DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN GLEE NOR HAVE ANY AFFILIATIONS WITH THE GOVERNMENT, BUT THIS STORY IS MINE!
ENJOY :)
Mercedes sighed to herself as she slid into her hoodie, feeling the after effects of her medicine working. She had became sick at the same time they were moving out and it has been a miserable time for her. She of course had isolated herself from her boys, so no one would catch it. Miles and Ishmael had stayed with her parents, while Sam stayed by her side, nursing her back to good health, "I feel like I'm forgetting something." She mumbled as she looked around her bedroom, a smile on her face. Something to finally calls hers. They had been settled into their home a little over a week now and she was in love. Hearing commotion in the kitchen, she started to make her way out the room and head in that direction.
"I got everything you asked for."
Mercedes stared at her fiancé's red frustrated face, "Have a hard time?"
"Hell yes." Sam grunted as he plopped down in the chair, taking his beanie off and placing on the table as he ran his hands through his hair, "I literally had to snatch the turkey and ham away from the same prick. I had my hands on them both first and don't get me started on them damn marshmallows."
Mercedes tucked her lips in to suppress her laughter as she made her way over to him. She leaned down and pressed her lips against his, "Well, I thank you so very much for tackling it for me."
"Mhm." He mumbled as he stared at her seriously, "Tonight, I want a lot of cuddles and kisses for my reimbursement."
Mercedes raised a brow as a giggle surpassed her lips, kissing him one more time before moving away, "I think I can make that happen."
"Preferably with no clothes."
"While it's this cold outside? I don't think so." She teased, laughing when he gave her a look and smacked his lips. She was about to continue her teasing until she spotted something in the chair she didn't pay attention to earlier, "I thought you said no early Christmas shopping."
"Huh?" He was confused until he looked to where she was looking, seeing the gift bag that was received from an interaction while he was out, "Yeah...about that."
"And now I'm on the hunt for some marshmallows."
"She set you up, Commander."
Sam grunted as he pulled his card from his wallet and handed it to her, "Yeah, I kind of figured that when I pulled out the driveway."
Amelia, the hostess, giggled as she swiped his card and handed it back to him. Sam had decided to stop by their favorite restaurant and get them some dinner so she wouldn't have to cook tonight. The girl turned around and grabbed the big brown bag and handed it to him with a smile, "Tell her and the boys I said hi and Happy Thanksgiving."
"I will. Happy Thanksgiving to you as well." Sam responded with a smile as he turned and headed out of the restaurant, making his way to his truck.
"Sam?"
The man stopped in his tracks when he heard that familiar voice, turning around and finding the last person that he thought he would ever see standing my a car.
Quinn stood there and stared at the man, tucking her hair behind her ears, "How are you?"
Sam was confused to why she was trying to have a conversation. He haven't really seen her in months, given that she still worked for his future mother-in-law, he made sure that he wasn't in her presence.
When she saw that he wasn't going to respond, she continued to speak, "I never got a chance to congratulate you on becoming a father."
"Don't know why you feel the need to."
Quinn put her head down for a second before letting out a sigh, "I can stand here and apologize for what happen in the past until
I'm blue in the face but it won't change that fact that it happened. I was wrong for what I did. Point blank, no excuses. I'm not looking for forgiveness..."
"You just want to clear your conscious."
"Not in a bad way." She stated seriously before opening up the backseat of her car and reaching in to grab something. She had popped back out with a gift bag, holding out the bag to him, "Please. Take it. It's for Miles. I was on my way to give it to Mrs. Jones."
Sam looked at her then the gift, deciding to not completely be an ass as he reached over and grabbed it from her, "Thanks."
She rubbed her hands together before stepping back, "I'm happy for you, Sam. Happy for the both of you. Happy Thanksgiving."
"And then she walked away without another word."
"Hmm." Mercedes looked at him for a moment before continuing to put the grocery up. She honestly didn't know what to say. The friendship that she had with the woman was ruined years ago when she tried not only trigger Sam, but disrespect him in her presence while claiming to be looking out for her.
Sam gazed at her curiously, watching as she put the items in the cabinet before he stood and went to where she was, "So...that's it?"
"To be quite honest, I don't really know what else to say. As for the gift, sweet gesture I guess but along with what I'm making, I'll take it to the shelter to someone who needs it. But by all means Sam, if you forgive her, that's fine."
"Do I want to sit down, have fucking brunch and chop it up with her? Hell no. But I am in a place in my life where I'm letting go of the past and the bad situations that has happened. She nor anyone or anything, will not be a factor in my life."
"Okay then. Discussion closed." She responded, "Give me the sugar, please."
Sam stared back down at her, seeing the not so subtle change of conversation, which he had no problem with. He didn't want to be on the subject longer than she did but the way she was so uninterested was oddly comical to him. He smiled as he leaned down and kissed her, pulling back and seeing her pursed lips.
"The actual sugar."
Sam chuckled as he grabbed the item from the counter and put it up for her, along with the rest of the items. He then turned back and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her body to his, "We have a couple more hours to ourselves before our house is filled with people and noise. I'm thinking dinner, shower time..."
Mercedes wrapped her arms around his neck, "Mhm, I'm listening."
Sam smirked as he leaned down and kissed to the side of her neck, mumbling, "A nice movie, cuddling session, one thing may or may not lead to another, depends on how we're feeling."
Mercedes chuckled as she pulled back to look at him, smiling, "I'm digging it."
"Have I mentioned how much I love you lately? Because I feel like I'm slacking."
"Trust me, Commander." She started as she kissed his cheek, patting his chest before walking away, "I'd let you know when you are."
Sam watched as she headed out the kitchen with a smile on his face, shaking his head before he followed right behind her.
Mercedes was up at the crack of dawn the next morning. The excitement that was flowing through her was one for the books. She was thankful that her mother had came over early to help, the boys had came with her father due to them all being still sleep when Madelyn had decided to leave early. Sam's family had also arrived a little after nine, his mother and sisters coming to help with the desserts.
"I'd thought I'd never see this day." Madelyn commented as she watched Mercedes spread the marshmallows on the sweet potato casserole, "My daughter has actually cooked, let alone make an entire Thanksgiving meal."
Mercedes pursed her lips at the comment, "Well, I didn't want my family to be living off of take out and frozen dinners."
"More like Sam said you needed to learn how to cook because that wasn't good for Ishmael." Madelyn corrected, watching as she mumbled something before ignoring her, "You know I'm right."
Veronica laughed at Madelyn's comment, looking over at Mercedes, "Are you and Sam going to have more babies?"
"We want at least one more. We're going to try when Miles starts walking." She answered with a smile on her face, her eyes going over to the entrance of the kitchen, the topics of the conversation coming in.
"Good afternoon ladies."
"Hey Sam."
After greeting everyone with hugs, Sam made his way over to his fiancée, smiling as he bent down and dropped a kiss to her lips. Pulling back, he looked at her, "Someone wouldn't let me put his clothes on. He cried every time I laid him on the changing table."
"Onesie it is because we're not about to fight with you little man." Mercedes kissed his cheek, watching as a smile creeped on the corner of his mouth. She chuckled as she looked back at Sam, "I guess we're caving for the day."
"The day? More like the rest of your life." Mary commented as she stared at them and laughed, along with Madelyn, who nodded her head in agreement.
Mercedes snorted before she turned around when the bottom oven went off. She grabbed two towels before bending down and opening it, pulling out the mac and cheese.
Sam grabbed his phone from his pocket when he heard it ringing, seeing that it was a local precinct, his eyebrows twitched up in confusion as he answered, "Hello."
"Sam, can you please come bail us out?"
"Y'all? All three?" Sam moved from out of earshot of the women in the kitchen, "Why the hell are y'all in jail?"
"Hen forgot his anger management steps and a trigger was set. And you know we're not going to just stand there and do nothing."
Sam sighed as he shook his head, looking down at the little boy in his arms, who was blowing spit bubbles, "I'll be there in fifteen."
Mercedes came out into the hallway just as he hung up the phone, hearing the tail end of the conversation, "Where are you going?"
Sam turned to look looked at her, "My friends are in jail."
"What's the holidays without a little drama?" Mercedes asked comically as she took Miles from him, placing a kiss on his cheek before walking away, "Drive safe. I love you."
"I love you too."
Luckily, it didn't take him long to get them out. Since he knew the sheriff, he released them in his custody with a warning. After finding out the story of what happened, he couldn't help but shake his head and laugh. All of this over the last bottle of whiskey. The holidays truly drove people to insanity. They had made it back just in time for prayer. When the food was blessed, everyone grabbed a plate and started to go around the kitchen island to fill them up.
Mercedes had to put her meal on hold due to the crying baby in her arms. She had went to the room and changed him, coming back to the kitchen to her future sister-in-law handing her the bottle that she had put in the warmer for her. She gave her a smile and thanked her before placing the bottle in his mouth.
"Hey Mercedes."
Mercedes lifted her head and looked at the three men in front of her, raising a brow, "Hey troublemakers. How was jail?"
Henry was the first to speak, "Honestly, child's play."
"Speak for yourself, I was scared as hell and I'm black too." Bryant said as he shook his head, picking up a plate, "I was legit starting to hyperventilate."
"I'm just hoping the rest of this day has little to no action." Beau spoke as he grabbed a plate and a fork.
"Can't believe I've adopted three more hotheads in my life when I struggle with the one I have."
"Struggled." Sam emphasized in past tensed, "I've been in solid recovery for awhile now."
Mercedes giggled as she looked down at Miles, whose eyes were starting to droop despite the noise around him, swaying him side from side.
Sam smiled at her before leaning over and kissing her cheek, "I'll fix you something."
"Thank you." She said as she made her way around the growing line and moving towards the living room. Since there was so many of them, they didn't do the "traditional" way of everyone eating at the table. In fact, they were scattered all across the house. Some were going to be in the dining room, the kiddos, some now teens, had took it upon themselves to go to the upstairs living room and the rest joined Mercedes in the living room, where they turned the TV on to watch football.
Ishmael was one of the first who had made it in, him sitting beside Mercedes and placing his cup on the table next the couch and plate in his lap. He picked up his fork and went straight for the dressing and macaroni, placing some in his mouth, he turned to Mercedes.
"Ishmael, I swear to you." She stopped him in his tracks, knowing that he was about to crack a joke as the smirk appeared before he stuffed his face with more food, prompting her to roll her eyes.
Ishmael swallowed the food in his mouth as more people started to file in, "I was just going to say it was good and thank you for cooking, that's all."
Mercedes chuckled as she rolled her eyes once more, "So not what you were going to say, but you're welcome, my love." She shook her head when she saw that smile of his, looking down at Miles as he stared back at her. She leaned down and placed a kiss to his forehead just as Sam came in.
"I'll get him so you can eat." Sam put his plate on the table in front and sat hers on the side of her. He leaned down and picked Miles up before sitting down on the ottoman. He placed the bottle back in his mouth, watching as he drunk his milk and closed his eyes. As he looked at him, Sam couldn't help but think. He would've never imagine being this far in life that he was. He was happier than he has ever been.
"Hey."
He came out his thoughts when he heard Mercedes' voice, looking up and seeing the concern in her eyes.
"Are you okay?"
"Better than okay." He responded, looking around, he found that his friends, siblings, mom and Mercedes' parents were in here with them and he felt that he needed to get something off his chest, "I just want to say a few words real quick." Sam said as the room got quiet, taking a deep breath before speaking again, "Today makes sixteen years since my father's been gone and because of it, I have hated this holiday for the longest. I never wanted to have any association with it because it just wasn't the same. Now, my outlook and want to celebrate is different. My mental health is great. I have a family of my own. Two amazing kids that are my world, something I thought I would never have. This is the first Thanksgiving in a long time that I'm legitimately happy it is here." Sam spoke truthfully as his eyes drifted to Mercedes, "And I got to this point because of this beautiful woman right here. Without her, I wouldn't be the man I am today, and that's why I'm not only thankful for her on today, but everyday. I love you."
Mercedes wiped the tears that fell from her eyes, sniffling a bit as she smiled at him. She was so proud of the growth of this man, she couldn't help but cry, "I love you."
Sam smiled as he cleared his throat, "I just wanted to get that off my chest and thank each you as well for being there for me."
Mary wiped her tears as her hand stayed on her necklace, which is where she kept her wedding ring now. She was so, so happy. Not only at his growth but at the fact that even though it was hard, he truly accepted that he couldn't change the past. That why she didn't regret what she did. The decision she made, him unknowingly, when interfering his life. She was true reason why Sam had gotten this job in the first place. When she got that call from her son that night after that life changing mission, she knew something had changed within him. That gut feeling, that mother intuition was cutting her deeply, and she knew that it wasn't going to be good if he stayed. What Sam didn't know at the time was that Lieutenant Jimmy Gray was the nephew of one of her husband's Navy buddies. He had been keeping her updated with her son when he was out on missions that required no communication with family at all. He didn't want to make the call to get rid of Sam, but he knew that it was in his best interest to. The downward spiral that her son had entered, she of course felt guilty about it because she played a part. The worse he got over those months, the more she knew she needed to right this. She called Jimmy and kindly asked if he could pull some strings to find something for her boy. She didn't want Sam to find out about this ever. She stared at him with so much love and pride, "We love you Sam, through it all, that has never changed. I'm exceptionally proud of the man that you have always been, but even more of the one you have grown to be."
Madelyn smiled, feeling her own tears forming as she reached over and grabbed Mary's hand, earning a squeeze in return.
Sam smiled back at his mother, chuckling as he held back his tears, sniffling as he shook his head, "Alright, enough of this sad stuff. Let's enjoy our time together."
The conversations flowed right along with the noise of silverware hitting the plates, laughter and the rowdiness from football game watchers. Mercedes had stepped out once she had finished eating, feeling herself a tad bit tired for the day.
Sam had finally tore himself away from watching the game when he noticed that she had been gone for awhile. Walking down the hallway to their bedroom, he opened the closed door and found Mercedes laying in the bed with her eyes closed. Closing the door being him, he went over and got into the bed with her.
Mercedes slowly opened her eyes when she felt his presence, "I think I wore myself out."
Sam smiled as he moved her hair from out of her face, seeing the tiredness in her eyes, "You did and everything came out so good because of it."
Mercedes hummed out as she leaned forward and kissed him, pulling back with a smile as she placed her hand on his cheek before closing her eyes back, "I'm so proud you."
Sam smiled at her as he grabbed ahold of her hand, pressing a kiss to it before wrapping his arm around her and pulling her closer to him, "I meant everything I said. Without you, none of this would've been possible. I love you so much."
"I love you too."
A/N. Hope y'all enjoyed this update. One more chapter left! So sad it's coming to an end, this is one of my favorites! But fret not, it's going to be a beautiful ending :)
