You Make Me Feel Like A Natural Woman

At some point you realise you've done too much for a person and the only thing you can do is stop

They'd tried so hard to be what they needed to be for each other, and be what their fans expected of them, but just over three months ago they'd found it impossible and decided, yet again, to split, this time they were hoping for good. Mercy had dated a guy on the rebound that had ended badly and was currently seeing this guy Josh, who was the drummer of a band she'd never heard of who didn't seem to get much work, but he treated her like gold, protected her like porcelain, and called her his Queen, just in case anyone didn't understand her importance to him.

Josh wasn't all that and if she was honest it was more about having someone to talk to, they hadn't been seeing each other long enough for her to be sleeping with him, that was going to take a while because she was still madly in love with Sam.

Sam hadn't been so hasty to move on, he'd promised a date or two but never turned up, his heart wasn't in it, he'd been searching for someone to take Mercy's place, which was a task on its own, especially as his feeling were getting stronger instead of fading. He'd finally landed a second date with Keisha, she was mouthy, loud and a laugh and at this stage in his life, a laugh was just what he needed, of course date two had ended with them in bed, total fluke, wasn't meant to happen and although she knew he'd regretted it she stayed on.

Sam and Mercy hadn't split up because they'd fallen out of love, in fact they were still very much in love, and the decision was about the distance thing, she'd landed a contract in Compton, which had tied her in for three years, at the same time he'd been offered a five year sign up in Nashville, that was his dream, and she needed him to fulfil it.

The agreed silence was hard for both of them, and it was made even more complicated in light of the up and coming anniversary of her mother's passing, they'd been together through school, college, supporting each other through good times and bad, so the two families were tight, and of course they were forever; according to their mothers so telling them anything else was always going to be hard.

Every year on the anniversary of her mother's passing they'd all meet up at the local church to remember her and spend some time with the families, it was almost a custom now. So, it was a complete welcomed surprise to him when her name flashed up on his phone screen

"Hi" his voice already smiling

"Hi" she sighed "I didn't know whether you'd answer"

"We broke up we didn't stop being friends" he reminded her

"I just wanted to ask, are you going?" she was unsure how they were going to explain the absence of one of them to their families.

"I feel I need to, it's just…"

"You don't want to go?" she asked

"No" he laughed "Of course I'm going, just don't bring anyone, I don't want this to be about us"

"Of course not, I wouldn't bring anyone, you know better than that" she snapped "I'm still not up for telling them anything"

"Why, are you still not sure we're doing the right thing?" hope in his voice

"Sam" he could tell she was rolling her eyes

"Sorry" the tone telling Mercy he had more to ask "Mercy… are you seeing anyone?" he held his breath waiting for her response

"Yes, but nothing serious" she looked around the room, wondering whether to ask, "Are you?" she bit her top lip

"Sort of" he left more silence "We've had a few dates, nothing… can we talk when we meet up next week?"

"Sure" Mercy looked at her phone "Is everything alright?"

"It will be, I'll see you next week" he abruptly closing the call

Mercy sat on the balcony wondering what the hell he'd gotten himself into now, maybe the girl was pregnant and he just didn't want to pass that information to her over the phone, or maybe he was getting close to the bitch being the one and again, wanted to tell her face to face. She couldn't help but feel a ping of jealousy about that, they knew they were bound to move on but after just three months, that was crazy quick, and in all honesty she didn't know how to feel about it.

Sam sat with the phone in his hand looking out the café window, within two weeks there had been so many alarm bells about this new girl Keisha he knew he was falling into a trap.

Earlier that Day

At first he was happy she wanted to hang out with him every night, it had been a while since his more than healthy sex life with Mercy had come to an abrupt halt, and he craved the company. There was so much resistance from him when she threw affection at him, he was shocked himself that he couldn't perform, his body wanted it but he heart and his mind refused to go there, and that made him stand off from the start.

The alarm bells started ringing for him on day three when she started answering questions directed at him when he spoke to his friend Ryder, she was taking centre stage in their conversations, taking great joy in Ryder showing his frustration at the situation. At first he just thought she was trying too hard to fit in with his friend, but Ryder had mentioned the words 'emotional manipulation' and that had started his mind ticking. He was watching this play out in front of his eyes as she went about trying to isolate him from his friends, made everything about them, he felt the trap closing around him.

Then she started telling him his friends were jealous of him, holding him back, even wanted to sleep with her. He found himself watching his friends, men, just waiting for the move she was going to swear they were making on her, doubting everyone, while she stroked his ego.

Week three and everything about him had changed, it was that fast, he wasn't the happy go lucky guy that had come to terms with his body issues years earlier, the confident singer that took centre stage and loved that feeling of giving of himself, had been turned into a fumbling wreak. Lucky for him he had friends that cared, Ryder and Blaine sat him down and painted the picture clearly, he left that conversation seeing Keisha for what she was and just like that, whatever feelings he'd thought were there turned into hate, a strong hate that he knew he had to do something about, quickly.

It still took him a few days to pluck up the courage, but the final straw had happened today, she'd walked into his changing room this afternoon with a whole new wardrobe of clothes she thought he should be wearing on stage, it hit a nerve, because Mercy and he had handpicked every single piece of clothing he'd ever worn on stage, and now here she was telling him something negative about the woman he loved. The fact that the woman thought he'd feel comfortable in freaking 1970s shell suits on stage, pissed him right off, he'd told her he liked vintage cars, but shell suites, hell no.

"Why would you think I'd want to dress in these?" he asked picking up a suit

"I thought we could sing something together" Keisha laughed

"That's not even funny, get rid of them" he threw them at her "And if you don't like it you can follow them out" that was it, he'd reached his edge, he wanted this woman out of his life, but somehow he knew it wasn't going to be plain sailing.

"I was thinking you were needed to improve on your look, I thought I was helping you"

"Improve my look?" he gasped "I have it on good authority I already look damn good" he smiled at her sarcastically "And nothing you say will change that opinion"

"Not even if I give you my sorry, so will you come to bed eyes?" she gave them to him

"Especially if you give me those" he frowned walking away from her

"You're thinking about her again, aren't you?"

"Why do you need to know?"

"Because you're with me now" she obviously thought she owned him

"That can change" he warned narrowing his eyes to look at her, he was ready to go there with this girl, and right at that second he knew he needed to hear a friendly voice

He'd spent ten years with Mercy, they'd been good years and although they were mostly about love, he'd learned some life lessons from her too. She'd given him clarity on what to expect from any loving relationship, he knew what love was, he was more than aware that someone who loved him, wouldn't be looking to change him, would see the good in him, and encourage him to be the best version of himself, he believed that. And as well as all that soft stuff she'd also encouraged him to know when not to take any shit, learnt him what real gut feeling was about, so he knew if he was going to carry on laying down and letting this woman walk all over him now, he was letting Mercy down in the biggest way.

"What the fuck are you doing?" he snatched his phone back off Keisha "How dare you" he looked up at her, she'd lunged at him and snatched it out his hand

"You were calling her, weren't you?"

"Seriously?" he asked stunned "You don't dictate who I damn well speak to, don't touch my phone again" he warned snatching it back

"Why are you being like this?"

"Why?" he asked, there were no words he could say that were going to deliver his message kindly or preserve his respect for himself and all the other women in his life, so he knew he needed to do this respectfully, he clenched his fists and bit into his bottom lip, smiling falsely "Actually Keisha we need to have a conversation later" he told her before walking away.

Back to Now

He sat looking out the café window happy he'd taken the minute, he'd managed to have his first conversation with Mercy in three months and confirm they were going home next week, now all he had to do was have this conversation with Kiesha, he slipped his phone back in his pocket and made his way back to the venue.

Of course, the conversation was very one sided, Kiesha sat quietly listening to him tell her things weren't going too good for them so, he'd decided to call it a day. She was nodding understandingly, smiling, and actually agreeing with his dissection of their toxic relationship, she'd left the dressing room quietly and he hadn't seen her again since, but there was something in the pit of his stomach telling him for her, that wasn't it.

Lima

A week later he was in Lima, making ready to attend Evelyn's memorial, as usual he'd got home late evening, there was always three days set aside, the first to spend time with Mercy's dad, another to meet up with old friends and of course a day to spend with his family, he was hoping none of it would be awkward. Their usual meet up happened at the usual 10pm they had a routine, they'd grab a few drinks at their local bar, and catch up, before the big event the following morning

"Hi" he smiled at the woman he still loved, watching her stand to greet him, taking his kiss "I still miss you"

"Sam" she wiped her lipstick off his lips

"Sorry, but it's true" he whispered before moving away, taking the empty seat opposite her "Thanks" he smiled at the waiting whiskey before picking it up to take a sip

"So" she smiled, putting her elbows on the table to get nearer to him "What did you need to make right?"

"Us" he looked into her eyes "We were stupid to think ten years could just be swept away, I need us to be together, I don't care how hard it got for us, this is harder"

"Sam…"

"The only words I need to hear right now is yes or okay" his tone demanding

"I agree being apart is hard, maybe even harder than I ever thought it would be, I pretend but that guy, well… he… he wasn't you"

"And nobody's you" he grabbed her hand "Just say yes" he smiled at her

"Ye…"

"Yes to what?" a voice invaded their conversation

"Keisha, what the hell are you doing here?" Sam jumped up shocked at her making an appearance

"I'm guessing this is the problem you had to make right?" Mercy looked up at the girl stood there with longer weaves than anyone needed to have, she looked ridiculous "Definitely not your type" she looked at Sam

"Sorry?" Keisha asked offended "Is this her?" she looked down at Mercy sat watching her

"Mercy this is Keisha" Sam rolled his eyes "We split up a week ago and I really don't know what the hell she's doing here"

"You finished with me I didn't say I'd finished with you" Keisha hissed at him

"So, you waited a week to tell me this?" Sam asked shocked

"Seriously?" Mercy looked at the two of them "Am I caught up in some fucking love triangle?"

"No" Sam snapped, turning to Keisha "We're done, please leave me alone"

"Okay" she held her hands up and backed away, Sam sat back down both of them watching her leave before getting back to their conversation

"Sorry about that" he grabbed her hand again "I was asking…"

"Sam" Mercy gasped "The bitch followed you from Nashville, be concerned"

"She's harmless" he waved it off

"I'm telling you, she's dangerous"

"Can we get back to our conversation?"

"Yes, I want us to be together" she snapped at him

"I don't care how it works as long as it works"

"I agree" she smiled at him

"You're finishing with whoever he is?"

"Yes, I have" she giggled

They went to their usual hotel room they had a lot to catch up on "I've missed this" he sat on the bed in front of her, smiling at her head going down between his legs

"You're so greedy" she giggled, working him with her hand before her mouth took over "Who's that?" her head popped up at the ringing phone

"It might be something to do with the tour" he stretched over to answer it "Keisha" he shouted "Just calm down, wait, I'll be there in a few minutes" he looked at Mercy before getting up and grabbing his pants

"Where the fuck are you going?" she asked

"She's threatening to jump of that old bridge" he skipped into his pants "She's…" he looked at his phone again "The sick bitch has sent me a damn picture" he pulled his top on

"So, where are you going?" Mercy asked again stunned

"She's going to kill herself" he snapped "That can't happen because of me"

"Seriously?" she sat on her knees still stunned

"Babe"

"So, you're going back to her?"

"No" he stopped to look at her

"Well, if you leave me like this, you're sending me a clear message"

"I just don't want to be the reason she'd dead"

"So, this isn't her way of trying to get you back?"

"It might be, but I'm with you" he walked back towards her "Honesty, this isn't a be jealous scenario"

"Feels like it" she sulked

"Babe" he lifted her chin to look into her eyes "I just can't have this on my conscience, just let me deal with it and then I'm all yours" he stroked her face "I'll make it up to you" he grabbed his jacket and headed out.

Keisha was stood at the bridge just like the picture she'd sent him ten minutes ago, black marks down her face where she'd obviously been building herself up for this dramatic event

"You took your time" she screamed at him as he approached

"What are you doing?" he walked up to her, the adrenalin pumping at the thought of what could happen

"I don't want to do this Sam, but you forced me into it, I can't live without you in my life, there's no point" she cried

"Keisha we… I don't want to see you hurt" he thought better of telling her he really didn't want to be with her

"If you didn't want to see me hurt, you'd stay with me"

"I think we both know staying with someone because you've been forced to isn't the right way to have a relationship"

"You loved me didn't you?"

"I can't lie, it didn't happen" his eyes sorry for the harsh delivery, but he couldn't get himself any deeper into this, he'd left Mercy at the hotel knowing she was who he wanted "Keisha"

"So, you don't really care if I live or die?"

He needed her to move away from the edge of the railings "Why don't you come over here and we can talk about this?"

"Why her?"

"I don't talk about her, you know that"

"I can be her, better than her, if you just let me show you"

"You really couldn't, nobody could"

"I could" she stepped back over railings and moved closer to him

"Keisha" he frowned as she attempted to get too close to him

"I can smell her on you" she snapped as he pulled away, tears burst out as she turned and ran off, he was relieved, at least the jump wasn't imminent

Over the next two days her behaviour became repetitive, in between the family events Sam was dealing with Keisha and her attempts to kill herself if he didn't do as she wanted him to. Day three and Mercy was pissed this possessive woman was calling all hours, he was jumping in and out of family time, church, their bedroom, everywhere.

"She's at the train station" Sam jumped up panicking

"Shit Sam" Mercy hissed "Either you stop running after her or this isn't going to work for us" she sat up in bed watching him leave her before they'd had the chance to do anything for the second night running

"I just feel so guilty babe" he sat on the edge of the bed holding his head equally irritated

"About her or me?"

"Both" he looked at her "I wanted a clean start for us, she hasn't let us have that, but I don't want my name attached to all this when she finally goes through with it, you know?"

"And I don't want to sound like the jealous girlfriend or anything but…"

"You've every right to be, I'm sorry, and I will sort this out" he tapped a number into his phone

Over the past two days Sam had passed through his feelings of guilt, cold chills, even panic attacks every time his phone rang, day three was impacting on his life with Mercy and those feelings of empathy had turned to anger, agitation, and resentment, with every meeting his aim was to tell her enough was enough

"Keisha" he whispered watching her threatening to jump in front of the next train "What will it take to make you stop feeling like this?"

"You know, I just need you to take me back"

"I wouldn't want to be with someone who's does…"

"…I'll stop if you come back to me"

"And what happens when we don't work out?"

"We will"

"We won't Keisha, I'm sure you know that" he looked around "I've brought some people with me, I think they'll be able to help you better than I can"

"Who?" she spun round to look at him

"They just want to talk to you, find out what's going on for you, and try and help, we need this to stop" he held his hand out for her to grab "Just do this for me, I'm scared for where this will end" he could see the panic in her face as he grabbed her hand tighter "You'll be looked after" he assured her as the police came into sight "They'll get you some help" he nodded letting her go as soon as they surrounded her "God" he gasped rolling his eyes, feeling the weight of the world lift off his shoulders, all he could do was sit on the floor and breathe

"Babe" he heard Mercy's voice in all the chaos

"Hey" he head shot up to find her, smiling "What are you doing here?"

"I heard someone I love was having a crap day and I thought I'd try and make it better" she sat beside him, pulling him into her

"So much better" he lifted his arm to put it around her "I can't believe this is over" he kissed her forehead "I don't know why I didn't listen to you on day one"

"Because you wanted to be Sam babe" she giggled

12 Weeks Later

Mercy was about to do her last gig for a while, and Sam's last gig ended a week ago, they'd agreed to find time, so this was going to be it. He'd surprised her last night with a proposal and she'd accepted, they were talking about having a family, it was something they'd put off for nearly seven years, so they were stepping back for a while to let things happen naturally.

"Babe" he laughed walking up behind, his hands slipping down her trousers, and up to fondle her breast as he hugged into her "You're going to be fine, what's the big deal?"

"I don't know" her head fell back on his chest "Mm, I just think as it's the last one for a while, everything that can is going to go wrong" she bit her bottom lip at his touch

"If it does I'll jump up there with you and we'll face it together" he kissed her neck "But it won't" he whispered, pulling away from her

"You're so confident in me" she leaned up and kissed his lips "I love you, you know that right?"

"I love you, you know that, right?" he kissed her forehead "Now come on let's get this done" he smiled at her reflection in the mirror "And hurry up, I need in"

He loved to hear her sing, and he couldn't lie, her being up there strong, confident, brilliant, and sexy did it for him every damn time. She started off jumpy getting the crowd heated up with some of her recent hits, bringing the crowd down until she got to a mellow place to finish with the song she started her career with, her rendition of 'Woman to Woman' by Shirley Brown nodding at Sam when she saw Keisha stood in the crowd

"What?" he mouthed looking behind him, shocked at seeing Kiesha stood there, his eyes widened at Mercy telling her he had nothing to do with it

…Oh, oh, woman to woman, was I right or was I wrong, now I ain't going to let you, break up my happy home

Now woman to woman, now you I don't want no trouble now, I hope you understand
I love that man, and he's mine, I'm talking to you, woman to woman…

The night was a great success they'd already started celebrating in the dressing room, so to be faced with Kiesha when they walked out into the car lot, made them both roll their eyes, he'd promised he wasn't doing this anymore. "Sam, Mercy" Keisha stood by his car waiting "Just a quick word please" she held her hand out beggingly "I just want to say a sincere sorry for the way I acted, and to assure you both that I've stopped" she smiled weakly "I don't have an explanation I guess you made me feel like a…"

"Natural woman?" Mercy laughed

"I appreciate your apology Keisha" Sam smiled

"Mercy" Keisha got her attention "He's right, I could never be you, no one can, that was a brilliant performance"

"Thank you" Mercy smiled

"And Sam, thank you for actually stopping me"

"Bye Keisha" Sam stepped past her to open the car door for Mercy "But we do mean it, we don't want any contact with you again"

"That's fine" she smiled walking over to a car, there was someone sitting in it, and of course they didn't know if they was a professional or another victim of her emotional manipulation, but they knew they could breathe again