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I do not own Glee or the characters, neither do I own Wishing For Us.
Sam could hardly believe it. He and Mercedes had gone to her apartment, where she'd packed enough outfit changes to get her through several days, along with her toiletries.
He was leading her down the hallway and into his guest room now.
He'd fully expected her to rip into him earlier, when he'd confessed everything from that night.
And yes, she'd been angry...at first, but then, she'd appeared almost despondent.
He had honestly wanted to see her again sooner, but Melanie had been calling him and dropping by unannounced for the last two days, insisting, that if he would only agree to marry her, all of their problems could go away.
He wondered if she knew, just how insane that sounded.
And the night before, he had finally told her he'd had enough.
Surprisingly, she'd actually listened and backed off today, but he couldn't rest on his laurels, because he knew it wouldn't last.
In the meantime though, he was enjoying the peace while he could.
Parts of his and Mercedes' night together in Las Vegas was still fuzzy, but the desire he'd felt for her...wasn't.
It had haunted him since coming home. And, if not for dealing with Melanie and her drama since he'd come home from Vegas, he would've been on Mercedes' doorstep...once he'd actually figured out where that was.
That night, as they'd sat together in the hotel bar after their friends had left, they had bonded over their shared misery.
Regretfully, he hadn't revealed his as she had, but it had been there, choking him. And the last thing he'd been thinking when he took the seat beside her, was getting into a serious relationship.
Hell, he'd been trying to avoid marriage with Melanie for months. But when Mercedes had told him about losing her fiancé, and how it had crushed her dreams of sharing her life with someone, suddenly, it had been as if a lightbulb had gone off in his head.
Both of them were longing to have someone special in their life.
And although he couldn't replace the fiancé she had lost, he could give her the husband she longed for. And she could be the non-crazy wife he needed for his daughter.
There was no doubt about it...the beer goggles had truly been on...and his idea had seemed absolutely perfect. And the fact that he was drawn to Mercedes in a way he couldn't explain, hadn't hurt either.
And, in the sober light of the next day, he was still very attracted to her.
But that was overridden by the guilt he felt, at what had seemed much more like deception, than two friends helping each other.
So the fact that she was here with him now, was more than he would've thought possible.
It also pushed the point home, that he hadn't planned what would happen beyond their I do's.
Did they live together as roommates?
Split the household chores down the middle and have separate lives?
Or did they attempt to form some kind of relationship...at the very least...a friendship?
But if he was honest with himself, he wouldn't mind something more. He'd like to get to know her better.
It'd been a while since he'd had any interest in a woman, that ran deeper than a bedmate for a night.
And dealing with Melanie and her demands, had left him quite cynical where the opposite sex was concerned.
On the other hand...Mercedes was completely different from the mother of his child.
And that appealed to him...more and more.
When Mercedes touched his arm, Sam realized she'd been talking to him...or trying to...but he'd been too zoned out to notice.
"Sorry, what was that?" he asked, feeling awkward as hell.
He found himself wanting to impress her, and he sure hadn't been successful at that so far.
He was the VP of a very profitable company, but had all of the grace of a schoolboy, when around her.
Before she could answer, she let out a huge yawn and immediately ducked her head.
"Sorry about that," she murmured. "I was actually asking, if it was okay if I turned in for the night. It's gotten pretty late, and I was up early this morning helping Quinn."
"Oh, of course," Sam answered quickly, feeling like a heel for keeping her up. Now that she mentioned it, he could see the telltale signs of fatigue on her face.
He deposited her suitcase inside the doorway.
"The bathroom is right through there," he added, pointing it out.
Then he stood with his hands in his pockets, feeling a little uncertain as to what to do next.
Cassidy was the only overnight guest he'd had in years. And when his parents were in town, they usually chose to stay at a beachside hotel.
And his brother, Stevie...well, he tried not to imagine where he ended up most nights when he visited.
Mercedes gave Sam an amused smirk.
"I think I can take it from here. If I have any problems, I'll let you know."
He backed away so suddenly, he stumbled, nearly falling onto his ass.
'You're so smooth Evans. I can't imagine why she wants to be rid of you,' he thought.
"So...I'm just down the hall if you need anything. It's the first door on the right." He turned to leave and then swung back around. "Actually, that's wrong. It's the first door on the left from your room. It's the right from the living room. Or technically, you could consider it the last door."
"I'll scream," she deadpanned. And at his alarmed expression, she giggled before adding, "I meant, if I can't find you, I'll just yell your name."
"Oh...right."
He smiled, before reluctantly walking away and shutting the door behind him. He was making such an ass out of himself, that he should've cut his losses and bolted immediately, instead of hanging around her room like some kind of creeper.
If what had just occurred was any indication, his pretend marriage was going to be one hell of a trip.
He was usually pretty smooth around the ladies, but that certainly hadn't been the case just now. He needed to get his shit together and fast.
Maybe if he and Mercedes sat down again tomorrow and further defined the parameters of their relationship, he might be more comfortable around her.
Because, as it stood now, he had no idea how long she planned to remain his wife...or what exactly that relationship entailed.
If they were going to live together, though, things needed to be spelled out between them so there were no misunderstandings.
Every moment he was around her, his attraction to her only grew stronger.
He owed her so much for agreeing to help him with the Melanie situation. And he didn't want to push his luck.
But damn, if he didn't want to do something crazy...like ask her out on a date.
'Be grateful that she's still speaking to you and leave it at that tonight.'
He decided to listen to the wise voice in his head and go about his usual nightly routine...one that normally didn't include, having a wife just down the hall.
He had no idea how he'd ever sleep, but he also suspected, he should get used to the frustration, because he had a feeling he hadn't seen anything yet.
'When you got fake married, it likely meant, other women were probably off the menu for a while,' he thought.
"Very true," he mumbled.
When Mercedes woke up on Sunday morning, it hit her, that she hadn't thought the whole moving in with Sam thing over very well.
Normally, she would have spent her day doing laundry and getting prepared for the week ahead.
And sometimes, she would have lunch or dinner with a friend, but those get-togethers had grown rare since Quinn met Noah.
Naturally, her friend was part of a couple now and spent most of her free time with her man. And Mercedes wouldn't dare to begrudge her that...after all, she'd been that woman once when Matt was alive.
And even after three years, she still had trouble adjusting to being single.
She'd made joint decisions for so long, that she automatically felt like she should consult someone before agreeing to anything.
Not knowing what else to do, she showered and dressed in a pair of skinny jeans and a fitted white top.
Next, she threw on a pair of low-heeled sandals and took a breath before stepping out into the hall.
She was bracing herself to see Sam again, when she caught a flash of motion, before something slammed into her legs.
She rocked back, just barely managing to catch herself.
"What the..." she murmured, as she tried to get her bearings.
Then she heard a giggle before a childish voice asked,
"Who are you?"
Mercedes looked down to find Sam's daughter grinning up at her.
Dear Lord, the child was even more beautiful in person and resembled her daddy even more.
And those dimples...Mercedes could feel her insides melting into a gooey mess.
She squatted down, bringing herself eye level with the curious little girl.
"I'm Mercedes and I believe that you're Cassidy."
The little girl screwed up her face before asking,
"Are you a stranger? Cause I can't talk to you if you are."
Abruptly, her small face zeroed in on Mercedes' feet.
"Can I wear your shoes? I like sparkles. Mommy says they make girls look like ramps, but I don't see how. My cousin, Kenny, has a ramp for his skates. But it don't look nothing like sparkly shoes. So...can you please take them off now?"
Before Mercedes could stop her head from spinning, with all of the rapid-fire words coming from Cassidy's mouth, the little girl had removed her own shiny black sandals and was tugging on hers.
"Honey, maybe we should ask your dad first," she managed to spit out.
But when Cassidy's lip wobbled and she appeared to be on the verge of tears, Mercedes stepped out of her shoes without another word of protest.
"Okay, here you go, sweetheart. Do you need me to help you put them on?"
The little girl gave her a sweet smile that no longer showed any trace of tears. And Mercede was pretty sure she'd been hustled by a six-year-old.
Cassidy plopped on her bottom and preceded to push her tiny feet into Mercedes' shoes.
And Mercedes was grateful that they didn't have any type of heel, that would make them dangerous for her to wear.
"You've got big feet," Cassidy tossed out as she stood back up. Then she grabbed Mercedes' hand and began tugging her down the hallway.
"Let's go show Mommy my ramp shoes!"
Resistance was futile at that point, because Cassidy was hell-bent on finding her mother, and Mercedes was very much afraid, that she'd given Sam's daughter a pair of tramp shoes to wear.
What else could 'ramp' mean?
She knew darn well it wasn't some skating reference.
She barely had a moment to panic, before Cassidy had her in the kitchen, standing just inches away from a tense Sam and an obviously angry, but beautiful woman, who had to be Melanie.
'Of course, the mother of his child would look like a supermodel. Should I have expected anything less?'
The woman had the kind of flowing locks, that women paid big money to achieve with hair extensions.
It was also readily apparent, that she spent a lot of time in a gym, no doubt with a personal trainer. Plus, her makeup was flawless and her features would've been more beautiful, if not for the scowl currently marring her face.
"Daddy, look what I found in your bedroom!" Cassidy's voice seemed to reverberate around the kitchen, causing the adults to stiffen.
Melanie put her hands on her designer jean–clad hips and hissed,
"For God's sake, Sam, really? You've just been standing here, telling me how important it is to set a good example for our daughter, and you have some tramp in your bedroom the whole time?"
Let it go girl. Don't make a scene in front of this sweet, innocent child,' Mercedes thought.
She really wanted to be angry at the insult from Melanie, but she wasn't going to give the woman the satisfaction of seeing her losing her shit...in front Cassidy.
It would only give the designer barbie more ammunition, to cause Sam more stress.
Plus, she was so horrified to be stuck in the middle of this train wreck, that all she could do was stand stock-still, while it played out before her.
The word 'tramp' registered with Cassidy almost immediately, and Mercedes winced, as the little girl began pointing frantically to her feet.
"She let me wear her ramps, Mommy! She had them on, but now I got them." Then, she wrinkled her little nose and added, "But I don't think she got skates."
To Mercedes' amazement, Sam laughed and asked his daughter,
"Ramps? What ever does that mean, sweetie?"
Melanie sniffed indignantly, and answered before her daughter did.
"She's referring to the type of women you've dragged into your house. The one who is presently standing beside my impressionable daughter!"
Sam stood there for a moment as if doing the math in his head, before her insult finally got through to him.
Then, he seemed to lose all of his mirth and his jaw hardened.
"Melanie, this conversation is hardly appropriate for Cassidy. And the fact that you've used that word around her before, completely boggles the mind."
Mercedes had no experience with parenting, but still, she felt that Sam and Melanie should be having this discussion elsewhere.
They might not have noticed it, but their daughter was watching them with rapt attention. So she squared her shoulders and cleared her throat uneasily.
When she had everyone's attention, she looked at Cassidy pointedly, before turning back to Sam and Melanie.
"If you don't mind, I thought I could go into the other room with Cassidy and watch television."
'Anything loud enough to block the sound of your bickering,' she thought, but didn't verbalize it.
"Absolutely not!" Melanie snapped out.
The other woman might be beautiful on the outside, but the sneer on her face and the contempt in her voice, made her very ugly to Mercedes at that moment.
She stalked over to her daughter and gritted out,
"Take those shoes off, Cassidy. We're leaving. Now!"
Obviously, Cassidy noticed the tone of her mother's voice and wisely didn't argue. She slid her small feet from Mercedes' shoes, and then bent down to pick them up.
"Thank you for letting me wear your ramps," she whispered politely.
"You're welcome, sweetheart," Mercedes said softly, feeling anguish for the little girl. This child, like so many, didn't deserve to be caught in the war that raged between her parents.
She shouldn't have to worry about anything more important, than her next tea party or learning new things at school.
Cassidy glanced quickly at her mother, before bolting across the room and connecting with her father's leg.
Sam leaned down and scooped her up into his arms. And Mercedes was certain she saw moisture in his eyes, as he buried his face in his daughter's soft curls.
"Daddy loves you, baba. I'll see you real soon, okay?"
"Must you insist on calling her that?" Melanie huffed out, before stepping over to him and taking a reluctant Cassidy in her arms for a brief second, before putting her on her feet.
"Let's go find your shoes."
The kitchen was dead silent, as both Mercedes and Sam seemed to be waiting for them to either reappear or for the sound of the door closing.
A few minutes later, they heard a slam reverberating through the house and Sam slumped around the bar.
"I'm sorry, Mercedes. That should've never happened in front of you or Cassidy. I didn't tell her about our marriage today for the very same reason. I figured I'd talk to her while Cassidy was at school one day this week. But she dropped by unannounced this morning in a foul mood. I tried to hold my tongue to keep it from escalating, but even that pissed her off.
When you and Cassidy walked into the kitchen, she was looking for a reason to blow and she got it. She's angry over the joint custody papers I filed and she's in my face at every opportunity about it. I'm not sure what she hopes to gain from these impromptu visits...and the only bright spot is getting to see my daughter, even though it's unexpected."
Mercedes walked towards him and laid a hand on his arm.
"It's all right," she replied. "I shouldn't have come into the room when I knew she was here." Giving him an amused look, she added, "But your daughter doesn't take no for an answer very easily. She towed and I followed."
Sam chuckled, then put his other hand over hers.
And she bit her lip to keep from moaning at the feel of his warm skin beneath her hand.
Touching him probably hadn't been the best idea.
"She is a lot like her father in that respect. I also apologize about the whole ramp-tramp thing. It's beyond my comprehension why Melanie would say that in front of her. But trust me, that conversation is far from over."
Worried, Mercedes asked,
"Do you think us being married is really going to help your case? She seemed so...hostile today. I'm afraid that it will just make her worse."
Looking disgusted, Sam shook his head.
"Oh, undoubtedly it will make her more of a bitch than usual. She set all of this into motion, though, with her absurd demands."
When the door slammed once again, they both stared at each other in shock.
"What the hell?" Sam retorted, as he pulled away from Mercedes to see who their visitor was.
He'd barely rounded the corner, when the reappearance of his now grinning daughter brought him to an abrupt halt.
Melanie was just inches behind her and looked as if she'd swallowed something sour as she rolled her eyes and said,
"Can Cassidy stay with you for a few hours? My mother was supposed to watch her today, while I helped a friend with a baby shower. But apparently, she's been up sick all night and just now saw fit to let me know."
Mercedes idly wondered, why it would be a problem for Melanie to take her daughter with her, but wisely kept her mouth shut.
She didn't want to risk another round of being called a tramp...or a ramp...as Cassidy put it.
"Of course," Sam replied without hesitation. "How about I drop her by this evening around seven? We'll go to the aquarium or to the zoo."
Cassidy jumped in place, clearly excited by her father's plans for the day.
"I want to go to the aquarium, Daddy, and pet a fish!"
Mercedes was smiling at the little girl, thinking about how adorable she was, when Cassidy unknowingly threw her under the bus.
She grabbed her hand and tugged on it.
"Can she come with us too, Daddy?" Without waiting for her father's reply, she told Mercedes, "You gonna love those fishes. And if you lay on your tummy on the rocks, they'll let you pet the big ones. No standing up, though, cause you might fall in the water."
It was a true testament to how much Melanie wanted a babysitter. So instead of making another scene, she simply settled for glaring from Sam to Mercedes before saying stiffly,
"I'll be expecting her at seven. I'd appreciate it if you didn't confuse her, by including someone she'll never see again after today. I'd rather not answer any questions as to who Daddy's special friend is."
Mercedes could see the frustration on Sam's face, and she couldn't blame him.
Actually, she had to give him a lot of credit for not telling the other woman off. There was rude and then there was Melanie.
She seemed to be in a league all her own.
And Mercedes had a feeling, she chose to do a lot of her taunting in front of her daughter, because she realized Sam would be less likely to retaliate in the same manner.
He blew out an exasperated breath before saying,
"We'll discuss that this evening when I drop off Cassidy."
Melanie shrugged her shoulders and whirled on her impossibly high heels. Almost like something out of a movie, her long, pale hair floated behind her, as she tossed a
"Whatever" over her slim shoulders.
'What a bitch!' Mercedes couldn't help thinking, as the three of them were left behind, in an obviously expensive cloud of perfume.
Sam, seemingly unaffected, pasted on a big smile for his daughter and clapped his hands together.
"All right! Who wants to see some sharks?"
"Me do, me do!" Cassidy whirled and bobbed, before latching on to her father's leg.
Mercedes just stood un-certainly, not knowing if she was invited or if Sam wanted to spend the time alone with his daughter.
How comfortable could he possibly be with her going along, seeing as they barely knew each other?
He was probably too much of a gentleman to exclude her, though, so she decided to make it easy for him.
"I think I'll get my clothes ready for the week ahead and then curl up with a book this afternoon. You two go ahead and have a blast."
Sam's jaw dropped at her words.
"What? Why? I thought...I mean, don't you want to come with us? Do you not enjoy aquariums? The one at Broadway is amazing. We'll grab some lunch afterwards and walk around."
She shifted un-certainly.
She really did want to go, and Sam appeared to genuinely desire her company as well. But before she could answer, Cassidy took first her daddy's hand and then hers.
"Let's go!" she announced.
Sam gave her a playful grin over his daughter's head, knowing full well that she wouldn't say no to the little girl.
And she didn't.
Within minutes, Cassidy was securely buckled in the backseat of Sam's truck, while Mercedes took her seat beside him.
"Thanks for coming along," he said, as they drove the short distance through Myrtle Beach to Broadway at the Beach.
It was a mix of shops, restaurants, and attractions, such as Ripley's Aquarium.
Figuring she might as well come clean, Mercedes said,
"No problem. I have a membership to the aquarium, so I'm there quite a lot. I've found it's a pretty good place to spend a lazy day. Plus, they're constantly adding different exhibits, so there's always something new to see."
'Did that explanation make me sound like a loser?' she wondered wryly.
He probably thought she had no life.
How many single women spent time hanging out at a local attraction, geared primarily towards children?
And she didn't want to add, that Matt had originally gotten the membership for the two of them to enjoy together, and she hadn't had the heart to cancel it.
So each year, she paid the membership fee. And on the days that she missed him the most, she would often find herself driving there and spending time doing one of the things that he'd enjoyed doing.
She'd always thought that someday, they would bring their own child to learn about some of the aquatic habitats from around the world, but that hope had died along with him.
Stay safe!