And the Band Played On Chapter 25, a glee fanfic

"Dude you look like hell. Please don't tell me you've been crying again," Puck asked dragging a bag into the apartment with him.

Sam glared, "No you ass I have not. I'm just exhausted."

Puck went over to the bassinet to find Isaiah staring up at him. He smiled and collected the boy before walking back over to Sam. As much as Puck was a pain in the ass sometimes Sam wouldn't trade their friendship for anything. Watching Puck interact with his son made him smile. He was thankful to have at least one friend here in LA that would stick with him and that also didn't mind his kids either. 'I wish Mercedes was here,' he thought for a moment, his smile turning into a frown.

"Hey!" Puck said snapping his fingers.

Sam shook his head, "Huh, what?"

"You were getting that dog died look again. Man…if you cry on me again I'm going to take your kids and leave you to your depressing self."

"I am not depressing!"

"Yes you are man. Look at little Izzy. Lil dude is gonna grow up all sensitive and shit because his father is a crybaby."

"Just because I have feelings and like to express myself does not make me depressing or a crybaby," he scoffed

"Yeah well…all I'm saying is your vagina is showing right now."

"Stop using those words!" he hissed

Puck looked down at Izzy, "That is the politically correct word to use! It's not like I said Pu-"

"Don't you dare finish that sentence!"

"Fine fine… so what's really going on," Puck asked staring, "I'm being serious here now. I want to know what's bothering you."

Sam sat down at the table and propped his hand up under his chin, "I don't know where to start man. I think I'm being paranoid."

"Dude you've been paranoid since the day I met you. It just got worse once Mama popped out your babies."

Sam glared, "That's beside the point! I'm being serious here Puck! I don't know whether it's just me being crazy or if something is going on."

"Well lay all the facts out and we'll see if there's a case to be made."

"Ok…so you know how like we've been so busy lately that we don't see each other?"

"Yeah…"

"Well she's been putting in extra time at the studio working on her album. I went to visit her the other day and I swear it felt like her producer was hitting on."

Puck shifted Isaiah in his arms, "Say what? Who the hell is hitting on Mama."

"I just said her producer…" Sam rolled his eyes, "Anyways! Like he was really close to her and stuff. Then we had a talk and it was like the guy was trying some Jedi mind trick shit on me."

"What'd he say?"

"I can't remember his words exactly but he was just a little too concerned for my taste about our home life. I mean I get that he wants her to be focus but dude I didn't ask for your opinion!"

"You should punch that fucker in the face!"

"Langauage! And no I can't. He's Mercedes producer and I can't ruin her chances. She'll never forgive."

"So you're just going to let some other dude sling his dick in your territory?"

"I TOLD YOU I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S WHAT'S GOING ON!" he heard Aurora start to cry, "Oh hell I woke the baby up."

Sam got up and picked up his daughter, "It's ok Princess," he said trying to soothe her. He rubbed her back until her cries turned into small hiccups. Walking back over to Puck he sat back down before putting her pacifier in her mouth. He rubbed his face in her hair.

"I love this baby smell," he sighed

Puck scrunched his face up, "Your hoo ha is showing again."

"Shut up…"

"Ok so what makes you think it's all in your head?"

"Because we really don't talk anymore. It's not like we don't know how we are just too tired or two busy to have a real conversation with each other. She also asked me the other day if I resented having to stay with the babies most of the time."

"Whoa…why'd she ask you that?"

"I don't know! She just asked out of the blue and it caught me off guard. I also kind of yelled at her too…"

"You yelled at her? Sam, really?"

"I was just frustrated ok? Aura wouldn't stop crying and she kept on insisting that it was because she was hungry. I knew that it was her wet diaper cry but we kind of battled it out. It ended with me telling her that she wouldn't be able to tell the difference because she doesn't spend enough time with them like I do."

Puck stared at his friend, "Look I might not be a chick or anything but I'm pretty sure in girl speak you just told her she ain't doing her motherly duties."

"No I didn't!"

"Yeah ya did dude. You like stole her mama card so you can become this mommy daddy hybrid."

Sam bit his lip looking down at his daughter, "I…shit really? Do you think she really thought that?"

"I'm just making an educated guess Sam. The only way for you to know is if you ask her yourself. You shouldn't be keeping things from each other anyways."

"I suppose you're right."

"Uncle Pucky is always right isn't he Izzy?" he asked to the baby, "Besides have you even told her what you've really been doing at night?"

Sam stiffened at his words letting his mind wander. Of course he hadn't told Mercedes where he was going at night. For one thing she'd kill him and possibly leave him. The other would be that he didn't want her to feel bad about getting out of the house. He stared at Puck who gave him an unenthusiastic look before looking at his daughter. Sam would have to tell her eventually but not right now. Not when they were already starting to have cracks in their relationship again. The last thing he wanted was for the dam to burst on them.

Mercedes sat at the mixing board going over the lyrics in front of her. For the past few days she had been rewriting some of the songs she had been working on. One thing that she liked about upgrading from a back up singer to an actual artist was that she got the chance to sing her own music. Travis had been playing back the music so that she could arrange her vocals for the song.

"I like the beat," she said

Travis smiled, "Yeah it's pretty dope. Want to try laying down the vocals with the beat this time?"

She got up and walked into the sound booth placing her papers on the stand. Pulling the large headphones on her head she gave Travis a thumb up. Mercedes closed her eyes and let the piano music intro flow through her. When she heard her part she opened her eyes and leaned into the microphone.

Some people live for the fortune
Some people live just for the fame
Some people live for the power yeah
Some people live just to play the game
Some people think that the physical things
Define what's within
And I've been there before
But that life's a bore
So full of the superficial

Some people want it all
But I don't want nothing at all
If it ain't you baby
If I ain't got you baby
Some people want diamond rings
Some just want everything
But everything means nothing
If I ain't got you

In her mind she was picturing Sam in the room with her singing to him only. When she had wrote the song originally it had been way back when they had first started dating the first time. Sam had just revealed to the Glee club that he was homeless and she immediately felt bad for silently agreeing with the others suspicions in the room. Somehow they ended up connecting afterwards and they immediately hit it off. He was her first and only love she had ever known.

Some people search for a fountain
That Promises forever young
Some people need three dozen roses
And that's the only way to prove you love to them
Hand me the world on a silver platter
And what good would it be
With no one to share, with no one who truly cares for me

Her dreams were slowly coming true. All this hard work and effort was for not only her now but her family. She wished that her and Sam spoke more and had time to actually talk. Mercedes hated feeling like they've almost become strangers in their own home. She understood why though. They're crammed in a small place, she's here for long hours, and by the time she gets home he's heading out the door for work. Thankfully today she was only going to record this one song and then head home early, hoping that Sam would be in the mood to talk.

If I ain't got you with me baby
Nothing in this whole wide world don't mean a thing
If I ain't got you with me baby

"That was perfect," Travis's voice said into her headphones.

"Thank you! So I don't need to record it again?" she asked

He shook his head, "No, it sounds solid. Why do you have to go somewhere?"

"Well…I kind of just wanted to go home a little early today to spend some time with my family."

"Oh…" he thought, "That's fine. Are you going to talk to Sam?"

Her eyes softened, "Yeah, I figured do it now instead of waiting for it manifest into something that it's not."

"Well I wish you the best," he said hugging her slowly.

"Thanks Travis, you're really great."

"Anytime sweetheart," he said softly. She grabbed her things and headed out the door, "Anytime…"

"Dude he puked all over my shirt!" Puck yelled, "This is my lady hunting shirt."

"It's just spit up Puck," Sam said annoyed trying to wipe his friends' shirt.

"Yeah but…"

"Take your shirt off"

"What? NO!"

"Puck take off the damn shirt so I can clean it better."

"No way man, I can clean my own clothes!"

What started as a simple thing now turned into a mini fight. Sam grabbed Puck and pinned him against the wall trying to wrestle the soiled shirt off his friend, "You're being so damn stubborn," he hissed. Puck was trying to push the slightly shorter man away from him. Just then Mercedes had opened the door to see Sam pressed up against Puck on the wall. Her eyes immediately tried to register the situation in front of her. Sam was either attempting to steal Puck's clothes or have his way with him.

"What the hell is this?" she yelled

Both boys froze, "Mercedes you're home early!" Sam exclaimed moving away from a disheveled looking Puck, "Baby I missed you"

"I see that… is that why you and Puck were on the verge of getting it on?"

"What? No…Izzy spit up on his shirt so I wanted to clean it."

"HE WAS TRYING TO HAVE HIS WAY WITH ME MAMA!" Puck pouted

Mercedes eyes flickered between the two of them, "Why couldn't he just take off his own shirt?"

"Because Puck was being a dumbass and wanted the shirt to be ruined."

"I was not! He was taking advantage of me!"

"I was not you ass!"

"Was so…he touched me in places"

"I BARELY TOUCHED YOU!"

"It was so horrible… I can't even speak of the things that were being done."

"I can't believe you"

"Mama it's the truth! Had you not walked in I don't know what would have happened to me," he pretended to cry.

Mercedes walked over to him and patted his back, "Aw…"

"Don't aw him Mercedes! Puck stop trying to make my wife feel sorry for you. You're such a baby!"

"Am not! Man handler"

"Ok enough!" Mercedes shouted, "Puck get your shirt cleaned up now! Sam you and I need to talk."

"Oooohhhhh someone's in trouble," Puck teased as Sam glared at him.

"Clean your shirt Puck," Mercedes said through gritted teeth.

"Fine, fine, I'll head on home," he said planting a kiss on Mercedes cheek, "Later loser," he called to Sam before leaving.

Sam stood in the middle of the room scowling with his arms crossed. He couldn't the dramatics of his friend of cleaning a simple shirt. His eyes glanced over to Mercedes who was now sitting on their bed waiting for him to join her. Sighing he walked over and sat cross legged on their bed, 'I wonder what she wants to talk about?' he thought.

"Sam…"

"Mercedes…"

She glared at him, "Sam, I want to talk about us."

He immediately felt his heart leap into his chest, "What? What did I do wrong?" he panicked

She placed her hand on the side of his face, "Nothing baby, calm down."

"Oh…" he started, "But you just said…"

"Can you let me finish?"

"Yes"

Mercedes sat there for a moment trying to collect her thoughts, "The other day when you took me out to lunch and I asked you if you resented having to care for our kids most of the time and you said no. Was it the truth?" she asked looking him in the eyes.

"What? Of course it was the truth. Why would you think I would resent taking care of my own children? It's my job Mercedes."

"Just because it's your job doesn't mean you have to like it."

He closed his eyes briefly, "I do like it. I'll admit it's hard at times because two small children verse one person is very exhausting, but I wouldn't trade it in for anything," he smiled, "Where is this coming from? Why do you all of a sudden think I resent our life?"

"I just…"

"Did I do something wrong that would make you think otherwise?"

"Not really it's just that we barely talk anymore," she cried, "We aren't the same anymore!"

He sighed, "Baby before it was just the two of us. Now there are four of us. All that time we had to devote to each other has been split up into threes."

"I know. I just wish that we could have more time to ourselves. You work so hard for us Sam. I feel like your teenage years are being wasted."

"My teenage years? Did you forget what I had to do for my parents? I've never been a teenager"

"That's my point! I at least got too, you didn't. You've been handed an advance ticket into adulthood. That's unfair to you."

"No it isn't. Mercedes you're making a big deal out of nothing."

"Am I?" she asked, "Or are you just one day going to realize what a big deal it really is and walk out on us?"

Sam froze for a moment before his facial expressions turned to anger, "Are you kidding me? I would never leave you!"

"You don't know that Sam. One day you may have enough of this life and feel like you got the wrong end of the deal and then leave."

"I fought to get you back twice. FOUGHT FOR YOU! I traveled across the US to track you down to make sure I wouldn't miss out on my kids lives," his eyes drifted to the two bassinets, tears filling up, "I would never abandoned them. Even on my worse day I would never leave my children. They're my babies Mercedes and I love them just as much as I love you. I can't believe you would think I would leave you!"

Mercedes had felt guilty and foolish all in one setting. She couldn't bring herself to look him in the eyes at the moment. She knew that he would probably get mad at her accusation but she still had wanted to ask. In her head all of it made perfect sense at the time. In reality Sam had did nothing to warrant her questioning. If anything he should have been questioning her. She was the one who was barely home and barely saw their kids.

"I'm a bad mother…" she whispered

Sam stared at her, "What did you say?"

"I'm a bad mother!" she shouted, "I'm accusing you of all this when I'm the one who isn't even around. I can't tell the different between my babies cries. I don't know what's going on with you anymore. It's like I'm forcing you to be both parents while I get off scot-free!"

"Whoa…slow down Mercedes," he said thinking about his conversation he had with Puck earlier, "You're not a bad mother baby…I'm sorry if what I said the other day made you think you are."

"But it's the truth Sam! What kind of mother can't tell her child's wet?"

Sam paused, "I…"

"Exactly!"

"What the hell is going on! Mercedes this is crazy."

"No it's not! Sam it makes perfect sense. It's me I'm ruining this family."

"Have you gone crazy? Is this what you do at the studio all damn day is wonder about if our life is falling apart?"

"YES! Because I'm not at home to see if for myself so I can only wonder."

"The mind is a dangerous thing Mercedes"

She started to cry, "I just want us to go back to the way things were before…"

Sam paled, "…but before you weren't pregnant. We weren't a family..."

"I know we weren't a family but sometimes I wish we could just have that moment back just once in the mix of all this crazy."

He looked down at his feet, "So if I hadn't gotten you pregnant you wouldn't be so stressed."

"Everyone's stressed Sam! I'm just saying it didn't help. Nor does it ease my paranoia."

"I see… so our children's birth was a mistake?"

Her tear filled eyes staring at him, "I never said they were a mistake! I just said I wouldn't be so stressed out."

"No I get it Mercedes…" he glanced down at the watch on his wrist, "I should be heading to work."

Sam stood up slowly walking around the room to find his sneakers and duffle bag. He was fitting back the tears that were threatening to spill, 'She really does think we're a burden on her…' he mind spoke as he tried to force the pain he was feeling down. Mercedes sat silently crying watching Sam move about the apartment. She didn't know what else to say to him for the fear of it all coming out wrong again. She loved him more than anything in the world but she had to admit that times were a lot tougher for them. However she would never regret having their children or the life they were living now. She just wished it wasn't so hard.

Sam slung his bag over his shoulder before kneeling down in front of her, "I'm going to go ok? Enjoy the rest of the day to yourself," he said sadly stroking her face.

"Yeah…"

"I love you," he said kissing her, "I'll always love you no matter what, ok?"

"Ok…I love you too Sam"

He nodded staring at her for a moment before walking over to the bassinets. His eyes started to fill with tears as he watched them sleeping, 'They're so innocent…they don't deserve any of this,' he thought before pulling a blanket over Aurora and placing Isaiah's pacified in his mouth. He kissed the both of them before leaving the room. When the door closed Mercedes stared at it as if she expected him to walk right back through the room. The sound of one of the babies' crying caught her attention as she went over to see who it was. She hated that she couldn't tell their sounds apart. Looking down she saw Isaiah staring up at her with tears in his eyes, "I know baby boy…daddy left for work," she said painfully before picking up the whimpering baby, 'Fuck…'.

Song "If I Ain't Got You" by Alicia Keys. Thank you again for the reviews. To answer most of your concerns even though they've faced issues in the past together they're still young and parents. Stress can make you do and say crazy things. However do not worry, they won't be breaking up because of it.