brought the check, Sam snatched it right before she could reach for it.

"Sammy, let me do something."

"You drove, and we used your gas." He smirked at her.

"I'm not ungrateful for this. It's just…" She didn't exactly know why she wanted to help. It was just like an automatic reaction.

Sam placed his hand over hers across the table. "You dated me all summer. Just relax and let me be the dater. It's not about repayin' you. You deserve this, Mercy, and I'm gonna keep doin' things like this for you for the rest of my life."

He'd said it so casually, and he seemed not to notice that he'd vowed to be with her for the rest his life. The sheer conviction and sincerity of his words had sent her heart fluttering. It should have sent Mercedes running, but she found comfort in his words. Having Sam in her life forever wasn't a bad thing at all. Her night seemed perfect, and she knew that nothing could burst the bubble of happiness she dwelled in at this moment.

Sam offered to drive them home, and she didn't mind. She trusted him with her car. They talked about their final assignment in vocal class as they pulled out of the restaurant parking lot.

"So we have three songs this time! And not only that this prompt though. He's testing us all!" Mercedes exclaimed.

"Seriously! Analyze your life pick a starting point, a turnin' point and a time in the present. Tell us how you came to be where you are now. That's hard. What if this is the turnin' point in my life?"

"It's definitely the turning point in mine," Mercedes mumbled.

"Wanna work together to figure out the songs?"

"We made a pretty good team together last time."

"We always have." Sam smiled at her before looking at the road.

Mercedes smiled, knowing that what he said was true. They'd always been great together, and she couldn't believe they were getting a second chance at this. She didn't want to mess this up again.

Her thoughts were interrupted by Sam, cursing under his breath. She noticed that he was looking intently out the window.

"What's wrong?"

"Your engine light just came on and the car won't accelerate past twenty-five."

He found a well lit parking lot to pull into and he turned off the car. When he started it back up, the engine light came back on. The first thing out of Mercedes's mouth was, "What did you do?"

Sam frowned. "What did I do? Nothin'! I just started drivin'."

"Well…fix it."

"If we had some tools, I would try. Even in trying, I'd have to know exactly what was wrong with the car, which I don't."

Sam watched Mercedes get out of the car and lift the hood. She looked under it as if she knew what she was doing when really all she knew how to do was check her oil and other fluids, and make sure her battery cables were connected fine. He joined her at the front of the car. "You find the problem, Ms. Mechanic?"

"Shut up! I…I have to call my mom."

She called the house with no luck, so she tried her cell. Her mom picked up and Mercy flew threw her story quickly. Her parents were out of town, and wouldn't be able to do much else beside call a tow truck. She'd suggested that Mercy call some friends to come pick them up. "Mama, it's Fall Break. No one is really on campus to come get us. Everyone left today."

"Maybe we can rent you a car. You have your license with you, right?" her mom suggested.

"Yeah. They'll bring the rental to us?" she asked.

"Of course honey. I'm looking up a rental place in your area now."

Sam was shaking his head no and Mercy looked his way. "What?"

"Neither of us are twenty-five." He smiled sadly, looking longing off into the distance. "Seven more years and we can rent a car."

"Flaw in the plan, Mama. Neither of us are of car rental age."

"Baby, let me try to figure something out, okay? I'll call you back," her mama told her.

She sighed as Sam let down the hood. It was already dark and getting colder outside. She'd left her jacket at home, and was visibly shaking. Sam took of his jacket, giving it to her. After he draped it over her shoulders he said, "Puck's not gone yet! He said he was leaving Monday!"

Mercedes whipped out her phone dialing Puck. He picked up on the third ring. "How much do you love me?" she asked.

Without hesitation he answered, "More than words can describe. You are the first girl that I can say without a shadow of a doubt that I love unconditionally."

"Wow!" was all Mercedes could reply, taken aback by his honesty.

"Aren't you on a date with Sam?"

"See, here's the thing. We are kinda stranded. My car won't accelerate."

"Just tell me where you are and I'll be there."

"I love you, Puck! Thank you so much!" She gave him directions before she hung up, calling to relay the message to her mom that someone was coming to pick them up.

Mercedes walked back over to Sam, hugging herself to him. It was cold outside, and they had to wait for the tow truck to get there. She looked up at him, and he smiled down at her. "You look so sad and distraught right now, but I think you should get traught."

Laughing she buried her face into his chest. "You didn't just quote what I think you quoted." She shook her head but had the perfect reply. "I'm sorry. This went from great to disaster! I don't need that. I need some aster. I'm just so whelmed right now!"

"You…I…amazing! Not just one Robin word play, but two! Damn, baby! I didn't even know you watched that show. I'm just…"

"You're overwhelmed. Freeze is underwhelmed. Why can't anyone just be whelmed?" Mercedes recited, laughing. "Robin's one liners about words are my favorite part of the show."

"Favorite character?" Sam asked.

"Aqua Lad and Super Boy."

"Yeah. I'm a Super Boy and Robin fan."

"How can you not like Connor Kent? You have to feel sorry for him! Clark is the worst father ever!"

"Supes is spooked, baby. He doesn't know how to deal with it."

"Yeah, yeah. Make excuses for him! I still say it's a sad day when Batman is the better father."

The two went back and forth on the issue until Sam spotted the tow truck. Mercedes left the warmth of his embrace to go settle the bill and grab her purse and his guitar before the car was loaded on the truck. On her way back over to Sam, her phone vibrated with a text from Puck, letting her know he was about twenty minutes away.

Sam was sitting on the steps of a store that was closed for the night. Mercedes joined him, handing him his guitar. As they sat, Sam began to fiddle with his guitar. Whatever song he was playing sounded so moving.

"What are you playing?" Mercedes asked.

"A song I wrote for my composition class. Actually, I wrote the lyrics last year, but I didn't have my guitar so the music came once we were reunited."

"Can I hear it?"

Sam started strumming once more, and this time he'd added lyrics. When he opened his mouth, immediately, Mercedes regretted it. This song, like most he wrote was about her, but this one was bitter sweet.

She looks into my eyes and i'm alive again
And when she says goodbye, I just die again
That's when my restlessness begins
Please don't let it win
I'm so tired again
But underneath the haze
One thing still remains the same

She's the only love I've known
And now she's gone away
She's the light that brought me to the edge
Will I ever love again?

As he continued to play, Mercedes realized this was more than just a song. In just one short verse and chorus, Sam was admitting that he'd loved her. It was something that they'd avoided before, but Mercedes knew without a doubt she had loved Sam back then – and still did. They'd gotten caught up with time. It was too soon they'd tell themselves, but love doesn't have a set time. Sometimes love sneaks up on a person, leaving them shocked and completely rocked to the core and none the wiser about when or how it occurred.

The last notes were whisked away in the air, leaving Mercedes utterly speechless. She cupped his cheek, brushing it with her thumb. Sam's eyes bore into hers like he was willing her to feel for him what he felt for her, and she did. "Sammy, I –"

A horn honked at the entrance of the parking lot. It was Puck's truck. He was pulling up in front of them. "God you guys look so sad, like you have no fucking hope. Get in," he directed.

Mercedes hopped in sitting in between the two men. She hugged Puck before he started driving. "I'm not sure how we would have gotten home without you."

Sam's POV

The couple was so happy to see Puck's truck pull up. Although, Sam was curious as to what Mercy was about to say before she was interrupted. He was sure he'd exposed too much of himself with that song. Maybe it was too much for her. Maybe she saw through his veiled attempt at a new start for them. There was no way they could completely start anew. Sam loved her, but he'd never told her. Once the words were out, there would be no way to take them back.

Sam was snapped out of his reverie by a loud thumping sound. "What is that?" Mercedes asked.

"Fucking tell me this is not happening!" Puck exclaimed.

"It sounds like some sort of belt," Sam added in.

Puck pulled over to the side of the road to get out and look under the hood and Sam joined him. They were right, there was a near stripped belt smacking against something. Getting back in the car, the guys confirmed it to Mercy. "I'm still not seeing the aster!"

No one else was seeing the aster either. They had a plan in motion. On a hope and a prayer, they were going to try making it to an auto parts place. Silence filled the truck on their way, each of them looking in directions in hopes of finding something open. Sam managed to spot a Firestone that was still open. Puck went in hoping that this would be a problem solved within a few minutes, but quickly came to find that it was a problem that wouldn't be fixed in one night.

The car was deemed unfit to drive back home, so they found themselves at a twenty-four hour McDonald's across from Firestone. The boys went the bathroom and when they returned, Mercedes had bought them all food. Sam grinned at her. She knew what she was doing. There would have been a disagreement on who was buying what had she not caught them off guard.

The three sat quietly eating when Mercedes asked, "So what do we do now? Now the three of us are stranded."

"Anyone else we can call?" Puck asked.

"Who else is in town? Quinn's gone to see Beth. Artie is out of town with his folks. Matt's out. Unless we start callin' folks in Lima, but that's damn near a six hour trip back and forth together," Sam reasoned. They all were lost in thought before an idea struck him. He pulled out his phone searching through his contacts. He hated to ask, but it was the only way he could think that they would get home.

"Hello?"

"Hey, darlin', I was wonderin' if you were still in Lima?" Sam almost laughed at the face Mercedes made after he'd said that.

"Yeah…"

"I have a favor to ask."

"Anything," she replied automatically.

"Mercy, Puck, and I are stranded in Cleveland. I know it's a long drive, but is there any way that you can come and pick us up?"

"I'm putting on shoes and walking out the door now. Just tell me where, I'll put it in my GPS, and I'll be there."

Relief flooded him. He couldn't have been happier. "Thanks, Bailey. You're really awesome for doing this for us.

Sam hung up the phone and of course he had some explaining to do. The two were looking at him expectantly. He shrugged toying with a napkin. "Why is Bailey in Lima?"

"I don't know where she's from, but it sure as hell isn't Lima. Believe me, I know just about all the women and girls in Lima," Puck said with a suggestive grin.

"She's visiting her aunt Shelby."

"Shelby who?" Mercedes asked.

"Shelby Corcoran."

"Wait…" Mercedes held up a finger to process this information.

"Hold the hell up…What?" Puck frowned.

"Shelby is her aunt. That's why she looks so much like Rachel. She's Rachel's cousin and Beth's cousin."

"BB is in the fam!" Puck laughed. "Well I guess I better get used to seeing her around. Imagine the surprise all around when she finds out."

Sam could already guess that BB had already seen Quinn and made the connection since Shelby agreed to let Quinn stay over and spend some time with Beth this week. His guess was Puck got that same invitation.

"No, I've got a better image. Rachel and Bailey in the same room. Guys, can you image that!" Mercedes was doubled over laughing as they all came up with different scenarios.

"If Rachel is home this weekend, I'm gonna make it happen!" Puck schemed.

The trio talked about everything under the sun for a little over three hours. They'd ordered cookies and small things just so they didn't get kicked out of the restaurant for loitering. Sam could've sworn he saw happy tears spring to Mercy's eyes as Bailey entered the establishment, but he was the first to greet her, picking her up and hugging her tight. The girl looked slightly frazzled at all the love she was receiving as each of them in turn took her into their embrace.

All of them piled into the girl's car with Puck calling shotgun and Mercy and Sam in the back. The rest of the trip was foggy for him because he'd fallen asleep on Mercy. All he recalled was being shaken awake. When he looked out the window, he realized they weren't back at Oberlin at all. They were at Mercy's house.

"Instead of making her go out of her way to take us back to the dorm we're gonna stay here. It's cool. I talked to my folks. They won't be back until Monday, but they said you guys can stay. My car was towed to Papa Burt's place anyway," Mercy explained.

They all thanked BB repeatedly once more before she left. When they finally got into the house, all of them subconsciously went up to Mercy's room. They were too tired to even discuss sleeping arrangements. Sam and Puck got into bed on either side of Mercy and they all fell fast asleep.

Hope you guys enjoyed it. I'd love to hear your thoughts.

The song Sam sang was She's by Ryan Cabrera.

The show Sam and Mercy was talking about was Young Justice. Parts of that dialogue came from an actual conversation I had with one of my friends (Who oddly enough carries a striking resemblance to Artie, but that's beside the point).

The plot of them being stranded…That was my life! Lol Stranded and then the person we called for help had his car breakdown as we were on the way back home, so true story!

And I just had to do the rental car thing! It was discussed when we were stranded and Thanks to Chord's constant 25th bday reminders, I quickly ruled out car rental for us as an option too!