A/N: Okay I'm back! I had to rearrange where I wanted this story to go but I'm finally happy with the direction it's going to head! I hope you like this chapter and thank you for staying with me! Enjoy!

"Merce?"

"Huh?"

"We will need to talk about this Tank person."

"I know but let's save it for tomorrow, I just want to be here with you." She said looking up at him. He nodded and kissed her before wrapping his arms around her and drifting off.

"Mmm… that feels nice."

"Yeah? How about there?"

"Mmmmm! Even better."

"You know, me scratching your back shouldn't be this sensual." Sam said laughing.

"Oh but it is Evans, it is." Mercedes said giggling and turning back to face him. She woke up wrapped in his arms and was trying to softly wiggle her back against his hand to scratch it without waking him. It was still fairly early but she knew he would have to leave soon for work and debated if she should stay while he was out. She knew the doctors told her to take it easy but she still had some work to do and didn't want to impose.

"Hungry?" He asked breaking her from her thoughts.

"Huh? Don't you have to get ready for work?" She asked sitting up with a confused look.

"I can work from home besides, I'm not leaving you here alone. Plus we have a lot to discuss." He said causally.

"Oh… yeah." She said biting her lip not really wanting to talk about Tank mostly because she really didn't have much to tell him.

"Hey, it's going to be okay. I'm going to make us some breakfast and then we can talk okay?" He said with a sweet smile. She looked up at him with a worried look but nodded and gave him a weak smile.

"Well, at least let me cook with you." She replied getting out of bed and standing in front of him. She just realized how short she was next to him and it kinda made her feel like she was in the presence of a very handsome giant. She scanned him and smirked at the sight of his bulge and couldn't help biting her lip and turning to walk to the kitchen. She began rummaging through his cabinets until she found everything she would need to make homemade pancakes, she hummed as she looked around for a mixing bowl before getting frustrated and placing her hands on her hips and huffing.

"Looking for something?" Sam said from behind her laughing.

"A mixing bowl." He smiled and walked closer to her and reached above her to the cabinet and grabbed one of the medium mixing bowls he had, Sam felt her hand gently touch his stomach and stepped forward forcing her move back against the counter. He leaned down and let his lips brush against her forehead before handing her the bowl.

"So, what are we making?" He said pulling away and turning around to look at all the items she took out.

"I was thinking we could make some pancakes."

"Mmmm… I haven't had homemade in forever! What do you need me to do?" He said licking his lip and rubbing his hands together excitedly. Mercedes couldn't stop the moan that was building as she watched his actions, she quickly looked away and started for the flour.

"Have you ever made them before? Like on your own?"

"No, I used to help my mom when she made them and by help I mean stare at her and eat the chocolate chips."

"Well today's your lucky day, I'm going to teach you how to make them." She said stopping herself and placed the measuring cup into his hands. He gave her a huge smile and listened as she told him how much was needed and how to shave off the extra. Step by step he did as he was told even if she would occasionally make a face before giggling and helping fix whatever he messed up. She was hands on and made sure he didn't put egg shells into mix and explained to him that all it took was the tiniest shell to ruin the whole batch. Sam really appreciated this impromptu cooking lesson and wondered if they could have more.

"So, who taught you to make them?" He asked stirring the mix a little more vigorously than needed and spilling a little of the flour out. He was waiting for a response before looking and seeing just how much of a bad idea it was to stir the mix in his arms.

"Samuel Evans… I swear I'm going to murder you." She said through gritted teeth that made him raise an eyebrow at just how adorable she looked angry and covered in flour. He tried really hard to stifle the laugh that was slowly building but couldn't hold back any longer and let out a loud laugh. She shot him a look and immediately calmed herself making him stop laughing and look at her questioningly.

"Oh no you don't! It was an accident." He said moving away from her as she grabbed a handful of flour and calmly walked towards him with a devious grin.

"Think about this Merce, you were teaching me and didn't tell me not to stir that had." He said with his hands up before she stopped and nodded, he let out a sigh of relief before she face palmed him with the handful of flour and her infectious laugh began. She was laughing so hard that she didn't notice him grab his own handful and pull her into him before sprinkling flour all over her causing her to jump back.

"Oh hell no! It's on Evans!" She said grabbing two hands full and throwing them at him, he wasn't about to let her get away with it and grabbed the whole bag and she quickly began to run away from him and as he chased her she screamed. He continued to chase until he cornered her and stalked slowly her way seeing the panic and amusement on her face. Once he reached her he lifted the bag over her had and gave her the sexiest smirk she'd seen, she braced herself and closed her eyes. She waited for the flour to touch her skin but instead she was met with his lips on hers and his hands on her flour cover face. She was shocked but quickly adjusted to kissing him as his hands began to descend from her face to her waist then her hips and he pulled her into him more feeling his erection. His hands went to her ass and he squeezed making her moan into his mouth, he leaned down and grabbed her thighs then gently picked her up. Mercedes let out a soft moan and wrapped her legs around his waist and placed her arms around his neck kissing him deeply. Sam wanted to feel all of her and take his time doing it, he pressed her against the wall and ground his self into her center and she let out a sharp hiss before biting gently on his neck. His hands moved slowly under the shirt she was wearing and began kneading her uncovered breast, her nipples reacted immediately to the feel of his palms.

"Shit, your body feels so good Merce." Sam said sliding the shirt over her head to get a better look at her. She looked at him with a smile and biting her lip before he let out a low growl and began trailing kissing down her chest until he reach on her nipples and lightly flicked it before taking it completely into his mouth, she arched her back and moaned loudly. Mercedes never had anyone pay this much attention to her body and she was enjoying him teasing her with his mouth. She felt herself getting lost in his touch when his fingers began gently rubbing her clit through her now wet panties.

"Dude, did you get mom's..." Sam and Mercedes both jumped and he had to grab hold of her so she didn't fall and she buried her face into his neck laughing softly.

"Stevie, how many times do I have to tell you to knock! Just because you have key doesn't me you just come in!" Sam said slowly lowering Mercedes and taking his shirt off then helping her put it on. She gave him an appreciative look and tried to regain some sense of dignity before excusing herself to his room to get dressed. Sam followed and closed the door before turning back around and giving his younger brother an annoyed look.

"Dude, I extremely sorry! Like I can only imagine how pissed you are because she was… damn sexy. What's her name?" Stevie asked not really noticing that Sam's face went from annoyed to pissed and if he was honest he didn't care.

"Her name doesn't concern you, why did you just barge into my place like that before calling or knocking!" Sam said crossing his arms and waiting for his brother to say something. Stevie was two years younger than he was but what he lacked in age he had in height and looks. Sure he inherited the Evan's men looks he had the blonde hair, defined jaw bones and piercing green eyes. His lips weren't as big as Sam's but you could tell they were related, Stevie had broad shoulders with a more muscular build and he kept his hair in a low cut.

"Bro, I did call! So did mom and when you didn't answer she sent me over here to check on you." He replied plopping down on Sam's couch and making his self comfortable.

"So you gonna tell me her name or not?" Stevie asked smiling.

"Why did she…? Shit! That's today isn't it?" Sam hit himself in the head and cursed again under his breath. Today was his sister graduation and he completely forgot, he still needed to get her a gift and flowers.

"Dude! They're both going to kill you but I totally understand why you were so distracted." He said wiggling his eyebrows before stopping and standing up and looking past Sam. Mercedes came out of the room fully dressed in a pair light jeans and another one of his shirts that hugged her breast wonderfully and her hair was down in it's natural curls. She walked over to where Sam was standing and smiled at Stevie.

"I had to borrow another shirt, you packed some of my more see-through tops without an undershirt." She said tugging at his Avengers shirt.

"Well, well, well aren't you the prettiest thing I've ever seen in my life. I'm Stevie, Sam's brother." Stevie said walking over to her and holding out his hand for her to shake which she took but instead of shaking he brought her hand to his lips and kissed it lightly making her blush. Sam wasn't amused and swatted Stevie's hand away from hers making her giggle and him laugh.

"Nice to meet you Stevie, I'm Mercedes." She said shoving Sam playfully.

"Mmm.. Mercedes that's a sexy name, very fitting for someone as equally sexy. Can I say you look absolutely beautiful in that shirt." Stevie said rather boldly and stepping closer to her and gently moving a hair behind her ear. She looked at a clearly annoyed Sam and giggled then winked at Stevie who got the hint and pulled her into a tight hug.

"Okay, you know what leave! You've completely overstepped this time and… what's so funny?" He said stopping and looking at the both of them who clearly were sharing an inside joke. Mercedes pulled away from Stevie and walked back towards Sam kissing him gently before walking back into the kitchen to finish making breakfast. Stevie let out a whistle when she walked away and she turned and rolled her eyes at him making them both laugh.

"Sam, she's beautiful! Does she have a sister?" Stevie said in a hushed voice.

"Nope, she's the only one now back to Stace. Like on a scale one to one hundred how mad do you think she'll be?" Sam asked. He hated disappointing his family but his little sister had him wrapped around her little finger and she knew it.

"Just run out and get her a gift today before the ceremony and pray like hell she can't tell it was last minute. You should invite Mercedes along, I'm sure she'd have fun at the party." Stevie said beaming at the thought of Mercedes tagging along.

"You might be right." He said walking into the kitchen and smiling at her softly humming and dancing as she cooked. Stevie nudged him and mouthed "she's perfect" making him roll his eyes but he silently agreed with him.

"Merce?"

"Mhmm?" She said turning around with the pan in her hand and flipping another pancake over.

"So… how would you feel going to my sister's graduation with me then to a little get together following?" Sam asked rubbing the back of his neck with a lopsided smile. She loved when he would smile like that and how cute he was looking now.

"Sure! I would love to go, what time would it be? I have a short phone call I have to make but I'm basically free after."

"It starts in two hours and then the party follows directly after." Stevie chimed in and walking over to where she was placing the pancakes and shamelessly grabbed one and took a bite out of it.

"That should be enough time to get my call in and get ready." She said plating the last pancake and smiling at Stevie who came up and took the plate from her and headed towards the table. She looked back at Sam with an amused look to which he just chuckled. They joined Stevie at the table and he reluctantly gave over the plate of pancakes so they could all eat.

"So Mercedes, what do you do?" Stevie asked taking another bite of food.

"I shoot people for a living." She said calmly making Stevie choke and look at Sam with a concerned look. Both Sam and Mercedes let out loud laughs which only made Stevie's worry grow.

"She's a photographer." Sam said after he got over his laughing fit. Stevie's body relaxed and he let out a chuckle.

"Well that's a lot better than what I was thinking. Photographer huh?"

"Yeah! I love it! It's so much fun, I mostly shoot weddings so I pretty busy throughout the year with engagements and ceremonies." She said beaming.

"Wow, you are simply gorgeous even more so when you smile like that. Do me a favor and marry me." Stevie said grabbing her hand and pressing it to his heart. She let out a laugh and shook her head.

"I see you're going to be a handful." She replied playfully hitting him.

"I can be your handful for life, you just have to say yes." He said laughing and looking at Sam's disapproving glance. Stevie was always the forward one out of the three of them, Stacey was the princess and he was the laid back one.

"I think I'll pass this time, besides I have my eyes on another Evans." She said winking at Sam and getting up from the table.

"I'm going to go get something to wear from my-" She started before Sam stood and shook his head.

"Tell me what to grab and I'll go get it."

"Sam, I'll be fine. It'll take me a few minutes and I'll be right back." She said trying to reassure him that she could handle it.

"I'll go with her, if it's an issue." Stevie said with a confused look. He could tell his brother didn't want her to go to her place and didn't mind being her escort.

"No, you and Sam will stay right here while I go by myself and grab what I need and come back." She said sternly looking at them both before heading towards the door. Sam placed a hand on her causing her to turn then he nodded and let her go. She gave him a reassuring smile and walked out.

"So… wanna tell me what that was all about?" Stevie asked still looking confused. Sam let out a deep sigh and ran his fingers through his hair before sitting down and nodding his brother over. He told him about what happened the night before and how he and Mercedes still needed to talk about the guy who did it to her.

"I'll kill him." Stevie said once he finished making Sam laugh.

"I don't think we need to go that far, I just want to make sure she's safe and it doesn't happen again." He said softly.

Mercedes walked off the elevator and headed towards her apartment, she was a little nervous but was sure she would be okay. She unlocked the door and walked in closing it behind her and making sure she locked it. She looked at the wall by the door and saw the streak of blood and gently touched the back of her head. She winced a little at how sensitive it was before shaking her head and heading to her room to get a dress to wear and some shoes to match. She decided on her pale blue knee length princess line dress with lace detail and a pair of white pumps. She went into her bathroom and grabbed a necklace and earrings to match and a bottle of her perfume, once she had everything she needed she headed back out to leave. As soon as she reached the elevator she got a weird feeling and looked back behind her but didn't see anyone, she shot Sam a quick text and pushed the call button a few times to hurry it along.

"In a rush?" She turned around slowly and inhaled sharply.

"Look, I don't know what you want but just leave me alone." She said pushing the call button again and feeling a rush of panic go throughout her body.

"You."

"What?"

"I want you." Tank said lowly and moving closer to her, she took a step back but had no where to go."

"I've told you, I'm not interested and I never will be. You need to stop this, please." She said praying the elevator would hurry the hell up.

"You see, I don't believe you. You felt something when I kissed you." Tank said staring at her intensely. She felt herself getting nervous and tried to think of a way to end this conversation and get away from him.

"Tank, that was years ago! You're holding onto a fantasy that will never happen. You can ask Shane, I never say things I don't mean. I will never be interested, okay?"

"I will change your mind, you are mine to have. I let Shane have you until I was ready and I'm ready now." He said with anger in his voice.

"Let? I'm not a pony Tank. I was never yours to have and I will never be yours. I don't understand why you don't understand that. LEAVE ME ALONE!" She said getting frustrated. He started to close the gap between them but before he could the elevator dinged and the doors opened and before she could react she felt a pair of wrap around her waist and pull her back. Tank started to enter before Sam walked out leaving her and Stevie inside before he pushed the button to Sam's floor and walked out too.

"Do we have a problem here?" Sam asked as Stevie stood beside him with a deadly look on his face.

"Who the fuck are you?" Tank asked looking at the both of them unimpressed and highly annoyed.

"Someone who is going to be around making sure nothing happens to Mercedes again, so I suggest you leave and don't come back." Sam said moving closer to Tank and trying to maintain his anger, he wanted to beat the shit out of him so badly but knew he shouldn't.

"Oh, so you think you're her man now huh?" Tank said growing furious and stepping to Sam. Stevie moved closer and made sure his presence was felt because Tank took a step back when he did.

"I don't think shit. I know and I'm only going to say this once, you come near her again it will be the last time you do."

"Yeah, we'll see about that." Tank said before walking out the building. Sam waited until he felt like he was completely gone before pressing the call button to head back to his place.

Sam walked back into his apartment and as soon as he did he felt a soft body crash into his, he looked down and smiled.

"I was so worried." She said muffled by the fact her face was buried in his chest. She quickly pulled away and hugged Stevie as well, which he gladly accepted and hugged her back.

"We're fine. Big bro let him know not to come back around." Stevie said with a proud smile on his face.

"I'd love to stay but I have to go get ready, I'll see you guys later and Mercedes?" He said looking down at her with a serious face that made her a little nervous. The short time she had been around him he hadn't so much as frowned.

"Yeah?"

"Take this and don't hesitate to use it. If for some reason you can't reach Sam, call me and I'll come." He said handing her a card and winking at her. He gave Sam quick hug before letting himself out. She looked at the weighted business card and smiled knowing he would be willing to help a perfect stranger.

"He's very proud of those cards." Sam said walking towards her.

"Sam… I'm so sorry. I don't know what his problem is or why he's coming around. I haven't seen him in years." She said taking a deep breath and running her hands through her hair.

"Don't apologize, we can talk about it later. Did he do anything to hurt you? Did he touch you?" Sam asked gently rubbing her arms.

"No, he just… said he wanted me. He said it before but this time it felt more strange. Like he thinks I belong to him but I promise I've never given him a second glance. He did… kiss me years ago and he brought it up again." She said looking at him nervously.

"He kissed you?"

"Yeah, it's a long story but it was the night me and Shane… umm moved our relationship to the next step." She said rolling her eyes. Sam could tell that she didn't want to talk about everything just yet and just nodded.

"Okay, we can discuss this later. You have a phone call to make and I need to figure out a gift for Stacey. Think you could get ready a little early so we can run and grab her something or I can go and come back either is fine."

"I can get dressed and make my call on the way to the store. It's just a follow up and should only take fifteen minutes." She said moving to grab her items and walked to his bedroom to get changed. Sam went and cleaned up the mess from earlier and cleared the table from breakfast. He went into his room and quickly changed into a nice blue button down and a pair of dark wash jeans, he heard his phone go off and answered it without looking to see who it was first.

"Who is she?"

"Huh? Who is this?"

"You don't recognize your mother's voice?" His mother said in a hurt tone.

"Of course I do moma, sorry I just answered before looking at who it was."

"Yeah, yeah… who is she?"

"Who are you talking about?"

"The woman who clearly has my son so distracted that he can't answer his mother's calls when him eleven times. Then she starts to panic only to find out that not only is he alive and well but he has some woman there with him. Now who is she and is she coming here today?"

"Damnit Stevie! Sorry ma, I didn't hear my phone going off when you called. Her name is Mercedes and yes she's coming with me to the graduation."

"Good, I can't wait to meet the woman that has both my sons clearly infatuated."

"What did Stevie tell you?"

"That she was very beautiful and he thinks I should be happy for you because and I quote 'she is defiantly a worthy distraction' whatever that means."

"I swear I'm going to kill him. We'll be there, we're getting ready right now actually."

"She's there?"

"Bye ma."

"Don't you dare!"

"I love you too, bye." He said smiling then hanging up. When he turned around he felt the air leave his lungs and his heart thump. Mercedes was standing there looking beyond wonderful in her dress, she pulled her hair back into a neat bun and opted for light makeup and he could smell her sweet perfume. She smiled at him sweetly smoothing her hands over her dress before walking closer to him.

"Ready?"

"You look so… damn. You look gorgeous." He said moving closer and softly caressing her chin making her blush and bit her lip.

"Thanks, you look pretty good yourself."

"Come on before we never leave this room and if that's what you want to do then we will because I wouldn't mind peeling that dress off of your and ravishing your body." He said licking his lip and hoping like hell she didn't want to go.

"Such a naughty boy… as alluring as that sounds, you already told them we would be there and I think it'll be fun to make you squirm." She said before grabbing his hand and walking out. Sam groaned and mumbled "You're gonna wish you hadn't."

SOOOOO? How cute were they making breakfast..or attempting to lol Okay so I freaking love Stevie! I know we all hate Tank but seriously there's more to come with that nut basket! Love that Stevie had Sam's back and was willing to protect Mercedes after just meeting her!I hope you enjoyed this chapter and another chapter will come soon! Let me know if you liked it! Thanks! Until next time :)