CHAPTER 10

Summary: Sam and Mercedes get an unexpected visit from Cooper.

Rating: Mature - Sexual intercourse, mild cursing, mention of racism

Notes: Please excuse any errors. Thanks for reading and reviewing!

WHEN THE PAST COMES KNOCKING

Cooper came by the next morning just as they were about to eat breakfast. Sam was surprised to see him standing on the front porch looking solemn and severe.

"May I come in?"

"I thought you were going to call."

"Certain conversations are better in person."

"Is it bad?"

Cooper sniffed.

"I smell brochten."

"Yeah, we're about to eat breakfast. Care to join us?"

"Alright."

After hanging his coat in the hall closet, Cooper followed Sam to the kitchen where the table was set with a traditional German breakfast: baskets filled with freshly baked loaves of hefekranzm, and knäckebrot and brochten rolls, with golden brown crusts sat in in the middle of the table. Jars of homemade blueberry jam, orange marmalade, strawberry jelly and linden honey were next to the breadbasket. A large plate filled with slices of schlackwurst, liverwurst, and gekochter schinken was beside a large pot of Dallmayr coffee (that Sam bought at a specialty coffee shop downtown), and a cheese platter with slices of cheddar, Gouda, and butterkase was next to a pitcher of ice water. Abby's eyes lit up when she saw Cooper and she waved.

"Hello there, Miss Abby, I trust you are well."

Abby nodded and patted the empty chair next to her. Cooper sat down next to Abby and said to Mercedes:

"I apologize for dropping in but I have some information."

"I figured as much. Let's eat first."

Abby wrote many notes to Cooper during breakfast. Although most of Cooper's attention was on Abby, he did engage Sam and Mercedes in a conversation too.

"I feel like I'm back in Germany eating like this," Cooper said, as he buttered a slice of brochten roll and drizzled it with linden honey, he took a bite then said, "I haven't tasted brochten this good in years."

"I used my grandmother's recipe," Sam said, "She was a great cook."

Cooper took a bite of schlackwurst and chewed happily.

"Excellent."

Sam poured everyone a cup of coffee (except for Abby who had hot chocolate) and wasn't surprised that Cooper took his black with no sugar or cream. Mercedes regarded Cooper with mild suspicion, but was pleasant enough.

"How was traffic?" she asked as she stirred cream into her coffee, "I heard route 65 was backed up this morning."

"It was but I was able to get some business calls done."

"That's good."

The conversation turned to even more mundane subjects. Sam enjoyed the food and he could see that Mercedes did too, though she was skeptical at first, when he told her what he was making. When the meal was finished and the table cleared, Abby went upstairs to do her homework; and the others had their second cups of coffee in the living room in front of the fireplace. Cooper handed his phone to Sam.

"Do you recognize that man?"

Sam gazed at a photo of a bald, heavyset white man. He wore a dark coat and he was smoking a cigarette.

"That's the guy who followed us."

Mercedes looked at the photo and said to Cooper:

"What can you tell us about him?"

"His name is Dave Karofsky, he used to be a PI but became involved in some unsavory activities and did some time in prison. Now he's working as a PI again, but since he's lost his license, he shouldn't be practicing, so he gets work however he can. And we think he was hired to follow Mercedes," Cooper said.

"By whom?" Sam asked.

"That's what we're trying to figure out. Dave left town before we caught up to him. But we'll track him down. We found the bug in your house and in Mercedes' phone. There was also a tracking device on her car. All of the devices have been removed."

"Is it safe for us to go home?" Mercedes asked.

"Not yet. I want to get to Dave first. My team is working on it. I don't want him to return to your home. I'm not sure what he would do."

"But I have a job."

"I understand. However, think of Abby. This is the best course of action."

Sam put his arm around Mercedes.

"I've just sold three more houses and I've made some solid investments. Don't worry about money."

"It's not just about money. Abby needs to go to school."

"She's been keeping up with her classes."

"True but I want her to have interaction with other children."

"Maybe she needs less noise," Cooper said, taking a sip of coffee.

"How so?" Mercedes said.

"In Bethel Rock, you were always on the go, is that correct?"

"Yes, I work full time, take classes on the weekend, and a million other things."

Cooper smiled a little and for the first time, Mercedes noticed that he was rather attractive in a cool, Daniel Craig sort of way.

"Are you familiar with signal to noise?"

"No."

"Ok, it's the measure commonly used in science and engineering that measures the signal strength to background noise and is usually expressed in decibels.

And the same term is informally applied to the ratio of relevant to irrelevant information in a system such as the Internet."

"And what does that have to do with me?"

"You had more noise than signals in your life. Such as an antique radio that only picks up static, you have to keep adjusting the dial to get a clear station. There are only two stations that you needed to hear."

"Which are?"

"Very simple - your heart and Abbey. There doesn't appear to be any static in Kentucky. This peaceful environment blocks out the noise and only sends out the signals."

Sam kissed Mercedes' temple.

"We've grown closer since we've been here."

Mercedes laid her head on his shoulder.

"Yes… but we can't stop our lives forever."

"We won't," Sam said, holding her hand, he then looked at Cooper:

"Why can't we go to the police?"

"The local police turn a blind eye to him. He's an informant in exchange for doing as he pleases. I don't think it's the entire department, just a few officers, but we need to get him first and then be creative with the police."

"This is a nightmare," Mercedes said.

Cooper took another sip of his coffee and said, "I can help you, but I need your cooperation. I also need you to tell me everything."

"We have," Sam said, frowning at Cooper.

"Why didn't you tell me about Quinn and the shooting?

"So Abby told you?" Sam said, guessing the little girl had informed Cooper in one of the many notes she passed to him during breakfast.

"Of course she did, what I want to know is why you failed to mention any of this to me."

"No offense, but I don't see what that has to do with Mercedes being followed or anything else for that matter."

"Why didn't you want me to know?"

"It was such an awful thing that I wanted to forget it. I really did. Abby had a panic attack and – " Sam couldn't finish his sentence, the memory of that night twisted in his chest as he recalled Abby rocking to and fro in the bath tub, terrified and lost. Mercedes squeezed his hand.

"It took a toll on us," she said to Cooper, "Besides, you never said she had anything to do with us being followed."

Cooper's odd blue eyes softened, he sighed and leaned back into the couch.

"I'm surprised she had a key."

"I never thought to take it from her," Sam said, as Mercedes rubbed his back, "She's used the place in the past and it wasn't an issue. I should've had the locks changed."

"Yes, that would've prevented this fiasco," Cooper said, "But I have something else to ask you about."

"What's that?" Mercedes asked.

"Could you tell me about a man named Noah Puckerman?"

ooo

Mercedes didn't think that she would be discussing Puck with anyone. He was the past, a past she would rather not relive. She got up from the couch.

"I'm going to put on another pot of coffee."

"Who's Noah Puckerman?" Sam asked, looking at her with curiosity, his green eyes searching her face for answers.

"Does anyone want any brochten rolls and jelly? There's plenty left," she said.

"I'll have some," Cooper said.

Sam reached for her hand.

"Baby, who's Noah Puckerman?"

"In a minute, Sam," she said, pulling her hand from his grasp and backing away. "I'll be back."

She went into the kitchen and made another pot of coffee. As she waited for it to brew, she sat to the kitchen table and twisted a paper napkin around her fingers. Talking about Puck always made her feel anxious, like someone pulling her underwater, and she's unable to get back to the surface and breathe.

"You know he's not good enough for you."

"I love Shane."

"Do you?"

"Yes."

"Then why are you here?"

Mercedes looked down at her wedding ring and wondered the same thing. They stood in the Breadsticks parking lot. It was raining and Puck held a bright yellow umbrella over her head because she forgot to bring hers. He touched her cheek.

"He's hooked again, isn't he?"

"I'm pregnant," she said, wanting to move away from his touch but unable to; she needed that touch. Shane only touched her after he was crashing. Puck could see her and it was ok to be seen wasn't it?

The soft gurgle of the coffee maker broke into her reverie. Sam thought she was a virtuous woman. A jewel. An angel. But even jewels and angels make mistakes and letting Puck into her life was one of them. She rose from the table and poured the hot coffee into three mugs arranging them on a silver tray along with a plate of brochten and a few jars of jelly and containers of sugar and cream. When she walked into the living room, Sam was poking the fireplace and adding a few more logs. He looked over his shoulder at her and his eyes were sad.

"You don't need to keep secrets from me," he said as he set down the poker and helped her put the tray on the coffee table, "I love you."

Mercedes was surprised that he said it in front of Cooper, who sat there observing whatever it was that was happening between them; the mood changed with the name of Noah Puckerman hanging in the air. But Sam was never shy about showing his love and affection for her, so his bold declaration made sense. Once Aunt Josephine said that a woman needed a man that would walk through fire with her, because life could drag you through hell, and nobody should face those flames alone. Mercedes imagined that Sam was that man, holding her hand as they fought through the fiery inferno together. She sat down on the couch and he sat down beside her. Cooper leaned forward and picked up a mug of coffee.

"Are you ready?"

"How did you know about him?"

"His name popped up on your phone on multiple occasions, but you failed to mention him. When I asked about your friends and family. I checked and found out he was from Lima and I wanted the full story. I figured it was probably an old boyfriend, am I correct in that assumption?

"Yes, he was my boyfriend in high school. Everyone calls him Puck and…" the next words stayed stuck in her throat. She sat there in silence and felt Sam put his arm around her. Cooper leaned back in the loveseat and carefully watched her, waiting for what she had to say next. She breathed deep and her heart ached as the memories came back. She saw a deer roaming outside, looking quite beautiful, its graceful, sleek, bronze body shining in the sunlight, in stark contrast to the glittering white snow. The fire crackled and burned and everything around her was peaceful like a picturesque scene on a Christmas card; how odd, she mused to herself, here she was sitting beside a man who loved her and whom she loved in return, and surrounded by calm and beauty, only to feel like she was coming apart. It made no sense. She found the courage to speak again after the silence dragged on for too long:

"I need to tell you something first. When Shane and I first got married, he had dreams of being a pro football player; he played college football and was close to being drafted when he got in a terrible car accident that injured his legs. He wasn't at fault and got a major settlement and that was a blessing because we needed the money. But he was in a lot of pain and in the hospital for almost a year. Sometimes he cried because the pain consumed him. They put him on oxycodone and well that –"

"That's highly addictive," Cooper said.

Mercedes nodded.

"Shane got addicted. He tried to manage without it, but the pain, he had so much pain, and he became a different man. Depressed. Hollow. I did my best for him. When the doctors stopped prescribing the drug; he convinced me to get it for him; his old college roommate Sebastian knew a guy and well, I would buy it off of him. Shane couldn't leave the house so after begging me, and screaming and crying, I gave in. I helped his habit. I wanted him to get help and he said all he needed was I. My husband was a good man; he was just in a dark place. His dreams of pro-football were gone; he could barely walk, and everyday he said it felt like a thousand daggers were ripping through his flesh."

"And how does Puck as you call him fit into all of this?" Cooper said.

"One day I ran into him in Lima Heights, a bad part of town, and he wanted to know what I was doing there. He came back to Ohio after getting out of the army. I hadn't seen him since high school. I really didn't have any friends at the time, and I broke down and told him everything. He heard that I got married but didn't know the details. He said Shane was a dick for putting me in that position. During that time, Shane wasn't very nice to me. The addiction changed the man I fell in love with into an angry stranger. After that day I began leaning on Puck. Aunt Josephine wanted me to leave Shane and his mother hated me. She wanted her son to marry someone else, an ex-beauty queen named Clementine, she was tall, thin, and looked like Rhianna, and she was from a good family. Shane dumped her for me. And in his mother's eyes, I was never good enough. Every bad thing that happened to Shane after we got married, was somehow my fault."

"So Puck helped you through." Sam said.

"Yes, but I still loved Shane. I couldn't leave him. I had no one to turn to, and Puck became that person. After work, I would meet him downtown for drinks. Sometimes we just walked around the park or went to the movies. He gave me strength to get through another day of oxycodone, mood swings, and Shane's darkness. Some days I didn't think that Shane loved me anymore or that he even saw me. But Puck saw me. I was that girl from high school he fell in love with."

"Did you have an affair with Puck?" Cooper asked.

"Yes," Mercedes whispered, ashamed at the admission, "It was an emotional affair. We were never physically intimate. I was given that constant love and reassurance that Shane couldn't give. Puck listened, talked me through my problems, and told me I deserved the best. But it was wrong - so very wrong. Here I was escaping into an emotional refuge, and I still bought the oxycodone for Shane. What was I thinking? All of this was wrong. His mother was right. I wasn't good enough for him I was never good enough…"

"No!" Sam said hugging her to his chest as she cried, "Stop this bullshit. Shane caused his own misery, not you. Yes, you bought the oxycodone but only because you couldn't bare to see him in pain, you loved him too much, you know you've got a big heart… baby, listen to me, you and Shane made it through, don't ever think you weren't good enough for him."

"I can't believe you're not angry," Mercedes said, holding him, as the tears flowed from her cheeks.

"Why would I be angry?"

"Quinn cheated on you. I'm a cheater too. I'm not perfect. I've done wrong. I helped Shane's drug habit."

"Baby, no, stop talking like that. Quinn isn't you. The situations are different. And if truth be told, I pushed her away, I'm not making excuses or passing judgment, but it takes two to make and break a marriage. I don't see Quinn in you at all. She doesn't have your heart or conscience; she's driven by something else."

"I'm sorry, Sam."

"Oh, Mercy, don't be sorry baby, just… I love you ok? That was your past. But this is now. And I'm not going anywhere."

"I could've handled things differently."

"Yes, but you can only move forward. And you and Shane did succeed in the end."

He held her for a long time, rubbing her back as she cried. When she couldn't cry any more, he wiped her face with a few tissues.

"You don't have to tell us any more if you don't want to," Sam said, staring into her eyes.

She kissed him and looked over at Cooper, who remained silent through her confession.

"I have to finish the story."

"Very well," he said.

"The straw that broke the camel's back was the day I came back home and found lying in the middle of the living room floor; and he wasn't breathing. I did CPR and got him breathing again. I called 911 and we went to the hospital. While he was there, I knew this had to stop. I told him either he went to rehab or I was going to leave him. He begged me not to leave. I loved him too much and I knew underneath all his demons that Shane was still there."

"I'm not going back to who I was. I want this. I want you. I love you Mercedes."

Shane was thin, almost gaunt. His addiction made him eat less. And when he did eat, it was barely anything at all. He spent his days in front of the television, imagining his image on the screen, pretending he was playing for the NFL. Mercedes let him have his dreams but in the end it was killing them and he had to choose what path he wanted. That night in the hospital, they made love, she held his frail body as she rocked into him, both of them crying for a release, something to take away the emotional wounds this addiction gave them. Shane always appreciated her body, her beauty, and that night in the still darkness, was no different, and her Shane returned with every touch to her skin and murmur of adoration, she became his once more. But the journey was a rocky one, with pitfalls along the way.

"So he went to rehab, I presume." Cooper said, reaching for a brochten roll, and spreading jelly on it.

"Yes, but he relapsed. Then I found out I was pregnant. It was hard because he had been doing so well. He went back and things got better. During the second rehab stay, I met Puck in town to tell him what happened, by then I had limited my contact with him, but I needed him, and Aunt Josephine would only say I told you so. Puck kissed me for the first time that day. I pushed him away, feeling horrible. Anyway, guess who saw us? Shane's mother."

"Damn," Sam said.

"So this is what you've been doing while my son is locked up in that goddamned place?" His mother shouted as the rain poured down on them. She stood in front of them in the parking lot, getting drenched, her chest heaving, and her eyes narrowed into angry slits. "You little bitch, I knew you were nothing but a common twat, and now I have proof."

Puck got in her face, jumping to Mercedes' defense.

"Nobody calls Mercedes a bitch and a twat. Your son is an asshole but she's sticking by him. I love her but she doesn't love me. I just kissed her and she pushed me away. It wasn't her. It was all me. The only bitch here I see is you!" Puck said, shielding Mercedes' from her mother in law's wrath, by standing in front of her as he held the umbrella, "She doesn't need this bullshit. I don't know why she loves Shane. But she does. He better thank God that she's willing to put up with his addiction and see the good in him."

"When Shane came back from rehab the second time. We moved to the other side of town in a smaller, more affordable house. Shane started his handyman business and it thrived. Then Abby was born. Things were wonderful. He was Shane again. All of this happened in the first two years of our marriage. I told Shane everything about Puck and he forgave me and he made his mother apologize for what she said to me. We got through that storm. I never took a single thing for granted after that. We appreciated everything God gave us. But then he got killed in a robbery, Abby lost her voice, I lost my will and Puck crept back in, thinking we could somehow be a family. I had no feelings for him. He persisted until he left town again for a job he was offered. Then I left for a fresh start."

No one said anything for a while. Mercedes closed her eyes and laid her head on Sam's shoulder. All was quiet and she welcomed the peace. She had so many good memories and love in her heart for Shane that she never dwelled on the hell they endured for two years; what came after was sweet bliss, and she knew she had made the right decision by staying with him. Cooper broke the silence.

"Why did your Aunt Josephine like Puck so much?" he asked.

Mercedes shrugged her shoulders.

"I don't know. He was charming. She never had a problem with him. When we were kids, he was good with adults and he would flatter her. He just visited her recently. She didn't like Shane because of his drug addiction; I don't think she ever forgave him for that."

"Was Puck contacting you to get back with you?"

"Yes, he was. Before he left town, I told him that we could never be together and that he needed to be ok with that. I wanted to move forward. I guess he thought I would wait for him or something because he was shocked when he came back and I had moved away."

"I see."

"Do you think he's the one doing all of this? Because he wants me back?"

"I don't know. Right now I'm only gathering information."

"Are we in danger?"

"The best thing for you to do is stay in Kentucky. I'll be in touch once I have more information," Cooper said as he finished his coffee, setting the mug on the table, "You never said anything about Shane's father."

"What would you like to know?"

"Did he dislike you?"

"I don't think so."

Cooper stood up.

"I must be going."

"Thank you for coming by," Mercedes said, standing as well. She shook his hand, "I appreciate everything that you're doing."

"I'll walk you to the door," Sam said and followed Cooper out of the room.

Mercedes went to the window and saw the deer again, wandering the hills. For a moment she reveled in its beauty, but also wondered if her life would ever be normal.

SOMETIMES PEOPLE STARE

Sam and Abby went to the supermarket to get stuff for dinner. In the car Sam sang along to an old Kenny Rogers song on the radio. Abby smiled and swayed her head to the music. Sam stopped at a red light and looked at her:

"I bet you can sing like your mother."

Abby shrugged and gave him a shy smile. Sam wished he knew Abby before her father died. Mercedes described her as happy and carefree. Sometimes he caught glimpses of it when she laughed or showed him the latest thing she fixed like a loose hinge, a creaky table leg, or a wobbly bookshelf, and the pride shined in her eyes whenever she revealed those accomplishments. When they arrived to the grocery store, Sam had trouble finding a parking spot and had to park faraway from the store entrance. The air was freezing and once they got out of the car, he made sure that Abby's puffy pink coat was zipped all the way up and then he re-tied her pink scarf. When he did this, Abby smiled and kissed his cheek, and Sam laughed, taking her small hand in his as they made their way into the crowded store.

As they perused the aisles, gathering everything on the list that Mercedes gave them, he noticed a few people staring at them. Abby was oblivious, and continued putting items into the cart as Sam instructed. Some stares were curious, and others not so curious but just outright hostile, Sam smiled and put on his Southern charm, but the disapproving looks did not stop. Then he realized that he had never been out in public with Abby alone before and it dawned on him that some of these people wondered why this little black girl was with a white man. When Mercedes was with them, her presence gave an explanation to the public, but without her, the situation changed and the puzzle was left unsolved. As they turned into the cereal and baking goods aisle, they saw an older white woman in a blue coat pushing a cart filled with cookies and bottled water, she stared at Sam and Abby, as they were trying to decide between Captain Crunch or Fruity Pebbles, and when she made eye contact with Sam, she smiled at him, revealing a gold tooth. Sam smiled back.

"Hello ma'am," he said.

"Your little girl is adorable. Is she adopted?"

Abby looked at the woman and then back at Sam, baffled by the question.

"No," he said, not giving any further explanation.

"Oh," the woman said, clearly confused by his answer, "I just thought…"

"You have a good afternoon, ma'am," he said as he grabbed a box of Captain Crunch off the shelf and tossed it into the cart.

"You too."

The question wasn't rude exactly, but Sam found it invasive, and he felt that he didn't owe her any explanation. At least she said Abby was cute, and that was nice of her. He knew the woman meant no harm, but Sam felt the brief exchange was rather unsettling. If he had had his nieces and nephews with him, nobody would give them a second glance. He wasn't sure what to make of it. Perhaps it was the area they were in. It wasn't very diverse. Race was something that Sam gave little if no thought to whatsoever, it was how he was raised, and his siblings were the same way. When they were in the check-out line, a black security guard, who had the physique of a Mack truck came over to Abby and said:

"Are you ok little girl? Where are your parents?"

"She's with me," Sam said, annoyed that the security guard, didn't notice how Abby was obviously with him, "Is there a problem?"

The security guard raised his eyebrows.

"No sir, no problem at all. Are you from around here?"

Sam wasn't born yesterday and he knew that the security guard was feeling the situation out to see if he was legit or not.

"We're visiting."

"Do you mind if I see your ID?"

Sam didn't want to comply with the request, but he knew that by not complying he would look as guilty as sin and he wanted to avoid any kind of scene. Just as he pulled his wallet out of his back pocket, he heard someone shout:

"Sam Evans!"

He saw their old handyman, Winston walking toward them. He was a short round man with silver hair and a curled walrus mustache; he had one false eye due to a Vietnam War injury.

"Winston, how are you doing?"

"Very good, can't complain," he said, shaking Sam's hand, he looked down at Abby, "And who is this pretty little lady?"

"This is Abby. My girlfriend's daughter," Sam said, shifting his eyes to the security guard, who stood there staring at them in disbelief.

"Winston, do you know this dude?"

"Of course I know him. Been working for him for 2 years. I help out at his place."

"Where?"

"What's with all the questions?"

"Nothing, just conversation."

"Out on Chester lane," Winston said and turned back to Sam, "Are you here on vacation?"

"You could say that," Sam said.

"Well, me and Ellie will stop by to say hello. I'm sorry about you and Quinn, but man, let me tell you, between you, me and the lamp post, I never liked her."

Sam laughed and put his arm around Abby, bringing her to his side. He wanted no one else to mistake that this little girl was not with him.

"You're not the first person to say that."

"I best be getting a move on. Ellie is in the middle of making chess pie and we're all out of vanilla. I'll see you soon."

"Bye Winston."

Winston gave a little wave and nodded at the security guard before hobbling away. Sam looked at him and said:

"Do you still need my ID sir?" Sam said.

"No, take it easy and drive safe."

"Thank you, have a good day."

"You do the same."

After they checked out and were driving home, Abby slipped Sam a note when they were at a red light:

"Why were people staring?"

The note broke Sam's heart. He thought she hadn't noticed. How could he explain it? He turned off the radio.

"Abby, sometimes people think things should be a certain way and when it's not they get curious."

She looked at him and Sam could see she didn't fully understand, so he said:

"People stare and are curious about things when it doesn't match with how they think the world is. Like if you see a woman football player or plumber, it's not what you expect. It's the same with race. Sometimes people find multiracial families as a curious thing. But it's not like everybody is like that, you know? Just some people."

Abby nodded and looked out the window. Sam didn't say anything else. If he and Mercedes got married, this was something they would have to think about. Thankfully, today was the first time anyone behaved as if they were an oddity, and that was a blessing, but still, even in this rare occurrence, it left Sam feeling uneasy and angry. The questions and stares were so foreign to him. Did they think he kidnapped Abby? He pushed the thought aside as they drove up the driveway to his house. In the end it didn't matter what people thought, and he wouldn't let it get to him. When he cut off the engine, he said to Abby:

"I don't care about people staring. I love you and your mother very much. And someday I want us to be a family. How do you feel about that?"

Abby stared at him a long time and then scribbled a quick note.

I want us to be a family too.

Sam hugged her tight and kissed her forehead.

FIERCE LOVE

After dinner that night, they watched movies and ate popcorn. Abby fell asleep during Home Alone 2, and they tucked her in bed and went across the hall to the guest bedroom for some alone time. Sam had been wanting to make love all day, and he hastily removed Mercedes' jeans and sweater, admiring her voluptuous curves and satin smooth skin, she lay back on the bed, opening her legs, and squeezing her breasts as she bit her bottom lip and gazed up at him. Sam wasted no time, undressing and mounting her, forgetting all pretense of foreplay, and only wanting to bury himself inside her, filling her up, and listening to her moan in pleasure. He thrust into her hard and she wrapped her thick thighs around his waist, urging him on.

"Sam," she whispered but didn't finish her thought, and Sam understood so he went harder and faster until she came, crying out and gripping his back; he came a few moments later and kissed and nuzzled her neck as streams of his semen filled her core. He held her tight.

"Schatzen," he said.

They cuddled for a long time, not speaking, only holding each other in silence, but Sam had something on his mind, so he said:

"What happened in your past with Puck and Shane makes no difference to me."

"I know."

"I don't know what's going on, but we'll figure it out. You're not alone."

"All my life I've been alone in some way."

"How?"

"My Aunt Josephine never had time to really bond with me. She was working all the time. I was always trying to find a place where I belonged. When Shane came along, I felt like I had found my true home, and then Abby was born and it was complete, then Shane died, and here you come along," she said, stroking his chest and kissing his heart, "I've found a new home."

Sam lifted her chin so he could look into her eyes.

"Marry me," he said.

"What?"

Sam kissed her, loving the feel of her full plump lips pressed against his own, after few moments he pulled away and repeated:

"Marry me."

Mercedes looked at him, her mouth hanging open and her eyes wide.

"But we haven't been going together for long and –"

"It's been long enough for me to know I want you to be my wife. So Mercedes, will you marry me?"

Mercedes hugged him, and tears trickled down her cheeks.

"This is crazy!"

"Is that a yes?"

She kissed him.

"Yes, I'll marry you."

They made love again and afterwards slipped on their bathrobes and went downstairs to celebrate by opening a bottle of champagne that Sam had stashed away from a New Year's Eve party a few years ago. They snuggled in front of the fireplace, sipping the champagne, with only the glow of the fire illuminating the room. Sam shut off the lights and Mercedes loved the cozy atmosphere. After finishing the bottle of champagne, they were both somewhat tipsy and giggled at everything; Sam felt like he was floating in a bubble, and while holding Mercedes close to his heart, his need to be inside her again grew, and made him feel bold, so he slipped his hand between her thighs and felt how wet she was, he let his fingers glide through her slick channel, before taking them away and removing her bathrobe.

"Hands and knees," he said in her ear, and felt her shiver at his words.

She turned around and got on all fours and Sam entered her from behind, loving how gorgeous she looked glowing in the firelight, with her smooth sienna skin, broad hips, soft, full belly, big firm breasts with hard nipples that often teased him when she wore tight shirts; once he recalled not being able to hear a single word she said because she wore a snug blue t-shirt when she volunteered to help him paint his spare bedroom; each time she reached up to glide the paint brush along the bare wall, her breasts pressed against the cotton fabric and he saw those pretty plump nipples straining against the shirt, threatening to push through the thin material; and he wanted to take her right then and there. Now, as he moved inside her, her abundant butt cheeks shook with each thrust, her breasts freely swayed about, and those big, erect nipples almost grazed the floor. Every jiggle and bounce of her butt aroused him and he drove himself inside her at a frantic pace. They were sweating, and Sam felt particularly wild, without any restraint, Mercedes too, lost her self-control, and held nothing back, giving into the gratifying thrill of making love in front of the fireplace, feeling the warmth of the flames on their skin.

"Baby, raise up," he said.

She did as he asked and he grabbed her breasts and squeezed them, pinching her nipples between his callused fingers, while he kissed and nibbled her soft neck, before releasing her again and she assumed the previous position and he continued the urgent thrusting until she came, shaking, crying, and moaning beneath him and he soon joined her in her orgasm, breathing hard and yelling out as well. Her knees gave out and she collapsed on the floor, Sam lay down beside her and gathered her in his arms, wiping the sweat from her forehead with his hands and kissing her lips.

"I love you so much."

"I love you too."

"It scares me."

She hugged him close, understanding his fear. They weren't sure what a fierce love like theirs would take them; but this uncertainty was not enough to walk away from it, and for Sam, it only made him embrace it even more, and hold onto to it despite not knowing the future; life was lived in moments, and he planned on treasuring each moment he had with Mercedes. Too tired to go back upstairs, they put on their bathrobes and cuddled up on the couch, covering up with a big blue blanket that smelled faintly of lavender. Sam played with her hair, loving the springy coils, and how soft it was.

"When do you want to get married?" she asked him and kissed his cheek.

"Tomorrow."

"You've lost your mind."

"No, I haven't. I know what I want."

"Where can we get married tomorrow?"

"There's a justice of the peace about 15 minutes from here."

"And what about rings?"

"I have my great grandmother's ring in a safe deposit box at the town bank; any other questions?"

"Did Quinn have that ring?"

"I wouldn't give you a ring that was worn by Quinn. She never saw it. I think my breaking the tradition and not giving it to her was a sign. It didn't feel right to give it to her."

"But it feels right with me?"

"It feels more than right," he said, kissing her.

"What do you think Abby will think about all this?"

"I asked her about us becoming a family and she liked the idea. And she can call me Sam. I don't expect her to call me Dad."

Mercedes smiled.

"I feel good about this."

"Me too."

Mercedes fell asleep after that, and Sam stayed awake, watching the fire burn, and admiring his soon to be wife.

ooo

Cooper was sitting on the balcony of his hotel room smoking a cigar when his phone rang. He saw that it was one of his investigators and decided to answer it.

"Yes?"

"We got Karofsky."

Cooper took a puff of his cigar.

"Where?"

"He came back to Bethel Rock."

"Why would he do that?"

"Your guess is as good as mine."

"He's in your custody?"

"Yes, and he says he'll talk for a price."

"Is that so?"

"What are you going to do?"

"Don't worry. I'll handle Karofsky. I'll be there in about 5 hours."

"Ok."

Cooper ended the call and finished smoking his cigar. Karofsky was kidding himself if he thought he would stoop to a bribe from a thug like him, after his visit with Mercedes and Sam, he almost felt certain whom the guilty party was.