DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN GLEE NOR ANYTHING ELSE.
ENJOY THIS THROWBACK!
Mercedes placed a hand over her stomach as she put the last ornament on the tree. Smiling at her work, she wobbled back towards the couch, plopping down with a huff. She was seven months along and she couldn't wait until she met her sweet baby boy. Picking up her laptop, she logged in to Skype to see if her husband was on. She smiled softly when she saw that he was calling her, clicking the answer button quickly, she waited for him to appear and when he did, she couldn't help but let her eyes fill up with tears.
"Hey baby."
Mercedes tried to keep her tears at bay but was failing miserably, "Hi."
Sam smiled sadly at her, shifting in his chair a little bit, "How are you?"
"I'm doing great. How are you?" She asked as she absently rubbed soothing circles over her stomach.
"I'm good." Sam watched her closely, glancing down at the moment of her stomach, "How's my little man?"
"He's doing really good, he just misses his daddy." Mercedes answered quietly as she stared into his eyes through the screen.
Sam sighed as he looked away, running his hands through his short dirty blonde locks, "I miss y'all too..so much."
Mercedes felt her throat tighten when she heard his tone, and watched his actions. She had known this man long enough to know something was up. Her tears finally escaped her eyes when she took in his demeanor, "You won't be home will you?"
Sam continued to avoid eye contact with her, shaking his head, "No, I'm so sorry sweetheart."
Mercedes closed her eyes tightly, biting down on her bottom lip. This is why she hated his job. She was all for him trying to protect their country but she was selfish. She wanted him to be at home with her and their children. He made a promise to them this year that he was coming home no matter what, but it looked like fate had other plans. She wiped her face when she heard footsteps coming into the room, she turned her head just to see their five year old daughter, Mia, rubbing her sleepy eyes as she walked to her.
"Is that daddy?" She asked as she let out a small yawn, climbing on the couch to sit next to her mother.
Mercedes nodded as she placed the laptop in her lap, standing up and heading intro he kitchen.
Sam smiled when his oldest came into view, "Baby girl."
Mia smiled brightly, "Hi Daddy."
Mercedes turned off the stove with shaky hands, grabbing two mugs from the cabinet and pouring the milk into the cups. She let a sigh escape her lips, placing her hands on the counter as she tried to compose herself before she went back in. Sniffling, she grabbed the two mugs and headed back to the living room.
Mia looked up when her mother came back in sitting the cups down on the table, her eyes going back to her father, "Mommy's back."
"Okay, but remember, it's our little secret okay sweetheart?" He reminded her, doing the zipped lip motion with a smile.
Mia giggled at his silliness but nodded, "Yes Daddy, I love you."
"I love you so much more." He blew her kiss before he was being handed back to his wife.
Seeing the distraught look on her face only brought more pain in his chest, "I love you and I'm sorry once again."
"Duty calls." Mercedes shrugged as she watched her daughter pick up a cup, "Careful Mia, it's still hot."
Sam knew she was hurt and pissed at him by the way she was brushing him off. Looking back when he heard the Commander call for him, he turned back to the screen ready to speak but she beat him to it.
"You have to go." Her eyes made it back to the screen, shaking her head, "I guess I'll talk to you when your less busy."
"Don't be like that, Mercedes." He said in a stern voice, his eyes displaying a soft look as he looked at her, "I love you okay? I'll talk to you when I can."
"I love you too." She said before she ended the video call, closing the top down of her laptop.
Mia looked at her mother, sitting her mug down, she climbed by to the side of her and wrapped her little arms around her.
Mercedes kissed her forehead as she hugged her back. She wasn't going to let her sadness impact her baby girl's Christmas.
Mia jumped up excitedly from her bed, throwing the covers off her. It was Christmas and she was so excited to see what she got. Running to her mother's room, she quietly opened the door and tip toed to her bed, shaking her shoulder, "Mommy, wake up. It's Christmas and we have to see what Santa brought us."
Mercedes' eyes fluttered opened, looking into Mia's big brown eyes that was staring intensely in hers, "Okay baby."
Mia smiled as she help Mercedes her the covers off of her, sit up and get out of bed. Once her mother stood up and got into her house shoes, she slid her fingers through hers and led her to the living room.
Mercedes sat down on the couch, watching her daughter open all of her gifts up. She picked up her camera and started taking some pictures. She heard the door knob turn open, already knowing who it was with the spare key and rolling her eyes at the commotions that followed.
"Please shut up with all that singing." An irritated Santana said as she came into the living room with bags in her hands.
"Oh cheer up grumpy. It's Christmas." Quinn said as she followed behind her friend, smiling when she came in view of Mercedes and Mia, "Hey my babies."
"Auntie Cedes." The little blonde girl call out as she ran to her with a smile.
"Hi Heather." Mercedes smiled as she leaned over with sigh to hug her.
Brittany picked up Mia, planting kisses all over her face.
"Aunt Brittany." She whined through a fit of giggles.
Santana smiled at the interactions between everybody, sitting the bags on the table, she walked over to the couch and sat by Mercedes, "How are you doing Mama?"
Mercedes turned to her, placing Heather on her lap, forcing a smile, "I'm doing fine."
Quinn stared at her and mumbled, "You're a horrible liar."
Brittany looked over to them, taking that as a sign to get the girls out of here, "I'll go get Mia ready, come on girls."
Santana waited until the three were gone, silently taking in Mercedes again.
Mercedes felt her eyes starting to fill up with tears, putting a hand on her stomach as she let out a small whimper.
Quinn scooted closer to her, rubbing her shoulders, "It's okay Merce."
"No it's not." She cried softly, tears streaming down her face, her body shaking, "He's not coming home."
Santana sighed as she watch her best friend literally break down in front of them, she grabbed her hands, "Mercedes, you need to calm down."
"I know it's hard but you can't be getting upset sweetie, you have Aaron to think about." Quinn reminded quietly, placing one of her hands on her stomach.
"I know that but it's hard." She sniffled loudly, looking at them with swollen eyes, she rubbed her hands over her stomach when she felt her baby starting to kick rapidly.
Quinn felt her own eyes start to mist up. She hated seeing her friend like this, hurt and vulnerable. It made her heart hurt.
Santana rubbed her back gently, silence enveloping the room. After awhile, she looked over when the sound of feet racing down the stairs.
Mia giggled as she hit the bottom step from racing with Heather, looking over at her mother with a smile that soon started to fade when she saw tears, "Mommy, why are you crying?"
Mercedes wiped her eyes as she looked at her daughter, "Aaron is just kicking me really hard and it hurts."
Mia walked over to her with a frown, brown eyes staring deeply into hers, "Don't cry, Mommy."
"I'm sorry baby." She kissed her cheek, moving to tuck the rest of her daughter's curls underneath her hat.
Mia smiled at her, eyes moving towards her stomach, "And don't make her cry anymore, Aaron."
Quinn laughed at her, "That's right Mommy. No more crying. It's Christmas."
Mercedes smiled at them, wiping the last of her tears, "I guess I should go get ready."
"YES!" Heather, Mia, and Brittany yelled in happiness.
Santana shook her head with a smile as she looked at them, helping Mercedes off the couch, she looked over to Quinn with a knowing look.
One thing Mercedes loved about living in New York was the beautiful scenery that would take place during the winter time. She held her cup of hot chocolate in her hand as she sat and watched the others out on the ice. This was a tradition that they always did with each other every Christmas afternoon. Her eyes drifted as she watched Charles skating with Heather and Mia, breaking her heart a little as she thought about Sam. She wished that he could be here but she knew he had to work. She came out of her thoughts when Charles skated to her, she smiled at him.
"Come out here." He shivered, tightening the scarf around his neck.
"Um, C, if you haven't notice, I'm very much in a pickle." She pointed to her very obvious baby bump with a giggle.
"Oh come on, I'll help you."
"Charles, I can't risk falling."
"You're right." He pouted as he skated away.
Mercedes laughing as she watched him, shaking her head as she sipped the hot liquid. She started to move side to side when she heard one of her favorite Christmas songs come on.
I'm dreaming tonight of a place I love
Even more than I usually do
And although I know it's a long road back
I promise you
She watched as all the couples skated together with a small smile on her lips, the cold air hitting her face, laughing softly when she saw Mia hold on to Heather's hand for dear life. She closed her eyes as she listen to the song, humming softly.
I'll be home for Christmas
You can count on me
Please have snow and mistletoe
And presents by the tree
Santana smiled as she skated around with Brittany. She looked over at Mercedes with caution. She knew that she was wrong for agreeing to do this and Mercedes was going to kill her for it later on but she loved surprises.
Christmas Eve will find me
Where the love light gleams
I'll be home for Christmas
If only in my dreams
Mercedes opened her eyes with a frown playing on her lips as she started to feel her heart warm up but she didn't know why, but then she did. Was her mind playing tricks on her? When she heard the cab pull up behind her, her heart began to beat rapidly as she stood up from her seat, sitting the cup down. Still facing forward, she covered her hands over her mouth as tears began to spring from her eyes. Through blurry vision and as she turned around slowly, there was husband in his fatigues, smiling brightly at her.
Mia smiled widely when she saw her Dad, skating towards the exit in excitement, she hurried to the sitting area to pull off the skates and put her shoes back on.
I'll be home for Christmas
You can count on me
Please have some snow and mistletoe
And presents by the tree
Sam knew that he was going to get killed for lying to her but he just wanted to surprise her first. He had known for weeks that he was going to be home and he was so happy about it. He tipped the cab driver as he closed the door, looking at his wife, who he hasn't seen in months. He walked over to her in so quickly, he didn't even realize it until he was face to face with her. He took his arms and wrapped her into a big hug.
Mercedes cried into his shoulder as she hugged him back the best she could with the extra cargo in the middle of them. He was here. He was really here. So many emotions were running through her as she clung onto him. She wanted to kill him for lying to her but at this point, she didn't even care that he did because he was here.
Sam smiled as he let out a laugh, pulling back, he leaned down and kissed her with every ounce of passion he could muster, savoring the feel of the lips he has be denied to for months.
Mercedes couldn't stop her tears as she kissed him back, leaving little pecks on his lips before she pulled back.
Sam cradled her face in his hands, taking in her features. He had so much to say but he couldn't even talk right now because of his excitement. Seeing his little girl running towards them, he dropped down to his knees with his arms opened.
Mia ran into her father's arms with a smile, hugging him tightly around the neck, whispering, "You made it just like you said you would."
Sam stood up with her securely in his arms, rubbing her back, he kissed her cheek, "I told you I would." He whispered back, looking over at Mercedes, he moved back to her, wrapping them into a big group hug, causing their friends and strangers to smile at the scene before them. The small family stayed like that for a few minutes before they pulled apart. Sam went over and greeted his friends, thanking them for not spilling the beans. After socializing and taking a skating with his baby girl for while, he gathered his family up to head home.
Christmas eve will find me
Where the love light gleams
I'll be home for Christmas
If only in my dreams
If only in my dreams
Once the Evans family made it home, they all took their baths and ate, changing into their pajamas before heading to the living room. Sam smiled at his wife as he sat by her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders.
"You scared me." She said quietly, the glare from the fire lighting up the dimmed room, her body molding into his side as she ran her fingers through her now sleeping daughter's hair.
"I know and I'm sorry for doing that." He kissed her forehead, placing one of his hands on her rounded belly, rubbing against it, "I would never break my promises to you guys."
Mercedes nodded against him, closing her eyes as she took in the warmth of him, never wanting him to leave again, "When are you leaving?"
Sam let out a crooked grin, "I'm not."
Mercedes eyes shot open, looking at him in shock, "W-what?"
"Even though I've known for a while I was coming home, I got honorably discharged a couple of days ago. This was my last tour."
Mercedes felt her eyes starting to water for the hundredth time today, "You're not leaving anymore?"
"No." He let out shakily, his own tears leaking from his eyes, moving her hair out of her face, he bent down and kissed her lips softly.
Mercedes felt a wave a relief wash over her, emotions still high. Her family was together again, "I love you so much.
"I love you more baby." He kissed her again, bending down to kiss her belly, "I love you Aaron." He moved further down and kissed Mia on her forehead, "And I love you Mia."
He smiled as looked back at her with a lopsided grin, "I told you I'll be home for Christmas."
A/N. This is from 2014!
