OK Lovebugs, I guess yall are really feeling this story, also Kiki your comment was the highlight of my night that was hilarious. I'm glad you guys are liking this story. ;)

Mercedes had walked past Sam to go to their joined walk-in closet. She felt a little sick and knew it was only going to be worse in the morning so she needed to hurry up and finish packing so she could get the hell away from her house. It would have made sense to tell Sam everything that was happening but she just couldn't tell him tonight. It was his big night and maybe if he hadn't won any awards she would have been more apt to tell him everything to let him hold her and console her but she refused. Then he started the argument and she lost her mind and started telling him about himself, and in return, he did the same. She pulled her suitcase from the top shelf and placed it down on the floor as Sam came into the closet to watch her.

"Oh, I guess I need you to watch me pack my clothes huh," Mercedes spoke.

"No, but I know when my wife is drunk, and I am just making sure that you don't hurt yourself," Sam sighed as he took a seat at the vanity chair.

"Hmm ok,"

"Don't do that."

"I'm not doing anything Sam, I am just trying to pack my clothes so I can get the hell away from you,"

"No, you are being dismissive and short. You act this anyway time someone pisses you off. Like when you and Rachel met each other at the 100th lesson, it wasn't until the week was almost done did you actually start being somewhat nice to the hobbit. Or that time when your lovely background singers made you so upset about dating me in New York and you got pissed off and dumped me. Yeah very short and dismissive. Then the most recent occurrence was tonight when you and Melanie had to speak when I went to the restroom. What did she say to you?"

"Your lovely co-star told me that she is your work wife, and you know typically that wouldn't be so upsetting to me but considering what I have been going through if anything it pissed me off. See I would have been fine, I would have come in this house and made you whatever you wanted then I would have come in this room and made love to you because you deserved that. It is your big night you have won award after award in a single night. You were rubbing elbows with top executives, producers, actresses, directors, and actors. As a wife I should have been happy and not let anything come between your happiness tonight, we should be spending your winning night loving each other and not arguing, and for the life of me I can't help myself, Sam."

"Melanie just wants to get under your skin, and she is not even close to being a work-wife with me. That dinner was the first time I was ever alone with her, hell I make sure we run our lines in front of other people because I love our marriage so much. And for you not to see that breaks my heart because you know I worship the ground you fucking walk on, if I could I would throw rose petals on the ground before you walk in a room because you deserve a fucking entrance. My love for you has never changed nor waivered which is why I thanked you in every single acceptance speech. I show my love for you constantly and you are willing to walk away from it because of a woman who doesn't even have an effect on me?"

"NO, I am walking away from you because both of us have said shitty things to each other since you asked me what was wrong. I am going to the condo in the city, for a few weeks until my tour starts or I feel like I can come home. Besides you need to get some rest you have the script reading tomorrow for the new season." Mercedes explained. She picked up her packed suitcase and rolled it out of the closet with her as she grabbed her phone and ordered a taxi service.

"Mercy, I don't want to be without you tonight please baby stay we can talk about this tomorrow," Sam begged as he walked over to her.

"No, Sam, I have to go," Mercedes said. She gave him a kiss on the cheek and patted his chest before heading outside to get in the car.

When Mercedes woke up the next morning in her condo bed she felt a massive hangover. it was inevitable considering she drank herself into a stupor last night. She headed to the bathroom and brushed her teeth and popped some aspirin before heading to the kitchen and pulling out an orange. As she peeled it and popped the slices in her mouth she thought about last night and the fight. She and Sam had never argued like that before, sure they argued but it was always civil, never had they been arguing in order to hurt each other. She hurt him badly, and Sam in return did the same thing, she knew she needed to apologize and make things right which is why she planned to go visit him at work today. In the midst of her small breakfast and the coffee, she had brewed her manager had sent her the email for her tour schedule, and she knew she had to let Sam know so now it was just going to add fuel to the fire about what she needed to tell him.

She went and took a shower and dressed in a pair of blue jeans, with blue heels, and a black top. She caught wind of the time and knew Sam was going to be in his trailer on set today so at least she would be able to speak with him alone.

When Sam came into work today he was deeply saddened because of what happened last night. He just wanted to be with Mercedes but he knew he hurt her, and if she was going to be leaving him for a while then she was deeply pissed. He tried to focus throughout the script reading but his mind always wandered back to this wife. He was so caught up in his mind that he didn't notice the looks Melanie was throwing him across the table. Melanie was without a doubt a beautiful woman but she did nothing for him, he wasn't even remotely attracted to her, but he had a job to do and he did it well. When it was time to break for lunch he headed straight for his trailer and went to call Mercedes but she hadn't answered so he sent her a text instead. then he heard a knock at the door.

"Come in," He yelled assuming it was an assistant.

"Hello superstar," Melanie cheered as she came in and shut the door.

Sam chuckled, "Thanks,"

"Oh you're welcome so did you and Mercedes do anything special to celebrate last night," She prodded as she walked towards him and placed a cupcake on his counter.

"Nope, went straight home and crashed due to all the excitement, um what's the cupcake for?"

"Oh, just a congratulatory cupcake, you know you do some very excellent work, Sam," She spoke as she placed her hand on his chest. Sam was about to reply when he saw the door open revealing Mercedes Jones, and her eyes rose as she looked at the two.

"Hey baby," Sam smiled as he walked over to her placing a kiss on her lips.

"Hey, um am I interrupting something." Mercedes said as she kept her eyes trained on Melanie.

"No, of course not," Sam replied.

"Hmm ok, so can I talk to my husband alone?"

"Isn't he both of our husbands Mercedes," Melanie chuckled?

"No, see I am actually married to him, you can't hold a candle to marriage, so excuse us." Mercedes replied. Melanie bowed her head and walked out of the trailer leaving the strained married couple alone.

"I didn't know she was coming in here, I swear," Sam announced.

"Ok, anyways I came to give you my schedule for the tour." Mercedes replied as she sat down, "I also want to apologize to you about last night, and ask for a break."

"WHAT? Mercedes you are about to be on tour for about eight months, and I have a break from working this our time to be together and work together on the marriage." Sam stressed out.

"Baby I am not asking for a divorce or a separation just a simple break, I want to be alone for the first two months so I can soul search and heal. Sam what happened between us last night was scary and I don't want us to put a band-aid on the situation as it will just fix everything because it won't. I just need time away to heal and you need the same. It's only temporary." Mercedes explained.

"Are you sure we can't just talk this out, and figure out how to move on without a break?"

"No baby, I am afraid not, a lot happened last night, hell a lot has happened in general and I need a break, and despite what you may think you do too," Mercedes stood up and walked over to Sam and sat on his lap, "This doesn't mean that I don't love you any less, it just means I m trying to save myself so I can help fix our marriage. I love you, and when I said I only wanted to be married one time, I meant that, so this is me trying to fix everything so roads don't throw us off to divorce."

"I can't say that I am happy or agree, but I am willing to do anything to fix our marriage,"

"That's all I wanted, so I am going to head home and get packing for the tour, I love you." Mercedes whispered as she kissed Sam deeply and he kissed her back, when they needed air they rested their foreheads on each other. A tear slid from Sam's eyes but Mercedes wiped it away and even though he didn't agree with what was going on he was very much sure this is what needed to happen in order to fix their marriage, and he would go to the ends of the earth for the woman that he loved.