Waking up with Mercedes in his arms was one of the best feelings to Sam. She was so soft and cuddly, and he didn't want to get up at all. But he knew he had to in order to do something special for her. Last night was a turning point for them, and he didn't want her to feel like it was just a fleeting thing. He wanted her to know that he meant every word of what he said. But one thing he was always taught as a child was that actions speak louder than words. So, Sam got out of bed, carefully, so he wouldn't wake her, and headed to the bathroom. He threw some water on his face, and seeing as he didn't have his toothbrush with him, he rinsed his mouth out with mouthwash. After freshening up a bit, he quickly checked his phone and saw over thirty missed calls from his parents and Quinn. He had his phone on silent last night, and decided to keep it on silent. He didn't want anything to mess up his morning with Mercedes. He knew he would have to deal with his parents and Quinn soon, but right now, he just wanted to enjoy his morning with the woman who he has come to love.

Sam headed to the kitchen and began searching the refrigerator, and cabinets looking for something to make for her. Sam wasn't the best of cooks, but he knew how to make the basic breakfast. You couldn't go wrong with pancakes, eggs, and bacon, and a glass of orange juice. While he got all of the ingredients out, he saw fresh blueberries in the fridge and decided to add that to the pancakes. As he began adding the pancake batter to the oiled pan, he couldn't help but think about last night, and how everything felt perfect. He couldn't see himself marrying anyone other than Mercedes. She was absolutely perfect for him, in every single way. His phone lit up indicating a call, but Sam ignored it as he added the blueberries to the batter before flipping the pancakes. He then started on the cheesy scramble eggs. Soon, the breakfast was done and Sam started to plate it. He found a breakfast tray in one of the bottom cabinets, and loaded it with the breakfast, and headed to the bedroom.

Mercedes stirred reaching over for Sam, but didn't feel him next to her. Her eyes stayed closed, she didn't want to wake up, she didn't need to see that he was gone. She exhaled telling herself to stop thinking negatively.

Sam saw Mercedes rousing in the bed, and set the tray on her night stand. "Hey beautiful, he said gently. I made us something to eat. Figured after last night we would both be a bit starving."

She inhaled as Sam came into the room and her eyes fluttered open looking at him. She sat up running her hands through her hair. "Hey Sam..." No way she would tell hims he thought he left. She looked over to the tray. "That looks amazing. You did all this for me?"

Sam smiled softly. " I wish I could do more for you. You deserve the world." He looked her over. Her bedroom eyes, bed head, no makeup, and she looked absolutely gorgeous like that. "I hope you're hungry."

"This is more than anyone has ever done for me.' Mercedes stretched out and nodded. "Starving." She grabbed the juice taking a sip. "How are you feeling this morning?"

"I'm feeling amazing actually. Last night was incredible." Sam began chewing on a piece of bacon. "I wish we could stay in this bubble forever."

Mercedes nodded. "Me too. I know once we leave this house we go to war and I just…" she sighed. "I'm Worried, worried they will get into your head and all this will be over. I know we probably shouldn't have jumped into bed like this… I just can't help but think about Shane and Quinn… I don't want to hurt them."

Sam didn't have any regrets about what happened last night. Yea they should have waited until everything was settled and they were free, but somethings just didn't work out that way. "I wish I can tell you that there is nothing to worry about, but I don't want to coddle you and lie to you." Sam put his arms around Mercedes pulling her close. "I can promise you that, I won't leave your side . We're in this together." He gives her a quick kiss on the lips.

Mercedes nodded,she knew he was serious and he meant what he said. He knew his family better than she did and if he wasn't going to leave her side then she wasn't going to leave his. "I got you too Sam. I won't leave your side either." Accepting his kiss, she sat up. "Okay a shower and quick change and we can head out." She got up kissing him once more, but then headed towards the shower. "You know, it will probably be faster if we shower together."

Sam smiled at her suggestion. He really didn't want to leave their little bubble, but got up anyway. "Just admit you want to see me naked again." He said, smirking.

She smiled back into the bathroom. "Oh I most definitely want to see you naked again." She said, removing her shirt.

Sam followed her into the bathroom, taking off his clothes. "Any reason to see you naked again, I'm down with." He kissed her on the cheek before turning on the shower and stepping in. "So you're coming or not?"

Mercedes smiled. "You know for sure I am joining you." She laughed walking in the shower they could put off seeing his family for a little more fun.

Two hours and a lot of wasted water later, they stood in front of Sam's parents home. She wasn't sure what was going to happen but this had to happen. She grabbed Sam's hand and smiled, taking a deep breath. "You ready?"

Sam nodded before ringing the bell. He smiled instantly when Sandra opened the door. She was his maid/nanny and he had a lot of respect for her. He gave her a kiss on the cheek in greeting.

She smiled at Sam. "Sam, I didn't know you were stopping by this morning. Though I guess I should have figured it out since Quinn is-" She caught herself when she realized he wasn't alone. "Oh, where is my manners? I'm Sandra, and welcome to Evans Manor." She said holding her hand out to Mercedes in a friendly gesture.

Mercedes was in shock at how big Evans Manor was, she had never been there before, but it was just a lot to take in. Nodding she took Sandra's hand. "I am Mercedes, it's a pleasure to meet you." She said politely.

"Are my parents in?" Sam asked Sandra. "I didn't see the cars out."

Sandra nodded. Their cars are in the garage. They are in the sitting room, but Sam, there is something you should know." Sandra couldn't help but give Mercedes an uneasy look.

"Thanks Sandra. We won't trouble you, we can find our own way." Sam completely missed Sandra's tone, and led Mercedes to the sitting room.

Mercedes looked at Sandra and had a bad feeling. She was about to tell Sam to wait but he led her right into the sitting room, aka the firing squad because there sitting with Sam's parents was an enraged Quinn. She stopped in her tracks as all eyes were on her.

Seeing his parents and a pissed off Quinn wasn't what he was expecting. Yea he wanted to talk to his parents, but with Quinn there, it would be harder to get his point across.

"Um, what's this?" He directed his question to both of his parents, but of course Quinn answered.

"What's this?" Quinn asked with an incredulous look on her face. "I think the real question is what is this?" She gestured to Sam holding Mercedes' hand. "Are you seriously flaunting your affair publicly?"

Before Sam could respond, Mary stood up and gave a disapproving look to her son. "Sam, this is hardly appropriate behavior. You really should have called first before bringing Mercedes here, and flaunting whatever she may be to you.

Dwight stood up and held his hand up wanting everyone to calm down. "Now, let's not jump to conclusions. Sam, tell us what's going on?"

Mercedes wanted to speak up, say something, but she knew this was not her place, but she wasn't about to cower in the back like she was ashamed or guilty. He stood tall, taller than she ever felt around them and beside Sam. She was not going to let them bully her out of this place.

Sam took a deep breath. He needed to handle this and show them that they can't control his life.

"Listen, I just stopped by to tell you guys that the wedding with Quinn is off." He paused letting his words sink in. "And I'm not going to hide my feelings for Mercedes anymore. I want to be with her, and frankly, I don't care how you guys feel about that."

Mary pursed her lips at Sam. This would not do at all. Sam was risking everything that they had built. "Sam, I beg you to see reason. You're going to give up everything for lust? It can't be love. You barely know Mercedes."

Sam took a deep breath. "I don't get why I would have to give up anything. How is my love life going to interfere with me running Evans Corps? I'm a damn good CEO."

Quinn sat back staring daggers at Mercedes. She did this, she flaunted her body in front of Sam like some temptress slut and now he was walking away from everything they had built. She stood walking over to Mercedes.

"This is all your fault! You did this! Spread your legs and made him forget himself! What being his mistress wasn't good enough? You think you can be the face of this company? The first Lady?"

Mercedes stared at her. "This is not about any of that nor did I do that. I love him."

"Love? Who needs love when you have money and power?"

Sam stepped in front of Mercedes as Quinn got in her face. "Listen, none of that should matter. We want to be together and you have to just sit down and accept it". He looked at his mother and father. "All of you. We're going to be together and there is nothing that you can do about it."

Mary stepped up besides Quinn and tried to reason with her son. "Sam, you have always been an honorable man. Always did what was best for this family. Always had a level head. But this, it's like you're not the man I raised. You made a commitment to Quinn. You proposed to her with your own free will in front of everyone. And now you're just going to walk away from it?"

Sam glared at his mother but didn't say anything. She was wrong but he knew no matter what he said, she wouldn't change her opinion.

She looked at Mercedes with such disappointment. "And you. Do you think you're ready to give Sam everything he needs when you are the legal guardian to your siblings? Are you okay with being labeled the homewrecker? And what kind of example are you setting for those children. You're setting them up for a life filled with ridicule. I don't know but I expected better from you."

Mercedes frowned. "Don't you dare bring my siblings into this! I would never do anything to hurt them, to make things worse for them. And you know that."

Quinn laughed bitterly. "And what about our child Sam?" She stopped, that wasn't a bomb she was ready to deal with yet but it was out now so she just ran with it. "I was trying to tell you last night but...well you were a drunken fool and left so…"

Sam immediately turned his gaze back to Quinn, dropping Mercedes' hands in the process. "What the hell are you talking about? Our child?" Sam knew she couldn't be talking about them having a baby. "That can't be right. How?"

Mary interjected. "I'm sure we don't have to go through the details of how you and Quinn produced a baby. But Sam, you're about to be a father, surely you won't put your love for your child on the back burner."

Dwight moved closer and put his hand on his son's shoulder. "See reason Sam. Leaving your pregnant fiance and for your assistant, will be career suicide."

Sam was just dumbfounded. "A baby?"

Mercedes stepped back as Sam dropped her hand. A baby...Quinn was pregnant. What the hell was happening…

Quinn stood taller, she wasn't sure where Dwight stood, but now she was glad to see he was on her side. "I am 6 weeks pregnant." She went to her bag and pulled out the sonogram for good measure and handed it to Sam. She didn't need to say anything else, she won, that much was clear.

Sam looked at the sonogram in disbelief. He knew sometimes him and Quinn didn't use protection, but he thought she was on birth control since she wanted to wait until marriage to have a baby. He honestly didn't know what to do or say. But he saw the smug look on Quinn's face, and he had to let her know that this was far from over.

"It's strange to me that you become pregnant after everything that went on with Mercedes and I. I don't think that's a coincidence. Nothing has changed. Mercedes and I will be together, and I will need proof that the baby is mine and if it is, we will co-parent. And that's final. I'm really not interested in whatever else you want to say or whatever guilt trip you want to try." He turned to Mercedes. "Are you ready to leave?"

Quinn stood closer to him angrily. "You want proof? PROOF? I am not the one who was out having an affair! I was not the one out there having sex with a random slut to get my kicks!" Sam turned and Quinn was about to speak up again but stopped as she saw Mercedes step away from Sam.

Mercedes was not about to let Sam just walk away. Yes this situation sucked and it was suspect but she didn't want to be the reason Sam lost his child. "Sam we can't… Sam I love you, and I don't care if you and Quinn are having a baby. I still love you, but if she is telling the truth, this is not the way to handle it. Hear her out, she deserves that."

Quinn looked at Mercedes surprised. "I uh...thank you."

Sam just thought this was another ploy of Quinn. He listened to Mercedes and knew she was right. No matter what his problems were with Quinn, their child was innocent and deserved to have both parents. "Okay, but I'm sorry. I didn't mean for this day to turn out like this."

"Well, now that the cat is out of the bag, why not send Mercedes home so we can have a family discussion about the future of your career and how we can get you and Quinn back on track." Dwight always tried to be impartial, but even he knew that this was the best thing for his son.

Sam shook his head. "Quinn may be pregnant with my child, but that doesn't change things. I love you guys as my parents, but I'm in love with Mercedes and if we are going to discuss my future, then it would seem pointless to have that discussion without her."

Quinn sighed, she wanted to throw a fit but if she learned anything it was that you caught more flies with honey. This child was what was going to keep her and Sam together, and honestly she couldn't have planned it better.

"Sam is right, Mercedes is a part of this now. She needs to hear how we are going to take care of our child. Take care of what we made."

Mercedes just stood sizing up the situation. She took Sam's hand and closed her eyes as she moved towards the couch. "I think the smart thing to do is make a plan. This baby doesn't need to be born into mess and chaos." She looked at Sam's parents. "I am going to be here, be here for Sam in any way he wants me to be. If you want to kick me out go right ahead, but that is what it will take to get me to leave Sam's side."

Sam smiled down at Mercedes. "You guys are just going to have to accept us. We're in this for the long haul."

Mary was fuming. "Sandra!" She shouted loud enough to disrupt the neighborhood.

Sandra came quickly to where the Evans were. "Yes, Mrs Evans." "Bring me a strong stiff drink."

"Right away ma'am." Mary knew she was going to need something strong to deal with her son's stupidity. Once Sandra brought her a glass, Mary downed it. She wasn't surprised that everyone stayed quiet as she got herself together.

"Sam, I hate to rain on your parade, but no one will accept your relationship with Mercedes. Quinn is your fiance, and she's pregnant. What do you think they will do to you once they find out that you left your pregnant fiance? Think of all the accounts that will jump ship? I'm begging you to think of something other than your private parts."

"I am mom. But I don't care. I'm tired of living this lie and being unhappy. Don't I deserve happiness? Doesn't Quinn? And bringing this baby up in an environment where their parents are only together because of them, it isn't healthy."

Dwight was quiet this whole time just listening, but he had enough. "If you take your relationship public, we will publicly disown you."

"You would take away the one thing that would help me support your grandchild?"

Mary interjected. "No, we would support Quinn and our grandchild, but not you. Your child will be fine. This is just how things have to be."

Mercedes sat back and listened, she had enough, she had seen enough. "If you disown Sam, I will go to Barnes and Wade. They want me, and not as a secretary, since you trained me Mary you know how valuable I am. I was loyal. Even after I quit so it wouldn't embarrass the company, even after Sam proposed to Quinn in front of everyone, even after you put me down about who I am, where I came from. I was loyal to you Mary, to your family. And you were mean, and hurtful. But I am done being the nice girl when you have no problem being horrible to me. If you disown him I will take their job and I will help them outbid and beat you."

Mary stood up straighter, "Are you sure you want to go toe to toe with me?" Mary was not one to back down. Especially not to her son and his assistant. "Let me be clear, I don't ever back down." Though she was concerned that Mercedes would work for the competition. Mercedes was one of the best employees she ever had, better than most of the department heads. She had always impressed Mary because she didn't have the degree and was basically a single mother but she gave 150% in everything she did. Although she was concerned, Mary had a top notch poker face and she wasn't going to let Mercedes or Sam see her sweat.

Sam didn't want to hear anymore. "Enough! This is my life and if you want to disown me, that's fine. I have two Master's, do you honestly think I can't find another job somewhere?" Sam appreciated Mercedes sticking up for him, but he didn't want her to betray her values and morals for him. "Honestly, I don't want to be a part of a family who won't accept every part of me." Sam leveled his gaze at his mother. "I love you guys no matter what, because you're still my parents. But the way you spoke to Mercedes, and the way you plan every aspect of my life, I can't deal with it any more.

"Think very hard about what you're doing son. Mercedes is a fine girl, but eventually this will cause problems for you." Dwight had to be very realistic even when his dreamer of a son isn't.

"I don't need to think anymore. I can't see myself happy with anyone else. Mercedes is the love of my life and if this hurts my repetition down the line, then I'm fine with it. And I don't want to associate with people who judge me based on who I love." Sam shrugs. "And Quinn, I'm sorry if this is an inconvenience to you, if the child is mine, I will be the best father to that baby. I think we can co-parent, and I wish you the best."

Mercedes was about to speak again but Quinn did. "Sam, the fact that you keep saying if, when it's you who have broken us, that right there tells me that you are not in your right mind. This temptress has bewitched you and it's going to take you losing everything to see that. I have been by your side since day one. We were friends, we were lovers." She looked at Mercedes. "Did you know we made love before we went to the restaurant. That he told me all the things I know he probably told you. That he loved me, couldn't wait for me to be his wife. Sam got bored with me and moved on with you. I never thought he could be like my dad, not until this very moment because he hid his true self from me. You really want to be with a man who would betray his values, who would cheat?"

Mercedes moved closer to her. "I know who Sam is and the man you are describing is not him."

"Excuse my language but you don't know shit. You just met him, I have known him all my life and if he could fool me, you better believe he can fool you."

Sam was tired of this. Yes he knows he did wrong, but he didn't want Quinn to make him out to be some guy that just goes and screws over other women.

"Quinn, I don't know what to say. I do apologize for any inconvenience this has caused. But I think I'm doing us both a favor. You don't want to be tied down in a loveless marriage." He shakes his head. "I'm making this decision, and we can leave this and continue to be friends and co-parent if we have to, but my decision is final."

Mary knew her son was stubborn, but she had to still try. "Mercedes, I'll give you five million dollars to walk away from him." She was desperate and she hoped she could appeal to Mercedes' desperate need to provide for the twins. "You'll never have to work again, the twins will be set for college, the best of everything. Just walk away from Sam."

"What the hell is wrong with you? I'm standing right here!" Sam was furious.

"I'm a mother trying to save her son from himself."

"No." Mercedes didn't even hesitate. "Mary, would you take that money? If you were me, and Dwight's family didn't want you to be a part of them, and they offered you money to walk away would you? Could you leave him and the family you wanted to make with him?" She wiped her eyes and looked over to Quinn. "I am sorry. I never expected to fall for Sam and I never expected him to fall for me. But it happened. Working together, seeing how amazing Sam is, I fell hard. And i Know how you feel because when Sam chose you over me I felt lost, felt like my whole world was falling apart. And I hate that it is happening to you, and that you are pregnant and if I was unselfish I would tell Sam to go back to you and make your family work but I have always done right by everyone and it's time for me to do right by myself."

Quinn laughed. "Selfish is right. Homewrecker, slut. How can you even live with yourself? You of all people should know how important it is for a family to stay together and you are tearing mines apart. Sam will have nothing. Sam will be disowned and he will be just as broke as you. Lets see how much you will want him when he can't buy you all those expensive things." She turned towards Sam. "You see how easily she offered to work for the enemy. She can't be trusted to do anything but use you."

"For one, Sam has never had to buy my love, I am not you. I don't go for the biggest wallet. And for two I may be a lot of things but the name calling is uncalled for. I am sorry. I really am but i am not going to walk away from Sam."

Sam cleared his throat. "This is absolutely going nowhere. I think Mercedes and I should go, and let everyone calm down and we can talk about this in a few weeks." Sam could sense his parents about to protest, and put his hand up to quiet them, before leading Mercedes out. He ignored Quinn's icy stare.

He didn't say anything to her until they got to the car. Once inside, Sam took a deep breath before addressing Mercedes. "I'm sorry you had to go through that, but hopefully, that's the worst of it." Sam knew that they resolved nothing, and there would be more discussions, he just hoped that the next time everything would be more calm and his mother wouldn't try to bribe Mercedes like that.

Mercedes had held herself together as Sam walked her out, she felt the holes burned into her back by his mom and Quinn. She remained quiet, her mind racing as it went over what just happened. She was called a slut a home wrecker but the worst of it was being called unloyal. Even quitting she remained loyal and this was the thanks she got.

She barely registered what Sam said as her mind tried to come up with why his mother hated her so much. She looked over to Sam with tears in her eyes. Mary was like a second mother to her and now to know it was all lies, it broke her heart.

Sam was alarmed seeing the tears in Mercedes' eyes. "Baby what's wrong?" He felt stupid asking that. He knew all of this was probably too much. He reached over to hug her. "I'm here babe. It will be alright." He kisses her on her forehead hoping to soothe her.

"She really does hate me." Mercedes said with a sniff. "For years I looked at her as a mother figure and the Mary in there just...hated me." She said tearfully letting her emotions get the better of her.

Sam shook his head. "I'm not defending her or anything, but she doesn't hate you. You may not be who she wants me to end up with, but when I first started, she sang your praises." Sam knew his mother crossed the line, but he didn't like how Mercedes was talking. "Anyway, don't worry about any of that. Let's just go back to your place and relax a bit."

Mercedes felt like that is exactly what Sam was doing, defending his mother, and while it bothered her, she didn't have any fight left. She just looked away from him and towards the window. Quinn was pregnant and Mary offered her 5 million dollars to walk away from Sam. As Sam started driving, she wiped away her tears, what the hell had this day turned into.

Quinn looked after Sam and Mercedes and frowned. "How could he just walk away from me and the baby? How could he treat me this way? What am I supposed to do now?"

Mary walked and stood besides Quinn. "Don't lose hope. Sam will come to his senses, or Mercedes will push him away. Just know that this is only temporary and until then, you can rely on Dwight and myself. This is our first grandchild after all."

Quinn laughed angrily. "She turned down 5 million dollars, even I was tempted, but she didn't hesitate, I doubt she will push him away, if anything it will push Sam closer to her. We need her gone, or my child will be calling her, step mother."

Dwight listened to Quinn and she had a point. Something had to be done or they will be the laughing stock of the city. Mercedes is a fine girl, but isn't the type to marry. "Her and Sam don't fit together like Quinn and Sam do. Right now he is blinded by lust. The only thing I can think about is taking Evans Corp from him and freezing his trust. He can't access it until after he marries Quinn anyway. When he realizes that he stands to lose everything, he'll be back. Mark my words."

Mary agrees with Dwight. "Desperate times call for desperate measures."