Thank you for your continued interest and support. I appreciate it. I do not own Glee or the characters, neither do I own Grayson's Vow.

MERCEDES

I hadn't envisioned my wedding day quite like this. I'd awoken alone, taken a frigid shower, and then quickly left the Evans property for downtown Napa to buy something to wear.

But once I'd started browsing in a few shops, I'd realized how ridiculous it was.

Why did I need a new outfit?

And what did one wear to say false wedding vows to the man they were marrying for money?

The man who most likely hated me after what had happened the day before.

I took a deep breath...

I was still going to go through with it. I'd made up my mind as I laid in bed the night before, thinking about my own reasons for needing the money my Gram had left me, and thinking about Sam's reasons as well.

Somehow, I couldn't help feeling like we had even more in common than either of us knew. And perhaps we'd never know the full extent, but somewhere deep down, I felt a sort of peace about sharing the money with him, dragon or not.

I finally picked out a semi-casual, white lace sundress and a pair of silvery-blue strappy sandals. It wasn't fancy, but at least I'd look like I'd put some effort into looking like a bride to the people at the clerk's office.

'It's all about show,' I thought sadly.

As I drove back to the vineyard, a memory suddenly came to my mind...

When I was seven or eight, I'd found my Gram's collection of catalogues and old magazines. And one of them had bridal gowns in it so I'd cut out all my choices for an entire wedding party, and glued them to a piece of cardboard.

I'd spent hours going through each book, picking out flowers and cakes, and whatever else I could find that added to my vision.

And when I'd proudly shown my Gram, she had gushed all over it, of course, as she tended to do, but then she'd asked me why there was no father of the bride...

"Oh," I'd said. "He was working. He couldn't make it."

My Gram had looked at me so sadly. Then she hugged me tightly and said,

"You are going to be the most beautiful bride, my love. And your groom is going to love you to pieces."

I felt a lump form in my chest...

"Oh, Gram, I'm so sorry about this," I whispered into the silence of my car. And I really and truly was.

Just as I was finishing getting dressed, I heard a soft knock on my cottage door and startled slightly, wondering if Sam had come to get me, rather than meeting at the house where we'd planned.

Or maybe he was coming to call it off...

My heart took up an erratic beat as I called,

"Come in."

A moment later I heard Alice's sing-song voice call out hello and I relaxed my shoulders. She smiled as she entered my room.

"Oh my, you look lovely, my dear."

I gave her a small smile, fidgeting slightly. I hardly wanted her to make this seem as if it was in any way a real wedding day. Because it would only add to my shame.

"I brought you a little something for good luck," she said, holding open her palm to show a small, silver and crystal pin in the shape of a rose.

"Oh, no, Alice. I couldn't. This marriage doesn't require any luck. We've already set it up to fail," I said, embarrassment setting in.

"Well, then, it's good luck for you," she said. "Please, let me. My mother gave this to me on my wedding day and I don't have a daughter to give it to, nor will I have any granddaughters. It would mean the world to me if you would accept it."

"I really couldn't," I squeaked, trying not to tear up.

"How about just for today?" She smiled hopefully. "You can give it back if you want." She clapped her hands. "Oh, that's even better. Something borrowed!"

I let out a laugh on a breath.

"Okay. Only if you'll let me return it."

"Here," she said, leaning in and pinning it to the bodice of my dress. Then she leaned away and smiled gently.

"Lovely!"

Not able to help it, I threw my arms around her, inhaling the calming scent of talcum powder. She laughed a sweet sound and hugged me back, gently saying,

"Now then, love."

At two o'clock I walked up to the main house where Sam was leaning casually against the stone front. He was wearing a pair of khakis and a blue, button-down shirt.

I tried not to note how strikingly handsome he was, because it served no good purpose.

But he was; he definitely was.

When he heard me approaching, he looked up and I caught a brief flicker of surprise in his eyes, and then it was gone.

"Ready?" he said simply, making no comment about how I looked.

And I just nodded.

Neither of us spoke for the first five minutes of the ride in his truck. But then I finally turned to him and found his gaze on my bare legs.

I crossed them and his eyes flew to mine. Then he clenched his jaw.

Did he think my outfit was too casual?

"Sam, I'm... I'm sorry about your father's bottle of wine."

His shoulders seemed to relax just a bit as he stared out the front windshield.

"It wasn't entirely your fault. You couldn't have known that such a valuable bottle of wine would be sitting in the living room. And I did push you to that point, I admit. I'm not innocent for teasing you about your...list. I'm sorry, too."

I exhaled even as I felt my cheeks flush at the mention of my list.

"We're even, then?"

He gave me a slight smile at first...

"Even. Especially considering you're paying me back for it today."

He turned his face to me and gave me a devilish smile that made my heart stutter in my chest. But then it gentled and I saw he was making a joke.

"Ready to pledge forever? Or at least twelve months?" he asked, eyeing me sideways.

I laughed a nervous laugh...

"As ready as I'll ever be, I guess. This isn't exactly how I pictured my wedding day, you know."

"No? Did you picture the big white dress and all the crème de la crème of society in attendance?"

His eyes lingered on me for a second...

But he was right. When I'd been engaged to Chris, that had been what I'd envisioned for my wedding day, mostly because that was what my father and him had envisioned.

But that had never been my dream. I had just been trying so hard to please them both at the time.

I smiled, but it felt sad on my own lips...

"I suppose," I finally answered. That was the past and I wasn't going to go into all that with Sam, especially not right now. Maybe never.

His eyes searched my face for a few quick moments, but then he looked back to the road, not saying anything.

The mood between Sam and I was still slightly tensed after that and neither of us spoke, each busy with our own thoughts.

Although he had said I was forgiven about the wine, he still seemed a little uptight, if the tick in his jaw was any indication each time he looked at me.

Ah well, after today, we'd avoid each other.

I've offered my apologies and he has accepted. If he still harbors a general hostility, it makes no difference to me whatsoever.

I bit down on my lip until it hurt, trying to distract myself from that and any thought at all.

I didn't want to think about this... I didn't want to consider what I was really doing.

When we arrived at the Napa County Clerk's Office a few minutes later, we both went to get out of the truck, when the sky suddenly opened up and started pouring rain.

We quickly closed our doors, scooting back inside.

Sam chuckled...

"The fates are against us."

I gave a small laugh, too...

"Apparently. Although I've heard that rain is good luck on a wedding day."

"Only people who get rain on their wedding day say that to make themselves feel lucky. We're going to have to make a run for it."

"Okay. On the count of three," I said, cracking the door. And on three, we both jumped out and ran, me squealing as we ran for the building.

He grabbed my hand halfway between the car and the office, and I heard his deep laughter as it rose above the pounding sound of the downpour.

For just a moment in time, we were just a boy and a girl, running and laughing in the rain on our wedding day.

The moment was sudden, dreamlike, but when we burst into the lobby, we both blinked at each other and I knew he'd felt it, too.

However, the spell broke, the strange moment ending abruptly as we looked around at people now watching us...

There were two other couples obviously there to get married, both holding hands, both looking serene and happy, and both looking like it was the happiest day of their lives.

It made me intensely aware of what Sam and I were about to do. And by the look on his face, he was thinking the same thing.

"Ready?" he asked.

No, no, no...

"Yes."

I walked through the next hour as if I was just outside my own body, even as I tried not to consider the reality of the situation.

I pictured the faces of the people at the drop-in center and the small house I'd get settled in once I left Evans Vineyard.

Anything to keep my focus on what this day was ultimately about.

Sam and I obtained the marriage license and waited in line to say our vows. His expression was distant, slightly cold...

The Dragon was gone and The Ice Prince was back.

The lightness of the moment when we had been running in the rain was long gone, replaced now by silence and discomfort.

I didn't ask what he was thinking, though, because my own emotions were difficult enough to manage, so I really didn't need to add his to the mix.

And he'd be no support to me... He wasn't even trying to make this easier. Although, really, what did I expect him to do?

Finally, a court employee stood in as our witness, and I recited my vows, where I promised to love, honor and cherish Samuel Evans all the days of my life.

I felt a snake of fear slither down my spine as I committed the sacrilege of pledging love and devotion to a man I had no intention of loving or devoting myself to.

It was a lie, a farce of something sacred. I had never been a particularly religious person, but I had to wonder if we'd both be punished somehow for this mockery.

Sam recited his vows to me, his voice steady, his manner removed. And I watched him, my chest aching at the serious expression on his handsome face.

When the marriage commissioner asked if we had rings to exchange, he reached into his pocket and brought out a beautiful gold ring with an opal in the center surrounded by diamonds.

I gasped as he slid it on my finger...

I tried to catch his eye, but he looked at it for several seconds on my hand and then raised his eyes to the man performing our ceremony.

Me... I stared down at the beautiful antique-looking piece of jewelry, a lump forming in my throat for his thoughtfulness at remembering to bring a ring. I hadn't even thought of it myself.

"You may kiss your bride."

At that, Sam leaned forward and gave me a quick peck on my mouth.

And at the feel of his dry lips brushing across mine, the hysteria I'd kept at bay since I'd woken that morning suddenly bubbled up in my chest, and I snorted out a barely contained laugh.

I covered it with a small cough, my eyes widening at my body's betrayal. His kiss reminded me of one my old, crotchety Uncle Luther would give.

Hilarity and insanity warred inside me for control...

I let out another small snort and tried to cover it with another cough.

Meanwhile, Sam's eyebrows shot up and then his eyes narrowed, growing almost lazy as he stared me down, something tense and challenging in his expression as if he thought I had laughed solely to mock him.

I swallowed, suddenly very serious.

What had come over me?

The stress of this had clearly cracked my brain right in half. Of course he should kiss me like a dried-up old uncle. This was a business deal...

Without warning, Sam stepped right into my space and took my face in his hands. And I chirped out what sounded like a surprised little cheep.

Next, he pressed his lips to mine, sweeping his tongue over the seam of my mouth. I had no time to think and my body responded to him instinctually, as I parted my lips eagerly to take his tongue, melting against him.

The kiss showed no mercy, his tongue plundering my mouth and making my knees weak as I clung to his shoulders.

And just as suddenly as he'd initiated it, he pulled away, our mouths coming apart with a wet pop as I stumbled forward, catching myself before I fell into him.

The marriage commissioner grinned and said,

"Well now!"

Well now, indeed.

I tried to regain my composure, using my thumb to wipe the saliva from below my bottom lip, as the final words were said...

"By the authority vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife."

And it was done.

We were officially Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Evans.

Forever and ever. Amen.

Or at least for the next year or so. Which probably didn't deserve an amen.

I walked with Sam back to his truck on legs that felt strangely numb, still reeling slightly from his kiss, all the while, feeling a measure of humiliation.

Still, he had done something thoughtful...

"Thank you for remembering a ring," I said softly. "I didn't even think to get one for you. Where did you get this on such short notice?"

"It was still in the house. I just hadn't gotten around to selling it."

I looked down at it, figuring he had the tight look on his face because it had been a piece of his stepmother's jewelry. Well, it would serve to make our union look legitimate to the outside world, so what did I care where it'd come from?

"I'll give it back when, um..."

"Okay," was his terse reply.

"Okay," I said, deciding not to mention the kiss at all, or the fact that I'd laughed at his first one. Now that my mind was clearer, I realized he'd likely done it for no other reason than to make our ceremony look convincing.

After a moment of silence, I asked,

"So, do you want to, um, go to a late lunch or something?"

I had no idea of the protocol for this day.

It was my wedding day. Oh, God...

Only, not really. I wouldn't consider this my wedding day. Someday, I'd have a real one and it would be the polar opposite of this.

"Can't. I have to get back to work," Sam said, not looking at me.

All right, then.

"Dinner tonight maybe? We should at least celebrate the windfall we're about to get." I gave him a small smile that felt more hopeful than intended.

"Mercedes..."

He sighed, running one hand through his hair as if my conversation and then asking him to go to dinner was a grave annoyance.

Did he think this meant I suddenly expected a relationship with him now that I was his wife, had received an obligatory kiss, and wore a bauble he'd found lying around some dusty corner of his house?

Anger and a hurt I didn't want to admit to, burned within me...

"Never mind," I said. "I just remembered I have plans anyway."

He looked at me as if he knew very well I was lying.

"Maybe another time, okay? I'm having an issue with a piece of equipment. Taking these few hours today has already put me behind."

I had just thrown the sanctity of marriage off a cliff, and he could barely manage to be cordial?

I didn't expect his thanks, but I also didn't expect to feel like I was an inconvenience to his day.

I swallowed back my disappointment because it was obviously wasted on the arrogant dragon.

"Of course. I understand," I lied.

When we pulled up to his home, I hopped out, calling,

"I should have the check within a week or so. I'll drop by with your share."

I wouldn't look back...

I looked back...

Sam was standing at the side of his truck with his hands in his pockets watching me walk away.

And as I began walking through the brush to my cottage, I raised my chin and flipped my hair. Then felt a sharp branch as it jabbed my thigh, tearing a large rip in my dress.

I jumped slightly and let out a small yelp.

Damn!

I raised my chin higher and kept walking...

But I heard his low chuckle from far behind me and resisted the urge to turn around, run back, and claw his reptilian eyes out.

Instead, I slammed the door to my cottage when I got inside, but the old door didn't fit exactly right on the hinges and gave a very unsatisfying click as it weakly met the doorframe.

This was the most pitiful wedding day that had ever existed.

'What did you expect? You did this.'

I ignored that inner voice and removed the opal ring, which was really nothing more than a prop, and set it on the windowsill.

I also removed the pin Alice had given me so I wouldn't forget to return it. Then I sat down on my bed, toying absently with the torn piece of material on my dress, finally giving in to the tears I'd felt burning behind my eyes all morning.

Exhausted and emotionally drained after the events of the day, and because I hadn't slept well the previous night as I'd tossed and turned and re-evaluated my decision, I took a long nap.

My dreams were filled at first with a vast landscape of ice...

I wandered aimlessly, crying out with the cold, shivering violently as I tried in vain to warm myself. Suddenly, I was in the midst of cascading fire, caught in a waterfall of lava, my body liquid, my skin raging with a heat that felt deliciously erotic.

Flames consumed me, and yet somehow, I wasn't being burned. Then I woke up moaning, my breasts tingling, and wet and throbbing between my legs.

I collapsed back on my pillows... I'd never had a sexual dream quite that intense before. I guessed it went to show how long it'd been.

My hands went to my aching breasts just as I heard a car door slam outside. And I sat up quickly, running to the window.

Not my father... There was no way for him to have found out about my marriage. Right?

Or did he have minions in every court system in the country?

I would hardly doubt it if he did.

'No, no,' I reassured myself. Despite his intrusion in my life, he had bigger fish to fry than me. Still, adrenaline flooded my system and my heart leapt with panic, cooling my heated blood at least a few degrees.

I smoothed my hands over my torn and wrinkled dress, taking a deep, calming breath. He couldn't do anything to me anyway. I'd tell him I was married...that was that and to leave me alone.

I walked the few strides through the brush and when I came out on the driveway, I saw a blonde woman talking to Sam in front of a small red sports car.

They both turned, obviously having heard me, and so, I didn't turn back as I had first intended upon spotting them.

Instead, I walked to where they stood...

As they watched me approach, the woman had a look on her face as if she'd just tasted something sour, and Sam's green eyes were narrowed.

I held out my hand when I got to them.

"Hi, I'm Mercedes," I said.

The woman looked down at my hand as if I was offering her a dead fish, but finally grasped the tips of my fingers and shook it weakly.

Okay.

"I'm Jodi. I stopped by to see if I could cook dinner for Sam tonight."

She looked sweetly at him, batting her false eyelashes. And a heavy aroma of artificial peaches hung on her, but I couldn't deny she was pretty.

If you liked that type. Which Sam obviously did.

I glanced at him and found him looking me over with an expression that seemed intense and...angry?

His mood swings would eventually give me whiplash.

I shifted on my feet, realizing how terrible I must look.

I could feel that my face was still flushed and a little sweaty from my dream, and knew my hair must be in wild disarray as it always was after I'd slept.

My dress was ripped and wrinkled and disheveled and... And I was the exact opposite of this coiffed beauty standing in front of me.

I ran my tongue along my bottom lip nervously, feeling insecure and hating it.

But I waited... For Sam to tell this woman I was his wife.

Instead, he looked away from me to Jodi, saying,

"Sure, that sounds good."

I felt my eyes widen and I let out a tiny gasp. He was going to take this woman up on her offer to cook him dinner, after he'd turned me down for dinner on our wedding day?

What if someone saw them?

What if Jodi had a big mouth and spread the word that she was dating him?

My heart pounded and my skin felt suddenly itchy.

My husband was going on a date on our wedding day...

My husband was going on a date on our wedding day... And not with me.

Suddenly, I had an intense desire to double over with laughter.

'Only you, Mercedes. Only you would be in a situation like this.'

"Just give me two minutes to clean up," Sam said to Jodi.

"Sure thing, babe." She smiled sweetly at him. Babe. This woman had just called my fake husband babe. "You can shower at my place if you want."

Her lips turned up in the farce of a smile, but her eyes shot daggers at me.

Sam turned and walked into the house, leaving Jodi and I staring at each other.

"So who are you exactly, Mercedes?" she asked snottily.

'Why, I'm his wife, sweetie. I hope you have a lovely evening on your date.'

It took everything in me not to say that. I had agreed we should carry on as usual as long as we were discreet, although I hardly thought this qualified.

Still, it was up to Sam to handle this situation with Jodi.

I hadn't actually done any secretarial or accounting work for him yet, but I suddenly remembered I had offered to.

"I'm, um, his new secretary, slash accountant, slash...well."

I'd let that well sum up the other stuff. Little did she know, it was a mighty big well.

She narrowed her eyes at me...

"And you...live here?"

We both looked up to see Sam trotting back down the stairs. He'd barely had enough time to wash his hands and splash some cold water on his face.

Apparently, he either didn't care that Jodi would get him un-showered or he planned on taking her up on her offer.

A flash of her in the kitchen cooking him dinner as he came up behind her in a small towel to kiss the back of her neck suddenly came to mind...

And why, oh why did that vision bother me so much?

'Idiot, Mercedes!'

"Ready?" Sam asked, looking at Jodi.

"Mmm hmm," she said. "Mercedes here was just telling me she's your new secretary, slash accountant, slash..."

We both stared at her, waiting for her to continue, and she stared at us evidently waiting for one of us to say something as well.

Sam cleared his throat... And I coughed.

She narrowed her eyes further and stepped closer to him, clearly staking her claim.

"And you live here now?" she asked again, still narrowing her eyes.

"I'm staying in the cottage over there."

I waved my hand in the direction of my small cottage. As if it was completely normal for secretaries to live in grimy gardener cottages on site.

Jodi wrinkled up her cute little nose...

"Eww! That little place buried in the woods that you can barely see from the driveway? There must be rats in there."

I crossed my arms, regarding her before widening my eyes and speaking slowly, with feigned excitement.

"Oh yes! There are. A husband and wife, in fact," I said, shooting a look at Sam. He looked back at me blankly.

I turned my gaze back to Jodi and carried on...

"Oglethorpe and Ortensia. I'm pretty sure Ortensia is pregnant, too." I put one finger on my chin in thought. "I'll have to come up with some O names before the little rat babies arrive, of course. If you have any good suggestions, let me know."

I gave her a fake grin, resisting the urge to cross my eyes.

Her features screwed up in an expression of disgust, while Sam turned slightly and coughed into his hand. But I swore I saw his lip twitch before he covered his mouth.

"Let's go," Jodi said to Sam, ignoring me.

"I trust you'll find a way to entertain yourself tonight?" he asked, raising his eyebrows.

"I'm sure I will," I said, giving him a small, phony smile.

His eyes lingered on my face for the space of several heartbeats and then he turned away with Jodi.

When they reached her car, she turned to him and said loudly enough for me to hear,

"I don't like her. She's weird."

If Sam commented, he said it softly enough that I couldn't hear.

However, I watched as the car turned, drove down the driveway and disappeared out of sight.

It was only a matter of time before my father knew this marriage was a total ruse. Not even one day had gone by and Sam was going to ruin everything.

I made a concerted effort to control my rapid breathing.

If there was ever a day that had called for wine, and lots of it, this one did.

And how lucky for me, I lived at a winery!

Stay safe!