"What… what do you want?" Mercedes asked, looking at her ex angrily.

"I… have you been crying?" Jordan asked, taking a step forward and looking at her with concern.

"Doesn't matter if I was, now what do you want?" Mercedes asked.

"I was in town and wanted to see you." He answered, stepping into her house and closing the door. "What's wrong?"

"Jordan, I don't have time for you, and I don't have time for whatever bullshit you have brewing, so please leave."

Jordan moved closer to her. "Merce, I know you miss me, and I miss you too, no bullshit, just me realizing I was wrong."

"That's cute; now leave," Mercedes said, moving around him and opening the door so he could leave.

"Don't be that way MJ, I messed up, and I was an asshole… I never intended on hurting you the way I did. Let me at least make it up to you; let me take you on that date I promised." Jordan said, hoping to reason with her.

"You know you are right, you should make it up to me, and honestly, I want you too." She moved closer to him and shoved him towards the door. "You can get the hell out of here!"

"Mercedes, you could always tell when I was lying. Look at me. I'm not lying right now." Jordan said, looking down at her so she could see he was being truthful. "I'm sorry, and I want to make it up to you."

"Jordan, just go! You have no idea the damage you did, and you have no idea how much seeing you right now makes me want to just punch you in your perfectly symmetrical face, which I hate even more now!" She said, fighting back the tears.

Jordan sighed before pulling her into a hug; he knew something was bothering her more than him being there. "It's okay to cry, Mercy. You don't have to hide when you're hurt." He said softly.

Mercedes fought against him at first but soon gave up and fell apart, crying in his arms.

"It's okay." He said, leaning down and picking her up. He carried her to the sofa, where he sat holding her while she cried.

"This doesn't change things; I still think you're an asshole." She muttered into his shirt.

"I wouldn't expect anything less." He replied with a soft chuckle.

"Why are you really here?" Mercedes asked, allowing herself to get familiar with his cologne. She hated him, but he always smelled so good, and she hated, even more, to admit he was a damn good hugger.

"I'm here because I wanted to apologize for what I did, for hurting you the way I did… I can't make excuses for my actions, but I can own up to them."

Mercedes didn't say anything; she just listened, looking down at her hands, this was everything she had wanted to hear years ago, and yet, it wasn't helping the ache in her heart.

"I know it's too late, and I know it probably won't help whatever is making you this way now, but I know what I did caused you to shut down a little… shy away from being that amazing woman that you know you really are, but you have to let that pain go. I know it's probably bullshit coming from me, but it's the truth." Jordan said before adjusting, so she was looking at him.

"Mercedes, you were never going to be married at twenty-two because you're not the kind of woman that falls in love at first sight. But, of course, any fool, me included, tried to make you think that was just trying to fast track what they never earned, which is you."

"Wh-what?"

"You called me dumb a lot, but I wasn't too dumb to see that marrying you would have been the best thing to happen to me, but I went about it completely wrong, and in all honesty, I was never going to be the man for you. I can't give you what you deserve because I don't deserve you. There is going to be a moment when you meet someone, and he is going to just make you crazy, but it won't be surface like it was with me." Jordan said, looking at her and nodding.

"You already found him, and you pushed him away, didn't you?"

"I… I'm not enough for him."

"Bullshit, it was never about you being enough. It was always about you chasing some fairytale your family put in your head. You're more than enough, and if you want to keep pretending that you don't deserve love, then allow me to burst your bubble. If anyone is ever deserving of a happily ever after, it's you."

"You've changed…." She said with a small smile.

"I'm married, and my wife helped me realize I needed to right the one wrong that has stopped me from being a better man. You were always my biggest regret… I should've been this person when I was with you, and I'm sorry I couldn't."

Mercedes sniffed. "Well, all that matters is that you realized it now." She said sadly. "I am happy that you found someone."

He took her hand. "Are you gonna reach out to him?"

She shook her head. "It's too late. Plus, he's a client, and it's a conflict of interest."

Jordan shook his head. "Never say never, Mercedes. If you really care for him, really love him, then you owe it to both of you to try one more time." He checked his watch. "I really should get going, but will you promise to at least think about it?"

She sighed and nodded. "Yeah, I'll think about it."

"Damn it, Stevie, just go on the date and tell her I have the stomach flu!" Sam grunted, feeling a wave of nausea rush through him.

"Why can't you just cancel?" Stevie asked, rummaging through Sam's closet for his leather jacket. "I'm taking this."

"The hell you are!" Sam replied, trying to shoot daggers at his brother, but his head hurt too bad.

"You want me to suffer through a boring date with another gold-digging harpy, then I get the leather jacket," Stevie said with a shrug.

Sam threw his hands in the air; he was too tired to fight him. "Fine, whatever."

Stevie eyed his brother. "You still miss her, huh?"

"No, now get out," Sam said, laying back down right as Izzy walked in, looking pale.

"Dude, I think she's about to barf," Stevie said, looking at his niece, concerned. "Hey daredevil, you don't look so good."

"My stomach hurts," Izzy replied softly. Stevie placed his hand on her forehead before looking back at Sam with a worried look.

"She's burning up." He said, and Sam sighed before forcing himself out of bed.

"Come on, kiddo, let's get some medicine in you. Thanks again, Stevie." Sam said before walking Izzy back to her room.

Stevie pulled out his phone and dialed their mother's number, hating to interrupt their vacation.

"What did you do?"

"Jeez, can't a son call his mother and not be accused of doing something?"

"If it were someone else's child, yes, but you're mine, so no. So now, what's the problem?"

"Sam and Izzy are both really sick… like really sick."

"Sick, how? Fever sick or stomach ache?" Mary asked, knowing it had to be bad if Stevie called her.

"Both, Izzy was pale, and Sam was still in bed when I got here… he asked me to go on his date for him."

"Well, he's clearly delusional to ask that… I'll have someone come check on them; what time is his date?"

"I'm assuming at night," Stevie answered.

"Steven! Will you please take something seriously for once!"

"Nah, doesn't sound like me." He said with a smirk.

"You find out what time the date is, and please, for the love of God, wear something other than a t-shirt."

"Mom...not that it's any of our business, but...he still misses her," Stevie said softly.

"Now, that is something to know. Have fun, baby. Love you."

"Love you too, mom." Stevie hung up and walked back into the room. "So I think mom is sending Q or someone over to help; what time is this date you are forcing me to go on."

Mercedes sat down on the sofa as her phone rang. She looked at the caller ID and was surprised to see Mary calling her. "Mrs. Evans, how can I help you?"

"Hi Sweetie, I hate to bug you, but I need a huge favor… it's an emergency, actually."

"Oh, of course! Anything." Mercedes said, sitting up.

"Izzy is sick with the stomach flu, and we're out of town… by chance. Do you think you can go check on her for us?"

"Of course, is she at home? Or over a friends?" Mercedes wanted to ask about Sam, but she couldn't bring herself to that.

"She's home in the city… it sounds like it's bad, and I just want her to feel comfortable," Mary answered, purposely leaving out the fact that Sam is sick as well.

"Let me guess, with Sam on his date, Stevie is there, and he isn't fairing very well?"

"You'd be correct… can't trust that son of mine," Mary said with a light laugh.

"I got it; I will make some soup and make sure I bring some things to make her feel better. You can count on me."

"I always knew I could. Thank you, Sweetie, and please keep me updated."

"I will." Mercedes hung up and quickly moved to the bedroom, changing out of her pajamas and into a pair of sweats, threw her hair into a messy bun, and grabbed her keys.

25 minutes and a trip to the store later, Mercedes was at Sam's apartment in the city putting in the code that Mary had texted and heading up to the penthouse. Shifting the bags in her arms, she stepped off the elevator and walked to the door. His apartment took up the entire floor.

"Stevie? It's Mercedes."

"Mercedes!" Izzy said happily from her spot on the sofa. Mercedes smiled, walking further into the apartment before freezing when she saw Sam sitting next to her looking horrible.

"Sam? I thought you were on your date…." Mercedes said, walking closer to them and seeing that they really didn't look well.

"No, I asked Stevie to go for me," Sam answered, looking at her confused. "Why are you here?"

"Your mom called… She said Izzy was sick and asked me to check on her."

"I was told Quinn would be coming," Sam replied, and Mercedes nodded, taking a step back.

"Well, umm… I can make soup and help until she gets here…."

"It's fine. I can take care of us; you don't have to be here." Sam said, and Mercedes looked at him amused, noticing he could barely keep himself upright.

"Sam, if you don't sit your butt down! Now have you two taken anything for your tummy's?" Mercedes said, pulling out her thermometer.

Sam nodded.

Mercedes took their temperatures and sighed, "Both of you are at 100.2. Hold on." Dropping the bags off in the massive kitchen, she grabbed two glasses with ice and put some ginger ale into them.

"Here." She said, giving them the drinks. "I am going to start the soup, then it's bathtime Izzy, it will make you feel better."

Thirty minutes later, Mercedes came back out and smiled, seeing father and daughter. "Izzy, how are you feeling, darling?"

Frowning, Izzy stood, but before she could speak, she threw up all over Mercedes. Sam watched wide-eyed, knowing Mercedes would get at least a little ticked but was shocked.

"I'm sorry, Mercy," Izzy said, starting to tear up.

"Oh, Sweetie come on, I will get you all cleaned up, then I will clean this mess. No need to be sorry." Mercedes pulled off her sweatshirt, leaving her in a tank top, and grabbed Izzy taking her to the bath. After getting her settled, she ran back out to clean up the vomit, seeing Sam trying to do it.

"Sam, sit down! I got this." She finished cleaning the vomit and went back to Izzy, making sure she took extra care of the sick girl.

Sam was sleeping on the sofa when Stevie walked into the house. "Sammy, my boy, I am in love."

Sam blinked a few times, checking the time and seeing he had been asleep for three hours. "Stevie? Am I dreaming? I have to be because I don't sleep when Izzy is sick, and you aren't in love; you swore off love."

Stevie sat next to his brother. "Well, I don't know about you sleeping or whatnot, but dude, Jane is the perfect woman, and she called me on my bullshit...I never believed in love at first sight, but I am marrying her."

Sam sat up feeling a lot better than he had. "I gotta go check on Izzy."

"Good cause I gotta figure out what the hell that amazing smell is." He said, going to the kitchen.

Sam slowly made his way to Izzy's room and stood still, watching Mercedes caress the little girl's hair as she hummed a soft melody. They had both changed. Izzy into another pair of Princess PJ's and Mercedes into one of Sam's shirts and shorts.

Sam stood there, his heart swelling at the way Izzy clung to Mercedes and the way Mercedes cared for her… this was all he wanted.

"Admit it; it's a beautiful picture," Stevie said, snapping a photo and sending it to his mom.

"It's just a woman taking care of a child," Sam said, trying to sound nonchalant.

"If you believe that, then you are more delusional than I thought. That woman loves Izzy, and Izzy loves her. So what's the problem? Cause I know you love her too."

Sam sighed, pulling Stevie away from the door. "The problem is either she doesn't love me, or she's too scared to admit that she does."

"So her coming over here to take care of you and your sick child, and you really think she doesn't love you?" Stevie asked, rolling his eyes.

"Stevie, we just aren't gonna work out. It's no one's fault. It's just how it is, I suppose. She isn't a good fit to be Izzy's mom or my wife."

Sam heard Izzy call out, and he walked back towards her room but stopped.

"It's okay sweet girl, I'm here." Mercedes said, moving her hair out of her eyes. "Are you still feeling sick?"

Izzy shook her head, "No...thank you for coming. I love daddy, but when he is sick, he can't take care of me."

"I am here for you always, sweet girl. Just call." Mercedes snuggled closer to her.

Izzy nodded. "I love you, Mercy."

Mercedes kissed her forehead. "I love you too, Izzy, so very much."

"Don't leave tonight? Please?" Izzy begged sleepily.

"I am not leaving until you feel better. I promise."

Stevie patted Sam's shoulder. "Tell me again how she isn't a good fit as Izzy's mother."

"Go home and stop budding into my personal life," Sam said, hurting because he wanted it to be Mercedes, but she didn't, so he had to move on.

"Oh, also Jane's mine; you won't be hearing from her," Stevie replied before heading out.

"At least one of us is having luck with the damn matchmaker," Sam muttered before going into his room to get some rest.

After getting Izzy settled, Mercedes decided to check on Sam; she knew he hadn't eaten any of the soup, so she made him a bowl and grilled cheese before going to his room. She heard him cough before she knocked and peeked her head inside with a small smile.

"Hey, can I come in?" She asked, showing the tray of food.

"I'm fine, really," Sam said before coughing, and Mercedes just walked into his room, placing the tray down.

"Listen, I know you don't want me here, but I am, and I'm going to help you get better." She said, leaning over him and adjusting his pillows so he could sit up. "I brought you some soup, and you will eat every last bit of it."

"Why are you here?" He coughed out. "I-umm." He coughed again and closed his eyes, rubbing his head.

"Look, Izzy feels better, so she and Stevie are watching Moana. So, for the time being, I am here to help you. So, stop being stubborn and let me take care of you, please."

"No, I can take care of myself. Thank you for helping Izzy, but we're good now." Sam replied, moving her hand away from his forehead.

"I will stuff this soup down your throat!" Mercedes threatened, staring at him.

Sam sighed. "Fine! I'm too tired to care anymore."

"It's because you have the actual flu; hers was just a stomach bug, so you'll have to stay away from her until you're better." Mercedes informed, feeling somewhat triumphant that he'd given in; she sat down on the bed across from him and placed the tray in her lap.

"I am not a child. I can feed myself." He said, trying to lift his hand but couldn't.

"Mhm, sure you can. Here eat." She replied, slapping his hand away and holding the spoon to his mouth.

Sam sighed as he ate the soup; an involuntary moan left his lips; it was incredible.

Mercedes smiled before breaking a piece of the grilled cheese and dunking it into the soup. "Here, it's better with this." She said, trying not to look at his lips when he bit down on the sandwich.

Sam had to admit that he was feeling a little bit better than he was before. He laid his head back. "Why are you doing this, Mercedes? I know it goes beyond your job."

"Contrary to what you think, I actually care." She said, giving him another spoonful of soup. "I care about the both of you, Sam."

Sam slowly took another bite. "Thank you."

She smiled. "Was that so hard?"

Sam rolled his eyes, taking another bite. "This is really good."

"Mhm, and you'll feel better after you shower, and I rub you down with this." She said, holding up some Vicks.

"I don't need that…" Sam said, trying to stifle his cough.

"Mhm, and you didn't need soup or my help." Mercedes said, rolling her eyes. She got up and walked into his bathroom, which was spacious. He had a massive walk-in shower with a rainforest showerhead; she turned the water on warm before going back to help him out of bed.

"Alright, come on, since you're so strong, go get into the shower," Mercedes said with her hands on her hips.

Sam shot her an annoyed look before tossing the covers off of him and attempting to stand, but he moved too quickly and became light-headed, he almost fell over, but Mercedes was there to catch him.

"Thanks." He muttered, and she just shook her head before leading him into the bathroom.

She sat him down on the bench before pulling off her top and shorts before standing him up and helping him out of his clothes.

"Let me know if the water is too hot for you." She said softly.

Sam shook his head. "I would make a naked joke...but.." he started coughing.

Mercedes rubbed his back as he continued to cough. "The heat is soothing your congestion and coughing."

Sam nodded, leaning against her, loving the fact that she was there taking care of him. He looked over to her. "Merce?"

"Yeah?"

"I am really glad I met you." He said sleepily. "Even if I am the only one in love."

Mercedes closed her eyes. "Oh Sam, it's not-" She was about to continue, but she heard him snoring. She smiled, holding him as the water fell, letting him rest while the steam helped his sinuses.

20 minutes later, Mercedes gently woke Sam up to get him changed and back into bed. She put his robe on so she wouldn't be naked, getting him to bed.

Sam groaned as she put the Vicks vapor rub on his chest. "How did I get back in bed?"

"Shh, you need to get some sleep, baby," Mercedes said, pushing back down.

"When… When did you get here?" Sam asked, looking at her before noticing she was wearing his robe.

Mercedes moved his hair off his forehead. "I've been here for a while, Sam."

"I didn't… we didn't… did we? I didn't want it to be like this; I wanted candles and wine… I wanted your first time to be special." He said, trailing off feeling tired again.

"No, baby, we didn't; we just cuddled." She said, knowing if she didn't at least answer him, he would keep being upset thinking it was wrong, though she was touched at how he wanted her first time to be.

"But we're both naked… I mean, I assume you're naked." He replied, running a finger along the opening of the robe, gently caressing her breast.

Her breath hitched as his finger caressed her, and she swallowed, shaking her head. "I'm sure. Just taking care of you."

"You're so damn beautiful." He said before falling back asleep.

"And you are everything I want." She whispered, pulling his cover over him.

"Same." He muttered before pulling her close and snuggling against her.

Mercedes's heart fluttered at his words, and she closed her eyes holding him as he slept.

Stevie had spent the last hour talking to Jane; she was remarkable, and everything he thought he hated but somehow loved from her. He looked and noticed that Izzy wasn't with him anymore. As he stood, his phone rang. Seeing a video call from his mom, he answered and smiled.

"How can I help you, mother?"

"Don't be rude, Steven...anyways, I tried calling Mercedes, but she isn't answering, is she still there?"

"Yeah, she's probably taking care of the baby."

Mary laughed. "Izzy is not a baby. I keep telling you that."

Stevie snorted. "I was talking about your oldest son!" Stevie walked into Sam's room and froze. "Oh my God."

"What's going on?" Mary asked, and Stevie turned the camera on the bed showing Sam and Mercedes cuddled together with Izzy between them.

"Oh my sweet Lord, Dwight, come look!" Mary said, nudging her husband. Dwight looked at his wife's phone softly, chuckling.

"Well, will you look at that?" Dwight said.

"Looks like my plan worked," Mary said smugly.

"Yeah, I wouldn't be so quick to brag, mom. Sam doesn't think she loves him, and he wasn't happy that she was here." Stevie said, walking out of Sam's room and back into the living room.

"Well, of course, she loves them both," Mary said, shaking her head.

"I know that, and you know that, but those two don't know that," Stevie replied before smirking. "On a brighter note, I'm in love and plan on marrying Jane."

"EXCUSE ME?" Mary shouted. "She wasn't for you!"

"Jeez, can I not have loved too? Besides, Sam would have never clicked with her… she literally said that I was the wrong white boy. She's perfect, and I love her, so I'm going to ask her to marry me." Stevie said, and his parents looked at him like he was crazy before realizing it was Stevie.

"Well… bring her over for dinner?"

"No need, I asked her to move in with me a few minutes ago… she laughed. I'm so in there!"

"Steven, you just met the girl! Give her a chance to like you before you scare her off!"

"Oh please, I couldn't scare her off if I wanted to… she matches my crazy," Stevie said nonchalantly

"Look, Invite her over and let us get to know her. If you find her special and she can handle your crazy, then I want to meet her."

Stevie had tuned his mother out as he shot Jane a message before looking back at the screen. "I just asked for her ring size."

Mary tossed the phone to her husband. "I can't with your son."

Dwight smiled. "Stevie, listen to me closely. Don't skimp on the ring size. It matters."

"I won't; besides, she told me what kind of ring she wanted… my baby has taste."

"She likes you; of course, she has taste. Us Evans men are a rare breed; not every woman can handle us." Dwight said, and Mary rolled her eyes.

"Two down… one more to go, Lord, give me the strength," Mary muttered to herself.

"I think Sam's gonna fire Mercedes. Stevie said, smiling when Jane sent him a text to come over. "Ah, I gotta go… my girl wants me over. Bye, mom, bye pop!"

"Wait! What do you mean he's gonna fire her!?"

"Ahh… he mentioned meeting a woman or something, ma I really gotta go!" Stevie said, looking around for his keys.

"Coffee table," Dwight shouted, earning a slap on the arm from Mary.

"What woman? When did he meet her? Who is she?" Mary asked.

"Don't know, at the store and don't care. Bye, mom, I'll be making you grandparents again soon." Stevie said before hanging up; he left a note for Sam then walked out of his apartment.

"Well shit," Mary said, looking at her husband, who just shook his head.

"Don't intervene; you're only going to make it worse," Dwight replied.

"Intervene? Our son is about to walk away from the love of his life, and you expect me to just sit back and watch?" Mary asked.

"Yes, and I expect you to stop encouraging our granddaughter to push them together as well because the minute he fires Mercedes is the very minute she will no longer be coming around. Izzy is attached to a woman that has not expressed the same love to her father. She will get hurt." Dwight explained, hoping like hell Mary would listen this one time.

"Well, that's just complete and utter bullshit. She might not have said the words, but she's definitely shown it with her actions."

"Sam needs to hear it, and you know it. So stop pushing this; that woman will get hurt, our son will get hurt, and our grandchild will get hurt. Let Sam make this decision." Dwight replied a little more firmly.

Mary looked at her husband, "Do you really think that what we just saw means nothing?"

"No, but I think our son needs to figure all of this out on his own," Dwight said.

"And if he goes for this new woman and loses Mercedes, you are just gonna be okay with it?" Mary said, sighing.

"If it's meant to be, then it will be Mary. Now can we please talk about Stevie cause I hear wedding bells?"

Okay first off Stevie is a fool but who doesn't love an Evans in love! Now There is definitely some love being shown here but is it enough? And what about the Marley of it all? Stay tuned because this story is just getting to the good part!