DISCLAIMER: I DO NOW OWN GLEE, THE CHARACTERS NOT THE SONG, JUST THE ONE-SHOT!

MAKE SURE YOU LISTEN TO "UNLESS IT'S WITH YOU" BY XTINA ON REPEAT WHILE READING!

ENJOY :)


Mercedes groaned out loudly as she leaned against the refrigerator, running her hands over her face. This was the last thing she wanted when coming into work today.

"You're standing dead in the kitchen, Cedes. The noise is only going to make it worse, duh."

Mercedes opened her eyes and looked at the head chef, watching as he gave her a look before returning back to grill, "You're such a smart ass."

The man smirked as he opened his mouth, only to stop and glare at Santana when she pushed his back in, "Watch it."

Santana smirked as she went and stood in front of her best friend, holding out the two pain pills and a glass of water, "Here."

"Thank you." Mercedes tossed the pills in her mouth and placed the cup to her lips. She had a good four hours of sleep after pulling a shift at her second job last night and woke up with a killer headache. She promised she wanted nothing more than to call in this morning, but she couldn't afford to and plus, she had the next two days off, "A break and vacation is calling my name."

"We're taking one this summer before you move." Santana responded as she grabbed some plates down, turning to her, "I'm thinking Greece, South Africa, and Australia."

Mercedes snorted as she leaned over and sat the cup in the sink, "That's a whole lotta double shifts we're going to have to do."

"It'll be worth it in the end."

Mercedes smiled, turning her head when she heard one of the waiters calling out for her.

"Mercedes, you have a table in your section."

Mercedes pushed off the fridge before heading out, glancing up to see before looking back down to pull her ticket book out. Stopping, already knowing she had arrived at the table, she grabbed the pen from her apron as well as she spoke, "Hi, my name is M..."

"Mercedes."

Mercedes froze when she heard the voice. That damn voice. The one she haven't heard in a year. The last voice to make her heart break into a million pieces on that faithful rainy Tuesday night and it was all her fault. She lifted her head and found those haunting green eyes staring back at her.

"You two know each other?"

Mercedes couldn't even form the words to respond, clearing her throat repeatedly, trying to move her eyes away from his but the stare was adamant, angry and hurt.

Santana was coming from the back with a pitcher of water when she noticed Mercedes and saw where she was. Eyes wide, she went over there quickly, distinctly bumping her out the way, "Kendall needs you at the bar, I'll take this table." She handed her the pitcher, gesturing for her to go and she did without questioning it. She turned back around and looked at Sam then the woman that was with him, "I'm Santana, what can I get you?"

The man looked at Santana with a knowing look before standing up from his seat, "Excuse me for a second."

"Check on Mercedes." Santana told another waitress quietly as she walked by, watching as she nodded her head, she turned her attention back to the woman who was sitting at the table, sending her an awkward smile and getting one in return, "So…"

"Champagne…please."

Jenna sat the tray down before she pushed the doors open, finding Mercedes in the corner with her hands over her chest, "Are you having a panic attack?"

"No, I'm fine."

"You sure? Because it looks like you're having a panic attack."

"I'm fine, Jenna." She said as she leaned over to wash her hands then dried them off, looking up at the red head, who was staring at her wearily.

"Alright."

Mercedes watched as she walked out, prompting her to let out a sigh before she threw the paper in the garbage, heading the door swinging open behind her. She rolled her eyes once she finished, turning around, "I said..." Her words drifted off when she noticed that it was the man from earlier, prompting her to straighten up her stance and free her face from any emotion that she was feeling.

"I didn't know you still was in town, let alone worked here."

"I left for a minute then came back." She mustered up the will to speak before moving pass him and heading back out to the front. Along the way, she had stopped by the refrigerator and grabbed a bottle of orange juice, hoping and praying that he would leave her alone.

The man lingered behind to watch her, heading out and to the bar, where she was now standing behind, struggling to get the items opened, watching her before speaking once more, "Glad to see you're doing okay."

Mercedes finally got the juice opened and nodded her head solemnly as she glanced up at him, "You too, Sam."

"I'm sure." Sam scoffed as he leaned against the chair, shaking his head, "I'm getting married."

The glass slipped in her hand but she caught ahold of it before it could drop, swallowing the lump in her throat as she picked up the champagne bottle, tilting it into the glass to fill halfway before doing the same thing with the juice, "I wish you well."

"I see nothing has changed." He watched as her grip tighten on the bottle, knowing that he was getting to her didn't make he want to stop, "Still not wanting to communicate….still not having any fight in you."

Mercedes inhaled deeply as she ignored his words, placing the glasses on the tray before picking it up and heading to the table that requested the drinks. She placed a smile on her face as she greeted them, not failing to feel the little bump against her shoulder as he walked passed her.

The woman who was sitting with him saw the interaction and she glared at him when he came back, "What are doing?"

"Nothing." He sat down in the seat, watching behind her closely as she avoided eye contact with him for the rest of the time they were there, "Nothing at all."


After she finished her Friday shift, Mercedes had headed home to take a shower and get ready for her job tonight. She was a singer at a lounge during the weekend and she loved it. This was her outlet. A place that she could be herself and let go, but tonight, she just wasn't feeling it. She leaned against the wall to slide in her heels, watching as Santana came out of the kitchen, holding her Thai food and just staring at her, "What?"

"We never talked about what happened the other day."

"There's nothing to talk about." She responded as she stood up straight, looking in the mirror and fixing her hair, "He was cold, basically rubbing it in my face that he had moved on."

"What did you expect really, Mercedes? You outright said no when he proposed to you, then you moved away to another city and ghosted him."

"I wasn't ready, San."

"You should've told him that instead of running like a childish little girl."

Mercedes turned around and stared at her in disbelief, letting out a humorless laugh, "Wow."

Santana shrugged, "You know I'm not going to sugarcoat anything and I'm done sparing your feelings. You were wrong, end of discussion."

"I already feel bad about it, damn. I don't need this right now." She brushed passed her, snatching her purse from the counter and heading out the door, slamming in behind her. Frustrated, she headed down the hall, pushing the elevator button harshly as she held back the tears that were fighting to be released.


Arriving thirty minutes later, she was coming through the back door, thanking the security for opening it for her. As she walked to the back room, she knocked then opened the office door, giving a smile to the woman sitting at the behind the desk, "Hey Tina."

"Hey babe, how are you?"

"I'm making it." She sat her purse down in the chair, taking off her jacket and leaving it there as well, "See you in an hour."

"I would wish you luck, but you don't need it."

"Thank you." She giggled as she walked out the office and headed down the hallway. She climbed the few steps, which lead to the side of the bar. Glancing over at the man when he made eye contact, "Hey Kev, can I get my usual please." She watched as he nodded his head with a smile before going over to the other side of the bar. She tapped her fingers against her hip as she waited, looking in front of her when she saw the server, "Hey Quinn."

"Hey babydoll, I was just looking for you." She said as she sat the tray on the counter and turned to her, "There was an engaged couple that inquired about a singer for their wedding. I recommended you and told them to stay because you're performing tonight. I know you're needing extra money and thought this would be a great opportunity."

"Thanks for looking out. I really appreciate it."

"You know I'm going to help you in any way I can."

Mercedes gave her a smile before grabbing the glass of wine and making her a way to the piano. She took a long sip before sitting down, placing the glass on the side of her then pulling the mic stand a little closer to her. She hovered her fingers over the keys, the noise in the lounge quietening down as she pressed down on the keys, playing the opening the notes as she opened her mouth and started singing.

Never wanted to feel weak in love, give up control

Never wanted to let down my guard, be vulnerable

Never wanted to feel helpless or too comfortable

I make it on my own, hey

I've been thinking a lot about the way that people change

The most beautiful beginnings can go down in flames

It's inevitable, and that's what's got me so afraid

I'd rather be alone

I don't want no white picket fence

Dozen roses and a wedding dress

Fairy tales are fake happiness

But here we are and I must confess

Yeah, I'm in over my head feeling confused

I'm losing my mind, don't know what to do

'Cause I don't want to get married

Unless it's with you, unless it's with you

You came into my life when I wasn't trying to find

Anybody to love, hiding what I felt inside

But you opened me up and now I finally realize

I'll be your girl for life

We don't need a big audience

Thousand people we never met

Me and you and a couple of friends

And here we are and I must confess

Yeah, I'm in over my head feeling confused

I'm losing my mind, don't know what to do

'Cause I don't want to get married

Unless it's with you, unless it's with you

And oh, I know that it's scary

But I know that it's true, I'm saying "I do"

'Cause I don't want to get married

Unless it's with you, unless it's with you

Beating heart and trembling hands

Take me just the way I am

'Cause all that I want is one and the same

For the rest of my days, for the rest of my days

You can ask me in a hundred years

If I would still be standing here

When we're old and gray, I'd answer the same

Our love will remain, oh, our love will remain

Yeah, I was over my head feeling confused

Been losing my mind, don't know what to do

'Cause I don't want to get married

Unless it's with you, unless it's with you

And oh, I know that it's scary

'Cause I don't want to get married

Unless it's with you, unless it's with you

Unless it's with you

Mercedes felt the tears sliding down her face as she stood up, walking down the steps that was on the side of the stage as the crowd clapped for her. He was here. She had saw him midway while she was singing. She surprised herself by even finishing the song, but it was in the end she broke down. She couldn't do this. She went over to where the man was sitting next to his fiancée. She had no right to be upset that he moved on but she couldn't let him go without telling him how she really felt, "I love you." She said as tears continued to stream down her cheeks, looking the man in his eyes, "I can't let you do this without knowing how I feel. I can't. I know I ruined my chances of us ever being together but I just want to say I'm sorry. I'm sorry I left without giving you reason. I'm sorry I didn't fight hard enough for us...I'm sorry I didn't fight hard enough for you."

Sam didn't say anything. What could he? She really did hurt him...broke his heart into pieces. How can she just say sorry and expect things to be fixed? She was being selfish. All this time she could've said this to him and now she was only saying something because of him being with someone else.

"Please say something." When she saw he wasn't going to, she immediately got embarrassed and wiped her face, turning around and walking away with the last bit of dignity she had left.

"Can we stop pretending now?"

Sam eyes left her before focusing on the woman next to him, watching as she raised a brow towards him.

"It's obvious that she's genuinely sorry and still in love with you and you too. You cant say otherwise because you wouldn't have convince me to pretend to be your fiancée. I think you made her suffer enough." The woman noted as she crossed her arms over her chest, grimacing, "Plus, pretending to be straight is starting to make me break out in hives. Go get your girl, Sam."

"It's not that easy, she really hurt me and I'm not sure if I even want to get back with her."

"Now that's a lie and a half for sure. You wouldn't have went through all this trouble if you didn't want to rekindle."

"Wrong. I wanted her to hurt like she hurt me."

The woman scrunched up her face and snorted at him, "You couldn't be heartless if you tried and boy, you've tried and failed miserably. A little birdie even told me you spent all night in the your room chastising yourself for how you treated her at brunch the other day."

"Fucking Mike."

"Give it up. You love that girl and you want her back. Stop being wrapped up in revenge and go express yourself like an adult."

Sam watched as she go up left and he sighed before getting up himself and heading to the bar, gesturing for the bartender to come get him a much needed drink.