Hey guys! We want to thank you for understanding about the other two stories, as much as we want to update anxiety is hard and we want to have fun and bring joy. And while the other stories bring joy they do take an emotional toll on us as we write because we throw all of ourselves into these stories. We are still here to entertain and we will finish them, we just need a little time of just posting loving stories that bring light in these crazy times.

We thank you and love you. Stay safe, stay home and stay healthy.

Sam lifted June up inside and she got into her car seat so Sam could buckle her in. "You have fun with Nana?"

"Yeah. I played with my aminals."

"You did? That sounds fun." Sam booped her nose before getting back into the driver's seat.

Mercedes put her seatbelt on then looked at June. "You know I noticed that you really live animals. Have you been to the zoo?"

"Yeah! Sey got bears!" June recalled, her feet kicking up as she looked out the window. "And lions and birdies. But no dwagons."

"That's because dragons aren't real, sweetie," Sam reminded her.

June crossed her tiny arms over her chest. "Hmmph."

"What about komodo dragons?" Mercedes looked at June and winked. "It's practically in the name."

"Oh, here we go," Sam muttered with a smile.

June's eyes widened and she leaned forward as much as she could in her seat. "Sey got dwagons?!"

Mercedes pulled out her phone and pulled up a photo. They are small though." She handed June the phone.

June took the phone and looked at the reptile. "Aww, no wings," she pouted. "Toosless gots wings."

"Toothless has wings," Sam corrected. "And they're a different kinda dragon than Toothless."

"I love toothless." Thank goodness she fell asleep with the TV on. "But your dad is right, some dragons are real some aren't, but all of them are awesome. "

"Hi, dwagon!" June said to the phone before handing it back to Mercedes.

Sam shook his head with affection. "Kid's obsessed. Of all the things. I was ready for princesses, cats, maybe mermaids. I did not see dragons coming."

"Thank you sweetie." Mercedes said, grabbing her phone. "She's her father's daughter. But i kinda get it."

"I was never obsessed with dragons," Sam insisted. "Dinosaurs, sure. But, I mean, you've seen Jurassic Park. Could you really blame me?"

Mercedes laughed. "You used to make me watch that so many times." She said, sighing. "I just meant she found one thing and loved it most."

"I'm not sure if that's her being mine or just... her being three," Sam suggested with a laugh. "There's a good chance she'll switch to something new soon enough. When she was one she was obsessed with the color green for awhile."

"But come on green is an awesome color!" She smiled when they pulled into the shop. "You ready June?"

Sam laughed and had to nod along. "Of course it is. But when she refused to use any of her other dishes and I had to keep washing the two green ones over and over... it got old."

June turned from the window watching when she heard her name. "Yeah! I scream!"

Mercedes snorted then took her seatbelt off. "Yay! Let's go!" She opened the door and waited for Sam to get June.

Sam hopped out and opened June's door to unbuckle her. "Go with Mercedes," he told her as he set her on the ground. He grabbed some garbage that was in the back seat to toss in a nearby trash can before following them.

"C'mon, M'cedes," June urged, tugging on her hand.

Mercedes glanced at Sam about to ask if he was sure, when June took her hand. She smiled. "Im comin'" Letting June lead Mercedes heard a yelp and watched as an older woman came and hugged her.

"Your mom didn't tell me you were coming to town!"

"You make me sound like Santa Mrs. Porter."

"At least Santa comes once a year. She smiled down to June. "And where is your daddy sweetie? He and Mercedes used to work here in the summers you know."

Sam came up behind them and ruffled June's hair. "I'm right here, Mrs. Porter. Just cleaning out the truck real quick. This one's getting a treat for being good at Nana's today."

Mrs. Porter smiled. "Of course this little Angel was good." She stood looking from Sam to Mercedes. "So how long will you be here?"

"I'm not sure, but a while." She said smiling at Sam.

Mrs. Porter nodded. "So what can I get you?"

"What kind you want, Juniebug?"

June walked back and forth along the glass, looking at all the ice cream flavors and contemplating. "Sat one," she finally decided, pointing at the cookies and cream.

"Okay, one scoop of cookies and cream in a dish for the bug," Sam said. "And I'll have a double scoop cone of the Smores. Cedes?"

Mercedes smiled and glanced at the ice cream. "I will take the strawberry waffle cone."

Mrs. Porter nodded, making their cones. Mercedes bent down to June's level. "You know what I just realized? I never asked you what your favorite meal was?"

June looked over at Sam as if asking permission to answer the question. He chuckled and nodded. "Tell her. What's your favorite thing to have for dinner?"

"Zagna."

Sam couldn't help but laugh again. "That was lasagna."

Mercedes laughed. "I kinda figured. You know maybe I can make you and your daddy dinner soon? Would that be okay?"

"I like dinner!" June declared. "And zagna!"

Sam took the bowl of ice cream for June and used his other hand to guide her toward a nearby table. "Could you grab the cones?"

"Me too." Mercedes winked. Standing she grabbed the cones and followed them to the table. Sitting there felt right, it felt like maybe this was supposed to be. They spent their time laughing and talking to June, she may have gotten her mother's looks but her sense of humor was all Sam's. As they headed back to Sam's she didn't want their time together to end

Sam glanced in the rearview mirror as they drove towards his house. June had already hit her sugar crash and fallen asleep in her car seat. "So what are your plans for the rest of the day?"

Mercedes had glanced at Sam and shrugged. "Not sure, I am not really needed at home and Marls hasn't called with an emergency...what about you?"

Sam hummed as he considered. "I don't know. I mean there's always stuff to get done at home, but... you wanna hang out some more at our place while she naps?"

Mercedes smiled widely. "I would love to. I am yours as long as you will have me."

Sam raised an eyebrow at her and smiled slowly. "Oh really?" He leaned towards her slightly. "No cops in my house, you know?"

Mercedes blushed at his words. "That is so true, no noisy old bats either. "

Sam laughed, careful not to be too loud. He reached over and took Mercedes' hand. "I almost forgot how much I've missed you. It's a good thing you came back to remind me."

Mercedes linked her hand in his. This was how it should have been, they should have been married with kids. She frowned feeling guilty, Sam had June and she never wanted to undo that part of his life. This was all just so right. And maybe this was the right time now. As they pulled into Sam's parking lot she sat up. "I never told you i really love your house."

"Oh, thanks. It's nothing too fancy." Sam glanced up at the small ranch house he'd bought after he got married. Getting out of the truck, he opened the back door so he could lift June out of her car seat and over his shoulder. "It's been good for us though. I always wanted my kids to have a home to grow up in, a backyard to run around in, you know?"

Mercedes nodded shutting the door. "I remember." She went and grabbed the keys from him, opening the door. "I always figured when I settled down it would be here."

Sam smiled softly. "I think when you grow up in a place like this, it's hard to ever really feel like anywhere is home. Not that you can't enjoy living in other places, but this town is good at keeping your heart." He walked back to June's room and laid her down on her bed, pulling her shoes off.

Mercedes followed him and stood in the doorway watching him with June. "Yeah well I guess my heart never left this place."

Sam looked over his shoulder and smiled at her. He laid a blanket over June and set her stuffed Toothless next to her, knowing she'd be a grump if she woke up without him. Leaning down, he pressed a kiss to her forehead before walking back to Mercedes and closing the bedroom door behind them. "Still, it sounds like you're doing so much good out there. You can't discredit that."

Mercedes nodded. "I have and I do love it. I just realized that I was helping everyone and not really helping myself."

"Heh, yeah, I know that feeling," Sam admitted, wandering back to the kitchen. "Water? Coke?" he asked as he grabbed a bottle of water for himself. "Ma's always reminding me to do things for myself."

"Water." She said softly. "But, my cases, ugh before I left, I had to help this woman whose husband was very abusive. She had nowhere to turn, and I was able to get her the help she needed. I have this whole network of people who help women and some men just like that. It's like our own little under ground support team."

Sam handed her a bottle and gestured toward the living room, taking a seat on the couch. "That's amazing. And seeing the look on your face when you talk about it is amazing," he told her. "And you have no idea how proud I am of you. But I also... I think you deserve to be happy."

Mercedes sat next to him drinking from her water bottle. She wanted to be happy, but how could she when the two things she loved most, were so far away from each other.

Sam sighed softly. "Sorry. Didn't mean to stress you out again." He took her hand back and tangled their fingers together. "Tell me about LA. Some of the fun things."

Mercedes shook it off. "No, it's okay." She chewed her bottom lip, looking down at their fingers. "I have these two friends in LA Santana and Brittany. It's never a dull moment with those two. One time this guy pinched my butt while we were all out and Santana pulled a razor out of her hair and threatened the guy. Then Brittany looks at her like "Didn't Lord Tubbington take all your Razors from you? He's a cat Sam..."

Sam laughed as he leaned back against the couch. "I heard some crazy stories about the big city, but that is something. That cat should be on TV or something."

Mercedes leaned against the sofa. "Oh they are quite the pair but they are great at what they do and help me make a difference. But they are a lot to handle.

Sam leaned a little closer to her and nodded. "I'm glad you have good friends. Glad it wasn't just boring ass what's his name."

Mercedes smiled, placing her hair behind her ears. "He wasn't all bad he just.. didn't ignite anything in me." Her eyes met his.

Sam's eyes darted down to her lips and back to her eyes, smiling slowly. "Is there anyone who has?"

Mercedes watched him closely, her heart sped up just being this close to him. "There is one person, but I would have to kiss him again just to be sure."

Sam raised a playful eyebrow as he grinned at her. "Well then, if it's not me, you should probably go now," he teased.

She moved closer to him, kissing him slowly, deeply, passionately. Pulling away slowly she smiled as her hand caressed his face. "I'm not going anywhere."

Sam's arm went around the back of the couch and around her shoulders as he drew her closer to him. He returned her kiss, smiling slightly against her lips. She was as playful as ever, but it was in a whole new and exciting way and he was loving it. "Good. I don't want you to," he whispered.

Mercedes placed her forehead against his. "You don't?" She pulled her face from his and searched his eyes. "Have I told you how hot you look now as a grown man?"

Sam's smile widened and he chuckled, shaking his head. "You just like the beard," he accused.

She smiled. "You got me. If you shaved it off I would be out the door in a flash." She teased moving closer to him.

"I knew it. Fickle thing that you are," Sam laughed. His fingers danced along her shoulder, just enjoying their proximity. "And for the record, you grew into a damn beautiful woman yourself."

Mercedes blushed at his words. "You think so?" As he caressed her shoulder she let her hand fall to his other arm. "They did a charity calendar at work and made me Miss December. You haven't lived till you see me as Mrs. Clause." She boasted.

Sam sucked in a quick breath. He really was trying to be a gentleman here. It had only been a couple days since they'd seen each other for the first time in ten years after all. "You have any copies of that?"

Nodding she beamed. "I am sure I can find one for you." Her eyes darted down to his lips. "So what now?" she asked softly.

Sam tilted his head with his usual crooked smile. "What? Are you bored already?"

Mercedes smirked. "With you? Never." Her lips moved to his as she kissed him softly. "I was thinking we can do some more of that."

Sam hummed gently into the kiss, his free hand coming up cup her cheek. "I'm pretty sure I'd be okay with that."

"Would you now?" She moved closer to him. "And would you be okay with me doing...this?" She asked, kissing his neck, nipping at it.

It had been far too long since Sam had been touched like this and it brought back a familiar ache. "Oh... yeah," he breathed out, licking his lips.

Hearing his reply she smiled moving so close she was practically in his lap. She nibbled on his ear before gently biting his neck, body pressed against his. "And this?"

Sam bit down on his lip, his arms moving to wrap around her waist. "C'mere," he whispered, moving his face towards her so he could claim her lips with his own again. Yes, he missed being kissed like this, but he also just really missed her.

Mercedes smiled leaning in and kissing Sam. No one had ever made her feel this way, he fueled something in her. She moved closer to him, sliding into his lap and wrapping her arms around his neck.

"Fuck," Sam whispered against her lips. "I missed you so much." His fingers moved gently along her neck and he took a few moments to just let himself enjoy the feel of her against him. He'd spent so many nights in high school imagining what it would feel like and now here it was.

"Sam..." She hissed rocking in his lap. "So good." she kissed him hungrily, running her hands through his hair.

A low moan came from deep in Sam's chest as he tilted his head back and let her taste him as she pleased. "Ce- oh. Cedes. We really should- should talk, you know?" he panted as his hands moved along her sides.

Hearing his moan she let off her own. His words caused her to slow down. "Talk about what?" She asked, nipping at his lips.

His tongue snuck out to taste her bottom lip before he forced himself to take a breath. "About what we're... comfortable with, you know? Physically and... stuff."

Mercedes froze staring at Sam. "Oh..." She chewed her bottom lip. "Oh, I mean ummm..." She placed her hair behind her ears. "I haven't done much of...anything. Pretty much this."

Sam nodded, letting his hands fall to her thighs and rubbing up and down gently. "I know. You told me and that's fine. I'm not trying to rush into anything here. It's probably... better that we don't."

Mercedes nodded looking into his eyes. "So where does that leave us? Not rushing but doing what?"

"Whatever we are comfortable with," Sam reasoned with a shrug. "This is... very good. But I also haven't sex in over three years so if this is what we're doing then I'm gonna need some time alone afterwards. Which is still completely fine. I'm just letting you know."

Mercedes chewed her bottom lip. "I haven't had sex with anyone because I couldn't bring myself to do it with anyone who wasn't you." She confessed boldly. " I always thought if the guy was right then he would make me forget about you and then I would be with them. No one ever has." She inhaled deeply. "So I agree we shouldn't have sex at least not yet but um, that doesn't mean we can't help each other out somehow."

Sam's eyebrows raised a little as he looked at her. He reached up and cupped her face gently so he could meet her eyes with his own. "You've been waiting for me all this time?"

Mercedes felt the weight of his stare hoping that he knew just how much she had wanted him still all these years. She nodded searching his eyes. "It was always supposed to be you."

Sam gave her a soft smile before drawing her in. His kiss was slow and sweet, but had all the feeling in the world behind it.

The kiss caused all her emotions to come to a head, her arms wrapped around his neck, returning his kiss and all the feelings that came with it.

Sam opened his eyes slowly as their lips parted, the smile still on his face. "Well... no pressure on me and my boys or anything, huh?" he teased, still loving the way her laugh sounded.

Laughing as she shifted in his lap a soft moan left her as her eyes widened. "Ummm wow I don't think you will have that much trouble."

A soft pink blush snuck up Sam's cheeks and he moaned softly at the way she moved. "Told you... it's been awhile," he said with a shrug. "I can't be held responsible for how eager he is."

Mercedes licked her lips smirking devilishly. "He's eager huh? And what about when I do this..." She swerved her hips slowly rocking against him to a rhythm all her own.

Sam's mouth fell open, his fingers pressing into her thighs a little more. "Yeah, that should... keep me awake," he chuckled breathlessly.

"Oh?" She leaned in, kissing him deeply as she continued to move. "And will this keep you awake?" She asked, nipping at his lips.

"And then some." Sam's arms wrapped around her, pulled her close against his body. He still had to stay aware of the time and any sounds in the house, but she had a way of making him mesmerized by her.

"Sam..." she hissed as his arms wrapped around her. She needed more but wasn't sure if it was right to want more from him.

He kissed her again and let himself get lost in the feel of her, the taste of her lips, and the way her hips pressed down against his. "You feel so good, Cedes."

"Ugh..." She groaned. "Sam..." she moaned. Lips moving to his neck, whispering in his ear. "You feel so good too."

"Why don't we, um... why don't we go in my room?" Sam suggested, even as his head fell back to give her better access. "Just in case."

She nipped at his neck and tugged at his ear before pulling away. She chewed her bottom lip staring at him for a moment. "Okay..." She slowly pulled away from him and stood. "Lead the way." she said nervously.

Sam stood and took her hand. "This isn't me pushing," he assured her as he turned to walk backwards. "It's just... if we're gonna make out, it's better if we're somewhere with a door. Just in case she wakes up."

Mercedes smiled softly with a nod as she followed him to his bedroom. "I know you wouldn't do that Sam." She pulled him close once they reached his door, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him softly. "Do you need to check on her?"

"Mmm, no. She'll be okay," Sam assured her. "She usually either calls for me or gets distracted by her toys and I find her playing in there." He leaned down and met her lips again, his tongue peeking out to get a taste of them.

Mercedes nodded. "Okay." She said breathlessly. She kissed him hungrily, caressing his tongue with hers. "We should get inside." She said biting at his bottom lip.

Sam turned and walked backwards, guiding her along with him without actually letting her go. He stretched his arm out to close his door behind them and pressed her back against it. "We're inside now," he teased before kissing her again.

She moaned as he pressed her back against the wall. There was something so hot about him taking control. "Yes we are." Her hands went to his neck pulling him closer to her, taking his lips in hers and kissing him hungrily.

Sam's lips moved along her jaw and down to her neck, sucking at the soft skin there. So many feelings were rushing through him so quickly and he knew he should step back and consider them, but all he was feeling right now was need.

She was weak, the normally level headed lawyer was weak in the knees for a man and she loved it. Giving in to lust and want, her hands moved under his shirt. "God I forgot how hard your abs were." she said running her hands down it.

"Amazing what a decade of puberty and workouts will do for a guy," Sam chuckled. The gym had admittedly become an outlet in the last few years too, the healthiest one he could find. Stepping back, he moved to the bed and sat at the edge of it.

"The gym definitely did your body good." She breathed as he moved and sat on the bed. She watched him for a moment and smiled walking towards him slowly. "You know those sleep overs we had, where we slept in each others arms, I woke up wanting so badly to kiss you." she confessed, moving to stand in front of him. "Wanting to feel your hands all over me." she blushed.

Sam's hands went back to her thighs and he slowly slid them upwards along her side, holding her at the waist. "Then it's a good thing we don't have to waste anymore time holding back, isn't it?"

She smiled, staring down at him as his hands went to her thighs. She swallowed hard and nodded. "What do you wanna do Sam?"

Sam tilted his head up and smiled at her. "Truthfully? As long as I'm with you, I'm not too picky. I just don't wanna let you disappear on me again," he teased.

She moved closer to him, straddling his lap. "I promise that I will do my best to stop running. I don't want to miss out on us anymore. I want to rebuild us. The friendship and well this is a great bonus." She wrapped her arms around his neck and stared into his eyes. "I wanna be yours Sam. I really do."

Sam gave her his crooked smile and wrapped his arms around her waist. Leaning forward, he pressed his face against her shoulder and hugged her tightly, just holding her for the moment.

He didn't reply, just hugged her and she wasn't sure how to take that. She let him hold her, holding him as well as her mind wondered if he was truly ready to be with her given the loss he suffered.