Thank you for your continued support.

Standard disclaimer.

Mercedes slammed her apartment door behind her, just to have the satisfaction of listening to it bang.

She threw her handbag across the living room and gave in to the urge to stomp her feet.

"Ugh!" she shouted to the empty apartment.

When her cell phone rang, she actually thought for a moment, that Sam had gotten the silent message she had been sending him.

Seeing her mother's name on the caller ID, she knew there was no such luck.

"Hello, Mom."

"Well, aren't you just a ray of sunshine today, Mercy. What's wrong?"

She wedged the phone between her shoulder and neck, while pulling an old bottle of wine from the refrigerator.

If she was going to be dumped for another woman and have to talk to her mother tonight, she might as well have some alcohol in her system.

She popped the cork and sniffed the bottle, as her mother continued to badger her.

Shrugging her shoulders, Mercedes poured a glassful and downed half of it in one sip.

When the line went silent, she knew she had missed answering a question.

"What was that, Mom?"

"I asked how Sam was doing? Is he there now?"

"No," Mercedes muttered. "He has a date."

"Pardon?"

Rolling her eyes, she said, "I said he is working late."

"Oh," her mother laughed, "I thought you said something else. Honey, like I said, we just love him. He seems to adore everything about you. But my offer of a breast job, is still on the table if you need it. It's the best thing I ever did for myself."

Mercedes wondered idly, if that included her marriage and motherhood, but she wasn't brave enough to ask.

Deciding to change the subject, she asked,

"How's Boston doing? Is he on the chain gang yet?"

"Very funny. He is doing fine. Your uncle is confident, that he can finish up some community service, as long as he keeps out of trouble."

"If that's the case, maybe you should suggest he change his major? Something like computer science, might be more encouraging to him, than botany."

Her mother gave a disgusted snort before saying,

"Honey, I think you need some sleep. You seem grumpy. Do you have PMS?"

Mercedes rolled her eyes.

Boston was the baby of the family and if he got busted for growing a pot farm in their parents' bathroom, her mother would still defend him.

She was starting to wonder, if he was actually the slacker, he pretended to be.

Maybe, it had served him well all of these years. Poor Boston, it's just who he is.

She was fast coming to the conclusion, that poor he might be the smartest one in the family.

She had to laugh, when her mother said, that her friend Doris had asked about buying a dime bag from Boston, strictly for medicinal purposes...yeah, right.

When she finally managed to end the call, she checked her messages, to make sure she hadn't missed one, from either Sam or Lisa.

She had left a few messages for Lisa during the day and had heard nothing back.

That was really strange, considering that Jason and Warrick, also seemed to have been missing from work.

Cathy usually dropped in at some point during the day, but since Jason hadn't been at the office, she hadn't seen her either.

She really missed Lisa's encouragement and would have loved to share this latest development with her.

She needed someone to tell her, if she was wrong to be hurt, that she had been excluded once again, by Sam.

First the business dinner, when the others had been taking their wives, and now, he was having some thank-you dinner with Quinn.

He had made no mention of inviting her along. Was it silly, that being excluded once again, hurt her feelings?

Last night had been so amazing.

It was the first time they had been free, to really explore each other.

Their first time together in the hotel in Miami, had been fast and furious, and their other encounters at her parents' house, had been explosive but rushed.

She had also held back to some degree, for fear of being heard.

Last night, though, had been something else entirely.

The first time had been fast, but the second time had been a slow and gradual build of passion.

They had made love, not just had sex, and for the first time, Mercedes knew the difference between the two.

She had felt cherished afterwards, as she had lain in Sam's arms, listening to the steady beat of his heart.

He had stroked her hair with one hand, while the other hand had drawn lazy circles against her side.

And she had slept curled into his side, with his arm anchoring her.

The uptight man that she had sniped with, for so long, had turned out to be so much more than that.

He still had his moments, when glimpses of the old Sam showed through, but she knew the fires that raged beneath the calm surface.

He took her breath away, when he touched her.

She didn't want to drive him away by acting like a jealous girlfriend, because, he had been honest enough to tell her about Quinn staying with him and also, about him having dinner with her tonight.

So she didn't think he was hiding anything.

The only thing that bothered her, was not knowing if Quinn was hiding something.

Mercedes knew she was in love with Sam and last night had just confirmed it.

If she needed to be patient to win him, then she would, but if she needed to fight, then, Quinn Fabray had better watch out.

You didn't grow up as the daughter of Mimi Jones, without learning a thing or two.

Sam stumbled to the kitchen, looking for the Tylenol bottle.

Last night he had drunk entirely too much, which was unusual for him, especially during the week.

Dinner with Quinn had started off so awkwardly, that he had turned to alcohol to relax.

She had stuck to water, which was part of her post-rehab treatment plan.

And by the end of the evening, he vaguely recalled, that they had been joking around about old times.

He suspected the Jack and Coke had something to do with that.

Luckily, Quinn had driven them home afterwards and other than a good-night kiss, that made things uncomfortable for a brief moment, the evening had been fine.

He had fallen into bed around midnight and he wasn't sure, but he thought he might have had phone sex with Mercedes, before he went to sleep.

A quick look at his cell phone, confirmed that he had called her.

Well, at least, she wasn't likely to believe, that he had been sleeping with Quinn, while talking dirty to her.

He shook his head in amazement. Phone sex?

What had happened to his perfectly ordered life?

Yet, as he silently ask the question, he couldn't find it in himself, to regret the change. Life was better than it had been in a long time.

He grabbed a bottle of water from the refrigerator and downed it in one long guzzle.

He tossed the empty bottle in the trash can and grimaced, as it popped back out and onto the floor. 'Shit!'

He'd never been one to have overflowing trash cans, but since Quinn had been staying with him, the condition of his house had gone downhill.

She was a messy guest, who didn't do much cleaning up after herself.

The trash bag had slipped into the can and he mumbled a string of profanities, as he slid his hand down the side, trying to pull the plastic back up.

As Sam fumbled with the trash bag, he was shocked, when he felt arms sliding around his waist and someone purred,

"Good morning," against his back.

Jerking around, he gaped at Quinn, standing closely behind him.

"Quinn...what are you doing?"

She smiled, reaching out to touch his arm.

"Just saying good morning, silly. How did you sleep?"

"Er...fine, thanks. And you?"

Something about the way she was looking at him, made him uncomfortable.

He turned to finish wrestling the bag from the trash can, figuring it was probably just his imagination.

She was leaving today, right?

"I slept great after our dinner."

Again, she reached out to touch him and this time, he knew something was definitely up.

"Thank you for listening to me last night, Sam. I know it seems crazy, after all this time and everything that happened, but we need to know, before the moment is lost, right?"

What in the hell was she talking about?

Apparently, he had been privy to this conversation last night, but damned if he could remember much about it.

Why had he let himself have that last Jack and Coke?

He remembered bits and pieces, about her wanting to go back to school. That had to be it.

"Um...yeah, of course."

'That's it. Try to keep your answers general, so she won't know that you're winging it.'

When she beamed her approval at his reply, he figured he was convincing enough.

'Time to get out of here, before she put me in the hot seat again.'

"I'm...I've got to get ready for work," he said.

"Oh, of course," she replied.

He was just turning away, when she threw her arms around his neck, hugging him tightly.

"I'm so happy, we've decided to see if there is still something between us. I'll call Brant today and tell him that I need more time."

She shyly gave him a light kiss on the mouth and he had never been more grateful, that she was a timid person, because, otherwise, he had a feeling that kiss would have involved tongue.

"Quinn...I..." He was scrambling, trying to figure out what to say, without hurting her feelings. "Damn, I'm just going to be honest here. I don't remember agreeing to anything last night. I had too much to drink and a lot of the evening is just a blur for me. I mean, you're engaged to Brant and I'm...seeing someone."

She took his hand, leading him to the small table, in the breakfast nook.

"I guess, I did do a lot of the talking last night," she admitted. "You did mention that you were seeing someone. The whole evening just felt so easy with you, so natural, and I know you felt it too. Being with you again, has made me realize, how much I gave up and that scares me. I love Brant, but you were my first love, Sam, and a part of me has never let that go. Don't you think, we both owe it to ourselves, to make sure we're with the right people? What if everything that's happened to throw us back together, is for a reason? Maybe in the end, we were always meant to find each other again."

My God, how did he answer that?

Sitting here beside her, as he had done so many times in the past, was making him think of things, that he hadn't in years.

After everything that had happened between them, hadn't he at times missed having her in his life?

But if that was a thought, he was even entertaining, where did that leave things with Mercedes?

Standing abruptly, he said, "Quinn...I need some time to think about this."

Without waiting for a reply, he took off to his bedroom.

Frankly, he couldn't take anything else this morning. He didn't handle emotional upheaval well and this far surpassed that.

Sam made his way to his bedroom and slumped on the bed.

He had thought that chapter of his life was over for good, yet here she was.

He hadn't allowed himself, to really think about her in those terms, knowing she was engaged to another man, but now...he was confused as fuck.

He needed some space away from here to think.

His perfectly sane, rational life, had been blown all to hell.

Two women?

Stuff like that, just didn't happen to him.

When Jason called, asking if he could take over Warrick's travel obligations, he jumped at the chance.

He would be traveling with Noah Puckerman and as luck would have it, Noah needed to leave today.

Yeah, he knew running wouldn't solve his problems, but it would damn sure give him space to breathe.

Mercedes was surprised to find, that she had arrived at the office ahead of Sam.

She had even stopped at Starbucks, to pick up coffee for the both of them on the way.

She smiled, when she put his cup on his desk.

Love, it appeared, was turning her into a better person.

Sure, they still found ways to nag each other during the day, but mainly because, it was a form of foreplay for them.

She didn't want nice Sam...she wanted the smart-ass that turned her on, with just one sarcastic curl of his full lips.

She had just settled in at her desk, when she noticed the message light blinking on her phone.

She was surprised to hear Sam's voice telling her, that he was running late, but would be there for his ten o'clock appointment.

Why hadn't he just called her cell phone?

She pulled it from her handbag, to make sure she hadn't missed his call.

When her phone showed no missed calls, she shrugged.

He had probably called the office first, thinking she was there. It would have been silly to place another call, right?

Mercedes had been working steadily for an hour, when she looked up to see Marlene open the door.

She dropped the pen she had been holding and grinned at her friend.

"Hey, Marl, what brings you to my side of the building?"

Marlene's pregnancy was more noticeable now and she looked so freaking adorable, with her small baby bump.

Even though, she had never really thought about having kids, Mercedes had to admit, to feeling a pang of longing, at how her friend glowed.

She had tamed the wild Evans brother and she had never looked happier. And Mercedes was thrilled for her and envious all at the same time.

She wondered idly, if that made her a horrible person.

When Marlene settled into a chair in front of her desk, she realized, that she had been so occupied, thinking of all that was going right for her, that she had missed the signs that there was also something wrong.

It was there in the worry lines around her mouth, her eyes and in the smile that didn't fully reach her eyes.

"Is...something wrong, Marl?"

Marlene sighed and rubbed her eyes and Mercedes sat up straighter in her chair.

Were those tears in her friend's eyes?

"I just talked to Lana. I know you had been trying to reach Lisa yesterday. I think we all had at some point. It's not like her to just not show up, right? I was worried, when I found out that Warrick, Jason and Cathy, all seemed to have disappeared as well. Lana tried to call them several times during the day. We were both concerned. When she arrived this morning, she pulled me aside, to let me know what had happened."

Mercedes wondered, if Marlene was aware, that she had placed a protective hand over her stomach before continuing.

"Lisa was pregnant. I don't know all of the details, but the pregnancy was ectopic and she had to have emergency surgery, to remove one of her tubes."

"Oh my God," Mercedes whispered. "She was pregnant? I had no idea. I didn't...he didn't tell me."

"She didn't tell anyone. She has lost other pregnancies, but she didn't want anyone to know. She didn't want anyone to feel bad, that she was having problems."

With those words, the tears that Marlene had been holding back, slid down her cheeks. And Mercedes handed her a tissue.

She remembered asking Lisa, whether she had received the results yet and she had said no.

Now, she understood why she had seemed evasive.

"I'm sorry for blubbering all over you...damn it! I'll never stop crying now."

"I think it's probably normal, and this is upsetting to me, too, so I understand how you feel."

"Yeah, but at least you're not over there leaking all over the place," Marlene sobbed. "I accidentally washed Stevie's white T-shirt with my red shirt and turned it pink last night. He laughed and I cried for an hour. He even insisted on wearing it to dinner afterwards, which made me cry again, because, it was just so sweet of him."

Again, Mercedes felt a flicker of jealousy, at the relationship between Stevie Evans and his wife.

What was wrong with her today?

One of her best friends was in the hospital after losing another baby and all she could do, was feel jealous of their other friend's good fortune?

When had she ever been so petty?

She couldn't be happier for Marlene and her heart was broken for Lisa.

Was this what love turned you into?

Someone who could concentrate only on her own problems and didn't care about anyone else?

Geez, she was starting to feel like an emotional wreck. There was no need for Marlene, to feel bad about her own emotional displays.

Because, she was right there with her, only hers were manifested, into something of the green variety.

Where were all of the things, that those damn Hallmark cards promised you?

Instead of basking in her feelings, she had turned into an insecure, paranoid, jealous wreck. A shell of her former careful self, it seemed.

Sure, Sam's ex-fiancée, moving in with him, completely out of the blue, was enough to push almost any woman to the edge, but poor Marlene hadn't committed any sins, other than being happy.

She really needed to get a grip.

She had already been caught this week, doing a drive-by of the object of her affection's house. Where did it end? 'Ugh.'

Mercedes walked around the desk and gave Marlene a hug.

"I remember Lana, not too long ago, complaining about crying in McDonald's, when they brought the Mc Rib back, so I think it's normal. Don't beat yourself up over it. Caring about people isn't a crime, so you shouldn't have to feel like it is."

'Yeah, and I need to be more like you and stop thinking about myself.'

Noah Puckerman, Sam's ten o'clock appointment, walked in just ahead of him.

Both Mercedes and Marlene, seemed to take a deep breath, as the testosterone level in the room skyrocketed.

Mercedes actually heard Marlene make an appreciative sigh and she was right there with her.

She was surprised, when Noah walked over to her and threw an arm around her shoulders.

"Ah, sweet, sexy Mercedes, it's been too long."

She laughed.

"It's been what...a day?"

She saw Sam frowning at them and wanted to stick her tongue out in response.

Noah gave her a sexy grin.

"Even a day without seeing your face is too long."

She giggled.

Noah had just turned to say hello to Marlene, when Sam motioned her, impatiently into his office.

"I'm flying to Boston with Noah this morning. Warrick is going to be out for a few weeks, so I'm taking over his obligations until then."

He kept his head down, as he continued to pack his briefcase.

"Things are going to be tight time wise. I'll probably fly straight from Boston to Dallas, instead of coming home for a day."

Surprised, Mercedes asked,

"When are you going to be back?"

He shrugged his shoulders.

"Probably the end of next week, but I don't know for certain. Warrick had a full schedule and added to mine, I'll be traveling a lot in the next month."

She felt her heart fall.

"Could I...I mean, do you need me to come with you?"

He stopped what he was doing to look at her.

"I wish you could, Merce, but I need you here. Also, Noah will be with me on this first leg and I don't think it would be a good idea."

Before she could say anything in response, Noah stepped in the doorway, looking at his obviously expensive watch.

"My pilot just texted to tell me that he's ready."

Impressed despite herself, Mercedes asked,

"You have your own plane?"

He nodded.

"I take a lot of last-minute trips and I like my privacy. I'd be happy to give you a ride sometime."

She looked at him suspiciously, wondering, if there was a double meaning in that offer.

From the look on Sam's face, she didn't think, she was the only one wondering.

He motioned Noah out, with a clipped

"Let's go." He squeezed Mercedes' hand as he passed. "I'll call you later," he said, and then he was gone.

She stared after him, disappointed.

What had she expected really?

A sweeping kiss in front of Noah?

Marlene stood, jarring her from her trance.

She felt bad, that she had completely forgotten the other woman was still there.

"I've got to get back to my desk, but are you free tonight?"

Looking at the door again, Mercedes sighed and said,

"Yeah, you could say that."

"Stevie is taking Ethan to a movie and out to dinner. Lana is coming over, because, Winston is taking Henry for dinner with his parents, so it would be just us girls."

Giving her a look full of sympathy, she added,

"You look like you need to vent."

Dropping her head, Mercedes said,

"You have no idea."

Stay safe!