Thank you for being patient, but here you go I really hope you enjoy it!
Mercedes stared at the wall, trying to calm her nerves. She wasn't sure this was going to work, but Sam was sure his father wouldn't bother trying to make a scene. She stood from the bed and walked over to the window. Below her, Sam (who was carrying Zach in a baby Bjorn), Sebastian, Mike, Blaine, and Stevie were setting up for the weddings.
Dwight still didn't know what they had planned, and Mercedes couldn't hide her fear of a bad wedding day.
"If you don't stop worrying, you are going to develop frown lines before you make it down the aisle," Stacey said, holding Zola. "Why are you so nervous?"
"Stace, your dad will stop at nothing to keep Sam and me apart. What if he does act out when I walk down the aisle?"
"Then that's on him, do not let him still your joy today." Stacey walked over to the window. "Look at those dorks down there; Sam is making sure your day is perfect. So stop worrying."
Mercedes smiled and nodded as she took Zola. "Okay, okay, let's get this little one changed and dressed before Tina and Kurt come."
"Her adorable tye-dye tule dress is so perfect," Stacey said, holding up the dress.
"I know Kurt outdid himself. And I can't wait to see you in your dress!" Mercedes smiled as she brushed Zola's hair.
"Where's my diva!" Kurt said, walking into the room.
Mercedes smiled, looking over to the door and seeing Kurt and Tina walk in. "Guys!" She kissed their cheeks as they leaned in.
"Diva, you look amazing. Who did your hair and make-up?" Kurt said, staring at her.
"I did." She beamed. She decided to go simple and elegant with her hair, letting it fall over her shoulders in curls and using the diamond hair clips her grandmother gave her to pull one side back and hold the veil. She finished Zola's hair with a smile. She put her curls in two neat puffs and, with a few flowers, twisted in.
Tina held up two dresses. "So we went and got your wedding dress, but Tina and I also found you another one. You said your wedding to Sam was more elegant, so we did give you that offer."
Mercedes nodded, looking at the two garment bags. "But is it me?"
Tina smiled, taking Zola from her. "Try it on and see. We also have your dress Stacey and your mom's."
Stacey squealed. "So glad you guys agreed to let my dad foot the bill. All this work deserves to get paid."
Sam began to rock once Zach started fussing, and Sebastian looked at him. "You know a part of me is happy to see you like this, but another part of me is pissed off that you are back, stealing my time with my babies. I didn't realize how much I wanted to be a dad until she had the twins."
Blaine smiled. "I get what you are saying, I never thought I would see Sam as a dad, but it looks good on you."
Sam smiled. "Not to take away from you, Sebastian, but having the twins and Mercedes in my life brought me the kind of joy I never thought I would have." He looked down at Zach and kissed his head.
Blaine checked his watch. "We need to finish setting up these chairs; we only have an hour and a half to finish up and get dressed."
Sam checked his watch. "Time is going by, isn't it…has anyone seen my father?"
Stevie shook his head. "Last I saw him and Mr. Fabray were in his study laughing and drinking on their "Merger." So I think we are good; mom will bring them out right before we start."
Sam stared at the hard work they had done. They turned his parents 3 acre backyard into a beautiful wedding venue, with chairs set up for the wedding and the reception. There was an arch filled with white roses and two white columns with bouquets of roses. Then there were 5 rows of 6 chairs on both sides of the aisle. After the ceremony, while everyone is mingling, the chairs will be moved towards the tables, for the reception.
"I just hope Mercedes likes it; it's not exactly her taste," Sam said.
Sebastian patted his back before taking Zach from him. "Sam, she loves you, and she has her family here; it's everything she wants."
Sam nodded, looking up to her room and back to Sebastian. "Yeah you are right."
"Sam, come help me with this runner," Stevie called out, and Sam kissed Zach's forehead before going to his brother. "Can you get him ready? As soon as we are done right here, I am gonna go get dressed."
Sebastian nodded. "Sure thing, let's go see mommy."
"Wait before you go see Merce." Sam runs to the table and smiles. "Take this to her, please."
Sebastian smiled. "Yeah I will."
Sam watched him leave before grabbing the red runner and rolling it down the alse with Stevie. "Looks good."
"It looks perfect." Sam heard his father say. "You can set up over in that corner; I want a lot of photos. From the moment the bride comes out until after they cut the cake."
The man Dwight was talking to nodded and left to set up, and Dwight smiled. "I knew you would do the right thing. You and Quinn will be happy together. I assume you got that girl to sign the NDA?"
"Dad Mercedes is the mother of the twins; I am not kicking her out of our children's lives," Sam said.
Dwight moves closer to him. "Okay fine, have her as your side piece; there is nothing wrong with a man sampling other flavors as long as he returns to where he belongs." He winked.
Sam stared at his father, the urge to punch him evident in the way his fist balled.
Sampling other flavors? My marriage will not be a revolving door of women."
"Why not? I didn't love your mother when I married her, and in the beginning, I had met someone on the side I did love very much. And after a while, I tired of her and was glad your mother was beside me at that point. And you are my son, so keep your side piece, make her the nanny so you can justify keeping her in your home. Pretty sure with that Latina posing as a Maid, you and Quinn both will be living the American Dream."
Sam nodded. "You know, dad, you have given me a lot to think about. But I should be getting dressed and don't want to miss my own wedding."
Dwight smiled, walking towards the snack table as Stevie walked inside, following Sam. "You should have hit him."
Sam sighed, shaking his head. "We need to get mom out of this marriage, and that man doesn't respect her."
Stevie frowned. "You think she knows?"
"I think she suspects at the very least," Sam said, sighing. "We need to figure out how to take him down; he can not keep doing this."
Stevie frowned. "I used to be proud to be his son; now I am just disgusted I ever looked up to him."
Sam hugged his brother. "Don't worry, this wedding is the first step in taking our father down. Now let's get dressed."
Stevie smiled. "Before I forget, Stacey asked me to give this to you; it's from Mercedes." Sam smiled brightly as he took the box. Inside was a solid gold pocket watch. The front was engraved with all my love and on the back were several years, including 2022.
"Sam, on our wedding day, I wanted to give you something. I should have known Finn wasn't for me because I physically got sick at the thought of parting with this. This watch was given to my great grandfather on his wedding day by my great grandmother. And when my grandmother married my grandpa, she gave it to him, Sam with my mother, and now me. All the dates on the back are the wedding dates, and I hope we give this to Zola to give to her spouse one day. This watch is a symbol of love and fortitude in the midst of trials. No matter the storm, as long as we are together, we can survive it. I love you, look for me at the altar; I will be the one who is not Quinn." Sam laughed, looking at his brother. "Help me get ready to marry the love of my life, will ya."
Mercedes emerged from the bathroom with Tina and stared at her friends, who all seemed speechless. She turned in the mirror, smoothing down the silk dress that clung to her like a second skin. She went with Kurt's elegant design, opting to just have her bouquet be the colorful centerpiece to her dress.
"Mercedes, you look, you look incredible," Sebastian said, walking closer to her. "Sam won't be able to keep his eyes off of you."
She smiled as the other nodded in agreement. "Thanks, Bas."
"You are welcome now, Stacey, and I are going to take the twins down first, but Sam wanted me to give you this." He said, holding the box to her.
Mercedes lifted her train, moving to the chair and opening it. The note brought a smile to her face. "Mercedes, you have brought color back into my world; let me do the same for you. I love you, Sam." She gasped, seeing the purplish-pink rose in the velvet case start to bloom and reveal a purple diamond pendant in the shape of a pear and white gold chain.
Tina walked over to her and helped her put it on. Kurt grabbed her veil and smiled. "Looks like Sam really does get you. Mercy me."
Mercedes stared at herself. "Let's go; I can't wait to make him my husband,
After she slipped her shoes on, Mercedes chewed her bottom lips heading down the stairs. Mary smiled, standing there with Mercedes's grandfather.
"Wow, you look amazing; my Sammy is a lucky man," Mary said, kissing her cheek. "Dwight and Russell are seated out front, and Quinn told him she wanted Santana to walk her down the Isle. That girl is clever."
Mercedes nodded with a breath. "I can't thank you enough for doing this."
"You make my son happy, and you…." She stopped as Stacey and Sebastian brought in the twins. Zach matched his sister by wearing a tie-dye vest under his suit. "You gave me these beautiful babies, and I can only thank you for letting me be a part of their life."
Zachary smiled. "My sunflower is the sweetest you will ever see unless you burn her, then she turns into a true Jones woman."
Quinn and Santana walked over to them. Santana in an elegant all-white pants suit and red vest, and Quinn in a white gown with beaded bodice and lace sleeves.
"Are we ready?" Quinn asked, and Mary smiled. "Yes. Sam and Stevie are already there. Stacey and Sebastian will walk the twins down the aisle, followed by Santana and Quinn, and then Mercedes and her grandfather."
Mercedes closed her eyes, saying a little prayer, before gripping her grandfather's hand. "I'm ready.
Sam felt like he was holding his breath from the moment his mom walked out, signaling they were ready. Sam watched as the twins were brought to the front, and he smiled at how excited they got when they saw him. He moved to kiss their foreheads as Quinn and Santana walked down the aisle. They smiled at each other, and he looked to his father, who gave him a thumbs up. Santana and Quinn stood next to Sam, but he could feel his father's eyes on him when he didn't turn to Quinn.
As Mercedes walked down the aisle with her grandfather, his eyes never left hers. It didn't matter what his father was thinking or doing; all he saw was her. He moved to meet them as she got to the end of the aisle, looking like something out of a dream.
Sam shook Zachary's hand and took Mercedes into him, kissing her softly. "Baby, you look so beautiful…I never…you just…."
Mercedes smiled. "Have I rendered you speechless, Sam?"
He nodded as he led her to the front. Sam could hear his father and Russell loudly talking, but he didn't care. Mary stepped up and smiled. The only way they knew Dwight couldn't pause the ceremony and convince the officiant to stop was if one of them did it.
"When my son came to me and told me he found the love of his life, then asked me to get ordained to marry them. The only thing I could think to say was yes. And realizing that Quinn had found the woman she wanted to spend her life with, well, I felt doubly blessed to get to marry them both." Dwight and Russell stood, and Mary smiled.
"Honey, you are a tad early. I haven't asked who gives these couples to be married." She laughed, and Dwight offered a fake smile sitting down.
"Love is special, and we often go through life unsure if we are making the right choices, and marriage is at the top of the list. But one look at these couples, and it's evident they are in love. And I am not just saying that because Mercedes gave me these beautiful babies."
Mercedes smiled, holding onto Sam's hands as his mother continued to speak. She eyed him; his white tux fit him like a glove. "You look amazing, baby."
Sam smiled, opening his suit jacket and revealing his tie-dye vest. Mercedes gasped, feeling her eyes well up.
"Sam, Mercedes, are you ready for your vows?" Mary asked.
Sam smiled. "Mercedes, I feel like I have been colorblind my entire life. Seeing only grey and black in a world that I just lived in but never lived through. And then, on a beach in Hawaii, I jumped into the ocean fully dressed, thinking I was going to be saving you, and you actually saved me. You have awoken me in a way that I don't ever want to fall asleep again, and I will love you and protect you with all of me."
Mercedes sighed. "Sam, I have always felt comfortable in my own skin, but it was others who couldn't embrace the 'me' of it all. I was lost and hurt, and I just knew that I needed to change myself to be happy. But you loved all of me, the me I didn't even realize I needed to learn to love. Sam, you helped me learn to love the way I deserved, not the way I thought I should, and for that, I am eternally grateful. I can't wait to spend the rest of our lives teaching our children how to love with their whole hearts and never be afraid to bring their own form of color to this world."
Sam lifted her hand to his lips as Mercedes pulled him closer. "I love you."
Sam smiled. "I love you more, baby."
Mercedes wrapped her arms around his neck as Sam kissed her passionately.
"Uh, son, we have not gotten there yet," Mary said, but Sam didn't care; he pulled her closer to him. Mercedes smiled, placing her forehead on his.
"We are so out of order."
Sam shrugged. "As long as it ends with you as my wife, I don't care."
He kissed her again, and the rest of the ceremony went on in a blur, but both Sam and Mercedes and Santana and Quinn were married by the end.
Dwight hurried down the aisle as Sam and Mercedes reached the end, pulling them both inside raging. "What the hell was that!"
Sam shrugged his hand away from his father and smiled, linking hands with Mercedes. "That was you seeing me marry the woman I love."
"So you played me this whole time? Do you understand what you did!" Dwight screamed.
Sam stepped closer to his father. "I am done with you, and you are pathetic, and I am no longer under your finger. My life is my own, and my bride and I will be fine without you."
Dwight pointed his finger at Mercedes. "That whore is a gold digger! And when she takes you for everything you have done-"
Sam's fist was cocked and loaded, but it was Zachary who landed the punch. "Sorry to steal your thunder Sam but I have been wanting to punch that bastard for some time now; let him call my sunflower a whore again, and that's not all I will do."
Dwight stood up wobbly, holding his jaw. "How dare you!"
"No! How dare you! My granddaughter is nothing like you think, and if you would give her a chance, then you would see that, but no, you want to make baseless accusations, and I am not gonna sit here and let you do that."
"I could have you arrested." Dwight snarled.
"You can try." Zachary countered.
Mercedes and Sam stood between the men, and Mercedes smiled. "Grandpa! You can't go hitting folks, and you have a heart condition!"
"Sunflower for you, I will kick his ass, medical condition be damned. You are my heart; nothing else matters!" He said, kissing her forehead.
"You deserved that and more, Dwight," Sam said. "You will no longer disrespect my wife. You hear me."
Dwight glared at them. "Get out! I want all this trash out of my house.
"This is my house!" Mary said, staring at Dwight. "And they are welcome as long as they want; in fact, Sam, why don't you take your bride and get your photo taken."
Sam eyed his father and nodded, taking Mercedes and Zachary out the door. Dwight frowned. "I can't believe you did this! Embarrassed me in front of everyone!"
"Listen here, Dwight, Sam is a grown-ass man who can make his own decisions, and you better believe when I say, when it comes down to it, will choose Sam, Mercedes, and those babies, over you."
"Mary, are you serious?!"
She moved closer to him. "Deadly serious. See, I have put up with you for far too long, and only because I thought it was what was best for our children, but you are on borrowed time. Now, unless you want a scene on your hands, you will go out there, put on a damn smile and congratulate your son and Mercedes."
Mary walked out of the room, and Dwight shook his head. "This will not stand."
"This better not stand, Dwight!" Russell said, walking towards him. "Our children started a war, and they may have won this battle."
Dwight nodded. "But they won't win this war."