A/N: Enjoy!

Chapter 24

Gonna Make a New Tomorrow

Sam called texted when he landed like he promised and when he didn't get a reply he knew she was still angry but he was telling the truth that he just needed those four day then they could focus on them again. He was picked up by a driver a few minutes after landing who let him know that his accommodations were taken care of and that he would be his driver for the duration of his stay, Sam just nodded checking his phone for any type of response but saw nothing. He let out a deep sigh and looked out the window looking at nothing in particular his mind was going a mile a minute and hoped like hell he could get things back on track but a small part of him was growing tired and that scared him the most.

After arriving at his hotel, he took a quick shower and laid down to rest before going into his first meeting for the day right as his phone went off and he quickly grabbed in to check it.

Happy you made it. -M

Thanks, how's little bit?-S

…

He waited for her to reply but after thirty minutes she never did and by that time he had to get ready for his meeting. He quickly got dressed and headed down to the lobby where he waited patiently for his driver to show up he sent Mercedes another text letting her know he would call after his meeting if that was okay. He hadn't realized the woman standing next to him until he looked up and she gave him a sweet smile which he returned before looking around for his driver again, this time he spotted him walking into the hotel and walked over to him but realized the woman was following right behind him.

"Ah Mr. Evans, Ms. Kirkland good to see you two met."

"Oh we haven't met, I'm sorry I didn't realize you were who you are." Sam said holding out his hand and she took it shaking it. "Nice to meet you in person."

"You as well Mr. Evans. Please call me Carla." She said shaking his hand then walking along with him to the waiting car. He held the door open for her before getting in his self, he could feel her looking at him and turned to look at her before his phone went off.

That'll be fine, she's been a little…

She's still upset?

Yeah.

I'm so sorry, I'll call as soon as my meeting is over. Maybe that'll help?

Yea. Maybe.

"Troubles at home?" Carla asked and Sam sighed before giving a slight nod. "Well maybe after the meeting I can treat you to drinks and we can talk about it?" She added and if her tone wasn't as suggestive as it was he might have taken her up on the offer.

"Thanks, but I'm not keen on talking about my personal life with strangers. No offense, but I'm going to have to pass." Sam replied nicely.

"Well how do expect anyone to get to know you if you're not willing to let them? It's a harmless drink and it'll be a great way for us to become better acquainted since we'll be working closely together." Carla responded not the least bit deterred from Sam's rejection.

"Again, I just don't think I'll be up for drinks tonight and I have an important call to make after to my girl so..."

"Oh didn't realize you were married since you don't have a ring."

"I'm not married, I'm calling my daughter after the meeting and I plan on sleeping off my jet lag after that." Sam said happy when they finally arrived at the office, he got out first and remained polite holding the door for her. He waited for her to go inside before walking back to his driver tapping the window to get his attention.

"Yeah?"

"I do not want to ride with her again." Sam said sternly.

"Mr. Evans, I am both yours and hers driver… it was arranged that way for convenience by Ms. Kirkland."

"Then I no longer need your services." Sam said walking away and heading to the elevator where Carla seemed to have waited and something about this whole situation annoyed him but he also felt he was just on edge because of everything going on with Mercedes.

…

After his meeting which lasted a lot longer than intended he decided to get him an Uber back to the hotel, which from Carla's face didn't sit to well with her but he shrugged and welcomed the peace of riding alone, he check the time and realized it almost Samantha's bed time. He quickly thank his driver and got out to call Mercedes, he was waiting for the elevator when their facetime connected.

"Hey! Sorry it's so late, the meeting lasted longer and the time zones are different. How's it going?"

"It's fine I told her she could stay up so that she could talk to you." Mercedes replied shaking her head.

"Thank you for that." He said letting the other people waiting on the elevator take it as she handed the phone to Samantha.

"Hey daddy!"

"Hey little bit! How was school today?" Sam asked feeling like he was smiling entirely too big but he was happy to see his daughter and that she wasn't crying about him being gone.

"It was fun, I got to paint a lot and mommy surprised me for lunch! She even stayed and brought cupcakes… (whispering) I had two but mommy doesn't know." She replied making him laugh when she told him about sneaking a second cupcake.

"Oh really? That sounds like a lot of fun, maybe I can come have lunch with you when I get back!"

"When are you coming back?"

"Three more days and then you'll have me to do everything you want, maybe we can go to the movies and get some pizza too." He said noticing her grow sad. "I promise to be there to pick you up from school Friday afternoon okay little bit?"

"Okay daddy." She replied yawning.

"I think it's time for you to get to sleep, tell daddy goodnight and that you love him." Mercedes said giving him a sad smile because she knew this wasn't going to end well.

"Good night daddy. I love you!" She said before handing Mercedes the phone and walking upstairs without Mercedes.

"God I feel so bad… how bad was it today?" He asked looking at Mercedes who just sighed shaking her head.

"Let me just go check on her okay? I'll call you later if you're still awake..."

"I'll wait up, just call whenever. I love you." He said with a hopeful smile.

"Okay later Sam." She replied hanging up, Sam ran his hands over his face before pressing the button for the elevator again just now realizing he stood there the whole time, after reaching his room he showered and ordered some room service before puling out his laptop to go over the final paperwork he needed to do and look over the contract as well.

…

After getting his room service and finishing all the things he needed to do he smiled when he got the confirmation he was waiting on, before he could dig in to his burger he ordered there was a knock at his door.

"Hi, I'm not interrupting your call am I?"

"I'm actually waiting on another one as we speak and eating my dinner..." Sam replied without an ounce of emotion.

"Well mind if I join you until you get your call?" Carla asked waving a bottle of champagne and two flutes. "There's a lot to celebrate, you got the contract you wanted right?"

"Ah, yea but I'm not in the mood for company and again I don't know when she's going to call back and I'd rather not have anyone in here when she does."

"Your daughter would mind?"

"I already spoke with my daughter if you must know but she would." Sam replied hoping she got the hint.

"Oh her mother is calling then, I don't see why she should care if you have a colleague in your room." Carla retorted and Sam started to say something but his phone rang.

"Well looks like she's call so you can go now. Good night." Sam said closing the door and grabbing his phone.

"Hey."

"Hey how are you? You look beautiful by the way… I wanted to say it earlier but-"

"I only have a few minutes, she's still a little upset and I'm sure why she's taking it this hard…"

"Oh well I actually wanted to talk to you about that and-"

"Mommy is that daddy?"

"Baby you need to go to sleep, I'm sorry Sam… we'll see you in a few days okay?"

"Yeah, yeah tell little bit I love her for me… I love you too Mercedes."

"I'll make she knows, goodnight Sam."

Sam let out a sigh and stared at his phone a moment, he was no longer hungry and placed his food back on the tray. "By the way, I won't be moving to California… I chose you." He said to his self before setting his alarm and calling it a night.

Mercedes

"Oh well I actually wanted to talk to you about that and-"

"Mommy is that daddy?"

"Baby you need to go to sleep, I'm sorry Sam… we'll see you in a few days okay?"

"Yeah, yeah tell little bit I love her for me… I love you too Mercedes."

"I'll make she knows, goodnight Sam."

"Come on, you have school in the morning." Mercedes said getting up from her bed and walking Samantha back to her room. She helped her back into her bed and sat there looking at the sad expression on her daughter's face.

"Why are you so upset baby girl? He's coming back you know."

"Well last time he didn't… that's what you told me remember? That last time he went on a trip and got into an accident, I don't want him to get into another and not come back again." Samantha answered and Mercedes' heart tightened, she was starting to think she was a bit too transparent with her daughter about things.

"Oh baby, that was different and you got to see him so that shows he's fine and he promised that he would be back to pick you up from school on Friday so just a few more days and you'll have your daddy back okay?" Mercedes asked rubbing her daughter's cheek.

"You promise?"

"Yes baby I promise now please get some sleep okay?" Mercedes said leaning in kissing her on her forehead. Samantha just nodded and closed her eyes while Mercedes stay in the same spot looking at her and saying a silent prayer that these next few days flew by and Sam could surprise Samantha.

She waited a little while longer before she left her room, she started to head to her room but decided to go downstairs instead and went into his office, she looked at his desk where she placed the notebook he left on the coffee table with a note attached to it. She picked it up to read it because she wouldn't let herself do it when she saw it.

Merce,

12-07-15

I remember… I hope you do too.

P.S. Look inside to notebook.

Love,

-Sam

She felt a lump in her throat and placed her hands over her face as she began to cry because she did remember, she remembered everything and that's what hurt the most.

Flashback

12-07-15

"Ugh…"

"Hey, you're up!" Sam said looking at Mercedes as she walked down the stairs, she was walking slowly and he could see she was pale.

"How long was I asleep?" She asked rubbing her head blinking to get her eyes to adjust.

"Are you alright? You don't look so hot." Sam asked getting up and helping her down the last few steps, she shot him a weak smile and nodded.

"One, I always look hot and two I think I just overslept." She said slowly sitting down on the couch.

"No you're sick I can tell." He said placing his hand on her forehead and feeling how warm she was before moving his hands to her cheek which was red. "I don't think you've ever been sick around me.."

"Well that's because I'm not sick now." She countered but she felt she might be wrong this time, she tried to stand back up to get some go get some water but she must have moved too fast because she immediately grew light headed and fell back onto the couch.

"Okay yeah, you're definitely sick. Let's get you back to bed and I'll go grab you some medicine and soup." Sam replied going to pick her up but she just stood on her own and he knew how stubborn she could be so he just walked behind her.

"Sam." She said right before reaching the stairs.

"Yeah?"

"I think you're right." She replied before she fainted, luckily for her Sam move quickly enough and grabbed her placing her back on the couch and called 9-1-1.

When she came to she heard Sam talking to someone on the phone and another person was hovering over her started smiling when they noticed her eyes open.

"Well seems like you gave everyone a scare, but you're going to be fine just a little overheated from your sickness." The paramedic said calmly. "Your husband has been very worried but I think we can tell him you're going to be fine now."

"Oh he's..."

"I told your wife that she's going to be fine, keep her hydrated and make sure she gets plenty of rest." Sam just nodded looking at Mercedes worriedly, after they paramedics left and Sam got her into bed he let out a deep sigh.

"Don't ever scare me like that again woman." He said with a light chuckle that made her smile, she really didn't think she was that sick but apparently she was.

"I really didn't think I was that sick, oh the paramedic thought I was your wife."

"Yeah I know, does that freak you out?" He asked looking down at her and he could see she was thinking about her answer.

"No, I mean you've hinted at us getting married and having lots and lots of babies so it doesn't freak me out."

"True but we never talked about it… you know?" He asked and if he was honest he had been thinking about it a lot lately.

"Do you want to talk about it?" She asked yawning.

"I just want to know if you could see yourself married to me." He said pulling her closer smiling as she got comfortable.

"Without a doubt yes, I'll always love you and I will always say it even when I'm mad or we're having a hard time… I promise to always say it." She said no longer able to hold her eyes open.

"I promise to always say it too baby. I love you."

"I love you too."

End Flashback

Mercedes let out a soft sob before opening the notebook seeing the same date written on the top with drawing of her sleeping and him down at his desk drawing with a thought bubble above his head. She laughed at at the fact his thought bubble had a dog in it, when she turned the page it was another drawing of her but she looked angry and he looked terrified. She quickly turn only to laugh harder when she saw her hair was in a giant poof ball and he was holding a bottle shampoo making her remember she sent him to get her some after they moved in and had gotten the wrong kind.

As she flipped through the book she saw more and more drawing of their time spent together until she reached the second to last page which was incomplete, it was a picture of them sitting on their couch but they looked slightly older and she could see a dog and her stomach was bigger, she also noticed a smile on a third face that wasn't completed and it hit her. He was drawing the future he wanted with her, she became choked up before flipping the page and there was sticky note on it with her handwriting on it and below was his handwriting.

Hey baby,

I'll be home later!

I love you,

Merce

Reminder:

Finish after she says yes.

She closed the notebook and realized that even though he never got a chance to any of the things he wanted, he was trying to make up for everything. He was trying to fix everything that everyone else did and she wasn't making it easier because she was still holding on the all the wrong doings that she couldn't see any of the good. He was effected by everything but he never complained, never seemed jaded towards her like she had been towards him.

"What the hell have I done?" She said to herself before running out of the room and back to hers grabbing her phone and dialing Sam's number but it straight to voicemail, so she tried again and it did it again. She didn't want to leave him a voicemail or a text so she figured she'd get some sleep and call him first thing in the morning.

Sam

"Couldn't sleep?"

"No, sorry to call so late but I didn't have a choice." Sam said rubbing his temples

"It's okay, I understand… I usually can't sleep most nights so it's no real inconvenience."

"Thanks again for this, I really appreciate it how soon can we get to the airport?" Sam asked his driver after putting his bags into

"Traffic's light this time of night so not long, going after a woman?"

"Two." He answered honestly looking out the window.

"Woah I feel there's a story behind that."

"One of them is my daughter the other is her mother… the only woman I've ever loved."

"We'll let's make sure you get to them."

…

"Mercedes."

"Mercedes, baby wake up." Sam said nudging her slightly and she just groaned and rolled over covering her head with the cover.

"Sam it's too early I still have another thirty minutes." She mumbled and he just chuckled.

"I'll take little bit to school, I just need you to wake up for a minute."

Mercedes blinked and groaned again because she realized she was only dreaming, she pulled the covers over her head then sat up and her eyes immediately grew wide when she saw Sam walking into her room.

"Finally! Come here woman." He said grabbing her and kissing her deeply catching her completely off guard before he pulled away.

"W-what… how? What? You-" She was cut off by him kissing her again and this time she kissed him back smiling against his lips before stopping and pinching him making him say ow.

"You were supposed to be-"

"I know but I didn't go there to accept their terms, I went there to renegotiate mine… I chose you and little bit. I'm not moving I never was and I don't have to go back to the main office again either, here… this is my contract." He said handing her the papers and she just looked at him before she began to cry making him panic slightly.

"I thought you'd be happy..." He said after pulling her into him holding her and she only cried harder.

"Sam… w-why?"

"Why not? I love you and this is where my heart is… I was never going to leave without the two of you and when things got to the point they did I had to make choice. Yes working for Marvel has always been a dream of mine but if they hadn't been willing to compromise then I would've turned them down completely. I know we still have these boundaries and I fully intend on sticking to them but I needed you to know I chose you, I chose our child and I will never not choose the two of you." He said cupping her face and wiping her tears.

"Sam I don't deserve you… I've been so hard on you and making things so difficult for you when all you've done is try to fix what was done. I've been projecting my hurt onto you and the fact that you don't resent me or hold it against me it's crazy..."

"It's not crazy, it's because I love you. I have always loved you Mercedes, you own my heart and no one else ever could make me feel the way you make me feel." Sam replied kissing her on the nose making her smile.

"DADDDDY!" Samantha screamed when she saw Sam sitting in bed with Mercedes before jumping onto the bed and wrapping her arms around his neck tightly.

"Can't. Breathe!" Sam said trying to pry her arms loose slightly, Mercedes had to help him to get her loose by tickling her and she wrapped her around both her parents hugging them.

"You came back faster than what mommy said, you don't have to go away again do you?" Samantha asked looking at with the cutest expression.

"No little bit I don't ever have to go back, I'm here to stay!" He replied giving her a big hug and Mercedes couldn't help the tear that fell.

"Hey how about daddy take you to school this morning?" Mercedes asked and laughed at how excited she was about that.

"Yes! We can get our secret breakfast." Samantha said jumping up and running out of the room.

"Secret breakfast?"

"We went and got donuts one morning… or afternoon… or for her whole class." Sam said blushing slightly. "Are you coming with us this morning."

"No… there's something I need to do but maybe we can meet up and surprise her for lunch?" She asked getting up and starting to walk out of the room before he stopped her.

"I thought this is what you wanted? I thought you'd be happier…" He said looking at her confused.

"Sam I am happy, I just need to do… something." She answered making him feel more confused and slightly annoyed.

"Don't you think we should talk about what we're going to do next… like you made it very clear on what-"

"Sam I need to get baby girl ready but I promise we will talk about everything." She said cutting him off and walking out without giving him a chance to respond again.

…

Mercedes let out a deep breath and said a small prayer before getting out of her car and walking to the door, she rang the door bell and waited patiently for it to be answered. When the door opened she had to bite back her over flowing emotions because she knew this conversation was long overdue but she needed to make sure she got it all out now because she refused to open that door again after she left.

Sooo... Surprise! Also it's HAPPENING! It's exactly what you think and there were be another flashback that will be very sweet and also help you understand why she held on so tightly to Sam and it might make you a little sad but in a happy way! Until next time XOXO!