I'm back... After all this time... I finally got some time in my hands to write an update. I want to apologize for the delay because I've been going through a lot of things on different aspects of my life.

I really hope that you guys are still with me and that you guys like this update. Thanks for the reviews... They mean the world to me, honestly.

Please forgive all the mistakes... I am just a silly human trying play the writer's game!

Disclaimer: I do not own Glee or anything that is affiliated to the show, Ryan Murphy & Co and Fox and to be honest I don't wish to own what is now a sinking ship. But, I do own my thoughts and I will write Samcedes Fics because they live beyond that stupid show. This story was partially based on the movie Made of Honor but my imagination decided to take me in another route so, it is based on nothing anymore! Please, don't get mad at me.

Without further ado, here's the new chapter... Don't forget to review!


Chapter 28

Six months have passed since Mercedes' return to New York and she could not be happier. She was finally living the life she wanted, next to the people she wanted to be surrounded with. She got her job at the Met back with a substantial raise and some other goodies included, even though that meant more work for her. This time around instead of living on her own, she decided to move in with Sam into a new apartment in Madison Avenue and try to deal with the 'living under the same roof' experiment. For the past months, the experiment has been a success because they were both really trying to prove they were perfect for each other.

After his futile endeavor to propose to Mercedes on his trip to France, prior to Mercedes return, Sam has been very hands-off from the marriage topic to everyone's surprise. All their friends thought that he decided to do that because after all the prep he did for that special night in Paris, Mercedes ended up saying no because she was still not ready to take that step. In his mind, Mercedes Jones was one challenging woman. But what Mercedes and their group of friends did not know was that Sam was just planning to try once again to seal the deal with the woman he was entirely and undeniably in love with and this time he was going to go overboard with romanticism. It was going to be a Sam Evans' signature proposal; he just needed to get inspired.

XXXXX

"Hey Sam, are you busy?" Puck asked peering through Sam's office door.

Sam raised his gaze from his computer monitor and found himself looking at a very flustered Noah Puckerman. "No, not really. Are you alright?" Sam replied.

"I think so. I just wanted to talk to you about something." Puck hissed.

"Um… Sure. Come, take a seat." Sam narrowed his eyes at his friend not understanding his sudden nervousness.

Puck walked the short distance from the door to Sam's desk, took a seat and rapidly tried to dry his sweaty hands against his trousers.

"Ok… Puck, what's going on? I've never seen you this nervous since we know each other. Talk to me, bro." Sam snapped out of irritation because one thing that Noah Puckerman did not have in his repertoire was this mushy attitude.

"I met her." Puck said breathlessly.

"Meet who?" Sam was confounded by his friend's lack of words.

"I met her, Sam. I meet the one." Puck repeated more emphatic startling Sam.

After a few seconds of awkward silence, Sam smiled wickedly at his friend and leaned closer against his desk. His elbows on the desk and his chin resting on his fingers. He was ready to have some delayed fun at the expense of his friend. It's payback time.

"Who is she? Do I know her?" Sam asked.

"I don't think so. Her name is Rebecca and I met her during my last business trip to Atlantic City."

"During the AT&T Convention last month?" Sam raised his eyebrow not knowing what to expect from this conversation.

"Yes. She's not a stripper or some low-life woman, Sam. Please, stop giving me that look." Puck rolled his eyes. Sam looked at him unemotionally. "Look… it took me a lot of mental struggle to come clean and tell you this because I know how much heat I am going to get from you."

Sam could not hold it anymore. His straight-face mask fell, he threw his head back and let out the biggest laugh he could manage. He was on the verge of tears. After regaining his self-composure, he let out a sigh. "I'm sorry, man. This is just too good. I mean, after all this time you've messed with Rory and me for being so foolishly in love, according to you, you come into my office to tell me that you found the girl of your dreams."

Puck pressed his mouth into a hard-line. "Yes." He said dryly.

"W-Wow." Sam stuttered.

"Are you done making fun of me?" Puck asked with a trace of humor on his voice.

Sam chuckled. "Let me enjoy my moment."

"Whatever, Evans." Puck said rolling his eyes once again.

After bashing Puck for some time, Sam and Puck finally fell into a more serious conversation and Puck told him everything about his woman. Seeing his friend finally relax and opening up about what he was living now made Sam realize of how much he has grown and that he owe that to the only girl who has been his lover, his friend, his answered prayer.

"Sam, I just don't know what to do? I took her last Saturday to Jean Georges just trying to impress her and she seemed oblivious of my efforts." Puck said frustrated.

"Maybe she's not into that. Not all girls are impressed by swanky dates or gifts. Some girls just want simple things they could value more. Just spending time with her could mean more than just taking her out on a weekend basis." Sam said matter-of-factly.

"No wonder Mercedes has told you no on each marriage proposal." Puck stressed.

"What do you mean?" Sam asked perplexed.

"You have been my example in this 'dating' endeavor. I've followed your steps and all you do is try your best to impress Mercedes at every turn. I mean, have you forgotten… Times Square, Paris and then the Parisian proposal. You go out of your way to make her feel and know that she's the center of your universe and that is exactly what I am trying to do with Rebecca."

Sam let Puck's words sink into his brain. That's it. Maybe what I need to do to get Mercedes to say yes is to stop being so over the top when it comes to her. She's still the same girl I met back in Cornell; simple, with her own identity. "Then… I've been wrong all this time, bro. Mercedes already knows she is the center of my universe. She doesn't need me to prove her than with some lavish gesture on my behalf. I just need to stick to the basics and you should do the same. Puck, women are complicated and challenging but they are, indeed, the most valuable thing we can possess."

Puck gazed at his friend completely bewildered. "So, what you mean is that I should stick to movie dates and stuff like that?"

"Maybe. I mean, you are beginning to know her. Start with the simple things and then, when you guys are more into the relationship, you can move on to more upscale things, but only if she gives you any indication that she is into that." Sam tried to explain. "Sometimes, simplicity is better." Sam added, trying to enlighten himself more than his friend.

XXXXX

Days have passed and Sam has not made his move, yet. Mercedes has been busy prepping the new exhibition at the Met and she has arrived late at the apartment they shared almost every night. Lately she has been tired and snappy. This was definitely not the perfect time to ask her to marry him, yet again.

"Hi Sam!" Mercedes said as she toed off her pumps at the door, dropped her purse at the kitchen island, walked to living room and plopped next to Sam on the sofa. He kissed her on the temple. It was almost 9 o'clock when she arrived after leaving at seven in the morning.

"How was your day?" Sam asked, as he wrapped her in his arms.

"Long, tiring, busy and demanding. I can't wait for the exhibition to start and be over. I need some time to wind down." Mercedes replied.

"All in good time, baby."

"How was your day, Sam?" Mercedes asked gazing at him.

"It was good. Productive." Sam looked at her lovingly because even though she was tired, she still looked breathtaking with her hair pulled back into a ponytail, her natural looking make-up and her navy wrap-up dress. "Do you want something to eat? I saved you some pasta."

"No, that's fine. I just want a glass of wine and a long bath." She acknowledged.

"Okay. Don't move. I'll get you the glass of wine. White or red?" Sam said as he stood up from the sofa.

"Sam… it's okay. I can get it myself." Sam gave her the 'let me please you' look and she just melted on his gaze. "Um… white." Mercedes whispered.

"Good." Sam leaned down a pressed a gentle kiss on her lips.

Before getting Mercedes' glass of wine, Sam walked to their bathroom to get her bath ready. On his way out of the room, he looked at his dresser and an idea hit him.

XXXXX

"What took you so long?" Mercedes said in jest.

"I was getting your bath ready." Sam said tilting his head to one side and smiling tenderly at his girlfriend as he gave her the wine. She took a long sip and enjoyed it. Sam sat in front of her on the coffee table, shifting his gaze from tenderly to expectantly. "Mercedes, I've been meaning to ask you, are you happy with me?"

Mercedes stopped her glass midair. "Sam… why are you asking me this?"

He shrugged. "I'm just curious. I mean, we've been part of each other's lives for a very long time. We went from friends to lovers, something I don't regret at all and something that makes me happy every day, but I just wanted to know if this is what you expect from our relationship."

Mercedes took another sip from her wine and that is when she saw it on her wine glass. It was different not like the one she saw in Paris. It was bigger, beautiful and brighter. "Sam?" She said and bit her lip trying to suppress a sob or a laugh. She just did not know how to react.

"Mercedes, I know this is from out nowhere because after my embarrassing attempt in Paris I stopped pursuing the marriage thing with you but I can stand it anymore. I love you excessively much and I want everybody to know that you mine in every way. I know this is not the most romantic way to ask you but I've tried the romantic route before only to see everything burst into flames in my face. Baby, you are everything I ever wanted, my heart's true desire and I want to grow old and grumpy with you. Mercedes, you made me a better man the day you walked into my life… damn, every day you find something new to fix to make me even better and the funny part of it is that you don't even know that you do it. That's how I know how perfect you are for me. Mercedes Jones, I love you. Marry me." Sam grabbed her hand and looked at her hopeful.

Mercedes was still biting her lip, her heart was beating faster than ever and for the first time since Sam has pressed on the marriage subject she was conflicted. For the first time, Mercedes wanted to say… yes.


A/N:Is Mercedes going to say yes or is she going to keep Sam on his misery? What about Puck's change of heart about dating? Do i sense a happily ever after for everyone?

Stay tune... This story is coming to an end... soon.

Until Next Time,

XOXO