This chapter took a bit longer to get out I'm sorry but I was exhausted. Anyways given the fact that these chapters are long this story has practically written itself.

I DO NOT OWN THE SONG USED IN THIS CHAPTER
SONG USED: BETTER BY JEREMY PASSION

Enjoy lovebugs. ;)

After leaving Sam's place Mercedes headed home. She soaked in the bathtub making sure to throw into Epsom salt to help with her soreness. Once the water ran cold she got out of the tub and waited for the clothes that Kurt had approved of to be sent to her place in her silk set of pajamas. She was in the middle of doing her makeup when there was a knock at the door. She checked the security footage and saw Jalen. Mercedes let out a sigh but she knew he was over here because now he had realized there was some stuff he never got to get still at their shared place.

She didn't understand Jalen at times, she gave him the money, the house they shared because to Mercedes it seemed tainted. She refused to walk into a house that gave the images of her ex and his new fling, so she decided to stay at the nice lavish apartment building that she and Jalen used to share. However, Mercedes used it more than him especially after late nights after the house, and it felt like her own. So she completely changed it to her liking and she saved Jalen's stuff because she was aware that some of the things were still memorabilia of his.

She walked to the door and opened it.

"Hi," He said.

"Hi, let me show you where your stuff is," Mercedes remarked. She walked to the living room and pulled over a box of stuff away from its little corner and gestured to the box.

"Everything should be in there, from your time in football," Mercedes said.

"Thanks for saving it," Jalen said sweetly he grabbed the box and walked to the door but he sat the box down and turned towards Mercedes.

"Mercedes what are we doing, we used to be friends," said glumly.

"Keyword in that sentence being used. Look, Jalen just take your stuff and go, alright. No need to start something," Mercedes said with a sigh.

"No, look, we used to be friends, really great friends don't tell me you are just going to throw all of that away," with his words Jalen neared Mercedes and pulled her in close.

"OK yes we used to be friends, but that's in the past," Mercedes said as she gently pushed him away.

"I know, and I am sorry I broke that friendship. Look I know you don't want to but can you just reconsider everything,"

"Jalen please just go," Mercedes said. He let out a sigh and grabbed his box and left the apartment. Mercedes rolled her eyes at his antics and headed back to the bathroom.

Sam was finishing getting dressed and doing his hair when he heard his doorbell ring and he let out a smile because he knew exactly who it was. When he opened the door he was greeted with the sight of Mercedes and she looked stunning. Her hair was flowing down her back in loose curls, she had a grey sweater, and blue jeans, and grey converse with light makeup. He pulled her into his apartment and gave her a super wet kiss.

"Sam you are going to have my lip gloss all on your lips," Mercedes laughed as she wiped it off.

"Eh, it wouldn't be the first time," Sam replied nonchalantly. Mercedes laughed at him and sat down on his bed as he finished with his hair.

"So are you finally going to tell me where we are going?" questioned Mercedes.

"Hmm, I could but I won't so keep your questions at rest, and let's go," Sam commanded. He grabbed Mercedes's hand and pulled her out of the door. They headed to his truck and started the drive to the destination. They kept up common conversation until Sam pulled into the parking lot of the county fair.

"Aww, I haven't been here in forever," Mercedes exclaimed as she practically ran out of the car.

"Well, it isn't the high-class restaurant you are used to, but it is fun," Sam commented.

"Sam this is perfect," Mercedes replied as she kissed him before running off into the fair. Sam laughed at her before jogging after and catching up to her.

The first thing they did was try all of the greasy carnival foods and feed them to each other because they were that couple. Then Mercedes wanted to do a good portion of the games. She won the basketball game and won Sam a small blue dinosaur that he ended up naming Mercy. Then they played ring toss where Sam won a cute little keychain for Mercedes. Then they played a baseball game.

"Step right up step right up, hit the bullseye when a giant stuffed animal," The owner of the game spoke up.

"Ooo Sam let's do that one please!" Mercedes jumped.

"I don't know if you had too much cotton candy or funnel cake but you are geeked up," Sam chuckled.

"Please," Mercedes laughed.

"Alright, alright, I guess my baseball arm is going to come in handy today," Sam said. Mercedes smiled and bounced over to the booth as Sam went over to her and paid the man for the three baseballs. He stood back and readied up his arm and threw the ball at the bullseye three times. He smiled when he saw Mercedes bouncing on her toes and cheering for him.

"Here you go buddy," The game owner spoke. He passed Sam a giant red teddy bear and a giant black teddy bear. He passed the red one to Mercedes and kept the red one for himself.

"Alright, where shall we go next?" Sam questioned.

"The Ferris wheel, it is borderline criminal for us to be here and not go on the Ferris wheel," Mercedes pointed out. Sam pulled Mercedes into his side and they walked to the Ferris wheel. Once they were finally seated on the ride it was like the perfect ride. The sky was now a deep purple and blue color with twinkling stars in the sky. It was the perfect scene.

"How did you know I was going to love the carnival so much?" Mercedes asked.

"It's a carnival everyone loves a carnival," Sam spoke.

"Yeah, thanks for taking me out on this date Sam,"

"It was my pleasure now isn't this better than staying in the office all day?" Sam replied as he looked at her knowingly.

"Yes, fine it is," Mercedes said rolling her eyes playfully.

I've been searching
For something that gives me a similar feeling
To what I only feel with you
But girl, you're the truth
Someone told me to hop on a plane
And go to New York City
It's got everything that you've ever dreamed
But bigger beauty I've seen, yeah

"Mercedes Jones you are the most beautiful woman that I have ever laid my eyes on. You radiate positive energy, and deep down you are always going to be there for people even if you have this tough ass exterior. You are so beautiful to me inside and out," Sam said as Mercedes looked at him.

"Sam Evans everything about you is amazing. You are smart, sensitive, caring, and protective, and you have changed my habits and life for the better and I can not think you enough for that," Mercedes replied

The day that I met you, I learned
I didn't know anything
Showed me true beauty in life
You really changed everything
And all that I knew was suddenly changed by your kiss (yeah)
I once knew love but it was nothing like this

In Sam's mind Mercedes was his person. She was the one he wanted to grow old with and have children with. She was his reason for getting up in the morning and seeing the positive, she became his reason for breathing a little lighter and not being so serious all the time because she kept that department covered for the both of them. Sam could see himself being Mercedes's protector. He wanted to protect her from every harm in the world and hold her at night and promising her that she would always be safe with him. He loved her.

Baby, you're so much better
Better than what I imagined love would be like
Better, hotter than the clearest day
Or the storms at night
Better, anyone could see girl
That you are so so much
Oh so much better
Baby, you're better

Mercedes had fallen for Sam. She fell for the man the moment he waltzed in her office and made her stop working and start eating and taking breaks. She wanted Sam with her whole being, she wanted to always be near me out of fear that he would slip through her fingers. She couldn't imagine a life without Sam, she imagined it to be bleak and unfulfilling. She wanted no, she needed Sam in her life. This was the man that she was capable of being with and being vulnerable with because she knew that he would never hurt her in any way. She loved him

Than my favorite song on the radio
At the perfect time
Better than a seventh chord on a Fender Rhodes
Under a perfect line
Yeah, that feel-good music
Yes, that's what you are
No one else comes close, baby
You raise the bar (yes, you did)

Even better than Lemonade on a summer day
Oh yes, I said it
If they say we're a good looking couple
Well, better give you the credit
'Cause I'm better with you, see
And I love what you do to me
Never let someone in
But somehow you got through to me (oh)

The day that I met you, I learned
I didn't know anything at all
Showed me true beauty in life
You really changed everything
All that I knew was suddenly changed by your kiss (yeah)
I once knew love but it was nothing like this

Baby, you're so much better
Better than what I imagined love would be like (oh so much)
Better, hotter than the clearest day
Or the storms at night
Better, anyone could see girl
That you are so so much
Oh, so much better
Oh baby, you're better

You're so much better
Better than what I imagined love would be like
Better, hotter than the clearest day (better than the stars at night, baby)
Better, anyone could see girl (anyone of us can, oh)
That you are so so much (you're so)
Oh, so much better (so, so)

You're so much better (yeah, yeah)
Better than what I imagined love would be like (yeah, yeah)
Better, hotter than the clearest day
Or the storms at night
Better, anyone could see girl
That you are so so much
Oh, so much better
Baby, you're better

Still on the Ferris wheel Mercedes leaned into Sam and gave him a sweet long kiss that he happily returned as he placed his hand on her cheek. When they pulled away they looked each other in the eyes and stared for a second.

"I love you," Mercedes said.

"I love you too," Sam replied. Sam pulled her close to him when the ride was over and they grabbed their things and headed back to his truck. Mercedes had crashed from her sugar high and was knocked out in the passenger seat and Sam didn't want the date to end yet so he drove to an empty pasture and parked the truck. He grabbed the blankets that he kept for emergencies from the backseat and placed them in the cargo bed for cushion. Then he walked over to Mercedes and picked her up and placed her in the bed before he got behind her and leaned her back into his chest.

Mercedes blinked her eyes open and looked at the night sky as she nestled some more into Sam's chest, "Why did you let me eat so much sugar?" She groaned out as she felt a headache come one.

Sam laughed at her, "Because you looked so happy I couldn't ruin it, here take this," Sam placed a bottle of ibuprofen in her hands and some water. Mercedes did as he instructed and looked at the stars.

"Mmm, you are the best human pillow ever," Mercedes whispered out.

"I do aim to please, baby," Sam replied as he kissed her on her forehead.

"Can I tell you something?" Mercedes questioned.

"Anything,"

"Jalen believes that I still love him. I don't, I mean how could you love the one person that you thought was never going to break your heart and they do most dramatically ever. He believes that the reason I won't agree to send him any more money is that once the money is given to him I won't have any connection to him and he won't be in my life. He'll be in the world with a new family and I'll be here with my company."

"Well, do you still love him?" Sam questioned.

"No, not anymore, it took me a long time because before we were ever in a relationship we had a friendship, one that I did care about, but after what he did and what he is continuing to do it isn't hard to cut ties. I just don't want to do it by losing my integrity."

"I had an ex. Her name was Lexi she slept with my best friend for the whole three years that we were together. They are married now and they have a kid now, and to add insult to injury they asked me to be the godfather to the first-born."

"I'm sorry baby,"

"Don't be just keep in mind that people are going to do whatever they feel is right no matter how much it can hurt other people. I say this to say that don't ever feel like to have piece and have no ties from your ask you have to sell your integrity because you don't. There is always another way. He doesn't deserve to have a single dollar from you," Sam said.

"Then how else am I going to keep him out of my life,"

"Let me handle it."

"Sam you can't kill him,"

"Who said anything about killing him, I have other ways," He joked.

Mercedes snorted, "No baby ok. You don't have to do that, look I promise you, you don't ever have to handle him ok,"

"Alright, but if I see him dipping around at Mercedes Jones and management then it is going to be a problem," Sam replied.

Mercedes sat up and turned towards Sam, "I wouldn't expect anything less." Mercedes leaned in and wrapped her arms around Sam's neck and he wrapped him around her waist as they pulled close to each other needing to be so much closer than they were. Mercedes straddled Sam in the pickup and took off her sweater and leaned down and kissed Sam more as they unbuttoned his shirt. Sam pulled Mercedes head down and led them into a fiery burning kiss they both dueled for dominance as Sam flipped them over and left burning kisses on Mercedes's cool skin.

That was the night Mercedes experienced sex in a pickup truck.

The date and the new beginnings of saying "I love you," if anything ignited Sam's and Mercedes's relationships even more. Sam brought Mercedes's lunch or dinner to the office she started to work a little less every day which surprised Tasha and Kurt but they soon realized just because she was working a little less did not mean that she was going to change her approach to her employees. She was a still hard-ass nonetheless.

Sam and Mercedes had nightly dates all ending the same way, they go to Sam's place and have hot passionate love into the early morning as music played in the background. They became closer, finishing each other's sentences, holding hands without realizing it, sneaking lovingly glances at each other. It was all of the nice love things that couples do. Today Sam and Mercedes were in a fashion wardrobe meeting with Kurt because Mercedes had to walk the red carpet at a charity event and Sam was going to be her date.

"Alright so Mercedess you have three dresses to choose from, the first one is giving white "swinging twenties" a nice thigh-high slit with a white faux fur line that is there for accessories purposes. The second one is a red trumpet dress number with matching long gloves, and then the third is a black sheath dress. Sam, you will be coordinating with Mercedes so whatever dress that she chooses you will have a matching suit." Kurt explained.

"Hmm, I don't know what do you think babe?" Mercedes asked as she turned towards Sam.

"I don't know they are all nice but I am leaning towards the red," Sam replied.

"Oh, I love him already. I was leaning towards the red too Sam. Alright, Sam, I have a red suit I will have my assistant send it up and then we can see how the both of you two will look beforehand," Kurt explained as he pulled out his phone.

"Is this what your day consists of?" Sam questioned Mercedes.

"Typically, yes. After this I have some meetings scheduled then I come back here and finish up work on my laptop." Mercedes explained. Before Sam could reply Jalen rushed into the room and walked right up to Mercedes.

"WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO?" He screamed as Mercedes. Sam stood in between the two and pushed Jalen back.

"What are you talking about?" Mercedes asked.

"YOU KNOW WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT! YOU GOT THE CASE DROPPED BY DIGGING YOU BITCH!" Jalen screamed. Sam had enough, he tackled Jalen to the ground and flipped him on his back, and bent back his arm.

"You move, your arm breaks," Sam grunted out as Jalen wriggled around on the ground.

"Your damn right I dug around to find out how all that money was gone. I gave you a way out and you wasted it, so no I am not going to give you any more money, so what is going to happen next is Sam is going to let you go security will escort you out and you are never going to be here again," Mercedes said clearly. She looked at Sam and he let Jalen go as security flooded her office and they escorted Jalen out of the building.

"Are you ok?" Sam said to Mercedes.

"I'm fine, God he is such an asshole." Mercedes said. Sam pulled Mercedes into a hug and held her for a long time, and Sam had a feeling that this whole thing with Jalen wasn't over. Not by a long shot.