DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN GLEE BUT THIS ONE SHOT I DO!

ENJOY :)


The sound of whistling caught the whole station off guard once he never stopped since he arrived. They were confused yet intrigued by it. They watched as he moved around and decorated the station with ease, something that wasn't unusual, but it was done now with a little extra pep in his step. That man they was watching was indeed Sam, and this mood he has been in has been going on for a couple of weeks now.

Sam stepped down from the ladder after putting the star on the tree, pausing on the steps when he saw his brother staring at him strangely, "What?"

"You're acting weird."

Charlie nodded his head in agreement as he sat on the back of their truck, doing inventory while glancing at his friend up and down in concern, "You're a little too happy this morning."

"What?" Sam chuckled as he looked at the eyes that were now on him, "How can one be too happy? Besides, I can't just be grateful to see another beautiful day?"

Willow just smirked from her spot on the stood, "This probably is a side effect of his teacher slash sinfully divine baker boo."

"So, that's who you're dating?" Stefan asked, watching as a dopey smile came over his face at the mention of the woman before he moved passed him. True to his word, Sam didn't mention who he was seeing to his family for the simple fact that he didn't want them to run her off. They had a history of not liking the women his dated, which by the way were all nice girls, but they couldn't handle his family. Of course his family said that they were only looking out for him, but they didn't know that they were doing to compete opposite.

Charlie's smile was so wide as he looked at his friend, "Wow bro, you could've told me but nevertheless, I'm happy for you."

"This is so stinking cute." Willow gushed as she watched her friend hang up a reef on their door to the office, her eyes getting brighter when she saw the source of his happiness make her appearance.

Mercedes walked in, stopping when all eyes fell on her. She looked at them confusedly, adjusting her purse on her shoulder, "Um, hi."

"Hey."

Sam walked over and grabbed ahold of her hand and led her away, turning a bit to look down at them as he stepped on the steps, "Don't interrupt."

Mercedes was still confused as she looked back at the equally confused, but two smiling and one not faces as she walked up the stairs. She stepped through the door, turning around to him when he closed the door behind him, "What was that all about?"

"Just a couple of people who don't know how to mind their business." He said with a lopsided grin as he stared down at her, "Hi."

"Hi." She giggled as she leaned up and pressed a small kiss to his lips before moving back, dropping her purse on the couch before plopping down, "Sorry to pop in unannounced. I was just in the neighborhood and decided to stop by."

"Well, I'm glad you did. You're a wonderful surprise." He took a seat beside her, turning to where he was face to face with her as his hand sat on her hip, "What do I owe this pleasure of you coming here?"

Mercedes reached her hand over and played with the hairs on the nape of his neck, sighing, "The best market is next door to you. I have to bake and decorate fourteen dozen of cookies for tomorrow."

"Wow, that's a lot."

"Tell me about it. I'm going to get enough of offering up my services one day." She threw her head back, groaning a bit, "I'm already exhausted just searching for the different ingredients."

"You know you don't have to do it alone , just let me know. Matter of fact, I can help you tomorrow."

Mercedes lifted her head back up, shaking it from side to side, "I couldn't ask you to do that, especially on your day off."

Sam reached over and intertwined their fingers, "I offered. I really don't mind and plus, you can come to my house and finish breaking my kitchen in. It hasn't seen this much action ever."

Mercedes laughed as she smiled at him. Over the past couple of weeks, Mercedes had spent some time over at Sam's place, a few of their date nights being them cooking dinner together. She leaned forward and kissed him before hugging him, "I think I'll take you up on that. Thank you."

"No problem." He replied with a goofy grin on his face as she pulled back, "Besides, it's my job as your boyfriend to be there whenever you need me."

Mercedes raised a brow, trying to hide that giddy smile that was threatening to spill on her lips. Her and Sam had been going steady for about two months now. The two have been going on dates and learning more about one another. They didn't label it just yet, due to it really not being brought up because a friendship was being built before diving into what they both didn't want to say out loud yet and that was the fact that they felt like soulmates, "Is that your way of asking me, Sam Evans?"

"Y-" He was cut off by the sound of the siren going off, his head dropping momentarily before the call went out over the sound system. He looked at her with a pout before standing up, causing her to do so as well, "Let's finish this tonight over dinner, my place and my treat."

"I'd like that." Mercedes smiled at her as she looked up at him, "Be safe out there."

"I will." He bent down and kissed her before heading out of the room.

Mercedes watched as he left out, turning to pick up her purse but stopped when someone cleared their throat. She turned back around and found one of the men that was downstairs now standing in front of her.

"We haven't been properly introduced, I'm Stefan."

"Mercedes." She responded as she looked at him curiously, knowing that he was in fact Sam's brother because he did tell her about his family, "I remember you from the hospital. You came to check in."

"About that."

"Don't." Mercedes stopped him, giving him a nod, "It's fine. I'm not mad nor have I ever been mad. I'm just thankful that your brother saved my life."

Stefan nodded his head as he looked at her seriously, "You seem like a nice lady and don't take this the wrong way, but I don't want my brother to be stringed along due to you only feeling a need to be with him because he saved your life."

Mercedes stared at him in disbelief, laughing humorless before picking up her purse, bumping his shoulder as she walked out, ignoring his calls. She couldn't believe that he even fixed his mouth to say that.


As he walked to her door, Sam heard Christmas music blasting from her apartment. One thing that she did share with him is that when she was upset, music was her solace. He watched as her neighbor, Krista, come out of the apartment, heading across until she saw him.

"Hey Sam." She greeted as she looked at the man, "I love Mercedes, I really do but I can't sleep."

Sam nodded his head, seeing the tiredness but concern look on her face, "I'll talk to her."

"Thank you." She said as she headed back for her door, not without turning around and speaking once more, "And by the way, you two are so good together."

Sam cracked a smile at her before she disappeared into her apartment. He turned around and sighed, reaching on top of her threshold to where she kept her spare key. Once he got it, he placed it in the keyhole and opened her door, the smell of cinnamon, brown sugar and vanilla assaulting his nose as he headed into the direction it was coming from.

Mercedes turned off the mixer, grabbing a spoon from the counter so she could get the excess batter off the sides. When she finished, she turned around and jumped when she saw the man standing there, "Gracious, Sam. Give a girl a warning would you."

"I'm sorry." He said over the music before he leaned over and turned it off, looking at her and deciding to get straight to the point, "He told me what he said and I'm sorry."

Mercedes sat the spoon down in the sink, eyes raising to his, "You know I'm not only with you because of that, right?"

"Of course I do."

"Then that's all that matters." She walked over to him, wanting to nit all this in the bud once and for all, "I'm not going to prove myself to anyone that my feelings for you are genuine. As long as you know that."

Sam placed his hands on the sides of her face, leaning down and pressing his lips against hers for a moment before pulling back, staring into her eyes, "Mercedes Jones, will you be my girlfriend?"

A smile appeared on her lips as she stared back at him, giggling a bit, "Took you long enough to ask."

"I know. I just wanted us to really get to know each other first and understand that this is for the long haul. You're the one for me."

Mercedes smiled up at him, "You're the one for me too."

Sam smiled, kissing her once more before letting go and looking around at the cookies on the trays, "I thought we were going to do this together."

"I kind of bake unexpectedly quick when I'm frustrated or mad."

"And blast music loud enough to where your neighbors can't sleep but aren't going to complain because they love you so."

Mercedes winced in realization, "Oh no."

"Oh yes." He chuckled as he took off his jacket and hung it on the chair, rolling up his sleeves, "Looks like two more dozens of cookies are needed."

Mercedes nodded her head as she went over and grabbed an apron that she had especially for him, handing it to him with a smile, "Let's get to work then."


Sam and Mercedes didn't finish baking, decorating and packing the cookies until five the next morning. Luckily, it was a half of day for Mercedes because she had exhausted herself. While she had went to work, Sam had headed back to his house to take a shower and change, promising to meet her back at her place. With him being off and her coming home early, they decided that they would spend the rest of this cold cloudy day in eating, watching Christmas movies and drinking apple cider.

Mercedes held the cups in her hands as she went and sat beside Sam on the couch, handing one to him. After a long morning, she was definitely glad to be back in the comfort of her own home and with her boyfriend at that. Boyfriend. She smiled inwardly. She loved the sound of that.

"I can't believe you don't like hot coca and marshmallows. Everyone likes hot coca and marshmallows."

Mercedes snorted as she sat back on the couch just as he placed his arm around her, "Believe it. It's horrible."

Sam scoffed at her as he sat his cup down, "You aren't living."

Mercedes giggled before taking a sip of the cider, moving to sit her cup next to his so it can cool some more before picking up the remote, "Ready?"

"Wait." Sam moved to grab something from the side of the couch, turning back to her with a smirk and waggling his brows before lifting the mistletoe over their heads, "Tradition."

Mercedes smiled as she leaned over and kissed him gently, mumbling against his lips, "Thank you for everything."

"You're welcome." He kissed her once more before pulling her closer to him, "Now, let's try to watch this movie without saying it word from word."

It was impossible if you were wondering. The two knew every single scene of Elf.


A/N. 2020 HOLIDAY ERA STARTED!