Enjoy!
Elise's Promise
"What did you do!" Elise shouted at her daughter.
Monica frowned. "She was left to us…"
Elise narrowed her eyes on her. "How in the hell was an infant "left" to you?"
"I don't have to discuss this with you, we're stuck with her now." Monica replied, waving her hand dismissively as she walked past her.
Elise grabbed her arm, yanking her back. "That baby belongs to someone, she has family somewhere and you're not even going to try to find them? What the hell has he done to you?"
Monica looked away before attempting to pull away from her mother. "He hasn't done anything to me, he loves me and you need to finally accept that!"
Elise tightened her grip on her daughter. "You need to accept the fact that someone is going to come looking for that child and you'd better hope he hasn't done anything to her."
"He doesn't even want her! We didn't int- we didn't expect this. She doesn't have any family, she was basically an orphan." Monica shouted and her mother frowned.
"You better not harm that baby. She's innocent and so help me God if you do, you will never know peace. I'll make sure of it." She said letting her arm go before walking over to the bed.
She looked down at the little girl, she was a beautiful baby. "I'm going to take her for a few weeks, just until you get this room properly suited for her. She needs a crib and clothes."
Monica rolled her eyes. "What's wrong with the bed?"
Elise gently picked up Mercedes, light squeezing her chunky cheek. "Did Nathan sleep in a bed or a crib?" She asked coldly.
"Fine, I'll have the room ready in a week."
Elise looked at her daughter. "What's this mess about your name being Jones?"
"That's David's father's name, Harrison was his mother's. He reconnected with his father and decided to take the name." Monica replied.
"Mhm. So that means her name is what exactly?"
Monica stared at her mother, watching how she was with Mercedes before sighing. "Her name is Mercedes."
"Mercedes what?" Elise asked.
Monica shifted. "Mercedes Denise Jones."
Elise looked at her for a long moment before slowly nodding. "Denise Jones… mhm. This room better look like it belongs to a sweet baby girl when I bring her back."
Monica watched her mother walk out of the room before letting out the breath she'd been holding. She pulled her phone out quickly and dialed David's.
"I'm in a meeting." He said.
"My mother took her. She expects me to make the room presentable! We can't keep that child… if she gets attached, we're fucked!"
David groaned. "Who told her about it?"
"My guess is Nathan when he went to visit. She asked about our last names."
"And you told her what I instructed you to say, right?" He asked, his voice growing serious.
"Yes I told her but.. she asked for her full name and I just made up something but I think I slipped."
"Slipped?"
Monica chewed her bottom lip nervously. "I said her name was Mercedes Denise Jones…"
"DAMNIT MONICA! You had ONE job!" He clipped out.
"We can just say she's named after her mother!"
"Did you even look to see if she had any family? All this is falling apart because of your inability to do anything right!"
"I'm sorry David… I can fix this." She replied softly.
"You better! I'll handle Nathan."
She shook her head like he could see her. "He didn't know not-"
"He knew and I'm going to make sure he doesn't forget." David said before ending the call.
You need to check what I sent you. -Sue.
Sam frowned before opening his email and seeing he had one from Sue, he stopped looking over at Mercedes before deciding it could wait. "So shall we start from the beginning or jump right into the next one?"
Mercedes thought it over for a moment before grinning. "Welll… since you are a vampire and don't need sleep, I'd be down for a marathon."
He smirked. "I might not need sleep but you definitely require it." He teased, sitting down beside her, looking her over again. "God, you're beautiful."
Mercedes blushed. "Thank you…" She replied, trying to hide her smile before she frowned. "Wait, what's that supposed to mean?"
He laughed. "Witches need their beauty sleep."
She giggled, hitting his arm. "We can't all be perfectly chiseled and handsome."
"You think I'm handsome, huh?" He asked teasingly, leaning in and pecking her on the lips before fully capturing her lips. He smiled when she leaned into the kiss, deepening as she wrapped her arms around his neck.
"I think you're handsome for a vampire." She mumbled against lips then kissed him again.
Sam wrapped his arms around her waist, careful not to press into her as he continued their kiss. He enjoyed the way her full lip caressed his and showed it by gently biting on her bottom lip.
Mercedes let out a soft gasp which turned into a whimper when he ran his tongue along the seam of lip.
"Do you need me to stop?" He asked, slightly pulling away and nipping at her neck.
Mercedes let out a shaky breath. "I, umm…" she stammered, licking her lips and tilting her head, giving him more access.
Sam smiled, kissing along her neck before nibbling on her ear.. "How about we take a break? Besides, I need to watch your origin story." He said, placing a tender kiss on her neck.
Mercedes swallowed, nodding. "A break is good." She answered, slowly moving her arms from around his neck.
He just chuckled, grabbing the remote and starting the first movie while she kicked off her shoes and got comfortable before he moved her slightly so that she was snuggled up against him.
Elise immediately took to Mercedes, it wasn't hard to do considering she was a well behaved child, nothing like Nathan. She absolutely loved her grandson but he had his moments that gave her pause, she watched him closely with Mercedes and he was surprisingly gentle.Until he wasn't.
It didn't escape Elise that Nathan had a temper but he would try his best to reign it in. Sometimes he succeeded and sometimes he… he exploded.
"David, care to explain this?" Elise asked, pointing at the hand print on her grandson's arm.
David looked at his son before looking at his mother-in-law. "He has a bruise?"
Elise cut her eyes at him. "That is a hand print and he didn't put it on himself, so try again or are you not equipped mentally to process the information given?"
David balled his fist. "Well he didn't have it when he left, so what have you done to my child? Monica!"
Monica came downstairs with Mercedes in tow and Elise couldn't help smiling at her. "What is it?"
"Nathan has a rather concerning bruise on his arm and I know when he left he didn't have it." David answered and Monica looked at him, before looking at her mother.
"He didn't have a bruise, moma so what happened?" She asked, walking over to Nathan and looking him over. "What did you do?"
Elise scuffed, picking up Mercedes. "Nothing happened while he was over there, in fact we had a great time. Didn't we?"
Nathan started to nod but stopped. "I… I don't remember. Can I go up to my room?"
Monica looked at David, sighing. "Maybe, Nathan shouldn't go over to your place anymore."
Elise looked at her daughter like she was crazy. "Excuse me? I didn't do anything to that baby!"
"How are we to know that for sure? He was with you for several days and he came back with this hand print on his arm, what did you do to him?" David accused, grabbing Mercedes from her.
Elise took a step back in shock. "Monica you know I'd never hurt that baby and I don't know what bull shi- stuff he's filling your head with but I won't beg and I damn sure won't come where I'm not wanted." She replied, leaning down, hugging Nathan. "Nana loves you."
She stood, reaching for Mercedes but David stopped the child from moving. "I'll let you know when you can come back around our children again."
Elise shook her head. "I'll see how long that lasts."
It didn't last long at all, because they called for her to get Mercedes for a few days. Had she known they were going on a family trip she would've told them no but she knew deep down they would've found somewhere else to leave her.
That wasn't the only instance when her daughter and David treated Mercedes unfairly. She also didn't like how David made a point to exclude her from big family moments.
When it finally got to the point of her wondering if he was doing it because he genuinely didn't care for the girl or if there were other reasons. So she decided to look into how they were given Mercedes.
If only she'd been warned about what she'd find.
Sam's eyes slowly opened when he felt a shift next him. He looked down and saw that Mercedes, like him, had fallen asleep. They only managed to get through the fourth movie before he started to feel his eyes growing tired, he wasn't sure when she'd fallen asleep but he didn't dare move. He enjoyed her snuggled up against him, reaching over her, he grabbed the throw that was draped along the neck of the couch and placed it over her.
He closed his eyes only for a moment before he'd move them both to his bed where he would sleep in the chair like he'd been doing and her in the bed. He knew it was his bed and that there were other rooms to sleep in but he wanted her to feel safe, he didn't want to assume because of their brief make out that she would be open to them sharing a bed.
"Pst." He opened one of his eyes, looking over his shoulder seeing Sara standing there and frowned.
He placed a finger to his lips before pointing it downward and she nodded, quietly scurrying over to him.
"I was leaving and this was taped to the door." She whispered, holding up an envelope.
Sam took it. "Stay in the guest room tonight, please." He replied slowly edging away from Mercedes. He gently placed her head on a pillow and walked to the door with Sara in tow.
"I called my son. He'll be here shortly to take me home." She informed him and he just looked at her. "I'll be fine."
"No more leaving here late, either you stay or you leave at a decent time."
Sara snorted. "I may work for you but you still don't get to order me around."
He smirked. "I'm going to take her upstairs but I'll be-"
She grabbed his hands. "I'll be fine, get some rest and I don't mean in that chair you've been sleeping in. Being honorable only works when you take care of yourself too, she'll be fine if you sleep in the bedroom across the hall."
Sam nodded, knowing she was right. "I promise to get some rest." He replied and she knew he meant it but she wasn't sure he'd actually do it.
"Go, I'm fine."
Sam gave her a soft smile before going back into the tv room and gently scoping Mercedes us then headed upstairs. He was careful when he laid her down, moving the hair that had fallen into her face.
"Beautiful witch." He murmured, leaning in and kissing her on the forehead. She smiled briefly before turning over and getting comfortable, Sam waited there for a few more moments then headed to the room across the hall.
He undressed and slipped into the bed, letting out an appreciative groan. He couldn't the last time he allowed himself to lay down in a bed but made a mental note to do it more often.
He pulled his phone out, opened his email and went to the first one he saw:
From: Sue Slyvester
To: Sam Evans
Subject: D+D Jones
Here's what I could find so far, there's a long list of things that I had to go through so my fee will reflect that.
Denise K. Jones born April 9, 1969: Deceased
Age at death: 24 years
Cause: internal bleeding due to car wreck; complications during delivery
Derek J. Jones born September 15, 1964: Deceased
Age at death 29 years
Cause: classified as suicide; others believed he was pushed
Child(ren): One: Mercedes D Jones born March 20, 1989
This is where things get tricky, the hospital knew Denise didn't have any siblings but they gave the child to her… that's where I would start. The hospital is the reason that she was given to those strangers, the father had family and she was to be left to them if anything happened.
There's also the issue with the money, she was left a large fortune and I mean more than enough to survive off forever. I looked into her finances which was a task but apparently the grandmother (Elise G) left her a portion of her inheritance and that might be why she's being followed. The money stopped going to the Harrison's and into an account that they can't access, does she have a key or locks?
I would steer as clear as I could away from the one called David… supposedly her father. He's dangerous and so is the son.
Murder charges: She was investigated because the parents forced her to go to the station. The son (Nathan) accused her of pushing the young child in the ice but the medical examiner ruled it as an accident. The family was in the process of pressing charges but something made them stop.
If you're able to get any other information from her, I would ask about why she was in the hospital a week later.
Click this link for the other information regarding David Harrison.
-SS
Sam hit the link, going over everything before he shot up, rereading the document before growing angry. He quickly got out of the bed, calling Stacey.
"Pick up, pick up…" he said, placing the phone on speaker and grabbing a handful of clothes.
"Ah, hello?" Stacey mumbled answering the phone.
"Stace, I need you to get over here as fast as you can." Sam said, tossing the clothes into a bag.
"Sam? It's three in the morning."
He rolled his eyes. "I'm aware of what time it is, just get over here and if you can get a hold of Stevie, tell him to come too." He replied before hanging up.
He threw in some underwear and quietly walked into his bedroom, looking at Mercedes before slipping into his bathroom and grabbing his toiletries.
He walked out and stopped, looking at Mercedes. "I'm sorry I will be back, I promise." He whispered.
He quickly went back into the guest room, grabbed his bag and ran downstairs. He went into his office and wrote Mercedes, Sara and Anthony a note letting them know where he was and that he would call them when he was on his way back.
"Sam!" He heard and put the letters on his desk before meeting his sibling in the foyer.
"Stevie, Stacey… until I get back this is where you two are to stay and before either of you object, I'm pulling rank. I'm taking the jet and will be back tomorrow but I need you to be safe." He said hoping like hell he wouldn't need to argue with them right now.
"Is everything okay?" Stevie asked.
"Yeah, is something wrong with Mercedes?" Stacey asked.
"No, and yes wll no. I promised her I wouldn't go but I was given some information and I don't trust that I'll get the right information via phone so I am flying to Lima and I will get it for myself."
Stevie let out a sigh. "If you're not back tomorrow we're coming for you."
Stacey nodded. "And don't think for one second that we're joking, you get twenty-four hours and that's it."
Sam chuckled. "I'll be back… watch after the little witch for me." He said, hugging his siblings then rushing out of the door.
Elise sat in awe, it had taken her years to get the information she'd been looking for but she found it. She knew her daughter was lying about David wanting to change his last name to his supposed father's name.
"Nana?"
Elise quickly pushed the files away and smiled up at her granddaughter. "Hey, sweet pea, I thought you were asleep."
"I wanted some water." Mercedes replied, sitting down next to her and laying her head on her shoulder.
Elise sighed, wrapping her arms around the young girl. "You are a very special girl, you know that right?"
Mercedes nodded, yawning. "Mhm, you tell me that everyday."
"Don't ever forget that, okay? You are a very important and special girl."
"I won't nana, I promise." She said, drinking her water before standing and heading back to her room.
Elise waited until she heard her door close before pulling the files out again and reading them over.
She pulled out her phone failing her daughter, not caring it was well into the early morning.
"Moma why are you calling me?"
"You took that child, you took her and lied about it."
Monica let out a sigh. "What the hell are you talking about?"
"Mercedes Denise Jones, birth mother Denise Katina Jones. Derek Joseph Jones, father to Mercedes Jones. He sent you after that girl and you don't even know she had an aunt!"
The line was silent for a long moment and Elise figured she would just keep going.
"Denise didn't have any siblings or family but he did and he also had a lot of money. Money that you've been taking and using to fund your life but have the nerve to act like that baby is a burden!"
Silence
"You stole from her, you stole an entire life from her but hear me and hear me good, you will never take another dime from her again. So long as I am alive you will never see that money and even after I'm dead and gone, your access will dry up. I know he's listening and I know he's gonna tell you not to trust me and that's okay. I love you but I am no longer your mother, no child of mine would ever take a baby away from their mother for money."
"Moma, I don't have the slightest idea as to what you're talking about." Monica said calmly.
"These papers say otherwise, considering your name and your name alone is all over these forms. He is taking you down a path that will lead to you being the blame."
"We adopted-"
"The money isn't the only issue, I see how he looks at her. He will never get close to her, I'm coming for Carla. Don't bother trying to fight me on it."
"You can not take my child away from me! She is mine!" Monica spat.
"You should be more worried about what's going to happen when I give these papers to my friend down at District Attorney's office, or did you forget that your mother had her own connections?"
"Hang up the phone."
"Moma, I have to go… you should seek help, you seem unwell."
Elise let out a hoarse laugh. "We both know I'm as sound as can be, try a different tactic. But heed this promise, one day she's going to know everything and when she does all hell is going to reign down on you. Get your affairs in order while you can because it is happening."
Elise hung up, gathering the files and walking to her study. She placed them into the folders she had and locked them away for safekeeping. As she walked by Mercedes' room she felt a sensation rush over her and couldn't help smiling.
"I'm going to get them, baby girl. I promise."
Over the next few weeks, Elise started putting her plan in motion. The first thing she did was change her will and took her daughter out, she'd never put Nathan in there and based on his actions she had no intentions of ever doing so. She added Carla and Mercedes as her sole beneficiaries, she figured Mercedes wouldn't want to be separated from the little girl.
She made several trips to old friends she knew and met up the daughter of and old friend to iron out her after life care. She'd grown sick over the past few years and hid it from her family but she could tell her time was winding down which is why she was hell bent on getting everything in order for Mercedes.
"Shelby, sweetheart, it's so good seeing you again." Elise said, smiling fondly at the woman.
"Mrs. Elise it's so good to be here! My mom always spoke highly of you!" Shelby replied, hugging her. "So, we're here to just finalize things, correct?"
"Mhm, I need you to take these please." Elise said handing over four folders, "they're color coded and are to be followed as such. She's not ready to know the truth but she does deserve to know."
Shelby took the folders and placed them into the lock box she'd been helping Elise prepare over the last few weeks. "And you're wanting me to keep an eye on her after?"
"Yes, where she goes you go and so does that box. I can't trust them not to come looking for this and after her twenty-fifth birthday, I need you send all the files to Shannon Bieste. She will know what to do with it but be very sure that she isn't near Lima when you do it, make sure neither of them are here."
Shelby nodded, writing everything down. "When are we to start giving her the payouts?"
"Eighteen… doesn't matter where she is, she will get the first check and it will be meant for her. She is strictly forbidden to give anyone this money."
"What if she doesn't accept it."
Elise sighed. "I planned for that, this account right here," she said pointing at the paper. "This has all the money my daughter and son-in-law ever took from her and this is where the rest of the money that her parents, her real parents left for her."
Shelby looked at the account before shifting. "That is… a large amount of money. They're going to come after her…"
"I know… but I fear I won't be able to protect her after this." Elise admitted. "And you must not intervene, there has to be a pattern… I know that's horrible but someone will always be watching her."
Shelby looked over the paper. "You mean, Arthur Abrams?" She asked.
"Yes, he won't intervene unless he has to and I pray he doesn't have to.."
"Anything else I should know?"
"This," Elise said, pulling out a bracelet. "I gave this to her a month ago, it's her key to everything. There's a chip in here, it has all the files saved and few others. I need you to make a copy of it."
Shelby took a picture of it. "Why?"
"I know them… I'm going to leave one for them to take. Shannon will know what to do, once they're close to each other."
"Okay… I got it."
Elise stood, pulling her into a tight hug. "You watch after my little Angel."
"I'll do my best."
"He's gone, can I leave now?"
Nathan smirked. "Sure, you're useless to me now." He replied, staring down at the screen.
Quinn looked at him before grabbing her things and walking out. "I hope he gets to you before you get to her."
"Careful, I still have Beth." He warned and Quinn wanted to fight him but her daughter wouldn't be released until she was far away from Stowe.
"She'd better be untouched!" Quinn said before storming out and heading to the car he had waiting for her. She wanted to warn them, she wanted to warn everyone but she had a child to think about so she hoped he'd gotten her note.
"Please be okay Mercy."
I'm sorry it took so long to update this! More is to come!
