And now we get to the beginning of the end. There are only a few chapters left. Enjoy.

Back to Present

Quinn stared at Mercedes unable to speak Mercedes looked back onto the court. The eagles were doing it they were pulling away and maintaining a lead. With six minutes left in the last quarter they could pull it off. She glanced back at Quinn.

"Quinn say something."

"Um yay."

"Yay is all you can say? I just bear my soul to you and you say yay?"

"What am I supposed to say?"

"Tell me how I am supposed to go down there and tell my husband who I am separated from any of this."

"You just do it."

"Even if they lose?"

"Honey the way he keeps looking at you I don't think he cares whether they win or lose just if he gets to stay your husband. And you have to be honest with him. Don't tell him what you think he wants to hear tell him the truth."

"Mercedes?"

Mercedes looked up as Stacy walked over to them.

"I thought that was you how are you?"

"Great! I am sorry we had to cancel our lunch last week I had to go to the doctors."

"Are you ok?"

"You can say that."

They looked back to the court and Mercedes felt a rush of sadness as she thought about the day she left him.

Five months ago

"Come on guys it's almost time to go. Zack you have boxing in twenty minutes and Maddie you have Dance in thirty we got to go." Mercedes walked into the den and saw the kids engrossed in an entertainment special. She walked closer and saw photos of Sam and Charlie hugging. She stepped closer as the lady began to talk again.

"Now for the big news. A friend of the family and Charlie's attorney has confirmed that she is indeed pregnant again with Sam's second child. Rumors began to fly around after she made a surprise visit at Sam's wedding over five months ago. There is however no news on how his current wife is taking the news. If Sam is not careful he is gonna end up with two broken wrists instead of one. That's all for now but remember we get it first you hear it first goodnight everyone."

Mercedes grabbed the remote and paused it. She couldn't believe her eyes. She tried to hold her composure in front of the kids.

"Guys what did I tell you about watching those exposé shows they like starting trouble."

"Is daddy having another baby?"

"No Maddie he's not I told you it's just another rumor. Now we have to get going."

"But mom it looked."

"I know what it looked like Zack but trust me its fake. If you don't believe me when your dad comes home he will assure you of that but for now we have to go."

She ushered the kids out the house and to their perspective places but as she went on with her day the images wouldn't leave her alone. Even though she assured the kids everything was fine she couldn't get rid of the gut feeling everything wasn't fine. Those photos showed Charlie and him out without him wearing his brace on his wrist which meant they were recent. And now rumors of her carrying another child by him were confirmed with a family friend stating Mercedes was dealing with the news as anyone would she was furious. She was relieved when Mary stopped by wanting to take the kids away for the weekend. Sam arrived home about thirty minutes after the kids left which was good for them but not for Sam. Mercedes had stayed on the stairs waiting for him and wanting to end the rumors once and for all.

Sam walked into the house feeling better than he had in days. He went into a wide grin as he saw Mercedes sitting at the stairs waiting for him. He went to her but stopped in his tracks as he saw the anger and tears in her eyes.

"Mercy baby what's wrong?"

Mercedes didn't say a word as she walked into the den knowing he would follow her and hit play. Sam saw the entertainment news on and couldn't have prepared himself for the storm that followed what he saw.

"And here is the story we promised you. We have confirmed the rumors that a certain newly married NBA super star is indeed seeing his ex-girlfriend and baby Mama Charlie Darling. We received these photos earlier this week."

They showed three pictures of Sam and Charlie hugging and talking.

"Now for the big news. A friend of the family and Charlie's attorney has confirmed that she is indeed pregnant again with Sam's second child. Rumors began to fly around after she made a surprise visit at Sam's wedding over five months ago. There is however no news on how his current wife is taking the news. If Sam is not careful he is gonna end up with two broken wrists instead of one. That's all for now but remember we get it first you hear it first goodnight everyone."

Mercedes turned off the TV and turned away.

"Mercy wait let me explain its all lies."

"You know what Sam there is no need to explain it to me. However it was our kids who saw the program so explain it to them." She walked away but stopped and laughed.

"Wait my bad I'm sorry I forgot it was my son and your daughter who brought it to my attention."

She walked to their room and slammed the door. Sam walked to the door and opened it. He walked over to Mercedes who was sitting at her desk writing.

"Mercedes none of that is true."

"You told me you haven't seen her since before your accident." She said not looking up from her writing.

"I haven't."

"You said that you were doing your therapy and that voice over and practice and that's why you're always late."

"It is."

She turned towards him with tears in her eyes. "Then why is it that in the picture of you two you were wearing your brace and the next one you're not?"

"What?" he asked looking at her.

"See I watched that broadcast at least fourteen times. And I noticed that in that picture the one where you and she were all hugged up you were wearing your brace? If you hadn't seen her since before your accident why were you wearing it?"

"Baby if you would let me explain."

"Then there was the second picture where you are wearing that brand new navy blue shirt you just got that last week and get this no brace."

"Mercy come on."

"Now we have been married for almost six months so have you been seeing her behind my back this whole time?"

"Baby!"

She stood up so quickly that it caught Sam off guard and he tripped over his own foot. As he steadied himself she wiped her tears. "No don't baby me. Pictures don't lie but apparently you do. And apparently you have another child on the way."

"Look ok you got me when I went to our boy's night out I ran into her she hugged me and that was it."

"Uh huh that was it so why the lies why not just tell me?"

"Because it wasn't a big deal."

"Yeah ok well I see that I am not a big deal." She turned away from him and walked out the room. Sam followed her.

"Look I will have Matt go to that station and put an end to these rumors."

"I don't think they are rumors." She said going to the kitchen and turning off the lights.

"You don't trust me?"

Mercedes faced him and the tears in his eyes nearly broke her heart. "This isn't the first time you have lied to me about her."

"So what you just gonna walk away? Act like we meant nothing to each other?"

Mercedes walked back into the bedroom and over to the bed.

"Why not, you seem to be doing such a great job at pretending that I mean nothing to you."

"You do. I love you so much."

"No you don't you still act like you're some single guy. You're not. You are supposed to be my husband. Be the one I could trust and talk to. I thought we were it for each other but now I realize that you and I don't make sense. You and Charlie do."

She grabbed her lotion off the dresser and sat on the bed. Sam bent down in front of her so they were eye level.

"No we don't. I don't love her. I never did. I love you."

For a long time it seemed they stared at each other in silence. Both wondering what the other was thinking and feeling. Mercedes finally stood forcing Sam to stand and move back.

"Once you talk to Zack and Maddie tomorrow we won't be in your hair any longer."

She turned to get into the bed and turned off the light. Sam stood there in the dark not knowing what he could say to make things right.

"Please don't do this Mercy. I can't imagine my life without you."

She didn't stir and Sam was scared. Whenever the fight ended with her getting into bed she would sigh or shake to let him know she was crying. That was his cue that she was on the verge of forgiveness but this night he barely heard her breath. She didn't move any part of her body she just lay perfectly still. Sam walked to the other side of the bed and laid down. He went to hold her but she pulled away from him. He said a silent prayer that they could find a way to work this out and fell asleep.

Sam awoke with a bad feeling in the pit of his stomach. He looked over to the empty side of his bed and his heart sank. As he shot up he went to the closet and felt himself sink lower as he noticed most of Mercedes's clothes were gone. He grabbed his phone but noticed a note on the side of it. He opened it.

"Sam, I have decided to get away for a while. It is clear to me that while I love you so very much you need time to figure out your next move. I have already spoken to your mom and she will drop Zack off to me when they returned. I withdrew some money out of our account just to get me a place to stay and as soon as I find work I will pay it back. Thanks for everything. PS there is an envelope for you on the mantle in the living room. I guess congratulations really are in order. You don't have to worry about what a divorce will do to you. I don't want your money and I will sign whatever I have to so you can know that I didn't marry for money and you don't owe me a thing."

Sam balled up the paper and ran down stairs he grabbed the manila folder off the mantel and took out a sonogram. He grabbed his phone.

"Rutherford, King and Wade."

"Get me Matt Rutherford now."

"May I ask who is calling?"

"It's Sam Evans I need to speak with him now."

"But he is."

"I said NOW!" Sam yelled into the phone.

"One moment."

"Sam I was expecting your call."

"Matt what the hell is going on?"

"I don't know but I am all over it."

"Mercedes left. Someone sent a picture of a sonogram that supposedly belongs to Charlie."

"I thought you said you weren't messing with her."

"I wasn't and I am not. Matt I don't know how all these rumors got started but it is costing me my family. Fix this."

"I will but it's gonna take a minute this is a sensitive situation."

"Sensitive. She is going around telling people that I got her pregnant Mercedes left. She left."

"Then go find her I will take care of everything."

"I have practice today. And she knows I can't miss it."

"Look go to practice and make things right with your wife."

"Just handle this."

Sam hung up the phone and crumbled up the envelope. He grabbed his practice bag and left hoping time on the court would ease his anger. He walked onto the court ready to play but his head wasn't in the game. As they began practice Sam missed shots and blocks. He knocked Finn down three times and sent an elbow to Rick Marries the small forward. Coach Patulous called time out and Sam sat on the bench. Rick walked over to him.

"That elbow to the face was a cheap shot."

"It was an accident I said I was sorry I am just not in a good place right now." Sam said placing his hands onto his head.

"No? I would think you would be I mean dumping your wife for you ex was a smart idea. I mean Charlie i hot and well Mercedes is ok but you made the right choice."

Finn stood between them as Sam stood and moved closer to him.

"Shut up rick. Don't pay him any attention man."

"Don't tell me to shut up Finn you said it yourself you always saw him with a Jessica Alba or Tyra or Alicia Keys type woman not a Queen Latifa or Monique, both very beautiful but both full figured women."

"I never said that and don't put words in my mouth."

"I'm just saying it's about time you dumped the girl with the lumps for the girl in the pumps. Charlie is just sexy. You a smart dude."

Sam lunged for Rick as Finn tried to pull him back. The rest of the team came up and surrounded them as Sam pushed Finn off of him and walked out the door. Finn walked after him.

"Sam come on you can't let him get you upset. This is the dude who cried when the spice girls broke up."

"Mercedes left because of that stupid story."

"Dude it's what she does she may have just went to blow steam."

Sam stopped and turned towards his best friend. "Finn she packed all her clothes and left. She left me and I can't do this without her. I love her. I need to make this right."

"If she left then you she's the one who loss."

Sam walked over to the bench in front of the gym and felt tears come to his eyes. "I lied to her. I told her I hadn't seen or talked to Charlie since before the accident."

"Why would you do something stupid like that?"

"Because I am an idiot. I didn't want to fight with her. Everything was going so good, we were all happy and I didn't want to ruin that. Finn I don't care if no one approves on my choice to have made her my wife. But I love her and I don't know how I can get through the rest of the season without her. I only lied because I knew she would be upset if she knew Charlie was still trying to hang around."

"What if I talk to her?"

"Like you did before no thank you she still thinks you think of her as a gold digger."

"But I don't."

"Dude you piss a woman off and even if you were joking it will still come back to bite you in the butt."

"It's going to be alright. Look at what you can do for her if not at anything else. What woman would give up a man worth as much as you? But then again you didn't sign a prenup so she will be just as rich as you."

"She doesn't want my money she has made that clear."

"Look we need you out there with your head on your shoulders so we will fix this ok?"

"Yeah good luck. She is as stubborn as a mule." Sam walked away.