I hope you all enjoy.

Disclaimer: I don't own Glee or its characters; they belong to their creators and FOX studios.

Mercedes gazed down at the little girl softly snoring on her chest blowing hot air against her collarbone with each breath she released. The bright glow of the television bathed her toffee-coloured skin in its multi-coloured glimmer. Mercedes brushed away the curls gently grazing against her forehead before placing a soft kiss on the soft skin.

Mercedes slowly sat up, careful not to wake her. She rises to her feet switching the television off. Aria groaned against her throat as her mother moved around. Mercedes swayed back and fro until Aria's breathing grew deeper; a telltale that she was lost in la-la land once again.

A loud knock came from her front door. Mercedes made her way towards it; clutching a snoring and Aria against her chest. She opened the door expecting Puck; he had a way of randomly appearing on her doorstep at strange hours of the night to complain after he and Lauren had fights. But rather than her childhood friend, Sam Evan's face greeted her.

They stood studying one another for a few seconds. She noted the swelling around his eye was completely gone only leaving purple slow-healing tissue around the area. His blonde unruly hair provides him with a boyish appearance. His face is flushed.

He gazes at the small child in her arms before looking at her beautiful mother.

"What are you doing here?" She asked her voice a void of emotion. "We agreed on meeting at the zoo on Saturday."

"I told you on Monday we needed to talk. I want to talk," he said walking into her home as if he was an invited guest. His demeanour told that he was going nowhere until he got what he came for; an audience with her.

His words ignited a flame in her veins; she could feel her blood boil. He had no right bursting into her home and telling her what he wanted from her. She formed a fist and took a deep calming breath; her nostrils flaring, her eyes ablaze with flames of anger.

"I am going to go lay Aria down. When I enter this room again, I want no remainder of you here, Samuel."

With the warning still hanging in the air, she slid past him so she could follow through on her words.

With one arm she brushed the duvet away and laid her daughter down. Aria's eyes shot open staring at her mother in weary confusion. Mercedes placed her hand her waist and gently rocked her back and fro on the bed until her eyes fell closed again. Mercedes pressed her lips to her forehead before pulling the covers over her body.

She turned on the pink nightlight before switching the lights off and leaving the room. She entered her living area praying that Samuel Evan's heeded her warning; she was in no mood for all the emotional distress Sam's presence brought. Unfortunately, Sam was still there now sitting on her couch as if he owned the place.

"I told you to leave," she said, her tone as cold as ice.

She crossed her arms over her chest.

"I told you I want to talk," he said rising to his feet. "You deserve an apology-"

"I told you I don't want anything from you; especially an apology that means absolute bupkis to me." Her tone grew louder with each word spoken. Realizing she would wake Aria if she continued, she took a deep breath trying to calm her erratic heart pumping anger through her veins.

"Leave, Sam." The words left her lips as a pleading whisper.

Rather than listening he walked towards her. Mercedes stood rooted to the spot; her pride as her anchor. She kept her face blank of emotion as he invaded her private bubble. His distinct cologne bound to receptors in her nose brought back the intimate memories hidden in the abyss of knowledge and recollections in her mind so beautiful and yet so painful. It broke her heart all over again.

"I'm not going to leave, Mercedes." His voice reaches a steel-like tone of defiance; his words an indestructible promise. His gaze centred on her like a bull's eye. "I didn't fight for you then and it was the biggest of my life. I gave up too quickly and I've been regretting that for almost five years now."

Mercedes could feel the small cracks in her façade. But she had years to build a stronghold around her heart; his words would not break through its resistant walls made of pride and self-respect. She kept her face blank of all emotion staring at him with nothing but defiance burning in her eyes but that did not keep Sam from continuing.

"I know I messed up," he cringed thinking back to his words and actions leading to this mess they were now in. "I know that I hurt you and I wish I could take it all back. I wish I had a time machine to prevent what happened. I was stupid, drunk and overwhelmed; I mean everything I've been working to my whole life was being offered to me on a silver platter. It was everything I dreamed of. But then the 'friends' and booze came and I fell off the wagon for a while. I mean, it was …fun, I guess but then I lost my way and I lost you."

She cast her gaze down not able to take the earnest emotions in his eyes drowning her in its depth and sincerity.

"You were the best thing that ever happened to me, Mercedes." The words left his lips as a whisper soaking the room under a wave of intimacy. "I can't let go of what we had…what we could have." He resisted the urge to place his finger under her chin and captured her gaze. "What we had was something beautiful, Mercedes."

A soft smile graced his lips as clips of them replayed in his mind.

"I've tried moving on, Mercedes…but I can't, and there is no moving on from you…from us. I know years have passed between us but that doesn't change anything," he said before swallowing the lump in his throat. He was laying all his emotion bare. He readied himself for rejection; he expected it. But he was not going to give up on what they had.

Mercedes Jones was the love of his life; point blank. He was the one who always gave too much of himself in every relationship he was in ; his lice was too consuming, he wanted too much...it left him bare...empty... blank. His heart was a blank canvas until a rainbow named Mercedes Jones arrived. She filled his world with colour. She painted his once bare world with her yellow happiness, with her blue tranquillity, with her orange warmth and with her red passionate love.

He placed his hand on her cheek lifting her face; her familiar skin and warmth pressing against his palm.

"You're it for me, Mercedes. I once promised you that I would cling to you like a parasite. Well, baby, I'm clinging. I will love you all my life long."

His eyes gleamed with certainty; it was the same look he gave her when he made all those promises of forever. All the promises she buried in the infertile soil around her thorn and concrete safeguarded heart, were hammering against her stronghold. Her cracks were now breaks; the walls around her tumbling down exposing her heart to the pain of unfulfilled promises…of lies.

Who did he think he was?

He had no right bursting through her fortress walls and hurting her with the all the memories she tried shutting out. He had no right thinking that all these years of pain and humiliation would magically disappear with a few pretty words. He ruined her. She gave him every piece of her, she entrusted him with her fragile heart. He made her feel like used goods; dirty and unwanted.

Tears swelled in her eyes as her body shook with anger. She forcefully pushed him away with trembling hands immediately breaking contact. She mentally cursed at the gentle tingles, a reminder of his skin pressing against her cheek.

Her surprise attack caused him stumbling backwards before regaining his balance.

"Who the hell do you think you are?" She asked looking up at him with glazed eyes. She could feel their memories smother her heart in their pain. "You-you-" a short sob left her lips, a painful lump forming in her throat. She took deep breaths; her nostrils flaring panting softly as her suffocating lungs filled with air.

She cast her gaze down wrapping her arms around herself trying to keep from crumbling in front of him. She refused to let him see her break down.

"Go away, Sam," she whispered.

Sam took a deep breath watching her bite her lip and close her eyes as if she was in physical pain. The repercussions of his actions all those years ago hit him. He hurt and he had a very long way to go before he could regain her trust. He knew it would be hard but it would be worth it. He spent these last few years watching life pass him by and he was sick of it. He wanted to live and not just survive anymore.

"I meant everything I said, Mercedes. I'm fighting for us," he said opening the door.

He closed the door behind him leaving her to process his words on her own.

"No, Mom, I haven't asked her yet," Sam sighed as he dipped his paint brush in the brown paint.

He was not having a good day thus far; this morning Gail from Human Resources went off on him. News of his paternal status was in the entertainment section of every news paper and gossip blog. The female segment of the population was not very fond of him at the moment…nor was the suits on top of the team hierarchy.

He was the Quarterback- a leader. He was warned to get his act together for the sake of the team or he would be replaced no matter how talented he was.

After his 'intervention session' he went to the soup kitchen. Mercedes, who worked a shift on Friday, was not there much to his disappointment. Esther was in a bad mood so she took out her elderly mood swings on him and made him work like a dog. His phone rang off the hook; teammates and relatives wanting to know if the stories in the tabloids were true that he had a secret love child.

It was a bad day.

Now his mother was pressuring him into asking Mercedes if they could see Aria. That was a problem he wanted to deal with on another day; he just did not have the strength for that conversation now.

"And, I don't think she'd agree. You're asking her to come to Kentucky and spend time with her ex-boyfriend's parents."

"Well, maybe if you explain to her that your father just underwent surgery and he is bedridden most of the time she'll understand, "Mary said. Her voice coming from the loudspeaker of his phone echoed through the room. "As Aria's grandparents we would like to meet her too."

Sam sighed.

"First of all, Dad isn't bed-ridden, Mom. And I know, I know. I'll ask her tomorrow, she and Aria are coming over for the day. I can't make promises."

They made plans to meet at the zoo but after the news brook, which Sam in all honesty never thought of keeping a secret, they changed their plans. They both thought it would be best to rather keep Aria out of the public eye until something more scandalous happened, which would not be very long.

He and Mercedes did not have much contact after he burst into her apartment with his declaration of love and war. After calling her repeatedly only to receive no answer he tried flirty texts…which resulted in the same reaction from her- nothing. Only when he asked Aria related queries did she reply.

"Look, Mom, I'll ask Mercedes and let you know," Sam said walking over to the table on which his phone laid. "Goodnight and I love you."

"I love you too, baby. Sweet dreams."

Sam ended the call before going back to the task on hand. He lifted his brush out of the small pools of multi coloured paints on his wooden painting palette. He closed his as he stood in front of the canvas, visualizing his muse for his latest creation. He pictures every small detail of her face; from her small button nose to her dimpled cheek. He opened his eyes and brushed the cinnamon shade of brown over the canvas with his trained hand.

Painting was his escape from all the problems of the world; if only for a second. When he painted the concept of time disappeared. When he was painting he was the master of the outcome…he was in control. He could imagine an idealistic world of his own and spend hours creating it. He was thankful for the gift God gave him; the gift to create something out of nothing but a few colours and a canvas.

Today was one of those days; those days that she just wanted to lie under a blanket and cry. She has been in this position many times before and as always Sam Evans was the reason. Aria was on a play date with her cousins for the day giving Mercedes some time to herself.

She watched the television screen, her brain not processing what was being shown. Next to her, she could feel Puck's warmth prickling the fine hairs of her arms.

In her room in a small corner lays gifts; from expensive jewellery still in boxes to expensive Swiss chocolates that were probably melting as she sat. Her trashcan was full of wilting flower bouquets. She did not want any of his gifts.

"You don't have to be here, Puck."

She kept her gaze on the television. It was the first time she spoke after telling him to leave her be after he used his keys to break into her apartment after she refused to open her door. Puck refused to leave and sat next to her on the couch watching the horrible Rom-Com playing on the television. He said nothing; just offering her his presence for comfort.

Puck was never good with emotions. He never knew what to say. It made him feel uncomfortable. But his best friend; the girl who he considered his second sister was slowly falling apart and as her best friend it was his duty to be her shoulder to cry on.

They knew each other from preschool. His adoptive mother was a social worker at a local orphanage Pastor Jones' family and church congregation were involved in. They grew up together. She was his confidant especially in his confusing teen years when he was angry at the world. She was there visiting him in juvie. She was there cheering him on when he got his high school diploma beyond the expectation of others. She was there when he heard of his father's cancer diagnosis. She was there when he was angry at the world. She was there when he threw glasses in pieces, when he punched walls…when he was broken. She was the one holding his hand when they put her father to rest on that grey cloudy day.

She was always there. He owed her his presence.

"I want to be here," he said honestly. "Besides, Lauren went to go visit her mom for the week and I'm not used to not having oestrogen constantly around me."

She gave him a small smile that did not reach her eyes.

"You want me to kick his ass. I did box as a teenager; I have a mean left-hook."

Samuel Evans was the cause of years of torment. He broke Mercedes. Puck swore years ago that he would kill the person who hurt Mercedes so badly. If he knew then that it was Samuel Evans, he would have hunt him down and beat him to a bloody pulp.

Mercedes gave a small grin before resting her head against his shoulder and closing her eyes. They sat in silence with only the television making a sound. Minutes flew by. Just when Puck thought she had fallen asleep, she spoke.

"He said he loves me," she whispers- her eyes still closed.

"Oh."

'Oh'

Really Puckerman!

Puck cringed not knowing how to respond other than 'oh'. This is why he dated Lauren- she handled her emotions like a guy bubbling them up until a certain moment in time but quickly recovering afterwards. She did not need constant reassurance. He did not have to rack his brain for words of comfort with her.

"It did things to my heart. Bad things," Mercedes continued- this time opening my eyes.

"What do you mean?"

There was a pregnant pause before she answered him after thinking of ways to word what she felt.

"My heart started longing for it to be true. For a second it felt totally healed, Puck," she stared into nothingness as she spoke. "But then I remembered everything he said to me. I remember the pain so vividly…but for one seconds it all went away…for one second I felt whole again…but then reality sinks in and reminds me that I'm broken. After nearly five damn years I'm still broken, Puck." She looks him in the eye, pain and confusion burning in her gaze. "Why can't I let go? Why does he still control my heart? Why does my heart want to forgive him?" She gave a humourless laugh. "Maybe I'm just desperate. I mean I haven't been on a date in five years. Why? Is it because I've always been waiting for him?"

Puck realized the questions were not aimed at him but were rhetorical. She was asking herself in search of answers only she knew.

Not know what else to do Puck throws his arm around her shoulders.

"I just want you to be happy, my little chocolate drop. Whatever you need me to do; I will."

She hugged him tightly burying her face in his chest thanking God for blessing her with Puckerman.

"Thanks, Puck. You just being here is enough."

She dreaded this day. But she decided to be an adult about this and suck it up. She was doing this for her little girl. She would sit here in his large home, drink his fancy homemade iced tea (made by his chef) and watch him play with Aria and Kanye- his big brown bulldog.

As hard as she tried his words a few nights ago still haunted her…and angered her. She was fine…she was okay but then he had to come and remind her of every promise, every kiss…everything she tried so hard forgetting. It angered her that her heart filled with hope and her mind drifted to a place where maybe they could be happy together again. But then the pain came reminding her that Sam Evans was poison. He was a beautiful deadly toxin and she refused to let her heart fall victim again. Whatever she had, or thought she had, with him was in the past tense- long gone never to happen again.

As if Sam's sudden reappearance was not bad enough there was the whole 'love child' thing. It enraged her. The fact that they were writing stories about a four year old child to sell papers and magazine. Then there were the people wanting to know if it was true. She wanted to tell them it was none of their business and go into hibernation until this thing would blow away but she had to remind herself she was an adult. Adults face problems head on.

The 'best' part was when TMZ knocked on her front door offering her money for a tell-all interview. Yes she was single mother and yes money was tight, especially since she was too proud to sponge off her parents but she would not sell her or Aria's story to the world for a quick buck.

She watched them play; Aria radiating pure joy as Sam's dog licked her cheek. She giggled trying to push the dog away but failed due to its size. Realizing that it was a losing fight she ran into Sam's arms.

"Daddy, tell the doggy to stop. I don't want coo-coo-cooties."

Sam's heart stopped beating in his chest before swelling. A suffocating lump form in his throat as he gave his daughter a look glazed with adoration.

This was the first time she directly referred to him as 'daddy'. His little girl called him daddy. Yes, a small part of him still needed to get used to the fact that he was an insta-dad. That part was freaking out. But the rest of him was…happy.

Kanye was the one to break the touching moment by jumping on Sam and licking him in the face as he hovered over Aria in his arms.

"Okay, Kanye, enough," Sam said gently pushing the dog off him and standing up from the grass.

Kanye then decided to seek attention from Mercedes. Mercedes ignored him as he licked her feet. The dog laid his head on her feet looking up at her with big black hypnotic eyes begging for some attention. Mercedes mentally rolled her eyes at the dog who seemed to inherit its master persistence. She gently petted him.

"I want a doggy too," Aria said as Sam carried her towards Mercedes.

Mercedes ignored his lingering gaze and focused her attention solely on Aria. She gently tried breaking the news to her that their landlord did not allow animals but Sam beat her to the punch.

"Do you want a big doggy or a small doggy?" Sam asked. He could not deny her any request if she looked at him with such big hopeful eyes.

Mercedes gave tight-lipped smile.

"She can't have a dog, Sam. Puck does not allow animals in the building."

"Why doesn't Uncle Puck like doggies, Mommy?" Aria asked innocently, a frown playing on her lips.

"Because doggies pee everywhere inside," Mercedes tried explaining.

"But we can potty-train him." Aria said smiling at her brilliant idea.

Sam smiled at her optimistic innocence.

"Baby, doggies don't use the potty," Mercedes said. "And doggies need to run and play. Doggies can't play inside where we live. You can't have a dog"

The words made her frown. Mercedes could see the tears swelling in her eyes as her lips quivered. Mercedes knew what was coming and sighed readying herself for an outburst.

"BUT I WANNA DOGGY!"

"Aria, you can't have a dog," Mercedes repeated.

Aria kicked her legs back and fro as she sat on Sam's hip in defiance.

"Monet-"

"Your doggy can live here with me and Kanye," Sam said interrupting Mercedes as he tried calming Aria who was practically kicking him in the ribs. His words achieved the wanted effect calming her down. "You can visit him whenever you want."

Aria wiped away tears with her small fist.

"Really?" She asked, her voice ringing with scepticism.

"Promise, we can go look for a doggy Monday."

She gave him a dimpled grin before looking at her mother and sticking her tongue out in victory. Sam only grinned as Mercedes raised a brow coaxing the girl to stop.

"I need to go use the potty, Daddy. Put me down."

Sam did as he was told.

"Do you remember where it is?" Sam asked.

The young girl could easily get lost in the maze of halls and rooms of his $2.5 million home.

Aria nodded before skipping past her mother through the glass sliding doors leaving her parents alone. Mercedes ignored him by pretending that the dog was the most interesting thing on the planet. A part of her was pissed that he undermined her authority by telling the girl she could have a puppy. Another part of her decided to give it a rest; it wasn't like she was going to be the one looking after the dog.

"You look beautiful today. You always look beautiful."

Mercedes rolled her eyes as she wiped her hands clean of the dust and loose dog hairs clinging to her palm. She was in no mood for this. She was in no mood for him. She needed a break from Sam Evans.

"You know ignoring me is not gonna make me stop. You can't magically switch off your hearing, Merce."

Mercedes clenched her jaw at the nickname. Only he ever called her that.

"Sam, what the hell do you want from me?" Mercedes asked with a sigh. "You have Aria, what more do you want from me?" She looked at him with weariness burning in her brown gaze.

She was tired. She was tired of being angry. She was tired of being sad. She was so tired.

"I thought I made that clear the other night."

His green eyes shone with defiance. The intensity in them causes her heart to stop for a few seconds. She cast her eyes down mentally reprimanding her traitor body for its reaction. She refused to fall victim to him again. She refused to play this game with him. She was not some prize he could win and play with before disregarding her to the side once he got bored with her. She was not a naïve 18-year old who believed in fairytales anymore.

"We don't always get what we want," she said. "You need to stop with the flowers and the gifts, Sam. I don't want anything from you."

With those words still hanging in the air she stood up from her chair and walked into his ridiculously big and expensive home. She had no idea why a man who lived alone would have such a big house.

She could hear his footsteps behind her.

"Mercedes, I promise that I am going to make you fall in love with me again."

The words caused her to halt for a few seconds before turning around- her face blank of all emotion.

"Somebody is ambitious."

"Go big or go home," he said with a shrug.

"I refuse to be a game to you, Sam."

He took a few steps towards her. She stood her ground staring at him with boredom written in her gaze. He invaded her personal bubble- her nostrils filling with his soft musky scent.

"I never said you were one," he said seriously. "I love you, Mer-"

Mercedes snorted before he could continue his sentence. She refused to believe his lies ever again.

"Whatever, Sam."

"I'm serious, Mercedes. I can't live on the earth without you. I love you."

His words angered her…well the effect his words had on her aching heart angered her.

"I don't want you, Sam. I do not love you. And you don't love me." She hissed.

He sighed.

"Mercedes, you should stop believing that lie. I lied to myself for years but I am sick of it; I want to live and not just survive. Don't you want that too?"

His words make her cringe. The truth made her cringe. She spent these past few years consumed with hurt, confusion and anger. She was a broken soul. There was a part of her soul that Sam Evans stole and she would never recover again.

"Stop, Sam, just stop, please."

She did not have the strength for this. She could feel herself slowly breaking again.

Sam seeing her emotional turmoil decided to let it go for now. He saw she was close to tears. Sam did not want to make her cry again. He decided to change the subject.

"My parents want to meet Aria," Sam said slipping past her and walking towards his fridge.

"Oh, when are they coming?" Mercedes asked after taking a few deep breaths and collecting herself. She feared their reaction to her keeping their grandchild secret from them all these years.

"That's where it gets complicated," Sam said with his head still buried in his fridge that probably cost more than her car. He remerged with bottles of Vitamin Water, a juice box for Aria and gourmet microwave meals his personal chef made on the weekends, when he was not working.

"My dad just underwent surgery. He hurt his back badly after he fell off his horse. I was planning to visit them soon and I was hoping I could take Aria too…with you since I do not think she would be too fond of being separated from her mother."

Mercedes did not like this; she did not like this at all. She knew it would come; one day Sam's parent would want to meet her but she thought it would be on her turf. Going to another State, staying under the same roof as her ex-boyfriend and his parents was not what she wanted.

She wanted to come up with an excuse but her guilt reminded her she had no valid reason not to go. She already kept their granddaughter hidden from them for four years already. The thought made her cringe. Her selfish pride made her cringe. Keeping Aria's existence from Sam was an act of pride…and hurt. She had not only stolen precious years spent with Aria from Sam but also his family.

She was a terrible selfish person.

"Mercedes?" Sam asked bringer her out of her thoughts. "I can tell her no."

"Uhm…no it's fine."

"I don't want to pressure you into-"

"I said it is fine, Sam," Mercedes snapped.

Before Sam could retort Aria entered the large kitchen. Sam sighed under his breath as Mercedes played with her fingers. The tension in the air was suffocating to say the least. The young girl innocently smiles oblivious to the emotional turmoil surrounding her.

"Daddy?"

Sam paints a smile on his face as he pops the meal in the microwave.

"Yes, Princess?"

She giggles at the nickname shyly grinning.

"I'm not a princess, silly."

Sam grins picking her up so she could rest on his hip.

"Well, you're my little princess," Sam said gently tickling her side. "You're my little princes Aria."

Mercedes: No.

Sam *holds dog up as he pouts*: But Mercedes, look at that face. How can you say no to that face?

Mercedes *looks at dog*: No *looks back at Sam* this house is not big enough for another animal, Sam.

Aria *tears glimmer in her eyes*: But Mommy Mac does not have a home. He was in the street.

Mercedes *glares at Sam*: You named him?

Sam *gives a guilty grin*: McConaughey. He just has that Mathew McConaughey swag to him.

Mercedes *rolls eyes as Aria, Sam and the dog stare at her with wide pleading eyes*: Sam we already have Kanye- the bulldog, Barbie- Aria's three-legged Pug and Sparkles- Aria's Pitbull slash mixed breed and whatever else she is. Then we have the non-canine animal species; Tweety- the featherless cockatiel, Tom and Jerry- the hamsters, Dino- you bearded lizard, Bacon- the miniature pig you paid thousands of dollars for...oh and KFC- the chicken that Kanye and Sparkles sometimes uses as a chew toy. Oh and let me not forget about Bruce-Lee the wild squirrel you two *glares at the father and daughter duo* decided to feed and who now thinks our house is a soup kitchen. No more animals, Sam, this is not a zoo.

Sam: Those are all animals who needed homes at the time, Mercedes.

Aria: Mommy, Mac needs a home too.

Mercedes *sighs pinching the bridge of her nose*: I know you and Daddy want to give every animal in the world a home. I love that about you too. But we can't, baby girl. We cannot have more animals.

Sam: Pwease?

*Mercedes rolls eyes at Sam who was trying to sound like a little child*

Aria: Pretty Pwease, Mommy. Mac will be a good doggy.

Mercedes *sighs giving up the fight*: You better teach that dog to pee outside, or so help me Sam Evans if I see a pee stains in my house you will be sleeping outside with all your pets as company.

Aria *grins as she hugs her mother's thighs*: Thank you Mommy! You're the bestest Mommy ever.

Sam: You're the best wife ever.

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