Epilogue

"Come here, you little rug rats!" Sam called out as five-year-old Megan, and three-year-olds SJ and Carly ran around the ranch home being chased by Sam and Stevie.

Mercedes laughed, shaking her head, as she rubbed her seven-month belly. "Are you nuts hungry, or are you gonna keep running around?"

When she was answered by nothing but laughs, she looked over to both of her sisters-in-law. "Well, I guess it's just us for a while. So Did you know that our husbands have a pool on who is going to go into labor first?"

Quinn laughed, "I better not go first. I am like three weeks earlier than you."

Marley laughed, rocking one-month-old Sale. "I still can't believe you just work your pregnancy around one of us, is Stacey next?" She teased.

"Hey, Sam and I were waiting, but apparently, the man is fertile as hell. I don't know what Q's issue is?" She laughed.

"Your brother was home; that's all the excuse I need," Quinn smirked.

Mercedes grabbed a grilled cheese and smiled. "I gotta say, I love that you guys moved closer to us. With Marcus retiring, we all get to watch our kids grow up together."

"Well, it's not all of us; Malcolm isn't here." Quinn pointed out.

Mercedes smiled, looking towards Sam and Stevie, who weren't listening. "He might be moving closer than you think…he and Stacey are engaged." She whispered.

Marley and Quinn's eyes bugged out. "He is moving his practice for her. But she hasn't told her brothers."

"So that's what dinner tonight is for?" Marley asked.

"Yeah, Momma Evans said it was the best way. She didn't want Sam and Stevie going crazy since she is marrying someone older, even if he's my brother. But they fell in love, and we can't control who we love." Mercedes glanced at Sam as he picked up Sj and spun him around.

"Speak of the devil," Quinn said as Stacey knocked and walked inside.

"So this is where the party is!" Stacey said, sitting on a stool. "How are the pregnant mommies doing?"

Mercedes hugged her before going back to her sandwich. "You hungry? The monsters haven't gotten to it yet."

Sam looked over to the women as the kids jumped on Stevie. He left the group and headed over to Mercedes, kissing her neck as he held her from behind. "How is my beautiful glowing wife doing?"

"I am good," Mercedes said, holding her sandwich up so Sam could take a bite.

"Hey Lil sis, you coming to dinner tonight?" Sam asked as he moved to hug Stacey. "You look good, Lil one."

"I feel good. Things are going really great for me."

Sam nodded as his hand felt a big rock on her hand. "Umm, Stace…a word…what is this."

He held up her hand as Stevie moved over to his sister. "Ummm, what the he-"

"Stevie!" Mercedes warned.

Stevie sighed, remembering kids were around. "Tell me, dear sister, why you are wearing an engagement ring?"

"Ummm…" Stacey looked at Mercedes for help.

"Guys, can you get the kids at the table to eat," Mercedes said to Sam and Stevie.

"Merce, I am wo-"

She cut Sam off. "Please, you can talk to Stacey once the kids are at the table, okay?"

Sam nodded, pulling Stevie with him.

"Text your mom and have her come over. Tell her to bring the rum cake; we are going to need it." She said, looking over to Sam. He was not happy. "Text Mal too. He should be here for this."

Quinn smiled. "I am gonna have Marcus come too; he should be here for the fireworks."

Mercedes laughed, shaking her head. "You know you are enjoying this way too much, Q."

20 minutes later, the kids were chatting away at the table eating, and Sam and Stevie were back staring at Stacey. A knock brought Mary, Dwight, Marcus, and Malcolm in.

Sam shook his head. "Okay, look, we have waited long enough, and I don't know why the big group of family is here, but why did we not know you were dating, let alone you were engaged."

Mercedes chuckled as Stacey stood up to her brothers. "Because of this right here, you and Stevie are so crazy that I can't tell you anything."

Sam scoffed. "No, we don't."

"Uh, yes, you do; you treat Stacey how my brothers used to treat me. She's not a baby, and you need to realize that; she's 25 guys and in love."

Stevie eyes Mercedes and everyone else. "So Sam and I are the only ones who didn't know? Who is it, Stace?"

Stacey looked at Malcolm and then her brothers, but Malcolm took her hand in his before she could speak. "I asked Stacey to marry me. We started talking after the game where we all met, and I love her; I wanted to tell you all right away, but Stacey wanted to wait."

Sam's eyes widened, and Mercedes moved over to him. "Sam. They are in love."

Sam nodded, looking at Malcolm. "Mal, if you can take care of Stace half as well as you take care of your sister, then I am on board."

Stevie folded his hands across his chest. "You should have told me. But I can understand why you didn't. And I am okay with this, and it's not because Malcolm is as big as a linebacker. So are you moving away?"

Stacey shook her head no. "No, he's moving here for me."

Stevie nodded as he and Sam embraced Stacey and Malcolm. Sam smiled, pulling Mercedes to him. "Can you guys keep an eye on SJ? I need a word with Mercedes."

He pulled her to the room, whether people agreed or not. He pulled her close to him with the door closed, kissing her softly. "Hi."

She smiled against his lips, wrapping her arms around his neck. "What brought this on?"

"Well, we have a handsome little boy, a beautiful girl on the way, and the farm is doing amazing. My family is happy, I am happy, and I am just making sure my beautiful wife is happy too."

"Is this about my job? Because I told you, I am loving where I am at, where we are. Leaving the farm and working at the shelter for battered and abused Women, Men and Children, I really love it, and I get to help people. I represent them and get them help. And implementing all those security measures was a good thing."

Sam nodded. "I needed to make sure you were safe, and fighting back in this way is inspiring."

Mercedes kissed him softly. "I love you, Sam; you know that, right?"

"I kind of guess when you married me and gave me everything I have ever wanted." Sam pulled her closer to him and kissed her deeply. "And right now, I want to show you."

She giggled. "Sam! Your entire family is out there, and my family is too."

"I don't care." He said and laid her down onto the bed. "I love you, and if 50 years from now, we are doing just this with our grandkids and great-nieces and nephews, then I will be the happiest man in the world."

Mercedes beamed. "Well, when you talk about it like that…how can I turn you down?"

The End.

I want to thank you all for taking the journey with me. When I lost writing my partner for this story, I didn't think I would be up to finishing it, but your support is why I was able to do it. So thank you.