Hey babes love ya, I hope you enjoy.

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

I'll never forget the last conversation I had with my father. At the time, I didn't know it was going to be the last time I would have a conversation with him, of course. It was a day before he had the heart attack. I remember going to his office after an appointment. We talked about football and then the conversation began to get deeper.

"Don't work too much, son, because your life will be over before you know it. Enjoy life, enjoy the people you love."Enjoy the people you love."

Of course when he told me that, I knew he was talking about my wife before she ran away. My father was always the one who understood me most. I think he felt guilty because I had followed his footsteps in becoming a doctor and then I found myself wifeless. My career is very rewarding but it's always come with sacrifices.

Seeing Mercedes again has changed me. I spent the last three years feeling so angry. Angry at her,Angry at myself,Angry at the world. I've been miserable. Every day has felt the same as I buried myself in work.

Seeing her again it was as if the past three years hadn't happened. It's as if I've been shaken, woken up to life. I have a purpose again, I'm a husband again. Right now, I want nothing else but to be Mercedes's husband.

A knock on the door pulls me back to my office. Penny pokes her head in. She's always had the habit of doing that. It's as if her knocking is to announce her entrance rather than to ask for permission to enter.

"Hey," She says closing the door behind her, stepping inside my office.

"Good afternoon " I say lookin away from the computer.

"How are you?" She asks ds she sits down.

I frown. "Good? What's going on?"

Penny and I met back in medical school. We actually dated for a few months before

I met Mercedes. We lost contact after graduation until my father hired her about a year ago. She is also a pediatrician.

"Uh" She smiles. "The nurses said you seemed weird today."

The nurses. I swear they need to just do their job instead of being gossipers on the side.

"Weird how?"

"I don't know, cheerful?"

I chuckle. "I should smile more often huh?"

Penny studies me. "You do look different. Is it because you slept a little more today?"

I don't usually like to share my personal life with anyone but if I did, it would be to penny. She's the one that's been here to listen for the past three years.

"Mercedes came back," I say after a moment.

Did she come back though? She stayed because I asked her to, but she's only here for the rest of the week and then she's leaving again.

That thought hunts me. I don't want her to leave. I need to do something to get her to stay.

"What?" Penny looks shocked. "What do you mean she came back? When?"

"Yesterday."

Has it really been just a day? It feels like so much has happened. At the same time, I'm happy it was only yesterday. It means I still have a few more days with her.

"And you took her back? Just like that?"

There is an edge in her yoice that I don't like. Maybe I shouldn't have said anything. Why didn't I keep my mouth shut?

I sigh. "Penny"

She leans across the table so she can hold my gaze. "No. I'm sorry, Sam, but she left you. She hurt you. Or did you forget that already?"

I wasn't happy. Those words have been hunting me ever since Mercedes said them to me, She wasn't happy As her husband, I vowed to make her happy and I failed. I was never there for her. On the day that she left, I had worked for twelve hours straight and I didn't realize she was gone untill the next morning when I woke up to an empty bed.

"She was gone for three years." Penny continues. "Without calling you or even giving you an explanation and now she comes back like it's nothing?"

"She is my wife," I say in a low voice.

"Only on a piece of paper. She hasn't been your wife for the past three years, Sam."

I take a deep breath as I run a hand through my hair. "Penny, I am not an idiot. I know what I'm doing."

I don't need to be reminded that Mercedes left for three years. I have that present in my head. It sort of still feels unreal that she's here. The thing is that, yes, I'm angry at her for leaving without saying anything to me and I still don't know what she's been doing for the past three years. But when I looked at her, when I talked to her and heard her voice again, none of that mattered. What matters is that she's here. With me.

I glance at my phone and contemplate calling her. It feels like she's going to disappear any second. I reach for my phone and stand up.

"I have an appointment"

Penny stands up with me and steps in front of me, placing her hand on my arm.

"Sam," She says looking at me with her blue eyes.

I look down at her and find myself comparing her to Mercedes. They look nothing alike. Penny's eyes are blue and her hair is straight with highlights all over it. Penny is pretty but Mercedes is beautiful. I know my opinion is biased since Mercedes is my wife, but Mercedes has always been the most beautiful woman I've ever seen, from the moment I laid eyes on her.

"Mercedes doesn't deserve you," penny says to me.

"I'm going to ask you to stay out of it, penny," I say trying not to sound as annoyed as I am. I never should have told her anything. "And to please keep your hands to yourself." I continue, pulling my arm away.

I walk past her dialing Mercedes on my way out. I go into the examining room across the hall and close the door. I can hear children laughing and yelling in the waiting room with the TV playing in the background.

"Hello?"

I smile at the sound of her voice, my annoyance with penny begins to diminish.

"Mercedes."

"Sam. Hey."

"How are you?"

I've missed talking to her. Did I used to call her at random times during the day before she left?

"Good. I'm-going through my clothes." She pauses. "I didn't think you'd keep them."

My mother was the one who had gone into my closet and packed'all of Rebecca's clothes into suitcases a few months after she left. When she attempted to throw them away, I took them and hid them in my closet. I guess it was as if I was holding on to her somehow by doing that. It drove my mother crazy.

"I wasn't looking through your things," Mercedes says quickly when I don't say anything. "Well, maybe I was a little." She laughs nervously.

I chuckle. "Well, they're yours so it doesn't matter." I pause. "Listen-I wanted to take you out tonight."

"Tonight? Where?"

"I'm not sure. Maybe out to dinner? Catch a movie or something?"

Catch a movie or something? I sound like a college boy all over again. God is was Wrong with me?

"Like a date?'

"Well-yes, a date."

I'm asking my wife out on a date. Why did it feel so strange? I try to remember the last time Mercedes and I were on a date and I can't. We did used to go out before she left, right?

"Oh, okay."

"Okay." I repeat. "I'll pick you up at around six."

"Okay, I'll be ready by then."

"Alright." I smile. "Bye, mercy."

"Bye, Sammy."

I hang up with a stupid grin on my face. I have a date with my wife.

~~~

When I get home in the'evening, I find Jane in the living room. She's cuddled up with a blanket and watching TV. I think it's one of the Harry Potter movies. She pauses it when she sees me come in through the front door.

"Hey."

"Hi," She says with a shy smile that resembles mercy's. "Sorry. I got tired of being in the bed so I moved here."

"This is your house, Jane. You can do as you'd like."

She nods with a smile. "Thank you. If you can just let cedes know, please."

I chuckle then I look down the hallway. I can see the light of my room on.

"She's still getting ready," Jane says.

"Cedes! Sam's is here!"

"Coming!" Mercedes calls from the room.

I sit on the couch. "So, what are you watching?"

"Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire." She pauses and looks at me. "Do you like Harry Potter?"

I shrug. "I've never watched the movies. I don't really have time."

She looks disappointed. "Well, if you want to be my brother-in-law you need to watch all of the Harry Potter movies."

I grin and decide not to point out that I'm already her brother-in-law. "I'll get to it then,"

She smiles. "I'm just kidding. But no, really," She says as she presses play.

"I don't think I ever thanked you," I say, after a noment. "For calling me and telling me that mercy was here," I say

when she gives me a confused look.

"Oh. You're welcome," She glances down the hall and bites her lip. "My sister gave up a lot to come and take care of me...and you were one of the them." She looks at me. "I just want her to, you know, have a life of her own. I want her to be happy."

Before I can ask her more about what she means, Mercedes appears from the hallway. She's wearing a black strapped satin midi dress that goes just a little passed her knees with high heels. The dress hugs her perfect curves and her legs look absolutely radiant. I know the dress was in the suitcases that were in the closet.

She must have taken them out and washed them. Good I wanted her to feel right at home because this is her home.

"Sorry. I'm ready now," She says as she fixes her earring.

I clear my throat as I stand up. "Mercy, you look absolutely radiant."

She smiles as she looks town sheepishly. "Thanks, I tried."

She's wearing nude lipstick. I love her in lipstick.

"Alright, let's go," I say opening the door.

"We'll be back soon," Mercedes says to Jane who rolls her eyes at her.

"Im eighteen. I'll be fine."

"Right," she says then she walks out the door.

It's dark outside as we walk to my car. I think about how back in the day when dates were innocent and not booty calls, it would always end in a kiss.

I hope I have that same luck tonight...

Sam looks at his phone for the third time since we sat down. I can tell he is uneasy about something but he hasn't said a word since we arrived.

He brought me to an elegant restaurant which isn't surprising. Sam is known for his extravagance which isn't necessary every time, but one can't stop him from going overboard. The restaurant is beautiful with chandeliers up on the high ceilings and with classical music playing in the background and waiters wearing fancy uniforms with bow ties.

We haven't gotten our food. We just ordered when Sam looks down at his phone again.

"Is everything alright?" I ask looking at him.

He looks at me. "Yes."

"Sam."I half smile, to let him know it's okay

This is known territory. Sam's time isn't always mine. I understood that.

He sighs. "Im so sorry. I just have to make a really quick call."

"It's okay," I say, reaching for the glass of wine.

"I'll be right back," He says as he stands up.

I watch as he walks across the room, making his way around tables. I've always admired how good he looks in suits. He walks outside--to the balcony. I can see him pace as he presses the phone against his ear.

I look down at the glass of red wine as I wait. It feels strange to be on a date with Sam. Mostly because we haven't really defined our relationship. We don't know what's going to happen to us. Is this a good idea? This is why I hesitated earlier in the day when he asked me out. Then I thought about how he had kept my clothes all these years. he could have thrown them.

Hell, he could have burned them but he didn't. So I agreed. Besides, I did want to go out with Sam. I wanted to go on a date with him like we used to before we got married. I wanted to pretend nothing was Wrong- Of course, those days are gone now and Sam's dreadful look as he walks back to the table is proof of that.

"Im so sorry, mercy, but I have to go to the hospital."

"Is everything okay?"I ask as I stand up and reach for my purse.

He takes out his wallet and pulls out some bills and places them on the table. "It's one of my patients," He says as we begin to walk out. "She's giving birth."

"I thought you only treated children,"

"I do. I'm treating the newborn," He says as he unlocks the car. "My father was actually their family doctor. He was the one who did the check-ups of Kelly and her sisters when they were born. He was good friends with her father." He continues as he starts the car. "And now that he's gone-I've kind of taken over his job."

His voice lowers as he talks about his dad. "Anyway," He continues as he drives. "Kelly is crowning so she will be giving birth soon. I'll do the check-up on the baby and if all is well, as my predictions are, it shouldn't be long.

I nod slowly. "I thought the hospital doctors did check-ups?"

I'm so ignorant about Sam's job, it's ridiculous. I realize I never really bothered to ask him about it.

"They do most of the time." He explains as he looks straight at the road. "Unless the family asks if their children's doctor can do it. It's just better That way, I'll have the baby's records from the start instead of having to wait to have them transferred."

"Oh, okay, that makes sense," I say slowly.

He turns to look at me as he stops at a red light. "I'm so sorry again, mercy."

"Don't apologize." I tell him.

"I used to do this a lot before, didn't I?" He asks quietly.

I look out the window. "It's not your fault, Sam. Duty calls."

"It is though. I didn't put you as a priority -ever."

I bite my lip and dont say anything. I really do understand that it's not Sam's fault but he's right. He never made me a priority. His job always came first. I understood at first, but you can only be so understanding, Eventually, I got tired and then I became unhappy. Is that how it's going to be if I come back? I would be going back to the same unhappy life I had.

I don't want to go there. I don't want to be miserable again. It took me a long time to find myself and find the stability that I have right now. I can't lose myself again. I refuse.

We arrive at the hospital and Sam and I half-run inside. We get in the elevator and go up to the eleventh floor.

"I'm Doctor Evans," Sam says to the nurse behind the counter. "I'm here for the Smith's."

The nurse nods. "Right this way, Doctor."

Sam turns to look at me and I nod with a smile. "I'll be right here."

He nods then turns and follows the nurse. sit down on one of the chairs and watch him disappear down the hall. I see pregnant a couple women walking down the hallway. All with pained looks on their faces.

I look away and reach for a magazine instead. After looking through it, I grab my phone and look through social media. I don't know how much time passes before my phone begins to ring.

Caller Id: Matt.

I look down the hallway. There is no sight of Sam so I press the green button and bring the phone up to my ear. "Hello?"

"Mercedes! Ive been trying to reach you all day.

I bite my lip. "Yeah, I'm sorry. I've been busy"

"Where are you? I went to your house but you weren't there."

I'm still in California," I say to him. "Im going to be here for the next few days."

"Is everything okay?"

"Yeah-" I stand up and began to pace. "Jane broke her arm so we had to stay here."

"Oh, God. Do you need anything? I could come-"

"No, no," I say quickly. "Please don't bother. She's fine. I just wanted her to get a few more check-ups before we left." I shake my head.

Liar, liar, pants on fire.

"Okay, well, I'm glad you're okay." He pauses. "I miss you."

I frown. "Yeah, I'm sorry I wasn't able to answer until now."

You're horrible, Mercedes . A horrible, horrible person.

"It's okay, I'm glad I got to talk to you."

"Yeah me too. I, uh, have to go."

"Yes, of course. Please call me if you need anything."

"Okay, thank you. Bye."

"Good-bye."

My hands shake as I hang up the phone. I take a deep breath, suddenly feeling suffocated. I look around but don't see Sam anywhere, I need some air. I walk back to the elevator and go down to the first floor and hurry. The fresh air feels good against my face.

What the hell am I doing? I'm dating two men that don't know about each other and one of them is my husband. Matt and I aren't exclusive. We have only been out on a few dates over the past two months. It's not a relationship. At least it's not for me. We haven't had the 'what are we? conversation.

He doesn't deserve what I'm doing though. I'm lying to him. He's wasting his time with me when he can be seeing other women that he could have a real future with.

The thing is that I know I don't want anything serious with Matt. I just like to hang out with him. It's been a distraction. No, it's not fair but it seemed okay before seeing Sam again.

Sam...my husband. Maybe soon to be Ex-husband. I don't know what we're doing. I have my life in Arizona and he has his here. I sit down on a bench and look straight ahead. There isn't really anything, just the parking lot. I can see people making their way into the hospital while others walk out, ready to go home. I can hear the sound of an ambulance close by. It's a busy night.

Sam and I need to talk. We need to figure out what's going to happen. Either way, I need to break off whatever Matt and I have. Technically, I'm in two relationships that are undefined and probably going nowhere. Go figure.

I don't want to even think about what Sam would do if he found out I was dating another man. Would he care? I know he would. There is no way he hasn't dated anyone during these years though.

He's a handsome, successful doctor that I know he catches the attention of many women. The thought of him with another woman makes me uncomfortable. I left him. I left my husband. I gave him up. Maybe that should be my punishment. I don't like it.

but I know I deserve it...

Enjoy love bugs xoxox