DISCLAIMER: I don't own right to glee nor it's characters.

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When Sam and I started dating, we would always go to a little diner close to where I used to live. It was a family diner and had glass windows all around it. We used to sit on the booth in the corner. I used to like looking outside the window and watch the cars drive by and people walking. I've always loved windows and the open air. So when Sam starts making his way to the car, I stop.He stops too and turns to look at me.

"Is it okay if we walk?" I ask as I look up at the sky. It's a beautiful day. Besides, I don't want to be inside a car with Sam so close to me. It seems like I can't think straight when I'm with him.

"Sure. I think I saw a coffee shop just around the corner."

"Okay," I say and we begin to walk down the sidewalk Neither of us say anything as we walk to the coffee shop. We order our drinks and then take a seat on a table right next to the window.

"Your hair is different," Sam says after a moment of sitting in silence and I fight back a smile because that's exactly what Quinn said yesterday.

My hand goes up to my bangs as if on instinct and I brush them to the side with my fingers. "Yeah, figured I needed a change."

"Well, you look beautiful."

I clear my throat as I reach for my coffee. "Thank you," I say then I take a sip of the coffee, hoping my face isn't as red as it feels."I, um, heard about your father," I say as I set the cup down. "I'm so sorry, Sam, I know how close you were to him."

He nods slowly. "Thank'you."

He doesn't say anything else so I know he doesn't want to talk about it which means that he is still hurting. Well, of course he is still hurting. There is no greater pain than losing a loved one, especially a parent.

"My mom died," I say quietly. "That day that I left...she died."

Sam's eyes widen and I can see the shock on his face. He reaches across the table and places his hand on top of mine.

"Im so sorry, Mercedes. I had no idea."

I half smile as I move my hand and place it on my lap. "I know. Thank you. It was a stroke, It's been three years and I still miss her like the first day."

"Why didn't you tell me?" He asks softly.

I shrug. "I don't know. I wanted to. I did. I just"I stop and shake my head then look at him. "I wasn't happy, Sam.." I look down at the table. "So when that happened, I took it as an exit. I just got in my car and drove and while I drove, I knew that I wasn't going to go back."

I wipe the tear that runs down from my eye quickly. I don't know why I'm crying. I guess it's harder to talk about it than I thought it would be. Back in Arizona, no one knows I'm married. No one knows about my life in California, so I've never had to talk about it. I don't have a friend I feel comfortable talking to. It's been just me and Jane and she knows that I don't like talking about Sam and my life in California, and she stopped asking after she understood that.

It's not that I hate Sam or Quinn. I just don't like to talk about it because I know I was a coward for running away. What kind of wife runs away from her husband? From a husband like Sam? He never hit me or mistreated me in any way. Sure there were fights but he always went my way. I don't know what happened. One day, I realized that I didn't want to do it anymore. I didn't want to be a wife in a lonely house that wasn't even mine.

A house I wasn't welcomed in. I wish I could say all of these things to Sam but there is a knot in my throat threatening to make me cry and that is the last thing I want. Sam runs a hand through his short hair as he thinks about what I just confessed to him. It shouldn't come as a surprise. He should've known.

"I'm sorry." He finally says after a moment. "Im sorry I didn't make you happy."

"Stop it." I shake my head."I was selfish, Sam. When we got married, you were finishing medical school and then you began your career. You were never home and when you were. you weren't really there. I was selfish. I wanted you all to myself and that wasn't possible." I shrug then bring the cup up to my lips and take a sip of the coffee again just to do something with my hands.

Silence falls over the table once again.

Sam seems lost in thought and I find myself wanting to know what is going through his brilliant brain. Sam has always been an intelligent man. It's one of the reasons he began medical school when he was just twenty years old. He flew through college in two and a half years while I struggled to graduate in four. He is a brilliant pediatrician and I don't deserve him.

As if on cue, his phone begins to ring and he searches through his pockets and takes it out of his jacket.

"You have to go," I say when the ringing stops.

"I's fine," He says lookng up. "I have Penny looking after the clinic."

"Penny." I repeat. "Your ex-girlfriend?"

"My father hired her before he passed. We're just colleagues," He says quickly.

I smile. "I'm sorry. You don't have to give me any explanations. It's okay ifyou need to leave, really." I stand up. "I think we're done anyway." I begin to make my way out of the shop without saying anything else, suddenly angry.

"Mercedes, wait." He calls behind me as I walk out of the shop.

My phone begins to ring and I look for it in my purse. "It's Jane," I say then I answer. "Jane? Are you alright?"

"We're fine." It was Quinn. "Mer, listen, they towed the car last night."

I stop walking. "You're kidding"

"No. It wasn't in the parking lot when we got there so we went to the police and they found it. They said it was towed for being parked after hours. We can't get it until tomorrow."

"Uh, this sucks." I murmur, already thinking about the big ticket I probably got and how much it's going to cost to take the car out. Plus the hospital bill. It seems like all I came to California for was to get tickets and bills as if I wasn't struggling enough.

"Yeah, sory about that," Quinn says. "Don't worry, I'l take you tomorrow...or maybe Sam will. He'll probably want to take you."

I glance at Sam and then look away quickly as Quinn continues, "Listen, we're on our way back are you guys done or do you need more time?"

"Nope. I'll see you guys here," I say quickly and then hang up.

"What happened?" Sam asks.

"They towed the car and I can't get it until tomorrow." I sigh, feeling annoyed. It feels like destiny is persisting on keeping me here. Well guess what destiny? You're not winning. I'll get my car tomorrow and Jane and I will be on our way back to Arizona and I'll never see Quinn or Sam again. I'll go back to pretending I don't have a husband. I'll go back to my little circle of pretend.

Yes, that's what I'm going to do, I think to myself as we reach the hotel.

"Mercedes, listen." Sam grabs my arm and pulls me to the side. "I know that I shouldn't ask you this but as your husband, I am asking you to stay."

"Sa-"

"You have a life, I know." He interrupts. "Just stay for a few days, please."

"Jane has school."

He half smiles. "Being a pediatrician means I know a lot of things parents know. Like, for example, how it's spring break in most schools this week."

I hesitate. "I still have a job to go to."

"Mercy, please," He says looking at me with pleading eyes. "I'll do whatever you want. Just stay for a few days here, with me..." He frowns. "I'm not quite ready to see you go."

"I don't know..." I shake my head, looking away.

"You can stay in the house."

I almost laugh. "I doubt your mother would accept me there."

"My mother is traveling. She won't be back until next week" He sighs "Please Mercedes. All I want isa few days and then if you still want to go, then I'l let you go. I'll even sign divorce papers if that's what you want. Just give me a few days."

I'll even sign divorce papers if that's what you want.

Is that what I want? I've lived the last three years as a single woman so it's not like it would make a difference. Though I would be lying to myself if I said I never took consolation in knowing I had a husband. I could stay for a few days. Until Friday or Saturday. I know we would have to be back in Arizona by Sunday because Jane starts school again on Monday, which would be perfect because it would be before his mother got back. The last thing I want is to see that woman.

I would be back in my life in less than a week. I could be legally separated from Sam and then I wouldn't have to worry about being a runaway wife again. I would really be free to do whatever I want with my life...as will Sam...

"Okay." I hear myself say after a moment. "But just until Saturday and then we're leaving."

He nods. "Thank you."

"Don't thank me, Sam." I look away. "I owe it to you."

Before he says anything, a pair of headlights hover over us as Quinn pulls up with Jane in the passenger seat.

"Why don't you take Jane home? Sam asks Quinn. "I have a few appointments later today. Would you like to come with me?

Everyone looks at me and I smile politely. "I don't want to be in your way. I'll just go with them and I'll see you at your house."

Sam hesitates. "I'll have them rescheduled for another day then."

I shake my head. "Please don't do that. I'm not running away, I promise."

Sam nods. "Okay. Uh" He surprises me by taking a step forward and placing a kiss on my forehead. "I'll see you tonight."

I nod and he turns around and makes his way back to his car. I open the backseat door of Quinn's car and get in.

"So we're staying?" Jane asks turning to look at me.

"Just for a few days. Until Saturday and then we'll leave."

She smiles. "So can I schedule a tour to go see UCLA?"

I frown."I thought you had decided to go to NYU"

I did but UCLA is my second ontion and I want to go see it so I can make my decision. It would be perfect now that you're gonna fix things with Sam and we would move here. UCLA is like twenty minutes away from Beverly Hills."

I would rather have her close here in California than all the way in New York. I roll my eyes at her. "This is why you called Sam, isn't it? For your own benefit."

"You are thinking about it." She smiles. "It could work out for everyone."

I shake my head disapprovingly. "Well talk later." I tell her.

She sighs and sits back down on her seat. The last thing I need is Quinn listening to me and Jane going back and forth. With her just two months away from graduating from high school, the conversation of colleges is inevitable. She told me she bad decided to go to NYU mostly because she has always wanted to get away and go somewhere different.

Maybe it's my fault for not taking her out more often. She felt guilty when she told me but I can't keep her from going, it wouldn't be fair. If it were up to me, I would have her go somewhere in Arizona but now that I think about it, UCLA isn't such a bad idea. She would be closer.

God. Poor Jane. No wonder she wants to get away, I would too.

Hey there babes I hope you enjoyed this chapter.

What do yal think of this chapter????

Let me just say this at some point Mercedes may piss a lot of yal off lol but she'll come around.

Please excuse any grammar errors that may occur.