SUMMARY: A continuation of their lives in California both past and present.

WARNING: Cursing. Mention of suicide and violence.

CHAPTER 25

KNOCK BEFORE ENTERING

Ten years later in Roseville, California…

"Daddy, Papa, Mama! Where are you?" Arwen called out as she ran up the stairs. Scratches and bruises covered her long, caramel brown legs and dust coated her curly afro; she carried a beat up baseball mitt, and she was smiling.

Little did Arwen know that her parents had slipped away for some "adult time," she was so excited that she opened the bedroom door without knocking. Finn was grateful that they were able to cover themselves with a sheet before she barged in; he made a mental note to lock the door in the future. Arwen stood in the doorway, staring at her parents.

"Why are you in bed? It's only 4:00, she said, her face twisted in confusion.

"Never mind that," Mercedes said, "You know better than to come into our room without knocking."

"Sorry, Mama," Arwen said, "But guess what? We won the game and I scored 2 homeruns!"

"That's my baby girl!" Sam said and almost jumped out of bed to hug their daughter, but Finn stopped him, shooting him a warning look, because his husband was naked as a jaybird under the cotton sheet.

"That's great, sweetheart," Finn said, "Go on downstairs and we'll be there in a minute."

"Ok, are Aunt Stacey and Uncle Stevie around? I want to tell them too."

"No, they don't get off work for another 2 hours and Alon is grocery shopping with Aunt Patty, they should be back soon," Finn said.

Arwen's eyes grew wide.

"You let Aunt Patty go by herself?"

"Arwen, she's been feeling better and they're only getting a few things, stop worrying, Miss Mother Hen," Mercedes said, "Now go downstairs. Daddy will make us celebratory milkshakes."

Arwen smiled and clapped her hands, racing out of the room and slamming the door behind her.

"Looks like our sex date got ruined yet again," Finn said with a sad smile, and he leaned over kissing both Sam and Mercedes.

Mercedes laughed as she got out of bed and slipped on her panties.

"That wasn't a date. It was totally spontaneous. Besides we have tonight."

"Actually, we don't," Sam said, "Isn't Stacey having all her friends over for a sleepover?"

Finn pulled on his boxers and basketball shorts.

"Are you sure that's tonight?"

"I thought it was tomorrow night," Mercedes said as she fastened her bra; she was having trouble with the clasp so Sam reached over and helped her.

"I don't know. Maybe it is. How did we end up in bed?"

Finn picked up his t-shirt off of the floor.

"I think Mercy was doing a strip tease in the laundry room."

"I was not!"

They finished dressing and went downstairs to celebrate Arwen's homeruns. They found her in the kitchen getting the ingredients for the milkshakes out of the huge stainless steel fridge.

"Daddy, how many bananas do you need?"

"Oh about 6," Sam said, and don't forget the chocolate syrup.

"The fancy kind with the French name or regular Hershey's?"

Sam thought for a moment.

"Hersheys."

Mercedes went over to her daughter and hugged her, kissing her cheek.

"Lord, child, you smell."

"Mama I was playing baseball." At 10 years old, Arwen was rather tomboyish and athletic. You couldn't get her near the color pink and dolls were the instrument of the devil.

"And she scored 2 homeruns," Finn said, picking up Arwen and kissing her forehead, "I'm proud of you sweetheart."

"Me too, Sam said, taking Arwen from Finn and kissing her too, "You got that Evans gene. We were born for sports."

"What about Hudson? I wasn't a bad quarterback."

"And I'm a pretty good swimmer," Mercedes said as she peeled the bananas and handed them to Sam, "So I think it's a little of all of us."

Sam shook his head and smiled.

"I stand corrected."

After Sam finished making the shakes, they sat around the kitchen table, drinking them from old-fashioned soda-fountain glasses with jumbo straws and talked about the game. Finn never would've imagined his life would turn out the way it did, when they first arrived to California ten years ago, they had no idea what to expect. It was rough for Sam at first, working in such an upscale restaurant and taking music composition classes online. And Finn found a job working at a nearby garage while he took classes at Fremont College.

Mercedes worked as a virtual assistant and took online classes too, while staying home and taking care of the twins. With work and school, there was little time to spend with each other and their marriage suffered. The three fought about household duties, bills, and how to raise the twins. It got so bad that Finn worried their marriage would end. He took double shifts at the garage just to avoid going home. Mercedes said she felt alone. Everything came to a head the night Sam came home drunk at 2:00 in the morning and woke up Finn and Mercedes. It was their second year in LA.

"Cedes, Finn, come on wake up, I need to talk to you."

Finn smelled the liquor on his husband's breath.

"You're drunk."

Sam collapsed onto the bed.

"She kissed me, but I pushed her away. I'm so sorry."

"What are you talking about?"

Mercedes turned on the lamp.

"Did you say you kissed someone?"

Sam covered his face with his hands.

"I'm sorry. I love you. I'm so sorry."

Finn touched his arm.

"Tell us what happened."

"She was at Bas' anniversary party tonight. I don't know her. She was pretty with long brown hair and said she drove a Ferrari –"

Mercedes got out of bed and put on her robe.

"You're attracted to her? You kissed some woman you thought was pretty and now you feel bad about it?" She held up her hand and pointed to her ring. "I guess you forgot about your family, huh?"

"No, I didn't forget you. I love you and Finn and the twins. Everything is so fucked up. I didn't want her. She came onto me and –

"You didn't stop her from kissing you," Mercedes said, her voice was dead and emotionless.

Sam threw up his hands.

"No, listen she kissed me. She was asking how I made the stuffed mushrooms for the party and she was smiling and flipping her hair and I could smell her perfume, and then she got really close and kissed me. And I pushed her away. I told her I was married and I walked home. I love you, don't you see? I love you so much; I've just been doing a shitty job."

Finn left him on the bed and went to Mercedes who stood there staring at him, her eyes welled up with tears that never fell. He put his arm around her.

"What do you want Sam?"

"I want my husband and wife and children the way I always have. I don't want that woman or anybody else. I couldn't wait to get home. I love you and I'm sorry. Please forgive me."

Finn and Mercedes looked at each other and sat down on the bed again. Sam reached for them, hugging them close.

"I want to get us back. I want what we used to have. What happened?"

"We never see each other," Mercedes said, laying her head on his shoulder; it's like we're three roommates who happen to share a bed and have two kids. I miss you and Finn so much."

"And when we are together all we do is fight," Finn said.

"So what do we do?" Sam asked, wrapping his arms around them.

"We're getting marriage counseling," Mercedes said, touching his cheek; she stared at him for a moment, "Go wash your face, I see her lipstick."

Sam jumped up and went to the bathroom. Finn scooted over to Mercedes.

"I want us back too."

That night the three of them talked the way they used to. Sam admitted that the woman's attention made him feel good at first because he felt like he was failing in his life and letting them down, but what he really needed was his family. And he said no matter what, they were staying together. Mercedes confessed that it was hard being at home sometimes and that she missed their friends, and even though she knew she was beautiful, the women in LA were damn near perfect.

"The competition makes me wonder," she said.

"They don't hold a candle to you," Sam said, "Get that shit out of your head."

"Well, coming home drunk and talking about a pretty woman kissing you doesn't exactly boost my confidence."

"I can recognize the beauty of another woman without wanting her. It's like saying a flower or tree is pretty. An observation - nothing else. But no woman could ever replace you, Mercedes, I swear by that."

"I want all this fighting to stop," Finn said, giving them each a kiss, "What the hell do we keep fighting for? It's like all this ugly stuff is coming out. And Sam, I don't want you coming home drunk again. Do you drink during the day?"

Sam hung his head.

"Sometimes, but it never interferes with my job."

"Please stop," Finn said, "We love you, but drinking isn't the answer. You can't be a good husband and parent and do that."

"I know."

"Finn, I want you to stop taking double shifts," Mercedes said, "In fact, both of you should be home more; Arwen and Alon ask why you're never home. They miss their Daddy and Papa. I can't raise our kids alone."

Mercedes found a counselor and they began their sessions and it helped. They set up times to have "dates" even if it only meant watching a movie and eating dinner together. And they realized the arguing was masking all of the insecurities they felt as a result of the marriage and living in a new city. Anger was easier than facing the truth, but their counselor showed them how to have healthier discussions and not run away from their emotions. Finn was thankful that they were getting on the right track and despite all of their issues and problems, their first priority was always the twins; and they flourished as they grew up.

Sam met people in the music industry who dined at the restaurant. Many patrons asked to meet the chef who prepared the rosemary chicken or some other specialty dish and though Sam was only a cook, he was very good at his craft, so the head chef always sent him out to meet the fans of his cuisine. During his fourth year at Babette's when he became second in command in the kitchen, he met a music supervisor looking for original music for a low-budget direct to video sci-fi flick. This first gig he got composing music led to other gigs and his name got around the industry.

Slowly but surely, he created a name for himself and began composing music for major television shows and big-budget films; he also wrote songs for well-known recording artists. Though Sam loved cooking, music was his first passion. After 5 years at Babette's, he quit and composed music full-time. Finn became a certified physical therapist and worked at a physical therapy and wellness center in Roseville.

During this time Stacey and Stevie came to live with them in California and Mercedes quit working altogether to tend to the four kids full-time, though she got her masters degree in music education.

By now Sam received his inheritance money and they used it to renovate a huge old farmhouse in the California countryside. They got it cheap because it was falling apart but as soon as they saw the place, they knew it was perfect for them, surrounded by acres of land and away from the LA smog. It had 6 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, a library, den, dining room, huge kitchen, wrap around porch, and Sam had a recording studio built so he could work at home and be close to the kids. Mercedes planted a big vegetable garden, so most of their produce they grew themselves.

After Uncle Leroy died from complications of diabetes, Aunt Patty's health wasn't doing very well, and Sam worried about her living alone in that Philadelphia brownstone, so she came to live with them a year later.

Finn loved their large family and how everything they dreamed about finally came to fruition. Suddenly, he felt Mercedes kiss his cheek.

"You're zoning out on us, sweetie, what's wrong?"

Finn smiled and kissed her.

"Nothing, I was just remembering stuff."

"What kind of stuff?" Arwen asked.

"I'll let you know when you're older," Finn said, patting Arwen on the head, and noticing the dust in her hair, "Since you're finished with the milkshake, go upstairs and take a shower and wash your hair."

"Will you and Daddy twist it for me?"

"Sure."

"When can I have dreadlocks like Mama?"

"When you're older," Mercedes said, "Now do as Papa says."

Arwen put her empty milkshake glass in the sink and left the kitchen.

"She's obsessed with your locks," Sam said, reaching out and touching Mercedes hair, her dreadlocks reached her waist and people always complimented them.

"I know, and she'll have them later on, Arwen is too wild to take care of them properly," she turned to Finn, "Baby, if something is bothering you, please let us know."

Finn smiled.

"No, nothing is bothering me. While we were sitting here talking and stuff, I realized how far we've come. It wasn't easy when we first got here, you know?"

Sam held their hands.

"I understand. But not a day goes by that I'm not grateful."

The three began kissing one another and they didn't notice Stevie and Stacey walking into the kitchen, all tanned from their jobs as lifeguards at the local pool and smelling like chlorine. Stacey was in a modest red swimsuit and Stevie wore red swim trunks. Both had the Roseville Community Pool logo on their swimwear.

Stevie was "hot" as all the girls put it, so much so that modeling scouts approached him often. He was lean and muscular and his grayish green eyes sparkled; he'd come a long way from the angry, sullen boy he was when he first came to live with the Jovansons. Everyone liked him and he had a lot of friends. Stacey was a beautiful girl, with long, blonde hair and pretty smile, but wasn't as outgoing as Stevie. She had a few close friends and enjoyed painting the California landscapes or doing portraits of the family.

"You guys are too old for that," Stevie said as he opened the fridge and pulled out a bottled water.

The trio stopped kissing but kept their arms around each other, smiling like lovesick teenagers.

"Stevie, be quiet," Stacey said, sitting down to the table. She picked up Mercedes' milkshake and drank the rest of what was in the glass, "Sam, could you make us milkshakes too?"

"Ok," Sam said getting up from the table and walking to the counter, "So how was work?"

"This cougar kept hitting on Stevie," Stacey said with a mischievous grin, "She was at least 40."

Mercedes put her hands on her hips.

"Tell those old broads to stay away from my baby," Mercedes said, "I mean really, the nerve of some women."

"Don't worry, Mercy, you know Tasha keeps them in check," Stevie said as he drank his water, "She lets everyone know the hot lifeguard is her boyfriend."

Tasha was Stevie's girlfriend. She was a plus-sized black girl with short curly hair and bubbly personality. In many ways she reminded Finn of Mercedes and he wondered if that's why Stevie fell for her; nevertheless, he thought she was nice girl and a good influence on Stevie regardless of why he chose her.

Just then Alon and Aunt Patty shuffled into the kitchen carrying bags from Trader Joe's. Alon was taller than Arwen and his caramel complexion had more creamy undertones; he was all arms and legs and his hair was in a ponytail. With his long hair, he bore a striking resemblance to Sam. He wore black shorts and a white Ramones T-shirt. Aunt Patty held his arm and moved slowly. The stroke she had last year affected her mobility but she managed to get around. Finn admired the yellow dress she had on; it looked nice against her tanned skin. Stevie raced over to Aunt Patty and took the bag from her arms.

"Sit down and rest," he said to her, then he turned to Alon, "You shouldn't have let her carry it."

Alon rolled his eyes.

"Uncle Stevie, I tried to carry it but – "

"Oh, stop fussing, Stevie," Aunt Patty said, "I'm not helpless."

Stevie didn't say anything and began to put the groceries away. Sam made more milkshakes while Mercedes chatted with Alon, Aunt Patty, and Stacey, filling them in about Arwen's home runs. Finn excused himself and went outside to the vegetable garden and picked a basket of tomatoes for the spaghetti sauce Sam was making for dinner. He also got a fresh bunch of basil and oregano. He loved the vegetable garden. It was huge and everyone in the family took part in planting and maintaining it; though if truth be told, it was really Mercedes' garden since she supervised everything. As walked back to the house with the tomatoes and herbs; the phone in his pocket vibrated, it was from the Ohio State Penitentiary.

"Hi Gayle," he said.

"Finn, I'm sorry to call you. I just –"

"Please Gayle, I can't make them talk to you, I'm sorry."

"Tell them I love them. Stevie is graduating this year right? What college is he going to? Does he have a girlfriend? How is Stacey? Is her health ok?"

"Gayle, please, I have to go. Sam wouldn't want me to –

"I want to know about my family. I know I've done wrong, but please, just tell me they're ok. I won't call again, but I need to know."

Finn sighed and sat the basket on the ground.

"Stevie is graduating. He's a great young man and Stacey is a remarkable young woman. Sam is happy. Your grandchildren are beautiful. I have to go Gayle."

Finn hung up before she could say anything else.

LAZY SUNDAY MORNING

Mercedes woke up to the aroma of Sam's blueberry muffins. The bed was empty and she figured her husbands were downstairs. She checked the clock and it was 7:00 in the morning. She wondered why they were up so early as she put on her robe and slippers and went downstairs, her nose followed the scent of the blueberry muffins. They weren't in the kitchen, but she heard their voices coming from the back porch. She found them sitting on the porch swing, drinking coffee, their arms wrapped around each other. Sam looked over his shoulder and saw her; and gave her a lopsided smile.

"Hey beautiful."

"Hi, why are you guys up at this hour?"

"I had the urge to cook and Finn had a nightmare. Come sit."

Mercedes sat between them, and the swing gently rocked.

"What was your nightmare?"

"It's hard to talk about," Finn said, sipping his coffee.

Mercedes lay her head on his shoulder.

"I understand."

Everyone was silent, just enjoying the peaceful stillness of the country morning. The air smelled like fresh grass and violets. Mercedes closed her eyes and almost fell asleep, until Sam got up from the swing, giving them each a kiss.

"I'm going finish making breakfast."

When he was gone, Mercedes squeezed Finn's hand.

"You don't have to worry, we're here. Safe, happy, and alive. You saved me that day."

Finn stared at her, his face shocked.

"How did you –"

"You're not the only one with intuition."

Finn kissed her and they fell asleep. Sam woke them up.

"It's time to eat."

A starched white table-cloth covered the kitchen table. Sam used the good china with pink tea roses painted on the plates. In the middle of the table sat a basket of blueberry muffins, a china platter loaded with scrambled eggs and bacon; a crystal bowl filled with fruit salad and a pitcher of orange juice.

He pulled out their chairs.

"Sit."

"What's all this for?" Mercedes asked.

"Can't a man spoil his husband and wife?"

"Maybe," Finn said, "But I think you're up to something."

When Mercedes and Finn picked up the napkins meticulously folded into the shape of a swan and placed in the middle of their plates; they each found a small blue velvet box underneath.

Sam placed a butter dish on the table.

"Open them," he said.

Inside each box was a gold ring embedded with their birth stones: a periodot, a sapphire, and a topaz. Just like the birthday locket they bought for her all those years ago.

"Sam, what –" Mercedes began.

"I want us to have proper rings. I think we're a little old for plastic wedding rings."

It often surprised Mercedes how well their plastic rings held up over the years; though the lights stopped working long ago.

She picked up the new ring.

"It's gorgeous."

"Put it on," Sam said.

Mercedes and Finn slipped off their old rings and put on the new ones. As they admired them, Sam had something else to share:

"I want us to have a wedding."

"A wedding?" Finn said.

"Yes, here at the house, in the flower garden. We have the room. We'll keep it small."

Finn reached for his hand.

"Babe, what brought this on?"

"I don't know. We never had anything official. I want something that celebrates our union – even if the law never recognizes it."

They hugged each other and exchanged kisses, their new rings shining in the morning light. As they ate breakfast, they decided to have a small ceremony a week after Stevie's high school graduation.

"I'm so proud that he's valedictorian," Mercedes said.

"Yeah, just don't tell him. His head is big enough as it is," Sam said, "I can't believe he's 18."

Finn buttered a blueberry muffin and took a bite.

"Me either."

They finished breakfast, putting away the leftover food in the fridge for the kids and retired upstairs where they quietly made love while the house was asleep.

ooo

That night over a dinner of vegetable lasagna and garlic bread, they told the family about the wedding.

"I don't get it, you're already married," Alon said.

"Yes, but we never had a wedding." Finn said.

"Oh."

Arwen poured herself a glass of sweet tea from the pitcher on the table.

"Do I have to wear a dress?"

Mercedes sighed.

"Baby, don't start. One afternoon wearing a dress won't kill you."

"I don't like how I look in dresses. I feel like a freak."

"Well, you are kinda weird," Alon said, nudging his sister, "Wearing a dress only emphasizes it."

"Shut up, Alon."

Stevie put some salad on his plate.

"I think it's a great idea. Tasha always wondered why you guys didn't have any wedding pictures."

"Really?" Sam said.

Stevie shrugged.

"Yeah."

Stacey reached over and patted Arwen on the arm.

"Don't worry about wearing a dress; we'll pick out something really cute, what do you say?"

"Oh, alright," Arwen said after thinking about it.

"Do you mind if Tasha comes," Stevie asked, "She loves you guys and I want her to be here."

"Sure, but we're keeping it small," Mercedes said, "we want it intimate."

"Don't worry, I only want Tasha to come, and nobody else."

Aunt Patty sipped her sweet tea and said:

"How do you have a poly wedding? I mean I love weddings, but this is a first for me."

"It'll be a surprise," Finn said.

Aunt Patty shook her head and took a bite of lasagna.

"It better be a good surprise."

GRADUATION DAY

Stevie's graduation took place on a hot May afternoon in the auditorium of Roseville Country Day School. The family dressed up for the occasion and even persuaded Arwen to wear a white eyelet sundress; her fathers put her hair in twists and she wore a yellow rose in her hair. Alon even tucked in his white dress shirt and wore a tie so and this satisfied Mercedes.

They had seats rather close to the stage. The graduates were a sea of flowing blue gowns. Mercedes spotted Tasha and waved; the girl waved back, her round face full of excitement. After the school's chorus butchered the Cats classic Memories, Mercedes was more than ready for Stevie's valedictorian speech. Sam was filming the entire thing with his digital camera and when they announced Stevie's name , he and Finn whistled and cheered so loud that Alon and Arwen scooted down in their seats, embarrassed at their parents' outburst.

Stevie walked up to the lectern with the confidence Mercedes remembered he had as a little boy before the "dark years" when he first came to live with them; his anger and emotional outbursts, broke their hearts and it took a lot of love, time and therapy to get him on track.

Before he began his speech, he saw his family and flashed them a smile and waved. Mercedes got choked up and tears ran down her cheeks; she wasn't sure why at first, but then it hit her: Stevie was a man. That little boy with the tone-deaf singing voice and need to lash out at the world was replaced with the strong, handsome man before her. Alon saw her crying and held her hand.

"It's ok, Mama, Stevie will be around until the fall."

Mercedes kissed the top of his head.

"Thanks, sweetie."

Stevie cleared his throat and began his speech:

"My fellow graduates. Over the last four years here at Roseville Country Day School. We have learned a lot. But instead of proclaiming the virtues of this wonderful school, I'm going to do something different. I want to tell you my story. You'll understand when I'm done.

"When I was 8 years old, my mother killed my father by slamming his head with a brick repeatedly and slitting his throat, and now she's spending her life in prison"

At this point some of the students gasped but Stevie kept going.

"I admired my father until I found out how he really was: an abusive man with no heart. When my mother killed him, she thought she was doing us a favor, saving us from him, but I was angry at her for what she did, because it tore apart our family. My sister and I were uprooted to a different city with new guardians - our aunt and uncle loved and cared for us, and I am eternally grateful to them, but I needed my big brother, so when he was able to take us, he did.

My brother and his husband and wife, yes you heard that correctly, took my sister and I into their home and loved us completely. I know I wasn't easy to love. I had too many wounds. But each night they held us as we cried and showed us the strength of love. Their children, my niece and nephew, are the greatest kids, and their love for us healed us too.

We aren't a conventional family but we're a loving family and that's what matters. I tried to commit suicide when I was 13 by taking a bottle of sleeping pills; and my family never once left my side; they believed in me and I began to believe in myself again. My brother, and his husband and wife, haven't had an easy time of it. I've seen how people stare at us when we go out, trying to figure out just how we fit together. Well, stop trying, family is who is there for you, and the sooner you realize that the better. So why am I telling you all this?

Because no matter what happens to you in life once we leave these hallowed halls of Roseville Country Day School and enter the real world, always remember that your family are the people who pick you up when you're down, believe in you when you keep screwing up, and stand by you in adversity. Family isn't always blood. But it's always love. And without those people sitting in the fifth row, I wouldn't be standing before you now. Thank you!"

The auditorium erupted into thunderous applause and Stevie received a standing ovation. Mercedes couldn't stop crying; she almost felt sorry for the next speaker that had to follow Stevie's awesome speech. Sam and Finn hugged her.

"That's what we did," Sam said through his tears, "Mercy, Finn, we did that."

"I'm so proud of that boy!" Aunt Patty said as she pulled Arwen and Alon into a hug.

After the ceremony, Stevie and Tasha met them in the parking lot. Mercedes couldn't contain her joy when she saw Stevie and ambushed him with a hug accidently knocking poor Tasha aside.

"I can't tell you how proud I am. I love you, Stevie."

"I love you too," he said, holding on tight, "You never gave up on me."

"We didn't have a choice, little bro," Sam said putting his arms around them.

"You did us proud," Finn said and hugged him too.

After Aunt Patty, Stacey, Alon, and Arwen had a group hug with Stevie, telling him how much they loved him, Tasha clapped her hands, getting everyone's attention.

"Hey everybody, my parents would like you to come with us to the Cheesecake Factory, what do you say?"

Stevie put his arm around her and looked at the others.

"What do you guys think?"

Mercedes could tell Stevie really wanted to go; it was obvious by how his eyes pleaded with them. She knew for a fact that Sam hated the Cheesecake Factory.

"I want to go," Arwen said, tugging on Sam's sleeve, "Can we go, Daddy?"

Sam looked at Mercedes and Finn.

"Well, Mama, Papa, what do you think?"

Finn held Mercedes' hand.

"Sure," he said and he turned to Aunt Patty who was leaning forward on her cane, "Do you feel up to going?"

Aunt Patty shook her head.

"If you don't mind, as much as I would like to go, I'm feeling a bit tired, so could you drop me off at home first?"

Stevie quickly grabbed her by the arm and ushered her to their car that was a few feet away.

"Are you sure you can manage alone?"

"Steven Andrew Evans, I'm fine. Don't fret."

"I can stay with you if you like," Stacey said.

Aunt Patty shook her head.

"No, I'm fine, really. I just need to lie down for a spell."

After they dropped off Aunt Patty at home and made sure she would be ok, they met Tasha and her parents at the Cheesecake Factory. While the food wasn't great, Mercedes had a good time and she was glad they went. It was sweet how much Stevie cared for Tasha; he barely left her side that evening, and always held her hand. It reminded her of Sam during their high school courtship and she grew nostalgic. Much later that night as they lay in bed together; she said to Finn and Sam:

"I think it's serious with Tasha."

Sam yawned.

"You think so?"

"You don't?"

"I don't know. They're only 18."

"We were 17 when we started going out," Finn said, "They could end up married like us."

"We'll see what happens. I just want him to experience life as a teenager longer. Marriage is hard."

Mercedes touched Sam's cheek.

"Do you think we married too young?"

Sam kissed her.

"I have no regrets. I love you and Finn with everything that I am. Yes, I think it may have been easier had we been older, but I think this is our life path."

"What do you think, Finn?" Mercedes.

Finn took a while to answer, then he said:

"Burt always wanted me to stay a kid as long I could; he had a good point. But you know, I wouldn't change a thing. You two have my heart."

"I wouldn't change anything either," Mercedes said.

They each kissed each other goodnight and quickly fell asleep.

END NOTES: Thanks for reading and reviewing!