SIX YEARS LATER
"Are you sure about this, we have been sneaking around for months, why do you want to tell everyone that we are back together on Christmas?" Polly questioned as she watched Iris get dressed from her spot on their shared bed.
"Because I have had enough of lying to everyone we are back together, ok. We are both Olympic gold medalists, you are set to become an ICU nurse practitioner soon, and I am set to become an attorney. Our lives are changing and I want our family to be a part of that." Iris answered honestly as she slipped on her boots, walked over to Polly, and sat beside her. She grabbed her hand and a gentle kiss on it.
"I love you, and we are back together again, and I want our family to rejoice in our love," Iris said softly.
"Ok, fine, but only because I love you so much." Polly giggled as she placed a kiss on Iris's lips.
"Good, now I have to go help dad with the horses down at the farm but remember dinner is at 4:30. Merry Christmas babe," Iris called out as she headed out the door.
Mercedes was in the kitchen with Mary, Quinn, Jane, Santana, and Brittany working on the Christmas dinner. A lot had changed for her in the past six years. Iris went off to college and managed to become a gold medalist in that time period, her twin boys Mac and Theo were now sixteen, and her baby Lily was now six years old and took after her father a lot. Mercedes had become Chief of the hospital and enjoyed the new title and her own office, which she and her husband had frequented it a lot for private moments. Speaking of her husband, Sam had become the Chief of Surgery, so with the new salaries had managed to move his family to a bigger home, and buy them their own house down where his parents lived, so they had their own space when they came to visit.
"She's doing it again," Santana spoke up as she moved throughout the kitchen.
"Who's doing what?" Brittany questioned.
Quinn answered, "Mercedes is daydreaming again."
"Oh whatever, I be seeing you four daydreaming all of the time," Mercedes replied.
"As long as she doesn't burn anything she is fine, now leave my daughter alone." Mary interrupted as she gave Mercedes a kiss on her forehead.
"Thank you mama Evans." Mercedes taunted as she stuck her tongue out at her friends.
Liliy came sprinting in the kitchen her jeans on with her pink flannel, and her pink cowboy boots, her kinky hair down in two braids.
"What did we say about running in her little girl?" Mary questioned as she looked at her granddaughter.
"Grandma, Mac, Theo, and Antonio sent me in here to grab more food before you guys got finished cooking. Mac said if I didn't get anything he was going to leave me to the hogs, and I would be their Christmas dinner." Lily said exasperated as she looked nervously behind her.
"Mac and Theo Evans!" Mercedes shouted out.
"Antonio!" Santana followed. Santana and Brittany had made the decision to adopt, instead of having kids the other way. So they adopted Antonio, who was unceremoniously dropped off at their hospital by himself when he was ten. They quickly took all the necessary actions and he had become a wonderful addition to the family. However, he and Mac were super close so they were always in trouble dragging little Theo along.
Mac, Theo, and Antonio all came into the kitchen with Mac giving a death glare to Lily who was munching on a cookie that Mary had given her.
"Theo tell me what happened?" Mercedes began. Theo was about to start speaking but Mac and Antonio both gave him menacingly glares.
"Theo," Mercedes tried again.
"Mac found Lily and figured she was the safest bet to get him so early food. And Antonio fed her story about letting the hogs eat her if she didn't get the food fast enough." Theo snitched.
"And this is why we never include you in anything she never even offered you anything." Antonio sighed. Just then Dwight had come into the kitchen and looked around.
"Let me guess these three set up the little one?" He guessed. All the women nodded their heads.
"Come on we are going to the basement," Dwight sighed. All the teenage boys groaned out loud in annoyance.
"No, please we were in there yesterday cleaning up while you chilled out on the couch." Mac pleaded.
"I was going to give you guys an hour in there but I guess I can make it two. The next person to complain makes three." Dwight smiled evilly. All the boys sighed and headed down to the basement while Dwight put emphasis on all of the things that needed to be cleaned out and moved around.
Sam was in the horses' stable doing housekeeping along with Iris. The two had found that it was their favorite pastime with each other when they had the opportunity. It was a silent bonding moment as they transitioned from throwing down new hay, to letting the horses out so they could clean their stalls, to brushing out their coats.
"Well, Groove you are looking good babe, a nice fresh shiny new coat," Iris stated proudly as she stepped back and looked at her hard work. Sam came up behind her and looked on as well.
"You did good, and I think Groove would enjoy it as well. You know before we leave we have gotta race against each other." Sam admitted.
"Well then be ready to lose old man." Iris bounced back.
"Ahh ok, well then let's put a wager on it unless you are scared," Sam teased.
"Fine, I say one-fifty."
"Deal," Sam agreed as they shook hands.
"I don't say it a lot but I am very proud of the young woman that you have become. Through all of the trial and error, you managed to push through it all, and that amazes me because there aren't a lot of people who can say they did that. I love you with all my heart Iris."
"I love you dad, forever and always," Iris replied as she gave him a big hug,
"Alright enough with the mushy stuff let's go get something to eat." Sam joked.
As expected everyone arrived at the house at 4:30. The people that showed up were Roderick, Artie, his wife Kitty, and then Polly. Instead of having a traditional Christmas dinner at the table, everyone decided to pile in the very spacious living room. The center loveseats consisted of Mary and Dwight, Sam and Mercedes took the reclining large chair, which meant while Sam sat in the chair Mercedes posted up on the giant armrest. Santana and Brittany took spots on the chaise, while Quinn, Kitty, and Artie took their places on the convenient barstools that they drug in, leaving Roderick, Jane, and the children sitting on the floor. As they sat and ate their food they had Christmas music playing the music. They looked like the picture-perfect blend of a mixture of families.
Polly and Iris kept making googly eyes at each other from their seats across each other, and Iris was ready to say something. Hell, she was ready to scream it from the rooftops. So she sat her plate down and stood up.
"Um, I have something to say," She began shakily as everyone ceased their conversations and turned toward her.
"Well, um Polly and I have been dating for five months now, um decided to get back together." She announced proudly but she faltered when everyone just looked at her.
"You guys aren't happy?" She questioned.
"Baby, we know that yall got back together, you both aren't as sneaky as you think," Mercedes confirmed.
"Yeah, when Polly came back all happy to the house one day for a visit wearing your hoodie I kind of figured as much," Jane added causing Polly to blush.
"Yeah, I caught you guys kissing in your room Ris!" Lily stated proudly causing everyone to laugh.
"Lily why didn't you say anything, you know I don't allow kissing under the roof unless it's me and your mom?" Sam questioned, to which Lily just simply shrugged her arms.
"Well, I for one am very happy that you two are back together. We all know you both are soulmates." Santana smiled at her niece.
After the food had been put up, dishes had been cleaned, and presents had been opened everyone headed out to either their rooms or back to their hotels. Mercedes was up in her and Sam's bedroom when everyone had gone to bed and decided to look out on the balcony as a smile sat on her face. She looked out at the open fields and the night blue sky and the small snowfall and felt a sense of calm wash over her body.
"What are you out here thinking about?" Sam asked as he came behind his wife and wrapped his arms around her waist.
"Just how far we have come. How we started out as a one-night stand and then fell in love and created this amazing life together." Mercedes answered honestly as she turned towards him.
"Our amazing kids that you managed to birth, which I will never get over because the last three have some pretty big heads." Sam pointed out.
Mercedes laughed, "Leave me babies alone Sam. I love you."
"I love you more. If you think about it. I stole A Doctor's Heart." Sam whispered as he bent down and kissed his wife like it was their very first time.
And we are done with this one. I hope you enjoyed lovebugs. ;)
