Mercedes didn't know how she would continue on like she didn't know that truth like she didn't know that her dad was right and she wouldn't make it to see her next birthday. She closed her eyes, standing at the window, taking a few deep breaths. This was the right thing to do; she was sure of it.

Sam knocked at the door. "Mercy?"

Mercedes quickly wiped her eyes and cleared her throat. "Come in."

Sam could tell she had been crying. He walked in and looked at her. "I'm sorry."

She placed her hair behind her ears. "For what, Sam?"

"Making you cry."

She shook her head. "You didn't do anything wrong."

He didn't approach her. "Then why are you crying?"

She wiped another stray tear. "It's just been a lot, you know?"

He nodded. "I... I don't want you doing this."

"Doing what, Sam?"

"Whatever you're doing to free us. I can tell it's hurting you."

She took a breath and moved closer to him. "Sam. I just am sad, I just got you back, and now, I have to lose you again, but I'll be okay; all that matters is you and Joey getting free."

"I don't want to lose you!" he whispered, his voice breaking.

She took his hand in hers. "Sam, look at me."

Sam had tears in his eyes already. "Okay."

"I would rather you lose me than lose your life. But, Sam, I know that you are dying in there, and you miss your family, your freedom. And if this is the price to pay, I will pay it for you. Because..." She sniffed, wiping a tear from Sam's eyes. "Because I love you, love you enough to let you go. Love you enough to fight when you can't." Love you enough to die for you, she didn't say but meant.

Sam shook his head. "And I'm selfish enough to say I don't want you to do this for me. You're too important.

She smiled at that. "It's already in motion, Sam. I can't stop it now even if I wanted to; this time next week, you will be on your way to seeing your family. To truly being happy and free."

"And you'll be coming with me."

She looked down at their hands. "I will be dropping you off, but I have to come back here; I have to pretend like I don't know where you are. They will suspect me from the jump, and if I disappear too, they will know you weren't lost in the system you ran away."

Sam couldn't stop himself from sobbing. "I don't... want you to not be with me."

Mercedes pulled him to her. "I don't want that either, baby. I am going to die without you."

"Then stay with me."

"it's not that simple."

"Yes, it is! Stay with me!"

She frowned, letting go of his hand and looking to the ground.

He stared at her. "Mercedes... I n-need you!"

"You don't need me, Sam...no one needs me." She said softly.

"Yes, I do!"

"Sam...your freedom, saving your life, Joey's life, that's what's important here."

Sam shook his head. "I don't want a life without you."

She stepped away from him. "You don't mean that. "

Sam froze. Did he say something wrong? "I do," he whispered.

"You deserve to be free; you are done sacrificing for everyone else."

"It's worth it for you and Joey."

"And now you understand why I'm doing this."

"I won't let you."

"You can't stop me." She said softly.

He froze, his breath catching in his chest.

"I am so in love with you, Sam. All I want is your freedom."

He shook his head. "All I want is you." he managed.

She knew she couldn't get through to him; he didn't see there was no way out for her. So she just moved to hug him. Wrapping her arms around him and nuzzling his neck.

Sam was trembling. "I'm not worth that."

"You are worth everything." She said softly, standing on her tippy toes and kissing him softly.

Sam broke the kiss. "And you can't see that I feel that way too?"

She nodded, staring at him. "I do see it."

"I don't want to lose you."

Mercedes stared up at him. "I will try my best to make it, so you don't." She breathed. She knew the truth, and soon Sam would too but for today. They could pretend.

Sam looked at her. "Okay."

Mercedes pulled away from him and threw her hair up into a messy bun; it was getting harder and harder not to act as if she loved him, kissing him, touching him. All she wanted was to be his, but it was clear that's not what he wanted; he wanted the love but nothing else.

Sam was overly emotional at that moment. He loved sex with Mercedes, but sex was touch and go with him. The smallest thing could set him into a panic, and Mercedes didn't deserve that.

"You should probably go on back out there make sure Joey didn't eat all the brownies." She said softly. There were just some things she couldn't understand, wouldn't understand, and she wasn't sure she ever would.

Sam felt sick, and he wasn't quite sure why. He looked at Mercedes and nodded. "If that's what you want."

She looked over to him. "Are you okay?"

"Are you... mad at me?"

She frowned. "Why would you say that?"

"You seem... off."

She sighed, sitting on the bed. "I am just trying not to push."

"Push?" He didn't move closer to her.

Mercedes nodded. "I don't know how I am supposed to act around you, Sam. I love you, and I just want to express that love, but I can't because it's not right after all you have been through."

Sam took a step towards her. "You could have said that before. I want that too, you know."

She looked at him. "You want what too?"

"I want you to express that love... physically."

She shook her head. "But that's selfish of me."

"Howso? If I want it to?"

She ran her hands through her hair. "After everything you have been through, it's selfish to expect it or want it."

"But I want it."

She stared at him for a long while. "I just, I really want to kiss you. Make you feel my love for you."

"I want that. I missed you so much."

She stood slowly, walking over to him. "I've missed you too."

Sam was trembling slightly as he wrapped his arms around her and held her close. "I miss you every day you're not around."

She could feel him shaking. Maybe this was a bad idea. "Sam? Are you sure this is what you want? That I am what you want?"

Sam nodded. "I love you. I want this so much."

She linked her hands with his pulling him closer. "I am going to kiss you, and that's all I am going to do; if it feels wrong or bad, don't force it, okay? just stop it and let me know."

"I love kissing you," he admitted.

She smiled, biting her bottom lip. "Really?" She leaned up and nipped his lips. "Like...that." She kissed him again, sucking on his bottom lip before releasing it. "Or that? Or." She kissed him again, slightly deeper. Running her tongue across his lips before pushing it through as her body pressed against his.

That made Sam grin as he nodded before she deepened the kiss. He let out a small groan as he opened his mouth, allowing her total access.

Mercedes wanted to let Sam take the lead because she didn't want to push, but she also knew he wouldn't, so she wrapped her hands around his neck, moaning into the kiss.

Sam was so in love and so needy for her, but he wouldn't take it further, though; that was the problem. He was so used to being a passive partner that he wasn't sure of himself.

Mercedes pulled away for a moment looking at him. "Do, do you want to keep going?"

Sam nodded. "Of course," he replied quickly. "Did I do something wrong?"

She shook her head, running her hand across his chin. "No, I just to make sure you are comfortable." She gently pulled him to the bed and sat him next to her, kissing him again and wrapping her hands around his neck.

Sam smiled at her as she touched him. Her touch was so gentle. "I'm always comfortable with you," he murmured before she pulled him to the bed and started kissing him. He wrapped his arms around her.

She smiled against his lips. Then, she moved from his lips, kissing a trail down his neck, to that spot she found he loved.

He let out a moan as she hit that spot and let his head fall to the side. "Merce..." he gasped.

She let her hand roam down his chest as she sucked at the spot then licked over it to soothe it, loving the way he was reacting to her but still careful of him.

Sam closed his eyes and exhaled slowly. God, it felt so good. "Merce."

Mercedes moved closer to him, moving back to the bed and against Sam.

Sam smiled and fell backward onto the bed, pulling Mercedes down on top of him.

Mercedes laughed as Sam pulled her down with him. She hovered on top of him and smiled. "God, I love you so much, Sam."

Sam grinned up at her. "I love you too."

She smiled, bending down to him and kissing him passionately; she pressed herself against him tangling her tongue with his.

Sam returned the kiss (although not nearly as dominantly as Mercedes did). He let out a small groan as he dug his fingers into her back.

"You can touch me, Sam, you know that right, all you want," She said as she nipped his bottom lip before returning to kiss him.

Sam nodded. "Yes," he whispered, running his hands up and down her back.

"Do you want me to touch you?" She asked quietly. "Make you feel good?'

Sam nodded emphatically. "Please, Merce..."

She nodded, teasing his lips with hers. "I am gonna take off your shirt now." She said softly.

Sam nodded and tried to help her with his shirt.

Once his shirt was off, she ran her hand down his chest. The man was sexy, broad shoulders six-pack that begged to be licked. He wasn't skinny; he was built with muscle and definition; they certainly made sure he stayed in shape. She traced a trail down his chest with her tongue teasing his nipples as she did.

Sam loved every moment of this because no one ever did this for him before Mercedes. But, they did make sure he had enough nutrition and too much time in the gym to keep up the physique everyone loved so much.

"So good..."

Nipping at his abs, she stared up at him. "Can I go lower, Sam?"

Sam nodded, his breath catching in his throat. "Please?"

"Anything for you." She murmured as she moved to his legs, removing his shorts and boxers. Her breath hitched as she caught sight of him; she knew he was blessed but seeing it up close made her mouth water.

Sam gasped as she stripped him. He always felt self-conscious when he was naked. He knew that people found him attractive, but River and Rose would pull his appearance apart and make him horribly insecure in it. "Fuck."

"Sam, you, you are the sexiest man I have ever seen." She said, kissing down his happy trail and moving to grip his cock in her hand. She pressed a soft kiss to the tip and continued kissing down his shaft, wanting him to feel her love for him through her actions, through her touch.

Sam's breathing hitched at her words. For the first time, he truly believed them. Suddenly, her lips were on his cock, and his eyes went wide.

Kissing a trail back up, her eyes met his as she placed her lips over the tip and moved down as far as she could go, moaning at the feel of him in her mouth. She used her hand to cover what was left as he hit the back of her throat.

Sam gasped. His hips twitched, but he had to stay still. "Touch...," he murmured. "Can I?"

"Yes." She moaned, nodding as she started to make a rhythm with him. Stroking him and watching for what he liked and didn't enjoy.

Sam nodded and tangled his fingers through her hair. His head fell back, and he let out a groan.

She moves faster, moaning against his cock, wanting to make him feel good, showing him how good it could be.

Sam whined and gasped, getting lost in the moment. "Thank you..."

She released him with a pop moving her hand faster as she teased his tip with her tongue.

He let out a quiet moan as his hips twitched towards her. "Feels nice, Merce."

She smiled, taking him back between her lips, and started a fast pace rhythm that was sure to drive him crazy.

Sam gasped again. He was trying to keep quiet, but it was growing increasingly complex. "Pleeeeaaaaaase..."

"Please, what, Sam? Tell me what you need."

"Can I cum. Please," he begged softly, his hand still in her hair.

She nodded. "Yes, baby, cum for me." She said softly, gripping him tightly and moving faster, wanting him to cum.

Sam came with a soft cry not too long later. This all seemed far too good to be true. "Thank you."

Mercedes smiled, seeing Sam let go, seeing Sam truly trust her. She moved up to the bed and smiled, running her hand up to his chest. "You never have to thank me for making you feel good, Sam. I want to always do that."

Sam looked up at her, breathlessly staring at her with so much love in his eyes. "I want to..."

"You want to...thank me? I don't mind, and it's an ego builder too." she teased softly.

Sam nodded, still catching his breath a bit. "You deserve it."

She linked her hands with his. "So do you."

He squeezed her hand and continued to smile at her.

Mercedes snuggled closer to him. "I mean it, Sam, you deserve great things and to be made feel amazing. To be kissed and touched and loved."

Sam wrapped his arms around her. "And I'm gonna get all that now with you."

Mercedes let Sam pulled her close, snuggling against him, she wanted to tell him he was wrong, but she couldn't do that to him; she wouldn't do that to him.

"You make me the happiest person," he whispered.

She felt tears come to her eyes. "You make me happy too."

He looked at her. "Then why do you look so sad?

She kissed him. "Because I never thought I would have this." Which was true; she didn't.

Sam smiled into the kiss. "You've found me the world again.*

She wrapped her arms around his neck. "And I don't want to let you go."

"And you'll never have to."

She bit her bottom lip with a nod. "You know, tomorrow is my birthday...and for the first time, I don't feel so alone on it."

He smiled and kissed her cheek. "You won't be alone. I'm here."

She nodded. "Thank you, Sam, thank you."

Sam kissed her gently, initiating the kisses for the first time. "No, thank you."

She stared at him when he kissed her. "Sam..." She smiled.

"What?" he asked with a shy smile.

"You kissed me."

"I did..." he smiled.

She nodded. "Yes, you did. That's big."

"It is?" he was confused.

She nodded. "You have never kissed me first."

He smiled. "I just felt like I had to."

"I love you. And I feel lucky and blessed right now."

He smiled. "Me too. on all three counts."

"I was thinking maybe we can go swimming tomorrow. Do you think we can do that?"

he nodded. "Just us?"

"Joey can too if he wants; it's outback, so it's not breaking any rules, you know?"

Sam nodded. "I... I'd like that a lot."

"Okay, well, we should head back out there before I continue what we started and take us both higher." She teased.

He offered her a tease in return. "That could be fun too."

"Would you be opposed to saving that until tomorrow?"

He shook his head. "Whatever you want."

"But only if you are comfortable and want to." She said softly.

"Oh. I want to."

She smiled. "Okay, now let's go..." She leaned in and kissed him once more.

Sam kissed her again before slowly getting up.

Meanwhile, Brax sat at the table, watching Joey. "You okay?"

Joey nodded. "I am good," he said, and for the first time, he really was."

Mercedes walked out of the room and gave a small smile. "Are you guys okay out here?"

Brax turned and looked at Mercedes and Sam. "I think we're good."

Joey nodded. "These brownies are amazing."

Mercedes nodded. "Well, I can make some more tomorrow if you want."

Sam smiled and squeezed Mercedes's hand.

"I was gonna make dinner tomorrow, if that's okay," Brax offered.

Mercedes eyes widened. "You wanna make dinner tomorrow?"

Joey glanced his way. "You cook?"

Brax nodded. "I have some ideas."

Mercedes smiled brightly. "Well seems like tomorrow is going to be a good day.