Sorry for the long wait...things have been crazy in my life but I am here and updating as often as I can. Thank you for still being here, with me with this story. I love you guys.

Mercedes could feel herself growing annoyed. The Detectives had been questioning her for an hour and all she wanted to do was go back to sleep. It had been three days and she was more than ready to be done with the whole situation. She rolled her eyes and folded her arms.

"For the last time I swear he came into my apartment and attacked me. I don't know how he found me. There is a restraining order against him that he broke when he broke into my place and he broke the other day by coming here."

The taller of the Detectives wrote something down and then looked back at her. "What was the restraining order for?"

Mercedes laid back on the bed. "My good for nothing ex husband was abusive. He hit me any chance he got and well honestly I was finally fed up with it. I finally went and got help, went and found a way to get out from under him."

"And you are sure that it was Brad who attacked you?"

Mercedes wiped a stray tear from her eye. "I don't know how many ways I can say, I don't know how many times I can explain it. He came into my apartment and attacked me. He tried to kill me and if Sam and Finn hadn't showed up I would be dead. So you do something, you go out there and arrest him. Make sure he can't hurt me anymore. Thats your job right? That is what you are here for?"

The shorter one stood. He sighed moving closer to her. "Ms. Jones right now all we have is his word against yours. Yes he violated the restraining order and we can have him arrested for that, but until we are able to prove that he was the one who attacked you, we can not charge him."

Sam, who had been quietly sitting by,letting Mercedes handle things on her own, had finally put an end to his silence. He walked over to her and grabbed her hand, frowning at both of the men in front of him. "So you are saying that there is nothing you can do to keep her safe?"

The taller sighed. "We will do everything we can. But until we get proof we can't just go guns a blazing. We will check his alibi, we will check every lead we can get. Until then you are not to be alone. Keep your friends near you and try to go somewhere safe. Can you go home to your parents?"

Mercedes laughed. "That is not gonna happen, they don't care that he attacked me all they want is for me to go back to that hell hole!"

The shorter one nodded. "Ok well here is the deal, get away for a few days once you get out of the hospital. Maybe you just need to clear your head and then you will figure out who did it."

Mercedes folded her arms. "Ok you both can leave my room, you don't believe me he probably has you in his back pocket like so many other people. How much money did he offer you both to say it wasn't him?

Sam placed a calming hand her down. He moved closer to her and kissed her forehead then looked at the detectives. "I think she is right and you guys should leave. You are doing nothing but stressing her out."

They nodded to her taking one last look her way then walking out the door. Sam shook his head taking her hand. "They were asses but maybe they are right Mercy. Maybe we should get you away from here. Away from Brad and his reach."

"I am not running away Sam! He attacked me, he tried to kill me."

"I KNOW!" Sam yelled standing from her side and running his hands through hair. "I am reminded just what that son of a bitch did to you everytime I stare at you in this damn bed."

He moved closer to her. "I love you, I am so in love with you that I would have died had I lost you. No one has that kind of hold on me. You mean the world to me and if I have to get you away from here for even a little while then I will!"

Mercedes bit her bottom lip. "Sam I never asked for any of this. But if I run…"

"You will give not only yourself but us some peace even if it's for a little while. Baby I love you so much, come away with me. Let's just forget about all this right now please baby I can't lose you."

Mercedes glanced at him sighing heavily. She didn't want to just run away but she couldn't bare the look on Sam's face.

"Ok Sam, if that is what you want. We can leave as soon as they release me and let me know when i am able to leave."

Sam leaned in and kissed her gently. He sat back in his chair holding her hand.

"I will plan everything so no one will know where we are going or how we are getting there. baby I promise he won't hurt you anymore. I promise."

Five weeks later…

Mercedes glanced out into the open water feeling at peace for the first time in a long time. She leaned back against Sam, taking everything in. They had only been in their room for an hour and yet, she felt like a weight was lifted off of her. "It is so beautiful out here. I am glad you talked me into it…"

Sam smiled as he nibbled on her neck. "Oh you haven't seen anything yet. This is just the first stop on our vacation. Are you hungry?"

Mercedes shook her head. "Not really just a little tired."

Sam turned her to him and smiled. "Well how about we get off this balcony and lay you down while I order some room service?"

Mercedes nodded walking towards the beautiful penthouse suite Sam got for them in Maui. They were staying at the amazingly beautiful Makena Beach and Golf Resort. He had gotten them the Presidential Oceanfront Suite. They were on the top floor and she never realized how beautiful a place could be. The master bedroom had an eastern king plush four poster bed that matched the antique style furniture and fixtures. The wrap around balcony was her favorite, with beautiful and comfortable furniture she was able to enjoy the entire oceanfront view. There was a wet bar area with a personal Keurig Coffee machine with assorted Starbucks Coffees and Teas. Of course it came with a flat screen, and bose sound systems. She had no idea how Sam could afford a place like this but she was grateful for him and everything he was doing for her.

Mercedes walked over to the bed and sat down as Sam put in an order for Lunch. She snuck a glance at Sam as he stood with his back to her. These last few weeks were tough on him as well as her. She was released from the hospital two weeks after she was attacked, she had to do two weeks of physical therapy and as hard as it was to watch her struggle, Sam never left her side. He proved over and over how much she meant to him and she really didn't feel like she deserved him. She couldn't help but feel bad for dragging him into all of the mess that she considered her life. She was so lost in her thoughts that she didn't see Sam move closer to her. She slightly jumped when she noticed Sam near her. He smiled moving her hair from her eyes.

"Where were you beautiful?"

Mercedes shrugged. "Just in my head for a bit…"

"I noticed but being here you need to stay out of your head so…" He stood from the bed and went to the sound system hooking up his phone and walking over to her.

"Dance with me." He held his hand out as "Amazed" by Lonestar started to play. She took his hand and nodded as she stood from the bed. She wrapped her arms around his neck moving closer to him as the music played. Sam held her in her arms and closed the remaining distance between them. Her eyes closed as she laid her head on his chest. This was something she never had, never thought she would have. A man in her life who loved her unconditionally and wanted nothing more than to be with her. Sam began to sing and she melted even more in his arms. She loved his voice, it was one of the many things that turned her on about him and he knew it. She pulled away from him sighing as she looked up to him. She would never get enough of staring into his green eyes, he had the way of making her feel like she was the only woman in the world for him.

"Sam I love you so much."

"I know Mercy and I love you too...so much, you have to know that I would do anything for you."

Mercedes nodded. "I know."

Sam bent down and pulled her into a kiss. Wrapping his arms around her he moved them to the bed and had her straddle him. Mercedes moaned into the kiss loving the way his lips always felt like they were made for hers. His hands went to her shirt and she came out of her trance and pulled away from him.

"Sam wait…"

She stood from his lap and wrapped her arms around herself. Sam stood standing in place, its been like this for the last few weeks, they would get close, he would feel himself about to enjoy being with the woman of dreams and she would pull away saying she was tired or sorry or she just needed a minute and would find an excuse for them not to be together.

Sam moved closer to her. "Baby are you ok?"

"Yeah of course I just...I am tired maybe we should just take a nap or something."

"Merce what is wrong? Everytime we get close you pull away."

"Sam I...I just can't ok?"

"Why? Is it me? Do you not want me anymore? Baby i just want to be close to you."

Mercedes turned towards him and wiped the unshed tears. "Sam I just...I'm different now...I feel different I look different...what if..what if you…" Her voice trailed off and Sam pulled her to the bed sitting her down and kneeling in front of her.

"Mercedes I know you went through a lot. And I am sorry, so sorry but you are still just as beautiful."

Mercedes shook her head and held her hand over her stomach. "My scars Sam, they...I am not the woman you fell in love with and I don't want to lose you."

Sam kissed her hand and shook his head. "So you are a little different, baby its what is inside that sealed the deal for you stealing my heart, but you are still the most beautiful woman I have ever laid eyes on, no battle scar is gonna change that."

Mercedes bit her lip as Sam sighed. "Baby if you want to wait until you feel comfortable for us to be intimate then I will wait. But nothing's gonna change how I feel about you."

He leaned up and kissed her softly as someone knocked on the door. Sam stood kissing her once more.

"I am going to grab the food and we can just ;ay here and watch a movie."

Mercedes nodded. "I love you Sam."

"I know you do, and I hope you realize how much I love you, I am here for you."