Joey and Sam, with the help of Stevie and Mary, had set up two tents outback. With Mercedes and Brax in Mercedes and Sam's room working on a case, they were able to take their time to make it perfect. Tiki Torches that kept away mosquitoes were Mary's idea. And making the burgers ahead of time was Stevie's. Once the fire pit was set up, he smiled at Sam. "What do you think?"

Sam smiled. "It's pretty damn near perfect."

"I really hope they like it."

Sam nodded. "Me too. It... it's a lot."

Joey looked at him. "You think it's too much."

Sam shook his head. "No. I think it's just right.*

Joey sighed. "Yeah, I agree." He said, turning to Sam. "I really just want to make sure they see our hard work."

"They will," he smiled.

Joey nodded. "Okay, shall we go get them?"

"Yeah."

Joey moved towards the door and stopped. "I really am glad we are here and in this together... I'd be lost without you."

Sam smiled at him. "I'd be lost without you too."

Joey hugged him, smiling. "Good."

Sam hugged him back. He truly would be lost without Joey.

Joey smiled, walking into the house and heading to Sam's room. He opened the door and saw Mercedes and Brax huddled together working and smiled. "Hey, guys."

Mercedes glanced up and smiled at them. "Hey, what's up?"

Sam followed quietly. "Almost done?"

Mercedes nodded. "Pretty much. What are you guys up to?"

Sam smiled slyly. "We have a plan."

Joey beamed. "A great plan!"

Mercedes looked at Brax, then Sam and Joey. "Okay...what plan?"

Sam all smiled. "For tonight."

"Just close your eyes and come with us," Joey said

Brax smiled and closed his eyes. "What do you two have planned."

Joey shook his head. "Nope, you are gonna have to come with us to find out."

Mercedes bit her bottom lip and smiled. "Okay..."

Sam smiled. "Trust us... it'll be fun."

Joey nodded towards the door, and Mercedes stood, throwing her hair back into a messy bun and straitening out her oversized shirt and yoga pants. "Do we need to change?"

"Nope. Just going to the backyard."

Brax reached out for Joey's hand.

Joey took his hand and led him outback.

Mercedes followed behind, standing next to Sam.

"Okay. You can open your eyes!"

Brax slowly opened his eyes.

Mercedes wasn't sure what was going on, but when she opened her eyes, she saw a beautiful camp set up for them. Tiki torches and fire pit. Two tents with air mattresses were in there, and she smiled. "This is amazing."

Brax didn't say anything. He just stared at it for a few moments.

"Right?" Sam smiled.

Joey looked at him. "Brax?"

Brax was speechless.

"You don't like it?" Joey asked sadly.

Brax finally looked down at Joey. "You... you did this for me?"

Joey nodded. "We did." 0

Brax immediately wrapped his arms around Joey in a hug. He was overly emotional at the moment, knocked speechlessly.

Mercedes turned to Sam. "You did this for me?"

Sam nodded. "With Stevie and Mom's help... we thought it would be a nice date night."

Mercedes bit her bottom lip. "Can I kiss you, Sam?"

Sam nodded.

Mercedes stepped closer to Sam and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him down for a kiss.

Sam smiled and kissed her.

Mercedes kissed him deeply, then pulled away, putting her forehead against his. "I love you."

Sam kissed Mercy back and smiled. "I love you too."

Mercedes closed her eyes. "I don't deserve you.

"Nah," he smiled. "We do deserve each other."

Mercedes closed her eyes. "You are the best."

Sam shook his head. "Not me. You."

"No, you too." She said softly. "Now I am starving, and I know you are too." She said, pulling him over to Joey and Brax.

Brax held Joey tight, then pulled away from him and looked at Joey and Sam. "No one's ever..."

Joey smiled. "Now they have. Come on, guys, let's eat."

Brax turned from Joey for a moment to reel in his emotions.

Joey pulled Brax to the chairs. "We have burgers and chips and drinks."

Brax sat down, still trying to control his emotions a bit. "Thank you."

Joey glanced at Brax. "I really wanted to do something great for you, but I wasn't sure what to do..."

"This is perfect," he whispered.

Joey moved closer to Brax and kissed him softly. "You are perfect."

Brax felt a year fall when Joey kissed him. This was too much.

Joey frowned. "Are you okay?"

Brax nodded. "No one has ever done something like this for me... I've never... done anything like this. It's amazing."

Joey smiled. "I really just wanted to make you happy."

"You make me so very happy."

Joey smiled again and leaned in, and kissed him once more.

Brax returned the kiss. "We're gonna make s'mores?"

"Yeah, and get to have fun under the stars," Joey said happily. He was happier than he had ever been; Brax was a part of that.

Mercedes glanced at Sam as she sat next to him. There were times when she felt like he was happy with her and loved her but then times when she thought he didn't.

Sam watched her for a moment, then reached over to hold her hand.

Brax could feel the happiness and excitement rolling off Joey, and it made him feel wonderful in return.

Joey pulled out the burgers and trays. "So, how is the case going, guys?"

Mercedes smiled. "It's going great. I am glad they are letting me work from home."

Brax nodded in agreement. "I still go in, but I've been helping Merce lately."

Sam remained quiet.

Joey smiled. "That's great!"

Brax nodded in agreement.

Sam was enjoying the moment in peace. There was nothing wrong. He was just taking it all in.

Joey started handing out the food and opened the cooler. "So let's play a game? How about truth or dare?"

Mercedes grabbed a cherry Pepsi and the plate she was offered. "I love truth or dare."

"I'm up for that," Brax smiled.

Sam nodded. "I'm game."

Joey beamed. "Okay, who wants to go first?"

"I can... go for it, Joey." Brax smiled.

Joey beamed, "Truth or dare, Brax?"

"Dare." he smiled.

"I dare you...to do a handstand for one whole minute," Joey said.

Brax looked at him. "I'm a singer, not an acrobat," he laughed.

Sam chuckled as well.

Joey snorted, and Mercedes laughed with a shrug. "You are the one who chose dare." She said.

Brax looked at Mercedes. "I don't need a head injury!"

Mercedes stood. "Fine, I will hold your feet, okay?"

Brax sighed and did the handstand for about forty-five seconds before coming down.

Joey and Mercedes applauded, cheering for him. Joey beamed. "Okay, it's your turn."

Joey's smile still made Brax's heart melt. "Okay, Joey. truth or dare?"

Joey beamed. "Hmmmmmm dare?"

"I dare you... to... sorry I'm terrible at this..."

Joey laughed. "I think we all are bad at this... I picked a headstand."

Mercedes bit her bottom lip. "How about we do something else fun."

"That was adorable, though," Brax smiled.

"Yeah," Sam agreed with Mercedes.

Joey blushed. "So, what can we play?"

Mercedes shrugged. "I want Brax to sing, actually."

Brax looked down and blushed. "Maybe you should have dared me," he teased.

Mercedes laughed. "Fine, I dare you to get up and sing. Come on, I will even do it with you."

Brax glared at her playfully. "Okay..."

Joey beamed. "Yes! This is perfect."

Mercedes bit her bottom lip before standing up and pulling Brax with her. This was how she would get her life back, one day, one fun thing at a time.

Brax stood up and stood next to Mercedes. "What are we singing?"

Mercedes placed her hair behind her ears. "Dealers Choice, what do you think? Since you know, I follow your lead."

Brax smiled at her. "I want to follow your lead today."

She laughed, looking at Sam and Joey, and then beamed. "Okay, then let's take them back to our college years. Let's do...Summer Nights from Grease."

Sam was smiling at Mercy, glad to see her smile like that and slightly jealous that he couldn't make her smile like that.

"You got it."

Joey sat up smiling; he was ready to hear Brax sing.

Mercedes pulled Brax to her. "What if we perform for our guys? Pay them back for this? You sing to Joey, I sing to Sam?" she whispered.

Brax smiled and nodded. "Good idea," he whispered. "Summer lovin' had me a blast."

Joey beamed as they started to sing.

Mercedes smiled. "Summer Lovin' happened so fast."

Brax approached Joey. "I met a boy, crazy for me..."

Mercedes moved towards Sam and pulled him up to her. "Met a boy, cute as can be."

Brax pulled Joey up as well. "Summer days, drifting away...". He had a rich baritone voice that didn't suit the song well, but it worked for him.

Sam grinned at her.

Joey couldn't break the smile from his face; seeing this side of Brax was terrific.

Mercedes continued to sing and dance with Sam, holding him close in the moment as she sang.

Sam felt better at that moment.

Brax continued singing as well. He was so happy at that moment.

Joey danced with Brax, not well but also not caring if he looked like a fool.

Mercedes pulled away from Sam and then spun back in his arms; as the song came to an end, she pulled Sam in, singing the last part in harmony with Brax but staring right into Sam's eyes.

Sam held her tight, indeed all smiles.

Brax was having a great time.

Mercedes didn't want that moment to end, so she began singing "Dangerously in Love" as she continued dancing with Sam and hoped Joey and Brax would do the same.

Sam loved Mercedes's voice. He smiled and danced along.

Brax held Joey tight.

Joey wrapped his arm around Brax. This was perfect, this moment.

Mercedes stared at Sam, singing her love for him, showing him what he meant to her through song.

Sam felt better as Mercy sang to him, realizing how lucky he was.

Joey laid his head on Brax's head as the song ended, not wanting the moment to end.

As the song ended, she placed her forehead against his as they continued to sway.

Brax felt wonderful.

Sam smiled and leaned in and kissed her softly. "Thank you."

Mercedes blushed at the kiss. "For what?"

Sam shook his head. "For being everything I needed."

Mercedes closed her eyes for a moment and then looked at him. "Sam, you are everything I need too."

Sam hesitated for a moment. "I love you."

She saw the hesitation but just kissed him again. "I love you too. And I wouldn't want to be anywhere in this world but here."

Joey pulled away and smiled up to Brax. "You can sing and dance; what can't you do?"

"Juggle," Brax teased.

Joey laughed. "I really like you, Braxton."

"I really like you too, Joey." Pause. "Like a lot."

Sam hesitated for a moment. "I love you."

Joey beamed. "Like, how much is a lot?" He teased,

"A lot, a lot." Brax teased.

Joey leaned up and kissed him. "Me too. A lot a lot."

That made Brax grin. "Maybe we can see the stars soon?"

"I would love that; want to start the s'mores?"

Brax nodded and let go of Joey to head over to the marshmallows.

Sam sighed heavily. "Please don't leave me again."

Mercedes pulled his face down to hers. "Sam, no matter what, if it's you or Cap or Scum, which I hate that name. I am still here; I am not going to leave. I promise."

Sam stared at her. "Thank you."

Mercedes bit her lip. "You won't leave me, right? Because I know that I get emotional now and crazy... I just want to be everything for you, and I don't know if I can be."

Sam shook his head. "I wouldn't ever.."

"Even if I am not who I was before? If I was ruined?" She asked meekly.

Sam looked at her. "Ruined? You're far from ruined. You're perfect."

Mercedes looked to the ground. "Sam... I'm not perfect." She said barely above a whisper.

Sam tilted her chin up to look at him. "You are to me." Sam kissed her forehead. "Maybe we think we don't deserve each other... and that's exactly why we do."

She smiled through her tears. "Sam... you say the most perfect things..."

Sam smiled at her. "Do I?"

"You do. And you make me smile; you make me feel like I am everything you could ever need."

Sam's smile grew. "You are all that and more."

"Okay, I love this romantic side of you, Sam."

Sam kissed her cheek. "I have many sides.*

"Oh?" She said, staring up at him. "I love all sides of you."

Sam looked at her. "I'm so thankful."

"For your freedom? Your family? Me?"

Sam stared at her. "Well... for all of them... but I'm thankful you love all of me."

Mercedes wrapped her arms around his neck. "Sam, how can I not?"

Joey took a bite of the S'more and smiled. "This is amazing."

Brax smiled. "You are adorable."

Joey beamed. "Am I?"

Brax nodded, running his hand up Joey's arms and tickled him playfully.

Joey laughed, moving from Brax. "Yes!"

"Are you... ticklish?"

Joey laughed. "I am. And you better not get any ideas."

Brax smiled devilishly. "Oh, I'm getting all types of ideas."

Joey stood. "Oh, that look spells trouble."

"Good trouble?"

Joey nodded. "Yeah, good trouble."

Brax moved closer to Joey.

Joey eyed him, backing away playfully.

Braxton took another playful step forward.

Joey threw his hands up. "Soooo, I don't suppose I can surrender, huh?"

"Only if you want tickles..."

Joey smirked, moving back further. "Oh, see, you are gonna have to catch me first." He said, taking off running.

Brax took off after him.

Joey dodged him and ran further into the backyard.

Mercedes watched Joey and Brax and smiled, pulling Sam to her and started rocking with him. "Let's dance under the stars.

Sam rocked with her, humming quietly.

Mercedes hummed along with him, laying her head on his chest.

Sam was scared to sing.

Mercedes savored this moment in Sam's arms, holding him close. She pulled him even closer.

Sam sighed in her arms, feeling the tension relaxing out of him.

Mercedes closed her eyes, continuing to hum. Then she looked up to Sam, standing on her tippy toes and placing a kiss on his lips.

Sam smiled. "What was that for?"

"Because this moment is perfect, you are perfect." She said softly.

Sam smiled. "So are you."

Joey ran out from the tree, making his way back around the tree.

Brax heard him but pretended that he didn't.

Jumping on Brax's back, Joey laughed, hugging him from behind.

"Gah!" Brax exclaimed, quickly catching Joey's legs and holding him close.

Joey kissed his cheek.

that made Brax smile. "You caught me."

"You caught me too." He laughed. "Now onto the S'mores."

Brax carried him over to the fireplace. "Those two are cute..."

Joey looked up and watched Sam and Mercedes dance. "They are, and so are we. Tonight was better than I ever imagined."

"And it's only just beginning," Brax smiled.

Joey smiled. "I can't wait for the future." He looked back to Sam and Mercedes. "Hey, you two get a room! Or come eat, S'mores." he teased happily. This was the happiest he had ever felt.

Mercedes heard Joey and laughed. "Okay, Okay."

Brax sighed quietly. He couldn't wait for a future with Joey, and that scared him. He never fell so hard for someone in such a short period.

Sam exhaled when Joey broke the moment. He let go of Mercedes and glared at Joey playfully.

Joey handed Sam the bamboo stick, "Tonight is a lot of fun, isn't it?"

Mercedes grabbed a water bottle then tossed one to Brax. "Ready for S'mores?"

Brax smiled... "Always, Cedes."

Mercedes grabbed the marshmallows and smiled.

Sam took the stick and nodded. "I'm having fun."

Joey looked at Brax, then back at Sam. "How do you know if you are falling for someone?"

Sam tilted his head. "You just know... you never want to be away from them."

Joey smiled. "I don't...I don't want to be away from him." He said softly.

Mercedes handed Sam his bamboo stick with marshmallows and then opened the crackers and chocolate.

Sam looked down. "We can talk later.". He turned to Mercedes. "Thanks.*

Joey nodded and handed Brax his stick.

Mercedes toasted her Marshmallow and cleared her throat. "I just want to thank you both for this night. I think we all needed it."

Sam got to work toasting his Marshmallow as well. "You're welcome, Merce."

Joey put his S'more together and moaned out as he took his first bite. "Who comes up with these creations?"

Mercedes laughed. "I know, right? They are soo good."

Brax smiled and made his own smore. "They're the best."

Sam smiled.

Joey went to make another one. "I need more. I could eat these every day."

Mercedes licked her fingers nodded. "Not every day for me but a lot."

"Careful, Joey. Too much sugar isn't always smart," Sam reminded.

Brax watched Joey with a fondness in his eyes.

Joey nodded but wasn't really paying attention to them as he stuffed his face.

Mercedes sat back, smiling at her guys as she felt a raindrop on her arm. She looked up but shook it off.

Sam ate more happily, loving this moment.

Joey sat back after his third one and smiled. "Okay, so three for me... I'll wait to have another." He said as he felt a drop of rain hit it.

Mercedes grabbed a bottle of soda when another drop hit her, then another.

Sam felt the rain too.

"Maybe we should go inside," Brax asked.

Mercedes shook her head and stood. "What? Go inside on a perfect night like this in the rain? I don't think so."

Sam wasn't sure what to do.

"Okay..." Brax replied.

Joey smiled. "I haven't been in the rain in such a long time."

Mercedes stood up and pulled the guys with her as the rain started falling faster.

Sam was never overly fond of the rain. "I suppose it's refreshing..."

Brax laughed at Joey's smile.

Mercedes pulled Sam into her arms as the rain fell faster. "I know you don't like doing a lot of things in public. But would you kiss me in the rain Sam? I've always wanted to be really kissed in the rain."

Joey lifted his face to the sky, closing his eyes and tasting the raindrops.

Sam kissed Mercedes deeply, holding her close as the rain cascaded down around them.

Mercedes melted in Sam's arms, holding him close as she returned his kiss.

Sam tried to focus on Mercedes and not the bad memories that the rain brought on.

Mercedes pulled away, looking at Sam with a smile. "I never knew love could feel like this."

Sam was trembling as he tried to focus solely on Mercedes. "M-me either.*

Mercedes looked at him. "Sam? Sam, what's wrong?"

"Please, can we go inside? Please…"

She nodded. "Yeah, uh yeah, let's go back inside." She looked towards Joey and Brax. "Hey guys, let's go inside; we don't want to catch a cold." She said, trying not to sound as sad as she felt.

Sam continued trembling as he fought not to just fall to his knees. "I'm sorry... I'm sorry..."

Mercedes pulled Sam to her; for a moment, she thought they were an average couple and forgot all the bad, but now Sam needed her. Lead him in the house, and to the room, she would go back out and clean everything once Sam was asleep.

"I'm sorry," he whimpered. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry .."

She grabbed a towel and wrapped it around him. "Sam, no, don't be sorry, it's okay."

Sam was full-blown sobbing. "I'm awful."

"No, you aren't! Sam, you aren't." Mercedes said softly.

Joey made his way into the room. "Sam?" He sighed. "Are you okay?"

Brax followed Joey in.

Sam held himself. "Gotta be okay.. gotta be good."

Joey looked at Mercedes. "They used to leave him outside in the pouring rain. No umbrella or anything, just him and the rain for hours."

Mercedes moved to hold Sam close. "I am so sorry, Sam, I didn't know. God, I am the worst; please forgive me, Sam. Please."

Brax wrapped his arms around Joey.

Sam curled up in her arms. "Nothing... t-to forgive."

Joey looked at her. "There's no way you could have known."

Mercedes kissed his forehead. "I got you, Sam. You are here with Joey and me. I love you. I am sorry. So sorry."

Brax held Joey even closer.

Joey leaned against Brax, whispering. "They were horrible there, and Sam, he took punishments for us..." he felt so guilty.

"He what?" Brax asked, shocked.

"He took punishments for us. Because he didn't want us to be hurt. Now you see why he is my best friend? He's the kindest man I know." Joey said, watching Sam and Mercedes.

Brax sighed. "Let's leave them alone for a few and get out of these wet clothes, okay?"

Joey nodded, hesitating for a moment but then walked out with Brax.

Mercedes kissed Sam's forehead. "I am so sorry, Sam. Truly sorry."

"P-please don't apologize. my fault," Sam whispered.

"Sam, this isn't your fault." She turned his face to hers. "Look at me, Sam."

Sam looked at Mercedes. "okay."

"None of this is your fault. You were conditioned for 10 years. It doesn't go away overnight. This is a process and one that I am all in on."

Sam nodded. "I'm trying."

"I know, and that is why you don't need to sit here apologizing. Because you are amazing, and I love you, and I am here. And you pushed through your pain to give me something I wanted. That is love."

"I love you so much."

She held him close. "I love you too. Can we get you out of those wet clothes?"

Sam offered her a pained smile. "Please?"

Mercedes moved to open the drawer and grabbed Sam a pair of clothes to put on. "Okay, this is gonna get you all warmed up."

"Okay."

Mercedes lifted Sam's arms to help him get dressed. "Tonight was still such a great date."

"I'm glad you liked it," he whispered.

She helped him dry off. "Of course I liked it. I loved it."

"We planned it and hoped..." his voice failed him.

"Sam, it was perfect. And you, you made it so amazing."

Sam forced a smile because he wanted so badly to smile. "I'm glad."

She knew him, knew him well by this point. Sam gave the same look Cap did when he pretended he was okay. "Sam, I don't want you to pretend with me."

"I want to be happy. I want to feel happy."

She nodded. "Then tell me how to make you happy, Sam. Because I want that for you too. And it kills me that I can't be that for you."

"It's me... my brain... when I get like this, it's like a battle in my mind. You make me so happy when... when it's not like this."

She took a breath. "Will you, will you tell me what else makes you happy?"

"Your smile. The smell of your hair. The way your nose crinkles when you laugh."

Mercedes smiled, blushing at his words. "Sam..."

"You make me happy."

She leaned in and kissed him deeply. "You make me happy too, Sam."

That pulled a genuine smile out of Sam. "Good."

"That smile, it melts my heart."

His smile grew a bit. "I love you."

She smiled. "Do you? And do you love when I do this..." she moved to kiss his neck.

He nodded. "Mmhmm..." he hummed.

"And when I do this?" She moved to the other side of his neck.

He whined in need.

She moved to the spot beneath his ear. "And this, do you love this?"

He nodded and hummed happily.

She smiled, running her hands down his chest. "What else do you love?"

Sam grabbed her hands and kissed them.

She smiled. "I love that too."

He squeezed her hands.

"How about every day we talk about what you want that day to be like, and we work through that?"

Sam took a deep breath. "Okay. I can do that."

"And please don't be afraid to tell me no. We have to be honest...I..." she swallowed. "I don't like to be alone because it makes me think about what happened to me."

Sam took a shaky breath. "I d-don't always like... being touched. Reminds me of them ...*

She closed her eyes with a nod. "How about from now on, I won't touch you unless you ask me to."

"I wanna b-be with you. I do. I'm sorry I can't be what you need."

Mercedes looked away from him. "Sam, maybe right now you need me to be your friend more than your girlfriend."

Sam felt the tears welling up in his eyes again. "You d-don't wanna be with me..."

She looked him in the eyes. "Sam, I want to be with you, I want to spend my life with you. But I have been trying to help you as your girlfriend, and you don't need that you don't need me kissing you, touching you ... pressuring you into having sex..."

Sam stared at her. "I'm sorry."

"What do you have to be sorry for, Sam?"

"Because I cant b-be what you need."

"No, Sam, that's not it. I can't be who you need."

"You... you are what I need."

"How? How can I be what you need, Sam? All I want is you, to hold you, kiss you, make love to you. To push past my own pain. But You don't want that you don't need that. "

"I... I want to be with you... I do. I'm just... scared."

"Scared of what, Sam? Me?"

Sam immediately shook his head. "Of not being me."

"And me needing you is the problem. That's why I said you need a friend."

"It's not... I... I just need you."

"Sam, me being your friend doesn't mean I am going to leave you. It just means I won't kiss you or touch you ill just listen and support you."

Sam was a mess at that moment as he leaned heavily against her...

She hesitated. "I don't know what to do."

"I d-d-don't know either."

"Sam, it seems like every time I want to be romantic with you, it seems like I am hurting you; that's why I just want to do what is right."

"I'm scared that... that they'll come back and I'll lose time again."

"Why would they come back?"

"I d-d-don't know what triggers them."

She nodded. "Sam tells me the truth, why do you want to be with me? Why is me your friend so bad?"

"I don't want... want to lose you... Can't you just...you can... you can give me hugs and kisses and be gentle with me."

"And those are things you don't really want."

"I want the hugs and kisses... it's just anything more, and I can... feel myself shutting off."

"And that's why I am offering you my friend Sam."

Sam nodded. "We can... be better together."

She closed her eyes, willing the tears not to fall. "I can still cuddle you and make you feel safe."

'You make me feel safe just by being here."

"See, now you get to feel safe, and you won't be harassed by me wanting more than you can give."

"What if I can... never give you what you need."

She took his hand. "This is what I am saying, Sam. As my friend, you don't have to give me anything. I don't expect anything from you."

Sam pulled her hand up and kissed it. "You d-deserve better."

She shook her hand. "No, I don't."

Sam leaned against her. "Can we go to bed?"

She nodded. "I can take the couch if you want."

"I want you here when I wake up."

She nodded. "Okay, Sam."

"Thank you, Mercy.

She nodded. "I am going to change into my Pj's, and then I'll lay with you."

He nodded and closed his eyes, curling up on the bed.

Ten minutes and a few tears later, Mercedes curled into the bed with Sam, still confused, because nothing was resolved. They seemed to keep going round and round, and she was afraid that nothing would ever be right between them.

Exhausted, Sam nuzzled into her when she got into the bed.

"Good night Sam." She said softly.

"Goodnight, my love."