These two are too fricking cute ;)

Today was the day of the first date between Sam and Mercedes, and Mercedes had been on pins and needles all day. Her mind wandered to what she was going to wear, where would they be going, and how she should do her hair. Her mind was racing a thousand miles a minute more than usual and for the life of herself, she couldn't calm her nerves. She was pacing back and forth in her office as Santana watched her with a knowing smirk on her face.

"What if Iris misses me or something, and I have to pick her up early, there that's a reason to bail on the date," Mercedes spoke to her friend.

Santana rolled her eyes, "Iris is spending the night with me and Brittany, she will be fine, we know her bedtime, we know how to soothe her. Plus Brittany is a pediatrician here, Mercedes."

"Ok, but what if someone breaks their arm at the restaurant?"

"You are both trained doctors you can secure them a splint until Finn or Spencer arrives with the ambulance."

"But what if-,"

"No more buts Mercedes. You haven't been out to enjoy yourself with anyone else in years, and look I know you are nervous but Sam seems pretty straightforward, and he didn't let the fact that you have a child deter him, if anything he accepted it head-on and that is something you found rare. So please just enjoy yourself tonight." Santana pleaded.

"Ok, ok, I guess I do need to head home and get ready and stop stalling with a bunch of hypothetical situations."

"Yes, please, go home, I'll text you when I pick up Iris and we get to my place."

"Ok thanks, Santana."

"No problem."

Sam was sitting in his new bachelor pad. He had only been in Florence for a short while and because of the new job he hadn't bothered to unpack much of his stuff. Sam had left his old job in sight of something new and to escape what he previously knew. He missed a few friends here and there and his family like crazy but he was slowly becoming more settled into this new home of his. He liked his job, and he liked the people he was starting to realize he could call friends. Especially one Dr. Jones. It was something about her that had this magnetic effect on Sam, he felt drawn to her, and close to her. He didn't know what to call it but he knew that he had to become closer to her because she was a one-of-a-kind girl. Maybe even the woman he could see himself with for the long term.

He was about to start getting ready when his phone rang, and after one glance at the phone, he recognized that it was his mother.

"Hey mama," He smiled.

"Hi Sammy, how is the new life in Oregon."

"Oh, it's great, great job, great people."

"Uh-huh, who is she son."

"What are you talking about?" He questioned.

"Oh please you've met someone son, I can tell by the way you sound, so she is great, what is she like." Mary prodded.

"Well to answer your question she is a doctor, she has a five-year-old daughter, and she is great we are actually going on a date tonight,"

"Awe that's swell news, well remember to speak to your brother and sister tomorrow they miss you dearly, I'll let you get ready for your date."

"Ok I will mom, I love you."

"Love you too baby. Bye."

After his quick phone call with his mother, Sam went and got dressed. He decided on a black henley with a blazer and a pair of black slacks. He placed it on his silver Rolex for a nice touch before placing it on his black converse. He combed and gelled out his hair until it was exactly what he wanted and then he knew he was ready. He checked the time on his phone and recognized that if he didn't leave now he was going to be late to pick Mercedes up. He grabbed his keys, his wallet, and phone and headed out to the car. Inputting the address into his phone to get him there.

When he arrived at Mercedes's home he noticed it was small but modern, but he should have accepted that considering that it was just her and her daughter. he left the car and headed up the steps knocking on the door. When it swung open his mouth was left agape. Mercedes was wearing a long-sleeved dress that came to rest just above her knees with a pair of black heels. Her hair was in a half up and half down ponytail with a black bow. Her face had minimal makeup, she opted for a dark red lipstick color, and she had on dangling silver earrings. She looked stunning.

"You look amazing," Sam said.

"Thank you, you don't look too bad yourself," Mercedes replied with a shy smile.

"Ready to go?" He questioned.

"Yep," Mercedes said as she grabbed her black clutch, "Lead the way." Sam smiled at her and held out his arm for her, she graciously accepted it and they walked down the steps. He lead her to the passenger seat making sure to open the door for her and wait until she got in fully until he shut the door. He walked over to his side and put the car in drive to get to their destination. He made a reservation at this small classy restaurant that he found and it was nice, once they were seated they looked over the menus and kept up a conversation with each other.

"So what is your family like?" Mercedes asked as she thanked the waitress for the dirty martini she placed in front of her.

"Well, my mom and dad are still married after being together since high school. I have younger siblings Stevie and Stacey, and I love them dearly. They actually just finished college not too long ago. My parents have this huge home and barn sitting on a whole bunch of acres of land, and I like going there for the peace and quiet and the animals." He explained.

"Sounds like a dream."

"What are your parents like,"

"Gosh, I haven't talked to them in so long, but from what I can tell you they are extremely manipulative, and never have cared about me like they try to convince people. They don't even know their own granddaughter." Mercedes replied.

"Oh, I am so sorry to hear that,"

"Don't be, I am not begging to be in their life and I am not sad at all, besides if it weren't for them I wouldn't have met Iris's father or even got to have her, so for that I guess they can be credited for it." Mercedes shrugged.

"Well, what is Iris's dad like, I'm not going to lie to you, I kinda assumed he was dead."

"Ha, not he isn't dead I haven't had any contact with him in three years, I left because he wasn't a good person for me or Iris, I left and have been raising her as a single mother ever since, but even before leaving I was already raising Iris by myself."

"You are a very strong woman Dr. Jones."

"Thank you, Dr. Evans."

"I think that would sound a lot better in my bed, and instead of you saying it you would be screaming it."

Mercedes blushed and let out a small laugh, "Well Dr. Evans we are in public."

"That may be true but you weren't bashful when you were under, in front of me, or on top of me now that I think about it."

"You are trouble, Dr. Evans."

"Only for you, would like to dance?" Mercedes nodded her head and took his hand as he pulled her onto the dance floor and for the first time in a while Mercedes felt safe in this man's arm. He was so masculine and caring, and sexy nothing like Matt at all. It felt different but it was nice because the change was good. This closeness, the way he was so commanding and sweet at the same time was something Mercedes only imagined in her wildest dreams. He looked down at her with those green eyes and smiled at her and she smiled back as she rested her head on his shoulder, promising herself that this time she would let herself fall, and worry about a potential heartbreak later. Because this was something she had been craving and she hadn't even noticed it.

Hours later after a quick walk in the park, and stopping at the local ice cream parlor Sam was walking her up the steps to her home.

"I um I had a great night tonight Sam," Mercedes began sweetly.

"I would hope so, my mother would kill me if this hadn't been the perfect date," Sam retorted.

Mercedes giggled, "Well this was definitely perfect, really something out of a fairytale to be honest."

"Well, I am glad I could do that for you."

"It's getting late I should get inside," Mercedes whispered. Sam took his hands out of his pockets and got closer to her.

"Yeah you should," He whispered back. He leaned into Mercedes and placed his lips on hers and was so happy that she didn't pull away. She wrapped her arms around his neck as he went to her back trying to mold her body into his. They stayed in this position of perfect bliss until the need for air was urgent. Slowly they pulled apart and Mercedes looked at him.

"Goodnight Sam."

"Goodnight Mercedes." Mercedes smiled at him and gave him another quick kiss before going inside and shutting the door, she leaned on it and let the biggest smile grace her face. She stepped out her heels and placed her clutch on the door side table.

"That man is something special," She said to herself.