Thank you for your continued support. This is the last chapter and as always, it's been a pleasure having you along on the journey with me. You all have made it worthwhile, not only for this story, but for all my other stories. A BIG THANK YOU to you. I look forward to taking many more journeys with you. Blessings to you and yours.
Standard disclaimer: I do not own Glee or the characters, neither do I own No Denying You.
Sam was happy to see the crew from Denver, along with Noah and Stacie at the airport.
Of course Noah would have offered them a ride back to Myrtle Beach on his plane, but he was hardly in the mood to socialize after leaving Mercedes behind.
Maybe it was for the best, less time to brood could only be a good thing, he thought.
Everyone kept the conversation light, as they were cleared for takeoff.
When the plane reached its cruising altitude, the flight attendant Noah had hired for the return trip, took drink orders.
Noah ordered a scotch and soda and Sam requested the same. It was still early, but damn, he needed a drink.
Lisa looked at him sympathetically before dropping her hand briefly over his.
"She'll be home soon."
Sam stared at her for a moment, seeing not the beautiful and intimidating woman before him but, surprisingly, an ally.
He looked around, thankful, that no one seemed to be paying any attention to their conversation.
"Do you think so?" he asked, needing some reassurance.
Lisa studied him for a moment.
"Yeah, I do. Whatever else is happening or has happened between you two, you were meant to be together from the moment you met."
In typical Lisa fashion, she added,
"You two generated enough sparks together, to singe my damn eyebrows off."
He chuckled, surprising both himself and Lisa.
"Thank you," he said and smiled. "You have no idea how much I needed that."
"Oh, I think I do," she replied, "And you're welcome."
Sam looked away, as Lisa's husband Warrick claimed her attention.
Jason and Cathy sat beside them, with Jason idly twirling a lock of his wife's hair, as if he needed to stay connected while he discussed business with Stevie.
And Stevie's wife Marlene, was curled against him, while he kept a protective arm around her, as she slept against his shoulder.
Sam was glad to see his brother so at peace, after years of searching for something that never seemed to be there.
Looking at Marlene, he thought he finally understood what Stevie had been so desperate to find...it was her.
Sam's gaze landed on Noah and Stacie next. But he was more puzzled than angry.
Hell no, he didn't want Noah involved with his sister, but that wasn't the vibe he was getting from them.
In a weird way, it looked more like some kind of friendship than anything romantic or, God forbid...anything sexual.
It was a strange concept, to think of his friend having a straight friendship, with someone as attractive as Stacie.
Just as he was entertaining notions of thrashing Noah, if he so much as hurt a hair on his sister's head, Jason started speaking about work.
And if he was honest with himself, he was relieved, when Jason drew him into a discussion of a new customer and forced his mind away from his current worry...the biggest being his relationship with Mercedes...and onto business.
Maybe it was obvious to the other man, that he needed a break from all the thoughts racing through his head. Whatever it was, he welcomed it.
Mercedes fixed herself a cup of coffee, taking a much-needed sip, before walking through the open double doors and onto the deck.
The day so far was unusually mild for Florida.
Her mother was already sitting on a patio chair, so she took the one next to her.
They sat in companionable silence for a few moments, sipping their coffee and watching the waves break in the ocean.
She suspected that they were both imagining Ramona riding the waves and throwing up a hand in greeting, when she spotted them watching her.
Sadly, the memory of it, was all they had now.
Her mother was the first to break the silence.
"I heard Sam leave this morning. Did he have to get back home?"
"Yeah. He was catching a flight with the others from Denver."
"I see." Her mother took another drink of coffee. "Why didn't you go back with him?"
Surprised, Mercedes said,
"Why would I do that? I couldn't just leave you guys to handle everything. Jason told me to take all the time I needed."
She almost cringed, knowing she sounded defensive.
Showing some of her former spark, her mother turned to her with a knowing expression on her face.
"Honey, I'm not blind. You looked like someone had kicked your cat, when Sam showed up here. Now, I'm thinking that someone in a relationship wouldn't be surprised, if the other person came in those circumstances. Are you and Sam having problems?"
Mercedes sighed.
She was just too damn tired to continue the charade.
If nothing else, she was sure that she could distract her mother for a while, with her straight-out-of-a-book tale of blackmail, lust, mixed signals and finally love.
So, she confessed everything...well, some things in less detail than others, but she gave her mother the gist of what had been going on.
Sometime later, her mother flopped back against her chair, saying,
"Wow, you could have just answered with 'It's complicated.'"
Mercedes started laughing.
"Are you kidding me, it was worth the embarrassment just to see your mouth hanging open. Admit it, Mom, you didn't think I had it in me."
"Honey, I knew you had it in you, after all, you have my blood in your veins. I just wondered when you would realize it. One thing you didn't say, though, during your story. Do you love Sam?"
Without hesitation, she said,
"Yes. No matter how much he drives me crazy at times, I absolutely love him. I think I have from the moment he gave me his first disapproving frown. He had no idea that those frowns turned into the highlight of my day."
"Well then, I repeat, why are you still here?"
Mercedes took her mother's hand.
"He hurt me and I need some time to come to terms with that. And more important, I would never leave you here to go through Ramona's apartment and her things alone. I love Sam, but my family comes first right now. He'll wait for me, Mom. If I know nothing else, I know that."
In the end, it was eighteen days later, when Mercedes returned home to Myrtle Beach.
Lisa had agreed to pick her up at the airport.
She hadn't told Sam that she was coming home...she wanted to surprise him.
True to his word, he had stepped back and given her the time she needed.
If it hadn't been for her friends letting her know that, other than working twelve-hour days, he was fine, she probably would have broken down and called him much sooner.
She knew it was silly, but she just couldn't risk having long telephone conversations with him again and then coming home to find a completely different San.
She was still traumatized from the pain of receiving the cold shoulder from him, before her sister's accident. But time had turned it into a dull ache.
Mercedes spotted Lisa immediately, in the airport arrivals area.
There was no way to miss the striking redhead with the impossibly high heels.
She was thrilled to see her friend looking so happy and healthy.
Lisa had told her on the phone, that they were planning to adopt and that they had taken their first step in the process this week...a home study.
And Mercedes was confident, that the agency would see that Lisa and Warrick, would be wonderful parents.
She had little doubt, that her tough-talking friend, would melt when she held her child in her arms for the first time.
They threw their arms around each other, hugging like it had been months, instead of a couple of weeks.
Lisa pulled back, looking at her.
"Babe, it's so good to have you back. We've all missed you."
Mercedes felt her eyes tearing. She was so appreciative to have such a close group of friends. She hadn't really had that since college.
"I missed you guys, too. How is everyone doing?" she asked.
As they made their way to baggage claim and then out to the parking area, Lisa gave her a rundown.
"Well, Marls, bless her heart, looks bigger every time I see her. Don't you dare tell her I said that, though, because, I don't want her to start crying. She's got the most adorable waddle now."
Mercedes smiled. She thought it spoke volumes about Lisa, that she could mention Marlene's pregnancy so easily.
"Lana and Winston are fighting with Hermie over his pacifier.
Between you and me, I'd say the kid will still be using it when he's eighteen. There is no way they are going to lose sleep every night...they'll keep giving in. Jason and Cathy are actually going on a solo vacation next week, if you can believe it. This will be the first since their daughter's birth. I took her to Victoria's Secret yesterday and let me just say...Jason is gonna be a happy man..."
When Mercedes struggled to contain her laughter, Lisa said,
"I also talked to Stacie about what we discussed and she is on board, so we're all set."
"Thank you so much Lisa! I can't believe how the timing worked out."
Lisa stopped at a red light and turned to study her.
"Are you really sure you want to do this? It's going to be an adjustment for you."
"I know," Mercedes admitted, "And I'm not thrilled about it, but it's the right thing to do...the only thing really. Is he at the office?"
Lisa nodded.
"Yep, I checked on my way out. As far as Warrick knows, he doesn't have any meetings planned off-site today, so you should be good to go. I don't suppose I could listen at the door, could I?"
"Sure," Mercedes agreed, "As long as I can listen at your door, the next time War visits you."
"Well, hell, you could have just said no. I'm trying to be good anyway. I don't think voyeurism would look good on our adoption application, so you're safe."
Mercedes felt her palms start to sweat, as they pulled into the circular drive in front of the Denver headquarters.
Alarmed, she turned to Lisa.
"What are you doing?" she asked.
"I'm being a good friend and letting you out at the door. You'll just torture yourself all the way through the parking lot otherwise."
"But...what about my luggage?"
"We'll deal with it later." Flashing her a grin, Lisa added, "Now get out of my car."
A reluctant Mercedes opened the door and stepped out, with a serious pout on her face. Just as she moved off, Lisa chuckled and shouted,
"Love you," and pealed away from the entrance.
A nervous Mercedes stood near the front door uncertainly, for a few moments, before blowing out a long breath.
'Good grief, what the hell is wrong with me? Get it together, Mercedes!'
Throwing her shoulders back, she charged forward, not giving herself time to think and in record time, she was standing in front of her office door.
She opened it quietly and was slightly relieved, to see Sam's office door closed.
When she heard his deep voice, her resolve wavered and she wanted nothing more, than to launch herself into his arms.
'Yeah, like that worked out so well last time.'
She kept an eye, on the blinking light of the phone line he was using and eased into her chair, in front of the computer.
She quickly found the form that she was looking for and filled it out.
The printer sounded like a wrecking ball, as it spit the paper out.
A quick look showed her, that he was still on the phone.
As she stood holding the form uncertainly, she heard him moving around his office and saw that the call had ended.
'Shit, shit! Everyone always said, if you were nervous, imagine the other person naked...oh yeah, that would really help,' she thought sarcastically.
However, the decision was taken out of her hands, when Sam's door suddenly flew open and he walked out with his head bent.
He was an inch from mowing her down, before he looked up.
The look on his handsome face was almost comical.
If she had any doubts that he knew she was coming home today, they were extinguished now.
His mouth opened and closed and even more surprising, Sam Evans started stuttering, when he tried to speak.
"Mer...you...I didn't...when...?"
She looked into the face of the man she loved and her fingers twitched with the urge to touch him.
He looked so tired, but God, he was beautiful.
When he started to reach for her, she put the paper she had just printed into his outstretched hands and stepped back.
Puzzled, he looked at her, then at the paper.
"Are you kidding me? Merce...I waited, I've been waiting...I thought you understood. I thought you could forgive me. Baby, I lo..."
Once again, she put her hand over his mouth to stop his declaration.
"Sam, this is the last transfer request I will ever submit to you. You've turned me down time and again. My reason is completely valid and if you won't sign the form this time, I'll have to find another job."
Sam ran an agitated hand through his hair.
"Mercedes, please don't do this. We'll go talk to Quinn together...she'll tell you that nothing happened between us."
By this time, he was waving the form frantically, not bothering to finish reading it.
"Sam..." He continued to talk, forcing her to raise her voice. "SAM!"
God, she really hoped the offices had good soundproofing.
When he stopped to gape at her in mid-sentence, she said,
"Just read the damn form...please."
He gave her a perplexed look, no doubt thinking she was trying to torture him, but obligingly held the paper up and started scanning it.
Mercedes saw the exact moment, when he got to her reasons for transferring.
"You're requesting a transfer, because, you're in love with your pigheaded boss and can't imagine being able to keep your hands off him during business hours. You are requesting a move to Stacie Evans' office and also requesting 'someone really old' to replace you in Mr. Evans' office..."
She couldn't keep the grin off her face, as he looked at her, his shock finally giving way to a look of utter happiness.
"You're going to drive me crazy," he sighed happily.
"Always," she answered.
"Could I please tell you that I love you now, without you putting your hand over my mouth?" he joked happily.
"Well, I think you just did, but go ahead."
Sam pulled her into his arms, kissing her, until she was gasping for breath before pulling back.
"I love you, Mercedes Jones. I even love your smart little mouth."
Giving him a wicked look, she murmured,
"Oh, I think you will find all manner of things that you love about my mouth...starting, as soon as we get out of here. How long until you can leave?"
He gave her another kiss, resting his hand on her ass.
"Fuck it. I've worked damn near around the clock for weeks. I think they can manage without me for an afternoon."
She giggled, pulling his hand away from her butt, before they walked out into the hall.
As the doors of the empty elevator closed behind them, Sam leaned against Mercedes, running his lips down her neck.
"You and Stacie working together? Baby, you just jumped from the frying pan into the fire."
Much later that night, she would remember those words and wonder what she had gotten herself into.
But first, they were lucky enough to make it to his house without being arrested.
And nothing else mattered, beyond the man worshiping her with his eyes and his body.
The grief of losing Ramona so suddenly, was still there...the pain still felt raw and probably would, for a long time to come.
But with Sam in her life, she finally had someone to share both the good and the bad moments with.
She suspected that he was right...every passing day would get a little easier and with him by her side, one day she would be able to look back with him happily, on the times she had shared with her sister.
Ramona would have wanted it that way.
Epilogue
Mercedes turned into the driveway of the house, that she shared with Sam.
They had decided to move in together almost immediately and, since he lived on the beach, it hadn't been a tough decision for her.
She parked beside the sports car, that he let her drive on rare occasions.
She usually got a charge out of him sitting in it beside her, gritting his teeth and trying to act like he trusted her with his baby. Men and their toys.
The last three months with Sam had been close to paradise for Mercedes.
The verbal sparring was still there, which made the sex afterwards, only that much more amazing.
Her uptight man had no reservations between the sheets...at all.
He had even managed to shock her a few times.
If variety was the spice of life, then, things would never be boring with Sam Evans.
Mercedes looked around, when she opened the door, not seeing Sam in the living room.
As she always did, she started talking to him, because, inevitably, he would come out and pick up the conversation.
He always seemed to hear her, no matter where he was in the house.
"Hey, baby. I'm sorry I'm so late getting home, but your demon sister was out of her mind today. I bet you were laughing your ass off, when you signed that transfer to her office. If Artie doesn't break up with his girlfriend soon, I'm going to have to find another job."
When Sam still hadn't appeared, she walked towards the bedroom, stopping in surprise at the closed door.
What was he doing in there?
She flung the door open and stood in the doorway gaping.
'Holy shit!'
"What're you...oh wow, Mr. December!" she exclaimed.
Lying on the bed, in re-creation of his Mr. December pose, complete with Santa hat and boughs of holly, was the man she adored.
When he swiveled his hips, she noticed that something sparkled on his 'yule log' and she started laughing.
"Um...baby, you're going to have to cut out the laughing or the ring is going to lose its suspension. Thanks to you being late getting home, it's been a...challenge to keep it up there for so long," he said.
"Oh my God," Mercedes gasped out, as she dropped down on the bed beside him. "If this is what I think it is, then, it's the most original proposal...ever!"
Sam looked at her, the grin slipping from his face.
Suddenly, he jumped from the bed, untying the ribbon from his 'yule log' and catching the ring as it fell.
Mercedes stared at him in shock, as he jerked on some clothing and grabbed her hand.
Her head was spinning, as he pulled her from the house and to the beach.
When he dropped to one knee in front of her, she looked at him in shock.
"Mercedes, baby, I love you. I just had a flash of what we would tell our kids one day, when they wanted to know how Daddy proposed to Mommy and I couldn't do it."
He took her hand in his, clearing his throat.
"Mercedes, from the moment you first walked through the door at the office, my life has never been the same. You've shown me, that not everything has to be taken so seriously. I can't imagine a future without you in it. Will you marry me and save me from a future of...well, being myself?"
Mercedes felt tears rolling down her cheeks, as she whispered,
"Yes."
Then Sam slid the ring onto her finger.
She had no idea what it even looked like, because, she couldn't see through the tears filling her eyes.
"That was so beautiful. I love you, Sam."
He hugged her to him, saying against the top of her head,
"I love you more."
She pulled back from him and finally took a good look.
By now, he was used to her laughing at unusual times, so he looked only mildly curious, when she burst out laughing.
She reached up and tugged the Santa hat from his head.
"I guess I should have said, I love you, Mr. December."
He gave her the sexy grin, that made her skin burn and picked her up effortlessly into his arms.
"I believe, we need to deal with the boughs of holly and my 'yule log' now."
The sound of their laughter filled the air, as he made his way back towards the house, with her cradled in his arms.
Fittingly, his proposal was just like their love story...one of a kind.
Stay safe, stay blessed.