And now we've slid a bit back in time, to almost the beginning of the story. Enjoy!
June 7, 2020 - Rachel's Tonys Party
"Then why does he keep texting me?" Mercedes questioned, just for the hell of it, glad that Kurt and Blaine were ahead of her and couldn't see the smirk she couldn't quite keep off her face. Her hand closed over her phone in her jacket pocket as she wondered if Sam could hear all of this on his end. She'd had him on Facetime in the car and kept the call live, promising she would break the news to Blaine, at least, if no one else, as soon as possible. She should have known he'd make it easy for her to do so.
Blaine turned back to her, sympathy on his face. "Honestly, Mercedes, I really don't know. I know I shouldn't say anything, but I think the reason none of these girls ever work out for him is because – "
"Blaine!" Kurt hissed. "Stop it, it's none of your business."
"But he's my best friend," Blaine whispered back and Mercedes tried not to laugh as she watched them having one of those unspoken-married-people-conversations.
"Sorry, Mercedes," Blaine finally said to her. "Forget I said anything."
Mercedes waved a hand at him, dismissing his concern. "It's okay, honey. You know I've been in Lima these past few weeks. I actually know this new girlfriend, she's pretty cool. I have a good feeling about her and Sam."
"Oh? You do?" Blaine looked slightly befuddled, while Kurt suddenly looked suspicious.
Mercedes nodded, working hard again to keep the smile off her face as Kurt narrowed his eyes at her.
"What's going on, Mercedes? You didn't tell me you've seen Sam since you've been home."
Mercedes shrugged. She hadn't told anyone, except Santana and Quinn, because of the agreement with Sam to make the most of telling Blaine and because Santana would kill her if she didn't get the heads up her position deserved and because Quinn was her best friend and she knew could be trusted to keep it to herself. (And those two conversations couldn't have gone more differently – Quinn, who was pretty much the only person who knew how much she'd missed Sam and still thought of him over the years, was thrilled for the both of them. Santana had sighed and said "Color me surprised." When Mercedes had expressed her own surprise at this reaction, she'd sighed again and said "Of course you and Trouty are back together. It happens every time you're in the same place for more than a few days at a time. For what it's worth, I hope you figure out how to make it last this time.")
"Well, tell us about the girlfriend then," Blaine said, glancing sideways at Kurt, who obviously suspected something. "Sam was very vague, all he'd say is that she's gorgeous and kind and funny and he's really happy."
Mercedes couldn't help it then, the smile spread across her face as she nodded in agreement. "I'd say those things sound about right," she said, trying to sound nonchalant as she pulled her phone out of her pocket and grinned at Sam's smiling face filling the screen.
"Hey, babe," she said, turning the phone towards Kurt (who was mouthing the word 'babe?' incredulously at her) and Blaine (who still looked slightly confused) and then back to herself. "They're really curious about this new girlfriend. Do you want to tell them or should I?"
"Oh, I definitely think you should, baby," Sam replied, trying hard not to laugh as she moved to stand beside Kurt and Blaine so that Sam could see all three of them on screen, so they all saw the moment that realization dawned on Blaine.
"Oh my God," he said. "Oh my God, you're the girlfriend, Mercedes! Sam! You're dating Mercedes! Again!"
"Yeah, man, I know," Sam said, finally letting the laughter out as Mercedes nodded.
"Oh my gosh, this is so exciting!" Blaine exclaimed, taking the phone right out of Mercedes' hand and addressing Sam directly, leaving Mercedes with Kurt and his raised eyebrow of curiosity.
"So when did this happen?"
Mercedes shrugged again. "Little over a week ago. I called him, we made plans to hang out – that's all – and, well, by the end of the night, we were making out and deciding to date again," she explained, looking a little sheepish by the end of her explanation.
Kurt shook his head. "I swear, there really is just something about him that you can't resist."
"I know," Mercedes agreed. "And I finally decided – why fight it? We've both grown up a lot since the last time we dated." She hesitated, before plunging on and admitting, "He's always been in the back of my mind, like this giant human embodiment of 'what if?' I feel like I have to give us another chance, as real adults and see what we can be."
Kurt nodded slowly. "I definitely get that." They tuned back into Blaine and Sam then, as Blaine asked, "Why didn't you come out for the party?"
"Because some of us have regular old jobs we have to be at on Monday mornings," Sam shot back good-naturedly. "I'm headed over to the Schues later though, to watch with Emma and Will. And get their boys good and riled up."
They all laughed at that as Tina and Artie joined the group. "Is that Sam?" Tina asked as Blaine handed the phone back to Mercedes.
"No," Kurt said with a smirk, "it's Mercedes' boyfriend."
"Hey Sam!" Tina said as Kurt spoke and then whipped her head around to gape at Mercedes. "Wait, your what?"
"You heard him," Mercedes said. "And I promise I'll tell you all about it after Rachel and Jesse leave but for now we need to go send her off with all our best wishes and none of you will say a word about this because I am not about to be accused of stealing her thunder! Now go!" She shooed them away before looking down at the phone in her hand, smiling at Sam still grinning back at her. "And you, I will call later."
"You better. Love you."
The words made the smile on her face even bigger as she replied, "Love you too," and ended the call. It should seem absolutely insane, that they were saying 'I love you' again already, but maybe the again was the key word. Everything with Sam was just so easy and natural, just as it had always been, at least when she'd relaxed enough to just go with it. In the week and a half since their most recent first date, they'd basically been inseparable, except when Sam was at work. He'd even been over for dinner with her parents, charming her mother and enjoying dorky, pun-based humor with her dad. He'd insisted on driving her to the airport in Columbus that morning, despite her protests, and he swore he was coming to pick her up the next evening – she'd scheduled a few meetings to take place Monday morning, to make the most out of the quick trip to NYC, so her flight back wasn't until later in the day. She'd told him it was ridiculous, that the label would pay for a car service to drive her, or a rental car if she wanted to drive herself, but he was refusing to hear it.
(And, the next day, she had to admit that when she walked out of the secure area of the airport and saw him standing there waiting for her, it was really, really nice to have someone welcoming her home. The smile on his face when she told him that was even nicer. And then she really blew his mind, but also made his day when she snapped a picture of him driving and posted it to Instagram with the caption "Best part of this trip was coming back to this guy." He glanced over at her when his phone pinged and asked, "Did you just post that picture?" She nodded. "And tagged me in it?" She nodded again and he didn't say anything else, just reached over and took her hand in his, squeezing it gently, and even though his eyes were on the road, she could see the smile on his face. She was determined to do things differently this time and she was pretty sure it was going to be worth it.)
But for now, she joined her friends in Rachel's dressing room, marveling at how very, very pregnant she was – only a week or so away from her due date and Mercedes said a silent prayer that she wouldn't go into labor AT the awards show. The eminent arrival of the Anderson-Hummel baby was another one of the reasons she'd wanted to take time off this summer – she knew they were planning to head to Lima in July to spend a few months with Burt and Carole and visit with Blaine's parents too, so she was excited to be able to see them easily and be Auntie Mercedes.
They sent Jesse and Rachel off to the awards show and almost the second the door closed behind them, Tina turned to Mercedes.
"Okay, spill! You and Sam? Again? Really?"
Mercedes didn't say anything, just cast a pointed look in Artie's direction and Tina at least had the grace to look a little sheepish as she shrugged. "Oh, whatever. Obviously, we were all put under some kind of spell in that choir room that left us incapable of forming relationships with anyone from the outside."
Mercedes laughed at that as Kitty piped up, "Good Lord, Tina, speak for yourself. SOME of us have been happy to branch out."
Tina waved a dismissive hand at Kitty, not even turning towards her, as she tucked her arm into Mercedes' and steered her towards the living room. "Ignore her. Come tell me all about it. Is he still an awesome kisser?"
At the incredulous looks from Blaine, Kurt, Mercedes and Artie in response to that question, Tina shrugged again. "What? Like we're just going to pretend he didn't make his way through all the glee girls?"
"OG glee girls," Kitty interjected pointedly and Tina sighed.
"Fine, whatever."
"I mean, personally, yes," Mercedes said, "I would prefer not to think about him with any of the rest of you." Then she grinned. "But, to answer your first question – also yes. Kissing him is every bit as good as I remembered."
Tina laughed delightedly. "Good. Glad to hear it."
Mercedes shook her head as other people drifted into the living room and the TV was turned to the pre-show arrivals. Her friends were fruit loops – but she knew they were also genuinely happy for her and for Sam. And that was enough for now.
