Standard Disclaimer: None of the songs or Glee characters and story arcs belong to me. This was written a long time ago just never finished the chapter. Maybe one day it will be finished. I actually like Sam now which I didn't most of this story LOL

Chapter 8

"Dwight, just look at those two, you can't tell me that they were not just meant to be." Mary said showing him the picture on the phone that she had just sent to Margie Jones. She had been looking for Sam earlier, and when she eventually found him in the home theater, she was not surprised to see Mercedes sleeping on him as it appeared they both had fallen asleep watching movies on Netflix. Soon her oldest would be what was the saying, 'Netflix and Chillaxing' and she would have a grandbaby sooner or later.

"Don't be getting your hopes up Mary over that innocent picture. I doubt Mercedes had even said five words to Sam before they somehow ended up watching Netflix together."

"But honey how can you be sure? We didn't see them all day. Based on the food and beverages that I saw with them, I bet they spent the entire day and night watching movies."

"That could mean they are trying to be friends not necessarily man and wife," Dwight said knowing his words were in vain.

"Pooh," Mary said before continuing, "You were busy singing and looking at Mercedes as she came down that makeshift aisle to see that Sam was looking at his bride as though she hung the moon and the stars like she was the most beautiful girl in the world."

"Well, she looked like she might run away, and I would have helped her by driving the getaway car."

"And you would have been sleeping out there on one of our son's many couches when you came to stay for the weekends."

"Mary, don't you think it's time to go home. Stevie is not showing any signs of addiction, and our moving home might put him in a familiar atmosphere and help him heal faster."

"His doctors and therapists are here. Do you want to transfer his case to others and have him staying at our home with little or no security?"

"No, I don't want that, but I do think that Sam and Mercedes and probably even Stevie need a break from you. Besides you know Sam will make sure Stevie has the best doctors in Kentucky and that the house is secured even getting Stevie a bodyguard if needed. It would only take him a couple of hours to accomplish this."

"Stevie needs me and Sam and Mercedes need me, too."

"I know those two definitely don't need you and I don't think Stevie does. He is no longer on that medicine, he is able to do everything he needs. The only thing he needs is his memory returning and not being around a married Sam and Mercedes when it does. Have you even thought how that might affect him? Listen Mary, I don't mind commuting back and forth, but don't you miss your home, our church, your friends?"

"I do miss all of those things, but I think I am most needed here. Sam doesn't have a clue on how to win Mercedes' heart, he is going to need all the help he can get. Plus, Stevie being whole is my one and only concern right now and when it happens, Sam and Mercedes will be able to help him heal his heart as he sees the two of them were destined to be together. He will love them both too much to feel any sort of hatred. He will be hurt, but he will be free to find a love of his own."

"Tell me something I need to know. Have you lost your mind? Are you so consumed with our boys' lives that you can't see how you are neglecting me and our daughter. I understand about your concern for Stevie, but I think Stacey might like having a mom who is interested in her life and what she has going on, and I think I as your husband who you pledged to love, honor, and obey, deserves a little of your affections and attention being that I only see you three to four days out of a week."

'Is that your true problem, Dwight, do you think I am neglecting you by not cooking, cleaning, and sexing for you on the regular?"

'I didn't marry you so that you were my maid and prostitute. I married you because I love you and want to spend time with you my wife which it has been two months since I have had your attention and affections. I am our children's father. I have cried, prayed, and supported Stevie as much as you. You are just being a busy body messing with Sam and Mercedes, and you will probably hurt them as much as you almost hurt Stevie."

"How did I almost hurt Stevie?"

"Because you were smothering him and seeing only what you wanted to see. I never gave him my blessing to try to date Mercedes. I know Sam, and I knew in my heart that he would never be okay with his little brother dating the woman who he was unhealthily obsessed with. Stevie being your baby boy, you said that as long as it was all right with Sam, then it was okay with us. You volunteered to stay here with Sam to help Stevie recover, and all you had to do was monitor his medication and made sure he went to his doctor's appointments, and was participating in therapy. If it wasn't for Mercedes, I am positive that our son would be an opioid addict right now because you didn't want to tell him no, you encouraged Sam and Mercedes to lie and live a lie, and I don't see how you don't see that maybe by mothering him too much you have been hurting Stevie and Sam all along."

"What Dwight Samuel Evans has gotten in you to say such things to me? After you lost your job and had us living in a hotel before moving to Kentucky for another job, I stood by you when my parents told me to leave you. I, being a God-fearing woman, took my vows seriously for richer or poorer and I stood by you my man. And since then, you have never criticized or went against anything I said or did as a parent. Why now all of a sudden?"

"I have been keeping my mouth shut because I felt guilty. I didn't know that Sam was stripping when we moved to Kentucky, I thought he was probably selling drugs, he smelt like weed on more than one occasion. You never noticed how we forced that boy to grow up and be a man when he was still a boy, and I admit I was the ultimate blame, so I let you and the kids do what you want out of guilt not out of love. I have been spending time with Mercedes' dad, and he has shown me what being a good dad is about. It's not about money, he and his family had that. It was about time, showing you cared for them and supported them even when you didn't agree with the decisions they were making. He was guilty of providing his family with material things and not time, but he changed. Material things help but love and time and understanding being there when needed is most important. I have always done those things. And I am changing just like he has changed. I have been attending his men's group with him and going to church with him on the Sundays I am here. I can't let you interfere with our children's lives, it's a manipulative spirit, and I am not going to let you think that it's okay."

"Wow, Dwight, why don't you go over to the Joneses and see that Malachi isn't talking this way to Margie. If it wasn't for Margie those two wouldn't even be married."

"Malachi is taking care of his business, and that is why Margie hasn't responded to the picture that you sent her. He told her that she was to leave his baby girl alone and let her live her life - make her mistakes and good decisions, so she can grow and be the woman that she needs to be. He also talked to our son before the wedding, and there is nothing you can do that will make Sam go back on his word that he gave to Malachi about not forcing Mercedes to remain in this marriage. If Mercedes and Sam decide they want to make it work because they love each other, then that's their right. If they decided to just be friends, then that's their right as well. There will be no more interference. And you have one month to decide to move back to Kentucky with Stevie or stay here with Sam and Mercedes. Stevie needs to be home and even if he never recovers his memory, he needs to be in a place that is familiar, so we do right by him."

"I hear your words Dwight Evans, but this is just too damn much. I almost lost him, and I admit to going batshit crazy, but I will honor what you said, but I am not happy, and when momma's not hot happy then nobody will be."

"Sam what is the hell going on with your parents. They are acting like they are getting a divorce?" Mercedes asked him a week later noticing that Dwight interacted with his sons but tended to stay clear of Mary.

"All I know is dad had his come to Jesus talk with mom, and she was hardly receptive to what he was saying. She has to move home or stay with us in three weeks. Either way in three weeks, Stevie will be returning to Kentucky with dad, using the room I use downstairs with his stuff being moved down there."

"Oh, well, I am sorry that their love for Stevie is causing them to go through this rough patch. I was talking to Stevie the other day, and he seems ready to resume his life. He has been writing more music, and he sounds better than ever."

"Yeah, he just won't be in touring condition anytime soon and that is what his label is concerned with. Most of the money comes from the tours as you know. It will probably take a year before he was ready to tackle life on the road and that is with or without his memory fully returning."

"It's kinda like he got a clean slate. He has forgotten a lot of amazing things, but he is also doesn't remember a lot of terrible things as well."

"Do you think his memory might not ever return?"

"Only God knows, Sam, I hope it returns even though some of it will be painful because I can put myself in his shoes, and I am who I am because of my experiences. These experiences were in my songs that other people related to and found their own healing."

"I used to wish that my dad never lost his job, but then I think if that hadn't have happened that we might have never gotten together because you and Rachel would have never asked me to prom. And if we weren't poor, I would have never been a stripper and probably wouldn't have this house now and my dream career. I get what you are saying sometimes we have to have the pain to become who we are destined to be."

"Who knows what our life's trajectory would have become if all the negative things were removed? I miss having these types of conversations with you. I am glad that we are friends."

"I am glad that you are so forgiving and allowing me the chance to actively be your friend. In my mind, I was always your friend."

"So, do you think we should go on a fake honeymoon and leave your parents here with Stevie and hope that they will be able to make up and be happy again?"

"You are like Mary Evans whether you want to admit it or not. How would us leaving here bring them closer together?"

"Your dad won't be all up in our faces when Stevie is busy and has his door shut to keep the both of them out his space. Hopefully, that will bring back that loving feeling."

"Where do you want to go?"

"Ghana but that is not going to be an option, so maybe my yacht that way we can be photographed by the paps and continue milking this relationship. We can issue a statement that Stevie is almost fully recovered and that we are enjoying our newlywed status or something that the publicists will come up with after we share our own pictures that can be leaked discreetly."

"Your plan might work. Let's do this. Me and you on a yacht being friends and enjoying ourselves sounds like heaven. Let's go pack and began living our best lives away from my crazy family whether they get they shit together or not; I think we deserve to be ourselves and hopefully they will realize they have a life and not worry about us or Stevie."