Sam had packed his Escalade up before hopping into the driver's seat. He was heading back to Mercedes, and he hoped she wasn't sleeping.

Pulling up the driveway, Sam grabbed his duffel bag, and using the key Mercedes had given him, let himself in. He took off his shoes and set his duffle bag down in the corridor, and headed upstairs to Mercedes bedroom.

"Hey baby. I'm back." He said before pulling his shirt off, and jeans, and sat next to her. He gave her a kiss on the cheek. "Miss me?"

Mercedes didn't know what to think. For the last hour she had been staring at her phone wondering if Sam was even coming back. When she heard him, she sighed watching him get into bed and she frowned.

"Sam, what exactly happened at the doctors appointment?"

Sam shrugged. "Nothing really. We had the sonogram, and got some pictures." He said, trying to recall everything. "Oh, there was paparazzi out there and our parents. It was kind of like an ambush thing really." He looked at Mercedes with a slight frown, "Why?"

Mercedes listened to him and nodded, "sounds rough, looked rough too." She said handing him her phone so he could read the article. "I want to say this doesn't bother me, that I am sure there is an explanation, but what explanation is there for holding hands and kissing your ex who also happens to be the mother of your child? I am understanding and evolved but to a limit and those, those are pushing me right to the edge."

Sam looked at the photos, and understood that out of context, it looked bad. "This, it isn't what you think." He pointed to the photo where it looked like he was holding Quinn. "I was just shielding her from the flashes. We were ambushed and I was getting her to the car as quickly as possible." He swiped to the next picture. "This was just a pinky promise that I would always be there for her and our baby. The promise is us kissing our pinkies, and instead of kissing on the lips, we agreed to a kiss on the cheek." He put the phone down. "That's all it was. Nothing inappropriate was going on, and definitely no cheating." He had hoped she believed him. He didn't want any more problems in their relationship.

"You think I am upset because I think you were cheating? Sam I am upset because it looks bad." She stood from the bed, that same creeping nausea that she had felt earlier was coming back, it was the thought of Sam and Quinn, it was literally making her sick. "I am upset because this and the Article is basically saying to the world you and Quinn are together and in love. And where does that leave me? I can't ask you to not be around her, to not help her and go to the appointments and all the stuff you have to do because she is about to be the mother of your child. But what is gonna happen now when people find out we are together? Now this makes me look like a homewrecker and lets be real, Quinn is gonna milk that for all its worth."

"Mercedes, I can't control the media. I didn't even know they were going to be there. People are going to form an opinion about us." He stood up from the bed. "We can't pay attention to every article. People are going to think you're a homewrecker, people are going to think I'm a cheater, and that I abandoned my pregnant fiance. I don't know what you want me to do about it. I can make a press conference and debunk everything, but it's not going to change people's opinion."

Mercedes sighed as she ran her hands through her hair. "Sam what I want is for you to consider me, when you are with Quinn! I want you to consider how I would feel with things like this. I want-" She stopped talking feeling sick to her stomach. "Do you see what this is doing to me? It's literally making me sick to my-" She covered her mouth running to her bathroom and throwing up as soon as she met the toilet.

Sam followed Mercedes to the bathroom, and after she threw up, he walked over to her and rubbed her back. "Can I get you something? Maybe some ginger ale." He didn't want to believe that his drama with Quinn was causing her to be sick, but just in case he was, he'll be more careful.

Mercedes closed her eyes, taking a deep breath before she went to rinse out her mouth. She sat back and leaned against Sam. "I don't want us to stop talking about our issues okay? I want to be able to tell you that seeing you with Quinn, it scared me. And you need to be able to tell me what you are feeling." She didn't want to leave the cool floor. "I don't know if I have any ginger ale…"

Sam heard her, and knew that they had to have this conversation, but he didn't want to have it with her feeling sick. "I can go pick up something from the store for you."

Mercedes frowned. "Okay, but can you just hold me for a little bit. Sam...I just…" She couldn't even finish because her head was back in the toilet.

Sam was about to wrap his arms around her, but she was back in the toilet before he could. He held her hair out of her face and rubbed her back in a circular motion. "Maybe it was something you ate?"

Mercedes sighed. "Yeah maybe. I ate some of the dinner while you were gone…" She said. "Maybe it was bad?" She said. "Can you… can you go get the gingerale...I think I am gonna be here a while." She said softly.

Sam felt bad leaving her while she didn't even have the strength to get up. He went back to the bedroom, put on his shirt and pants, and grabbed Mercedes' discarded cell phone. "Here, in case you need to call me while I'm out for any reason." He gave her a kiss on the forehead, hoping that she would be okay for a bit while he was gone.

If Mercedes hated one thing it was being sick. She nodded to Sam as he brought her phone to her. "Please throw that food out when you go." She said softly. After two more bouts of sickness Mercedes finally had nothing left and found herself laying on the cool floor with her eyes closed.

After throwing the food out, Sam found himself at the convenience store, getting a two-liter bottle of ginger-ale. Before he knew it, he was back at Mercedes heading up to her bedroom with a glass of ginger-ale in his hands. "Babe?" He walked into the bathroom, and saw her just laying there. She looked so small and fragile. He put the glass down and bent down to pick her up and carry her to the bed.

Mercedes was awoken by the feel of Sam's arms picking her up. As he laid her in the bed she sighed slowly opening her eyes. "You know.." she said softly. "I like this whole thing. My boyfriend is taking care of me when I'm sick." She closed her eyes, stomach finally calming.

Sam chuckled, "I like taking care of you also." He went and grabbed the glass of ginger-ale and put it on the nightstand next to Mercedes. He then climbed in the bed and pulled him close to her, laying her head on his chest. He didn't like her being sick, but he'll try to help her feel better.

Mercedes laid her head on Sam's shoulder, taking a breath as she did. She reached over grabbing the Ginger Ale and taking a sip before putting it down and laying with Sam again. She closed her eyes falling asleep in his arms, and doing her best to put her fears of Sam and Quinn behind her.

Mercedes stared at herself in the mirror, she and Sam were going out with their combined friends and she was nervous about that. They had planned to do this months ago, two months to be exact but with Sam working and Quinn showing up randomly, on top of her job and her not feeling her best, they always rescheduled. The last two months weren't easy for Mercedes. As much as she loved Sam, she really didn't enjoy being the girlfriend of Quinn's, for lack of a better term, baby daddy. She was extremely needy and unreasonable. The stress alone was enough to make Mercedes sick. And it was doing just that. Or at least that is what she thought was making her sick.

There was another reason Mercedes was glad she was going out with her friends, she really needed to talk to them, needed to get their opinions on what she should do. When one week of sickness turned to nearly everyday for the last few weeks, she started to wonder if the unthinkable was really happening, if maybe she was pregnant too. It was laughable for real but the only other reason she would feel as sick as she was, was something more serious and that she wasn't ready for either.

Wearing a pair of hip hugging jeans she frowned when she was having a hard time buttoning them up. "Great!" She said to herself as she moved to the closet trying to find another pair of pants to wear. Maybe her leggings… After discarding the jeans she wore quickly, she changed into a pair of black leggings and a dark and light pink plaid button down that went past her knees. Staring at herself she sighed as her hand went to her stomach. She couldn't be pregnant...

"Guys are you dressed? Mrs. Carter should be here soon!" She said looking at the time. The twins were heading to a sleepover while Mercedes and her gang were all going to Fun and Stuff so they could skate, bowl, play laser tag, drive some bumper cars and just all out have a good time. She really hoped that Santana, Brittany and Kurt liked hanging around Sam, Blaine, Mike and Jane.

The drive to Mercedes place from Blaine's was a little over a half an hour, and it was times like this that he missed his driver. He hated driving when he had so many things on his mind. With his new job and Quinn blowing up his phone every ten minutes for different cravings, he felt like he was neglecting Mercedes, as well as his friends. Blaine and Mike have been there from the beginning and he didn't want them to think he was cutting them out of his life. Plus, he wanted to show Mercedes that he was serious about them, and having their friends meet and mingle seemed like the next step. He also felt that he and Mercedes had been through a lot these few months and needed to take their mind off of things. He hoped everything went well and everyone had a good time.

Using his spare key, Sam let himself inside Mercedes' place. He didn't know what it was, but it always just felt like he was coming home. Her place was a safe haven to him. He often wondered if he should just move in, but he didn't want to put that extra pressure on her. "Honey, I'm Home!" Sam joked.

"Sam, you're a cornball!" Miles yelled from his room. Maddie laughed as she tossed her overnight bag by the door.

"Hey Sam, do you like, live here now cause you are here more than we are?"

Sam just laughed at Maddie. "Hey, I'm not here that much, just every other day."

Mercedes made her way down the stairs and smiled at Sam. "Leave him alone guys and make sure you packed your toothbrushes." She moved and gave Sam a kiss on the lips. "HI. I feel like I haven't seen you in years. I am glad we all were able to come out tonight."

Sam kissed Mercedes back. "Okay, so Maddie said I'm here more than her, and you say I'm hardly here, so which one is it because I just can't win." He shook his head before kissing her again. "You almost ready?"

"Maybe I just want to see more of you. And as soon as the kids leave." She teased as he kissed her again. Someone knocked on the door, and she sighed leaning against Sam. "Guys Mrs. Clark is here."

Opening the door she smiled down at Regan, Maddie's and Stacey's best friend. "They are on their way down. What are you guys gonna do tonight?"

Regan smiled. "I don't know about the boys but Maddie, Stacey and I are gonna have makeovers."

Mercedes gave off an "Oooooooo" as the twins came down the stairs. "You guys be good. Maddie I just added money to your and your brother's debit card but please don't go and spend half of it on candy like last time."

Miles shrugged. "I mean you weren't that specific last time."

Mercedes rolled her eyes and hugged them as they left. Grabbing her bag she smiled at Sam. "Now I am ready."

"Great! Let's roll." After a thirty minute ride, Sam parked in the Fun n Stuff lot, and got out to open the door for Mercedes and to help her down a bit. "Mike and Jane are already there, not sure where Blaine and Kurt are. Have you heard from Santana and Brittany?" He asked as they walked into the venue.

Mercedes checked her phone. "They are inside too. Kurt texted me and said they were a few minutes away." She said linking her hand in his. She smiled seeing Brittany and Santana chatting it up with Mike and Jane. Mercedes knew Jane didn't really like her and she understood why, so she never pushed for the girl to say anything besides hi. Tonight she got a nod which was at least something.

"Hey guys! Who is ready to have some fun!" She asked, reaching out to hug Santana and then Brittany.

Santana beamed. "Girl you already know we are!"

Mercedes smiled towards Mike and Jane. "Hey you two! How are you?"

Mike smiled at Mercedes and gave Sam a bro hug. "Hey, glad you guys made it. I thought Mercedes had you under lock and key." Mike said jokingly while Jane hit him on the shoulder.

Sam rolled his eyes good naturally. "Nothing like that. We're still in the honeymoon phase." Sam smiled and nodded at Brittany and Santana. "Glad you guys could come out."

Brittany cocked her head at Sam. "Honeymoon phase? I didn't know you guys got married!"

Mercedes shook her head. "Oh no Britt that is just something people say."

Santana laughed. "Yeah trust me Trouty mouth over there ain't proposing to Cedes." She lowers her tone so that only Merce and Britt can hear her. "He's too busy dealing with Preggo Stalker Quinn."

Mercedes eyed her as Brittany nodded. "Where is Kurt!"

As if on cue Kurt walks in, while in deep discussion with Blaine. "No! No I love you Blaine but there is no way I am moving in until Sam moves out!" He said a little louder than intended.

"Kurt, lower your voice, we are not talking about this now." Blaine loved Kurt, but he had a flair for the dramatics. Should Sam move out, yea, but he didn't have the heart to kick him out. It was clear that people heard Kurt because all eyes were on them, and that just made things so awkward. Blaine tried to cut the tension. "Hey everyone." He was just going to pretend like nothing was said.

Sam avoided their eyes. He didn't know what to say. "Anyone ready to order. I can use a few beers."

Mercedes laughed moving towards Kurt. "Hey boo. How are you? You know other than that whole kicking my boyfriend out thing."

"Mercedes!" Sam shook his head in disbelief. "We are going to have to work on our couple esp"

Brittany tapped Santana. "Now their psychic too?"

Santana snorted looking at Blaine and Kurt. "Geesh Kurt I see we got our panties in a wad, let's go and get something to drink like Sam suggested before you start going off on how Blaine likes it when you pull his hair in bed." She winked at Blaine as she linked arms with Brittany and they walked away.

Mercedes laughed, shaking her head as Kurt turned red. "I don't think everyone knew that San." She said walking after them.

"I mean Sam walked in on us so I am sure he told Mike anyways." Kurt shrugged as he caught up with the girl's.

Mike's eyes widen at how freely they were talking about Blaine and Kurt's sex life. "Okay, so this is different." Mike said once they left to go get drinks. "Why do I feel like this is normal?"

Jane rolled her eyes, "Because it seems to be. Anyway, so Sam, why haven't you moved in with your girlfriend since y'all are on your 'Honeymoon phase' and since Blaine obviously wants you out?"

"Who said I wanted him out? Sam, you can stay as long as you need." Blaine assured his friend.

"We all know that's not true." Jane smirked, before walking away to get something to drink or eat.

Sam sighed. "Anyone regretting this already?"

"Yea, I'm torn between getting popcorn for the show, or hauling ass out of here." Mike said.

"Sam, we got your back. Just enjoy yourself." Blaine pat him on his back. "It'll be fine."

At that moment, Sam's phone buzzed and seeing it was Quinn, he picked up.

"Hey Quinn," Sam said, ignoring Mike and Blaine's questioning faces. "What's up?"

"Sam, I'm having a craving and I need you, well we need you."

"I can't right now Quinn, just tell me what you want and I'll have door dash or uber eats deliver it."

"No, they won't be able to. I want a peanut butter pickle sandwich and I'm sure no restaurants make that."

Sam sighed. "Don't you have that stuff in your house?"

"No, I ran out of peanut butter, bread and pickles. Pleaseee Sam. You child needs this."

"Fine, I'll be there in about 10 minutes, but I can't stay Quinn. I'm really busy right now."

"I know. I appreciate you though."

"I mean it. I can just drop it off and I have to leave right away."

"Okay Sam, geesh. See you in 10." Quinn hung up with a small smile on her face. She had the ingredients, but any excuse to see Sam worked.

Sam hung up and was met with two confused faces.

"I know you didn't agree to meet Quinn. Sam what were you thinking. What do you think Mercedes will say? Mike was in disbelief that Sam would do this while on a date.

"She's pregnant, what am I supposed to do? I'll be back in about 15 minutes."

Blaine just shook his head. "You're not going to be back in 15 minutes because Quinn will ask you to do something once you're there."

"I told her that I had to leave right away and she said okay?"

"Whatever, just tell Mercedes." Mike tried to reason with him.

"Are you crazy? Mercedes will have my head if she finds out I left our date night for Quinn. I just have to be back before she notices and I need for you to cover for me."

"This is a bad idea. I can't lie to Kurt, and he'll see right through me."

"Then let Mike do all the talking. It'll be fine." He said before walking out and heading to Quinn's.

As Jane joined the group Mercedes giggled. "You already know I put it on him, well thank you very much! He hasn't moved in because he wants to make it on his own."

"But he's not on his own, he's on Blaine!" Kurt replied. The girl's snickered and he shook his head, "You know what I mean you pervs."

Santana looked at Jane standing on the sidelines. "Tell me something Jane, how did you land all of that! Cause Mike is all kinds of fine."

Mercedes, Brittany and Kurt nodded in agreement. "Right!"

Jane snorted. She wanted to say something about Mercedes agreeing so bad, but she promised Mike she would behave. She didn't forget that Mercedes helped cause Quinn's heartache and that was unforgivable. "I met Mike through Sam, and he's been hooked ever since. Can't really explain it more than that." She was proud that she hid her dislike. Mike would be proud.

Mercedes and Santana gave each other a knowing look. Mercedes laughed. "Meaning and she put it on him and he couldn't get enough."

They laughed. "I knew you had skills, have you ever played in the lady pond Jane?" Santana teased.

Brittany stepped up. "It's a lot more fun than you think!"

Jane tried to hide her shock, but failed miserably and ended up chuckling involuntarily. "I don't talk about my sex life, like ever. But I appreciate you admiring my husband." That was as polite as she could get.

Santana nodded. "Okay, I respect that not wanting to talk about your sex life. I mean we aren't embarrassed by ours but to each his own. So let's talk about why you don't like Mercedes."

Mercedes turned to Santana. "San!" They were honest and Mercedes knew it would come up she just didn't think it would that soon.

"What, it's true! You can look at her and tell." Santana said.

"Plus Lord Tubbington told me that your aura was red. And red means anger."

Jane rolled her eyes. "I don't like homewreckers. It's as simple as that." She shrugged. "Any woman who sleeps with another woman's man is scum."

Santana stood up tall but Mercedes moved in front of her. "Come on if you are gonna hate me, at least get your facts straight. Sam and I never had sex while he was dating Quinn, and I will admit I made some mistakes but I own them."

"Yea, say whatever you have to so you can sleep at night. You guys waiting until they are over, doesn't excuse anything." Jane wanted to blast her for every bad thing she heard, but that wouldn't have helped anyone. "I just hope you realize that if he can treat his pregnant fiancee like that, what makes you so special?"

Mercedes shook her head. "I never said it excused anything. I never ran from the fact that even though nothing happened it was wrong. I never lied about falling for Sam or walking away. You can not control who you love. You can't control who you fall for. And to be honest with you, you have every right to be mad, Quinn is your best friend and if someone hurt any of these three I would be pissed too. So I don't expect us to be friends, but if you are gonna hate me, hate me for the truth, not some lies made by a delusional jealous ex."

Kurt cleared his throat. "And to be fair, not saying we agree either, but if Quinn really was the love of Sam's life, what was he doing falling for Mercedes? Why are you girl's always so quick to judge the female, Sam was dating Quinn, Mercedes was single. Just saying."

Jane knew that Kurt had a point, and she also knew that Quinn was being delusional, but she will not admit to anything. "Quinn is my best friend and I may not agree with all of her choices, but I will always fight for her. As for Sam, I hate his ass too and I'm happy they aren't together. He is truly toxic, and if it wasn't for Mike, I would not be anywhere around him." And she looks at Mercedes in the eyes, "If you were smart, you'll get out while you can."

"Maybe you think Sam is toxic because he was in a toxic relationship. Or that's what Lord Tubbington thinks. But he also thinks that smoking is healthy so what does he know?"

Mercedes shrugged looking at Jane. "Sam isn't perfect, but no one is. And thanks for the warning but I think he and I will be just fine. I don't expect you to betray your best friend and like me but for what it's worth, I appreciate you being honest."

Kurt smiled. "Awww does this mean ya'll gonna hug it out and all that sister friend stuff? Cause that would be a great moment."

Jane chuckled. "I don't think I'm quite there yet, but who knows."

Mercedes shook her head laughing until catching a whiff of something. It only took a moment for her happy face to turn sour. She couldn't even say anything she just headed straight for the bathroom. Santana raised an eyebrow watching her run away. "What the hell?" She said as she, and Kurt ran after Mercedes.

Mercedes hated all of this, and the fact that she just threw up what she was pretty sure was her lunch from last Tuesday, this was getting to be bad. As she exited the stall, she found Santana and Kurt staring at her. Mercedes moved to the sink, rinsing her mouth out and then washing her hands.

"I can feel you two staring at me." Mercedes said as she dried her hands.

"Yeah well you ran out of the food court and we find you in here puking your guts out so color us concerned." Santana said, folding her arms.

"Diva what's going on?" Kurt asked, voice full of concern.

Mercedes didn't say a word and Santana laughed. "Please don't tell me you are pregnant?"

Mercedes looked down to her hands feeling tears well up in her eyes and Santana and Kurt gasped at the same time. "Mercedes?" Kurt encouraged.

Mercedes finally met their eyes and frowned. "I don't know. I think I am?"

"Why the hell did you get pregnant?!" Santana practically screamed at her.

"I don't know San I guess I figured, my life isn't nearly as stressful with me raising my twin siblings, working a full time job and dating Sam who not only already has a baby momma but his parents hate me, I figured let's add a baby to the mix!"

Santana and Kurt both oved at the same time to Mercedes and hugged her. "Oh Cedes." Kurt said softly. "Have you taken a test."

She shook her head. "No, I am too scared too."

"Oh honey we need to go get one right away." Kurt said.

Santana shook her head reaching into her purse. "No I have one."

Kurt turned towards the Latina. "What don't you have in your purse?"

"Your manhood. Sorry." She turned to Mercedes and handed it to her. "You should take this now. Britt and I have been trying with insemination and well I have been carrying it around, tempted to take it though we have to wait a whole nother week. But that is a story for another day, go."

Mercedes hesitated for a moment, then nodded going into the stall. Freaking out about what she might find out.

While Quinn was waiting for Sam, she decided to text Jane. She didn't like how she left things before and wanted Jane to know she still loved her.

Quinn: Guess who misses her best friend?

Jane: I miss you too Quinn. How is the pregnancy? Do you need anything?

Quinn: The pregnancy is okay, and no, Sam gives me everything I need.

Jane: Oh, okay. But he is busy tonight so if you need something, I can come over, and we can have a girl's night.

Quinn: Sam is never too busy for me and our baby. He is on his way to bring me my latest craving as we speak.

Jane: Are you sure? Because he's out with Mike and her.

Quinn You can say her name, you know. And yea I'm sure. Matter of fact, my bell just rang. I'll text you when he leaves. Love ya.

Jane: Okay, bye.

Jane was perplexed and couldn't believe that Sam just up and left for Quinn. Maybe her friend wasn't so delusional after all. Maybe there was a chance for them, and if that's the case, Jane found herself feeling bad for Mercedes while she and Brittany headed for where the boys were.

Mercedes walked out of the bathroom, with Kurt and Santana on her heel. "You aren't even gonna tell us what it says?" Kurt asked following her.

"Nope."

"Mercedes!" Santana said, keeping up with her.

"Santana! See I can do that too."

As she reached the guys looked around for Sam. "Hey where did Sam go?"

tbc