So I know you guys love my work and love my stories, and I gotta say I am beyond blessed to have the best damn readers in the world! These are all for you! I hope you know that. So as a thank you for all you do to inspire me, here is a double update. You get two updates on two stories!
The rest of the wedding had gone well; seeing Kurt and Blaine off, she stopped by the table to see her mom and Mary playing with Ari.
"Hello, mothers." She said, smiling as she kissed Ari.
"You looked like you were having a great time out there," Mary said. "You and Sam sure looked good laughing and dancing."
"It's been a great day."
Amelia gave her a knowing look as Mary cuddled with Ari. "I know you care for Henry, but something is going on with you and Sam. We can all see it. But the question is, what is it that you want?"
Mercedes sighed. "I…"
Mary reached for her hand. "Sometimes, we have to decide if a risk is worth taking. Right now, you have the best of both worlds because you have two futures right in front of you. Your mom and I are watching it unfold like a love story on tv. You have Henry, who is the predictable choice, he's handsome and dependable, and you would be guaranteed happiness."
Amelia smiled. "Then you have Sam, the long shot, the one who got away repeatedly. The man of your dreams and the father of this precious girl. He's the hard choice, the one that could backfire. You can't go wrong. But you have to follow your heart. Not your head, or your family or friends."
Mercedes nodded, looking over to Sam and Henry, who were both laughing with her dad and Dwight.
"I have been running from this for long enough. It's time I made a choice.
Sam tugged at his tie, walking into the room but froze when he saw Callie standing in front of him wearing nothing but a towel.
"I thought tonight was definitely the night for us to enjoy ourselves." She went to untie the towel, but Sam stopped her.
"Callie, wait."
She frowned, looking at him. "Why?"
"I just wanted to talk to you for a second." He said.
"Talk to me? About what? And can't it wait because I am standing here, naked." She said, removing her towel and dropping it.
Sam sighed, moving towards her and picking up the towel. "Cal, I need to talk to you."
She shook her head. "Sam, what's going on?"
"I can't do this." He said softly. "You are amazing, and I care about you."
"I care about you too, Sam; seeing this wedding and all the couples in love made me realize that what we have is special. I want what they have, and I want it with you."
Sam sighed. "I want this to Callie, but I don't want it with you…and I don't mean that to be mean or rude or hurtful because you are incredible. You are beautiful and sexy, and you are talented and smart. But I just…"
"I'm not Mercedes."
Sam frowned, and Callie forced a smile. "I saw how she looked at you, how you danced with her, were with her. I could see it; I just didn't want to see it. I didn't want to see you falling back in love with her."
Sam shook his head. "I never stopped being in love with her, Callie. She's been the one person in my heart since I was sixteen. And if there is any chance for her and I to be together, I have to take it. For me, for her, and for Ari."
"Even if she breaks your heart by not choosing you?"
Sam nodded. "Even then."
Callie sighed, wiping a stray tear. "I supposed it's better to know than to have you go behind my back and keep lying to me."
"I would never intentionally hurt you, Callie. And I hate the fact that I hurt you by not loving you." Sam said honestly.
"As a woman who loves you, I am hurt, Sam, but as a hopeless romantic who grew up with my parents apart. I am rooting for you two. Ari deserves a happy family with her parents if she can get it."
Sam moved to kiss her cheek. "For what it's worth, you and Henry seem to hit it off well."
She shrugged. "Maybe."
Mercedes headed inside as the party died down, her mind racing on what she should do, Henry had made a few phone calls, and she had a decision to go to Sam or stay in the room. She had picked up her phone to call her mom when a text came in.
KHA: Hello, my beautiful MOH
MJ: Why are you textin? Shouldn't you be on a plane?
KHA: We are waiting at the moment, and thank you for giving us the perfect wedding. Even if you snuck off to let Sam stick you!"
MJ: What! Who told you!
KHA: Blaine and I snuck away and caught you doing the walk of shame. Does this mean you choose Sam?
MJ: It means I am confused, and it means I love them both.
KHA: I just attached two photos you should see from the photographer. The first is you and Henry. You look happy, and you make an adorable couple.
MJ: Aww, look at us, we do!
KHA: Then there is this one. You, Sam and Ari, Mercedes, you three look like you belong together, one happy family.
MJ: Oh wow…we really do.
KHA: I gotta go, I might not be fully team Sam, but I love you and want you happy. TTYL boo.
MJ: Thanks, love you too, boo
Mercedes sighed as she looked back out into the night sky, feeling her phone vibrate again. "Kurt, you should be enjoying your honeymoon." She said to herself, but she was surprised it wasn't him.
SL: Sooo we didn't get to talk about that booty call
MJ: It wasn't a booty call
SL: So what was it?
QF: It was her letting Sam tear that ass up
MJ: First off, stop watching BET with my brother! I knew I shouldn't have introduced you to him.
MJ: Second...look at this picture and tell me that we don't look good, like really good and happy.
MJ: [attaches photo]
QF: OMG, look at Ari! So beautiful; you guys look really good.
SL: I agree but is a photo really worth giving everything up for?
MJ: Henry is great, and I really like him, even love him.
MJ: But I love Sam. I really genuinely do, and it's hard to be with Henry when I am in love with Sam.
SL: So you have finally made a choice? No more back and forth.
QF: Are you scared?
MJ: Terrified, but in the end, I want to be happy, and Sam makes me very happy, and I think we can make it work.
SL: That Punta better not hurt you. all I'm sayin
QF: Seriously, if he does, we got you
MJ: I love you guys. I will let you know what happens
Mercedes sighed with a smile. She was lucky that she had friends who looked out for her and cared about her to the point they would protect her.
MOM: Ari just went down; thank you for bringing this Lil angel into the world. I love her.
MJ: Give her extra kisses for me. You and dad good?"
MOM: I will! We are; I am going to need you to get with Sam tonight though
MJ: MOM!
MOM: Don't mom me, we all have a bet going, and I want to win
MJ: And if I choose to stay with Henry?
MOM: Then we all lose. You and I both know it's Sam; it's always been, Sam. When you first saw him, you looked as if time had stopped. I remember I was there.
MJ: What are you talking about?
MOM: We got out of the car, and a ball came whizzing by you. You picked it up, and Sam came up to you; you two stared at each other, smiling with no words. It was cute.
MJ: OMG, I forgot all about that.
MOM: Sam or Henry, all we want is for you to be happy. Your dad is calling me; I love you, goodnight.
Mercedes smiled, remembering that day. It started sadly. They had been on the road for hours, and she was scared about being in a new place. As she stepped out of the car, a ball came whizzing by her head, and she got angry, so angry she was going to cuss out whoever threw it until Sam stepped up. When he did, she froze, realizing seeing his face. He smiled at her, and she blushed. And the world stopped.
"Have I told you how beautiful you look tonight?" Henry whispered in her ear; she jumped slightly because she was so in her thoughts she hadn't been paying attention and didn't. Henry pulled her closer... "I think it's time you let me get you out of those clothes."
Mercedes turned towards him and stared at him for a moment. "Henry, is sex all you want?"
He ran his hand over her face, caressing her chin. "I figured this would be on your mind, and we are at a wedding, after all."
"What do you mean?"
"Mercedes, I love you, I am in love with you, and I believe that we have a future. So no, sex is not all I want; it's not all I am after. You are what I am after. I love you. But the question is, do you love me?"
"I…" She hesitated for a moment unsure how to say what she needed to say.
Henry lifted her face to his. "It's okay, Mercedes. I knew we were a long shot from the moment you told me you were still in love with Sam."
"You are amazing. And I do love you; I know we could be really happy together."
"But he has your heart." Henry finished. "This would be so much easier if I hated the guy."
Mercedes laughed. "Ditto."
He sighed, "Are you sure about this? I mean, really sure? Because I really feel like this is something special. That you are it for me. And I feel like if I let you go…."
"I would regret it." She finished.
"Isn't that how you feel? That should tell you that this might not be the right choice. That we belong together."
Mercedes laced her fingers with his. "Henry, I have doubts but no loud overshadowing doubts. It could screw everything up, and Sam and I could end up apart for good, but I have thought about this until I couldn't think anymore. I weighed the pros and cons, I did the work, and in the end, if I didn't do this, I would always wonder what if, and you would likely wonder it too. You would always wonder if I still love him, want him."
"Mercedes, I don't want to end this. But I respect you enough to wish you the best." Henry kissed her forehead. "I should go."
She nodded as he turned. "Henry, thank you for loving me when I wasn't sure I deserved to be loved."
"Mercedes, you always deserved to be loved, and I guess it was my job to show you that. I really hope Sam steps up and doesn't hurt you."
"Me too." She said softly.
He leaned in and kissed her cheek. "Kiss Ari for me, and I wish you happiness."
"I wish you the same."
He nodded, grabbing his bag and walking to the door.
Mercedes watched him go before closing her eyes, letting the breeze from the balcony hit her. Her mind returned to Sam everything they had been through. From falling in love with the boy next door to leaving, finding herself in London, and coming back to find him again. She thought back to finding out about Ari and how amazing they are as a family. How he got her when no one else seemed to?
The saying love isn't always on time is right because she would have given anything to have Henry be in her heart, but Sam never moved out. She thought back over the guilt she felt as she compared Henry and Sam. Making love to Henry was enjoyable and great, but making love to Sam was earth-shattering and mindblowing. He made her see stars.
Opening her eyes, she smiled, thinking about the wedding. They really did look like the perfect family, dancing and his proposal. The man was in her heart, and she knew that as much as she cared about Henry, no man could ever make her feel the way Sam did.
She knew she had made the right choice in telling Henry the truth. Her heart wanted what it wanted, and Sam was what her heart desired, and Sam was who she needed.
MJ: Are you up?
SE: Mercedes Jones! Are you sending me a u up booty call text?
MJ: Shut up! Lol
MJ: Are you busy?
SE: Never when it comes to you. What do you need?
MJ: Meet me in the tent? 10 min?
SE: Sure thing
Mercedes made her way to the tent, both nervous and excited to see Sam. Maybe all of this was crazy, their history alone gave her pause about all of this, but in the end, she knew that she and Sam belonged together they just needed to put everything on the table.
As she walked into the tent, she looked at the time, ten minutes was almost up, and Sam was nowhere to be found. Closing her eyes, she said a silent prayer that this wasn't a mistake.
"Why do birds suddenly appear anytime you are near? Just me; they long to be close to you."
Mercedes opened her eyes, turning, shocked to see Sam behind her, holding his hand out so he could pull her close. "Why do stars fall down from the sky every time you walk by? Just like me, they long to be close to you."
"Sam, what are you doing?"
"On the day that you were born, the angels got together. And decided to create a dream come down. So they sprinkled moon dust in your hair so fair and starlight in your eyes of brown."
Mercedes wrapped her arms around his neck as he continued. "That is why all the girls in town follow you all around. Just like me, they long to be close to you."
Sam continued to rock with her as she stared at him. "Sam, what has gotten into you-?"
"Mercedes, do you know that you became my person when you moved into your house across the street. I fell in love with you the moment I heard your laugh. And you made me work for it, and you made me fight to be with you. And I broke your heart, and in turn, you broke mine."
Mercedes stopped moving, and Sam brought her hands to his lips. "Yes, I know that having Ari, it was for a reason, but I think she was meant to make us realize just how great we are together; I let you go to London because you needed to find yourself. And you let me go to LA so I could do the same. Well, can we be done with being selfless and finally be selfish."
Mercedes stared at him and smiled. "I'll marry you."
Sam froze, afraid that he was hearing things. "What?"
"I said. Yes. I will marry you, Sam Evans. Tonight. Let's get married right now, right here. Well, not right here, but tonight at a chapel, or we can fly to Vegas…as long as I am your wife. I don't care."
Sam pulled her closer to him, crashing his lips to hers as his hands
He guided her to the center table, lifted her up, and spread her legs.
"Sam! Here?" Mercedes giggled.
"Here." He said against her lips. "I want you now. I need you." He said, lifting her dress and running his hands over her thighs. "No one is here but us; let me have you."
"Take me." she breathed. "Take me now."
Sam smiled, unbuckling his belt and pulling her closer, moving her panties to the side and thrusting hard deep inside of her, sighing in relief as he filled her to the hilt.
Mercedes screamed out as he thrust harder, reaching over and grabbing him. "Don't hurt me, Sam," she begged as she held him tighter.
"I won't. I promise." He said, kissing her softly. "You are so so beautiful, Merce. I love you."
Mercedes wrapped her thighs around him, pulling him closer, letting her body fall apart for him, letting him love her in a way she hadn't in a very long time. Sam was it for her, and as they made love under the stars, she knew this was it; this was what everything was leading up to. This was her happily ever after.