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

This Is My Wish- Kevin Ross


Its been a little over a month since she had walked out the studio. In that month, Sam did his best to try to respect her space, but he also wanted to invade it. It was hard to do so when she went ghost. No social media activity. No tea runs. Nothing. He was at a red light when he heard his phone ding, looking down, he saw the message, which prompted him to making an abrupt u-turn when the light changed.

I'm sending you an address. Trust me, she's there.

After a ten minute commute, Sam had parked his truck and stepped out. He stuck his keys in his jacket pocket after locking it, opening the door to the building. As he walked in, he looked around and saw all the Christmas decorations as he followed where the Christmas music playing. The place smelled of delicious food, along with the hint of sugary cinnamon. He was definitely confused because it was indeed February.

Mercedes was busy sitting the macaroni in the tray holder that she didn't see or hear anyone coming in. Lifting her head when she heard someone clearing their throat, eyes staring and surprised, "Hey, what are you doing here? Better question, how did you know I was here?"

"I never reveal my sources." He said before shrugging, happy that he had finally found her, "I wanted to see you and to talk, but as I can see, you're extremely busy."

Mercedes stepped back and gave him a smile, "Are you in a hurry?"

"No."

"Good." She smirked as she went over to the table and grabbed some items, standing behind him and hearing him chuckle as she leaned up to the place the hair net on his head before tying the apron up in the back, "Because now you're about to help."'

Sam looked at her when she came back around, "How have you been?"

"Very busy, as you can see." She responded as she handed him a pan to put in the tray holder.

When Sam did so, he heard the people starting to come in, first going to sit their belongings down before starting a line. He wanted to tell her that he know she has but that would just be admit that he has been literally thinking about her all this time, as if his presence didn't already.

"Don't be stingy with the helpings, we have plenty." The older woman told Sam as she squeezed between him and Mercedes to place a basket of cornbread on the table.

"I won't, ma'am."

"Ma'am? I'm not that old sweet cheeks. Just call me Jewel."

"Old enough to be both of our mamas." Mercedes joked, snorting when the woman popped her in her back, smiling sweetly at her, "Just kidding."

"Mhm, don't show out in front of company."

Sam laughed a bit, turning his head when he heard some people greeting them as they picked up the plates and came down the line. It wasn't until a group a kids, the oldest being twelve and youngest being five, came along, did the atmosphere shift.

"Hi Mercedes."

"Hey guys." Mercedes greeted with a big smile of her face as she stuck a spoon in some spaghetti then another one in some green beans, "How are you guys feeling today?"

"Hungry."

"Tired."

"Sleepy."

"Super hungry."

"Well, we have the solution for it all."

The more people came in, the more Sam got overwhelmed. Honestly, this was his first time ever being hands on with helping. He was more of the donate and be done, but never ever has he been truly in the mix, seeing everything up close and personal and he had to admit, this was really breaking him.

Mercedes glanced over at him, noticing how quiet he got, "You okay?"

"They're just kids."

Mercedes heard him whisper, watching as he looked out, his eyes were glassy but tears didn't trickle down, "It's heartbreaking, it truly is. I get through the day but boy when I'm outside these doors, it's over with. You wouldn't believe the amount of times I have cried when I leave here."

"It's just so unbelievable that there's thousands of people who are going through this but I'm glad there's places like this."

"There almost wasn't." She commented as she took a deep breath and shook her head, "Alongside the alderman, I spent Christmas and almost all of January fighting to keep this place open. They wanted to tear it down to make an unnecessary third parking garbage for the apartments across the street." She told as she glanced over at him, "So, the reason for the Christmas decorations is because they didn't have a chance to have it during that time."

"Wow."

"Yeah." She said with a sad smile, "We fought like hell though and that's something I'm always going to be proud of."

"Cedes, we need you for a moment."

"Ok." She responded as she took her gloves and tossed them, patting Sam's shoulder as she walked by.

"That young woman got us another two years." Jewel spoke when Mercedes was out of earshot, which prompted Sam to look at her, "She's the one who truly fought like hell, emptied her savings and is still trying to find a way to save it all."

"Emptied her savings? She used all her money?"

"Every penny. Of course she paid all her bills up and saved enough to where she was comfortable until she found another source of income." She wiped her hands off and stared at him, "She doesn't have a selfish bone in her body."

"I can guess that this place runs on donations, and I know that money doesn't solve everything, but I willing to give whatever to make sure that the people here are good." Sam glanced at Mercedes, watching as she looked over him, sending him a smile before she was pulled away, "The money is without a doubt a question, I'm giving it. As far as the rest goes, blankets, hygiene products, clothing, shoes, food…it doesn't matter, just let me know what is needed and I give."

"We'll talk later, right now, your future wife's about to perform." She said with a smile as the man's face got hot and turned red, eyes going over to Mercedes, who grabbed the mic as the instrumental track sounded.

This is my wish

My wish for the world

That peace will find it's way

To every boy and girl

This is the time

The time for harmony

Let love be the song

That everybody sings

Feel the air with joyful noise

Ring the bells and raise your voice

Let there be peace on earth

Let there be peace on earth

Lift your light, let it shine

Shine, shine, shine

Let every voice be heard

Let there be peace on earth

Sam looked at her a smile before he slid out the door, pulling his phone from his pocket and dialing a number. He needed to do something. Hearing what he just heard lit something in him.

"What's up Sam?"

I hear the sweetest sound

The sound of hope to come

Together we could bring

Good will to everyone

Let it start with you

Let it start with me

Let every nation rise

And sing this melody

"I need you to find the best contractor to do a big housing project."

"For you?"

"Yes and no."

Fill the air with joyful noise

Ring the bell and raise your voice

Let there be peace on earth

Let there (peace on earth) yeah

Lift your light and let it shine

Let it shine, shine, shine

Let every voice be heard

Let there be peace on earth

Oh whoah, oh

oh whoah whoah oh

oh yeah, let there be peace on earth

Oh whoah, oh

oh whoah oh (shine shine shine)

whoah yeah

Fill the air with joyful noise

Ring the bell and raise your voice

Let there be peace on earth

Let there be peace (peace on earth)

Lift your light and let it shine

Let it shine, shine, shine

Let every voice be heard

Let there be peace on earth

Mercedes waited for them to stop clapping before she spoke, "I'm so glad that we can come together once more. It's been a trying year but with each other, we're capable of overcoming anything. I'm always going to fight for you, as long as you never give up on yourselves."

Sam watched as everyone nodded and clapped, prompting him to do the same as he watched her hand off the mic and head back to where he was.

Mercedes stood in front of him and looked up, "While the offer was tempting a few weeks ago, and I would love to help you, I'm done with that part of my life." She admitted honestly as she looked out at everyone before bringing her focus back to Sam, "My calling is to help others, and I've accepted the job to here to be the assistant coordinator."

"Well, I can't say that I'm upset with that decision." He said as he gave her a smile, "Congratulations, I know you're going to be amazing in this position."

"Thank you." She replied as she looked at him with a grin, "However, you have gone out of your way these past few weeks for a girl you knew nothing about and all you wanted was for me was to sing with you."

"That's true."

Mercedes giggled as he clasped her hands, "So, whenever you do want to sing, just us two, no audience, no cameras, just us….I'll be ready."

Sam smiled as he stared down at her and nodded. He placed his hands on her either side of her face, pulling her to him as he leaned down, stopping for a moment before asking a silent permission. When she nodded, he lightly laid his lips against hers and kissed her. This was by far the best gift he has received.