Worthy of Love

by amber2011

THIS IS NOT A NEW STORY - HAD TO RE-UPLOAD. It's been six months since Sam, Mercedes, and Finn have been in a threesome relationship. Now they have to face all of their issues and it strengthens their bond. Sexual Content (explicit sex M/M/F); Strong Language (cursing); Sexual/Physical abuse; Race Issues (colorism, bigotry, slurs); Religion; Homophobia; Supernatural

21. Chapter 21

CHAPTER 21

Summary: Sam protects Stevie and Stacey. Sam, Mercedes and Finn take the next step in their relationship. Sam has a tumultuous confrontation with this mother.

Rating: Mature - Strong Sexual Content (M/M/F). Strong Language (cursing, slang terms for genitalia); Violence and death. Religious themes.

Warning: Please read this chapter with discretion, very heavy themes as stated above.

Author's Note: Sorry that I've been out of commission for a while, but with my job and other stuff going on, I found it difficult to write. Also, I put the last paragraph of chapter 20 as a recap, so that chapter 21 will make sense. Please note that the sequence of events jump around so pay attention to the italicized sentences at the beginning of certain sections to give the time frame. It might be a good idea to read/scan Chapter 8 (Sam's first session with Rosa) so that the last section (Twisted Love) makes sense. Thanks for reading and reviewing this story. Hope you enjoy the latest chapter!

---

"Where are they?" Mrs. Evans asked.

"They're safe. I have to go."

"You can't leave without telling us."

"I'll let you know."

"Why are you doing this?"

"Because you won't protect them, just like you didn't protect me."

"What if I go to the police?"

"That's your choice, but it wouldn't be a smart one."

Sam walked down the stairs and out the front door without looking back. When he got to the end of the street, he made a phone call.

---

RUNNING SCARED

Forty minutes earlier before Sam's phone call…

Stevie and Stacey climbed down the old, rusted fire escape outside the bathroom window. The black steel ladder was overgrown with ivy and honeysuckle, making it hard to climb down each rung. With every step they took, the ladder creaked and swayed. The night air was cool and they shivered in their thin cotton pajamas. Mosquitoes buzzed around them, biting their exposed hands and feet. Looking up into the sky, Stevie saw dark, purple clouds float across the moon, and he heard Sam shouting the Lord's Prayer, his strained voice drifting through the open window above them. And soon he and Stacey were reciting it too, whispering the words as they descended down the ladder. Once they got to the ground, he grabbed Stacey's hand and together they fled barefoot across the damp grass; their backpacks jostled as they climbed over the fence and into the neighboring back yard.

They ran through yards and climbed over more fences. Stevie heard Sam's voice in his head: "Once you get outside, don't look back just keep going." Stacey had trouble keeping up, but Stevie kept a tight grip on her hand, and pulled her along. Neither spoke. The moon seemed to follow them, guiding them along as they followed the dark path. Stacey cried out and fell to the ground, landing on the grass, taking Stevie with her.

"I cut my foot," she said.

Stevie wished they had had time to put on their shoes. He was afraid something like this would happen. He saw a part of a broken beer bottle and figured that's what did it. He took off his backpack, and urged Stacey to climb onto his back. Then he put his backpack on backwards, slipping the straps through his arms, so that it rested on his chest, like a mother carrying a newborn, and continued to run.

Stacey wasn't very heavy, but with extra weight, he couldn't go as fast. He pretended to be Superman and Stacey was a woman that he saved from a fire; the fantasy kept him pumped as they ended their journey. They stopped in front of an old 2 story white house that looked like it was once a nice place to live but now it was run-down with peeling paint and a sagging roof; a white stone birdbath filled with daisies was in the back yard. Stevie grabbed a bunch of the flowers, and handed them to Stacey over his shoulder. Flowers always made her happy and right now he needed her to stop crying; though he couldn't see her face; he felt her tears trickle onto his neck. She took the flowers and whispered thank you. A soft yellow light shined through the screen door and he heard laughter. Slowly, he walked up the rickety steps. The laughter grew louder. Somebody started singing.

Silent night, holy night…

He was out of breath. He stood on the porch and as he was about to knock on the door. Santana suddenly appeared.

"Stevie!"

God made angels in many forms, and in that moment, Santana was Stevie's angel, standing there with the lamplight shining around her head like a halo, her body glowed; she was clad in cut-off denim shorts and a faded black T-shirt with the word Hope written across the front. She opened the screen door, and the scent of gingerbread wafted out of the house. Stevie and Stacey threw their arms around her slender legs, crying and shaking in the aftermath of their ordeal. She leaned down and gathered them in her arms, whispering soothing words in Spanish as she lead them into the house.

ooo

Brittany propped Stacey's foot onto her lap and carefully dabbed the cut with cotton balls soaked in antiseptic; she was very gentle, asking Stacey every so often if it hurt. Stacey shook her head.

"It just hurts a little bit." Stacey said as she looked at the daisies Stevie gave her. Santana had put them in a mason jar filled with water and sat them in the middle of the kitchen table. It made the otherwise dreary kitchen look cheerful which wasn't easy to do with the old, wooden table and chairs, and out dated appliances. Cardboard boxes were stacked against the wall. Stevie wondered what was in them. He sat beside his sister holding her hand. Her cut wasn't as bad as he thought it would be. Stacey leaned against him, and he touched her cheek.

"Sugar, are you ok?"

"I'm tired."

"Me too."

"You're a good patient," Brittany said as she put a few band-aids on Stacey's foot, "There, good as new. Don't tell Lord Tubbington that you're such a trooper; he howled like crazy when he cut his tail."

Stacey giggled and Stevie smiled. Brittany was strange, yet he liked her. She gave good hugs and always looked at you like she cared about everything you had to say. Just then the timer on the stove went off. Brittany gently pushed Stacey's foot off of her lap and rushed over to the oven.

"I almost forgot my gingerbread men!"

"Why are you making gingerbread men in the middle of summer?" Stevie asked. He always thought of them as a holiday treat.

"Because everyday should feel like Christmas," she said as she opened the oven door and pulled out a cookie sheet filled with puffed up brown men. Her answer puzzled Stevie, but it explained why she wore a short red nightgown that had a picture of Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer on it, and striped knee socks that looked like peppermint sticks covered her flat feet.

A little girl with curly brown hair and almond shaped eyes wandered into the kitchen; she wore pink Disney Princess pajamas. Brittany picked her up.

"Maria, what are you doing awake? Santana is gonna get you," she teased and tickled her stomach.

Stevie saw kids with eyes like Maria's at school and they were put in a special class. The girl stared at him.

"Who are you?"

"I'm Stevie and this is my sister Stacey."

"My name is Maria."

Brittany put her down.

"I didn't know you guys never met."

Santana came into the kitchen. She spotted Maria hovering behind Brittany.

"Maria Juanita Lopez. Upstairs right now. You know the rules."

Maria clung to Brittany's leg.

"I want a gingerbread man."

Santana put her hands on her hips.

"Young lady, you know it's past your bed time," she pointed to the stairs, "Now back to bed you go, chica."

Maria let out a heavy sigh and knew it was no use fighting Aunt Santana.

"Goodnight everybody," she said. Brittany bent down and gave her a kiss, "Don't worry, we'll save a gingerbread man for you."

"Save me two."

Brittany laughed.

"Ok, two."

Even though she was mad at her Aunt Santana for spoiling her fun, she hugged her before going back upstairs to her room. Once she was gone, Santana walked over to Brittany and kissed her. Stevie looked away. It was like the day he and Stacey caught Sam, Mercedes and Finn making out in the flower garden; it made him uncomfortable like catching someone stealing. Brittany pulled away first and started putting the gingerbread men on the cooling rack.

"Those look good," Santana said and looked over at Stevie and Stacey who were watching the two girls with curious eyes, "I called Finn and he's coming to get you."

"Is Sammy alright?" Stacey asked.

Santana sat down beside her and put her arm around her.

"I couldn't reach him, but I'm sure he's fine."

"Daddy was really mad," Stacey said, staring down at the floor, he might hurt him."

She pulled Stacey closer to her side and put her arm around Stevie.

"Sam is a tough, brave guy. I know he's gonna be alright. Don't ask me how I just do."

Brittany sat down to the table, nodding her head.

"Santana is right. Sam is fine."

Stevie hoped they were right. Sam prayed that he and Stacey would get away from that house and they did; Stevie prayed that Sam escaped too. He held onto to hope and faith as much as he could.

ooo

Ten minutes before Santana's call to Finn and Mercedes…

Mercedes and Finn were cuddled up on the bed in his room; their naked bodies warm and satiated from their lovemaking. They had the house to themselves. Kurt and Blaine were out on a date, and Burt and Carol were in Columbus for a funeral of on old family friend and they wouldn't be back for a few days. Finn had come into the room to check on her and somehow his hand ended up under her nightgown brushing against her swollen nipples and that's all it took.

They shed their clothes and soon Finn was thrusting himself inside her, loving her in his gentle giant way, his hard cock stretching her tight walls, filling her with intense pleasure. Mercedes knew they broke "house rules" but she gave into her needs and so did Finn, after all, they loved and desired each other, what could one expect to happen in an empty house?

Now they held each other, and listened to Adele while they waited for their lasagna to finish heating up. Carol had made meals ahead of time for them, and they just had to put them in the oven. Mercedes knew that Carol was afraid that Finn might try to cook since she wasn't feeling well most days. Finn kissed her stomach and then kissed her lips.

"I love you, Mercy."

Sitting up a little, she smiled and returned the kiss.

"I love you too."

She sighed in contentment as Finn rubbed circles on her bare belly. She was starting to show and the changes in her body both thrilled and frightened her. Her breasts felt heavier and sometimes they were tender and sore, and she was going to the bathroom all the time, which was annoying since it kept her up half the night, but things could be worse, so she never complained. Finn wrapped his big, muscular arms around her and held her against his chest. She listened to his heartbeat and was drifting off to sleep when his phone vibrated on the dresser. He grabbed his phone, glancing at it, he said:

"It's Santana."

Mercedes' heart clenched.

"You don't think – "

"Only one way to find out."

Finn answered the phone.

"Hey Santana."

When Mercedes heard Finn say the word Spiderman, she knew things got bad at the Evans house. She reached for his hand and held it and he squeezed hers in response. After a few minutes, he hung up. He turned to Mercedes.

"Sam's father is such an asshole… Shit!"

"What happened?"

"He tried to beat Stevie. Things got ugly. I hope that jerk rots in hell; how can he hurt his own flesh and blood?"

He hopped off the bed and began putting on his jeans.

"I have to go get them. They're at Santana's."

Mercedes nodded and rose from the bed as well.

"I'm going with you."

"No, angel, you stay here. I don't think you're up for it."

"I wasn't asking for permission. Besides, if I stay here alone, I'll only worry and that kind of stress isn't good when you're pregnant."

Mercedes knew it was lame to play the pregnancy card, but she didn't care. Stevie and Stacey needed her as much as they needed Finn.

"Ok."

After they got dressed and took the lasagna out of the oven, they left Kurt a note and went to pick up the children. Finn stayed silent as he drove to Santana's house and Mercedes was tense, she kept playing with her birthday locket and tapping her foot against the floor. Never in a million years did she think this would happen - mainly because Mr. Evan's wrath was only directed at poor Sam, but now that changed as Sam predicted.

A few weeks earlier, Sam told Finn and Mercedes about the Spiderman Rule. If Sam ever whispered Spiderman to Stevie and Stacey, they were supposed to sneak out of the house using the fire escape outside the bathroom window and go to Santana's house. It was his way of getting his siblings out of danger. Santana and her brother moved out of Lima Heights when he got a good deal on an old fixer-upper house in Sam's neighborhood; they had only been living there for a few weeks. Once the kids got to her house, she would call Finn and Mercedes who would take them to a secret safe place. Sam got the idea because things were getting worse with his father - especially since Aunt Patty went back to Philadelphia. He decided the safest place to take them would be an empty apartment above Chang's Deli. Mr. Chang owned the three apartments in the building and this was the only one that wasn't rented out. He thought going to the Hudson-Hummel house was too risky.

Mr. Chang knew that Sam's home life wasn't good and he offered to let him stay there on more than one occasion, giving him a key. If Santana wasn't home, Stevie and Stacey would call Finn and Mercedes and wait for them at her house anyway because they knew where she kept her spare key under the flowerpot. Sam didn't want to involve the police because he hated the idea of them being separated and he could never tell what Child Protective Services would do.

At a stoplight, Finn reached over and squeezed Mercedes' shoulder.

"You holding up ok?"

"I don't know."

"Sam said this might happen."

Mercedes took a deep breath and exhaled.

"I know. I just… I don't know."

The light turned green and Finn kept driving down the street. Mercedes leaned her head against the window, closing her eyes, she saw Stevie and Stacey's faces in her mind, with their tanned skin and sweet smiles, open to everything life gave them until now.

"They lost their innocence. I thought they would keep a little bit of it, but now it's really gone."

"You don't know that for sure. It's not like they haven't seen bad stuff."

"I know but there was something in them that made me believe they had some naïveté left."

Mercedes couldn't explain how she felt. It was like watching a puppet show and thinking everything was real and then seeing the puppeteer behind the stage, wielding the strings, controlling all the characters. The magic was lost, and you simply stopped believing.

"Stacey still thinks that Maggie talks to her and Stevie thinks he can fly to the moon in a cardboard box," Finn said, "Don't worry, they may have seen and experienced terrible things, but they have something pure inside."

Mercedes glanced at Finn's profile and nodded her head.

"Baby, I hope you're right."

ooo

After Sam left the house and is about to make his first phone call…

Sam's hand shook as he listened to the phone ring. Santana wasn't picking up. Where was she? He saw that she called… he hoped everything was alright. The air grew chilly and he shivered. His chest felt like he had run a marathon and his heart pounded. On instinct, he called Finn, who answered after the first ring.

"Sam, they're ok. We got them."

Sam opened his mouth to speak, but instead he began to cry. He kept walking as Finn's voice reached him through the phone.

"Are you there? I know this is a lot to deal with but you did good. You protected them."

Sam nodded, but was unable to respond. He clutched the phone as Finn continued talking to him.

"Babe, we love you. We got this far, haven't we?"

A moment later Mercedes was on the line.

"Sam, sweetheart, we're right beside you. We love you so much."

"Cedes…"

"Yes?"

"I don't know I feel…"

Sam wasn't sure if what he was feeling was relief or sorrow. His emotions consumed him.

"You need to center yourself. Close your eyes and focus," she said.

Then Sam realized he was having a panic attack. He began to shake and almost dropped the phone. Mercedes' voice stayed calm.

"Breathe with me, Sam. Come on, baby. Take a deep breath with me and then breathe out."

Sam breathed in and out slowly.

"That's it. We believe in you. We're so proud of you. Now again."

He took another deep breath and breathed out with Mercedes' encouraging him. They did this for a few minutes until his heart stopped racing.

"Let me speak to them."

Suddenly Stevie was on the phone.

"We did the Spiderman rule."

Sam smiled a little.

"Good job, Stevie. Where's Stacey?"

"She's in the bathroom."

"I love you and tell Stacey I love her too."

"I love you too, Sam."

"Put Cedes back on."

A few moments later, Mercedes returned.

"How do you feel now?"

Sam closed his eyes and leaned back against the bench.

"Much better, thanks."

"We're coming to get you."

"No! I'll be there soon, I promise."

"But Sam – "

"No, buts, Mercedes. Do you understand me? Too much is at stake."

"At least let Finn come."

"Baby, listen to me. I'm coming to you. I'm not arguing with you about this."

Sam knew his dominance was a bit much, but he couldn't help it. He had to do what was best for everyone. Mercedes didn't say anything at first. Then she sighed.

"I get it. Be careful."

"I will. I love you and give my love to Finn too."

"I love you too. See you soon."

After that his cell phone died. Sam wanted to get as far away as possible from his neighborhood, so he decided to go to the Route 40 Quick Mart about a mile away since it was the only place that he knew that had a pay phone. He could've gone to Santana's, but he wanted to keep going and her brother had the car. When he finally got to the Quick Mart, he was thirsty and tired. He pushed open the heavy glass door and went inside the store. Mr. Taylor, the owner, was sitting behind the register greeted Sam with a nod. Stacey always said Mr. Taylor looked like Santa Claus because of his snow-white beard and big belly.

"Hey there, Sam."

"Hi, Mr. Taylor."

Mr. Taylor adjusted his glasses and stared at Sam, his blue eyes narrowed a bit.

"You alright?"

Sam feigned a smile.

"Oh, I'm good. Just a little thirsty."

"Well we got a two for one sale on drinks, help yourself."

Sam went to the back of the store and grabbed two bottles of water from the glass fridge, as he walked back to the cash register, Karofsky came into the store looking more menacing than usual wearing a blue wife beater and black jeans, his hair looked darker as if he had dyed it, and when he saw Sam, he grinned at him.

"You look like shit, Evans."

Sam set the bottles of water on the counter.

"Same could be said for you."

Mr. Taylor began to ring up Sam's purchase.

"Now, what's this? No Cool Ranch Doritos?"

Sam didn't want to admit he didn't have the extra money to spend, so he said:

"I'm trying to cut back."

"Cut back? Boy, you're skin and bones!"

Karofsky leaned against the counter.

"That big heifer he has for a girlfriend, probably eats all his food, even though she could stand to skip a few meals."

Sam wanted to beat the hell out of Karofsky, but he controlled himself.

"You're jealous. You only wish somebody loved you the way she loves me."

"Is that what you think?"

Mr. Taylor put the bottles of water into a plastic bag.

"Listen, Karofsky, I don't want any trouble in my store and I don't like that kind of talk. Besides, there's nothing wrong with a fuller figure. I've seen his lady friend and she's quite lovely." He then left the cash register and came back with super size bag of Cool Ranch Doritos and handed it to Sam.

"It's on the house."

"Thanks, Mr. Taylor."

"No problem."

Karofsky grabbed a few packs of Big League Chew and threw them on the counter.

"Hey, could you give me a box of Marlboros?"

Mr. Taylor shook his head.

"You're underage."

"They're for my Dad."

"Then he can come buy them"

"He's not feeling well."

"All the more reason not to smoke."

Karofsky sucked his teeth, paid for the gum, and walked out in a huff. Sam waved good-bye to Mr. Taylor and left. Once he was outside in the parking lot, he saw Karofsky standing there next to the pay phone. Sam clenched his fists.

"Did you need something?"

"I didn't want to say anything in front of Old Man Taylor, but I heard about that freaky threesome you and Hudson got going on with that wide load whale, didn't think you were into that sort of thing."

"I'm not ashamed of my relationship with them. And if you know what's good for you, you would stop calling my girlfriend names."

Karosky tore open his foil package of gum and put a handful of the pink shreds into his mouth.

"So do you and Hudson –"

"I know what you're asking and the answer is yes."

The smirk on Karofsky's face faded.

"You're one of those, huh?"

"Yeah and so are you."

Sam stood there facing him, unafraid of what would happen next, because after all, like Finn said, they had come this far. Karofsky had no courage or any other redeeming qualities.

"I don't know what you're talking about Evans."

"I think you do."

"I'm not like you."

"Keep telling yourself that and maybe you'll start to believe it."

Karofsky stepped closer to him and whispered in his ear.

"I could kill you and they would never find the body."

Sam closed his eyes. How many times had people tried to break him? He smiled.

"Maybe so, but even when I'm six feet under, you'll still be like me. Difference is, I'm not hiding. I'm proud of who I love. You could be too, nobody is stopping you."

Karofsky backed away from him.

"I always knew you had shit for brains. Everybody knows I love Alison."

Alison was a redheaded, buxom cheerleader who went to East River High, a rival school across town. She made Brittany look like a Harvard scholar. Karofsky took her to the prom and all the guys drooled over her stacked proportions whenever she leaned over the punch bowl to refill her cup.

"We both know I'm not talking about Alison."

Karofsky lost his cool and shoved Sam in the arm. Sam to dropped his duffel bag and stood up straighter, staring directly into the his eyes, refusing to back down. Just then Mr. Taylor walked out of the store waving a baseball bat.

"I warned you that I didn't want any trouble. You got three seconds to get on that piece of junk motorcycle and go home or I'm calling the cops!"

"Fine, just calm down!" He turned to Sam, "Don't think this is over."

Sam shrugged.

"It ends when it ends."

Karofsky hopped on his bike, started the engine and drove off, spitting a wad of gum onto the pavement.

Mr. Taylor gripped Sam's shoulder.

"You ok son?"

"Yeah, I'm good."

"Did you need anything?"

"I need to make a phone call - my battery died."

Mr. Taylor reached into his pocket and handed him his cell phone.

"Here, use mine, take as much time as you need. I better get back inside the store.

"Thank you."

Mr. Taylor gave his shoulder another squeeze before he left him alone to make the call.

ooo

Sam said a quick prayer and called Dylan. It rang for a while and Sam grew worried but then, Dylan answered.

"Hello."

"Hey Dylan, it's me, Sam. We did it."

"Do you mean -?"

"Yeah, I got them out of there."

"Wow. Where are you now?"

"I'm at the Route 40 Quick Mart. Can you come get me?"

"No problem, I'm on my way. You did good, man."

"Thanks."

Sam was about to tell Dylan that he loved him like a brother, then decided that was probably not a good idea. Dylan wasn't one for mushy scenes, and Sam couldn't blame him for simply being who he was. He closed his eyes and leaned against the wall when suddenly he heard a raspy female voice:

"Hey, there, are you Cain Evans' boy?"

Sam opened his eyes and found a young girl standing before him. She looked about 17, a cigarette dangled from her thin lips. Her dirty blonde hair was pulled back in a pony tail and she wore a white mini skirt that showed off her long, skinny legs and a tight green tank top that fit snugly against her small, perky breasts, revealing the outline of her hard nipples. Her face was devoid of make up and her blue eyes were bloodshot. Sam regarded her with curiosity rather than lust.

"Yes I am. Who are you?"

She took a drag from her cigarette.

"I'm a friend. The name's Lena."

Sam raised his eyebrows.

"You're friends with my Dad? How old are you?"

"I'm 20. How old did you think?"

"I thought you were younger."

She shrugged her shoulders.

"Anyway, I'm looking for him. Tell him you saw me. He won't answer my calls and he's never home."

"What do you want from him?"

She frowned.

"None of your business." She dropped the cigarette on the pavement and ground it out with her pink glitter flip-flop. " Don't forget my message to your Dad."

"I won't," Sam said as he opened the door for her. Lena nodded.

"Good. I'll see you around."

ooo

Mercedes held Stacey on her lap as Stacey told her what happened to Maggie.

"Daddy just threw her against the wall. Do I have to bury her? We can fix her. Sammy said we could fix her."

Mercedes looked at the pieces of the doll that Stacey clutched in her hands. She wasn't quite sure what to do -the doll was destroyed.

"We can try."

"Is this our new home?"

"I don't know."

Stacey laid her head on Mercedes shoulder.

"Mommy will miss us. Daddy doesn't love us anymore."

Mercedes kissed the top of her head.

"Sometimes people don't know how to show love."

"You know what?"

"What?"

"Mommy cries when she thinks nobody is looking."

"Sugar, why don't you close your eyes. Rest your eyes for me, ok? Then when Finn and Stevie get back, we can eat."

Stacey closed her eyes and yawned.

"Ok, Mercy. When will Sammy get here?"

"Real soon."

"I was scared when I was running."

"I know, baby, and now you're safe."

They were sitting on the couch in the living room. When they first got there, the furniture was covered with sheets and the air smelled like inside of an old trunk. Mercedes and Finn tried to make the place feel cozy and removed the sheets and opened the windows to let in the night air. It was a large apartment with three bedrooms and two bathrooms. Mercedes found some vanilla scented candles in the kitchen and she lit them all, placing them on the coffee table. There was no television, just an old clock radio that Stevie fiddled with until he found an AM station that played polka music. The sound of accordions hurt Mercedes' ears and she told Stevie to turn it off, he pouted but did as she asked, and then he and Finn went downstairs to the deli to get food for everyone. She hugged Stacey close to her heart and rocked her gently, humming a song. Mercedes stroked Stacey's head and continued singing. This little girl had her heart and so did her brother, but she worried what would happen next. They couldn't hide them forever. The front door opened and she jumped a little.

"Finn, baby is that you?"

"Yes it's us. Don't worry."

Mercedes sighed in relief. She gently pushed Stacey onto the couch and covered her with a quilt and then she went to the door where Finn and Stevie were holding brown paper bags filled with sandwiches and chips. She took the bags from their arms and kissed them each on the cheek.

"Be quiet, Sugar is asleep."

"I'm not sleepy at all," Stevie said pushing past her to go into the kitchen, "I'm hungry."

Finn hugged Mercedes.

"Angel, what's wrong?"

"I'm scared. What are we doing? What if his father comes after us?"

"We'll be ok. I don't know how I know this I just do."

Just then front door opened again and it was Sam. Mercedes dropped the bags on the floor and threw herself into his arms.

"My God, I was worried sick. What took you so long?"

"Baby, I had a few run-ins, but I'm here now and everything is alright."

Finn wrapped his arms around both of them, and the trio clung to each other, exchanging kisses until Stevie returned from the kitchen. Upon seeing Sam, he immediately rushed to him.

"You made it!"

"Of course I did, Stevie," Sam said as he gave him a hug.

"Stacey is asleep. I don't want to go to sleep."

"Why?"

Stevie shrugged his shoulders unable to answer.

"I don't know."

Mercedes picked up the bags from off the floor.

"Come on, let's all go into the kitchen."

They sat around the kitchen table eating cold cut sandwiches and talking about what happened that night.

"I don't feel safe," Mercedes said as she cut Stevie's ham sandwich into four pieces, "We rushed into this."

Sam leaned over and kissed her temple.

"I'll protect you. I know this whole thing is beyond crazy but I did what I had to do."

Finn opened a can of soda and poured it into a paper cup.

"In the meantime, we need to get the kids some clothes, they could only bring so much in their back packs."

Mercedes nodded.

"Finn's right, and Sam, what about your mother? I know she's worried."

"She's too busy taking care of our father. I can handle this, don't worry, and I'm getting custody. I read this story about a 18 year old girl who did that for her siblings so they wouldn't be separated and I'm doing the same thing."

"That's a lot to take on," Mercedes said, "and what about when the twins come?"

Stevie took a bite of his sandwich.

"What twins?"

Mercedes bit her lip and stared down at the floor. Stevie and Stacey were not supposed to know she was pregnant.

"We may as well tell him," Sam said.

Mercedes reached for Stevie's hand and held it.

"Remember how you learned in school about how babies are made? And how grown-ups who really love each make a baby?"

Stevie looked at her with a solemn expression.

"Yes. So you, my brother and Finn made twins?"

"That's right."

"I thought that could only happen with two people."

Finn patted Stevie on the head.

"That's the way it usually is, but we all love each other so we're all going to be parents."

Stevie sighed and took a sip of his soda.

"I think I get it. But how do you know its twins?"

"We just know," Finn said.

"That doesn't make sense."

Finn laughed.

"The best way I can explain it is that sometimes I feel things inside me or I dream them. I don't know where it comes from but it's always the truth."

Stevie tilted his head and looked up at him.

"Do you only dream good things?"

"Most of the time."

"Oh, well tell me if you dream something good for me."

Finn ruffled his hair.

"No problem."

They finished eating their sandwiches in silence; the situation weighed heavily on Mercedes' shoulders. After they threw away their trash and put the leftovers in the fridge, Mercedes thought it was time for Stevie to go to bed.

"Stevie, go brush your teeth, and then you can go to bed."

"I told you I didn't want to go to sleep!"

"Steven Edward, watch your tone, you know better than to talk to Mercedes like that," Sam said.

Stevie stood up and stamped his foot against the yellow tiled floor.

"I don't care, she's not my mother!"

"Stevie!"

"My mother doesn't want me. She let us run away… We fell when we were runnin' and I thought Daddy would catch us and beat all the bad stuff out like he said…"

Stevie's anger slowly turned into despair; he fell to the floor and cried.

"She doesn't want us. She left us behind, said she was coming back, and I didn't see her again for a long time. I thought Mommy loved us. Why don't she come after us? I want to go home…"

Mercedes wasn't surprised at the outburst, in a way, she had been half-expecting it. This was too much for an 8 year-old boy to process. Before Sam could play the role of savior once again, Mercedes crouched down and picked up Stevie, who wrapped his arms around her and cried into her neck.

"I'm scared Mercy."

"I know you are, pumpkin, we all are."

"Do I always have to be strong?"

"No, and there's nothing wrong with crying. All creatures cry."

Stevie pulled away from her.

"Even roaches?"

Mercedes chuckled as she stroked his head.

"Well, Stevie, I can't say I've ever seen a roach cry, but you never know."

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Sam nodding at her in approval. He and Finn rose from the table and wrapped their arms around Mercedes and Stevie.

"Stevie, Mom loves us all, it's just that everything is really complicated."

"You won't ever leave us, will you, Sam?" Stevie asked, looking up at his big brother.

"No, you got my word. I'll always take care of you and Stacey."

Mercedes kissed Stevie on the nose.

"You need your rest."

Stevie hid his face in her neck.

"I'm scared I'll have nightmares."

"Would it help if you slept in the bed with us?"

"Could I really?"

"Yeah, I think we'll all fit."

They went into the living room and Sam picked up Stacey from off the couch and carried her into the master bedroom where a king sized bed covered with a beautiful white lace comforter awaited them. Stacey only woke up for a few seconds when Sam put her in the bed, but then she was fast asleep again. The trio quickly changed into their pajamas while Stevie was in the bathroom. While they had those few, precious moments to themselves, Sam pulled them into a tight embrace and kissed them passionately.

"Thank you so much for helping me. I could never have the courage and strength to go through with it if I didn't have your love."

"Babe, we'll always stand by you. Remember, Stevie and Stacey are our family too," Finn said, as he ran his hands through Sam's long hair, causing his boyfriend to moan.

"Be careful," Mercedes said, "We have a potential underage audience."

Finn smiled at her, holding her close and kissing her neck.

"You know it's hard when you have a beautiful woman with a figure to die for and a hot guy in your arms and not want to take advantage of them. I wish we could sleep naked the way we always do."

"I know but a little self control goes a long way."

"I'm trying, angel, I'm trying."

Stevie came into the room, rubbing his eyes and yawning.

"I'm ready."

Mercedes helped him into the bed and he snuggled up next to Stacey. Then Mercedes got in and wrapped her arm around him. They decided that Sam would sleep on the right side with Mercedes; and Finn would sleep on the left side with Stacey because he needed more room. Sam switched off the lamp on the nightstand. Stevie fidgeted next to Mercedes.

"Mercy, I don't want to close my eyes. I see bad things when I do."

"Would you like us to sing?"

"Won't that wake up Stacey?"

Then Mercedes heard a little voice say:

"It's too late now. I'm already awake"

Stacey's innocent declaration sent everyone into a fit of laughter.

"Sugar, we're going to sing to help your brother go to sleep." Mercedes said.

Sam rested his hand on Mercedes' belly and squeezed her tight.

"I know the song we should sing. It will do us all some good."

Finn cleared his throat.

"I hope I know the words."

"Babe, you will," Sam said reassuring him, "Ok, everybody just follow my lead:

When I am down and, oh my soul, so weary;

When troubles come and my heart burdened be;

Then, I am still and wait here in the silence,

Until you come and sit awhile with me.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;

You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;

I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;

You raise me up... To more than I can be.

Mercedes' eyes welled up with tears as she sang along with everyone. She forgot how much she loved that song. And Stevie, bless his heart, was still as tone deaf as ever, but that did not detract from the beauty of the song or its uplifting lyrics. Her body trembled and Sam kissed her shoulders and neck, and she relaxed in his strong arms. Then she felt Finn reach across Stevie and Stacey and stroke her tear stained cheeks, it was such a kind, gentle, gesture; and Mercedes fell in love with her boyfriends all over again. She kissed the tops of Stevie's and Stacey's heads once the song was over.

"You're my family, and I love you," Mercedes said.

Stevie gazed up at her.

"I'm sorry for what I said in the kitchen. That was mean."

"You were hurting it's ok."

"I love you, Mercy."

Mercedes hugged him.

"I love you too, pumpkin."

After everyone was asleep, Mercedes stayed awake awhile longer, feeling the love in the room and being grateful for it.

---

WE ARE FAMILY

Finn woke up with Stacey hugging his chest; she smelled like baby powder and the scent tickled his nose. Stevie was nestled between Stacey and Mercedes, his arms wrapped around his sister. Mercedes held Stevie in a protective embrace as if she were afraid someone would come take him in the middle of the night. Her mouth was slightly open and her plump lips enticed Finn, her skin was so beautiful, with all those lovely, dark shades of brown mixed together creating one unique shade that was distinctly Mercy, he often caught himself admiring her skin, he liked it even better when she tanned in the summer time and it became deep and rich like the earth.

Mercedes told him that her Grandmother Baptiste made her stay out of the sun when she was a little girl because she didn't want her to get any darker than she already was. She then explained to a very confused Finn about colorism, and he couldn't understand it. What made one shade more desirable than another? In his opinion, lighter wasn't better, just different. Everything about his Mercy was special: from her round, soft, body to her kinky hair, and a gleaming white smile that warmed his heart everyday; he and Sam were damn lucky to have her.

Then he realized that Sam was missing except for a few strands of blonde hair on his pillow. For a second, Finn panicked but then he heard his boyfriend in the kitchen, singing along to the radio and the familiar aroma of pancakes filled his nostrils. As quietly as he could, he disengaged himself from Stacey's tiny arms and slowly got out of bed. He put on his robe, kissed Mercedes on the lips, and crept out of the room, closing the door behind him.

When Finn entered the kitchen, Sam was at the stove, flipping pancakes, as the sunshine poured in from the window, shining down on his shirtless torso; he was still quite thin, but he was beginning to look more like the old Sam, even though his ripped six pack had somewhat faded. His green plaid pajama bottoms hung low on his slender hips and his hair was swept back in a ponytail. Sam looked over his shoulder and saw Finn standing there gazing at him.

"Morning, love," Sam said with a smile, "I hope I didn't wake you."

Finn walked over to him and hugged him from behind, kissing his cheek.

"It was time for me to get up anyway. Breakfast smells good."

"I thought it would cheer the kids up."

"Do you need any help?"

"No, everything is almost done. Keep me company until everyone wakes up."

Finn sat down at the table.

"I'm worried about Mercy."

Sam slipped another golden pancake on top of the stack next to him and turned down the radio.

"Why? Is she feeling sick again?"

"No, but Sam, we can't have her stressed about Stevie and Stacey, she needs to stay relaxed."

"I know and I promise that I won't burden her. We'll get her to focus on staying healthy. And the doctor says she's doing great."

"But you know, how our girl is. She loves Stevie and Stacey as much as you do. She's not going to sit on the sidelines."

Sam poured more batter onto the smoking hot griddle.

"Between the two of us, we're going to ease her mind. I want her and our babies to be ok."

"Same here. So I was thinking, maybe it's best to send them to Philadelphia to live with Aunt Patty."

"No, I want them here with us."

"I understand, but do you think we can handle your brother and sister and our kids on the way? Think about it. How could we make ends meet? I promised Mr. Jones that we would take care of Mercy; I'm not about to break that promise."

Sam kept his eyes fixed on the griddle and didn't say anything. His mouth was down turned in a slight frown.

"Sam?"

"We won't break that promise. I know a way that I can make extra money if we need it. Besides, Mr. Chang isn't charging anything to stay here, and he said I was such a good employee that he would give me more hours after graduation."

"I don't feel right living here for nothing. My parents will understand about what you did, but I don't know if they will agree to me living here."

"Well, we can't stay with them, there isn't enough room for my brother and sister too."

Finn closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

"We didn't think this through."

Sam turned away from the stove and faced him.

"When I told you and Cedes about my plan you both thought it was a good idea."

"Babe, I'm not blaming you. Come here." Finn opened his arms. Sam turned off the stove and went to Finn, sitting on his lap. Finn put his arms around him and kissed his shoulder. "I love you, Mercy, Stacey and Stevie, but with everything going on with the pregnancy, school, our future, and needing money, I just don't see how this will work."

Sam leaned into Finn and let his guard down.

"Finn, you weren't there. He turned on them the moment he saw weakness, like a shark following a trail of blood. I don't want them to go through what I did. I had to get them out of there. You know my mother is useless. I had a feeling this day would come which is why I came up with a plan for when it did, not even Aunt Patty thought he would harm them, but something in my gut told me different… I don't know. They need me. I gave Stevie my word that I would never leave them. I can't abandon them."

Finn held Sam tightly against his chest.

"I'm not saying we should abandon them, but the best thing would be to send them to live with Aunt Patty. You trust her and Uncle Leroy, right?"

"Of course I do, it's not that. I've always been there for Stevie and Stacey and I don't know if they could handle being away from me. I want them with me."

"Mercy needs our full support, and we can't give it if we have to raise them too. Your Aunt Patty could give them the attention they need."

Sam pushed him away.

"I thought you said you loved them and they were your family."

"They are my family and that's why I want to do what's best for them; we don't have the money to care for them. Hell, we don't have the money to even support ourselves. It wouldn't be fair to them and I don't want to them to suffer."

"They would suffer if they were sent to live in a strange city away from the only family they have."

"Sam, please – "

"No! Just because you're having doubts doesn't mean I have to. We're all staying together. I'll do whatever it takes."

"And what about your mother?"

"What about her?"

Finn sighed.

"There's no telling what she's going to do."

"You don't know her like I do."

"What do you mean?"

"She knows she's not the best mother. Have you noticed she hasn't called and – "

Before Sam could finish, Mercedes, Stevie, and Stacey walked into the kitchen. Sam got up from Finn's lap and gave them each a good morning kiss on the cheek.

"I made breakfast."

"Yes, we smelled it from the bedroom, I'm starving," Mercedes said as Sam guided her to the table and pulled out her chair.

"Have no fear, my lady," Sam said in a bad Cockney accent, "We shall now feast on my awesome pancakes with brown sugar syrup."

Mercedes patted his arm and looked at Finn.

"Are you two ok? I thought I heard you fighting."

"Angel, everything is fine," Finn said, glancing at Sam, silently pleading with him not to say anything. "You just sit back and relax and let us serve you."

Mercedes smiled.

"Sounds good to me."

Despite the argument they had, breakfast was noisy and cheerful, with the kids chatting about everything and stuffing their mouths full of pancakes. Finn was pleased that Mercedes was able to eat two pancakes and drink a glass of orange juice; it worried him that she hadn't been eating much, though she still suffered from fatigue.

"I hope you guys don't mind, but I need to lie down again for awhile."

Sam grabbed her hand.

"Sweetheart, why would we mind? Go back to bed. We have everything covered."

Stevie looked worried.

"Are you going to have to go to the hospital like Stacey?"

Mercedes kissed his forehead.

"Sometimes pregnant women get tired. Don't worry I'm not sick, this is normal, ok?"

"I don't like it when people go to the hospital."

"I know and I'm fine. In fact when I wake up, we can play checkers."

This cheered Stevie up a little, but it didn't eliminate his fears, he scooted closer to Mercedes and laid his head against her arm.

"Just in case you need somebody, I'll stay in the bedroom with you; I can color or read my new Spy Kid novel; I'll be really quiet, I promise."

Finn felt sorry for Stevie and he understood his fears, with everything he was dealing with, but he also knew it was important for Mercedes to get as much rest as possible.

"Stevie, we can play games in the living room while Mercy is asleep. She really needs her rest to stay healthy."

"And you promised to help me put Maggie back together," Stacey said as she rose from the table and began gathering the empty glasses.

Mercedes hugged Stevie to her side.

"I'll tell you what. I'll leave the bedroom door open in case you want to check on me, how's that?"

Stevie smiled and hugged her.

"Ok, that's good. I don't want anything to happen to you."

Sam reached for his brother's hand.

"Stevie, I know things are crazy right now, but you need to have faith that everything will work out."

"That's what our pastor used to say. We haven't been to church in a long time."

Everyone at the table grew silent. Stacey continued to gather the dishes and take them to the sink. Finn admired her for helping to clean up. Then he got an idea.

"Let's all go to church. I know it's too late for the morning service, but I'm sure there's another one in the evening. To be safe, we could go to an East River church – what do you guys think?"

"I want to go," Stacey said as she turned on the faucet to start washing the dishes. Sam joined her at the sink.

"Sugar, I'll wash, and you dry, and Stevie, you can put away the dishes."

Stevie got up from the table and the three began an assembly line of washing the dishes. Mercedes went to the window and opened it, filling the small yellow kitchen, with fresh morning air.

"I think that's a good idea, what do you say, Sam?"

Sam didn't respond at first. He simply squirted some detergent into the wash basin.

"Baby?"

"I don't want to go," he said quietly.

Finn and Mercedes looked at each other, neither one knowing what to say.

"It might do you some good, Sam," Mercedes said, "But we don't have to go if you don't want to."

Sam kept his back turned and continued handing Stacey the dishes to dry. The only sounds in the kitchen were the clinking of the dishes being plunged into the soapy water and Stevie opening and closing the cabinet doors, putting them away.

Mercedes yawned and stretched her arms.

"Well, I'm going back to bed. I'll see you guys later." As she was about to walk out of the kitchen, Sam went to her, wrapping her in his arms.

"I love you."

She smiled and kissed his cheek.

"I love you too, baby."

Then she kissed Finn and left to take a nap. Finn helped Stevie put the clean dishes away. After the dishes were done, the kids went to wash up and get dressed. Sam drained the sink and wiped down the counters. Finn hated the awkward silence between them so he said:

"I'm sorry if you think I'm not standing by you."

Sam remained quiet as he finished tidying up the kitchen. Finn watched him, wondering how to convince him to open up.

"Please Babe, we always said in this relationship we would never hold back."

"I have to keep us together," Sam said as he put the leftover pancakes in the fridge, "I need to protect them and show them I'm not going anywhere. You see how Stevie is now, he can't even let Cedes take a nap."

Finn nodded.

"I hear what you're saying. The summer isn't over yet, what if we eased them into the idea of living with Aunt Patty?"

"I don't want to ease them into anything."

"Then tell me how we're going to do this."

"What's wrong with living here? There's plenty of room. Both of us have jobs and we don't need to pay rent."

"Sam, will you just –"

"I don't want to talk about it anymore." He folded his arms and turned away from Finn, facing the wall.

Sam's coldness hurt Finn's heart, but he reached out to him anyway. He put his arms around Sam's waist and kissed the side of his neck.

"No matter what you think, I love Stevie and Stacey too, and I want what's best for them," he turned Sam around and lifted his chin, though Sam averted his eyes, "And you know I love you and Mercy so much it scares me and I love our children. I would never do anything to hurt you. Please remember that."

He released Sam from his embrace and left him alone in the kitchen.

---

LISTEN TO REASON

Mercedes lay in the bed staring at the walls. She couldn't sleep and she only dozed for a little while. The previous tenants had hung prisms in the window, and when the sun shined through the sparkling oval crystals, the walls were covered with a multitude of rainbows, reminding her of the magical places she escaped to when she was a little girl. But now she was almost a woman, and there was no invisible princess to comfort her; she knew Finn and Sam were fighting and she wanted to get to the bottom of it, but she was so exhausted that it was like she was held prisoner in the bed; she closed her eyes and tried to relax. The situation with Stevie and Stacey worried her. When she opened her eyes again, she saw Sam standing in the doorway.

"Just checking on you Cedes."

"You're worse than Stevie."

"Can I get you anything?"

Mercedes sat up in the bed.

"As a matter of fact, you can. Go get Finn. All of us need to talk."

Sam hesitated, running his hands through his hair.

"Like, right now?"

"Yes, like right now."

"Ok."

A few minutes later, he returned with a sullen looking Finn.

"Close the door, I don't want the kids to hear," Mercedes said.

Sam shut the door and he and Finn sat on opposite sides of the bed, avoiding each other's eyes.

Mercedes held their hands and sighed.

"I want to know what you two are fighting about."

"Baby, we don't want you to get upset," Sam said as he kissed her shoulder.

"It's too late for that, so what's the problem?"

Finn leaned back against the pillows and looked at her.

"I don't think we should keep Stevie and Stacey here. We don't have the money especially with you being pregnant and everything. I want us to send them to live with Aunt Patty."

"I see."

Sam started to get up from the bed and leave.

"I can't do this right now."

Mercedes grabbed his wrist and pulled him back down.

"You're not running away from us."

"Cedes –"

"No, Sam, you don't get to walk out of here. You've never been a quitter before so don't start now."

He sat back down next to her.

"We've been through so much together. I don't understand why Finn wants to take the easy way out."

"Damn it," Finn said shaking his head, "It's not the easy way out. I love Stevie and Stacey and I want them here with us, but we can't take care of them, how could we?"

Mercedes squeezed her boyfriends' hands.

"I hate that you two left me out of all this but I get where Finn is coming from and – "

Sam interrupted her.

"So now you two are against me!"

"How can you say that?"

"Because you're agreeing with him."

"That doesn't mean we're against you. You didn't even let me finish what I was going to say."

Sam looked down, suddenly ashamed.

"Sorry."

"What I was trying to say is, when Mr. Chang said you could use the apartment if things got too bad at home, did he know all of us were part of the package? I think he only meant you could stay here for free and not your entire family."

"He'll understand once I explain everything."

Mercedes turned his head so that she could look into his eyes.

"Does he know about me and Finn?"

Sam nodded.

"Believe it or not he does. It's a long story."

Mercedes wasn't in the mood for long stories, so she didn't ask for any details, instead she said:

"Let's be realistic. There may be up to 7 people living here once the babies come; do you think he would let all of us stay here, rent free?"

"We'll give him something. Why are you complicating things?"

"Sam, I'm not. I'm so proud of how you got them out of that house. I know your mother wouldn't have protected them. Now we need to do the best thing for everyone. We got the first part of the plan, but we didn't bother with the second part."

Sam pulled away from her.

"I need to go."

Mercedes blinked back tears and closed her eyes.

"No! We said this was forever and forever doesn't mean all good stuff. It means bad stuff too."

Sam covered his face with his hands.

"You're right."

Mercedes grabbed his arm.

"We'll just have to keep talking until we figure this out. I don't want Stevie and Stacey to go either; they're in my heart as much as you and Finn are; but I hate that we might be in a position to not take care of them when we can't even take care of ourselves. And we need to think about Stacey's health; the doctors said she was almost fully recovered, but you even said yourself, that her medicine was expensive. How could we afford it?"

"I don't know; we'll find a way. I know there's hospital charity."

"Baby, charity isn't a plan. "

"It's a possibility. Why do you want to break everything apart."

Mercedes shook her head.

"Sam, that's not what I'm doing and you know it. I just want you to see what we would be taking on."

"Yeah, well, all I see is my family getting separated."

Finn reached over and held Sam's hand.

"Babe, we only want what's best for the family. Besides, why are you so sure your parents won't come looking for us?"

Sam was quiet for a long time, so long in fact that Mercedes wondered if Finn made a mistake by asking the question. He sighed and leaned back against the headboard.

"I don't know about my father. Whether he will or won't doesn't matter – I'm not afraid. My mom has other priorities."

Mercedes put her arm around him.

"Like what?"

"Herself. And sometimes Dad."

"How do you mean?"

"When I was in boarding school, my mother had a hard time of it. Things grew worse between her and my Dad and one day when she was out grocery shopping with Stevie and Stacey she left them in the check-out line, walked out of the store and drove off."

Finn's eyes grew wide.

"What?"

"I know it sounds crazy, but that's what happened. My father was out of town working. She was gone for three hours. She said she had to get away from everything. The police were called. My grandparents picked Stevie and Stacey up from the station. It was a big mess. It wasn't until my mother got counseling that they let Stevie and Stacey live with my parents again. I didn't find out about any of this until I came home for good."

Mercedes placed her hand over Sam's and squeezed it.

"What an awful thing for Stevie and Stacey to go through. Now I know what he meant when he said she left them behind."

"I'm surprised he remembered. I was hoping it was something he would've forgotten. They were both so young. I owe it to them to give them a loving home. You and Finn are my heart; our relationship is solid. I want them to see what love looks like. I know Aunt Patty would take good care of them, I just…"

"How about if we let them live with her temporarily and then when we get on our feet and figure things out, we can all be together again?" Mercedes said as she hugged him.

Finn nodded in agreement.

"I like that idea, what do you think Sam?"

"Only if we have a time limit."

"That's fair, Mercedes said, "how about a year?"

Sam thought for a moment then said.

"Let's pray about it."

They held hands and Sam asked God for guidance. Mercedes loved how his faith was growing. After he said amen, Sam gathered Mercedes and Finn into his arms.

"I love you both with everything that I am. Never think for one second that you're not the most important people in my life. Right now, I'm riding on faith that everything will work out. I only want us altogether."

Mercedes held on tight, breathing in their scent, feeling their hearts beating with her own. Sam slowly pulled away from them, giving them each a long, slow kiss before rising from the bed. He reached under the nightstand and dragged out his duffel bag, unzipping the left side pocket. He pulled out three bright colored rings: one was orange, one was yellow, and one was blue. They were made out of hard plastic and a star was engraved on each one.

"I told you both I was getting rings. This is all I could afford; their Lantern Power rings. I think they should fit."

He stumbled over his words as he slipped the rings on their fingers. The orange one was for Mercedes and the blue one was for Finn. For a few moments, they admired the rings.

"Press the tiny button on the left side," Sam said.

They did as he instructed and the rings lit up. Mercedes kissed Sam's cheek.

"I love you."

Finn kissed him as well.

"I love you too, thank you for this.

Sam smiled.

"I chose these rings because like Finn said, we celebrate each other's light," he took a brief pause and said, "Cedes, you're my wife, and Finn, you're my husband and there ain't nobody on God's green earth that's gonna tell me different. You both have me heart and soul. No use trying to get rid of me; I'm yours forever."

That was Sam Evans, once again laying down the law, ruled by the fierce love that he felt for both of them. Mercedes could barely speak for all the emotions that were inside her, but she forged ahead anyway.

"I'm blessed that you and Finn are my husbands. I belong to you both. I'll be the best wife to you that I can be."

Finn kissed Sam and Mercedes on the lips.

"I promise you both that I will give you my all, you have my everything."

And so they were married in that sunny bedroom with prism rainbows reflected on the walls. There was no long, white dress, no father walking her down the aisle to give her away, but Mercedes wouldn't have had it any other way because it was pure love that bound them together in holy matrimony. She was their wife and they were her husbands: it was that simple. Nothing was sweeter than those kisses that came after their declarations of love, sealing their vows to each other forever.

Love.

Honor.

Cherish.

Every touch, every kiss, planted the seeds that would grow into the lasting bond of their marriage.

The three became one.

Mercedes felt a wetness between her thighs. She needed her husbands to make love to her, feel their naked bodies pressed against her, filling her up. She clung to them as they held her in a strong embrace and felt the urgency in their touch, knowing they needed her too. As if reading her mind, Sam said:

"We got you, baby. Let me check on the kids first." He left the bedroom and she and Finn began making out; their heated kisses becoming more passionate with each moment. When Sam returned, he locked the door behind him.

"They fell asleep on the couch. I covered them with a quilt. They'll be ok. Don't worry about them waking up; those two sleep harder than our boy Finn."

"Hey," Finn said pretending to be offended, "I'm not that heavy of a sleeper."

"Babe, I'm saying this as someone who loves you, but you could sleep through Armageddon."

Mercedes laughed.

"Don't worry Finn, we love you anyway."

She sat in the middle of the bed and let Finn and Sam undress her, a ritual they all enjoyed. They pulled off her T-shirt and began kissing her face and neck while they unfastened her bra, setting her breasts free from the lacy confines. Finn unzipped her denim shorts, and put his hand near her heated core, lightly touching her damp panties, teasing her a bit before he and Sam slowly pulled her shorts and panties down her legs, leaving her nude; she looked up at her husbands and spread her legs, revealing her desire to them. Opening her arms, she silently beckoned them to make love to her.

They stroked and caressed her body. The moment reminded her of the day they played Seven Minutes in Heaven and they pleasured her in a dark closet. Finn fondled her heavy breasts; he lowered his head and captured her taut nipples between his lips biting and sucking the large nubs; with each love bite he applied more pressure with his teeth and Mercedes threw her head back and moaned. Then Sam squeezed her ample behind, giving each cheek, a few hard smacks; she felt that "good pain" she often craved – and suddenly her love came down, leaving her breathless. Their touch alone sent a fire through her. Her husbands hadn't even penetrated her and she had a powerful orgasm.

"That's never happened before. I never..."

"You should know by now that we know how to please you," Sam said, with a hint of pride in his voice. "What kind of husbands would we be if we couldn't make our wife come?"

"This time felt different," Mercedes said, "It felt… I don't know, like you reached a new place inside me."

Finn turned her head and gave her a deep kiss, sending a tingle between her legs.

"We made sacred vows. That's why it feels different."

They held her while she calmed down. She felt Sam's erection jutting through his jeans and Finn was equally hard. They each kissed her again and then quickly undressed, sharing heated kisses as their clothes flew off, landing in a heap on the floor. They lay on either side of their precious wife, and worshiped her body, ignoring their own needs for the time being because this was her wedding day and it had to be special for the bride. They nursed at her full breasts, and took turns slipping their big fingers between her plump thighs and finding a slick, wet, heat waiting for them; she raised her hips off the bed, getting closer to bliss as they fingered her in a slow, sweet rhythm.

"So beautiful," Sam murmured as they watched another orgasm rock through her body.

He and Finn tasted her essence on their fingertips, before leaning down and kissing her. Then Finn settled himself between her thighs and shoved his tongue inside her as Sam kissed his way up her body, placing soft kisses on her skin, finally resting on her breasts, squeezing and sucking each one, his hard cock pressed against her hip. Sam once said her breasts were the best pillows in the world, he loved resting his head against them. Between Finn's talented tongue burrowing inside her, sending delicious waves of pleasure through her body, and Sam's mouth and tongue on her huge, jiggling breasts, she came again with a loud cry; she hoped that she didn't wake Stevie and Stacey and was relieved when nobody knocked on the bedroom door.

Now she wanted to return the favor. She reached for their hard cocks and stroked each of them, loving the feel of their hot flesh in her hands, and they moaned at her touch. She alternated between the two and sucked their cocks deep into her throat; she wanted them to cum in her mouth; but they had other plans, and shot their seed all over her stomach and chest and they licked the warm, white cream from her body, giving her another orgasm. Soon, they were hard again and Sam pulled Mercedes onto his lap, impaling her on his cock. Finn pushed himself into her tight anus, gripping her hips.

"I love how we fill you up," he said, kissing her shoulders, "Never forget that we belong to you."

Mercedes could only nod as her husbands moved inside her. It felt wonderful making love as their wife, soul mate and mother of their children; in her short life, she never belonged anywhere, but now in this room, she felt a peace and serene happiness that always eluded her before. Empty birthdays, silent Christmases, and hiding in her room with only her music for comfort. Her life's path lead her to Sam Evans and Finn Hudson, maybe it wasn't the most joyful path, with tragedy, heartache and death, but at the end of the road was something so awesome and great that each painful moment was worth it.

Their thrusts were both gentle and rough. Sam smiled up at her, his green eyes bright with lust.

"He's right, we're filling you up so good, I know you like how we're buried deep inside you, don't you? Keep squeezing me tight, baby… this is how it should be, the three of us joined together like this. I can feel you and Finn, like an electric current shooting through me, I swear I love you both so much, love you forever, you and Finn are my forever…"

Mercedes began to cry "happy tears" as Finn called them. Her heart beat fast and then she realized what else made this moment so great:

"I deserve this. I deserve you and Finn loving me. I deserve a good life. I'm beautiful and worthy and I love you both with my entire being and I love myself. You both made me realize what I had on the inside."

Finn wrapped his arms around her as he thrust himself inside her narrow passage.

"You are worthy. I'm so happy to hear you say it. I knew your self-love was growing, but now I feel it too. I'm proud of you, angel."

"Me too," Sam said, gazing up at her, "I don't know when you've looked more gorgeous. Welcome to the world, Mrs. Jovanson, you've arrived."

At the sound of their joined surname, she laughed and leaned down kissing his thick, soft lips.

"Thank you, Mr. Jovanson."

The trio joined hands when they reached the pinnacle of their orgasm, crying out each other's names as their bodies shook together, and their souls came together as well, binding their hearts and spirits. Mercedes wasn't holding back, she was a free woman and her needs were great. This was her heaven, nirvana, and paradise; they cried with each orgasm, gasping for breath and clinging to one another, never letting go. Then Mercedes felt herself slipping, and she got that final rush before collapsing on Sam's chest, with Finn on top of her. As always, Finn feared that he would crush his lovers, so he quickly shifted so that she was lying on her side, but his cock was still inside her as was Sam's.

"Sweet almighty," Sam said, kissing Mercedes and Finn, "I don't know what y'all did. I think I flat lined for a bit. Shit, did we hurt the babies?"

"Calm down, Samuel, they're fine."

"I got so lost, Cedes and –"

"Shh, it's fine.

Finn kissed Mercedes and Sam, gently caressing their faces.

"When I was in 4th grade I played soccer, I wasn't very good, but I kept trying and then one day I scored two goals in one game. I felt this awesome high, like I could do anything in the world, and in my life nothing came close to that feeling, that is until today when we came together like this. I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with the two of you and raise our family."

Mercedes kissed his cheek.

"Sweetheart, I feel the same way. We got a good thing here."

"I know how you feel, Finn," Sam said, reaching over and stroking his face, "The love I feel for you and Cedes, I just can't even describe it."

They all held each other tight, kissing and touching, as they whispered how much they loved each other. After awhile the trio fell into a peaceful silence, their bodies firmly connected. Nobody had the desire to move, but suddenly Sam's phone rang and he picked it up off the nightstand, glancing at the screen, he said:

"It's my mother."

"I'm surprised she hasn't called sooner," Mercedes said.

"Stevie and Stacey aren't going back to that house. Hell will freeze over before that happens." Sam said, getting worked up, as the phone continued to ring.

Mercedes pointed to the angel necklace.

"Well, you've got all the protection you need."

"And you've got us," Finn added.

Sam leaned over giving them each a kiss, and hugged them close as he rubbed their backs three times each. The phone stopped ringing. Mercedes lay her head on his shoulder.

"Call her back. You've got to face this."

Sam nodded and dialed his mother's number, putting it on speakerphone.

"Why did you do that?" Finn asked.

"Because I need all the support I can get."

"Ok, but me and Mercy will be as quiet as we can, your mother won't talk if she knows we're listening."

Mrs. Evans answered the phone right away.

"Sam, you need to come home."

"Mom, that's not going to happen and you know it. I don't trust you to protect Stevie and Stacey from Dad."

"Your father is gone."

Sam looked at Finn and Mercedes and held their hands.

"Where did he go? Is he looking for us?"

"We can be a family now. I can sing you songs again."

Mercedes didn't like how Mrs. Evans sounded; it was as if she were disconnected from reality. Sam must have felt the same way because he said:

"Mom, are you ok? What happened to Dad?"

"Sammy, do you remember the mermaid song?"

"What does that have to do with anything? Why did Dad leave?"

Mrs. Evans kept talking as if Sam never questioned her.

"We'll sing the mermaid song everyday. I want you, Stevie and Stacey to come home right now. Everything is all better."

Mercedes whispered in Sam's ear:

"What's wrong with her?"

"I don't know."

"Mom, where did Dad go?"

"He went to see Davy. They had a lot to talk about."

Finn grabbed Sam's hand and said in a low voice:

"What is she talking about?"

Sam shrugged his shoulders unable to answer. He stared at the phone then he said:

"Tell me about Davy."

"Sing the mermaid song with me."

So Sam indulged his mother and together they began to sing the mermaid song, and soon Stevie and Stacey were knocking on the bedroom door.

"Sammy, can we come in?" Stacey said through the door, "We hear you singing Mommy's song.

In a hurried frenzy, they scrambled to put their clothes back on and made up the bed. Once they were decent, Finn unlocked the door and let them in; he quietly told them that their mother was on the phone. Their reaction wasn't one that Mercedes expected – they didn't look happy or sad, just confused. Sam stopped singing and looked over at them.

"Stevie and Stacey are here."

"I knew you would take care of them," Mrs. Evans said.

"Hi Mommy," Stacey said as she climbed into Mercedes' lap while Stevie sat next to Finn, leaning against him.

"Hi Sugar, do you and Stevie want to sing with us?"

Stacey eagerly nodded, but Stevie shook his head and stared down at the bed. Mercedes understood his anger and gave his shoulder a gentle squeeze. Sam and Stacey began singing with their mother. The song was short and Mercedes thought the lyrics were beautiful, something about a mermaid, eternal love and a golden sunset; she found herself bobbing her head to the music as they sang. When they were done, a few tears ran down Sam's cheeks.

"I hated it when you stopped singing."

"I know and I'm sorry. But we can start over."

"I need you to tell me where Dad went."

"Daddy left?" Stacey asked.

"Yes, Sugar," Mrs. Evans said, "and now you, Sam and Stevie can come home."

Stevie got off the bed and went to the door.

"I don't want to talk to her. I hate her. She doesn't love us. She didn't even come after us!"

Stacey hopped off of Mercedes' lap and followed him.

"That's not true. Besides we were hiding."

"Why is Stevie yelling?" Mrs. Evans asked.

Mercedes rose from the bed and whispered to Sam:

"We'll handle the kids. Come to the living room if you need us. I love you, Mr. Jovanson."

Sam nodded and kissed her.

"I love you too, Mrs. Jovanson."

Mercedes opened the door and took Stevie and Stacey by the hand and together they went into the living room with Finn following behind them. She knew that she had to calm Stevie down; this experience was breaking him. As she sat down on the couch, she felt light-headed and almost stumbled, but Finn was right there to catch her and helped her sit down. He put his hand to her forehead.

"Mercy, take it easy. Are you ok?"

She smiled up at him.

"I'm fine."

Stevie threw himself onto her lap.

"Please don't get sick."

"Stevie, I'm just tired that's all."

Stacey gently patted him on the back as he cried into Mercedes' lap.

"The angels won't come for a long time."

When he calmed down, Finn suggested that they all help Stacey glue Maggie back together; Mercedes thought it was pointless, but the kids needed a distraction. Stacey pulled the broken doll out of her backpack and the three of the them sat on the floor and began gluing the pieces together. Mercedes watched from the couch, closing her eyes every now and then. Half of the doll's head was destroyed and her arms and legs were broken remains.

"She won't be pretty anymore," Stevie said as he held her arm together while Finn and Stacey applied the glue.

Stacey ran her fingers through the doll's tangled hair.

"Maggie's pretty to me and that's all that matters. She knows all my secrets."

Mercedes smiled at what Stacey said. Despite the circumstances, she enjoyed watching Finn helping the kids. He was so patient and kind, towering over them, as he instructed them on what to glue next, Mercedes felt blessed to have him in her life. The joyous feeling was fleeting because she also wanted to know what was going on with Sam's mother. She sighed and said a little prayer, hoping they could get through whatever came next. Finn reached over and squeezed her knee.

"Angel, can I get you something?"

"No, I'm fine."

He stared at her for a moment and then he leaned over and kissed her.

"We'll get through this you know."

Once they finished gluing the doll together they sat back and inspected their work. Maggie looked scary with a crack running down the center of her face, but Stacey was pleased with how she turned out.

"See, her eyes are shining."

And it was true. The doll's dark eyes shined in the sunlight like black marbles. Finn got off the floor and sat next to Mercedes on the couch, putting his arm around her.

"Do you think we should check on Sam?"

She laid her head on his shoulder.

"He'll come out if he needs us."

"I'm hungry," Stevie said, folding his arms and looking up at them, "it's almost lunch time."

"Me too," Stacey said.

"Why don't you guys help yourself to the leftover sandwiches from yesterday?" Mercedes said.

Stacey grabbed Stevie's hand and they trotted off to the kitchen, leaving Maggie to dry in the afternoon sun. Mercedes snuggled against Finn, trying to ignore the nagging feeling in the pit of her stomach.

"Finn, what do you think is wrong with his mother?"

"I don't know. Maybe she's having a breakdown."

"Do you think we did the right thing?"

"Yes."

He held her tighter and kissed the top of her head.

"Mercy, whatever happens, we'll protect you and our children. Don't worry."

"I know you will, but I don't think any of us realized what we were are taking on."

Finn sighed.

"Yeah I know."

Mercedes turned and looked up at him, touching his face with her small hands, she traced the stubble on his cheek.

"I just want everything to work out."

"It will."

A few moments later, Sam came out of the bedroom.

"Something is wrong with my mother. I have to go check on her."

Mercedes leaned forward as Finn massaged her shoulders.

"Are you sure it's safe?"

"Yes. My father is gone."

"So? She could be lying."

"Cedes, something ain't right."

"Well, you can't go alone, take Finn with you."

"No, I want Finn to stay here with you. You look tired."

"I'll be fine."

"Cedes, there's no way we're leaving you here by yourself."

"Sam's right," Finn said, "Especially in your condition."

"Guys, I'm not helpless and besides –"

The sound of the doorbell interrupted her.

"Who could that be?"

Finn held her hand.

"Stay calm. It's probably a Jehovah's Witness or something."

"Let's not answer it."

"We should at least see who it is," Sam said and left the living room.

Mercedes rose from the couch.

"Let's check on the kids. They're awfully quiet."

Finn laughed and put his arm around her.

"You know how Stevie eats. He's too busy pigging out to talk."

Mercedes had to agree with him. Stevie was going through a major growth spurt and eating everything in sight. They found them in the kitchen munching on sandwiches and chips. Stacey was pouring them each a glass of water when Mercedes and Finn walked in and sat down to the table. Stevie looked up from his sandwich and smirked.

"I don't need you to check on me."

Mercedes kissed his forehead.

"Hush now, and finish your lunch."

The kitchen door swung open and Sam walked in with Dylan, who was clad in a long sleeved green T-shirt with an exploding space ship on front and jeans with holes in the knees, he was as pale as ever, but Mercedes thought it suited him for some reason.

"Look who I found at the door," Sam said and sat next to Mercedes.

Dylan gave everyone a sheepish smile, mumbling hello, before taking a seat next to Stacey, who smiled at him.

"Do you want a sandwich? We've got a few peanut butter and jelly and some chicken salad ones left."

Dylan shook his head, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

"No thanks, maybe later," he turned his attention to the others, "So are you guys alright? I was kinda worried so…"

Mercedes reached over and patted his shoulder.

"Thanks for coming by. That was really sweet of you. We're doing ok. We just need to figure stuff out."

Stevie jumped up and threw away his napkin in the trash. Then he gulped down the rest of the water.

"Can me and Stacey go play in the living room?"

"But I'm not finished eating yet," Stacey said as she took another bite of her sandwich.

Mercedes wanted to speak with her husbands and Dylan alone so she said:

"Just this once, I'll let you eat in the living room, but we won't make it a habit."

"Ok, Mercy. I'll be careful and won't make a mess."

Stacey gathered up her sandwich and glass of water and followed Stevie out of the kitchen.

Dylan ran his hands through his spiked black hair and sighed.

"Do you guys need me to do anything?"

Finn got up from the table and opened the fridge, pulling out a few bottles of iced tea.

"Go with Sam to check on his mother. She's acting weird."

"Won't that be dangerous with his Dad and all."

"She said he was gone. I want to stay here with Mercy; she's feeling a little tired."

Instead of protesting, Mercedes remained silent. When you had two people who loved her as much as Sam and Finn did, they would always protect her, regardless if she felt she needed it or not. Sam held her hand as he spoke to Dylan.

"It would be big help if you came with me. I don't know what's going on with my mom. I'm taking her word for it that my Dad is gone for good. She wants us to come home. That's not going to happen."

Dylan nodded.

"I get it. Do you need to go now?"

"Yes, but could you give us a few minutes?"

"Sure, I'll wait in the living room."

After Dylan left, Sam pulled Finn and Mercedes into his arms.

"Listen you two, I want you to focus on being positive and do your best not to worry. Pray if you feel scared, you know it helps. Remember that I love you both," he said, kissing them each on the lips. We didn't get married for nothing."

Finn and Sam placed their hands on her growing belly and she did the same when suddenly all of their wedding rings lit up.

"Sam, I thought you had to push the button," Mercedes said, staring down at the glowing rings.

Sam squinted as he inspected them.

"Yeah I did too."

"So how did –"

"The babies are sharing their light," Finn said.

"Or maybe we just got defective rings, Babe, who knows?" Sam said, gently rubbing her belly, "Anyway, I'll take any sign that gives me hope."

They all hugged once more and when they broke the embrace; Mercedes hated the empty feeling that was left. As if sensing her sadness, Finn put his arm around her.

"Angel, I'll make you some tea, and maybe we can teach some new songs to Stevie and Stacey."

"That sounds good Finn." She loved his strong arm around her, he was her rock, and he would make sure she was taken care of.

Sam kissed their cheeks.

"Everything will be fine. I swear I'll be back soon, Now you relax and take it easy, alright, Cedes? We want you to stay calm."

"Don't worry, sweetheart, I'll be ok. Finn and I will be praying for you." A few tears ran down her cheeks, and Sam wiped them away with his callused hands.

"Baby, I wouldn't go if I thought I was in danger."

Mercedes sniffed.

"I know."

"Then why are you crying?"

"I don't know."

And she didn't. She only wished that she could keep him there with her and Finn.

Sam kissed her again.

"Please have faith, that's all I'm asking."

"I will, don't worry."

Finn hugged her to his side.

"Babe, I'll help her along. You go handle your mother."

Sam gave him one last kiss.

"I'm really liking this marriage thing."

Finn nodded.

"Yeah, me too."

Mercedes put on a brave smile for her husbands, blinking away the fresh tears in her eyes before they fell.

---

TWISTED LOVE

Dylan was quiet as he and Sam drove to the Evans' house. Sam liked that Dylan left him alone with his thoughts. He looked down at his yellow ring and smiled. At least he got a wife and husband that day. That was a blessing he was grateful for. He carried that good feeling in his heart despite the tear-filled good-bye at the apartment. Stevie and Stacey didn't want him to go either. He reassured them that he would be back by dinnertime and they could help him cook whatever they wanted. Then Stevie and Stacey began arguing about what to have for dinner and Mercedes intervened saying they should flip a coin and stop bickering; Sam was glad for the argument because it gave them all a much-needed distraction.

He touched the ring, tracing his finger over the star; one day when he had the money he would buy Mercedes and Finn something more worthy of their marriage. They passed by McKinley and Sam signed. Senior year. Gossip. Bullies. Karofsky. He, Finn and Mercedes would have to deal with it all in September. How could they do it? Santana warned them about what could happen since they were being open with their relationship. He wasn't ashamed of who he loved and chose to spend his life with, but now with Cedes being pregnant; he knew he would be even more protective of her at school. Dylan glanced over at him.

"I'm almost finished my book."

"Really, dude that's awesome."

"Yeah, thanks for your help."

Sam clucked his tongue.

"Aw, man, it was nothing. Besides you did most of the work."

Dylan smiled.

"No, you did a lot. I'm going to self-publish it and sell it on Amazon. I'll have to market the hell out of it."

"You could start with Twitter and Facebook," Sam said, then he changed the subject, "Thanks for doing this. You know, coming with me today."

Dylan stopped at a red light.

"No problem. You know the three of you seem different. Did you get engaged or something?"

Sam blushed.

"Um, no, we actually got married. In our own way. It's hard to explain but Finn and Mercedes are my husband and wife."

Dylan shrugged as he turned onto the next street.

"There's nothing to explain. You know what's in your heart and that's that. I get it. This is what works for you."

Sam had forgotten how unfazed Dylan was about things. He just accepted people and that was all. Sam wondered if it had to do with his hippie parents that he never saw.

"Yeah, this is what works for us," Sam said, "Now we just have to see how others will accept us."

"Honestly, you're gonna get shit from people. Especially in this town, but you're not the type to back down, so I think you'll be ok, you know what I mean? Oh, and by the way, I like the rings, they're cool."

"Thanks."

They arrived at the house and Sam saw his father's truck in the driveway.

"I thought you said your father was gone," Dylan said as he cut off the engine.

"That's what my mom said."

"Do you want to leave?"

"No, I'm going inside. I gotta finish this. Whatever this is."

They unbuckled their seatbelts and exited the car; as they walked up the stone path leading to the front door, Sam's heart raced, though he wasn't sure why. He turned the doorknob, and he was surprised to find that the door was unlocked, he opened it and they went inside. The house was dark except for the sunlight peeking through the closed blinds, casting bars of light onto the bare white walls and dusty hardwood floors. The room was freezing cold. The air smelled like cigarette smoke.

His mother was sitting on the couch, staring at a video of Sam singing Amazing Grace at their old church in Tennessee. He wore a navy blue suit, his thick glasses slipped down his nose as he strummed away on the guitar. She looked over at Sam and smiled, her eyes were glazed over as if she had been drinking. She wore his father's old blue flannel shirt and a white skirt, her feet were bare, and Sam noticed her left foot had fresh scratches on it, a thin, red line of blood had dried on her skin. An open bible was on her lap. She pointed to the TV screen.

"I was so proud of you that day."

"Mom..."

"Don't look so surprised Sammy," she nodded toward Dylan and said "Who are you?"

"This is Dylan. We work together," Sam explained.

"That's nice. Where are Stevie and Stacey?"

"Mom, where's Dad?"

"I told you he's gone."

"Then why is his truck in the driveway?"

Instead of answering him, she patted a place beside her on the couch.

"Come sit and talk to me."

Sam sat next to her on the couch while Dylan took a seat in the recliner. She started watching the video again.

"Remember that? You were so little and cute. Singing your heart out."

"Dad smashed my guitar that day."

His mother looked down at her hands.

"You've got too many scars and so do I," she said gazed up at him, "Why didn't you bring your girlfriend and boyfriend? Did you break up?"

"We're still together. Now what the hell is going on?"

"You know, I wasn't always your mother. I was pretty once. I had long blonde hair, and a tiny waist. When I smiled people said I should be on a magazine cover or in the movies. That's how it was for me, so pretty that I thought nothing could touch me, like I had this invisible shield."

Mrs. Evans had this far off look in her eyes as she re-lived her past life. Sam knew his mother had been a head turner in her day. Once Aunty Patty showed him his mother's junior prom picture and she was indeed beautiful in her royal blue satin dress, her hair piled on top of her head in lots of blonde curls. It was a far cry of from the woman sitting before him on the couch, an emaciated shell of her former self.

"Mama, I know who you used to be."

She stared at him.

"You called me Mama. You haven't done that since you were just a little boy watching Sesame Street and eating graham crackers, why'd you stop?"

"Because it didn't feel right anymore. Do you even care where Stevie and Stacey are?"

"I know they're safe with you. I know you'll bring them back to me and we can be a family again."

"Like hell I will. Look, I'm sick of this bullshit. You're acting weird, why can't you be straight with me?"

"What's that glowing ring on your finger?"

"My wedding ring."

Mrs. Evans laughed and closed the bible on her lap, setting it on the table in front of her. Her reaction angered Sam.

"Why are you laughing. This isn't a joke."

"You just told me a plastic toy ring that lights up is your wedding ring. What do you expect?" Then her smile faded as she studied her son's face, "My word, you're serious? Do Finn and Mercedes have one too?"

"Of course."

Applause could be heard on the TV. Sam looked at his 12 year-old self, standing in front of a church filled with people as they all clapped for his performance. It was surreal and unsettling for him, staring at that innocent child and knowing the hell he went through.

"Turn it off!"

"But they love you, Sammy, everyone loved you."

Sam grabbed the remote from her hand and turned off the TV.

"I'm leaving. Come on, Dylan." He got up from the couch and headed for the door.

Mrs. Evans walked over to him and placed her hand on his arm for a second and then pulled away.

"When I took you home from the hospital they told me you might die; that I was a fool to even think you would live past a year old. I didn't believe them. I watched over you, even slept by your crib…"

Sam opened the door.

"I don't need this. I'm grateful that you gave me life and watched over me when you did, but I'll be damned if you think that erases all the shit you sat by and passively watched me go through. I just can't justify it in my mind. Maybe when I'm older and wiser I'll be a better man and forgive you, but I'm not there yet. Stevie and Stacey deserve to be loved and protected and I'm going to make sure that happens. Now, I don't know where the hell Dad is, and I don't care. I'm leaving."

She hung her head.

"Sometimes things look different when you don't have all the pieces to put together."

"So? Whatever it is I don't know doesn't change the fact that I won't let Stevie and Stacey be tortured the way I was."

"I'm not saying it will change the present, but it's a story I need to tell. Please."

Sam closed the door and sat down again.

"I'm listening."

"Thank you."

She hugged him and Sam smelled his father's cologne; when he was a kid, a whiff of that cologne always warned him that Cain Evans was nearby, allowing him to hide if he could. The scent was off-putting and bold, reminding one of old men flirting with underage girls online, the spicy citrus odor repulsed Sam and he pushed her away. Saddened by her son's rejection, but not defeated, she ran her hands through her hair and said:

"When I was in high school, my parents said I needed to use my brains instead of my looks all the time. I studied real hard in school and got good grades. And as my grandma would say, "gentlemen callers" would be lined up outside our front door just to see me. Since Patty ran off with Leroy, she was dead to my parents. I became the good daughter. The one they could show off at church functions and family parties. Patty was the fat one, the loud one. I was the smart and pretty one. They pinned their hopes on me. I had the world in the palm of my hand until I met Cain Evans on my 16th birthday. My family threw a party for me in the park and just as I was blowing out the candles on my cake, I looked up and saw this tall, good-looking boy leaning against a tree and I couldn't take my eyes off him. I had never seen him before and I found out his family had just moved to Bethel Rock and– "

Sam held up his hand; he had heard enough.

"I already know this story. I don't want to hear anymore. You marry Dad and lived not so happily ever after."

"No Sam, you only know the beginning and end, you don't know what's in between."

Sam gripped the arm of the couch and glared at his mother.

"Then tell me that part."

Mrs. Evans kneeled down and pulled out a blue cigar box from underneath the coffee table. She usually kept coupons in it, so Sam was confused about where all of this was going.

"What are you doing?"

"Hold on."

She opened the box and pulled out all the coupons. At the very bottom there was a folded up faded blue piece of paper and some newspaper clippings. She handed them to Sam.

"Here's what's in-between."

Sam unfolded the blue paper first. It was a flyer for an outdoor concert in Bethel Rock for a group called Jacob's Ladder, a picture of his teenaged mother and father along with another guy who looked a lot like his father was on the flyer too. The three teenagers were leaning against a tree, his mother wore a simple yellow sundress and was barefoot while his father and the other guy wore jeans and t-shirts.

"You and Dad were in a singing group in high school?"

"Yes. Show your friend too."

Sam almost forgot that Dylan was there, but then again Dylan had a way of blending into the background. He absently handed the flyer to him. Dylan glanced at it, nodding his head in approval, and handed it back to Sam.

"That's interesting."

"So who's the other guy in the group?" Sam asked as he re-folded the flyer.

"Your father's cousin, Davy Evans."

Sam's attention perked up at the mention of Davy. He looked down at the newspaper clippings, and there were various articles about the group's performances around Bethel Rock and other nearby towns. His mother looked stunning in every black and white photo. According to the articles, she often sang the lead.

"Before Daddy and Mama passed away, they had a Jacob's Ladder scrapbook. I don't know what happened to it."

"Tell me about Davy."

Mrs. Evans stared down at the flyer for a moment, "He was my boyfriend."

"What? I thought you and Dad… I don't get it."

"You know I met your father on my 16th birthday, what you don't know is that he wasn't interested in me at all. Just like I had a lot of guys chasing me; he had a lot of girls chasing him, and I was small potatoes compared to some of the girls he ended up with. I was voted the Prettiest Girl at Bethel Rock High, but he paid me no mind until his cousin Davy asked me out and our relationship began. He and Davy were raised together. Davy's parents were killed in a boating accident, and Cain's parents became his guardians. So they were more like brothers, the same age too, only 3 months apart. The two got along but Cain was jealous of his cousin; his parents favored Davy, I don't think they meant to; it's just that Davy had a sweet nature and was good-hearted, and Cain could be difficult and willful, and his parents punished him a lot. So whatever Davy had, Cain liked to take it. Their relationship was so strange. Cain loved Davy, and in a way, looked up to him, yet his love was twisted with jealousy. Cain was fine with Davy being number 2, but if he became number one, all hell broke loose. Davy was just as handsome as Cain but there was something about Cain that drew me to him. I don't know what it was… anyway, despite my feelings for Cain, I dated Davy and we fell in love. Not too long after that, he and Cain both started a singing group and asked me to join because they heard me sing in church. At first I didn't want to do it but Davy changed my mind."

"How?" Sam asked.

"He gave me his class ring and said God spoke to him in a dream and said this group should happen. I said yes because who could argue with God? We sang original songs and covers - mostly folk and inspirational stuff. Anyway, as much as I loved Davy, I had feelings for Cain. Whenever Cain and I were alone together, he flirted with me and I responded to it, I know I should've ignored him, but I just couldn't bring myself to do it. Well, one day, while we were practicing in our basement, Davy went upstairs to make a phone call, and while he was gone, Cain told me that I was too pretty for my own good, and he kissed me. After that, everything changed. I started seeing Cain behind Davy's back."

Sam narrowed his eyes.

"I guess you didn't love Davy after all."

"You're wrong. I did love him, but I loved Cain too or thought I did; I was only 16, you do stupid stuff when you're young; you don't think, you just feel," she paused then said, "Our group, Jacob's Ladder, became a hit, and we booked gigs everywhere. On stage, the three of us were musical soul mates. Off stage, there was discordance because my heart was split and I took my frustration out on them. I think in the beginning, Cain relished in the fact he had taken someone from 'Golden Boy Davy' – that's what he called his cousin behind his back, but Cain had feelings for me too, and he wanted me to choose. I refused. I liked that the two finest boys in Bethel Rock were mine, I was in a popular singing group, and all the girls envied me. I wasn't about to give that up. I'm ashamed to admit that those things were important to me."

"So what happened?"

"My conscience started bothering me. I knew what I was doing was wrong. Davy only saw the good in me, he ignored the rest. He gave me small gifts like a tin whistle from a Cracker Jacks box or he would write me love poems and leave them in my locker. In his eyes, I was perfect, yet I felt unworthy of his love."

Sam stared at his mother with disgust and saw flashes of Quinn.

"Of course you did. You were cheating on him with Dad. You never care about who you hurt."

Mrs. Evans looked down at the newspaper clippings in her lap; her fingers grazed over a picture of her 16-year old self.

"You're not making this easy."

"You wanted me to hear your story. So tell it."

She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear and said:

"With his share of our singing money, Davy started giving me nicer gifts, like jewelry, candy, flowers. Then one evening, we went to the carnival, and while we rode the Ferris wheel, he gave me a diamond ring and asked me to marry him. I loved how that ring twinkled on my finger. The diamond was so tiny that you could barely see it, but it was the most precious gift I ever got. He had this vision of me being the perfect wife and mother and he wanted us to get married after high school and become missionaries in the Philippines. I told him I would think about it and I hid the ring. We kept the proposal a secret because we didn't want anyone to interfere with unwanted opinions. Then he wrote the Mermaid Song for me to convince me to say yes."

Sam jerked his head in surprise.

"Wait, you mean the song you used to sing to us? It was written for you? How come you never told us?"

Mrs. Evans put everything back into the cigar box and set it on the table.

"I wanted to keep that part inside of me because it hurt too much. The first time he sang the Mermaid Song to me it was at a concert in the Bethel Rock town square. We had just finished an encore and then Davy said he had a surprise for me and he began singing this gorgeous song that I never heard before accapella. His voice was… I can't describe it, but it was so beautiful, that I forgot the audience, the stage, everything. The Mermaid Song was his love letter to me, every note, every lyric, he claimed me as his own and all I could see was Davy. Nobody else mattered. Cain was livid. He just stood there and watched Davy pour his heart out to me in front of hundreds of people, and it pissed him off because Davy had won. He knew he had won and in my eyes there was no contest between the two. Well, later that night, when I met Cain at our secret meeting spot on the dock at Friendship Lake, I broke it off with him. I told him that I chose Davy. He wanted to know why and like an idiot, I showed him the ring and said I was going to say yes to Davy's proposal. Cain lost his temper and started yelling about how he loved me, he grabbed me and…"

Mrs. Evans stopped speaking for a moment then she hugged herself as if to keep warm against a cold wind; she closed her eyes before continuing.

"He kissed me, and I felt a spark, that reaction to human touch, but my heart was with Davy, and all the sparks in the world couldn't compare to what we had. Cain's love was like lighting matches, it quickly burned out until you lit another one; he gave bits and pieces of himself, never his whole heart. He always held me as if he could let go at any moment. Davy's love was like a candle, sturdy and slow burning. When I pulled away from Cain, Davy was standing there shining a flashlight on our faces. He had followed Cain because he wanted to know where he was always sneaking off to late at night. The look on his face when he saw us… it was awful. I can't forget it. His eyes… they were just… so hurt… you know? Like watching a wounded animal die. I broke his heart. My selfishness and ego ruined him."

She got up from the couch and opened the blinds, flooding the dark living room with light; she gazed out into the street watching the neighborhood kids zip past on their bikes and scooters. Sam wasn't sure what to do as his mother zoned out, re-living the night she broke a young man's heart. He glanced at Dylan, who sat in the recliner, studying his mother. He broke the silence.

"Mrs. Evans?"

She jumped at the sound of Dylan's voice; she tore her eyes away from the window and looked at him.

"Yes?"

"Is that the end?"

Mrs. Evans shook her head and sat back down on the couch next to Sam.

"I wish it was. Here's the rest of the in-between," she said as she touched Sam's cheek with her cold hands, "Sharing your demons is never fun, there was a long pause and then she continued: "Davy wasn't a violent person but things changed in that moment. He threw down the flashlight and lunged toward Cain, screaming that he was tired of how he always took what belonged to him. The two fell off of the dock into the lake below. They fought in the water. Cain was the stronger of the two. Suddenly they both went underwater and everything was still. I picked up the flashlight and shined it into the lake. I yelled at them to come up to the surface and stop fighting each other. When they re-surfaced, Davy was unconscious. Cain swam to the ladder attached to the dock and pulled Davy with him as he climbed it. As soon as he laid Davy on the wooden planks, I fell to my knees and pressed my ear to his chest, trying to hear his heartbeat. There was nothing. Cain pushed me aside and did CPR. I held Davy's limp, wet hand in mine and prayed he would wake up. I could only see his hurt eyes when he caught Cain and me together. I asked God to forgive me and spare Davy or just take me instead. Cain kept pumping his chest and doing mouth to mouth. A park ranger, who was patrolling the area, heard all of the commotion and came over to us, he called for help on his CB. When the paramedics came, Davy was already dead."

Sam reached for his mother's hand and held it.

"I'm sorry."

"So am I. If I hadn't been so fickle and careless, he would be alive today. One thing that always bothered me is that I didn't know what happened underwater. His death was ruled a drowning, but I always thought that, well I suspected that Cain killed him."

"Did he?"

She nodded.

"Yes. He hit him too hard and his anger got the best of him. It was an accident. He admitted it to me the first year we were married."

"How could you marry him a man like Dad?"

"I was pregnant with you."

Sam stayed silent, not knowing what to say. His mother kept talking:

"On the night you were conceived, both of us were grieving; we shared the blame for Davy's death. I was a mess and so was he. I thought I could change him. He became my purpose. It all backfired because he only grew more angry and mean. I took it because I deserved it; I was punishing myself for Davy. Then I was dependent on Cain and it just got harder to leave. I gave up. Please understand."

Sam moved away from her, pulling his hand from her firm grip.

"You tried to change him and it didn't work. What's there to understand?"

"Understand that you came into this world with two damaged people who lost their way. You reminded him of Davy and that was hard for him."

"I don't care what was hard for him or you. I'm his son and he was abusive. There's no excuse. You're defending a man who had so much rage that he killed someone who was like a brother to him, and beat me for simply being alive."

"Well, now we can move forward. He's gone and he's never coming back."

Sam wasn't convinced.

"How can you be so sure?"

"I just am."

Suddenly Dylan's cell phone rang. He looked at the number.

"Sam, I need to go outside and take this call. Are you ok?"

"I'm fine Dylan."

"I'll be back in 5 minutes."

"Alright."

Dylan hesitated at the door, looking over his shoulder he said:

"Give a shout if you need me. I'll be on the porch."

"Sure, thing."

After Dylan left, his mother sat closer to him.

"Your friend is strange."

Sam didn't respond. His head ached so bad that he felt nauseous. His mother's story was too much to bear. He decided to go into the half bathroom at the bottom of the stairs and get a couple of aspirin out of the medicine cabinet and use the toilet. He rubbed his temples and got up from the couch.

"Where are you going?" she asked, her eyes wide.

"I have to go to the bathroom."

"Sam wait, I haven't cleaned –"

Before she could say anything else, he opened the bathroom door and found his father's lifeless body on the blue tiled floor; his gray eyes were open. The left side of his face was bloody and caved in as if someone had beaten him with a hammer. The white T-shirt he wore was covered in blood. Sam couldn't breathe; he collapsed to the floor.

"Mama!"

Mrs. Evans rushed to his side.

"There, there, Sammy, I was hoping you wouldn't see that. I said I took care of it."

Her voice was calm and serene as if she were speaking about a minor inconvenience like a stain in the carpet or a broken dish.

"We have our whole lives ahead of us."

Sam shook in her arms, unable to speak… what had she done?

She kissed the top of his head.

"Everything will be better now. It was the only way. Just keep calling me Mama."

Sam freed himself from her grasp and pushed her away.

"Why did you do this?"

"An eye for an eye."

"I never wanted –"

"Son, you wanted this. Don't think I've forgotten."

"You told me it wasn't the way."

"At the time it wasn't, but now it is. You were just a boy."

Sam thought of that awful night when primal instinct kicked in and his need to survive was all that mattered, he saw the fear in his father's eyes. It was more than fear of death; it was something else. He gripped the stair railing to keep his balance.

"I had the knife to his throat. I'm just like him. I thought I wasn't. I thought I was different but I got him inside me. I'm not like Davy. I'm my father. That's why he hated me. You're sick all of this is so sick."

"I wanted to make you happy, don't you see?" Mrs. Evans said as she rose from the floor and stood beside him, "This was coming. Now was the time. You're wrong. You're not like him. Please stop thinking that."

"When I started praying last night, that broke him. My calling on the Lord… it broke him. Dad saw that I was the change he couldn't become. That's what did it. Maybe you're right. Maybe I'm not like him because I changed or the love in my heart crowded out the bad stuff. I don't know. But what you did – Mom, what you did is irreversible, do you even realize –"

"I realize everything. After the first blow it got easier. He can't take anything from us anymore. He took my spirit, my will… All those times you said I didn't protect you, well now I have, why can't you be a good son and thank me?"

Sam shook his head; his mother's face grew blurry through his tears.

"Now we're back to you. It's always about you isn't it? It was about you with Davy and now it's about you with your family? This was your revenge. He stole your chance at a perfect life and it caught up to you. You both deserved each other, feeding off each other's ugliness. And what about Stevie and Stacey? How will they get through this?"

"They don't have to know. We can say it was an accident."

"We won't be saying anything. I'm not helping you lie to your own children. I'm turning you in. What kind of mother could you be to them now? You need help."

"I don't need help. I need your support."

"I can't support this."

Just then Dylan came back inside. He looked at Sam and his mother.

"Are you guys ok?"

"Dylan, go outside and call 911," Sam said.

"What? Why?"

"My father was murdered."

Dylan's eyes grew wide. He opened his mouth to speak when Mrs. Evans lunged forward and pushed him to the floor.

"Give it to me," she said trying to pry the phone out of his hands. Sam yanked his mother off of him and held her as she struggled to break free.

"Get out of here, go call the cops!" Sam shouted.

Dylan ran out of the house.

"I only wanted what was best for this family," she said as she fought to free herself from Sam's arms.

"This is how it ends," Sam said.

"No, this is the beginning for a new life."

Sam didn't respond; he held her until she became limp in his arms. She was tired of fighting and so was he. His grip became a hug and they held each other.

"I love you, Mama" he said.

"I love you too."

Sam stroked her head and cried as he held her. Waiting for the inevitable end to happen. She gave him life and kept him alive, and he was grateful for it. He remembered pieces of her, the pretty blonde woman singing in the back yard as she hung the damp laundry on the clothesline, and he was her golden boy running beneath the white sheets blowing in the wind, playing hide and seek with imaginary friends. And she was his Mama, singing him songs of mermaids. That's the part of her he kept in his heart; it was the only part that didn't hurt.

ooo

Mercedes mixed the batter for a Snicker Doodle cake while Stevie and Stacey buttered and floured the cake pans. They needed a distraction with Sam gone.

"You guys are going to love this cake."

Stacey looked up at her and smiled. Her face smudged with flour.

"Even more than Sammy's strawberry amaretto cake?"

Mercedes laughed and turned off the mixer.

"Hmmm, maybe not that much, but it's a really good cake. You two did a good job with the cake pans."

"Thanks," Stevie said, "Do we put it in the oven now?"

"Yes, that's the plan."

"Can we lick the bowl after you pour out the batter?"

"Of course."

Once she poured the batter into the pans and set them in the oven, she handed over the bowl to Stevie and Stacey who happily ate what was left behind of the thick, yellow batter speckled with cinnamon.

"This is yummy," Stacey said as she licked her fingers.

Mercedes began washing the dirty dishes in the sink. Finn walked into the kitchen, yawning and rubbing his eyes; he had just woken up from his nap.

"Hey, there Sleepy Head," Mercedes said as he kissed her cheek, "Did you have a nice nap?"

"Pretty good. What are you all up to?"

"We made a Snicker Doodle cake," Stacey said, "Wanna taste the batter? It's good." She pushed the bowl in his direction. Finn sat down to the table and scrapped the side of the bowl with his finger. He quickly licked finger and smiled in agreement.

"That is good."

While he chatted with Stevie and Stacey, Mercedes watched the stove's digital clock. Sam had been gone for over two hours. She finished the dishes and was about to sweep the floor when Finn stood up and took the broom from her.

"I'll do that."

Mercedes handed him the broom and plopped down in the chair. The kitchen was filled with the sweet aroma of baking cake. After they were finished eating what was left in the mixing bowl, she told Stevie and Stacey to wash it out. They did as she asked and then they went to build a pillow fort in the bedroom. Mercedes was grateful that the kids could amuse themselves for a while; as much as he loved them, she needed a break from their boundless energy. After Finn swept the floor, he made her a cup of tea and sat it in front of her.

"Here sip on this, it will calm you down."

"I am calm," Mercedes said, wrapping her hands around the warm mug.

"Mercy, I know you. You keep biting your lip."

"He's been gone an awful long time. Finn, do you think something happened?"

He put the broom in the pantry.

"What do you think the kids want for dinner? We'll have to cook something since the sandwiches are gone."

Mercedes frowned.

"I don't want to talk about dinner. Don't change the subject."

Finn sat down next to her.

"We promised him we would stay positive and that's what I'm doing, despite – " he stopped speaking and sighed, "Look, Dylan is with him; he'll be ok."

"Despite what?"

"Mercy, stop it, let's just focus on something else."

"I don't want to focus on anything else. I want him here. Now, what were you going to say? You're ignoring your intuition, aren't you?"

"Mercy, please, I –"

The lights on their rings began to flicker. Mercedes touched her ring as well as Finn's.

"They need new batteries."

"No, they don't."

Mercedes looked away from him; she knew what he meant.

"Just be straight with me."

Finn grabbed her hands as the lights flickered on and off, on and off...

"We promised Sam we'd stay positive."

"Tell me what you feel. I know you feel something, just tell me, please."

Finn hugged her close.

"When our husband gets home, we'll eat Snicker Doodle wedding cake, and then we'll dance in the living room in our pajamas."

Mercedes let him soothe her with his dream. Yes, they would dance and eat cake and everything would be beautiful, the way she needed it to be... but the lights continued to flicker and it was hard to ignore them.

Suddenly, Finn's phone rang.

"It's Sam," he said.

"Thank God."

Finn nodded and answered the phone.

"Sam, babe, where the hell are you? Both of us are worried sick, wait, honey, slow down, what did you say?"

Mercedes knew it was death by Finn's expression. Her heart pounded.

"Finn?"

He looked at her, his hazel eyes shiny with tears.

"Mercy, baby, his father is dead."

Mercedes clutched the edge of the table, not knowing what to say. A few moments later, Stevie and Stacey came running into the kitchen, laughing.

"You guys should come see our fort. It's really big." Stacey said, "Even Finn could fit inside."

"Yeah," Stevie said, nodding, "Can we sleep inside it tonight? I bet you I won't have bad dreams."

Mercedes looked at their innocent faces; and wondered what they did to deserve all of this. She couldn't wrap her head around it. She reached for the children and pulled them into her arms, as the tears flowed down her cheeks.

"Mercy?" Stevie said, "What's wrong? Are the babies hurting you?"

"We can rub your belly," Stacey said, "Will that help?"

She held them tighter and continued to sob.

---

END NOTES: I hope everything made sense and thanks for reading!