***Disclaimer- I do not own Glee or its characters. I love these characters though and trying to give them the justice they aren't getting from the show.

"Where the hell is my bottled water?" A voice screamed from behind the curtains of the stage. The Floor Manager of the Los Angeles Music Arena frantically looked around him for the bottle. He has been catching hell all morning and needed to have a calm sound rehearsal, if just for the sake of his shaking nerves. He found the igloo full of ice cold water, grabbed a bottle and ran to the terrorizing figure heading onto the stage. The figure took the bottle and threw it into the middle of the rows of seating.

"How in the hell am I suppose to drink ice cold water and then sing a ballad? Mercedes Jones screamed at the cowering young man. Mercedes was dressed in a red off the shoulder shirt with black skinny jeans and five inch high spiked black heels.

"Are you trying to ruin my vocal cords? Are you trying to ruin my career?" She bellowed as she stood pointed her finger at the profusely sweating young man who was backed against the wall.

"I'm sorry Ms. Jones. I thought that was what you requested." Mercedes glared at the young man with venom. She turned on her heels and walked to a petite Asian young woman who was clearly pregnant. The woman was looking through a notebook, checking figures and items listed. Mercedes walked in front of the woman and stood there tapping her foot. The young woman rolled her eyes and turned toward Mercedes.

"What Mercedes? I have got to check these items before the concert tonight." Mercedes grabbed the notebook and threw it on the floor.

"Tina, I get that you are…you know…knocked up. But before you leave, do you think it is too much to ask that I be surrounded with people you know just an iota about me and music?" Tina rolled her eyes, bent down on the floor and grabbed the notebook.

"Mercedes, what happened now?" Tina asked exasperated. Mercedes' eyes bulged.

"What happened? What happened? That fool over there," Mercedes exclaimed while pointing in the direction of the stage, "tried to stiffen my vocal cord by giving me ice cold water!" That's what happened. The whole concert could have been destroyed thanks to that imbecile." Tina looked toward the stage and saw the young man hysterically crying on the shoulder of another stage hand, trying to calm him down.

"Mercedes, I am sure it was a mistake. Now you have got to relax. You are getting yourself all tensed up and you know that it not good for your performance." Mercedes closed her eyes, and shook her head.

"I know you're right. I am just so wound up. I am opening for Adele and I just want to be perfect, you know?" Tina smiled up at her.

"You will be amazing, like you always are." Mercedes nodded her head.

"Thanks Tina. What would I do without you? Which brings me to something else…about your maternity leave-" She was interrupted by the sound of the now calmer stage manager running toward her and falling on his knees in front of her. He held up a room temperature bottled water, while bowing his head in front of her. Mercedes watched him with a smirk on her face and took the bottle, checking the temp of the water by resting it on her cheek. She raised an eyebrow at him.

"Perfect. But I don't drink this brand. I only drink Tasmanian Rainwater." She pushed the bottle back into his hand. The cap to the bottle appartently was not twisted close because the water ended up all over the stage manger's shirt. The man backed away without looking up at Mercedes. Tina shook her head at the sight.

"Mercedes, why do you act like such a bitch?" Mercedes turned her head at Tina and with a wicked twinkle in her eye.

"Eh, why not?" She answered smiling while she shrugged her shoulders. Tina was about to respond when she heard Mercedes' phone ring. She looked at the caller id and then grimaced.

"It's Sebastian." Tina stated dryly. She handed the phone to Mercedes who gave Tina a side-eye glare. She snatched the phone from her and walked to a corner.

"Hey Baby, what's up?" she whispered. Tina watched Mercedes and couldn't help rolling her eyes at the scene of Mercedes' blind allegiance to that weasel of an agent of her Sebastian Murphy. Tina knew in her heart that Sebastian created the monster that is now Diva Jones and hated seeing her moving in that direction. Tina Cohen-Chang has been Mercedes' personal assistant for three years and her friend for more than ten years. She knew Mercedes since the very beginning, when she had to sing at the lowest clubs just to make her rent. Tina was a part-time waitress at one of the clubs, going to school during the day for Business Management. Mercedes and Tina would dream of Mercedes' big break and how she would rule the music stations and then Broadway. When Sebastian Murphy showed up, they both thought it had finally arrived.

Sebastian booked Mercedes on high profile gigs and she was gaining popularity and recognition. Mercedes hired Tina as her personal assistant and Business manager. Things were amazing! But then Sebastian kept filling Mercedes' head with nonsense about being a diva and setting standards that even the pope couldn't reach. She worked Tina to the bone, but knew enough not to push her too far. With everyone else, she became impossible to please, professionally and personally. Her friends became fewer and her family relationship was strained. Her mother and father only saw her on holidays. The only person she was consistent with speaking to was her grandmother Saddie.

When Tina got married to Mike Chang last year, Mercedes seemed genuinely happy to her. She insisted on paying for the entire ceremony and even consented to be a bridesmaid. But even during the reception, Tina could see her friend's loneliness. It broke Tina's heart to see Mercedes standing in the corner alone, watching the couples dance with their respective partners. Tina has tried to talk to Mercedes about slowing down and possibly looking at more serious relationships. There were times when Mercedes heard Tina out, but most of the time she refused to listen, citing that Tina took the last of the "good ones". Tina worried what would become of Mercedes once she left for her maternity leave next week. She already rejected five potentials in the past month. Tina hoped that the guy her friend Puck was sending over after the concert tonight would work out. If not, who knows what she would do? Could she have a baby on the tour bus? Where could she fit a crib on a bus? Tina's thoughts were broken when she saw Mercedes marching toward her.

"Ok, I'm going to makeup and hair. See you in an hour." Mercedes yelled as she walked past Tina towards her dressing room.

XXXX

Sam stood at the backstage with Puck before the concert began. Although he told Puck he would take the job, he was 100% sure yet. Sam felt like taking this position was selling out his dreams of ever being back in the music industry. It was even his genre of music? What did he know about Hip Hop? He turned to Puck who was hitting on a blond woman working backstage. Sam jabbed Puck in the side with his elbow. Puck turned to Sam frustrated.

"Dude, I am making my move here." He murmured. Sam rolled his eyes.

"Bro, I don't care. Where's this Tina girl that is suppose to meet with us?" Sam asked nervously. His stomach was in knots. He couldn't shake the feeling that he was making a giant mistake. Puck looked around him and Sam.

"I don't see her. Let me look. I'll be right back." Puck took off to the other end of the back stage as Sam stood by the curtain. He turned to the side of him and saw a woman in a robe standing behind the curtain with her eyes closed, silently moving her lips in prayer. After praying, she opened her eyes and kissed a picture that she had in her hand. She turned her head casually and saw Sam watching her. He was embarrassed that she caught him watching her, but then their eyes locked. They stared at each other silently until the MC walked onto the stage, greeted by the roar of the crowd.

"Y'all ready to get the baddest, sexiest, hottest diva in the game right now! You want her? Here she is…Mercedes Jones!"

Sam watched the woman peeled off her robe, dropping it behind the curtain. The petite curvaceous Black woman danced on stage, rocking to the rhythm of the band. Sam could not take his eyes off of the woman controlling the stage. She was dressed in a purple skintight pantsuit that clung to all of her curves. Even though was wearing black five inch stilettos, that didn't stop her from gyrating to the sounds of the music, winding her hips to the grounds and up again. Sam could not take his eyes off of her. Sam's eyes traveled all over the heavenly frame in front of him and he was incredibly turned on. She was mesmerizing. Her energy was magnetic and then she opened her mouth. Sam could clearly tell that she was singing from the bottom of her heart. Her voice was rich in passion and heart. He was blown away by her range and depth. He was acting like a star struck teenager, smiling and moving right along with her. When her performance was over, Sam was clapping wildly as she exited the stage, walking toward the back stage. She went behind the curtain and grabbed the robe that was on the floor. Sam walked toward her, smiling broadly at her.

"You were amazing out there! I was-" Sam's comment was cut short when Mercedes slapped her hand across his face.

"How dare you watch me preparing for my performance?" She screamed, placing her hands on her hips. "What are you some sort of pervert?" Sam held the side of his face, shocked by what just happened.

"Gal, are you crazy? No one was watching you. I just happened to see you." He answered. Mercedes rolled her eyes.

"Please! Why in the hell are you even back here? You are not a part of my crew. Get your country bumpkin ass out!" Mercedes pushed past him and walked toward her dressing room.

"Screw you!" Sam yelled behind her. Mercedes stopped suddenly. The she slowly turned toward Sam.

"What did you just say?" She asked in a low tone. Sam stared dead at her as he walked up to her.

"I said screw you. You may think your ass don't stink, Miss Thing, but back where I come from, you talk to folks with some manners." At that point, Sam was face to face with Mercedes Jones. Her eyes shot daggers at Sam as he looked at her with fury. Tina and Puck walked in on the staring match. Tina smiled nervously.

"Oh Good. Mercedes. Sam. You've met."