Hey, guys so I hope you enjoyed your triple feature of Temptation, Manifested Danger, and now this one! Review, enjoy and stay blessed.
February 12, 2014
Los Angeles
Mercedes carried Ari as she stepped out of the town car and dialed Sam's number.
"How are my two beautiful New Yorkers doing?"
"Missing you." She said. "Do we really have to wait til next week to see you, Sam?"
"Yeah, trust me, if I could get time off to spend Valentine's Day with my two girl's I would. But you have me next week for three whole weeks." Sam said, sighing.
"That makes me happy. Darn it, Sam, I am getting a call for work, but I had a package delivered to you, just a gift showing that we miss you, but you have to go downstairs to get it."
"I have to go now?"
Yes. It's going to get stolen, maybe, if you don't. Call me once you get back inside."
"Love you. Talk to you in a minute." Sam said.
"Love you too." Mercedes hung up and smiled, taking a few deep breaths. She hadn't seen Sam since January 2, when she and Ari visited last time, and the back-and-forth travel was getting to both of them. She knew it. But L.A. was really good for Sam.
After she had Ari, she moved in with him for the first three months; she was able to work remotely, with Quinn and Kurt at the helm. Leaving to return to New York was hard, but she and Sam seemed to have a routine. They would visit at least once a month and try to save up and trade work days to see each other longer.
Even though Sam was coming to see them next week, Mercedes jumped at the chance to go to L.A. She had an artist want to collaborate with her on a line, so other than a meeting she had to do tomorrow, she and Sam could spend some much-needed family time with their beautiful daughter. Ariella Samantha Evans.
The door opened, and Mercedes saw Sam's look of shock and awe. "Merce? Oh, baby, I missed you." He said, going to her and kissing her deeply before pulling away and kissing Ari on the forehead. "What are you doing here?"
"Well, I, an upcoming designer, wanted to work with me on a new line, and she was willing to come to New York, but when I realized she was here, I jumped at the chance. So other than one meeting in which you and Ari can hang, I am all yours until you come back to New York."
The driver moved their bags out of the trunk, and Sam helped carry them up to his place. The moment the bags were down, he took Ari into his arms. "How we created such a beautiful little Angel…I will never know, wait no I know, she takes after her beautiful mother."
Mercedes kissed him as she pulled off her jacket. "I love seeing you two together."
Sam sighed. "I think I am going to look for a job in New York."
"No, you are not. This is where you belong."
"I belong with my family. We have spent way too many months apart, Mercedes; soon, she is going to be one; she's growing right before my eyes."
"I know Sam I-"
"Mercedes, wait…let me finish, please. I know you aren't willing to give up your career for us, but I am."
"Excuse me?"
Sam stopped and looked at her. "What?"
"I am not willing to give up my career? Did you really just say that?"
Sam rocked a sleeping Ari. "Well, you aren't, and it's okay; I get it."
Mercedes laughed. "Are you serious right now? Sam, I understand that we are in two different places, but because you act like I haven't made sacrifices for you, I haven't chosen you over my job?"
"I don't want to fight," Sam said.
"Obviously, you do, or else you wanted to make yourself look like the hero by giving up your career so that you can hold it over my head." She said, placing her hand through her hair. "I need a minute."
"Mercedes…I-"
"Sam, just put Ari down; she's falling asleep in your arms. I need to make sure I know where I am meeting tomorrow."
Mercedes walked out of the room, and Sam stared down at his daughter. "I didn't mean for that conversation to go that way. Sometimes daddy puts both his feet in his mouth. I just miss you guys."
Sam walked into the room, pulling his shirt off as Mercedes worked on a few designs. "Working on something new?"
"Yeah, a bit. This new designer wants to elevate my maternity clothes."
Sam sighed, moving towards the bed, and removed her sketchbook from her hands; as she protested, he moved to hover over her. "I love you, and I want to marry you; I want to wake up every morning next to you. I know you aren't ready, and that's fine, but I don't want to be apart from you and Ari anymore. But in saying that to you, I did not mean to upset or hurt you."
Mercedes nodded. "I know things aren't happening the way you want them to, but it's just going to take time."
"But you do want that, right? A family, marriage?" Sam asked.
Mercedes smiled. "We are a family. But yes, it may not be right now, but I do plan on marrying you, Sam Evans."
Sam kissed her, lowering himself to wrap her around him. "I love you. I love you, baby."
Mercedes returned his kiss. "I'm yours, Sam."
February 13, 2014
Sam smiled as Ari crawled to him, giggling when he pretended to be asleep but awake when she crawled over his face. Today was the best Lazy Sunday he had had in a long time. Between Mercedes being in his arms when he woke up, her making them French Toast with bacon and eggs, and playing with Ari while Mercedes had her meeting, it was perfect.
He would still push for them to make a final decision on where they lived, but for today he would be in the moment.
M.J.: Meeting went great! OMW, see you soon!
S.E.: I knew it would! Yay! See you soon
Picking Ari up, he knew Mercedes might be hungry when she got back, so he placed Ari in her rocker and glanced through his fridge, finally settling on making chicken fajitas.
As he cooked around the kitchen, someone knocked on his door, and he removed the chicken from the heat and rushed to the door. "Did you lose my key, Mer-" Sam stopped seeing Erin standing in front of him.
"I am sorry I didn't text back on Friday, Sam; I was filming and on a flight, but the moment I landed back in L.A. I rushed over here."
Sam frowned. "Why?"
"Well, you were upset clearly from your text, and I get it."
"Look, Erin now isn't really a good-" Ari began to cry, and Sam sighed, rushing to get her.
Erin followed her in. "Sam, is that a baby? Is that? OMG, is that Ari?"
Sam shook his head, needing her to leave. "Uh yeah, she and her mom came to visit." He gave Ari her bottle and turned to Erin. "Erin, look…"
"Where is her mom?" Erin asked, looking around.
"She had a meeting… Erin, look, I was just finishing lunch."
"A meeting, and let you watch the kid, huh?"
"Shes, not just a kid, she's my daughter, and I love spending time with her."
"Sam, I know you want me to go, and I will, but I came over here for a reason; I need to say something, and I don't want you to interrupt me, okay?"
Mercedes was excited, the meeting went great, and with the numbers from this collaboration, she didn't need to close down the New York office, she could expand it and open an office in L.A. Everything was falling in place, and she couldn't wait to tell Sam.
She frowned as she walked to the door, seeing it was slightly ajar. Walking in, she froze as she heard a woman talking to Sam.
"She's not just a kid, she's my daughter, and I love spending time with her."
"Sam, I know you want me to go, and I will, but I came over here for a reason; I need to say something, and I don't want you to interrupt me, okay?"
"Fine, what do you have to say, Erin."
Mercedes watched Erin as she moved closer to Sam, taking his hand. "After I got your text telling me how angry you were that your Baby Momma refused to move here for you. That Marvel was your dream and how she could design anywhere. How when you asked her to marry you at Christmas, she said no, and you were crushed but pretended you weren't."
"Erin…" Sam started.
"No! Sam, I am in love with you, and I think you care for me too; it's why you talk to me about Everything, things you can't tell her. I am right here, Sam, ready to be a mother to your child, a wife to you. You remember how before you left, we almost kissed… that's something that we both wanted, but you just walked away out of obligation to her."
"Erin, that's not what happened; you caught me under the mistletoe, but I wasn't going to kiss you; I am very much in love with Mercedes."
"But you have feelings for me too, and had she not come back into your life, we would be together, or was that a lie when you told me that?"
Sam shook his head. "It's not a lie, but she is here."
"Is she? She didn't even fly down here for you. She did it for a job. And you said it yourself you were tired of waiting." She stated. "So I am here to stop you before you do something you will regret. You don't have to be with her to raise your child, you can get joint custody, and I can help. We can be together, and I can give you more kids."
Sam closed his eyes, and Erin stepped closer, pulling him into her arms. "Tell me you don't want me."
Mercedes willed her legs to move as she watched Erin put Sam's hands on her waist.
"Tell me that you don't want me, Sam, and I will leave."
Sam looked at her. "It doesn't matter if I want you; I am with Mercedes."
"It doesn't matter if you want her!" Mercedes said, finally finding her voice.
Sam pulled away from Erin and looked at Mercedes. "Merce, it's not what you think."
"Don't, don't give me that bullshit Sam. I heard it all from your bad-mouthing me to little miss fast action hero over here, to you wanting her."
Erin moved towards Mercedes. "Mercedes, I don't want to come between you, but what Sam and I have, this connection is real. And I really think he is just with you out of guilt for how things have been between you."
"How have things been? Please enlighten me?" Mercedes asked, folding her arms across her chest.
"Well, for one, he up and dumps you in high school, then you guys lose touch for years, he finally finds you, finally gets you, and things aren't as great as he fantasized, but you get pregnant, and well Sam is an honorable man, so he stays, but he's unhappy. Do him a favor and let him go."
"Erin, is it? Listen here, now I am not one for beating bitches asses who I find with my man because that is between him and me, but if I were you, I would get the hell out of this house because while I won't attack you head-on, I can not promise you will not be hit by some residual anger blows."
Erin stepped back and nodded. "Call me when she leaves, Sam. I'll be waiting."
Mercedes turned towards her. "What did I just-" She moved towards her, but Sam grabbed Mercedes by the waist. "I'm sorry, baby, all of this is just a misunderstanding. She took our friendship way too far." Sam looked up at Erin. "Get out. Now!"
She looked at him and turned to leave as Mercedes struggled to get out of Sam's arms. "Let me go!"
"No, we need to talk."
"Oh, now you want to talk to me?! Now, after that chick comes in here and embarrasses me. How could you tell her that!"
"Mercedes, it's not…she just… I…" He ran his hand through his hair, at a loss for words.
"I want to see."
Sam raised an eyebrow. "See what?"
"I want to see the texts." She said, walking towards him. "Hand over your phone."
"Mercedes, I love you."
"I want your phone. NOW!"
Sam sighed and handed it over to her. She put the code in and fell to the couch as she sat back reading the text.
December 19, 2012
S.E.: She still won't talk to me. I was stupid
E.W.: There is nothing stupid about you, baby, and if she doesn't see that, you don't need her.
S.E.: I need to know if she is pregnant with my child.
E.W.: If she is, we will deal with it. I have a great lawyer.
SE: Lawyer?
E.W.: From how flaky she seems to be, she will definitely be an unfit mother.
S.E.: I gotta go see her, and I need to know the truth.
E.W.: Let me know how it goes
Mercedes blinked back tears. "Wow…"
December 25, 2012
E.W.: Marry Christmas, I miss your face, I miss you already, when are you coming back?
S.E.: Not until the New Year, Mercedes, and I have some things to work through.
E.W.: About the baby?
S.E.: About Everything. We have decided to be together, it's the best of both worlds, you know?
E.W.: No, I don't. Sam, you don't need to be with her to be a father.
S.E.: I love her; that's why I am going to be with her.
E.W.: Sam, don't do this.
S.E.: I gotta go.
January 1st, 2013
E.W.: Happy New Years, Sam.
S.E.: Same to you.
S.E.: How are you?
E.W.: Bored; sadly, I have no one here to kiss for New Years, so I am just home watching movies.
S.E.: Sorry I can't help you ;P
E.W.: Does your baby's momma know you are a tease?
S.E.: I wasn't teasing you.
E.W.: You were, but it will be our little secret.
February 14, 2013
E.W.: I had this very hot dream last night; it reminded me of that time when you first arrived here…in the back of my SUV
S.E.: Erin, I have a girlfriend
E.W.: One who makes you travel to her just to see her. Sam, I think you are making a mistake, but you won't listen to reason.
S.E.: I am enjoying Valentine's Day with Mercedes. I'll talk to you later.
May, 25th 2013
E.W.: How much longer are you going to be in NYC?
E.W.: I miss my cuddle buddy, and we didn't hang out last week because she was here
S.E.: She is my girlfriend Erin, and I told you we aren't cuddle buddies
E.W.: We were a few weeks ago
S.E.: Erin, If this is how things are going, we can't keep talking. I love Mercedes
EW: Trust me, I know; I have heard that over and over
E.W.: But does she love you?
June 18, 2013
S.E.: She's here! She is so beautiful
E.W.: Happy Born Day, baby Evans
SE: Mercedes did so good I don't think I have ever been happier.
E.W.: Ouch, that hurts but okay.
S.E.: You agreed to let all that go, Erin, and just be happy for me
E.W.: I can't be happy knowing you made a mistake. But I love you, so I will support you as best I can.
July 4, 2013
E.W.: Happy Fourth of July.
E.W.: Sam, talk to me! Please
E.W.: I am sorry, really sorry
E.W.: I miss you
August 12, 2013
E.W.: I am glad we made up. I missed you
S.E.: I missed you too
E.W.: Can I see you today?
S.E.: Sure, we can do a movie night
E.W.: Perfect see you soon
"Mercedes, please stop reading. It's nothing, just a conversation like I would be having with Blaine."
November 19, 2013
E.W.: Gotta say I missed waking up in your arms
S.E.: You can't do that again; I am with Mercedes, and you sleeping in my bed wouldn't look good
E.W.: It's not like you did anything other than hold me. Though I did try
S.E.: Erin, I keep telling you I am happy.
E.W.: And yet you enjoy spending time with me, talking to me
S.E.: We are friends; that's why
E.W.: Are we? Or do you keep me here because you wish we were more? I know I do. None of my relationships work because I want you.
S.E.: You can't have me. I am asking Mercedes to marry me at Christmas
E.W.: Sam, you can't!
S.E.: I am choosing her, Erin; it will always be her.
December 25, 2013
S.E.: She said no
E.W.: No? Is she an idiot?
S.E.: She said she wasn't ready to be married and that she needed more time.
E.W.: So she took the ring?
S.E.: No
S.E.: I can't do this anymore! I can't be with someone who doesn't want me
E.W.: It's about damn time!
E.W.: I told you she wasn't good enough for you, Sam. I told you that she can't love you. If you asked me to Marry you, I would should it from the rooftops!
E.W.: Come back to L.A., Sam. Come back to me.
S.E.: We have Ari. I can't just leave her
E.W.: Are you happy with her?
S.E.: …
E.W.: Tell me the truth
S.E.: No
E.W.: Are you happy when you are with me?
S.E.: It's different
E.W.: Sam, I told you I wanted to be with you. Do you want me to?
S.E.: We will talk about this in person when I get home
E.W.: I'll wear something sexy for you, baby
January 1, 2014
S.E.: I can't meet you, I know you wanted to talk about us being together, but I am staying with Mercedes
EW: Sam, don't do this!
S.E.: Erin, we can't be together. I am going to talk to work, and I am going to move back to New York, and I am going to be with Mercedes and my family.
E.W.: You won't be happy
S.E.: You don't know that.
E.W.: I do. Ask her to move here for you, and you will see where her heart lies, Sam.
E.W.: Just ask her.
February 11, 2014
S.E.: She said no…she won't move here for me for us…how am I supposed to go to her next week and just leave three weeks later.
S.E.: I love her, but she doesn't love me. I see that now
S.E.: You were right. I need to see you; I need you.
Mercedes read that last text over and over again. "I need to see you; I need you."
"Mercedes…"
"You need her?" Mercedes asked, her voice cracking.
Sam moved closer to her. "I need you. Mercedes they are just texts.
"Sam, you cuddled with her, bonded with her, had a relationship with her, an emotional one at least. All the while telling me you were happy!" She moved away from him. "You have been lying to me this whole time."
"I told her I loved you!" Sam defended
"Yes, while flirting with her! And then you implied at Christmas you were going to be with her! What changed your mind, Sam? Why did you stay if you resolved not to be with me at Christmas?"
Sam ran his hands through his hair. "After I texted her, I walked in on you nursing Ari, singing to her. You looked up at me, smiled, and said this was Everything you dreamed of. And I realized that I didn't need to be your husband to have it all, and I already had it."
"And telling you needed her two days ago?!"
"We fought. I was sad. I didn't know you were flying out here! I didn't know you planned to move here!"
Mercedes rolled her eyes. "You didn't trust me. You didn't trust us."
"I'm sorry, Merce, please."
Mercedes shook her head, removing the necklace he had bought her for Christmas where his ring hung. Sam held her hands.
"Stop. Mercedes, stop it!"
"Sam, it is clear that we don't belong together. Maybe…maybe all the pain and hurt meant us to bring Ari into this world."
Sam shook his head. "You don't mean that! You don't mean this! We have worked so hard to be together!"
"Sam, I didn't do this! You did!" She shoved him. "You lied, and you had an emotional affair with that witch! Who? I better never see her face again, or I will hurt her." She growled. "She baited you over and over, and instead of cutting ties with her, you let her keep doing it. Either subconsciously or consciously, you wanted her. Need her."
"I need you." Sam pleaded.
Mercedes shook her head. "I am going to stay in a hotel, and you can keep Ari until my flight next week."
"Our flight."
"No. Not our flight. You will stay here, and we will figure out a schedule so you can spend time with Ari, as much time as you want."
Sam shook his head no. "This is not happening; I won't let it happen; you love me, and I love you. It's that simple."
"But it's not." She said softly. "I am sorry." She placed the necklace in his hand. "I will come back to get Ari later."
Mercedes walked to the front door and opened it, seeing Erin standing there with a smile.
"I knew you would leave, pathetic, just like I always told him."
Mercedes looked at Sam and nodded, looking back at Erin. "You know, I pride myself on being someone who holds myself very well, and I don't like to exact revenge or any of that."
Erin smirked before faking a yawn.
"But bitch, I don't like you," Mercedes said, punching her in the nose, causing Erin to back up, holding it as blood poured out. "Why, why were you hell-bent on ruining my relationship!"
"Because Sam was mine! Then you open your legs and get pregnant, and he goes running back to you like some lost puppy." Erin spat. "Sam, you just gonna stand that; I'm bleeding!"
Sam sighed, walking to the door and closing it, pulling Mercedes away from it as Erin screamed. "Mercedes, this can't be the end."
Mercedes sighed. "Do you have feelings for her, Sam?"
"I love you, Mercedes," Sam said.
"Answer me! I know you love me, Sam, I know. But I have to know the truth. Do you have feelings for her?"
Sam sighed, running his hand through his hair. "Yes."
