Hi everyone! So, my name is Lily,this is my first fic, and I'm really excited. Now just to give some background before you get started: This fic is going to include all the events that happened up until (and mostly during) the finale. The only tweak I'm making is including events alluded to in the deleted scene between Sam and Mr. Schue that I quoted in the description. If you want to read it in full, you can just look up "Samcedes deleted scenes" and find the one from the finale. I promise it's like the second link that pops up and it won't take long (don't judge me for knowing this pls).

Alrighty! Hope y'all enjoy!


Mercedes sat back down in her seat and dialed a number on her phone. When she got a voicemail, she left a message, "Hey, Sam," She smiled. "I'm just calling to check in. I should be boarding soon." She paused, already regretting leaving the message. "I'm headed to Detroit, then to Lima from there. My parents are gonna drive up with my car so that I can finally drive myself somewhere, even if it's just to the house." She said annoyingly "I figured I'd just drive from Detroit to maybe save a little time. Plus, you know how I feel about flying. It's about a five hour flight. Which coupled with the drive and everything else puts me in Lima at around 9 p.m. Eastern Standard Time." She silently cursed herself for rambling, "Anyways, on to what I called for; I uh," She paused, now regretting even calling in the first place. "I was wondering if we could grab a bite to eat if it's not too late? I know I'm going to be starved by the time I get there." She took a deep breath, "I wanted to talk to you about something and I want to do it in person. And it kind of can't wait? I don't know—"

Attention, this is the First Class boarding announcement for Flight DL891 to Detroit. Again, all First Class passengers for Flight DL891 to Detroit may now begin boarding.

Mercedes looked up before speaking into the phone, "Well, I guess that's my cue. I won't have WiFi on the plane because, um, who in the hell is interested in paying for that?" She chuckled. "So, I'll just have to look forward to your message by the time I land in Michigan hopefully. McNamara terminal here I come. Hope to see you soon, bye." She smiled as she hung up, rose from her seat and, willing away how idiotic she felt, went to board her plane.

When Mercedes arrived in Detroit to no correspondence from Sam, she sighed. She'd be lying if she said she didn't feel slightly disappointed. Hell, very disappointed. She was really hoping to be able to see him and chat with him tonight. To bear her soul to him for what would probably be the first and last time. Instead, she only received a text from her mom confirming her flight and pickup info. She followed the security that had been waiting for her to the car parked on the tarmac waiting to take her to her pickup spot. After a few minutes of driving around the parking lot, Mercedes' parents nor their or her car were anywhere to be found. She decided to call her mom, but got her voicemail.

"Uh, hey Mom. So I've been in the cell phone lot for a couple of minutes now. I know you said you were still on your way, but I'm not seeing you." She sighed, getting slightly frustrated. As if not hearing from Sam wasn't enough, she would now have to wait even longer for a drive to take her mind off of it. "I'm not even going to try Dad. Knowing him, his phone is right in Lima where he left it. Anywho, if you're not here yet, could you let me know when you get here? And could you just make sure you're on the way to the South lot and not the North one? Call me back. Bye."

Mercedes huffed as she threw herself back against her seat, "I'm so sorry about this, Ray. They're usually on time. Like, painfully so." She said to the driver.

Ray shook his head, "Don't worry, Ms. Jones. It's absolutely fine. Would you like me to drive over to the North Lot to see if they're there?"

"No, it's fine," She began rubbing her temples. "You can just park in one of these spots and we can wait for them, if that's okay."

"Of course."

The car pulled into a spot away from the few others in the lot. Mercedes looked out of the window into the night sky above, trying to think of something that would distract herself from the fact that Sam hadn't responded, but to no avail. How could he not say anything? He couldn't call? He couldn't even shoot a text that simply said "can't"? It wasn't like she necessarily expected him to. They weren't together or anything. Just friends. But she thought he'd at least say something. At this point, she honestly wished she hadn't called him in the first place. She was contemplating sending another message rescinding her invite when she saw someone walking to the back of their truck.

The singer squinted and tilted her head, "What the…" She paused before turning distractedly to the driver, "I'll be right back, Ray" and quickly opening her car door, staying trained on the person leaning against the bed of their pickup. As she started walking, the person turned to look at her and a huge smile graced their face. She stopped in her bare tracks and chuckled to herself, "You have got to be kidding." She shouted. Her parents weren't at the airport because they weren't picking her up.

"Oh, my God," Sam pushed himself off of the tailgate and gasped. "Is that International Superstar Ms. Mercedes Audre Jones?"

"What are you doing here?" Mercedes exclaimed as she all but ran over to him, hugging him.

He hugged her back tightly and it felt like his world had been put back together. He missed her. "That's a long story, actually. You see, I got back to my office after a long, fulfilling day of doing nothing at work," He put his hand on her shoulder. "When I noticed I missed a call from a certain R&B 20 hit wonder. Not you, though. A different R&B 20 hit wonder, more of an Alicia Keys type." He smiled when she laughed. "So the voicemail from that call said that the R&B 20 hit wonder wanted me to be the first person she hung out with after she touched down. So, I figured, what better way to say yes than to pick her up from the airport?"

"But, what did you…" Mercedes stared up at him in disbelief. "When did you… How did you—"

"Well, your entire flight details played over the intercom in the voicemail." He said as if it was obvious. "But I just called your parents and asked them for the pickup details. No big deal."

"Sam," Mercedes shook her head with her mouth agape, still unable to wrap her head around the whole thing, "It's beyond big. I seriously can't believe you're here."

"Oh, come on. I haven't seen you in over two years. You didn't think I was going to miss you touching down did you? I mean let's be serious here." He joked.

Mercedes' mouth closed into an emotional smile, "Sam Evans," She searched for the words to say as she grabbed his hand and looked up at him, "You always have a way of surprising me. And performing these grand gestures when I least expect it."

Sam looked down at her in a daze. They hadn't seen one another, let alone touched one another in years, other than the hug they just shared. He took a second to really take her in. She was still the same Mercedes. Same big doe eyes. Same adorable button nose. And same killer style, even when she just got off of a plane. He swallowed audibly, snapping out of his daydreaming. "We should probably go and get your things. We don't want to keep your driver waiting."

"Yeah, yeah, you're right." Mercedes ran her hand through her hair and the two walked back to Ray, who had been standing at the trunk of the Escalade since Mercedes left it. "You can pop the trunk, Ray. This tall glass of milk over here is my ride." She chuckled.

Sam extended his hand to Ray, "Sam Evans. Tall glass of white chocolate milk."

Mercedes shook her head and chuckled, "You're still doing the white chocolate thing? After all these years?" She went to go get one of her suitcases out of the trunk.

Sam jumped in front of her to stop her, taking the suitcase out of her hands. "Since when do you carry your own bags?" He looked down at her, "I thought being a celebrity was supposed to make your head bigger?"

"Boy," Mercedes smiled as she went to take her suitcase back, but Sam moved it away just before she could grab it.

"Gotta be quicker than that!" He quipped before running to take the suitcase over to his truck.

The singer rolled her eyes and went to the backseat to get her purse. She then walked over to the truck where Sam and Ray were loading her bags. When they were all finished, Mercedes thanked Ray and tried to offer him a tip, but he turned it down.

"Actually, Ms. Jones," He hesitated and fiddled with the pen and paper in his hands. "If it's not too much trouble, my daughter is a big fan. She loves to sing and write songs and wants to make music just like yours one day. She'd love an autograph from you if you're okay with that."

Mercedes gave him a shocked smile, "Oh, my gosh, Ray. Of course! I'd love to. Why didn't you say anything in the car?"

"Didn't really feel like the right time, I guess."

Mercedes took the pen and paper from him, "Well, it's absolutely not too much trouble. What's her name?"

"Her name is Shayla, but we call her Cleo, like Cleotha Staples—"

"From The Staple Singers?" Mercedes looked up in the midst of her writing.

"Yeah, she sounds just like her. At least her mom and I think so." Ray gleamed.

"That's awesome, Ray." Mercedes finished signing the paper and handed it back to him before she thought of something, "Hey, any chance she'd like a picture or video or something? A lot of parents like to get that stuff. I've heard the kids love it." She encouraged.

Ray's eyes lit up, "Really, you'd be willing to do that?"

"Well, I did ask, right?" Mercedes smiled.

"Okay, yeah. My phone is in my car, I'll go get it. She's gonna love this." Ray started off to his car before Mercedes called his name.

"I'll come over to you! I'll be there in just a sec," She turned to Sam, who had been watching the interaction while leaning up against the truck. "I'm sorry about this," She said while putting her hands over her heart. "He just got me with the daughter, and she writes music, and she sounds like a Staple Singer—"

"Don't worry about it, take your time." Sam smiled widely.

Mercedes gave a sigh of relief, "Okay, thanks. I'll do this and we'll be ready to head out." She hurried over to the Escalade.

Sam pulled out his phone and sent out a text.

The Eagle has been secured.

After a few minutes, Mercedes came back to the truck, "Ready to go?"

"Yeah, all set!" Sam rushed around the front of the truck to open the door for her. "Watch your step," He cautioned as he held out his hand, helping her into the vehicle.

Mercedes thanked him and waited for him to get back into the truck. When he got in, they pulled out of the lot.

"Next stop, Lima," Sam said. "Or, wherever we stop to get gas because I forgot to fill up before I left."

Mercedes smiled, sent her parents a text letting them know she had been picked up, and looked over at him. At least if she was about to put their entire relationship on the line, they'd have the next couple hours to have one last good time.


Yay! First chapter down! So, a couple of things. First, I'm going to make the chapters pretty short (at least in the beginning) so as not to bore y'all! I like long chapters, but I know they're not for everyone, so I've written longer chapters and divided them into smaller pieces. Chapter 2 will be up pretty soon, probably in the next few days to a week, depending on my schedule. Second, I do plan on including music in this (there will be some in the next chapter), but that might change because I might end up hating it. So, if it does change, I say this lovingly, but mind ya business LOL. It just means I didn't like it anymore. Unless y'all are really into it! Then let me know and I may reconsider. Did y'all like it? Let me know! Can't wait to hear from y'all. :)